English Reading Comprehension

What is the meaning of the phrase train of thought in context to 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.

What is the meaning of 'lucky' 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.

What was the understanding between Tom and 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.

What is the meaning of 'perfectly'?

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.

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

Glyn Severn and the Maharajah of Dour, both about 15 or 16, have been sent together to an English boarding school. Glyn's father has been for many years a Colonel in the Maharajah's father's army, but now the old Maharajah is dead, and his son, known at school as "Singh", has inherited the title. The Colonel is Singh's guardian. There are the usual school boyish rivalries and fights, in particular involving a nasty individual called Slegge. A menagerie owner lives nearby, and among his animals is an elephant who is sometimes in a bad mood. It turns out that Glyn and Singh, who have had dealings with elephants in India, are rather good at bringing it under control.

What is the relationship between Maharaja’s son and Colonel’s son?

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

Glyn Severn and the Maharajah of Dour, both about 15 or 16, have been sent together to an English boarding school. Glyn's father has been for many years a Colonel in the Maharajah's father's army, but now the old Maharajah is dead, and his son, known at school as "Singh", has inherited the title. The Colonel is Singh's guardian. There are the usual school boyish rivalries and fights, in particular involving a nasty individual called Slegge. A menagerie owner lives nearby, and among his animals is an elephant who is sometimes in a bad mood. It turns out that Glyn and Singh, who have had dealings with elephants in India, are rather good at bringing it under control.

What is the meaning of the word 'menagerie' as used in the passage?

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

Glyn Severn and the Maharajah of Dour, both about 15 or 16, have been sent together to an English boarding school. Glyn's father has been for many years a Colonel in the Maharajah's father's army, but now the old Maharajah is dead, and his son, known at school as "Singh", has inherited the title. The Colonel is Singh's guardian. There are the usual school boyish rivalries and fights, in particular involving a nasty individual called Slegge. A menagerie owner lives nearby, and among his animals is an elephant who is sometimes in a bad mood. It turns out that Glyn and Singh, who have had dealings with elephants in India, are rather good at bringing it under control.

Glyn and Singh are good at bringing the ___ under control.

According to the passage, what is the minimum time for which a sermon is given?

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

Fill blank (i).

Directions: Read the passage and fill in the blank with the appropriate word out of the given.

A great part of Arabia is desert. Here there is nothing       (i)      sand and rock. The sand is so hot that you cannot walk over it with your       (ii)      feet in the daytime. Here and there in the desert are springs of water that come from deep down under the ground, so deep that sun cannot dry them up. These springs are _(iii)_ and far apart, but wherever there is one, green grass very soon covers the ground all around it. Soon fig trees and palm trees grow tall and graceful, making a cool, green,       (iv)      place around the spring. Such a place is called an      (v)     . The Arabs who are not in the cities live in the desert all the year round. They live in tents that can be put up and       (vi)     ­­ very easily and quickly so that they can move from one oasis to another, seeking grass and water for their sheep, goats, camels and horses. These desert Arabs eat ripe sweet figs, and also the dates that grow      (vii)      the palm trees; they dry them too and use them as food all the year round. The Arabs have the finest horses in the world. An Arab is very      (viii)      of his riding horse and loves his wife and children. He      (ix)      puts heavy loads upon his horse and often lets him stay in the tent with his family. The camel is much more      (x)      to the Arab than his beautiful horse, however, for he is much larger and stronger. The Arab loads the camel with goods and rides him too, for miles and miles across the desert, just as if he were really the ''Ship of the Desert'', which he is often called.

Fill blank (vii).

Directions: Read the passage and fill in the blank with the appropriate word out of the given.

A great part of Arabia is desert. Here there is nothing       (i)      sand and rock. The sand is so hot that you cannot walk over it with your       (ii)      feet in the daytime. Here and there in the desert are springs of water that come from deep down under the ground, so deep that sun cannot dry them up. These springs are _(iii)_ and far apart, but wherever there is one, green grass very soon covers the ground all around it. Soon fig trees and palm trees grow tall and graceful, making a cool, green,       (iv)      place around the spring. Such a place is called an      (v)     . The Arabs who are not in the cities live in the desert all the year round. They live in tents that can be put up and       (vi)     ­­ very easily and quickly so that they can move from one oasis to another, seeking grass and water for their sheep, goats, camels and horses. These desert Arabs eat ripe sweet figs, and also the dates that grow      (vii)      the palm trees; they dry them too and use them as food all the year round. The Arabs have the finest horses in the world. An Arab is very      (viii)      of his riding horse and loves his wife and children. He      (ix)      puts heavy loads upon his horse and often lets him stay in the tent with his family. The camel is much more      (x)      to the Arab than his beautiful horse, however, for he is much larger and stronger. The Arab loads the camel with goods and rides him too, for miles and miles across the desert, just as if he were really the ''Ship of the Desert'', which he is often called.

Fill blank (iii).

Directions: Read the passage and fill in the blank with the appropriate word out of the given.

A great part of Arabia is desert. Here there is nothing       (i)      sand and rock. The sand is so hot that you cannot walk over it with your       (ii)      feet in the daytime. Here and there in the desert are springs of water that come from deep down under the ground, so deep that sun cannot dry them up. These springs are _(iii)_ and far apart, but wherever there is one, green grass very soon covers the ground all around it. Soon fig trees and palm trees grow tall and graceful, making a cool, green,       (iv)      place around the spring. Such a place is called an      (v)     . The Arabs who are not in the cities live in the desert all the year round. They live in tents that can be put up and       (vi)     ­­ very easily and quickly so that they can move from one oasis to another, seeking grass and water for their sheep, goats, camels and horses. These desert Arabs eat ripe sweet figs, and also the dates that grow      (vii)      the palm trees; they dry them too and use them as food all the year round. The Arabs have the finest horses in the world. An Arab is very      (viii)      of his riding horse and loves his wife and children. He      (ix)      puts heavy loads upon his horse and often lets him stay in the tent with his family. The camel is much more      (x)      to the Arab than his beautiful horse, however, for he is much larger and stronger. The Arab loads the camel with goods and rides him too, for miles and miles across the desert, just as if he were really the ''Ship of the Desert'', which he is often called.

Fill blank (iv).

Directions: Read the passage and fill in the blank with the appropriate word out of the given.

A great part of Arabia is desert. Here there is nothing       (i)      sand and rock. The sand is so hot that you cannot walk over it with your       (ii)      feet in the daytime. Here and there in the desert are springs of water that come from deep down under the ground, so deep that sun cannot dry them up. These springs are _(iii)_ and far apart, but wherever there is one, green grass very soon covers the ground all around it. Soon fig trees and palm trees grow tall and graceful, making a cool, green,       (iv)      place around the spring. Such a place is called an      (v)     . The Arabs who are not in the cities live in the desert all the year round. They live in tents that can be put up and       (vi)     ­­ very easily and quickly so that they can move from one oasis to another, seeking grass and water for their sheep, goats, camels and horses. These desert Arabs eat ripe sweet figs, and also the dates that grow      (vii)      the palm trees; they dry them too and use them as food all the year round. The Arabs have the finest horses in the world. An Arab is very      (viii)      of his riding horse and loves his wife and children. He      (ix)      puts heavy loads upon his horse and often lets him stay in the tent with his family. The camel is much more      (x)      to the Arab than his beautiful horse, however, for he is much larger and stronger. The Arab loads the camel with goods and rides him too, for miles and miles across the desert, just as if he were really the ''Ship of the Desert'', which he is often called.

Fill blank (viii).

Directions: Read the passage and fill in the blank with the appropriate word out of the given.

A great part of Arabia is desert. Here there is nothing       (i)      sand and rock. The sand is so hot that you cannot walk over it with your       (ii)      feet in the daytime. Here and there in the desert are springs of water that come from deep down under the ground, so deep that sun cannot dry them up. These springs are _(iii)_ and far apart, but wherever there is one, green grass very soon covers the ground all around it. Soon fig trees and palm trees grow tall and graceful, making a cool, green,       (iv)      place around the spring. Such a place is called an      (v)     . The Arabs who are not in the cities live in the desert all the year round. They live in tents that can be put up and       (vi)     ­­ very easily and quickly so that they can move from one oasis to another, seeking grass and water for their sheep, goats, camels and horses. These desert Arabs eat ripe sweet figs, and also the dates that grow      (vii)      the palm trees; they dry them too and use them as food all the year round. The Arabs have the finest horses in the world. An Arab is very      (viii)      of his riding horse and loves his wife and children. He      (ix)      puts heavy loads upon his horse and often lets him stay in the tent with his family. The camel is much more      (x)      to the Arab than his beautiful horse, however, for he is much larger and stronger. The Arab loads the camel with goods and rides him too, for miles and miles across the desert, just as if he were really the ''Ship of the Desert'', which he is often called.

Fill blank (x).

Directions: Read the passage and fill in the blank with the appropriate word out of the given.

A great part of Arabia is desert. Here there is nothing       (i)      sand and rock. The sand is so hot that you cannot walk over it with your       (ii)      feet in the daytime. Here and there in the desert are springs of water that come from deep down under the ground, so deep that sun cannot dry them up. These springs are _(iii)_ and far apart, but wherever there is one, green grass very soon covers the ground all around it. Soon fig trees and palm trees grow tall and graceful, making a cool, green,       (iv)      place around the spring. Such a place is called an      (v)     . The Arabs who are not in the cities live in the desert all the year round. They live in tents that can be put up and       (vi)     ­­ very easily and quickly so that they can move from one oasis to another, seeking grass and water for their sheep, goats, camels and horses. These desert Arabs eat ripe sweet figs, and also the dates that grow      (vii)      the palm trees; they dry them too and use them as food all the year round. The Arabs have the finest horses in the world. An Arab is very      (viii)      of his riding horse and loves his wife and children. He      (ix)      puts heavy loads upon his horse and often lets him stay in the tent with his family. The camel is much more      (x)      to the Arab than his beautiful horse, however, for he is much larger and stronger. The Arab loads the camel with goods and rides him too, for miles and miles across the desert, just as if he were really the ''Ship of the Desert'', which he is often called.

Fill blank (ii).

Directions: Read the passage and fill in the blank with the appropriate word out of the given.

A great part of Arabia is desert. Here there is nothing       (i)      sand and rock. The sand is so hot that you cannot walk over it with your       (ii)      feet in the daytime. Here and there in the desert are springs of water that come from deep down under the ground, so deep that sun cannot dry them up. These springs are _(iii)_ and far apart, but wherever there is one, green grass very soon covers the ground all around it. Soon fig trees and palm trees grow tall and graceful, making a cool, green,       (iv)      place around the spring. Such a place is called an      (v)     . The Arabs who are not in the cities live in the desert all the year round. They live in tents that can be put up and       (vi)     ­­ very easily and quickly so that they can move from one oasis to another, seeking grass and water for their sheep, goats, camels and horses. These desert Arabs eat ripe sweet figs, and also the dates that grow      (vii)      the palm trees; they dry them too and use them as food all the year round. The Arabs have the finest horses in the world. An Arab is very      (viii)      of his riding horse and loves his wife and children. He      (ix)      puts heavy loads upon his horse and often lets him stay in the tent with his family. The camel is much more      (x)      to the Arab than his beautiful horse, however, for he is much larger and stronger. The Arab loads the camel with goods and rides him too, for miles and miles across the desert, just as if he were really the ''Ship of the Desert'', which he is often called.