6. Read the passage below and then answer the questionThere was once an orphan girl who lived in a poor little hut that stood quite by itself among the rough bushes. From the doorway she could look across the empty stretches of the uncultivated land. It was worse when the darkness covered everywhere making it hard for her not to feel afraid.
She was fourteen when she lost her rough, good-for-nothing father. He had lost his way on a stormy night and was found dead in the morning. Her mother had died when she was very young. She had been left alone, in possession of a dog, some chickens and a spinning-wheel.
Mary was a bright, cheerful and courageous child and within a short time, she had become famous for her spinning techniques. Any rough wool brought to her was spun into thread for knitting. Her hens also were productive enough and this made her a popular egg seller, and her dog just like any other, provided adequate protection and company.
Mary was illiterate but she never forgot a prayer her mother had taught her: 'God bless this house from thatch to floor, the saints guard the door, and four good angels watch my bed, two at the foot and two at the head'. She'd kneel and recite the verse every night before going to bed.
Although Mary was a loner, she was happy and contented with her business. And yet people who happened to pass by her little hut late at night began to whisper strange stories. The village talk reached the religious leader who decided to come and question the girl. Mary wept bitterly on realizing that these stories were being told about her. She explained to the religious leader everything she did but he seemed not to have been convinced. He decided to investigate why the villagers were spreading those rumours about her.
So, late that night, without a word to anyone, the religious leader lit his lantern and went out. The village was still and dark with stars shining here and there in the dark sky. His lantern swung from side to side as he walked slowly up the road towards the bushes.
At last, he saw the hut half-hidden among the bushes. He stopped suddenly when a light streamed through a narrow chink in the wall. He covered his own lantern with his cloak and went forward very quickly and carefully. Although it was pitch dark, the faint glimmer of stars made it possible for him to see several men standing close to the walls of the hut whispering to one another.
The religious leader guessed who they were, fell upon his knees but the strangers melted away into the darkness as if they had been pictures in a dream. He rose from his knees and moved towards the window to peep into the hut. Instantly, an invisible hand threw a gleaming sword in front of him and a low voice spoke to him a solemn warning: Do not look. It is the light of angels.' He put his hand upon the sword and prayed. The sword moved slowly away and vanished. He leaned forward and gazed through the chink. With a cry of happiness, he Saw a corner of Mary's wooden bed and in the corner a great golden wing. Then there was darkness. He thought that darkness had fallen upon him because of the glorious thing that he had seen.
Praising God for all His goodness, he returned home. He woke up the next day, went to Mary's hut and apologized on behalf of the villagers. To this day, the villagers still talk about Mar) and how her simple prayer was answered. (Adapted from Oxford English Course, F.G. French, CBE OUP. 1967)
Fill in the answer gap with 'A', 'B', 'C' or 'D' corresponding to the correct answer:Which one of the following sentences is true according to the first paragraph?
A. Mary was an orphan who loved living in the bush
B. Mary was an orphan whose behaviour was questionable
C. Mary was an orphan whose land was uncultivated
D. Mary was an orphan whose house was in the bush
Answer:
Fill in the answer gap with 'A', 'B', 'C' or 'D' corresponding to the correct answer:Mary's fright was mainly caused by
A. the darkness that covered her hut
B. the darkness that covered the whole land
C. the darkness that covered the uncultivated land
D. the darkness across the stretches of the uncultivated land.
Answer:
Fill in the answer gap with 'A', 'B', 'C' or 'D' corresponding to the correct answer:The phrase 'faint glimmer of stars' as used in the passage means
A. clear light
B. dim light
C. flickering light
D. bright light
Answer:
Fill in the answer gap with 'A', 'B', 'C' or 'D' corresponding to the correct answer:Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word 'possession' as used in the passage?
A. ownership
B. heredity
C. inheritance
D. property
Answer:
Fill in the answer gap with 'A', 'B', 'C' or 'D' corresponding to the correct answer:According to the passage we can tell that Mary was
A. sympathetic, bright and friendly.
B. intelligent, cheerful and brave
C. intelligent, compassionate and friendly
D. cheerful, compassionate and fearless
Answer:
Fill in the answer gap with 'A', 'B', 'C' or 'D' corresponding to the correct answer:How did Mary earn her living?
A. By spinning and selling eggs
B. By spinning techniques and producing hens
C. By selling eggs and rough wools brought to her.
D. By becoming famous for her spinning techniques.
Answer:
Fill in the answer gap with 'A', 'B', 'C' or 'D' corresponding to the correct answer:What do we learn about Mary's mother?
A. She was a saint
B. She was loving
C. She was illiterate
D. She was prayerful
Answer:
Fill in the answer gap with 'A', 'B', 'C' or 'D' corresponding to the correct answer:What made Mary weep bitterly?
A. She was a loner
B. Untrue stories were being told about her
C. She was questioned by the religious leader
D. People whispered strange stories
Answer:
Fill in the answer gap with 'A', 'B', 'C' or 'D' corresponding to the correct answer:Which one of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. The religious leader visited Mary every night
B. The talk about Mary reached the religious leader
C. The religious leader was unsure of Mary\'s explanation
D. The religious leader confirmed the stories about Mary were untrue
Answer:
Fill in the answer gap with 'A', 'B', 'C' or 'D' corresponding to the correct answer:When did the religious leader hasten his steps?
A. When he saw men standing next to the walls whispering
B. When he covered his lantern with his cloak
C. When a light streamed through a narrow chink in a wall
D. When he saw the faint glimmer of stars
Answer:
Fill in the answer gap with 'A', 'B', 'C' or 'D' corresponding to the correct answer:Why did the strangers melt away?
A. Because they were creatures of another world
B. Because they saw the religious leader
C. Because they saw the religious leader on his knees
D. Because the religious leader had been struck by awe
Answer:
Fill in the answer gap with 'A', 'B', 'C' or 'D' corresponding to the correct answer:The religious leader was happy when he
A. witnessed some amazing things
B. saw Mary's wooden bed
C. discovered that Mary was asleep
D. realised that darkness had fallen upon him
Answer:
Fill in the answer gap with 'A', 'B', 'C' or 'D' corresponding to the correct answer:Which one of the following would be the best title for this story?
A. The amazed religious leader
B. The power of prayer
C. The power of angels
D. The religious leader
Answer:
