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Comprehension of a given passage (inference & main-idea) MCQ — 15 Practice Questions with Answers

Comprehension of a given passage (inference & main-idea) is a General English topic in the RAS/RPSC syllabus. This page gathers exam-style Comprehension of a given passage (inference & main-idea) multiple-choice questions with correct answers and explanations, so aspirants can test recall and revise frequently examined concepts.

Practice 15 Comprehension of a given passage (inference & main-idea) multiple-choice questions with detailed answers and explanations. Ideal for RAS/RPSC exam preparation.

15 Questions General English

Reviewed by: Aspirant Academy Editorial Team

Practice Questions

Q1. Read 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?

A Farmers were the only group that benefited from the reopening of the library.
B A temporary community effort revived interest in the library and led to permanent action. Correct
C The unsafe building made the villagers lose all interest in reading.
D The panchayat repaired the library because the retired teacher refused to help further.

Explanation

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.

Q2. Read 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?

A Statement 2 only
B Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 Correct
C Neither Statement 1 nor Statement 2
D Statement 1 only

Explanation

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.

Q3. Read 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.

A 1-D, 2-C, 3-B, 4-A
B 1-A, 2-B, 3-C, 4-D Correct
C 1-C, 2-D, 3-A, 4-B
D 1-B, 2-A, 3-D, 4-C

Explanation

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.

Q4. Read 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.

A A is false, but R is true.
B Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. Correct
C Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
D A is true, but R is false.

Explanation

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.

Q5. Read 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?

A The fall in student visits was linked to the library's schedule.
B The survey helped the librarian revise an earlier assumption.
C Students stopped visiting because they no longer liked books. Correct
D Keeping a reading room open continuously helped improve access.

Explanation

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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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Comprehension of a given passage (inference & main-idea) MCQ questions are available?
There are 15 Comprehension of a given passage (inference & main-idea) practice MCQs available on Aspirant Academy, with detailed answers and explanations for each question.
Are answers and explanations provided for Comprehension of a given passage (inference & main-idea) MCQs?
Yes, every Comprehension of a given passage (inference & main-idea) question comes with the correct answer and a detailed explanation to help you understand the underlying concept.
How is Comprehension of a given passage (inference & main-idea) relevant to the RAS/RPSC exam?
Comprehension of a given passage (inference & main-idea) falls under the General English section of the RAS/RPSC syllabus. It is a frequently tested area and regular practice with these MCQs will strengthen your preparation.
Can I practice Comprehension of a given passage (inference & main-idea) questions in Hindi?
Yes, Aspirant Academy offers bilingual support. You can practice Comprehension of a given passage (inference & main-idea) MCQs in both English and Hindi, including questions, options, and explanations.

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