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Reading Comprehension

English Language · Comprehension & Ordering

Useful for: SSC CGL, IBPS Banking, CTET, KVS, NVS, OTET, OSSTET, REET

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Overview

An evidence-first method answers every comprehension question by locating the exact supporting line before choosing an option.

Key points

Correct options paraphrase the passage; they rarely copy it exactly.
Wrong options often contain extreme words, outside facts or a reversed relation.
For "according to the passage", the answer must be stated.
For "it can be inferred", the answer must follow necessarily from stated facts.
For tone, look at adjectives and adverbs used by the author.

Explanation

Skim for structure: what each paragraph does (introduce, explain, contrast, conclude).
Answer detail questions in passage order; they usually follow the text order.
Title questions: the answer covers the whole passage, not one paragraph.
Keep notes of paragraph purposes in a few words.

Step by step

Read the question.
Find the evidence.
Match the paraphrase.

Examples

If the passage says "most students improved after the programme", an option saying "all students improved" is wrong.
A passage contrasting old and new teaching methods with praise for the new one has a favourable tone towards change.
Title for a passage on causes, effects and remedies of air pollution: "Air Pollution: Causes and Cures".

Traps and advanced points

Trap: Choosing true but unsupported options.
Trap: Falling for extreme words.
Trap: Choosing a title that fits one paragraph.

Quick revision

Locate before you choose.
Paraphrase, not copy.
Avoid extremes.

Practice MCQs

Passage: A municipal review in Nandipur compared two ways of reducing water loss: replacing every old pipe immediately or first using sensors to locate the worst leaks. The review team inspected 90 zones and found that a smaller group of 35 zones accounted for a large share of reported leakage. It recommended targeted repairs first, while keeping a longer-term replacement plan. The report stressed that data should guide priorities, but periodic field checks were still necessary because sensors could miss local conditions. Which statement best captures the report’s view of data?
1. Data has no role in maintenance
2. Data should completely replace field inspection
3. Only historical averages should be used
4. Data should guide priorities but be checked against field conditions
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (d) Data should guide priorities but be checked against field conditions. Answer from the passage evidence: Data should guide priorities but be checked against field conditions.
Passage: A municipal review in Suryanagar compared two ways of reducing water loss: replacing every old pipe immediately or first using sensors to locate the worst leaks. The review team inspected 102 zones and found that a smaller group of 47 zones accounted for a large share of reported leakage. It recommended targeted repairs first, while keeping a longer-term replacement plan. The report stressed that data should guide priorities, but periodic field checks were still necessary because sensors could miss local conditions. The word “targeted” in context most nearly means:
1. random
2. directed at selected high-priority areas
3. universal without priority
4. delayed indefinitely
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (b) directed at selected high-priority areas. Answer from the passage evidence: directed at selected high-priority areas.
Passage: A municipal review in Suryanagar compared two ways of reducing water loss: replacing every old pipe immediately or first using sensors to locate the worst leaks. The review team inspected 82 zones and found that a smaller group of 37 zones accounted for a large share of reported leakage. It recommended targeted repairs first, while keeping a longer-term replacement plan. The report stressed that data should guide priorities, but periodic field checks were still necessary because sensors could miss local conditions. Why did the review recommend targeted repairs first?
1. A smaller group of zones accounted for much of the reported leakage
2. Field checks were considered unnecessary
3. Sensors were banned
4. Every pipe was new
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (a) A smaller group of zones accounted for much of the reported leakage. Answer from the passage evidence: A smaller group of zones accounted for much of the reported leakage.
Passage: A municipal review in Suryanagar compared two ways of reducing water loss: replacing every old pipe immediately or first using sensors to locate the worst leaks. The review team inspected 92 zones and found that a smaller group of 47 zones accounted for a large share of reported leakage. It recommended targeted repairs first, while keeping a longer-term replacement plan. The report stressed that data should guide priorities, but periodic field checks were still necessary because sensors could miss local conditions. Which statement best captures the report’s view of data?
1. Data should guide priorities but be checked against field conditions
2. Only historical averages should be used
3. Data should completely replace field inspection
4. Data has no role in maintenance
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (a) Data should guide priorities but be checked against field conditions. Answer from the passage evidence: Data should guide priorities but be checked against field conditions.
Passage: In Devgarh, a neighbourhood library extended its evening hours after students said they needed a quiet place to study. During the first month, 181 students used the late session. The library did not buy expensive equipment; instead, it rearranged desks, improved lighting and created a simple booking register. The experiment showed that small operational changes can improve access when they respond to a clearly identified need. What can reasonably be inferred from the passage?
1. User feedback helped shape the library change
2. All students preferred online study
3. The experiment failed in the first month
4. Lighting was the only reason attendance changed
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (a) User feedback helped shape the library change. Answer from the passage evidence: User feedback helped shape the library change.
Passage: A municipal review in Devgarh compared two ways of reducing water loss: replacing every old pipe immediately or first using sensors to locate the worst leaks. The review team inspected 106 zones and found that a smaller group of 41 zones accounted for a large share of reported leakage. It recommended targeted repairs first, while keeping a longer-term replacement plan. The report stressed that data should guide priorities, but periodic field checks were still necessary because sensors could miss local conditions. Why did the review recommend targeted repairs first?
1. Field checks were considered unnecessary
2. Sensors were banned
3. Every pipe was new
4. A smaller group of zones accounted for much of the reported leakage
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (d) A smaller group of zones accounted for much of the reported leakage. Answer from the passage evidence: A smaller group of zones accounted for much of the reported leakage.
Passage: A municipal review in Haritpur compared two ways of reducing water loss: replacing every old pipe immediately or first using sensors to locate the worst leaks. The review team inspected 109 zones and found that a smaller group of 44 zones accounted for a large share of reported leakage. It recommended targeted repairs first, while keeping a longer-term replacement plan. The report stressed that data should guide priorities, but periodic field checks were still necessary because sensors could miss local conditions. Why did the review recommend targeted repairs first?
1. Field checks were considered unnecessary
2. Sensors were banned
3. A smaller group of zones accounted for much of the reported leakage
4. Every pipe was new
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (c) A smaller group of zones accounted for much of the reported leakage. Answer from the passage evidence: A smaller group of zones accounted for much of the reported leakage.
Passage: In Laketown, a neighbourhood library extended its evening hours after students said they needed a quiet place to study. During the first month, 178 students used the late session. The library did not buy expensive equipment; instead, it rearranged desks, improved lighting and created a simple booking register. The experiment showed that small operational changes can improve access when they respond to a clearly identified need. What can reasonably be inferred from the passage?
1. The experiment failed in the first month
2. User feedback helped shape the library change
3. All students preferred online study
4. Lighting was the only reason attendance changed
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (b) User feedback helped shape the library change. Answer from the passage evidence: User feedback helped shape the library change.
Passage: A municipal review in Haritpur compared two ways of reducing water loss: replacing every old pipe immediately or first using sensors to locate the worst leaks. The review team inspected 89 zones and found that a smaller group of 44 zones accounted for a large share of reported leakage. It recommended targeted repairs first, while keeping a longer-term replacement plan. The report stressed that data should guide priorities, but periodic field checks were still necessary because sensors could miss local conditions. Why did the review recommend targeted repairs first?
1. Sensors were banned
2. Every pipe was new
3. Field checks were considered unnecessary
4. A smaller group of zones accounted for much of the reported leakage
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (d) A smaller group of zones accounted for much of the reported leakage. Answer from the passage evidence: A smaller group of zones accounted for much of the reported leakage.
Passage: A municipal review in Laketown compared two ways of reducing water loss: replacing every old pipe immediately or first using sensors to locate the worst leaks. The review team inspected 98 zones and found that a smaller group of 53 zones accounted for a large share of reported leakage. It recommended targeted repairs first, while keeping a longer-term replacement plan. The report stressed that data should guide priorities, but periodic field checks were still necessary because sensors could miss local conditions. The word “targeted” in context most nearly means:
1. delayed indefinitely
2. directed at selected high-priority areas
3. universal without priority
4. random
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (b) directed at selected high-priority areas. Answer from the passage evidence: directed at selected high-priority areas.
Passage: A municipal review in Suryanagar compared two ways of reducing water loss: replacing every old pipe immediately or first using sensors to locate the worst leaks. The review team inspected 107 zones and found that a smaller group of 42 zones accounted for a large share of reported leakage. It recommended targeted repairs first, while keeping a longer-term replacement plan. The report stressed that data should guide priorities, but periodic field checks were still necessary because sensors could miss local conditions. The word “targeted” in context most nearly means:
1. random
2. directed at selected high-priority areas
3. delayed indefinitely
4. universal without priority
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (b) directed at selected high-priority areas. Answer from the passage evidence: directed at selected high-priority areas.
Passage: A municipal review in Devgarh compared two ways of reducing water loss: replacing every old pipe immediately or first using sensors to locate the worst leaks. The review team inspected 101 zones and found that a smaller group of 36 zones accounted for a large share of reported leakage. It recommended targeted repairs first, while keeping a longer-term replacement plan. The report stressed that data should guide priorities, but periodic field checks were still necessary because sensors could miss local conditions. The word “targeted” in context most nearly means:
1. delayed indefinitely
2. universal without priority
3. directed at selected high-priority areas
4. random
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (c) directed at selected high-priority areas. Answer from the passage evidence: directed at selected high-priority areas.
Passage: In Devgarh, a neighbourhood library extended its evening hours after students said they needed a quiet place to study. During the first month, 201 students used the late session. The library did not buy expensive equipment; instead, it rearranged desks, improved lighting and created a simple booking register. The experiment showed that small operational changes can improve access when they respond to a clearly identified need. Which action was NOT mentioned as part of the library experiment?
1. Rearranging desks
2. Buying expensive equipment
3. Creating a booking register
4. Improving lighting
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (b) Buying expensive equipment. Answer from the passage evidence: Buying expensive equipment.
Passage: A municipal review in Nandipur compared two ways of reducing water loss: replacing every old pipe immediately or first using sensors to locate the worst leaks. The review team inspected 90 zones and found that a smaller group of 45 zones accounted for a large share of reported leakage. It recommended targeted repairs first, while keeping a longer-term replacement plan. The report stressed that data should guide priorities, but periodic field checks were still necessary because sensors could miss local conditions. Which statement best captures the report’s view of data?
1. Data should guide priorities but be checked against field conditions
2. Only historical averages should be used
3. Data should completely replace field inspection
4. Data has no role in maintenance
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (a) Data should guide priorities but be checked against field conditions. Answer from the passage evidence: Data should guide priorities but be checked against field conditions.
Passage: A municipal review in Haritpur compared two ways of reducing water loss: replacing every old pipe immediately or first using sensors to locate the worst leaks. The review team inspected 84 zones and found that a smaller group of 39 zones accounted for a large share of reported leakage. It recommended targeted repairs first, while keeping a longer-term replacement plan. The report stressed that data should guide priorities, but periodic field checks were still necessary because sensors could miss local conditions. The word “targeted” in context most nearly means:
1. random
2. universal without priority
3. directed at selected high-priority areas
4. delayed indefinitely
Read chapter notes · Similar questions
Show answer
Answer: (c) directed at selected high-priority areas. Answer from the passage evidence: directed at selected high-priority areas.