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

Why did Swarn leave his friend Mohan in the waters ?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

It was Sunday. As usual, there was a great rush of merry makers who had come to the river to swim or to bathe. Those who knew how to swim were jumping into the water from the high bridge or the banks of the deep river. Mohan did not know how to swim so he was merely watching others who were enjoying the fun of swimming. However on the insistence of his friend Swarn, he sat on his shoulders and both jumped into the water. Unable to carry Mohan along, Swarn left him in the flowing water. Mohan shouted for help. There were so many swimmers but nobody came to his rescue since they were indifferent to the plight of a stranger. I had just reached there, so I was in my full dress. Without undressing I jumped into the river and swam up to the drowning boy. Holding his left arm, I brought him out of water in a way that he might not hinder me from swimming safely. The boy was saved which won me great applause from the people. I had jumped into the water without any fear or hesitation as I knew the art of saving drowning persons. I had already saved a few lives from drowning.

  1. Mohan wanted to learn how to swim.

  2. He wanted Mohan to learn how to swim.

  3. Because he was sure that Mohan would be able to swim across the river.

  4. Because he found it difficult to swim in the river with his friend on his shoulders.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The passage clearly states Unable to carry Mohan along, Swarn left him in the flowing water. This shows Swarn abandoned Mohan because he found it physically difficult to swim while carrying his friend on his shoulders, not because Mohan wanted to learn or could swim.

Multiple choice

Why did Swarn jump into the water carrying Mohan on his shoulders ?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

It was Sunday. As usual, there was a great rush of merry makers who had come to the river to swim or to bathe. Those who knew how to swim were jumping into the water from the high bridge or the banks of the deep river. Mohan did not know how to swim so he was merely watching others who were enjoying the fun of swimming. However on the insistence of his friend Swarn, he sat on his shoulders and both jumped into the water. Unable to carry Mohan along, Swarn left him in the flowing water. Mohan shouted for help. There were so many swimmers but nobody came to his rescue since they were indifferent to the plight of a stranger. I had just reached there, so I was in my full dress. Without undressing I jumped into the river and swam up to the drowning boy. Holding his left arm, I brought him out of water in a way that he might not hinder me from swimming safely. The boy was saved which won me great applause from the people. I had jumped into the water without any fear or hesitation as I knew the art of saving drowning persons. I had already saved a few lives from drowning.

  1. Mohan had insisted to swim.

  2. He wanted to enjoy the fun of seeing a drowning man.

  3. He simply wanted to drown him in the river.

  4. Swarn felt that his friend should also enjoy the fun of swimming in the river.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The passage says Mohan was watching others enjoying the fun of swimming, then on the insistence of his friend Swarn, he sat on his shoulders and both jumped. This shows Swarn wanted Mohan to also enjoy the swimming fun, not that Mohan insisted, or that Swarn wanted to drown him.

Multiple choice

Which one of the following is correct ?

When big waves struck the raft the six people in it.

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Westward Ho!” we shouted as the sail of our crudely constructed raft, the Kon-Tiki caught the wind. The sail quickly filled and the Kon-Tiki began to move. The six of us were off to our great adventure.
As night fell, the troughs of the sea grew gradually deeper and our first duel with the elements began. Each time we heard the sudden deafening hiss of a roller closeby and saw a white crest come towards us out of the darkness, we held on tight and waited for the worst. But invariably the Kon-Tiki calmly swung up her stern and rose skyward unperturbed.

  1. started crying.

  2. Showed courage and patience.

  3. acted in a rash manner.

  4. showed passiveness.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The passage describes how when waves approached, we held on tight and waited for the worst, and the Kon-Tiki calmly swung up her stern and rose skyward unperturbed. This shows courage and patience in facing danger, not crying, acting rashly, or passive helplessness.

Multiple choice

How was the Kon-Tiki’s performance on the high seas?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Westward Ho!” we shouted as the sail of our crudely constructed raft, the Kon-Tiki caught the wind. The sail quickly filled and the Kon-Tiki began to move. The six of us were off to our great adventure.
As night fell, the troughs of the sea grew gradually deeper and our first duel with the elements began. Each time we heard the sudden deafening hiss of a roller closeby and saw a white crest come towards us out of the darkness, we held on tight and waited for the worst. But invariably the Kon-Tiki calmly swung up her stern and rose skyward unperturbed.

  1. Very shaky

  2. Extremely poor

  3. Stable and resolute

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

The passage indicates this in the final sentence; "But invariably the Kon-Tiki calmly swung up her stern and rose skyward unperturbed."

Multiple choice

Why did nobody come forward to save the drowning boy,though there were many swimmers?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

It was Sunday. As usual, there was a great rush of merry makers who had come to the river to swim or to bathe. Those who knew how to swim were jumping into the water from the high bridge or the banks of the deep river. Mohan did not know how to swim so he was merely watching others who were enjoying the fun of swimming. However on the insistence of his friend Swarn, he sat on his shoulders and both jumped into the water. Unable to carry Mohan along, Swarn left him in the flowing water. Mohan shouted for help. There were so many swimmers but nobody came to his rescue since they were indifferent to the plight of a stranger. I had just reached there, so I was in my full dress. Without undressing I jumped into the river and swam up to the drowning boy. Holding his left arm, I brought him out of water in a way that he might not hinder me from swimming safely. The boy was saved which won me great applause from the people. I had jumped into the water without any fear or hesitation as I knew the art of saving drowning persons. I had already saved a few lives from drowning.

  1. They wanted some financial reward.

  2. They did not know the art of saving a drowning person.

  3. They were not experts in the art of swimming.

  4. The river was very deep and they did not want to take a risk for a stranger.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The passage explicitly states nobody came to his rescue since they were indifferent to the plight of a stranger. While option D mentions the deep river and risk, the core reason is the swimmers' indifference to someone they didn't know - the bystander effect where people don't help strangers.

Multiple choice

What does the word 'duel' in the passage mean ?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Westward Ho!” we shouted as the sail of our crudely constructed raft, the Kon-Tiki caught the wind. The sail quickly filled and the Kon-Tiki began to move. The six of us were off to our great adventure.
As night fell, the troughs of the sea grew gradually deeper and our first duel with the elements began. Each time we heard the sudden deafening hiss of a roller closeby and saw a white crest come towards us out of the darkness, we held on tight and waited for the worst. But invariably the Kon-Tiki calmly swung up her stern and rose skyward unperturbed.

  1. A battle

  2. A fortification

  3. A two-side contest

  4. Divided in two
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In the passage, 'duel with the elements' means a conflict or struggle between the raft crew and natural forces (wind, waves). The word 'duel' here is used metaphorically to describe their first confrontation with the sea's power. 'A battle' correctly captures this sense of conflict or combat, unlike the other options which refer to physical structures or divisions.

Multiple choice

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

The King of Basna in Zulu was a proud and stern man, feared by all his subjects. One day while sitting in his mud palace surrounded by fawning courtiers and watched by a multitude of people, who had come to see him, he was suddenly overcome by a sense of grandeur and loudly declared that he was master of the world and that all men were his servants. But, a frail voice said that he was mistaken. It said, “All men are servants of one another.” A deathly silence followed the remark. The blood froze in the veins of the people assembled there. The king exploded with anger and demanded, "Who has dared to suggest that I am a servant!" The frail voice again said that he dared, and the people parted to reveal a white-­haired old man, leaning heavily on a stout stick. “Who are you?” asked the king. “I am Boubakar,” said the man. “We have no water in our village. I have come to ask for a well to be dug there.” The king roared whether he was a beggar, striding down to where the man stood. Boubakar was fearless and he said, "I will prove before nightfall that all people are here to serve each other."

What did the frail voice suggest?

  1. All men are servants of God.

  2. All men serve each other.

  3. Man mistakes himself as master.

  4. Man is the maker of his own destiny.

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

“All men are servants of one another”

Multiple choice

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

The King of Basna in Zulu was a proud and stern man, feared by all his subjects. One day while sitting in his mud palace surrounded by fawning courtiers and watched by a multitude of people, who had come to see him, he was suddenly overcome by a sense of grandeur and loudly declared that he was master of the world and that all men were his servants. But, a frail voice said that he was mistaken. It said, “All men are servants of one another.” A deathly silence followed the remark. The blood froze in the veins of the people assembled there. The king exploded with anger and demanded, "Who has dared to suggest that I am a servant!" The frail voice again said that he dared, and the people parted to reveal a white-­haired old man, leaning heavily on a stout stick. “Who are you?” asked the king. “I am Boubakar,” said the man. “We have no water in our village. I have come to ask for a well to be dug there.” The king roared whether he was a beggar, striding down to where the man stood. Boubakar was fearless and he said, "I will prove before nightfall that all people are here to serve each other."

The king declared that he was the master of the world because

  1. he was merciless

  2. he felt he was really important

  3. the people told him to do so

  4. his courtiers were lethargic

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

“He was suddenly overcome by a sense of grandeur”

Multiple choice

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

The King of Basna in Zulu was a proud and stern man, feared by all his subjects. One day while sitting in his mud palace surrounded by fawning courtiers and watched by a multitude of people, who had come to see him, he was suddenly overcome by a sense of grandeur and loudly declared that he was master of the world and that all men were his servants. But, a frail voice said that he was mistaken. It said, “All men are servants of one another.” A deathly silence followed the remark. The blood froze in the veins of the people assembled there. The king exploded with anger and demanded, "Who has dared to suggest that I am a servant!" The frail voice again said that he dared, and the people parted to reveal a white-­haired old man, leaning heavily on a stout stick. “Who are you?” asked the king. “I am Boubakar,” said the man. “We have no water in our village. I have come to ask for a well to be dug there.” The king roared whether he was a beggar, striding down to where the man stood. Boubakar was fearless and he said, "I will prove before nightfall that all people are here to serve each other.

People were scared because

  1. the king was ruthless

  2. the king was screaming

  3. the king had been challenged

  4. the people were illiterate

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

"But, a frail voice said that he was mistaken....A deathly silence followed the remark. The blood froze in the veins of the people assembled there."

Multiple choice

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

The King of Basna in Zulu was a proud and stern man, feared by all his subjects. One day while sitting in his mud palace surrounded by fawning courtiers and watched by a multitude of people, who had come to see him, he was suddenly overcome by a sense of grandeur and loudly declared that he was master of the world and that all men were his servants. But, a frail voice said that he was mistaken. It said, “All men are servants of one another.” A deathly silence followed the remark. The blood froze in the veins of the people assembled there. The king exploded with anger and demanded, "Who has dared to suggest that I am a servant!" The frail voice again said that he dared, and the people parted to reveal a white-­haired old man, leaning heavily on a stout stick. “Who are you?” asked the king. “I am Boubakar,” said the man. “We have no water in our village. I have come to ask for a well to be dug there.” The king roared whether he was a beggar, striding down to where the man stood. Boubakar was fearless and he said, "I will prove before nightfall that all people are here to serve each other.

Boubakar had come there because

  1. he wanted to show that he was brave

  2. the king was being over-smart

  3. the other people were meek

  4. he wanted a well for his village

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

“We have no water in our village. I have come to ask for a well to be dug there.”

Multiple choice

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

Mahatma Gandhi's full name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He was born on 2nd October, 1869. His father was an officer in-charge of a province in the British Empire. Gandhi ji got married in an early age while he was studying in high school. Later, he went to England to study law. There, he saw discrimination against the blacks and the Indians. He himself had had bitter experiences, so he vowed to throw the English out of his country. For this purpose, he returned to India and started a revolution against the Britishers by rousing the fire of self-respect in his countrymen. He followed the path of non-violence, truth, love and fraternity. He had developed such virtues in his childhood. Moreover, he practised what he preached. His dream came true when India won independence on August 15, 1947 from the cruel clutches of the British. Unfortunately, he was assassinated on 30th January, 1948 by Nathuram Godse when he was on his way to attend a prayer. It was a dark day in the history of India.

Gandhi ji's father was a/an

  1. labour

  2. officer

  3. rustic

  4. saint

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

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

Multiple choice

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

Mahatma Gandhi's full name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He was born on 2nd October, 1869. His father was an officer in-charge of a province in the British Empire. Gandhi ji got married in an early age while he was studying in high school. Later, he went to England to study law. There, he saw discrimination against the blacks and the Indians. He himself had had bitter experiences, so he vowed to throw the English out of his country. For this purpose, he returned to India and started a revolution against the Britishers by rousing the fire of self-respect in his countrymen. He followed the path of non-violence, truth, love and fraternity. He had developed such virtues in his childhood. Moreover, he practised what he preached. His dream came true when India won independence on August 15, 1947 from the cruel clutches of the British. Unfortunately, he was assassinated on 30th January, 1948 by Nathuram Godse when he was on his way to attend a prayer. It was a dark day in the history of India.

Mahatma Gandhi was NOT a man of

  1. virtues

  2. truth

  3. discrimination

  4. dreams

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

It has not been mentioned in the passage that he discriminated against anyone.

Multiple choice

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

Mahatma Gandhi's full name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He was born on 2nd October, 1869. His father was an officer in-charge of a province in the British Empire. Gandhi ji got married in an early age while he was studying in high school. Later, he went to England to study law. There, he saw discrimination against the blacks and the Indians. He himself had had bitter experiences, so he vowed to throw the English out of his country. For this purpose, he returned to India and started a revolution against the Britishers by rousing the fire of self-respect in his countrymen. He followed the path of non-violence, truth, love and fraternity. He had developed such virtues in his childhood. Moreover, he practised what he preached. His dream came true when India won independence on August 15, 1947 from the cruel clutches of the British. Unfortunately, he was assassinated on 30th January, 1948 by Nathuram Godse when he was on his way to attend a prayer. It was a dark day in the history of India.

What is the meaning of the word 'clutches' as used in the passage?

  1. Connection

  2. Grip

  3. Embrace

  4. Trap

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

It is correct as it means 'grip' here.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following information and answer the question that follows.

According to a study conducted at Birla Planetarium at Kolkata, an asteroid was discovered at the other end of Milky Way Galaxy, which defined different electromagnetic spectrum denoting different compositions at different observations and has never been observed to exhibit the same spectrum twice.

Which of the following is suggested by the above passage?

  1. The new asteroid can be eventually expected to have definite composition.

  2. The new asteroid is different from all asteroids previously known.

  3. The Birla Planetarium is not a reliable source of information about the new asteroids.

  4. The new asteroid can be identified on the basis of some characteristics other than its spectrum.

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

If the newly discovered asteroid has been identified in several spectra, it can be inferred that (4) there must be some other way besides spectrum to identify this asteroid. If this were not the case, the scientists wouldn’t know that it was the same asteroid they were observing when it exhibited different spectra.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the correct course of action.

During the past two years, five percent of the managers with sufficient experience to be considered for the post of CEOs were women, and all of those deemed to have sufficient experience during those years received the post of CEO. Despite this fact, women currently hold only two percent of posts of CEOs in top industries.

Which of the following, if true, could explain the discrepancy in the percentages called in the passage above?

  1. Two years ago, it required less experience to be considered for the job of CEO than it does today.

  2. The majority of those holding post of CEOs have held those positions for more than two years, dating back to a time when practically everyone holding that position was male.

  3. The women with sufficient experience to be considered for the post have tended to specialise in different areas of management than the men considered for the same.

  4. Men and women holding the post of CEOs have received equal financial compensation for the previous two years.

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

The percentage of the managers who succeeded as CEOs in last 2 years has been shown here. However, the total percentage of female CEOs in top industries is 2 percent. Yet, it only shows that there was a negligible number of female CEOs before that period. We cannot conclude that there were only male CEOs.