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

In ancient Indian kingdoms, huge and magnificent temples were built with different scenes from the lives of gods presented in the form of paintings or carvings on the surface of the temples. Like religious books Ramayana and Mahabharata, they related stories of important events, depicted gods, and functioned as a record to present stories and actions of gods for general public who could not read the scriptures.

The author of this passage makes his point by

  1. comparing something unknown now with something more familiar to his readers

  2. citing examples to illustrate a desired conclusion

  3. stating his opinion and explaining why he holds it

  4. expressing as fact something that is merely an opinion

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

To make the concept of how ancient Indian temples were perceived clearer to his readers, the author compares them to religious scriptures like Ramayana and Mahabharata, with whose functions the reader is familiar.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question that follows it.

Historians have usually believed that the British introduced Christianity in India. But recent findings by archaeologists clearly show that the advent of Christianity possibly pre-dates the arrival of British in India.

Which of the following provides the best evidence for the author’s conclusion?

  1. Carbon dating of the skeletons found in a graveyard containg graves bearing the cross has been found in region around the Malabar Coast with the skeleton about 800 years old.

  2. Portuguese explorers who came to India also professed Christianity.

  3. There is a healthy concentration of Christian population around the Malabar region.

  4. Christian missionaries went to different parts of the world in the 15th century.

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

If on the Malabar coast, a graveyard has been found with graves bearing the cross in India with the skeletons about 800 years old, it means that the people buried there were Christians who died in India much before the British came here. Therefore, Christianity came to India much before the British were here.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question that follows it.

Archaeologists have discovered various paintings on the walls and ceiling of a cave found in the Andaman Islands. The entrance of the cave had been blocked by an earthquake in the 5th century BC and was only recently cleared by another earthquake. Since someone had to paint the paintings, archeologists have concluded that people lived on these islands since time earlier than the 5th century.

Which of the following pieces of additional evidence would most seriously weaken the archaeologists’ conclusion?

  1. Later, another entrance of the cave was found which was not blocked by the earthquake.

  2. Archaeologists have evidence that people were living in neighbouring Nicobar Islands since the 5th century BC.

  3. Alternative methods of dating place the time of the earthquake somewhat earlier at around 4th century BC.

  4. Many experts believe that people arrived at these islands not until the 6th century AD.

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Archaeologists came to a conclusion about people living in the area by using evidence based on the assumption that since an earthquake sealed the cave in the 5th century BC, paintings found in the cave were done before that earthquake. If there were another way that people could get into the cave after the 5th century BC, then the dating of the paintings would be in doubt, as would the conclusion about people living in the Andaman Islands.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question that follows it.

What we call International law is simply the sum total of the treaties and unofficial agreements between countries. These agreements can be simply ignored at will by the parties involved. Laws are rules that are to be followed only when and where it is convenient to do so.

Which of the following assumptions is essential to the argument above?

  1. An authorised International Court of Justice could effectively enforce international law.

  2. Laws cannot be enforced.

  3. Most countries willingly violate treaties when it is in their interest to do so.

  4. The questions of crimes and frauds should be decided only on the basis of the present location of criminal and in accordance to that country’s national laws and policies.

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The best way to find the necessary assumption is to deny it and see if the conclusion still holds. If it does not, the option is the necessary assumption. If we say 'laws can be enforced', it would automatically mean that they cannot be violated. This would negate the conclusion that 'laws are to be followed only when it is convenient to do so'.

Multiple choice

Why stop students from cheating? For most of the students, cheating is just another part of their studies, which is not taught by the teachers, but which they learn by themselves. This view of children towards education is very bad and needs to be changed. The parents and the teachers should make it a point to discuss the ill effects of this practice with children. They should know that if cheating was promoted, no individuality or progress would have taken place. How would have new inventions and technologies been developed? Therefore, in order to make a successful long term career, children should refrain from cheating.

The point of the passage is made chiefly by

  1. acknowledging the validity of two opposing points of view

  2. appealing to the emotions of the audience rather than to their intellects

  3. suggesting a useful perspective for viewing the question raised at the beginning of the passage

  4. trying to discredit the view of an opponent without presenting an alternative hypothesis

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The third answer choice describes the author’s procedure of suggesting a new perspective and is thus, the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the passage given below and answer the question that follows it.

Only an MP from XYZ region would oppose the bill for population control law that aims to help control the burgeoning population of the country. Mr. R. P. Singh cannot be the MP from that XYZ region because he supports the bill.

Which of the following statements points out why the conclusion is invalidly drawn?

  1. MPs have opposed several other bills aimed at health of general public.

  2. Population control may not be beneficial for the XYZ area.

  3. Past attempts to pass the bills have failed in Parliament.

  4. It is possible that some MPs from XYZ region may not oppose the bill for population control law.

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The fact that only MPs from XYZ region would oppose the bill does not imply that all MPs from that region would oppose the bill. Based on the initial statement, Mr. R. P. Singh may or may not be from that region if he supports the bill. For the conclusion to be valid, the initial statement would have to read, “All the MPs from XYZ region would oppose the bill for population control law….”. Thus, this choice makes the relevant logical point.

Multiple choice

The Ludhiana Stock Exchange, LSE, recently automated its trading operations through the use of mainframe computer server. After several major mistakes were detected, an inquiry determined that the mistakes were not attributable to computer breakdowns. Rather, human error was cause for it, as when a sweeper spilled cleaning water on the central server or when there were flaws with the building's fire fighting system. It is evident that such commonplace occurrences should not be considered unlikely to happen over time.

Which one of the following statements follows most logically from the passage?

  1. Since computers have become a regular feature of everyday life, it is reasonable to expect an increase in the total number of yearly breakdowns.

  2. If LSE continues to use computers to conduct its trades, a mistake is not improbable.

  3. The probability of operator error at LSE computer consoles is not likely to be reduced by further improvements in technology.

  4. The LSE computer system was carefully constructed to account for potential failures of certain computer circuits.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The point of the argument is that these human-caused problems will probably happen again.

Multiple choice

Industry presentations always provide useful information, but only those presentations that hold the interest of students are worth showing in colleges. Some presentations are boring.

Which one of the following conclusions can be properly drawn from the passage?

  1. Some presentations, which provide useful information, are not worth showing in colleges.

  2. All presentations that are boring provide useful information.

  3. Some presentations that are worth showing in colleges are boring.

  4. Some presentations that hold the interest of students are not worth showing in colleges.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Some presentations, all of which provide useful information, are boring which means that they are not worth showing at colleges.

Multiple choice

Directions: Analyse the statements given and choose an appropriate answer for the question that follows:

The press emphasises dramatic events such as food product poisoning over less sensational events such as the recall of a popular food product, which is a far more common occurrence and poses a much larger risk to the general public. However, the public is inclined to think that the level of attention given to an event represents the true level of risk that the event poses.

Which of the following claims is most strongly supported by the information in the passage above?

  1. Other media, such as television and radio, are a superior source of information to the press industry.

  2. The emphasis shown by the press industry to spectacular events is an expected reaction to the taste of the public.

  3. Occurrences that people feel are beyond their control are usually considered to be more dangerous than those considered to be avoidable.

  4. If the press is the main source of information about events, the public’s awareness of risk does not represent the actual risk the event poses.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

This is because the press emphasises what is not the most common occurrence.

Multiple choice

Directions: Analyse the statements given and choose an appropriate answer for the question that follows:

In the year 1990, zoning laws were passed in Old Delhi in order to preserve the seventeenth-century style architecture. In the year following the passage of the zoning laws, tourism increased by 20 percent, the sharpest 12-month increase in Old Delhi history. Over the course of the following decade, tourism increased by another 30 percent. Therefore, the zoning laws that were passed in 1990 boosted the city’s economy.

Which of the following, if true, provides the most support for the argument above?

  1. In the year 2000, petrol shortage resulted in a decrease in car usage.

  2. There was no increase in tourism during the ten year following the passage of the zoning laws.

  3. Since 1990, Old Delhi has required all businesses to give a percentage of profits to the towns Chamber of Commerce.

  4. The tourism rate in Agra city, which has no such zoning laws, is much lower than that of Old Delhi.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

To strengthen an argument bolster the assumption. This argument assumes that the zoning laws were the only causes for the increase in tourism. This choice does that by showing how there is an absence of tourism where there is an absence of those laws.

Multiple choice

Elion is a liquid, usually highly toxic, that is created only when petroleum is pumped rapidly by offshore petroleum rigs. If and only if the maximum pumping rate of a rig's machinery is exceeded will Elion be released into the surrounding water, usually in unpredictable amounts. A technique must be developed to safely dispose off Elion. Most of the Elion produced at offshore petroleum rigs is shipped to the mainland for disposal in underground caves, but not all caves can safely contain the highly toxic liquid.

Which one of the following can be inferred from the passage?

  1. If petroleum producers were able to predict the amount of Elion released, they would be better able to facilitate safe disposal.

  2. If Elion is not released into the surrounding water, the petroleum well's maximum suggested pumping rate has not been exceeded.

  3. No underground cave can safely contain Elion.

  4. Some Elion is sent to underground caves that cannot safely contain it.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

You know this is true because if and only if the petroleum well's maximum pumping rate is exceeded, Elion is released into the water. There's no other way for it to be released, so if it isn't, the maximum pumping rate must not have been exceeded.

Multiple choice

Recently, experienced scientists in public companies have resigned from their positions in record numbers to move to private companies. Therefore, experienced scientists who remain in public companies are now in high demand with those institutions.

Which one of the following, if true, most seriously challenges the claim made in the passage?

  1. Public companies prefer to hire scientists from their own state.

  2. Drastic cuts in funding for public companies, have led to elimination of many of the research posts previously held by the experienced researchers.

  3. Some scientists have to shift their field of study after moving to private companies.

  4. Public companies plan to train new scientists in an attempt to replace those who have moved to private companies.

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

To weaken an argument, attack the assumption. The argument assumes that the demand for experienced scientists in public companies has not decreased, which would mean that the few who remain in the public companies are in great demand. This choice states that the demand has decreased.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following information carefully and answer the question given below.

Employing nano-level technologies to “re-storage” existing computers ultimately promises a vast increase in memory storage capability and would affect the full range of data input. The strategy of employing these technologies can increase RAM memory capabilities by 80 percent and hard disk memory by at least 60 percent. The storage of a greater amount of memory would in turn allow computers to perform a greater number of functions.

Which one of the following conclusions can be properly drawn from the passage above?

  1. RAM memory is the most efficiency means of storing memory.

  2. Insufficient storage capacity is the result of RAM memory interfering with the hard disk memory.

  3. Twenty percent of current RAM memory is not considered sufficient.

  4. <div align="justify">The employment of new computer technologies could allow computers to perform a greater number of functions.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The argument says that the technology would increase memory and that increased memory would allow computers to perform more functions.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following information carefully and answer the question given below.

In an experiment, two to three year old children and their kindergarten teachers made paintings together using brushes, watercolors, and other tools. Each child-teacher pair used a brush that was substantially different from those used by the other child-teacher pairs, and each teacher repeated the word “brushes” each time her ward used it. However, when the children were called upon to point to all of the brushes among a group of tools that included several brushes, each child identified only the brushes that she had used.

Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the passage above?

  1. The children did not understand the function of brushes.

  2. No two children applied the word “brushes” to the same object.

  3. The children knew that all brushes generally have a similar shape.

  4. Each child could correctly identify only the tools that she had used.

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Each child used a different brush, and each selected only the brush she had used, when called to point to all the brushes. So, no two could have identified the same brush.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following information carefully and answer the question given below. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, car manufacturers in India introduced a number of new and modern designs. Dramatically different in both appearance and engineering technology, these new models proved less safe than the larger, sturdier cars that had, until that time, dominated the market. Once on the road in significant number, these new models tended to get damaged extensively when involved in front end, rear-end and side collisions. As a direct consequence of the subsequent investigations, manufacturers discarded all the previous tenets of car safety. Thereafter, car manufacturers would rely on far more stringent use of the crash test.

Which one of the following statements can properly be inferred from the passage?

  1. Cars built before the late 1980s were built without stringent use of crash tests and therefore were hazardous to drive.

  2. The dramatically different appearance of the new models introduced in the late 1980s and early 1990s resulted in increased vulnerability to damage.

  3. Before the late 1980s the crash tests employed for testing new cars could not sufficiently ensure passenger safety in collisions.

  4. Only a more stringent use of crash tests could have prevented the spate of high damage in the new models of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The argument says that after the investigations, the industry would rely on far more stringent tests. Any crash tests done earlier than that did not sufficiently ensure safety in collisions.