English Reading Comprehension Primary Questions for CTET PAPER I

Read the passage and answer the question. 'The concept of 'slow food' was born in Italy in 1989 as a protest against the opening of a fast-food restaurant near a historic landmark in Rome. Founders argued that industrialised food production was erasing regional flavours and food traditions that had developed over centuries. The movement promotes locally grown ingredients, traditional cooking methods, and the pleasure of sitting down for meals with family and friends. It now has chapters in more than 160 countries and campaigns against the overuse of pesticides and the loss of heirloom seed varieties.' What was the immediate trigger for the founding of the Slow Food movement?

Read the passage and answer the question. 'Ancient Egyptians developed one of the earliest and most sophisticated writing systems known as hieroglyphics. These were pictorial symbols that could represent sounds, objects, or ideas. For centuries, scholars were unable to decipher them. The breakthrough came in 1799 when the Rosetta Stone was discovered by French soldiers during Napoleon's Egyptian campaign. The stone contained the same royal decree written in three scripts: Ancient Greek, Demotic, and hieroglyphics. Since scholars could read Ancient Greek, they were able to use it as a key to decode the other two scripts. The French scholar Jean-François Champollion completed the decipherment in 1822.' Which word in the passage means 'to decode or interpret something that is written in a secret or difficult language'?

Read the passage and answer the question. 'In many forests around the world, fungi play a critical but often invisible role. Beneath the soil, networks of fungal threads called mycelium connect the roots of different trees. Through these connections, trees can share nutrients and water with one another. Older, larger trees — sometimes called 'mother trees' — have been observed channelling sugars to younger, shaded seedlings that are struggling to photosynthesise. Scientists have described this underground network as a 'wood wide web.' However, some researchers caution against over-romanticising the relationship, noting that fungi also compete with plants for resources.' Why do some researchers caution against calling the fungal network purely cooperative?

Read the passage and answer the question. 'The coral reefs of the world are often called the rainforests of the sea. They cover less than one percent of the ocean floor, yet they support nearly 25 percent of all marine species. Coral reefs are formed by tiny creatures called polyps, which secrete calcium carbonate to build their hard outer skeletons. Over thousands of years, these skeletons accumulate to form enormous reef structures. Rising ocean temperatures, caused by climate change, lead to a phenomenon called coral bleaching, in which corals expel the algae living in their tissues and turn white. Without these algae, corals lose their main source of nutrition and often die.' What is the immediate physical sign that coral bleaching has occurred?

Read the passage and answer the question. 'Trees are often called the lungs of the Earth. They absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen, which all animals and humans need to breathe. Tree roots hold the soil together, preventing erosion. Their leaves provide shade, keeping the ground cooler. Forests are home to millions of species of plants and animals. Yet, every year, millions of trees are cut down for timber, agriculture, and construction, threatening the balance of our ecosystems.' Why are trees compared to the lungs of the Earth?