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

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 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

What is the term for a person who is attracted to people of the same sex?

  1. Heterosexual

  2. Homosexual

  3. Bisexual

  4. Asexual
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Homosexual is the term for a person who is attracted to people of the same sex.

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

Which of the following is NOT a factor that can affect the supply of labor in a particular language?

  1. The number of speakers of that language

  2. The educational attainment of the speakers of that language

  3. The willingness of the speakers of that language to work

  4. The government's policies on immigration
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The government's policies on immigration can affect the demand for labor in a particular language, but they do not directly affect the supply of labor in that language. The other factors listed can all have a significant impact on the supply of labor in a particular language.

Multiple choice

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

  1. Accept death with grace and dignity

  2. Fight against death with all his might

  3. Seek solace in religion and prayer

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

The speaker urges his father to fight against death with all his might, refusing to go gently into that good night.

Multiple choice

In "The Second Coming," what does the speaker predict will happen?

  1. The return of Christ

  2. The end of the world

  3. A new age of peace and prosperity

  4. A time of great darkness and despair
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
Correct answer
Explanation

The speaker predicts a time of great darkness and despair, marked by chaos and violence, as the old order gives way to the new.

Multiple choice

In the fable of "The Hare and the Tortoise", what is the moral of the story?

  1. Slow and steady wins the race.

  2. It's not about the destination, but the journey.

  3. Pride comes before a fall.

  4. Never give up on your dreams.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The fable teaches us that perseverance and determination can overcome even the greatest obstacles, as the tortoise's slow and steady pace ultimately leads to victory over the hare's speed and arrogance.

Multiple choice

In the Panchatantra tale of "The Lion and the Mouse", what does the mouse do to repay the lion's kindness?

  1. It saves the lion from a trap.

  2. It brings him food and water.

  3. It grooms his mane.

  4. It leads him to a safe place.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The mouse repays the lion's kindness by gnawing through the ropes of a trap that the lion is caught in, demonstrating the value of gratitude and the power of even the smallest creatures to make a difference.

Multiple choice

In the Jataka tale of "The Elephant and the Blind Men", what do the blind men conclude about the elephant based on their limited perceptions?

  1. It is a wall.

  2. It is a rope.

  3. It is a tree.

  4. It is a snake.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
Correct answer
Explanation

The fable illustrates the concept of subjective perception and the limitations of our senses, as each blind man touches a different part of the elephant and comes to a different conclusion about its overall form.

Multiple choice

In the Indian fable "The Monkey and the Crocodile", what does the crocodile do to trick the monkey into giving him food?

  1. He pretends to be a holy man.

  2. He promises to take the monkey to heaven.

  3. He offers to share his wealth with the monkey.

  4. He tells the monkey that he is starving.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The fable highlights the dangers of trusting appearances and being gullible, as the monkey falls for the crocodile's disguise and gives him his food, only to be betrayed and eaten.

Multiple choice

In the Panchatantra tale of "The Lion and the Jackal", how does the jackal save himself from being eaten by the lion?

  1. He flatters the lion's pride.

  2. He offers to be the lion's servant.

  3. He tricks the lion into thinking he is dead.

  4. He leads the lion to a trap.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The fable demonstrates the power of flattery and manipulation, as the jackal's clever words and praise of the lion's strength and majesty convince the lion to spare his life.