Reading Skills Comprehension Test Exercises (VI)

To comprehend means “to understand and grasp”. Therefore a comprehension passage is meant to test the student’s ability to understand and retain the contents of a given passage.

Generally, a passage consists of certain lines which are followed by 4 or 5 questions based on it. These questions may be based on : —

(i)The theme of the passage.

(ii) Select the correct or wrong statements.

(iii) Author’s view regarding the main point.

(iv) Synonyms or Antonyms of some selected words in the passage.

(v) Substitution word to a given word or noun-adjective or adverb etc.

HOW TO TACKLE A COMPREHENSION

If you have developed an approach of your own to answer the comprehension questions and it is effective, you should stick to it. However, this method should be thoroughly checked.

But those who feel uneasy with the comprehension passage, here are given some tips:—

(1) Read the passage carefully and find out the main points and the arguments given in its favour.

(2) It is better to take a cursory glance at the questions given before reading the passage so that you may be able to know what aspects of the passage is to concentrate on.

(3) Examine the attitude of the narrator.

(4) You should not go blindly for the meanings of synonyms and antonyms given in the passage.

(5) Develop your vocabulary and sentence construction.

A General nutshell what is generally looked for in questions is as follows:—

(i)The main idea of the passage—whenever passage is written, it is propagating an idea. This idea forms the nucleus around which words and sentences are constructed. Get to the root of this data.

(ii) The attitude of the Narrator.

(iii) What the writer says and what he does not—It is very important to categorically see what the writer says and what he does not. This will be possible if we do not operate with unnecessary assumptions.

(iv) The implied meaning of the passage—Often you may come across passages which carry meaning beyond the literal one. You should have an insight sharp enough to penetrate the literal layer.

(v) Title or Précis of the passage—If you are familiar with the main idea and the way it has been put in, this is something not difficult.

Keeping the above points in mind, you may comprehend the passage even in one reading. But in case of doubts, after the first reading and the time allows, you should not hesitate in going for second reading.

Directions: Read the following passages some questions are given with each passage having four options. Choose the correct one.

Passage 1 -Beds (191 Words, Objective, Solved )

Passage 2 – Fish (158 Words, Objective, Solved)

Passage 3 -Bees (204 Words, Objective, Solved)

Passage 4 – Counting (153 Words, Objective, Solved)

Passage 5 -Dogs (208 Words, Objective, Solved)

Passage-6 RIVER (200 Words subjective unsolved)

Passage 7 -Houses (226 Words, Objective, Solved)

Passage 8 – Tea (162 Words, Objective, 8 Questions)

Passage-9 KARL BENZ (200 Words objective unsolved)

Passage 10- EGYPT (200 Words, Objective, Unsolved)

Passage-11 TEST YOUR SKILLS (200 Words Subjective/Objective Unsolved)