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.

Passage based inferenceParagraph rearrangementCloze test fillingVocabulary replacementReading accuracy tests

English Reading Comprehension Questions

Multiple choice

Directions: Out of the answer options given below, select the sentences that make coherent sense grammatically as well as thematically.

(A) Unlike a typical automobile loan, which requires a 15 to 20% down payment, the lease loan buyer is not required to make an initial deposit on the new vehicle. (B) The cameras of the Voyager II spacecraft detected six small, previously unseen moons circling Uranus which doubles to 12 the number of satellites now known as orbiting the planet. (C) He disapproves of your insisting that the rope of pearls was purposely misplaced. (D) Architects and stonemasons, huge palace and temple clusters were built by the Mayans without benefit of the wheel or animal transport.

  1. Only A

  2. Only B

  3. Only C

  4. B & D
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The modified clause in A should modify “lease loan” and not “the lease loan buyer”, since the modifier modifies “automobile loan”. In statement B, “detected” (past indefinite) should be followed by “doubled”. Also “now known to orbit” should replace “known as orbiting”. D also has an error of modifier. “Architects and stonemasons” should be followed, after comma, by “Mayans”.

Multiple choice

Directions: For the following question, select the option that best replaces the parenthesis in the given paragraph.

The new system has been developed by a Canadian company, Inex pharmaceuticals of Vancouver that uses artificial packages to carry the new genes to the disease site. The packages, called transmembrane carrier system, are made up essentially of fat droplets and are injected into the blood stream. (.) In lnex's trial, these were tumor suppressor genes, which carry the code to make proteins which stop cells from reproducing wildly. The trials found that the genes proteins were being produced in secondary tumors.

  1. But these packages are no more useful.

  2. They contain a package of genes.

  3. But the trials never took place.

  4. The Canadians are not willing to extend their support now.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Sentence (3) is incorrect as it has been given that the trials had been conducted. Option (4) also cannot occurs as the parenthesis appear between explanation of clinical trials of packages. Same thing can be applied to option (1). Only option (2) is better suited to this blank as it can also be inferred from passage that package contained genes.

Multiple choice
Directions: Read the paragraph and answer the question that follows.
The Human species, according to the best theory I can form of it, is composed to two distinct races, the men who borrow, and the men who lend. To these two original diversities may be reduced all those impertinent classifications of Gothic and Celtic tribes, white men, black men, red men. All the dwellers upon earth, “Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites,” flock hither, and do naturally fall in with one or other of these primary distinctions. The infinite superiority of the former, which I choose to designate as the great race, is discernible in their figure, port, and a certain instinctive sovereignty. The latter are born degraded. “He shall serve his brethren.” There is something in the air of one of this cast, lean and suspicious; contrasting with the open, trusting, generous manners of the other.
What is the theme of the passage?

  1. The type of borrower whose appeal is the greatest.

  2. The two races with an impression of the greatness of the borrower.

  3. The kingly, undeniable greatness of the lender is being emphasized.

  4. Gothic and Celtic tribes are composed of the two distinct races.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(1) “Type of borrower” in (1) is not referred in the passage and thus, it is ruled out. (2) “The two races” is the highlight of this passage (first sentence provides the clue) and the greater race is that of borrowers (“The infinite _ _ _ _ _ _ _ sovereignty gives the clue). Therefore, (2) sums up the theme of passage, and hence is the answer. (3) “Undeniable greatness of the lender” is contrary to the passage, hence ruled out. (4) According to author, not only Gothic and Celtic tribes are composed of these two races but even white men, black men, red men, all seem to be reduced to this diversity. Therefore, this statement is incomplete. Moreover, it is the direct reference from the passage and in no way sums up the idea of the passage, hence is ruled out. Hence, (2) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: This question presents a sentence, all or part of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

This scheme of marriage that Father Maurice had opened to him, even all that had said to him of her virtue and good sense, made him pause to think.

  1. even all that had said to him of her virtue and good sense, made him pause to think

  2. even all said to him of her virtue and her good sense, made him pause to think

  3. even all that had been said to him of her virtue and good sense, made him pause to think

  4. even all which was said to him of her virtue and good sense, made him pause to think

  5. even all which had been said to him of her virtue and good sense, made him pause to think
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

'Even all that had said to him' is obviously in passive voice. It misses the third form of the auxiliary. This option corrects the error by placing 'had been said' in place of 'had said'.

Multiple choice

Which of the following colours is not in a rainbow?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

Rainbows! Rainbows! The sight which the children love to see. They are awestruck when they see the magnificence of the colourful arc. These wonderful arc like structures are caused when sunlight shines through drops of water in the sky at a specific angle. It is the rainstorm which becomes the birthplace of the rainbows. Rainbows are often seen when the sun comes out after or during a rainstorm. When white sunlight enters a raindrop, it exits the raindrop in a different colour. The rainbow is also called ‘VIBGYOR’ when it exits lots of different raindrops at different angles. The different coloured lights are: V is violet, I is indigo, B is blue, G is green, Y is yellow, O is orange and R is red. Together, these colours are known as the spectrum. These colours can sometimes be seen in waterfalls and fountains as well. We can see double rainbows, meaning a rainbow which forms two arcs. In other words, the order of colours starts with violet on top and ends with red on bottom. Believe it or not, rainbows sometimes appear as white arcs at night. These rainbows are called moonbows. Moonbows are caused by moonlight (rather than sunlight) shining through drops of water.

  1. Yellow

  2. Indigo

  3. Pink

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Option (4) is the correct answer. The different coloured lights are violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange and red. 

Multiple choice

Fill blank (iii).

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Pigeon is a working bird. Carrier pigeons are trained to carry messages to people. The note is placed into a small skinny can, and then it is tied to the pigeon’s leg. Pigeons are good messengers because they are fast and can fly long distances. They also can reach places that people can’t. From high up in the __(i)__, specially trained pigeons can __(ii)__ orange coloured life jackets in the ocean, as __(iii)__ it is difficult for humans to spot people at __(iv)__, especially in bad __(v)__.

  1. many times

  2. anytime

  3. every time

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

Sometimes means 'on some occasions'. It fits the context here. 

Multiple choice

Fill blank (ii).

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Pigeon is a working bird. Carrier pigeons are trained to carry messages to people. The note is placed into a small skinny can, and then it is tied to the pigeon’s leg. Pigeons are good messengers because they are fast and can fly long distances. They also can reach places that people can’t. From high up in the __(i)__, specially trained pigeons can __(ii)__ orange coloured life jackets in the ocean, as __(iii)__ it is difficult for humans to spot people at __(iv)__, especially in bad __(v)__.

  1. spot

  2. shot

  3. drop

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

Spot means to identify.

Multiple choice

What is the meaning of the word 'orphan'?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

When a young spirit bear named Clover wakes up from his winter hibernation, he will have a new home waiting for him. Clover, who is almost 3-year-old, lives at the B.C. Wildlife Park near Kamloops, British Columbia. He was orphaned as a cub and raised at a wildlife shelter. When he was released back into the wild, he broke into human camps looking for food. Wildlife experts tried to get him used to living on his own, but he continued to look for places where there were people. Eventually the experts decided that he could not adapt to living in the wild. Normally, a bear that is not afraid of humans is destroyed because it could be a nuisance or even dangerous to people. Spirit bears are very rare, however, so Clover was moved to an enclosure in the B.C. Wildlife Park in October 2012. Since then, the park has been trying to raise money to create a suitable habitat for Clover to live in. Clover’s new home was carefully planned to ensure it contains proper features for a bear. It covers about three acres of land and includes natural forest, two ponds connected by a creek, and a structure for a den. It is surrounded by a 10-foot-high chain link fence.

  1. An animal that eats flesh

  2. An animal that eats plants

  3. A child whose parents are dead
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Option 3 is the correct answer as it correctly gives the meaning of 'orphan'.

Multiple choice

Experts decided that Clover was not fit for the wild because he was

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

When a young spirit bear named Clover wakes up from his winter hibernation, he will have a new home waiting for him. Clover, who is almost 3-year-old, lives at the B.C. Wildlife Park near Kamloops, British Columbia. He was orphaned as a cub and raised at a wildlife shelter. When he was released back into the wild, he broke into human camps looking for food. Wildlife experts tried to get him used to living on his own, but he continued to look for places where there were people. Eventually the experts decided that he could not adapt to living in the wild. Normally, a bear that is not afraid of humans is destroyed because it could be a nuisance or even dangerous to people. Spirit bears are very rare, however, so Clover was moved to an enclosure in the B.C. Wildlife Park in October 2012. Since then, the park has been trying to raise money to create a suitable habitat for Clover to live in. Clover’s new home was carefully planned to ensure it contains proper features for a bear. It covers about three acres of land and includes natural forest, two ponds connected by a creek, and a structure for a den. It is surrounded by a 10-foot-high chain link fence.

  1. attracted to human camps

  2. extremely notorious

  3. very dangerous
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The line '...he broke into human camps looking for food' suggests the answer.

Multiple choice

The place where a bear lives is known as a

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

When a young spirit bear named Clover wakes up from his winter hibernation, he will have a new home waiting for him. Clover, who is almost 3-year-old, lives at the B.C. Wildlife Park near Kamloops, British Columbia. He was orphaned as a cub and raised at a wildlife shelter. When he was released back into the wild, he broke into human camps looking for food. Wildlife experts tried to get him used to living on his own, but he continued to look for places where there were people. Eventually the experts decided that he could not adapt to living in the wild. Normally, a bear that is not afraid of humans is destroyed because it could be a nuisance or even dangerous to people. Spirit bears are very rare, however, so Clover was moved to an enclosure in the B.C. Wildlife Park in October 2012. Since then, the park has been trying to raise money to create a suitable habitat for Clover to live in. Clover’s new home was carefully planned to ensure it contains proper features for a bear. It covers about three acres of land and includes natural forest, two ponds connected by a creek, and a structure for a den. It is surrounded by a 10-foot-high chain link fence.

  1. creek

  2. den

  3. forest
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

It is known as a den. So, option 2 is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Find the word which is opposite in meaning to the word 'brave' from the passage.

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

When a young spirit bear named Clover wakes up from his winter hibernation, he will have a new home waiting for him. Clover, who is almost 3-year-old, lives at the B.C. Wildlife Park near Kamloops, British Columbia. He was orphaned as a cub and raised at a wildlife shelter. When he was released back into the wild, he broke into human camps looking for food. Wildlife experts tried to get him used to living on his own, but he continued to look for places where there were people. Eventually the experts decided that he could not adapt to living in the wild. Normally, a bear that is not afraid of humans is destroyed because it could be a nuisance or even dangerous to people. Spirit bears are very rare, however, so Clover was moved to an enclosure in the B.C. Wildlife Park in October 2012. Since then, the park has been trying to raise money to create a suitable habitat for Clover to live in. Clover’s new home was carefully planned to ensure it contains proper features for a bear. It covers about three acres of land and includes natural forest, two ponds connected by a creek, and a structure for a den. It is surrounded by a 10-foot-high chain link fence.

  1. Afraid

  2. Nuisance

  3. Dangerous
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

'Afraid’ is the opposite of ‘brave’.

Multiple choice

Clover was raised at a

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

When a young spirit bear named Clover wakes up from his winter hibernation, he will have a new home waiting for him. Clover, who is almost 3-year-old, lives at the B.C. Wildlife Park near Kamloops, British Columbia. He was orphaned as a cub and raised at a wildlife shelter. When he was released back into the wild, he broke into human camps looking for food. Wildlife experts tried to get him used to living on his own, but he continued to look for places where there were people. Eventually the experts decided that he could not adapt to living in the wild. Normally, a bear that is not afraid of humans is destroyed because it could be a nuisance or even dangerous to people. Spirit bears are very rare, however, so Clover was moved to an enclosure in the B.C. Wildlife Park in October 2012. Since then, the park has been trying to raise money to create a suitable habitat for Clover to live in. Clover’s new home was carefully planned to ensure it contains proper features for a bear. It covers about three acres of land and includes natural forest, two ponds connected by a creek, and a structure for a den. It is surrounded by a 10-foot-high chain link fence.

  1. camp

  2. wildlife shelter

  3. garden
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The line 'He was orphaned as a cub and raised at a wildlife shelter' suggests the answer. 

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows.

An American university rowing team came under attack by giant flying fish. The Asian Carp, (name of the fish) probably got scared and started to jump out of the water. The group had to stop rowing and wait until the frenzy ended. Someone filmed the incident on camera and it went viral on the Internet. They wanted to raise money from the video to help them pay for their trip to the National Rowing Championship. The fish could jump up to 10 feet (3 metres) in the air and it had injured a number of boaters in the past. The boys, however, were lucky.

What is meaning of the word 'rowing'?

  1. The sport of making a boat move through water

  2. The sport of climbing a hill

  3. The sport of riding a bicycle
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Option (1) is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows.

An American university rowing team came under attack by giant flying fish. The Asian Carp, (name of the fish) probably got scared and started to jump out of the water. The group had to stop rowing and wait until the frenzy ended. Someone filmed the incident on camera and it went viral on the Internet. They wanted to raise money from the video to help them pay for their trip to the National Rowing Championship. The fish could jump up to 10 feet (3 metres) in the air and it had injured a number of boaters in the past. The boys, however, were lucky.

From the passage, find a word which is opposite in meaning to the word ‘calm’.

  1. Viral

  2. Frenzy

  3. Injured
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Frenzy means an out of control energetic activity.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows.

An American university rowing team came under attack by giant flying fish. The Asian Carp, (name of the fish) probably got scared and started to jump out of the water. The group had to stop rowing and wait until the frenzy ended. Someone filmed the incident on camera and it went viral on the Internet. They wanted to raise money from the video to help them pay for their trip to the National Rowing Championship. The fish could jump up to 10 feet (3 metres) in the air and it had injured a number of boaters in the past. The boys, however, were lucky.

How did the incident become popular?

  1. It happened for the first time.

  2. It was filmed.

  3. The fish was famous.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Option (2) is the correct answer. The line 'Someone filmed the incident on camera and it went viral on the Internet' suggests the answer.