English Reading Comprehension Set-16 #comprehension #class10English #class11English #Class12English #eduvictors

 English Reading Comprehension Set-16

Question:  Read the passage given below.

1. Maharana Pratap ruled over Mewar only for 25 years. However, he accomplished so much grandeur during his reign that his glory surpassed the boundaries of countries and time turning him into an immortal personality. He along with his kingdom became a synonym for valour, sacrifice and patriotism. Mewar had been a leading Rajput kingdom even before Maharana Pratap occupied the throne. Kings of Mewar, with the cooperation of their nobles and subjects, had established such traditions in the kingdom, as augmented their magnificence despite the hurdles of having a smaller area under their command and less population. There did come a few thorny occasions when the flag of the kingdom seemed sliding down. Their flag once again heaved high in the sky thanks to the gallantry and brilliance of the people of Mewar.

2. The destiny of Mewar was good in the sense that barring a few kings, most of the rulers were competent and patriotic. This glorious tradition of the kingdom almost continued for 1500 years since its establishment, right from the reign of Bappa Rawal. In fact only 60 years before Maharana Pratap, Rana Sanga drove the kingdom to the pinnacle of fame. His reputation went beyond Rajasthan and reached Delhi. Two generations before him, Rana Kumbha had given a new stature to the kingdom through victories and developmental work. During his reign, literature and art also progressed extraordinarily. Rana himself was inclined towards writing and his works are read with reverence even today. The ambience of his kingdom was conducive to the creation of high quality work of art and literature. These accomplishments were the outcome of a longstanding tradition sustained by several generations.

3. The life of the people of Mewar must have been peaceful and prosperous during the long span of time; otherwise such extraordinary accomplishment in these fields would not have been possible. This is reflected in their art and literature as well as their loving nature. They compensate for lack of admirable physique by their firm but pleasant nature. The ambience of Mewar remains lovely thanks to the cheerful and liberal character of its people.

4. One may observe astonishing pieces of workmanship not only in the forts and palaces of Mewar but also in public utility buildings. Ruins of many structures which are still standing tall in their grandeur are testimony to the fact that Mewar was not only the land of the brave but also a seat of art and culture. Amidst aggression and bloodshed, literature and art flourished and creative pursuits of literature and artists did not suffer. Imagine, how glorious the period must have been when the Vijaya Stambha which is the sample of our great ancient architecture even today, was constructed. In the same fort, Kirti Stambha is standing high, reflecting how liberal the then administration was which allowed people from other communities and kingdoms to come and carry out construction work. It is useless to indulge in the debate whether the Vijaya Stambha was constructed first or the Kirti Stambha. The fact is that both the capitals are standing side by side and reveal the proximity between the king and the subjects of Mewar.

5. The cycle of time does not remain the same. Whereas the reign of Rana Sanga was crucial in raising the kingdom to the acme of glory, it also proved to be his nemesis. History took a turn. The fortune of Mewar–the land of the brave, started waning. Rana tried to save the day with his acumen which was running against the stream and the glorious traditions for sometime.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the following questions:

(i) Who is the earliest king of Mewar mentioned in the passage?

(ii) What was Rana Kumbha’s contribution to the glory of Mewar?

(iii) What does the writer find worth admiration in the people of Mewar?

(iv) How could art and literature flourish in Mewar?

(v) How did the rulers show that they cared for their subjects?

(vi) “Maharana Pratap became an immortal.” Why? State a valid reason.

(vii) Rewrite the given sentence by replacing the underlined phrase with another one, from paragraph 4.

The fact is that both the capitals are standing shoulder to shoulder and reveal the proximity between the king and subjects of Mewar.

(viii) According to the writer, why was Mewar considered lucky?

(ix) Select a suitable phrase from paragraph 1 to complete the following sentence appropriately.

Perhaps the young boy is embarrassed about ____________ the stair rail and blames me for encouraging him.

Answers:

(i) The first ruler of Mewar named in the scripture is Bappa Rawal. Around 1500 years ago, he began his rule.

(ii) Rana Kumbha elevated Mewar's kingdom to unprecedented heights. During his rule, literature and art flourished. He had a strong desire to write. Even now, his works are read with veneration.

(iii) Mewar's people may live in peace and prosperity. Their art, literature, and loving nature all reflect this. People's pleasant personalities compensate for their lack of attractiveness.

(iv) Mewar's environment was ideal for producing high-quality works of art and literature. They thrived in the midst of violence and bloodshed.

(v) Aside from Mewar's forts and palaces, the public utility buildings also have some interesting architecture. These constructions show that the monarchs were concerned about their subjects.

(vi) Because he ruled Mewar for 25 years and contributed a great deal of magnificence to the city, Maharana Pratap became immortal.

(vii) The fact is that two capitals are placed side by side, indicating the king's accessibility to the Mewar subjects.

(viii) The majority of Mewar's monarchs were capable. As a result, the writer saw it as fortunate.

(ix) sliding down

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Reading Comprehension (Set-2)
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