Reading Comprehension Practice Test 23
The Silk Harvest
The Bretton family spent the next week collecting and sorting their cocoons into baskets, grouping together, as well as they were able to, those that were to be kept for breeding, those that were soiled or imperfect and those that were double. They also separated the cocoons that were of different colours, for among the lot were not only white ones but many that were yellow, and even some of a greenish tint. This varied, Josef explained, with the different species of silkworms. Before the silk was reeled off, the cocoons would, of course, go through another and more thorough classification under the hands of the experts at the filature, as the reeling factory was called. But even this first rough grouping was a help to buyers. In the meantime, some of the caterpillars that worked more slowly were still busy with their spinning and could not be disturbed. Accordingly, much care had to be taken in removing the cocoons that were finished. Those in the lower tiers of arches were first taken out and, afterwards, the ones higher up on the shelves. The sooner the cocoons could be collected after their completion, Josef said, the better, for within ten days, they depreciated from seven to eight per cent, and if sold in bulk, brought a lower price. In consequence, the Brettons, who were to sell their crop to a silk merchant who visited the town each year, promptly set about gathering their harvest as soon as possible.
1. The subject of the passage is closely related to
(1) sericulture
(2) pisciculture
(3) apiculture
(4) horticulture
Ans. 1
2. The Bretton family
(1) separated the cocoons on the basis of their colours only.
(2) collected silkworms and sold them to earn their living.
(3) tried to collect the cocoons as soon as they were ready for harvesting.
(4) were searching for another silk merchant who could come twice a year.
Ans. 3
3. Which one of the following phrases gives the most appropriate title for the passage?
(1) Life Cycle of a Silkworm
(2) Silk Harvesting
(3) The Bretton Family
(4) Collecting Cocoons
Ans. 2
4. The word ‘finished’ in “…removing the cocoons that were finished” is used to indicate
(1) the death of a silkworm due to suffocation.
(2) the completion of a cocoon by the caterpillar.
(3) the beginning of depreciation of the quality of a cocoon.
(4) the beginning of the harvesting season for sericulture.
Ans. 3
5. Identify the false statement.
(1) Josef was the head of the Bretton family.
(2) The Brettons used to sell their harvests to silk merchants.
(3) The caterpillars still busy with their cocoon weaving were not disturbed.
(4) Cocoons were classified further by experts at the reeling factory.
6. The word ‘filature’ as used in the passage means
(1) a silk factory
(2) a place of silk harvesting
(3) a place for cocoon production
(4) a place where caterpillars are bred
Ans. 1
