Passages For Comprehension
I – Passage for comprehension
Read the following passages carefully and answers the questions given below:
A YOUNG woodcutter named Taro lived with his mother and father on a lonely hillside. All day long he chopped wood in the forest. Though he worked very hard, he earned very little money. This made him sad, for he was a thoughtful son and wanted to give his old parents everything they needed.
Questions:
1. Who was Taro?
2. What did he want?
3. What was his source of livelihood?
II – Passage for comprehension
Read the following passages carefully and answers the questions given below:
Taro saw a beautiful little waterfall hidden behind a rock. Kneeling at a place where the water flowed quietly, he cupped a little in his hands and put it to his lips. Was it water? Or was it saké? He tasted it again and again, and always it was the delicious saké instead of cold water.
Taro quickly filled the pitcher he had with him and hurried home. The old man was delighted with the saké. After only one swallow of the liquid he stopped shivering and did a little dance in the middle of the floor.
Questions:
1. What did Taro see behind the rock?
2. Why was he surprised?
3. Why did he hurry home?
III – Passage for comprehension
Read the following passages carefully and answers the questions given below:
The story of Taro and his magic waterfall reached the Emperor of Japan. He sent for the young woodcutter, and rewarded him with twenty pieces of gold for having been so good and kind. Then he named the most beautiful fountain in the city after Taro. This, said the Emperor, was to encourage all children to honour and obey their parents.
Questions:
1. Who rewarded Taro and why?
2. What did Taro get as a reward?
3. Find a word from passage that means the same as to ‘respect’.
Suggested Answers Of Passages
Answers: Passage I
1. Taro was a hard working young man and a poor woodcutter.
2. He wanted to make their parents happy by fulfilling their needs.
3. He used to chop wood in the forest and earned money by selling it.
Answers: Passage II
1. Taro saw a little waterfall behind the rock.
2. He was surprised because the water tasted like sake instead of cold water.
3. He hurried home to offer the sake to his old, shivering father.
Answers: Passage III
1. The Emperor of Japan rewarded Taro for his goodness, obedience and service to his old parents.
2. Taro got twenty pieces of gold in reward.
3. Honour.