PASSAGE 41

An important aspect of the growth of modern towns and cities is the increasing population density. Mr J. P. Orr, the honorable Chairman of the Mumbai Improvement Trust, pointed out in a recent lecture on the subject, how it affected the health and prosperity of the inhabitants. Life in most thriving towns is intimately connected with the local trades and industries.

Unhealthy conditions in factories and workshops and offensive trades have been prevented in big towns, and this had led to better health. The question of density is more difficult to deal with in India because that older towns have been built on different principles. People not only want to live healthy but also live in communities that give them greater social convenience, comfort and safety. They care for the health, comfort and beauty of the town, and these conditions of a well-built and well-arranged town are still insisted on by the people. So long as individuals obey the laws of health and their habits and customs are free from unsanitary effects, mere density of population does not perhaps tend to increase the death rate and harbour diseases. But in the present day, it is apparent that the habits of people have changed greatly and they do not obey the laws of health and cleanliness as well as their forefathers used to do in days when cities expanded and people flourished. It is, therefore, necessary to modify the old plans of city building in the light of modern sanitary laws and requirements.

In this lecture, Mr Orr spoke mainly of the density of the city of Mumbai. But his observations are of considerable interest to all those whose population is huddled in narrow quarter, without adequate air and light.

1. The density of population does not increase the death rate and harbour diseases as long as
A) unhealthy conditions in factories and workshops are prevented
B) people obey the laws of health and their habits are free from insanitary effects
C) towns are well-built and well arranged
D) the older towns are properly expanded

2. Why is it necessary to modify the old plans of city building?
A) Because the population of India is increasing
B) Because the density of population has increased
C) Because the habits of people have greatly changed and they do not obey the health laws
D) Because people want to live in good and healthy conditions

3. Life in most thriving towns is connected with the
A) density of population
B) size of the town and its planning
C) local trade and industry
D) size of population

4. In addition to health, what do the people want in towns?
A) Lesser density of population
B) Social convenience, comforts and safety
C) Well-planned and well arranged towns
D) Good factories and good working conditions

5. What had led to better health in big towns?
A) Lower density of population
B) Prevention of unhealthy conditions in factories and workshops
C) Well-built and well-planned towns
D) Sanitation and cleanliness

6. What should be kept in mind while modifying the old plans of city buildings?
A) Habits of people living there
B) Convenience and comforts of people living their
C) Modern sanitary laws and requirements
D) Size and density of population

7. The word ‘thriving’ used in the above passage means
A) Populated B) Modern
C) Growing D) Well planned

8. Select from the answer choices a suitable antonym to ‘huddle’.
A) grow B) heaped together
C)  scatter D) sporadic

9. Select from the answer choices the word that is as closely opposite in meaning to ‘harbour’.
A) shelter B) cherish
C) banish D) infectious

10. Which of the following statements is incorrect according to the passage?
A) Life in most thriving towns is intimately connected with the local trades and industries.
B) It is necessary to modify the old plans of city buildings.
C) The question of density is more difficult to deal in India because the older towns have been built on different principles.
D) The density of population tends to increases death rate and harbour diseases.

Answer Key

Solution with explanation

1. Option ‘B’ (people obey the laws of health and their habits are free from insanitary effects). Read these middle lines of the second paragraph to get the answer — So long as individuals obey the laws of health and their habits and customs are free from unsanitary effects, mere density of population does not perhaps tend to increase the death rate and harbour diseases.

3. Option ‘C’ (local trade and industry). The answer lies in the last sentence of the first paragraph.

4. Option ‘B’ (Social convenience, comforts and safety). Read the third sentence of the second paragraph to get the answer.

5. Option ‘B’ (Prevention of unhealthy conditions in factories and workshops). Read the first sentence of the second paragraph to get the answer.

6. Option ‘C’ (Modern sanitary laws and requirements). Read the last sentence of the passage to get the answer.

8. Option ‘C’ (scatter). SCATTER = to (cause to) move far apart in different directions; e.g.

a) The protesters scattered at the sound of gunshots.
b) The soldiers came in and scattered the crowd.

9. Option ‘C’ (banish). HARBOUR = to contain the bacteria, etc. that can cause a disease to spread; e.g. Bathroom door handles can harbour germs. BANISH = to get rid of something completely

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