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Read the following passage… (English 2024 2/4/1 Q2)

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EnglishCBSE Class 10 · Board exam 2024, set 2/4/1 · 10 marks · Reading comprehension

CBSE Class 10 English 2024: question 2

Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2024, paper 2/4/1, section A, question 2, for 10 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q2 · 10 marks · Reading comprehensionCompetency-basedReading (unseen passages)

Read the following passage carefully:

(1) Rotation of crops is a universal phenomenon which is practised by most of the farmers of the tropical and temperate countries. The main objective of rotation of crops is to obtain higher agricultural returns on the one hand, and to maintain the soil fertility on the other.

(2) In other words, the rotation of crops helps in making agriculture more sustainable. The importance of crop rotation is more in the areas where farmers grow two, or more than two crops in the same field in a year. Irrigation facilities have also been appreciably developed in the country during the last three decades. The availability of water to the arable land has helped in the intensification of agriculture.

(3) In the areas such as Punjab and Haryana, where the Green Revolution is a big success, one soil exhaustive crop (rice) is followed by another soil exhaustive crop (wheat). Subsequently, the field vacated by wheat is devoted to either rice or maize or cotton. Thus, in one year, the farmers are harvesting three soil exhaustive crops from the same field. Such a rotation of crops may fetch more income to the farmers, but depletes the soil fertility at a faster pace.

(4) A number of field studies were conducted to assess the traditional crop rotation pattern. One such field study about the changes in the rotation of crops was conducted in the village Banhera (Tanda), Haridwar district. The main rotation of crops of the village is shown in the table below.

YearKharif (mid-June to mid-October)Rabi (mid-October to mid-April)Zaid (April to June)No. of days land left fallow
1960Millet/fodder/riceGramFallow90
1961FallowWheatFallow210
1962Millet/fodder/riceGramFallow90
1963FallowWheatFallow210
1964Millet mixed with urad/fodder/riceGramFallow90
1965FallowWheatFallow210

Traditional Rotation of Crops (1960-65) in Banhera (Tanda)

Answer the following questions, based on the above passage:

  1. (i)

    Fill in the blanks with the appropriate option from those given in brackets, based on your understanding of para 2. One of the reasons that there has been an intensification of agriculture in the country is the development of irrigation facilities is a/an ________ (fact/opinion) because it is a/an ________ (subjective judgement/objective detail).

    1 mark
  2. (ii)

    Based on your understanding of paras 1 and 2, state whether the following statement is true or false. If proper irrigation facility is provided, higher agricultural returns can be obtained by making crop rotation more sustainable.

    1 mark
  3. (iii)

    Justify the following in about 40 words. Crop rotation may fetch more income to the farmers, but depletes the soil fertility at a faster pace.

    2 marks
  4. (iv)

    Based on the table, mention the years when the land was left fallow for maximum number of days.

    1 mark
  5. (v)

    The study conducted in village Banhera (Tanda) reflects that during the years 1960 to 1965, from April to June, the land was left fallow or uncultivated throughout. State any one inference that can be drawn from this.

    1 mark
  6. (vi)

    Select the option that correctly states the significance of crop rotation as given below:
    (1) Crop rotation is done to obtain higher agricultural returns.
    (2) Higher agricultural returns can be obtained by harvesting soil exhaustive crops.
    (3) Crop rotation demands that land should be left fallow for a few months to increase the fertility of soil.
    (4) Better irrigation facility to the arable land has helped in the intensification of agriculture.
    (5) If crops to be harvested are chosen wisely, crop rotation can help in maintaining fertility of soil.

    1. (A)(1), (2) and (4)
    2. (B)(1) only
    3. (C)(3) and (5)
    4. (D)(1) and (5)
    1 mark
  7. (vii)

    Crop rotation is helping in making agriculture more sustainable. Mention one benefit and one drawback of crop rotation. (Answer in about 40 words)

    2 marks
  8. (viii)

    Which of the following is the main takeaway from the study mentioned in the passage?

    1. (A)The study needs to include more valid data to support the practice of crop rotation.
    2. (B)Crop rotation is a sustainable practice that can transform the agricultural sector.
    3. (C)The impact of crop rotation on farmer's upliftment has been thoroughly explained.
    4. (D)Crop rotation is independent of the type of crops harvested and availability of water for irrigation.
    1 mark

Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2024 board paper, set 2/4/1.

Hints

Open one hint at a time and try again before the next.

Hint 1

In (iii), use the term 'soil exhaustive crops' in your answer.

Hint 2

For (iv), read the last column of the table and find the largest number.

Hint 3

For (vi), keep only statements that match the passage on crop rotation itself.

Step-by-step solution

Each step shows the marks it earns, as an examiner would award them. Checked by an independent re-solve from the question paper.

  1. (i) The blanks are filled with: fact; objective detail. It can be verified, so it is not a personal judgement.

    1 mark

  2. (ii) True. Paras 1 and 2 say crop rotation gives higher returns and keeps soil fertile, and irrigation has helped intensify agriculture.

    1 mark

  3. (iii) Wheat and rice are soil exhaustive crops, and growing them one after the other, with a third such crop, gives three harvests a year and more income. But the soil is not given time to recover, so its fertility falls quickly and more fertilizer is needed.

    2 marks

  4. (iv) 1961, 1963 and 1965 (210 days fallow).

    1 mark

  5. (v) Any one inference: no crop was grown in Zaid, so the land may have been left to rest and regain fertility; or no irrigation was available then.

    1 mark

  6. (vi) Statements (1) and (5) are correct. Option (D).

    1 mark

  7. (vii) Benefit: it gives higher returns and keeps soil fertile, since farmers can grow two or more crops a year. Drawback: if all the crops are soil exhaustive, the soil's fertility is depleted.

    2 marks

  8. (viii) Option (B): crop rotation is a sustainable practice that can transform agriculture.

    1 mark

Answer: (i) fact, objective detail; (ii) True; (iii) soil exhaustive crops give income but deplete fertility; (iv) 1961, 1963, 1965; (v) land was left fallow to regain fertility (any one inference); (vi) D; (vii) benefit and drawback as given; (viii) B

Where the marks are

  • (i) Both blanks correct (1 mark)
  • (ii) True (1 mark)
  • (iii) Soil exhaustive crops give more income (1) but deplete fertility (1) (2 marks)
  • (iv) 1961, 1963, 1965 (1 mark)
  • (v) Any valid inference (1 mark)
  • (vi) D (1 mark)
  • (vii) One benefit (1) and one drawback (1) (2 marks)
  • (viii) B (1 mark)

Revise the chapter

  • Chapter: Reading (unseen passages)
Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from Reading (unseen passages), one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paper2024 board paper, set 2/4/1: every question, by section.

The question is transcribed from the official paper; figures are described in words. The solution, hints and chapter tag are ours. Spotted an error? Write tosupport@questionbuddy.in.