Question

Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow.

Born on 31 January 1923, in the picturesque town of Dadh in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, Somnath Sharma belonged to a family with a rich military legacy. His father, Major General Amar Nath Sharma, had served the nation with distinction, and young Somnath was deeply inspired by the valorous tales of the Mahabharata, imparted to him by his grandfather

(i) What can be inferred about Somnath Sharma’s early influences on his career?

1. He was primarily influenced by his father’s achievements in the military.
2. His inspiration came solely from the tales of the Mahabharata.
3. His family and heritage inspired his bravery and sense of duty.
4. He decided to join the military out of necessity rather than passion.

(ii) Identify whether the following statement is true or false:

Somnath Sharma belonged to a wealthy family.

(iii) What does the phrase ‘served the nation with distinction’ tell us about Major General Amar Nath Sharma?

(He performed his duties with exceptional dedication, honour, and excellence./He was highly respected for his contributions to the country.)

(iv) Replace the underlined phrase with a word from the extract that has a similar meaning.

My family and I visited a popular hill station and stayed in an old but visually charming house surrounded by trees.

Answer 1

(i) His family and heritage inspired his bravery and sense of duty.

(ii) This statement is false.

Explanation:

The extract only tells us that Somnath Sharma belonged to a family with a rich military legacy. It does not mention that his family was wealthy.

(iii) The phrase “served the nation with distinction” means that Major General Amar Nath Sharma performed his duties with exceptional dedication, honour, and excellence.

(iv) picturesque