English: Reading Comprehension – 2 for CTET, all State TETs, KVS, NVS, DSSSB etc

English: Reading Comprehension for CTET, all State TETs, KVS, NVS, DSSSB etc

Directions- Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow by choosing the correct / most appropriate options –

Today, I, Rabindranath Tagore complete eighty years of my life. As I look back on the vast stretch of years that lie behind me and see in clear the history of my early development, I am struck by the change that has taken place both in my own attitude and in the psychology of my countrymen – a change that carries within it a cause of profound tragedy.

Our direct contact with the larger world of men was linked up with the contemporary history of the English people whom we came to know in those earlier days. It was mainly through their mighty literature that we formed our ideas with regard to these newcomers to our Indian shores. In those days the type of learning that was served out to us was neither plentiful nor diverse, nor was the spirit of scientific enquiry very much in evidence. Thus their scope being strictly limited, the educated of those days had recourse to English language and literature. Their days and nights were eloquent with the stately declamations of Burke, with Macaulay’s long-rolling sentences; discussions centered upon Shakespeare’s drama and Byron’s poetry and above all upon the large-hearted liberalism of the nineteenth-century English politics.

At the time though tentative attempts were being made to gain our national independence, at heart we had not lost faith in the generosity of the English race. This belief was so firmly rooted in the sentiments of our leaders as to lead them to hope that the victor would of his own grace pave the path of freedom for the vanquished. This belief was based upon the fact that England at the time provided a shelter to all those who had to flee from persecution in their own country. Political martyrs who had suffered for the honour of their people were accorded unreserved welcome at the hands of the English.

I was impressed by this evidence of liberal humanity in the character of the English and thus I was led to set them on the pedestal of my highest respect. This generosity in their national character had not yet been vitiated by imperialist pride. About this time, as a boy in England, I had the opportunity of listening to the speeches of John Bright, both in and outside Parliament. The large-hearted, radical liberalism of those speeches, overflowing all narrow national bounds, had made so deep an impression on my mind that something of it lingers even today, even in these days of graceless disillusionment.

From the first paragraph, give a synonym for ‘deep’:

A. Perspective

B. Profound

C. tragedy

D. Psychology

Ans- Option B

The word ‘profound’ is similar in meaning to ‘deep’.

( General English: Synonyms / Antonyms )

What helped the Indians to conceive of a notion of the Englishmen?

A. Their advanced weaponry

B. Their literature

C. Their orders

D. Their administration

Ans- Option B

As mentioned in the second paragraph, English literature helped Indians to shape their ideas about the Englishmen by that it helped the Indians to conceive of a notion of the Englishman.

Who could read and gain from English literature?

A. The educated Indians

B. All the Indians

C. Only writers such as Rabindranath Tagore

D. None of the above

Ans- Option A

As stated in the second paragraph, only the educated Indians could understand English literature.

From the third paragraph, give an antonym for ‘victorious’-

A. Victor

B. Vanquished

C. Belief

D. Persecution

Ans- Option B

Here, the antonym for victorious is vanquished.

Victor means champion or Hero.

Belief means faith or trust.

Persecution means abuse, oppression or cruelty.

( General English: Synonyms / Antonyms )

Whose speeches did Tagore listen to, as a boy-

A. Shakespeare

B. Byron

C. John Bright

D. Macaulay

Ans- Option C 

As a boy Tagore listened to the speeches of John bright. These large – hearted radical liberalism of those speeches, overflowed all narrow National bounds, had made so deep impression on his mind that something of it lingered even in the days of graceless disillusionment.

Which of the following word is the antonym of ‘eloquent’ –

A. Inarticulate

B. Fluent

C. Expressive 

D. Glib

Ans- Option A

Fluent, expressive and glib are the synonyms of eloquent. So the antonym of eloquent is inarticulate.

( General English: Synonyms / Antonyms )

One thought on “English: Reading Comprehension – 2 for CTET, all State TETs, KVS, NVS, DSSSB etc

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