English Reading Comprehension

Why did Birbal give a stick to all servants?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following questions.
Once a rich merchant’s house was robbed. The merchant suspected that the thief was one of his servants. So he went to Birbal and mentioned the incident. Birbal went to his house and assembled all of his servants and asked who stole the merchant’s things. Everybody denied. Birbal thought for a moment, then gave a stick of equal length to all the servants of the merchant and said to them that the stick of the real thief will be longer by two inches tomorrow. All the servants should be present here again tomorrow with their sticks. All the servants went to their homes and gathered again at the same place the next day. Birbal asked them to show him their sticks. One of the servants had his stick shorter by two inches. Birbal said, “This is your thief, merchant.” Later the merchant asked Birbal, “How did you catch him?” Birbal said, “The thief had already cut his stick short by two inches in the night fearing that his stick will be longer by two inches by morning.” Truth will always prevail.

What happens when life is breathed into the lion?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.
Four friends live in a village which has been struck by famine. Three of them are extremely clever and learned and consider their friend Shivanand a lazy, but practical fool. The four decide to go to a place called Manasa, which is considered an asylum for scholars. On their way they have to pass through a forest. There they come across the bones of a lion. Satyanand decides to show his knowledge by recreating the lion’s skeleton. The other friend reconstructs the lion’s muscles and structure. Vidyanand then wants to show his superior powers by breathing life into the lion. Shivanand tries to stop them and warns them of the consequences of their plans. But they do not stop. Shivanand climbs a tree before Vidyanand foolishly proceeds with his plans. The lion comes to life and devours the three learned fools. Shivanand’s practical nature saves him. It is better to be practical than learned.

Where do the little mouse and its mother live?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following questions.
Once upon a time a Baby Mouse and Mother Mouse lived in a hole in the skirting board of a big, warm house with lots of cheese to eat and where they wanted nothing else. Then, one day, Mother Mouse decided to take Baby Mouse outside of their home. Waiting outside for them was a huge ginger tomcat, licking its lips and waiting to eat them both up. "Mother, Mother! What should we do?" cried Baby Mouse as he clung to his mother’s tail. Mother Mouse paused and stared up into the beady eyes of the hungry cat. But she wasn’t scared, because she knew exactly how to deal with big, scary cats. She opened her mouth and took in a deep breath. Woof! Woof! Woof! She shouted, and the cat ran away as fast as he could. "Wow, Mother! That was amazing!” Baby Mouse said to his mother, smiling happily. And that is why it is always good to have a second language.

What does famine mean in the passage?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.
Four friends live in a village which has been struck by famine. Three of them are extremely clever and learned and consider their friend Shivanand a lazy, but practical fool. The four decide to go to a place called Manasa, which is considered an asylum for scholars. On their way they have to pass through a forest. There they come across the bones of a lion. Satyanand decides to show his knowledge by recreating the lion’s skeleton. The other friend reconstructs the lion’s muscles and structure. Vidyanand then wants to show his superior powers by breathing life into the lion. Shivanand tries to stop them and warns them of the consequences of their plans. But they do not stop. Shivanand climbs a tree before Vidyanand foolishly proceeds with his plans. The lion comes to life and devours the three learned fools. Shivanand’s practical nature saves him. It is better to be practical than learned.

Why did one of the servants have a 2 inch shorter stick?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following questions.
Once a rich merchant’s house was robbed. The merchant suspected that the thief was one of his servants. So he went to Birbal and mentioned the incident. Birbal went to his house and assembled all of his servants and asked who stole the merchant’s things. Everybody denied. Birbal thought for a moment, then gave a stick of equal length to all the servants of the merchant and said to them that the stick of the real thief will be longer by two inches tomorrow. All the servants should be present here again tomorrow with their sticks. All the servants went to their homes and gathered again at the same place the next day. Birbal asked them to show him their sticks. One of the servants had his stick shorter by two inches. Birbal said, “This is your thief, merchant.” Later the merchant asked Birbal, “How did you catch him?” Birbal said, “The thief had already cut his stick short by two inches in the night fearing that his stick will be longer by two inches by morning.” Truth will always prevail.

How did the mother save herself and her son?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following questions.
Once upon a time a Baby Mouse and Mother Mouse lived in a hole in the skirting board of a big, warm house with lots of cheese to eat and where they wanted nothing else. Then, one day, Mother Mouse decided to take Baby Mouse outside of their home. Waiting outside for them was a huge ginger tomcat, licking its lips and waiting to eat them both up. "Mother, Mother! What should we do?" cried Baby Mouse as he clung to his mother’s tail. Mother Mouse paused and stared up into the beady eyes of the hungry cat. But she wasn’t scared, because she knew exactly how to deal with big, scary cats. She opened her mouth and took in a deep breath. Woof! Woof! Woof! She shouted, and the cat ran away as fast as he could. "Wow, Mother! That was amazing!” Baby Mouse said to his mother, smiling happily. And that is why it is always good to have a second language.

According to the passage, what does ginger mean?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following questions.
Once upon a time a Baby Mouse and Mother Mouse lived in a hole in the skirting board of a big, warm house with lots of cheese to eat and where they wanted nothing else. Then, one day, Mother Mouse decided to take Baby Mouse outside of their home. Waiting outside for them was a huge ginger tomcat, licking its lips and waiting to eat them both up. "Mother, Mother! What should we do?" cried Baby Mouse as he clung to his mother’s tail. Mother Mouse paused and stared up into the beady eyes of the hungry cat. But she wasn’t scared, because she knew exactly how to deal with big, scary cats. She opened her mouth and took in a deep breath. Woof! Woof! Woof! She shouted, and the cat ran away as fast as he could. "Wow, Mother! That was amazing!” Baby Mouse said to his mother, smiling happily. And that is why it is always good to have a second language.

Why was the tomcat licking its lips?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following questions.
Once upon a time a Baby Mouse and Mother Mouse lived in a hole in the skirting board of a big, warm house with lots of cheese to eat and where they wanted nothing else. Then, one day, Mother Mouse decided to take Baby Mouse outside of their home. Waiting outside for them was a huge ginger tomcat, licking its lips and waiting to eat them both up. "Mother, Mother! What should we do?" cried Baby Mouse as he clung to his mother’s tail. Mother Mouse paused and stared up into the beady eyes of the hungry cat. But she wasn’t scared, because she knew exactly how to deal with big, scary cats. She opened her mouth and took in a deep breath. Woof! Woof! Woof! She shouted, and the cat ran away as fast as he could. "Wow, Mother! That was amazing!” Baby Mouse said to his mother, smiling happily. And that is why it is always good to have a second language.

Who brings life to the lion?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following question.
Four friends live in a village which has been struck by famine. Three of them are extremely clever and learned and consider their friend Shivanand a lazy, but practical fool. The four decide to go to a place called Manasa, which is considered an asylum for scholars. On their way they have to pass through a forest. There they come across the bones of a lion. Satyanand decides to show his knowledge by recreating the lion’s skeleton. The other friend reconstructs the lion’s muscles and structure. Vidyanand then wants to show his superior powers by breathing life into the lion. Shivanand tries to stop them and warns them of the consequences of their plans. But they do not stop. Shivanand climbs a tree before Vidyanand foolishly proceeds with his plans. The lion comes to life and devours the three learned fools. Shivanand’s practical nature saves him. It is better to be practical than learned.

What did the Birbal order the servants to do?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following questions.
Once a rich merchant’s house was robbed. The merchant suspected that the thief was one of his servants. So he went to Birbal and mentioned the incident. Birbal went to his house and assembled all of his servants and asked who stole the merchant’s things. Everybody denied. Birbal thought for a moment, then gave a stick of equal length to all the servants of the merchant and said to them that the stick of the real thief will be longer by two inches tomorrow. All the servants should be present here again tomorrow with their sticks. All the servants went to their homes and gathered again at the same place the next day. Birbal asked them to show him their sticks. One of the servants had his stick shorter by two inches. Birbal said, “This is your thief, merchant.” Later the merchant asked Birbal, “How did you catch him?” Birbal said, “The thief had already cut his stick short by two inches in the night fearing that his stick will be longer by two inches by morning.” Truth will always prevail.

What is the opposite of shorter?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following questions.
Once a rich merchant’s house was robbed. The merchant suspected that the thief was one of his servants. So he went to Birbal and mentioned the incident. Birbal went to his house and assembled all of his servants and asked who stole the merchant’s things. Everybody denied. Birbal thought for a moment, then gave a stick of equal length to all the servants of the merchant and said to them that the stick of the real thief will be longer by two inches tomorrow. All the servants should be present here again tomorrow with their sticks. All the servants went to their homes and gathered again at the same place the next day. Birbal asked them to show him their sticks. One of the servants had his stick shorter by two inches. Birbal said, “This is your thief, merchant.” Later the merchant asked Birbal, “How did you catch him?” Birbal said, “The thief had already cut his stick short by two inches in the night fearing that his stick will be longer by two inches by morning.” Truth will always prevail.

What had happened to house of the rich merchant?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the following questions.
Once a rich merchant’s house was robbed. The merchant suspected that the thief was one of his servants. So he went to Birbal and mentioned the incident. Birbal went to his house and assembled all of his servants and asked who stole the merchant’s things. Everybody denied. Birbal thought for a moment, then gave a stick of equal length to all the servants of the merchant and said to them that the stick of the real thief will be longer by two inches tomorrow. All the servants should be present here again tomorrow with their sticks. All the servants went to their homes and gathered again at the same place the next day. Birbal asked them to show him their sticks. One of the servants had his stick shorter by two inches. Birbal said, “This is your thief, merchant.” Later the merchant asked Birbal, “How did you catch him?” Birbal said, “The thief had already cut his stick short by two inches in the night fearing that his stick will be longer by two inches by morning.” Truth will always prevail.

Why does the passage say ‘not everyone is celebrating’?

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

The long fight of Nepalis to have a constitution written by representatives of the people is over. The fight that lasted 65 years, saw a civil war and multiple major revolutions - along with a century old monarchy toppled in the process. The new constitution, which took more than seven years to draft, was overwhelmingly endorsed in the constitutional assembly - a constitution-making body comprised of 601 elected lawmakers. The three prominent parties - Nepali Congress, the Communist Party of Nepal and the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) - collaborated for the majority while few other smaller opposing parties either voted against, or boycotted the process. The civil war, instigated by Maoist rebels, lasted for 10 years, from 1996 to 2006 and claimed more than 15,000 lives. With the signing of the Constitution, it is also now officially over. More than 80% of the country's population is Hindu - the largest Hindu majority in the world- will remain secular as per the new constitution. But not everyone is celebrating. A handful of groups representing a number of ethnic minorities have denounced the new constitution. The smaller opposition parties representing the Madhesi and Tharu indigenous groups have been the most vocal opponents of the new constitution. Lawmakers from the parties boycotted the final voting process.

Read the given passage and fill blank (i).

Directions: Complete this passage by selecting the most suitable option for the corresponding gap.

”Water, water everywhere, not a drop to drink” The problem faced in the middle of the sea by a ___(i)_____ sailor, troubles us regularly in our daily lives. Life cannot _____(ii)______ without water, and we get thirsty without drinking it.______(iii)_____, natural water, or that from faulty supplies, may carry harmful substances or bacteria. They pollute or damage the purity of water, and sicken our body. That is why, it is always very important to make sure while drinking, that the glasses are clean, and the water is____(iv)_____ to drink.

Read the given passage and fill blank (ii).

Directions: Complete this passage by selecting the most suitable option for the corresponding gap.

”Water, water everywhere, not a drop to drink” The problem faced in the middle of the sea by a ___(i)_____ sailor, troubles us regularly in our daily lives. Life cannot _____(ii)______ without water, and we get thirsty without drinking it.______(iii)_____, natural water, or that from faulty supplies, may carry harmful substances or bacteria. They pollute or damage the purity of water, and sicken our body. That is why, it is always very important to make sure while drinking, that the glasses are clean, and the water is____(iv)_____ to drink.