English Reading Comprehension Practice Questions For Mains Exams Part 1

English Reading Comprehension Practice Questions for Upcoming Mains Exams
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Practice RC Questions Especially for Mains Exams
Directions (1-10): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions
given below.
In the world of climate science and science in general data is king. The more of it you have,
and the higher its quality, the better. And while such trends as the rise
in temperatures and sea levels have impeccable data behind them, not every measure of a
changing climate has been so lucky. Take the global wind and wave climate, for example,
which measures trends in wind speed and wave height in oceans around the globe) Both of
these factors affect the interplay between the atmosphere and ocean of both energy and
carbon (more winds equal choppier waters, which can get in the way of air-to-water energy
transfers), and of course higher waves could spell more trouble during storm surges and
affect flooding levels. But it had been historically tricky to get reliable long-term data on
these phenomena to study any possible trends.
Until now, that is. A paper in Science today uses satellite data to analyze wind speed and
wave height over more than 30 years, and concluded that on average both are increasing,
especially in the southern hemisphere, and especially during extreme conditions like storms.
They also demonstrated a useful way to study these things in the first place, which should
prove helpful to scientists moving forward. Why did it take till now to amass and analyze
what should be a fairly straightforward dataset? As the paper’s authors explain, it wasn’t that
easy. Ocean buoys, “the most obvious data source,” have proven problematic because
changes over the years in their construction and instrumentation mean the data they’re
spitting out isn’t really consistent in the long term. So it’d be comparing apples to, if not
oranges, then at least other kinds of apples not ideal.
Thus, they turned to the satellite record, which currently runs from 1985 through 2018. Not
bad, but the same worries came up there, too: With all the different kinds of hardware and
software in space, maybe their data isn’t reliable enough for such research either? So, the
authors decided to go in and find out. As you may have surmised by now, it worked out. In
particular, they studied the data collected by three kinds of instruments on
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satellites: altimeters, which measure both wave height and wind speed; radiometers, which
measure wind speed; and scatterometers, which measure wind speed and direction.
After cross-checking all the numbers, cross-validating with other satellites and just generally
making sure they weren’t being fooled by anything, the authors concluded that these past
30-odd years had seen a strong positive trend in global wind speed, and a weaker (but still
noticeable) increase in wave heights. They also noted the trends were much stronger in
extreme cases, which they defined as the data from the set’s 90 th percentile. Not that any of
the actual changes were especially high. Wind speeds went up by about an inch per second
every year about twice the speed of a garden snail across the Southern Ocean and south of
the equator, where the trends were strongest. The change was about half that in the North
Atlantic)(The extreme cases had the same distribution, but with faster speeds, around two
inches per second per year.) Things weren’t quite as clear cut for wave height, but there
were patches with overall rises of about a tenth of an inch per year, and one surprising spot
in the North Pacific with a drop of about half an inch per year.
It might not sound like much, fractions of an inch here or there, but the results do show
clear trends for global behaviour over time) Any improvement on our understanding of the
global wind and wave climate is helpful, the authors write, since “estimates of future ocean
wind and wave states, and whether extreme conditions are changing, are important
elements of projections of total sea level.” The team also showed that the satellites can be
trusted, since each of the different kinds of instruments, aboard 31 total orbiting satellites,
ultimately showed data consistent with each other. This means future studies can ____
on this increasingly rich data set without having to worry about comparing apples
to anything else. So not only did the authors add (A)/some specific bits of that all-
important data(B)/ to the global climate record, they also made(C)/ it easy for
future researchers to do the same.(D)/
1) What is the tone of the passage? 2) Which of the following will replace _____
given in the passage
a) Analytical
a) Outstand
b) Fear
b) Rely
c) Sad
c) Encourage
d) Tentative
d) Present
e) None of these
e) All of the above
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3) A sentence in the paragraph is divided a) Change in climatic conditions

into four parts, find if there is error in any
b) Strong winds and waves
part and mark that as your answer
c) Winds and waves in the oceans are getting
a) D
strong every year
b) C
d) Defective data by scientists
c) A
e) None of these
d) B
7) Which of the following is farthest
e) No Error meaning of the word Impeccable mentioned
in the passage?
4) According to the passage the satellite
record turned runs from which year? a) Exemplary
a) 2002 b) Imperfect
b) 1975 c) Untarnished
c) 2019 d) Virtuous
d) 1985 e) All of the above
e) Not mentioned in the passage 8) Which of the following is closest meaning

of the word Choppier mentioned in the
5) According to paper in Science today wind
passage?
speed and wave height on average both are
increasing especially in? a) Rough
a) Eastern Hemisphere b) Turbulent
b) Northern Hemisphere c) Heavy
c) Southern Hemisphere d) Stormy
d) Western Hemisphere e) All of the above
e) All of the above 9) Which of the following is farthest

meaning of the word Consistent mentioned
6) Which of the following is appropriate title
in the passage?
for the passage?
a) Irregular
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b) Uniform a) Follow
c) Homogeneous b) Initiate
d) Harmonious c) Gather
e) All of the above d) Conjecture
10) Which of the following is closest e) None of these

meaning of the word Surmised mentioned in
the passage?
Directions (11-15): Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that
follow.
The cabinet of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved a data protection bill on
Wednesday for tabling in parliament, taking the country a step closer to framing a privacy
law. “The protection of personal data is a very important subject globally,” Environment
Minister Prakash Javadekar told a news conference after a cabinet meeting. “How that will be
done (here) and how work will progress keeping India’s interest and people’s interest in
mind, this is what this bill is about.”
The Personal Data Protection bill, drafted by a panel headed by a former Supreme Court
judge and submitted to the government last year, is key for how firms including global tech
giants Amazon, Facebook, Alphabet’s Google and others process, store and transfer Indian
consumers’ data. Although the full extent of changes in the bill is not known, the draft
cleared by the cabinet expects social media firms to develop a voluntary method for users to
verify themselves, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.
The bill mandates that personal data categorised as sensitive will be stored or processed only
in India, the source said, declining to be named as details about the bill in its current form
are not public. It also says that data deemed sensitive will have to be stored in India but can
be processed outside of the country, the source said. India’s banking regulator last year
directed foreign firms such as Mastercard and Visa to store their payments data locally for
“unfettered supervisory access”.
It later clarified that transactions made in India could be processed outside of the country
but the related data should be brought back for local storage within 24 hours. Other non-
critical or non-sensitive data could be stored outside India, the source said. Companies
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proven to be in breach will face a penalty of up to 150 million rupees (2.09 million USD) or 4
per cent of their global turnover, whichever is higher, the source said. India’s technology
ministry was did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside business hours.
Directions (11-12): Choose the option II. India’s banking regulator directed foreign
which is most opposite to the word in firms such as Mastercard and Visa to store
the question, as mentioned in the their payments data locally for “unfettered
passage. supervisory access”.
11. Globally III. The cabinet of Indian Prime Minister

Narendra Modi approved a data protection
A) domestically
bill on Wednesday for tabling in parliament,
B) affable taking the country a step closer to framing a
law of ownership rights.
C) comprehensively
A) only III
D) worldwide
B) II and III
E) None of these
C) I and II
12. extent
D) I only
A) clemency
E) None of these
B) amiable
14. As per passage, which of the following
C) degree international firms have been mentioned in
the passage?
D) amount
I. Amazon
E) None of these
II. Facebook
13. Which of the following statements is/are
correct as per the passage? III. Tiktok
I. The Personal Data Protection bill, drafted A) I and II
by a panel headed by a former Supreme
Court judge and submitted to the B) Only II
government last year, is key for how firms
C) II and III
including global tech giants Amazon,
Facebook, Alphabet’s Google. D) I, II, III
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E) None of these B) inquire
15. Which of the following does not C) consider

represent the antonym of ‘respond’
D) omit
mentioned in passage?
E) None of these
A) retort
follow.
After a delay of two years, the Crime in India Report for the year 2017 was finally released
by the National Crime Records Bureau on Monday. A few months ago, government officials
had blamed the States of West Bengal and Bihar for lackadaisical responses in sending data,
and said that more subheads for the data would be added in the latest report requiring
further collation and error corrections. These new subheads reportedly included data on hate
crimes besides those related to mob lynching, killings ordered by khap panchayats, murders
by influential people, besides “anti-national elements”. Except for the last category — Crimes
by Northeast insurgents, left wing extremists and terrorists — the other subheads are
missing in the report which suggests that the Bureau was not keen on including them. The
Supreme Court last year had, in an order, called for a special law to deal with lynching, and
data on such hate crimes would have been useful in both law enforcement and
jurisprudence. The Central government has time and again argued against the need for a
separate law and has affirmed that curbing lynching was a matter of “enforcement”. Without
a proper accounting of hate crimes — as of now there exist only a few independent “hate
crime trackers” based on media reports — the question arises if the government is serious
about tackling them effectively.
The NCRB data on crime hide significant variances in case registration of serious crimes such
as rapes and violence against women across States, which make it difficult to draw State-
wise comparisons. The total number of crimes committed against women country-wide
increased by 6% since 2016, while those against Scheduled Castes went up by 13%.
However there is the possibility of some States reporting such crimes better. This is
pertinent, particularly in rape cases, where the Union Territory of Delhi registered a rate of
12.5 per one lakh population, surpassed only by Madhya Pradesh (14.7) and Chhattisgarh
(14.6). But the filing of rape complaints in Delhi have significantly increased following public
outcry over the December 2012 rape incident and this could partially explain the high rate of
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such cases. The fact that Delhi recorded a 40.4% of the total IPC crimes registered among
metropolitan cities in 2017 is also likely due to the use of easier (online) means to register
them. The other drawback in the report is the use of the census base year as 2001 to
calculate crime rates for States and 2011 for metropolitan cities, which make the
assessments unwieldy. Despite these issues, the report offers a useful snapshot of crime in
the country. Some crimes, murders for example, do not suffer from registration issues as
much. The 2017 report shows that the States in the northeast and others in the rest of the
country with a significant tribal population (Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha) have relatively
higher murder rates and this is a cause of worry.
16. Which of the following statements is/are D) Madhya Pradesh

not true based on the given passage?
E) Both b & c
(i) Crimes against women in India increased
18. According to the passage which of the
by 6% since 2017.
following crimes has not been included in the
(ii) Crime in India Report for the year 2018 survey?
has been released after two years.
A) Mob lynching
(iii) Crimes against Scheduled Castes
B) Crimes by terrorists
increased by 13 percent.
C) Murders by influential people
A) Only i
D) Killings ordered by khap panchayats
B) Only ii
E) Not mentioned in the passage.
C) Both i & ii
19. According to the passage the author says
D) Both ii & iii
there might be chances for some states of
E) All i, ii, iii reporting better about some crimes, what
are all that crimes that he tries to convey?
17. According to the passage which of the
following states have not cooperated with A) Mob lynching
NCRB to conduct the survey?
B) Crimes against women.
A) Chattisgarh
C) Crimes against SC community.
B) West Bengal
D) Both b & c
C) Bihar
E) All the above
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20. Which of the following statement is true D) Due to huge population.

based on the given passage?
E) Flaws of the ruling government.
A) Delhi holds the maximum number of rape
22. Which of the following states has not
cases registered with a rate of 12.5 per one
been mentioned in passage?
lakh population
A) Delhi
B) States in the northeast and others area
with tribal population have higher murder B) Chattisgarh
rates.
C) Bihar
C) Delhi recorded a 40.4 per lakh population
of the IPC crimes registered among D) Haryana
metropolitan cities in 2017.
E) Odisha
D) Madhya Pradesh has a rate of 14.7 per
23. Which of the following words could
one lakh population under mob lynching.
replace pertinent mentioned in the above
E) All of the above passage?
21. According to the passage what might be A) Relevant

the reason behind the record number of
B) Appropriate
crimes registered in Delhi?
C) Applicable
A) Political hazards
D) Germane
B) Lack of education
E) All of these
C) Registering complaint through online
Direction (24-30): Read the passage carefully and answer the questions given
below it. There are some blanks given in the passage based on which some
questions are framed, and some words are highlighted as well to help you answer
some of the questions.
The pop of champagne may be more familiar to much of the world than a crop in Champaran
that rattled an empire. But that does not alter the facts. It was a response to the plight of
indigo farmers in Bihar about a century ago that first kindled the idea of satya- graha—truth
force—in India. It was a firm ………………… (A) in truth and its power to prevail against the
odds that animated the call for self-rule, which led us to our tryst with destiny in 1947. And
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it was he who showed the way. He unified us, gave us a national purpose, and sparked a
global revolution of hope—for justice, equity and peace by means of non-violence.
Today, a century-and-a-half after the birth of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869–1948) in

Porbandar, Gujarat, his spirit lives on. (B) Evoked by the subtlety (1) of blue denim, the
mood of a campus festival, the sight (2) of Martin Luther King’s dream, the get-up of a
Beatle, the eloquence (3) of a currency note, the jaadu ki jhappi of Munna Bhai and, above
all, by every little act that relieves (4) someone of misery, Mahatma Gandhi lives on. An
inspiration, he certainly is. What’s less clear, alas, is the extent to which he inspires our
collective conscience. The world is not rubbing along well. (C) In the sphere of geopolitics, it
is nukes that gets rattled now, not empires, and backing off is taken as a sign of weakness.
For all of Mahatma Gandhi’s exertions against ill-will and enmity, we still tend to judge
ourselves by our best ideals and others by their worst ……………….. (D). Worse, views have
diverged so widely and threats been made so casually that life under the shadow of a
mushroom cloud does not even seem strange anymore. That’s just the way it is, goes the
refrain, as if it deserves no more than a shrug. In the arena of domestic politics, Gandhi
arguably looms less over the conduct of our political parties, and more over the sound and
fury of our TV screens each time his legacy is contested or sought to be pushed aside in
favour of his assassin Godse (as seen in Bhopal during the polls this summer).
The controversies that erupt over the country’s founding father betray a hoary unease with
some of his thinking, especially his emphasis on what’s common to humanity over superficial
divisions of caste, creed and cultural traditions. Towards the end of his life, he devoted
himself wholly to reversing a communal ………………….. (E) that, to his horror, could not be
prevented for reasons beyond his control. Sadly, some of the schisms he fought so hard to
consign to the junkyard of history continue to threaten Indian unity. Despite appearances
…………………….. (F) persists. Thankfully, Bapu’s public profile is still on the rise in India.
The government has taken his ideals of cleanliness far and wide across the rural landscape
with the Swachh Bharat Mission, for example, with his spectacles serving as a symbol for
behavioural reforms. (G) That actual (1) pair is also on our redesigned (2) rupee notes,
even if his iconic (3) vision remains something of a blur (4) to the over-busy and the
under-read. For a snap recap, they need to look no further than the country’s national
emblem. Satyamev Jayate, it says. Truth alone prevails. Naa anritam, we could well add. Not
falsehood. For the sake of generations to come, we must never give up on what Mahatma
Gandhi strove for.
24. Which of the following word given in the (A) in the above passage to make it
options should come at the place marked as grammatically correct and meaningful? Also,
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the word should fill in the two sentences B) it is nukes that gets rattled now,
given below to make them contextually
C) not empires, and backing off
correct and meaningful?
D) is taken as a sign of weakness.
(I) The students possess the ……………...
that they can make a difference to their E) Both (a) and (b)
community.
27. Which of the following should fill the
(II) She appealed unsuccessfully against her blank given in (D) to make it contextually
……………... for murder. correct and meaningful?
A) Impression A) deeds
B) Conviction B) failures
C) Belief C) departure
D) Commitment D) agitation
E) None of the above E) None of the above.
25. The sentence given in (B) has four words 28. Which of the following word given in the
given in bold. amongst the given bold words options should come at the place marked as
which of the following must replace each (E) in the given passage to make it
other to make the sentence contextually grammatically correct and meaningful?
A) extinction
A) Both 2-1 and 3-4
B) rapport
B) Both 1-4 and 2-3
C) rupture
C) Both 2-4 and 1-3
D) puncture
D) 2-3
E) None of the above
E) 1-4
29. Which of the following phrase should fill
26. In the above passage, sentence (C) may the blank (F) to make it contextually and
or may not have an error in one part of the grammatically correct and meaningful?
sentence, select the part having error in it as
your answer. A) the strife of civil risk
A) In the sphere of geopolitics, B) the of civilization

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C) the civil strife risked A) Both 2-1 and 3-4
D) the risk of civil strife B) Both 1-4 and 2-3
E) None of the above. C) Both 2-4 and 1-3
30. The sentence given in (G) has four words D) 1-3

given in bold. Amongst the given bold words
E) 2-4
which of the following must replace each
other to make the sentence contextually
Direction (31-37): Read the passage carefully and answer the questions given
below it. Certain words/ phrases have been given in bold to help you locate them
while answering some of the questions.
On September 27, a Tripura High Court Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice
Arindam Lodh banned the sacrifice of animals and birds in temples of the state, and directed
the government to sensitise people about constitutional values and the importance of love,
humanism, and compassion towards all animals and birds. The managements of two major
temples, mentioned in the judgment, chose to defy the order, citing the absence of a
notification on the ban. Meanwhile, Pradyot Debbarman, the son of Tripura’s last king Kirit
Bikram Kishore Manikya, and the state government intend to appeal in the Supreme Court.
State Law & Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath told reporters Monday that the
government did not want to “hurt anyone’s religious beliefs” through its actions. Debbarman
told that while the scale of animal sacrifice must be reduced, “courts cannot play the role of
priests”. Animal sacrifice has been happening for at least 500 years in Tripura. The two
major sites are the Tripureswari Devi temple in Udaipur, and the Chaturdash Devta temple in
Agartala. Both temples were founded by the Manikyas, Tripura’s ruling dynasty from the late
13th century until September 9, 1949. The Tripureswari Temple, considered one of the 51
shakti peethas, was founded in 1501 by Maharaja Dhanya Manikya.
The Chaturdash Devta Temple, or ‘Temple of Fourteen Gods’, who were the royal deities,
was established in its current location around 1770 by Maharaja Krishna Kishore Manikya.
The court ruled that the tradition of sacrificing animals “lacks the essence of economic,
commercial, political or secular character” and cannot be protected under Article 25(1) of the
Constitution (Subhas Bhattacharjee vs The State of Tripura and Others). Freedom of religion
is subject to the rigours of public order, morality, and health, it said. Also, animal sacrifice in
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a temple is violative of Article 21, the court said, adding that religious practice cannot
override provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Drawing reference
from Rev. James Long’s ‘Human Sacrifices in Tripura’, the court said there was evidence that
up to 1,000 humans were sacrificed every year until about 1407 — “Thus it is only logical
that when human sacrifice could be stopped then nothing can impede a ban on sacrifice of
animals as part of religious practice, for life of both humans and animals are legally required
to be valued and protected.” The government argued that under the terms of Tripura’s
Merger Agreement with the Indian Dominion, worship at Mata Tripureswari and other
temples should continue in the traditional manner. Animal sacrifice was part of tantric
worship, and the petition had been filed only to “disturb the Hindu sentiment and presumably
by anti-Hindu elements”, because it did not challenge the practice of animal sacrifice during
Bakr Eid, the government said. The court rejected this argument as “preposterous”: “The
State cannot be allowed to take such a stand, more so, in the absence of any material,
substantiating the same”. It said: “The issue of animal sacrifice by the minority community
(Muslims) on the occasion of Bakr Id, already stands settled in Mohd. Hanif Quareshi (Mohd.
Hanif Quareshi & Others vs The State Of Bihar, 1958), Ashutosh Lahiri (State Of West Bengal
vs Ashutosh Lahiri, 1994) and Mirzapur (Mirzapur Moti Kureshi Kassab vs State Of Gujarat
And Ors, 1998); hence, such plea needs to be repelled at the threshold.” Even in those
cases, the Supreme Court had ruled that animal sacrifice was not an essential part of Islam
and could not be granted protection on the ground of religious freedom, and that states were
free to enact laws to ban the practice, the court said.
However, on the question of a blanket ban, the courts have held differing opinions. “And
here we may only remind the State what message Sri Rabindra Nath Tagore conveyed to the
then Raja and his citizenry through his famous work, Bishorjan,” the court said. Tagore was
closely associated with the royal house of Manikyas, who had accorded him the title of
‘Bharat Bhaskar’, and gave him financial assistance for the construction of Visva-Bharati. He
captured a turbulent phase in the history of the Tripura kingdom in his novel Rajarshi, which
he later adapted into the play Bishorjon. Rajarshi, written with inputs from Maharaja Bir
Chandra Manikya around 1880, chronicled the decision of Maharaja Gobinda Manikya
(1660-61 and 1667-76) to ban animal sacrifice, which angered the orthodoxy led by the
head priest or Chantai, Raghupati. The novel begins with the monarch walking on the banks
of the river Gomati with a little girl, Hashi. The river is red with blood, and Hashi asks “Eto
rokto keno? (Why is there so much blood?)”. Soon afterward, Hashi dies of a fever, repeating
the question until her last breath. A shaken Gobinda Manikya bans animal sacrifice at the
Bhubaneswari Temple (which now lies in ruins in south Tripura). Raghupati conspires with
the king’s enemies, and Gobinda Manikya is dethroned in a coup with the help of the
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Mughals, and replaced by his stepbrother Nakshatra Rai. Gobinda Manikya eventually regains
his position with the help of the Arakans.
31. Which of the following is true according D) He died of a fever.

to the ruling of the court?
E) None of the above.
I. Religious practice sometimes override
33. Which of the following is not true
provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to
according to the passage?
Animals Act, 1960.
A) Tripureswari Devi temple in Udaipur, and
II. The practice of Sacrificing animals and
the Chaturdash Devta temple were founded
birds cannot be protected under Article 25(1)
by the Manikyas.
of the Constitution. Freedom of religion is
subject to the rigours of public order, B) The government wanted them to cease
morality, and health. the “religious beliefs” to epitomize the verdict
of Tripura High Court through its actions.
III. The court ruled that the tradition of
sacrificing animals, lacks the essence of C) Tripura High Court Bench of Chief Justice
economic, commercial, political or secular Sanjay Karol and Justice Arindam Lodh
character. banned the sacrifice of animals and birds in
temples of the state.
A) I & II
D) Animal sacrifice has been happening for
B) I & III
at least 500 years in Tripura.
C) II & III
E) None of the above.
D) All of the above
34. Which of the following is/are true
E) None of the above according to Tripura’s Merger Agreement?
32. How did Gobinda Manikya lose his I. Worship at Mata Tripureswari and other
throne? temples to be continued in the traditional
manner.
A) Due to the death of Hashi.
II. Animal sacrifice was part of tantric
B) Raghupati conspires with the king’s
worship.
enemies.
III. It prohibited the practice of animal
C) Arakans attacked Manikya kingdom.
sacrifice during Bakr Eid.
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A) I & II Impede
B) I & III A) Culpable
C) Only I B) Hinder
D) All of the above C) Facilitate
E) None of the above D) Revoke
35. Choose the word/group of words which is E) None of the above.

most similar in meaning to the word/ group
37. Choose the word/group of words which is
of words printed in bold as used in the
most similar in meaning to the word/ group
passage.
of words printed in bold as used in the
Defy passage.
A) Comply Chronicled
B) Thwart A) Archive
C) Defer B) Eluviation
D) Deterrence C) Narrated
E) None of the above. D) Lamented
36. Choose the word/group of words which is E) None of the above.

most opposite in meaning to the word/
group of words printed in bold as used in the
passage.
follow
The Reinvention of the wheel can be painful. Taking lessons from those who have already
run the wheel several revolutions and tweaking those lessons for domestic conditions might
not be a bad idea. For India, there is indeed valuable learning from the results of the
Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study published in The Lancet this week.
Studying the situation in 21 countries across five continents, categorised by income levels,
researchers showed that while cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause for death
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overall, there have been some transitions, particularly in the high-income countries, which
have managed to reduce the number of deaths from CVD. In low-income countries, including
India, however, CVD is still the top killer, with death three times more frequent than that
due to cancer. What flies in the face of logic is that the risk burden of CVD-linked mortality is
inversely proportional — lower risk but higher mortality in low-income countries, and higher
risk but lower mortality in high-income countries. PURE’s analysis concluded that the higher
mortality in poorer countries was likely due to other factors, including ‘lower quality and less
health care’. Access to affordable, quality health care is still a dream in many pockets in
India. A great amount of out-of-pocket expenditure (according to Health Ministry data for
2014-15, nearly 62.6 % of India’s total health expenditure) often frustrates continuation of
treatment, or adherence to drug regimens. While some States have shown limited successes
with government-sponsored health insurance schemes, the Centre’s Ayushman Bharat
Yojana will have to take much of the burden of hospitalisation for complications of non-
communicable diseases. National and State schemes running on mission mode, including the
National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, CVD and Stroke will
have to step up efforts to target people at risk with life-saving interventions.
While most of the predominant risk factors for cardiovascular disease present no startling
medical revelation, it is significant that the single largest risk factor is a low education level.
It is no doubt part of the job description of the National Programme to modify this risk
factor. However, governments will have to muscle up to tackle a rather startling finding —
ambient air pollution and indoor air pollution have an impact on CVD and mortality.
Household air pollution is the third top risk factor in low-income countries, according to the
study. The need of the hour is out-of-the-box solutions combined with inspiration from
models of those who seem to have belled this particular cat. Any plans that target the risk
factors and prevent the onset of non-communicable diseases will clearly have to be truly
game-changing, and incorporate the environmental angle as well.
38) Which of the following is true according C) Any plans that target the risk factors and
to the passage? prevent the onset of non-communicable
diseases will not have to be truly game-
A) Household air pollution is not the top risk
changing
factor in low-income countries, according to
the study D) India is not a low income country
B) Access to affordable, quality health care is E) None of these

still a dream in many pockets in India.
39) Which of the following is true about
India according to the passage?
Page 15 of 27

A) CVD is the top killer A) Less availability of medications
B) Cancer is the top killer B) Governments don’t muscle up to tackle

the air pollution
C) India is the only country with low income
C) A great amount of out-of-pocket
D) Both A and C
expenditure
E) Both A and B
D) A low eucation level
40) What is the suitable title for the
E) None of these
passage?
42) ________ will have to take much of the
A) The reinvention of the wheel
burden of hospitalisation for complications of
B) Preventing the onsent of non- non-communicable diseases
communicable diseases
A) Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology
C) Tending to the heart: On cardiac care (PURE)
D) Stepping up efforts to target people at B) The Centre’s Ayushman Bharat Yojana

risk with life-saving interventions.
C) The Lancet
E) None of these
D) The health ministry of the country
41) The single largest risk factor is
E) None of these
__________
follow.
Into the second week of the amendments to Motor Vehicles Act kicking in, the step to
sharply increase fines for violations remains controversial. Gujarat this week reduced some
of the fines set by the Centre on humanitarian grounds. The overarching aim of the
amendments has wide support. Given that India has a shameful record of fatalities on
account of road accidents, even when compared to other developing countries, some of the
measures in the amendments, particularly the one relating to encouraging good Samaritans,
are welcome. The debate is over a steep hike in fines. For example, the penalty for jumping
a traffic light has gone from Rs 100 to Rs 5,000. Will a harsh measure be the game changer?
Page 16 of 27

The record across the world is decidedly mixed but fine remains a popular tool, with Finland
going so far as to link it to a violator’s disposable income. What is unambiguous is that the
problem of fatalities is more pronounced in the developing world, which WHO says accounts
for 93% of fatalities with around 60% of vehicles. Richer countries have created safer roads
over the last four decades. There are two solutions and both are needed. One, is to
strengthen the regulatory and enforcement framework. Two, significantly improve road
design in India which is also a cause of fatalities.
Will stiff fines improve driving habits? Yes, if the violator is fairly sure that it’s difficult to
escape. However, enforcement has been India’s weakness. Once the current fuss dies, our
record suggests it will be business as usual. It may also encourage petty corruption.
Therefore, instead of fixing fines at a level where even a relatively wealthy BJP-administered
state feels pressured to lower it, focus on consistent enforcement. A model where most fines
escalate with repeat offences with the possibility of flying below the radar minimised is the
way forward.
Technology today provides a cost effective solution to ____ (A) ____this model. For
example, with a higher density of working CCTVs states can automate enforcement. (B) If
such solutions start in the biggest urban centres and key highways of every state, there will
be an early impact and fatalities will reduce. No one condones violations. But a solution
shouldn’t be so draconian that a chief minister’s compassion is triggered when the law is
broken. The intent underpinning the amendments is good. But the inadequate attention to
unforeseen consequences of high fines, and to enforcement, is a problem.
43. According to the author he considers 44. Which of the following statement is/are
which of the following to be shameful about true based on the given passage?
India?
(i) 93% of fatalities with around 60% of
A) Price hike in fine from Rs.100 to 5000 vehicles happens in developing countries.
B) Reduction of the fines in some states set (ii) Wealthier countries have created safer
by the Centre. roads in the last forty years.
C) Record deaths caused by road accidents (iii) The penalty for jumping a traffic light
has gone from Rs 1000 to Rs 5,000.
D) Debate is over a steep hike in fines
A) Only (i)
E) None of these
B) Only (ii)
Page 17 of 27

C) Only (iii) A) If such solutions start in
D) Both (i) & (ii) B) the biggest urban centres and
E) Both (i) & (iii) C) key highways of every state, there will be
45. What are the facts that author considers D) an early impact and fatalities will reduce
as the flaws of India?
E) No error
A) India’s enforcement has been weak.
48. Which of the words have the same
B) If enforcement fails it would lead to meaning as the word Fuss mentioned in the
corruption. passage?
C) High fines might be risky in terms of A) Uproar

public financial stability.
B) Effort
D) All the above
C) Exertion
E) Both a & b
D) Exercise
46. Which of the following word given in the
E) All the above
options should come at the place marked (A)
in the above article to make it grammatically 49. Which of the words have the opposite
correct and meaningful. meaning of the word Escalate mentioned in
passage?
A) Plunge
A) Soar
B) Implement
B) Surge
C) Shrink
C) Intensify
D) Reduce
D) Tumble
E) All the above
E) None of these
47. In the passage given, a sentence (B) is
given in italics. There may or may not be an 50. Which of the words have the same
error in one part of the sentence. Choose the meaning as the word Draconian mentioned
part which has an error in it as your answer. in the passage?
If there is no error then choose option (e) as
your answer. A) Mild
Page 18 of 27

B) Tyrannical D) Meek
C) Clement E) All of these
Answers:
1) Answer: a)
As the author explained the passage with some examples and some surveys which shows his
reasoning and analytical attitude Option c will be appropriate title for the passage.
2) Answer: b)
Rely: Depend on with full trust or confidence
3) Answer: a)
Here there is comparison between present researchers and future researchers

hence easy should be replaced with easier.
4) Answer: d)
Refer: Thus, they turned to the satellite record, which currently runs from 1985 through
2018.
5) Answer: c)
Refer: A paper in Science today uses satellite data to analyze wind speed and wave height
over more than 30 years, and concluded that on average both are increasing, especially in
the southern hemisphere
6) Answer: c)
As the author explains that winds and waves intensity is increasing by taking old data as
reference and also with help of researches done by scientists he concludes that winds and
waves in oceans are slightly becoming strong Option C will be appropriate title for the
passage.
7) Answer: b)
Page 19 of 27

Impeccable: Faultless
8) Answer: e)
Choppier: Having many small waves and jerk quality
9) Answer: a)
Consistent: Unchanging in nature or effect over time
10) Answer: d)
Surmised: Guess something is true without having evidence to confirm it.
11. Answer: A
Option A) is correct; domestically is the suitable antonym.
Option B) is incorrect; affable means congenial.
Option C) is incorrect; comprehensively is the synonym of the given word.
Option D) is incorrect; worldwide is the synonym of the given word.
12. Answer: A
Option A) is correct; clemency is the suitable antonym.
Option B) is incorrect; amiable means friendly.
Option C) is incorrect; degree is the synonym of the given word.
Option D) is incorrect; amount is the synonym of the given word.
13. Answer: C
Option C is the correct choice.
Statement III is incorrect here. The cabinet of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved
a data protection bill on Wednesday for tabling in parliament, taking the country a step
closer to framing a privacy law.
14. Answer: A
Page 20 of 27

Option A is the correct option. Only Amazon and Facebook have been mentioned, among the
given choices, in the passage.
15. Answer: A
Option A is correct option; since it refers to Show a response or a reaction to something.
16. Answer: C
Statement (i) is false because crimes against women increased since 2016
Statement (ii) is false because Crime in India report for the year 2017 has been released not
2018.
17. Answer: E
From the line “A few months ago, government officials had blamed the States of West Bengal
and Bihar for lackadaisical responses in sending data, and said that more subheads for the
data would be added in the latest report requiring further collation and error corrections” In
the first paragraph answer can be concluded.
18. Answer: E
From the line “Except for the last category — Crimes by Northeast insurgents, left wing
extremists and terrorists — the other subheads are missing in the report which suggests that
the Bureau was not keen on including them” Answer can be concluded.
19. Answer: D
From the line “The total number of crimes committed against women country-wide increased
by 6% since 2016, while those against Scheduled Castes went up by 13%. However there is
the possibility of some States reporting such crimes better.” Answer can be concluded.
20. Answer: B
States in the northeast and others area with tribal population have higher murder rates.
21. Answer: C
From the line “The fact that Delhi recorded a 40.4% of the total IPC crimes registered among
metropolitan cities in 2017 is also likely due to the use of easier (online) means to register
them” answer can be concluded.
Page 21 of 27

22. Answer: D
Haryana
23. Answer: E
Pertinent – Appropriate/Relevant/Applicable/Germane.
All the options are synonyms of the given word.
24. Answer: B
‘Conviction’ means a firmly held belief or opinion and a formal declaration that someone is
guilty of a criminal offense, made by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court
of law. It perfectly fits in the blank (A) and in the given two statements as well. Hence,
option (A) is the correct answer choice.
‘Impression’ means an idea, feeling, or opinion about something or someone, especially one
formed without conscious thought or on the basis of little evidence.
‘Belief’ means an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists.
‘Commitment’ means the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.
25. Answer: D
After making the replacements, the thus formed is ‘Evoked by the subtlety of blue denim,
the mood of a campus festival, the eloquence of Martin Luther King’s dream, the get-up of
a Beatle, the sight of a currency note, the jaadu ki jhappi of Munna Bhai and, above all, by
every little act that relieves someone of misery, Mahatma Gandhi lives on. An inspiration, he
certainly is. What’s less clear, alas, is the extent to which he inspires our collective
conscience’.
26. Answer: B
Here ‘get’ should come in place of ‘gets’. The error free sentence is ‘In the sphere of
geopolitics, it is nukes that get rattled now, not empires, and backing off is taken as a sign of
weakness.’
27. Answer: A
The Blank (D) is suitably fit by ‘deeds’ which means an action that is performed intentionally
or consciously.
Page 22 of 27

‘Failures’ means lack of success.
‘Departure’ means the action of leaving, especially to start a journey.
‘Agitation’ means a state of anxiety or nervous excitement.
28. Answer: C
Here “rupture” which means breach or disturb (a harmonious feeling or situation). And it fits
the best as per the intended meaning of the sentence. Rest of the options are either
grammatically incorrect or are out of context.
‘Extinction’ means the state or process of a species, family, or larger group being or
becoming extinct.
‘Rapport’ means close and harmonious relationship in which the people or groups concerned
understand each other's feelings or ideas and communicate well.
‘Puncture’ means a small hole in a tire resulting in an escape of air.
29. Answer: D
Option D is suitable to fill in the blank (F) making the sentence both grammatically and
contextually right.
30. Answer: D
After making the replacements, the thus formed is ‘That iconic pair is also on our redesigned
rupee notes, even if his actual vision remains something of a blur to the over-busy and the
under-read.’
31. Answer: C
The court ruled that the tradition of sacrificing animals “lacks the essence of economic,
commercial, political or secular character” and cannot be protected under Article 25(1) of the
Constitution (Subhas Bhattacharjee vs The State of Tripura and Others). Freedom of religion
is subject to the rigours of public order, morality, and health, it said. Also, animal sacrifice in
a temple is violative of Article 21, the court said, adding that religious practice cannot
override provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
32. Answer: B
Page 23 of 27

Maharaja Gobinda Manikya (1660-61 and 1667-76) to ban animal sacrifice, which angered
the orthodoxy led by the head priest or Chantai, Raghupati. The novel begins with the
monarch walking on the banks of the river Gomati with a little girl, Hashi. The river is red
with blood, and Hashi asks “Eto rokto keno? (Why is there so much blood?)”. Soon
afterward, Hashi dies of a fever, repeating the question until her last breath. A shaken
Gobinda Manikya bans animal sacrifice at the Bhubaneswari Temple (which now lies in ruins
in south Tripura). Raghupati conspires with the king’s enemies, and Gobinda Manikya is
dethroned in a coup with the help of the Mughals, and replaced by his stepbrother Nakshatra
Rai. Gobinda Manikya eventually regains his position with the help of the Arakans.
33. Answer: B
State Law & Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ratan Lal Nath told reporters Monday that the
government did not want to “hurt anyone’s religious beliefs” through its actions.
34. Answer: C
The government argued that under the terms of Tripura’s Merger Agreement with the Indian
Dominion, worship at Mata Tripureswari and other temples should continue in the traditional
manner. Animal sacrifice was part of tantric worship, and the petition had been filed only to
“disturb the Hindu sentiment and presumably by anti-Hindu elements”, because it did not
challenge the practice of animal sacrifice during Bakr Eid, the government said. The court
rejected this argument as “preposterous”: “The State cannot be allowed to take such a
stand, more so, in the absence of any material, substantiating the same”.
35. Answer: B
‘Defy’ means openly resist or refuse to obey.
‘Comply’ means (of a person or group) act in accordance with a wish or command.
‘Thwart’ means prevent (someone) from accomplishing something.
‘Defer’ means put off (an action or event) to a later time; postpone.
‘Deterrence’ means the action of discouraging an action or event through instilling doubt or
fear of the consequences.
36. Answer: C
‘Impede’ means delay or prevent (someone or something) by obstructing them; hinder.
Page 24 of 27

‘Culpable’ means deserving blame.
‘Hinder’ means create difficulties for (someone or something), resulting in delay or

obstruction.
‘Facilitate’ means make (an action or process) easy or easier.
‘Revoke’ means put an end to the validity or operation of (a decree, decision, or promise).
37. Answer: C
‘Chronicled’ means record (a related series of events) in a factual and detailed way.
‘Archive’ means a collection of historical documents or records providing information about a

place, institution, or group of people
‘Eluviation’ means the transportation of dissolved or suspended material within the soil by
the movement of water when rainfall exceeds evaporation
‘Narrated’ means give a spoken or written account of something.
‘Lamented’ means a conventional way of describing someone who has died or something that
has been lost or that has ceased to exist.
38. Answer: B
B is true according to the passage
Option A: Is not true because it is mentioned that household air pollution is the third top risk
factor in low-income countries, according to the study
Option B: Is true because as it is mentioned as access to affordable, quality health care is

still a dream in many pockets in India in the passage
Option c: Is not true because the passage reads as any plans that target the risk factors and
prevent the onset of non-communicable diseases will clearly have to be truly game-changing
Option D: Is not true because the passage states that India is a low income country
39. Answer: A
A is true about India according to the passage
Option A: Is correct as its is meantioned in the passage

Page 25 of 27

Option B: Is an incorect choice as it is mentioned that CVD is still the top killer, with death
three times more frequent than that due to cancer
Option C: In incorrect as India is one of the low income countries according to the passage
Option D: Is an incorrect alterntive among the following as option C is false
Option E: Is an incorrect alterntive among the following as option B is false
40. Answer: C
Option C “Tending to the heart: On cardiac care” woulb be the suitable title for the passage
41. Answer: E
Option E is the correct alternative as the passage reads “While most of the predominant risk
factors for cardiovascular disease present no startling medical revelation, it is significant that
the single largest risk factor is a low education level”
42. Answer: B
Option B ‘The centre’s Ayushman Bharat Yojana’is the right option according to the context.
43. Answer: C
From the sentence ‘Given that India has a shameful record of fatalities on account of road
accidents, even when compared to other developing countries’ answer can be concluded.
44. Answer: D
Statement (iii) is false because according to the passage the fine has gone from Rs.100 to
5000 not Rs.1000 to 5000.
45. Answer: E
From the line ‘enforcement has been India’s weakness. Once the current fuss dies, our
record suggests it will be business as usual. It may also encourage petty corruption.’ Answer
can be concluded.
46. Answer: B
‘Implement’ fits in the context correctly.
47. Answer: E
Page 26 of 27

There is no error in the given sentence.
48. Answer: E
Fuss - excessive excitement, activity, or interest.
All the words are synonym of the given word
49. Answer: D
Escalate – increase rapidly
‘Tumble’ is the antonym of the given word.
All the other words are synonym of the given word.
50. Answer: B
Draconian - Harsh
‘Tyrannical’ is the synonym of the given word.
All other words are antonym of the given word.
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Page 27 of 27

English Reading Comprehension Practice Questions For Mains Exams Part 1

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English Reading Comprehension Practice Questions for Upcoming Mains Exams

Practice RC Questions Especially for Mains Exams

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3) A sentence in the paragraph is divided a) Change in climatic conditions

d) 1985 e) All of the above

e) Not mentioned in the passage 8) Which of the following is closest meaning

a) Eastern Hemisphere b) Turbulent

b) Northern Hemisphere c) Heavy

c) Southern Hemisphere d) Stormy

d) Western Hemisphere e) All of the above

e) All of the above 9) Which of the following is farthest

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e) All of the above d) Conjecture

10) Which of the following is closest e) None of these

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11. Globally III. The cabinet of Indian Prime Minister

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E) None of these B) inquire

15. Which of the following does not C) consider

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16. Which of the following statements is/are D) Madhya Pradesh

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20. Which of the following statement is true D) Due to huge population.

21. According to the passage what might be A) Relevant

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Today, a century-and-a-half after the birth of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869–1948) in

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A) In the sphere of geopolitics, B) the of civilization

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C) the civil strife risked A) Both 2-1 and 3-4

D) the risk of civil strife B) Both 1-4 and 2-3

E) None of the above. C) Both 2-4 and 1-3

30. The sentence given in (G) has four words D) 1-3

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31. Which of the following is true according D) He died of a fever.

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B) I & III A) Culpable

D) All of the above C) Facilitate

E) None of the above D) Revoke

35. Choose the word/group of words which is E) None of the above.

E) None of the above. D) Lamented

36. Choose the word/group of words which is E) None of the above.

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B) Access to affordable, quality health care is E) None of these

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A) CVD is the top killer A) Less availability of medications

B) Cancer is the top killer B) Governments don’t muscle up to tackle

D) Stepping up efforts to target people at B) The Centre’s Ayushman Bharat Yojana

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C) Only (iii) A) If such solutions start in

D) Both (i) & (ii) B) the biggest urban centres and

C) High fines might be risky in terms of A) Uproar

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C) Clement E) All of these

Rely: Depend on with full trust or confidence

Here there is comparison between present researchers and future researchers

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Choppier: Having many small waves and jerk quality

Consistent: Unchanging in nature or effect over time

Surmised: Guess something is true without having evidence to confirm it.