COMPREHENSION for PRACTICE – Demo
SYMPATHY by Charles Mackay
I lay in sorrow, deep distressed
My grief a proud man heard;
His looks were cold, he gave me gold
But not a kindly word.
My sorrow passed—I paid him back
The gold he gave to me;
Then stood erect and spoke my thanks
And blessed his Charity.
I lay in want, in grief and pain
A poor man passed my way;
He bound my head he gave me bread
He watched me night and day
How shall I pay him back again,
For all he did to me
Oh, gold is great, but greater far
Is heavenly Sympathy!
Complete the following paragraph on the basis of your reading of the poem by writing the missing words/phrases against the correct blank number in your answer sheet:
The poet lay
- ________________ when a
- ____________________ helped him by giving him
- ______________. He did not speak any
- ______________ words. The poet’s
- ______________ passed and he returned the money he had been lent. Another time when he was in pain, a poor man
- ______________ him by giving him sympathy.
State any two ways by which the poor man expressed his sympathy.
- __________________________________________
- _________________________________________
Answer the following questions by selecting the most appropriate option from the ones given below:
(a) The proud man heard the poet
(i) Crying in sorrow
(ii) Sing in joy
(iii) Lying in misery
(iv) crying due to pain
(b) The proud man helped the poet by
(i) Giving him comfort
(ii) Assisting him to lie down
(iii) His cold looks
(iv) Giving him gold
(c) The poet thanked the proud man by
(i) Speaking nicely to him
(ii) Giving him money
(iii) Praising him
(iv) Blessing his large-heartedness
(d) The poor man helped the poet by
(i) Giving him comfort
(ii) Binding his body
(iii) Giving him food
(iv) Serving him like his own
(e) The word ‘heavenly’ means
(i) Relating to paradise
(ii) Like that of heaven
(iii) Like angels
(iv) Like gods
