Reading Comprehension Questions

Multiple choice

According to the author, parents become parents

Directions: Read the following passage to answer the given question.

Every child, whether he comes to his family by birth or adoption, discovers what a family is, through the experi­ences of family life. The new-born infant has no way of know­ing which of the many faces that hover above him belongs to a parent. He has no way of knowing what a parent is. He only knows that he is comfortable or uncomfortable, hungry or satisfied.
Gradually, as the months go by, he begins to know who brings comfort when he is uncomfortable and food when he is hungry. He comes to know the feel of the arm that holds him close when he eats and holds him safe in his bath. He grows to know who responds to his needs when he cries out, who is the special person in the whole strange new world who belongs specially to him. This is his first recognition of a parent.
The mother and the father who care for a child, who listen for his voice and try to interpret what he means, who com­fort him, feed him and play with him discover for the first time what it is to be parents. They do not become parents by virtue of conception and birth alone. They grow to be parents just as the infant grows to recognize them as such. They come to know the developing personality of their child in a way that no other person really can. They recognise whether he is a lusty eater or a nibbler, vivacious or reserved, adventurous or cautious. By observing his intellectual and physical abili­ties, they also get to know what he may become in future. They are concerned with meeting his needs and wants, and fostering his growth to maturity.

Sometimes, because of their responsibility to their child, parents have to do unpleasant things. They have to, for instance, take him for injections. He can have no choice about taking medicine when he is ill. He must learn quickly, and not neces­sarily at his own pace, that fire is not a play-thing. In the intimacies of daily living, the child and the parents learn the bitter and the sweet of family relations. It is through the experiences of family life that a child and his parents grow to be a family. For every parent, biological or adoptive, it is the daily loving care of the child and his responsiveness that build up the parents' feelings. When the child feels, it is being loved and being cared for, it produces family closeness.

  1. by virtue of conception and childbirth

  2. by virtue of comforting and feeding the child

  3. when the child grows to recognise them as such

  4. when they understand the personality of the child

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

 See sentences two and three of paragraph three.

Multiple choice

According to the author, a child recognises a parent as

Directions: Read the following passage to answer the given question.

Every child, whether he comes to his family by birth or adoption, discovers what a family is, through the experi­ences of family life. The new-born infant has no way of know­ing which of the many faces that hover above him belongs to a parent. He has no way of knowing what a parent is. He only knows that he is comfortable or uncomfortable, hungry or satisfied.
Gradually, as the months go by, he begins to know who brings comfort when he is uncomfortable and food when he is hungry. He comes to know the feel of the arm that holds him close when he eats and holds him safe in his bath. He grows to know who responds to his needs when he cries out, who is the special person in the whole strange new world who belongs specially to him. This is his first recognition of a parent.
The mother and the father who care for a child, who listen for his voice and try to interpret what he means, who com­fort him, feed him and play with him discover for the first time what it is to be parents. They do not become parents by virtue of conception and birth alone. They grow to be parents just as the infant grows to recognize them as such. They come to know the developing personality of their child in a way that no other person really can. They recognise whether he is a lusty eater or a nibbler, vivacious or reserved, adventurous or cautious. By observing his intellectual and physical abili­ties, they also get to know what he may become in future. They are concerned with meeting his needs and wants, and fostering his growth to maturity.

Sometimes, because of their responsibility to their child, parents have to do unpleasant things. They have to, for instance, take him for injections. He can have no choice about taking medicine when he is ill. He must learn quickly, and not neces­sarily at his own pace, that fire is not a play-thing. In the intimacies of daily living, the child and the parents learn the bitter and the sweet of family relations. It is through the experiences of family life that a child and his parents grow to be a family. For every parent, biological or adoptive, it is the daily loving care of the child and his responsiveness that build up the parents' feelings. When the child feels, it is being loved and being cared for, it produces family closeness.

  1. somebody who brings comfort to him

  2. somebody who holds him safe in his bath

  3. somebody who responds to his needs

  4. All of the above

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

 See first, second and third sentences of paragraph two.

Multiple choice

Which word in the passage can replace the word 'nearness'?

Directions: Read the following passage to answer the given question.

Every child, whether he comes to his family by birth or adoption, discovers what a family is, through the experi­ences of family life. The new-born infant has no way of know­ing which of the many faces that hover above him belongs to a parent. He has no way of knowing what a parent is. He only knows that he is comfortable or uncomfortable, hungry or satisfied.
Gradually, as the months go by, he begins to know who brings comfort when he is uncomfortable and food when he is hungry. He comes to know the feel of the arm that holds him close when he eats and holds him safe in his bath. He grows to know who responds to his needs when he cries out, who is the special person in the whole strange new world who belongs specially to him. This is his first recognition of a parent.
The mother and the father who care for a child, who listen for his voice and try to interpret what he means, who com­fort him, feed him and play with him discover for the first time what it is to be parents. They do not become parents by virtue of conception and birth alone. They grow to be parents just as the infant grows to recognize them as such. They come to know the developing personality of their child in a way that no other person really can. They recognise whether he is a lusty eater or a nibbler, vivacious or reserved, adventurous or cautious. By observing his intellectual and physical abili­ties, they also get to know what he may become in future. They are concerned with meeting his needs and wants, and fostering his growth to maturity.

Sometimes, because of their responsibility to their child, parents have to do unpleasant things. They have to, for instance, take him for injections. He can have no choice about taking medicine when he is ill. He must learn quickly, and not neces­sarily at his own pace, that fire is not a play-thing. In the intimacies of daily living, the child and the parents learn the bitter and the sweet of family relations. It is through the experiences of family life that a child and his parents grow to be a family. For every parent, biological or adoptive, it is the daily loving care of the child and his responsiveness that build up the parents' feelings. When the child feels, it is being loved and being cared for, it produces family closeness.

  1. Closeness

  2. Adoption

  3. Conception

  4. Relations

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

 Near means close. Thus closeness is the correct asnwer.

Multiple choice

Which word in the passage can replace the word 'certainly'?

Directions: Read the following passage to answer the given question.

The black ant is indisputably one of the smallest visible insects on the earth. Except with the aid of a very powerful microscope, it is difficult, if not impossible, to locate the eyes, the mouth, the nostrils (if it ever has any) or any other part of its body. An air of mystery surrounds the existence of this little creature.

Have you ever taken time off your programme to watch these ants move in a row? What gives them the sense of direction, we do not know. Indeed, whoever sends them on an errand and how they even know the destination and the type of errand to run after are stories yet to be told. But they are an extremely well-organised lot.

Certainly, there are no defined routes for them on walls or trees, yet they move in an orderly manner, almost in a straight line. The beautiful thing about these insects is that, even when their line of movement is disorganized, they soon regroup and connect themselves again end to end. If in the process, one of them is killed, they quickly recognize that fact from their various positions. Then, one sees them run­ning helter-skelter with a seeming insistence on getting at the comrade to confirm its death.

When this has been done, some of them run zigzag at a tremendous speed to alert the others on the route. Soon, they disappear completely. Later, as if everything were over and forgotten, they reappear and .form a new route and continue their movement transporting food or going on one errand or the other as before. Bring your ears close to them and you hear nothing and you wonder what their means of communi­cation could be.
Perhaps, most surprising is their high sense of under­standing the weather and the climate. They are just like men in this area. They know when it is the rainy season and when the dry season comes. In fact, it is true to say that they prepare better for the future than man.

During the dry season, they file out to different places ­gathering food which they store underground. At the slightest sign of the approach of the rainy season, they all get into the hole and seal it up. Surprisingly, they re-emerge when the dry season sets in. Who tells them that the dry season has come, we do not know. You can now see the sense in the injunction, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard, learn her ways and be wise."

  1. Helter-skelter

  2. Indisputably

  3. Tremendously

  4. Surprisingly

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

 Certain means something about which there is no doubt. You cannot dispute something that is certain to happen.

Multiple choice

Black ants always move in an orderly manner, almost in a straight line. Which of the following supports this?

Directions: Read the following passage to answer the given question.

The black ant is indisputably one of the smallest visible insects on the earth. Except with the aid of a very powerful microscope, it is difficult, if not impossible, to locate the eyes, the mouth, the nostrils (if it ever has any) or any other part of its body. An air of mystery surrounds the existence of this little creature.

Have you ever taken time off your programme to watch these ants move in a row? What gives them the sense of direction, we do not know. Indeed, whoever sends them on an errand and how they even know the destination and the type of errand to run after are stories yet to be told. But they are an extremely well-organised lot.

Certainly, there are no defined routes for them on walls or trees, yet they move in an orderly manner, almost in a straight line. The beautiful thing about these insects is that, even when their line of movement is disorganized, they soon regroup and connect themselves again end to end. If in the process, one of them is killed, they quickly recognize that fact from their various positions. Then, one sees them run­ning helter-skelter with a seeming insistence on getting at the comrade to confirm its death.

When this has been done, some of them run zigzag at a tremendous speed to alert the others on the route. Soon, they disappear completely. Later, as if everything were over and forgotten, they reappear and .form a new route and continue their movement transporting food or going on one errand or the other as before. Bring your ears close to them and you hear nothing and you wonder what their means of communi­cation could be.
Perhaps, most surprising is their high sense of under­standing the weather and the climate. They are just like men in this area. They know when it is the rainy season and when the dry season comes. In fact, it is true to say that they prepare better for the future than man.

During the dry season, they file out to different places ­gathering food which they store underground. At the slightest sign of the approach of the rainy season, they all get into the hole and seal it up. Surprisingly, they re-emerge when the dry season sets in. Who tells them that the dry season has come, we do not know. You can now see the sense in the injunction, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard, learn her ways and be wise."

  1. If their line of movement is disturbed, they suddenly regroup and connect themselves again end to end.

  2. They can quickly recognise if one of them is missing from the line of movement.

  3. They go helter-skelter to trace the missing comrade.

  4. When the death of a comrade is confirmed, they alert the other ants on the route.

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

 Only option one talks of how ants regroup back in a line when they are disturbed. 

Multiple choice

The black ant is regarded as one of the smallest insects on Earth and

Directions: Read the following passage to answer the given question.

The black ant is indisputably one of the smallest visible insects on the earth. Except with the aid of a very powerful microscope, it is difficult, if not impossible, to locate the eyes, the mouth, the nostrils (if it ever has any) or any other part of its body. An air of mystery surrounds the existence of this little creature.

Have you ever taken time off your programme to watch these ants move in a row? What gives them the sense of direction, we do not know. Indeed, whoever sends them on an errand and how they even know the destination and the type of errand to run after are stories yet to be told. But they are an extremely well-organised lot.

Certainly, there are no defined routes for them on walls or trees, yet they move in an orderly manner, almost in a straight line. The beautiful thing about these insects is that, even when their line of movement is disorganized, they soon regroup and connect themselves again end to end. If in the process, one of them is killed, they quickly recognize that fact from their various positions. Then, one sees them run­ning helter-skelter with a seeming insistence on getting at the comrade to confirm its death.

When this has been done, some of them run zigzag at a tremendous speed to alert the others on the route. Soon, they disappear completely. Later, as if everything were over and forgotten, they reappear and .form a new route and continue their movement transporting food or going on one errand or the other as before. Bring your ears close to them and you hear nothing and you wonder what their means of communi­cation could be.
Perhaps, most surprising is their high sense of under­standing the weather and the climate. They are just like men in this area. They know when it is the rainy season and when the dry season comes. In fact, it is true to say that they prepare better for the future than man.

During the dry season, they file out to different places ­gathering food which they store underground. At the slightest sign of the approach of the rainy season, they all get into the hole and seal it up. Surprisingly, they re-emerge when the dry season sets in. Who tells them that the dry season has come, we do not know. You can now see the sense in the injunction, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard, learn her ways and be wise."

  1. it is invisible to human eye

  2. it is difficult to locate its body parts without the help of a microscope

  3. it is impossible to locate its body parts even with the aid of a microscope

  4. an air of mystery surrounds its existence

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

 See sentence two of paragraph one.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is the most surprising thing about black ants?

Directions: Read the following passage to answer the given question.

The black ant is indisputably one of the smallest visible insects on the earth. Except with the aid of a very powerful microscope, it is difficult, if not impossible, to locate the eyes, the mouth, the nostrils (if it ever has any) or any other part of its body. An air of mystery surrounds the existence of this little creature.

Have you ever taken time off your programme to watch these ants move in a row? What gives them the sense of direction, we do not know. Indeed, whoever sends them on an errand and how they even know the destination and the type of errand to run after are stories yet to be told. But they are an extremely well-organised lot.

Certainly, there are no defined routes for them on walls or trees, yet they move in an orderly manner, almost in a straight line. The beautiful thing about these insects is that, even when their line of movement is disorganized, they soon regroup and connect themselves again end to end. If in the process, one of them is killed, they quickly recognize that fact from their various positions. Then, one sees them run­ning helter-skelter with a seeming insistence on getting at the comrade to confirm its death.

When this has been done, some of them run zigzag at a tremendous speed to alert the others on the route. Soon, they disappear completely. Later, as if everything were over and forgotten, they reappear and .form a new route and continue their movement transporting food or going on one errand or the other as before. Bring your ears close to them and you hear nothing and you wonder what their means of communi­cation could be.
Perhaps, most surprising is their high sense of under­standing the weather and the climate. They are just like men in this area. They know when it is the rainy season and when the dry season comes. In fact, it is true to say that they prepare better for the future than man.

During the dry season, they file out to different places ­gathering food which they store underground. At the slightest sign of the approach of the rainy season, they all get into the hole and seal it up. Surprisingly, they re-emerge when the dry season sets in. Who tells them that the dry season has come, we do not know. You can now see the sense in the injunction, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard, learn her ways and be wise."

  1. They can always maintain a straight line of movement.

  2. During the dry season they file out to different places to gather food.

  3. They have a highly developed sense of understanding of the weather and climate.

  4. Black ants re-emerge from their hole when the dry season sets in.

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

 See sentence one of paragraph five.

Multiple choice

According to the author “An air of mystery surrounds the existence of this little creature”. Which of the following supports this view expressed by the author?

Directions: Read the following passage to answer the given question.

The black ant is indisputably one of the smallest visible insects on the earth. Except with the aid of a very powerful microscope, it is difficult, if not impossible, to locate the eyes, the mouth, the nostrils (if it ever has any) or any other part of its body. An air of mystery surrounds the existence of this little creature.

Have you ever taken time off your programme to watch these ants move in a row? What gives them the sense of direction, we do not know. Indeed, whoever sends them on an errand and how they even know the destination and the type of errand to run after are stories yet to be told. But they are an extremely well-organised lot.

Certainly, there are no defined routes for them on walls or trees, yet they move in an orderly manner, almost in a straight line. The beautiful thing about these insects is that, even when their line of movement is disorganized, they soon regroup and connect themselves again end to end. If in the process, one of them is killed, they quickly recognize that fact from their various positions. Then, one sees them run­ning helter-skelter with a seeming insistence on getting at the comrade to confirm its death.

When this has been done, some of them run zigzag at a tremendous speed to alert the others on the route. Soon, they disappear completely. Later, as if everything were over and forgotten, they reappear and .form a new route and continue their movement transporting food or going on one errand or the other as before. Bring your ears close to them and you hear nothing and you wonder what their means of communi­cation could be.
Perhaps, most surprising is their high sense of under­standing the weather and the climate. They are just like men in this area. They know when it is the rainy season and when the dry season comes. In fact, it is true to say that they prepare better for the future than man.

During the dry season, they file out to different places ­gathering food which they store underground. At the slightest sign of the approach of the rainy season, they all get into the hole and seal it up. Surprisingly, they re-emerge when the dry season sets in. Who tells them that the dry season has come, we do not know. You can now see the sense in the injunction, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard, learn her ways and be wise."

  1. The black ant is one of the smallest visible insects on earth.

  2. Black ants always move in a row.

  3. Black ants are an extremely well-organised lot.

  4. Nobody knows what gives the black ants their sense of direction.

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

Because we do not know what gives the ants their sense of direction, it makes them mysterious. Whatever we cannot understand becomes a mystery for us.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the word/group of words which is most similar in meaning to the word printed in bold as used in the passage.

STERN

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the question given below. Certain words/phrases have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering the question.

Once upon a time there lived a vicious king, Raja Shankara - short-tempered and temperamental. "God I am'", he said to his image as he stared into the mirror everyday, many times a day. He was obsessed with himself. He loved noone but himself. He was blinded towards the injustice in his kingdom because he had little time for his subjects. He wasted most of his time in pouring milk and honey over himself.

Interruption in his possessed life was dealt with stern reprimanding and sometimes on petty issues he would behead his servants. Provoked by his evil advisor Twishar, he went on with his self-indulged life, unaware of the plot his very devoted advisor was planning. A plot to dethrone the king, rule the kingdom with his wicked ways only to harness wealth and the reputation of a King.

 One morning the king was on his usual morning horseback rounds but returned to the palace with an intense look on his face. He locked himself inside his palatial room only to unlock it at sundown. Just as the doors cracked open and Raja Shankara emerged from it, his wife rushed to embrace him. She feared a damaging incident had occurred.

The king spoke seldom that day and awoke the next day to make a proclamation to his servants and subjects. The whole kingdom feared what was in store for them from their angry king. But to their surprise he said to all gathered, "From now on I will be a different king. A softer and a patient king.”

True to his words from that day onwards, the king had truly turned on a new leaf; he cleaned out the corruption and injustice in a tender manner with punishments aimed to renew the person from within.

One fine day his evil advisor gathered courage to ask the reason for his paradigm shift. And the king answered, "When I went on horseback that morning a month ago, I noticed a dog brutally chasing a cat. The cat managed to sneak into a hole only after the dog bit her leg, maiming her for life. Not far, the dog barked at a farmer who picked up a sharp stone and hit it straight in the dog's eye. Bleeding profusely, the dog yelped in pain. As the farmer walked on, he slipped on the edge of the road and broke his head.

All this happened in a matter of minutes before me and then I realized that evil begets evil. I thought about it deeply and was ready to give up my worldly life for the betterment of my subjects. I wanted to give up evil in me as I did not want evil to encounter me."

Sniggering away, the immoral advisor thought what a perfect time it was to dethrone the king, because the king had grown kind hearted and patient and would not endeavour a combat. Thinking how he would plan his attack, he stumbled over a step that took him hurling down the remaining steps, bringing him stop with a crash. He howled in pain only to discover he had broken the bones in both his legs.
  1. hard

  2. tall

  3. easy

  4. tight

  5. severe

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

Hard

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the word/group of words which is most similar in meaning to the word printed in bold as used in the passage.

GATHERED

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the question given below. Certain words/phrases have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering the question.

Once upon a time there lived a vicious king, Raja Shankara - short-tempered and temperamental. "God I am'", he said to his image as he stared into the mirror everyday, many times a day. He was obsessed with himself. He loved noone but himself. He was blinded towards the injustice in his kingdom because he had little time for his subjects. He wasted most of his time in pouring milk and honey over himself.

Interruption in his possessed life was dealt with stern reprimanding and sometimes on petty issues he would behead his servants. Provoked by his evil advisor Twishar, he went on with his self-indulged life, unaware of the plot his very devoted advisor was planning. A plot to dethrone the king, rule the kingdom with his wicked ways only to harness wealth and the reputation of a King.

 One morning the king was on his usual morning horseback rounds but returned to the palace with an intense look on his face. He locked himself inside his palatial room only to unlock it at sundown. Just as the doors cracked open and Raja Shankara emerged from it, his wife rushed to embrace him. She feared a damaging incident had occurred.

The king spoke seldom that day and awoke the next day to make a proclamation to his servants and subjects. The whole kingdom feared what was in store for them from their angry king. But to their surprise he said to all gathered, "From now on I will be a different king. A softer and a patient king.”

True to his words from that day onwards, the king had truly turned on a new leaf; he cleaned out the corruption and injustice in a tender manner with punishments aimed to renew the person from within.

One fine day his evil advisor gathered courage to ask the reason for his paradigm shift. And the king answered, "When I went on horseback that morning a month ago, I noticed a dog brutally chasing a cat. The cat managed to sneak into a hole only after the dog bit her leg, maiming her for life. Not far, the dog barked at a farmer who picked up a sharp stone and hit it straight in the dog's eye. Bleeding profusely, the dog yelped in pain. As the farmer walked on, he slipped on the edge of the road and broke his head.

All this happened in a matter of minutes before me and then I realized that evil begets evil. I thought about it deeply and was ready to give up my worldly life for the betterment of my subjects. I wanted to give up evil in me as I did not want evil to encounter me."

Sniggering away, the immoral advisor thought what a perfect time it was to dethrone the king, because the king had grown kind hearted and patient and would not endeavour a combat. Thinking how he would plan his attack, he stumbled over a step that took him hurling down the remaining steps, bringing him stop with a crash. He howled in pain only to discover he had broken the bones in both his legs.
  1. partied

  2. assembled

  3. dispersed

  4. pooled

  5. collated

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

Assembled

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the word/group of words which is most similar in meaning to the word printed in bold as used in the passage.

BEGETS

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the question given below. Certain words/phrases have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering the question.

Once upon a time there lived a vicious king, Raja Shankara - short-tempered and temperamental. "God I am'", he said to his image as he stared into the mirror everyday, many times a day. He was obsessed with himself. He loved noone but himself. He was blinded towards the injustice in his kingdom because he had little time for his subjects. He wasted most of his time in pouring milk and honey over himself.

Interruption in his possessed life was dealt with stern reprimanding and sometimes on petty issues he would behead his servants. Provoked by his evil advisor Twishar, he went on with his self-indulged life, unaware of the plot his very devoted advisor was planning. A plot to dethrone the king, rule the kingdom with his wicked ways only to harness wealth and the reputation of a King.

 One morning the king was on his usual morning horseback rounds but returned to the palace with an intense look on his face. He locked himself inside his palatial room only to unlock it at sundown. Just as the doors cracked open and Raja Shankara emerged from it, his wife rushed to embrace him. She feared a damaging incident had occurred.

The king spoke seldom that day and awoke the next day to make a proclamation to his servants and subjects. The whole kingdom feared what was in store for them from their angry king. But to their surprise he said to all gathered, "From now on I will be a different king. A softer and a patient king.”

True to his words from that day onwards, the king had truly turned on a new leaf; he cleaned out the corruption and injustice in a tender manner with punishments aimed to renew the person from within.

One fine day his evil advisor gathered courage to ask the reason for his paradigm shift. And the king answered, "When I went on horseback that morning a month ago, I noticed a dog brutally chasing a cat. The cat managed to sneak into a hole only after the dog bit her leg, maiming her for life. Not far, the dog barked at a farmer who picked up a sharp stone and hit it straight in the dog's eye. Bleeding profusely, the dog yelped in pain. As the farmer walked on, he slipped on the edge of the road and broke his head.

All this happened in a matter of minutes before me and then I realized that evil begets evil. I thought about it deeply and was ready to give up my worldly life for the betterment of my subjects. I wanted to give up evil in me as I did not want evil to encounter me."

Sniggering away, the immoral advisor thought what a perfect time it was to dethrone the king, because the king had grown kind hearted and patient and would not endeavour a combat. Thinking how he would plan his attack, he stumbled over a step that took him hurling down the remaining steps, bringing him stop with a crash. He howled in pain only to discover he had broken the bones in both his legs.
  1. produces

  2. loses

  3. expects

  4. avoids

  5. calls

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

'Begets' means to 'produce or reproduce' (i.e. one thing is born from another). Hence this is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

What emotion and did Raman feel when he saw that the Rani had given him five gold coins?

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

King Hutamasan felt he had everything in the world not only due to his riches and his noble knights, but because of his beautiful queen, Rani Matsya. The rays of the sun were put to shame with the iridescent light that Matsya illuminated, with her beauty and brains. At the right hand of the king she was known to sit and aid him in all his judicial probes. You could not escape her deep–set eyes when you committed a crime as she always knew the victim and the culprit. Her generosity preceded her reputation in the kingdom and her hands were always full to give. People in the kingdom revered her because if she passed by, she always gave to the compassionate and poor.
Far away from the kingly palace lived a man named Raman with only ends to his poverty and no means to rectify it. Raman was wrecked with poverty as he had lost all his land to the landlord. His age enabled him little towards manual labour and so begging was the only alternative to salvage his wife and children. Every morning he went door to door for some work, food or money. The kindness of people always got him enough to take home. But Raman was a little self–centered. His world began with him first, followed by his family and the rest. So he would eat and drink to his delight and return home with whatever he found excess. This routine followed and he never let anyone discover his interests as he always put on a long face when he reached home.
One day as he was relishing the bowl of rice he had just received from a humble home, he heard that Rani Matsya who to pass from the very place he was standing. Her generosity had reached his ears and he knew if he pulled a long face and showed how poor he was, she would hand him a bag full of gold coins – enough for the rest of his life, enough to buy food and supplies for his family. He thought he could keep some coins for himself and only reveal a few to his wife, so he can fulfill his own wishes.
He ran to the chariot of the Rani and begged her soldiers to allow him to speak to the queen. Listening to the arguments outside Rani Matsya opened the curtains of her chariot and asked Raman what he wanted. Raman went on his knees and praised the queen. I have heard you are most generous and most chaste, show his beggar some charity. Rani narrowed her brows and asked Raman what he could give her in return. Surprised by such a question, Raman looked at his bowl full of rice. With spite in him he just picked up a few grains of rice and gave it to the queen. Rani Matsya counted the 5 grains and looked at his bowl full of rice and said, you shall be given what is due to you. Saying this, the chariot galloped away.
Raman abused her under his breath. This he never thought would happen. How could she ask him for something in return when she hadn’t given him anything? Irked with anger he stormed home and gave his wife the bowl of rice. Just then he saw a sack at the entrance. His wife said some men had come and kept it there. He opened it to find it full of rice. He put his hand inside and caught hold of a hard metal only to discover it was a gold coin. Elated he upturned the sack to find 5 gold coins in exact for the five rice grains. If only I had given my entire bowl, thought Raman, I would have had a sack full of gold.

  1. Determination

  2. Regret

  3. Hatred

  4. Suspicion

  5. Thrill

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

He had regret in his heart for he realized that if he had given more to the queen, she would have bestowed more gold in return.

Multiple choice

What did Raman do when Rani Matsya asked him for something in return for her charity?

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

King Hutamasan felt he had everything in the world not only due to his riches and his noble knights, but because of his beautiful queen, Rani Matsya. The rays of the sun were put to shame with the iridescent light that Matsya illuminated, with her beauty and brains. At the right hand of the king she was known to sit and aid him in all his judicial probes. You could not escape her deep–set eyes when you committed a crime as she always knew the victim and the culprit. Her generosity preceded her reputation in the kingdom and her hands were always full to give. People in the kingdom revered her because if she passed by, she always gave to the compassionate and poor.
Far away from the kingly palace lived a man named Raman with only ends to his poverty and no means to rectify it. Raman was wrecked with poverty as he had lost all his land to the landlord. His age enabled him little towards manual labour and so begging was the only alternative to salvage his wife and children. Every morning he went door to door for some work, food or money. The kindness of people always got him enough to take home. But Raman was a little self–centered. His world began with him first, followed by his family and the rest. So he would eat and drink to his delight and return home with whatever he found excess. This routine followed and he never let anyone discover his interests as he always put on a long face when he reached home.
One day as he was relishing the bowl of rice he had just received from a humble home, he heard that Rani Matsya who to pass from the very place he was standing. Her generosity had reached his ears and he knew if he pulled a long face and showed how poor he was, she would hand him a bag full of gold coins – enough for the rest of his life, enough to buy food and supplies for his family. He thought he could keep some coins for himself and only reveal a few to his wife, so he can fulfill his own wishes.
He ran to the chariot of the Rani and begged her soldiers to allow him to speak to the queen. Listening to the arguments outside Rani Matsya opened the curtains of her chariot and asked Raman what he wanted. Raman went on his knees and praised the queen. I have heard you are most generous and most chaste, show his beggar some charity. Rani narrowed her brows and asked Raman what he could give her in return. Surprised by such a question, Raman looked at his bowl full of rice. With spite in him he just picked up a few grains of rice and gave it to the queen. Rani Matsya counted the 5 grains and looked at his bowl full of rice and said, you shall be given what is due to you. Saying this, the chariot galloped away.
Raman abused her under his breath. This he never thought would happen. How could she ask him for something in return when she hadn’t given him anything? Irked with anger he stormed home and gave his wife the bowl of rice. Just then he saw a sack at the entrance. His wife said some men had come and kept it there. He opened it to find it full of rice. He put his hand inside and caught hold of a hard metal only to discover it was a gold coin. Elated he upturned the sack to find 5 gold coins in exact for the five rice grains. If only I had given my entire bowl, thought Raman, I would have had a sack full of gold.

  1. He gave her five grains of rice out of his full bowl of rice

  2. He gave her the five gold coins that he had saved

  3. He handed over the entire bowl of rice that he possessed

  4. He refused to give her anything as he was offended with her request

  5. None of these

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

Clearly indicated in the passage

Multiple choice

Why was Raman angry with Rani Matsya?

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

King Hutamasan felt he had everything in the world not only due to his riches and his noble knights, but because of his beautiful queen, Rani Matsya. The rays of the sun were put to shame with the iridescent light that Matsya illuminated, with her beauty and brains. At the right hand of the king she was known to sit and aid him in all his judicial probes. You could not escape her deep–set eyes when you committed a crime as she always knew the victim and the culprit. Her generosity preceded her reputation in the kingdom and her hands were always full to give. People in the kingdom revered her because if she passed by, she always gave to the compassionate and poor.
Far away from the kingly palace lived a man named Raman with only ends to his poverty and no means to rectify it. Raman was wrecked with poverty as he had lost all his land to the landlord. His age enabled him little towards manual labour and so begging was the only alternative to salvage his wife and children. Every morning he went door to door for some work, food or money. The kindness of people always got him enough to take home. But Raman was a little self–centered. His world began with him first, followed by his family and the rest. So he would eat and drink to his delight and return home with whatever he found excess. This routine followed and he never let anyone discover his interests as he always put on a long face when he reached home.
One day as he was relishing the bowl of rice he had just received from a humble home, he heard that Rani Matsya who to pass from the very place he was standing. Her generosity had reached his ears and he knew if he pulled a long face and showed how poor he was, she would hand him a bag full of gold coins – enough for the rest of his life, enough to buy food and supplies for his family. He thought he could keep some coins for himself and only reveal a few to his wife, so he can fulfill his own wishes.
He ran to the chariot of the Rani and begged her soldiers to allow him to speak to the queen. Listening to the arguments outside Rani Matsya opened the curtains of her chariot and asked Raman what he wanted. Raman went on his knees and praised the queen. I have heard you are most generous and most chaste, show his beggar some charity. Rani narrowed her brows and asked Raman what he could give her in return. Surprised by such a question, Raman looked at his bowl full of rice. With spite in him he just picked up a few grains of rice and gave it to the queen. Rani Matsya counted the 5 grains and looked at his bowl full of rice and said, you shall be given what is due to you. Saying this, the chariot galloped away.
Raman abused her under his breath. This he never thought would happen. How could she ask him for something in return when she hadn’t given him anything? Irked with anger he stormed home and gave his wife the bowl of rice. Just then he saw a sack at the entrance. His wife said some men had come and kept it there. He opened it to find it full of rice. He put his hand inside and caught hold of a hard metal only to discover it was a gold coin. Elated he upturned the sack to find 5 gold coins in exact for the five rice grains. If only I had given my entire bowl, thought Raman, I would have had a sack full of gold.

  1. As she had not stopped despite Raman's calling out to her

  2. As she had insulted him in front of his family

  3. As she had taken the rice grains from him and had not given him anything in return

  4. Not mentioned in the passage

  5. None of these

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

The phrase 'How could she ask him for something in return when she hadn't given him anything?' indicates option 3 to be the right answer.

Multiple choice

Why was begging the only option for Raman to get food?

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

King Hutamasan felt he had everything in the world not only due to his riches and his noble knights, but because of his beautiful queen, Rani Matsya. The rays of the sun were put to shame with the iridescent light that Matsya illuminated, with her beauty and brains. At the right hand of the king she was known to sit and aid him in all his judicial probes. You could not escape her deep–set eyes when you committed a crime as she always knew the victim and the culprit. Her generosity preceded her reputation in the kingdom and her hands were always full to give. People in the kingdom revered her because if she passed by, she always gave to the compassionate and poor.
Far away from the kingly palace lived a man named Raman with only ends to his poverty and no means to rectify it. Raman was wrecked with poverty as he had lost all his land to the landlord. His age enabled him little towards manual labour and so begging was the only alternative to salvage his wife and children. Every morning he went door to door for some work, food or money. The kindness of people always got him enough to take home. But Raman was a little self–centered. His world began with him first, followed by his family and the rest. So he would eat and drink to his delight and return home with whatever he found excess. This routine followed and he never let anyone discover his interests as he always put on a long face when he reached home.
One day as he was relishing the bowl of rice he had just received from a humble home, he heard that Rani Matsya who to pass from the very place he was standing. Her generosity had reached his ears and he knew if he pulled a long face and showed how poor he was, she would hand him a bag full of gold coins – enough for the rest of his life, enough to buy food and supplies for his family. He thought he could keep some coins for himself and only reveal a few to his wife, so he can fulfill his own wishes.
He ran to the chariot of the Rani and begged her soldiers to allow him to speak to the queen. Listening to the arguments outside Rani Matsya opened the curtains of her chariot and asked Raman what he wanted. Raman went on his knees and praised the queen. I have heard you are most generous and most chaste, show his beggar some charity. Rani narrowed her brows and asked Raman what he could give her in return. Surprised by such a question, Raman looked at his bowl full of rice. With spite in him he just picked up a few grains of rice and gave it to the queen. Rani Matsya counted the 5 grains and looked at his bowl full of rice and said, you shall be given what is due to you. Saying this, the chariot galloped away.
Raman abused her under his breath. This he never thought would happen. How could she ask him for something in return when she hadn’t given him anything? Irked with anger he stormed home and gave his wife the bowl of rice. Just then he saw a sack at the entrance. His wife said some men had come and kept it there. He opened it to find it full of rice. He put his hand inside and caught hold of a hard metal only to discover it was a gold coin. Elated he upturned the sack to find 5 gold coins in exact for the five rice grains. If only I had given my entire bowl, thought Raman, I would have had a sack full of gold.

  1. As Raman belonged to a family of beggars

  2. As begging was the easiest way for him to obtain food

  3. As Raman's family had forced him to beg

  4. As he had lost all his property and was too old to do manual work

  5. None of these

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

Second paragraph states that he had lost his property to the landlord and his age didn't permit him doing much of manual work.