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

Which of these statements reflects a contrast between two flowers?

  1. This tulip is as colourful as a rose.

  2. This tulip does not smell as bad as a daffodil.

  3. This tulip turns towards light just like sunflower.

  4. This tulip is grown in bunches, like a lotus.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

It clearly shows difference between the properties of the two flowers.

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 these fits gap 18?

Directions: Complete this passage by selecting the most suitable option for the corresponding gap.
Fire ____(17)_____ things hot by adding heat, and that raises temperature.
You _______(18)______ a fire with its hissing tongues of orange flame.
When something gets too hot and its temperature rises more than it can take, it bursts into hot flames and _____(19)_____ to burn.

Fire is _____(20)_____ than sunlight and it quickly heats up anything it touches.

  1. also seen

  2. may be seen

  3. must have seen

  4. must be seen
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The statement is about something that you may have done anytime or many times.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace 'hand in hand' 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 Hydrosphere is an imaginary (1) sphere. However, its importance is not imaginary. The hydrosphere contains all the water that is above, below, or upon the surface of the earth. It also includes (2) the water inside plants and animals. The larger part of the earth's hydrosphere is salt water. The water cycle pureifys (3) the atmosphere and surface water by removing (4) pollutants. It (5) supplies usable water to living things on land. It does so by purifying the saltwater of the oceans and by turning (6) it into fresh water. All life thus depends upon an "active hydrosphere." That means an intact or undamaged hydrosphere with a running (7) water cycle. Since all living things use water inside their bodies, an active hydrosphere and life travel hand in hand (8).

  1. stay with

  2. together

  3. as friends

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

'Hand in hand' here means working togethoe or co-existing. Therefore, 'together' is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Which of these fits gap 23?

Directions: Complete this passage by selecting the most suitable option for the corresponding gap.

Islands are bodies or pieces of land that are completely ______(21)_____ by water, and are cut off from larger bodies of land that are attached to a continent and are called mainland. Islands have been homes to different cultures throughout our history. Separated from mainland, and relatively isolated, some islands of the oceans still carry the older cultures and _____(22)____ of humans. Islands also preserve animals and plants, in rather _______(23)______ conditions. In fact, it was through his visit to the Galapagos Islands, and through observing the animals there, that Charles Darwin came to _____(24)_____ the theory of evolution of man.

  1. hardy

  2. different

  3. unchanged

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

Since they want to maintain everything as it is, therefore, they preserve the animals and plants in unchanged conditions.

Multiple choice

Which of these fits gap 21?

Directions: Complete this passage by selecting the most suitable option for the corresponding gap.

Islands are bodies or pieces of land that are completely ______(21)_____ by water, and are cut off from larger bodies of land that are attached to a continent and are called mainland. Islands have been homes to different cultures throughout our history. Separated from mainland, and relatively isolated, some islands of the oceans still carry the older cultures and _____(22)____ of humans. Islands also preserve animals and plants, in rather _______(23)______ conditions. In fact, it was through his visit to the Galapagos Islands, and through observing the animals there, that Charles Darwin came to _____(24)_____ the theory of evolution of man.

  1. submerged

  2. created

  3. surrounded

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

Islands are from all sides surrounded by water, therefore, (3) is the correct answer.