Reading Comprehension - English Questions and Answers

Directions (1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it.

German statesman Otto von Bismarck once observed that politics is the art of the possible. This aphorism can be usefully extended to include planning. Planning should be done on the basis of whatever is available to you. This means to plan on the basis of what remains. Such planning can be termed as ‘planning based on remnants'.

In chalking out a course of action, people are generally obsessed with the concept of totality. They want to have things in totality and are reluctant to accept the fulfilment of their goals in any partial way. But thinking along these lines goes against the law of nature. The realistic formula in this regard is that if the total is not achievable, one should be content with achieving just a part. There are nations in many parts of the world which were eager to achieve things in totality, but failed in their ambition-even after a struggle lasting a hundred years.

Question: ‘Planning based on remnant's means

Directions (1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it.

German statesman Otto von Bismarck once observed that politics is the art of the possible. This aphorism can be usefully extended to include planning. Planning should be done on the basis of whatever is available to you. This means to plan on the basis of what remains. Such planning can be termed as ‘planning based on remnants'.

In chalking out a course of action, people are generally obsessed with the concept of totality. They want to have things in totality and are reluctant to accept the fulfilment of their goals in any partial way. But thinking along these lines goes against the law of nature. The realistic formula in this regard is that if the total is not achievable, one should be content with achieving just a part. There are nations in many parts of the world which were eager to achieve things in totality, but failed in their ambition-even after a struggle lasting a hundred years.

Question: What is the ‘concept of totality', as used in the passage?

Directions (1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it.

German statesman Otto von Bismarck once observed that politics is the art of the possible. This aphorism can be usefully extended to include planning. Planning should be done on the basis of whatever is available to you. This means to plan on the basis of what remains. Such planning can be termed as ‘planning based on remnants'.

In chalking out a course of action, people are generally obsessed with the concept of totality. They want to have things in totality and are reluctant to accept the fulfilment of their goals in any partial way. But thinking along these lines goes against the law of nature. The realistic formula in this regard is that if the total is not achievable, one should be content with achieving just a part. There are nations in many parts of the world which were eager to achieve things in totality, but failed in their ambition-even after a struggle lasting a hundred years.

Question: According to the author

Directions (1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it.

German statesman Otto von Bismarck once observed that politics is the art of the possible. This aphorism can be usefully extended to include planning. Planning should be done on the basis of whatever is available to you. This means to plan on the basis of what remains. Such planning can be termed as ‘planning based on remnants'.

In chalking out a course of action, people are generally obsessed with the concept of totality. They want to have things in totality and are reluctant to accept the fulfilment of their goals in any partial way. But thinking along these lines goes against the law of nature. The realistic formula in this regard is that if the total is not achievable, one should be content with achieving just a part. There are nations in many parts of the world which were eager to achieve things in totality, but failed in their ambition-even after a struggle lasting a hundred years.

Question: What do you mean by the word 'Aphorism' as used in the passage?

Directions (1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it.

German statesman Otto von Bismarck once observed that politics is the art of the possible. This aphorism can be usefully extended to include planning. Planning should be done on the basis of whatever is available to you. This means to plan on the basis of what remains. Such planning can be termed as ‘planning based on remnants'.

In chalking out a course of action, people are generally obsessed with the concept of totality. They want to have things in totality and are reluctant to accept the fulfilment of their goals in any partial way. But thinking along these lines goes against the law of nature. The realistic formula in this regard is that if the total is not achievable, one should be content with achieving just a part. There are nations in many parts of the world which were eager to achieve things in totality, but failed in their ambition-even after a struggle lasting a hundred years.

Question: The totality can

Directions (1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it in the context of the passage.

The Republic's annual honours list is often the subject of heated debate, with champions and detractors joining battle over the relative merits of the recipients of national awards. But no one would quarrel with the State, this year, for having honoured Rasipuram Krishanaswamy Laxman with a Padma Vibhushan. For Laxman, the creator of the silent but observant Common Man who has kept at least three generations of readers of The Times of India company at breakfast, is no friend of power and wealth, no respecter of the narcissism that can afflict the directors of the nation's destinies

Question: Who was 'Common Man' as used in the passage?

Directions (1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it in the context of the passage.

The Republic's annual honours list is often the subject of heated debate, with champions and detractors joining battle over the relative merits of the recipients of national awards. But no one would quarrel with the State, this year, for having honoured Rasipuram Krishanaswamy Laxman with a Padma Vibhushan. For Laxman, the creator of the silent but observant Common Man who has kept at least three generations of readers of The Times of India company at breakfast, is no friend of power and wealth, no respecter of the narcissism that can afflict the directors of the nation's destinies

Question:What is a subject of heated debate?

Directions (1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it in the context of the passage.

The Republic's annual honours list is often the subject of heated debate, with champions and detractors joining battle over the relative merits of the recipients of national awards. But no one would quarrel with the State, this year, for having honoured Rasipuram Krishanaswamy Laxman with a Padma Vibhushan. For Laxman, the creator of the silent but observant Common Man who has kept at least three generations of readers of The Times of India company at breakfast, is no friend of power and wealth, no respecter of the narcissism that can afflict the directors of the nation's destinies

Question: According to the author, the honour of R.K. Laxman is

Directions (1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it in the context of the passage.

The Republic's annual honours list is often the subject of heated debate, with champions and detractors joining battle over the relative merits of the recipients of national awards. But no one would quarrel with the State, this year, for having honoured Rasipuram Krishanaswamy Laxman with a Padma Vibhushan. For Laxman, the creator of the silent but observant Common Man who has kept at least three generations of readers of The Times of India company at breakfast, is no friend of power and wealth, no respecter of the narcissism that can afflict the directors of the nation's destinies

Question: The cartoons of R.K. Laxman had the power

Directions (1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it in the context of the passage.

The Republic's annual honours list is often the subject of heated debate, with champions and detractors joining battle over the relative merits of the recipients of national awards. But no one would quarrel with the State, this year, for having honoured Rasipuram Krishanaswamy Laxman with a Padma Vibhushan. For Laxman, the creator of the silent but observant Common Man who has kept at least three generations of readers of The Times of India company at breakfast, is no friend of power and wealth, no respecter of the narcissism that can afflict the directors of the nation's destinies

Question: What do you mean by the word Narcissism as used in the passage?

Directions (1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it in the context of the passage.

The GST Council's meeting this week did not conclude successfully as Centre and states were unable to reach a consensus on tax rates. In itself, this is not worrisome on account of the complexity of the subject. But the Centre's tax proposals appear untouched by the spirit of reform. GST is India's most ambitious tax reform and if structured well will benefit Indians in two ways: as consumers and job seekers. The structure and level of tax rates, therefore, is key to success. It means the current approach has to be improved upon. Today, the Centre's indirect tax structure is messier than states and characterised by a multiplicity of rates.

Question: The cause of disagreement at the GST council meeting was

Directions (1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it in the context of the passage.

The GST Council's meeting this week did not conclude successfully as Centre and states were unable to reach a consensus on tax rates. In itself, this is not worrisome on account of the complexity of the subject. But the Centre's tax proposals appear untouched by the spirit of reform. GST is India's most ambitious tax reform and if structured well will benefit Indians in two ways: as consumers and job seekers. The structure and level of tax rates, therefore, is key to success. It means the current approach has to be improved upon. Today, the Centre's indirect tax structure is messier than states and characterised by a multiplicity of rates.

Question: According to the author, the tax proposal-

Directions (1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it in the context of the passage.

The GST Council's meeting this week did not conclude successfully as Centre and states were unable to reach a consensus on tax rates. In itself, this is not worrisome on account of the complexity of the subject. But the Centre's tax proposals appear untouched by the spirit of reform. GST is India's most ambitious tax reform and if structured well will benefit Indians in two ways: as consumers and job seekers. The structure and level of tax rates, therefore, is key to success. It means the current approach has to be improved upon. Today, the Centre's indirect tax structure is messier than states and characterised by a multiplicity of rates.

Question: A well organised GST will benifit-

Directions (1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it in the context of the passage.

The GST Council's meeting this week did not conclude successfully as Centre and states were unable to reach a consensus on tax rates. In itself, this is not worrisome on account of the complexity of the subject. But the Centre's tax proposals appear untouched by the spirit of reform. GST is India's most ambitious tax reform and if structured well will benefit Indians in two ways: as consumers and job seekers. The structure and level of tax rates, therefore, is key to success. It means the current approach has to be improved upon. Today, the Centre's indirect tax structure is messier than states and characterised by a multiplicity of rates.

Question: The success of GST lies in-

(A) fine structure of GST

(B) level of tax rates

(C) agreement at the GST council

Directions (1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it in the context of the passage.

The GST Council's meeting this week did not conclude successfully as Centre and states were unable to reach a consensus on tax rates. In itself, this is not worrisome on account of the complexity of the subject. But the Centre's tax proposals appear untouched by the spirit of reform. GST is India's most ambitious tax reform and if structured well will benefit Indians in two ways: as consumers and job seekers. The structure and level of tax rates, therefore, is key to success. It means the current approach has to be improved upon. Today, the Centre's indirect tax structure is messier than states and characterised by a multiplicity of rates.

Question: How is GST different from old tax system?

Directions (1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it in the context of the passage.

In this modern day, man is filled with doubts about the existence of God and is a victim of the existential fear of death. When the mind has to advance spiritually, such doubts are the strong hurdles that have to be overcome. Disbelief is like a disease that can turn harmful and external influences easily tend to loosen one's hold on spirituality. Realised souls such as Sri Ramakrishna have lived exemplary lives that have inspired many to tread the spiritual path. This preceptor typifies a special brand of democratic spirituality by which he is able to create the faith about the existence of God and enlighten us about the real purpose of life, pointed out Swami Yatatmananda in a lecture.

Question: What do you mean by the phrase "the existential fear of death?

Directions (1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it in the context of the passage.

In this modern day, man is filled with doubts about the existence of God and is a victim of the existential fear of death. When the mind has to advance spiritually, such doubts are the strong hurdles that have to be overcome. Disbelief is like a disease that can turn harmful and external influences easily tend to loosen one's hold on spirituality. Realised souls such as Sri Ramakrishna have lived exemplary lives that have inspired many to tread the spiritual path. This preceptor typifies a special brand of democratic spirituality by which he is able to create the faith about the existence of God and enlighten us about the real purpose of life, pointed out Swami Yatatmananda in a lecture.

Question: For spiritual wisdom, it is imperative that —

Directions (1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it in the context of the passage.

In this modern day, man is filled with doubts about the existence of God and is a victim of the existential fear of death. When the mind has to advance spiritually, such doubts are the strong hurdles that have to be overcome. Disbelief is like a disease that can turn harmful and external influences easily tend to loosen one's hold on spirituality. Realised souls such as Sri Ramakrishna have lived exemplary lives that have inspired many to tread the spiritual path. This preceptor typifies a special brand of democratic spirituality by which he is able to create the faith about the existence of God and enlighten us about the real purpose of life, pointed out Swami Yatatmananda in a lecture.

Question: Realised souls have the potential-

Directions (1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it in the context of the passage.

In this modern day, man is filled with doubts about the existence of God and is a victim of the existential fear of death. When the mind has to advance spiritually, such doubts are the strong hurdles that have to be overcome. Disbelief is like a disease that can turn harmful and external influences easily tend to loosen one's hold on spirituality. Realised souls such as Sri Ramakrishna have lived exemplary lives that have inspired many to tread the spiritual path. This preceptor typifies a special brand of democratic spirituality by which he is able to create the faith about the existence of God and enlighten us about the real purpose of life, pointed out Swami Yatatmananda in a lecture.

Question: By the term 'democratic spirituality', we mean-

Directions (1-5): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it in the context of the passage.

In this modern day, man is filled with doubts about the existence of God and is a victim of the existential fear of death. When the mind has to advance spiritually, such doubts are the strong hurdles that have to be overcome. Disbelief is like a disease that can turn harmful and external influences easily tend to loosen one's hold on spirituality. Realised souls such as Sri Ramakrishna have lived exemplary lives that have inspired many to tread the spiritual path. This preceptor typifies a special brand of democratic spirituality by which he is able to create the faith about the existence of God and enlighten us about the real purpose of life, pointed out Swami Yatatmananda in a lecture.

Question: Doubts create hurdle in the path of-