by Truth be told – I have been scared of unseen passages all my student life. However, over the years I have learnt one thing.
If you are unable to do something, that is less to do with your inborn abilities are much more to do with the fact that you don’t know how to do it.
This applies to answering questions for unseen passages for school and competitive exams as well. While I was helping my son, Tanav prepare for his English test, I researched to find out the How of answering Unseen Passages.
However, this technique may not apply to CAT test for which I will first find out and then hopefully cover in a separate post.
The tricks for getting the answers right is to remember:
- Don’t read the passage, instead – read the question carefully.
- Answer the other questions first and the word meanings related questions at last.
- Answers are usually in the same order as the questions, so look for the answer for first question in the first para.
- Then, keep going with the answers in that order until you reach the word meanings related question.
- Word meanings can be answered by reading the line in which the word appears.
Now, want to challenge yourself. Here is an unseen passage with a typical set of questions.
Unseen Passage:
Using ‘ear’ phones while driving can be far more dangerous than driving under the influence of liquor.
Latest research says drivers using these mobile phones as a means of faster day-today communications may be heading for an accident. The study has shattered the common belief that drinking is the chief cause of the majority of road mishaps. Talking on mobile phones increases the risk to one’s life compared to driving after being drunk. The findings of the study are based on the survey of several cases of road accidents.
In fact, a study of the records of drivers involved in 699 such mistakes showed that the risk of accident for those who talk on phone while driving was at least four times higher compared to those driving in a state of drunkenness.
The only advantage for those driving with cellular phone was that they could summon immediate help through these phones. The study which is relevant for the entire world is relevant for India as well. Here too these phones are being used increasingly for communication and business transactions.
1. On the basis of your reading of the above passage complete the following sentences.
(a) Using ear phones while driving is very dangerous because_________________
(b) Accidents on the road can be caused because of_______________________
(c) Latest research has made it clear that____________
(d) With the help of a mobile phone one can___________
(e) Cell phones are being used increasingly in India for_____________ .
2. Find a word from the above passage that means the same as
(a) risky
(b) accidents
(c) call
Answers
1 (a) it can lead to accidents
(b) talking on mobile phones and driving after being drunk
(c) chief cause of road accidents is talking on phone while driving
(d) summon immediate help
(e) communication and business transactions
2.(a) dangerous, (b) mishaps, (c) summon
That was easy, wasn’t it? Until next time, this is Mohit signing off.