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.

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English Reading Comprehension Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following factors compels a mountaineer to spend more time in his assault on the summit?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the given question.

These two factors, the altitude and the weather, tend separately and together to defeat the climber. The height weakness slows him down. It forces him to ­spend days and nights in the course of his assault on the summit. The weather, besides adding to the ­demands on his energy and moral fortitude, conspires to deny him the time he needs to complete his mission. Whereas in lower mountains and on easy ground the weather may be no more than a handicap, in the high Himalayas it is decisive, regardless of terrain.

The deduction to be drawn from these two factors was clear enough. We must either fortify ourselves so that we could continue, without detriment, to live and have our being above the limit of natural acclimatisation, or, better still, we must solve the problem of speed. It was desirable, in fact, that we should meet both these requirements and thus give to those chosen to attempt the summit and to their supporting teams some measure of insurance against ­the vagaries of the weather, for safety in mountain climbing is as much a matter of swiftness as of sureness of foot. Either or both could be achieved only by the administration of oxygen in sufficient quantities to make up for the deficiency in the air, and for the duration of the upward journey above the limit of successful acclimatization.

  1. Weather conditions

  2. Altitude

  3. Height weakness

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The passage identifies two factors that 'separately and together to defeat the climber': altitude causing 'height weakness' that 'forces him to spend days and nights' and weather that 'conspires to deny him the time he needs.' Both factors compel spending more time, making option D correct.

Multiple choice

Which word in the passage can replace the expression 'unpredictable behaviour’?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the given question.

These two factors, the altitude and the weather, tend separately and together to defeat the climber. The height weakness slows him down. It forces him to ­spend days and nights in the course of his assault on the summit. The weather, besides adding to the ­demands on his energy and moral fortitude, conspires to deny him the time he needs to complete his mission. Whereas in lower mountains and on easy ground the weather may be no more than a handicap, in the high Himalayas it is decisive, regardless of terrain.

The deduction to be drawn from these two factors was clear enough. We must either fortify ourselves so that we could continue, without detriment, to live and have our being above the limit of natural acclimatisation, or, better still, we must solve the problem of speed. It was desirable, in fact, that we should meet both these requirements and thus give to those chosen to attempt the summit and to their supporting teams some measure of insurance against ­the vagaries of the weather, for safety in mountain climbing is as much a matter of swiftness as of sureness of foot. Either or both could be achieved only by the administration of oxygen in sufficient quantities to make up for the deficiency in the air, and for the duration of the upward journey above the limit of successful acclimatization.

  1. Detriment

  2. Vagaries

  3. Fortitude

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

Vagaries means unexpected action ....in the passage it indicates unpredictable behaviour of the weather.

Multiple choice

As per the passage, a mountaineer can achieve swiftness and sureness of foot by

Directions: Read the passage and answer the given question.

These two factors, the altitude and the weather, tend separately and together to defeat the climber. The height weakness slows him down. It forces him to ­spend days and nights in the course of his assault on the summit. The weather, besides adding to the ­demands on his energy and moral fortitude, conspires to deny him the time he needs to complete his mission. Whereas in lower mountains and on easy ground the weather may be no more than a handicap, in the high Himalayas it is decisive, regardless of terrain.

The deduction to be drawn from these two factors was clear enough. We must either fortify ourselves so that we could continue, without detriment, to live and have our being above the limit of natural acclimatisation, or, better still, we must solve the problem of speed. It was desirable, in fact, that we should meet both these requirements and thus give to those chosen to attempt the summit and to their supporting teams some measure of insurance against ­the vagaries of the weather, for safety in mountain climbing is as much a matter of swiftness as of sureness of foot. Either or both could be achieved only by the administration of oxygen in sufficient quantities to make up for the deficiency in the air, and for the duration of the upward journey above the limit of successful acclimatization.

  1. regular practice

  2. insuring oneself against the vagaries of the weather

  3. successful acclimatisation

  4. the administration of oxygen
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The passage states that 'Either or both could be achieved only by the administration of oxygen in sufficient quantities to make up for the deficiency in the air.' This refers to achieving 'both these requirements' of fortification and speed (swiftness and sureness).

Multiple choice

Which of the following factors is likely to compel a mountaineer to hurry up?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the given question.

These two factors, the altitude and the weather, tend separately and together to defeat the climber. The height weakness slows him down. It forces him to ­spend days and nights in the course of his assault on the summit. The weather, besides adding to the ­demands on his energy and moral fortitude, conspires to deny him the time he needs to complete his mission. Whereas in lower mountains and on easy ground the weather may be no more than a handicap, in the high Himalayas it is decisive, regardless of terrain.

The deduction to be drawn from these two factors was clear enough. We must either fortify ourselves so that we could continue, without detriment, to live and have our being above the limit of natural acclimatisation, or, better still, we must solve the problem of speed. It was desirable, in fact, that we should meet both these requirements and thus give to those chosen to attempt the summit and to their supporting teams some measure of insurance against ­the vagaries of the weather, for safety in mountain climbing is as much a matter of swiftness as of sureness of foot. Either or both could be achieved only by the administration of oxygen in sufficient quantities to make up for the deficiency in the air, and for the duration of the upward journey above the limit of successful acclimatization.

  1. Weather conditions

  2. Altitude

  3. Height weakness

  4. Low energy levels
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The passage states that weather 'conspires to deny him the time he needs to complete his mission.' To overcome this time denial caused by weather, mountaineers must 'solve the problem of speed,' compelling them to hurry up.

Multiple choice

Which of the following can be made out from the second paragraph of the passage about Andrew's early life?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions by selecting the most appropriate options.

It was a sunny day in the month of May. The sun took its rightful position very early; lending credence to the general feeling that Andrew's birthday ceremony was going to be greeted with the blessing of a pleasant climate. The sky looked so bright that Andrew insisted on having an open air party. The habitual doubting Thomases had no dis­senting opinions to express. Andrew had gone to a great length to ensure a hitch-free party; a party which would remain the talk of the town. Although it was not intended to be free for all, a lot had been done to stamp the occasion on the memories of many people long afterwards.
The bright sun continued to smile. Andrew's face beamed with pleasure with every passing moment. Very few of his contemporaries have so succeeded in reaching the top of the ladder. Andrew in particular had been an orphan of storm. His father's death during his third year in the secondary school and that of his mother two years later were the only two of this orphan's `storms'. He suffered a physical misfortune when a machine severed his left middle finger. But Andrew did not despair.

The courage to fail is very cheap. Every fool can afford to fail. But it raises one above the herd of cowards and never-do-wells to be up and struggling. The reward of forbearance in the end is resounding success. And so it was for Andrew. Ever since he finished his university education, it had been success galore. He had got a good job in one of the country's insurance companies. His pay was good, his promotion had been steady and his prospects seemed bright. At forty, he had a good car and had already bought a house of his own. The world was at his feet!

 

  1. The loss of his parents was the only setback he had to face in his life.

  2. The loss of his middle finger in an accident was the severest of all the storms he had to face in his life.

  3. He had to face far too many misfortunes in his life including the loss of his parents

  4. Despite all the misfortunes, Andrew never gave up his hope.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The second paragraph mentions Andrew's misfortunes (orphan of storm, parents' deaths, severed finger) but explicitly states 'But Andrew did not despair.' Option D correctly captures this resilience. Options A and B are wrong because he faced multiple setbacks beyond just parents' death or just the finger. Option C is incorrect because he specifically did NOT have 'far too many' - the text calls him 'an orphan of storm' and says those were 'the only two of this orphan's storms,' plus he overcame them.

Multiple choice

The word in the passage that can replace the expression 'chances of advancement' is

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions by selecting the most appropriate options.

It was a sunny day in the month of May. The sun took its rightful position very early; lending credence to the general feeling that Andrew's birthday ceremony was going to be greeted with the blessing of a pleasant climate. The sky looked so bright that Andrew insisted on having an open air party. The habitual doubting Thomases had no dis­senting opinions to express. Andrew had gone to a great length to ensure a hitch-free party; a party which would remain the talk of the town. Although it was not intended to be free for all, a lot had been done to stamp the occasion on the memories of many people long afterwards.
The bright sun continued to smile. Andrew's face beamed with pleasure with every passing moment. Very few of his contemporaries have so succeeded in reaching the top of the ladder. Andrew in particular had been an orphan of storm. His father's death during his third year in the secondary school and that of his mother two years later were the only two of this orphan's `storms'. He suffered a physical misfortune when a machine severed his left middle finger. But Andrew did not despair.

The courage to fail is very cheap. Every fool can afford to fail. But it raises one above the herd of cowards and never-do-wells to be up and struggling. The reward of forbearance in the end is resounding success. And so it was for Andrew. Ever since he finished his university education, it had been success galore. He had got a good job in one of the country's insurance companies. His pay was good, his promotion had been steady and his prospects seemed bright. At forty, he had a good car and had already bought a house of his own. The world was at his feet!

 

  1. credence

  2. occasion

  3. forbearance

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

Looking at the passage, the exact phrase used is 'his prospects seemed bright.' The word 'prospects' means 'chances of advancement' or future possibilities. 'Credence' means belief, 'occasion' means event, 'forbearance' means patience - only 'prospects' matches the meaning of chances for advancement in one's career or life.

Multiple choice

What is the little girl doing with a needle and some yarn?

Directions: Read the following poem carefully. On the basis of your reading of the poem, complete the given sentences as briefly as possible. write the answers against the correct question number.

FRONTIER LIFE
My stockings have a hole in them,
I'm learning how to darn.
Which means that I am mending them
With needle and some yarn.

Ma says my dress is getting short,
We must let out the hem.
My only shoes have come apart,
And Pa is patching them.

The garden must be weeded,
If we want food to eat.
I pick those scratchy blackberries
So we'll have something sweet.

I help my Pa by milking Bess
And stake her out each day.
I help my Ma by hanging clothes
And watching Sissy play.

I go to bed so tired,
And get up before the sun.
There's always work that's waiting.
It never gets all done.
   
But Ma has made Pa promise
To have a family rule
If there's a teacher hired,
I get to go to school!

                                         

    Cindy Breedlove                                          

                                         

 

  1. She is learning to stitch a new pair of stockings.

  2. She is learning to repair her torn pair of stockings.

  3. She is learning to stitch new clothes.

  4. She is stitching a pair of stockings for her mother.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Darning is a sewing technique for repairing holes or worn areas in knitted fabric. The poem explicitly states 'I'm learning how to darn. Which means that I am mending them.' Option B accurately captures this meaning - the girl is learning to repair the hole in her stockings, not make new ones.

Multiple choice

What is the real purpose of the author in writing this poem?

Directions: Read the following poem carefully. On the basis of your reading of the poem, complete the given sentences as briefly as possible. write the answers against the correct question number.

FRONTIER LIFE
My stockings have a hole in them,
I'm learning how to darn.
Which means that I am mending them
With needle and some yarn.

Ma says my dress is getting short,
We must let out the hem.
My only shoes have come apart,
And Pa is patching them.

The garden must be weeded,
If we want food to eat.
I pick those scratchy blackberries
So we'll have something sweet.

I help my Pa by milking Bess
And stake her out each day.
I help my Ma by hanging clothes
And watching Sissy play.

I go to bed so tired,
And get up before the sun.
There's always work that's waiting.
It never gets all done.
   
But Ma has made Pa promise
To have a family rule
If there's a teacher hired,
I get to go to school!

                                         

    Cindy Breedlove                                          

                                         

 

  1. To entertain the reader with an interesting story

  2. To tell the reader about the hard life of frontier families

  3. To teach us the importance of hard work

  4. To tell us how members of a family are helping one another
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The poem systematically presents the numerous chores and hardships faced by a frontier family child - from darning stockings to milking cows - illustrating the demanding nature of frontier life. The final hope ('If there's a teacher hired, I get to go to school!') underscores the difficulty of their circumstances.

Multiple choice

Andrew wanted to make his birthday function a memorable one because

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions by selecting the most appropriate options.

It was a sunny day in the month of May. The sun took its rightful position very early; lending credence to the general feeling that Andrew's birthday ceremony was going to be greeted with the blessing of a pleasant climate. The sky looked so bright that Andrew insisted on having an open air party. The habitual doubting Thomases had no dis­senting opinions to express. Andrew had gone to a great length to ensure a hitch-free party; a party which would remain the talk of the town. Although it was not intended to be free for all, a lot had been done to stamp the occasion on the memories of many people long afterwards.
The bright sun continued to smile. Andrew's face beamed with pleasure with every passing moment. Very few of his contemporaries have so succeeded in reaching the top of the ladder. Andrew in particular had been an orphan of storm. His father's death during his third year in the secondary school and that of his mother two years later were the only two of this orphan's `storms'. He suffered a physical misfortune when a machine severed his left middle finger. But Andrew did not despair.

The courage to fail is very cheap. Every fool can afford to fail. But it raises one above the herd of cowards and never-do-wells to be up and struggling. The reward of forbearance in the end is resounding success. And so it was for Andrew. Ever since he finished his university education, it had been success galore. He had got a good job in one of the country's insurance companies. His pay was good, his promotion had been steady and his prospects seemed bright. At forty, he had a good car and had already bought a house of his own. The world was at his feet!

 

  1. the sky looked bright and the weather was pleasant

  2. even the doubting Thomases agreed to the idea this time

  3. it was special with both the weather and career success smiling on Andrew

  4. he wanted to leave a long-lasting impression
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Multiple choice

The expression 'The world was at his feet' means

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions by selecting the most appropriate options.

It was a sunny day in the month of May. The sun took its rightful position very early; lending credence to the general feeling that Andrew's birthday ceremony was going to be greeted with the blessing of a pleasant climate. The sky looked so bright that Andrew insisted on having an open air party. The habitual doubting Thomases had no dis­senting opinions to express. Andrew had gone to a great length to ensure a hitch-free party; a party which would remain the talk of the town. Although it was not intended to be free for all, a lot had been done to stamp the occasion on the memories of many people long afterwards.
The bright sun continued to smile. Andrew's face beamed with pleasure with every passing moment. Very few of his contemporaries have so succeeded in reaching the top of the ladder. Andrew in particular had been an orphan of storm. His father's death during his third year in the secondary school and that of his mother two years later were the only two of this orphan's `storms'. He suffered a physical misfortune when a machine severed his left middle finger. But Andrew did not despair.

The courage to fail is very cheap. Every fool can afford to fail. But it raises one above the herd of cowards and never-do-wells to be up and struggling. The reward of forbearance in the end is resounding success. And so it was for Andrew. Ever since he finished his university education, it had been success galore. He had got a good job in one of the country's insurance companies. His pay was good, his promotion had been steady and his prospects seemed bright. At forty, he had a good car and had already bought a house of his own. The world was at his feet!

 

  1. he had to struggle a lot to achieve success

  2. he had been travelling all over the world

  3. he had been highly successful

  4. success had not turned his head
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The idiom 'the world was at his feet' means that someone has achieved great success and has many opportunities or advantages available to them. Given the context of Andrew's accomplishments (good job, steady promotion, car, house, bright prospects) despite his hardships, option C correctly interprets this expression.

Multiple choice

What does the poet mean by 'And watching Sissy play'?

Directions: Read the following poem carefully. On the basis of your reading of the poem, complete the given sentences as briefly as possible. write the answers against the correct question number.

FRONTIER LIFE
My stockings have a hole in them,
I'm learning how to darn.
Which means that I am mending them
With needle and some yarn.

Ma says my dress is getting short,
We must let out the hem.
My only shoes have come apart,
And Pa is patching them.

The garden must be weeded,
If we want food to eat.
I pick those scratchy blackberries
So we'll have something sweet.

I help my Pa by milking Bess
And stake her out each day.
I help my Ma by hanging clothes
And watching Sissy play.

I go to bed so tired,
And get up before the sun.
There's always work that's waiting.
It never gets all done.
   
But Ma has made Pa promise
To have a family rule
If there's a teacher hired,
I get to go to school!

                                         

    Cindy Breedlove                                          

                                         

 

  1. She was not allowed to play like other children.

  2. She used to watch her sister playing.

  3. It was her duty to take care of her younger sister.

  4. Her sister used to play when she worked.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

In the context of frontier life where children had many responsibilities, 'watching Sissy play' means the narrator is supervising her younger sibling (Sissy is likely a nickname for a younger sister). This is a childcare duty while the mother works, showing how children contributed to family survival.

Multiple choice

What general feeling does the author discuss in the first paragraph?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions by selecting the most appropriate options.

It was a sunny day in the month of May. The sun took its rightful position very early; lending credence to the general feeling that Andrew's birthday ceremony was going to be greeted with the blessing of a pleasant climate. The sky looked so bright that Andrew insisted on having an open air party. The habitual doubting Thomases had no dis­senting opinions to express. Andrew had gone to a great length to ensure a hitch-free party; a party which would remain the talk of the town. Although it was not intended to be free for all, a lot had been done to stamp the occasion on the memories of many people long afterwards.
The bright sun continued to smile. Andrew's face beamed with pleasure with every passing moment. Very few of his contemporaries have so succeeded in reaching the top of the ladder. Andrew in particular had been an orphan of storm. His father's death during his third year in the secondary school and that of his mother two years later were the only two of this orphan's `storms'. He suffered a physical misfortune when a machine severed his left middle finger. But Andrew did not despair.

The courage to fail is very cheap. Every fool can afford to fail. But it raises one above the herd of cowards and never-do-wells to be up and struggling. The reward of forbearance in the end is resounding success. And so it was for Andrew. Ever since he finished his university education, it had been success galore. He had got a good job in one of the country's insurance companies. His pay was good, his promotion had been steady and his prospects seemed bright. At forty, he had a good car and had already bought a house of his own. The world was at his feet!

 

  1. Andrew's birthday always falls on a sunny day.

  2. His birthday function would have the blessings of a good weather.

  3. Andrew always prefers an open air party.

  4. The doubting Thomases raised objections to the idea of holding an open air party.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The first paragraph explicitly mentions 'the general feeling that Andrew's birthday ceremony was going to be greeted with the blessing of a pleasant climate.' This refers to the anticipation of good weather for the birthday celebration, which is why Andrew insisted on an open-air party.

Multiple choice

Who is Bess in this poem?

Directions: Read the following poem carefully. On the basis of your reading of the poem, complete the given sentences as briefly as possible. write the answers against the correct question number.

FRONTIER LIFE
My stockings have a hole in them,
I'm learning how to darn.
Which means that I am mending them
With needle and some yarn.

Ma says my dress is getting short,
We must let out the hem.
My only shoes have come apart,
And Pa is patching them.

The garden must be weeded,
If we want food to eat.
I pick those scratchy blackberries
So we'll have something sweet.

I help my Pa by milking Bess
And stake her out each day.
I help my Ma by hanging clothes
And watching Sissy play.

I go to bed so tired,
And get up before the sun.
There's always work that's waiting.
It never gets all done.
   
But Ma has made Pa promise
To have a family rule
If there's a teacher hired,
I get to go to school!

                                         

    Cindy Breedlove                                          

                                         

 

  1. The youngest child of the family

  2. The family's maid servant

  3. A regular visitor to the poet's household

  4. The family's cow
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In the context of frontier farm life and the phrase 'milking Bess And stake her out each day,' Bess is clearly a cow. You milk cows and stake them out (tie them to graze) in a pasture. This was a common chore for children in frontier families, showing their essential role in agricultural work.

Multiple choice

What does the poet mean by “We must let out the hem”?

Directions: Read the following poem carefully. On the basis of your reading of the poem, complete the given sentences as briefly as possible. write the answers against the correct question number.

FRONTIER LIFE
My stockings have a hole in them,
I'm learning how to darn.
Which means that I am mending them
With needle and some yarn.

Ma says my dress is getting short,
We must let out the hem.
My only shoes have come apart,
And Pa is patching them.

The garden must be weeded,
If we want food to eat.
I pick those scratchy blackberries
So we'll have something sweet.

I help my Pa by milking Bess
And stake her out each day.
I help my Ma by hanging clothes
And watching Sissy play.

I go to bed so tired,
And get up before the sun.
There's always work that's waiting.
It never gets all done.
   
But Ma has made Pa promise
To have a family rule
If there's a teacher hired,
I get to go to school!

                                         

    Cindy Breedlove                                          

                                         

 

  1. There is a need to buy a new dress.

  2. She has to discard the old dress.

  3. The seam has to be opened to make the dress a bit longer.

  4. The dress should be given away to somebody.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

'Letting out the hem' is a sewing term that means undoing the folded and stitched edge of a garment to make it longer. Since the dress 'is getting short' as the child grows, they need to let out the hem rather than buying new clothes - a common frugal practice in resource-poor frontier families.

Multiple choice

Which word in the passage can replace the word ' certainly'?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions by selecting the most appropriate options.

The black ant is indisputably one of the smallest visible insects on the earth. Except with the aid of a very powerful microscope, it is difficult, if not impossible, to locate the eyes, the mouth, the nostrils (if it ever has any) or any other part of its body. An air of mystery surrounds the existence of this little creature.

Have you ever taken time off your programme to watch these ants move in a row? What gives them the sense of direction, we do not know. Indeed, whoever sends them on an errand and how they even know the destination and the type of errand to run after are stories yet to be told. But they are an extremely well-organized lot.
Certainly, there are no defined routes for them on walls or trees, yet they move in an orderly manner, almost in a straight line. The beautiful thing about these insects is that, even when their line of movement is disorganized, they soon regroup and connect themselves again end to end. If in the process, one of them is killed, they quickly recognize that fact from their various positions. Then, one sees them run­ning helter-skelter with a seeming insistence on getting at the comrade to confirm its death.
When this has been done, some of them run zigzag at a tremendous speed to alert the others on the route. Soon, they disappear completely. Later, as if everything were over and forgotten, they reappear and .form a new route and continue their movement transporting food or going on one errand or the other as before. Bring your ears close to them and you hear nothing and you wonder what their means of communi­cation could be.
Perhaps, most surprising is their high sense of under­standing the weather and the climate. They are just like men in this area. They know when it is the rainy season and when the dry season comes. In fact, it is true to say that they prepare better for the future than man.

During the dry season, they file out to different places ­gathering food which they store underground. At the slightest sign of the approach of the rainy season, they all get into the hole and seal it up. Surprisingly, they re-emerge when the dry season sets in. Who tells them that the dry season has come, we do not know. You can now see the sense in the injunction, Go to the ant, thou sluggard, learn her ways and be wise.

 

  1. Helter-skelter

  2. Indisputably

  3. Tremendous

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

The passage opens with 'The black ant is indisputably one of the smallest visible insects...' and later uses 'Certainly' to begin the next point. Both words express certainty without doubt. 'Indisputably' is the closest synonym to 'certainly'.