Reading Comprehension Through Unseen Passages

 SECTION A : READING SKILLS (22 marks)

Reading Comprehension Through Unseen Passages

1. Read the following text. 12 m

Arthur lay in his cabin, still trying to piece together the events of the last few hours. He had watched 

his home planet of Earth be demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass, been saved by his 

friend Ford, and then whisked away on a ship that was powered by an "infinite improbability drive." 

It was all too much for him.

Just then, Ford stuck his head around the door.

"Hey, Earthman," he said, "come and have a look at this."

Arthur stumbled after him down a corridor and into the ship's control room. He gazed in amazement 

at the banks of controls and flashing lights. In the center of the room was a large console covered in 

buttons and switches, and in the middle of the console was a small, white mouse.

"What's that?" asked Arthur.

"That's the ship's computer," said Ford.

Arthur stared at the mouse. "That's a computer?" he said.

"Yup," said Ford. "Five-dimensional, biologically-based, super intelligent, and in the form of a white

lab mouse. Pretty neat, huh?"

"I don't know," said Arthur. "I don't think I really understand anything anymore. Why is a mouse the 

ship's computer?"

"It's a long story," said Ford. "But the short version is that the mice built the Earth as a giant computer 

to figure out the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. Then they ran out of money 

and had to destroy it to make way for a hyperspace bypass. So now they're using the Heart of Gold to 

finish the calculation."

Arthur was about to say something, but at that moment the ship's intercom crackled to life.

"Good evening, Heart of Gold," said a smooth, computerized voice. "This is Eddie, your shipboard 

computer. I'm feeling a bit depressed today. Would you like me to sing you a song?"

"Oh, not again," groaned Ford.

"Eddie, would you mind shutting up?" said Arthur.

Arthur sighed and leaned back against the console, trying to make sense of everything. But as he 

closed his eyes, he heard a voice inside his head.

"Hello?" it said.

Arthur jumped, startled. "Who's there?" he said.

"It's me," said the voice. "Marvin."

"Marvin?" said Arthur. "Who's Marvin?"

"The Paranoid Android," said the voice.

Arthur looked around, but he didn't see anyone. "Where are you?" he said.

"I'm down here," said the voice.

Arthur looked down and saw a small, metal figure shuffling across the floor. It was about three feet 

tall, with a round head and a body that looked like it had been cobbled together from spare parts. Its 

eyes were a dull red, and its voice was a monotone.

"I've been waiting for someone to talk to me for over two million years," said Marvin.

Adapted - An excerpt from “The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams / 444 words

Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.

i Select the option that classifies Arthur's confusion about drastic events such as the 

destruction of his home planet and the introduction of new technologies, correctly.

A. Routine and boredom

B. Adventure and excitement

C. Loss and change

D. Calm and relaxation

1

ii What is the significance of the white lab mouse in the control room of the Heart of Gold 

spaceship?

A. It is the captain of the ship

B. It serves as the ship's computer

C. It is a pet of the crew

D. It is used for scientific experiments

1

iii Share evidence from the text, in about 40 words to support the view that the writer’s writing 

style is descriptive and humorous.

2

iv Complete the sentence appropriately with a characteristic or its description.

Based on the information given in the excerpt, one can infer that the mice who built the Earth 

are ____________.

1

v Select the option that is similar in meaning to Ford’s expression , “Pretty neat, huh?".

A. Easy , isn’t it?

B. Could be worse, no?

C. Impressive, yes?

D. Too difficult for you?

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vi Explain, in about 40 words, why the name "The Paranoid Android" is considered ironic. 2

vii In the line, “…a body that looked like it had been cobbled together from spare parts…”, what 

comparison does the word “cobbled” refer to? 

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viii How does the following, impact the reader, even though they know Marvin is just an android?

"I've been waiting for someone to talk to me for over two million years," said Marvin. 

Answer in about 40 words.

2 marks

ix Read the five headlines (a) -(e), given below:

(a) HUMANITY'S JOURNEY WITNESSED BY A DEPRESSED ROBOT

(b) HITCHHIKING THROUGH SPACE: A COMICAL TAKE ON THE END OF THE WORLD

(c) NEW STUDY FINDS ALIENS LIVING AMONG US

(d) GROUNDBREAKING TECHNOLOGY WILL SOON ENABLE TIME TRAVEL

(e) INTERGALACTIC TRAVEL VIA NEW INFINITE IMPROBABILITY DRIVE

Identify the option that displays the headline/s that DOES/ DO NOT correspond with 

occurrences in the passage.

A. Only (a) B. (b) (c) and (d) C. Only (e) D. (a) and (e)