Reading Comprehension | English Grammar

#Comprehension 

A comprehension exercise consists of a passage, upon which questions are set to test the student's ability to understand the content of the given text and to infer information and meanings from it. 

5 Smart Habits That Make Every Passage Easier

1) First Pass: Read Quickly for the General Idea (the “Gist”)

What: Skim to answer: What is this mainly about and why did the author write it?

How:

• Look at the title (if any), first/last sentences of each paragraph, and signpost words (however, therefore, for example).

• Track only big nouns/verbs and repeated ideas; ignore examples and numbers for now.

• After this pass, say the main idea in one short sentence in your own words.

Avoid: Getting stuck on tough words in the first pass. Don’t take notes yet—just get the map.

2) Second Pass: Read Slower for Details and Structure

What: Now dig for who/what/when/where/why/how, evidence, tone, and paragraph roles.

How:

• Underline key names, dates, terms, and definitions.

• Circle contrast words (but, although) and cause–effect links (because, therefore).

• In the margin, give each paragraph a 2–4 word label (e.g., Problem, Evidence, Counterpoint, Solution).

• Note the author’s tone (critical, cautious, optimistic, neutral).

Avoid: Highlighting everything. If everything is important, nothing is.

3) Study the Questions, Find the Lines, Then Paraphrase

What: Questions tell you exactly what to hunt for.

How:

• Read all questions first. Underline keywords (names, terms, time markers).

• Go back to the relevant lines in the passage (use those keywords to locate).

• Answer using the passage’s evidence, but rewrite in your own words—short, clear, precise.

• For inference questions (“What can be concluded…?”), ask: If the author believes X, what else must be true? Only choose what is supported.

Avoid: Copy–pasting long sentences (“lifting”). Marks are for understanding, not copying.

4) Write in Complete Sentences

What: Every answer should stand alone and make sense without the question.

How:

• Begin with a subject and verb: “The author argues that…”, “According to the passage, …”

• If the question is yes/no, give yes/no + reason in a full sentence.

• Keep pronouns clear: replace “it/they/he/she” with the specific noun at first mention.

Avoid: Fragments (“Because pollution.”) or single-word replies (“Yes.”).

5) Explain Meanings Clearly (Words & Phrases)

What: Show you understand the idea and the part of speech.

How:

• Use context clues:

  • Definition clue: “X, a type of…”

  • Contrast clue: “Unlike…, X is…”

  • Example clue: “such as…, like…”

• Match the part of speech in your explanation:

  • Resilient (adjective): “able to recover quickly”

  • Resilience (noun): “the ability to recover quickly”

  • To mitigate (verb): “to make something less severe”

• For phrases/idioms, explain the whole idea (“break the ice” = start a friendly conversation).

Avoid: Circular definitions (“Resilience means having resilience”) or ignoring the part of speech.

#Checkpoints 

• Gist: Can I state the main idea in one sentence?

• Details: Do I know each paragraph’s role?

• Evidence: Did I find the exact lines before answering?

• Paraphrase: Is my wording my own and concise?

• Complete sentences: Does my answer stand alone?

• Meanings: Did I use context and the right part of speech?

#Common Mistakes to Warn Against

• Reading slowly from the start and losing time.

• Highlighting everything.

• Answering from memory or opinion instead of the text.

• Lifting sentences instead of paraphrasing.

• Defining words without checking context or part of speech.

#Practice 

Lord Nelson wished that the British navy would be remembered not only for victory but also for kindness towards the enemy. To show this himself, he twice gave orders to stop firing at the French ship Redoubtable. He thought that the ship had surrendered because its big guns were silent. Since no flag was flying, he could not be sure. But sadly, from this very ship that he spared, Nelson was shot.

A bullet fired from the mizzen-top (the platform high on the mast at the back of the ship) hit his left shoulder around one o’clock, in the middle of the battle. He fell face down on the deck, which was already covered with the blood of his secretary. Captain Hardy, who was nearby, turned and saw men lifting Nelson up.

“They have finished me at last, Hardy!” Nelson said. Hardy answered, “I hope not!” Nelson replied, “Yes—my backbone is broken.” Even in great pain, Nelson kept calm. While being carried below, he noticed that the ropes controlling the ship’s steering had been cut, and he ordered them to be replaced at once. He also covered his face and medals with a handkerchief so that the crew would not be disheartened by seeing him wounded.

He was then taken to the room below deck, which was already full of wounded and dying sailors. The doctors soon realised that Nelson’s wound was fatal. Nelson himself knew this from the pain in his back and the blood filling his chest. Still, he insisted that the surgeon should not waste time on him, but instead help those who might still be saved.

 Questions

1. Why did Nelson order his men to stop firing at the Redoubtable?

2. How did Nelson get wounded?

3. What is meant by the word mizzen-top?

4. Why did Nelson cover his face and medals with a handkerchief?

5. Why did Nelson tell the surgeon to leave him and attend to others?

6. What good qualities of Nelson do you learn from this passage?

#2

Yes, there were great cricketers before Jam Sahib (Kumar Shree Ranjitsinhji, known as Ranji). But as a batsman, he is remembered as the finest player of the Englishman’s game. His greatness is not only about records, though his records are amazing. In one season, his average was 87, and he scored more than 3,000 runs — the highest in English cricket. He has scored over 3,000 runs in three seasons, a record no one else has matched. He even scored two double centuries in one match on the same day — and not against weak bowlers, but against Yorkshire, one of the strongest teams.

But a cricketer is not judged only by how many runs he makes, but by how he makes them. Just as in literature there can be many words but no real meaning, in cricket there can be many runs but no joy. Some batsmen make runs like machines — dull, lifeless, and without any charm. For them, cricket is just business, not adventure. For example, Shrewsbury was technically perfect, but his batting lacked excitement and spirit.

Real cricket needs colour, daring, and joy. Without these, it becomes lifeless. Ranji had all these qualities. His batting was full of sunshine, like his cheerful face. He did not play like a miser saving runs but like a rich man generously sharing them. Watching him bat was like receiving a shower of gifts. Just as he was loved in his small kingdom of Nawanagar, he was loved on the cricket field because his joy was in giving joy to others.

Questions 

• Check if the following facts are correct. Correct them if needed:

(a) Ranji’s season average was 87 with more than 3,000 runs.

(b) He scored over 3,000 runs in three seasons, and no one else has done this.

(c) He scored two double centuries in one match on the same day.

• What does the sentence “many runs and much dullness may be associated” mean in cricket?
• Why is cricket losing its charm according to the writer?
• What gives cricket its true spirit and “character”?
• How should real cricket be played?
• What was the secret of Jam Sahib’s (Ranji’s) greatness as a batsman?
• Write a short list of “Do’s” and “Don’ts” for a young cricketer.

#3

Many people think it would be a good idea if everyone had the same amount of money, whether they worked hard or did nothing. But they forget that most people work only because they earn money, and without work there would be no money.

Some also believe that if all the money in a country were shared equally, then everyone would be rich. This is a big mistake. In 1935, if money had been divided equally, each person would have got only about Rs. 65 a year. Today it might be about Rs. 150 a year. That is not enough to make anyone rich.

It is true that there are a few very rich people, but they are very few compared to the whole population. Even if all their wealth was divided, it would make very little difference. The author gives an example: if you flattened Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe, and spread it across the whole of France, the land would rise only about six inches. This shows that dividing a small part among a very large number makes little difference.

Another mistake people make is to think that governments can pay out money easily. In fact, the government can only give money that it collects from people as taxes. That money comes from the hard work of taxpayers.

Finally, the author says there is nothing wrong in working hard for a living. If you get a job that you like, that is wonderful. But even if your work is not your first choice, you should remember that you are helping to produce things that people need. You are doing your part, like a small wheel in the great machine of trade and industry that serves millions of people. So you must put effort into your work and do it as well as you can.

Questions

1. Why is it necessary for people to work?

2. If all the money in a country were shared equally, would everyone become rich? Why or why not?

3. What lesson does the example of flattening Mont Blanc teach us?

4. What kind of job is considered the best, according to the author?

5. What do the phrases “put your back into it” and “doing your bit” mean?

6. In your own words, explain the line: “You are like a wheel … millions of people.”