English Reading Comprehension

How did the boy find the watch?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and find the answer.

Once there was a farmer. One day he learnt that he had lost his watch in the barn. It was no ordinary watch because it had sentimental value for him. After searching high and low among the hay for a long while; he gave up and enlisted the help of a group of children playing outside the barn. He promised them that the person who found it would be rewarded. Hearing this, the children hurried inside the barn, went through and around the entire stack of hay but still could not find the watch. Just when the farmer was about to give up looking for his watch, a little boy went up to him and asked to be given another chance. The farmer looked at him and thought, “Why not? After all, this kid looks sincere enough.”So the farmer sent the little boy back in the barn. After a while the little boy came out with the watch in his hand! The farmer was both happy and surprised and so he asked the boy how he succeeded where the rest had failed. The boy replied, “I did nothing but sit on the ground and listen. In the silence, I heard the ticking of the watch and just looked for it in that direction.”A peaceful mind can think better than a worked up mind.

Where was the fight going to be held?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.

Near Tokyo lived a great Samurai, now old, who decided to teach Zen Buddhism to young people. One afternoon, a warrior – known for his complete lack of scruples – arrived there. The young and impatient warrior had never lost a fight. Hearing of the Samurai’s reputation, he had come to defeat him, and increase his fame. All the students were against the idea, but the old man accepted the challenge. All gathered on the town square, and the young man started insulting the old master. He threw a few rocks in his direction, spat in his face, shouted every insult under the sun – he even insulted his ancestors. For hours, he did everything to provoke him, but the old man remained impassive. At the end of the afternoon, by now feeling exhausted and humiliated, the impetuous warrior left. Disappointed by the fact that the master had received so many insults and provocations, the students asked: “How could you bear such indignity? Why didn’t you use your sword, even knowing you might lose the fight, instead of displaying your cowardice in front of us all? If someone comes to you with a gift, and you do not accept it, who does the gift belong to?” – asked the old Samurai.“He who tried to deliver it.” – replied one of his disciples.“The same goes for envy, anger and insults.” – said the master. “When they are not accepted, they continue to belong to the one who carried them.”

What does impetuous mean in the passage?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.

Near Tokyo lived a great Samurai, now old, who decided to teach Zen Buddhism to young people. One afternoon, a warrior – known for his complete lack of scruples – arrived there. The young and impatient warrior had never lost a fight. Hearing of the Samurai’s reputation, he had come to defeat him, and increase his fame. All the students were against the idea, but the old man accepted the challenge. All gathered on the town square, and the young man started insulting the old master. He threw a few rocks in his direction, spat in his face, shouted every insult under the sun – he even insulted his ancestors. For hours, he did everything to provoke him, but the old man remained impassive. At the end of the afternoon, by now feeling exhausted and humiliated, the impetuous warrior left. Disappointed by the fact that the master had received so many insults and provocations, the students asked: “How could you bear such indignity? Why didn’t you use your sword, even knowing you might lose the fight, instead of displaying your cowardice in front of us all? If someone comes to you with a gift, and you do not accept it, who does the gift belong to?” – asked the old Samurai.“He who tried to deliver it.” – replied one of his disciples.“The same goes for envy, anger and insults.” – said the master. “When they are not accepted, they continue to belong to the one who carried them.”

Why did the warrior throw stones at the Samurai?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.

Near Tokyo lived a great Samurai, now old, who decided to teach Zen Buddhism to young people. One afternoon, a warrior – known for his complete lack of scruples – arrived there. The young and impatient warrior had never lost a fight. Hearing of the Samurai’s reputation, he had come to defeat him, and increase his fame. All the students were against the idea, but the old man accepted the challenge. All gathered on the town square, and the young man started insulting the old master. He threw a few rocks in his direction, spat in his face, shouted every insult under the sun – he even insulted his ancestors. For hours, he did everything to provoke him, but the old man remained impassive. At the end of the afternoon, by now feeling exhausted and humiliated, the impetuous warrior left. Disappointed by the fact that the master had received so many insults and provocations, the students asked: “How could you bear such indignity? Why didn’t you use your sword, even knowing you might lose the fight, instead of displaying your cowardice in front of us all? If someone comes to you with a gift, and you do not accept it, who does the gift belong to?” – asked the old Samurai.“He who tried to deliver it.” – replied one of his disciples.“The same goes for envy, anger and insults.” – said the master. “When they are not accepted, they continue to belong to the one who carried them.”

Why did the impatient warrior want to fight the Samurai?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.

Near Tokyo lived a great Samurai, now old, who decided to teach Zen Buddhism to young people. One afternoon, a warrior – known for his complete lack of scruples – arrived there. The young and impatient warrior had never lost a fight. Hearing of the Samurai’s reputation, he had come to defeat him, and increase his fame. All the students were against the idea, but the old man accepted the challenge. All gathered on the town square, and the young man started insulting the old master. He threw a few rocks in his direction, spat in his face, shouted every insult under the sun – he even insulted his ancestors. For hours, he did everything to provoke him, but the old man remained impassive. At the end of the afternoon, by now feeling exhausted and humiliated, the impetuous warrior left. Disappointed by the fact that the master had received so many insults and provocations, the students asked: “How could you bear such indignity? Why didn’t you use your sword, even knowing you might lose the fight, instead of displaying your cowardice in front of us all? If someone comes to you with a gift, and you do not accept it, who does the gift belong to?” – asked the old Samurai.“He who tried to deliver it.” – replied one of his disciples.“The same goes for envy, anger and insults.” – said the master. “When they are not accepted, they continue to belong to the one who carried them.”

How did the other boy save himself?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.

Once two friends were passing through the forest. They knew that anything dangerous could happen to them at any time in the forest. So they promised each other that they would remain united in any case of danger. Suddenly, they saw a large bear approaching them. One of the friends at once climbed a nearby tree. But the other one did not know how to climb. So being led by his common sense, he lay down on the ground breathless, pretending to be a dead man. The bear came near the man lying on the ground. It smelt in his ears, and slowly left the place. Because the bears do not touch the dead creatures. Now the friend on the tree came down and asked his friend on the ground, “Friend, what did the bear tell you into your ears?” The other friend replied, “The bear advised me not to believe a false friend.” True Friend is the one who always supports and stands by you in any situation.

Find the word in the passage which is the opposite of divided.

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.

Once two friends were passing through the forest. They knew that anything dangerous could happen to them at any time in the forest. So they promised each other that they would remain united in any case of danger. Suddenly, they saw a large bear approaching them. One of the friends at once climbed a nearby tree. But the other one did not know how to climb. So being led by his common sense, he lay down on the ground breathless, pretending to be a dead man. The bear came near the man lying on the ground. It smelt in his ears, and slowly left the place. Because the bears do not touch the dead creatures. Now the friend on the tree came down and asked his friend on the ground, “Friend, what did the bear tell you into your ears?” The other friend replied, “The bear advised me not to believe a false friend.” True Friend is the one who always supports and stands by you in any situation.

What did the Samurai decide to teach the children?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.

Near Tokyo lived a great Samurai, now old, who decided to teach Zen Buddhism to young people. One afternoon, a warrior – known for his complete lack of scruples – arrived there. The young and impatient warrior had never lost a fight. Hearing of the Samurai’s reputation, he had come to defeat him, and increase his fame. All the students were against the idea, but the old man accepted the challenge. All gathered on the town square, and the young man started insulting the old master. He threw a few rocks in his direction, spat in his face, shouted every insult under the sun – he even insulted his ancestors. For hours, he did everything to provoke him, but the old man remained impassive. At the end of the afternoon, by now feeling exhausted and humiliated, the impetuous warrior left. Disappointed by the fact that the master had received so many insults and provocations, the students asked: “How could you bear such indignity? Why didn’t you use your sword, even knowing you might lose the fight, instead of displaying your cowardice in front of us all? If someone comes to you with a gift, and you do not accept it, who does the gift belong to?” – asked the old Samurai.“He who tried to deliver it.” – replied one of his disciples.“The same goes for envy, anger and insults.” – said the master. “When they are not accepted, they continue to belong to the one who carried them.”

What did they promise to each other?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.

Once two friends were passing through the forest. They knew that anything dangerous could happen to them at any time in the forest. So they promised each other that they would remain united in any case of danger. Suddenly, they saw a large bear approaching them. One of the friends at once climbed a nearby tree. But the other one did not know how to climb. So being led by his common sense, he lay down on the ground breathless, pretending to be a dead man. The bear came near the man lying on the ground. It smelt in his ears, and slowly left the place. Because the bears do not touch the dead creatures. Now the friend on the tree came down and asked his friend on the ground, “Friend, what did the bear tell you into your ears?” The other friend replied, “The bear advised me not to believe a false friend.” True Friend is the one who always supports and stands by you in any situation.

Where were the friends passing through?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.

Once two friends were passing through the forest. They knew that anything dangerous could happen to them at any time in the forest. So they promised each other that they would remain united in any case of danger. Suddenly, they saw a large bear approaching them. One of the friends at once climbed a nearby tree. But the other one did not know how to climb. So being led by his common sense, he lay down on the ground breathless, pretending to be a dead man. The bear came near the man lying on the ground. It smelt in his ears, and slowly left the place. Because the bears do not touch the dead creatures. Now the friend on the tree came down and asked his friend on the ground, “Friend, what did the bear tell you into your ears?” The other friend replied, “The bear advised me not to believe a false friend.” True Friend is the one who always supports and stands by you in any situation.

What did the farmer discover one day?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and find the answer.

Once there was a farmer. One day he learnt that he had lost his watch in the barn. It was no ordinary watch because it had sentimental value for him. After searching high and low among the hay for a long while; he gave up and enlisted the help of a group of children playing outside the barn. He promised them that the person who found it would be rewarded. Hearing this, the children hurried inside the barn, went through and around the entire stack of hay but still could not find the watch. Just when the farmer was about to give up looking for his watch, a little boy went up to him and asked to be given another chance. The farmer looked at him and thought, “Why not? After all, this kid looks sincere enough.”So the farmer sent the little boy back in the barn. After a while the little boy came out with the watch in his hand! The farmer was both happy and surprised and so he asked the boy how he succeeded where the rest had failed. The boy replied, “I did nothing but sit on the ground and listen. In the silence, I heard the ticking of the watch and just looked for it in that direction.”A peaceful mind can think better than a worked up mind.

Why did the one of the friends climb the tree?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.

Once two friends were passing through the forest. They knew that anything dangerous could happen to them at any time in the forest. So they promised each other that they would remain united in any case of danger. Suddenly, they saw a large bear approaching them. One of the friends at once climbed a nearby tree. But the other one did not know how to climb. So being led by his common sense, he lay down on the ground breathless, pretending to be a dead man. The bear came near the man lying on the ground. It smelt in his ears, and slowly left the place. Because the bears do not touch the dead creatures. Now the friend on the tree came down and asked his friend on the ground, “Friend, what did the bear tell you into your ears?” The other friend replied, “The bear advised me not to believe a false friend.” True Friend is the one who always supports and stands by you in any situation.

Which word in the passage means ‘suffering from decay’?

Directions: Read the passage given below carefully and answer the question that follows.

A rich man had only one son who fell into a bad company and developed many bad habits. The man was worried about the habits of his son. He tried his best to mend his habits but he could not succeed. One day, he thought of a plan to teach his son a lesson. He went to market and purchased some fresh apples and a rotten one. He came back to his home and called his son. He asked his son to put all the apples along with the rotten one in a cabinet. The son did the same. After some days, the father asked his son to bring the apples. As he opened the door of the cabinet, he was surprised to note that all the apples had become rotten. He felt sad. At this his father told him to see how one rotten apple had spoiled all the rest. In the same way, one bad companion could spoil all others. The father's advice had the desired effect. The boy gave up bad company and became good again. So, it is better to be alone than in bad company.

What has been compared with a bad companion?

Directions: Read the passage given below carefully and answer the question that follows.

A rich man had only one son who fell into a bad company and developed many bad habits. The man was worried about the habits of his son. He tried his best to mend his habits but he could not succeed. One day, he thought of a plan to teach his son a lesson. He went to market and purchased some fresh apples and a rotten one. He came back to his home and called his son. He asked his son to put all the apples along with the rotten one in a cabinet. The son did the same. After some days, the father asked his son to bring the apples. As he opened the door of the cabinet, he was surprised to note that all the apples had become rotten. He felt sad. At this his father told him to see how one rotten apple had spoiled all the rest. In the same way, one bad companion could spoil all others. The father's advice had the desired effect. The boy gave up bad company and became good again. So, it is better to be alone than in bad company.

What effect did the rotten apple have on the rest of the apples?

Directions: Read the passage given below carefully and answer the question that follows.

A rich man had only one son who fell into a bad company and developed many bad habits. The man was worried about the habits of his son. He tried his best to mend his habits but he could not succeed. One day, he thought of a plan to teach his son a lesson. He went to market and purchased some fresh apples and a rotten one. He came back to his home and called his son. He asked his son to put all the apples along with the rotten one in a cabinet. The son did the same. After some days, the father asked his son to bring the apples. As he opened the door of the cabinet, he was surprised to note that all the apples had become rotten. He felt sad. At this his father told him to see how one rotten apple had spoiled all the rest. In the same way, one bad companion could spoil all others. The father's advice had the desired effect. The boy gave up bad company and became good again. So, it is better to be alone than in bad company.