Govexamprep logoGovexamprepStart practice ›

Reading Comprehension MCQs – Free Practice Questions

Reading Comprehension is part of English Language in government exams such as SSC MTS, SSC CHSL, SSC CGL, Banking Prelims (IBPS / SBI type), Other State / Grade-IV / General Govt Exams and others. This page has 171 free practice questions in English and Hindi, with correct answers and explanations and short revision notes.

Reading Comprehension (अपठित गद्यांश) – हिंदी और अंग्रेज़ी में 171 निःशुल्क अभ्यास प्रश्न, उत्तर और व्याख्या के साथ।

Read short notesPractise with explanationsQuick quiz (10 questions)Timed topic test

Questions: 171 · Sets of 50: 4 · Difficulty mix: 89 easy, 6 hard, 76 medium · Languages: English and Hindi

Sample Reading Comprehension questions with answers

Q1. Passage: Water is one of the most precious natural resources. Although three-fourths of the Earth is covered with water, only a small part of it is fresh water that we can use. Rivers, lakes and underground water supply most of our needs. Today many cities face water shortage because of a growing population, wastage and pollution. Simple habits such as closing taps, reusing water and collecting rainwater can help save water for the future. Which part of the Earth's water can we mainly use?

अनुच्छेद पढ़कर उत्तर दें (अनुच्छेद अंग्रेज़ी में है): Passage: Water is one of the most precious natural resources. Although three-fourths of the Earth is covered with water, only a small part of it is fresh water that we can use. Rivers, lakes and underground water supply most of our needs. Today many cities face water shortage because of a growing population, wastage and pollution. Simple habits such as closing taps, reusing water and collecting rainwater can help save water for the future. Which part of the Earth's water can we mainly use?

  1. Only rainwater
  2. All the water
  3. Sea water
  4. A small part that is fresh water
Answer: A small part that is fresh water. The passage says only a small part is usable fresh water.
उत्तर अनुच्छेद में दी गई जानकारी पर आधारित है: The passage says only a small part is usable fresh water.

Q2. Passage: Ramesh, a farmer in a dry district, used to flood his fields with water from his well. Often the well dried up before the crops were ready. Two years ago, an agricultural officer explained drip irrigation to him. In this method, thin pipes carry water drop by drop directly to the roots of each plant. Ramesh was doubtful, but he tried it on one small field. To his surprise, that field needed less than half the water and gave a better crop. Now his whole farm uses drip irrigation, and his neighbours come to learn from him. What was the result on the field where he first tried it?

अनुच्छेद पढ़कर उत्तर दें (अनुच्छेद अंग्रेज़ी में है): Passage: Ramesh, a farmer in a dry district, used to flood his fields with water from his well. Often the well dried up before the crops were ready. Two years ago, an agricultural officer explained drip irrigation to him. In this method, thin pipes carry water drop by drop directly to the roots of each plant. Ramesh was doubtful, but he tried it on one small field. To his surprise, that field needed less than half the water and gave a better crop. Now his whole farm uses drip irrigation, and his neighbours come to learn from him. What was the result on the field where he first tried it?

  1. The pipes broke
  2. It used double the water
  3. The crop failed completely
  4. It used less than half the water and gave a better crop
Answer: It used less than half the water and gave a better crop. That field needed less than half the water and gave a better crop.
उत्तर अनुच्छेद में दी गई जानकारी पर आधारित है: That field needed less than half the water and gave a better crop.

Q3. Passage: At forty-five, my aunt decided to learn English. She had left school early and always felt shy when she had to speak at the bank or the hospital. She joined an evening class, practised with her children and watched simple English programmes on television. She made many mistakes, but she was never afraid to try. After a year she could read newspapers and speak confidently. Her story taught our whole family that it is never too late to learn. Which is NOT mentioned as a way she practised?

अनुच्छेद पढ़कर उत्तर दें (अनुच्छेद अंग्रेज़ी में है): Passage: At forty-five, my aunt decided to learn English. She had left school early and always felt shy when she had to speak at the bank or the hospital. She joined an evening class, practised with her children and watched simple English programmes on television. She made many mistakes, but she was never afraid to try. After a year she could read newspapers and speak confidently. Her story taught our whole family that it is never too late to learn. Which is NOT mentioned as a way she practised?

  1. Joining an evening class
  2. Practising with her children
  3. Going abroad
  4. Watching English programmes
Answer: Going abroad. Going abroad is not mentioned.
उत्तर अनुच्छेद में दी गई जानकारी पर आधारित है: Going abroad is not mentioned.

Q4. Passage: Our village had no library until a retired teacher, Mr. Joshi, decided to change that. He emptied one room of his house and filled its shelves with his own books. He invited children to come every evening after school. At first only three children came. Soon word spread, and villagers began donating books and old newspapers. Within a year, more than fifty children were visiting regularly, and some adults also came to read. The panchayat was so impressed that it gave a proper building for the library and named it after Mr. Joshi. What does 'word spread' mean in the passage?

अनुच्छेद पढ़कर उत्तर दें (अनुच्छेद अंग्रेज़ी में है): Passage: Our village had no library until a retired teacher, Mr. Joshi, decided to change that. He emptied one room of his house and filled its shelves with his own books. He invited children to come every evening after school. At first only three children came. Soon word spread, and villagers began donating books and old newspapers. Within a year, more than fifty children were visiting regularly, and some adults also came to read. The panchayat was so impressed that it gave a proper building for the library and named it after Mr. Joshi. What does 'word spread' mean in the passage?

  1. The children stopped coming
  2. Books were sent to other villages
  3. Words were written on walls
  4. More people came to know about it
Answer: More people came to know about it. 'Word spread' means news reached more people.
उत्तर अनुच्छेद में दी गई जानकारी पर आधारित है: 'Word spread' means news reached more people.

Q5. Passage: In the final over of the inter-school cricket match, our team needed six runs to win. Our best batsman, Kabir, hit the ball high, and it looked like a sure six. But a fielder from the other team leapt and caught it near the boundary. We lost by four runs. Kabir sat silently in the dressing room. Our coach did not scold anyone. He said, 'You played with courage. Remember how that fielder never gave up on the ball. That is the lesson to take home.' Next year, we won the trophy. What lesson did the coach want the team to learn?

अनुच्छेद पढ़कर उत्तर दें (अनुच्छेद अंग्रेज़ी में है): Passage: In the final over of the inter-school cricket match, our team needed six runs to win. Our best batsman, Kabir, hit the ball high, and it looked like a sure six. But a fielder from the other team leapt and caught it near the boundary. We lost by four runs. Kabir sat silently in the dressing room. Our coach did not scold anyone. He said, 'You played with courage. Remember how that fielder never gave up on the ball. That is the lesson to take home.' Next year, we won the trophy. What lesson did the coach want the team to learn?

  1. Never give up
  2. Blame the fielders
  3. Play only safe shots
  4. Always hit sixes
Answer: Never give up. He pointed out how the fielder never gave up.
उत्तर अनुच्छेद में दी गई जानकारी पर आधारित है: He pointed out how the fielder never gave up.

Q6. Passage: Festivals bring joy, light and family together. However, the heavy use of firecrackers during some festivals fills the air with smoke and loud noise. Old people, babies and patients with breathing problems suffer the most, and pets and birds are frightened by the explosions. Many families now celebrate with diyas, sweets and rangoli instead of crackers. Some housing societies organise community celebrations with music and lights. Such choices show that we can enjoy festivals fully while keeping our air and our neighbours safe. Who suffer most from the smoke of firecrackers?

अनुच्छेद पढ़कर उत्तर दें (अनुच्छेद अंग्रेज़ी में है): Passage: Festivals bring joy, light and family together. However, the heavy use of firecrackers during some festivals fills the air with smoke and loud noise. Old people, babies and patients with breathing problems suffer the most, and pets and birds are frightened by the explosions. Many families now celebrate with diyas, sweets and rangoli instead of crackers. Some housing societies organise community celebrations with music and lights. Such choices show that we can enjoy festivals fully while keeping our air and our neighbours safe. Who suffer most from the smoke of firecrackers?

  1. Young athletes
  2. Shopkeepers
  3. Drivers
  4. Old people, babies and patients with breathing problems
Answer: Old people, babies and patients with breathing problems. These groups suffer the most.
उत्तर अनुच्छेद में दी गई जानकारी पर आधारित है: These groups suffer the most.

Q7. Passage: Asha was afraid of water. When her school announced swimming lessons, she pretended to be ill on the first day. Her coach noticed her fear and spoke to her gently. 'Fear becomes smaller when you take small steps,' he said. On the first day she only sat at the edge of the pool with her feet in the water. Next, she learned to hold her breath and float with a board. After two months, she could swim the full length of the pool. At the end of the year, she won a medal in the school swimming competition. What did the coach advise Asha?

अनुच्छेद पढ़कर उत्तर दें (अनुच्छेद अंग्रेज़ी में है): Passage: Asha was afraid of water. When her school announced swimming lessons, she pretended to be ill on the first day. Her coach noticed her fear and spoke to her gently. 'Fear becomes smaller when you take small steps,' he said. On the first day she only sat at the edge of the pool with her feet in the water. Next, she learned to hold her breath and float with a board. After two months, she could swim the full length of the pool. At the end of the year, she won a medal in the school swimming competition. What did the coach advise Asha?

  1. To watch others only
  2. To jump into deep water at once
  3. To take small steps to reduce fear
  4. To stop coming to the pool
Answer: To take small steps to reduce fear. He said fear becomes smaller with small steps.
उत्तर अनुच्छेद में दी गई जानकारी पर आधारित है: He said fear becomes smaller with small steps.

Q8. Passage: Time is the one thing that every person receives in equal amounts: twenty-four hours a day. A rich man cannot buy an extra hour, and a poor man is not given one less. What makes the difference is how we use it. Those who plan their day, finish important tasks first and avoid wasting hours on useless activities achieve much more. Lost money can be earned again, but lost time never returns. That is why wise people say that time is more valuable than money. According to the passage, how is time different from money?

अनुच्छेद पढ़कर उत्तर दें (अनुच्छेद अंग्रेज़ी में है): Passage: Time is the one thing that every person receives in equal amounts: twenty-four hours a day. A rich man cannot buy an extra hour, and a poor man is not given one less. What makes the difference is how we use it. Those who plan their day, finish important tasks first and avoid wasting hours on useless activities achieve much more. Lost money can be earned again, but lost time never returns. That is why wise people say that time is more valuable than money. According to the passage, how is time different from money?

  1. Lost time can never be regained
  2. Money cannot be earned again
  3. Time can be bought
  4. Rich people have more time
Answer: Lost time can never be regained. Lost money can be earned again, but lost time never returns.
उत्तर अनुच्छेद में दी गई जानकारी पर आधारित है: Lost money can be earned again, but lost time never returns.

Q9. Passage: In our colony, garbage used to pile up near the main gate, and stray animals scattered it everywhere. Last year the residents' association started a simple plan. Every house was given two bins: green for kitchen waste and blue for dry waste such as paper and plastic. The kitchen waste is turned into compost in a pit behind the park, and the dry waste is sold to a recycler. With the money earned, the association planted flowering trees along the road. The gate area is now clean, and our park has the healthiest plants in the town. How did the association use the money from dry waste?

अनुच्छेद पढ़कर उत्तर दें (अनुच्छेद अंग्रेज़ी में है): Passage: In our colony, garbage used to pile up near the main gate, and stray animals scattered it everywhere. Last year the residents' association started a simple plan. Every house was given two bins: green for kitchen waste and blue for dry waste such as paper and plastic. The kitchen waste is turned into compost in a pit behind the park, and the dry waste is sold to a recycler. With the money earned, the association planted flowering trees along the road. The gate area is now clean, and our park has the healthiest plants in the town. How did the association use the money from dry waste?

  1. It bought more bins only
  2. It planted flowering trees along the road
  3. It paid the residents
  4. It built a new gate
Answer: It planted flowering trees along the road. The money was used to plant flowering trees.
उत्तर अनुच्छेद में दी गई जानकारी पर आधारित है: The money was used to plant flowering trees.

Q10. Read the passage and answer the question. Rainwater harvesting means collecting rainwater from rooftops and storing it for later use. In many dry areas, the water stored during the rainy season lasts for several months. It also helps to raise the level of groundwater and reduces the flooding of streets during heavy rain. Question: What is rainwater harvesting?

गद्यांश पढ़कर प्रश्न का उत्तर दें। Rainwater harvesting means collecting rainwater from rooftops and storing it for later use. In many dry areas, the water stored during the rainy season lasts for several months. It also helps to raise the level of groundwater and reduces the flooding of streets during heavy rain. Question: What is rainwater harvesting?

  1. Collecting and storing rainwater for later use
  2. Removing water from flooded streets
  3. Growing crops during the rainy season
  4. Digging new rivers
Answer: Collecting and storing rainwater for later use. The first sentence defines it as collecting rainwater from rooftops and storing it for later use.
पहला वाक्य इसे छतों से वर्षा जल इकट्ठा करके बाद के लिए संग्रह करना बताता है।
Practise all 171 questions

Related English Language topics

Exams where this topic is useful