Passage:
Kerala is the land of magic, ayurvedic massages, and Kathakali. Most visitors generally begin their sojourn in this lovely state with Kochi. This city reflects the eclecticism of Kerala. Here, you can see the oldest European-built church in India, a small 16th-century synagogue that serves a proportionate community of Jews, and a palace built by the Portuguese, given to the Raja of Cochin and renovated by the Dutch.
Kerala also offers world-class performances of the Kathakali dance drama. A boat trip on the Malabar Coast takes you to Dutch town and fort, an area with good bookshops. Alternatively, you could start with Thiruvananthapuram, which has a laid-back charm. Here, you can visit the Padmanabhaswamy temple, Napier Museum, Puttan Mallika Palace, and beaches like Kovalam.
The backwaters of Kerala, particularly in Alleppey and Allapuzha, are popular tourist attractions. They offer a unique network of canals with houseboat rides. Munnar, with its rolling tea plantations, cool mountain air, and wildlife, is another must-visit destination.
In Thekkady, visitors can explore cardamom, tea, and coffee plantations, along with the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Kerala offers cruises through backwaters, hill treks, Ayurveda retreats, and stunning beaches, making it a unique and refreshing holiday destination.
Complete the following table:
Complete the following table:
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Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Passage
- The passage describes Kerala as a diverse tourist destination offering historical, cultural, and natural attractions.
Step 2: Extracting Key Advantages
- Heritage Sites: Kochi has old European-built churches and synagogues.
- Backwaters & Beaches: Alleppey and Kovalam are perfect for leisure and relaxation.
- Health & Wellness: The state is famous for Ayurveda and rejuvenation therapy.
- Adventure & Wildlife: Thekkady has Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, and Munnar offers mountain treks.
Final Answer:
- Kerala provides a blend of culture, nature, relaxation, and adventure, making it an ideal tourist destination.
Complete the following table:
City Speciality (i) Kochi Historic city with European-built churches, Portuguese palace, and Dutch influence. (ii) Thekkady Famous for Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and cardamom, tea, and coffee plantations. (iii) Thiruvananthapuram Known for Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Napier Museum, and beautiful beaches like Kovalam. (iv) Alleppey Popular for its serene backwaters, houseboat rides, and picturesque canals.
Complete the following table:
| City | Speciality |
| (i) Kochi | Historic city with European-built churches, Portuguese palace, and Dutch influence. |
| (ii) Thekkady | Famous for Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and cardamom, tea, and coffee plantations. |
| (iii) Thiruvananthapuram | Known for Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Napier Museum, and beautiful beaches like Kovalam. |
| (iv) Alleppey | Popular for its serene backwaters, houseboat rides, and picturesque canals. |
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Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Identifying the Specialities of Each City
- Kochi is historically significant due to its European-built churches, Portuguese influences, and the Dutch-renovated palace.
- Thekkady is well-known for Periyar Wildlife Sanctuar, which houses diverse flora and fauna. It is also famous for spice plantations.
- Thiruvananthapuram is home to the famous Padmanabhaswamy Temple, along with Napier Museum and scenic beaches.
- Alleppey is best known for its scenic backwaters and houseboat tourism, offering an unforgettable travel experience.
Match the words in Column 'A' with their meanings in Column 'B':
\[\begin{array}{|c|c|} \hline \textbf{Column 'A'} & \textbf{Column 'B'} \\ \hline \text{(i) Charm} & \text{(c) Magical spell} \\ \hline \text{(ii) Craggy} & \text{(d) Steep} \\ \hline \text{(iii) Reflect} & \text{(a) Throw back light or heat} \\ \hline \text{(iv) Spellbinding} & \text{(b) Enthralling} \\ \hline \end{array}\]
\[\begin{array}{|c|c|} \hline \textbf{Column 'A'} & \textbf{Column 'B'} \\ \hline \text{(i) Charm} & \text{(c) Magical spell} \\ \hline \text{(ii) Craggy} & \text{(d) Steep} \\ \hline \text{(iii) Reflect} & \text{(a) Throw back light or heat} \\ \hline \text{(iv) Spellbinding} & \text{(b) Enthralling} \\ \hline \end{array}\]
Show Hint
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the meanings of the words in Column 'A'
- Charm: Something that has a magical influence or attraction.
- Craggy: Rough, steep, or having many cliffs.
- Reflect: To throw back light, heat, or sound without absorbing it.
- Spellbinding: Something so fascinating or enthralling that it holds full attention.
Step 2: Matching them with Column 'B'
- Charm matches with Magical spell because charm can refer to an object or action with magical influence.
- Craggy matches with Steep because craggy landscapes are rugged and have steep cliffs.
- Reflect matches with Throw back light or heat as this is the correct scientific definition.
- Spellbinding matches with Enthralling because something spellbinding captures full attention and is fascinating.
Replace the underlined word with a suitable synonym:
Sentence: The gigantic elephant moved slowly through the forest.
Replace the underlined word with a suitable synonym:
Sentence: The gigantic elephant moved slowly through the forest.
Solution and Explanation
- The word "gigantic" means very large. A suitable synonym is huge.
- Rewritten sentence: The huge elephant moved slowly through the forest.
Identify the adjective in the given sentence:
Sentence: The charming little house stood at the end of the street.
Sentence: The charming little house stood at the end of the street.
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Solution and Explanation
Why is the tourism industry important for the Indian Economy to flourish?
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Solution and Explanation
1. Employment Generation:
Tourism creates numerous job opportunities in various sectors such as hospitality, transportation, and handicrafts.
2. Foreign Exchange Earnings:
India attracts a significant number of international tourists, leading to an inflow of foreign currency, boosting the economy.
3. Promotion of Cultural Heritage:
Tourism helps in preserving and promoting India's diverse cultural and historical heritage, enhancing global recognition.
4. Infrastructure Development:
Tourism encourages the development of better infrastructure such as roads, airports, and hotels, benefiting both tourists and locals.
5. Growth of Local Businesses:
Tourists contribute to the growth of local markets by purchasing handicrafts, textiles, and regional products.
Conclusion:
The tourism industry significantly contributes to India's economic growth by creating jobs, generating revenue, and promoting cultural exchange.
Read the passage and write its summary in a paragraph.
Suggest a suitable title.
Suggest a suitable title.
Show Hint
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Passage
- Read the passage carefully and identify the main theme and key points.
- Focus on the most important ideas while removing unnecessary details.
Step 2: Writing the Summary
- Present the key points in a concise and logical order.
- Ensure that the summary is clear and does not include personal opinions.
Step 3: Suggesting a Suitable Title
- The title should reflect the main idea of the passage in a few words.
The Importance of Tourism in India
Tourism plays a vital role in India's economy by contributing to employment, foreign exchange earnings, and cultural promotion. It supports various sectors such as hospitality, transportation, and local businesses. Additionally, it encourages infrastructure development, benefiting both tourists and residents. The industry also helps preserve India's rich heritage and natural beauty, attracting global visitors. Overall, tourism is an essential factor in India's economic and cultural growth.
Top Questions on Reading Comprehension
- The advent of social media has dramatically transformed the way individuals consume and share information. In earlier times, people largely depended on newspapers, radio, or television as their primary sources of knowledge about the world. These were institutions that followed established editorial practices and fact-checking processes. With the rise of digital platforms, however, the traditional ‘gatekeepers’ of information have been bypassed. Today, anyone with internet access can create content, express an opinion, or broadcast an idea to a global audience within seconds.
This shift has certainly democratized access and given voice to communities and individuals who were often ignored by mainstream media. Yet, this democratization comes with challenges. Alongside genuine voices, social media has also amplified misinformation, rumours, and half-truths. Unlike traditional journalism, where accountability and verification are built into the system, social media thrives on speed, virality, and emotion. A misleading headline, a misinterpreted statistic, or even a doctored image can travel across the world before fact-checkers have the chance to intervene.
The consequences of such unchecked information can be serious, ranging from the spread of fear and panic to the manipulation of public opinion. The impact of this transformation extends beyond individual users to institutions and democracies. Political campaigns, corporate branding, and even social movements are now shaped by algorithms that decide what people see and when they see it. These algorithms prioritize engagement, often promoting content that provokes stronger emotional reactions rather than balanced analysis.
As a result, echo chambers form, online spaces where people are repeatedly exposed to opinions that mirror their own, reinforcing biases and reducing openness to differing perspectives. This has contributed to increasing polarization in societies across the world. Moreover, the competition for attention has blurred the line between information and entertainment, leading to the rise of sensationalism even in serious public discourse. The credibility of expertise too has been undermined, as opinions from unverified sources are often placed on the same footing as evidence-based knowledge.
In response, several governments and technology companies are exploring ways to promote digital literacy, enhance transparency in algorithms, and strengthen fact-checking collaborations. Ultimately, the challenge lies in balancing the openness of digital spaces with mechanisms that ensure responsibility and trustworthiness in public communication.- AILET BALLB (Hons.) - 2026
- English
- Reading Comprehension
- I have still to be brother to a Prince, though I once came near to kinship with what might have been a veritable King, and was promised the reversion of a Kingdom, army, law-courts, revenue, and policy, all complete. But, today, I greatly fear that my King is dead, and if I want a crown I must go and hunt it for myself. The beginning of everything was in a railway train upon the road to Mhow from Ajmir. There had been a deficit in the Budget, which necessitated travelling, not Second class, which is only half as dear as First class, but by Intermediate, which is very awful indeed. There are no cushions in the Intermediate class, and the population is either Intermediate, which is Eurasian, or native, which for a long night journey is nasty; or Loafer, which is amusing though intoxicated. Intermediates do not patronize refreshment rooms. They carry their food in bundles and pots, and buy sweets from the native sweet meat sellers, and drink the roadside water. That is why in the hot weather Intermediates are taken out of the carriages dead, and in all weathers are most properly looked down upon.
My particular Intermediate happened to be empty till I reached Nasirabad, when a huge gentleman in shirt sleeves entered, and following the custom of Intermediates, passed the time of day. He was a wanderer and a vagabond like myself, but with an educated taste for alcohol. He told daring tales of things he had seen and done, of out-of-the-way corners of the Empire into which he had penetrated, and of adventures in which he risked his life for a few days’ food. “If India was filled with men like you and me, not knowing more than the crows where they’d get their next day’s rations, it isn’t seventy millions of revenue the land would be paying, it’s seven hundred millions,” said he; and as I looked at his mouth and chin I was disposed to agree with him.
We talked politics, the politics of Loaferdom that sees things from the underside where the lath and plaster is not smoothed off, and we talked postal arrangements because my friend wanted to send a telegram back from the next station to Ajmir, which is the turning off place from the Bombay to the Mhow line as you travel westward. He had the air of one who had seen strange countries and stranger men, yet bore himself without vanity. There was a restless light in his eyes, the sort that belongs to men who have lived too long without a fixed purpose. When he spoke of the Empire, it was not with loyalty nor with bitterness, but with the detached amusement of one who has played his part and lost interest in the game. His laughter came easily, though it seemed to echo from some remembered hardship. It struck me then that his stories were less of adventure than of survival.- AILET BALLB (Hons.) - 2026
- English
- Reading Comprehension
Democracy, often hailed as the most equitable form of governance, is a system where power ultimately rests in the hands of the people. The word derives from the Greek words ”demos” meaning people and ”kratos” meaning power or rule. Democracy aims to provide equal political participation and protect the individual freedoms of all citizens. However, while the idea of democracy is simple, its practice is frequently complex and fraught with challenges. At its core, democracy functions on the principle of majority rule, yet it simultaneously guarantees the protection of minority rights.
This balance ensures that while the majority has the power to make decisions through voting, the fundamental rights of minorities are not trampled upon. Such a system requires consistent vigilance and respect for the rule of law. Without these, democracies can devolve into majoritarian tyranny or authoritarianism. The practice of democracy is not merely limited to voting in elections. It encompasses freedom of speech, an independent judiciary, free press, and protection of individual rights. These elements together create a political environment where citizens can express dissent, hold leaders accountable, and participate actively in decision-making. When any component is weakened, the democratic process becomes vulnerable.
In recent times, democratic societies worldwide have grappled with new challenges. The rise of misinformation and fake news has eroded public trust in institutions and polarized societies. Social media platforms, meant to facilitate communication, have sometimes amplified divisive narratives and falsehoods. This has resulted in voter manipulation and a growing skepticism toward democratic processes. Literacy in media and critical thinking is increasingly vital to safeguard democracy from such threats. Economic inequality poses another significant challenge. While democracy promises equal rights politically, vast disparities in wealth and opportunity undermine this ideal.
This phenomenon raises questions about whether democracy is achievable without addressing socioeconomic inequalities. Furthermore, the involvement of citizens is crucial. Democracy requires that people are informed, engaged, and willing to participate beyond casting votes. Civic education and awareness campaigns play an essential role in nurturing responsible citizenship. Apathy or disengagement weakens the democratic fabric, opening avenues for corruption and other dangers to the system. In conclusion, democracy thrives on the collective responsibility of governments and citizens to protect its pillars and ensure inclusive, fair governance.- AILET BALLB (Hons.) - 2026
- English
- Reading Comprehension
The Rule of Law
by Tom BinghamJustice: What’s the Right Thing to Do?
by Michael J. SandelLetters to a Law Student
by Nicholas J. McBrideIn The Rule of Law, former Lord Chief Justice Tom Bingham explores how the principle of legality underpins modern democratic life. He defines the rule of law as more than just adherence to formal rules; it is the assurance that power is exercised within clear, fair, and publicly known boundaries.
Bingham distills the concept into eight principles, including equality before the law, access to justice, and respect for fundamental human rights. Drawing on cases and historical examples, he warns that national security and administrative efficiency must never override the rights of individuals.
The book bridges legal philosophy and practice, arguing that law must be both predictable and humane. For Bingham, the rule of law represents a moral ideal, one that sustains public trust in justice and curbs arbitrary governance.Michael Sandel’s Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? examines moral reasoning in law and politics. Through examples like price gouging, affirmative action, and taxation, Sandel invites readers to explore competing notions of fairness.
He engages with philosophical traditions such as utilitarianism, libertarianism, and Rawlsian egalitarianism, showing that questions of justice cannot be separated from questions of virtue and the common good.
Sandel rejects the idea of a morally “neutral” legal system, arguing that public deliberation about values is essential to democracy. Ultimately, he argues that a just society is one that cultivates civic responsibility, not merely individual rights.Nicholas McBride’s Letters to a Law Student is a practical and reflective guide for aspiring lawyers. Written as a series of letters to a student beginning law school, it explores what legal study truly involves.
This includes mastering case analysis, understanding precedents, and developing critical reasoning. McBride distinguishes between knowing the law and thinking like a lawyer, the latter requiring analytical discipline and ethical awareness.
He emphasizes that good lawyers combine intellectual rigor with moral judgment and clarity of expression. Beyond academic success, the book urges students to reflect on law’s purpose, balancing order, justice, and compassion in human affairs.- AILET BALLB (Hons.) - 2026
- English
- Reading Comprehension
Urban gardening has become increasingly popular as a means to address food security, sustainability, and mental well-being in cities. By growing their own fruits, vegetables, and herbs, individuals can reduce their reliance on commercial supply chains that contribute to extensive transportation, energy consumption, and synthetic chemical use. In addition to providing fresh, nutritious food, urban gardening also contributes to environmental sustainability by mitigating urban heat island effects, improving air quality, and managing water runoff. Furthermore, it offers psychological benefits, including reduced stress, improved mood, and a sense of accomplishment. Despite its many benefits, urban gardening faces challenges like space limitations, poor soil quality, and inadequate sunlight, which gardeners overcome using innovative techniques such as vertical farming and hydroponics.
- AILET BALLB (Hons.) - 2026
- English
- Reading Comprehension
Questions Asked in Maharashtra Class X Board exam
- Out of the following which is a Pythagorean triplet ?
- Complete the word chain of nouns:
Podium, m .........., .........., .........., .......... - \(\triangle\)ABC \(\sim\) \(\triangle\)PQR. In \(\triangle\)ABC, AB = 3.6 cm, BC = 4 cm and AC = 4.2 cm. The corresponding sides of \(\triangle\)ABC and \(\triangle\)PQR are in the ratio 2 : 3, construct \(\triangle\)ABC and \(\triangle\)PQR.
- Maharashtra Class X Board - 2025
- Constructions
- Explain the following statement with reasons
Foucault called his method, ‘the archaeology of knowledge’.- Maharashtra Class X Board - 2025
- History Writing and Historiography of Ancient India
- If radius of cone is 5 cm and its perpendicular height is 12 cm, then the slant height is ...................... .