XAT Reading Comprehension Questions PDF
Download Reading Comprehension Questions for XAT PDF – XAT Reading Comprehension questions PDF by Cracku. Practice XAT solved Reading Comprehension Questions paper tests, and these are the practice question to have a firm grasp on the Reading Comprehension topic in the XAT exam. Top 20 very Important Reading Comprehension Questions for XAT based on asked questions in previous exam papers. The XAT question papers contain actual questions asked with answers and solutions.
Download Reading Comprehension Questions for XAT
Enroll to XAT 2023 Crash Course
Instructions
There were four of us – George, and William Samuel Harris, and myself, and Montmorency. We were sitting in my room, smoking and talking about ‘’how bad we were – bad from a medical point of view I mean, of course.
We all were all feeling seedy, and we were getting quite nervous about it. Harris said he felt such extraordinary fits of giddiness come over him at times, that he hardly knew what he was doing; and then George said that he had fits of giddiness too, and he hardly knew what he was doing. With me, it was my liver that was out of order. I knew it was my liver that was out of order, because I had just been reading a patent liver-pill circular, in which were detailed the various symptoms by which a man could tell when his liver was out of order. I had them all.
It is a most extraordinary thing, but I never read a patent medicine advertisement without being impelled to the conclusion that I am suffering from the particular disease therein dealt with in its most virulent form. The diagnosis seems in every case to correspond exactly with all the sensations that I have ever felt.
Question 1: The word which is closest in meaning to virulent is
a) fantastic
b) vital
c) viral
d) fatal
1) Answer (D)
Solution:
Virulent means something deadly or fatal.
Instructions
You have brief passage with 5 questions following each passage. Read the passages carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives.
What, one wonders, is the lowest common denominator : of Indian culture today? The attractive Hema Malini? The songs of vividh Bharati? Or the mouth-watering Masala Dosa? Delectable as these may be, each yields pride of place to that false (?) symbol of a new era – the synthetic fibre. In less than twenty years the nylon sari and the terylene shirt have swept the countryside, penetrated to the farthest comers of the land and persuaded every common man, woman and child that the key to success in the present day world lies in artificial fibres: glass nylon, crepe nylon, tery mixes, polyesters and what have you. More than the bicycles, the wristwatch or the transistor radio, synthetic clothes have come to represent the first step )’ away from the village square. The village lass treasures the e flashy nylon sari in her trousseau most lovingly; the village youth gets a great kick out of his cheap terry cot shirt and u trousers, the nearest he can approximate to the expensive s synthetic sported by his wealthy city bred contemporaries. And the Neo-rich craze for ‘phoren’ is nowhere more apparent a than in the price that people will pay for smuggled, stolen, begged or borrowed second hand or thrown away synthetics. Alas, even the unique richness of the traditional tribal costume is being fast eroded by the deadening uniformity of nylon.
Question 2: ‘The lowest common denominator’ of the Indian culture today is
a) Hema Malini
b) songs of Vividh Bharati
c) Masala Dosa
d) synthetic fibre
2) Answer (D)
Solution:
In the third line of the passage, it is mentioned that ‘The lowest common denominator’ of the Indian culture today is synthetic fibre.
=> Ans – (D)
Instructions
You have brief passage with 5 questions following each passage. Read the passages carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives.
Most people who bother with the matter at all would admit that the English language is in a bad way, but it is generally assumed that we cannot by conscious action do anything about it. Our civilization is decadent and our language – so the argument runs – must inevitably share in the general collapse. It follows that any struggle against the abuse of language is a sentimental archaism, like preferring candles to electric light or hansom cabs to aeroplanes. Underneath this lies the half-conscious belief that language is a natural growth and not an instrument which we shape for our own purposes.Now it is clear that the decline of a language must ultimately have political and economic causes: it is not due simply to the bad influence of this or that individual writer. But an effect can become a cause, reinforcing the original cause and producing the same effect in an intensified form, and so on indefinitely. A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks. It is rather the same thing that is happening to the English language. It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts. The point is that the process is reversible. Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble. If one gets rid of these habits, one can think more clearly, and to think clearly is a necessary first step towards political regeneration; so the fight against bad English is not frivolous and is not the exclusive concern of professional writer.
Question 3: The author believes that.
a) it’s now too late to do anything about the problem.
b) language is a natural growth and cannot be shaped for our own purposes.
c) the decline in the language can be stopped.
d) the process of an increasingly bad language cannot be stopped.
3) Answer (C)
Solution:
In the 10th line of the passage, the author mentions that “The point is that the process is reversible.” He also state that the bad habit in the English language can be avoided if one can go through the required trouble.
Thus, the author clearly believes that the decline in the language can be stopped.
=> Ans – (C)
Question 4: What causes bad language in the end?
a) The bad influence of individual writers
b) The imitation of bad language habits
c) Political and economic causes
d) An assumption that nothing can be done about it.
4) Answer (C)
Solution:
In the 5th line of the passage, the author mentions that “Now it is clear that the decline of a language must ultimately have political and economic causes”, which clearly indicates that political and economic causes bad language in the end.
=> Ans – (C)
Instructions
A passage is given with 5 questions following it. Read the passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives.
Genetic variation is the cornerstone of evolution, without which there can be no natural selection, and so a low genetic diversity decreases the ability of a species to survive and reproduce, explains lead author Yoshan Moodley, Professor at the Department of Zoology, University of Venda in South Africa.
Two centuries ago, the black rhinoceros – which roamed much of sub Saharan Africa – had 64 different genetic lineages; but today only 20 of these lineages remain, says the paper. The species is now restricted to five countries, South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. Genetically unique populations that once existed in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Mozambique, Malawi and Angola have disappeared. The origins of the ‘genetic erosion’ coincided with colonial rule in Africa and the popularity of big game hunting. From the second half of the 20th century, however, poaching for horns has dramatically depleted their population and genetic diversity, especially in Kenya and Tanzania.
Question 5: What is important for evolution?
a) Genetic variation
b) Large population
c) Mixing of species
d) Survival of the fittest
5) Answer (A)
Solution:
Genetic variation is the cornerstone of evolution. Thus, A is the answer.
Question 6: Sub Sharan Africa has lost how many black rhino genetic lineages in 200 years?
a) 64
b) 20
c) 44
d) 30
6) Answer (C)
Solution:
Two centuries ago, the black rhinoceros – which roamed much of sub Saharan Africa – had 64 different genetic lineages and only 20 of these lineages remain. Sub Sharan Africa has lost = 64-20 = 44
Thus, C is the answer.
Question 7: Genetically unique black rhinoceros has been lost in all of the following countries, except?
a) Tanzania
b) Nigeria
c) Chad
d) Malawi
7) Answer (A)
Solution:
The species is now restricted to five countries, South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. Only, Tanzania is present in the options. Thus, A is the answer.
Question 8: From the second half of the 20th century what has caused a dramatic fall in black rhinoceros population?
a) poaching
b) colonial rule
c) big game hunting
d) fall in genetic diversity
8) Answer (A)
Solution:
From the second half of the 20th century, however, POACHING FOR HORNS has dramatically depleted their population and genetic diversity, especially in Kenya and Tanzania. Thus, A is the answer.
Question 9: Genetic diversity is proportional to __________.
a) species population
b) the ability of a species to survive and reproduce
c) inbreeding
d) extinction
9) Answer (B)
Solution:
”And so a low genetic diversity decreases the ability of a species to survive and reproduce”. Thus B is the answer.
Instructions
A passage is given with 5 questions following it. Read the passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives.
Manja, or the glass-coated string used for flying kites, not only poses threat to humans, animals and birds but also to trees. A study by the country’s oldest botanical garden has revealed that it poses a great threat to trees. But how can a snapped string struck in a tree kill the tree? Apparently, it does so by allying with the creepers in the garden.
A research paper by three scientists of the Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, located in West Bengal’s Howrah district, illustrates in detail how the manja, in collusion with climbers, does the damage. “The abandoned, torn kite strings act as an excellent primary supporting platform for the tender climbers, giving easy passage to reach the top of the trees. Lateral branches from the top of the climber and other accessory branches from the ground reaches the top taking support of the first climber, completely covers the treetop, thus inhibiting the penetration of sunlight,” says the research paper.
Question 10: Abandoned, torn kite strings stuck in trees benefits whom?
a) Humans
b) Creepers
c) Birds
d) Trees
10) Answer (B)
Solution:
”The abandoned, torn kite strings act as an excellent primary supporting platform for the tender climbers, giving easy passage to reach the top of the trees”. This line implies that Creepers benefit from torn kite strings. Thus, Creepers is the correct answer.
Question 11: How many scientists contributed to a study by country’s oldest botanical gardens on how manja can kill a tree?
a) Two
b) Three
c) Five
d) Four
11) Answer (B)
Solution:
“A research paper by three scientists of the Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, located in West Bengal’s Howrah district, illustrates in detail how the manja, in collusion with climbers, does the damage”. Thus, three scientists contributed to a study by country’s oldest botanical gardens on how manja can kill a tree. Option B is correct.
Question 12: How can a tree be killed by a creeper?
a) By blocking its access to sunlight
b) By wrapping its tentacles around its branches
c) By sucking away the nutrients
d) By secreting toxic chemicals
12) Answer (A)
Solution:
Lateral branches from the top of the climber and other accessory branches from the ground reaches the top taking support of the first climber, completely covers the treetop, thus inhibiting the penetration of sunlight. Thus, Option A is correct.
Question 13: What would be the acronym for India’s oldest botanical garden?
a) AJCBIBG
b) AJCBBGI
c) AJBCIBG
d) AJBCBGI
13) Answer (A)
Solution:
Acharya Jagdish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden – AJCBIBG. Thus, option A is correct.
Question 14: What gives easy passage to ‘climbers’ to top of the trees?
a) Creepers
b) Torn kites
c) Lateral branches
d) Manja
14) Answer (D)
Solution:
“The abandoned, torn kite strings act as an excellent primary supporting platform for the tender climbers, giving easy passage to reach the top of the trees”. Abandoned torn kite string is the Manja. Thus, option D is correct.
Instructions
A passage is given with 5 questions following it. Read the passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives and click the button corresponding to it.
He waited a moment in surprise, wondering why she did not come nearer, and then, maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish. With a loud scream he fell outwards and downwards into space. His mother had soared upwards. As he passed beneath her, he heard the swish of her wings. Then a monstrous terror seized him and his heart stood still. He could hear nothing. But it only lasted a moment. The next moment, he felt his wings spread outwards. The wind rushed against his breast feathers, then under his stomach and against his wings. He could feel the tips of his wings cutting through the air. He was not falling headlong now. He was soaring gradually downwards and outwards.
He was no longer afraid. He just felt a bit dizzy. Then, he flapped his wings once and he soared upwards. he uttered a joyous scream and flapped them again. He soared higher. He raised his breast and banked against the wind. His mother swooped past him, her wings making a loud noise. He answered her with another scream.
Question 15: The young seagull dived at the fish
a) maddened by hunger
b) maddened by want
c) out of spite
d) out of loneliness
15) Answer (A)
Solution:
From the first paragraph, we can say that the young seagull dived at the fish maddened by hunger.
