19. Reading Skills Comprehension: Community

COMMUNITY

(NABARD, 1994)

Read the Passage carefully and answers the following Questions:-

Though the U.S. prides itself on being a leader in the world community, a recent report shows that it lags far behind other industrialized countries in meeting the needs of its youngest and most vulnerable citizens. The U.S. has a higher infant mortality rate, a higher proportion of low birth weight babies, a smaller proportion of babies immunized against childhood diseases and a much higher rate of adolescent pregnancies. These findings, described as a “quiet crisis” requiring immediate and far-reaching action, appeared in a report prepared by a task force of educators, doctors, politicians and business people. According to the report, a fourth of the nation’s 12 million infants and toddlers live in poverty. As many as half confront risk factors that could harm their ability to develop intellectually, physically and socially. Child immunizations are too low, more children are born into poverty, and more are in substandard care while their parents work and more are being raised by single parents. When taken together, these and other risk factors can lead to educational and health problems that are much harder and more costly to reverse.

The crisis begins in the womb with unplanned parenthood. Women with unplanned pregnancies are less likely to seek prenatal care. In the U.S. 80% of teenage pregnancies and 56% of all pregnancies are unplanned. The problems continue after birth where unplanned pregnancies and unstable partnerships often go hand in hand. Since 1950, the number of single-parent families has nearly tripled. More than 25 per cent of all births today is to unmarried mothers. As the number of single-parent families grows and more women enter the workforce, infants and toddlers are increasingly in the care of people other than their parents.

Most disturbingly, recent statistics show that American parents are increasingly neglecting or abusing their children. In only four years from 1987-1991, the number of children in foster care increased by over 50 per cent. Babies under the age of one are the fastest growing category of children entering foster care. The crisis affects children under the age of three most severely, the report says. Yet, it is this Period-from infancy through preschool years-that sets the stage for a child’s future.

1. The main focus of the passage is on the plight of

(a) orphaned children (b) teenage mothers

(e) None of these

2. Children falling in which age group are most severely affected by the ‘quiet crisis’?

(a) Below 1 year (b) Below 3 years

(e) None of these

3. Which of the following does not constitute the ‘quiet crisis’ in the U.S. as per the task force report?

(a) A lower proportion of newborn babies with normal weight

(b) Higher incidence of adolescent girls becoming mothers

(d) a Larger proportion of babies who are deprived of immunization

(e) Increasing cases of teenage couples getting divorced

4. Which of the following statements is not true in the context of the passage?

(a) The number of single-parent families today is approximately three times that four decades ago.

(b) The number of children in the U.S. entering foster care has decreased after 1991.

(d) Only 20 per cent of all the pregnancies in the U.S. are planned.

(e) About 6 million infants in ‘the U.S. are likely to develop educational and health problems.

5. The number of children born to married mothers in the U.S. is approximately how many times the number of children born to unwed mothers?

(a) 1.5 times (b) 2 times

(e) Not mentioned in the passage

6. Children born out of unplanned pregnancies are highly vulnerable because

(a) they are raised by single parents.

(b) their parents are mostly poor.

(d) they are less likely to receive prenatal care.

(e) their parents are emotionally immature.

7. Decide which of the following factors is/ are responsible for the physical, intellectual and social under-development of infants in the U.S.?

A. Illiteracy of parents B. Lack of parental care C. Poverty

(a) Only A (b) Only B

(e) Both B& C

8. An increasing number of infants in the U.S. are in foster care on account of

(a) an increasing number of single-parent families with the female member working

(b) an increasing number of women maintaining the status of unwed motherhood and becoming economically independent

(d) an increasing number of women getting divorced and abandoning their babies

(e) an increasing number of parents who lack awareness about baby-care

9. The task force report seems to be based on the data pertaining to the period

(a) 1987-91 (b) 1950 onwards till date

(e) 1991 onwards till date

Directions (Q 10-12):

Choose the word which is most nearly the same in meaning as the given word as used in the passage.

10. CONFRONT

(a) Face (b) Tolerate

(e) Oppose

11. VULNERABLE

(a) Insecure (b) Indispensable

(e) Delicate

12. ABUSING

(a) Cursing (b) Beating

(e) Oppressing

Directions (Q. 13-15): Choose the word which is most opposite in meaning to the given word as used in the passage.

13. SEVERELY

(a) Drastically (b) Intensely

(e) Slightly

14. UNSTABLE

(a) Changing (b) Steady

(e) Constant

15. SUBSTANDARD

(a) Impoverished (b) Compassionate

(e) Valuable

ANSWERS:-

1. (c) 2. (b)

3. (e) 4. (b)

5. (c) 6. (d)

7. (e) 8. (a)

9. (d) 10. (a)

11. (e) 12. (c)

13. (e) 14. (b)

15. (d)