Reading Comprehension – MBA CUET PG – Notes & Practice Questions

Comprehension, in the context of language learning, means a thorough understanding of a passage or text. The purpose of comprehension passages is to measure the understanding of students. Through the given passages, students are tested on their understanding, their vocabulary, and their language skills. Comprehension passages in examinations are designed to test the following:
• Your grasp of the main theme of the passage
• Your understanding of the important points in the passage in relation to the main theme
• Your ability to answer questions within the required word limit
• Your ability to rewrite the main ideas in the passage in your own words

How to attempt comprehension passages
While answering questions from a comprehension passage, keep the following points in mind:
• Read the passage carefully and try to understand the main idea
• If necessary, read the passage more than once to form a clear idea of the meaning
• Read the first question and go to the part of the passage which gives the answer
• Understand the lines and then rewrite them in your own words
• Now follow this process for the rest of the questions
• Make sure that the number of each answer corresponds to that of the question
• Your answers should be written in simple and grammatically correct language
• Take care that your answers are within the required word limit
• Do not use ‘I’ or ‘you’ in your answers
• The answer should be in the same tense in which the question has been asked
• Finally, read each question and answer again to make sure that your answers are correct

Unseen Passages for Comprehension

Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions given below:

Passage 1

In America, they have freed the language from the stifling tyranny of the Passive Voice. Where we would ceremoniously say “Trespassing prohibited,” their signboards, as I noticed in the parks of Berkeley, merely say, “Newly planted, don’t walk.” “Absolutely No Parking” leaves no room for speculation, and no motorist need spend too much time peering out and studying the notice. In a similar situation, our authorities are likely to plant a twenty-line inscription on the landscape to say, “Under Municipal Act so and so this area has been reserved, etc. etc., and any vehicle stationed thereon will be deemed to have contravened sub-section so and so of the Motor Vehicles Act, etc. etc.”

I saw on many American office doors just “Do not Enter.” The traffic signs at pedestrian crossings never mince words; they simply say “Go” or “Wait.” In a Hollywood studio, I was rather startled to read, “Mark Stevens—Keep out.” Mark Stevens is a busy television personality who does not like to be disturbed by visitors. Incidentally, it left me wondering why, if Mr Stevens does not like interruptions, he should announce his name at all on the door! But it is one of the minor mysteries that make travel through that country so engrossing.

Meanings of difficult words:
• Speculation: guesswork
• Peering: to look very carefully or hard, especially at something difficult to see
• Deemed: considered to be
• Incidentally: used to introduce additional information
• Engrossing: engaging somebody’s full attention

Questions:

1. From where has this passage been taken and who is the writer?

2. What have the people in America done with the English language?

3. Why does the writer consider the use of the passive voice stifling?

4. Why was the writer startled to read “Mark Stevens—Keep Out” in a studio?

5. What was the mystery that left the writer wondering?

6. State whether the following statements are True or False:
   (a) Americans prefer to use the passive voice.
   (b) In America, no motorist need spend too much time peering out and studying public notices.
   (c) Our authorities are brief and direct.
   (d) Mark Stevens is a busy television personality who does not like to be disturbed by visitors.

7. Find words from the passage which mean the following:
   (a) Making breathing difficult
   (b) Cruelty and injustice in the exercise of power
   (c) Temporary halt in an ongoing activity or process
   (d) Go against the law

Answers:

1. The passage is from Toasted English by R. K. Narayan.

2. The people in America have freed the English language from the tyranny of the passive voice.

3. The writer finds the passive voice stifling because it removes directness and brevity from expression, making it lengthy and roundabout.

4. The writer was startled because the notice “Mark Stevens—Keep Out” was extremely direct and pointed.

5. The mystery was why Mark Stevens mentioned his name at all if he did not want interruptions.

6. (a) False (b) True (c) False (d) True

7. (a) Stifling (b) Tyranny (c) Interruption (d) Contravene