Read the following passage:

By the end of 15th century, European explorers had considerable experience of long distance ocean voyaging. In particular, they had learnt that the greatest danger, apart from storms and hurricanes, was lack of food and water. If a ship was becalmed, supplies could quickly run low.

European navigators had also learnt that there were other problems besides hunger and thirst. They noticed that the ship’s crew often fell sick even when they had enough food to eat and water to drink regularly. For a long time, they couldn’t understand what caused this sickness. Many crew members even died of this mysterious disease.

Much later, the navigators discovered that the crew suffered from a disease called Scurvy which was caused due to deficiency of vitamin C. This deficiency resulted in swollen and bleeding gums and even caused loss of teeth. Some men who couldn’t recover eventually died.

Not until the 18th century did the British Navy discover an effective way of preventing this disease. The crew members were now served with daily dose of lime juice which is rich in vitamin C. This soon earned British sailors the nick name ‘Limeys’.

Based on your reading, complete the following statements:

1. The two discoveries made by the European explorers about long distance ocean voyaging were: _______________________________________________(i)____________________________________________________________________ and ____________________________________________(ii)_________________________________________________________________ .
2. The sailors often fell sick because of _______________________(iii)__________________________________________________.
3. The symptoms of their sickness included __________________________(iv)_____________________________________________ and ___________________(v)_________________________.
4. Finally, the crew was given ________________(vi)____________________ to avoid sickness.
5. Find words from the passage which mean:

plentiful- _________(vii)______________

shortage- _________(viii)_____________

 

Click here to download and print: Reading Comprehension (Grade 6)-2

Answers:

1. (i) storms and hurricanes were dangerous  (ii) food and water supplies run short
2. deficiency of vitamin C
3. (iv) swollen and bleeding gums  (v) loss of teeth
4. daily dose of lime juice
5. (vii) considerable  (viii) deficiency