English Reading Comprehension

“I had borne the cross gallantly until that day ...” What does the word ‘cross’ refer to in this passage?

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

The most memorable experience of my life was an inci­dent that occurred some thirty years ago when I was in the secondary school. In those days, the speech­making and prize-giving day was always a great event. It was always a day when the results of the promotion examinations were announced to the students after weeks of suspense.
The afternoon commenced with all students taking their seats in the large hall, and the members of staff, led by the principal, filing in. There were also three guests, each of them an important figure in the town. The principal and the dignitaries made speeches admonishing the students to work hard in order to attain their goal. Then the prize-giving commenced. Soon, it was the turn of my class. For the overall best student, my name was called. This was not unexpected, the position having become almost identified with me. Amidst the clap­ping, I stood up and moved towards the principal whose outstretched hand held a fat book. I was already before him when he peered through his heavy spectacles, surveyed my figure and held back the book. There was a sudden silence. Students were amazed at this turn of events. Then he ex­plained: “You will have prize when you pay your outstanding fees.”
l stood there, almost petrified. Had I been warned of this disgrace, I would simply not have stood up, let alone bothering to go forward. There I was - the sorry focus of attention. l wished my legs would refuse their function but they did no such thing. On the other hand, they refused to beat a retreat, at least, for those burning seconds. Then sud­denly spontaneously, the students started clapping and hail­ing me. Thus, my return .journey was more loudly cheered than the outward journey.
For the prize in English, my name was also called. Of course I sat still, but the students hailed on. 'The prize was kept. For Mathematics, it was the same drama. Somehow, the students' behaviour saved the day for me.
Poorly clothed, in torn tennis shoes and being a debtor, I was the talk of the school. The little fee I had paid that year was earned through doing menial jobs at weekends, supple­mented with donations from some school mates. Father's financial difficulties had been aggravated by a protracted court case. He had no alternative but to ask me to withdraw from school and look for a job. This one I had refused to do.

Directions: Fill in the numbered blank (i) with the best option from those given.

Directions: Fill in the numbered blank with the best option from those given.

There was a time when scientists were in ____(i)_____ of what was known as the philosopher's stone which was believed to _____(ii)_____ metals into gold just with a touch. They also tried to discover the elixir (something that can make people live for ever) of life. This was an imaginary medicine _____(iii)_______ making people _____(iv)_______. This period was called the age of the _____(v)_____.

Directions: Fill in the numbered blank (iv) with the best option from those given.

Directions: Fill in the numbered blank with the best option from those given.

There was a time when scientists were in ____(i)_____ of what was known as the philosopher's stone which was believed to _____(ii)_____ metals into gold just with a touch. They also tried to discover the elixir (something that can make people live for ever) of life. This was an imaginary medicine _____(iii)_______ making people _____(iv)_______. This period was called the age of the _____(v)_____.

Directions: Fill in the numbered blank (iii) with the best option from those given.

Directions: Fill in the numbered blank with the best option from those given.

There was a time when scientists were in ____(i)_____ of what was known as the philosopher's stone which was believed to _____(ii)_____ metals into gold just with a touch. They also tried to discover the elixir (something that can make people live for ever) of life. This was an imaginary medicine _____(iii)_______ making people _____(iv)_______. This period was called the age of the _____(v)_____.

Directions: Fill in the numbered blank (ii) with the best option from those given.

Directions: Fill in the numbered blank with the best option from those given.

There was a time when scientists were in ____(i)_____ of what was known as the philosopher's stone which was believed to _____(ii)_____ metals into gold just with a touch. They also tried to discover the elixir (something that can make people live for ever) of life. This was an imaginary medicine _____(iii)_______ making people _____(iv)_______. This period was called the age of the _____(v)_____.

Directions: Fill in the numbered blank (v) with the best option from those given.

Directions: Fill in the numbered blank with the best option from those given.

There was a time when scientists were in ____(i)_____ of what was known as the philosopher's stone which was believed to _____(ii)_____ metals into gold just with a touch. They also tried to discover the elixir (something that can make people live for ever) of life. This was an imaginary medicine _____(iii)_______ making people _____(iv)_______. This period was called the age of the _____(v)_____.

Which name was given to the Queen's teacher, by the people?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

The Land of the Blue Flower was not called by that name until the tall, strong, handsome King Amor came down from his castle on the mountain crag and began to reign. Before that time it was called King Mordreth's Land, and as the first King Mordreth had been a fierce and cruel king this seemed a gloomy name.

A few weeks before Amor was born, his weak, selfish boy-father--whose name was King Mordreth also--was killed while hunting, and his fair mother with clear eyes died when he was but a few hours old. But early on that day she sent for her venerable friend and teacher, who was said to be the oldest and wisest man in the world, and who long ago had
fled to a cave in the mountains, so that he might see no more of the famine and disorder and hatred in the country spread out on the plains below. He was a marvellous old man, almost a giant in size, and had great blue eyes like deep sea-water. They, too, were clear eyes like the fair Queen's--they seemed to see all things and to hold in their depths no single thought which was not fine and great. The people were a little afraid of him when they saw him go striding majestically through their streets. They had no name for him, but 'The Ancient One'. The lovely Queen drew aside the embroidered coverlet of her gold and ivory bed and showed him the tiny baby sleeping by her side.

Which word means the same as marvellous?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

The Land of the Blue Flower was not called by that name until the tall, strong, handsome King Amor came down from his castle on the mountain crag and began to reign. Before that time it was called King Mordreth's Land, and as the first King Mordreth had been a fierce and cruel king this seemed a gloomy name.

A few weeks before Amor was born, his weak, selfish boy-father--whose name was King Mordreth also--was killed while hunting, and his fair mother with clear eyes died when he was but a few hours old. But early on that day she sent for her venerable friend and teacher, who was said to be the oldest and wisest man in the world, and who long ago had
fled to a cave in the mountains, so that he might see no more of the famine and disorder and hatred in the country spread out on the plains below. He was a marvellous old man, almost a giant in size, and had great blue eyes like deep sea-water. They, too, were clear eyes like the fair Queen's--they seemed to see all things and to hold in their depths no single thought which was not fine and great. The people were a little afraid of him when they saw him go striding majestically through their streets. They had no name for him, but 'The Ancient One'. The lovely Queen drew aside the embroidered coverlet of her gold and ivory bed and showed him the tiny baby sleeping by her side.

How did King Amor's father die?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

The Land of the Blue Flower was not called by that name until the tall, strong, handsome King Amor came down from his castle on the mountain crag and began to reign. Before that time it was called King Mordreth's Land, and as the first King Mordreth had been a fierce and cruel king this seemed a gloomy name.

A few weeks before Amor was born, his weak, selfish boy-father--whose name was King Mordreth also--was killed while hunting, and his fair mother with clear eyes died when he was but a few hours old. But early on that day she sent for her venerable friend and teacher, who was said to be the oldest and wisest man in the world, and who long ago had
fled to a cave in the mountains, so that he might see no more of the famine and disorder and hatred in the country spread out on the plains below. He was a marvellous old man, almost a giant in size, and had great blue eyes like deep sea-water. They, too, were clear eyes like the fair Queen's--they seemed to see all things and to hold in their depths no single thought which was not fine and great. The people were a little afraid of him when they saw him go striding majestically through their streets. They had no name for him, but 'The Ancient One'. The lovely Queen drew aside the embroidered coverlet of her gold and ivory bed and showed him the tiny baby sleeping by her side.

The name of the Land of the Blue Flower was changed after_____________.

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

The Land of the Blue Flower was not called by that name until the tall, strong, handsome King Amor came down from his castle on the mountain crag and began to reign. Before that time it was called King Mordreth's Land, and as the first King Mordreth had been a fierce and cruel king this seemed a gloomy name.

A few weeks before Amor was born, his weak, selfish boy-father--whose name was King Mordreth also--was killed while hunting, and his fair mother with clear eyes died when he was but a few hours old. But early on that day she sent for her venerable friend and teacher, who was said to be the oldest and wisest man in the world, and who long ago had
fled to a cave in the mountains, so that he might see no more of the famine and disorder and hatred in the country spread out on the plains below. He was a marvellous old man, almost a giant in size, and had great blue eyes like deep sea-water. They, too, were clear eyes like the fair Queen's--they seemed to see all things and to hold in their depths no single thought which was not fine and great. The people were a little afraid of him when they saw him go striding majestically through their streets. They had no name for him, but 'The Ancient One'. The lovely Queen drew aside the embroidered coverlet of her gold and ivory bed and showed him the tiny baby sleeping by her side.

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

Long ago, there lived a family of fisherman, in a village near the sea. The father was very cruel and he used to rule the household. All the family members obeyed his commands. Lisa, the youngest daughter, was sent to the forest each day to gather wood for the kitchen fire. Near the edge of the forest was a cave under some rocks. A stream of water fell over the rocks into a basin in the cave. This was a delightfully cool place, and Lisa often rested here on her way home after gathering wood in the forest. She would lie on the mossy bank of the stream for hours and dream. One morning, as Lisa ran along the grassy path that led to the cave, she saw a little fish in the stream. Its scales flashed out all the colours of the rainbow."I am going to keep the fish for a pet," said the girl to herself. "I will call it Rainbow." She caught the pretty fish and put it into the basin in the cave and served it food everyday. So, she got a new friend.

Lisa lived in a __________.

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

Long ago, there lived a family of fisherman, in a village near the sea. The father was very cruel and he used to rule the household. All the family members obeyed his commands. Lisa, the youngest daughter, was sent to the forest each day to gather wood for the kitchen fire. Near the edge of the forest was a cave under some rocks. A stream of water fell over the rocks into a basin in the cave. This was a delightfully cool place, and Lisa often rested here on her way home after gathering wood in the forest. She would lie on the mossy bank of the stream for hours and dream. One morning, as Lisa ran along the grassy path that led to the cave, she saw a little fish in the stream. Its scales flashed out all the colours of the rainbow."I am going to keep the fish for a pet," said the girl to herself. "I will call it Rainbow." She caught the pretty fish and put it into the basin in the cave and served it food everyday. So, she got a new friend.

The basin was a __________.

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

Long ago, there lived a family of fisherman, in a village near the sea. The father was very cruel and he used to rule the household. All the family members obeyed his commands. Lisa, the youngest daughter, was sent to the forest each day to gather wood for the kitchen fire. Near the edge of the forest was a cave under some rocks. A stream of water fell over the rocks into a basin in the cave. This was a delightfully cool place, and Lisa often rested here on her way home after gathering wood in the forest. She would lie on the mossy bank of the stream for hours and dream. One morning, as Lisa ran along the grassy path that led to the cave, she saw a little fish in the stream. Its scales flashed out all the colours of the rainbow."I am going to keep the fish for a pet," said the girl to herself. "I will call it Rainbow." She caught the pretty fish and put it into the basin in the cave and served it food everyday. So, she got a new friend.

What did Lisa see in the stream?