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.

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English Reading Comprehension Questions

Multiple choice

Which word in the passage means ‘unable to read or write’?

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the following question.

Once there was an illiterate villager who decided to learn to read and write as he was quite jealous when he saw others reading books and newspapers. He thought that if he had spectacles, he could also read like others. So, he went to a nearby town to buy one. He entered a shop where he was shown a number of spectacles by the shopkeeper, but he still could not read. The shopkeeper gave a doubtful look and found that the book he was reading was upside down and told him that he did not know how to read. The villager agreed and said, “That is why I want to buy reading spectacles.” The shopkeeper burst into laughter when he learnt the actual reason behind his illiterate customer’s demand for reading spectacles and explained to him, “My dear friend, you are very simple and ignorant. Spectacles don’t help to read and write. They merely help you to see well. First of all, you must learn to read and write.” So, ignorance is blindness.

  1. Difficulty

  2. Burst

  3. Illiterate

  4. Doubtful

  5. dummy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Correct

Multiple choice

The villager wanted to read like the others because

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the following question.

Once there was an illiterate villager who decided to learn to read and write as he was quite jealous when he saw others reading books and newspapers. He thought that if he had spectacles, he could also read like others. So, he went to a nearby town to buy one. He entered a shop where he was shown a number of spectacles by the shopkeeper, but he still could not read. The shopkeeper gave a doubtful look and found that the book he was reading was upside down and told him that he did not know how to read. The villager agreed and said, “That is why I want to buy reading spectacles.” The shopkeeper burst into laughter when he learnt the actual reason behind his illiterate customer’s demand for reading spectacles and explained to him, “My dear friend, you are very simple and ignorant. Spectacles don’t help to read and write. They merely help you to see well. First of all, you must learn to read and write.” So, ignorance is blindness.

  1. he was jealous of them

  2. he was blind

  3. he was doubtful

  4. he went to town to buy one

  5. dummy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Correct

Multiple choice

Who are going to the market with Ramchand?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.
Ramchand is an innocent man who believes whatever he is told. The village boys are aware of this and exploit his simplicity for a few laughs. One day, Ramchand is on his way to the market with his son to sell their donkey. He comes across some village boys out to have fun. Seeing the father and son duo walking with the donkey, they first suggest that the son ride on the donkey and save the effort. The son is put on the donkey’s back. The boys then ridicule the boy for riding while the father walks. The father and son switch places. The father rides while the son walks. The boys then taunt the father for making the poor son walk and advise the duo to ride the donkey together. Thinking it a good idea they comply. The poor donkey collapses from exhaustion. The boys then express their disgust at the duo for ill treating the donkey.

  1. His son and his donkey

  2. His donkey

  3. His son

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

This is the correct answer as the passage says, "Ramchand is on his way to the market with his son to sell their donkey."

Multiple choice

Who laughs at Ramchand?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.
Ramchand is an innocent man who believes whatever he is told. The village boys are aware of this and exploit his simplicity for a few laughs. One day, Ramchand is on his way to the market with his son to sell their donkey. He comes across some village boys out to have fun. Seeing the father and son duo walking with the donkey, they first suggest that the son ride on the donkey and save the effort. The son is put on the donkey’s back. The boys then ridicule the boy for riding while the father walks. The father and son switch places. The father rides while the son walks. The boys then taunt the father for making the poor son walk and advise the duo to ride the donkey together. Thinking it a good idea they comply. The poor donkey collapses from exhaustion. The boys then express their disgust at the duo for ill treating the donkey.

  1. The villagers

  2. The boys

  3. The neighbours

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

The passage says, "The village boys are aware of this and exploit his simplicity for a few laughs."

Multiple choice

What does 'disgust' mean in the passage?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.
Ramchand is an innocent man who believes whatever he is told. The village boys are aware of this and exploit his simplicity for a few laughs. One day, Ramchand is on his way to the market with his son to sell their donkey. He comes across some village boys out to have fun. Seeing the father and son duo walking with the donkey, they first suggest that the son ride on the donkey and save the effort. The son is put on the donkey’s back. The boys then ridicule the boy for riding while the father walks. The father and son switch places. The father rides while the son walks. The boys then taunt the father for making the poor son walk and advise the duo to ride the donkey together. Thinking it a good idea they comply. The poor donkey collapses from exhaustion. The boys then express their disgust at the duo for ill treating the donkey.

  1. Anger

  2. Laughter

  3. Strong disapproval

  4. Extreme sadness
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Concept based

Multiple choice

What does Ramchand do when the boys first mock at him?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.
Ramchand is an innocent man who believes whatever he is told. The village boys are aware of this and exploit his simplicity for a few laughs. One day, Ramchand is on his way to the market with his son to sell their donkey. He comes across some village boys out to have fun. Seeing the father and son duo walking with the donkey, they first suggest that the son ride on the donkey and save the effort. The son is put on the donkey’s back. The boys then ridicule the boy for riding while the father walks. The father and son switch places. The father rides while the son walks. The boys then taunt the father for making the poor son walk and advise the duo to ride the donkey together. Thinking it a good idea they comply. The poor donkey collapses from exhaustion. The boys then express their disgust at the duo for ill treating the donkey.

  1. He sits on the donkey.

  2. He makes his son sit on the donkey.

  3. They both start walking together.

  4. They do not bother about the boys.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The passage says, "They first suggest that the son ride on the donkey and save the effort. The son is put on the donkey’s back."

Multiple choice

Why should we not say anything wrong in anger?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.

There was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily, gradually dwindled down. He discovered that it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally, the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, “you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. If you hurt somebody, it won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there. Make sure you control your temper the next time you are tempted to say something that you will regret later.

  1. Because it leaves a scar that can not be removed easily

  2. Because it hurts the person at that time only

  3. Because it brings damage to the reputation of the other person

  4. Because it insults the person
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The passage says, "When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.”

Multiple choice

What was happening to the nails that the boy was driving into the fence everyday?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.

There was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily, gradually dwindled down. He discovered that it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally, the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, “you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. If you hurt somebody, it won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there. Make sure you control your temper the next time you are tempted to say something that you will regret later.

  1. They were increasing in number.

  2. They were decreasing in number.

  3. They were stable in number.

  4. They were not being driven.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer as the passage says, "The number of nails hammered daily, gradually dwindled down (decreased)."

Multiple choice

What did the father tell the son after he had driven all the nails into the wall?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.

There was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily, gradually dwindled down. He discovered that it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally, the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, “you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. If you hurt somebody, it won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there. Make sure you control your temper the next time you are tempted to say something that you will regret later.

  1. He asked him to drive more nails into the wall.

  2. He asked him to get a hammer.

  3. He asked him to pull one nail everyday.

  4. He asked him to see the wall.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

According to the passage this is the correct answer as it is mentioned in the passage, "the father suggested the boy to now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper."

Multiple choice

The donkey falls down because

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.
Ramchand is an innocent man who believes whatever he is told. The village boys are aware of this and exploit his simplicity for a few laughs. One day, Ramchand is on his way to the market with his son to sell their donkey. He comes across some village boys out to have fun. Seeing the father and son duo walking with the donkey, they first suggest that the son ride on the donkey and save the effort. The son is put on the donkey’s back. The boys then ridicule the boy for riding while the father walks. The father and son switch places. The father rides while the son walks. The boys then taunt the father for making the poor son walk and advise the duo to ride the donkey together. Thinking it a good idea they comply. The poor donkey collapses from exhaustion. The boys then express their disgust at the duo for ill treating the donkey.

  1. It becomes tired.

  2. It doesn't want to go to the market.

  3. The boys laugh at it.

  4. It doesn't like its owner.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The passage says, "The poor donkey collapses from exhaustion."

Multiple choice

Which word in the passage is the synonym of repent?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.

There was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily, gradually dwindled down. He discovered that it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally, the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, “you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. If you hurt somebody, it won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there. Make sure you control your temper the next time you are tempted to say something that you will regret later.

  1. Regret

  2. Anger

  3. Scar

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

It means to feel sad or disappointed over something that one has done or failed to do.

Multiple choice

Who did the old man ask to wean his son from bad habits?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.

One day a man requested an old scholar to wean his son away from his bad habits. The scholar took the youth for a stroll through a garden. Stopping suddenly he asked the boy to pull out a tiny plant growing there. The youth held the plant between his thumb and forefinger and pulled it out. The old man then asked him to pull out a slightly bigger plant. The youth pulled hard and the plant came out with its roots and all. “Now pull out that one,” said the old man pointing to a bush. The boy had to use all his strength to pull it out. “Now take this one out,” said the old man, indicating a guava tree. The youth grasped the trunk and tried to pull it out. But it would not budge. “It’s impossible,” said the boy, panting with the effort. “So it is with bad habits,” said the sage. “When they are young it is easy to pull them out but when they take hold they cannot be uprooted.” The session with the old man changed the boy’s life. Don’t wait for bad habits to grow in you, drop them while you still have control over them or else they will take control over you.

  1. He asked his teacher.

  2. He asked a scholar.

  3. He asked his mother.

  4. He asked his elder son.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The passage says, "One day a man requested an old scholar to wean his son away from his bad habits."Hence, it is correct.

Multiple choice

When should bad habits be weaned off?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.

One day a man requested an old scholar to wean his son away from his bad habits. The scholar took the youth for a stroll through a garden. Stopping suddenly he asked the boy to pull out a tiny plant growing there. The youth held the plant between his thumb and forefinger and pulled it out. The old man then asked him to pull out a slightly bigger plant. The youth pulled hard and the plant came out with its roots and all. “Now pull out that one,” said the old man pointing to a bush. The boy had to use all his strength to pull it out. “Now take this one out,” said the old man, indicating a guava tree. The youth grasped the trunk and tried to pull it out. But it would not budge. “It’s impossible,” said the boy, panting with the effort. “So it is with bad habits,” said the sage. “When they are young it is easy to pull them out but when they take hold they cannot be uprooted.” The session with the old man changed the boy’s life. Don’t wait for bad habits to grow in you, drop them while you still have control over them or else they will take control over you.

  1. Bad habits should be weaned when they are still young at an initial stage. "Don’t wait for bad habits to grow in you, drop them while you have control over them "

  2. They should be weaned when they are at the middle stage.

  3. They should be weaned when they are at their maximum.

  4. They should be weaned off when they do not harm us.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct answer according to the passage.

Multiple choice

What did the father give to the boy?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.

There was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily, gradually dwindled down. He discovered that it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally, the day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, “you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. If you hurt somebody, it won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there. Make sure you control your temper the next time you are tempted to say something that you will regret later.

  1. He gave him a nail.

  2. He gave him a bag of nails.

  3. He gave him a hammer.

  4. He gave him a bag.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The passage says, "His father gave him a bag of nails."

Multiple choice

What did the scholar tell the boy to do?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.

One day a man requested an old scholar to wean his son away from his bad habits. The scholar took the youth for a stroll through a garden. Stopping suddenly he asked the boy to pull out a tiny plant growing there. The youth held the plant between his thumb and forefinger and pulled it out. The old man then asked him to pull out a slightly bigger plant. The youth pulled hard and the plant came out with its roots and all. “Now pull out that one,” said the old man pointing to a bush. The boy had to use all his strength to pull it out. “Now take this one out,” said the old man, indicating a guava tree. The youth grasped the trunk and tried to pull it out. But it would not budge. “It’s impossible,” said the boy, panting with the effort. “So it is with bad habits,” said the sage. “When they are young it is easy to pull them out but when they take hold they cannot be uprooted.” The session with the old man changed the boy’s life. Don’t wait for bad habits to grow in you, drop them while you still have control over them or else they will take control over you.

  1. He asked him to bring a plant.

  2. He asked him to grow a plant.

  3. He asked him to plant seeds.

  4. He asked him to pull out a plant.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

According the passage, "he asked him to pull out a tiny plant growing there."Hence, this is the correct answer.