English Language

English Reading Comprehension

2,692 Questions

English reading comprehension questions assess the ability to understand, analyze, and interpret written passages. Formats include paragraph rearrangement, cloze tests, and fact finding from text. Regular practice is essential for scoring well in the English sections of banking, SSC, and railway exams.

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English Reading Comprehension Questions

Multiple choice

What is the meaning of obscurer?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:
“Why?” said he, for his wish to go in was now stronger.
“Because if you go in there, you will have to inclination to remain with me, and I want you to stay. If you only knew!”
“Well, what?”And with a violent movement, he opened the glazed door. The smell of carbolic acid seemed almost to strike him in the face, and what he saw made him recoil still more, for on a small iron bedstead lay the dead body of a woman fantastically illuminated by a single wax candle. In horror, he turned to escape.
“Stop, my dear,” the woman sobbed; and clinging to him, she told him amid a flood of tears that her friend had died two days previously, and that there was no money to bury her. She said,” You can understand that I want it to be a respectable funeral; we were so very fond of each other! Stop here, my dear, do stop. I only want ten francs more. Don’t go away?
They had gone back into the bedroom, and she was trying to detain him:
“No,” he said,” let me go. I will give you ten francs, but I will not stay here; I cannot
He took his purse out of his pocket, extracted a ten-franc piece, put it on the table, and then went to the door. When he had reached it, a thought suddenly struck him, as if somebody were reasoning with him, without his knowledge.
“Why lose these ten francs? Why not profit by this woman’s good intentions. She certainly behaved pluckily, and if I had not known about the matter, I should certainly not have gone away for some time. Well then?
Then other obscurer suggestions whispered to him:
“She was her friend! They were so fond of each other! Was it friendship or love? Oh! Love apparently.Well, it would really be avenging morality, if this woman were forced to be faithless to that monstrous love.” Then he turned round to her and said in a trembling voice: “Look here! If I give you twenty francs instead of ten, I suppose you could buy some flowers for her, as well?”
The unhappy woman’s face brightened with pleasure and gratitude.
“Will you really give me twenty?”
“Yes,” he replied,” and more perhaps. It quite depends upon yourself.”

  1. Oracular

  2. Delphic

  3. Clear

  4. Cryptic

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The text refers to 'obscurer suggestions,' meaning suggestions that are not clear or are hard to understand. 'Oracular' implies something mysterious or difficult to interpret.

Multiple choice

What is the meaning of morality?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:
“Why?” said he, for his wish to go in was now stronger.
“Because if you go in there, you will have to inclination to remain with me, and I want you to stay. If you only knew!”
“Well, what?”And with a violent movement, he opened the glazed door. The smell of carbolic acid seemed almost to strike him in the face, and what he saw made him recoil still more, for on a small iron bedstead lay the dead body of a woman fantastically illuminated by a single wax candle. In horror, he turned to escape.
“Stop, my dear,” the woman sobbed; and clinging to him, she told him amid a flood of tears that her friend had died two days previously, and that there was no money to bury her. She said,” You can understand that I want it to be a respectable funeral; we were so very fond of each other! Stop here, my dear, do stop. I only want ten francs more. Don’t go away?
They had gone back into the bedroom, and she was trying to detain him:
“No,” he said,” let me go. I will give you ten francs, but I will not stay here; I cannot
He took his purse out of his pocket, extracted a ten-franc piece, put it on the table, and then went to the door. When he had reached it, a thought suddenly struck him, as if somebody were reasoning with him, without his knowledge.
“Why lose these ten francs? Why not profit by this woman’s good intentions. She certainly behaved pluckily, and if I had not known about the matter, I should certainly not have gone away for some time. Well then?
Then other obscurer suggestions whispered to him:
“She was her friend! They were so fond of each other! Was it friendship or love? Oh! Love apparently.Well, it would really be avenging morality, if this woman were forced to be faithless to that monstrous love.” Then he turned round to her and said in a trembling voice: “Look here! If I give you twenty francs instead of ten, I suppose you could buy some flowers for her, as well?”
The unhappy woman’s face brightened with pleasure and gratitude.
“Will you really give me twenty?”
“Yes,” he replied,” and more perhaps. It quite depends upon yourself.”

  1. Rectitude

  2. Uprightness

  3. Morals

  4. Decency

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Morality refers to principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong. 'Rectitude' is a synonym for moral integrity or righteousness.

Multiple choice

How long was the woman dead?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:
“Why?” said he, for his wish to go in was now stronger.
“Because if you go in there, you will have to inclination to remain with me, and I want you to stay. If you only knew!”
“Well, what?”And with a violent movement, he opened the glazed door. The smell of carbolic acid seemed almost to strike him in the face, and what he saw made him recoil still more, for on a small iron bedstead lay the dead body of a woman fantastically illuminated by a single wax candle. In horror, he turned to escape.
“Stop, my dear,” the woman sobbed; and clinging to him, she told him amid a flood of tears that her friend had died two days previously, and that there was no money to bury her. She said,” You can understand that I want it to be a respectable funeral; we were so very fond of each other! Stop here, my dear, do stop. I only want ten francs more. Don’t go away?
They had gone back into the bedroom, and she was trying to detain him:
“No,” he said,” let me go. I will give you ten francs, but I will not stay here; I cannot
He took his purse out of his pocket, extracted a ten-franc piece, put it on the table, and then went to the door. When he had reached it, a thought suddenly struck him, as if somebody were reasoning with him, without his knowledge.
“Why lose these ten francs? Why not profit by this woman’s good intentions. She certainly behaved pluckily, and if I had not known about the matter, I should certainly not have gone away for some time. Well then?
Then other obscurer suggestions whispered to him:
“She was her friend! They were so fond of each other! Was it friendship or love? Oh! Love apparently.Well, it would really be avenging morality, if this woman were forced to be faithless to that monstrous love.” Then he turned round to her and said in a trembling voice: “Look here! If I give you twenty francs instead of ten, I suppose you could buy some flowers for her, as well?”
The unhappy woman’s face brightened with pleasure and gratitude.
“Will you really give me twenty?”
“Yes,” he replied,” and more perhaps. It quite depends upon yourself.”

  1. Two days previously

  2. Four days previously

  3. One day previously

  4. Six days previously

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The text states: 'her friend had died two days previously.'

Multiple choice

What is the meaning of clinging?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:
“Why?” said he, for his wish to go in was now stronger.
“Because if you go in there, you will have to inclination to remain with me, and I want you to stay. If you only knew!”
“Well, what?”And with a violent movement, he opened the glazed door. The smell of carbolic acid seemed almost to strike him in the face, and what he saw made him recoil still more, for on a small iron bedstead lay the dead body of a woman fantastically illuminated by a single wax candle. In horror, he turned to escape.
“Stop, my dear,” the woman sobbed; and clinging to him, she told him amid a flood of tears that her friend had died two days previously, and that there was no money to bury her. She said,” You can understand that I want it to be a respectable funeral; we were so very fond of each other! Stop here, my dear, do stop. I only want ten francs more. Don’t go away?
They had gone back into the bedroom, and she was trying to detain him:
“No,” he said,” let me go. I will give you ten francs, but I will not stay here; I cannot
He took his purse out of his pocket, extracted a ten-franc piece, put it on the table, and then went to the door. When he had reached it, a thought suddenly struck him, as if somebody were reasoning with him, without his knowledge.
“Why lose these ten francs? Why not profit by this woman’s good intentions. She certainly behaved pluckily, and if I had not known about the matter, I should certainly not have gone away for some time. Well then?
Then other obscurer suggestions whispered to him:
“She was her friend! They were so fond of each other! Was it friendship or love? Oh! Love apparently.Well, it would really be avenging morality, if this woman were forced to be faithless to that monstrous love.” Then he turned round to her and said in a trembling voice: “Look here! If I give you twenty francs instead of ten, I suppose you could buy some flowers for her, as well?”
The unhappy woman’s face brightened with pleasure and gratitude.
“Will you really give me twenty?”
“Yes,” he replied,” and more perhaps. It quite depends upon yourself.”

  1. Clutch

  2. Hold on

  3. Grip

  4. Grasp

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Clinging means to hold on tightly to something or someone. 'Clutch' is a direct synonym for holding tightly.

Multiple choice

How much money did she want?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:
“Why?” said he, for his wish to go in was now stronger.
“Because if you go in there, you will have to inclination to remain with me, and I want you to stay. If you only knew!”
“Well, what?”And with a violent movement, he opened the glazed door. The smell of carbolic acid seemed almost to strike him in the face, and what he saw made him recoil still more, for on a small iron bedstead lay the dead body of a woman fantastically illuminated by a single wax candle. In horror, he turned to escape.
“Stop, my dear,” the woman sobbed; and clinging to him, she told him amid a flood of tears that her friend had died two days previously, and that there was no money to bury her. She said,” You can understand that I want it to be a respectable funeral; we were so very fond of each other! Stop here, my dear, do stop. I only want ten francs more. Don’t go away?
They had gone back into the bedroom, and she was trying to detain him:
“No,” he said,” let me go. I will give you ten francs, but I will not stay here; I cannot
He took his purse out of his pocket, extracted a ten-franc piece, put it on the table, and then went to the door. When he had reached it, a thought suddenly struck him, as if somebody were reasoning with him, without his knowledge.
“Why lose these ten francs? Why not profit by this woman’s good intentions. She certainly behaved pluckily, and if I had not known about the matter, I should certainly not have gone away for some time. Well then?
Then other obscurer suggestions whispered to him:
“She was her friend! They were so fond of each other! Was it friendship or love? Oh! Love apparently.Well, it would really be avenging morality, if this woman were forced to be faithless to that monstrous love.” Then he turned round to her and said in a trembling voice: “Look here! If I give you twenty francs instead of ten, I suppose you could buy some flowers for her, as well?”
The unhappy woman’s face brightened with pleasure and gratitude.
“Will you really give me twenty?”
“Yes,” he replied,” and more perhaps. It quite depends upon yourself.”

  1. Ten francs

  2. Fifteen francs

  3. Five francs

  4. No money

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The text states: 'I only want ten francs more.'

Multiple choice

What did he say to the woman?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:
“Why?” said he, for his wish to go in was now stronger.
“Because if you go in there, you will have to inclination to remain with me, and I want you to stay. If you only knew!”
“Well, what?”And with a violent movement, he opened the glazed door. The smell of carbolic acid seemed almost to strike him in the face, and what he saw made him recoil still more, for on a small iron bedstead lay the dead body of a woman fantastically illuminated by a single wax candle. In horror, he turned to escape.
“Stop, my dear,” the woman sobbed; and clinging to him, she told him amid a flood of tears that her friend had died two days previously, and that there was no money to bury her. She said,” You can understand that I want it to be a respectable funeral; we were so very fond of each other! Stop here, my dear, do stop. I only want ten francs more. Don’t go away?
They had gone back into the bedroom, and she was trying to detain him:
“No,” he said,” let me go. I will give you ten francs, but I will not stay here; I cannot
He took his purse out of his pocket, extracted a ten-franc piece, put it on the table, and then went to the door. When he had reached it, a thought suddenly struck him, as if somebody were reasoning with him, without his knowledge.
“Why lose these ten francs? Why not profit by this woman’s good intentions. She certainly behaved pluckily, and if I had not known about the matter, I should certainly not have gone away for some time. Well then?
Then other obscurer suggestions whispered to him:
“She was her friend! They were so fond of each other! Was it friendship or love? Oh! Love apparently.Well, it would really be avenging morality, if this woman were forced to be faithless to that monstrous love.” Then he turned round to her and said in a trembling voice: “Look here! If I give you twenty francs instead of ten, I suppose you could buy some flowers for her, as well?”
The unhappy woman’s face brightened with pleasure and gratitude.
“Will you really give me twenty?”
“Yes,” he replied,” and more perhaps. It quite depends upon yourself.”

  1. I will not stay here

  2. I will not come here

  3. I cannot stay here

  4. I cannot hang on here

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The text records the man saying: 'I will not stay here; I cannot.' Option A is the most accurate reflection of his stated intent.

Multiple choice

What was he thinking?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:
“Why?” said he, for his wish to go in was now stronger.
“Because if you go in there, you will have to inclination to remain with me, and I want you to stay. If you only knew!”
“Well, what?”And with a violent movement, he opened the glazed door. The smell of carbolic acid seemed almost to strike him in the face, and what he saw made him recoil still more, for on a small iron bedstead lay the dead body of a woman fantastically illuminated by a single wax candle. In horror, he turned to escape.
“Stop, my dear,” the woman sobbed; and clinging to him, she told him amid a flood of tears that her friend had died two days previously, and that there was no money to bury her. She said,” You can understand that I want it to be a respectable funeral; we were so very fond of each other! Stop here, my dear, do stop. I only want ten francs more. Don’t go away?
They had gone back into the bedroom, and she was trying to detain him:
“No,” he said,” let me go. I will give you ten francs, but I will not stay here; I cannot
He took his purse out of his pocket, extracted a ten-franc piece, put it on the table, and then went to the door. When he had reached it, a thought suddenly struck him, as if somebody were reasoning with him, without his knowledge.
“Why lose these ten francs? Why not profit by this woman’s good intentions. She certainly behaved pluckily, and if I had not known about the matter, I should certainly not have gone away for some time. Well then?
Then other obscurer suggestions whispered to him:
“She was her friend! They were so fond of each other! Was it friendship or love? Oh! Love apparently.Well, it would really be avenging morality, if this woman were forced to be faithless to that monstrous love.” Then he turned round to her and said in a trembling voice: “Look here! If I give you twenty francs instead of ten, I suppose you could buy some flowers for her, as well?”
The unhappy woman’s face brightened with pleasure and gratitude.
“Will you really give me twenty?”
“Yes,” he replied,” and more perhaps. It quite depends upon yourself.”

  1. As if somebody were reasoning with him

  2. As if somebody talking to him

  3. There was no one to reason

  4. As if somebody was giving orders

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The text describes his thoughts as: 'as if somebody were reasoning with him, without his knowledge.'

Multiple choice

What is the meaning of detain?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:
“Why?” said he, for his wish to go in was now stronger.
“Because if you go in there, you will have to inclination to remain with me, and I want you to stay. If you only knew!”
“Well, what?”And with a violent movement, he opened the glazed door. The smell of carbolic acid seemed almost to strike him in the face, and what he saw made him recoil still more, for on a small iron bedstead lay the dead body of a woman fantastically illuminated by a single wax candle. In horror, he turned to escape.
“Stop, my dear,” the woman sobbed; and clinging to him, she told him amid a flood of tears that her friend had died two days previously, and that there was no money to bury her. She said,” You can understand that I want it to be a respectable funeral; we were so very fond of each other! Stop here, my dear, do stop. I only want ten francs more. Don’t go away?
They had gone back into the bedroom, and she was trying to detain him:
“No,” he said,” let me go. I will give you ten francs, but I will not stay here; I cannot
He took his purse out of his pocket, extracted a ten-franc piece, put it on the table, and then went to the door. When he had reached it, a thought suddenly struck him, as if somebody were reasoning with him, without his knowledge.
“Why lose these ten francs? Why not profit by this woman’s good intentions. She certainly behaved pluckily, and if I had not known about the matter, I should certainly not have gone away for some time. Well then?
Then other obscurer suggestions whispered to him:
“She was her friend! They were so fond of each other! Was it friendship or love? Oh! Love apparently.Well, it would really be avenging morality, if this woman were forced to be faithless to that monstrous love.” Then he turned round to her and said in a trembling voice: “Look here! If I give you twenty francs instead of ten, I suppose you could buy some flowers for her, as well?”
The unhappy woman’s face brightened with pleasure and gratitude.
“Will you really give me twenty?”
“Yes,” he replied,” and more perhaps. It quite depends upon yourself.”

  1. Impede

  2. Obstruct

  3. Release

  4. Delay

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

To detain someone means to keep them from proceeding or to hold them back. 'Impede' is a synonym for hindering or delaying someone's progress.

Multiple choice

How much of money was he ready to give?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:
“Why?” said he, for his wish to go in was now stronger.
“Because if you go in there, you will have to inclination to remain with me, and I want you to stay. If you only knew!”
“Well, what?”And with a violent movement, he opened the glazed door. The smell of carbolic acid seemed almost to strike him in the face, and what he saw made him recoil still more, for on a small iron bedstead lay the dead body of a woman fantastically illuminated by a single wax candle. In horror, he turned to escape.
“Stop, my dear,” the woman sobbed; and clinging to him, she told him amid a flood of tears that her friend had died two days previously, and that there was no money to bury her. She said,” You can understand that I want it to be a respectable funeral; we were so very fond of each other! Stop here, my dear, do stop. I only want ten francs more. Don’t go away?
They had gone back into the bedroom, and she was trying to detain him:
“No,” he said,” let me go. I will give you ten francs, but I will not stay here; I cannot
He took his purse out of his pocket, extracted a ten-franc piece, put it on the table, and then went to the door. When he had reached it, a thought suddenly struck him, as if somebody were reasoning with him, without his knowledge.
“Why lose these ten francs? Why not profit by this woman’s good intentions. She certainly behaved pluckily, and if I had not known about the matter, I should certainly not have gone away for some time. Well then?
Then other obscurer suggestions whispered to him:
“She was her friend! They were so fond of each other! Was it friendship or love? Oh! Love apparently.Well, it would really be avenging morality, if this woman were forced to be faithless to that monstrous love.” Then he turned round to her and said in a trembling voice: “Look here! If I give you twenty francs instead of ten, I suppose you could buy some flowers for her, as well?”
The unhappy woman’s face brightened with pleasure and gratitude.
“Will you really give me twenty?”
“Yes,” he replied,” and more perhaps. It quite depends upon yourself.”

  1. Twenty francs

  2. Twenty five francs

  3. Ten francs

  4. Fifteen francs

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The man offers: 'If I give you twenty francs instead of ten, I suppose you could buy some flowers for her, as well?'

Multiple choice

What is the meaning of intentions?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:
“Why?” said he, for his wish to go in was now stronger.
“Because if you go in there, you will have to inclination to remain with me, and I want you to stay. If you only knew!”
“Well, what?”And with a violent movement, he opened the glazed door. The smell of carbolic acid seemed almost to strike him in the face, and what he saw made him recoil still more, for on a small iron bedstead lay the dead body of a woman fantastically illuminated by a single wax candle. In horror, he turned to escape.
“Stop, my dear,” the woman sobbed; and clinging to him, she told him amid a flood of tears that her friend had died two days previously, and that there was no money to bury her. She said,” You can understand that I want it to be a respectable funeral; we were so very fond of each other! Stop here, my dear, do stop. I only want ten francs more. Don’t go away?
They had gone back into the bedroom, and she was trying to detain him:
“No,” he said,” let me go. I will give you ten francs, but I will not stay here; I cannot
He took his purse out of his pocket, extracted a ten-franc piece, put it on the table, and then went to the door. When he had reached it, a thought suddenly struck him, as if somebody were reasoning with him, without his knowledge.
“Why lose these ten francs? Why not profit by this woman’s good intentions. She certainly behaved pluckily, and if I had not known about the matter, I should certainly not have gone away for some time. Well then?
Then other obscurer suggestions whispered to him:
“She was her friend! They were so fond of each other! Was it friendship or love? Oh! Love apparently.Well, it would really be avenging morality, if this woman were forced to be faithless to that monstrous love.” Then he turned round to her and said in a trembling voice: “Look here! If I give you twenty francs instead of ten, I suppose you could buy some flowers for her, as well?”
The unhappy woman’s face brightened with pleasure and gratitude.
“Will you really give me twenty?”
“Yes,” he replied,” and more perhaps. It quite depends upon yourself.”

  1. Wish

  2. Goal

  3. Idea

  4. Aspiration

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Intentions refer to what someone plans or wishes to do. 'Wish' is a synonym for the desire or intent behind an action.

Multiple choice

What did he see in the bedstead?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:
“Why?” said he, for his wish to go in was now stronger.
“Because if you go in there, you will have to inclination to remain with me, and I want you to stay. If you only knew!”
“Well, what?”And with a violent movement, he opened the glazed door. The smell of carbolic acid seemed almost to strike him in the face, and what he saw made him recoil still more, for on a small iron bedstead lay the dead body of a woman fantastically illuminated by a single wax candle. In horror, he turned to escape.
“Stop, my dear,” the woman sobbed; and clinging to him, she told him amid a flood of tears that her friend had died two days previously, and that there was no money to bury her. She said,” You can understand that I want it to be a respectable funeral; we were so very fond of each other! Stop here, my dear, do stop. I only want ten francs more. Don’t go away?
They had gone back into the bedroom, and she was trying to detain him:
“No,” he said,” let me go. I will give you ten francs, but I will not stay here; I cannot
He took his purse out of his pocket, extracted a ten-franc piece, put it on the table, and then went to the door. When he had reached it, a thought suddenly struck him, as if somebody were reasoning with him, without his knowledge.
“Why lose these ten francs? Why not profit by this woman’s good intentions. She certainly behaved pluckily, and if I had not known about the matter, I should certainly not have gone away for some time. Well then?
Then other obscurer suggestions whispered to him:
“She was her friend! They were so fond of each other! Was it friendship or love? Oh! Love apparently.Well, it would really be avenging morality, if this woman were forced to be faithless to that monstrous love.” Then he turned round to her and said in a trembling voice: “Look here! If I give you twenty francs instead of ten, I suppose you could buy some flowers for her, as well?”
The unhappy woman’s face brightened with pleasure and gratitude.
“Will you really give me twenty?”
“Yes,” he replied,” and more perhaps. It quite depends upon yourself.”

  1. Dead body of a woman

  2. A mattress

  3. There was nothing

  4. Dead body of a man

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The text states: 'on a small iron bedstead lay the dead body of a woman.'

Multiple choice

What did he suddenly think?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:
“Why?” said he, for his wish to go in was now stronger.
“Because if you go in there, you will have to inclination to remain with me, and I want you to stay. If you only knew!”
“Well, what?”And with a violent movement, he opened the glazed door. The smell of carbolic acid seemed almost to strike him in the face, and what he saw made him recoil still more, for on a small iron bedstead lay the dead body of a woman fantastically illuminated by a single wax candle. In horror, he turned to escape.
“Stop, my dear,” the woman sobbed; and clinging to him, she told him amid a flood of tears that her friend had died two days previously, and that there was no money to bury her. She said,” You can understand that I want it to be a respectable funeral; we were so very fond of each other! Stop here, my dear, do stop. I only want ten francs more. Don’t go away?
They had gone back into the bedroom, and she was trying to detain him:
“No,” he said,” let me go. I will give you ten francs, but I will not stay here; I cannot
He took his purse out of his pocket, extracted a ten-franc piece, put it on the table, and then went to the door. When he had reached it, a thought suddenly struck him, as if somebody were reasoning with him, without his knowledge.
“Why lose these ten francs? Why not profit by this woman’s good intentions. She certainly behaved pluckily, and if I had not known about the matter, I should certainly not have gone away for some time. Well then?
Then other obscurer suggestions whispered to him:
“She was her friend! They were so fond of each other! Was it friendship or love? Oh! Love apparently.Well, it would really be avenging morality, if this woman were forced to be faithless to that monstrous love.” Then he turned round to her and said in a trembling voice: “Look here! If I give you twenty francs instead of ten, I suppose you could buy some flowers for her, as well?”
The unhappy woman’s face brightened with pleasure and gratitude.
“Will you really give me twenty?”
“Yes,” he replied,” and more perhaps. It quite depends upon yourself.”

  1. Profit by this woman's good intentions

  2. Make money by her looks

  3. Make loss with her intensions

  4. Make her work for him

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The text says: 'Why not profit by this woman's good intentions.'

Multiple choice

What did he want to do with the woman?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:
“Why?” said he, for his wish to go in was now stronger.
“Because if you go in there, you will have to inclination to remain with me, and I want you to stay. If you only knew!”
“Well, what?”And with a violent movement, he opened the glazed door. The smell of carbolic acid seemed almost to strike him in the face, and what he saw made him recoil still more, for on a small iron bedstead lay the dead body of a woman fantastically illuminated by a single wax candle. In horror, he turned to escape.
“Stop, my dear,” the woman sobbed; and clinging to him, she told him amid a flood of tears that her friend had died two days previously, and that there was no money to bury her. She said,” You can understand that I want it to be a respectable funeral; we were so very fond of each other! Stop here, my dear, do stop. I only want ten francs more. Don’t go away?
They had gone back into the bedroom, and she was trying to detain him:
“No,” he said,” let me go. I will give you ten francs, but I will not stay here; I cannot
He took his purse out of his pocket, extracted a ten-franc piece, put it on the table, and then went to the door. When he had reached it, a thought suddenly struck him, as if somebody were reasoning with him, without his knowledge.
“Why lose these ten francs? Why not profit by this woman’s good intentions. She certainly behaved pluckily, and if I had not known about the matter, I should certainly not have gone away for some time. Well then?
Then other obscurer suggestions whispered to him:
“She was her friend! They were so fond of each other! Was it friendship or love? Oh! Love apparently.Well, it would really be avenging morality, if this woman were forced to be faithless to that monstrous love.” Then he turned round to her and said in a trembling voice: “Look here! If I give you twenty francs instead of ten, I suppose you could buy some flowers for her, as well?”
The unhappy woman’s face brightened with pleasure and gratitude.
“Will you really give me twenty?”
“Yes,” he replied,” and more perhaps. It quite depends upon yourself.”

  1. If this woman were forced to be faithless

  2. Make her a prostitute

  3. Make her a noble woman

  4. Make her a street walker

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The text mentions his thought: 'it would really be avenging morality, if this woman were forced to be faithless to that monstrous love.'

Multiple choice

How did he talk to her?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:
“Why?” said he, for his wish to go in was now stronger.
“Because if you go in there, you will have to inclination to remain with me, and I want you to stay. If you only knew!”
“Well, what?”And with a violent movement, he opened the glazed door. The smell of carbolic acid seemed almost to strike him in the face, and what he saw made him recoil still more, for on a small iron bedstead lay the dead body of a woman fantastically illuminated by a single wax candle. In horror, he turned to escape.
“Stop, my dear,” the woman sobbed; and clinging to him, she told him amid a flood of tears that her friend had died two days previously, and that there was no money to bury her. She said,” You can understand that I want it to be a respectable funeral; we were so very fond of each other! Stop here, my dear, do stop. I only want ten francs more. Don’t go away?
They had gone back into the bedroom, and she was trying to detain him:
“No,” he said,” let me go. I will give you ten francs, but I will not stay here; I cannot
He took his purse out of his pocket, extracted a ten-franc piece, put it on the table, and then went to the door. When he had reached it, a thought suddenly struck him, as if somebody were reasoning with him, without his knowledge.
“Why lose these ten francs? Why not profit by this woman’s good intentions. She certainly behaved pluckily, and if I had not known about the matter, I should certainly not have gone away for some time. Well then?
Then other obscurer suggestions whispered to him:
“She was her friend! They were so fond of each other! Was it friendship or love? Oh! Love apparently.Well, it would really be avenging morality, if this woman were forced to be faithless to that monstrous love.” Then he turned round to her and said in a trembling voice: “Look here! If I give you twenty francs instead of ten, I suppose you could buy some flowers for her, as well?”
The unhappy woman’s face brightened with pleasure and gratitude.
“Will you really give me twenty?”
“Yes,” he replied,” and more perhaps. It quite depends upon yourself.”

  1. In a trembling voice

  2. In a harsh voice

  3. In a soft voice

  4. In a frightened voice

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The text states: 'he turned round to her and said in a trembling voice.'

Multiple choice

What is the meaning of nook?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

The woman who had beckoned to him lived on the third floor. All the way upstairs, his excitement increased, and his heart was beating violently when he reached the landing.
As he was going up, he smelled a peculiar odor, which grew stronger and stronger, and though he tried to analyze it, all he could decide was that it smelled like a chemist’s shop.
 The door on the right, at the end of the passage, was opened as soon as he put his foot on the landing, and the woman said, in a low voice:
“Come in, my dear.”
A very strong smell met his nostrils through the open door, and he exclaimed:
“ How stupid I was! I know what it is now: carbon acid is it not?”
“Yes,” the woman replied.” Don’t you like it, my dear? It is very wholesome, you know.”
The woman was not ugly, although not young; she had very good eyes, although these were sad and sunken in her head. Evidently, she had been crying very much quite recently, and that imparted a special spice to the vague smile she put on, so as to appear more amiable
Seized by his romantic ideas, and under the influence of the presentiment, which he had just before, he thought – and the idea filled him with pleasure –
“She is some widow, whom poverty has forced to sell herself.”
The room was small, but very clean and tidy, which confirmed him in his conjecture, and as he was curious to verify it, he went into the three rooms, which opened into another. The bedroom came first; next came the drawing room, and then a dining room, which evidently served as a kitchen, for a Dutch tiled stove, stood in the middle of it, on which a stew was simmering. The smell of carbolic acid was even stronger in the room. He remarked it, and added with a laugh:
“Do you put it in your soup?”
And as he said this, he grasped the handle of the floor, which led into the next room, for he wanted to see everything, even that nook, which was apparently a store cupboard. But the woman seized him by the arm, and pulled him violently back.

“No, no,” she said, almost in a whisper, and in a hoarse and suppliant voice;”no, dear, not there, not there, you must not go in there.”
  1. alcove

  2. corner

  3. recess

  4. cavity

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In the context of the passage, a nook refers to a small, recessed area or corner, such as a store cupboard.