Q. 1 Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow :
(1) I was shopping in my home town, when I heard a young voice boom from across the aisle, “Mum, come here, there’s a lady my size.” The mortified mother rushed to the boy who looked about seven; then she turned to me to apologize. I smiled and told her, “It’s okay.” Then I looked at her wide-eyed son. He studied me from head to toe and asked, ‘why are you so little?’ “It’s the way God made me. Some people are little. . Some are tall. I’m just not going to grow any bigger.” After about five minutes of questioning he returned to his mother.
(2) My life as a little person is filled with stories like that. I enjoy talking to children and explaining why I look different from their parents. It has taken many years of developing my confidence to be able to do that. It takes only one glance to see my uniqueness. I stand three feet nine inches tall. I am an achondroplasia dwarf, which is a person having very short limbs. When I was born, my mother was told I was a dwarf. Not knowing a lot about dwarfism my mum’s main concern was my health. Our family doctor put her mind at ease when he told her that I would not have any major medical concerns. He was right.
(3) When I was growing up, my parents encouraged me to do all the things the kids around me did. So when my neighbours got two-wheel bicycles, I got a two-wheel bicycle. When they rollerskated, I roller-skated. Our neighbours treated me as a normal person. I didn’t realize how short I was until I started school. There a few kids picked on me calling names. After that I began to hate the first day of school each year. I didn’t know who was new and would stare as I struggled to climb up the school bus stairs. Some of the kids would point out and say, “Look at that kid. Look at her.” Boys could be especially mean.
(4) As time went on I tried to smile and accept the fact that I was going to be noticed all my life. I was determined to make my uniqueness an advantage rather than a disadvantage. My friends became increasingly protective. What I lacked in height I made up for in personality. I had the ability to laugh, even at myself. I am 47 now, and stares have not diminished, as I’ve grown older. People ask my friends if I live in a dollhouse. They look in disbelief when they see me get out of my car on the driver’s side. During those times I try to keep a good attitude. When people are rude I remind myself, “Look what else I have – a great family, nice friends.” Children’s questions make my life special. “Why are you so short? How old are you? Are you a mummy?” When I talk to children they leave content that their questions have been answered. My hope is that in taking time with them I will encourage them to accept their peers, whatever size and shape they come in, and treat them with respect.
(i) Fill in the following summary with one word in each blank:
The author was a (a)__________ and wherever she went, people (b)__________at her. While (c)__________ up, she did all the things normal kids do. But at school (d)___________ kids called her names. She (e)______________ the first day of school each year. So she (f)___________ that she would be noticed all her life.
(ii) Complete the following statements.
(a) The authors parents encouraged her to ___________
(b) The difficulties the author had to face due to her size are ____________________
(c) Her strengths that compensated for her size are__________________________
(d) By answering the questions asked by the children, she had enabled them to _____________________
(iii) Find words from the passage which mean the same as
(a) Hurt, humiliated (Para 1)
(b) The quality of being only one of a particular kind (Para 2)
(c) Persons of same age (Para 4)
