Introduction
Reading comprehension tests whether you can understand a passage and answer questions about it. It rewards a good method more than a large vocabulary. This lesson gives a step-by-step strategy, a guide to the common question types, and two practice passages with solutions.
A four-step strategy
- Skim the passage for two minutes. Read the first and last sentences of each paragraph to get the main idea.
- Read the questions before reading the passage closely. Now you know what to look for.
- Scan for evidence. Find the sentence that answers each question and match it with the options. Never answer from memory or from general knowledge.
- Eliminate wrong options. Remove options that are too extreme, off topic or not stated in the passage.
Common question types
| Type | What it asks | How to answer |
|---|---|---|
| Main idea or title | the central message | Choose the option that covers the whole passage, not one detail. |
| Detail | a fact stated in the text | Find the exact sentence and match its meaning. |
| Vocabulary in context | meaning of a word or phrase | Re-read the sentence and replace the word with each option. |
| Inference | what is suggested but not stated | Choose what must be true from the evidence, not what could be true. |
| Tone or attitude | the writer's feeling | Look at adjectives and verbs: critical, hopeful, neutral. |
| NOT or EXCEPT | the one option not in the text | Check each option against the passage and cross it off. |
| Reference | what it, this, they refers to | Look at the nearest preceding noun. |
Passage 1
Time is the most valuable resource a person has, yet it is the one most often wasted. Money that is lost can be earned again, and a lost book can be replaced, but a moment that has passed never returns. Successful people in every field share one habit: they plan their day and respect deadlines. A student who spends an hour each morning revising will, over a year, cover far more than one who studies only in a rush before the examination. Punctuality also builds trust. When a person keeps appointments, others learn that he can be relied upon. However, using time well does not mean working without rest. Short breaks keep the mind fresh, and a balanced routine allows for study, exercise and family life.
Questions on Passage 1
Note: these are practice questions written in the style of past NTRCA/BCS preliminary papers. Please cross-check with the official question bank.
Question 1. What is the main idea of Passage 1?
- (a) Money is more valuable than time.
- (b) Time is precious and should be managed wisely.
- (c) Students should never rest.
- (d) Punctuality is unimportant.
Correct answer: (b) Time is precious and should be managed wisely.
Explanation: The whole passage argues that time is valuable and must be planned, while keeping a balance.
Question 2. According to the passage, what can never be regained?
- (a) Money
- (b) A lost book
- (c) A moment that has passed
- (d) Trust
Correct answer: (c) A moment that has passed
Explanation: The passage says a passed moment never returns, unlike money or a book.
Question 3. The word resource is closest in meaning to
- (a) asset
- (b) hobby
- (c) burden
- (d) habit
Correct answer: (a) asset
Explanation: A resource is something valuable that can be used, that is, an asset.
Question 4. The writer would most likely agree that
- (a) rest is a waste of time
- (b) a balanced routine helps in using time well
- (c) only students need planning
- (d) punctuality matters only in business
Correct answer: (b) a balanced routine helps in using time well
Explanation: The last sentences recommend short breaks and a balanced routine.
Question 5. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?
- (a) Revising for an hour each morning
- (b) Keeping appointments builds trust
- (c) Sleeping eight hours daily is essential
- (d) Short breaks keep the mind fresh
Correct answer: (c) Sleeping eight hours daily is essential
Explanation: Sleep hours are never mentioned. The other three points appear in the text.
Passage 2
Bangladesh lies on the world's largest delta, formed by the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna rivers. Every year, these rivers carry rich silt from the mountains and deposit it on the plains. This silt makes the soil among the most fertile in the world, which is why rice, jute and vegetables grow so well. But the same rivers can bring hardship. During the monsoon, heavy rain and melting snow raise water levels, and floods often cover large areas. Rising sea levels and stronger cyclones add to the danger along the coast. Farmers, however, have learned to live with the water. They grow flood-tolerant rice varieties, build raised homesteads and use early warning systems. Scientists say that these local skills, together with better planning, will be vital in the coming decades.
Questions on Passage 2
Note: these are practice questions written in the style of past NTRCA/BCS preliminary papers. Please cross-check with the official question bank.
Question 1. What is the best title for Passage 2?
- (a) A Land of Deserts
- (b) Living with the Rivers of Bangladesh
- (c) The History of Rice
- (d) Cyclones of the Pacific
Correct answer: (b) Living with the Rivers of Bangladesh
Explanation: The passage explains both the gifts and dangers of the rivers and how people adapt.
Question 2. Why is the soil of Bangladesh fertile?
- (a) Because of heavy fertiliser use
- (b) Because rivers deposit rich silt
- (c) Because of cold weather
- (d) Because of mountains inside the country
Correct answer: (b) Because rivers deposit rich silt
Explanation: Rivers carry silt and deposit it on the plains.
Question 3. The word hardship is closest in meaning to
- (a) difficulty
- (b) comfort
- (c) wealth
- (d) history
Correct answer: (a) difficulty
Explanation: Hardship means a condition that is hard to bear, so difficulty.
Question 4. The attitude of the writer toward the future is
- (a) hopeless
- (b) cautiously optimistic
- (c) humorous
- (d) angry
Correct answer: (b) cautiously optimistic
Explanation: The writer admits dangers but stresses local skills and planning as hopeful factors.
Question 5. Which is a way farmers adapt to floods?
- (a) Building raised homesteads
- (b) Stopping farming
- (c) Moving abroad
- (d) Digging deeper rivers
Correct answer: (a) Building raised homesteads
Explanation: The passage lists raised homesteads, flood-tolerant rice and early warning systems.
Common exam traps
- Extreme words. Options with always, never, only, all, none are usually wrong.
- Outside knowledge. An option can be true in real life and still be wrong for the passage.
- Half-right options. One part matches the text and another part does not.
- Main idea or detail. Do not choose a detail when the question asks for the main idea.
Memory tips
- Spend about 10 minutes per passage in an exam that has several.
- Underline the answer sentence in your head before choosing.
- For vocabulary questions, use context. The word may have a less common meaning here.
- Practise with passages daily, even one short passage helps.
Key takeaways
- Skim first, read the questions, then scan for evidence.
- Every answer must be supported by the passage.
- Eliminate extreme and off-topic options.
- For inference questions, choose what must be true, not what might be true.