English Reading Comprehension

Directions: A story is given with blanks. Read the story and choose the option that suits it.

A very long time ago, there were no gold or silver coins used for money. Men used to (1) for the things they wanted. Shells were used by North American Indians for money. These shells were called wampum. On a string of skin, these shells were strung. Purple colored clam shells (2) than white shells. A great many years ago, there lived a king named Croesus. He had a gold field in his kingdom. His people used coins to buy their food and clothing. Years ago, coins were made by hand. But now, they are made by machines.

Fill blank (2).

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

Punjab also spelt as Panjab, is a state in North India. The term Punjab comprises of two words: 'punj' means five and 'ab' means water, thus meaning the land of five rivers. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir in the north, Himachal Pradesh in the east, Haryana in the south and south - east, Rajasthan in the south - west, and the Pakistan's Punjab province in the west. Its capital is Chandigarh, a Union Territory which is also the capital of the neighbouring state of Haryana. The summer residence of the Governor of Punjab is at Shimla. Punjab is the only state in India with a majority Sikh population.

Province means

According to the passage, another name for Nilgai is

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and answer the question that follows.

Which of these fits gap 21?

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

Which of these fits gap 23?

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

Which of these fits gap 24?

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

Which of these fits gap 20?

Directions: Complete this passage by selecting the most suitable option for the corresponding gap.
The ancients ____(17)_____ the cotton plant the ‘Daughter of the Sun’.
This was _____(18)_______ it was only under the powerful rays of the sun that the plant would grow and flourish.
The hotter the sun, the whiter and stronger _____(19)______ the fibres produced.
Due to these reasons, cotton is _____(20)______ grown in hot and tropical places all over the world.

Which of the following could replace 'oneself' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

Whenever a fire breaks out (1), the fire brigade throws water on it to cool the burning fuel to a temperature below the ignition point. The soda–acid extinguisher also works on this principle (2).
In the case of fires caused (3) by oil, sprinkling water is not effective. The oil being lighter than water always floats on the surface of the water and continews (4) to burn. In such cases the foam type fire extinguisher, containing acid and sodium bicarbonate solution, is used.
To extinguish (5) fires caused by electricity, water can not be used because this would result in electrocution of the people involved. In such cases, fire extinguisher based on carbon tetrachloride is used. The carbon tetrachloride liquid vaporises on coming in contact with the burning material. Since these (6) vapours are heavier than air, they settle on the burning material and cut off the supply of air. While using carbon tetrachloride extinguisher, it is advisable (7) to cover the mouth and nose with wet cloth to protect oneself (8) from the poisonous effect of carbon tetrachloride vapours.

Which of the following could replace ‘caused’ as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

Whenever a fire breaks out (1), the fire brigade throws water on it to cool the burning fuel to a temperature below the ignition point. The soda–acid extinguisher also works on this principle (2).
In the case of fires caused (3) by oil, sprinkling water is not effective. The oil being lighter than water always floats on the surface of the water and continews (4) to burn. In such cases the foam type fire extinguisher, containing acid and sodium bicarbonate solution, is used.
To extinguish (5) fires caused by electricity, water can not be used because this would result in electrocution of the people involved. In such cases, fire extinguisher based on carbon tetrachloride is used. The carbon tetrachloride liquid vaporises on coming in contact with the burning material. Since these (6) vapours are heavier than air, they settle on the burning material and cut off the supply of air. While using carbon tetrachloride extinguisher, it is advisable (7) to cover the mouth and nose with wet cloth to protect oneself (8) from the poisonous effect of carbon tetrachloride vapours.

Which of the following could replace 'extinguish' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

Whenever a fire breaks out (1), the fire brigade throws water on it to cool the burning fuel to a temperature below the ignition point. The soda–acid extinguisher also works on this principle (2).
In the case of fires caused (3) by oil, sprinkling water is not effective. The oil being lighter than water always floats on the surface of the water and continews (4) to burn. In such cases the foam type fire extinguisher, containing acid and sodium bicarbonate solution, is used.
To extinguish (5) fires caused by electricity, water can not be used because this would result in electrocution of the people involved. In such cases, fire extinguisher based on carbon tetrachloride is used. The carbon tetrachloride liquid vaporises on coming in contact with the burning material. Since these (6) vapours are heavier than air, they settle on the burning material and cut off the supply of air. While using carbon tetrachloride extinguisher, it is advisable (7) to cover the mouth and nose with wet cloth to protect oneself (8) from the poisonous effect of carbon tetrachloride vapours.

Which of the following could replace 'these' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

Whenever a fire breaks out (1), the fire brigade throws water on it to cool the burning fuel to a temperature below the ignition point. The soda–acid extinguisher also works on this principle (2).
In the case of fires caused (3) by oil, sprinkling water is not effective. The oil being lighter than water always floats on the surface of the water and continews (4) to burn. In such cases the foam type fire extinguisher, containing acid and sodium bicarbonate solution, is used.
To extinguish (5) fires caused by electricity, water can not be used because this would result in electrocution of the people involved. In such cases, fire extinguisher based on carbon tetrachloride is used. The carbon tetrachloride liquid vaporises on coming in contact with the burning material. Since these (6) vapours are heavier than air, they settle on the burning material and cut off the supply of air. While using carbon tetrachloride extinguisher, it is advisable (7) to cover the mouth and nose with wet cloth to protect oneself (8) from the poisonous effect of carbon tetrachloride vapours.

Which of these fits gap 22?

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

Which of the following could replace 'advisable' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

Whenever a fire breaks out (1), the fire brigade throws water on it to cool the burning fuel to a temperature below the ignition point. The soda–acid extinguisher also works on this principle (2).
In the case of fires caused (3) by oil, sprinkling water is not effective. The oil being lighter than water always floats on the surface of the water and continews (4) to burn. In such cases the foam type fire extinguisher, containing acid and sodium bicarbonate solution, is used.
To extinguish (5) fires caused by electricity, water can not be used because this would result in electrocution of the people involved. In such cases, fire extinguisher based on carbon tetrachloride is used. The carbon tetrachloride liquid vaporises on coming in contact with the burning material. Since these (6) vapours are heavier than air, they settle on the burning material and cut off the supply of air. While using carbon tetrachloride extinguisher, it is advisable (7) to cover the mouth and nose with wet cloth to protect oneself (8) from the poisonous effect of carbon tetrachloride vapours.

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.

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.