English Language

Reading Comprehension

7,656 Questions
All Explicit Fact Retrieval 2427 Inference and Logical Deduction 1147 Contextual Vocabulary Meaning 845 Main Idea and Title Selection 781 Cause and Effect Extraction 699 Synonym and Antonym Identification 692 Sentence Structure and Discourse Function 336 Author Tone and Perspective 194 Interpretation of Figurative Language 190 Passage Style and Organization 173 Pronoun Referent Identification 49

Reading Comprehension Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following is closest in meaning to ‘scanning’ as used in line 6?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the given question.

1. Panic hovered on the fringes of my brain.
2. I could barely see anything as it was pitch dark.
3. At times the hazy impression of the moon could be seen
4. or was I imagining things?
5. I was flailing my arms and legs in an attempt to warm up,
6. my eyes desperately scanning the lake. After a while I could
7. make out vague tree shapes on the lake’s edge. A few minutes ago,
8. life was smooth sail, as mundane as any other night.
9. I was shivering under layers of cloth but Mino seemed unaffected.

  1. watching

  2. regarding

  3. searching

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

‘Scanning’ means ‘to look carefully at something so as to detect or search something’.

Multiple choice

Which of the following options is closest in meaning to ‘hazy’ as used in line 3?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the given question.

1. Panic hovered on the fringes of my brain.
2. I could barely see anything as it was pitch dark.
3. At times the hazy impression of the moon could be seen
4. or was I imagining things?
5. I was flailing my arms and legs in an attempt to warm up,
6. my eyes desperately scanning the lake. After a while I could
7. make out vague tree shapes on the lake’s edge. A few minutes ago,
8. life was smooth sail, as mundane as any other night.
9. I was shivering under layers of cloth but Mino seemed unaffected.

  1. misty

  2. foggy

  3. vague

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

The word ‘hazy’ means ‘unclear’ or ‘vague’. ‘Misty’ and 'foggy' could be true in the context of weather.

Multiple choice

Which of these options is closest in meaning to ‘mundane’ as used in line 8?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the given question.

1. Panic hovered on the fringes of my brain.
2. I could barely see anything as it was pitch dark.
3. At times the hazy impression of the moon could be seen
4. or was I imagining things?
5. I was flailing my arms and legs in an attempt to warm up,
6. my eyes desperately scanning the lake. After a while I could
7. make out vague tree shapes on the lake’s edge. A few minutes ago,
8. life was smooth sail, as mundane as any other night.
9. I was shivering under layers of cloth but Mino seemed unaffected.

  1. routine

  2. exciting

  3. comfortable

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

‘Mundane’ means ‘routine’ or ‘ordinary’.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace ‘flailing’ as used in line 5?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the given question.

1. Panic hovered on the fringes of my brain.
2. I could barely see anything as it was pitch dark.
3. At times the hazy impression of the moon could be seen
4. or was I imagining things?
5. I was flailing my arms and legs in an attempt to warm up,
6. my eyes desperately scanning the lake. After a while I could
7. make out vague tree shapes on the lake’s edge. A few minutes ago,
8. life was smooth sail, as mundane as any other night.
9. I was shivering under layers of cloth but Mino seemed unaffected.

  1. waving wildly

  2. shaking worriedly

  3. rubbing vigorously

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

The word ‘flailing’ means ‘waving or swinging wildly’.

Multiple choice

What can be the best title of the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the given question.

We can see our forests vanishing, our water-powers going to waste, our soil being carried by floods into the sea; and the end of our coal and our iron is in sight. But our larger wastes of human effort, which go on every day through such of our acts as are blundering, ill-directed; or inefficient, a lack of “national efficiency,” are less visible, less tangible and are but vaguely appreciated.
We can see and feel the waste of material things. Awkward, inefficient or ill-directed movements of men, however, leave nothing visible or tangible behind them. Their appreciation calls for an act of memory, an effort of the imagination. And for this reason, even though our daily loss from this source is greater than from our waste of material things, the one has stirred us deeply, while the other has moved us but little.
As yet there has been no public agitation for “greater national efficiency”, no meetings have been called to consider how this is to be brought about. And still there are signs that the need for greater efficiency is widely felt. The search for better, for more competent men, was never more vigorous than it is now. And more than ever before is the demand for competent men in excess of the supply.
What we are all looking for, however, is the readymade, competent man; the man whom some one else has trained. It is only when we fully realise that our duty, as well as our opportunity, lies in systematically cooperating to train and to make this competent man, instead of in hunting for a man whom someone else has trained, that we shall be on the road to national efficiency.

  1. The Importance of National Efficiency

  2. Controlling the Wastage

  3. Achieving National Efficiency

  4. Agitating for Greater Efficiency
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The whole passage stresses how we can achieve efficiency.

Multiple choice

What is the main point suggested by the author?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the given question.

We can see our forests vanishing, our water-powers going to waste, our soil being carried by floods into the sea; and the end of our coal and our iron is in sight. But our larger wastes of human effort, which go on every day through such of our acts as are blundering, ill-directed; or inefficient, a lack of “national efficiency,” are less visible, less tangible and are but vaguely appreciated.
We can see and feel the waste of material things. Awkward, inefficient or ill-directed movements of men, however, leave nothing visible or tangible behind them. Their appreciation calls for an act of memory, an effort of the imagination. And for this reason, even though our daily loss from this source is greater than from our waste of material things, the one has stirred us deeply, while the other has moved us but little.
As yet there has been no public agitation for “greater national efficiency”, no meetings have been called to consider how this is to be brought about. And still there are signs that the need for greater efficiency is widely felt. The search for better, for more competent men, was never more vigorous than it is now. And more than ever before is the demand for competent men in excess of the supply.
What we are all looking for, however, is the readymade, competent man; the man whom some one else has trained. It is only when we fully realise that our duty, as well as our opportunity, lies in systematically cooperating to train and to make this competent man, instead of in hunting for a man whom someone else has trained, that we shall be on the road to national efficiency.

  1. Environment depletion is rampant.

  2. Human efficiency is rampant.

  3. We need to compare human inefficiency with environment depletion.

  4. We need a new approach to attain human efficiency.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

All the other options are mentioned, but the most important thing is the new approach to human efficiency.

Multiple choice

Which expression in the passage reveals that the human effort is wasted?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the given question.

We can see our forests vanishing, our water-powers going to waste, our soil being carried by floods into the sea; and the end of our coal and our iron is in sight. But our larger wastes of human effort, which go on every day through such of our acts as are blundering, ill-directed; or inefficient, a lack of “national efficiency,” are less visible, less tangible and are but vaguely appreciated.
We can see and feel the waste of material things. Awkward, inefficient or ill-directed movements of men, however, leave nothing visible or tangible behind them. Their appreciation calls for an act of memory, an effort of the imagination. And for this reason, even though our daily loss from this source is greater than from our waste of material things, the one has stirred us deeply, while the other has moved us but little.
As yet there has been no public agitation for “greater national efficiency”, no meetings have been called to consider how this is to be brought about. And still there are signs that the need for greater efficiency is widely felt. The search for better, for more competent men, was never more vigorous than it is now. And more than ever before is the demand for competent men in excess of the supply.
What we are all looking for, however, is the readymade, competent man; the man whom some one else has trained. It is only when we fully realise that our duty, as well as our opportunity, lies in systematically cooperating to train and to make this competent man, instead of in hunting for a man whom someone else has trained, that we shall be on the road to national efficiency.

  1. Less visible

  2. Less tangible

  3. Ill-directed movements

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

It is not the question of less visible or less tangible or less appreciated.

Multiple choice

According to the author, what will make a competent man?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the given question.

We can see our forests vanishing, our water-powers going to waste, our soil being carried by floods into the sea; and the end of our coal and our iron is in sight. But our larger wastes of human effort, which go on every day through such of our acts as are blundering, ill-directed; or inefficient, a lack of “national efficiency,” are less visible, less tangible and are but vaguely appreciated.
We can see and feel the waste of material things. Awkward, inefficient or ill-directed movements of men, however, leave nothing visible or tangible behind them. Their appreciation calls for an act of memory, an effort of the imagination. And for this reason, even though our daily loss from this source is greater than from our waste of material things, the one has stirred us deeply, while the other has moved us but little.
As yet there has been no public agitation for “greater national efficiency”, no meetings have been called to consider how this is to be brought about. And still there are signs that the need for greater efficiency is widely felt. The search for better, for more competent men, was never more vigorous than it is now. And more than ever before is the demand for competent men in excess of the supply.
What we are all looking for, however, is the readymade, competent man; the man whom some one else has trained. It is only when we fully realise that our duty, as well as our opportunity, lies in systematically cooperating to train and to make this competent man, instead of in hunting for a man whom someone else has trained, that we shall be on the road to national efficiency.

  1. He must be competent.

  2. He must be well-trained.

  3. He must have experience to handle all situations.

  4. He must be willing to be trained.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Instead of pre-trained people, such men will be more efficient as can be trained and as are willing to be trained.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is correct?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the given question.

We can see our forests vanishing, our water-powers going to waste, our soil being carried by floods into the sea; and the end of our coal and our iron is in sight. But our larger wastes of human effort, which go on every day through such of our acts as are blundering, ill-directed; or inefficient, a lack of “national efficiency,” are less visible, less tangible and are but vaguely appreciated.
We can see and feel the waste of material things. Awkward, inefficient or ill-directed movements of men, however, leave nothing visible or tangible behind them. Their appreciation calls for an act of memory, an effort of the imagination. And for this reason, even though our daily loss from this source is greater than from our waste of material things, the one has stirred us deeply, while the other has moved us but little.
As yet there has been no public agitation for “greater national efficiency”, no meetings have been called to consider how this is to be brought about. And still there are signs that the need for greater efficiency is widely felt. The search for better, for more competent men, was never more vigorous than it is now. And more than ever before is the demand for competent men in excess of the supply.
What we are all looking for, however, is the readymade, competent man; the man whom some one else has trained. It is only when we fully realise that our duty, as well as our opportunity, lies in systematically cooperating to train and to make this competent man, instead of in hunting for a man whom someone else has trained, that we shall be on the road to national efficiency.

  1. Environmental damage is not visible to many people.

  2. There is increased effort to increase human efficiency.

  3. There is need for re-training man and not relying on trained people.

  4. There are sufficient competent men in the society.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

“Our opportunity lies in systematically cooperating to train and to make this competent man, instead of in hunting for a man whom someone else has trained.”

Multiple choice

Which of the following is/are a highly precious resource?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the given question.

We can see our forests vanishing, our water-powers going to waste, our soil being carried by floods into the sea; and the end of our coal and our iron is in sight. But our larger wastes of human effort, which go on every day through such of our acts as are blundering, ill-directed; or inefficient, a lack of “national efficiency,” are less visible, less tangible and are but vaguely appreciated.
We can see and feel the waste of material things. Awkward, inefficient or ill-directed movements of men, however, leave nothing visible or tangible behind them. Their appreciation calls for an act of memory, an effort of the imagination. And for this reason, even though our daily loss from this source is greater than from our waste of material things, the one has stirred us deeply, while the other has moved us but little.
As yet there has been no public agitation for “greater national efficiency”, no meetings have been called to consider how this is to be brought about. And still there are signs that the need for greater efficiency is widely felt. The search for better, for more competent men, was never more vigorous than it is now. And more than ever before is the demand for competent men in excess of the supply.
What we are all looking for, however, is the readymade, competent man; the man whom some one else has trained. It is only when we fully realise that our duty, as well as our opportunity, lies in systematically cooperating to train and to make this competent man, instead of in hunting for a man whom someone else has trained, that we shall be on the road to national efficiency.

  1. Forest wealth and water

  2. Human effort

  3. Soils and minerals

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

All the resources are mentioned in the first paragraph, but human resource, as per the passage, is the most precious.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question.

India is a tropical country. Here summer season is felt more prominently than any other season. Ordinarily, we begin to feel the summer heat from the month of April to the second week of June. This season is remarkable for the heat. People suffer from terrible heat right from the morning till the midnight. In the morning, people feel a gentle breeze. Then the sun rises and the horror of the heat commences. All the activities of the people are done with a little comfort only in the morning time. As the sun rises, heat is felt. People are afraid to go out. Due to terrible heat, streets and roads become lonely. Those who take up some journey in day time get tired very soon. Very often they are affected by the sun-stroke. Dehydration occurs as body sweats heavily. If we do not take plenty of water, we break down.
The mid-day is the most horrible and unbearable part of the day. Birds and other animals take rest. Sometimes, wind blows carrying hot particles of dust. Sometimes, there is no wind. There is only radiation and heat. People feel uncomfortable even at their home. They sit under the shade of trees. Still there is no relief from the heat. They frequently feel thirsty. People keep their cattle confined to the shed. 
In summer season, there is the fear of fire accident. Because of the shortage of water, the seriousness of the accident is felt more. Very often fire becomes uncontrollable. It destroys both life and property. Schools and colleges remain closed for summer vacation. Government offices function in the morning only.

  1. If we don’t consume enough water, we can get dehydrated.

  2. Children should eat cool ice creams to beat the heat.

  3. We must eat lots of fruits and vegetables during summers.

  4. The congestion on the roads increases the heat.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

None of the other three is mentioned in the passage.

Multiple choice

Why do fire accidents become more serious in summer?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question.

India is a tropical country. Here summer season is felt more prominently than any other season. Ordinarily, we begin to feel the summer heat from the month of April to the second week of June. This season is remarkable for the heat. People suffer from terrible heat right from the morning till the midnight. In the morning, people feel a gentle breeze. Then the sun rises and the horror of the heat commences. All the activities of the people are done with a little comfort only in the morning time. As the sun rises, heat is felt. People are afraid to go out. Due to terrible heat, streets and roads become lonely. Those who take up some journey in day time get tired very soon. Very often they are affected by the sun-stroke. Dehydration occurs as body sweats heavily. If we do not take plenty of water, we break down.
The mid-day is the most horrible and unbearable part of the day. Birds and other animals take rest. Sometimes, wind blows carrying hot particles of dust. Sometimes, there is no wind. There is only radiation and heat. People feel uncomfortable even at their home. They sit under the shade of trees. Still there is no relief from the heat. They frequently feel thirsty. People keep their cattle confined to the shed. 
In summer season, there is the fear of fire accident. Because of the shortage of water, the seriousness of the accident is felt more. Very often fire becomes uncontrollable. It destroys both life and property. Schools and colleges remain closed for summer vacation. Government offices function in the morning only.

  1. Fire is uncontrollable in summers.

  2. Water shortage aggravates the problem.

  3. Due to heat, things catch fire easily.

  4. It becomes hot during the season.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

There is water shortage; so fire spreads easily.

Multiple choice

What can be the title of the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question.

India is a tropical country. Here summer season is felt more prominently than any other season. Ordinarily, we begin to feel the summer heat from the month of April to the second week of June. This season is remarkable for the heat. People suffer from terrible heat right from the morning till the midnight. In the morning, people feel a gentle breeze. Then the sun rises and the horror of the heat commences. All the activities of the people are done with a little comfort only in the morning time. As the sun rises, heat is felt. People are afraid to go out. Due to terrible heat, streets and roads become lonely. Those who take up some journey in day time get tired very soon. Very often they are affected by the sun-stroke. Dehydration occurs as body sweats heavily. If we do not take plenty of water, we break down.
The mid-day is the most horrible and unbearable part of the day. Birds and other animals take rest. Sometimes, wind blows carrying hot particles of dust. Sometimes, there is no wind. There is only radiation and heat. People feel uncomfortable even at their home. They sit under the shade of trees. Still there is no relief from the heat. They frequently feel thirsty. People keep their cattle confined to the shed. 
In summer season, there is the fear of fire accident. Because of the shortage of water, the seriousness of the accident is felt more. Very often fire becomes uncontrollable. It destroys both life and property. Schools and colleges remain closed for summer vacation. Government offices function in the morning only.

  1. The Havoc of Summers

  2. The Importance of Summers

  3. The Problems of Summers

  4. The Summer Season
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The whole passage describes the season and how it disturbs the life of people in India. The passage shows summers in very poor light and shows how it puts life into disarray.

Multiple choice

How does the shade of trees help during the day?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question.

India is a tropical country. Here summer season is felt more prominently than any other season. Ordinarily, we begin to feel the summer heat from the month of April to the second week of June. This season is remarkable for the heat. People suffer from terrible heat right from the morning till the midnight. In the morning, people feel a gentle breeze. Then the sun rises and the horror of the heat commences. All the activities of the people are done with a little comfort only in the morning time. As the sun rises, heat is felt. People are afraid to go out. Due to terrible heat, streets and roads become lonely. Those who take up some journey in day time get tired very soon. Very often they are affected by the sun-stroke. Dehydration occurs as body sweats heavily. If we do not take plenty of water, we break down.
The mid-day is the most horrible and unbearable part of the day. Birds and other animals take rest. Sometimes, wind blows carrying hot particles of dust. Sometimes, there is no wind. There is only radiation and heat. People feel uncomfortable even at their home. They sit under the shade of trees. Still there is no relief from the heat. They frequently feel thirsty. People keep their cattle confined to the shed. 
In summer season, there is the fear of fire accident. Because of the shortage of water, the seriousness of the accident is felt more. Very often fire becomes uncontrollable. It destroys both life and property. Schools and colleges remain closed for summer vacation. Government offices function in the morning only.

  1. People feel cool under the shade.

  2. It provides little relief.

  3. People can avoid the sun.

  4. People still cannot avoid the sun.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

“Still there is no relief from the heat.” ‘Little relief’ means almost no relief.

Multiple choice

What does the author mean by the expression “remarkable for its heat"?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question.

India is a tropical country. Here summer season is felt more prominently than any other season. Ordinarily, we begin to feel the summer heat from the month of April to the second week of June. This season is remarkable for the heat. People suffer from terrible heat right from the morning till the midnight. In the morning, people feel a gentle breeze. Then the sun rises and the horror of the heat commences. All the activities of the people are done with a little comfort only in the morning time. As the sun rises, heat is felt. People are afraid to go out. Due to terrible heat, streets and roads become lonely. Those who take up some journey in day time get tired very soon. Very often they are affected by the sun-stroke. Dehydration occurs as body sweats heavily. If we do not take plenty of water, we break down.
The mid-day is the most horrible and unbearable part of the day. Birds and other animals take rest. Sometimes, wind blows carrying hot particles of dust. Sometimes, there is no wind. There is only radiation and heat. People feel uncomfortable even at their home. They sit under the shade of trees. Still there is no relief from the heat. They frequently feel thirsty. People keep their cattle confined to the shed. 
In summer season, there is the fear of fire accident. Because of the shortage of water, the seriousness of the accident is felt more. Very often fire becomes uncontrollable. It destroys both life and property. Schools and colleges remain closed for summer vacation. Government offices function in the morning only.

  1. Known for the terrible heat

  2. Known for people’s suffering from morning till midnight

  3. Known for two months of misery

  4. Notable for the heat
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

No suffering or misery can be derived from the phrase.