Dear Readers,
Directions (1-10): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it certain words are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
The common house sparrow is one of the most ubiquitous birds around us and is one of the more familiar winged companions of human beings. It has, over a period of time, evolved with us.
At one time a very common sight, in the past few years, this bird has been on the decline over much of its natural range, both in the urban and rural habitats. The decline of the house sparrow is an indicator of the continuous degradation of the environment.
The house sparrow is, in a sense, an ambassador to the common bird species. The hope is that the conservation of the house sparrow and its habitat will in turn help save much of the common biodiversity, which shares the habitat of the house sparrows.
World Sparrow Day is celebrated on March 20. The rationale for celebrating World Sparrow Day is not only to commemorate the event for a day, but also to use it as a platform to highlight the need to conserve sparrows as well as urban biodiversity. The event aims to bring together individuals, national and international groups. The aim is also to attract the attention of government agencies and the scientific community to take notice of the need for the conservation of the common bird species and urban biodiversity.
Scientists first started to notice a decline in the number of the house sparrow in the 1990s. Over the last few years several campaigns, outreach and awareness programmes, research surveys have been carried out to understand the decline of a species that had learned to exist in and around human habitations and was found in huge numbers in urban areas.
Worldwide, countries have participated in various activities to celebrate the World House Sparrow Day. 'Citizen Sparrow' is an ongoing citizen science project in India in which members of the public are encouraged to contribute information on presence and absence of the house sparrow from different locations and for different time periods. This information is to be uploaded on their website (www.citizensparrow.in/). All the observational records are plotted on a map. This can be done by an individual or a school group or an NGO and even corporate companies as a part of their corporate social responsibility.
Q-1 Why can't we see many sparrows around, nowadays?
01. Sparrows frequently migrate to other countries
At one time a very common sight, in the past few years, this bird has been on the decline over much of its natural range, both in the urban and rural habitats. The decline of the house sparrow is an indicator of the continuous degradation of the environment.
The house sparrow is, in a sense, an ambassador to the common bird species. The hope is that the conservation of the house sparrow and its habitat will in turn help save much of the common biodiversity, which shares the habitat of the house sparrows.
World Sparrow Day is celebrated on March 20. The rationale for celebrating World Sparrow Day is not only to commemorate the event for a day, but also to use it as a platform to highlight the need to conserve sparrows as well as urban biodiversity. The event aims to bring together individuals, national and international groups. The aim is also to attract the attention of government agencies and the scientific community to take notice of the need for the conservation of the common bird species and urban biodiversity.
Scientists first started to notice a decline in the number of the house sparrow in the 1990s. Over the last few years several campaigns, outreach and awareness programmes, research surveys have been carried out to understand the decline of a species that had learned to exist in and around human habitations and was found in huge numbers in urban areas.
Worldwide, countries have participated in various activities to celebrate the World House Sparrow Day. 'Citizen Sparrow' is an ongoing citizen science project in India in which members of the public are encouraged to contribute information on presence and absence of the house sparrow from different locations and for different time periods. This information is to be uploaded on their website (www.citizensparrow.in/). All the observational records are plotted on a map. This can be done by an individual or a school group or an NGO and even corporate companies as a part of their corporate social responsibility.
Q-1 Why can't we see many sparrows around, nowadays?
01. Sparrows frequently migrate to other countries
02. Sparrows remain fearful about getting caught by the hunters
03. Sparrows fall prey to attack by animals
04. Environment around us is continuously degrading
05. Cannot be understood from the passage
Q-2 Which of the following is TRUE about 'Citizen Sparrow' project?
01. Scientists gather data for analysis
02. The gathered information is uploaded on the website
03. All the observational records are plotted on a graph
04. NGOs cannot become a part of the project
05. The information is collected only on absence of house sparrow from different locations and for different time periods
Q-3 What is/are the objective of celebrating world sparrow day?
A. To celebrate the day in the name of sparrows
B. To think of ways to conserve sparrows
C. To preserve urban biodiversity
D. To draw the attention of government agencies and the scientific community towards conservation of the common bird species
03. Sparrows fall prey to attack by animals
04. Environment around us is continuously degrading
05. Cannot be understood from the passage
Q-2 Which of the following is TRUE about 'Citizen Sparrow' project?
01. Scientists gather data for analysis
02. The gathered information is uploaded on the website
03. All the observational records are plotted on a graph
04. NGOs cannot become a part of the project
05. The information is collected only on absence of house sparrow from different locations and for different time periods
Q-3 What is/are the objective of celebrating world sparrow day?
A. To celebrate the day in the name of sparrows
B. To think of ways to conserve sparrows
C. To preserve urban biodiversity
D. To draw the attention of government agencies and the scientific community towards conservation of the common bird species
01. Only A
02. Only B
03. Only D
04. All except C
05. All of the above
Q-4 The given passage dwells on -
01. World sparrow day
02. Urban biodiversity
03. Environment degradation
04. The conservation of house sparrows
05. Corporate social responsibility
Q-5 Which of the following were held to understand the decline in the number of sparrows?
01. Outreach and awareness programmes
02. Research surveys
03. Campaigns
04. All of the above
02. Only B
03. Only D
04. All except C
05. All of the above
Q-4 The given passage dwells on -
01. World sparrow day
02. Urban biodiversity
03. Environment degradation
04. The conservation of house sparrows
05. Corporate social responsibility
Q-5 Which of the following were held to understand the decline in the number of sparrows?
01. Outreach and awareness programmes
02. Research surveys
03. Campaigns
04. All of the above
05. Not mentioned in the passage
Q-6 Which of the following is NOT TRUE, according to the passage?
01. 'Citizen Sparrow' is a ceased citizen science project in India
02. Information on presence and absence of the house sparrow from different locations is uploaded on the website.
03. World Sparrow Day is celebrated on March 20
04. The house sparrow has, over a period of time, evolved with us.
05. In the past few years, this house sparrow has been on the decline over much of its natural range, both in the urban and rural habitats.
Q-7 Why has house sparrow been called 'ambassador to the common bird species'?
01. Its presence attracts other bird species which brings ecological balance
02. It can live without food and water for many days
03. Its conservation will help save much of the common biodiversity which is shared by the habitat of the house sparrows.
04. It builds its nest on green trees which, in turn, sends a signal to other bird species that there is availability of food
05. All of the above
Q-8 When was, the need to conserve house sparrow, felt?
01. Since 1990s
02. Recently
03. Before 1990s
04. Last year
Q-6 Which of the following is NOT TRUE, according to the passage?
01. 'Citizen Sparrow' is a ceased citizen science project in India
02. Information on presence and absence of the house sparrow from different locations is uploaded on the website.
03. World Sparrow Day is celebrated on March 20
04. The house sparrow has, over a period of time, evolved with us.
05. In the past few years, this house sparrow has been on the decline over much of its natural range, both in the urban and rural habitats.
Q-7 Why has house sparrow been called 'ambassador to the common bird species'?
01. Its presence attracts other bird species which brings ecological balance
02. It can live without food and water for many days
03. Its conservation will help save much of the common biodiversity which is shared by the habitat of the house sparrows.
04. It builds its nest on green trees which, in turn, sends a signal to other bird species that there is availability of food
05. All of the above
Q-8 When was, the need to conserve house sparrow, felt?
01. Since 1990s
02. Recently
03. Before 1990s
04. Last year
05. Last decade
Q-9 Choose the word which is most nearly the SAME is meaning as the word given in bold as used in the passage.
Carried out
01. Earned
02. Achieved
03. Finalized
04. Transferred
Q-9 Choose the word which is most nearly the SAME is meaning as the word given in bold as used in the passage.
Carried out
01. Earned
02. Achieved
03. Finalized
04. Transferred
05. Conducted
Q-10 Choose the word which is most nearly the OPPOSITE in meaning as the word given in bold as used in the passage.
Bring together
01. Compile
02. Join
03. Disperse
04. Arrange
05. Involve
Answers
Q-10 Choose the word which is most nearly the OPPOSITE in meaning as the word given in bold as used in the passage.
Bring together
01. Compile
02. Join
03. Disperse
04. Arrange
05. Involve
Answers
Q.1 (4)
Q.2 (2)
Q.3 (5)
Q.4 (4)
Q.5 (4)
Q.6 (1)
Q.7 (3)
Q.8 (1)
Q.9 (5)
Q.10 (3)
Q.2 (2)
Q.3 (5)
Q.4 (4)
Q.5 (4)
Q.6 (1)
Q.7 (3)
Q.8 (1)
Q.9 (5)
Q.10 (3)
