Directions (Next Five Questions) : Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words, have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
A long time ago, on a big tree in the lap of the mountain, lived a bird named sindhuka. It was a rather special bird because its droppings turned into gold as soon as they hit the ground.
One day, a hunter came to the tree in search of prey and he saw Sindhuka’s droppings hit the ground and turn into gold. The hunter was struck with wonder. He thought “ I have been hunting birds and small animals since I was a boy, but in all my 80 years, I have never seen such a miraculous creature. He decided that he had to catch the bird somehow. He climbed the tree and skillfully set a trap for the bird. The bird, quite unaware of the danger it was in, stayed on the tree and sang merrily. But it was soon caught in the hunter’s trap. The hunter immediately seized it and shoved it into a cage. The hunter took the bird home joyfully. But as he had time to think over his good fortune later, he suddenly realised, “If the king comes to know for his wonder, he will certainly take away the bird from me and he might even punish me for keeping such a rare treasure all to myself. So it would be safer and more honourable if I were to go to the king and present the unique bird to him.”
The next day, the hunter took the bird to the king and presented it to him in court with great reverence. The king was delighted to receive such an unusual and rare gift. He told his courtiers to keep the bird safe and feed it with the best bird food available.
The king’s prime minister though, was reluctant to accept the bird. He said “O Rajah, how can you believe the word of a foolish hunter and accept this bird ?
Has anyone in our kingdom ever seen a bird dropping gold? The hunter must be either crazy or telling lies, I think it is best that you release the bird from the cage.”
After a little thought, the king felt that his prime minister’s words were correct. So he ordered the bird to be released. But as soon as the door of the cage was thrown open, the bird flew out, perched itself on a nearby doorway and defecated. To everyone’s surprise, the dropping immediately turned into gold. The king mourned his loss.
Directions (Next Ten Questions) : In the following passage, there are blanks, each of which has been numbered. These numbers are printed below the passage and against each, five words/phrases are suggested, one of which fits the blank appropriately. Find out the appropriate word/phrase in each case.
Once upon a time, Amarasakti ruled the city-state of mahilaropyam in the south of India. He had three witless sons who became a matter of endless…..(Question 1)…for him…….(Question 2)….that his sons had no interest in learning, the king summoned his ministers and said,”You know I am not happy with my sons. According to men of learning, an unborn son is better than a son who is a ……(Question 3)…A son who is stupid will bring dishonor to his father. How can I make my sons fit to be my……(Question 4)…? I turn to you for advice.”
One of the ministers….(Question 5)…the name of Vishnu Sharman, a great scholar enjoying the ……(Question 6)…of hundreds of his disciples. “He is the most…(Question 7)…person to tutor your children. Entrust them to his care and very soon you will see the change.”
The king summoned Vishnu sharman and pleaded with him “Oh, venerable scholar, take pity on me and please train my sons. Turn them into great scholars and I will be….(Question 8)…to you all my life.” Vishnu Sharman said “Oh, king, count six months from today. If I do not make your children great scholars, you can ask me to change my….(Question 9)…”
The king immediately called his sons and handed them over to the care of tne learned man. Sharman took them to his monastery where he…(Question 10)…teaching them. Keeping his word, he finished the task the king entrusted to him in six months. Thus, the king, now, had scholars for sons.