The Journey - Reading Comprehension

AP SSC Board-Based Reading Comprehension For Grade 10

Unit 3 Reading A The Journey

Reading Comprehension 1

After spending a leisurely Sunday at home, the very thought of returning to work on Monday is tiring. Lethargy creeps in if the holiday continues over an extended period. That is how I felt when I was preparing to return to my place of work after spending six months at home. The fact that I was to leave behind my newly-wed wife and go to a far-off place did not help either. Obviously I did not want to go.

However, I finally did decide to go. I did not have much to carry by way of luggage – just a trunk. Ours is a hilly terrain, without any motorable roads – and there is no certainty that we are ever going to have any roads. In any case, while coming home we do not carry bedding. Besides, I had come home this time round for a special purpose: to get married. My parents had arranged my marriage, according to the customs of our tribal society. Time flew, and five months into my marriage I realized it. Initially I thought of extending my leave – even taking unpaid leave. But after some dilly-dallying, I finally decided against it because marriage had increased my responsibilities and I had got into debt.

1. Why did he have only trunk with him as his luggage?

As he had left his bed and other things in his work place.

2. Why were there no roads to his village?

It was a village on a hill.

3. "Ours is a hilly terrain without any motorable roads" means

(A) It is full of motorable vehicles on roads

(B) We can find hills and transport vehicles there

4. "However, I finally did decide___" the decision was,

(A) to take his newly-wed wife with him.

(B) to return to his place of work after spending holidays at home. ✔

C) to leave behind his newly-wed wife

5. The special purpose for the narrator to come home is

(A) to meet his parents

(B) to meet his villagers

C) to get married. ✔

Reading Comprehension 2

On my way home from the bus stop, my trunk had been carried by a porter. The problem

now was we couldn’t find anyone who could help me carry the trunk to the bus stop. At another time of the year, we would have easily found someone to help me, but now most of the villagers were busy in the fields. Nobody had time to spare for me. In fact, carrying the trunk should not have been such a worry for me except that my education had made me shun physical labour. After all, I was a government officer and the idea of people seeing me carry my own luggage was not at all amusing. Otherwise, for a young man like me it should not have been an issue to carry a 20- kilo chest on my back.

Finally, my father came up with a solution. ‘Don’t worry. I myself will see you off at

Dirang.’

I protested. How could I allow my old father to carry my trunk? What would people think? What would they say? But I failed to dissuade him. It was decided that father would carry the chest.

1. What is the problem of the narrator now?

A. There was no one to carry his luggage to the bus stop.

2. What thought made the narrator shun the physical labour?

A. His education and white collar job.

3. What was the problem mentioned in these lines?

(A) He could not find anyone to carry his luggage to the bus stop. ✔

(B) He could not find any person to work in his fields.

4. Who carried the narrator's trunk on his way home?

(A) the narrator

(B) the potter

5. What was the narrator?

(A) an educated man

(B) a young man

Reading Comprehension 3

I protested. How could I allow my old father to carry my trunk? What would people think?

What would they say? But I failed to dissuade him. It was decided that father would carry the chest.

A large crowd gathered at our place the day I was to leave. People had come to wish me

luck. It was 10.20 when I left for Dirang. My father had already left. As I had to do a bit of

catching up, I walked fast. Three kilometres down the road, I caught up with my father. Father said, ‘You are late. Would you like to rest for some time?’

Having walked fast I was tired. Moreover, I had to cross two hills on the way up to the spot. I quickly sat down on a rock. My father laughed at my plight.

‘So this little distance has tired you? Rest for a while. But we have to be in time for

the bus.’

Father was quiet for some time. He thoughtfully looked at the sun for a moment, and then his eyes fell on the can of home-made wine that I was carrying. Wetting his lips with his tongue he said in a matter-of-fact manner, ‘I am thirsty’.

1. What did the author protest?

A. The author protested the idea of his father carrying the luggage.

2. Why do you think the narrator was tired?

A. As the narrator had catch up his father he had to walk fast. So he was tired.

3. Why was it decided that the father would carry the chest?

(A) The father was interested.

(B) They found no one who would carry the chest. ✔

4. The plight of the narrator was

(A) He was tired and has to cross two hills on the way. ✔

(B) He had to run along with his father.

5. Which of the following statements is true?

(A) The narrator reached the bus stop before his father.

(B) The father was ahead of the narrator to reach the bus stop.

Reading Comprehension 4

I gave him the can of wine. He poured himself a mug and handed me the can. He

drank all of it at one go. He then arranged the belt that was attached to the trunk carefully on his forehead. So, this was the picture: my father carrying my luggage on his back and me following him with a tiny bag in my hand. We were walking up a narrow hilly road, and neither of us uttered a word as if we were strangers who spoke different languages. I did not know what was going on in his mind. From time to time it crossed my mind that it was

improper for me to let father carry the luggage. I wanted to tell him that I would like to carry the trunk myself, but my guilt and shame did not allow me to do so. This self-consciousness had probably to do with my education, the white-collar job that I had, or quite simply my pride. Somehow, I had the feeling that if I carried the luggage, my father and my people, in fact the whole world would laugh at me and I would be belittled.

1. What was going on in his mind?

A. He thought that it was improper to make his father carry the luggage.

2. The narrator was disturbed by some thought. What was it?

A. He felt disturbed for he was carrying a small can and his father was carrying the heavy luggage.

3. 'He drank all of it at one go.' What does it' indicate in this line?

(A) the wine poured in the mug ✔

(B) the wine in the can

4. 'He drank all of it at one go.' What does this act indicate?

(A) It indicates that he was a drunkard.

(B) It indicates that he liked it.

5. The narrator and his father did not utter a word during their walk Why?

(A) Because they were strangers.

(B) Because they did not have love and affection.

Reading Comprehension 5

Father had provided for my education, and I had been able to realize his dreams. My parents were truly proud of me. It was through me that they had earned a greater degree of admiration and respect from the villagers. My father would not like to see me carrying a trunk on my back and would be very hurt if I did so. I concluded that it would be better to let him carry it. Father was used to carrying luggage anyway. He was stronger and more skilled than me in these matters. I had never got used to physical labour having stayed in hostels right from my childhood. So, in spite of my youth and strength, I was physically useless. I continued walking silently with father. We rested at two places on the way and had our tiffin but we hardly talked. Finally, we reached Dirang. The bus from Tawang had not yet reached Dirang and so we had some time in hand. We entered a tea shop and sat facing each other. Father appeared tired. I felt sorry for him but couldn’t bring myself to say anything. I asked the waiter to get us two cups of tea. Just as I was going to take my first sip, I heard father’s voice, ‘Do you have a pair of old shoes?’

‘Why? I asked.

‘The road is uneven and full of pebbles. It hurts while walking.’

1. How did the narrator justify his guilt?

A. He felt that his parents were truly proud of him and it was through him that they had earned a greater degree of admiration and respect from the villagers. His father would not like to see him carrying a trunk on his back and would be very hurt if he did so.

2. Why was the narrator physically useless?

A. As he stayed in hostels since his childhood, he was not used to do any work.

3. Father wanted an old pair of shoes because ….

(A) the road was long and narrow.

(B) he did not want to get tired.

4. They went to a tea shop because

(A) They were in a happy mood.

(B) The bus had not yet arrived. ✔

5. 'I felt sorry for him' Why did the narrator feel so?

(A) His father could not walk on uneven road.

(B) The bus from Tawang had not yet arrived.

Reading Comprehension 6

My father protested. ‘Give me an old pair. You don’t have to spend money on new shoes.’ I couldn’t convince him to buy a new pair. Reluctantly I gave him the hunting boots I was wearing. I then took out my pair of leather shoes from the trunk, and noticed my father’s face lighting up with contentment. Suddenly he looked at me and said, ‘Take care. Write to us...’

Father wanted to say something but the bus started moving. I saw my father gradually receding into the distance. I saw that the road we had come by looked like a giant motionless rope. Father would use the same road to go back home. Simultaneously our journeys started in two opposite directions, with me seated in the luxurious seat of a bus and father walking back with weary legs on the pebble-strewn road.

1.How did the father feel after receiving the shoes?

A. He felt happy.

2. How is the narrator's Journey different from the father's?

A. Narrator's journey was comfortable but Father's was not.

3. "Give me an old pair", why did the father protest so?

(A) He did not like to wear a new pair of shoes.

(B) He liked old pair of shoes only.

4.The phrase," Walk back with weary legs' means.

(A) to walk energetically

(B) to walk in sorrow

5. Which of the following statements is true?

(A) The narrator was not willing to give his pair of shoes.

(B) The narrator gave his pair of shoes willingly

Reading Comprehension 7

However, I finally did decide to go. I did not have much to carry by way of luggage – just a trunk. Ours is a hilly terrain, without any motorable roads – and there is no certainty that we are ever going to have any roads. In any case, while coming home we do not carry bedding. Besides, I had come home this time round for a special purpose: to get married. My parents had arranged my marriage, according to the customs of our tribal society. Time flew, and five months into my marriage I realized it. Initially I thought of extending my leave – even taking unpaid leave. But after some dilly-dallying, I finally decided against it because marriage had increased my responsibilities and I had got into debt.

1. Why did the narrator prefer less luggage while coming home?

A. All the necessary things would be available at home.

2. What was the decision taken by the narrator finally?

A. He decided to go back to work.

3. The narrator of this passage is ……

(A) Abdul kalam

(B) Nick

4. The narrator now is ….

(A) at his home ✔

(B) at his office

5. 'Dilly-dallying' means

(A) sleeping for a long time

(B) working for a long time in the fields

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