Reading Comprehension Questions for Bank Exams
In Bank exams IBPS PO, SBI PO/Clerk, Reading Comprehension Questions (RCQs) help the aspirants to score more marks in English language section. Reading comprehension questions test a candidate’s ability to understand, analyze, and interpret written passages. Solving RCQs effectively requires a combination of reading skills, strategic thinking, and practice.
In this article, we will provide Reading Comprehension Questions with Solutions. English Comprehension Questions often carry a significant weightage in the reasoning section. Scoring well in these questions can significantly boost your overall score. You can attempt these questions & boost your preparation for your examination.
Reading Comprehension Questions | Set-5
Practicing Reading Comprehension Questions (RCQs) enhances your vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension skills, which are essential for effective communication in the workplace. In exams like IBPS/SBI PO and IBPS Clerk, they can account for 10-15 questions, making them a decisive factor in your overall score.
Direction: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words/phrases have been given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
King Brihadyumna, a disciple of the sage Raibhya, performed a great sacrifice at which he requested his teacher to let his two sons Paravasu and Arvavasu officiate. With the permission of their father, both of them went joyfully to the capital of the king.
While arrangements were being made for the sacrifice, Paravasu desired one day to go and see his wife and, walking along all night, he reached his hermitage before dawn. Near the hermitage, he saw in the glooming, what seemed to him beast of prey crouching for a spring and, hurling his weapon at it, killed it. But to his horror and grief, he discovered that he had killed his own father clad in skins, mistaking him for a wild denizen of the forest. He realized that the fatal mistake was the effect of the curse of Bharadwaja. When he had hastily performed the funeral rites of his father, he went to Arvavasu and told him the doleful tale. He said: “But this mishap should not interfere with the sacrifiees of the king. Please do the rites on my behalf in expiation of the sin I have unwittingly committed. There is, mercifully, atonement for sins committed in ignorance. If you can be able to go and assist in conducting the king’s sacrifice. I can officiate unaided, which is thing you cannot do as yet.”
The virtuous brother agreed and said: “You may attend to the king’s sacrifice. I shall do penance to free you from the terrible taint of having killed a father-and a brahmana.”
The virtuous Arvavasu, accordingly, took upon himself the expiatory rites on behalf of his brother. That done, he came to the court of the king to join his brother and assist in the sacrifice.
The sin of Paravasu was not washed off, since expiation cannot be by proxy. It tainted his mind with wicked designs. Becoming jealous of the radiance on his brother’s face, Paravasu decided to dishonour him by casting on him an unjust aspersion and accordingly, when Arvavasu entered the hall, Paravasu loudly exclaimed so that the king might hear: “This man has committed the sin of killing a brahmana and how can he enter this holy sacrificial place?”
Arvavasu indignantly denied the accusation but none heeded him, and he was ignominiously expelled from that hall of sacrifice by the orders of the king.
Arvavasu repeatedly protested his innocence. “It is my brother who has committed the sin – and even then it was through a mistake. I have saved him by performing expiatory rites.” This made matters worse for him for nobody believed that the expiation he had undergone was not for his own crime and every one thought that he was adding false accusation against a blameless brother, to his other sins.
The virtuous Arvavasu who, besides being falsely accused of a monstrous crime, was also traduced as a liar, retreated to the forest in despair of finding justice in the world and betook himself to rigorous austerities.
The gods were gracious and asked him: “O virtuous soul, what is the boon you seek?” High thinking and deep meditation had in the meantime cleansed his heart of all anger at his brother’s conduct; and so, he only prayed that his father might be restored to life and that his brother might be freed from wickedness and the sins that he had committed.
The gods granted his prayer.
Lomasa narrated this story to Yudhishthira at a place near Raibhya’s hermitage and said: “O Pandavas, bathe here and wash off your passions in this holy river.”
Arvavasu and Paravasu were both sons of a great scholar. Both of them learnt at his feet and became eminent scholars themselves. But learning is one thing and virtue is quite another. It is true that one should know the difference between good and evil, if one is to seek good and shun evil, but this knowledge should soak into every thought and influence every act in one’s life. Then indeed knowledge becomes virtue. The knowledge that is merely so much undigested information crammed into the mind, cannot instill virtue. It is just an outward show like our clothes and is no real part of us.
1. What did Arvavasu seek as boon from the gods?
A. That he should be freed from the false accusation of being his father’s killer
B. That his brother should be freed from wickedness and father be restored to life
C. That his brother should be punished for killing his innocent father
D. That his brother should be dethroned
E. None of these
2. What was the impact of sin on Paravasu?
A. He became jealous of his brother.
B. He started doing penance.
C. He decided to perform the funeral rites of his father again to wash off his sin.
D. He become so wicked that he decided to kill his brother.
E. None of the above
3. Find the incorrect statement on the basis of the given passage.
A. Paravasu realized that his father was mistakenly killed by him.
B. It was the effect of the curse of Bharadwaja that made Arvavasu kill his father.
C. The king ordered expulsion of Arvavasu from the hall of sacrifice.
D. Paravasu and Arvavasu were the sons of king Brihadyumna
E. None of these
4. What did Arvavasu do when nobody believed that the expiation he had undergone was not for his own crime?
(A) He returned to the forest in despair of finding justice in the world.
(B) He became so hopeless that he decided to commit suicide.
(C) He betook himself to rigorous austerities.
A. Only (A) and (B)
B. Only (B) and (C)
C. Only (A) and (C)
D. All (A), (B) and (C)
E. Only (A)
5. According to the author, knowledge becomes virtue
A. when it remains as undigested information stored into the mind.
B. when it is used to establish superiority over others.
C. when it helps differentiate between good and evil.
D. when it becomes a part of though and influence every act in one’s life.
E. when it is used to influence others’ thought.
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6. Choose the word which is MOST SIMILAR in meaning to the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
Penance
A. sacrifice
B. secret
C. repentance
D. prayer
E. promise
7. Choose the word which is MOST SIMILAR in meaning to the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
Aspersion
A. defamation
B. kindness
C. mildness
D. accusation
E. happiness
8. Choose the word which is MOST SIMILAR in meaning to the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
Ignominiously
A. honourably
B. immediately
C. obviously
D. certainly
E. disgracefully
9. Choose the word which is MOST OPPOSITE in meaning of the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
Doleful
A. depressing
B. dismal
C. gloomy
D. cheerful
E. painful
10. Choose the word which is MOST OPPOSITE in meaning of the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
Despair
A. anguish
B. happiness
C. dejection
D. pain
E. misery
What Are Reading Comprehension Questions in Bank Exams?
Reading Comprehension Questions are designed to evaluate a candidate’s ability to read and understand a given passage. These questions typically follow a paragraph or a set of paragraphs, and candidates are required to answer questions based on the information provided in the text. In banking and insurance exams, RCQs often include:
- Fact-based questions: These require you to identify specific details or information directly stated in the passage.
- Inference-based questions: These demand logical deductions or conclusions based on the passage.
- Vocabulary-based questions: These test your understanding of word meanings, synonyms, antonyms, or contextual usage.
- Theme-based questions: These focus on the main idea, tone, or purpose of the passage.
- Application-based questions: These require you to apply the information from the passage to real-life scenarios or hypothetical situations.
In today banking and insurance exams, Reading Comprehension Questions are blend of logic, patience, and strategy. Regular practice of these questions, coupled with smart techniques, can transform this challenging topic into a scoring forte. Candidates must focus on accuracy first, and then speed, and soon this section will become your ally in cracking banking and insurance exams!
