Comprehension Passages

 Comprehension passage 1

I am the mother of three children. My youngest daughter is sick. She has an illness that will never go away, but it can be managed. She needs medicine to manage her illness. This medicine used to cost ten dollars a month. Now it costs thirty dollars a month. Without this medicine, my daughter has trouble breathing. Sometimes her lungs do not work well. She cannot get enough air into her lungs. Then she needs the medicine to help her lungs work again. We have to buy the medicine. We do not have a choice. But it will be hard to find an extra thirty dollars a month. Our family will have to spend less money on other things.

Comprehension passage 2

Watching is meditation. What you watch is irrelevant. You can watch the trees, you can watch the river, you can watch the clouds, you can watch children playing around. Watching is meditation. What you watch is not the point; the object is not the point. The quality of observation, the quality of being aware and alert – that’s what meditation is. Remember one thing; meditation means awareness. Whatsoever you do with awareness is meditation. Action is not the question, but the quality that you bring to your action is. Walking can be a meditation if you walk alert. Sitting can be a meditation if you sit alert. Listening to the birds can be a meditation if you listen with awareness. Just listening to the inner voice of your mind can be a meditation if you remain alert and watchful. The whole point is one should not move in sleep. Then whatever you do is meditation.

The first step in awareness is to be very watchful of your body. Slowly, one becomes alert about each gesture, and each movement. And as you become aware, a miracle starts happening; many things that you used to do before simply disappear; your body becomes more relaxed, your body becomes more attuned. A deep peace starts prevailing even in your body; subtle music pulsates in your body. 

Comprehension passage 3

Nepal, a small, mountainous country tucked between India and China, may seem completely foreign to many Americans. Cows walk down busy streets unharmed, 24 different languages are spoken, and people eat two meals of rice and lentils every day. Nepali holidays, many of which are related to the Hindu religion, can seem especially bizarre to Americans unfamiliar with the culture. However, if we look beyond how others celebrate to consider the things they are celebrating, we find surprising similarities to our own culture.

The biggest holiday in Nepal is Dashain, a ten-day festival for the Hindu goddess Durga that takes place in September or October. According to Hindu beliefs, Durga defeated the evil demons of the world. To thank the goddess, people visit temples in her honour and sacrifice goats or sheep as offerings. Throughout the year, most Nepalis do not eat much meat because it is expensive, but Dashain is a time to enjoy meat every day. Children fly colourful, homemade kites during Dashain. People also construct enormous bamboo swings on street corners and in parks. Every evening people gather at these swings and take turns swinging. Nepalis say that by swinging, people can relieve the earth of their weight, if only for a few minutes out of the year. Dashain is a time for people to eat good food, relax, and enjoy themselves!

Aside from eating and enjoying themselves, during Dashain, people also receive blessings from their elders. Schools and offices shut down so people can travel to be with their families. Reuniting with family reminds people of the importance of kindness, respect, and forgiveness. People also clean and decorate their homes for Dashain. And, like many holidays in the United States, it is a time for shopping.

Comprehension passage 4

The innovation of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century revolutionized how information was spread throughout Europe. Before this revolutionary invention, books were painstakingly hand-copied by scribes, making them rare and incredibly expensive. However, with the introduction of the printing press, books could be mass-produced at a relatively low cost, making them more accessible to the general public.

Gutenberg’s printing press utilized movable type, an ingenious system where individual letters could be arranged, inked, and pressed onto paper. This breakthrough allowed for the rapid production of books, pamphlets, and other printed materials. As books became more widely available, European literacy rates increased, and a new era of learning and enlightenment began.

Comprehension passage 5

In the heart of the Amazon rainforest lies a hidden paradise known as the Yasuni National Park. This vast conservation area is home to an incredible array of plant and animal species, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. The park’s dense forests are filled with the sounds of chirping birds, howling monkeys, and buzzing insects, creating a symphony of nature that is both fascinating and awe-inspiring.

Yasuni National Park is a crucial habitat for the rare and elusive jaguar and the colourful poison dart frog. It is also a sanctuary for countless bird species, including the vibrant scarlet macaw and the toucan with its oversized beak. Additionally, the park is known for its incredible diversity of plant life, with towering trees, delicate orchids, and carnivorous plants all playing a role in the intricate web of life within the forest.