Reading Comprehension (Short Passages) MCQs

Short original passages with solved comprehension questions on main idea, details, inference, tone and word meaning, as asked in SSC and banking English sections.

1. 1

   Read the passage: "Mangrove forests grow where rivers meet the sea. Their tangled roots trap mud and slow down waves, which protects coastal villages during cyclones. They also serve as nurseries for many kinds of fish." How do mangroves protect villages?

   AThey provide timber to build stronger housesBBy blocking rivers from reaching the seaCTheir roots trap mud and slow down wavesDThey attract fish away from the coast

   Correct answer: C. Their roots trap mud and slow down waves

   The second sentence says the roots trap mud and slow down waves, which protects coastal villages during cyclones.

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2. 2

   Read the passage: "Mangrove forests grow where rivers meet the sea. Their tangled roots trap mud and slow down waves, which protects coastal villages during cyclones. They also serve as nurseries for many kinds of fish." In the passage, "nurseries" means places where:

   Aplants are soldBfishermen liveCsick fish are treatedDyoung fish grow safely

   Correct answer: D. young fish grow safely

   Here "nurseries" is used figuratively: the shallow, sheltered water among the roots is where young fish grow before moving out to sea.

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3. 3

   Read the passage: "In the past decade, paying by mobile phone has become common even in small towns. A vegetable seller can now accept money by showing a QR code. This has reduced the need to carry cash, but it has also exposed careless users to online fraud." What risk does the passage mention?

   AHigher vegetable pricesBOnline fraudCShortage of QR codesDLoss of mobile signal

   Correct answer: B. Online fraud

   The last sentence balances the benefit (less cash) with the risk of online fraud for careless users.

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4. 4

   Read the passage: "In the past decade, paying by mobile phone has become common even in small towns. A vegetable seller can now accept money by showing a QR code. This has reduced the need to carry cash, but it has also exposed careless users to online fraud." The passage is mainly about:

   Athe spread of mobile payments, with a benefit and a riskBhow to grow vegetablesCwhy cash should be bannedDthe history of Indian coins

   Correct answer: A. the spread of mobile payments, with a benefit and a risk

   Every sentence is about mobile payments: their spread, an example, one benefit and one risk. The other options are either too narrow or not stated.

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5. 5

   Read the passage: "Many students study for long hours but remember little. Studies of learning show that short sessions spread over several days work better than one long session just before an exam. Testing yourself, rather than simply re-reading notes, also helps memory." Which study habit does the passage recommend?

   AShort sessions spread over several daysBOne long session just before the examCRe-reading notes many timesDStudying only on the night before

   Correct answer: A. Short sessions spread over several days

   The passage says short sessions spread over several days work better, and that self-testing beats re-reading.

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6. 6

   Read the passage: "Many students study for long hours but remember little. Studies of learning show that short sessions spread over several days work better than one long session just before an exam. Testing yourself, rather than simply re-reading notes, also helps memory." The tone of the passage is:

   AadvisoryBhumorousCangryDsorrowful

   Correct answer: A. advisory

   The writer calmly gives practical advice on how to study, so the tone is advisory (informative).

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7. 7

   Read the passage: "Stepwells were built in western India, especially in Gujarat and Rajasthan, to store water in dry regions. People walked down long flights of steps to reach the water, which stayed cool even in summer. Some, like the Rani ki Vav at Patan, are decorated with hundreds of carvings." Why were stepwells built?

   ATo train soldiersBTo serve as royal palacesCTo keep grain safe from ratsDTo store water in dry regions

   Correct answer: D. To store water in dry regions

   The first sentence states the purpose directly: to store water in dry regions.

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8. 8

   Read the passage: "Stepwells were built in western India, especially in Gujarat and Rajasthan, to store water in dry regions. People walked down long flights of steps to reach the water, which stayed cool even in summer. Some, like the Rani ki Vav at Patan, are decorated with hundreds of carvings." Which statement is NOT supported by the passage?

   AThe water in them stayed cool in summer.BStepwells were built mainly as temples for kings.CSome stepwells are richly carved.DStepwells were found in Gujarat.

   Correct answer: B. Stepwells were built mainly as temples for kings.

   The passage gives water storage as the purpose and never calls stepwells temples for kings; the other three statements are in the text.

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9. 9

   Read the passage: "Honeybees do much more than make honey. As they move from flower to flower, they carry pollen, which helps plants produce fruits and seeds. In some regions, farmers rent beehives during the flowering season to get a bigger harvest." Why do some farmers rent beehives?

   ATo keep birds awayBTo get a bigger harvest through pollinationCTo protect crops from insectsDTo sell more honey

   Correct answer: B. To get a bigger harvest through pollination

   Bees carry pollen, which helps plants make fruits and seeds, so hives placed in fields during flowering raise the harvest.

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10. 10

    Read the passage: "Honeybees do much more than make honey. As they move from flower to flower, they carry pollen, which helps plants produce fruits and seeds. In some regions, farmers rent beehives during the flowering season to get a bigger harvest." The most suitable title for the passage is:

    ABees: Small Helpers of the FarmBFlowers of IndiaCThe Dangers of Bee StingsDHow to Make Honey at Home

    Correct answer: A. Bees: Small Helpers of the Farm

    The passage is about the role of bees beyond honey, especially in helping crops, so this title fits best.

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12. 11

    Read the passage: "Every morning, old Ramesh walked to the bare hill outside his village with a bucket of water and a few saplings. His neighbours laughed and said he would never live to sit in their shade. Twenty years later, children played under the trees he had planted." Why did the neighbours laugh at Ramesh?

    AHe was carrying an empty bucket.BHe planted trees in their fields.CThe saplings were of the wrong kind.DThey thought he would not live long enough to enjoy the trees.

    Correct answer: D. They thought he would not live long enough to enjoy the trees.

    They said he would never live to sit in the trees' shade, since trees take years to grow and he was old.

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13. 12

    Read the passage: "Every morning, old Ramesh walked to the bare hill outside his village with a bucket of water and a few saplings. His neighbours laughed and said he would never live to sit in their shade. Twenty years later, children played under the trees he had planted." The message of the passage is that:

    Aold people should not work hardBneighbours are always rightCwork done for future generations is worthwhileDtrees grow quickly on hills

    Correct answer: C. work done for future generations is worthwhile

    Ramesh's work benefited children who came after him, showing the value of acting for the future.

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14. 13

    Read the passage: "Although agriculture's share in India's GDP has fallen, a weak monsoon still worries policymakers. Many farmers depend on rain rather than canals, and poor harvests can push up food prices across the country." Why does a weak monsoon still worry policymakers?

    AThe monsoon affects only cities.BAgriculture is now the largest part of GDP.CMany farmers depend on rain, and poor harvests can raise food prices.DCanals stop working when it rains.

    Correct answer: C. Many farmers depend on rain, and poor harvests can raise food prices.

    The second sentence gives both reasons: dependence on rain and the effect of poor harvests on food prices.

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15. 14

    Read the passage: "Although agriculture's share in India's GDP has fallen, a weak monsoon still worries policymakers. Many farmers depend on rain rather than canals, and poor harvests can push up food prices across the country." The word "Although" at the start of the passage shows:

    Aa time sequenceBan exampleCa causeDa contrast

    Correct answer: D. a contrast

    "Although" sets up a contrast: agriculture's share has fallen, yet the monsoon still matters.

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16. 15

    Read the passage: "A plastic bottle may be used for only a few minutes, but it can remain in the environment for hundreds of years. Recycling helps, yet only a small part of plastic waste is actually recycled. Reducing how much plastic we use is therefore the most effective step." According to the writer, the most effective step is:

    Arecycling every bottleBburning plastic wasteCreducing the use of plasticDburying plastic underground

    Correct answer: C. reducing the use of plastic

    The writer notes that recycling covers only a small part of waste and concludes that reducing use is the most effective step.

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17. 16

    Read the passage: "A plastic bottle may be used for only a few minutes, but it can remain in the environment for hundreds of years. Recycling helps, yet only a small part of plastic waste is actually recycled. Reducing how much plastic we use is therefore the most effective step." As used in the passage, "effective" means:

    AdecorativeBproducing the desired resultCtemporaryDcostly

    Correct answer: B. producing the desired result

    An effective step is one that works, that is, it produces the result wanted (less plastic waste).

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18. 17

    Read the passage: "Five years ago, our town's public library was almost empty. Then the librarian started weekend story sessions for children and free computer classes for adults. Today the reading room is full on most days." What brought people back to the library?

    AA new buildingBMore books in EnglishCLower membership feesDNew programmes for children and adults

    Correct answer: D. New programmes for children and adults

    The middle sentence names the change: story sessions for children and free computer classes for adults.

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19. 18

    Read the passage: "Five years ago, our town's public library was almost empty. Then the librarian started weekend story sessions for children and free computer classes for adults. Today the reading room is full on most days." Which word is the opposite of "empty" as used in the passage?

    AQuietBFullCVacantDOld

    Correct answer: B. Full

    The passage itself contrasts "almost empty" five years ago with "full" today; "vacant" is a synonym of empty.

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20. 19

    Read the passage: "In August 2023, India's Chandrayaan-3 lander touched down near the Moon's south pole, a region no spacecraft had landed in before. The success showed that a carefully planned mission could achieve a great deal on a modest budget." What made the landing special?

    AIt was the first landing near the Moon's south pole.BIt carried astronauts.CIt was the first Moon landing ever.DIt brought Moon rocks back to Earth.

    Correct answer: A. It was the first landing near the Moon's south pole.

    The passage says no spacecraft had landed in the south-polar region before. Moon landings themselves had happened since the 1960s.

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21. 20

    Read the passage: "In August 2023, India's Chandrayaan-3 lander touched down near the Moon's south pole, a region no spacecraft had landed in before. The success showed that a carefully planned mission could achieve a great deal on a modest budget." In the passage, "modest" means:

    AsecretBshyCnot very largeDproud

    Correct answer: C. not very large

    A modest budget is a limited, not very large one. "Shy" is a different sense of modest that does not fit here.

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