Reading Comprehension - Fire - Friend or enemy?

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Fire - Friend or enemy?

Fire has been around since creation; in fact it appears that fire had a hand in itself. Therefore, man did not discover fire but, apparently, he discovered its use. Before he discovered its use, he was probably at its mercy. Fires started in nature, by lightening or by the sun, must have terrified early man for centuries when he eked out an existence by gathering fruits and nuts to keep body and soul together. Probably he also ate meat raw. Then one day he discovered that this terrifying thing, which burnt and hurt, could be tamed. Then one by one he must have discovered its marvelous uses. Then fire ceased to be an enemy and became a bosom friend of man.

From then on it was a close friendship. Today we can hardly conceive of life without fire. It cooks our food, it provides warmth and it burns rubbish. Fire plays a major part in our lives from birth till we are cremated. The main blessing that this mysterious friend bestows on us is that it cooks our food. Throughout the world, from highly organized societies to primitive tribes, humans need food. Since it has been discovered that food taste much better when cooked, cooking has evolved over the years so that there are now countless dishes to pamper our palettes. All this is possible only because of fire. 

Yet this great friend can be a dangerous enemy. In its natural state fire can break out at any moment - usually through careless handling - and cause devastating harm. Destruction of lives and property by fire is one of the almost, daily disasters in the world. Not even the most developed countries are exempt from this. All anyone can do is take as many precautions as possible but still prepare to fight it when it occurs. Frequently when fire break out, humans are helpless and great looses occur before the fire are brought under control. 

On another note, man too uses fire for destructive purposes. Most weapons are based on the principles of fire. This applied to simple devices like handguns, to artillery pieces and nuclear bombs. The main destructive element in weapons or at least the trigger is fire based. In this case, it is not fire, which is a danger in itself, but rather because it is used for destructive purposes by us. 

Hence it is clear that fire is both a bosom friend and a deadly enemy. When kept under control it is one of the greatest boons known to humanity; but when out of control or when used for destruction it is a devastating force before which man is helpless. 


Word count: 441 words

Q. Read the given passage carefully and select the most suitable answer from the given choices.


  1. Select the most appropriate synonym of the word ‘raw’.


  1. satisfy

  2. fresh

  3. uncooked

  4. unhealed

6. Fire can break out at any moment in its natural state,


  1. through careless handling

  2. through careful handling

  3. through helpful attempt

  4. through burning rubbish

2.  Select the most appropriate meaning of the word ‘bestow’.

  1. rebuff

  2. share

  3. gift

  4. condolence

7.Fire started in nature by


  1. sun

  2. air

  3. wind

  4. water


3. Which of the following statement is true.


  1. Fire is a bosom friend and a deadly enemy.

  2. Fire keeps everything under control.

  3. Fire is not the essential principle of fire

  4. Fire helps to wash dishes.

8. Which of the following statements is false.

  1. Most weapons are based on the principles of fire. 

  2. Fire plays a major part in our lives from birth till we are cremated.

  3. Fire has been around since creation.

  4. It cooks our food

4. Which of the following use of fire is not listed in the passage.


  1. To cook food

  2. To burn rubbish

  3. To provide warmth

  4. To provide fumes

9. According to the passage, which is the essential need of highly organized societies to primitive tribes.

  1. Human needs food

  2. Human needs burn

  3. Human needs fire

  4. Human needs warmth

5. According to the passage, which of the following elements is the principle of weapons.


  1. Metal

  2. Structure

  3. Fire

  4. Human

10. When the fire becomes a greatest boons to humanity.


  1. When it is a devastating force

  2. When play with fire

  3. When burning rubbish

  4. When kept under control


Source: English Language GCE O’Level 2000 - 2013

Answers:

1c

2c

3a

4d

5c

6a

7a

8a

9a

10d

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