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

From the first lines of the passage it can be assumed that over the years

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

THE FIRST FOOTSTEPS Long, long ago, when the world was colder than you could think, a large part of today’s seawater was still locked in sheets of rugged white ice that covered parts of the continents. The sea levels then were hundreds of metres below those today. There were stretches of usable land that later went under the oceans. One of these, a fifteen hundred kilometre wide land strip called Beringia, which bridged the Bering Sea and linked America to Asia. Beringia was a chilling treeless land lying knee-deep in lush green grasses and soft vines and plants. It attracted herds of large plant-eating animals along with their predators including early humans. It was at that time, between 30 000 to 34 000 years ago, that the first groups of brave hunters from Asia, unknowingly crossed over to America following the herds of game. They neither knew nor cared that they had discovered a new continent. They hunted and stayed close to the big animal herds, as their ancestors had done for countless generations. They strayed into Alaska across Beringia and settled near the pastures where the herds settled down. It would take these Native Americans thousands of years more to move farther south.

  1. the world today has become much colder than in the previous years

  2. the continents are getting covered by ice

  3. the level of sea water has risen remarkably

  4. the sea level cannot be measured accurately
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

It is given clearly in the passage. “The sea levels then were hundreds of metres below those today”.

Multiple choice

The new group of people settled near Alaska because

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

THE FIRST FOOTSTEPS Long, long ago, when the world was colder than you could think, a large part of today’s seawater was still locked in sheets of rugged white ice that covered parts of the continents. The sea levels then were hundreds of metres below those today. There were stretches of usable land that later went under the oceans. One of these, a fifteen hundred kilometre wide land strip called Beringia, which bridged the Bering Sea and linked America to Asia. Beringia was a chilling treeless land lying knee-deep in lush green grasses and soft vines and plants. It attracted herds of large plant-eating animals along with their predators including early humans. It was at that time, between 30 000 to 34 000 years ago, that the first groups of brave hunters from Asia, unknowingly crossed over to America following the herds of game. They neither knew nor cared that they had discovered a new continent. They hunted and stayed close to the big animal herds, as their ancestors had done for countless generations. They strayed into Alaska across Beringia and settled near the pastures where the herds settled down. It would take these Native Americans thousands of years more to move farther south.

  1. their ancestors had settled there too

  2. they were not brave enough to move farther south

  3. the herds of animals settled their and they followed them blindly

  4. their main interest was in the herds of animals settled there
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Because that's where the herds of animals that they were hunting had settled. “They strayed into Alaska across Beringia and settled near the pastures where the herds settled down”.

Multiple choice

The first group of people to set foot in the land of Americas did not care to have discovered a new continent because

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

THE FIRST FOOTSTEPS Long, long ago, when the world was colder than you could think, a large part of today’s seawater was still locked in sheets of rugged white ice that covered parts of the continents. The sea levels then were hundreds of metres below those today. There were stretches of usable land that later went under the oceans. One of these, a fifteen hundred kilometre wide land strip called Beringia, which bridged the Bering Sea and linked America to Asia. Beringia was a chilling treeless land lying knee-deep in lush green grasses and soft vines and plants. It attracted herds of large plant-eating animals along with their predators including early humans. It was at that time, between 30 000 to 34 000 years ago, that the first groups of brave hunters from Asia, unknowingly crossed over to America following the herds of game. They neither knew nor cared that they had discovered a new continent. They hunted and stayed close to the big animal herds, as their ancestors had done for countless generations. They strayed into Alaska across Beringia and settled near the pastures where the herds settled down. It would take these Native Americans thousands of years more to move farther south.

  1. they were not very famous people

  2. they were unaware of the discovery and were only interested in food

  3. they were uneducated and were scared to live in a new land

  4. they had no plans to settle down there permanently
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The early man's most important need was food and that was all he cared for.

Multiple choice

Some sort of guidance is required in the beginning before venturing into the world of internet because

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Some teachers believe that good old traditional methods of teaching are quite reliable and there is no urgent need to revamp the whole system. However, modern educators are pretty sure that learning should be fun. And the more fun a student has, the more successful the results of the teaching process will be. And nowadays computer and digital technologies are the ultimate extensions of fun.
Parents in general view a computer as a new baby-sitter and a rather upgraded one when compared with the previous version – a TV-set.  They seem to think that buying a computer for their child is enough to make him or her upload and engage into some educative programs, surf informative sites and resources.  And they are bitterly disappointed when their children spend most of the time indulging in some stupid shooters tearing their enemies to bloody pieces or chat with the same rattle-brained peers in some neighbouring district discussing football or MTV. It was quite clear from the very beginning that a child or even a teenager needs some sort of guidance to enter the Internet world, somebody who would teach them to behave at different forums and online discussions. 
But sooner or later all of them come to some sort of a conclusion that computer skills are indispensable for children not to lag behind the time and be competitive at the current education and workforce market.

  1. internet is a complex world not easy to interpret

  2. internet can have negative impact on young brains

  3. internet is a vast field and requires prior knowledge

  4. it is difficult to know internet uses in the beginning
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

If internet has a lot to offer on the positive side, it also has a lot on the negative. Therefore, parental guidance is a must.

Multiple choice

Computers act as new 'baby-sitters' because

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Some teachers believe that good old traditional methods of teaching are quite reliable and there is no urgent need to revamp the whole system. However, modern educators are pretty sure that learning should be fun. And the more fun a student has, the more successful the results of the teaching process will be. And nowadays computer and digital technologies are the ultimate extensions of fun.
Parents in general view a computer as a new baby-sitter and a rather upgraded one when compared with the previous version – a TV-set.  They seem to think that buying a computer for their child is enough to make him or her upload and engage into some educative programs, surf informative sites and resources.  And they are bitterly disappointed when their children spend most of the time indulging in some stupid shooters tearing their enemies to bloody pieces or chat with the same rattle-brained peers in some neighbouring district discussing football or MTV. It was quite clear from the very beginning that a child or even a teenager needs some sort of guidance to enter the Internet world, somebody who would teach them to behave at different forums and online discussions. 
But sooner or later all of them come to some sort of a conclusion that computer skills are indispensable for children not to lag behind the time and be competitive at the current education and workforce market.

  1. children get to learn lot of new things from them

  2. children spend lot of time on computers which keeps them engaged

  3. parents are using computers to replace the addiction of TV

  4. parents consider that computers are better than anything else in handling their kids
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Children spend a lot of time theses days on their computers.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace ‘greatly’ as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

A star is a heavenly (1) body which shines by its own light. Planets, as you know, shine only by light reflected (2) from the sun. The planets shine with a steady (3) light and the stars twinkle. This twinkling is caused by desturbances (4) in the air between the star and the earth. The unsteady air bends the light from the star, which then appears to tremble (5). Stars differ greatly (6) in size, density and temperature. At one end (7), there are stars called “red super-giants,” which are many times (8) larger than our sun (which is also a star). At the other end, there are stars called “white dwarfs,” some of which are about the size of our earth.

  1. truly

  2. expectedly

  3. very much

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

‘Greatly’ here means to a large extent. Therefore, the correct option is ‘very much’.

Multiple choice

The main idea conveyed in the passage is

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Some teachers believe that good old traditional methods of teaching are quite reliable and there is no urgent need to revamp the whole system. However, modern educators are pretty sure that learning should be fun. And the more fun a student has, the more successful the results of the teaching process will be. And nowadays computer and digital technologies are the ultimate extensions of fun.
Parents in general view a computer as a new baby-sitter and a rather upgraded one when compared with the previous version – a TV-set.  They seem to think that buying a computer for their child is enough to make him or her upload and engage into some educative programs, surf informative sites and resources.  And they are bitterly disappointed when their children spend most of the time indulging in some stupid shooters tearing their enemies to bloody pieces or chat with the same rattle-brained peers in some neighbouring district discussing football or MTV. It was quite clear from the very beginning that a child or even a teenager needs some sort of guidance to enter the Internet world, somebody who would teach them to behave at different forums and online discussions. 
But sooner or later all of them come to some sort of a conclusion that computer skills are indispensable for children not to lag behind the time and be competitive at the current education and workforce market.

  1. that computers are here to stay

  2. that internet is more of an evil than a blessing

  3. Internet guidance - need of the hour

  4. importance of computers in the field of education
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

“However, modern educators are pretty sure that learning should be fun. And nowadays computer and digital technologies are the ultimate extensions of fun.

Multiple choice

Music is different from other art forms in the way that it

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Music
Music is a wonderful art indeed. It gets us out of the individual self into the social self without any effort on our part. It is a bond of social unity.
Moliere even expected it would unite the whole human race in love and peace. He said: “If all men learn music, would it not be a means of agreeing together in unity and establishing universal peace in the world?”
All men love music. Even some animals respond to it. It is nature’s direct wireless message.
Music lightens labour and promotes harmony and unity among men. It enlivens our leisure moments, and adds a touch of refinement to all our pleasures. It rescues us from coarseness and rudeness, and lifts us to a higher mental and ethical plane. It awakens in us that inner rhythm which adds to the passion of life and increases our energy and vitality. It takes us away from the insignificant material pleasures that are so false and misleading.
Whoever got tired of good music, even after the millionth repetition? Music expresses for us what speech cannot convey.

  1. makes us more happy and contented than others

  2. provides individual pleasure

  3. not only provides individual pleasure but also improves social life

  4. cannot be carried out individually
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

It is clearly stated in the passage. “It gets us out of the individual self into the social self without any effort on our part. It is a bond of social unity”.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace ‘steady’ as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

A star is a heavenly (1) body which shines by its own light. Planets, as you know, shine only by light reflected (2) from the sun. The planets shine with a steady (3) light and the stars twinkle. This twinkling is caused by desturbances (4) in the air between the star and the earth. The unsteady air bends the light from the star, which then appears to tremble (5). Stars differ greatly (6) in size, density and temperature. At one end (7), there are stars called “red super-giants,” which are many times (8) larger than our sun (which is also a star). At the other end, there are stars called “white dwarfs,” some of which are about the size of our earth.

  1. uniform

  2. fixed

  3. bright

  4. continuous
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

We are presenting a contrast in the sentence between stars and planets. Steady here means something that is constant or continuous as opposed to twinkle which means quick, intermittent flashes.

Multiple choice

The views of Moliere as given in the passage indicate that he

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Music
Music is a wonderful art indeed. It gets us out of the individual self into the social self without any effort on our part. It is a bond of social unity.
Moliere even expected it would unite the whole human race in love and peace. He said: “If all men learn music, would it not be a means of agreeing together in unity and establishing universal peace in the world?”
All men love music. Even some animals respond to it. It is nature’s direct wireless message.
Music lightens labour and promotes harmony and unity among men. It enlivens our leisure moments, and adds a touch of refinement to all our pleasures. It rescues us from coarseness and rudeness, and lifts us to a higher mental and ethical plane. It awakens in us that inner rhythm which adds to the passion of life and increases our energy and vitality. It takes us away from the insignificant material pleasures that are so false and misleading.
Whoever got tired of good music, even after the millionth repetition? Music expresses for us what speech cannot convey.

  1. considered music to be the best form of entertainment

  2. regarded music an important messenger of peace, harmony and unity

  3. did not consider music to be an important aspect of social life

  4. was a great musician himself
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Moliere even expected it would unite the whole human race in love and peace.

Multiple choice

The reason for parental disappointment is that

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Some teachers believe that good old traditional methods of teaching are quite reliable and there is no urgent need to revamp the whole system. However, modern educators are pretty sure that learning should be fun. And the more fun a student has, the more successful the results of the teaching process will be. And nowadays computer and digital technologies are the ultimate extensions of fun.
Parents in general view a computer as a new baby-sitter and a rather upgraded one when compared with the previous version – a TV-set.  They seem to think that buying a computer for their child is enough to make him or her upload and engage into some educative programs, surf informative sites and resources.  And they are bitterly disappointed when their children spend most of the time indulging in some stupid shooters tearing their enemies to bloody pieces or chat with the same rattle-brained peers in some neighbouring district discussing football or MTV. It was quite clear from the very beginning that a child or even a teenager needs some sort of guidance to enter the Internet world, somebody who would teach them to behave at different forums and online discussions. 
But sooner or later all of them come to some sort of a conclusion that computer skills are indispensable for children not to lag behind the time and be competitive at the current education and workforce market.

  1. children still spend more time on TV than on computers

  2. children are becoming dependent on internet and not making any efforts

  3. internet is being used more for playing games than as an educative tool

  4. children are getting addicted to internet just as they were addicted to TV earlier
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Parents when in the first place buy computers for their children, they think that their children will use it for constructive purposes like helping them in studies. But they are in for a bitter realisation after some time when they their kids using computers to play games and other not so constructive purposes.

Multiple choice

Which of the following could replace 'At one end' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

A star is a heavenly (1) body which shines by its own light. Planets, as you know, shine only by light reflected (2) from the sun. The planets shine with a steady (3) light and the stars twinkle. This twinkling is caused by desturbances (4) in the air between the star and the earth. The unsteady air bends the light from the star, which then appears to tremble (5). Stars differ greatly (6) in size, density and temperature. At one end (7), there are stars called “red super-giants,” which are many times (8) larger than our sun (which is also a star). At the other end, there are stars called “white dwarfs,” some of which are about the size of our earth.

  1. Starting with

  2. Firstly

  3. On the one hand

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

The correct usage is 'on the one hand'.

Multiple choice

The last line of the passage shows that music

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Music
Music is a wonderful art indeed. It gets us out of the individual self into the social self without any effort on our part. It is a bond of social unity.
Moliere even expected it would unite the whole human race in love and peace. He said: “If all men learn music, would it not be a means of agreeing together in unity and establishing universal peace in the world?”
All men love music. Even some animals respond to it. It is nature’s direct wireless message.
Music lightens labour and promotes harmony and unity among men. It enlivens our leisure moments, and adds a touch of refinement to all our pleasures. It rescues us from coarseness and rudeness, and lifts us to a higher mental and ethical plane. It awakens in us that inner rhythm which adds to the passion of life and increases our energy and vitality. It takes us away from the insignificant material pleasures that are so false and misleading.
Whoever got tired of good music, even after the millionth repetition? Music expresses for us what speech cannot convey.

  1. has the power to unite and create friendly nations

  2. is a wonderful art form indeed and must be encouraged

  3. makes us lively and energetic

  4. is one of the best ways to communicate our feelings
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

As feelings cannot always be expressed through words.

Multiple choice

One of the good old methods of teaching could be

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:
Some teachers believe that good old traditional methods of teaching are quite reliable and there is no urgent need to revamp the whole system. However, modern educators are pretty sure that learning should be fun. And the more fun a student has, the more successful the results of the teaching process will be. And nowadays computer and digital technologies are the ultimate extensions of fun.
Parents in general view a computer as a new baby-sitter and a rather upgraded one when compared with the previous version – a TV-set.  They seem to think that buying a computer for their child is enough to make him or her upload and engage into some educative programs, surf informative sites and resources.  And they are bitterly disappointed when their children spend most of the time indulging in some stupid shooters tearing their enemies to bloody pieces or chat with the same rattle-brained peers in some neighbouring district discussing football or MTV. It was quite clear from the very beginning that a child or even a teenager needs some sort of guidance to enter the Internet world, somebody who would teach them to behave at different forums and online discussions. 
But sooner or later all of them come to some sort of a conclusion that computer skills are indispensable for children not to lag behind the time and be competitive at the current education and workforce market.

  1. taking class to watch a science movie

  2. asking students to make a presentation on the lecture

  3. giving notes to the students on blackboard for revision

  4. using 3D models to demonstrate the lectures
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

All others arte the new methods.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the correct spelling of 'desturbances'?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable option according to the corresponding number in the passage.

A star is a heavenly (1) body which shines by its own light. Planets, as you know, shine only by light reflected (2) from the sun. The planets shine with a steady (3) light and the stars twinkle. This twinkling is caused by desturbances (4) in the air between the star and the earth. The unsteady air bends the light from the star, which then appears to tremble (5). Stars differ greatly (6) in size, density and temperature. At one end (7), there are stars called “red super-giants,” which are many times (8) larger than our sun (which is also a star). At the other end, there are stars called “white dwarfs,” some of which are about the size of our earth.

  1. desturbancis

  2. distarbences

  3. desturbences

  4. disturbances
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The correct spellings are 'disturbances'.