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

Few school curricula include a unit on how to deal with bereavement and grief, and yet all students at some point in their lives suffer from losses through death and parting. Based on the above passage, which topic would not be included in a unit on bereavement?

  1. How to write a letter of condolence

  2. What emotional stages are passed through in the healing process

  3. What are the leading causes of death

  4. How to give support to a grieving friend
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The passage focuses on the emotional and social aspects of dealing with bereavement, such as support and healing. The leading causes of death are medical or statistical facts, which do not address the emotional or coping mechanisms required for a unit on bereavement.

Multiple choice

Modern warfare has changed from large scale clashes of armies to suppression of civilian populations. Chemical agents that do their work silently appear to be suited to such warfare and regretfully, there exist people in military establishments who think that chemical agents are useful tools for their cause.

Which of the following statements best sums up the meaning of the above passage?

  1. Modern warfare has resulted in civil strife.

  2. Chemical agents are useful in modern warfare.

  3. People in military establishments like to use chemical agents in war.

  4. Use of chemical agents in warfare would be undesirable.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Civil strife means civil disorder, a term used to describe unrest caused by a group of people, which is not true in the light of the given passage. So, (1) is not the correct option. (2) is incorrect because there is no fact in the data justifying the usefulness of chemical agents for warfare. (4) is also incorrect because it is mentioned in the second line that chemical agents appear to be suited for such warfare, which implies that they are desirable. It is mentioned in the last line that there exist people in military establishments who think that chemical agents are useful for warfare, which makes (3) correct.

Multiple choice

Few school curricula include a unit on how to deal with bereavement and grief, and yet all students at some point in their lives suffer from losses through death and parting. Based on the above passage, which topic would not be included in a unit on bereavement?

  1. How to write a letter of condolence?

  2. What emotional stages are passed through in the healing process?

  3. What the leading causes of death are?

  4. How to give support to a grieving friend?
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This passage deals with how to deal with bereavement and grief. So, after the tragedy occurs and it is not about precautions. Thus option (C), what the leading causes of death are, not be included in a unit of bereavement. Rest all are important in dealing with grief.

Multiple choice

His principle forte was social and religious reform. He relied upon legislation to do away with social ills and work unceasingly for the eradication of child marriage and the purdah system. To encourage consideration of social problems on a national scale, he inaugurated the Indian National Social Conference, which for many years met for its annual session alongside the Indian National Congress.

The reference in this passage is to

  1. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar

  2. Behramji Merwanji Malabari

  3. Mahadev Govind Ranade

  4. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Ranade worked for social reform in the areas of child marriage, widow remarriage and women rights. He was a distinguished Indian scholar, social reformer and author.

Multiple choice

The horse has played a little known but very important role in the field of medicine. Horses were injected with toxins of diseases until their blood built up immunities. Then a serum was made from their blood. Serums to fight with diphtheria and tetanus were developed this way. It can be inferred from the passage, that horses were

  1. given immunity to diseases

  2. generally quite immune to diseases

  3. given medicines to fight toxins

  4. given diphtheria and tetanus serums
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The passage states horses were injected with toxins until their blood built up immunities. This means they were actively given the ability to resist the diseases.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the paragraph and answer the question that follows. Firefox is a classic overnight success, many years in the making. Published by the Mozilla Foundation, Firefox is a Web browser that is fast and filled with features that Microsoft's stodgy Internet Explorer lacks. Firefox installs in a snap, and it's free. Microsoft has always viewed Internet Explorer's tight integration with Windows to be an attractive feature. That, however, was before security became the unmet need of the day. Firefox sits lightly on top of Windows, in a separation from the underlying operating system that the Mozilla Foundation's president, Mitchell Baker, calls a natural defense.

What is the theme of the passage?

  1. Open sources software always faces a threat to security.

  2. Internet Explorer of Microsoft is not safe and secure open source software.

  3. The success of the web browser Firefox shows that open source software can move from back office obscurity to your home.

  4. None of these

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

'Open source software' can be used by anyone to access the data in that software. 'Firefox' and 'Internet Explorer' are both open source softwares as they can be accessed by anyone for their personal use. This passage highlights the success of firefox, as it is secure from the viruses, which is not the case with Internet Explorer, thereby explaining its overnight success. Hence, (3) is the answer.

Multiple choice
Directions: Read the paragraph and answer the question that follows.
The government is reportedly reviewing the subsidy on postal services. The decision has come not a day too soon. With the position of the fiscal becoming more precarious by the day, the Finance Minister urgently needs to seek avenues where he can cut expenditure. Unfortunately, his choices are limited Interest payments, defence expenditure and wages and salaries of government staff together account for more than 50% of government revenue and can't be touched Cutting back on food subsidies is politically a tough act to follow.
What is the theme of the passage?

  1. The subsidy on postal services might be revoked or reduced.

  2. Postal services are not considered an area of political contention.

  3. The subsidy of postal services is not necessary like the subsidies in certain other areas.

  4. The subsidy on postal services is one of the little expenditure which can be reduced without political hassles.

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

(4) is a valid conclusion from the passage .The central idea of the passage is to introduce the possibility of a reduction in postal subsidies (clue is provided by sentence (1) and (2)). Options (2), (3) and (4) could be a metter of argument. But when once the review has been taken up, (1) is definitely possible. Hence, (1) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the paragraph and answer the question that follows.

When you take a fish out of the ocean and throw it on the bank – the misery and the suffering and the torture and the hankering and the effort to reach back to the oceans because it is where the fish belongs. Any suffering is simply indicative that you are not in communion with existence that the fish is not in the ocean. When a dewdrop slips from a lotus leaf into the ocean it does not find that it is part of the ocean, it finds it is the ocean. And to find it is the ultimate goal, the ultimate realization. There is nothing beyond it. I don’t want anybody to stand between the individual and existence.

You are here, every individual is here, and the whole existence is available.

According to you, what is the theme of the passage?

  1. Death is the truth of life.

  2. We suffer when we are not in tune with ourselves.

  3. When we are not in meditation, we are separated from our existence and that is our suffering.

  4. None of these

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

Two examples – “Fish” and “dew drops” – cited here support the theme of the passage, i.e. when we meditate, all the barriers of thoughts, emotions and sentiments drop and we feel ourselves in tune with whole; not only in tune, we become whole. In this light, (1) is ruled out. Of (2) and (3), (2) seems to denote half truth. Hence, (3) is the answer.

Multiple choice

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

A pattern of black minority ethnic settlement, characterised by residential concentration, segregation and deprivation is now well established in Britain. Although this distinctive geography is largely a product of post-war migration, black settlers have a long history in Britain; small clusters of Africans and Indians emerged in port areas such as London, Liverpool and Cardiff as early as the 1800s. These settlements were, however, extremely localised, so the day-to-day experience of most people living in Britain at that time was a white one. The Victorians nevertheless held some clearly developed images of 'race', colour and ethnic difference, which were rooted in colonial relations with South Asian and West Indian countries. The largely negative stereotypes associated with 'uncivilised people' in far-off lands were to prove powerful constituents of 19th century racist ideologies, which have survived, albeit in a modified form, into the late 20th century.

According to you, what is the theme of the passage?

  1. 'Racism' was more rooted in South Asian and West Indian countries.

  2. Britain’s experience as colonising nation led to negative racial stereotypes in the 19th century, which brought about racism in the 20th century.

  3. Victorian era had a clearly developed image of ‘race’, colour and ethnic difference.

  4. None of these

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

This passage discuses the issue of ethnic minorities in the UK. Let’s scrutinise each of the options:

Option (1) draws a comparison between South Asian and West Indian countries. Hence, it can be ruled out.

Option (3) is in contradiction to the statement – 'The Victorians . . . . . .  West Indian countries', hence ruled out.

Keep in mind that this passage is about ethnic minorities in the UK and the last statement of the passage sums up the idea of the passage. Hence, option (2) forms the answer.

Multiple choice theme, main idea and purpose of a passage reading comprehension english

Read the passage and answer the following question:


It must be realized to make compulsory education a success, it is absolutely necessary to make it entirely free. India is a poor country and we cannot expect our people to pay directly for the education of their children. Even in rich countries like England and U.S.A. mass education is not only free but there are many additional facilities like mid-day meal for children, free medical service, and scholarship on a generous scale. Since education is a fundamental civil and human right and basic to the health of the body politics, funds must be found for the purpose whatever the cost of the scheme. If we consider educational and cultural activities to be important, funds will be forthcoming. What we have to do is to rearrange our priority. With this in view, we have to adopt a many-sided programme of national planning and economic and industrial reconstruction. If not there will always be arguments and statistics to prove that it is impossible to introduce free, compulsory and universal education in India.

Which is the central argument of the passage?

  1. Compulsory education should be introduced.

  2. For making compulsory education a success, it should be free.

  3. Mass education is not possible in India.

  4. Priority should be given to education.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Option B: It's mentioned in the topic sentence: "It must be realized to make compulsory education a success, it is absolutely necessary to make it entirely free."
A topic sentence usually presents the main idea of the passage.
The central argument of this passage is "For making compulsory education a success, it should be free."
It is supported by other instances in the passage as well:
Free education is necessary because education is a basic and fundamental right.
"Since education is a fundamental civil and human right and basic to the health of the body politics, funds must be found for the purpose whatever the cost of the scheme."
Also, we need to give priority to education and adopt measures that will help raise funds for free education."If we consider educational and cultural activities to be important, funds will be forthcoming. What we have to do is to rearrange our priority."
Hence OPTION B is correct.
Options A, C and D are incorrect because the passage is not about these aspects of education: education should be made compulsory (it should be, but the passage is about free education), mass education is not possible in India (some people will always say this, but the passage here is about free education), and priority should be given to education (this is a tool to achieve funds for education).

Multiple choice theme, main idea and purpose of a passage reading comprehension english
Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

Once upon a time, I went for a week's holiday to the Continent with an Indian friend. We both enjoyed ourselves and were sorry when the week was over, but on parting our behaviour was absolutely different. He was plunged in despair. He felt that because the holiday was overall happiness was over until the world ended. He could not express his sorrow too much. But in me, the Englishman came out strong. I could not see what there was to make a fuss about. It wasn't as if we were parting forever or dying. 'Buck up', I said, 'do buck up'. He refused to buck up and I left him plunged in gloom. 


What is the author's intention in the passage?

  1. To contact the Indian character with the English character

  2. To show that an Indian is sorrowful

  3. To ridicule the Indian traditions

  4. To praise the Englishman
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The given passage shows the Indian as sorrowful and gloomy. Thus option B is the correct answer. Options B,C and D are incorrect.

Multiple choice theme, main idea and purpose of a passage reading comprehension english

Read the following short passage and choose the best answer to the question that fallow each passage.Columnist: Senators who are not firmly committed to a core set of beliefs will formulate new campaign strategies and moot points before each upcoming election. Senators are elected to serve multiple terms in office only i f they formulate new campaign strategies and moot points before each upcoming election. Therefore, senators who are not firmly committed to a core set of beliefs are elected to serve multiple terms in office. 
Which one of the following displays a flawed pattern of reasoning most closely parallel to that in the columnist's argument?

  1. Nuclear proliferation will accelerate only if there is widespread access to fissile material. Widespread access to fissile material goes hand in glove with increased regional instability. Therefore, nuclear proliferation will not accelerate unless there is an increase in regional instability

  2. If health care costs continue to rise, foreign currency markets will devalue the Euro. But health care costs will not continue to rise. Therefore, foreign currency markets will not devalue the Euro.

  3. A loyal person is a likeable person, for a loyal person always stands by her friends and a likeable person also always stands by her friends.

  4. A well-constructed house includes code-compliant framing, wiring, and insulation. A house is marketable only if it is well-constructed. Therefore, a marketable house includes code-compliant framing, wiring, and insulation.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
A loyal person is a likeable person, for a loyal person always stands by her friends and a likeable person also always :stands by her friends.

Multiple choice theme, main idea and purpose of a passage reading comprehension english

A passage is given below followed by several inference . You have to examine each interference separately in the context of the passage and decide upon its degree of truth or falsity , Mark your answer as:

Investors today have more investment options than were available just a few years ago. Choice in any decision-making is good in so far it provides variety, differentiation and bench-marking. It could also, however, at times lead to clutter and "noise" if the options are mostly similar and undifferentiated. To make sense of this choice conundrum, it is imperative for an investor to define objective - both returns and digestible risk and then identify the possible options. The investor also needs to select the mix and regularly monitor that objectives and investment outcomes remain aligned. Sounds simple, but can present the most confounding situation which multiplies with the quantum of wealth. 
Multiple investment options of similar types helps in making better investment decisions.

  1. If the inference is 'definitely true'

  2. If the inference is 'probably true'

  3. if the 'data provide in inadequate'

  4. If the inference is 'probably false'
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Refer to the second and the third sentences of the passage. They say that choice is good, but they lead to clutter and noise if the products are similar. So, the inference is probably false.

Multiple choice theme, main idea and purpose of a passage reading comprehension english

A passage is given below followed by several inference . You have to examine each interference separately in the context of the passage and decide upon its degree of truth or falsity , Mark your answer as:

Investors today have more investment options than were available just a few years ago. Choice in any decision-making is good in so far it provides variety, differentiation and bench-marking. It could also, however, at times lead to clutter and "noise" if the options are mostly similar and undifferentiated. To make sense of this choice conundrum, it is imperative for an investor to define objective - both returns and digestible risk and then identify the possible options. The investor also needs to select the mix and regularly monitor that objectives and investment outcomes remain aligned. Sounds simple, but can present the most confounding situation which multiplies with the quantum of wealth. 
Present day investors need to use their judgement more critically before investing.

  1. If the inference is 'definitely true'

  2. If the inference is 'probably true'

  3. if the 'data provide in inadequate'

  4. If the inference is 'probably false'
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
According to the first sentence, it says that investors `today have more investment options' and then later in the paragraph says that investors need to evaluate risk. This means that investors today need to use their judgement mat critically. So, the inference is definitely true.

Multiple choice theme, main idea and purpose of a passage reading comprehension english

At birth we have no self-image. We cannot distinguish anything from the confusion of light and sound around us. From this beginning of no-dimension, we gradually begin to differentiate our body from our environment and develop a sense of id entity, with the realisation that we are a separate and independent human being. We then begin to develop a conscience, the sense of right and wrong. Further, we develop social consciousness, where we become aware that we live with other people. Finally, we develop a sense of values, which is our overall estimation of our worth in the world. Which one of the following would be the best completion of this passage ?

  1. The sum total of all these developments we call the self-image or the self-concept.

  2. This estimation of worth is only relative to our value system.

  3. Therefore, our social consciousness is dependent on our sense of values.

  4. The sum total of living with other people and developing a sense of values makes us a total population.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

According to the given question , the sum total of all these development we call the self image of the self concept is the best completion of the passage.