English Reading Comprehension

Which of the following options is closest in meaning to ‘hazy’ as used in line 3?

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

Which of these options is closest in meaning to ‘mundane’ as used in line 8?

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

Which of the following could replace ‘flailing’ as used in line 5?

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

Fill in the blank (v) with the help of the alternatives given.

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question.

A rich merchant owned a beautiful horse. Now, one of his neighbours was keen to (i) this horse. He offered the merchant gold, (ii) the merchant refused. This angered the neighbour. He (iii) to trick the merchant. He disguised himself (iv) a beggar and lay down at the (v) of the road, that the merchant used everyday. (vi) at the sad plight of the beggar, he (vii) from his horse and gently lifted the beggar (viii) his horse. No sooner did the beggar get into the (ix) than the galloped away. But hearing the merchant (x) out to him, he stopped when he was a safe distance away. “Please don’t tell anyone how you came to possess this horse. Some day an ill man may be lying by the roadside and people who have heard about your trick, may not want to help,’’ said the merchant. The merchant’s neighbour was deeply ashamed, rode back and returned the horse to the merchant.

Fill in the blank (ii) with the help of the alternatives given.

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question.

A rich merchant owned a beautiful horse. Now, one of his neighbours was keen to (i) this horse. He offered the merchant gold, (ii) the merchant refused. This angered the neighbour. He (iii) to trick the merchant. He disguised himself (iv) a beggar and lay down at the (v) of the road, that the merchant used everyday. (vi) at the sad plight of the beggar, he (vii) from his horse and gently lifted the beggar (viii) his horse. No sooner did the beggar get into the (ix) than the galloped away. But hearing the merchant (x) out to him, he stopped when he was a safe distance away. “Please don’t tell anyone how you came to possess this horse. Some day an ill man may be lying by the roadside and people who have heard about your trick, may not want to help,’’ said the merchant. The merchant’s neighbour was deeply ashamed, rode back and returned the horse to the merchant.

Fill in the blank (iii) with the help of the alternatives given.

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question.

A rich merchant owned a beautiful horse. Now, one of his neighbours was keen to (i) this horse. He offered the merchant gold, (ii) the merchant refused. This angered the neighbour. He (iii) to trick the merchant. He disguised himself (iv) a beggar and lay down at the (v) of the road, that the merchant used everyday. (vi) at the sad plight of the beggar, he (vii) from his horse and gently lifted the beggar (viii) his horse. No sooner did the beggar get into the (ix) than the galloped away. But hearing the merchant (x) out to him, he stopped when he was a safe distance away. “Please don’t tell anyone how you came to possess this horse. Some day an ill man may be lying by the roadside and people who have heard about your trick, may not want to help,’’ said the merchant. The merchant’s neighbour was deeply ashamed, rode back and returned the horse to the merchant.

Fill in the blank (i) with the help of the alternatives given.

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question.

A rich merchant owned a beautiful horse. Now, one of his neighbours was keen to (i) this horse. He offered the merchant gold, (ii) the merchant refused. This angered the neighbour. He (iii) to trick the merchant. He disguised himself (iv) a beggar and lay down at the (v) of the road, that the merchant used everyday. (vi) at the sad plight of the beggar, he (vii) from his horse and gently lifted the beggar (viii) his horse. No sooner did the beggar get into the (ix) than the galloped away. But hearing the merchant (x) out to him, he stopped when he was a safe distance away. “Please don’t tell anyone how you came to possess this horse. Some day an ill man may be lying by the roadside and people who have heard about your trick, may not want to help,’’ said the merchant. The merchant’s neighbour was deeply ashamed, rode back and returned the horse to the merchant.

Fill in the blank (vi) with the help of the alternatives given.

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question.

A rich merchant owned a beautiful horse. Now, one of his neighbours was keen to (i) this horse. He offered the merchant gold, (ii) the merchant refused. This angered the neighbour. He (iii) to trick the merchant. He disguised himself (iv) a beggar and lay down at the (v) of the road, that the merchant used everyday. (vi) at the sad plight of the beggar, he (vii) from his horse and gently lifted the beggar (viii) his horse. No sooner did the beggar get into the (ix) than the galloped away. But hearing the merchant (x) out to him, he stopped when he was a safe distance away. “Please don’t tell anyone how you came to possess this horse. Some day an ill man may be lying by the roadside and people who have heard about your trick, may not want to help,’’ said the merchant. The merchant’s neighbour was deeply ashamed, rode back and returned the horse to the merchant.

Fill in the blank (iv) with the help of the alternatives given.

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question.

A rich merchant owned a beautiful horse. Now, one of his neighbours was keen to (i) this horse. He offered the merchant gold, (ii) the merchant refused. This angered the neighbour. He (iii) to trick the merchant. He disguised himself (iv) a beggar and lay down at the (v) of the road, that the merchant used everyday. (vi) at the sad plight of the beggar, he (vii) from his horse and gently lifted the beggar (viii) his horse. No sooner did the beggar get into the (ix) than the galloped away. But hearing the merchant (x) out to him, he stopped when he was a safe distance away. “Please don’t tell anyone how you came to possess this horse. Some day an ill man may be lying by the roadside and people who have heard about your trick, may not want to help,’’ said the merchant. The merchant’s neighbour was deeply ashamed, rode back and returned the horse to the merchant.

Fill in the blank (viii) with the help of the alternatives given.

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question.

A rich merchant owned a beautiful horse. Now, one of his neighbours was keen to (i) this horse. He offered the merchant gold, (ii) the merchant refused. This angered the neighbour. He (iii) to trick the merchant. He disguised himself (iv) a beggar and lay down at the (v) of the road, that the merchant used everyday. (vi) at the sad plight of the beggar, he (vii) from his horse and gently lifted the beggar (viii) his horse. No sooner did the beggar get into the (ix) than the galloped away. But hearing the merchant (x) out to him, he stopped when he was a safe distance away. “Please don’t tell anyone how you came to possess this horse. Some day an ill man may be lying by the roadside and people who have heard about your trick, may not want to help,’’ said the merchant. The merchant’s neighbour was deeply ashamed, rode back and returned the horse to the merchant.

Fill in the blank (ix) with the help of the alternatives given.

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question.

A rich merchant owned a beautiful horse. Now, one of his neighbours was keen to (i) this horse. He offered the merchant gold, (ii) the merchant refused. This angered the neighbour. He (iii) to trick the merchant. He disguised himself (iv) a beggar and lay down at the (v) of the road, that the merchant used everyday. (vi) at the sad plight of the beggar, he (vii) from his horse and gently lifted the beggar (viii) his horse. No sooner did the beggar get into the (ix) than the galloped away. But hearing the merchant (x) out to him, he stopped when he was a safe distance away. “Please don’t tell anyone how you came to possess this horse. Some day an ill man may be lying by the roadside and people who have heard about your trick, may not want to help,’’ said the merchant. The merchant’s neighbour was deeply ashamed, rode back and returned the horse to the merchant.

Fill in the blank (vii) with the help of the alternatives given.

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question.

A rich merchant owned a beautiful horse. Now, one of his neighbours was keen to (i) this horse. He offered the merchant gold, (ii) the merchant refused. This angered the neighbour. He (iii) to trick the merchant. He disguised himself (iv) a beggar and lay down at the (v) of the road, that the merchant used everyday. (vi) at the sad plight of the beggar, he (vii) from his horse and gently lifted the beggar (viii) his horse. No sooner did the beggar get into the (ix) than the galloped away. But hearing the merchant (x) out to him, he stopped when he was a safe distance away. “Please don’t tell anyone how you came to possess this horse. Some day an ill man may be lying by the roadside and people who have heard about your trick, may not want to help,’’ said the merchant. The merchant’s neighbour was deeply ashamed, rode back and returned the horse to the merchant.

Fill in the blank (x) with the help of the alternatives given.

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question.

A rich merchant owned a beautiful horse. Now, one of his neighbours was keen to (i) this horse. He offered the merchant gold, (ii) the merchant refused. This angered the neighbour. He (iii) to trick the merchant. He disguised himself (iv) a beggar and lay down at the (v) of the road, that the merchant used everyday. (vi) at the sad plight of the beggar, he (vii) from his horse and gently lifted the beggar (viii) his horse. No sooner did the beggar get into the (ix) than the galloped away. But hearing the merchant (x) out to him, he stopped when he was a safe distance away. “Please don’t tell anyone how you came to possess this horse. Some day an ill man may be lying by the roadside and people who have heard about your trick, may not want to help,’’ said the merchant. The merchant’s neighbour was deeply ashamed, rode back and returned the horse to the merchant.

Which of the following is/are TRUE in the context of the passage? (1) The old woman had prepared more laddoos than she had intended. (2) The family who had recently moved into the village was fond of the old couple. (3) The villagers were saddened by the death of the old couple and gave them a grand funeral.

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question.

In a village in the East, there lived an old couple. They did not have any children and never spent an extra paisa on themselves. They never repaired their house or cooked good food. One day, a family moved into the village, it was their son’s second birthday and they sent two delicious laddoos to the old couple. The couple ate the laddoos with great relish. For days after they could talk of nothing else. Finally the old man could take it no more. He said to his wife, “Let’s buy the ingredients to make just two laddoos.” His wilfe agreed but said, “If I make the laddoos at home, the neighbours will know and will want a share. Let’s cook in the woods behind our hut. That way no one will ever know.”

The next day the old man purchased the ingredients from the market and they set off to the woods. Having never prepared food like this before, they ended up with three laddoos instead of two. The old couple returned home with the sweets, dying to eat them. But there was a problem. “It was my idea and I went to the market, so I ought to get two,” said the old man. But his wife refused to give in so easily and said, “Since I prepared the sweets. I ought to have two.” The day wore on and the argument continued.

At last, the old man suggested, “Let us not talk to each other. Whoever breaks the silence first will get one laddoo and the other person two.” His wife agreed. Hours passed, but neither of them spoke and finally they fell asleep with the bowl of sweets between them. That evening one of the neighbours knocked on the door but the couple did not answer for fear of losing the bet. Peering through the window, the man saw the couple lying on the floor with an untouched bowl of food. “They are dead !” he shouted and alerted the other villagers. Soon the door was broken down and the house was swarming with villagers. They discussed everything from the funeral to where the couple had hidden their wealth. But the couple lay still.

Finally, the villagers carried them to the cremation ground. As the flames licked his feet, the old man jumped up screaming “You win !” His wife jumped up too, happy that she had won. The two then rushed home leaving the bewildered villagers present there behind. But when they got home…Alas the door had been left open and they found a stray dog licking the last crumbs of the sweets from the bowl.

Why did the old couple cook in the woods?

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question.

In a village in the East, there lived an old couple. They did not have any children and never spent an extra paisa on themselves. They never repaired their house or cooked good food. One day, a family moved into the village, it was their son’s second birthday and they sent two delicious laddoos to the old couple. The couple ate the laddoos with great relish. For days after they could talk of nothing else. Finally the old man could take it no more. He said to his wife, “Let’s buy the ingredients to make just two laddoos.” His wilfe agreed but said, “If I make the laddoos at home, the neighbours will know and will want a share. Let’s cook in the woods behind our hut. That way no one will ever know.”

The next day the old man purchased the ingredients from the market and they set off to the woods. Having never prepared food like this before, they ended up with three laddoos instead of two. The old couple returned home with the sweets, dying to eat them. But there was a problem. “It was my idea and I went to the market, so I ought to get two,” said the old man. But his wife refused to give in so easily and said, “Since I prepared the sweets. I ought to have two.” The day wore on and the argument continued.

At last, the old man suggested, “Let us not talk to each other. Whoever breaks the silence first will get one laddoo and the other person two.” His wife agreed. Hours passed, but neither of them spoke and finally they fell asleep with the bowl of sweets between them. That evening one of the neighbours knocked on the door but the couple did not answer for fear of losing the bet. Peering through the window, the man saw the couple lying on the floor with an untouched bowl of food. “They are dead !” he shouted and alerted the other villagers. Soon the door was broken down and the house was swarming with villagers. They discussed everything from the funeral to where the couple had hidden their wealth. But the couple lay still.

Finally, the villagers carried them to the cremation ground. As the flames licked his feet, the old man jumped up screaming “You win !” His wife jumped up too, happy that she had won. The two then rushed home leaving the bewildered villagers present there behind. But when they got home…Alas the door had been left open and they found a stray dog licking the last crumbs of the sweets from the bowl.