Read the following paragraph and answer the questions from 11 to 15 :
Molting is one of the most involved processes of a bird’s annual life cycle. Notwithstanding preening and constant care, the marvelously intricate structure of a bird’s feather inevitably wears out. All adult birds molt their feathers at least once a year, and upon close observation, one can recognize the frayed, ragged appearance of feathers that are nearing the end of their useful life. Two distinct processes are involved in molting. The first step is when the old, worn feather is dropped, or shed. The second is when a new feather grows in its place. When each feather has been shed and replaced, then the molt can be said to b e complete. This, however, i s an abstraction that often does not happen: incomplete, overlapping, and arrested molts are quite common. Molt requires that a bird find and process enough protein to rebuild approximately one-third of its body weight. It is not surprising that a bird in heavy molt often seems listless and unwell. But far from being random, molt is controlled by strong evolutionary forces that have established an optimal time and duration. Generally, molt occurs a t the time of least stress on the bird. Many songbirds, for instance, molt in late summer, when the hard work of breeding is done but the weather is still warm and food still plentiful. This is why the woods in late summer often seem so quiet, when compared with the exuberant choruses of spring.
11. The passage mainly discusses how :
(a) birds prepare for breeding
(b) bird feathers differ from species
(c) birds shed and replace their feathers
(d) birds are affected by seasonal changes
Answer:
Explanation:
12. The word ‘Notwithstanding’ is closest in meaning to:
(a) Despite
(b) Because of
(c) Instead of
(d) Regarding
Answer:
Explanation:
13. The word ‘intricate’ is closest in meaning to :
(a) regular
(b) complex
(c) interesting
(d) important
Answer:
Explanation:
14. The word ‘random’ is closest in meaning to :
(a) unfortunate
(b) unusual
(c) unobservable
(d) unpredictable
Answer:
Explanation:
15. The word ‘optimal’ is closest in meaning to :
(a) slow
(b) frequent
(c) best
(d) early
Answer:
Explanation: