Q1. [10]
1. Hiking is a great source of pleasure to us besides being beneficial for health. Once we leave the crowded streets of a city and go out for a walking tour away from the mad world, we really feel free. The open air has a bracing effect on the mind. The congestion of the city, the uproar and tumult, the intolerable noise of traffic, the hectic daily routine, all these are forgotten and the mind is at ease. We then feel like running, leaping, singing and laughing. We travel merrily mile after mile in the company of friends and associates.
2. Hiking takes us in the midst of nature. The sight of waterfalls, flowers, streams, trees and bushes is pleasing. A connect is established between us and nature. Various sounds of nature, like the murmur of a brook or the song of a bird, acquire a new meaning and significance to us.
3. You enjoy the beauty of nature. Minute observations like a snake casting its slough, a mouse peeping out of its hole, a squirrel leaping about on the branches of a tree, a bird flying past us, all these are noticed and they arouse our interest. We have no business worries, no fear of the examination, no anxiety about the home. We have leisure to stand, to walk and talk. It is more thrilling and pleasurable to hike in a mountainous region than in the plains. The excitement of climbing up to the top of a hill, the adventure of coming down a slope, the grandeur of sunset behind a mountain - All these sights lend a rare charm and interest to our journey.
4. We walk along a zigzag motor road or cut across a mountain path in search of adventure. We may have bright sunny weather or might get caught in a shower of rain. We may look below us into the yawning chasm or up at the mountain peak. The feeling of unlimited freedom makes our hearts leap with joy.
5. Hiking is one of the healthiest sports. It ensures a complete escape from the urgent and busy activities of life and therefore gives solace to our brain. It regains its lost energy and is able to do twice as much work as before.
6. The fresh air, beautiful mountains, majestic trees, chirping sound of birds make one's mind and soul at peace with nature.
Read the passage given below. Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions below.
- (i) To go out for a walking tour is [1]
- (a) to stroll.
- (b) to ramble.
- (c) to hike.
- (d) to saunter.
- (ii) Why does the writer say that the mind is at ease when you hike ? [1]
- (a) because hiking is an inexpensive activity.
- (b) because it brings families together.
- (c) because of intolerable noise of traffic.
- (d) because the depressing daily routine is forgotten.
- (iii) Complete the following with a phrase :
The various sounds of nature acquire……................ [1]
- (iv) Infer one reason for the following based on information in paragraph 2.
A contact is established between us and nature. [1]
- (v) Complete the following analogy correctly with a word from paragraph 2.
aroma : cooking ; fragrance : …………………… [1]
- (vi) Give one reason why it is a pleasure to hike in the mountains than in the plains. [1]
- (a) because observation is sharpened.
- (b) because of the excitement of climbing up and adventure of coming down.
- (c) because it is leisure to stand, to walk.
- (d) because there are no worries.
- (vii) Hiking gives the brain, the rest it needs because [1]
- (a) it is a short time activity.
- (b) it is one of the healthiest sports.
- (c) it makes us sleep peacefully.
- (d) it is an escape from our busy schedule.
- (viii) List any two examples of minute observations you make while on a hike. [1]
- (ix) Supply one point to justify the following :
Hiking gives us a feeling of unlimited joy. [1]
- (x) Substitute the word 'leap with joy' with one word similar in meaning in the following sentence from the passage.
The feeling of unlimited freedom makes our hearts leap with joy. [1]
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2023 2/4/1 Q1
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 07:13 · grounding stimulus
Model Answer
(i) (c) to hike.
(ii) (d) because the depressing daily routine is forgotten.
(iii) The various sounds of nature acquire a new meaning and significance to us.
(iv) Hiking takes us into the midst of nature — the sight of waterfalls, flowers, streams, trees and bushes brings us close to the natural world, establishing a connect between us and nature.
(v) aroma : cooking ; fragrance : flowers
(vi) (b) because of the excitement of climbing up and adventure of coming down.
(vii) (d) it is an escape from our busy schedule.
(viii) Two examples of minute observations while hiking:
- A snake casting its slough.
- A mouse peeping out of its hole.
(ix) Hiking gives us a feeling of unlimited joy because the freedom of being away from the city — walking along mountain paths, facing the weather, and looking at vast scenery — makes our hearts leap with joy.
(x) The word that can substitute 'leap with joy' is exult (to rejoice greatly / be elated).
Source: Reading Passage — "Hiking"
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Explanation
- (iii) Quote directly from paragraph 2; partial answers lose marks.
- (iv) Infer means explain why using evidence from the paragraph — don't just restate the quote.
- (v) "Fragrance" relates to flowers as "aroma" relates to cooking — both are pleasant smells from their sources.
- (viii) Any two from: snake casting slough, mouse peeping out, squirrel leaping on branches, bird flying past.
- (x) Acceptable synonyms: exult, rejoice, jubilate. Examiners accept any correct single word.
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