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

The rich have every reason to feel shame because they

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

We, sometimes think that it would be very nice if we had no work to do. How we envy rich people who do not have to work for their living, but can do just what they please all the year round. Yet when we think so, we make a mistake. Sometimes rich people are not as happy as we think because they are tired of being idle. Most of us are happy when we have regular work to do for our living, especially if the work is what we like doing. The first thing that work gives to us is happiness. It gives us self respect. The idler, however, rich he is, lives on the work of others. But the honest worker, who earns his living by useful toil, can hold up his head and respect himself. Last, not the least, regular work helps to build up character. It teaches us such good habits as punctuality, carefulness, thoroughness and faithful in work.

  1. lack strength and vigour

  2. have no work to do

  3. are people who work much

  4. live on the toil of others
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

(4) Sometimes rich people are not as happy as we think because they are tired of being idle. ...... The idler, however, rich he is, lives on the work of others. But the honest worker, who earns his living by useful toil, can hold up his head and respect himself." 

Multiple choice

Happiness, is what we need and it comes to us mostly through _____

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

We, sometimes think that it would be very nice if we had no work to do. How we envy rich people who do not have to work for their living, but can do just what they please all the year round. Yet when we think so, we make a mistake. Sometimes rich people are not as happy as we think because they are tired of being idle. Most of us are happy when we have regular work to do for our living, especially if the work is what we like doing. The first thing that work gives to us is happiness. It gives us self respect. The idler, however, rich he is, lives on the work of others. But the honest worker, who earns his living by useful toil, can hold up his head and respect himself. Last, not the least, regular work helps to build up character. It teaches us such good habits as punctuality, carefulness, thoroughness and faithful in work.

  1. being idlers and doing nothing

  2. being partakers in the money race

  3. being regular workers

  4. being careful towards others

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

“Most of us are happy when we have regular work to do…” suggests the answer.

Multiple choice

The conversation appears to be taking place ____

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

A tramp was one day walking on a country road when he suddenly met a highway man. Pointing a pistol, the man exclaimed, “Your money or your life.”
“My friend,” said the tramp, “I cannot deliver my money for I should be helping you in evil doing. However, exchange is lawful. I will give you my purse for the pistol.”
The robber agreed and said, “That is right. I shall give you my pistol and you will give me your purse.”
The exchange took place. As soon as the tramp received the pistol, he pointed the pistol at the robber’s head and said, “Now, my friend, my purse back or the weapon may go off.”
“Fire!” said the robber, “There is no powder in the pistol.”

  1. on the terrace of a building

  2. on the lawns of a building under construction

  3. on a country road

  4. on the premises of a college

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

It is mentioned in the 1st line of the passage that “a tramp was one day walking on a country road”.

Multiple choice

The tramp convinced the highway man, to give him the pistol by ___

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

A tramp was one day walking on a country road when he suddenly met a highway man. Pointing a pistol, the man exclaimed, “Your money or your life.”
“My friend,” said the tramp, “I cannot deliver my money for I should be helping you in evil doing. However, exchange is lawful. I will give you my purse for the pistol.”
The robber agreed and said, “That is right. I shall give you my pistol and you will give me your purse.”
The exchange took place. As soon as the tramp received the pistol, he pointed the pistol at the robber’s head and said, “Now, my friend, my purse back or the weapon may go off.”
“Fire!” said the robber, “There is no powder in the pistol.”

  1. making an exchange offer

  2. befooling him

  3. keeping his wits intact

  4. showing him the other way
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

He made an offer to exchange money with the gun.

Multiple choice

For professionals, the sensation of earning money is less satisfying than ________.

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

Money making can never be the object of a cultured or brave person. For all healthy minded people work comes first, their fee second. The fee is important, no doubt, yet it is second. For a soldier, a clergyman and a doctor, the sensation of doing their duty is always more satisfying than that of earning money. A doctor would rather lose his fee than the life of his patient. But sadly every nation has some ill-educated, cowardly and stupid people for whom the fee is primary and the work is secondary.

  1. the sensation of doing their duty

  2. the sensation of exploiting others

  3. the sensation of fishing in hot waters

  4. the sensation of making their axe to grind

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

It is mentioned in the 4th line of the passage.

Multiple choice

We, as common people, sometimes envy rich people because

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

We, sometimes think that it would be very nice if we had no work to do. How we envy rich people who do not have to work for their living, but can do just what they please all the year round. Yet when we think so, we make a mistake. Sometimes rich people are not as happy as we think because they are tired of being idle. Most of us are happy when we have regular work to do for our living, especially if the work is what we like doing. The first thing that work gives to us is happiness. It gives us self respect. The idler, however, rich he is, lives on the work of others. But the honest worker, who earns his living by useful toil, can hold up his head and respect himself. Last, not the least, regular work helps to build up character. It teaches us such good habits as punctuality, carefulness, thoroughness and faithful in work.

  1. they lead a better life than us

  2. they enjoy more self respect

  3. they do not have to work much

  4. they do not care for the idlers

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

It is mentioned in the 2nd line of the passage.

Multiple choice

The whole dialogue depicts that the highway man was __

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

A tramp was one day walking on a country road when he suddenly met a highway man. Pointing a pistol, the man exclaimed, “Your money or your life.”
“My friend,” said the tramp, “I cannot deliver my money for I should be helping you in evil doing. However, exchange is lawful. I will give you my purse for the pistol.”
The robber agreed and said, “That is right. I shall give you my pistol and you will give me your purse.”
The exchange took place. As soon as the tramp received the pistol, he pointed the pistol at the robber’s head and said, “Now, my friend, my purse back or the weapon may go off.”
“Fire!” said the robber, “There is no powder in the pistol.”

  1. very tactful

  2. very foolish

  3. very clever

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

He proved to be clever as he used an empty gun which could not be used against him and was able to take the purse too.

Multiple choice

Regular work helps us to build up character but we can best develop self-respect by being

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

We, sometimes think that it would be very nice if we had no work to do. How we envy rich people who do not have to work for their living, but can do just what they please all the year round. Yet when we think so, we make a mistake. Sometimes rich people are not as happy as we think because they are tired of being idle. Most of us are happy when we have regular work to do for our living, especially if the work is what we like doing. The first thing that work gives to us is happiness. It gives us self respect. The idler, however, rich he is, lives on the work of others. But the honest worker, who earns his living by useful toil, can hold up his head and respect himself. Last, not the least, regular work helps to build up character. It teaches us such good habits as punctuality, carefulness, thoroughness and faithful in work.

  1. a rich man

  2. an idler

  3. a poor man

  4. an honest worker

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

“But the honest worker, who earns his living by useful toil, can hold up his head and respect himself” suggests the answer.

Multiple choice

People, for whom work comes first and fee second are

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

Money making can never be the object of a cultured or brave person. For all healthy minded people work comes first, their fee second. The fee is important, no doubt, yet it is second. For a soldier, a clergyman and a doctor, the sensation of doing their duty is always more satisfying than that of earning money. A doctor would rather lose his fee than the life of his patient. But sadly every nation has some ill-educated, cowardly and stupid people for whom the fee is primary and the work is secondary.

  1. sick minded

  2. healthy minded

  3. great stupids

  4. cowardly and ill-educated
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

It is mentioned in the 2nd line of the passage.

Multiple choice

The whole paragraph suggests that the coolie was

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

A stranger who had de-boarded the train, came across a fat looking coolie and asked him,
“Can you tell me the way to the nearest inn?”
“Yes,” said the coolie.
“Do you want one where you can spend the night?”
“No,” said the stranger, “I only want a meal.”
“In that case,” replied the coolie, “Peacock Hotel will be the best.”
“Will you be kind enough to show me the way”? said the stranger.
“I would be glad to go with you personally,” said the coolie.
“Thank you very much,” said the stranger.

  1. very smart

  2. very cooperative

  3. very honest

  4. very foolish
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(2) As the coolie offered to go with the person, he can be said to be very co-operative.

Multiple choice

The conversation appears to be taking place

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

A stranger who had de-boarded the train, came across a fat looking coolie and asked him,
“Can you tell me the way to the nearest inn?”
“Yes,” said the coolie.
“Do you want one where you can spend the night?”
“No,” said the stranger, “I only want a meal.”
“In that case,” replied the coolie, “Peacock Hotel will be the best.”
“Will you be kind enough to show me the way”? said the stranger.
“I would be glad to go with you personally,” said the coolie.
“Thank you very much,” said the stranger.

  1. at the railway station

  2. at the door of the hotel

  3. at the exit door of the station

  4. at the table of the waiting room
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

(1) As the person had just de-boarded the train, that is when the conversation took place.

Multiple choice

“Can you tell me the way...”, indicates

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

A stranger who had de-boarded the train, came across a fat looking coolie and asked him,
“Can you tell me the way to the nearest inn?”
“Yes,” said the coolie.
“Do you want one where you can spend the night?”
“No,” said the stranger, “I only want a meal.”
“In that case,” replied the coolie, “Peacock Hotel will be the best.”
“Will you be kind enough to show me the way”? said the stranger.
“I would be glad to go with you personally,” said the coolie.
“Thank you very much,” said the stranger.

  1. the person is new to the place

  2. the person has lost his way

  3. the person wants to befriend the coolie

  4. the person is lonely and wants to talk to someone
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

(1) The person has just de-boarded the train and is asking for directions. This indicates he is new to the place, not lost or lonely. 

Multiple choice

Success comes to us by

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

The great Acharyas have said that having discovered a great goal, surrender yourself to that goal and act towards it drawing your inspiration from that goal whereby you will get a new column of energy. Do not allow this energy to be dissipated in the futile memories of the past regrets or failures, nor in the imagined sorrows of the future, nor in the excitement of the present. And this brings the entire focus on the activity. That is the highest creative action in the world outside. Thereby, the individual who is considered most efficient, finds his way to the highest achievement and success.
This is said, very easily in a second. But in order to train our mind to this attitude, it needs considerable training because we have already trained the mind wrongly to such an extent that we have become perfect in imperfections. Not knowing the art of action, we have been the master artists in doing the wrong things. The totality of activity will bring the country to a wrong end indeed.

  1. being ignorant of the future

  2. being aware of the past

  3. focusing all the energy on the goal

  4. remaining stuck to old memories

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

(3) "The great Acharyas have said that having discovered a great goal, surrender yourself to that goal and act towards it drawing your inspiration from that goal whereby you will get a new column of energy." 

Multiple choice

When the mind is wrongly trained

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

The great Acharyas have said that having discovered a great goal, surrender yourself to that goal and act towards it drawing your inspiration from that goal whereby you will get a new column of energy. Do not allow this energy to be dissipated in the futile memories of the past regrets or failures, nor in the imagined sorrows of the future, nor in the excitement of the present. And this brings the entire focus on the activity. That is the highest creative action in the world outside. Thereby, the individual who is considered most efficient, finds his way to the highest achievement and success.
This is said, very easily in a second. But in order to train our mind to this attitude, it needs considerable training because we have already trained the mind wrongly to such an extent that we have become perfect in imperfections. Not knowing the art of action, we have been the master artists in doing the wrong things. The totality of activity will bring the country to a wrong end indeed.

  1. wastage of energy can be avoided

  2. all of us become master artists

  3. the art of action is emphasized

  4. we achieve perfection in doing wrong things
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

(4) "we have already trained the mind wrongly to such an extent that we have become perfect in imperfections. Not knowing the art of action, we have been the master artists in doing the wrong things. " 

Multiple choice

Energy is drawn from

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

The great Acharyas have said that having discovered a great goal, surrender yourself to that goal and act towards it drawing your inspiration from that goal whereby you will get a new column of energy. Do not allow this energy to be dissipated in the futile memories of the past regrets or failures, nor in the imagined sorrows of the future, nor in the excitement of the present. And this brings the entire focus on the activity. That is the highest creative action in the world outside. Thereby, the individual who is considered most efficient, finds his way to the highest achievement and success.
This is said, very easily in a second. But in order to train our mind to this attitude, it needs considerable training because we have already trained the mind wrongly to such an extent that we have become perfect in imperfections. Not knowing the art of action, we have been the master artists in doing the wrong things. The totality of activity will bring the country to a wrong end indeed.

  1. the action of being highly creative

  2. training of the mind to obtain perfection

  3. the stimulation got from a set aim

  4. the remembrance of the past
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

(3) "The great Acharyas have said that having discovered a great goal, surrender yourself to that goal and act towards it drawing your inspiration from that goal whereby you will get a new column of energy."