English Language

English Reading Comprehension

3,503 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

What does the word 'heath' mean in context?

Directions: Some words in the verse below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

A little black thing in the snow,
Crying "weep! weep!" in notes of woe!
"Where are thy father and mother? Say!"
"They are both gone up to the church to pray.
"Because I was happy upon the heath,
And smiled among the winter's snow,
They clothed me in the clothes of death,
And taught me to sing the notes of woe.
"And because I am happy and dance and sing,
They think they have done me no injury,
And are gone to praise God and his priest and king,
Who make up a heaven of our misery."

 

  1. Home

  2. Fireplace

  3. Wasteland

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

The child was 'happy upon the heath' - 'heath' refers to an open area of uncultivated land, a moor or wasteland with low vegetation. The child's natural happiness in this wild setting contrasts with their forced labor. 'Wasteland' captures the barren, open nature of a heath. 'Home' and 'Fireplace' are incorrect - a heath is outdoors. 'Defect' is a different meaning of the word.

Multiple choice

What does the word 'injury' mean in context?

Directions: Some words in the verse below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

A little black thing in the snow,
Crying "weep! weep!" in notes of woe!
"Where are thy father and mother? Say!"
"They are both gone up to the church to pray.
"Because I was happy upon the heath,
And smiled among the winter's snow,
They clothed me in the clothes of death,
And taught me to sing the notes of woe.
"And because I am happy and dance and sing,
They think they have done me no injury,
And are gone to praise God and his priest and king,
Who make up a heaven of our misery."

 

  1. Wound

  2. Insult

  3. Injustice

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

The parents 'think they have done me no injury' - they believe they haven't harmed or wronged the child. In this context of child labor and exploitation, 'injury' means harm, wrongdoing, or injustice. 'Injustice' captures the moral wrong done to the child. 'Wound' is too literal/physical. 'Insult' is too mild. 'Accident' doesn't fit the intentional systemic harm.

Multiple choice

Glee

Directions: Some words in the verse below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

 

  1. Gloom

  2. Haste

  3. Joy

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

Glee means high-spirited joy, delight, or happiness. In Wordsworth's 'Daffodils', the waves are dancing in glee - they are joyfully moving. Gloom, haste, and pain are opposite or unrelated to glee.

Multiple choice

Sprightly

Directions: Some words in the verse below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

 

  1. Energetic

  2. Lively

  3. Full of pleasure

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

Sprightly means lively, animated, or full of spirit and energy. Wordsworth describes the daffodils tossing their heads in a sprightly dance - they are moving with lively energy. While energetic is close, lively is the more precise synonym for sprightly.

Multiple choice

Wandered

Directions: Some words in the verse below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

 

  1. Strolled

  2. Ran

  3. Strayed

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

Wandered means to move about leisurely, without fixed course or purpose. Wordsworth compares himself to a cloud wandering lonely - moving slowly and aimlessly. Strolled best captures this sense of leisurely movement. Ran, strayed, and floated don't quite match the meaning.

Multiple choice

Bliss of solitude

Directions: Some words in the verse below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

 

  1. Captivating memories

  2. Satisfaction of achievement

  3. Pleasure of loneliness

  4. Curse of isolation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Bliss of solitude refers to the joy or pleasure found in being alone with one's thoughts. Wordsworth describes how the memory of daffodils brings him happiness when he's alone - the 'bliss' (joy) of his solitude (being alone). It's not a curse, and it's more than just achievement satisfaction or memories.

Multiple choice

Jocund

Directions: Some words in the verse below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

 

  1. Expressive

  2. Natural

  3. Shy

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

In the poem, jocund describes a cheerful, merry, and happy company of daffodils. It shares meaning with being gay or joyful, making happy the correct choice.

Multiple choice

Inward eye

Directions: Some words in the verse below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

 

  1. Mind

  2. Brain

  3. Pleasure

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

Inward eye refers to the mind's eye - imagination or memory. Wordsworth writes that the daffodils 'flash upon that inward eye' - meaning they appear in his imagination/memory when he's in a pensive mood. Brain, pleasure, and thought are not correct interpretations in this context.

Multiple choice

Fluttering

Directions: Some words in the verse below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

 

  1. Moving Restlessly

  2. Shivering in rain

  3. Blowing with air

  4. Jumping with joy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Fluttering means moving lightly and quickly, typically in response to wind or air currents. Wordsworth describes daffodils 'fluttering and dancing in the breeze' - they are moving lightly in the wind. Moving restlessly, shivering in rain, and jumping with joy don't capture the gentle wind movement.

Multiple choice

Glance

Directions: Some words in the verse below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

 

  1. Single group

  2. Look

  3. Viewpoint

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

In the line 'Ten thousand saw I at a glance,' the poet is describing how he could see thousands of daffodils in one quick look. 'At a glance' is an idiomatic expression meaning to see something quickly or in a single look. Option B 'Look' best captures this meaning of taking in everything at once. Option D 'Vision' is close but refers more to the act of seeing rather than the quick, comprehensive viewing implied in the context.

Multiple choice

Bay

Directions: Some words in the verse below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

 

  1. Small hill

  2. Jungle

  3. Part of Shoreline

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

In Wordsworth's famous 'Daffodils' poem, 'bay' refers to a body of water partially enclosed by land - a coastal inlet or recess along a shoreline. The line 'Along the margin of a bay' describes how the daffodils extended along the edge of this water feature. Option C 'Part of Shoreline' correctly identifies that a bay is a coastal feature. Options A, B, and D are incorrect - a bay is not a hill, jungle, or valley.

Multiple choice

Stretched

Directions: Some words in the verse below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

 

  1. Relaxed

  2. Extended

  3. Inflated

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

In 'They stretched in never-ending line,' the word 'stretched' means the daffodils extended or spread out continuously in a long line. The poet is describing how the flowers seemed to go on endlessly across the landscape. Option B 'Extended' correctly captures this sense of something stretching out over a distance. Option A 'Relaxed' is incorrect - stretched here doesn't mean becoming less tense. Option D 'Taut' implies tightness, which is not the meaning.

Multiple choice

Vagaries

Directions: Some words in the passage below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

These two factors, the altitude and the weather, tend separately and together to defeat the climber. The height weakness slows him down; it forces him to­ spend days and nights in the course of his assault on the summit. The weather, besides adding to the ­demands of his energy and moral fortitude, conspires to deny him the time he needs to complete his mission. Whereas in lower mountains and on easy ground the weather may be no more than a handicap, in the high Himalayas it is decisive, regardless of terrain. The deduction to be drawn from these two factors was clear enough. We must either so fortify ourselves , that we could continue, without detriment, to live and have our being above the limit of natural acclimatization, better still, we must solve the problem of speed. It was desirable, in fact, that we should meet both these requirements and thus give to those chosen to attempt the summit, some measure of insurance against ­the vagaries of the weather.

  1. Notions

  2. Moods

  3. Quirks

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

'Vagaries' refers to unpredictable changes or quirks - the weather's unpredictable behavior that could affect the climb. 'Quirks' best captures this sense of unpredictable, eccentric behavior. 'Notions' means ideas, 'Moods' are emotional states rather than behaviors, and 'Humour' means either comedy or bodily fluid - neither fits the context of weather patterns.

Multiple choice

Fortify

Directions: Some words in the passage below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

These two factors, the altitude and the weather, tend separately and together to defeat the climber. The height weakness slows him down; it forces him to­ spend days and nights in the course of his assault on the summit. The weather, besides adding to the ­demands of his energy and moral fortitude, conspires to deny him the time he needs to complete his mission. Whereas in lower mountains and on easy ground the weather may be no more than a handicap, in the high Himalayas it is decisive, regardless of terrain. The deduction to be drawn from these two factors was clear enough. We must either so fortify ourselves , that we could continue, without detriment, to live and have our being above the limit of natural acclimatization, better still, we must solve the problem of speed. It was desirable, in fact, that we should meet both these requirements and thus give to those chosen to attempt the summit, some measure of insurance against ­the vagaries of the weather.

  1. Weaken

  2. Strengthen

  3. Cheer

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

The word 'fortify' in this context means to strengthen or make oneself capable of resisting difficult conditions. The author is talking about preparing climbers to survive and function at extreme altitudes where natural adaptation fails. 'Strengthen' (Option B) correctly captures this meaning of building resistance and capability.

Multiple choice

Decisive

Directions: Some words in the passage below have been highlighted. Select the best meaning for the corresponding word.

These two factors, the altitude and the weather, tend separately and together to defeat the climber. The height weakness slows him down; it forces him to­ spend days and nights in the course of his assault on the summit. The weather, besides adding to the ­demands of his energy and moral fortitude, conspires to deny him the time he needs to complete his mission. Whereas in lower mountains and on easy ground the weather may be no more than a handicap, in the high Himalayas it is decisive, regardless of terrain. The deduction to be drawn from these two factors was clear enough. We must either so fortify ourselves , that we could continue, without detriment, to live and have our being above the limit of natural acclimatization, better still, we must solve the problem of speed. It was desirable, in fact, that we should meet both these requirements and thus give to those chosen to attempt the summit, some measure of insurance against ­the vagaries of the weather.

  1. Key

  2. Firm

  3. Crucial

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

In the context, 'decisive' means having a crucial or determining effect on the outcome. The author contrasts weather in lower mountains (where it's merely a 'handicap') with high Himalayas (where it's 'decisive' - meaning it determines success or failure). 'Crucial' (Option C) correctly captures this meaning of being the determining factor.