Read the following passage and answer the question.
A pioneer leader for women's rights, Susan B. Anthony became one of the leading women reformers of the nineteenth century. In Rochester, New York, she began her first public crusade on behalf of temperance. The temperance movement dealt with the abuses of women and children who suffered from alcoholic husbands. Also, she worked tirelessly against slavery and for women's rights. Anthony helped write the history of woman suffrage.
At the time Anthony lived, women did not have the right to vote. Because she voted in the 1872 election, a U.S. Marshall arrested Anthony. She hoped to prove that women had the legal right to vote under the provisions of the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments to the Constitution. At her trial, a hostile federal judge found her guilty and fined her $100, which she refused to pay.
Anthony did not work alone. She collaborated with reformers of women's rights such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Amelia Bloomer. Susan worked for the American Anti-Slavery Society with Frederick Douglass, a fugitive slave and black abolitionist. On July 2, 1979, the U.S. Mint honored her work by issuing the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin. Although Anthony did not live to see the fruits of her efforts, the establishment of the nineteenth amendment is indebted to her efforts.
An effective reformer is-
At the time Anthony lived, women did not have the right to vote. Because she voted in the 1872 election, a U.S. Marshall arrested Anthony. She hoped to prove that women had the legal right to vote under the provisions of the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments to the Constitution. At her trial, a hostile federal judge found her guilty and fined her $100, which she refused to pay.
Anthony did not work alone. She collaborated with reformers of women's rights such as Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Amelia Bloomer. Susan worked for the American Anti-Slavery Society with Frederick Douglass, a fugitive slave and black abolitionist. On July 2, 1979, the U.S. Mint honored her work by issuing the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin. Although Anthony did not live to see the fruits of her efforts, the establishment of the nineteenth amendment is indebted to her efforts.
Important Questions on Reading Comprehension
Directions: Read the given comprehension carefully and answer the question that follows.
While federalism is a grand, macro- constitutional concept, its operational reality is the creation, operationalisation and imbibing of the culture of local self- government, including municipal self- administration. If the federal concept is the chariot, the Constitution its majestic horse and the organs of state its harmonious wheels, then local self- government and panchayati raj alone can qualify as the ultimate destination of this chariot. The Indian irony- some would rightly call it tragedy-was that although Panchayati Raj had been an integral part of rural India and although panchayats had played a key role for centuries in maintaining social order in Indian villages, the institution had virtually died during centuries of colonial rule and existed only on paper in an anaemic condition till the late Rajiv Gandhi decided to revitalize, reinvigorate and reinstall ancient India's established forms of self-governance. He not only personally set up a High Powered apex Committee for revitalization of panchayati raj but zealously followed up its recommendations to ensure their implementation. His untiring commitment to the cause led to the enactment of the 73rd and 74th Constitution (Amendment) Act in 1992, respectively for rural and urban areas.Despite its many imperfections, the result of this constitutional impulse has been electrifying. India has over 2,50,000 elected panchayats involving over 3.2 million elected representatives i.e., more than the population of Norway. Within the relatively short span of the last decade, over 1.2 million women now hold elected positions in the panchayat. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes which had experienced participatory democracy only in name or on paper or inside mega government reports have found real empowerment and real grassroots participation in decision-making. The structure is intended to be three-tiered with the village assembly (gram sabha) being the foundation of local democracy, followed by the Panchayat samiti at the taluk level and headed by the zilla parishad at the district level. Holding of regular elections has been made mandatory and, while apex institutions like Parliament and State Assemblies still differ over women's reservation, 33 per cent of all seats in panchayat bodies are actually occupied by women. This is apart from and in addition to quota for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and in some states for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
Consider the following statements regarding the above passage.
1. During British Rule PRIs were in anaemic condition.
2. According to our Constitution the destination of the wheels of federalism is the local rural body.
3. In the three tier structure village Panchayat is the base of local democracy.
4. A sizeable number of seats in PRIs are now being held by women.
Choose the correct answer:
While federalism is a grand, macro- constitutional concept, its operational reality is the creation, operationalisation and imbibing of the culture of local self- government, including municipal self- administration. If the federal concept is the chariot, the Constitution its majestic horse and the organs of state its harmonious wheels, then local self- government and panchayati raj alone can qualify as the ultimate destination of this chariot. The Indian irony- some would rightly call it tragedy-was that although Panchayati Raj had been an integral part of rural India and although panchayats had played a key role for centuries in maintaining social order in Indian villages, the institution had virtually died during centuries of colonial rule and existed only on paper in an anaemic condition till the late Rajiv Gandhi decided to revitalize, reinvigorate and reinstall ancient India's established forms of self-governance. He not only personally set up a High Powered apex Committee for revitalization of panchayati raj but zealously followed up its recommendations to ensure their implementation. His untiring commitment to the cause led to the enactment of the 73rd and 74th Constitution (Amendment) Act in 1992, respectively for rural and urban areas.Despite its many imperfections, the result of this constitutional impulse has been electrifying. India has over 2,50,000 elected panchayats involving over 3.2 million elected representatives i.e., more than the population of Norway. Within the relatively short span of the last decade, over 1.2 million women now hold elected positions in the panchayat. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes which had experienced participatory democracy only in name or on paper or inside mega government reports have found real empowerment and real grassroots participation in decision-making. The structure is intended to be three-tiered with the village assembly (gram sabha) being the foundation of local democracy, followed by the Panchayat samiti at the taluk level and headed by the zilla parishad at the district level. Holding of regular elections has been made mandatory and, while apex institutions like Parliament and State Assemblies still differ over women's reservation, 33 per cent of all seats in panchayat bodies are actually occupied by women. This is apart from and in addition to quota for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and in some states for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
According to the passage what had been the after effects of 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments?
1. The number of elected people is equivalent to the population of a Scandinavian country.
2. The marginalized people have become a party to decision-making process.
3. Unlike central and state legislatives, now there are visible representations in Panchayat Raj Institutions.
Choose the correct answer:
While federalism is a grand, macro- constitutional concept, its operational reality is the creation, operationalisation and imbibing of the culture of local self- government, including municipal self- administration. If the federal concept is the chariot, the Constitution its majestic horse and the organs of state its harmonious wheels, then local self- government and panchayati raj alone can qualify as the ultimate destination of this chariot. The Indian irony- some would rightly call it tragedy-was that although Panchayati Raj had been an integral part of rural India and although panchayats had played a key role for centuries in maintaining social order in Indian villages, the institution had virtually died during centuries of colonial rule and existed only on paper in an anaemic condition till the late Rajiv Gandhi decided to revitalize, reinvigorate and reinstall ancient India's established forms of self-governance. He not only personally set up a High Powered apex Committee for revitalization of panchayati raj but zealously followed up its recommendations to ensure their implementation. His untiring commitment to the cause led to the enactment of the 73rd and 74th Constitution (Amendment) Act in 1992, respectively for rural and urban areas.Despite its many imperfections, the result of this constitutional impulse has been electrifying. India has over 2,50,000 elected panchayats involving over 3.2 million elected representatives i.e., more than the population of Norway. Within the relatively short span of the last decade, over 1.2 million women now hold elected positions in the panchayat. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes which had experienced participatory democracy only in name or on paper or inside mega government reports have found real empowerment and real grassroots participation in decision-making. The structure is intended to be three-tiered with the village assembly (gram sabha) being the foundation of local democracy, followed by the Panchayat samiti at the taluk level and headed by the zilla parishad at the district level. Holding of regular elections has been made mandatory and, while apex institutions like Parliament and State Assemblies still differ over women's reservation, 33 per cent of all seats in panchayat bodies are actually occupied by women. This is apart from and in addition to quota for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and in some states for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
Of the following what is Correct about federalism?
While federalism is a grand, macro- constitutional concept, its operational reality is the creation, operationalisation and imbibing of the culture of local self- government, including municipal self- administration. If the federal concept is the chariot, the Constitution its majestic horse and the organs of state its harmonious wheels, then local self- government and panchayati raj alone can qualify as the ultimate destination of this chariot. The Indian irony- some would rightly call it tragedy-was that although Panchayati Raj had been an integral part of rural India and although panchayats had played a key role for centuries in maintaining social order in Indian villages, the institution had virtually died during centuries of colonial rule and existed only on paper in an anaemic condition till the late Rajiv Gandhi decided to revitalize, reinvigorate and reinstall ancient India's established forms of self-governance. He not only personally set up a High Powered apex Committee for revitalization of panchayati raj but zealously followed up its recommendations to ensure their implementation. His untiring commitment to the cause led to the enactment of the 73rd and 74th Constitution (Amendment) Act in 1992, respectively for rural and urban areas.Despite its many imperfections, the result of this constitutional impulse has been electrifying. India has over 2,50,000 elected panchayats involving over 3.2 million elected representatives i.e., more than the population of Norway. Within the relatively short span of the last decade, over 1.2 million women now hold elected positions in the panchayat. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes which had experienced participatory democracy only in name or on paper or inside mega government reports have found real empowerment and real grassroots participation in decision-making. The structure is intended to be three-tiered with the village assembly (gram sabha) being the foundation of local democracy, followed by the Panchayat samiti at the taluk level and headed by the zilla parishad at the district level. Holding of regular elections has been made mandatory and, while apex institutions like Parliament and State Assemblies still differ over women's reservation, 33 per cent of all seats in panchayat bodies are actually occupied by women. This is apart from and in addition to quota for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and in some states for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
What are the contributions of Late Rajiv Gandhi that led to make two progressive enactments?
1. He persuaded the parliamentarians to support the Bill that led to passing of 73rd and 74th Constitution Amendment Act.
2. He took active interest in follow-up action of the Committee recommendation.
Choose the correct answer:
While federalism is a grand, macro- constitutional concept, its operational reality is the creation, operationalisation and imbibing of the culture of local self- government, including municipal self- administration. If the federal concept is the chariot, the Constitution its majestic horse and the organs of state its harmonious wheels, then local self- government and panchayati raj alone can qualify as the ultimate destination of this chariot. The Indian irony- some would rightly call it tragedy-was that although Panchayati Raj had been an integral part of rural India and although panchayats had played a key role for centuries in maintaining social order in Indian villages, the institution had virtually died during centuries of colonial rule and existed only on paper in an anaemic condition till the late Rajiv Gandhi decided to revitalize, reinvigorate and reinstall ancient India's established forms of self-governance. He not only personally set up a High Powered apex Committee for revitalization of panchayati raj but zealously followed up its recommendations to ensure their implementation. His untiring commitment to the cause led to the enactment of the 73rd and 74th Constitution (Amendment) Act in 1992, respectively for rural and urban areas.Despite its many imperfections, the result of this constitutional impulse has been electrifying. India has over 2,50,000 elected panchayats involving over 3.2 million elected representatives i.e., more than the population of Norway. Within the relatively short span of the last decade, over 1.2 million women now hold elected positions in the panchayat. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes which had experienced participatory democracy only in name or on paper or inside mega government reports have found real empowerment and real grassroots participation in decision-making. The structure is intended to be three-tiered with the village assembly (gram sabha) being the foundation of local democracy, followed by the Panchayat samiti at the taluk level and headed by the zilla parishad at the district level. Holding of regular elections has been made mandatory and, while apex institutions like Parliament and State Assemblies still differ over women's reservation, 33 per cent of all seats in panchayat bodies are actually occupied by women. This is apart from and in addition to quota for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and in some states for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
According to the passage what were the drawbacks of the so called 'participatory democracy' prior to 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment?
1. Some records of government had made recommendations for this effect but were never put to practice till date.
2. Through some paper work and mega reports, government had done its homework properly, and it was just a matter of days before it could be realised.
3. Marginalized class were given these rights and privileges (Participatory role) in theory but not in practice. Choose the correct answer:
Direction-Read the passage carefully and answer the given questions.
Presently, global warming, extinction of biodiversity, worldwide food shortages and spiralling food grain prices have resurrected the specter of a hungry world, roiled with unrest and political upheavals. Several theories have also been brought out of the closet to explain, or rationalize, this haunting vision. World biodiversity has declined by almost one third in the past 35 years mainly due to habitat loss and the wildlife trade, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said on 16th May 2008. It warned that climate change would lead increasingly to the wildlife woes over the next three decades. Some scientists see the loss of plants, animals and insects as the start of the sixth great species wipe out in the Earth's history, the last being in the age of the dinosaurs which disappeared 130 million years ago and since then, no rate of extinction has been observed as yet.
The technological bind of improved varieties is that they eliminate the resource upon which they are based. Since the past 10,000 years, crop plants have proliferated to an innumerable number of locally adapted genotypes. These land-races and folk varieties of indigenous and peasant agriculture have been the genetic reservoir for the plant breeder in crop improvement. Suddenly this genetic diversity is being replaced with a relatively small number of varieties bred for high yield and other adaptations necessary for high input agriculture. In addition, the scarcity of land is forcing changes in land use and agro practices resulting in the disappearance of habitat which harbor the wild progenitors / weedy forms of our basic food plants. As a result of these two trends, there is urgent need to collect and conserve the diverse genetic materials that remain. In a world where per capita resources are decreasing on pace with growing human population, the concept of a sustainable future is becoming a matter of great concern. Biological diversity is one of the components of any sustainable future that includes all the organisms and safeguarding them through scientific skill should be our goal.
According to the passage what is the apprehension made by the scientists regarding extinction of some plants and animals species?
1. Global warming would lead increasingly to the wildlife woes over the next three decades.
2. Loss of plants, animals and insects will be the end of the sixth great species wipe-out.
3. The sixth great species wipeout in the earth's history was the disappearance of dinosaurs.
Choose the correct answer:
Direction-Read the passage carefully and answer the given questions.
Presently, global warming, extinction of biodiversity, worldwide food shortages and spiralling food grain prices have resurrected the specter of a hungry world, roiled with unrest and political upheavals. Several theories have also been brought out of the closet to explain, or rationalize, this haunting vision. World biodiversity has declined by almost one third in the past 35 years mainly due to habitat loss and the wildlife trade, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said on 16th May 2008. It warned that climate change would lead increasingly to the wildlife woes over the next three decades. Some scientists see the loss of plants, animals and insects as the start of the sixth great species wipe out in the Earth's history, the last being in the age of the dinosaurs which disappeared 130 million years ago and since then, no rate of extinction has been observed as yet.
The technological bind of improved varieties is that they eliminate the resource upon which they are based. Since the past 10,000 years, crop plants have proliferated to an innumerable number of locally adapted genotypes. These land races and folk varieties of indigenous and peasant agriculture have been the genetic reservoir for the plant breeder in crop improvement. Suddenly this genetic diversity is being replaced with a relatively small number of varieties bred for high yield and other adaptations necessary for high input agriculture. In addition, the scarcity of land is forcing changes in land use and agro-practices resulting in the disappearance of habitat which harbor the wild progenitors/weedy forms of our basic food plants. As a result of these two trends, there is urgent need to collect and conserve the diverse genetic materials that remain. In a world where per capita resources are decreasing on pace with growing human population, the concept of a sustainable future is becoming a matter of great concern. Biological diversity is one of the components of any sustainable future that includes all the organisms and safeguarding them through scientific skill should be our goal.
According to the passage there are important and direct causes for the loss of biodiversity. Some causes are...
1. Global warming which has led to extinction of several species.
2. Political upheavals have also been a major factor that has contributed to loss of biodiversity.
3. There has been illegal trade of wild animals.
4. Habitat loss has also been an important factor behind loss of biodiversity.
Choose the correct answer:
Directions: Read the given comprehension carefully and answer the question that follows.
Presently, global warming, extinction of biodiversity, worldwide food shortages and spiralling food grain prices have resurrected the specter of a hungry world, roiled with unrest and political upheavals. Several theories have also been brought out of the closet to explain, or rationalize, this haunting vision. World biodiversity has declined by almost one third in the past 35 years mainly due to habitat loss and the wildlife trade, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said on 16th May 2008. It warned that climate change would lead increasingly to the wildlife woes over the next three decades. Some scientists see the loss of plants, animals and insects as the start of the sixth great species wipe out in the Earth's history, the last being in the age of the dinosaurs which disappeared 130 million years ago and since then, no rate of extinction has been observed as yet.
The technological bind of improved varieties is that they eliminate the resource upon which they are based. Since the past 10,000 years, crop plants have proliferated to an innumerable number of locally adapted genotypes. These land races and folk varieties of indigenous and peasant agriculture have been the genetic reservoir for the plant breeder in crop improvement. Suddenly this genetic diversity is being replaced with a relatively small number of varieties bred for high yield and other adaptations necessary for high input agriculture. In addition, the scarcity of land is forcing changes in land use and agro-practices resulting in the disappearance of habitat which harbor the wild progenitors/weedy forms of our basic food plants. As a result of these two trends, there is urgent need to collect and conserve the diverse genetic materials that remain. In a world where per capita resources are decreasing on pace with growing human population, the concept of a sustainable future is becoming a matter of great concern. Biological diversity is one of the components of any sustainable future that includes all the organisms and safeguarding them through scientific skill should be our goal.
According to the author why it is important to collect and conserve genetic materials that remain?
1. Scarcity of land has forced the farmers and cultivators to opt for high yielding varieties which require a balanced use of fertilizers and insecticides.
2. Genetic diversity is being replaced by homegrown varieties which require high inputs.
Choose the correct answer:
