Introduction:
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| Comprehension in english |
What is Comprehension and Why is it Important?
Comprehension simply means the ability to understand what we read. In school and competitive exams, we often come across passages followed by a set of questions.
The real test here is not just reading, but understanding the meaning and presenting it in our own words.
I remember during my exams, comprehension was one section I used to look forward to because it didn’t require memorizing—it only needed focus and a clear mind.
Good comprehension skills help us in exams, essay writing, and even in everyday reading, like understanding a newspaper editorial or a story.
" Just like precis writing, comprehension also tests your understanding of a passage. "
Types of Comprehension
When teachers talk about comprehension, they usually classify it into different types.
Knowing these makes answering easier because you understand what kind of question is being asked.
1) Factual Comprehension – These questions are straightforward. You just pick the facts or details given in the passage. For example: “When was the event held?”
2) Inferential Comprehension – Here, the answer is not directly stated. You have to read between the lines and make logical guesses. For example: “Why do you think the character felt sad?”
3) Critical Comprehension – This type expects you to give your own opinion or judgment about what you have read. It checks how well you can analyze.
4) Literal Comprehension – This is about understanding the exact meaning of the words, phrases, or sentences in the passage.
By practicing these types, I realized that comprehension isn’t about memorization, it’s about thinking and understanding.
How to Solve Comprehension Questions
Over time, I discovered a few steps that always helped me score better in comprehension tests:
- Read the passage slowly at first. Don’t rush. Try to get the overall idea.
- Go for a second reading. This time, underline or note down important points.
- Read the questions carefully. Some are direct, while others need a bit of interpretation.
- Answer in your own words. Copying whole sentences rarely works. Examiners prefer short, clear sentences.
- Avoid picking up a whole sentence from the passage for an answer. The same matter can be presented in a different language which is your own.
- Keep answers brief. Usually one or two sentences are enough unless otherwise asked.
- Check grammar and spelling. Even if the content is right, silly errors can reduce marks.
- Revise your answers to ensure correctness of language and matter.
Personally, I found that regular practice was the best way to improve. The more passages I solved, the faster I became at spotting answers.
Exam Guidelines:
Exercises in comprehension are designed to test the power of understanding of the candidate.
In English paper, a passage of about 200 words, carrying 10 marks shall be set for the purpose.
The passage may be an extract from a topic of every-day interest in prose, an anecdote, a story, a reflective essay, a newspaper editorial or it may be the expansion of an idea.
The candidate is expected to go through the passage attentively in order to make out what it is about. He is required to find out the meaning of the passage.
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Worked-Out Comprehension Example
Passages followed by exercises are given below for the guidance of students.
Passage: 1
The office clerk is a dumb animal. Frown at a workman and he will frown back, swear at a coolie and he will throw off his load, insult a beggar and he will find a way of making you small; even a donkey will kick up his hind legs if you torment him too long.
But not the office clerk. Frown at him, snub him, insult him, hit him, he will bear it all in silence. He has a control over his feelings that even a yogi cannot acquire after years of penance and self-control.
He is a picture of contentment, a paragon of patience, a personification of loyalty, a model of respectfulness. He is a combination of all virtues.
Inspite of this, fortune never smiles on him. Even a straw roof of a miserable peasant's hut has its turn of luck.
It enjoys a shower of rain and takes pleasure in the sight of changing seasons. But the monotony of a Babu's life is never relieved.
There is never a ray of light in his darkness. There is never the light of a smile on his face.
Lala Fateh Chand was a member of this dumb species of humanity.
Questions:
1. How is a clerk different from a workman, a coolie and a beggar ?
2. What features of a Yogi does a clerk possess?
3. How is the straw roof of a miserable peasant's hut different from a clerk ?
4. What was Lala Fateh Chand by profession ?
5. Explain the meaning of the following; snub, illuminated, monotony, dumb.
Answers:
1. A workman, a coolie or a beggar hit back in same form when they are insulted. A clerk never answers back when offended.
2. A Yogi has self-control which he has acquired after years of penance. A clerk has more self-control than a Yogi.
3. The straw of a roof of a miserable peasant's hut reacts to showers of rain and changes in weather. A clerk leads the same monotonous life year in and year out.
4. By profession, Lala Fateh Chand was an office clerk.
5. Snub : Criticize
Illuminated : Lighted
Monotony : Boredom from repetitive features of a work
Dumb : Devoid of power of speech.
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Practice Comprehension Exercise for Students
Passage - 2
Many heroes are remembered only for their famous deeds and those which are not heroic have been forgotten.
But the story most often told about Alfred is certainly not heroic. He was escaping after one of the early battles against the Danes in which his army had been defeated.
Alone and dressed in borrowed clothes, he asked a poor man's wife for shelter in her cottage.
She was baking some cakes at the fire and, as she wished to go out, she asked the stranger to stay and watch her cakes.
She reminded him to turn them so that they would not burn.
But the King spent the time thinking of plans to defeat the enemy and bring peace to his unfortunate people, with the result that he did not notice the cakes although he was looking at the fire.
When the housewife returned she found that they were very burnt. Since she did not recognise the stranger as her King, she was very angry with him for being so careless as to allow her cakes to spoil.
Question
1. Who were the people Alfred was fighting against ?
2. Why did Alfred take shelter in a poor man's cottage ?
3 What domestic duties did the poor man's wife entrust him to perform ?
4. Why did the king fail to take care of the cakes ?
5. Why was the housewife angry with herself?
Answer
Try to solve these questions and share your answers in the comments below. Let’s see who gets it right!
Conclusion
Hence, in a comprehension test, the ability to understand the meaning of a passage in order to make intelligent application of it in framing suitable answers to questions is being tested.
It will be useful to remember the following points while attempting to answer questions on comprehension.
Practice regularly, read attentively, and write in your own words.
“Strong comprehension skills also improve your essay writing ability.”
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FAQ's On Comprehension
Q1. What is comprehension in English?
Comprehension is the ability to understand a passage and answer questions based on it.
Q2. How do I write good comprehension answers?
Read the passage carefully, use own words, and keep answers short and relevant.
Q3. How many times should I read the passage?
At least twice—first for general meaning, second for details. Third also better for checking any grammatical error.
Q4. Should I copy sentences from the passage in comprehension?
No. Use your own language unless the question requires exact wording.
Q5. How can I improve comprehension skills?
You can improve comprehension skills by reading regularly, focusing on the meaning instead of just words, and practicing with passages.
Always try to answer in your own language and summarize the main idea after reading.
Q6. What are the best comprehension strategies for students?
The best strategies include:
- Reading the passage twice (first for general meaning, second for details)
- Underlining key points
- Understanding question types (factual, inferential, critical, literal)
- Writing short, clear answers in your own words
- Checking grammar and relevance before finalizing answers