CBSE Class 11 English Factual Passage Worksheet Set 01

Case-based Factual Passage

(1) Today’s woman is a highly self-directed person, alive to the sense of her dignity and the importance of her functions in the private domestic domain and the public domain of the world of work. Women are rational in approach, careful in handling situations and want to do things as best as possible. The Fourth World Conference of Women held in Beijing in September, 1995 had emphasised that no enduring solution of society’s most threatening social, economic and political problems could be found without the participation and empowerment of women. The 1995 World Summit for Social Development had also emphasised the pivotal role of women in eradicating poverty and mending the social fabric.
(2) The Constitution of India had conferred on women’s equal rights and opportunities – political, social, educational and of employment – with men’s because of oppressive traditions, superstitions, exploitation and corruption. The majority of women are still not allowed to enjoy the rights and opportunities bestowed on them. One of the major reasons for this state of affairs is the lack of literacy and awareness among women. Education is the main instrument through which we can narrow down the prevailing inequality and accelerate the process of economic and political change in the status of women.
How The World Sees The Role of Women
% of respondents agreeing with the following statements
Statement 1: “Things would work better if more women held positions with responsibilities in government/companies”
Statement 2: “The role of women in society is to be good mothers and wives”
Russia: Statement 1 (34%), Statement 2 (69%)
India: Statement 1 (79%), Statement 2 (64%)
Turkey: Statement 1 (72%), Statement 2 (47%)
Brazil: Statement 1 (69%), Statement 2 (43%)
United States: Statement 1 (57%), Statement 2 (41%)
Germany: Statement 1 (47%), Statement 2 (41%)
South Africa: Statement 1 (70%), Statement 2 (39%)
South Korea: Statement 1 (52%), Statement 2 (36%)
Japan: Statement 1 (43%), Statement 2 (35%)
Australia: Statement 1 (62%), Statement 2 (30%)
Canada: Statement 1 (57%), Statement 2 (25%)
France: Statement 1 (59%), Statement 2 (24%)
UK: Statement 1 (60%), Statement 2 (22%)
Spain: Statement 1 (62%), Statement 2 (19%)
Sweden: Statement 1 (57%), Statement 2 (17%)
(3) The role of women in a society is very important. Women’s education is the key to a better life in the future. A recent World Bank study says that educating girls is not a charity, it is good economics and if developing nations are to eradicate poverty, they must educate the girls. The report says that the economic and social returns on investment in the education of girls considerably affects the human development index of the nation. Society would progress only if the status of women is respected, and the presence of an educated woman in the family would ensure the education of the family itself. Education and empowerment of women are closely related.
(4) Women’s education has not received due care and attention from planners and policy makers. The National Commission for Women has rightly pointed out that even after 50 years of independence, women continue to be treated as the single largest group of backward citizens of India. The role of women in overall development has not been fully understood, nor has it been given its full weightage in the struggle to eliminate poverty, hunger, injustice and inequality at the national level.
(5) The prevailing cultural norms of gender behaviour and the perceived domestic and reproductive role of women tend to affect the education of a girl. Negative attitude towards sending girls to schools, restrictions on their mobility, early marriage, poverty and illiteracy of parents affect the girl’s participation in education.
(6) Women’s political empowerment got a big boost with the Panchayati Raj Act of 1993 which gave them 30% reservation in Village Panchayats, Block Samities and Zila Parishads throughout the country. The National Commission for Women was also set up in 1992 to act as a lobby for women’s issues.
(7) The educational system is the only institution which can counteract the deep foundations of inequality of sexes that are built into the minds of people through the socialisation process. Education is the most important instrument of human resource development. The educational system should be used to revolutionize the traditional attitudes and inculcate new values of equality.

Question. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE, according to the passage?
(a) Women are rational in approach.
(b) The National Commission for Women was set up in 1982.
(c) Educating girls is not a charity.
(d) Women want to do things as best as possible.
Answer: (b) The National Commission for Women was set up in 1982.

Question. What are the problems a girl child faces in her life? Choose the correct option.
(1) Lack of education (2) Premature marriage
(3) Enjoys independence (4) No social status
(5) Faces subjugation (6) Enjoys financial security
(a) (1), (2), (5), (6)
(b) (2), (3), (4), (5)
(c) (1), (3), (5), (6)
(d) (1), (2), (4), (5)
Answer: (d) (1), (2), (4), (5)

Question. Complete the following.
The majority of women are still not allowed to enjoy ___________________.
Answer: the rights and opportunities bestowed on them.

Question. Fill in the blanks.
_____________ and _____________ of women are closely related.
Answer: Education and empowerment

Question. State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE.
The role of women in overall development has not been fully understood.
Answer: TRUE

Question. Women’s education has not received due care and attention from:
(a) government
(b) women in power
(c) planners and policy makers
(d) political leaders
Answer: (c) planners and policy makers

Question. Look at the graph and analyse the following statements.
(1) Things would work better if more women held positions with responsibilities in government/companies.
(2) The role of women in society is to be good mothers and wives.
(a) 34% of Russians agree with statement (1)
(b) 64% of Indians agree with statement (1)
(c) 67% of Russians agree with statement (2)
(d) 79% of Indians agree with statement (2)
Answer: (a) 34% of Russians agree with statement (1)

Question. Fill in the blank with a word/phrase.
Education is the most important instrument of _______________.
Answer: human resource development

Case-based Factual Passage 2

(1) It’s not just the company’s financial health that makes it to boardroom discussions. In the highly competitive business world, healthy employees mean a lot as well. Realising this, many corporate houses in the city have now chalked out comprehensive health programmes as part of their executive ‘well-being plan’. “In the era of globalisation and competition, corporate houses have realised the importance of having a healthy workforce. So many companies have now introduced health programmes for their executives,” says Dr Motia Talapade from a multi-specialty hospital.
(2) Doctors agree that due to long working hours and irregular eating habits, most executives are now suffering from hypertension, headache, fatigue and exhaustion. “With competition increasing by the day, it’s tough for the white collared workforce. In addition, IT revolution has brought about many changes in offices,” says Ankur Dave, who has been working closely with a number of corporates on health plans.
(3) For people in the hospitality industry and call centres, the work involves a shift system and irregular working hours which means going against the biological clock. “Stress is the silent killer for young professionals. Most of them have lifestyle problems. Interestingly, many executives also take to smoking under the pretext of work pressure,” says Dr Dave. Tarun Patel, medical officer contribute to the growth of the organisation. Apart from regular health check-ups, we have other programmes like yoga and meditation workshops for executives,” says Patel.
(4) A leading telecom company recently organised an obesity detection and ophthalmology camp for its employees. “Apart from having a gym, we also conduct regular classes in yoga and aerobics to keep our employees fit. Lectures and workshops also create awareness,” an official of the firm said. Food too has come under scrutiny. An oil company now has introduced low-calorie lunch for its personnel.
(5) But sometimes, even such preventive measures can’t safeguard employees from mental strain. No wonder that some firms are now organising counselling sessions for employees. “Though we have started operations recently, we are in the process of formulating a health programme for our staff. Employees’ health matter for the company’s performance in the long run,” says Chris Robinson, head of a BPO. Pumping iron and building muscles might not be everybody’s cup of tea, but staying healthy is certainly the mantra for staying in business.

Question. What is the chief concern of the companies these days?
(a) Employees’ salary
(b) Employees’ working conditions
(c) Management’s profit
(d) Employees’ health
Answer: (d) Employees’ health

Question. State whether the given statement is TRUE or FALSE.
Staying healthy is the mantra for staying in business.
Answer: TRUE

Question. Fill in the blank with ONE WORD.
________________ is the silent killer for young professionals.
Answer: Stress

Question. Choose the factors that led to ill health.
(1) Long working hours (2) Long periods of relaxation
(3) Irregular eating habits
(a) (1) & (2)
(b) (1) & (3)
(c) (2) & (3)
(d) All of the options
Answer: (b) (1) & (3)

Question. Complete the given statement.
Doctors agree that due to long working hours and irregular eating habits, most executives are now suffering from _____________________.
Answer: hypertension, headache, fatigue and exhaustion.

Question. Complete the given analogy.
________________ : excuse : : personnel : employees
Answer: Pretext

Question. How does ill health manifest itself?
(a) Through chronic diseases
(b) Through stress and lifestyle problems
(c) Through family problems
(d) Through bad performances
Answer: (b) Through stress and lifestyle problems

Question. What do corporate houses do to ensure the health of their employees?
(a) They conduct health check-ups.
(b) They take them for excursions.
(c) They give them vacations.
(d) All of the options
Answer: (a) They conduct health check-ups.

Case-based Factual Passage 3

(1) The modern classroom has taken several steps forward in its evolution of the learning environment in the past 25 years. Many of the benefits that we have seen in this setting are due to the introduction of new technology options for students. Instead of having a single computer for a class to use or a laboratory environment for the entire school placed in one room, we can now help students learn at their table or desk with items issued to them directly. Thus, there are quite a lot of advantages of having technology in classrooms.
(2) Technology helps children to stay motivated during the learning process. Most students don’t like to go to school if they feel like they are wasting their time. When there is technology allowed in the classroom, then teachers have an opportunity to let children work at a pace which suits them the best without disturbing others. They can look up for any additional information about a subject they are learning about that day, play educational games that reinforce the lesson, or work on advanced material using a program.
(3) Because many of today’s technology options allow students to see how well they are doing compared to the average of all users, it gives them a chance to push harder for themselves and their education. Many of the programs that encourage learning also issue rewards or award certificates, which helps to make the lessons fun as well.
(4) Technology encourages more communication between teachers and parents. When there is technology in the classroom, then there are more opportunities for parents and teachers to connect with each other. Using a blog for the classroom can help parents get to see what their children are learning each day. Apps and software options allow teachers to instantly report on a child’s behaviour to let parents know in real-time what is happening throughout the day. There are options for chat boxes, instant messaging and other forms of communication as well.
(5) Technology also creates new ways to learn for today’s student. There are three critical forms of intelligence that we see in children today: emotional, creative, and instructional. The traditional classroom environment, which typically encourages lecture-based lessons, focuses more on the latter option. Standardized tests and similar ranking tools do the same. When children have access to technology today, then those who excel outside of the standard learning setup can still achieve their full potential.
(6) Technology allows children to embrace their curiosity in multiple ways. They can try new things without embarrassment because their tech access gives them a level of anonymity. This process allows children to work, through trial and error if they wish, to see if a different strategy helps them to learn more effectively.
(7) It even encourages students to stay engaged with their learning environment. Children get bored very easily when they feel like they already know what is being taught in their classroom. Some children will transform into mentors or leaders in this situation to help their fellow students, but there are many more who disengage because they lack stimulation. By introducing technology to the classroom, there are fewer places where repetitive learning must take place. Teachers can introduce new subjects, try new techniques, or use different projects to encourage ongoing learning, which creates more overall engagement.

Question. Which of the following is NOT a way through which technology helps children to stay motivated during the learning process?
(a) Playing educational games that reinforce a lesson
(b) Working on advanced material using a program
(c) Looking up additional information about a subject they are learning about
(d) Allowing them to work on a lesson beyond their curriculum
Answer: (d) Allowing them to work on a lesson beyond their curriculum

Question. State whether the given statement is TRUE or FALSE.
Children can try new things with the help of technology without embarrassment because their tech access gives them a level of superiority.
Answer: FALSE

Question. Complete the given statement.
Most children don’t like to go to school if ________________.
Answer: they feel like they are wasting their time.

Question. The forms of intelligence that we see in children today are:
(1) motivational (2) creative
(3) instructional (4) competitive
(5) emotional
(a) (1), (2) and (3)
(b) (2), (3) and (4)
(c) (2), (3) and (5)
(d) (1), (4) and (5)
Answer: (c) (2), (3) and (5)

Question. Which of the following is NOT a method through which technology encourages more communication between teachers and parents?
(a) Apps and software options that allow teachers to instantly report on a child’s behaviour
(b) Usage of a blog for the classroom to help parents get to see what their children are learning each day
(c) Communication options such as chat boxes, instant messaging, and other forms of communication
(d) Software programs that allow parents to access the child’s tech and keep a check on their usage
Answer: (d) Software programs that allow parents to access the child’s tech and keep a check on their usage

Question. Fill in the blank.
Technology allows children to embrace their _________________ in multiple ways.
Answer: curiosity

Question. What is the advantage of having a technology that allows students to see how well they are doing compared to the average of other students?
(a) It gives them a chance to push harder for themselves and their education.
(b) It gives them an opportunity to learn from other students.
(c) It tells one how much more hard work is needed to achieve a goal.
(d) It motivates them to seek help where needed to reach the level of others.
Answer: (a) It gives them a chance to push harder for themselves and their education.

Question. Fill in the blank with ONE WORD.
Someone who gives help and advice related to something is called a ____________.
Answer: mentor

Case-based Factual Passage 4

(1) Governments have traditionally equated economic progress with steel mills and cement factories, while hundreds of millions of farmers remain mired in poverty. However, fear of food shortage, a rethinking of anti-poverty priorities and crushing recession are causing a dramatic shift in world economic policy in favour of greater support for agriculture.
(2) The last time when the world’s farmers felt such love was in the 1970s. At the time, as food prices spiked, there was real concern that the world was facing a crisis in which the planet was simply unable to produce enough grain for an expanding population. Governments across the developing world and international aid organisations plowed investment into agriculture in the early 1970s, while technological breakthroughs like high-yield strains of important food crops, boosted production. The result was the Green Revolution and food production exploded.
(3) But the Green Revolution became a victim of its own success. Food prices plunged by some 60% by the late 1980s from their peak in the mid 1970s. Policy makers and aid workers turned their attention to the poor people’s other pressing needs, such as health care and education. Farming got starved of resources and investment. By 2004, aid directed at agriculture sank to 3.5% and ‘agriculture lost its glitter’. Also, as consumers in high-growth giants such as China and India became wealthier, they began eating more meat, so grain once used for human consumption got diverted to beef up livestock. By early 2008, panicked buying by importing countries and restrictions slapped on grain exports by some big producers helped drive prices upto heights not seen for three decades. Making matters worse, land and resources got reallocated to produce cash crops such as bio-fuels and the result was that voluminous reserves of grain evaporated. Protests broke out across the emerging world and fierce food riots toppled governments.
(4) This spurred global leaders into action. This made them aware that food security is one of the fundamental issues in the world that has to be dealt with in order to maintain administrative and political stability. This also spurred the US, which traditionally provisioned food aid from American grain surpluses to help needy nations to move towards investing in farm sectors around the globe to boost productivity. This move helped countries become more productive for themselves and be in a better position to feed their own people.
(5) Africa, which missed out on the first Green Revolution due to poor policy and limited resources, also witnessed a change in poverty-fighting method favoured by many policy makers in Africa, which was to get farmers off their farms into modern jobs in factories and urban centres. But that strategy proved to be highly insufficient. Income levels in the countryside badly trailed those in cities while the FAO estimated that the number of poor going hungry in 2009 reached an all-time high at more than one billion.
(6) In India, on the other hand, with only 40% of its farmland irrigated, entire economic boom currently underway is held hostage by the unpredictable monsoon. With much of India’s farming areas suffering from drought this year, the government will have a tough time meeting its economic growth targets. In a report, Goldman Sachs predicted that if this year too receives less rainfall, it could cause agriculture to contract by 2% this fiscal year, making the government’s 7% GDP growth target look ‘a bit rich’. Another green revolution is the need of the hour and to make it a reality, the global community still has much backbreaking farm work to do.

Question. Which of the following is an adverse impact of the Green Revolution?
(a) Unchecked crop yields resulted in large tracts of land becoming barren
(b) Withdrawal of fiscal impetus from agriculture to other sectors
(c) Farmers began soliciting government subsidies for their produce
(d) None of the options
Answer: (b) Withdrawal of fiscal impetus from agriculture to other sectors

Question. State whether the given statement is TRUE or FALSE.
Africa missed out on the first Green Revolution due to poor policy and limited resources.
Answer: TRUE

Question. Fill in the blank.
Governments across the developing world and international aid organisation plowed investment into ___________________ in the early 1970s.
Answer: agriculture

Question. What is the author trying to convey through the phrase ‘making the government’s 7% GDP growth target look a bit rich’?
(a) India is unlikely to achieve the target growth rate.
(b) Allocation of funds to agriculture has raised India’s chances of having a high GDP.
(c) Agricultural growth has artifically inflated India’s GDP and such growth is not real.
(d) India is likely to have one of the highest GDP growth rates.
Answer: (a) India is unlikely to achieve the target growth rate.

Question. Complete the given statement.
______________ encouraged African policy makers to focus on urban jobs.
Answer: A change in poverty-fighting method

Question. What prompted the leaders throughout the world to take action to boost the agriculture sector in 2008?
(a) Coercive tactics by the US which restricted food aid to poor nations
(b) The realisation of the link between food security and political stability
(c) Awareness that performance in agriculture is necessary in order to achieve the targeted GDP
(d) Reports that high-growth countries like China and India were boosting their agriculture sectors to capture the international markets
Answer: (b) The realisation of the link between food security and political stability

Question. State whether the given statement is TRUE or FALSE.
Hoarding of food stocks by local wholesalers inadvertently created a food shortage.
Answer: FALSE

Question. Which of the following factors is/are responsible for the neglect of the farming sector after the Green Revolution?
(1) Steel and cement sectors generated more revenue for the government as compared to agriculture.
(2) Large-scale protests against favouring agriculture at the cost of other important sectors such as education and health care.
(3) Attention of policy makers and aid organisations was diverted from agriculture to other sectors.
(a) Only (1)
(b) Only (3)
(c) Both (2) and (3)
(d) Both (1) and (2)
Answer: (b) Only (3)

Case-based Factual Passage 5

(1) All of Earth’s oceans share one thing in common – “plastic pollution”. When people litter, or when the trash is not properly disposed off, things like plastic bags, bottles, straws, foam and beverage cups get carried to the sea by winds and waterways. About 80 percent of ocean plastic originates on land. The rest comes from marine industries such as shipping and fishing.
(2) In 2015, engineer Jenna Jambeck at the University of Georgia and other researchers calculated that at least 8 million tons of plastic trash is swept into the ocean from coasts every year. That’s equivalent to a full garbage truck of plastic being dumped into the sea every minute. If current trends in plastic production and disposal continue, that figure will double by 2025. A report published by the World Economic Forum last year predicts that by 2050, ocean plastic will outweigh all the fish in the sea.
(3) In today’s world, plastic is everywhere. It’s found in shoes, clothing, household items, electronics and more. There are different types of plastics, but one thing they all have in common is that they’re made of polymers – large molecules made up of repeating units. Their chemical structure gives them a lot of advantages: they’re cheap and easy to manufacture, lightweight, water-resistant, durable and can be moulded into nearly any shape.
(4) Sea turtles eat plastic bags and soda-can rings, which resemble jellyfish, their favourite food. Seabirds eat bottle caps or chunks of foam cups. Plastic pieces may make an animal feel full, so it doesn’t eat enough real food to get the nutrients it needs. Plastic can also block an animal’s digestive system, making it unable to eat.
(5) Plastic and its associated pollutants can even make it into our own food supply. Scientists recently examined fish and shellfish bought at markets in California and Indonesia. They found plastic in the guts of more than a quarter of samples purchased at both locations; in organisms that people eat whole, such as sardines and oysters, it means that we’re eating plastic too. In larger fishes, chemicals from plastic may seep into their muscles and other tissues that people consume.
(6) One way to keep the oceans cleaner and healthier is through clean-up efforts. A lot of plastic waste caught in ocean currents eventually washes up on beaches. Removing it prevents it from blowing out to the sea again. Beach clean-up is ocean clean-up.
(7) Clean-up efforts can’t reach every corner of the ocean or track down every bit of micro-plastic. That means it’s critical to cut down on the amount of plastic that reaches the sea in the first place. Scientists are working towards developing new materials that are safer for the environment. For example, Jambeck and her colleagues are currently testing a new polymer that breaks down more easily in seawater.

Question. What is the biggest impact of plastic pollution on sea life?
(a) Plastic eating makes the animals feel full.
(b) Plastic blocks the animal’s digestive system.
(c) Plastic cuts the sea animal’s skin.
(d) Both (a) and (b)
Answer: (d) Both (a) and (b)

Question. State whether the given statement is TRUE or FALSE.
The plastic’s ability of chemical absorption makes it great for consumer goods.
Answer: FALSE

Question. Fill in the blank.
Scientists bought fish and shellfish for examination at markets in _______________________.
Answer: California and Indonesia

Question. Which feature do all kinds of plastic have?
(a) Easy to manufacture and easy to dispose
(b) Water resistant
(c) Difficult to mould into any shape
(d) Non-durability
Answer: (b) Water resistant

Question. Complete the following.
Plastic is not biodegradable because ____________________________________.
Answer: it is made of synthetic polymers that do not break down naturally in the environment.

Question. What is the ultimate way to clean up an ocean?
(a) The beach clean-up
(b) Ban of plastic items
(c) Prohibition of seabirds
(d) No food supply in surrounding area
Answer: (b) Ban of plastic items

Question. State whether the given statement is TRUE or FALSE.
Percentage of ocean plastic that originates from land is 50%.
Answer: FALSE

Question. Scientists are working towards developing new material to replace plastics. Which material is being developed?
(a) Material that is safer for the environment
(b) Material that breaks down more easily in seawater
(c) Material that does not harm marine life
(d) All of the options
Answer: (d) All of the options