Instructions:
Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.
Comprehension:
Students are increasingly turning to online courses because they have become a better wayto learn. Online courses offer students greater control over their own learning by enablingthem to work at their own pace.
Some other benefits are the engaging multimedia content, greater access to the instructorand the stimulating online interactions with other students and the teachers. All these can addto enhanced learning and improved retention.
Another key feature is that online courses tend to include more frequent assessments. Themore often students are assessed, the better their instructors can track progress andintervene when needed.
I experienced all this myself when I completed a six-week online program through ColumbiaBusiness School. As a busy executive, the only way I was able to take such a course wasonline. And it proved to be an incredibly valuable and timely experience – highly relevant tomy new job. I was able to do many of the lecture portions from my iPhone while sitting on aplane. I did coursework during the week and turned in weekly assignments on Sundayevening. And each Wednesday, I attended live online sessions with professors and studentsfrom around the world.
Many students who have taken both face-to-face and online courses now rank their onlineexperiences equal to or better than their more traditional classroom courses. We havereached a watershed moment when the discussion will no longer be about the relative meritsof online learning, but how best to implement online programmes for maximum effect onstudent enrollment and success.

261)

By ‘watershed moment’ the writer means:

SSC Selection Post Matric 2022

A)

middle point

B)

checkpoint

C)

turning point

D)

pinpoint

Instructions:
Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.
Comprehension:
“The two great empires of Lilliput and Blefuscu have been engaged in a most obstinate war for six-and-thirty moons past. It began upon the following occasion. It is allowed on all hands that the primitive way of breaking eggs, before we eat them, was upon the larger end; but his present majesty’s grandfather, while he was a boy, going to eat an egg, and breaking it according to the ancient practice, happened to cut one of his fingers. Whereupon the emperor his father published an edict, commanding all his subjects, upon great penalties, to break the smaller end of their eggs. The people so highly resented this law, that our histories tell us, there have been six rebellions raised on that account; wherein one emperor lost his life, and another his crown. These civil commotions were constantly fomented by the monarchs of Blefuscu; and when they were quelled, the exiles always fled for refuge to that empire. It is computed that eleven thousand persons have at several times suffered death, rather than submit to break their eggs at the smaller end. Many hundred large volumes have been published upon this controversy: but the books of the Big-endians have been long forbidden, and the whole party rendered incapable by law of holding employments. During the course of these troubles, the emperors of Blefusca did frequently expostulate by their ambassadors, accusing us of making a schism in religion, by offending against a fundamental doctrine of our great prophet Lustrog. This, however, is thought to be a mere strain upon the text; for the words are these: ‘that all true believers break their eggs at the convenient end.’ And which is the convenient end, seems, in my humble opinion to be left to every man’s conscience, or at least in the power of the chief magistrate to determine. ow, the Big-endian exiles have found so much credit in the emperor of Blefuscu’s court, and so much private assistance and encouragement from their party here at home, that a bloody war has been carried on between the two empires for six-and-thirty moons, with various success; during which time we have lost forty capital ships, and a much greater number of smaller vessels, together with thirty thousand of our best seamen and soldiers; and the damage received by the enemy is reckoned to be somewhat greater than ours. However, they have now equipped a numerous fleet, and are just preparing to make a descent upon us; and his imperial majesty, placing great confidence in your valour and strength, has commanded me to lay this account of his affairs before you.” Thus spoke the Principal Secretary.
I desired the secretary to present my humble duty to the emperor; and to let him know that I thought it would not become me, who was a foreigner, to interfere with parties; but I was ready, with the hazard of my life, to defend his person and state against all invaders.

262)

What was the primitive way of eating eggs in Lilliput?

A)

Breaking in the middle

B)

Breaking at the larger end

C)

Breaking at the smaller end

D)

Eating it whole

263)

The empires of Lilliput and Blefuscu are:

A)

hostile towards each other

B)

ruled by one emperor

C)

cordial and friendly neighbours

D)

ready to compromise with each other

264)

What was the result of the edict published by the emperor of Lilliput’s great grandfather?

A)

People abandoned Lilliput and left for Blefuscu

B)

People readily agreed to follow his command

C)

People rebelled against the new law

D)

People attacked the emperor and overthrew him

265)

What inference can be drawn from the narrative?

A)

On should remain loyal to the monarch.

B)

Wars may be waged over very trivial issues.

C)

A peaceful solution to the problem is possible.

D)

It is important to follow rules.

266)

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A)

The narrator refuses to defend the emperor against the invaders.

B)

The doctrine of Prophet Lustrog mentions the ‘convenient end’ of the eggs.

C)

The two empires had been at war for thirty-six moons.

D)

The Big-endians found refuge at Blefuscu.

Instructions:
Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.
Comprehension:
Many of us have enjoyed visiting a zoo and consider it a day out having fun. Seeing real animals face to face can be thrilling and exciting, but many people wonder whether the animals themselves, while entertaining us, are suffering in the zoos.
Many zoos do not have enough money to provide the animals with the basic features of a proper environment. Most animals are put in an artificial environment (e.g., cages). This isolation from their natural habitat can amount to cruelty. In some zoos, we see concrete floors for burrowing animals like rabbits. Cruelty may be shown in ways other than physical abuse or starvation.
Big predators like lions and tigers are created to chase and hunt. By depriving them of these activities, we forget the reason for which they have evolved. These big cats lie in cages in the zoo eating the food given to them and they have nothing else to do. Highly intelligent and curious animals like chimpanzees and polar bears may become frustrated in a zoo; they need a challenging environment.
Zoo supporters might argue that zoos provide educational opportunities to the visitors, especially children; if we didn’t have animals in zoos, children wouldn’t see them at all and be ignorant about them. We live at a time when animals in their natural habitat can be seen on TV or computers, even smart phones, while sitting at home. Therefore, the aim should be to conserve animals in the wild, in protected areas called sanctuarie

267)

Which of the following best states the author’s purpose in the passage

A)

One of the main reasons for which big predators have evolved is hunting.

B)

We can show our concern for animals better by supporting protected spaces for them in the natural environment.

C)

Putting endangered species of animals in zoos is the best way of protecting and saving them.

D)

If animals were not kept in zoos, children would not be able to see and know about them at all.

268)

According to the passage, animals in zoos suffer cruelty:

A)

by being kept in artificial environments

B)

by being starved to death

C)

by being physically tortured or abused

D)

by being forced to perform for the visitors

269)

The word ‘predators’ (in paragraph 3) means:

A)

animals which kill others for food

B)

animals which are starving in zoos

C)

animals which are kept in their natural habitat

D)

animals which are killed for food

270)

‘Burrowing’ animals:

A)

are intelligent and curious

B)

chase and hunt other animals

C)

are solitary animals

D)

dig the earth for food and shelter