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.

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English Reading Comprehension Questions

Multiple choice

In the twelfth stanza, what does the speaker say he would do if he could "leave the world unseen, / And with thee fade away into the forest dim"?

  1. He would write poetry

  2. He would travel the world

  3. He would become a nightingale

  4. He would live in a forest
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In the twelfth stanza, Keats writes, "Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird! / No hungry generations tread thee down; / The voice I hear this passing night was heard / In ancient days by emperor and clown: / Perhaps the self-same song that found a path / Through the sad heart of Ruth, when, sick for home, / She stood in tears amid the alien corn; / The same that oft-times hath / Charm'd magic casements, opening on the foam / Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn." Here, the speaker expresses his desire to escape from his own reality and live in a forest, which suggests that he sees the forest as a place of peace and beauty.

Multiple choice

In the thirteenth stanza, what does the speaker say he would do if he could "leave the world unseen, / And with thee fade away into the forest dim"?

  1. He would write poetry

  2. He would travel the world

  3. He would become a nightingale

  4. He would live in a forest
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In the thirteenth stanza, Keats writes, "Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird! / No hungry generations tread thee down; / The voice I hear this passing night was heard / In ancient days by emperor and clown: / Perhaps the self-same song that found a path / Through the sad heart of Ruth, when, sick for home, / She stood in tears amid the alien corn; / The same that oft-times hath / Charm'd magic casements, opening on the foam / Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn." Here, the speaker expresses his desire to escape from his own reality and live in a forest, which suggests that he sees the forest as a place of peace and beauty.

Multiple choice

In the fourteenth stanza, what does the speaker say he would do if he could "leave the world unseen, / And with thee fade away into the forest dim"?

  1. He would write poetry

  2. He would travel the world

  3. He would become a nightingale

  4. He would live in a forest
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In the fourteenth stanza, Keats writes, "Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird! / No hungry generations tread thee down; / The voice I hear this passing night was heard / In ancient days by emperor and clown: / Perhaps the self-same song that found a path / Through the sad heart of Ruth, when, sick for home, / She stood in tears amid the alien corn; / The same that oft-times hath / Charm'd magic casements, opening on the foam / Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn." Here, the speaker expresses his desire to escape from his own reality and live in a forest, which suggests that he sees the forest as a place of peace and beauty.

Multiple choice

In the fifteenth stanza, what does the speaker say he would do if he could "leave the world unseen, / And with thee fade away into the forest dim"?

  1. He would write poetry

  2. He would travel the world

  3. He would become a nightingale

  4. He would live in a forest
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In the fifteenth stanza, Keats writes, "Thou wast not born for death, immortal Bird! / No hungry generations tread thee down; / The voice I hear this passing night was heard / In ancient days by emperor and clown: / Perhaps the self-same song that found a path / Through the sad heart of Ruth, when, sick for home, / She stood in tears amid the alien corn; / The same that oft-times hath / Charm'd magic casements, opening on the foam / Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn." Here, the speaker expresses his desire to escape from his own reality and live in a forest, which suggests that he sees the forest as a place of peace and beauty.

Multiple choice

In "The Cask of Amontillado," what is Montresor's motive for seeking revenge against Fortunato?

  1. Fortunato insulted Montresor's family honor.

  2. Fortunato stole Montresor's inheritance.

  3. Fortunato spread malicious rumors about Montresor.

  4. Fortunato mocked Montresor's taste in wine.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Montresor seeks revenge against Fortunato for insulting his family's honor and reputation.

Multiple choice

In "The Tell-Tale Heart", what does the narrator hear after he kills the old man?

  1. The old man's heartbeat

  2. His own heartbeat

  3. The sound of footsteps

  4. The sound of the police
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The narrator becomes increasingly paranoid and believes he can hear the old man's heartbeat even after he is dead.

Multiple choice

What does the speaker of "The Tyger" wonder about?

  1. He wonders about the nature of God.

  2. He wonders about the nature of evil.

  3. He wonders about the nature of the universe.

  4. He wonders about the nature of the human soul.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The speaker of "The Tyger" wonders about the nature of God, particularly how a benevolent God could create such a terrifying creature as the tiger.

Multiple choice

What does the speaker of "Ozymandias" think about the statue?

  1. He thinks it is beautiful.

  2. He thinks it is awe-inspiring.

  3. He thinks it is pathetic.

  4. He thinks it is meaningless.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The speaker of "Ozymandias" thinks the statue is pathetic, as it is a reminder of the futility of human power and ambition.

Multiple choice

In "The Tell-Tale Heart," what does the narrator do with the old man's body?

  1. He buries it in the backyard

  2. He throws it in the river

  3. He hides it under the floorboards

  4. He burns it in the fireplace
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The narrator dismembers the old man's body and hides the pieces under the floorboards of his apartment.

Multiple choice

What was Tantalus's punishment?

  1. He was forced to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree.

  2. He was turned into a stone.

  3. He was banished to the underworld.

  4. He was eaten by a monster.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Tantalus was punished by the gods to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree, but whenever he tried to drink or eat, the water and fruit would recede.

Multiple choice

What happened to Echo when she fell in love with Narcissus?

  1. She was transformed into a flower

  2. She was turned into a stone

  3. She was banished to the underworld

  4. She died of a broken heart
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Echo's love for Narcissus was unrequited, and she eventually died of a broken heart, leaving only her voice to echo in the mountains.

Multiple choice

What happened to Narcissus when he saw his reflection in a pool of water?

  1. He fell in love with it

  2. He was turned to stone

  3. He drowned

  4. He became invisible
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection and became so obsessed with it that he eventually died, staring at it in the pool of water.

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 and embrace life

  2. Accept death with grace and dignity

  3. Seek comfort and solace in religion

  4. Leave a legacy for future generations
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The speaker implores his father to fight against death and embrace life, urging him to resist the temptation to surrender to the inevitability of death.

Multiple choice

In "The Chimney Sweeper," William Blake portrays the harsh realities of childhood labor through the eyes of a young chimney sweep. What is the speaker's attitude towards the child's situation?

  1. Sympathetic

  2. Indifferent

  3. Critical

  4. Condemning
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

William Blake's "The Chimney Sweeper" expresses sympathy for the plight of the young chimney sweep, highlighting the harsh conditions and exploitation of child labor.

Multiple choice

In the short story 'The Tell-Tale Heart', what is the narrator's primary motivation for murdering the old man?

  1. Jealousy

  2. Revenge

  3. Greed

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

The narrator in 'The Tell-Tale Heart' is driven by an intense fear of the old man's 'vulture eye', which he believes is constantly watching him.