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.

Passage based inferenceParagraph rearrangementCloze test fillingVocabulary replacementReading accuracy tests

English Reading Comprehension Questions

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.

Though early humans first experienced the high of alcohol by eating fermenting fruits, but it was the Mesopotamian people who first brewed alcohol deliberately.

  1. fruits, but it was the Mesopotamian people who first brewed alcohol deliberately

  2. fruits, but it had been the Mesopotamian people who first brewed alcohol deliberately

  3. fruits, it was, however, the Mesopotamians who first brewed alcohol deliberately

  4. fruits, it was the Mesopotamians who first brewed alcohol deliberately

  5. fruits; the Mesopotamians were the first people to deliberately brew alcohol
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Correct. The option removes the error of correlative conjunction by removing 'but'.

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.

Ancient Egyptians used many methods to mummify bodies, but the method used to embalm pharaohs and nobles had been the emptying of bodily cavities, and after complete dehydration of the corpse, they were covered in antiseptic balm and entombed.

  1. had been the emptying of bodily cavities, and after complete dehydration of the corpse, they were covered in antiseptic balm and entombed

  2. was the emptying of bodily cavities, and after complete dehydration of the corpse, they were covered in antiseptic balm and entombed

  3. had been to empty the bodily cavities, and after complete dehydration of the corpse, to cover it with antiseptic balm and entomb it

  4. had been to empty the bodily cavities, and after complete dehydration of the corpse, to cover them with antiseptic balm and entomb them

  5. was to empty the bodily cavities, and after complete dehydration of the corpse, to cover it with antiseptic balm and entomb it
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Correct. The option removes the 'ing' form of verb, and the Pronoun Agreement Error by giving a singular pronoun - it for the corpse.

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. The difficulties of the Moor family represent a unique kind of affliction that should not have been and that have somehow been especially visited upon them, and they are into this mess precisely because, unlike Stacey Price, the oral expression of George Moore is completely dull and woody.

  1. unlike Stacy Price, the oral expression of George Moore

  2. unlike the diction of Stacy Price, the oral expression of George Moore

  3. unalike the diction of Stacey Price, George Moore's oral expression

  4. the oral expression of George Moore that is dissimilar to Stacy Price's
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Explanation for (1): Type of error: Parallel comparison

The given sentence makes an incorrect comparison between 'Stacy Price' and 'the oral expression of George Moore'.

Justification for (2): The given option rectifies the 'Lemons and Bananas' error of comparing two dissimilar things. It clearly compares 'the diction of Stacey Price' to 'the oral expression of George Moore'.
Explanation for (3): The option makes a correct comparison of the oral expression of 'George Moore' and that of 'Stacy Price' but the comparable sentence parts are not structurally similar.
Explanation for (4): The option makes no grammatical sense. Explanation for (5): The option repeats the incorrect comparison between 'Stacy Price' and 'the oral expression of George Moore'.

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.

'Trembling Aspen' is a clonal colony of a single male Quaking Aspen located in the U.S. state of Utah, which, at 80,000 years of age shows that with ideal circumstances and lack of competition, Aspens can live almost indefinitely.

  1. Utah, which, at 80,000 years of age shows that with ideal circumstances and lack of competition, Aspens can live almost indefinitely

  2. Utah that at 80,000 years of age shows that with ideal circumstances and lack of competition, Aspens can live almost indefinitely

  3. Utah; and the Aspen, at 80,000 years of age, shows that with ideal circumstances and lack of competition, Aspens can live almost indefinitely

  4. Utah, and the Aspen, at 80,000 years of age show that Aspens, with ideal circumstances and lack of competition, can live almost indefinitely

  5. Utah shows that Aspens can live almost indefinitely under ideal circumstances and lack of competition
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Correct. The option removes Modifier error by inserting 'aspen' before 'at 80,000 years of age'. Also, the option uses correct grammar by separating the two independent clauses with a semi-colon.

Multiple choice

Why did Ramchand not sleep after taking the box of cash from Premchand?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.
Ramchand and Premchand were neighbours. Ramchand was a poor farmer. Premchand was a landlord. Ramchand used to be very relaxed and happy. Ramchand never bothered to close the doors and windows of his house at night. He had deep sound sleeps. Although he had no money, he was peaceful. Premchand used to be very tensed always. He could not sleep well. He was always bothered that someone might break open his safe and steal away his money. He envied the peaceful Ramchand. One day, Premchand called Ramchand and gave him a boxful of cash saying, “Look my dear friend. I am blessed with plenty of wealth. I find you in poverty. So, take this cash and live in prosperity.” Ramchand was overwhelmingly happy. He was joyful throughout the day. The night came and Ramchand went to bed as usual. But, he could not sleep. He went and closed the doors and windows. He still could not sleep. He began to stare at the box of cash. The whole night he was disturbed. As soon as day broke, Ramchand took the box of cash to Premchand. He gave the box back to Premchand saying, “Dear Friend, I am poor. But, your money took my peace away from me. Please bear with me and take back your money". Money cannot get everything. Learn to be satisfied with what you have and you will always be happy.

  1. It is because he kept thinking about the cash.

  2. It is because he was counting the cash.

  3. It is because he was very surprised.

  4. It is because he did not want to sleep.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

It is mentioned in the passage, "he began to stare at the box of cash. The whole night he was disturbed."

Multiple choice

Which of the following words in the passage are not synonyms?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.
Ramchand and Premchand were neighbours. Ramchand was a poor farmer. Premchand was a landlord. Ramchand used to be very relaxed and happy. Ramchand never bothered to close the doors and windows of his house at night. He had deep sound sleeps. Although he had no money, he was peaceful. Premchand used to be very tensed always. He could not sleep well. He was always bothered that someone might break open his safe and steal away his money. He envied the peaceful Ramchand. One day, Premchand called Ramchand and gave him a boxful of cash saying, “Look my dear friend. I am blessed with plenty of wealth. I find you in poverty. So, take this cash and live in prosperity.” Ramchand was overwhelmingly happy. He was joyful throughout the day. The night came and Ramchand went to bed as usual. But, he could not sleep. He went and closed the doors and windows. He still could not sleep. He began to stare at the box of cash. The whole night he was disturbed. As soon as day broke, Ramchand took the box of cash to Premchand. He gave the box back to Premchand saying, “Dear Friend, I am poor. But, your money took my peace away from me. Please bear with me and take back your money". Money cannot get everything. Learn to be satisfied with what you have and you will always be happy.

  1. Peacful, Relaxed

  2. Blessed, Poverty

  3. Disturbed, Bothered

  4. Happy, Joyful
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Blessed means 'lucky' whereas poverty means 'the state of being extremely poor'

Multiple choice

What did Premchand give Ramchand?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.
Ramchand and Premchand were neighbours. Ramchand was a poor farmer. Premchand was a landlord. Ramchand used to be very relaxed and happy. Ramchand never bothered to close the doors and windows of his house at night. He had deep sound sleeps. Although he had no money, he was peaceful. Premchand used to be very tensed always. He could not sleep well. He was always bothered that someone might break open his safe and steal away his money. He envied the peaceful Ramchand. One day, Premchand called Ramchand and gave him a boxful of cash saying, “Look my dear friend. I am blessed with plenty of wealth. I find you in poverty. So, take this cash and live in prosperity.” Ramchand was overwhelmingly happy. He was joyful throughout the day. The night came and Ramchand went to bed as usual. But, he could not sleep. He went and closed the doors and windows. He still could not sleep. He began to stare at the box of cash. The whole night he was disturbed. As soon as day broke, Ramchand took the box of cash to Premchand. He gave the box back to Premchand saying, “Dear Friend, I am poor. But, your money took my peace away from me. Please bear with me and take back your money". Money cannot get everything. Learn to be satisfied with what you have and you will always be happy.

  1. He gave a box full of gold coins to Ramchand.

  2. He gave a box of cash to Ramchand.

  3. He gave some money to Ramchand.

  4. He gave coins to Ramchand.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The passage says, "One day, Premchand called Ramchand and gave him a boxful of cash."

Multiple choice

Why did Premchand always keep the doors and windows closed?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.
Ramchand and Premchand were neighbours. Ramchand was a poor farmer. Premchand was a landlord. Ramchand used to be very relaxed and happy. Ramchand never bothered to close the doors and windows of his house at night. He had deep sound sleeps. Although he had no money, he was peaceful. Premchand used to be very tensed always. He could not sleep well. He was always bothered that someone might break open his safe and steal away his money. He envied the peaceful Ramchand. One day, Premchand called Ramchand and gave him a boxful of cash saying, “Look my dear friend. I am blessed with plenty of wealth. I find you in poverty. So, take this cash and live in prosperity.” Ramchand was overwhelmingly happy. He was joyful throughout the day. The night came and Ramchand went to bed as usual. But, he could not sleep. He went and closed the doors and windows. He still could not sleep. He began to stare at the box of cash. The whole night he was disturbed. As soon as day broke, Ramchand took the box of cash to Premchand. He gave the box back to Premchand saying, “Dear Friend, I am poor. But, your money took my peace away from me. Please bear with me and take back your money". Money cannot get everything. Learn to be satisfied with what you have and you will always be happy.

  1. It is because he feared that his friend might take his wealth.

  2. It is because he always used to do so.

  3. It is because he feared that somebody might steal his wealth.

  4. It is because he was afraid of animals.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

It is clearly mentioned in the passage, "he was always bothered that someone might break open his safes and steal away his money."

Multiple choice

Why did Ramchand always remain happy?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.
Ramchand and Premchand were neighbours. Ramchand was a poor farmer. Premchand was a landlord. Ramchand used to be very relaxed and happy. Ramchand never bothered to close the doors and windows of his house at night. He had deep sound sleeps. Although he had no money, he was peaceful. Premchand used to be very tensed always. He could not sleep well. He was always bothered that someone might break open his safe and steal away his money. He envied the peaceful Ramchand. One day, Premchand called Ramchand and gave him a boxful of cash saying, “Look my dear friend. I am blessed with plenty of wealth. I find you in poverty. So, take this cash and live in prosperity.” Ramchand was overwhelmingly happy. He was joyful throughout the day. The night came and Ramchand went to bed as usual. But, he could not sleep. He went and closed the doors and windows. He still could not sleep. He began to stare at the box of cash. The whole night he was disturbed. As soon as day broke, Ramchand took the box of cash to Premchand. He gave the box back to Premchand saying, “Dear Friend, I am poor. But, your money took my peace away from me. Please bear with me and take back your money". Money cannot get everything. Learn to be satisfied with what you have and you will always be happy.

  1. It is because he was satisfied with what he had.

  2. It is because he had a lot of money.

  3. It is because he had a friend .

  4. It is because he had no problems in his life.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

It is very clear from the passage, "Although he had no money, he was peaceful"

Multiple choice

What does 'instinct' mean in the passage?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.
One day, an old man was walking in the garden when he suddenly saw a little cat stuck in a hole. The poor animal was struggling to get out. So, he gave it his hand to get it out. But, the cat scratched his hand with fear. The man pulled out his hand screaming with pain. But, he did not stop; he tried to give a hand to the cat again and again. Another man who was watching the scene, screamed with surprise, “For god's sake! Stop helping this cat! Its not going to get himself out of there”. The other man did not care about what he said and he just continued saving that animal until he finally succeeded. He then walked to that man and said, “Son, it is the cat’s instincts that makes it hit and scratch and it is my job to love and care”. Treat everyone around you with your ethics, not with theirs.

  1. It means to help others in the time of need.

  2. It means tendency.

  3. It means a natural tendency to behave in a particular way that people and animals are born with.

  4. It means to get a cat out of the hole.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Concept based

Multiple choice

What lesson do you learn from the line that says, "The other man did not care about him, he just continued saving that animal until he finally succeeded."

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.
One day, an old man was walking in the garden when he suddenly saw a little cat stuck in a hole. The poor animal was struggling to get out. So, he gave it his hand to get it out. But, the cat scratched his hand with fear. The man pulled out his hand screaming with pain. But, he did not stop; he tried to give a hand to the cat again and again. Another man who was watching the scene, screamed with surprise, “For god's sake! Stop helping this cat! Its not going to get himself out of there”. The other man did not care about what he said and he just continued saving that animal until he finally succeeded. He then walked to that man and said, “Son, it is the cat’s instincts that makes it hit and scratch and it is my job to love and care”. Treat everyone around you with your ethics, not with theirs.

  1. We must continue to try to succeed.

  2. We should succeed first and then try.

  3. We should never try.

  4. We should never help an animal.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The old man finally succeeded because he continued to do his job.

Multiple choice

Acccording to the passage, what should be one's human behaviour towards others?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.
One day, an old man was walking in the garden when he suddenly saw a little cat stuck in a hole. The poor animal was struggling to get out. So, he gave it his hand to get it out. But, the cat scratched his hand with fear. The man pulled out his hand screaming with pain. But, he did not stop; he tried to give a hand to the cat again and again. Another man who was watching the scene, screamed with surprise, “For god's sake! Stop helping this cat! Its not going to get himself out of there”. The other man did not care about what he said and he just continued saving that animal until he finally succeeded. He then walked to that man and said, “Son, it is the cat’s instincts that makes it hit and scratch and it is my job to love and care”. Treat everyone around you with your ethics, not with theirs.

  1. To scratch others

  2. To love and care for others

  3. To help others

  4. To tease others
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The old man said to the other man, “Son, it is cat’s instincts that makes it scratch and to hurt, and it is my job to love and care”.

Multiple choice

Who helped the cat get out of the hole?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.
One day, an old man was walking in the garden when he suddenly saw a little cat stuck in a hole. The poor animal was struggling to get out. So, he gave it his hand to get it out. But, the cat scratched his hand with fear. The man pulled out his hand screaming with pain. But, he did not stop; he tried to give a hand to the cat again and again. Another man who was watching the scene, screamed with surprise, “For god's sake! Stop helping this cat! Its not going to get himself out of there”. The other man did not care about what he said and he just continued saving that animal until he finally succeeded. He then walked to that man and said, “Son, it is the cat’s instincts that makes it hit and scratch and it is my job to love and care”. Treat everyone around you with your ethics, not with theirs.

  1. The old man helped it get out.

  2. The cat got out itself.

  3. The cat jumped on the man and came out.

  4. The other man helped the cat get out.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

It is clearly mentioned in the passage, "he gave it his hand to get it out."

Multiple choice

Where was the old man walking?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.
One day, an old man was walking in the garden when he suddenly saw a little cat stuck in a hole. The poor animal was struggling to get out. So, he gave it his hand to get it out. But, the cat scratched his hand with fear. The man pulled out his hand screaming with pain. But, he did not stop; he tried to give a hand to the cat again and again. Another man who was watching the scene, screamed with surprise, “For god's sake! Stop helping this cat! Its not going to get himself out of there”. The other man did not care about what he said and he just continued saving that animal until he finally succeeded. He then walked to that man and said, “Son, it is the cat’s instincts that makes it hit and scratch and it is my job to love and care”. Treat everyone around you with your ethics, not with theirs.

  1. He was walking in the garden.

  2. He was walking in the forest.

  3. He was walking in the lawn.

  4. He was walking in the market.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

It is the correct answer as it is mentioned in in the first line that the old man was walking in the garden.

Multiple choice

Find the word in the passage which is opposite of "happy''.

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.
Once, there was a guy who was in love with a girl. She wasn’t the most beautiful and gorgeous girl, but for him, she was everything. He used to dream about her; about spending the rest of his life with her. His friends told him, “why do you dream so much about her when you don’t even know if she loves you or not? First tell her your feelings, and get to know if she likes you or not”. He felt that this was the right way. The girl knew from the beginning that this guy loves her. One day when he proposed her, she rejected him. His friends thought he would take to drink alcohol or take to drugs and end up ruining his life. To their surprise he was not depressed. When they asked him how was it that he is not sad, he replied, “Why should I feel bad? I lost someone who never loved me and she lost someone who really loved and cared for her". True love is hard to find. Love is all about giving to the other person without the greed of gaining anything in return.

  1. Rejected

  2. Depressed

  3. Loved

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

Concept based