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 is the meaning of illuminated?

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. Radiance

  2. Gleaming

  3. Dark

  4. Decorate

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

The passage describes the body as being 'illuminated by a single wax candle,' meaning it is lit up. 'Radiance' relates to the light being emitted.

Multiple choice

What is the meaning of horror?

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. Dismay

  2. Alarm

  3. Delight

  4. Distress

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

The man sees a dead body and turns to escape in 'horror.' 'Dismay' captures the feeling of shock and distress described in the scene.

Multiple choice

What is the meaning of extracted?

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. Drew out

  2. Removed

  3. Inserted

  4. Took out

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

To 'extract' means to pull or take something out of a container, such as taking money out of a purse.

Multiple choice

What is the meaning of funeral?

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. Interment

  2. Burial

  3. Cremation

  4. Obsequies

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

A funeral is the ceremony held for the burial or cremation of a deceased person. 'Interment' is a formal term for the burial of a corpse.

Multiple choice

How was the door?

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. It was glazed

  2. It was painted

  3. It was polished

  4. It was coated

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

The text explicitly states: 'he opened the glazed door.'

Multiple choice

What is the meaning of pluckily?

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. Valiant

  2. Brave

  3. Timid

  4. Courageous

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

To behave 'pluckily' means to act with spirit, courage, or determination. 'Valiant' is a synonym for brave or courageous.

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?'