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 statements would illustrate the metaphor in the passage?

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

As the tortoise ducks its feet and head inside the shell and does not come out even though you may break the shell into pieces, even so the character of the man who has control over his motives and organs, is unchangeably established. He controls his own inner forces, and nothing can draw them out against his will. By this continuous reflex of good thoughts and good impressions moving over the surface of the mind, the tendency to do good becomes strong, and in consequence, we are able to control the Indriyas or sense organs.

  1. Man is slow-moving and slow-witted

  2. A man of character refuses to be influenced by outside compulsions against his will

  3. Man confines himself to a life of isolation

  4. Man cannot have a good character or strong will
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The metaphor of the tortoise and its shell has been used by the author to symbolise the strength of character of a man who has control over his intellect and his inner organs. The first line of the passage is a testimonial to the strong will of a tortoise who will not come out of its shell if it has decided against it, no matter the consequences. Similarly, the author wants to emphasize the strength of character of a man with strong self control.

Multiple choice

Lorimer was a good editor because

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

During his early days as editor of the popular magazine, Saturday Evening Post. George Lorimer did much of the reading of unsolicited stories. This meant endless hours of sitting at the desk, pouring over big stacks of manuscripts, trying to decide which were worthy of publication and which were not. Lorimer became an expert at making these decisions.

One day he received a huffy letter from a would-be writer who had a complaint. “Last week you rejected my story,” she wrote, “I am positive you did not read it, because, as a test, I pasted together pages 14, 15 and 16. The manuscript came back with the pages still pasted. There is no question in my mind but that you are a sham and a disgrace to your profession.”

Lorimer’s reply was succinct: “Madam, at breakfast when I crack open an egg, I don’t have to eat the whole egg to know it is bad.”

  1. his reply to the angry writer was polite

  2. he apologized for rejecting the story without reading it

  3. he could find the worth of a story with a little effort

  4. he was prompt, in writing letters
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

We can glean this from Lorimer's reply where he says that he does not have to eat the whole egg to know it’s bad.

Multiple choice

The author uses the phrase ‘inner forces’ in this passage. Which of the following would be its most correct meaning in the context?

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

As the tortoise ducks its feet and head inside the shell and does not come out even though you may break the shell into pieces, even so the character of the man who has control over his motives and organs, is unchangeably established. He controls his own inner forces, and nothing can draw them out against his will. By this continuous reflex of good thoughts and good impressions moving over the surface of the mind, the tendency to do good becomes strong, and in consequence, we are able to control the Indriyas or sense organs.

  1. Emotional disturbances in man

  2. Strength of the internal organs

  3. Forces produced by sense organs

  4. Reflection of the intellect
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The third line of the passage supports this conclusion because it states that by the continuous reflex of good thoughts and good impressions moving over the surface of mind, the tendency to do good becomes strong. Thus it becomes clear that the passage is about the intellect and mind and not about the sense organs. It also becomes clear that it is about the strength of the intellect and not emotional disturbances.

Multiple choice

The author of the above passage says that the classics and the Bible were read by his ancestors

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

Literature and history are twin sisters, inseparable. In the days of our own grandfathers, and for many generations before them, the basis of education was the Greek and Roman classics for the educated, and the Bible for all. In the classical authors and in the Bible, history and literature were closely intervolved, and it is that circumstance which made the old form of education so stimulating to the thought and imagination of our ancestors. To read the classical authors and to read the Bible was to read at once the history and the literature of the three greatest races of the ancient world. No doubt the classics and the Bible were read in a manner we now consider uncritical but they were read according to the best tenets of the time and formed a great humanistic education. Today the study both of the classics and of the Bible has dwindled to small proportions. What has taken their place? To some extent the vacuum has been filled by a more correct knowledge of history and a wider range of literature. But I fear that the greater part of it has been filled up with rubbish.

  1. methodically and with discretion.

  2. in a manner that broadened their view of life

  3. wiih great emphasis on their literary values

  4. without critical discrimination but in the light of their humanistic culture
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The fifth sentence of the passage states this and says clearly that they were read according to the best tenets of the time and formed a great humanistic education.

Multiple choice

Lorimer read the stories

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

During his early days as editor of the popular magazine, Saturday Evening Post. George Lorimer did much of the reading of unsolicited stories. This meant endless hours of sitting at the desk, pouring over big stacks of manuscripts, trying to decide which were worthy of publication and which were not. Lorimer became an expert at making these decisions.

One day he received a huffy letter from a would-be writer who had a complaint. “Last week you rejected my story,” she wrote, “I am positive you did not read it, because, as a test, I pasted together pages 14, 15 and 16. The manuscript came back with the pages still pasted. There is no question in my mind but that you are a sham and a disgrace to your profession.”

Lorimer’s reply was succinct: “Madam, at breakfast when I crack open an egg, I don’t have to eat the whole egg to know it is bad.”

  1. because he enjoyed reading -them

  2. in order to publish them

  3. only to find fault with them

  4. in order to review them
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The second sentence of the passage states this when we are told of Lorimer's routine as an editor of a popular magazine. He read the unsolicited stories... trying to decide which were worthy for publication and which were not. Thus he reviewed the stories to decide if they were worthy for publication.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements best reflects the underlying tone of the passage?

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

Literature and history are twin sisters, inseparable. In the days of our own grandfathers, and for many generations before them, the basis of education was the Greek and Roman classics for the educated, and the Bible for all. In the classical authors and in the Bible, history and literature were closely intervolved, and it is that circumstance which made the old form of education so stimulating to the thought and imagination of our ancestors. To read the classical authors and to read the Bible was to read at once the history and the literature of the three greatest races of the ancient world. No doubt the classics and the Bible were read in a manner we now consider uncritical but they were read according to the best tenets of the time and formed a great humanistic education. Today the study both of the classics and of the Bible has dwindled to small proportions. What has taken their place? To some extent the vacuum has been filled by a more correct knowledge of history and a wider range of literature. But I fear that the greater part of it has been filled up with rubbish.

  1. Literature and history are mutually exclusive

  2. Literature and history are complementary to each other

  3. The study of literature is meaningless without knowledge of history

  4. Literature and history are inseparably linked together in the classics and the Bible
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Literature and history are inseparably linked together in the classics and the Bible. The author clearly states this in the third sentence of the passage. In the classical authors and in the Bible, history and literature were closely intervolved. Intervolved means twisted together or closely linked. This clearly shows they are not mutually exclusive or even complementary but inseparably linked.

Multiple choice

The present satisfactory position in regard to food and cloth is due to

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

One of the most serious problems confronting our country is that of a fast-growing population. In fact, it is at the root of many other problems. At the moment, thanks to planning, we are able to produce food and cloth sufficient for our people and even in some excess. But if the population continues to grow at this rate; it will not be long before the surplus turns into a bare minimum and even a deficit. The position in regard to accommodation is even now far from satisfactory in spite of our efforts.

  1. the fact that the population has been controlled

  2. our good luck

  3. good rainfall

  4. our economic planning
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The third sentence of the passage supports this conclusion. The author clearly says ‘thanks to planning we are able to produce food and cloth sufficient for our people and even in some excess’.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements may be assumed to reflect the central theme of the passage?

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

As the tortoise ducks its feet and head inside the shell and does not come out even though you may break the shell into pieces, even so the character of the man who has control over his motives and organs, is unchangeably established. He controls his own inner forces, and nothing can draw them out against his will. By this continuous reflex of good thoughts and good impressions moving over the surface of the mind, the tendency to do good becomes strong, and in consequence, we are able to control the Indriyas or sense organs.

  1. Good thoughts lead to the control of the sense organs

  2. Control of the sense organs leads to good thoughts

  3. Character, though established, may be disturbed by outside forces

  4. No man can achieve success in destroying the inner forces
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The last line of the passage clearly states this and supports this conclusion. The author states that by the continuous flow of good thoughts and good impressions moving over the surface of mind, the tendency to do good becomes strong and as a consequence, we are able to control our inner sense organs.

Multiple choice

Lorimer’s reply was

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

During his early days as editor of the popular magazine, Saturday Evening Post. George Lorimer did much of the reading of unsolicited stories. This meant endless hours of sitting at the desk, pouring over big stacks of manuscripts, trying to decide which were worthy of publication and which were not. Lorimer became an expert at making these decisions.

One day he received a huffy letter from a would-be writer who had a complaint. “Last week you rejected my story,” she wrote, “I am positive you did not read it, because, as a test, I pasted together pages 14, 15 and 16. The manuscript came back with the pages still pasted. There is no question in my mind but that you are a sham and a disgrace to your profession.”

Lorimer’s reply was succinct: “Madam, at breakfast when I crack open an egg, I don’t have to eat the whole egg to know it is bad.”

  1. irrelevant

  2. rude

  3. witty

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

Lorimer had wittily replied to her accusation without being rude. Wit means droll humor, and Lorimers reply was cleverly amusing without being rude or inappropriate. Funny means amusing and witty means clever and amusing.

Multiple choice

‘The author of the above passage fears that the greater part of the vacuum created by lack of interest in the clasics and the Bible has been filled up by

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

Literature and history are twin sisters, inseparable. In the days of our own grandfathers, and for many generations before them, the basis of education was the Greek and Roman classics for the educated, and the Bible for all. In the classical authors and in the Bible, history and literature were closely intervolved, and it is that circumstance which made the old form of education so stimulating to the thought and imagination of our ancestors. To read the classical authors and to read the Bible was to read at once the history and the literature of the three greatest races of the ancient world. No doubt the classics and the Bible were read in a manner we now consider uncritical but they were read according to the best tenets of the time and formed a great humanistic education. Today the study both of the classics and of the Bible has dwindled to small proportions. What has taken their place? To some extent the vacuum has been filled by a more correct knowledge of history and a wider range of literature. But I fear that the greater part of it has been filled up with rubbish.

  1. a richer sense of history

  2. a wider range of literature

  3. worthless ideas

  4. a new philosophy of life
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Worthless ideas...... The last line of the passage clearly states this when the author says that the greater part of it has been filled up with rubbish.  The author seemingly does not think that the vaccum created by the lack of interest in classics and the Bible has been filled by a wider or richer sense of history and literature.

Multiple choice

Larimer did much reading of the stories

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

During his early days as editor of the popular magazine, Saturday Evening Post. George Lorimer did much of the reading of unsolicited stories. This meant endless hours of sitting at the desk, pouring over big stacks of manuscripts, trying to decide which were worthy of publication and which were not. Lorimer became an expert at making these decisions.

One day he received a huffy letter from a would-be writer who had a complaint. “Last week you rejected my story,” she wrote, “I am positive you did not read it, because, as a test, I pasted together pages 14, 15 and 16. The manuscript came back with the pages still pasted. There is no question in my mind but that you are a sham and a disgrace to your profession.”

Lorimer’s reply was succinct: “Madam, at breakfast when I crack open an egg, I don’t have to eat the whole egg to know it is bad.”

  1. if they were the solicited ones

  2. when they appeared to be bad

  3. when they were from women writers

  4. when they were unsolicited
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

It is clearly stated in the first sentence of the passage that Lorimer did much of the reading of unsolicited stories.

Multiple choice

If the population of India continues to increase at this rate, the situation in regard to food and clothes

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

One of the most serious problems confronting our country is that of a fast-growing population. In fact, it is at the root of many other problems. At the moment, thanks to planning, we are able to produce food and cloth sufficient for our people and even in some excess. But if the population continues to grow at this rate; it will not be long before the surplus turns into a bare minimum and even a deficit. The position in regard to accommodation is even now far from satisfactory in spite of our efforts.

  1. is likely to remain the same

  2. is likely to become less satisfactory

  3. is likely to improve

  4. is likely to vary up and down
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The fourth sentence of the passage states this by telling us that, if the population continues to grow at this rate; it will not be long before the surplus turns into a bare minimum and even a deficit. Thereby, telling us that the situation can get critical and obviously less than satisfactory if the population keeps growing at the same rate.

Multiple choice

At present Indians have

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

One of the most serious problems confronting our country is that of a fast-growing population. In fact, it is at the root of many other problems. At the moment, thanks to planning, we are able to produce food and cloth sufficient for our people and even in some excess. But if the population continues to grow at this rate; it will not be long before the surplus turns into a bare minimum and even a deficit. The position in regard to accommodation is even now far from satisfactory in spite of our efforts.

  1. more provision for cloth than accommodation

  2. more provision for accommodation than cloth

  3. abundance of cloth and accommodation

  4. scarcity of cloth and accommodation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The second and the last lines of the passage help us in drawing this conclusion. The second sentence talks about the planning due to which we are in excess of food and clothing. The last sentence talks about the lack of satisfactory position on the provision of accommodation for the population.

Multiple choice

Which of (the following statements would be most correct in explaining the metaphorical meaning of ‘break the shell into pieces’?

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

As the tortoise ducks its feet and head inside the shell and does not come out even though you may break the shell into pieces, even so the character of the man who has control over his motives and organs, is unchangeably established. He controls his own inner forces, and nothing can draw them out against his will. By this continuous reflex of good thoughts and good impressions moving over the surface of the mind, the tendency to do good becomes strong, and in consequence, we are able to control the Indriyas or sense organs.

  1. Destruction of the human body

  2. Breaking of the physical environment of man

  3. Attempt to destroy man’s character

  4. Inflicting physical and mental agony on man
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The first line of the passage supports this conclusion because the allegory of the tortoise and its shell is used to show the strength of character of a man who has control over his sense organs and whose character cannot be destroyed by outside forces.

Multiple choice

According to the, author of the above passage, the old method of education, based on the study of the classics and of the Bible, has

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

Literature and history are twin sisters, inseparable. In the days of our own grandfathers, and for many generations before them, the basis of education was the Greek and Roman classics for the educated, and the Bible for all. In the classical authors and in the Bible, history and literature were closely intervolved, and it is that circumstance which made the old form of education so stimulating to the thought and imagination of our ancestors. To read the classical authors and to read the Bible was to read at once the history and the literature of the three greatest races of the ancient world. No doubt the classics and the Bible were read in a manner we now consider uncritical but they were read according to the best tenets of the time and formed a great humanistic education. Today the study both of the classics and of the Bible has dwindled to small proportions. What has taken their place? To some extent the vacuum has been filled by a more correct knowledge of history and a wider range of literature. But I fear that the greater part of it has been filled up with rubbish.

  1. succeeded in creating interest in history

  2. laid the basis of human civilization

  3. had a gradual decline in our time

  4. been rejuvenated in the context of modern education
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

It is stated in the sixth line of the passage and states that today the study of the Bible has dwindled to small proportions. Dwindled means decline or decrease.