English Language

English Reading Comprehension

3,503 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 does the author mean by the phrase, “….torture texts in the vain hope of making them confess the creed of Science”?

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

With respect to the theory of the origin of the forms of life peopling our globe, with which Darwin's name is bound up as closely as that of Newton with the theory of gravitation, nothing seems to be further from the mind of the present generation than any attempt to smother it with ridicule or to crush it by vehemence of denunciation. The Struggle for Existence, and Natural Selection, have become household words and every-day conceptions. The reality and the importance of the natural processes on which Darwin founds his deductions are no more doubted than those of growth and multiplication; and, whether the full potency attributed to them is admitted or not, no one doubts their vast and far-reaching significance. 

Wherever the biological sciences are studied, the 'Origin of Species' lights the paths of the investigator; wherever they are taught it permeates the course of instruction. Nor has the influence of Darwinian ideas been less profound, beyond the realms of Biology. The oldest of all philosophies, that of Evolution, was bound hand and foot and cast into utter darkness during the millennium of theological scholasticism. But Darwin poured new life-blood into the ancient frame; the bonds burst, and the revivified thought of ancient Greece has proved itself to be adequate expression of the universal order of things.

To any one who studies the signs of the times, the emergence of the philosophy of Evolution, in the attitude of claimant to the throne of the world of thought, from the limbo of hated and, as many hoped, forgotten things, is the most portentous event of the nineteenth century. But the most effective weapons of the modern champions of Evolution were fabricated by Darwin; and the 'Origin of Species' has enlisted a formidable body of combatants, trained in the severe school of Physical Science, whose ears might have long remained deaf to the speculations of a priori philosophers.

Even the theologians have almost ceased to pit the plain meaning of Genesis against the no less plain meaning of Nature. Their more candid, or more cautious, representatives have given up dealing with Evolution as if it were a damnable heresy, and have taken refuge in one of two courses. Either they deny that Genesis was meant to teach scientific truth, and thus save the veracity of the record at the expense of its authority; or they expend their energies in devising the cruel ingenuities of the reconciler, and torture texts in the vain hope of making them confess the creed of Science. But when the peine forte et dure is over, the antique sincerity of the venerable sufferer always reasserts itself. Genesis is honest to the core, and professes to be no more than it is, a repository of venerable traditions of unknown origin, claiming no scientific authority and possessing none.

  1. Decode anew the text of Genesis and explain the same in the light of scientific analysis

  2. Understand the scientific point of view of the Genesis

  3. Metamorphosis of Genesis should be done in view of scientific evidence

  4. Twisting the Genesis in order to obtain a scientifically proven text
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The author means that the supporters of Genesis make vain attempts to reinterpret the text of Genesis by making it conform to the scientific basis. 

Multiple choice

Which of the following options best illustrates the primary purpose of the passage?

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

With respect to the theory of the origin of the forms of life peopling our globe, with which Darwin's name is bound up as closely as that of Newton with the theory of gravitation, nothing seems to be further from the mind of the present generation than any attempt to smother it with ridicule or to crush it by vehemence of denunciation. The Struggle for Existence, and Natural Selection, have become household words and every-day conceptions. The reality and the importance of the natural processes on which Darwin founds his deductions are no more doubted than those of growth and multiplication; and, whether the full potency attributed to them is admitted or not, no one doubts their vast and far-reaching significance. 

Wherever the biological sciences are studied, the 'Origin of Species' lights the paths of the investigator; wherever they are taught it permeates the course of instruction. Nor has the influence of Darwinian ideas been less profound, beyond the realms of Biology. The oldest of all philosophies, that of Evolution, was bound hand and foot and cast into utter darkness during the millennium of theological scholasticism. But Darwin poured new life-blood into the ancient frame; the bonds burst, and the revivified thought of ancient Greece has proved itself to be adequate expression of the universal order of things.

To any one who studies the signs of the times, the emergence of the philosophy of Evolution, in the attitude of claimant to the throne of the world of thought, from the limbo of hated and, as many hoped, forgotten things, is the most portentous event of the nineteenth century. But the most effective weapons of the modern champions of Evolution were fabricated by Darwin; and the 'Origin of Species' has enlisted a formidable body of combatants, trained in the severe school of Physical Science, whose ears might have long remained deaf to the speculations of a priori philosophers.

Even the theologians have almost ceased to pit the plain meaning of Genesis against the no less plain meaning of Nature. Their more candid, or more cautious, representatives have given up dealing with Evolution as if it were a damnable heresy, and have taken refuge in one of two courses. Either they deny that Genesis was meant to teach scientific truth, and thus save the veracity of the record at the expense of its authority; or they expend their energies in devising the cruel ingenuities of the reconciler, and torture texts in the vain hope of making them confess the creed of Science. But when the peine forte et dure is over, the antique sincerity of the venerable sufferer always reasserts itself. Genesis is honest to the core, and professes to be no more than it is, a repository of venerable traditions of unknown origin, claiming no scientific authority and possessing none.

  1. Darwin was a biologist much beyond his times. He did not get respect and recognition from the thinkers and scientists of his age.

  2. The 'Origin of Species' lights the paths of the investigator of biology. Wherever it is taught, it permeates the course of instruction.

  3. Darwin’s hypothesis, even if it was not supported by the advocates of Genesis, has a stronger scientific basis and has been universally accepted.

  4. The supporters of Genesis criticised Darwin, but their criticism did not have a scientific base.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The main focus of the passage is that Darwinian theory ran contrary to prevalent beliefs propagated by the church, but it ultimately prevailed because of its scientific veracity. Thus, (3) is closest to being the primary purpose of the passage. 

Multiple choice

The author speaks about the ants to bring out their

  1. Social solidarity

  2. Fixed pattern of social behaviour of he ants

  3. Instinct for survival

  4. Inferior mode of living
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Ants are used as a contrast to humans because their social structures are biologically fixed and do not evolve or change through learning or history, representing a fixed pattern of behavior.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following items each passage consists of six sentences. The first and the sixth sentence are given in the beginning. The middle four sentences in each have been removed and jumbled up. There are labeled P, Q, R and S. You are required to find out of the proper sequence of the four sentences.

S1 : No one knows when tea was first discovered, or how it came to be such a popular drink. S6 : It was called Cha's Ching which, translated, means Tea Scripture. P : By the eight century A.D. most Chinese were drinking tea, both because they liked it as a beverage and for its medicinal value. Q : Tea was so popular that one of th most distinguished poets of the 'T' ang dynasty, a man called Lu Yu, even wrote a holy scripture about it. R : The beverage is generally accepted to have originated in China hundreds of years ago. S : Records going back to the fourth century A.D. refer to tea.

  1. S R Q P

  2. Q R P S

  3. R S P Q

  4. S P Q R
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The passage begins with the discovery of tea (S1) and logically moves to its origin in China (R). It then follows a chronological order from the fourth century (S) to the eighth century (P), concluding with the mention of the first scripture on tea (Q) which matches the title given in S6.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following items each passage consists of six sentences. The first and the sixth sentence are given in the beginning. The middle four sentences in each have been removed and jumbled up. There are labeled P, Q, R and S. You are required to find out of the proper sequence of the four sentences.

S1 : Does the arrival of a particular species of migratory birds herald the onset of monsoon? S6 : These birds have been observed to reach India just prior to the rains. P : They have sighted of the pied crested cuckoos, inhabitants of the African continent Q : If their belief is correct then the rains are round the corner. R : Ornithologists at the Bombay National History Society believe so. S : They normally migrate to the Indian sub-continent just before the monsoon season for breeding.

  1. P Q R S

  2. R Q P S

  3. P S R Q

  4. Q P S R
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The question about the monsoon (S1) is directly answered by the belief of ornithologists (R). The passage then explores the implications of that belief (Q), identifies the specific birds (P), and explains their migration habits (S) leading into S6.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

Who slumped forward with a dull thud?

Directions: In this Section you have six short passages. After each passage you will find several questions based pm the passage. First, read Passage- I, and answer the questions based on it then go on the other passages.
PASSAGE-IV

           

The prisoner awaited his chance. For three solid years he had schemed for this opportunity. Now that escape seemed so near at hand, those three years lost some of their monotony. But he would never forget the lashes, the close confinement, low diet, and worse still the metal strain of those black days. Suddenly the warden did what he had hopped. He stopped to unlock the lower padlock. With a dull thud he slumped forward with keys in his hands. Swiftly the prisoner seized his keys, unlocked the call, and ran into the courtyard. It took him four seconds to reach the ropelandder secretly placed thereby his and three more to jump into the waiting car to be whisked away to freedom. Even though he was guilty, the prisoner felt he had paid for his crime, for the man he had robbed three years ago was still a millionaire.

  1. The millionaire

  2. The warden

  3. The prisoner

  4. Prisoner's accomplice
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The passage explicitly states: 'With a dull thud he slumped forward with keys in his hands.' The 'he' refers to the warden mentioned in the previous sentence.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the passage and complete the sentence.

Engineers India Limited provides specialist services in

Directions: In this Section you have six short passages. After each passage you will find several questions based pm the passage. First, read Passage- I, and answer the questions based on it then go on the other passages.
PASSAGE-II

            Engineers India Limited (EIL), a public sector undertaking was set up in 1965. It is the leading design and engineering company in the field of petroleum refineries, petrochemicals, oil and gas processing offshore structures and platforms, fertilizers, metallurgy, and power. The services provided by EIL include design, engineering, procurement construction management, commissioning services in the areas of environmental engineering, heat and mass transfer equipment, information technology materials and maintenance, risk analyses, energy conservation and advance control and optimization. It was to its credit over 4000 assignments including 250 major projects. EIL has exported its services to a number of countries in Asia and Africa.

  1. procurement

  2. construction management

  3. risk analysis

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

The passage lists 'design, engineering, procurement construction management, commissioning services' as services provided by EIL. While 'project management' is a broad term encompassing these, the specific list in the text makes this a slightly ambiguous question; however, in many exam contexts, project management is the intended aggregate answer for these services.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

What did the prisoner suffer the most during imprisonment?

Directions: In this Section you have six short passages. After each passage you will find several questions based pm the passage. First, read Passage- I, and answer the questions based on it then go on the other passages.
PASSAGE-IV

           

The prisoner awaited his chance. For three solid years he had schemed for this opportunity. Now that escape seemed so near at hand, those three years lost some of their monotony. But he would never forget the lashes, the close confinement, low diet, and worse still the metal strain of those black days. Suddenly the warden did what he had hopped. He stopped to unlock the lower padlock. With a dull thud he slumped forward with keys in his hands. Swiftly the prisoner seized his keys, unlocked the call, and ran into the courtyard. It took him four seconds to reach the ropelandder secretly placed thereby his and three more to jump into the waiting car to be whisked away to freedom. Even though he was guilty, the prisoner felt he had paid for his crime, for the man he had robbed three years ago was still a millionaire.

  1. Loss of freedom

  2. Mental strain

  3. Physical torture

  4. Absence from his family
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The passage mentions several hardships, but highlights 'worse still the metal strain of those black days.' This indicates that the mental (likely a typo for 'mental' in the text) strain was the most significant suffering.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

Engineers India Limited does not deal in which of the following areas?

Directions: In this Section you have six short passages. After each passage you will find several questions based pm the passage. First, read Passage- I, and answer the questions based on it then go on the other passages.
PASSAGE-II

            Engineers India Limited (EIL), a public sector undertaking was set up in 1965. It is the leading design and engineering company in the field of petroleum refineries, petrochemicals, oil and gas processing offshore structures and platforms, fertilizers, metallurgy, and power. The services provided by EIL include design, engineering, procurement construction management, commissioning services in the areas of environmental engineering, heat and mass transfer equipment, information technology materials and maintenance, risk analyses, energy conservation and advance control and optimization. It was to its credit over 4000 assignments including 250 major projects. EIL has exported its services to a number of countries in Asia and Africa.

  1. Construction management

  2. Environment management

  3. Heat and mass transfer equijpment

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

The passage comprehensively lists EIL's areas: petroleum refineries, petrochemicals, oil and gas processing, offshore structures, fertilizers, metallurgy, and power. It also mentions environmental engineering and heat/mass transfer equipment. Cement manufacture (option D) is the only area NOT mentioned in the passage, making it the correct answer for what EIL does NOT deal in.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

How many seconds did it take for the prisoner to regain his freedom?

Directions: In this Section you have six short passages. After each passage you will find several questions based pm the passage. First, read Passage- I, and answer the questions based on it then go on the other passages.
PASSAGE-IV

           

The prisoner awaited his chance. For three solid years he had schemed for this opportunity. Now that escape seemed so near at hand, those three years lost some of their monotony. But he would never forget the lashes, the close confinement, low diet, and worse still the metal strain of those black days. Suddenly the warden did what he had hopped. He stopped to unlock the lower padlock. With a dull thud he slumped forward with keys in his hands. Swiftly the prisoner seized his keys, unlocked the call, and ran into the courtyard. It took him four seconds to reach the ropelandder secretly placed thereby his and three more to jump into the waiting car to be whisked away to freedom. Even though he was guilty, the prisoner felt he had paid for his crime, for the man he had robbed three years ago was still a millionaire.

  1. Four

  2. Seven

  3. Twelve

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

The passage states: 'It took him four seconds to reach the ropelandder secretly placed thereby his and three more to jump into the waiting car.' Four seconds plus three seconds equals seven seconds total to regain freedom.

Multiple choice

As in a voyage, when the ship is at anchor, if you go on shore to get water, you may amuse yourself with picking up a shellfish or a truffle in your way, but your thoughts ought to be bent toward the ship, and perpetually attentive, lest the captain should call, and then you must leave all these things, that you may not have to be carried on board the vessel, bound like a sheep; thus likewise in life, if, instead of a truffle or shellfish, such a thing as a wife or a child be granted you, there is no objection; but if the captain calls, run to the ship, leave all these things, and never look behind.

  1. when the ship is at anchor, if you go on shore to get water, you may amuse yourself with picking up a shellfish or a truffle in your way, but your thoughts ought to be bent toward the ship, and perpetually attentive, lest the captain should call, and then you must leave all these things, that you may not have to be carried on board the vessel

  2. when the ship is anchored, if you go on shore to get water, you may amuse yourself with picking up a shellfish or a truffle in your way, but your thoughts ought to be bent towards the ship, and perpetually attentive, lest the captain should call, and then you must leave all these things, that you may not have to be carried on board the vessel

  3. when the ship is anchored, and you go on shore to get water, you may amuse yourself with picking up a shellfish or a truffle on your way, but your thoughts ought to be bent towards the ship, and perpetually attentive, lest the captain should call, and then you must leave all these things, that you may not have to be carried on board the vessel

  4. when the ship is at anchor, if you go on shore to get water, you may amuse yourself with picking up a shellfish or a truffle on your way, but your thoughts ought to be bent toward the ship, and remain perpetually attentive, lest the captain should call, and then you must leave all these things, so that you may not have to be carried on board the vessel

  5. when the ship is anchored, if you go on shore to get water, you may amuse yourself with picking up a shellfish or a truffle on your way, but your thoughts ought to be bent toward the ship, and perpetually attentive, lest the captain calls, and then you must leave all these things, so that you may not have to be carried on board the vessel
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

'Ship is at anchor' means ship is being anchored, a construct preferable to ship is anchored in the context of the sentence. 'in your way' means physically in the way while 'on your way' means while you are travelling so the former is the better construct. Thoughts do not need to 'remain attentive' hence 'perpetually attentive' is the better construct.  Lest is never followed by a verb with 's' making 'lest the captain should call' a better construct. Again the presence of lest in the sentence makes 'so' before 'that' redundant. Hence (1).

Multiple choice

The first thing he wanted to do was get the lower part of his body out of the bed, but he had not seen this lower part, and could not imagine what it looked like; it turned out to be too hard to move; it went so slowly; and finally, almost in a frenzy, when he carelessly shoved himself forwards with all the force he could gather, he chose the wrong direction, hit hard against the lower bedpost, and learned from the burning pain he felt that the lower part of his body might well, at present, be the most sensitive.

  1. but he had not seen this lower part, and could not imagine what it looked like; it turned out to be too hard to move; it went so slowly

  2. but he had never seen this lower part, and could not imagine what it looked like; it turned out to be too hard to move; it went so slowly

  3. but he had not seen this lower part, and could not imagine what it looked like; it was turning out to be too hard to move; it went so slowly

  4. but having never seen this lower part, and could not imagine what it looked like; it turned out to be too hard to move; it went so slowly

  5. but he had not seen this lower part, and could not imagine what it looked like; it turned out to be too hard to move; it went so slowly
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence is referring to a person trying to move the lower part of his own body and it is trying to emphasise the fact that he has not seen it so never needs to be used in preference to not. The initial construct being in simple past would require continuation of the same so looked like is to be preferred. Hence (2).

Multiple choice

He who can peruse it without a tearful eye, a heaving breast, an afflicted spirit, without being filled with an unutterable abhorrence of slavery and all its abettors, and animated with a determination to seek the immediate overthrow of that execrable system, without trembling for the fate of this country in the hands of a righteous God, who is ever on the side of the oppressed, and whose arm is not shortened that it cannot save, must have a flinty heart, and be qualified to act the part of a trafficker “in slaves and the souls of men.”

  1. can peruse it without a tearful eye, a heaving breast, an afflicted spirit, without being filled with an unutterable abhorrence of slavery and all its abettors, and animated with a determination to seek the immediate overthrow of that execrable system

  2. could peruse it without a tearful eye, a heaving breast, an afflicted spirit, without being filled with an unutterable abhorrence of slavery and all its abettors, and animated with a determination to seek the immediate overthrow of this execrable system

  3. can peruse it without a tearful eye, a heaving breast, an afflicted spirit, without being filled with an unutterable abhorrence of slavery and all its abettors, and getting animated with a determination to seek the immediate overthrow of that execrable system

  4. can peruse it without a tearful eye, a heaving breast, an afflicted spirit, without being filled with an unutterable abhorrence of slavery and all its abettors, and animated with a determination to seek the immediate overthrow of such an execrable system
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

When talking about a person's ability to accomplish something in a given situation 'can' is preferred to 'could'. The 'without being' before filled is acting as a qualifier for both 'filled' as well as 'animated' so any other qualifier before 'animated' is redundant. The 'execrable system' is not defined hence 'that' is a better fit over 'this'. 'Such as' is used to illustrate something which is not the case here. Hence (1).

Multiple choice

He capered before them down the forty-foot hole, fluttering his wing-like hands, leaping nimbly, Mercury's hat quivering in the fresh wind that bore back to them his brief bird-sweet cries.

  1. capered before them down the forty-foot hole, fluttering his wing-like hands, leaping nimbly, Mercury's hat quivering in the fresh wind that bore back

  2. is capering before them down the forty-foot hole, fluttering his wing-like hands, leaping nimbly, Mercury's hat quivering in the fresh wind bearing

  3. capers before them down towards the forty-foot hole, fluttering his wing-like hands, leaping nimbly, Mercury's hat quivering in the fresh wind that bears

  4. capered before them down towards the forty-foot hole, fluttering his wing-like hands, leaping nimbly, Mercury's hat quivering in the fresh wind that bore back

  5. capered before them down towards the forty-foot hole, fluttered his wing-like hands, leaped nimbly and Mercury's hat quivered in the fresh wind that bore back
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Caper implies jumping or skipping playfully so capering or capers can be used only if the activity is performed live – a very unlikely situation. Capered down towards the forty-foot hole is better than capering down the forty foot hole because in the latter case it would not be a caper as much a leaping to death. The fresh wind can bear the bird-sweet cries but ‘bear to them’ requires a ‘back’. Hence (4).