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

How has the Hubble telescope helped us to learn about new solar systems and galaxies?

Directions: The passage is followed by five questions. Read the passage carefully and answer the question that follows. For the question four probable answers bearing options (1), (2), (3) and (4) are given. Only one out of those is correct. You have to choose correct answer.

The Hubble enables us to see farther than any telescope on Earth. It has helped us learn about how solar systems and galaxies form, as well as the existence of dark energy, a mysterious force that causes the universe to expand. Hubble, the powerful telescope, is the size of a school bus. It orbits Earth every 97 minutes, moving five miles per second. Since Hubble is beyond Earth’s atmosphere, it can take clearer pictures of outer space than any telescope on Earth.

  1. It is the size of a school bus.

  2. It can connect with telescopes on Earth.

  3. There is dark energy in it.

  4. We can see things at greater distance, with it.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

‘enables (make us able) us to see farther than any telescope on Earth’

Multiple choice

What does ‘it orbits Earth’ mean in the passage?

Directions: The passage is followed by five questions. Read the passage carefully and answer the question that follows. For the question four probable answers bearing options (1), (2), (3) and (4) are given. Only one out of those is correct. You have to choose correct answer.

The Hubble enables us to see farther than any telescope on Earth. It has helped us learn about how solar systems and galaxies form, as well as the existence of dark energy, a mysterious force that causes the universe to expand. Hubble, the powerful telescope, is the size of a school bus. It orbits Earth every 97 minutes, moving five miles per second. Since Hubble is beyond Earth’s atmosphere, it can take clearer pictures of outer space than any telescope on Earth.

  1. Hubble telescope revolves around Earth.

  2. Dark energy revolves around Earth.

  3. Dark energy makes Earth revolve around it.

  4. Hubble telescope has more speed than a school bus.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Here, ‘it’ refers to ‘the Hubble telescope’ and ‘orbit’ means ‘to revolve around something’.

Multiple choice

Directions: Complete the passage with the best choice.

_________________. The feudal lords in England had always run their own law courts and profited by the fines paid by those brought to court. But King John took many cases out of their courts and tried them in his own, taking the money for himself.

  1. King John always had the full support of the feudal lords

  2. The administration of justice in Medieval England was completely centralized

  3. King John who lived in the 13th century, was unpopular mainly because he was greedy

  4. Medieval economy in England was based on agriculture

  5. The history of the British Parliament goes back to the signing of Magna Carta
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

 The second sentence talks about how unfair the administration was .

Multiple choice

Directions: Complete the passage with the best choice.

The most important ideas of the 19th century were that everyone had the right to personal freedom which was the basis of capitalism. This idea had spread widely through Adam Smith's book Wealth of Nations, written in the 18th century. ___________________. Fewer laws, they claimed, meant more freedom, and freedom for individuals would lead to happiness for the greatest number of people.

  1. The British government at this time was reluctant to make use of his ideas

  2. The result was that a number of laws were passed to prevent people carrying guns

  3. Obviously Adam Smith was well informed about working conditions in the factories

  4. After Adam Smith, several capitalist economists argued that governments should not interfere in trade and industry at all

  5. By the turn of the 20th century, capitalism had grown less popular outside England
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 The statements ' they claimed...', implies that the previous statement contain plural nouns. 

Multiple choice

Directions: Complete the passage with the best choice.

For centuries, scientists and philosophers have speculated on the structure of the universe and the existence of galaxies outside our own. But until the 20th century, they were able to do no more than speculate. ______. Using grant telescopes, ultraviolet and infrared instruments, and high speed computers, they are studying the formation of galaxies for further insights into the nature of cosmos.

  1. Meanwhile, the study of other galaxies has led to an extraordinary insight into the possible structure of the universe

  2. We know, of course, that the universe is designed on a scale far more grand

  3. After decades of speculation, in fact, we have started to penetrate to the very center of our own galaxy

  4. Now, however, scientists have determined that the universe is made up of thousands of millions of galaxies

  5. They have located regions that are very much disturbed with hot turbulent gases swirling at great force about the center
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 The previous statements were based on 'speculations'. 

Multiple choice

Directions: Complete the passage with the best choice.

In recent years remarkable results have been achieved in the field of organ transplants. Formerly, a genetically alien tissue could not be transplanted. ____. This is now no longer the case

  1. Naturally the future of the medicine will be affected greatly by developments in organ transplants

  2. We are familiar with it as the response of the body to an infectious germ

  3. Actually the body generates an army of antibodies to fight off the invading germs

  4. Eventually, it will be possible to transplant any organ from one person to another

  5. Plastic surgery used to depend on using the skin or tissues of the patient himself or of a genetically identical twin
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

 The previous statements is ' Formerly, a genetically alien tissue could not be transplanted'. Therefore, a similar sentence that talks about what used to be done before organ transplants.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the passages carefully and complete the statement given underneath by choosing the appropriate option from the following.

Real-depression cannot be as easily overcome as some people often suppose. It usually passes with time - but the time can seem endless. Activities giving companionship and a new interest can help. But for the sufferer to talk, again and again, about the causes of the depression helps most. People with depression need to be listened tao and encouraged to find their own solutions, not made to feel yet more inadequate by good advice. They may need professional counselling as well as the support of family and friends.

In overcoming depression the support of friends and family ____________ .

  1. can best be directed into giving good advice

  2. is the only solution

  3. may cause more harm than good

  4. never contributes to any improvement in the patient

  5. is not always sufficient
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

  They may need professional counselling as well as the support of family and friends.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the passages carefully and complete the statement given underneath by choosing the appropriate option from the following.

Real-depression cannot be as easily overcome as some people often suppose. It usually passes with time - but the time can seem endless. Activities giving companionship and a new interest can help. But for the sufferer to talk, again and again, about the causes of the depression helps most. People with depression need to be listened tao and encouraged to find their own solutions, not made to feel yet more inadequate by good advice. They may need professional counselling as well as the support of family and friends.

The writer suggests that people with depression ___________.

  1. should not be allowed much social activity

  2. should rely solely on professional counselling

  3. need, more than anything else, someone to listen to them

  4. ought to remain alienated from society for a long time

  5. receive an unnecessary amount of sympathy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

   But for the sufferer to talk, again and again, about the causes of the depression helps most

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the passages carefully and complete the statement given underneath by choosing the appropriate option from the following.

Real-depression cannot be as easily overcome as some people often suppose. It usually passes with time - but the time can seem endless. Activities giving companionship and a new interest can help. But for the sufferer to talk, again and again, about the causes of the depression helps most. People with depression need to be listened tao and encouraged to find their own solutions, not made to feel yet more inadequate by good advice. They may need professional counselling as well as the support of family and friends.

According to the passage some people ____________.

  1. seem to underestimate how difficult it is to get over depression

  2. suffer from depression over long periods of time

  3. refuse to get professional counselling

  4. suffering from depression have been cured through the good advice of friends

  5. with depression don't want to talk about their problems
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

 The opening statement talks about the underestimation of  the treatment of depression. The thought is repeated in the sentence  'not made to feel yet more inadequate by good advice'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the passages carefully and complete the statement given underneath by choosing the appropriate option from the following.

In 1964 the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development was held. For the first time the poorer nations of the world came together to act as a pressure group on trading matters. The Conference made the following recommendations. The Developing countries should be given free access to world markets for their manufactures and semi manufactures by the elimination of quotas and tariffs. International commodity agreements should be made for each major primary commodity in world trade to stabilise commodity prices. Moreover, compensation schemes, whereby the underdeveloped countries are compensated for the declining prices of their primary products, were recommended for consideration. The Conference also resolved that the developed countries should aim to provide at least 1 per cent of their national income as aid for the underdeveloped countries.

With reference to this Conference, one development mentioned in the passage was that ______________.

  1. each country was to benefit from compensation schemes.

  2. the idea of compensation schemes came to the fore.

  3. developed countries should not benefit from compensation schemes.

  4. compensation schemes were to be put into effect as soon as possible.

  5. the poorer countries should be compensated for their general trade deficits.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

 The passage talks about the compensation schemes.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the passages carefully and complete the statement given underneath by choosing the appropriate option from the following.

In 1964 the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development was held. For the first time the poorer nations of the world came together to act as a pressure group on trading matters. The Conference made the following recommendations. The Developing countries should be given free access to world markets for their manufactures and semi manufactures by the elimination of quotas and tariffs. International commodity agreements should be made for each major primary commodity in world trade to stabilise commodity prices. Moreover, compensation schemes, whereby the underdeveloped countries are compensated for the declining prices of their primary products, were recommended for consideration. The Conference also resolved that the developed countries should aim to provide at least 1 per cent of their national income as aid for the underdeveloped countries.

From the passage we learn that one of the resolutions adopted by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development ______________.

  1. was soon revoked due to strong pressure coming from underdeveloped member countries.

  2. considerably raised the world trade tariffs on a variety of commodities.

  3. concerned the amount of aid to be given by the developed countries to the underdeveloped.

  4. envisaged a step-by-step lifting of the world's trade barriers.

  5. made it imperative for the developed countries to open up their markets to the manufactured goods of the underdeveloped countries
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

   The Conference also resolved that the developed countries should aim to provide at least 1 per cent of their national income as aid for the underdeveloped countries.

Multiple choice

Directions: Complete the passage with the best choice. The ability to recognize people automatically by analyzing bodily characteristics such as fingerprints, faces and eyeballs -known as biometrics - has long been a goal of both technologists and governments. .................... Both America and Europe plan to start issuing biometric passports as soon as next year

  1. Lobby groups have campaigned against biometrics on the grounds that they would invade privacy.

  2. Biometric technology has been around for quite some time, but has not been widely adopted.

  3. The introduction or biometric identity documents cannot be considered for a long time since it would be so expensive.

  4. Plans for projects to incorporate biometric seans into passports. identity cards and visas are now under way in several countries.

  5. Biometric could undemine security by providing a sense of false security
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

 Option 4 is the only statement that talks about steps to implemet biometric , which is continued in the final sentence.

Multiple choice

Directions: Complete the passage with the best choice. There was a time when the American accounting system was the envy of the world, .......... it encouraged millions of average people to invest, thus transforming America into the world's first mass equity culture.

  1. Boosting the integrity and standards of the Financial markets is a critical imperative

  2. Its transparency, uniformity and credibility allowed investors to make intelligent comparisons among US corporate earnings statements

  3. Regulators and analysists should have embraced it or at least something very much like it

  4. There are almost as many measures of earnings today as there are companies

  5. it offers them a road map to restoring investor confidence though there are shortcomings in the proposal

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

The statement '......, it encourages...' logically suggests that the previous statement should contain positives features of the system that encouraged people.

Multiple choice

Directions: Complete the passage with the best choice. Researchers are attempting to create the computer equivalent of human cognitive abilities, and they have had considerable success....................... . But as little as 50 years ago, how would people have reacted to a machine that corrected errors in spelling and grammar!

  1. The research community, underestimating the incredibte abilities of the human brain, seriously misjudged how difficult the task would be

  2. In the field of intelligence, how does man compare with machines?

  3. Man was certainly reluctant to admit that machines could be physically stronger than man.

  4. The chess machine is an interesting example in theory since all one had to do was create a computer chip that could analyze several million chess positions per second.

  5. For instance, we now have computerized spelling and grammar checkers; they are standard components of all word processors today
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

 The last sentence talks about spellchecks and grammar. Option 5 is correct predecessor to this statement.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the passages carefully and answer the question. Much has been said and written about the declining numbers of and disappointing lack of diversity among American college students majoring in engineering. Among the factors cited to explain this phenomenon are the lack of exposure of high school students to the very idea of engineering and the fact that many have insufficient mathematics and science background to gain entrance to engineering school, even if they do identify the profession as a possible career. This is unfortunate, for the ideas of engineering should be integrated into the curricula not only of high schools but also of middle and primary schools. Our children are being done a disservice by not being exposed properly throughout their education to engineering activities identifted as such. Arter all, even pre-school children have the prerequisites in their play for appreciating exactly what engineering is: design. Indeed, design is everywhere around them throughout their school day, even in their before-school and after-school activities. it need only be pointed out to them that they are designing something, and therefore being engirteers of sorts, in virtually everything that they do. The writer of the passage feels strongly that ............

  1. children should be involved in engineering activities at an early age.

  2. many children are being unfairly directed into a career in engineering.

  3. the mathematics anc science courses in schools need to be modernized.

  4. university engineering courses ought to be upgraded.

  5. the educarion of pre-schcol children is being given too much importance.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

 Thewriter has repeatedly mentioned the importance of engineering activities at pre-school level, primary level and  after school activities.