Tag: reading comprehension

Questions Related to reading comprehension

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 does the author mean by 'buck up'?

inferences from the text reading comprehension english

  1. Buckle yourself up

  2. Stand up

  3. Cheer up

  4. Shut up

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Buck up" is an expression for the word cheer up. Here, a certain 'he' is "plunged in despair" and the writer is telling him to "cheer up." So, the answer is option C.

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

The psychological causes of unhappiness, it is clear, are many and various. But all have something in common. The typical unhappy man is one who, having deprived in youth of some normal satisfaction, has come to value this one ' kind of satisfaction more than any other, and has therefore given to his life a one-sided direction, together with a quite undue emphasis upon the achievement as opposed to the activities connected with it. There is, however, a further development which is very common in the present day. A man may feel so completely thwarted that he seeks no form of satisfaction, but only distraction and oblivion. He then becomes a devotee of "pleasure". This is to say, he seeks to make life bearable by becoming less alive. Drunkenness, for example, is temporary suicide-the happiness that it brings is merely negative, a momentary cessation of unhappiness. 


Which one of the following is the correct statement? Drinking helps the unhappy only to _______. 

inferences from the text reading comprehension english

  1. forget their dissatisfaction

  2. get sublime happiness

  3. get the motivational needs fulfilled

  4. concentrate harder

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The given passage explains that drinking just makes people forget about their miseries. In this context, the correct answer is option A.

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

As civilization proceeds in the direction of technology, it passes the point of supplying all the basic of life, food, shelter, clothes and warmth. Then we are faced with a choice between using technology to provide and fulfill needs which have hitherto been regarded as unnecessary or, on the other hand, using technology to reduce the number of hours of work which a man must do in order to earn a given standard of living. In other words, we either raise our standard of living above that necessary for comfort and happiness or we leave it at this level and work shorter hours. I shall take it as axiomatic that mankind has, by that time, chosen the later alternative. Men will be working shorter and shorter hours in their paid employment.


What does the passage suggest about the use of technology? 

inferences from the text reading comprehension english

  1. It creates new and essential needs for mankind

  2. It is opposed to the basic essentials of life

  3. It is complementary, to a raised standard of living

  4. It is responsible for man's love of comfort and happiness

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The passage centers around two different uses of technology and their outcomes. In this context, when the author says that we are facing two choices regarding the use of technology: to use technology to fulfill needs that were regarded as unnecessary till date or to use it to reduce the hours of work which a man must do to raise his standard of living, he is implying that a raised standard of living is complementary to the use of technology. So, the answer to the required question is option C.

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

It is said that ideas are explosive and dangerous. To allow them unfettered freedom is, in fact, to invite disorder. But, to this position, there are at least two final answers. It is impossible to draw a line round dangerous ideas, and any attempt at their definition involves monstrous folly. If views, moreover, which imply disorder are able to disturb the foundations of the State; there is something supremely wrong with the governance of the State. For disorder is not a habit of mankind. We cling so eagerly to our accustomed ways that, as even Burke insisted; popular violence is always the outcome of a deep popular sense of wrong. 

What is the central point that the passage emphasizes?

inferences from the text reading comprehension english

  1. It is unnecessary to define dangerous ideas

  2. Dangerous ideas are born out of the enjoyment of freedom

  3. A well-governed State is unaffected by dangerous ideas

  4. Dangerous ideas originate from man's pre-occupation with politics.

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Option C is the correct answer. The passage has tried to emphasize the nature of disorder that tumbles over a state. Whatever may give birth to dangerous ideas, however they may be formed,if they are able to shake the foundations of a state, the validity of the state's governance would be questionable. A well-governed state would be unaffected by any kind of dangerous ideas.The statements of options A,B and D are not supported by the text, and thus, are incorrect.

Read the passage and answer the question that follows:

It is said that ideas are explosive and dangerous. To allow them unfettered freedom is, in fact, to invite disorder. But, to this position, there are at least two final answers. It is impossible to draw a line round dangerous ideas, and any attempt at their definition involves monstrous folly. If views, moreover, which imply disorder are able to disturb the foundations of the State; there is something supremely wrong with the governance of the State. For disorder is not a habit of mankind. We cling so eagerly to our accustomed ways that, as even Burke insisted; popular violence is always the outcome of a deep popular sense of wrong. 


The author says, 'we cling eagerly to our accustomed ways'. Which one of the following statements may be considered as the assumption of the author? 

inferences from the text reading comprehension english

  1. We are afraid of social changes.

  2. Mankind is averse to any disorder.

  3. We have developed inertia that makes us incapable of social action.

  4. There is an all-round lack of initiative on the society.

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

We cling to tried and tested old ways because we are too lazy to try a new, different way and experiment (which might or might not lead to disorder). The assumption behind this idea is option C. ("For disorder is not a habit of mankind"). Option C is the answer.

Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

As civilization proceeds in the direction of technology, it passes the point of supplying all the basic of life, food, shelter, clothes and warmth. Then we are faced with a choice between using technology to provide and fulfil needs which have hitherto been regarded as unnecessary or, on the other hand, using technology to reduce the number of hours of work which a man must do in order to earn a given standard of living. In other words, we either raise our standard of living above that necessary for comfort and happiness or we leave it at this level and work shorter hours. I shall take it as axiomatic that mankind has, by that time, chosen the later alternative. Men will be working shorter and shorter hours in their paid employment.


What does the author suggest? 

inferences from the text reading comprehension english

  1. Man will gradually rise above his present stage in civilization.

  2. Man will gradually settle down to the same stage with fewer hours of work.

  3. Man will gradually raise his standard of living by working longer hours.

  4. Man will gradually earn a given standard of living with the. help of technology.

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The given option B is the correct answer. The author asserts his understanding of humans and concludes that man will continue with living in the same conditions without increasing his effort in limited hours. The statements of options A,C and D are incorrect because they are not supported by the passage. 

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

As civilization proceeds in the direction of technology, it passes the point of supplying all the basic of life, food, shelter, clothes and warmth. Then we are faced with a choice between using technology to provide and fulfil needs which have hitherto been regarded as unnecessary or, on the other hand, using technology to reduce the number of hours of work which a man must do in order to earn a given standard of living. In other words, we either raise our standard of living above that necessary for comfort and happiness or we leave it at this level and work shorter hours. I shall take it as axiomatic that mankind has, by that time, chosen the later alternative. Men will be working shorter and shorter hours in their paid employment.


What does increased use of technology imply?

inferences from the text reading comprehension english

  1. An advanced stage in human civilization

  2. A backward step in human culture

  3. Unnecessary comfort and happiness for mankind

  4. Man's zest for more and more work

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

In the very first sentence, the author states that civilization has progressed to the stage where it has passed the point of using technology for basic purposes and now we are concerned with using technology for other purposes. This signifies an increased use of technology which in turn implies that human civilization has advanced. So, option A is the correct answer.

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

We should preserve nature to preserve life and beauty. A beautiful landscape, full of green vegetation, will not just attract our attention but will fill us with infinite satisfaction. Unfortunately, because of modernization, much of nature is now yielding to towns, roads and industrial areas In a few places, some natural reserves are now being carved out to avert the danger of destroying nature completely. Man will perish without nature, so modern man should continue this struggle to save plants, which give us oxygen, from extinction. Moreover, nature is essential to man's health.


Which one of the following is the correct statement? According to the passage ________. 

inferences from the text reading comprehension english

  1. Beauty is only skin-deep

  2. Everthing is beautiful in its natural state

  3. There is beauty in Nature

  4. Nature is a moral teacher

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

"We should preserve nature to preserve life and beauty."- this sentence highlights the author's sentiment of how nature should be preserved in order to preserve life and beauty. At the same time, the above sentence also highlights the author's wish to bring nature's beauty to the forefront. Option C is the best answer.

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

The world is full of people - appallingly full; it has never been so full before, and they are all tumbling over each other. Most of these people one doesn't know and some of them one doesn't like. Well, what is one to do? There are two solutions. One of them is the Nazi solution. If you don't like people, kill them, banish them, and segregate them. The other way is much less thrilling, but it is, on the whole, the way of the democracies, and I prefer it. If you don't like people, put up with them as well as you can. Don't try to love them: you can't, you'll only strain yourself. But try to tolerate them.


Which one of the following is the correct statement? According to the writer Nazi solution is _______. 

inferences from the text reading comprehension english

  1. the earliest solution

  2. the readiest solution

  3. the national solution

  4. the Hitelerian solution

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The passage states, "One of them is the Nazi solution. If you don't like people, kill them, banish them, and segregate them. The other way is much less thrilling." The Nazi solution refers to the solution generated by the political views of Adolf Hitler. In this context, we can conclude that option D is the best answer.

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

The world is full of people - appallingly full; it has never been so full before, and they are all tumbling over each other. Most of these people one doesn't know and some of them one doesn't like. Well, what is one to do? There are two solutions. One of them is the Nazi solution. If you don't like people, kill them, banish them, and segregate them. The other way is much less thrilling, but it is, on the whole, the way of the democracies, and I prefer it. If you don't like people, put up with them as well as you can. Don't try to love them: you can't, you'll only strain yourself. But try to tolerate them.


Which one of the following is the correct statement? The author thinks that the other solution is much less thrilling because it is ______. 

inferences from the text reading comprehension english

  1. dull

  2. based on tolerance

  3. not based on love

  4. lacking in adventure

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Here, we can see that the author does not approve of tolerance and so he believes that this solution is less thrilling compared to the Nazi solution. This answer can be picked up from the last lines of the passage:  "The other way is much less thrilling, but it is, on the whole, the way of the democracies, and I prefer it. If you don't like people, put up with them as well as you can. Don't try to love them: you can't, you'll only strain yourself. But try to tolerate them." So, option B is the best answer.