The slimy brown earthworms that crawl about our fields and gardens are among the humblest of nature's creatures. They are not certainly beautiful to look at, nor do they appear to be of any used to man. Yet these little worms are farmers' best friend, for they are nature's plowmen. As they move in and out of the ground, they turn over the soil, again and again, to keep it soft and fertile. Lands in which these worms have been destroyed perhaps by flood, become hard and lose their fertility.
Worms live about a foot and a half underground, and it is this top layer of soil that is affected by their presence. They usually come out to feed at night as in the daytime their many enemies, birds, frogs, lizards would make short work of them. As they push down into the ground, they fill their mouth with the earth, which passes through the body and comes out from the tail in what is called a worm cast. This constant formation of hundreds and thousands of tiny coils of the earth helps to crumble the surface and brings up new layers of soil on which plants can feed. Moreover, as the worms tunnel into the ground, their burrows form air passages for the soil and soften it; so that the tender young roots can make their way down. The worms also drag down leaves the arid decaying vegetable matter to feed on and in this way too, they help to fertilize the soil.
Each little worm individually may seem too small to be a really useful plowmen for man's purposes, but the work of countless millions of busy worms helps to keep the whole surface of the earth constantly cultivated.

Find opposite words for the following from the extract:

Ugly

Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

The slimy brown earthworms that crawl about our fields and gardens are among the humblest of nature's creatures. They are not certainly beautiful to look at, nor do they appear to be of any used to man. Yet these little worms are farmers' best friend, for they are nature's plowmen. As they move in and out of the ground, they turn over the soil, again and again, to keep it soft and fertile. Lands in which these worms have been destroyed perhaps by flood, become hard and lose their fertility.
Worms live about a foot and a half underground, and it is this top layer of soil that is affected by their presence. They usually come out to feed at night as in the daytime their many enemies, birds, frogs, lizards would make short work of them. As they push down into the ground, they fill their mouth with the earth, which passes through the body and comes out from the tail in what is called a worm cast. This constant formation of hundreds and thousands of tiny coils of the earth helps to crumble the surface and brings up new layers of soil on which plants can feed. Moreover, as the worms tunnel into the ground, their burrows form air passages for the soil and soften it; so that the tender young roots can make their way down. The worms also drag down leaves the arid decaying vegetable matter to feed on and in this way too, they help to fertilize the soil.
Each little worm individually may seem too small to be a really useful plowmen for man's purposes, but the work of countless millions of busy worms helps to keep the whole surface of the earth constantly cultivated.

Find opposite word for the following:

Absence

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:

Vast areas of the earth are covered by grass. Of the 15 major crops that stand between us and starvation, 10 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 color!”
They have no color!" 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 major 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 other products 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 percent of the weight of the grass plants is the roots.
This concentration of starch and energy below the ground helps grasses to survive grazing and burning and it reduces water loss.

“You would be hard put to walk outside your door and not find grasses within a very short distance,” means it would be: (Tick the correct answer)

1. Hard to walk outside when there is grass growing very near.
2. Difficult not to find grasses outside your door.
3. Hard not to walk on grasses.
4. Difficult to find grasses growing outside your door.

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:

Vast areas of the earth are covered by grass. Of the 15 major crops that stand between us and starvation, 10 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 major 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 other products 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 feature of grass growth is the root system. Sometimes as much as 90 percent of the weight of the grass plants is the roots.
This concentration of starch and energy below the ground helps grasses to survive grazing and burning and it reduces water loss.

Give three characteristics that make grass an important food.

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.

“Even if you eat nothing but hamburger you are still eating grass” means:

1. You should eat only hamburgers and not grass.
2. The hamburger contains grass and should not be eaten.
3. By eating a hamburger, you are eating grass grain.
4. Nothing but hamburgers should be eaten. 

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.

What is the factor that enables grass to survive so well?

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?