English Reading Comprehension

Which of the options best fits gap 15?

Directions: Fill in the gaps to make meaningful sentences.

Telephone and data networks, both private and public, provide speech or data communication -----15----two points. These two points -------16-------------at fixed locations, or if the network includes one or more switching points, any user may be able to access any other user. The network then, offered together with the associated service, is known as the value added network. Most VAN operators -----17----a combination of private lines, spare capacity on public or private networks to provide the basic network.

In line 6, the word ‘escape’ could best be replaced with

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option from each list according to the corresponding number in the passage.

1. Shakespeare’s heroines are endowed with
2. wit, humanised sense, humane feelings
3. and noble qualities of head and heart.
4. They are exceptionally winning and charming.
5. It is characteristic of nearly all Shakespeare’s
6. comedies that the heroines should escape his satire.
7. Shakespeare’s heroes maybe fine and handsome but when real business has got to be done, it’s the woman who does it.
8. His comedy radiates the spirit of humanity.
9. He enriches our experience of life.
10. His comedy exhibits his vision of life.

In line 10, the word ‘exhibits’ could best be replaced with

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option from each list according to the corresponding number in the passage.

1. Shakespeare’s heroines are endowed with
2. wit, humanised sense, humane feelings
3. and noble qualities of head and heart.
4. They are exceptionally winning and charming.
5. It is characteristic of nearly all Shakespeare’s
6. comedies that the heroines should escape his satire.
7. Shakespeare’s heroes maybe fine and handsome but when real business has got to be done, it’s the woman who does it.
8. His comedy radiates the spirit of humanity.
9. He enriches our experience of life.
10. His comedy exhibits his vision of life.

Directions: In the following passage, some of the words have been left out. First read the passage over and try to understand what it is about. Then, fill blank (i) with the help of the alternatives given.

Cigars had burned low and we were (i) ______ to sample the disillusionment that usually afflicts old school friends who have met again as men and found themselves with less in common than they had (ii) ______ they had. Rutherford wrote novels; Wyland was one of the embassy secretaries; he had just given us dinner at Tempelhof - not very cheerfully, I fancied, but with the equanimity which a diplomat must always keep on tap for such (iii) ___. It seemed likely that nothing but the fact of being three celibate Englishmen in a foreign capital could have brought us together, and I had already reached the conclusion that the slight touch of priggishness, which I remembered in Wyland Tertius, had not (iv) ___ with years and an M.V.O. Rutherford I liked more; he had ripened well out of the skinny, precocious infant whom I had once alternately bullied and patronised. The (v) ______ that he was making much more money and having a more interesting life than either of us gave Wyland and me our one mutual emotion - a touch of envy.

Directions: In the following passage, some of the words have been left out. First read the passage over and try to understand what it is about. Then, fill blank (iv) with the help of the alternatives given.

Cigars had burned low and we were (i) ______ to sample the disillusionment that usually afflicts old school friends who have met again as men and found themselves with less in common than they had (ii) ______ they had. Rutherford wrote novels; Wyland was one of the embassy secretaries; he had just given us dinner at Tempelhof - not very cheerfully, I fancied, but with the equanimity which a diplomat must always keep on tap for such (iii) ___. It seemed likely that nothing but the fact of being three celibate Englishmen in a foreign capital could have brought us together, and I had already reached the conclusion that the slight touch of priggishness which I remembered in Wyland Tertius had not (iv) ___ with years and an M.V.O. Rutherford I liked more; he had ripened well out of the skinny, precocious infant whom I had once alternately bullied and patronised. The (v) ______ that he was making much more money and having a more interesting life than either of us gave Wyland and me our one mutual emotion - a touch of envy.

Directions: In the following passage, some of the words have been left out. First read the passage over and try to understand what it is about. Then, fill blank (ii) with the help of the alternatives given.

Cigars had burned low and we were (i) ______ to sample the disillusionment that usually afflicts old school friends who have met again as men and found themselves with less in common than they had (ii) ______ they had. Rutherford wrote novels; Wyland was one of the embassy secretaries; he had just given us dinner at Tempelhof - not very cheerfully, I fancied, but with the equanimity which a diplomat must always keep on tap for such (iii) ___. It seemed likely that nothing but the fact of being three celibate Englishmen in a foreign capital could have brought us together, and I had already reached the conclusion that the slight touch of priggishness which I remembered in Wyland Tertius had not (iv) ___ with years and an M.V.O. Rutherford I liked more; he had ripened well out of the skinny, precocious infant whom I had once alternately bullied and patronised. The (v) ______ that he was making much more money and having a more interesting life than either of us gave Wyland and me our one mutual emotion - a touch of envy.

Directions: In the following passage, some of the words have been left out. First read the passage over and try to understand what it is about. Then, fill blank (v) with the help of the alternatives given.

Cigars had burned low and we were (i) ______ to sample the disillusionment that usually afflicts old school friends who have met again as men and found themselves with less in common than they had (ii) ______ they had. Rutherford wrote novels; Wyland was one of the embassy secretaries; he had just given us dinner at Tempelhof - not very cheerfully, I fancied, but with the equanimity which a diplomat must always keep on tap for such (iii) ___. It seemed likely that nothing but the fact of being three celibate Englishmen in a foreign capital could have brought us together, and I had already reached the conclusion that the slight touch of priggishness which I remembered in Wyland Tertius had not (iv) ___ with years and an M.V.O. Rutherford I liked more; he had ripened well out of the skinny, precocious infant whom I had once alternately bullied and patronised. The (v) ______ that he was making much more money and having a more interesting life than either of us gave Wyland and me our one mutual emotion - a touch of envy.

Directions: Choose the appropriate number (1 - 4) according to the information given in the passage.

According to the writer, the term 'Organization' means

Reading Passage

Read the passage and answer the given question. 
 
DEVELOPING THE ABILITY TO ORGANIZE

1. The importance of organization. It has been pointed out in the preceding chapters that the silent reading period should be used to develop speed and thought getting, if pupils are to learn how to study effectively. The superior student is one who has acquired a third important skill, namely, the ability quickly and effectively to organize the subject-matter read. The term organization, as here used, includes making outlines and summaries and having pupils prepare lists of questions which they consider leading ones. The importance of developing the ability of pupils to organize can scarcely be overemphasized.

2. Psychologists have done much valuable research in the field of the higher mental processes. The results of their investigations include the establishment of many basic principles in the science and art of organization. The psychological point of view. From a psychological point of view, training in the organization of subject-matter is urged because it requires the pupil to analyze, select, and synthesize. ! It requires much concentration, judgment, evaluation, and association and is considered one good test of general intelligence. Organization is a great aid to memory or retention. To the degree that a lesson or discussion is well organized, to that degree each minor point is seen in its proper relation to the major idea, and each major thought in its relation to the whole.

3. The love of rhythm is said to be instinctive, and for that reason applied psychology urges the organization of a lecture or lesson in the most logical manner so that the preferred paths may function. The sociological point of view. Nor is the ability to organize of secondary importance when considered from the sociological point of view. How many men and women are failing in their several vocations every day, not so much because of some defect in personality, but because organization is sadly lacking in every proposition which they set forth? The fundamental principle in public speaking is organization. Because organization is of great consequence in life, both in and out of school, one feels justified in testing pupils to see how much organizing ability they have, and how that ability may be developed.

4. Present lack of ability to organize. The inability of many grade pupils to organize the main points of a lesson under headings and subheadings is very noticeable in many schools. Teachers do not seem to realize that training pupils and developing in them an appreciation of the worth of organization is one effective method of building up good study habits. Too often pupils are not made to feel that they are expected to organize, weigh, and discriminate in their reading. Making a problem assignment stimulates the child to see for himself what sentences in the lesson are most worthwhile.

5. Some teachers make a specific assignment of three or four questions. These questions act as guides to the pupil's reading; they form the topics for discussion in the next recitation period. Pupils thus learn to discriminate between points having little or much bearing on the question before them. After a few weeks of such training, summaries can be made at the close of a recitation period. The teacher and pupils together sum up the main points in the lesson that were brought out or that should be discussed. Having one section of a class prepare the questions for another section to evaluate is an effective device.

Directions: Choose the correct option to answer the following question.

By the end of the first decade of the twentieth century, the private car became an important possession of every rich man despite _____________.

Reading Passage: Motor Car
Directions: Read the passage carefully:
By 1910, the motor car was plainly conquering the highway. The private car was now part of every rich man's establishment, although its price made it as yet an impossible luxury for most of the middle class. But for the adventuresome youth, there was the motor cycle, a fearsome invention producing accidents and ear-splitting noises. Already, the dignified carriages and smart pony-traps were beginning to disappear from the roads, and coachmen and grooms, unless mechanically minded, were finding it more difficult to make a living.
The roads, which had gone to sleep since the coming of the railway, now awoke to feverish activity. Cars and motor cycles dashed along them at speeds which rivalled those of the express trains, and the lorry began to appear. Therefore, the road system was compelled to adapt itself to a volume and speed of traffic for which it had never been intended; its traffic for which it had never been intended. Its complete adaptation was impossible; but the road surface was easily transformed and, during the early years of the century, the dustiness and greasiness of the highways were lessened by tar-spraying. To widen and straighten the roads and get rid of blind corners and every steep gradient were tasks which had scarcely been tackled before 1914. The situation was worst of all in towns where not only was any large scheme of road widening usually out of the question, but also where crowding and danger were all too frequently increased by the short sighted eagerness of town authorities in laying down tramlines.
Yet it was not only the road system that was in need of readjustment the nervous system of those who used and dwelt by the roads suffered. The noises caused by the conversion of the roads into speed ways called for a corresponding tightening up of the nerves; and, especially in the towns, the pedestrian who wished to preserve life and limb was compelled to keep his attention continually at stretch, to practice himself in estimates of the speed of approaching vehicles and to run or jump for his life if he ventured off the pavement.

Directions: Choose the correct option to answer the following question.

Which of the following is not mentioned in the passage as part of the road readjustment process?

Reading Passage: Motor Car
Directions: Read the passage carefully:
By 1910, the motor car was plainly conquering the highway. The private car was now part of every rich man's establishment, although its price made it as yet an impossible luxury for most of the middle class. But for the adventuresome youth, there was the motor cycle, a fearsome invention producing accidents and ear-splitting noises. Already, the dignified carriages and smart pony-traps were beginning to disappear from the roads, and coachmen and grooms, unless mechanically minded, were finding it more difficult to make a living.
The roads, which had gone to sleep since the coming of the railway, now awoke to feverish activity. Cars and motor cycles dashed along them at speeds which rivalled those of the express trains, and the lorry began to appear. Therefore, the road system was compelled to adapt itself to a volume and speed of traffic for which it had never been intended; its traffic for which it had never been intended. Its complete adaptation was impossible; but the road surface was easily transformed and, during the early years of the century, the dustiness and greasiness of the highways were lessened by tar-spraying. To widen and straighten the roads and get rid of blind corners and every steep gradient were tasks which had scarcely been tackled before 1914. The situation was worst of all in towns where not only was any large scheme of road widening usually out of the question, but also where crowding and danger were all too frequently increased by the short sighted eagerness of town authorities in laying down tramlines.
Yet it was not only the road system that was in need of readjustment the nervous system of those who used and dwelt by the roads suffered. The noises caused by the conversion of the roads into speed ways called for a corresponding tightening up of the nerves; and, especially in the towns, the pedestrian who wished to preserve life and limb was compelled to keep his attention continually at stretch, to practice himself in estimates of the speed of approaching vehicles and to run or jump for his life if he ventured off the pavement.

Which of the following could replace ‘greatly’ 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.
A star is a heavenly (1) body which shines by its own light. Planets, as you know, shine only by light reflected (2) from the sun. The planets shine with a steady (3) light and the stars twinkle. This twinkling is caused by desturbances (4) in the air between the star and the earth. The unsteady air bends the light from the star, which then appears to tremble (5). Stars differ greatly (6) in size, density and temperature. At one end (7), there are stars called “red super-giants,” which are many times (8) larger than our sun (which is also a star). At the other end, there are stars called “white dwarfs,” some of which are about the size of our earth.

Directions: Choose the correct option to answer the following question. Which of the following is not suggested by the author in the passage?

Reading Passage: Motor Car
Directions: Read the passage carefully:
By 1910, the motor car was plainly conquering the highway. The private car was now part of every rich man's establishment, although its price made it as yet an impossible luxury for most of the middle class. But for the adventuresome youth, there was the motor cycle, a fearsome invention producing accidents and ear-splitting noises. Already, the dignified carriages and smart pony-traps were beginning to disappear from the roads, and coachmen and grooms, unless mechanically minded, were finding it more difficult to make a living.
The roads, which had gone to sleep since the coming of the railway, now awoke to feverish activity. Cars and motor cycles dashed along them at speeds which rivalled those of the express trains, and the lorry began to appear. Therefore, the road system was compelled to adapt itself to a volume and speed of traffic for which it had never been intended; its traffic for which it had never been intended. Its complete adaptation was impossible; but the road surface was easily transformed and, during the early years of the century, the dustiness and greasiness of the highways were lessened by tar-spraying. To widen and straighten the roads and get rid of blind corners and every steep gradient were tasks which had scarcely been tackled before 1914. The situation was worst of all in towns where not only was any large scheme of road widening usually out of the question, but also where crowding and danger were all too frequently increased by the short sighted eagerness of town authorities in laying down tramlines.
Yet it was not only the road system that was in need of readjustment the nervous system of those who used and dwelt by the roads suffered. The noises caused by the conversion of the roads into speed ways called for a corresponding tightening up of the nerves; and, especially in the towns, the pedestrian who wished to preserve life and limb was compelled to keep his attention continually at stretch, to practice himself in estimates of the speed of approaching vehicles and to run or jump for his life if he ventured off the pavement.

Directions: Choose the correct option to answer the following question.

The statement 'By 1910, the motor car was plainly conquering the highway' means that _______.

Reading Passage: Motor Car
Directions: Read the passage carefully:
By 1910, the motor car was plainly conquering the highway. The private car was now part of every rich man's establishment, although its price made it as yet an impossible luxury for most of the middle class. But for the adventuresome youth, there was the motor cycle, a fearsome invention producing accidents and ear-splitting noises. Already, the dignified carriages and smart pony-traps were beginning to disappear from the roads, and coachmen and grooms, unless mechanically minded, were finding it more difficult to make a living.
The roads, which had gone to sleep since the coming of the railway, now awoke to feverish activity. Cars and motor cycles dashed along them at speeds which rivalled those of the express trains, and the lorry began to appear. Therefore, the road system was compelled to adapt itself to a volume and speed of traffic for which it had never been intended; its traffic for which it had never been intended. Its complete adaptation was impossible; but the road surface was easily transformed and, during the early years of the century, the dustiness and greasiness of the highways were lessened by tar-spraying. To widen and straighten the roads and get rid of blind corners and every steep gradient were tasks which had scarcely been tackled before 1914. The situation was worst of all in towns where not only was any large scheme of road widening usually out of the question, but also where crowding and danger were all too frequently increased by the short sighted eagerness of town authorities in laying down tramlines.
Yet it was not only the road system that was in need of readjustment the nervous system of those who used and dwelt by the roads suffered. The noises caused by the conversion of the roads into speed ways called for a corresponding tightening up of the nerves; and, especially in the towns, the pedestrian who wished to preserve life and limb was compelled to keep his attention continually at stretch, to practice himself in estimates of the speed of approaching vehicles and to run or jump for his life if he ventured off the pavement.

Which of these fits gap 23?

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

Which of these fits gap 24?

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