Reading comprehension passage followed by questions and answer key for Grade 7 students. Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions that follow.
Claustrophobia
I have only had claustrophobia once and it was not a pleasant experience. I remember that day very clearly. I was in the tiny stove room under our staircase packing away the vacuum cleaner when the wind suddenly blew the door shut. The lock clicked into place and I was trapped. It was pitch-black and musty in the storeroom.
All at once, I felt as if I could not breathe. I could hear the ceiling above me creaking as my sister danced up and down the stairs in time to the music. I imagined the stairs falling on me. The ceiling looked very fragile at that moment and the walls seemed to be moving in. No one in the house knew where I was, so there was no chance of them finding me. I began to panic and tried to scream, but couldn’t. My mind seemed stalled. My capacity for logical thinking and reasoning had all but disappeared. I had to escape from my prison. Somehow, I had to get out.
I hurled the vacuum cleaner against the door in my desperation to escape the tiny, dark prison. The lock broke with splintering crash. Unfortunately, the vacuum cleaner also lay broken on the floor. I ran out and then, panting, leaned against a wall. I stood there for some minutes, weak-kneed and gulping in fresh air until my heartbeat returned to normal. I had experienced claustrophobia. And boy! What an experience!
So, what is claustrophobia? Many people, both adults and children, suffer from a fear of enclosed spaces. This is called claustrophobia. For some people, going into an enclosed space such as a lift, an aircraft or a small room makes them a little uncomfortable. But for others, the effect can be devastating. Sufferers of claustrophobia experience extremely rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, tightness in the chest, feeling ‘butterflies’ in the stomach, dry mouth, and an uncontrollable need to flee to an open area. It can really affect a person’s life.
What effect could it have on a person’s life? Having severe claustrophobia can certainly limit activities and quality of life. For example, claustrophobics may be unable to take up certain careers. They may not become pilots, miners, deep-sea divers, submariners or even astronauts. In severe cases, people suffering from claustrophobia may be unable to travel in an aircraft or by car! They may not feel comfortable in rooms with closed windows and a door that locks from outside. They may feel that they can only stay in a room that has all the windows and doors open. Some may even panic when a face-towel is draped over their face. In fact, fear of enclosed spaces may dominate their every waking moment.
Is there a cure? People with claustrophobia can seek help from many sources, including doctors, psychiatrists, and acupuncturists. Certain calming medicines may provide some relief, but this is not a permanent cure. Sometimes, by exposing sufferers gradually to smaller and smaller spaces, they can get used to being in a small space and, thus, gain the ability to handle small spaces confidently. Although some may be helped, many claustrophobics continue to dread enclosed spaces all their lives. Having experienced it once, I can sympathize with them and hope they will find a way to overcome their fear!
Write your answers on the lines provided.
- What is claustrophobia?
- How would claustrophobics feel when they are in a small space?
- Give five examples of places where you think a person could suffer claustrophobia.
- Why can travel become a serious problem for claustrophobics?
- How have professionals tried to help claustrophobics?
Answer Key
- What is claustrophobia?
Claustrophobia is a fear of enclosed spaces. - How would claustrophobics feel when they are in a small space?
They may get an extremely rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling and an uncontrollable need to flee to an open area. - Give five examples of places where you think a person could suffer claustrophobia.
A lift, an aircraft, a small room, a car and a submarine. - Why can travel become a serious problem for claustrophobics?
They may feel that they can only stay in a room that has all the windows and doors open and places like aircrafts and cars can feel quite constrained. - How have professionals tried to help claustrophobics?
They have prescribed certain calming medicine and introduced patients to exposure therapy.
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