Reading Comprehension

What did the donkey first do when the neighbours were filling up the well with soil?

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

One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried loudly for hours. As the farmer was thinking of something to do, he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway. He thought that it was just not worth it to save the donkey. He invited all his neighbours to come over and help it. They all took a shovel and began to fill the well with soil. At first, the donkey realised what was happening and cried horribly. Then, everyone was surprised when it became quiet. Afterwards, the farmer finally looked down the well and was surprised to see that with every shovel of soil that fell on its back, the animal would shake it off and take a step up on the soil. A little later the donkey came up over the edge of the well and ran away. In life, we should never give up even when everybody else loses hope.

What did the ant do when the grasshopper asked for corn?

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

A lazy grasshopper laughed at a little ant as she was always busy gathering food. “Why are you working so hard?” he asked, “come into the sunshine and listen to my cheerful song.” But the ant went on with her work. She said, “I am lining a store for the winter. Sunny days will not last forever.” “Winter is so far away yet.” laughed back the grasshopper. When the winter came, the ant settled down in her cozy house. She had plenty of food to last the whole winter. The grasshopper had nothing to eat so; he went to the ant and begged her for a little corn. “No”, replied the ant, “you laughed at me when I worked. You yourself sang through the summer. So, you better dance the winter away.” Therefore, idleness is a curse.

What did the frog do to finally come out of the pit?

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

A group of frogs was travelling through the forest. Two of them fell into a deep ditch. When the other frogs saw how deep the ditch was, they told the two frogs that they would die. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump out of the pit with all their strength. The other frogs kept telling them to stop. Finally, one of the frogs listened to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, “Did you not hear us?” The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day. Be careful of what you say.

Why did one of the two frogs that fell in the pit ignore what the frogs outside were saying?

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

A group of frogs was travelling through the forest. Two of them fell into a deep ditch. When the other frogs saw how deep the ditch was, they told the two frogs that they would die. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump out of the pit with all their strength. The other frogs kept telling them to stop. Finally, one of the frogs listened to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, “Did you not hear us?” The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day. Be careful of what you say.

What happened to the frog who listened to what the frogs outside were saying?

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

A group of frogs was travelling through the forest. Two of them fell into a deep ditch. When the other frogs saw how deep the ditch was, they told the two frogs that they would die. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump out of the pit with all their strength. The other frogs kept telling them to stop. Finally, one of the frogs listened to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, “Did you not hear us?” The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day. Be careful of what you say.

What did the grasshopper beg from the ant?

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

A lazy grasshopper laughed at a little ant as she was always busy gathering food. “Why are you working so hard?” he asked, “come into the sunshine and listen to my cheerful song.” But the ant went on with her work. She said, “I am lining a store for the winter. Sunny days will not last forever.” “Winter is so far away yet.” laughed back the grasshopper. When the winter came, the ant settled down in her cozy house. She had plenty of food to last the whole winter. The grasshopper had nothing to eat so; he went to the ant and begged her for a little corn. “No”, replied the ant, “you laughed at me when I worked. You yourself sang through the summer. So, you better dance the winter away.” Therefore, idleness is a curse.

Why should we be careful about what we say?

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

A group of frogs was travelling through the forest. Two of them fell into a deep ditch. When the other frogs saw how deep the ditch was, they told the two frogs that they would die. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump out of the pit with all their strength. The other frogs kept telling them to stop. Finally, one of the frogs listened to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, “Did you not hear us?” The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day. Be careful of what you say.

What was the ant doing in the summer?

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

A lazy grasshopper laughed at a little ant as she was always busy gathering food. “Why are you working so hard?” he asked, “come into the sunshine and listen to my cheerful song.” But the ant went on with her work. She said, “I am lining a store for the winter. Sunny days will not last forever.” “Winter is so far away yet.” laughed back the grasshopper. When the winter came, the ant settled down in her cozy house. She had plenty of food to last the whole winter. The grasshopper had nothing to eat so; he went to the ant and begged her for a little corn. “No”, replied the ant, “you laughed at me when I worked. You yourself sang through the summer. So, you better dance the winter away.” Therefore, idleness is a curse.

What does 'barn' mean in the passage?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and find the answer.

Once there was a farmer. One day he learnt that he had lost his watch in the barn. It was no ordinary watch because it had sentimental value for him. After searching high and low among the hay for a long while; he gave up and enlisted the help of a group of children playing outside the barn. He promised them that the person who found it would be rewarded. Hearing this, the children hurried inside the barn, went through and around the entire stack of hay but still could not find the watch. Just when the farmer was about to give up looking for his watch, a little boy went up to him and asked to be given another chance. The farmer looked at him and thought, “Why not? After all, this kid looks sincere enough.”So the farmer sent the little boy back in the barn. After a while the little boy came out with the watch in his hand! The farmer was both happy and surprised and so he asked the boy how he succeeded where the rest had failed. The boy replied, “I did nothing but sit on the ground and listen. In the silence, I heard the ticking of the watch and just looked for it in that direction.”A peaceful mind can think better than a worked up mind.

Why did the farmer give the boy another chance?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and find the answer.

Once there was a farmer. One day he learnt that he had lost his watch in the barn. It was no ordinary watch because it had sentimental value for him. After searching high and low among the hay for a long while; he gave up and enlisted the help of a group of children playing outside the barn. He promised them that the person who found it would be rewarded. Hearing this, the children hurried inside the barn, went through and around the entire stack of hay but still could not find the watch. Just when the farmer was about to give up looking for his watch, a little boy went up to him and asked to be given another chance. The farmer looked at him and thought, “Why not? After all, this kid looks sincere enough.”So the farmer sent the little boy back in the barn. After a while the little boy came out with the watch in his hand! The farmer was both happy and surprised and so he asked the boy how he succeeded where the rest had failed. The boy replied, “I did nothing but sit on the ground and listen. In the silence, I heard the ticking of the watch and just looked for it in that direction.”A peaceful mind can think better than a worked up mind.

Why did he consider his watch an important thing?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and find the answer.

Once there was a farmer. One day he learnt that he had lost his watch in the barn. It was no ordinary watch because it had sentimental value for him. After searching high and low among the hay for a long while; he gave up and enlisted the help of a group of children playing outside the barn. He promised them that the person who found it would be rewarded. Hearing this, the children hurried inside the barn, went through and around the entire stack of hay but still could not find the watch. Just when the farmer was about to give up looking for his watch, a little boy went up to him and asked to be given another chance. The farmer looked at him and thought, “Why not? After all, this kid looks sincere enough.”So the farmer sent the little boy back in the barn. After a while the little boy came out with the watch in his hand! The farmer was both happy and surprised and so he asked the boy how he succeeded where the rest had failed. The boy replied, “I did nothing but sit on the ground and listen. In the silence, I heard the ticking of the watch and just looked for it in that direction.”A peaceful mind can think better than a worked up mind.

How did the boy find the watch?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and find the answer.

Once there was a farmer. One day he learnt that he had lost his watch in the barn. It was no ordinary watch because it had sentimental value for him. After searching high and low among the hay for a long while; he gave up and enlisted the help of a group of children playing outside the barn. He promised them that the person who found it would be rewarded. Hearing this, the children hurried inside the barn, went through and around the entire stack of hay but still could not find the watch. Just when the farmer was about to give up looking for his watch, a little boy went up to him and asked to be given another chance. The farmer looked at him and thought, “Why not? After all, this kid looks sincere enough.”So the farmer sent the little boy back in the barn. After a while the little boy came out with the watch in his hand! The farmer was both happy and surprised and so he asked the boy how he succeeded where the rest had failed. The boy replied, “I did nothing but sit on the ground and listen. In the silence, I heard the ticking of the watch and just looked for it in that direction.”A peaceful mind can think better than a worked up mind.

Where was the fight going to be held?

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

Near Tokyo lived a great Samurai, now old, who decided to teach Zen Buddhism to young people. One afternoon, a warrior – known for his complete lack of scruples – arrived there. The young and impatient warrior had never lost a fight. Hearing of the Samurai’s reputation, he had come to defeat him, and increase his fame. All the students were against the idea, but the old man accepted the challenge. All gathered on the town square, and the young man started insulting the old master. He threw a few rocks in his direction, spat in his face, shouted every insult under the sun – he even insulted his ancestors. For hours, he did everything to provoke him, but the old man remained impassive. At the end of the afternoon, by now feeling exhausted and humiliated, the impetuous warrior left. Disappointed by the fact that the master had received so many insults and provocations, the students asked: “How could you bear such indignity? Why didn’t you use your sword, even knowing you might lose the fight, instead of displaying your cowardice in front of us all? If someone comes to you with a gift, and you do not accept it, who does the gift belong to?” – asked the old Samurai.“He who tried to deliver it.” – replied one of his disciples.“The same goes for envy, anger and insults.” – said the master. “When they are not accepted, they continue to belong to the one who carried them.”

What does impetuous mean in the passage?

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

Near Tokyo lived a great Samurai, now old, who decided to teach Zen Buddhism to young people. One afternoon, a warrior – known for his complete lack of scruples – arrived there. The young and impatient warrior had never lost a fight. Hearing of the Samurai’s reputation, he had come to defeat him, and increase his fame. All the students were against the idea, but the old man accepted the challenge. All gathered on the town square, and the young man started insulting the old master. He threw a few rocks in his direction, spat in his face, shouted every insult under the sun – he even insulted his ancestors. For hours, he did everything to provoke him, but the old man remained impassive. At the end of the afternoon, by now feeling exhausted and humiliated, the impetuous warrior left. Disappointed by the fact that the master had received so many insults and provocations, the students asked: “How could you bear such indignity? Why didn’t you use your sword, even knowing you might lose the fight, instead of displaying your cowardice in front of us all? If someone comes to you with a gift, and you do not accept it, who does the gift belong to?” – asked the old Samurai.“He who tried to deliver it.” – replied one of his disciples.“The same goes for envy, anger and insults.” – said the master. “When they are not accepted, they continue to belong to the one who carried them.”

Why did the warrior throw stones at the Samurai?

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

Near Tokyo lived a great Samurai, now old, who decided to teach Zen Buddhism to young people. One afternoon, a warrior – known for his complete lack of scruples – arrived there. The young and impatient warrior had never lost a fight. Hearing of the Samurai’s reputation, he had come to defeat him, and increase his fame. All the students were against the idea, but the old man accepted the challenge. All gathered on the town square, and the young man started insulting the old master. He threw a few rocks in his direction, spat in his face, shouted every insult under the sun – he even insulted his ancestors. For hours, he did everything to provoke him, but the old man remained impassive. At the end of the afternoon, by now feeling exhausted and humiliated, the impetuous warrior left. Disappointed by the fact that the master had received so many insults and provocations, the students asked: “How could you bear such indignity? Why didn’t you use your sword, even knowing you might lose the fight, instead of displaying your cowardice in front of us all? If someone comes to you with a gift, and you do not accept it, who does the gift belong to?” – asked the old Samurai.“He who tried to deliver it.” – replied one of his disciples.“The same goes for envy, anger and insults.” – said the master. “When they are not accepted, they continue to belong to the one who carried them.”