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 these fits gap 21?

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

There was a time when scientists were in search of what ____(21)_____ as the philosopher's stone which was believed to _____(22)_____ metals into gold just by a touch. They also tried to discover the elixir (something that can make people live for ever) of life. This was an imaginary medicine _____(23)_______ making people immortal. This period was called the _____(24)_____ of the Alchemists.

  1. is known

  2. was known

  3. knew

  4. have been known
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The sentence describes past events ('was believed', 'tried to discover'). 'Was known' is correct because it matches the past tense of the passage and the passive voice construction 'what ___ as the philosopher's stone'. The other options either have wrong tense ('is known', 'have been known') or wrong form ('knew' is active voice, not passive).

Multiple choice

Which of these fits gap 23?

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

There was a time when scientists were in search of what ____(21)_____ as the philosopher's stone which was believed to _____(22)_____ metals into gold just by a touch. They also tried to discover the elixir (something that can make people live for ever) of life. This was an imaginary medicine _____(23)_______ making people immortal. This period was called the _____(24)_____ of the Alchemists.

  1. meant to

  2. made for

  3. capable of

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

The phrase 'imaginary medicine ___ making people immortal' describes a capability. 'Capable of' is the correct idiom indicating ability or potential. 'Meant to' suggests intention, 'made for' indicates purpose, and 'forced to' implies compulsion - none of which fit the context of an imaginary medicine's supposed power.

Multiple choice

Which of these fits gap 24?

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

There was a time when scientists were in search of what ____(21)_____ as the philosopher's stone which was believed to _____(22)_____ metals into gold just by a touch. They also tried to discover the elixir (something that can make people live for ever) of life. This was an imaginary medicine _____(23)_______ making people immortal. This period was called the _____(24)_____ of the Alchemists.

  1. hour

  2. age

  3. time

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

The phrase 'called the ___ of the Alchemists' refers to a historical period or era. 'Age' is the correct term for a distinct historical period (e.g., 'the Age of Enlightenment', 'the Stone Age'). 'Hour', 'time', and 'year' are too specific or general for this context.

Multiple choice

Which of these fits gap 22?

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

There was a time when scientists were in search of what ____(21)_____ as the philosopher's stone which was believed to _____(22)_____ metals into gold just by a touch. They also tried to discover the elixir (something that can make people live for ever) of life. This was an imaginary medicine _____(23)_______ making people immortal. This period was called the _____(24)_____ of the Alchemists.

  1. take

  2. make

  3. modify

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

The alchemists believed the philosopher's stone could change base metals into gold. 'Turn' is the correct verb because when you 'turn something INTO something else', you transform it. 'Make', 'modify', and 'take' don't convey this specific transitive meaning of transformation from one state to another.

Multiple choice

The puppy started licking the hands of Walter's mother because

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

Walter was riding a bicycle on the road in front of his house when he heard a whimpering sound from one of the bushes.  He got down from his bicycle to have a look.  He found a puppy lying among the bushes. The puppy had an injured leg. Walter wanted to help but he did not know what to do. He went home and told his mother about the puppy. She gave him a basket and asked him to bring the puppy home.
Walter went back to the puppy. He gently lifted it and put it in his basket.  He took it home to his mother. She took out the puppy from the basket, and cleaned it with a piece of damp cloth. She put some medicine on the wound that was there on its leg, and covered it with dressing. The puppy stopped whimpering and started to lick her hand.
Walter’s mother put the puppy back in the basket and covered it with a warm blanket. She asked Walter to take the puppy to his room. Walter had wanted to do just that, and he took the puppy to his room.  He also carried a bowl of milk for it in case it later got hungry.  Walter spent the whole day looking after the puppy. He stroked its fur, gave it food and water, and took care of it.
The next day, the puppy was looking better. It was able to walk, and though the wound was still there, it was healing. It licked Walter’s hand and all over his face. Walter wanted to keep the puppy with him forever. He asked his mother if he could keep the puppy as his pet. His mother was very happy at his decision.

  1. it knew that it was in safe hands

  2. it got frightened of her

  3. her hands were soiled

  4. it wanted her to remove the dressing
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

After Walter's mother cleaned and dressed the puppy's wound, it stopped whimpering and began licking her hand. Licking is a sign of trust, gratitude, and comfort in animals - the puppy knew it was safe and being cared for. The other options (frightened, soiled hands, wanted dressing removed) don't align with the context of gentle care.

Multiple choice

Walter wanted to help the puppy but he still went home. This shows that he

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

Walter was riding a bicycle on the road in front of his house when he heard a whimpering sound from one of the bushes.  He got down from his bicycle to have a look.  He found a puppy lying among the bushes. The puppy had an injured leg. Walter wanted to help but he did not know what to do. He went home and told his mother about the puppy. She gave him a basket and asked him to bring the puppy home.
Walter went back to the puppy. He gently lifted it and put it in his basket.  He took it home to his mother. She took out the puppy from the basket, and cleaned it with a piece of damp cloth. She put some medicine on the wound that was there on its leg, and covered it with dressing. The puppy stopped whimpering and started to lick her hand.
Walter’s mother put the puppy back in the basket and covered it with a warm blanket. She asked Walter to take the puppy to his room. Walter had wanted to do just that, and he took the puppy to his room.  He also carried a bowl of milk for it in case it later got hungry.  Walter spent the whole day looking after the puppy. He stroked its fur, gave it food and water, and took care of it.
The next day, the puppy was looking better. It was able to walk, and though the wound was still there, it was healing. It licked Walter’s hand and all over his face. Walter wanted to keep the puppy with him forever. He asked his mother if he could keep the puppy as his pet. His mother was very happy at his decision.

  1. was scared of helping the puppy as it could bite him later

  2. wanted to ask his mother whether he should help it or not

  3. wanted to ask his mother what can be done to help the puppy

  4. just had sympathy for the puppy but did not want to help it
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The text says Walter wanted to help but 'did not know what to do', so he went home and told his mother. This shows he sought guidance on how to help, not whether to help (he already wanted to help). He wasn't scared, just unsure of the proper care needed for an injured animal.

Multiple choice

When Walter's mother asked him to take the puppy into his room, Walter was

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

Walter was riding a bicycle on the road in front of his house when he heard a whimpering sound from one of the bushes.  He got down from his bicycle to have a look.  He found a puppy lying among the bushes. The puppy had an injured leg. Walter wanted to help but he did not know what to do. He went home and told his mother about the puppy. She gave him a basket and asked him to bring the puppy home.
Walter went back to the puppy. He gently lifted it and put it in his basket.  He took it home to his mother. She took out the puppy from the basket, and cleaned it with a piece of damp cloth. She put some medicine on the wound that was there on its leg, and covered it with dressing. The puppy stopped whimpering and started to lick her hand.
Walter’s mother put the puppy back in the basket and covered it with a warm blanket. She asked Walter to take the puppy to his room. Walter had wanted to do just that, and he took the puppy to his room.  He also carried a bowl of milk for it in case it later got hungry.  Walter spent the whole day looking after the puppy. He stroked its fur, gave it food and water, and took care of it.
The next day, the puppy was looking better. It was able to walk, and though the wound was still there, it was healing. It licked Walter’s hand and all over his face. Walter wanted to keep the puppy with him forever. He asked his mother if he could keep the puppy as his pet. His mother was very happy at his decision.

  1. surprised

  2. pleased

  3. shocked

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

The passage explicitly states: 'Walter had wanted to do just that' when his mother asked him to take the puppy to his room. This shows he was already eager and pleased to have the puppy in his room. 'Surprised', 'shocked', or 'offended' contradict the text showing his enthusiasm.

Multiple choice

From the information given in the passage, we know that Walter's mother

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

Walter was riding a bicycle on the road in front of his house when he heard a whimpering sound from one of the bushes.  He got down from his bicycle to have a look.  He found a puppy lying among the bushes. The puppy had an injured leg. Walter wanted to help but he did not know what to do. He went home and told his mother about the puppy. She gave him a basket and asked him to bring the puppy home.
Walter went back to the puppy. He gently lifted it and put it in his basket.  He took it home to his mother. She took out the puppy from the basket, and cleaned it with a piece of damp cloth. She put some medicine on the wound that was there on its leg, and covered it with dressing. The puppy stopped whimpering and started to lick her hand.
Walter’s mother put the puppy back in the basket and covered it with a warm blanket. She asked Walter to take the puppy to his room. Walter had wanted to do just that, and he took the puppy to his room.  He also carried a bowl of milk for it in case it later got hungry.  Walter spent the whole day looking after the puppy. He stroked its fur, gave it food and water, and took care of it.
The next day, the puppy was looking better. It was able to walk, and though the wound was still there, it was healing. It licked Walter’s hand and all over his face. Walter wanted to keep the puppy with him forever. He asked his mother if he could keep the puppy as his pet. His mother was very happy at his decision.

  1. was a young and cheerful lady with a good sense of humour

  2. wanted Walter to seek her permission before doing anything

  3. was a kind and considerate lady who willingly helped others

  4. was very strict in inculcating moral values in Walter
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Walter's mother immediately provides a basket, helps clean and dress the puppy's wound, covers it with a warm blanket, and is 'very happy' when Walter wants to keep it. These actions demonstrate kindness and compassion for both the puppy and Walter's caring nature.

Multiple choice

Walter wanted to keep the puppy as his pet because

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

Walter was riding a bicycle on the road in front of his house when he heard a whimpering sound from one of the bushes.  He got down from his bicycle to have a look.  He found a puppy lying among the bushes. The puppy had an injured leg. Walter wanted to help but he did not know what to do. He went home and told his mother about the puppy. She gave him a basket and asked him to bring the puppy home.
Walter went back to the puppy. He gently lifted it and put it in his basket.  He took it home to his mother. She took out the puppy from the basket, and cleaned it with a piece of damp cloth. She put some medicine on the wound that was there on its leg, and covered it with dressing. The puppy stopped whimpering and started to lick her hand.
Walter’s mother put the puppy back in the basket and covered it with a warm blanket. She asked Walter to take the puppy to his room. Walter had wanted to do just that, and he took the puppy to his room.  He also carried a bowl of milk for it in case it later got hungry.  Walter spent the whole day looking after the puppy. He stroked its fur, gave it food and water, and took care of it.
The next day, the puppy was looking better. It was able to walk, and though the wound was still there, it was healing. It licked Walter’s hand and all over his face. Walter wanted to keep the puppy with him forever. He asked his mother if he could keep the puppy as his pet. His mother was very happy at his decision.

  1. he had spent so much time caring for it and now wanted to play with it

  2. he had grown very fond of it and even the puppy loved him back

  3. he was lonely and did not have any friend to play with

  4. his mother asked him to do so
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Walter 'wanted to keep the puppy with him forever' after spending the whole day caring for it, and the puppy 'licked Walter's hand and all over his face'. This mutual affection shows Walter grew fond of the puppy, and the puppy's affection was reciprocated. Not loneliness or playfulness, but genuine emotional bonding.

Multiple choice

The passage teaches us to be

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

Walter was riding a bicycle on the road in front of his house when he heard a whimpering sound from one of the bushes.  He got down from his bicycle to have a look.  He found a puppy lying among the bushes. The puppy had an injured leg. Walter wanted to help but he did not know what to do. He went home and told his mother about the puppy. She gave him a basket and asked him to bring the puppy home.
Walter went back to the puppy. He gently lifted it and put it in his basket.  He took it home to his mother. She took out the puppy from the basket, and cleaned it with a piece of damp cloth. She put some medicine on the wound that was there on its leg, and covered it with dressing. The puppy stopped whimpering and started to lick her hand.
Walter’s mother put the puppy back in the basket and covered it with a warm blanket. She asked Walter to take the puppy to his room. Walter had wanted to do just that, and he took the puppy to his room.  He also carried a bowl of milk for it in case it later got hungry.  Walter spent the whole day looking after the puppy. He stroked its fur, gave it food and water, and took care of it.
The next day, the puppy was looking better. It was able to walk, and though the wound was still there, it was healing. It licked Walter’s hand and all over his face. Walter wanted to keep the puppy with him forever. He asked his mother if he could keep the puppy as his pet. His mother was very happy at his decision.

  1. helpful towards stray animals

  2. compassionate towards all the creatures

  3. humble while helping others

  4. caring towards young ones
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The passage demonstrates compassion through Walter and his mother's actions. Walter stops to help an injured puppy he doesn't know. His mother cleans the wound, applies medicine, and provides warmth. Both show concern for the creature's suffering without expecting anything in return. 'Compassionate towards all creatures' captures the essence better than other options which are more specific (stray animals, young ones) or miss the main point (humble).

Multiple choice

Directions: Complete the story by filling the blank with a suitable article.

Once a cap seller went to ________ village to sell his caps. On the way, he felt tired and sat down under a tree to take rest. He put the bundle of caps beside him. Soon, he fell asleep. Some monkeys lived on that tree. They climbed down, tore open the bundle, wore the caps on their heads and climbed up on the tree.

  1. a

  2. an

  3. the

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The noun “village” comes for the first time in the story.

Multiple choice

Some villagers were carrying heavy pots on their heads back to their homes. Many of them complained that their heads ached badly due to the weight. A clever person among them suggested that they should remove their shirts, roll it and place it on their heads like a ring to carry the heavy pots. When this was done, the weight on their heads seemed easier to carry. What is the correct explanation for this?

  1. By doing this, the weight of the pots decreased.

  2. The weight would be equally distributed along the ring of the rolled up cloth.

  3. Since the position of pots was a bit elevated, the pressure was reduced.

  4. Wind speed decreased the pressure of the weight.

  5. They got some rest while rolling up their shirts.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The weight will be equally distributed along the ring, i.e. it will be distributed along a wider area than being concentrated at a single point on the head. Thus, the pressure decreases.

Multiple choice

Directions: Which of the given options best represents the information in the given reading passage? Choose the appropriate number (1 - 4).

The mystery of Bermuda Triangle has helped many

Directions: Answer the given question based on the following passage:

BERMUDA TRIANGLE
The Bermuda Triangle has always been shrouded in mystery. The missing ships and planes have roused irrevocable inquisitiveness among people. Many theories pertaining to extraterrestrials, evil humans, anti gravity, magnetic field, oceanic flatulence and other technical sounding and weird hypothesis have been put forth. But a few investigators contrive ill luck, pirates, incompetent navigators, to be the cause of these missing ships and planes.
A few diehard rationalists believe there is no mystery element that needs to be explained as the figures pertaining to wrecks is common when there is such excessive traffic on sea. The missing ships perhaps had never touched the Bermuda Triangle’s domain. No scientific derivations prove any aura of mystery enveloping Bermuda Triangle. The surprising subject rather is how Bermuda Triangle became so centralized a topic of mystery.
Probably it began with the disappearance of five Navy planes in 1945. Logic states they vanished due to bad weather and failure of compass field. The trainee pilots lacked the expertise to face the sudden ordeal. The other declaration was that the planes collapsed due to fuel shortage. But in no way any mystery element coincides.
This has been a revered subject for writers as a lot of written material can be found about it. It’s perhaps surprising that no one took the investigation on the mystery. Rather, they all cashed on this mystery to write their best sellers. They passed these derivations of the past, without pondering on them. Slowly, Bermuda Triangle mystery evolved as a farce as these irresponsible authors did not foresee how their accounts would change a myth into a truth in the public eye. The mass media too displayed their phlegmatic attitude in solving this. They plundered the mystery element to spice up their news items. Soon, the superstitious called it the ‘Devil’s Triangle’. Some considered it to be the alien’s domain and some called the Atlantic the ‘cursed water’ which gobbled whoever came across. But, it’s a fact that all these exaggerations have helped to lend fear and fascination to the world’s greatest mystery, the Bermuda Triangle.

  1. pirates loot the ships

  2. writers earn money

  3. people to know about the aliens

  4. scientists in their research
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Hint: Para-4, Line-2 Rather, they all cashed on this mystery to write their best sellers.

Multiple choice

Directions: Which of the given options best represents the information in the given reading passage? Choose the appropriate number (1 - 4).

The print and the mass media has

Directions: Answer the given question based on the following passage:

BERMUDA TRIANGLE
The Bermuda Triangle has always been shrouded in mystery. The missing ships and planes have roused irrevocable inquisitiveness among people. Many theories pertaining to extraterrestrials, evil humans, anti gravity, magnetic field, oceanic flatulence and other technical sounding and weird hypothesis have been put forth. But a few investigators contrive ill luck, pirates, incompetent navigators, to be the cause of these missing ships and planes.
A few diehard rationalists believe there is no mystery element that needs to be explained as the figures pertaining to wrecks is common when there is such excessive traffic on sea. The missing ships perhaps had never touched the Bermuda Triangle’s domain. No scientific derivations prove any aura of mystery enveloping Bermuda Triangle. The surprising subject rather is how Bermuda Triangle became so centralized a topic of mystery.
Probably it began with the disappearance of five Navy planes in 1945. Logic states they vanished due to bad weather and failure of compass field. The trainee pilots lacked the expertise to face the sudden ordeal. The other declaration was that the planes collapsed due to fuel shortage. But in no way any mystery element coincides.
This has been a revered subject for writers as a lot of written material can be found about it. It’s perhaps surprising that no one took the investigation on the mystery. Rather, they all cashed on this mystery to write their best sellers. They passed these derivations of the past, without pondering on them. Slowly, Bermuda Triangle mystery evolved as a farce as these irresponsible authors did not foresee how their accounts would change a myth into a truth in the public eye. The mass media too displayed their phlegmatic attitude in solving this. They plundered the mystery element to spice up their news items. Soon, the superstitious called it the ‘Devil’s Triangle’. Some considered it to be the alien’s domain and some called the Atlantic the ‘cursed water’ which gobbled whoever came across. But, it’s a fact that all these exaggerations have helped to lend fear and fascination to the world’s greatest mystery, the Bermuda Triangle.

  1. seriously tried to explain the mystery of Bermuda Triangle

  2. unravelled the mystery through news items and stories

  3. proved that Bermuda Triangle belongs to extraterrestrials

  4. added to the fear and fascination of the Bermuda Triangle
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Hint: Para-4, Line-6 & 10 The mass media …………plundered the mystery element to spice up their news items. ………. all these exaggerations have helped to lend fear and fascination to the world's greatest mystery, the Bermuda Triangle.

Multiple choice

Directions: Which of the given options best represents the information in the given reading passage? Choose the appropriate number (1 - 4).

The mystery started with

Directions: Answer the given question based on the following passage:

BERMUDA TRIANGLE
The Bermuda Triangle has always been shrouded in mystery. The missing ships and planes have roused irrevocable inquisitiveness among people. Many theories pertaining to extraterrestrials, evil humans, anti gravity, magnetic field, oceanic flatulence and other technical sounding and weird hypothesis have been put forth. But a few investigators contrive ill luck, pirates, incompetent navigators, to be the cause of these missing ships and planes.
A few diehard rationalists believe there is no mystery element that needs to be explained as the figures pertaining to wrecks is common when there is such excessive traffic on sea. The missing ships perhaps had never touched the Bermuda Triangle’s domain. No scientific derivations prove any aura of mystery enveloping Bermuda Triangle. The surprising subject rather is how Bermuda Triangle became so centralized a topic of mystery.
Probably it began with the disappearance of five Navy planes in 1945. Logic states they vanished due to bad weather and failure of compass field. The trainee pilots lacked the expertise to face the sudden ordeal. The other declaration was that the planes collapsed due to fuel shortage. But in no way any mystery element coincides.
This has been a revered subject for writers as a lot of written material can be found about it. It’s perhaps surprising that no one took the investigation on the mystery. Rather, they all cashed on this mystery to write their best sellers. They passed these derivations of the past, without pondering on them. Slowly, Bermuda Triangle mystery evolved as a farce as these irresponsible authors did not foresee how their accounts would change a myth into a truth in the public eye. The mass media too displayed their phlegmatic attitude in solving this. They plundered the mystery element to spice up their news items. Soon, the superstitious called it the ‘Devil’s Triangle’. Some considered it to be the alien’s domain and some called the Atlantic the ‘cursed water’ which gobbled whoever came across. But, it’s a fact that all these exaggerations have helped to lend fear and fascination to the world’s greatest mystery, the Bermuda Triangle.

  1. the disappearance of ships and planes

  2. the missing navy planes

  3. the missing ships

  4. the disappearance of naval officers
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Hint: Para-3, Line-1 Probably it began with the disappearance of five Navy planes in 1945.