Unseen passage for Class 9 - Passage 13

Unseen passage - To enhance the welcoming experience for visitors during the Commonwealth Games, the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) is gearing up to train various groups, including taxi and auto drivers, CISF personnel at monuments, dhaba owners, and hotel staff. The training program will focus on teaching English proficiency, courtesy, and effective communication with tourists. Currently, there is a shortage of trained guides in the city, and with the Commonwealth Games approaching, this issue needs immediate attention.

The city boasts numerous historical sites, each with its own unique history. However, foreign nationals often find themselves without guidance, relying on tourist books and brochures for information. Language barriers further compound the issue, contrasting with the well-equipped tourist sites in western countries where proficient guides, fluent in multiple languages, are readily available. The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) plans to introduce audio guide services in five languages at select world heritage sites, but experts highlight the lack of interpretation centers at city monuments. ASI is also working on producing more brochures and guides for foreign visitors. Such amenities are considered crucial for promoting Delhi as a 'heritage city,' involving various agencies like INTACH in the plans.

As part of ITDC's initiatives, etiquette training for the Games will extend to residents participating in the Delhi government's bed and breakfast scheme for foreigners. House-owners offering rooms will receive hospitality-related training, providing insights into the Indian tourism scenario. This will equip hosts to answer visitors' questions about the city, offering information on the golden triangle (Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur) and recommended places to visit in Delhi.

Unseen passage - Alfred Hitchcock was a man endowed with a vivid imagination, robust creative abilities, and an intense zest for life. Through his distinctive style and innate wit, he crafted and directed some of the most gripping films that left audiences on the edge of their seats with fear and bursting into laughter.

Hitchcock drew significant inspiration from American films and magazines. At the age of 20, he secured a position at the office of Paramount Studio in London. Employing imagination, skill, and unwavering dedication, he turned each of his endeavors into a triumph. Finding immense joy in studio work, he often devoted himself to the craft all seven days of the week. In 1939, he made the move to the USA and obtained American citizenship in 1955. During his time there, he produced numerous additional films and hosted a weekly television show.

Regardless of the source of his ideas, whether from a magazine article, a mystery novel, or real-life incidents, his films consistently bore the distinctive "Hitchcock touch" — a blend of suspenseful tension and interludes of humor. Hitchcock was honored with knighthood in 1980.