Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

Vast areas of the earth are covered by grass. Of the 15 major crops that stand between us and starvation, ten are grasses. No matter where you live, you would be hard put to walk outside your door and not find grasses within a very short distance. Grasses are immensely common and immensely important.
Misconceptions about grasses abound. “They have no flowers!” one hears. This is not true. Grasses do have flowers just as roses and daisies have flowers; the only ‘difference is that they are small and inconspicuous and differ slightly in structure. “They have no colour!”
They have no colour!” This is not true; just start looking. “They all look alike!” Also, not true if you look.
“The fruit of the grass family—the gain—is a concentrated source of protein, carbohydrates, and minerals. Being dry, it is easy to store and transport, and thus it has become a significant food source for humans.
The green leafy parts of grass, which we cannot digest, can be eaten by cows and other animals so that even if you eat nothing but hamburger, you are still eating grass. If you eat sugar—you are eating another product of the grass family, the sugar-cane plant. And in the far East, another grass, bamboo, is used for everything from food to construction materials.
One of the most extraordinary features of grass growth is the root system. Sometimes as much as 90 per cent of the weight of the grass plants is the roots.
This concentration of starch and energy below the ground helps grasses to survive the grazing and burning. And it also reduces water loss.

“It reduces water loss” (Paragraph 6). What does “It” refer to?

The first important traveler to India was a Greek named Megasthenes. He lived here for a number of years and wrote about our country and people in his book Indika. This is not available now, but some little pieces are still there. With their help, it is possible to make a picture of India as it was at that time.
About 2400 years ago, Seleukos, a general of Alexander the Great, tried to recapture the territories once held by his master but afterwards conquered by Chandragupta Mourya. Chandragupta defeated him in 305 B. C. The defeated Seleukos sent Megasthenes as his ambassador to Chandragupta's court.
Megasthenes observed our two largest rivers, the Ganges and the Sindhu. These rivers were used for journeys, only during the rainy season they could not be used because they were flooded. Roads were also used, and the best-known road ran from the northwest to Patliputra. It had shady trees, signposts, rest houses, and wells and may be called a forerunner of the present Grand Trunk road.
The numerous trees that grew in India also attracted his attention. The banyan tree whose branches grew downwards and took root particularly charmed him. About the people of India, Megasthenes says that Indians were generally tall and slim. Most people wore a white cotton dress, which contrasted with their dark complexion. The rich, however, wore gaily colored linen clothes. They wore ivory earrings and gold ornaments.
Megasthenes undoubtedly admired the Indian character. He says that the Indians behaved in an orderly manner. They just followed their customs and traditions. They did not care for written contracts. In business deals, they took a man at his word.

Why could the Ganges and the Sindhu not be used?

Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

The first important traveler to India was a Greek named Megasthenes. He lived here for a number of years and wrote about our country and people in his book Indika. This is not available now, but some little pieces are still there. With their help, it is possible to make a picture of India as it was at that time.
About 2400 years ago, Seleukos, a general of Alexander the Great, tried to recapture the territories once held by his master but afterwards conquered by Chandragupta Mourya. Chandragupta defeated him in 305 B. C. The defeated Seleukos sent Megasthenes as his ambassador to Chandragupta's court.
Megasthenes observed our two largest rivers, the Ganges and the Sindhu. These rivers were used for journeys, only during the rainy season they could not be used because they were flooded. Roads were also used, and the best-known road ran from the northwest to Patliputra. It had shady trees, signposts, rest houses, and wells and may be called a forerunner of the present Grand Trunk road.
The numerous trees that grew in India also attracted his attention. The banyan tree whose branches grew downwards and took root particularly charmed him. About the people of India, Megasthenes says that Indians were generally tall and slim. Most people wore a white cotton dress, which contrasted with their dark complexion. The rich, however, wore gaily colored linen clothes. They wore ivory earrings and gold ornaments.
Megasthenes undoubtedly admired the Indian character. He says that the Indians behaved in an orderly manner. They just followed their customs and traditions. They did not care for written contracts. In business deals, they took a man at his word.

How did the Indians decorate themselves in Megasthenes' time?

The first important traveler to India was a Greek named Megasthenes. He lived here for a number of years and wrote about our country and people in his book Indika. This is not available now, but some little pieces are still there. With their help, it is possible to make a picture of India as it was at that time.
About 2400 years ago, Seleukos, a general of Alexander the Great, tried to recapture the territories once held by his master but afterwards conquered by Chandragupta Mourya. Chandragupta defeated him in 305 B. C. The defeated Seleukos sent Megasthenes as his ambassador to Chandragupta's court.
Megasthenes observed our two largest rivers, the Ganges and the Sindhu. These rivers were used for journeys, only during the rainy season they could not be used because they were flooded. Roads were also used, and the best-known road ran from the northwest to Patliputra. It had shady trees, signposts, rest houses, and wells and may be called a forerunner of the present Grand Trunk road.
The numerous trees that grew in India also attracted his attention. The banyan tree whose branches grew downwards and took root particularly charmed him. About the people of India, Megasthenes says that Indians were generally tall and slim. Most people wore a white cotton dress, which contrasted with their dark complexion. The rich, however, wore gaily colored linen clothes. They wore ivory earrings and gold ornaments.
Megasthenes undoubtedly admired the Indian character. He says that the Indians behaved in an orderly manner. They just followed their customs and traditions. They did not care for written contracts. In business deals, they took a man at his word.

How does Megasthenes support the fact that the Indians were disciplined and honest?

The first important traveler to India was a Greek named Megasthenes. He lived here for a number of years and wrote about our country and people in his book Indika. This is not available now, but some little pieces are still there. With their help, it is possible to make a picture of India as it was at that time.
About 2400 years ago, Seleukos, a general of Alexander the Great, tried to recapture the territories once held by his master but afterwards conquered by Chandragupta Mourya. Chandragupta defeated him in 305 B. C. The defeated Seleukos sent Megasthenes as his ambassador to Chandragupta's court.
Megasthenes observed our two largest rivers, the Ganges and the Sindhu. These rivers were used for journeys, only during the rainy season they could not be used because they were flooded. Roads were also used, and the best-known road ran from the northwest to Patliputra. It had shady trees, signposts, rest houses, and wells and may be called a forerunner of the present Grand Trunk road.
The numerous trees that grew in India also attracted his attention. The banyan tree whose branches grew downwards and took root particularly charmed him. About the people of India, Megasthenes says that Indians were generally tall and slim. Most people wore a white cotton dress, which contrasted with their dark complexion. The rich, however, wore gaily colored linen clothes. They wore ivory earrings and gold ornaments.
Megasthenes undoubtedly admired the Indian character. He says that the Indians behaved in an orderly manner. They just followed their customs and traditions. They did not care for written contracts. In business deals, they took a man at his word.

Which of the following options is correct?

According to the author, the Ganges and the Sindhu could not be used in the rainy season because:

(i) They were flooded.
(ii) They were full of crocodiles.
(iii) There were roads to be used.
(iv) There were no boats.

The first important traveler to India was a Greek named Megasthenes. He lived here for a number of years and wrote about our country and people in his book Indika. This is not available now, but some little pieces are still there. With their help, it is possible to make a picture of India as it was at that time.
About 2400 years ago, Seleukos, a general of Alexander the Great, tried to recapture the territories once held by his master but afterwards conquered by Chandragupta Mourya. Chandragupta defeated him in 305 B. C. The defeated Seleukos sent Megasthenes as his ambassador to Chandragupta's court.
Megasthenes observed our two largest rivers, the Ganges and the Sindhu. These rivers were used for journeys, only during the rainy season they could not be used because they were flooded. Roads were also used, and the best-known road ran from the northwest to Patliputra. It had shady trees, signposts, rest houses, and wells and may be called a forerunner of the present Grand Trunk road.
The numerous trees that grew in India also attracted his attention. The banyan tree whose branches grew downwards and took root particularly charmed him. About the people of India, Megasthenes says that Indians were generally tall and slim. Most people wore a white cotton dress, which contrasted with their dark complexion. The rich, however, wore gaily colored linen clothes. They wore ivory earrings and gold ornaments.
Megasthenes undoubtedly admired the Indian character. He says that the Indians behaved in an orderly manner. They just followed their customs and traditions. They did not care for written contracts. In business deals, they took a man at his word.

Which of the following opinion is correct?

Many people wore a cotton dress because:

(i) They were poor.
(ii) It covered their head.
(iii) It contrasted with their complexion.
(iv) The passage does not tell us.

The first important traveler to India was a Greek named Megasthenes. He lived here for a number of years and wrote about our country and people in his book Indika. This is not available now, but some little pieces are still there. With their help, it is possible to make a picture of India as it was at that time.
About 2400 years ago, Seleukos, a general of Alexander the Great, tried to recapture the territories once held by his master but afterwards conquered by Chandragupta Mourya. Chandragupta defeated him in 305 B. C. The defeated Seleukos sent Megasthenes as his ambassador to Chandragupta's court.
Megasthenes observed our two largest rivers, the Ganges and the Sindhu. These rivers were used for journeys, only during the rainy season they could not be used because they were flooded. Roads were also used, and the best-known road ran from the northwest to Patliputra. It had shady trees, signposts, rest houses, and wells and may be called a forerunner of the present Grand Trunk road.
The numerous trees that grew in India also attracted his attention. The banyan tree whose branches grew downwards and took root particularly charmed him. About the people of India, Megasthenes says that Indians were generally tall and slim. Most people wore a white cotton dress, which contrasted with their dark complexion. The rich, however, wore gaily colored linen clothes. They wore ivory earrings and gold ornaments.
Megasthenes undoubtedly admired the Indian character. He says that the Indians behaved in an orderly manner. They just followed their customs and traditions. They did not care for written contracts. In business deals, they took a man at his word.

Frame two questions on the basis of the underlined part of the passage.

The first important traveler to India was a Greek named Megasthenes. He lived here for a number of years and wrote about our country and people in his book Indika. This is not available now, but some little pieces are still there. With their help, it is possible to make a picture of India as it was at that time.
About 2400 years ago, Seleukos, a general of Alexander the Great, tried to recapture the territories once held by his master but afterwards conquered by Chandragupta Mourya. Chandragupta defeated him in 305 B. C. The defeated Seleukos sent Megasthenes as his ambassador to Chandragupta's court.
Megasthenes observed our two largest rivers, the Ganges and the Sindhu. These rivers were used for journeys, only during the rainy season they could not be used because they were flooded. Roads were also used, and the best-known road ran from the northwest to Patliputra. It had shady trees, signposts, rest houses, and wells and may be called a forerunner of the present Grand Trunk road.
The numerous trees that grew in India also attracted his attention. The banyan tree whose branches grew downwards and took root particularly charmed him. About the people of India, Megasthenes says that Indians were generally tall and slim. Most people wore a white cotton dress, which contrasted with their dark complexion. The rich, however, wore gaily colored linen clothes. They wore ivory earrings and gold ornaments.
Megasthenes undoubtedly admired the Indian character. He says that the Indians behaved in an orderly manner. They just followed their customs and traditions. They did not care for written contracts. In business deals, they took a man at his word.

Find out the words from the passage which mean the same as the following:

Many (Para 4)

The first important traveler to India was a Greek named Megasthenes. He lived here for a number of years and wrote about our country and people in his book Indika. This is not available now, but some little pieces are still there. With their help, it is possible to make a picture of India as it was at that time.
About 2400 years ago, Seleukos, a general of Alexander the Great, tried to recapture the territories once held by his master but afterwards conquered by Chandragupta Mourya. Chandragupta defeated him in 305 B. C. The defeated Seleukos sent Megasthenes as his ambassador to Chandragupta's court.
Megasthenes observed our two largest rivers, the Ganges and the Sindhu. These rivers were used for journeys, only during the rainy season they could not be used because they were flooded. Roads were also used, and the best-known road ran from the northwest to Patliputra. It had shady trees, signposts, rest houses, and wells and may be called a forerunner of the present Grand Trunk road.
The numerous trees that grew in India also attracted his attention. The banyan tree whose branches grew downwards and took root particularly charmed him. About the people of India, Megasthenes says that Indians were generally tall and slim. Most people wore a white cotton dress, which contrasted with their dark complexion. The rich, however, wore gaily colored linen clothes. They wore ivory earrings and gold ornaments.
Megasthenes undoubtedly admired the Indian character. He says that the Indians behaved in an orderly manner. They just followed their customs and traditions. They did not care for written contracts. In business deals, they took a man at his word.

Find out the words from the passage which mean the same as the following:

Certainly (Para 5)