Passage for Comprehension (Level 3)

 

Read the following Passage:

King Aditya was a very wise and fair king. People trusted him and had faith in his wisdom and justice. They accepted his judgement without any question or complaint.

Once a case came to his court. There were two women named Ashiya and Ariya. They both came to King Aditya quarrelling over a baby. Both claimed that the baby belonged to them. Each woman begged to the king to give the baby to her. Now, the king had to decide who the real mother was and who was lying.

The king thought for a while and then ordered one of his courtiers to bring him a sword. He then ordered his man, “Cut the baby in two halves and give one half to each woman.”

Everyone in the court was shocked to hear King Aditya. Ariya remained quiet and did not react to the order. She looked around but remained silent. However, as the soldier came near the baby, Ashiya cried, “Stop! Don’t kill my child. Let my baby go with Ariya. Let him stay alive.”

Now the king knew who the real mother was. The king said, “Give the child to Ashiya. She is his mother. Only a mother can’t watch her baby die. Ariya has been lying. Put her in jail at once.”

Ashiya was happy to get her baby back. But she requested the king to pardon Ariya too for she was her family. The king accepted her request and let the women go with the baby.

Once again, everyone in the court praised the king for his wisdom and kindness.

 

Based on your reading, complete the following statements:

1. The people accepted the decisions made by King Aditya without any complaint because__________________________________________________________________________________.
2. The king ordered one of his soldiers to bring a sword to ______________________________________ and then __________________________________________________________.
3. Ariya did not say anything after the king’s order because __________________________________________________________.
4. King Aditya understood that ________________ was the real mother because ___________________________________________________.
5. The king wanted to punish ________________ for telling lies but did not do so because ___________________________________________________________.
6. Find words from the passage which mean similar to the following words/phrases:
   1. demanded for something-
   2. requested-
   3. persons or officials in a king’s court-
   4. to forgive-

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Answers:

1. people trusted him/people had faith in his wisdom and justice
2. cut the baby; give one half to each woman
3. she was not the real mother
4. Ashiya; she requested the king not to kill baby and give him to Ariya
5. Ariya; Asiya had requested to forgive her
6. claimed; begged; courtiers; pardon