Q. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
Oliver was a nine-year-old boy. He lived with other homeless boys in an orphanage. He was pale and thin as were the other boys living there. This was because they had to work hard but were never given enough to eat. The owner of the orphanage, Mr Bumble, was a cruel man and he ill-treated the boys.
The boys were always hungry It was true that they were given three meals a day but each meal consisted only of a bowl of watery soup. They were almost starving. So it was decided by them to ask the master for more soup. But who would bell the cat? Finally the task fell to Oliver.
When all the boys had assembled in the cold stone hall for their evening meal, the soup was served. It soon disappeared. The boys whispered to one another and one boy pushed Oliver a little. Oliver, making a brave effort, stood up, walked up to the master with his bowl and spoon in his hand, and said tremblingly, "Please sir, I want some more."
1. Why did Oliver live in the orphanage?
2. Who was Mr Bumble?
3. What meal were the boys given?
4. What did Oliver say to Mr Bumble?
5. The boys were given three meals a day. Then why were they always hungry?
(i) Because the soup they were given was never enough.
(ii) Because they worked very hard all day long.
(iii) Because the older boys drank up their soup.
6. Find the words from the passage that mean the same as
(i) Very hungry (para 2) ..............................................
(ii) to vanish (para 3) ..................................................
7. 'All the boys assembled in the cold stone hall.' Here the word assembled means.
(i) moved away
(ii) collected
(iii) worked together
8. From the word 'assembled' remove the last two letters. Add one letter to make a word which means a time at the school when the whole school gathers.
9. Give a suitable title to the passage.
