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.

Passage based inferenceParagraph rearrangementCloze test fillingVocabulary replacementReading accuracy tests

English Reading Comprehension Questions

Multiple choice

Directions: Complete this passage by selecting the most suitable word from each list to fill the corresponding gap (20).

At the highest point in Tarifa is an old fort. From ___(17) ____ its walls, one can _____(18)______ a glimpse of Africa. The old man sat there and made several strange gestures over the boy's head. The boy was ____(19)___ as his friends looked with curiosity. He ____(20) ___ something in the old man's ears and strode off.

  1. uttered

  2. shouted

  3. cried

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

'To mutter' means to say something in a low or barely audible voice, especially in dissatisfaction or irritation. As the boy was irritated with the old man's actions, he muttered something in his ears.

Multiple choice

The correct way to spell ‘aquintaince’ is

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

I was sitting on the other side and as the train was standing still, I still could hear snatches (1) of their conversation when nobody was passing between us. The tradesman began by saying he was going to his estate (2) which was only one station farther on; then, as usual, the conversation turned to price and trade, and they spoke of the state of business in Moscow and then of the Nizhny Novgorod fair. The clerk began to relate how a wealthy merchant, known to both of them, had gone on a spree (3) at the fair. But the old man interrupted (4) him by telling him of the origins he had been at in former times (5) in Kunavin fair. He evidently prided himself on the part he had played in them and recounted (6) with pleasure how he and some aquintainces (7) together  with the merchant they had been speaking of, had once got drunk in Kunavinand and played such a trick that he had to tell of it in a whisper. The clerk’s roar of laughter filled the whole carriage, the old man laughed also, berring (8) two yellow teeth.

  1. aquinteince

  2. aquintense

  3. acquaintance

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

The correct spelling is 'acquaintance' - meaning a person one knows slightly, but who is not a close friend. The passage misspells it as 'aquintainces'. 'Acquaintance' follows the pattern 'ac-' + 'quaintance' (from 'quaint' meaning familiar/cultivated). Options A, B, and D are all misspellings.

Multiple choice

Which of the following words is closest in meaning to ‘interrupted’ as used in the passage?

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

I was sitting on the other side and as the train was standing still, I still could hear snatches (1) of their conversation when nobody was passing between us. The tradesman began by saying he was going to his estate (2) which was only one station farther on; then, as usual, the conversation turned to price and trade, and they spoke of the state of business in Moscow and then of the Nizhny Novgorod fair. The clerk began to relate how a wealthy merchant, known to both of them, had gone on a spree (3) at the fair. But the old man interrupted (4) him by telling him of the origins he had been at in former times (5) in Kunavin fair. He evidently prided himself on the part he had played in them and recounted (6) with pleasure how he and some aquintainces (7) together  with the merchant they had been speaking of, had once got drunk in Kunavinand and played such a trick that he had to tell of it in a whisper. The clerk’s roar of laughter filled the whole carriage, the old man laughed also, berring (8) two yellow teeth.

  1. stopped

  2. intruded

  3. disturbed

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

As used in the passage, the word ‘interrupted’ means ‘stopped him from speaking further’.

Multiple choice

Which of the following words is closest in meaning to ‘estate’ as used in the passage?

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

I was sitting on the other side and as the train was standing still, I still could hear snatches (1) of their conversation when nobody was passing between us. The tradesman began by saying he was going to his estate (2) which was only one station farther on; then, as usual, the conversation turned to price and trade, and they spoke of the state of business in Moscow and then of the Nizhny Novgorod fair. The clerk began to relate how a wealthy merchant, known to both of them, had gone on a spree (3) at the fair. But the old man interrupted (4) him by telling him of the origins he had been at in former times (5) in Kunavin fair. He evidently prided himself on the part he had played in them and recounted (6) with pleasure how he and some aquintainces (7) together  with the merchant they had been speaking of, had once got drunk in Kunavinand and played such a trick that he had to tell of it in a whisper. The clerk’s roar of laughter filled the whole carriage, the old man laughed also, berring (8) two yellow teeth.

  1. house

  2. property

  3. family

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

The word ‘estate’ means landed property.

Multiple choice

Which of the following phrases would replace ‘had gone on a spree’ as used in the passage?

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

I was sitting on the other side and as the train was standing still, I still could hear snatches (1) of their conversation when nobody was passing between us. The tradesman began by saying he was going to his estate (2) which was only one station farther on; then, as usual, the conversation turned to price and trade, and they spoke of the state of business in Moscow and then of the Nizhny Novgorod fair. The clerk began to relate how a wealthy merchant, known to both of them, had gone on a spree (3) at the fair. But the old man interrupted (4) him by telling him of the origins he had been at in former times (5) in Kunavin fair. He evidently prided himself on the part he had played in them and recounted (6) with pleasure how he and some aquintainces (7) together  with the merchant they had been speaking of, had once got drunk in Kunavinand and played such a trick that he had to tell of it in a whisper. The clerk’s roar of laughter filled the whole carriage, the old man laughed also, berring (8) two yellow teeth.

  1. went on a picnic

  2. went on a holiday

  3. went on a shopping binge

  4. went on a splurge
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

‘Spree’ means ‘an unrestrained activity’, 'a splurge’.

Multiple choice

Which of the following words would best replace the word ‘snatches’ as used in the passage?

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

I was sitting on the other side and as the train was standing still, I still could hear snatches (1) of their conversation when nobody was passing between us. The tradesman began by saying he was going to his estate (2) which was only one station farther on; then, as usual, the conversation turned to price and trade, and they spoke of the state of business in Moscow and then of the Nizhny Novgorod fair. The clerk began to relate how a wealthy merchant, known to both of them, had gone on a spree (3) at the fair. But the old man interrupted (4) him by telling him of the origins he had been at in former times (5) in Kunavin fair. He evidently prided himself on the part he had played in them and recounted (6) with pleasure how he and some aquintainces (7) together  with the merchant they had been speaking of, had once got drunk in Kunavinand and played such a trick that he had to tell of it in a whisper. The clerk’s roar of laughter filled the whole carriage, the old man laughed also, berring (8) two yellow teeth.

  1. steals

  2. seizes

  3. fragments

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

The word ‘snatches’ is used as a noun, not as a verb. Used as a noun, here it means ‘parts of conversation’.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is closest in meaning to ‘recounted’ as used in the passage?

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

I was sitting on the other side and as the train was standing still, I still could hear snatches (1) of their conversation when nobody was passing between us. The tradesman began by saying he was going to his estate (2) which was only one station farther on; then, as usual, the conversation turned to price and trade, and they spoke of the state of business in Moscow and then of the Nizhny Novgorod fair. The clerk began to relate how a wealthy merchant, known to both of them, had gone on a spree (3) at the fair. But the old man interrupted (4) him by telling him of the origins he had been at in former times (5) in Kunavin fair. He evidently prided himself on the part he had played in them and recounted (6) with pleasure how he and some aquintainces (7) together  with the merchant they had been speaking of, had once got drunk in Kunavinand and played such a trick that he had to tell of it in a whisper. The clerk’s roar of laughter filled the whole carriage, the old man laughed also, berring (8) two yellow teeth.

  1. narrated

  2. checked

  3. tallied again

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

‘Recounted’ means ‘gave an account of’, ‘narrated’, in the context of the given sentence.

Multiple choice

Which of the following phrases would best replace ‘former times’ as used in the passage?

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

I was sitting on the other side and as the train was standing still, I still could hear snatches (1) of their conversation when nobody was passing between us. The tradesman began by saying he was going to his estate (2) which was only one station farther on; then, as usual, the conversation turned to price and trade, and they spoke of the state of business in Moscow and then of the Nizhny Novgorod fair. The clerk began to relate how a wealthy merchant, known to both of them, had gone on a spree (3) at the fair. But the old man interrupted (4) him by telling him of the origins he had been at in former times (5) in Kunavin fair. He evidently prided himself on the part he had played in them and recounted (6) with pleasure how he and some aquintainces (7) together  with the merchant they had been speaking of, had once got drunk in Kunavinand and played such a trick that he had to tell of it in a whisper. The clerk’s roar of laughter filled the whole carriage, the old man laughed also, berring (8) two yellow teeth.

  1. first times

  2. earlier times

  3. earliest times

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

‘Former times’ means ‘earlier times’. ‘Former’ is of comparative degree hence, ‘earlier times’ is the best choice. Though all other options also mean the same, they are not in comparative degree.

Multiple choice

The correct way to spell ‘berring’ is

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

I was sitting on the other side and as the train was standing still, I still could hear snatches (1) of their conversation when nobody was passing between us. The tradesman began by saying he was going to his estate (2) which was only one station farther on; then, as usual, the conversation turned to price and trade, and they spoke of the state of business in Moscow and then of the Nizhny Novgorod fair. The clerk began to relate how a wealthy merchant, known to both of them, had gone on a spree (3) at the fair. But the old man interrupted (4) him by telling him of the origins he had been at in former times (5) in Kunavin fair. He evidently prided himself on the part he had played in them and recounted (6) with pleasure how he and some aquintainces (7) together  with the merchant they had been speaking of, had once got drunk in Kunavinand and played such a trick that he had to tell of it in a whisper. The clerk’s roar of laughter filled the whole carriage, the old man laughed also, berring (8) two yellow teeth.

  1. barring

  2. bearing

  3. barred

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

The correct spelling is 'baring' - meaning to reveal or show (as in 'baring his teeth'). The context describes an old man revealing/showing two yellow teeth while laughing. 'Barring' means excluding/preventing, 'bearing' means carrying, and 'barred' means blocked or prohibited.

Multiple choice

Fill blank (i).

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

The Temiar blowpipe is normally some two metres long and made ______(i)______ one single length of bamboo. It has a slender inner tube ______(ii)______ the outer covering so that one length warps against the other and it always remains true. From it they shoot a small dart, a splinter of wood some twenty or twenty-five centimetres in length; a pith cone at one end, the other sharpened end tipped with poison. Most aborigines are ______(iii)______ accurate with a blowpipe up to a range of nine to ten metres, though ______(iv)______ some reason they are more accurate if the target is moving vertically than if it moves horizontally.

  1. from

  2. of

  3. in

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

Whenever we use the derived root, we use ‘from’. ‘Of’ is used to indicate raw material. Here the reference is not to bamboo as a raw material, but to a single bamboo used, instead of two.

Multiple choice

Fill blank (iii).

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

The Temiar blowpipe is normally some two metres long and made ______(i)______ one single length of bamboo. It has a slender inner tube ______(ii)______ the outer covering so that one length warps against the other and it always remains true. From it they shoot a small dart, a splinter of wood some twenty or twenty-five centimetres in length; a pith cone at one end, the other sharpened end tipped with poison. Most aborigines are ______(iii)______ accurate with a blowpipe up to a range of nine to ten metres, though ______(iv)______ some reason they are more accurate if the target is moving vertically than if it moves horizontally.

  1. extremely

  2. sincerely

  3. memorably

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

The meaning is the height of accuracy; so ‘extremely’ is the right word.

Multiple choice

Fill blank (ii).

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

The Temiar blowpipe is normally some two metres long and made ______(i)______ one single length of bamboo. It has a slender inner tube ______(ii)______ the outer covering so that one length warps against the other and it always remains true. From it they shoot a small dart, a splinter of wood some twenty or twenty-five centimetres in length; a pith cone at one end, the other sharpened end tipped with poison. Most aborigines are ______(iii)______ accurate with a blowpipe up to a range of nine to ten metres, though ______(iv)______ some reason they are more accurate if the target is moving vertically than if it moves horizontally.

  1. above

  2. inside

  3. into

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

The meaning is 'within the outer covering'; so the other prepositions are not suitable.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is closest in meaning to ‘vague’ as used in line 7?

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

1. Panic hovered on the fringes of my brain.
2. I could barely see anything as it was pitch dark.
3. At times the hazy impression of the moon could be seen
4. or was I imagining things?
5. I was flailing my arms and legs in an attempt to warm up,
6. my eyes desperately scanning the lake. After a while I could
7. make out vague tree shapes on the lake’s edge. A few minutes ago,
8. life was smooth sail, as mundane as any other night.
9. I was shivering under layers of cloth but Mino seemed unaffected.

  1. indistinct

  2. huge

  3. confusing

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

‘Vague’ means ‘not clear or indistinct’. Tree shapes could be definitely made out in the distance, but they were not so clear.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace ‘imagining’ as used in line 4?

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

1. Panic hovered on the fringes of my brain.
2. I could barely see anything as it was pitch dark.
3. At times the hazy impression of the moon could be seen
4. or was I imagining things?
5. I was flailing my arms and legs in an attempt to warm up,
6. my eyes desperately scanning the lake. After a while I could
7. make out vague tree shapes on the lake’s edge. A few minutes ago,
8. life was smooth sail, as mundane as any other night.
9. I was shivering under layers of cloth but Mino seemed unaffected.

  1. believing

  2. accepting

  3. making up

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

The writer is not sure whether he sees the hazy moon or is it his imagination. That is, he is uncertain whether he really sees the moon or is his mind making it up.

Multiple choice

Which of these options is opposite in meaning to the word ‘fringes’ as used in line 1?

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

1. Panic hovered on the fringes of my brain.
2. I could barely see anything as it was pitch dark.
3. At times the hazy impression of the moon could be seen
4. or was I imagining things?
5. I was flailing my arms and legs in an attempt to warm up,
6. my eyes desperately scanning the lake. After a while I could
7. make out vague tree shapes on the lake’s edge. A few minutes ago,
8. life was smooth sail, as mundane as any other night.
9. I was shivering under layers of cloth but Mino seemed unaffected.

  1. periphery

  2. core

  3. corners

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

The word ‘fringes’ means ‘periphery’ and its opposite is ‘core’.