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

What did Tom say to Sarah when she went to touch the spider?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Ugh.Look up there, Dragon.It’s a spider?
The dragon looked. “So it is.”
Tom didn’t want the dragon to get the wrong idea, so he said at once that he wasn’t frightened of spiders.
“Oh, no?” answered the dragon readily. “Neither am I.”
“But –“Tom sat down on the edge of his bed and looked up with narrowed eyes “- but I don’t exactly like them.”
“Some people don’t", replied the dragon in a pleasant voice. “Nothing to be ashmed of in not liking them. Lots of people don’t."
Tom became even more thoughtful. “If someone, someone who didn’t mind spiders, were to put one out of the windows that would make the whole room sort of feel better. Do you see?”
“I can certainly see your point of view. Who could you get to do it, though?”
“Well … I thought maybe you could do it for me, Dragon.”
The dragon stiffened slightly. “Me?”
“Well, you’re not frightened of a little spider, are you? I expect you could sleep in a whole room full of spiders and not give it a second thought. I wish I was a dragon.”
There was a short pause. “I‘m not frightened of spiders,” said the dragon, who had turned a little yellow at the mention of a roomful of them. “Not frightened, exactly. No dragon is frightened of spiders. However, some dragons like them and some dragons don’t. And I am one of the ones that don’t,” he finished firmly.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Tom, who could see the dragon’s position only too well. “I wish the spider would say still, that’s all.”
“Yes,” said the dragon from underneath the bed.
Tom was too busy keeping an eye on the ceiling even to notice his friend’s departure. “I think I’ll just go and ask Daddy to get rid of it for us. I wouldn’t like it to fall off the ceiling.”
“It might hurt itself,” agreed the dragon in a muffled voice. “I’ll just keep out of the way until the thing’s settled.”
Outside his bedroom door, Tom bumped into Sarah, who was on her way to the bathroom for a glass of water.
“You’re supposed to be asleep,” she pointed out.
Tom explained the problem.
“Oh, I’ll put it out for you,” Sarah said carelessly. “I don’t mind spiders. Where is it?”
Tom showed her. “And don’t touch it till I’ am out of the way.”

Sarah gave him a pitying look, and went to fetch the bathroom chair to stand on and a face flannel [which Tom was glad to see wasn’t his]. She got into position beneath the spider.
  1. don’t touch it till I’ am out of the way

  2. do not touch it till I say so

  3. do not touch it till I am in

  4. do not touch it till I am not here

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The answer is found near the end of the passage. Tom explained the problem. “Oh, I’ll put it out for you,” Sarah said carelessly. “I don’t mind spiders. Where is it?” Tom showed her. “And don’t touch it till I’ am out of the way.”

Multiple choice

What is the meaning of the phrase point of view?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Ugh.Look up there, Dragon.It’s a spider?
The dragon looked. “So it is.”
Tom didn’t want the dragon to get the wrong idea, so he said at once that he wasn’t frightened of spiders.
“Oh, no?” answered the dragon readily. “Neither am I.”
“But –“Tom sat down on the edge of his bed and looked up with narrowed eyes “- but I don’t exactly like them.”
“Some people don’t", replied the dragon in a pleasant voice. “Nothing to be ashmed of in not liking them. Lots of people don’t."
Tom became even more thoughtful. “If someone, someone who didn’t mind spiders, were to put one out of the windows that would make the whole room sort of feel better. Do you see?”
“I can certainly see your point of view. Who could you get to do it, though?”
“Well … I thought maybe you could do it for me, Dragon.”
The dragon stiffened slightly. “Me?”
“Well, you’re not frightened of a little spider, are you? I expect you could sleep in a whole room full of spiders and not give it a second thought. I wish I was a dragon.”
There was a short pause. “I‘m not frightened of spiders,” said the dragon, who had turned a little yellow at the mention of a roomful of them. “Not frightened, exactly. No dragon is frightened of spiders. However, some dragons like them and some dragons don’t. And I am one of the ones that don’t,” he finished firmly.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Tom, who could see the dragon’s position only too well. “I wish the spider would say still, that’s all.”
“Yes,” said the dragon from underneath the bed.
Tom was too busy keeping an eye on the ceiling even to notice his friend’s departure. “I think I’ll just go and ask Daddy to get rid of it for us. I wouldn’t like it to fall off the ceiling.”
“It might hurt itself,” agreed the dragon in a muffled voice. “I’ll just keep out of the way until the thing’s settled.”
Outside his bedroom door, Tom bumped into Sarah, who was on her way to the bathroom for a glass of water.
“You’re supposed to be asleep,” she pointed out.
Tom explained the problem.
“Oh, I’ll put it out for you,” Sarah said carelessly. “I don’t mind spiders. Where is it?”
Tom showed her. “And don’t touch it till I’ am out of the way.”

Sarah gave him a pitying look, and went to fetch the bathroom chair to stand on and a face flannel [which Tom was glad to see wasn’t his]. She got into position beneath the spider.
  1. an opinion

  2. estimation

  3. assessment

  4. interest

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Point of view means a particular opinion or perspective on something. In the passage, the dragon says I can certainly see your point of view, meaning he understands Tom's perspective about wanting the spider removed. Other options are close but not precise - estimation is a calculation, assessment is an evaluation, and interest is curiosity, none of which capture the meaning of a personal opinion or standpoint.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the correct meaning of the word from 1 - 4.

Edge

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Ugh.Look up there, Dragon.It’s a spider?
The dragon looked. “So it is.”
Tom didn’t want the dragon to get the wrong idea, so he said at once that he wasn’t frightened of spiders.
“Oh, no?” answered the dragon readily. “Neither am I.”
“But –“Tom sat down on the edge of his bed and looked up with narrowed eyes “- but I don’t exactly like them.”
“Some people don’t", replied the dragon in a pleasant voice. “Nothing to be ashmed of in not liking them. Lots of people don’t."
Tom became even more thoughtful. “If someone, someone who didn’t mind spiders, were to put one out of the windows that would make the whole room sort of feel better. Do you see?”
“I can certainly see your point of view. Who could you get to do it, though?”
“Well … I thought maybe you could do it for me, Dragon.”
The dragon stiffened slightly. “Me?”
“Well, you’re not frightened of a little spider, are you? I expect you could sleep in a whole room full of spiders and not give it a second thought. I wish I was a dragon.”
There was a short pause. “I‘m not frightened of spiders,” said the dragon, who had turned a little yellow at the mention of a roomful of them. “Not frightened, exactly. No dragon is frightened of spiders. However, some dragons like them and some dragons don’t. And I am one of the ones that don’t,” he finished firmly.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Tom, who could see the dragon’s position only too well. “I wish the spider would say still, that’s all.”
“Yes,” said the dragon from underneath the bed.
Tom was too busy keeping an eye on the ceiling even to notice his friend’s departure. “I think I’ll just go and ask Daddy to get rid of it for us. I wouldn’t like it to fall off the ceiling.”
“It might hurt itself,” agreed the dragon in a muffled voice. “I’ll just keep out of the way until the thing’s settled.”
Outside his bedroom door, Tom bumped into Sarah, who was on her way to the bathroom for a glass of water.
“You’re supposed to be asleep,” she pointed out.
Tom explained the problem.
“Oh, I’ll put it out for you,” Sarah said carelessly. “I don’t mind spiders. Where is it?”
Tom showed her. “And don’t touch it till I’ am out of the way.”

Sarah gave him a pitying look, and went to fetch the bathroom chair to stand on and a face flannel [which Tom was glad to see wasn’t his]. She got into position beneath the spider.
  1. fringe

  2. center

  3. middle

  4. beside

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Edge as a noun can mean the outer limit or border of something, which corresponds to fringe. In the context of a physical object or surface, the edge is the fringe or outer boundary. Center and middle are opposites of edge, while beside is a preposition indicating position, not a synonym.

Multiple choice

What did tom say to the dragon, with regard to the spider?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Ugh.Look up there, Dragon.It’s a spider?
The dragon looked. “So it is.”
Tom didn’t want the dragon to get the wrong idea, so he said at once that he wasn’t frightened of spiders.
“Oh, no?” answered the dragon readily. “Neither am I.”
“But –“Tom sat down on the edge of his bed and looked up with narrowed eyes “- but I don’t exactly like them.”
“Some people don’t", replied the dragon in a pleasant voice. “Nothing to be ashmed of in not liking them. Lots of people don’t."
Tom became even more thoughtful. “If someone, someone who didn’t mind spiders, were to put one out of the windows that would make the whole room sort of feel better. Do you see?”
“I can certainly see your point of view. Who could you get to do it, though?”
“Well … I thought maybe you could do it for me, Dragon.”
The dragon stiffened slightly. “Me?”
“Well, you’re not frightened of a little spider, are you? I expect you could sleep in a whole room full of spiders and not give it a second thought. I wish I was a dragon.”
There was a short pause. “I‘m not frightened of spiders,” said the dragon, who had turned a little yellow at the mention of a roomful of them. “Not frightened, exactly. No dragon is frightened of spiders. However, some dragons like them and some dragons don’t. And I am one of the ones that don’t,” he finished firmly.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Tom, who could see the dragon’s position only too well. “I wish the spider would say still, that’s all.”
“Yes,” said the dragon from underneath the bed.
Tom was too busy keeping an eye on the ceiling even to notice his friend’s departure. “I think I’ll just go and ask Daddy to get rid of it for us. I wouldn’t like it to fall off the ceiling.”
“It might hurt itself,” agreed the dragon in a muffled voice. “I’ll just keep out of the way until the thing’s settled.”
Outside his bedroom door, Tom bumped into Sarah, who was on her way to the bathroom for a glass of water.
“You’re supposed to be asleep,” she pointed out.
Tom explained the problem.
“Oh, I’ll put it out for you,” Sarah said carelessly. “I don’t mind spiders. Where is it?”
Tom showed her. “And don’t touch it till I’ am out of the way.”

Sarah gave him a pitying look, and went to fetch the bathroom chair to stand on and a face flannel [which Tom was glad to see wasn’t his]. She got into position beneath the spider.
  1. ask Daddy to get rid of it

  2. ask Sarah to get rid of it

  3. ask Dad not to get rid of it

  4. ask Daddy to throw it out

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The passage clearly states Tom said I think I'll just go and ask Daddy to get rid of it for us when discussing the spider. He wanted help removing the spider, and suggested his father could do it. Sarah offered instead, but Tom's original statement was about asking Daddy for help.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the correct meaning of the word from 1 - 4.

Exactly

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Ugh.Look up there, Dragon.It’s a spider?
The dragon looked. “So it is.”
Tom didn’t want the dragon to get the wrong idea, so he said at once that he wasn’t frightened of spiders.
“Oh, no?” answered the dragon readily. “Neither am I.”
“But –“Tom sat down on the edge of his bed and looked up with narrowed eyes “- but I don’t exactly like them.”
“Some people don’t", replied the dragon in a pleasant voice. “Nothing to be ashmed of in not liking them. Lots of people don’t."
Tom became even more thoughtful. “If someone, someone who didn’t mind spiders, were to put one out of the windows that would make the whole room sort of feel better. Do you see?”
“I can certainly see your point of view. Who could you get to do it, though?”
“Well … I thought maybe you could do it for me, Dragon.”
The dragon stiffened slightly. “Me?”
“Well, you’re not frightened of a little spider, are you? I expect you could sleep in a whole room full of spiders and not give it a second thought. I wish I was a dragon.”
There was a short pause. “I‘m not frightened of spiders,” said the dragon, who had turned a little yellow at the mention of a roomful of them. “Not frightened, exactly. No dragon is frightened of spiders. However, some dragons like them and some dragons don’t. And I am one of the ones that don’t,” he finished firmly.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Tom, who could see the dragon’s position only too well. “I wish the spider would say still, that’s all.”
“Yes,” said the dragon from underneath the bed.
Tom was too busy keeping an eye on the ceiling even to notice his friend’s departure. “I think I’ll just go and ask Daddy to get rid of it for us. I wouldn’t like it to fall off the ceiling.”
“It might hurt itself,” agreed the dragon in a muffled voice. “I’ll just keep out of the way until the thing’s settled.”
Outside his bedroom door, Tom bumped into Sarah, who was on her way to the bathroom for a glass of water.
“You’re supposed to be asleep,” she pointed out.
Tom explained the problem.
“Oh, I’ll put it out for you,” Sarah said carelessly. “I don’t mind spiders. Where is it?”
Tom showed her. “And don’t touch it till I’ am out of the way.”

Sarah gave him a pitying look, and went to fetch the bathroom chair to stand on and a face flannel [which Tom was glad to see wasn’t his]. She got into position beneath the spider.
  1. entirely

  2. precisely

  3. not really

  4. totally

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In the phrase I don't exactly like them, exactly means precisely or quite. Tom is saying he doesn't precisely or quite like spiders - it's a qualified statement. Precisely captures this nuanced meaning best. Entirely and totally would be too strong, while not really changes the meaning too much.

Multiple choice

What did dragon say to Tom?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Ugh.Look up there, Dragon.It’s a spider?
The dragon looked. “So it is.”
Tom didn’t want the dragon to get the wrong idea, so he said at once that he wasn’t frightened of spiders.
“Oh, no?” answered the dragon readily. “Neither am I.”
“But –“Tom sat down on the edge of his bed and looked up with narrowed eyes “- but I don’t exactly like them.”
“Some people don’t", replied the dragon in a pleasant voice. “Nothing to be ashmed of in not liking them. Lots of people don’t."
Tom became even more thoughtful. “If someone, someone who didn’t mind spiders, were to put one out of the windows that would make the whole room sort of feel better. Do you see?”
“I can certainly see your point of view. Who could you get to do it, though?”
“Well … I thought maybe you could do it for me, Dragon.”
The dragon stiffened slightly. “Me?”
“Well, you’re not frightened of a little spider, are you? I expect you could sleep in a whole room full of spiders and not give it a second thought. I wish I was a dragon.”
There was a short pause. “I‘m not frightened of spiders,” said the dragon, who had turned a little yellow at the mention of a roomful of them. “Not frightened, exactly. No dragon is frightened of spiders. However, some dragons like them and some dragons don’t. And I am one of the ones that don’t,” he finished firmly.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Tom, who could see the dragon’s position only too well. “I wish the spider would say still, that’s all.”
“Yes,” said the dragon from underneath the bed.
Tom was too busy keeping an eye on the ceiling even to notice his friend’s departure. “I think I’ll just go and ask Daddy to get rid of it for us. I wouldn’t like it to fall off the ceiling.”
“It might hurt itself,” agreed the dragon in a muffled voice. “I’ll just keep out of the way until the thing’s settled.”
Outside his bedroom door, Tom bumped into Sarah, who was on her way to the bathroom for a glass of water.
“You’re supposed to be asleep,” she pointed out.
Tom explained the problem.
“Oh, I’ll put it out for you,” Sarah said carelessly. “I don’t mind spiders. Where is it?”
Tom showed her. “And don’t touch it till I’ am out of the way.”

Sarah gave him a pitying look, and went to fetch the bathroom chair to stand on and a face flannel [which Tom was glad to see wasn’t his]. She got into position beneath the spider.
  1. nothing to be ashamed of

  2. nothing to be worried of

  3. to be happy about

  4. nothing to be scared of

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The dragon said It's nothing to be ashamed of to Tom, referring to not liking spiders. The dragon was reassuring Tom that his feelings were normal and nothing to feel bad about. This is directly stated in the passage.

Multiple choice

What did Tom and dragon see up?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Ugh.Look up there, Dragon.It’s a spider?
The dragon looked. “So it is.”
Tom didn’t want the dragon to get the wrong idea, so he said at once that he wasn’t frightened of spiders.
“Oh, no?” answered the dragon readily. “Neither am I.”
“But –“Tom sat down on the edge of his bed and looked up with narrowed eyes “- but I don’t exactly like them.”
“Some people don’t", replied the dragon in a pleasant voice. “Nothing to be ashmed of in not liking them. Lots of people don’t."
Tom became even more thoughtful. “If someone, someone who didn’t mind spiders, were to put one out of the windows that would make the whole room sort of feel better. Do you see?”
“I can certainly see your point of view. Who could you get to do it, though?”
“Well … I thought maybe you could do it for me, Dragon.”
The dragon stiffened slightly. “Me?”
“Well, you’re not frightened of a little spider, are you? I expect you could sleep in a whole room full of spiders and not give it a second thought. I wish I was a dragon.”
There was a short pause. “I‘m not frightened of spiders,” said the dragon, who had turned a little yellow at the mention of a roomful of them. “Not frightened, exactly. No dragon is frightened of spiders. However, some dragons like them and some dragons don’t. And I am one of the ones that don’t,” he finished firmly.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Tom, who could see the dragon’s position only too well. “I wish the spider would say still, that’s all.”
“Yes,” said the dragon from underneath the bed.
Tom was too busy keeping an eye on the ceiling even to notice his friend’s departure. “I think I’ll just go and ask Daddy to get rid of it for us. I wouldn’t like it to fall off the ceiling.”
“It might hurt itself,” agreed the dragon in a muffled voice. “I’ll just keep out of the way until the thing’s settled.”
Outside his bedroom door, Tom bumped into Sarah, who was on her way to the bathroom for a glass of water.
“You’re supposed to be asleep,” she pointed out.
Tom explained the problem.
“Oh, I’ll put it out for you,” Sarah said carelessly. “I don’t mind spiders. Where is it?”
Tom showed her. “And don’t touch it till I’ am out of the way.”

Sarah gave him a pitying look, and went to fetch the bathroom chair to stand on and a face flannel [which Tom was glad to see wasn’t his]. She got into position beneath the spider.
  1. spider

  2. cockroach

  3. reptile

  4. worms

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The passage begins with Ugh. Look up there, Dragon. It's a spider, clearly establishing that Tom and the dragon saw a spider on the ceiling. The entire conversation that follows revolves around this spider and what to do about it.

Multiple choice

Where did Tom want to put the spider?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Ugh.Look up there, Dragon.It’s a spider?
The dragon looked. “So it is.”
Tom didn’t want the dragon to get the wrong idea, so he said at once that he wasn’t frightened of spiders.
“Oh, no?” answered the dragon readily. “Neither am I.”
“But –“Tom sat down on the edge of his bed and looked up with narrowed eyes “- but I don’t exactly like them.”
“Some people don’t", replied the dragon in a pleasant voice. “Nothing to be ashmed of in not liking them. Lots of people don’t."
Tom became even more thoughtful. “If someone, someone who didn’t mind spiders, were to put one out of the windows that would make the whole room sort of feel better. Do you see?”
“I can certainly see your point of view. Who could you get to do it, though?”
“Well … I thought maybe you could do it for me, Dragon.”
The dragon stiffened slightly. “Me?”
“Well, you’re not frightened of a little spider, are you? I expect you could sleep in a whole room full of spiders and not give it a second thought. I wish I was a dragon.”
There was a short pause. “I‘m not frightened of spiders,” said the dragon, who had turned a little yellow at the mention of a roomful of them. “Not frightened, exactly. No dragon is frightened of spiders. However, some dragons like them and some dragons don’t. And I am one of the ones that don’t,” he finished firmly.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Tom, who could see the dragon’s position only too well. “I wish the spider would say still, that’s all.”
“Yes,” said the dragon from underneath the bed.
Tom was too busy keeping an eye on the ceiling even to notice his friend’s departure. “I think I’ll just go and ask Daddy to get rid of it for us. I wouldn’t like it to fall off the ceiling.”
“It might hurt itself,” agreed the dragon in a muffled voice. “I’ll just keep out of the way until the thing’s settled.”
Outside his bedroom door, Tom bumped into Sarah, who was on her way to the bathroom for a glass of water.
“You’re supposed to be asleep,” she pointed out.
Tom explained the problem.
“Oh, I’ll put it out for you,” Sarah said carelessly. “I don’t mind spiders. Where is it?”
Tom showed her. “And don’t touch it till I’ am out of the way.”

Sarah gave him a pitying look, and went to fetch the bathroom chair to stand on and a face flannel [which Tom was glad to see wasn’t his]. She got into position beneath the spider.
  1. out of the windows

  2. out of the room

  3. inside the room

  4. outside the house

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Tom suggested someone put the spider out of the windows to make the room feel better. His exact words were If someone, someone who didn't mind spiders, were to put one out of the windows that would make the whole room sort of feel better.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the correct meaning of the word from 1 - 4.

Underneath

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Ugh.Look up there, Dragon.It’s a spider?
The dragon looked. “So it is.”
Tom didn’t want the dragon to get the wrong idea, so he said at once that he wasn’t frightened of spiders.
“Oh, no?” answered the dragon readily. “Neither am I.”
“But –“Tom sat down on the edge of his bed and looked up with narrowed eyes “- but I don’t exactly like them.”
“Some people don’t", replied the dragon in a pleasant voice. “Nothing to be ashmed of in not liking them. Lots of people don’t."
Tom became even more thoughtful. “If someone, someone who didn’t mind spiders, were to put one out of the windows that would make the whole room sort of feel better. Do you see?”
“I can certainly see your point of view. Who could you get to do it, though?”
“Well … I thought maybe you could do it for me, Dragon.”
The dragon stiffened slightly. “Me?”
“Well, you’re not frightened of a little spider, are you? I expect you could sleep in a whole room full of spiders and not give it a second thought. I wish I was a dragon.”
There was a short pause. “I‘m not frightened of spiders,” said the dragon, who had turned a little yellow at the mention of a roomful of them. “Not frightened, exactly. No dragon is frightened of spiders. However, some dragons like them and some dragons don’t. And I am one of the ones that don’t,” he finished firmly.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Tom, who could see the dragon’s position only too well. “I wish the spider would say still, that’s all.”
“Yes,” said the dragon from underneath the bed.
Tom was too busy keeping an eye on the ceiling even to notice his friend’s departure. “I think I’ll just go and ask Daddy to get rid of it for us. I wouldn’t like it to fall off the ceiling.”
“It might hurt itself,” agreed the dragon in a muffled voice. “I’ll just keep out of the way until the thing’s settled.”
Outside his bedroom door, Tom bumped into Sarah, who was on her way to the bathroom for a glass of water.
“You’re supposed to be asleep,” she pointed out.
Tom explained the problem.
“Oh, I’ll put it out for you,” Sarah said carelessly. “I don’t mind spiders. Where is it?”
Tom showed her. “And don’t touch it till I’ am out of the way.”

Sarah gave him a pitying look, and went to fetch the bathroom chair to stand on and a face flannel [which Tom was glad to see wasn’t his]. She got into position beneath the spider.
  1. bottom surface

  2. below

  3. above

  4. lower part

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Underneath means directly below or beneath something, referring to the bottom surface or lower side. The dragon spoke from underneath the bed, meaning from the bottom surface of the bed. While below is similar, underneath specifically refers to being directly beneath, often covered or protected by what's above.

Multiple choice

What is the meaning of 'sighed'?

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

That evening, Tom told the dragon that he would be getting another surprise the following day.
“Let me guess”, the dragon said, shutting his eyes so tightly that the scales along his forehead buckled and squeaked. “Don’t tell me, don’t tell me…”
“I am not going to”, promised Tom.
The dragon’s eyes flew open, “I know, It’s a … a football.”
Tom laughed and said, “No.” The eyes snapped shut again.
“Don’t tell me, don’t tell me …”
“I won’t.”
“It’s a … firework?”
With his one open eye, the dragon saw Tom shake his head again, smiling.
“You’ll never guess.”
The dragon sighed and unfurrowed his forehead to fix a pleading gaze on Tom’s face. “I give up then. What is it?”
“Wait and see. It’s a surprise.”
“Yes, I know that. But I like to know what my surprises are going to be,” the dragon explained. “It helps me get ready for them.”
Tom relented a little. “I’ll give you a clue, but that’s all. It’s something nice to eat. Not,” he added in a hurry, in case the dragon got the wrong idea, “not what you like best. But something nice.”
Tom reassured him. The surprise was going to be much tastier than the sandwich.
That, thought the dragon, would not be difficult. Finding something less tasty than the sandwich would be a challenge. Even so, he cheered up. Following his own train of thought, he said in a careless voice, “While we’re on the subject of surprises, didn’t you once tell me you had a sister?”
Tom knew perfectly well that the dragon knew perfectly well about Sarah, and he gave his friend a look full of suspicion. “What’s Sarah got to do with surprises?”
You eat surprises and you eat sisters, thought the dragon, trying hard to look harmless. What could be simpler than that?
He didn’t speak out loud, however, because Tom’s disapproving gaze made him feel guilty. He could see that it might have been a mistake to introduce the subject of Sarah as he had. He had spoken without thinking, and was sorry for it.
“How was football this afternoon?” It was a lucky question for the dragon to hit on, just as the silence was threatening to turn awkward. Tom’s expression brightened.
“Didn’t I tell you? We drew, nil-nil, so we get one whole point. Are you sure I didn’t tell you about it before?”
“Quite sure,” lied the dragon. He much preferred hearing Tom’s account of the day’s play again to discussing difficult topics such as a dragon’s diet and its relation to young female relatives.

Ten minutes passed happily; then just as Tom was showing the dragon the proper way to head a football (using pillow as an example), a movement above his head brought him to a sudden standstill.
  1. Exhale

  2. Groan

  3. Painful

  4. Moan

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

'Sighed' here means to exhale audibly with weariness. Rest of the options are related to pain.

Multiple choice

What is the meaning of 'squeaked'?

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

That evening, Tom told the dragon that he would be getting another surprise the following day.
“Let me guess”, the dragon said, shutting his eyes so tightly that the scales along his forehead buckled and squeaked. “Don’t tell me, don’t tell me…”
“I am not going to”, promised Tom.
The dragon’s eyes flew open, “I know, It’s a … a football.”
Tom laughed and said, “No.” The eyes snapped shut again.
“Don’t tell me, don’t tell me …”
“I won’t.”
“It’s a … firework?”
With his one open eye, the dragon saw Tom shake his head again, smiling.
“You’ll never guess.”
The dragon sighed and unfurrowed his forehead to fix a pleading gaze on Tom’s face. “I give up then. What is it?”
“Wait and see. It’s a surprise.”
“Yes, I know that. But I like to know what my surprises are going to be,” the dragon explained. “It helps me get ready for them.”
Tom relented a little. “I’ll give you a clue, but that’s all. It’s something nice to eat. Not,” he added in a hurry, in case the dragon got the wrong idea, “not what you like best. But something nice.”
Tom reassured him. The surprise was going to be much tastier than the sandwich.
That, thought the dragon, would not be difficult. Finding something less tasty than the sandwich would be a challenge. Even so, he cheered up. Following his own train of thought, he said in a careless voice, “While we’re on the subject of surprises, didn’t you once tell me you had a sister?”
Tom knew perfectly well that the dragon knew perfectly well about Sarah, and he gave his friend a look full of suspicion. “What’s Sarah got to do with surprises?”
You eat surprises and you eat sisters, thought the dragon, trying hard to look harmless. What could be simpler than that?
He didn’t speak out loud, however, because Tom’s disapproving gaze made him feel guilty. He could see that it might have been a mistake to introduce the subject of Sarah as he had. He had spoken without thinking, and was sorry for it.
“How was football this afternoon?” It was a lucky question for the dragon to hit on, just as the silence was threatening to turn awkward. Tom’s expression brightened.
“Didn’t I tell you? We drew, nil-nil, so we get one whole point. Are you sure I didn’t tell you about it before?”
“Quite sure,” lied the dragon. He much preferred hearing Tom’s account of the day’s play again to discussing difficult topics such as a dragon’s diet and its relation to young female relatives.

Ten minutes passed happily; then just as Tom was showing the dragon the proper way to head a football (using pillow as an example), a movement above his head brought him to a sudden standstill.
  1. Grate

  2. Rasp

  3. Groan

  4. Screech

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In the context of the dragon's scales making a sound, 'squeaked' means a high-pitched friction sound similar to 'grate'. When the dragon squeezed his eyes shut, the scales on his forehead buckled and made a harsh, grating noise.

Multiple choice

What was the difficult topic discussed between Tom and dragon?

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

That evening, Tom told the dragon that he would be getting another surprise the following day.
“Let me guess”, the dragon said, shutting his eyes so tightly that the scales along his forehead buckled and squeaked. “Don’t tell me, don’t tell me…”
“I am not going to”, promised Tom.
The dragon’s eyes flew open, “I know, It’s a … a football.”
Tom laughed and said, “No.” The eyes snapped shut again.
“Don’t tell me, don’t tell me …”
“I won’t.”
“It’s a … firework?”
With his one open eye, the dragon saw Tom shake his head again, smiling.
“You’ll never guess.”
The dragon sighed and unfurrowed his forehead to fix a pleading gaze on Tom’s face. “I give up then. What is it?”
“Wait and see. It’s a surprise.”
“Yes, I know that. But I like to know what my surprises are going to be,” the dragon explained. “It helps me get ready for them.”
Tom relented a little. “I’ll give you a clue, but that’s all. It’s something nice to eat. Not,” he added in a hurry, in case the dragon got the wrong idea, “not what you like best. But something nice.”
Tom reassured him. The surprise was going to be much tastier than the sandwich.
That, thought the dragon, would not be difficult. Finding something less tasty than the sandwich would be a challenge. Even so, he cheered up. Following his own train of thought, he said in a careless voice, “While we’re on the subject of surprises, didn’t you once tell me you had a sister?”
Tom knew perfectly well that the dragon knew perfectly well about Sarah, and he gave his friend a look full of suspicion. “What’s Sarah got to do with surprises?”
You eat surprises and you eat sisters, thought the dragon, trying hard to look harmless. What could be simpler than that?
He didn’t speak out loud, however, because Tom’s disapproving gaze made him feel guilty. He could see that it might have been a mistake to introduce the subject of Sarah as he had. He had spoken without thinking, and was sorry for it.
“How was football this afternoon?” It was a lucky question for the dragon to hit on, just as the silence was threatening to turn awkward. Tom’s expression brightened.
“Didn’t I tell you? We drew, nil-nil, so we get one whole point. Are you sure I didn’t tell you about it before?”
“Quite sure,” lied the dragon. He much preferred hearing Tom’s account of the day’s play again to discussing difficult topics such as a dragon’s diet and its relation to young female relatives.

Ten minutes passed happily; then just as Tom was showing the dragon the proper way to head a football (using pillow as an example), a movement above his head brought him to a sudden standstill.
  1. dragon's diet

  2. lizard's diet

  3. animal's diet

  4. dragon's food

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

 It is given here: "He much preferred hearing Tom’s account of the day’s play again to discussing difficult topics such as a dragon’s diet and its relation to young female relatives."

Multiple choice

What is the food that dragon usually ate?

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

That evening, Tom told the dragon that he would be getting another surprise the following day.
“Let me guess”, the dragon said, shutting his eyes so tightly that the scales along his forehead buckled and squeaked. “Don’t tell me, don’t tell me…”
“I am not going to”, promised Tom.
The dragon’s eyes flew open, “I know, It’s a … a football.”
Tom laughed and said, “No.” The eyes snapped shut again.
“Don’t tell me, don’t tell me …”
“I won’t.”
“It’s a … firework?”
With his one open eye, the dragon saw Tom shake his head again, smiling.
“You’ll never guess.”
The dragon sighed and unfurrowed his forehead to fix a pleading gaze on Tom’s face. “I give up then. What is it?”
“Wait and see. It’s a surprise.”
“Yes, I know that. But I like to know what my surprises are going to be,” the dragon explained. “It helps me get ready for them.”
Tom relented a little. “I’ll give you a clue, but that’s all. It’s something nice to eat. Not,” he added in a hurry, in case the dragon got the wrong idea, “not what you like best. But something nice.”
Tom reassured him. The surprise was going to be much tastier than the sandwich.
That, thought the dragon, would not be difficult. Finding something less tasty than the sandwich would be a challenge. Even so, he cheered up. Following his own train of thought, he said in a careless voice, “While we’re on the subject of surprises, didn’t you once tell me you had a sister?”
Tom knew perfectly well that the dragon knew perfectly well about Sarah, and he gave his friend a look full of suspicion. “What’s Sarah got to do with surprises?”
You eat surprises and you eat sisters, thought the dragon, trying hard to look harmless. What could be simpler than that?
He didn’t speak out loud, however, because Tom’s disapproving gaze made him feel guilty. He could see that it might have been a mistake to introduce the subject of Sarah as he had. He had spoken without thinking, and was sorry for it.
“How was football this afternoon?” It was a lucky question for the dragon to hit on, just as the silence was threatening to turn awkward. Tom’s expression brightened.
“Didn’t I tell you? We drew, nil-nil, so we get one whole point. Are you sure I didn’t tell you about it before?”
“Quite sure,” lied the dragon. He much preferred hearing Tom’s account of the day’s play again to discussing difficult topics such as a dragon’s diet and its relation to young female relatives.

Ten minutes passed happily; then just as Tom was showing the dragon the proper way to head a football (using pillow as an example), a movement above his head brought him to a sudden standstill.
  1. sandwich

  2. toast

  3. bread

  4. soup

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

 Sandwich is the correct answer. It is given here: "The surprise was going to be much tastier than the sandwich." It is the only food mentioned in the passage.

Multiple choice

What did Tom say to the dragon?

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

That evening, Tom told the dragon that he would be getting another surprise the following day.
“Let me guess”, the dragon said, shutting his eyes so tightly that the scales along his forehead buckled and squeaked. “Don’t tell me, don’t tell me…”
“I am not going to”, promised Tom.
The dragon’s eyes flew open, “I know, It’s a … a football.”
Tom laughed and said, “No.” The eyes snapped shut again.
“Don’t tell me, don’t tell me …”
“I won’t.”
“It’s a … firework?”
With his one open eye, the dragon saw Tom shake his head again, smiling.
“You’ll never guess.”
The dragon sighed and unfurrowed his forehead to fix a pleading gaze on Tom’s face. “I give up then. What is it?”
“Wait and see. It’s a surprise.”
“Yes, I know that. But I like to know what my surprises are going to be,” the dragon explained. “It helps me get ready for them.”
Tom relented a little. “I’ll give you a clue, but that’s all. It’s something nice to eat. Not,” he added in a hurry, in case the dragon got the wrong idea, “not what you like best. But something nice.”
Tom reassured him. The surprise was going to be much tastier than the sandwich.
That, thought the dragon, would not be difficult. Finding something less tasty than the sandwich would be a challenge. Even so, he cheered up. Following his own train of thought, he said in a careless voice, “While we’re on the subject of surprises, didn’t you once tell me you had a sister?”
Tom knew perfectly well that the dragon knew perfectly well about Sarah, and he gave his friend a look full of suspicion. “What’s Sarah got to do with surprises?”
You eat surprises and you eat sisters, thought the dragon, trying hard to look harmless. What could be simpler than that?
He didn’t speak out loud, however, because Tom’s disapproving gaze made him feel guilty. He could see that it might have been a mistake to introduce the subject of Sarah as he had. He had spoken without thinking, and was sorry for it.
“How was football this afternoon?” It was a lucky question for the dragon to hit on, just as the silence was threatening to turn awkward. Tom’s expression brightened.
“Didn’t I tell you? We drew, nil-nil, so we get one whole point. Are you sure I didn’t tell you about it before?”
“Quite sure,” lied the dragon. He much preferred hearing Tom’s account of the day’s play again to discussing difficult topics such as a dragon’s diet and its relation to young female relatives.

Ten minutes passed happily; then just as Tom was showing the dragon the proper way to head a football (using pillow as an example), a movement above his head brought him to a sudden standstill.
  1. It's a surprise

  2. it's a wonder

  3. it's disbelief

  4. it's a shock

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

 It is given here: "Wait and see. It’s a surprise.”

Multiple choice

What is the meaning of 'suspicion' as per the context of the passage?

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

That evening, Tom told the dragon that he would be getting another surprise the following day.
“Let me guess”, the dragon said, shutting his eyes so tightly that the scales along his forehead buckled and squeaked. “Don’t tell me, don’t tell me…”
“I am not going to”, promised Tom.
The dragon’s eyes flew open, “I know, It’s a … a football.”
Tom laughed and said, “No.” The eyes snapped shut again.
“Don’t tell me, don’t tell me …”
“I won’t.”
“It’s a … firework?”
With his one open eye, the dragon saw Tom shake his head again, smiling.
“You’ll never guess.”
The dragon sighed and unfurrowed his forehead to fix a pleading gaze on Tom’s face. “I give up then. What is it?”
“Wait and see. It’s a surprise.”
“Yes, I know that. But I like to know what my surprises are going to be,” the dragon explained. “It helps me get ready for them.”
Tom relented a little. “I’ll give you a clue, but that’s all. It’s something nice to eat. Not,” he added in a hurry, in case the dragon got the wrong idea, “not what you like best. But something nice.”
Tom reassured him. The surprise was going to be much tastier than the sandwich.
That, thought the dragon, would not be difficult. Finding something less tasty than the sandwich would be a challenge. Even so, he cheered up. Following his own train of thought, he said in a careless voice, “While we’re on the subject of surprises, didn’t you once tell me you had a sister?”
Tom knew perfectly well that the dragon knew perfectly well about Sarah, and he gave his friend a look full of suspicion. “What’s Sarah got to do with surprises?”
You eat surprises and you eat sisters, thought the dragon, trying hard to look harmless. What could be simpler than that?
He didn’t speak out loud, however, because Tom’s disapproving gaze made him feel guilty. He could see that it might have been a mistake to introduce the subject of Sarah as he had. He had spoken without thinking, and was sorry for it.
“How was football this afternoon?” It was a lucky question for the dragon to hit on, just as the silence was threatening to turn awkward. Tom’s expression brightened.
“Didn’t I tell you? We drew, nil-nil, so we get one whole point. Are you sure I didn’t tell you about it before?”
“Quite sure,” lied the dragon. He much preferred hearing Tom’s account of the day’s play again to discussing difficult topics such as a dragon’s diet and its relation to young female relatives.

Ten minutes passed happily; then just as Tom was showing the dragon the proper way to head a football (using pillow as an example), a movement above his head brought him to a sudden standstill.
  1. Doubt

  2. Hunch

  3. Intuition

  4. Feeling

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

 Here 'suspicion' means a doubt. Tom looked at the dragon doubtfully. Rest of the options are in context with a clue.