Reading Comprehension Questions

Multiple choice
  1. deliberately

  2. harmlessly

  3. carelessly

  4. ignorantly

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

An insidious problem is one that proceeds in a gradual, subtle way with harmful effects, but in a manner that is not immediately apparent or noticeable. The passage notes that gender bias 'causes very few people to stand up and take notice' - meaning people are not aware of it, not acting deliberately.

Multiple choice
  1. boys need preferential treatment

  2. the school system enforces sexual stereotypes

  3. the curriculum is gender-biased

  4. girls need more attention while teaching

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

The passage states that gender bias is 'part of the hidden curriculum of lessons taught implicitly to students through the everyday functioning of their classroom.' The hidden curriculum refers to the implicit lessons - not the official content but the unwritten, unofficial lessons about values, perspectives, and biases.

Multiple choice
  1. boys get more school hours

  2. course books are prescribed differently for boys and girls

  3. teachers disrespect girls

  4. learning is not a balanced process between the genders

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

The passage concludes that gender bias creates 'an inequitable education for boys and girls.' 'Inequitable' means unfair or unequal. 'Learning is not a balanced process between the genders' directly captures this unfairness. The other options are either unsupported (boys don't get more hours), not mentioned (different course books), or too extreme (teachers don't 'disrespect' girls as stated).

Multiple choice
  1. animated

  2. clearly

  3. implicit

  4. distorted

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

The passage describes 'lessons taught implicitly to students' through 'hidden curriculum.' 'Implicit' means implied or indirect - the opposite of 'demonstrated' which means shown clearly or explicitly. 'Animated' (lively), 'clearly' (obviously), and 'distorted' (warped) don't contrast with demonstrated in meaning.

Multiple choice
  1. causing conform to environmental demands

  2. succumbing to psychological pressures

  3. moulding a child to conform to certain norms of behaviour

  4. learning to accept moral values of a society

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

The passage discusses how 'socialisation patterns' lead to 'distorted perceptions of gender roles' in classrooms. Socialisation here means shaping children to follow societal norms. Option C 'moulding a child to conform to certain norms of behaviour' best defines this process. Options A, B, and D misrepresent socialisation as purely about environmental pressures, psychological submission, or moral values.

Multiple choice
  1. correcting errors orally during the class

  2. reinforcement of good behaviour among learners

  3. giving special coaching for quiet students

  4. stopping a negative trend in learning achievement

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

In educational contexts, remediation means correcting student errors or addressing learning gaps. The passage mentions boys receiving 'praise or remediation' - correction alongside acknowledgment. Option A 'correcting errors orally during the class' matches this practice. Options B, C, and D describe reinforcement, special help, or stopping trends, which aren't the primary meaning of remediation.

Multiple choice
  1. customary

  2. diminutive

  3. precise

  4. special

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

In the context, 'general responses' means ordinary, common, or non-specific answers. 'Customary' means usual or traditional, serving as a synonym for general in this sense. 'Diminutive' (tiny), 'precise' (exact), and 'special' (particular) are antonyms or unrelated to general's meaning here.

Multiple choice
  1. school curriculum supports the girl child

  2. boys are more intelligent and lively

  3. teachers balance the bias

  4. there is no bias in schools

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

The passage describes 'distorted perceptions of gender roles' where boys are seen as more animated and lively, and receive more teacher attention. This reflects a biased perception that boys are naturally more intelligent and dynamic than girls. Options A, C, and D incorrectly suggest the passage supports girls, claims bias is balanced, or denies bias exists - all contrary to the text.

Multiple choice

The passage can be called

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question that follows by selecting the most appropriate option.
1.       Some researchers suggest that emotional intelligence can be leaned and strengthened, while others claim it is an inborn characteristic. The purpose for developing our emotional literacy is to precisely identify and communicate our feelings. When we do this we are helping nature fulfill its design for our feelings. We must know how we feel in order to be able to fill our emotional needs. And we must communicate our feelings in order to get the emotional support and understanding we need from others, as well as to show our emotional support and understanding to them.
2.         Also, one of the first steps to developing our emotional intelligence is to improve our emotional literacy. In other words, to improve our ability to identify our feelings by their specific names -, and the more specific we can be, the better. In the English language we have thousands of words which describe and identify our emotions, we just don't use many of them. If you are interested in working on your emotional literacy, the first step is to start using simple, three word sentences such as these : I feel sad. I feel motivated. I feel offended. I feel appreciated. I feel hurt. I feel disrespected. When we talk about our feelings using three word sentences we are sending what have been called "I messages". On the other hand, when we say things like ''You make me so jealous" we are sending a "you message". These "you messages" typically put the other person on the defensive, which hurts communication and relationships rather than helping.

  1. descriptive

  2. narrative

  3. discursive

  4. factual

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

The passage systematically discusses and explains emotional intelligence, emotional literacy, and communication patterns. It presents arguments, compares different approaches (I messages vs you messages), and explores a topic in depth rather than simply telling a story (narrative), presenting facts (factual), or painting a picture (descriptive). The discursive style is evident in how it examines ideas from multiple angles.

Multiple choice

An 'inborn characteristic' referred here is one's ability to

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question that follows by selecting the most appropriate option.
1.       Some researchers suggest that emotional intelligence can be leaned and strengthened, while others claim it is an inborn characteristic. The purpose for developing our emotional literacy is to precisely identify and communicate our feelings. When we do this we are helping nature fulfill its design for our feelings. We must know how we feel in order to be able to fill our emotional needs. And we must communicate our feelings in order to get the emotional support and understanding we need from others, as well as to show our emotional support and understanding to them.
2.         Also, one of the first steps to developing our emotional intelligence is to improve our emotional literacy. In other words, to improve our ability to identify our feelings by their specific names -, and the more specific we can be, the better. In the English language we have thousands of words which describe and identify our emotions, we just don't use many of them. If you are interested in working on your emotional literacy, the first step is to start using simple, three word sentences such as these : I feel sad. I feel motivated. I feel offended. I feel appreciated. I feel hurt. I feel disrespected. When we talk about our feelings using three word sentences we are sending what have been called "I messages". On the other hand, when we say things like ''You make me so jealous" we are sending a "you message". These "you messages" typically put the other person on the defensive, which hurts communication and relationships rather than helping.

  1. understand and evaluate one's surroundings emotionally

  2. give a calculated emotional response at all times

  3. respond to a stimulus in the environment

  4. be considerate

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

The passage contrasts emotional intelligence as something that can be learned versus something that is an 'inborn characteristic'. An inborn characteristic is something innate - you are born with it. Option C describes this as an ability to 'respond to a stimulus in the environment', which captures the idea of an innate, natural response. Option A suggests understanding and evaluating, which implies learned skills. Option B suggests calculated responses, which also implies learning. Option D (being considerate) is a behavior that can be learned.

Multiple choice

Here, 'emotional support' suggests

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question that follows by selecting the most appropriate option.
1.       Some researchers suggest that emotional intelligence can be leaned and strengthened, while others claim it is an inborn characteristic. The purpose for developing our emotional literacy is to precisely identify and communicate our feelings. When we do this we are helping nature fulfill its design for our feelings. We must know how we feel in order to be able to fill our emotional needs. And we must communicate our feelings in order to get the emotional support and understanding we need from others, as well as to show our emotional support and understanding to them.
2.         Also, one of the first steps to developing our emotional intelligence is to improve our emotional literacy. In other words, to improve our ability to identify our feelings by their specific names -, and the more specific we can be, the better. In the English language we have thousands of words which describe and identify our emotions, we just don't use many of them. If you are interested in working on your emotional literacy, the first step is to start using simple, three word sentences such as these : I feel sad. I feel motivated. I feel offended. I feel appreciated. I feel hurt. I feel disrespected. When we talk about our feelings using three word sentences we are sending what have been called "I messages". On the other hand, when we say things like ''You make me so jealous" we are sending a "you message". These "you messages" typically put the other person on the defensive, which hurts communication and relationships rather than helping.

  1. wise counsel

  2. sympathy

  3. pity

  4. tolerance

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

The passage mentions getting 'emotional support and understanding we need from others, as well as to show our emotional support and understanding to them'. In the context of sharing feelings and receiving understanding, 'sympathy' best captures the idea of emotional support - feeling concern for someone else's situation. 'Wise counsel' implies advice-giving which isn't mentioned. 'Pity' has condescending undertones. 'Tolerance' suggests putting up with someone rather than actively supporting them.

Multiple choice

In the context, 'defensive' means

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question that follows by selecting the most appropriate option.
1.       Some researchers suggest that emotional intelligence can be leaned and strengthened, while others claim it is an inborn characteristic. The purpose for developing our emotional literacy is to precisely identify and communicate our feelings. When we do this we are helping nature fulfill its design for our feelings. We must know how we feel in order to be able to fill our emotional needs. And we must communicate our feelings in order to get the emotional support and understanding we need from others, as well as to show our emotional support and understanding to them.
2.         Also, one of the first steps to developing our emotional intelligence is to improve our emotional literacy. In other words, to improve our ability to identify our feelings by their specific names -, and the more specific we can be, the better. In the English language we have thousands of words which describe and identify our emotions, we just don't use many of them. If you are interested in working on your emotional literacy, the first step is to start using simple, three word sentences such as these : I feel sad. I feel motivated. I feel offended. I feel appreciated. I feel hurt. I feel disrespected. When we talk about our feelings using three word sentences we are sending what have been called "I messages". On the other hand, when we say things like ''You make me so jealous" we are sending a "you message". These "you messages" typically put the other person on the defensive, which hurts communication and relationships rather than helping.

  1. attacking an injustice

  2. expressing anger

  3. supporting what is right

  4. supporting a point of view

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

In the context of 'you messages', the passage states that they put the other person on the defensive, which hurts relationships. This implies that the person being addressed feels attacked or criticized, leading to an emotional reaction like anger or a need to protect oneself.

Multiple choice

''You messages" are usually about

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question that follows by selecting the most appropriate option.
1.       Some researchers suggest that emotional intelligence can be leaned and strengthened, while others claim it is an inborn characteristic. The purpose for developing our emotional literacy is to precisely identify and communicate our feelings. When we do this we are helping nature fulfill its design for our feelings. We must know how we feel in order to be able to fill our emotional needs. And we must communicate our feelings in order to get the emotional support and understanding we need from others, as well as to show our emotional support and understanding to them.
2.         Also, one of the first steps to developing our emotional intelligence is to improve our emotional literacy. In other words, to improve our ability to identify our feelings by their specific names -, and the more specific we can be, the better. In the English language we have thousands of words which describe and identify our emotions, we just don't use many of them. If you are interested in working on your emotional literacy, the first step is to start using simple, three word sentences such as these : I feel sad. I feel motivated. I feel offended. I feel appreciated. I feel hurt. I feel disrespected. When we talk about our feelings using three word sentences we are sending what have been called "I messages". On the other hand, when we say things like ''You make me so jealous" we are sending a "you message". These "you messages" typically put the other person on the defensive, which hurts communication and relationships rather than helping.

  1. blaming others

  2. sympathising with the listener

  3. looking at issues from others' viewpoint

  4. blaming yourself

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

The passage explicitly states: 'when we say things like You make me so jealous we are sending a you message. These you messages typically put the other person on the defensive'. When you tell someone 'You make me...' you are attributing responsibility and blame to them for your feelings. This is about blaming others rather than sympathizing, seeing others' viewpoints, or blaming yourself.

Multiple choice

'Working on your emotional literacy' means to

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question that follows by selecting the most appropriate option.
1.       Some researchers suggest that emotional intelligence can be leaned and strengthened, while others claim it is an inborn characteristic. The purpose for developing our emotional literacy is to precisely identify and communicate our feelings. When we do this we are helping nature fulfill its design for our feelings. We must know how we feel in order to be able to fill our emotional needs. And we must communicate our feelings in order to get the emotional support and understanding we need from others, as well as to show our emotional support and understanding to them.
2.         Also, one of the first steps to developing our emotional intelligence is to improve our emotional literacy. In other words, to improve our ability to identify our feelings by their specific names -, and the more specific we can be, the better. In the English language we have thousands of words which describe and identify our emotions, we just don't use many of them. If you are interested in working on your emotional literacy, the first step is to start using simple, three word sentences such as these : I feel sad. I feel motivated. I feel offended. I feel appreciated. I feel hurt. I feel disrespected. When we talk about our feelings using three word sentences we are sending what have been called "I messages". On the other hand, when we say things like ''You make me so jealous" we are sending a "you message". These "you messages" typically put the other person on the defensive, which hurts communication and relationships rather than helping.

  1. improve one's attitude and communication skills

  2. control verbal or physical outbursts

  3. adopt a friendly attitude while meeting strangers

  4. work with a counsellor to support your emotional behaviour

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

The passage describes working on emotional literacy as learning to 'identify our feelings by their specific names' and using 'I feel...' sentences. This is about being aware of and expressing emotions appropriately rather than suppressing them (which could lead to outbursts). Option B (control verbal or physical outbursts) relates to the benefit of developing emotional literacy - by identifying and expressing feelings appropriately, you can avoid inappropriate outbursts. Option A is too broad. Option C is too specific to strangers. Option D incorrectly assumes a counselor is required.

Multiple choice
  1. strong winds blowing that day

  2. winds causing unexpected storm

  3. not the time of the year for such windy conditions

  4. windy conditions that change the climate

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

'Unseasonal' means not typical for the season - occurring at a time of year when it wouldn't normally be expected. The winds are described as 'unseasonal' because they are occurring at a time when such windy conditions wouldn't normally happen. Option C captures this perfectly: 'not the time of the year for such windy conditions'. Option A just describes them as strong winds, which doesn't capture 'unseasonal'. Option B suggests a storm, which isn't mentioned. Option D suggests changing climate, which is too extreme.