Reading comprehension — unseen passage 2 (Section A). T — CBSE Class 12 English Core 2019 PYQ

Question

Q. Reading comprehension — unseen passage 2 (Section A). The copyrighted passage is omitted; candidates completed note-making with headings, subheadings and an appropriate title, and wrote a 100-word summary based on it, worth 10 marks (5 + 5).

CBSECBSE Class XII Board 2019Subjective· 10mImportance★★★★★

✓ Free question

This question assesses your ability to comprehend an unseen passage, extract its core information, organize it hierarchically through note-making with an appropriate title, and then condense it into a concise, coherent summary in your own words, adhering to a strict word limit.

Reading comprehension tasks like this are fundamental because they test not just your ability to understand what you read, but also your skill in discerning important information from less important details, structuring that information logically, and then communicating it effectively and concisely. The note-making part (5 marks) demonstrates your analytical and organizational skills, while the summary writing part (5 marks) showcases your ability to synthesize information and express it clearly in your own language. Together, they reflect a deep engagement with the text.

Here's a step-by-step approach to excel in such a question:

First Reading: Get the Gist

Begin by reading the entire passage once quickly. Do not stop to make notes or underline anything. The goal here is to grasp the overall subject matter, the author's general purpose, and the main argument or theme. This initial read helps you establish a mental framework for the more detailed analysis that follows.
Second Reading: Detailed Understanding and Identification of Key Information

Now, read the passage again, this time more slowly and carefully. As you read:
- Identify Topic Sentences: Many paragraphs begin with a topic sentence that states the main idea of that paragraph. Pay close attention to these.
- Underline/Highlight: Mark key phrases, important facts, definitions, examples that illustrate a main point, and any significant conclusions. Be selective; avoid highlighting entire sentences or paragraphs.
- Look for Connectors: Words like "however," "therefore," "in addition," "consequently," "for example" signal relationships between ideas and can help you understand the passage's structure.
- Identify Main Ideas and Supporting Details: Distinguish between the central arguments and the evidence or explanations that support them.
Note-Making: Structuring the Information

Once you have a good understanding of the passage, begin organizing your notes. This is where you create a hierarchical structure.
- Choose an Appropriate Title: Based on your understanding of the passage's main theme, formulate a concise and accurate title. It should capture the essence of the entire passage.
- Use Headings and Subheadings: Divide the passage into logical sections. Each major section of the passage should correspond to a main heading in your notes. Under each main heading, create subheadings for the distinct points discussed within that section.
- Extract Key Points Only: Your notes should consist of short phrases, single words, or bullet points, not full sentences. Focus on nouns, verbs, and essential adjectives/adverbs. Omit articles (a, an, the), conjunctions (and, but, or), and prepositions (in, on, at) where possible without losing meaning.
- Maintain Hierarchy: Use indentation or numbering/lettering to show the relationship between main points, sub-points, and supporting details. For example: I. Main Heading 1 A. Subheading 1 1. Point 1 2. Point 2 B. Subheading 2 1. Point 1 II. Main Heading 2 A. Subheading 1
- Use Abbreviations and Symbols: To save time and space, use commonly understood abbreviations (e.g., "govt." for government, "&" for and, "e.g." for for example, "%" for percent) or create your own consistent ones. Include a key for any non-standard abbreviations you use.
Watch out

A common mistake in note-making is copying full sentences directly from the passage. This defeats the purpose of condensing information and demonstrating your comprehension. Your notes should be in your own brief phrasing.
Drafting the Summary: Condensing and Articulating

With your well-structured notes, writing the summary becomes much easier.
- Use Your Notes as a Blueprint: Your notes contain all the essential information. Refer to them to ensure you include all main ideas and significant supporting details.
- Write in Your Own Words: This is crucial. Do not copy phrases or sentences from the original passage. Rephrase the ideas using your vocabulary and sentence structures. This demonstrates genuine understanding.
- Maintain Cohesion and Flow: Connect your points logically using transition words and phrases (e.g., "furthermore," "however," "consequently," "in addition"). The summary should read as a smooth, continuous piece of prose, not a disjointed list of facts.
- Adhere to the Word Limit: The 100-word limit is strict. Write a rough draft first, then count the words.
- Focus on Main Ideas: The summary should present the core message of the passage. Avoid including minor details, anecdotes, or repetitive information.
- Maintain Objectivity: Do not introduce your personal opinions, interpretations, or external information not present in the passage. The summary should accurately reflect the author's message.
Tip

After writing your first draft, read it aloud. This often helps you identify awkward phrasing, grammatical errors, and areas where the flow could be improved.
Review and Refine

Before finalizing, review both your notes and your summary.
- Notes: Check if they are clear, concise, logically organized, and accurately reflect the main points of the passage. Ensure your title is appropriate.
- Summary:
  - Accuracy: Does it faithfully represent the original passage's content?
  - Completeness: Have you included all the main ideas?
  - Conciseness: Is it within the word limit? Can any words be removed without losing meaning?
  - Clarity and Grammar: Is it easy to understand? Are there any grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, or punctuation issues?
  - Originality: Is it entirely in your own words?

By following these steps, you can systematically approach the reading comprehension task, ensuring you meet all the requirements for both note-making and summary writing, and secure the full 10 marks.

✓Final answer

To successfully complete this reading comprehension task, one must first understand the passage, then organize its key information into hierarchical notes with an appropriate title, and finally synthesize these notes into a concise, coherent 100-word summary written entirely in one's own words.

Same / Similar Concept — real previous-year questions on the same or a closely similar concept, not this exact question.

CBSE 2022Set 1/1/16 marks

Q. Reading comprehension — unseen passage 2 (Section A). The copyrighted passage is omitted; candidates answered any 6 objective/short comprehension questions from the 7 given, worth 6 marks.

›Reveal solution

Reading comprehension passages test literal understanding, inference, vocabulary in context, and textual analysis. Since the passage is omitted here, we'll explore the general strategy for tackling unseen prose comprehension in Indian board and competitive exams.

Reading comprehension questions fall into predictable categories, and recognizing the question type instantly tells you where to look and how to think.

Core Question Types

1. Factual / Literal Questions

These ask what the passage explicitly states. The answer sits verbatim or paraphrased in one or two sentences. Scan for keywords from the question; the relevant line usually contains synonyms or the exact phrase.

2. Inferential Questions

These ask what the passage implies but doesn't say outright. You combine clues from multiple sentences. The wrong answers often quote the text directly (a trap — inference means reading between the lines).

3. Vocabulary in Context

You're given a word from the passage and asked its meaning as used there. The word may have multiple dictionary meanings; context eliminates all but one. Read the sentence before and after.

4. Tone / Purpose / Style

These ask about the author's attitude (neutral, critical, admiring) or intent (to inform, persuade, entertain). Adjectives, sentence structure, and examples reveal tone. Extreme options ("angry," "sarcastic") are rarely correct unless the passage is obviously heated.

5. Title / Main Idea

The best title captures the passage's central focus, not a side detail. If the passage spends 70% on topic X and 30% on topic Y, the title must reflect X.

6. Reference Questions ("The word 'this' refers to…")

Pronouns and demonstratives point backward (occasionally forward). Substitute each option into the sentence; only one makes logical and grammatical sense.

Step-by-Step Approach

Skim the passage first (30–45 seconds).

Get the gist: topic, structure (narrative? argumentative?), tone. Don't memorize details yet.
Read the questions before re-reading.

Now you know what to hunt for. Underline keywords in each question.
Re-read the passage actively.

As you encounter a keyword or relevant idea, mark it. Most answers cluster in specific paragraphs.
Answer in order of difficulty.

Factual questions are fastest. Inferential and tone questions take longer. If you're choosing 6 out of 7, skip the hardest one.
Eliminate wrong answers.

In objective questions, three options are usually flawed:
- Too extreme ("always," "never," "completely")
- Out of scope (true in general, but the passage doesn't discuss it)
- Contradicts the text
Quote selectively in short answers.

If the question asks "Why did the author…?", lift the relevant phrase but frame it as a sentence. Don't copy three lines verbatim.

Tip

For "choose any 6 out of 7" formats, attempt all 7 lightly in pencil, then finalize the six you're surest about. You lose nothing by surveying all options first.

Watch out

Common mistake: Answering from general knowledge instead of the passage. Even if you know the topic well, the answer must be supported by the text. Examiners penalize outside information.

Scoring Strategy

Question Type	Time per Q	Difficulty	Priority
Factual	30–45 s	Easy	High
Vocabulary in context	30–45 s	Easy	High
Reference ("this/it")	45–60 s	Medium	Medium
Inferential	60–90 s	Medium	Medium
Tone / Main idea	60–90 s	Hard	Low

Allocate roughly 8–10 minutes total for a 6-mark comprehension (including reading time). If a question stumps you beyond 90 seconds, move on and return if time permits.

✓Final answer

Without the passage text, we've outlined the universal method for unseen comprehension: skim first, read questions, re-read actively, eliminate wrong options, and answer from the text alone. Apply this framework to any passage, and you'll systematically capture the 6 marks.

CBSE 2022Set 1/2/16 marks

Q. Reading comprehension — unseen passage 2 (Section A). The copyrighted passage is omitted; candidates answered ANY SIX of the SEVEN objective/short comprehension questions based on it worth 6 marks.

›Reveal solution

This is a reading comprehension task based on an unseen passage where you select and answer any six out of seven questions. Success depends on close reading, identifying question types, and extracting precise textual evidence.

Reading comprehension questions test your ability to process unfamiliar text under exam conditions and demonstrate understanding through accurate, concise responses. The "any six of seven" format gives you strategic choice: you can skip the question you find hardest or most ambiguous.

Approach to Unseen Passage Questions

The key is methodical engagement with the text. Comprehension questions typically fall into predictable categories, and recognizing the type helps you locate the answer efficiently.

Common question types you'll encounter:

Type	What it asks	Where to look
Factual/Direct	Explicit information stated in the passage	Scan for keywords; answer is verbatim or paraphrased
Inferential	Implied meaning, tone, or author's attitude	Read between lines; combine clues from context
Vocabulary	Meaning of a word/phrase in context	Examine surrounding sentences; substitute options
Purpose/Function	Why the author included a detail or example	Consider the paragraph's main idea and flow
Global	Main idea, title, or overall theme	Synthesize across the entire passage

Tip

Always read the questions before diving deep into the passage. This primes your brain to notice relevant details as you read, saving time on re-reading.

Step-by-Step Strategy

Skim the passage first (30–45 seconds)

Get the gist: What is this about? What's the tone (argumentative, descriptive, narrative)? Note any structural markers (however, for example, in contrast).
Read all seven questions quickly

Identify which six look most straightforward. Mark the one you'll skip—usually the most abstract or the one requiring the longest written response if you're short on time.
Read the passage carefully with questions in mind

Underline or mentally note where each answer likely sits. For factual questions, the passage order often mirrors question order (though not always).
Answer in order of confidence, not question number

Knock out the easy ones first. This builds momentum and ensures you don't lose marks on questions you know while wrestling with a tricky one.
Use exact textual evidence

For objective questions (MCQs, fill-in-the-blanks), the correct answer is almost always supported by specific words in the passage. For short answers (2–3 marks), quote or closely paraphrase; don't editorialize.
Check word limits and mark allocation

A 1-mark question wants a phrase or single sentence. A 2-mark question may need two points or a point with brief explanation. Don't over-write.

Watch out

Common mistake: Answering from general knowledge instead of the passage. Even if you know the topic, your answer must reflect what the passage says, not external facts. Examiners check for textual fidelity.

Maximizing Your Six Answers

Since you choose six of seven, play to your strengths:

Skip questions that are ambiguous or require heavy inference if you're unsure—go for the ones with clear, locatable answers.
If two questions seem equally hard, skip the lower-mark one (if marks vary) or the one requiring the longest written response.
Budget roughly 1 minute per mark: a 6-mark section (six 1-mark questions) should take about 6–7 minutes total, including reading time.

Important

Accuracy over speed. Six correct answers earn full marks; seven rushed, half-wrong answers do not. Quality beats quantity here.

Example Question Types and How to Tackle Them

Factual: "According to the passage, what year was the treaty signed?"

Scan for the keyword "treaty." The year will be stated nearby. Write it exactly.

Inferential: "The author's tone in paragraph 3 can best be described as…"

Look at word choice (critical, enthusiastic, neutral?). Eliminate extreme options first.

Vocabulary in context: "The word 'resilient' in line 12 most nearly means…"

Substitute each option into the sentence. Which preserves the meaning?

Purpose: "Why does the author mention the 1947 study?"

Check what claim precedes or follows it. The study is evidence or illustration for that claim.

Global: "Which of the following best summarizes the passage?"

Wrong answers are too narrow (one paragraph only) or too broad (introduce ideas not in the text). The right one captures the main thread without distortion.

✓Final answer

To score full marks, read the passage and questions strategically, choose the six questions you can answer most confidently with direct textual support, and write precise responses that reflect exactly what the passage states—avoiding both under-explanation and irrelevant elaboration.

CBSE 2022Set 1/3/16 marks
$Q. Reading comprehension — unseen passage 2 (Section A). The copyrighted passage is omitted; candidates answered any six of the seven objective/short comprehension questions based on it worth 6 marks.$
›Reveal solutionSolution
This is a reading comprehension task from Section A of an exam. Candidates read an unseen passage and answered any 6 out of 7 objective/short questions based on it, for a total of 6 marks. The passage itself is not provided here, so the focus is on explaining the general approach to such questions.

The Concept: How to Tackle Unseen Passage Comprehension

Reading comprehension in exams tests two things: your ability to extract explicit information from a text, and your ability to infer meaning that is implied but not directly stated. The key is to read actively, not passively.

When you face an unseen passage, you are essentially being asked to become a detective. The text holds all the clues — your job is to find them without adding your own opinions or outside knowledge. Every answer must be justified by something in the passage itself.

The "any 6 out of 7" format is a gift. It means you can skip the trickiest question if you want, so never waste time struggling. Pick the six you are most confident about.

Step-by-Step Approach

Skim the passage first, not the questions.

Read the passage quickly to get the gist — the main topic, the tone (is it factual, persuasive, narrative?), and the overall structure. Do not try to memorise details yet. This takes about 1–2 minutes for a typical exam passage.

Now read the questions carefully.

Identify what each question is asking. Some will be literal (e.g., "According to the passage, what did X do?") and some inferential (e.g., "What does the author imply about Y?"). Mark the ones you find easiest.

Go back to the passage with each question in mind.

For a literal question, scan for keywords from the question. The answer will be in the text, often in the same words or close synonyms. For an inferential question, look for clues — the author's choice of adjectives, cause-effect relationships, or contrasts.

Eliminate obviously wrong options first.

In objective questions, three options are usually wrong. Look for options that:

Contradict the passage directly

Use extreme words (always, never, all) that the passage does not support

Introduce ideas not mentioned at all

Are true in general but not supported by this passage

Verify your chosen answer against the text.

Point to the exact sentence or phrase that supports your choice. If you cannot find it, reconsider. This step prevents careless errors.

Watch out

A common mistake is to answer based on what you think you know about the topic, rather than what the passage actually says. For example, if the passage says "some scientists believe," do not choose an option that says "all scientists agree." The passage is your only authority.

Select your six best answers. If you are unsure about one question, skip it. It is better to answer six correctly than to guess on all seven and risk losing marks on ones you knew.

Tip

For "tone" or "attitude" questions, look for emotionally charged words (e.g., "unfortunately," "remarkably," "shockingly"). These reveal the author's stance. A neutral, factual passage will lack such words.

The Final Answer

✓Final answer
$Since the passage is not provided, the correct approach is to answer any 6 of the 7 questions by extracting evidence directly from the text, eliminating distractors, and verifying each choice against the passage. The final score will be 6 marks if all six answers are correct.$

Q.Reading comprehension — unseen passage 2 (Section A). The copyrighted passage is omitted; candidates completed note-making with headings, subheadings and an appropriate title, and wrote a 100-word summary based on it, worth 10 marks (5 + 5).

Concept understanding — Reading Comprehension (Section A)

Core Question Types

Step-by-Step Approach

Scoring Strategy

Approach to Unseen Passage Questions

Step-by-Step Strategy

Maximizing Your Six Answers

Example Question Types and How to Tackle Them

The Concept: How to Tackle Unseen Passage Comprehension

Step-by-Step Approach

The Final Answer

Q.Reading comprehension — unseen passage 2 (Section A). The copyrighted passage is omitted; candidates completed note-making with headings, subheadings and an appropriate title, and wrote a 100-word summary based on it, worth 10 marks (5 + 5).

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