MCQ
Comprehension of a given passage (inference & main-idea) MCQ - Practice Questions with Answers
Solve 15 Comprehension of a given passage (inference & main-idea) questions for RAS/RPSC preparation.
Practice questions
Q1Read the passage and answer the question that follows. The village library had remained locked for many months because the old building was unsafe. When a retired teacher offered two rooms of his house for evening classes, the panchayat first hesitated, fearing that very few people would come. Within three weeks, however, children began borrowing books, farmers came to read notices, and two women started a small reading group. The panchayat then decided to repair the original building and appoint a part-time librarian. Which option best states the main idea of the passage?
For a main-idea question, the correct option must cover the whole passage, not just one detail. The passage moves from a locked library to a temporary community arrangement, then to renewed use by children, farmers, and women. The final cue is the panchayat's decision to repair the building and appoint a librarian. Only Option B links the temporary effort, revived interest, and permanent action.
Q2Read the passage and answer the question that follows. A small town introduced a weekly plastic-free market day. At first, many shopkeepers feared that customers would stop buying vegetables if plastic carry bags were not available. The municipal team distributed cloth bags at cost price and placed volunteers near the entry gates to explain the change. After six weeks, most regular buyers began bringing their own bags, and shopkeepers reported that sales had remained steady. The town council then decided to continue the practice for three more months. Statement 1: The shopkeepers' initial fear was not supported by later experience. Statement 2: The municipal team supported the change instead of merely announcing it. Which of the above statements is/are correct?
For a statement-combo question, test each statement separately against the passage. Statement 1 is supported because the shopkeepers feared a drop in sales, but later reported steady sales. Statement 2 is supported because the team distributed cloth bags at cost and deployed volunteers to explain the change. Hence both statements are correct, so option B is correct.
Q3Read the passage and answer the question that follows. During the first month of the new filing system, the records clerk arranged applications strictly by date. This helped him find recent papers quickly, but older pending files were sometimes missed. After discussing the problem with the section officer, he added coloured slips to mark urgent and long-pending cases. By the end of the next month, the office had reduced delays without changing the basic date-wise arrangement. Match List I with List II. List I: 1. Date-wise arrangement 2. Older pending files being missed 3. Coloured slips 4. Reduced delays List II: A. Original method retained in the office B. Problem noticed after initial use C. Additional signal for priority cases D. Result of the modified system Choose the correct match.
For match-list comprehension, match each item with its role in the passage. The date-wise arrangement was the original method and was retained. Missing older pending files was the problem noticed after initial use. Coloured slips were added to mark urgent and long-pending cases, so they were priority signals. Reduced delays came at the end as the result of the modified system. Thus only Option A gives the correct matching: 1-A, 2-B, 3-C, 4-D.
Q4Read the passage and answer the question that follows. The village health worker noticed that many elderly patients missed their follow-up visits after receiving medicines. When she asked them why, several said they could not read the dates written on the slips clearly. She began marking the next visit date with a large red circle and also told one family member about it. In the next two months, missed follow-ups decreased. The clinic adopted the same method for all elderly patients. Assertion (A): The clinic's change was based on a communication problem, not on a shortage of medicines. Reason (R): Patients were missing visits because the dates on the slips were hard for them to read. Choose the correct option.
For an assertion-reason item, first decide whether A and R are true, then decide whether R explains A. The cue for A is that the solution involved marking the date clearly and informing a family member, with no mention of medicine shortage. The cue for R is the patients' statement that they could not read the dates clearly. R explains why the clinic adopted a communication-based change, so Option A alone is correct.
Q5Read the passage and answer the question that follows. A small town library noticed that fewer students were visiting after school. The librarian first assumed that students had lost interest in reading, but a short survey gave a different picture. Many students wanted to use the library, yet their buses left before the library reopened after its lunch break. The library changed its break timing and kept one reading room open continuously. Within a month, student visits began to rise again. Which of the following is NOT a correct conclusion from the passage?
In a 'NOT correct' question, select the statement that conflicts with the passage. The cue is that many students still wanted to use the library, but their buses left before the library reopened after lunch. Therefore, only option C is not a correct conclusion; options A, B, and D are supported by the passage.
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6Read the passage and answer the question that follows. The municipal office introduced an online complaint form for streetlight repairs. At first, many residents continued to submit handwritten applications because they were unsure whether online complaints would be read. After the office began sending message updates at each stage, more residents used the form. The number of repeated visits to the office fell, and the repair team could group complaints area-wise before leaving for inspection. Statement 1: Residents avoided the online form initially because they lacked confidence in the process. Statement 2: Message updates helped increase the use of the online complaint form. Statement 3: The new system made area-wise planning easier for the repair team. Which of the above statements are supported by the passage?
7Read the passage and answer the question that follows. During a training session, the instructor gave every trainee the same printed checklist for handling public applications. At first, the trainees followed it mechanically and asked few questions. Later, the instructor discussed three unusual cases where the checklist did not mention every detail. She asked the trainees to explain the reason behind each step instead of merely reading it aloud. By the end of the session, they could apply the checklist more confidently to new situations. Assertion (A): Understanding the purpose of a procedure can make it easier to apply in unfamiliar cases. Reason (R): The trainees improved after they memorised the printed checklist word for word. Choose the correct option.
8Read the passage and answer the question that follows. The residents of Green Lane often complained about litter near the community park. A few members demanded a fine for every visitor, but the ward committee first observed the area for a week. They found that the bins were hidden behind a wall and were emptied only twice a week. The committee moved the bins near the entrance, added clear labels, and arranged daily collection during the evening rush. Complaints reduced without introducing any new fine. Match the item in List I with the most suitable idea in List II. List I: 1. Hidden bins 2. Demand for fines 3. Daily evening collection 4. Reduced complaints List II: a. A suggested punitive solution b. A practical service improvement c. The visible result of the changes d. A source of the original problem Choose the correct matching.
9Read the passage and answer the question that follows. When the new file-tracking software was introduced in the district office, several clerks complained that it slowed them down. Meera, the senior clerk, kept a small notebook beside her computer and noted each repeated problem for two weeks. At the next staff meeting, she did not criticise the software; instead, she showed that most delays came from unclear naming of scanned documents. After the team agreed on a common naming pattern, the daily backlog fell sharply. Which inference is best supported by the passage?
10Read the passage and answer the question that follows. Meera joined the records section of a college library in July. On her first day, she noticed that several old registers had neat covers but no index pages. Senior staff told her that the registers were rarely used, so indexing them would be a waste of time. During admission season, however, students repeatedly asked for old fee receipts and transfer records. Meera spent her lunch breaks preparing a basic index, and by September the staff could locate most entries within minutes. What can be reasonably inferred about Meera?
11Read the passage and answer the question that follows. A small training centre decided to keep its computer lab open for one extra hour in the evening. The manager expected mostly regular students to use the facility, but the first week showed a different pattern. Several job-seekers came after work to fill application forms, and two school students used the internet to download scholarship notices. The centre then placed a notice outside saying that the evening hour was open to registered visitors also. Assertion (A): The evening extension served a wider public need than the manager had expected. Reason (R): Only regular students used the computer lab during the extra hour. Choose the correct option.
12Read the passage and answer the question that follows. The district office had received many complaints about long queues for certificates. Instead of adding another counter immediately, the officer first studied the busiest hours for two weeks. The data showed that most applicants came between 10 a.m. and noon because the forms were checked only after 9:30 a.m. The office then opened a form-checking desk at 9 a.m. and displayed a list of common mistakes near the entrance. Within a month, the average waiting time fell noticeably. Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?
13Read the passage and answer the question that follows. Every morning, Raghav watered the plants near the office entrance before signing the attendance register. When the office installed an automatic sprinkler, he still checked the soil with his fingers before switching it on. Some colleagues joked that he did not trust machines, but Raghav explained that the sprinkler watered every plant equally, while the shaded plants needed less water. By adjusting the sprinkler time on cloudy days, he kept the plants healthier than before. Statement 1: Raghav rejected the use of the automatic sprinkler. Statement 2: Raghav used personal observation to make the sprinkler more suitable to the plants' needs. Which option correctly evaluates the statements?
14Read the passage and answer the question that follows. Meena reached the bus stand ten minutes before the scheduled time. The bus was already crowded, and the conductor announced that only passengers with prior tickets could board. Meena searched the ticket pocket of her bag twice and then called her brother to ask him to send a photograph of the ticket he had booked for her. She smiled only after the conductor looked at the image and nodded. What can be reasonably inferred about Meena?
15Read the passage and answer the question that follows. A newly formed sports club wanted more girls to use the public playground. The committee first repaired the broken lights because parents were worried about safety in the evening. It then fixed separate practice hours for beginners, so that new players would not feel embarrassed in front of experienced teams. A local teacher agreed to coach twice a week without charging a fee. After two months, attendance among girls had nearly doubled. List I: 1. Repairing lights 2. Separate beginner hours 3. Free coaching by a teacher List II: P. Reduced hesitation among new players Q. Addressed safety concerns R. Lowered the cost barrier Choose the correctly matched option.