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.

Passage based inferenceParagraph rearrangementCloze test fillingVocabulary replacementReading accuracy tests

English Reading Comprehension Questions

Multiple choice

In the book "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein, what does the tree overcome?

  1. Her loneliness

  2. Her pain

  3. Her desire to be loved

  4. Her need for nourishment
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The tree in the story overcomes her desire to be loved by selflessly giving her branches, leaves, and trunk to the boy she loves, even though he eventually leaves her.

Multiple choice

In the book "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis, what do the Pevensie children overcome?

  1. Their fear of the White Witch

  2. Their desire to return home

  3. Their lack of courage

  4. Their lack of faith
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Pevensie children in the story overcome their fear of the White Witch by standing up to her and defeating her, ultimately restoring peace to Narnia.

Multiple choice

In the epic poem The Nibelungenlied, what is the role of fate in the downfall of the Burgundians?

  1. Fate decrees that the Burgundians will be defeated by the Huns.

  2. Fate allows the Burgundians to choose their own destiny.

  3. Fate has no influence on the outcome of the conflict.

  4. Fate intervenes to save the Burgundians from destruction.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In The Nibelungenlied, fate plays a central role in the downfall of the Burgundians. It is predetermined that they will be defeated by the Huns, despite their valiant efforts to resist their fate.

Multiple choice

In the epic poem The Cid, how does fate shape the destiny of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar?

  1. Fate ordains that Rodrigo will become a legendary hero.

  2. Fate prevents Rodrigo from achieving his goals.

  3. Fate allows Rodrigo to choose his own path.

  4. Fate has no impact on Rodrigo's life.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In The Cid, fate plays a significant role in shaping Rodrigo's destiny. It is decreed that he will become a renowned warrior and a symbol of Spanish national identity.

Multiple choice

In the Korean folktale "The Tale of Shim Cheong", what does the protagonist Shim Cheong do to save her blind father?

  1. She sells herself into slavery.

  2. She prays to the gods for help.

  3. She goes on a quest to find a magical cure.

  4. She sacrifices her own life.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In the folktale, Shim Cheong sells herself into slavery to a wealthy family in order to pay for her father's eye surgery. Her sacrifice ultimately leads to her father's recovery and her own happiness.

Multiple choice

In the African folktale "Anansi and the Rice Grains", what does Anansi do to trick the other animals out of their rice?

  1. He pretends to be a god and demands their rice as an offering.

  2. He challenges them to a race and steals their rice while they are running.

  3. He uses his magical powers to transform himself into a bird and steal their rice.

  4. He convinces them to give him their rice in exchange for a magical gift.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In the folktale, Anansi convinces the other animals to give him their rice in exchange for a magical gift. However, the gift turns out to be a worthless piece of junk, and Anansi ends up with all of the rice.

Multiple choice

In the song "God Gave Me You", what does the father say he'll do if his daughter ever needs him?

  1. He'll be there for her

  2. He'll listen to her

  3. He'll help her through anything

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The song "God Gave Me You" by Bryan Adams includes the line "If you ever need me, I'll be there, to listen, to help, to care," expressing the father's unwavering support and love for his daughter.

Multiple choice

In the sitcom 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air', how does the character Carlton Banks's speech differ from that of his cousin Will Smith?

  1. Carlton uses more slang and colloquialisms.

  2. Carlton speaks in a more formal and educated manner.

  3. Carlton and Will use similar language.

  4. Carlton speaks with a Southern accent.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Carlton Banks is often portrayed as a wealthy and privileged young man, and his speech reflects this. He uses more formal and educated language than his cousin Will Smith, who is from a working-class background.

Multiple choice

In Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman's downfall is primarily attributed to:

  1. His unrealistic dreams

  2. His inability to adapt to change

  3. His lack of self-awareness

  4. His family's expectations
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Willy's inability to let go of his grandiose dreams and face reality leads to his downfall.

Multiple choice

In Albert Camus' The Stranger, Meursault's tragic flaw is:

  1. His indifference to life

  2. His lack of empathy

  3. His inability to express his emotions

  4. His existential crisis
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Meursault's indifference to life and his inability to feel genuine emotions lead to his downfall.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is a famous saying of Kabir?

  1. The world is a bridge. Cross it, but do not build your house on it.

  2. A man is known by the company he keeps.

  3. A stitch in time saves nine.

  4. All of the above.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This saying is a reminder that the world is temporary and that we should not become too attached to it.

Multiple choice

In the poem "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" by Dylan Thomas, what does the speaker urge his father to do?

  1. Fight against death

  2. Accept death peacefully

  3. Leave a legacy behind

  4. Cherish the time he has left
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The speaker in the poem urges his father to fight against death, as he believes that it is important to live life to the fullest and not give up without a fight.

Multiple choice

In Toni Morrison's "Beloved," Sethe's infanticide is a manifestation of her:

  1. Love for her daughter

  2. Desperation to protect her child from slavery

  3. Mental illness

  4. Irrational fear of motherhood
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Sethe's act of infanticide, while tragic, is driven by her desperate attempt to spare her daughter from the horrors of slavery.

Multiple choice

In the poem "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night," what does the speaker urge his father to do in the face of death?

  1. Rage against the dying of the light

  2. Accept death with grace and dignity

  3. Seek solace in religion

  4. Embrace the beauty of life
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The speaker in the poem urges his father to fight against death and to refuse to accept it without a struggle.

Multiple choice

In the 2020 film "Promising Young Woman," what did Cassie Thomas, played by Carey Mulligan, say to Ryan Cooper, played by Bo Burnham, about the nature of revenge?

  1. Revenge is a dish best served cold.

  2. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

  3. The best way to get revenge is to live a happy life.

  4. Revenge is never the answer.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This line, spoken by Cassie Thomas to Ryan Cooper, reflects the character's desire for justice and her willingness to use unconventional methods to achieve it.