BLUEBELLS SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL
KAILASH, NEW
DELHI
CLASS:XI
WORKSHEET
READING COMPREHENSION
Teacher: Ms.
Sakshi Chopra
Read the passage given below and answer the questions
that follow:
Judaism
was the first religion based on monotheism, the belief in one God. All of the
major Western religions found their roots in Judaism. A central tenet of
Judaism is that God, the Creator of the World, made a special agreement called
a covenant (berit in Hebrew) with Abraham, from whom the Jewish people
descended. The covenant provided that the Jews would be blessed with God's love
and protection if they remained true to God's law and faithfully worshipped
Him, and be accountable for sins and transgression against God and His laws.
The Jewish People have often been referred to throughout history as the
"Chosen People" because of the belief that the Jews were singled out
among all of the ancient peoples to receive God's laws and His blessings. According
to Judaism, the Jews were chosen to be His servants although God is the
universal Creator of all humanity. The tenets of Judaism include a belief in a
coming Messiah (derived from the Hebrew, meaning, "the anointed one")
who will unite the Jewish people and lead them under a Kingdom of God
on earth and bring peace and justice to all mankind.
Judaism
is traditionally decentralized. There is no equivalent to a Pope or other
central, international decision-making authority who determines religious dogma
or practice. Each Jewish congregation is responsible for its own affairs and is
usually, but not always, led by a spiritual leader called a rabbi. Many rabbis
are trained in a seminary or university established for the purpose of
furthering religious scholarship and teaching. Jewish worship and study often
takes place at a synagogue, and religious services often include prayer and
readings from the Torah. Services held in a synagogue are traditionally led by
a rabbi and assisted by a cantor, who leads the chanting and songs which
accompany prayer. For centuries, observant Jews have dressed differently than
citizens of their host countries while engaged in secular and non-secular
activities. During prayer, Jewish males have traditionally worn the following: Skull cap (Kippah, yarmulka):
head covering; Phylacteries (Tefillin): these are small
boxes containing Torah passages written on parchment with leather straps which
are worn on the forehead and left arm during prayers; Fringed Shawl (Tallit):
these are worn during prayer.
Jewish
life in the Middle Ages was for the most part a story of social and economic
isolation, persecution and massacres. Jews were isolated both physically and
socially from the fabric of life in the Middle Ages and the period following
the Middle Ages. Yet they filled an important niche. Christianity outlawed
usury, the lending of money. Jews were permitted to fill this vacuum by acting
as moneylenders and financiers. Jewish culture developed for 2,000 years in
pre-World War II Europe. Jews of both Western and Eastern
Europe created a culture of religious practice, arts and music,
language (principally Yiddish), and education. It was an entire culture which
the Nazis sought to make extinct.
1.
State the central tenet of Judaism. (1)
2.
What was the covenant between
man and God?
(1)
3.
In what respect are the Jews
the Chosen people? What is the irony involved
in it? (2)
4.
Who is a Messiah? (1)
5.
What roles do Rabbis fulfil?
How? (2)
6.
Describe the ritual Jewish male
dress. (2)
How were Jews useful as
Usurers?
(1)
8.
1. Find the words in the
passage similar in meaning to: (2)
a)
responsible
b)
void
2.
Find words in the passage opposite in meaning to:
a) thrive
b) obedience
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