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

It became impossible for the tribesmen to continue living under the same roof because

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

THE BIRTH OF FAMILIES

Families formed as an answer to the questions faced by growing tribes in the early times. When the number of people of an early human tribe kept on growing, space became short. It became impossible to keep on sharing common roofs. The grazing, hunting and farming grounds close to the home of the tribe were no more enough to feed all. People had to cover greater distances in a day to get food. It became more and more difficult to carry back food from where it was found.

When people grew in skills and knowledge, it made life easier and plentiful. There was no more any need to share most of their belongings. So, people started to have personal belongings and attachments. This gave rise to greed and envy. Greater numbers of people meant greater differences between them. Everybody had his or her own tastes. So, it became harder to please everybody by common cooking.

To find an answer to these problems, the tribe divided into smaller groups called families that started to live and cook separately. Families built themselves around providers, or the persons who put food on the table, and were made up of blood relations of the main provider. Thus, the tribe grew from a family-less group to a group of families.

  1. there were differences among them

  2. the members kept on increasing

  3. the houses were very small

  4. the head of the tribe was very cruel
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

“When the number of people of an early human tribe kept on growing, space became short”.

Multiple choice

Different members had different tastes and likings which led to

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

THE BIRTH OF FAMILIES

Families formed as an answer to the questions faced by growing tribes in the early times. When the number of people of an early human tribe kept on growing, space became short. It became impossible to keep on sharing common roofs. The grazing, hunting and farming grounds close to the home of the tribe were no more enough to feed all. People had to cover greater distances in a day to get food. It became more and more difficult to carry back food from where it was found.

When people grew in skills and knowledge, it made life easier and plentiful. There was no more any need to share most of their belongings. So, people started to have personal belongings and attachments. This gave rise to greed and envy. Greater numbers of people meant greater differences between them. Everybody had his or her own tastes. So, it became harder to please everybody by common cooking.

To find an answer to these problems, the tribe divided into smaller groups called families that started to live and cook separately. Families built themselves around providers, or the persons who put food on the table, and were made up of blood relations of the main provider. Thus, the tribe grew from a family-less group to a group of families.

  1. search for new food items

  2. dissatisfaction among members

  3. the end of common cooking

  4. scarcity of food
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Since the same thing was not being cooked for everybody, end of common cooking was Inevitable.

Multiple choice

Tribesmen started moving to far off places from their home for food because

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

THE BIRTH OF FAMILIES

Families formed as an answer to the questions faced by growing tribes in the early times. When the number of people of an early human tribe kept on growing, space became short. It became impossible to keep on sharing common roofs. The grazing, hunting and farming grounds close to the home of the tribe were no more enough to feed all. People had to cover greater distances in a day to get food. It became more and more difficult to carry back food from where it was found.

When people grew in skills and knowledge, it made life easier and plentiful. There was no more any need to share most of their belongings. So, people started to have personal belongings and attachments. This gave rise to greed and envy. Greater numbers of people meant greater differences between them. Everybody had his or her own tastes. So, it became harder to please everybody by common cooking.

To find an answer to these problems, the tribe divided into smaller groups called families that started to live and cook separately. Families built themselves around providers, or the persons who put food on the table, and were made up of blood relations of the main provider. Thus, the tribe grew from a family-less group to a group of families.

  1. they enjoyed covering long distances in jungle

  2. they wanted new food items every day

  3. while chasing animals they had to cover long distances

  4. the hunting grounds close to the home were no more enough to feed all
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The most important need of the early man was food and they kept on changing places in search of the same.

Multiple choice

The text highlights that

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

THE BIRTH OF FAMILIES

Families formed as an answer to the questions faced by growing tribes in the early times. When the number of people of an early human tribe kept on growing, space became short. It became impossible to keep on sharing common roofs. The grazing, hunting and farming grounds close to the home of the tribe were no more enough to feed all. People had to cover greater distances in a day to get food. It became more and more difficult to carry back food from where it was found.

When people grew in skills and knowledge, it made life easier and plentiful. There was no more any need to share most of their belongings. So, people started to have personal belongings and attachments. This gave rise to greed and envy. Greater numbers of people meant greater differences between them. Everybody had his or her own tastes. So, it became harder to please everybody by common cooking.

To find an answer to these problems, the tribe divided into smaller groups called families that started to live and cook separately. Families built themselves around providers, or the persons who put food on the table, and were made up of blood relations of the main provider. Thus, the tribe grew from a family-less group to a group of families.

  1. increase in population is the root of all evils

  2. greed and envy grow in our roots

  3. families were born out of growing necessities

  4. rivalry among tribes created smaller families
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The whole passage lays the ground work to explain this fact. “Families built themselves around providers, or the persons who put food on the table, and were made up of blood relations of the main provider”.

Multiple choice

What could have helped change the 'other people's opinion' in the second scenario?

Directions: Read the following two scenarios and answer the question that follows:

Scenario-1
The financial condition of Sumit’s family is not very good. His teacher announces in the class, trip to a city orphanage and asks the students to bring clothes for donation. All the students, except Sumit, bring generous donations in cash and kind for the orphans. Some of his classmates think of him as being heartless for showing a callous attitude towards a noble cause.

Scenario-2

Divya loves her dog very much. It falls ill just a day before her birthday and expires. All the preparations for her birthday party come to a standstill and she decides to call off the party. Her friends feel disappointed and consider it to be rude on her part to cancel the party at the last minute without a proper explanation.

  1. Giving them a party at some later date

  2. Explaining to them the reason for cancellation

  3. Formally apologising for the inconvenience

  4. Not sending invites so early from next time onwards
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Had Divya explained her reason for cancelling the party, her friends would have understood.

Multiple choice

Which of the following best expresses Sumit's inability to donate anything for the orphanage?

Directions: Read the following two scenarios and answer the question that follows:

Scenario-1
The financial condition of Sumit’s family is not very good. His teacher announces in the class, trip to a city orphanage and asks the students to bring clothes for donation. All the students, except Sumit, bring generous donations in cash and kind for the orphans. Some of his classmates think of him as being heartless for showing a callous attitude towards a noble cause.

Scenario-2

Divya loves her dog very much. It falls ill just a day before her birthday and expires. All the preparations for her birthday party come to a standstill and she decides to call off the party. Her friends feel disappointed and consider it to be rude on her part to cancel the party at the last minute without a proper explanation.

  1. Unsympathetic

  2. Cold hearted

  3. Reluctant

  4. Helpless
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

He is helpless as his family's financial condition is very poor.

Multiple choice

What conclusion can be drawn from the first scenario?

Directions: Read the following two scenarios and answer the question that follows:

Scenario-1
The financial condition of Sumit’s family is not very good. His teacher announces in the class, trip to a city orphanage and asks the students to bring clothes for donation. All the students, except Sumit, bring generous donations in cash and kind for the orphans. Some of his classmates think of him as being heartless for showing a callous attitude towards a noble cause.

Scenario-2

Divya loves her dog very much. It falls ill just a day before her birthday and expires. All the preparations for her birthday party come to a standstill and she decides to call off the party. Her friends feel disappointed and consider it to be rude on her part to cancel the party at the last minute without a proper explanation.

  1. Sumit studies in an expensive school.

  2. Sumit's friends are not good to him.

  3. Sumit's family is going through financial crisis.

  4. Sumit's father has lost his job.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The only conclusion that can be drawn. The rest of them are not hinted at.

Multiple choice

What conclusion can be drawn from both the scenarios?

Directions: Read the following two scenarios and answer the question that follows:

Scenario-1
The financial condition of Sumit’s family is not very good. His teacher announces in the class, trip to a city orphanage and asks the students to bring clothes for donation. All the students, except Sumit, bring generous donations in cash and kind for the orphans. Some of his classmates think of him as being heartless for showing a callous attitude towards a noble cause.

Scenario-2

Divya loves her dog very much. It falls ill just a day before her birthday and expires. All the preparations for her birthday party come to a standstill and she decides to call off the party. Her friends feel disappointed and consider it to be rude on her part to cancel the party at the last minute without a proper explanation.

  1. People will take advantage of your kindness.

  2. Life is unpredictable.

  3. We should not form an opinion without knowing the whole story.

  4. You cannot please everyone.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

In both the cases, Sumit's classmates and Divya's friends respectively did not know about the real story or reason behind their actions.

Multiple choice

From the last lines of the passage it can be assumed that people will remember you if

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

JOHN CABOT

Nobody remembers much about John Cabot, trader and mariner, lost at sea. He lived at the time of Columbus and was a citizen of the city-state of Venice in Italy. He traded in spices and was an expert mariner. Following Columbus, he wanted to find a north-western route to Asia, but he was one up on Columbus in his knowledge of geography. He assumed that it would take a shorter time to reach Asia by a western sea route if he selected higher northern latitudes. In 1496, he set sail from Ireland under English royal sanction, but was forced to return after reaching Iceland. In 1497, he set sail again with a better ship, the Matthew, and ultimately succeeded in reaching Newfoundland. In 1498, he again set sail for America with a fleet of five ships, out of which one returned to harbour under distress. There has been no further news of the remaining four ships and John Cabot was marked as lost at sea. Everybody forgot about him for about a century, until the British remembered that when John Cabot had reached Newfoundland in 1497, he had done so, under a royal grant. The grant had allowed him to claim unknown lands for the English Crown. So, John Cabot, lost at sea, became important again for the English to stake their claims for the New World. Everybody remembers him for the English claims to North America, but we remember him for his brave spirit of exploration.

  1. the government needs a favour out of you

  2. you take risk and make brave efforts

  3. you make discovery and do not claim fame for it

  4. you are lost at sea
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Because ” we remember him for his brave spirit of exploration”.

Multiple choice

It could be assumed from the passage that Cabot was forced to return before reaching Iceland in 1496 because

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

JOHN CABOT

Nobody remembers much about John Cabot, trader and mariner, lost at sea. He lived at the time of Columbus and was a citizen of the city-state of Venice in Italy. He traded in spices and was an expert mariner. Following Columbus, he wanted to find a north-western route to Asia, but he was one up on Columbus in his knowledge of geography. He assumed that it would take a shorter time to reach Asia by a western sea route if he selected higher northern latitudes. In 1496, he set sail from Ireland under English royal sanction, but was forced to return after reaching Iceland. In 1497, he set sail again with a better ship, the Matthew, and ultimately succeeded in reaching Newfoundland. In 1498, he again set sail for America with a fleet of five ships, out of which one returned to harbour under distress. There has been no further news of the remaining four ships and John Cabot was marked as lost at sea. Everybody forgot about him for about a century, until the British remembered that when John Cabot had reached Newfoundland in 1497, he had done so, under a royal grant. The grant had allowed him to claim unknown lands for the English Crown. So, John Cabot, lost at sea, became important again for the English to stake their claims for the New World. Everybody remembers him for the English claims to North America, but we remember him for his brave spirit of exploration.

  1. his ship was not in very good condition

  2. he was out of supplies and rations

  3. he was out of money and required English grant

  4. he was asked by the English government to return
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Since he was on the British lands and did not have the permission from them to travel further.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace 'trap in' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

The rolling waves of lush (1) green grass stretching from Montana to Mexico is the home (2) to prairie dogs. They are actually very big scquirals (3) that live together in large numbers. They live in holes in the ground, and connect the holes to each other by tunnels. Such tunnels connect all ground holes in a prairie dog town with each other. Prairie dogs are very conservative (4) and defensive. Before letting any other prairie dog into their homes, they hug and kiss each other to make sure that it (5) is family! Each prairie dog family has its own hole in the ground and they really are proper homes. Each has separate entry and exit tunnels and rooms for the family to stay. Each home has a special hole dug (6) near the bottom of the ceiling. These special holes trap in (7) pockets of air, if water floods the holes. They trap enough air for the family to keep on (8) breathing until the water goes down.

  1. expel

  2. capture

  3. catch

  4. corner
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

To be trapped means to be captured or stuck. Therefore, the correct option is (2).

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace 'keep on' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

The rolling waves of lush (1) green grass stretching from Montana to Mexico is the home (2) to prairie dogs. They are actually very big scquirals (3) that live together in large numbers. They live in holes in the ground, and connect the holes to each other by tunnels. Such tunnels connect all ground holes in a prairie dog town with each other. Prairie dogs are very conservative (4) and defensive. Before letting any other prairie dog into their homes, they hug and kiss each other to make sure that it (5) is family! Each prairie dog family has its own hole in the ground and they really are proper homes. Each has separate entry and exit tunnels and rooms for the family to stay. Each home has a special hole dug (6) near the bottom of the ceiling. These special holes trap in (7) pockets of air, if water floods the holes. They trap enough air for the family to keep on (8) breathing until the water goes down.

  1. stay

  2. continue

  3. achieve

  4. stop
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Keep on means to keep something or continuing.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the opposite in meaning to ‘fallen’ as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

It was October. The pink-white leaves of the flowering dogwood covered (1) the entire yard. The clumps (2) of glossy red fruits, peaping (3) from gaps between its leaves, made the tree look like a giant sundae. A flock of bluebirds flying over the town’s sky couldn’t resist (4) the temptation and nosedived for the tree. The tree looked washed (5) in pink, white and red, with busy blue dots moving all over. The bluebirds were back again. The little six inch birds ate grasshoppers, beetles and caterpillars. But, the fruits of the flowering dogwood surely (6) topped their list of favourites. Their numbers had fallen (7) recently, and may be the starlings and sparrows were giving them a hard time to find nests. But everybody in the town started putting out nesting boxes - and that seems to have worked pretty well (8). The bluebirds have returned to the town.

  1. stood up

  2. increased

  3. moved

  4. dropped
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Fallen here is related to decrease and the only option that is opposite to it is ‘increased’.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace 'covered' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

It was October. The pink-white leaves of the flowering dogwood covered (1) the entire yard. The clumps (2) of glossy red fruits, peaping (3) from gaps between its leaves, made the tree look like a giant sundae. A flock of bluebirds flying over the town’s sky couldn’t resist (4) the temptation and nosedived for the tree. The tree looked washed (5) in pink, white and red, with busy blue dots moving all over. The bluebirds were back again. The little six inch birds ate grasshoppers, beetles and caterpillars. But, the fruits of the flowering dogwood surely (6) topped their list of favourites. Their numbers had fallen (7) recently, and may be the starlings and sparrows were giving them a hard time to find nests. But everybody in the town started putting out nesting boxes - and that seems to have worked pretty well (8). The bluebirds have returned to the town.

  1. enclosed

  2. exposed

  3. layered

  4. spread
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

'Covered' means completely formed a layer of the leaves, such that the surface beneath the leaves was not visible. Therefore, covered means layered in this case.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace 'clumps' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

It was October. The pink-white leaves of the flowering dogwood covered (1) the entire yard. The clumps (2) of glossy red fruits, peaping (3) from gaps between its leaves, made the tree look like a giant sundae. A flock of bluebirds flying over the town’s sky couldn’t resist (4) the temptation and nosedived for the tree. The tree looked washed (5) in pink, white and red, with busy blue dots moving all over. The bluebirds were back again. The little six inch birds ate grasshoppers, beetles and caterpillars. But, the fruits of the flowering dogwood surely (6) topped their list of favourites. Their numbers had fallen (7) recently, and may be the starlings and sparrows were giving them a hard time to find nests. But everybody in the town started putting out nesting boxes - and that seems to have worked pretty well (8). The bluebirds have returned to the town.

  1. chunks

  2. crowd

  3. bunches

  4. baskets
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A collection of fruits is being talked about. Therefore bunches of the glossy red fruits is the correct answer.