Introduction
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| student preparing comprehension |
Comprehension passages are one of the most important parts of English exams.
They test how well you understand a given text and express your answers in simple, accurate language.
In this passage, we explore the balance between work, leisure, and reading habits, and how misuse of free time can affect our lives.
Read carefully and try to answer the questions before checking the solutions. This will help you build confidence for your exams.
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Comprehension Passage Example with Questions and Answers
Passage - 1
Boys and girls who think they can 'have a good time' by idleness and self-indulgence are only training themselves to have a miserable time.
Eating good food when we are hungry is a pleasure, but one cannot get twice the pleasure by eating twice the food.
Rest after labour is sweet, but rest instead of labour is only a fore. If you want to enjoy your leisure, you must work in it, but you can choose work which is more closely related to what our ancestors did.
All the games at which we pursue a ball, for example, can become substitutes for primitive hunting.
But they will only be satisfactory substitutes if you try to play well. Men and women
who have tried their muscles at daily work might enjoy quiet indoor games or enter or enter new and rich worlds through books, If you take to reading, however, make use of your reading in some way, or you will just forget what you read.
Discuss the books with other people or write criticisms of them or write articles or books yourself. One can only learn by doing, not by reading or listening?
QUESTIONS
1. What activity of our ancestors has similarity of features with games where we pursue a ball?
2. How can the playing of indoor games be enjoyable ?
3. What will make the life of boys and girls miserable? 4. What should you do to avoid forgetting what you have read?
5. Explain the meaning of the following ;.
rest instead of labour, self-indulgence, primitive, pursue.
ANSWERS
1. Primitive hunting has similarity of features with games where we pursue a ball.
2. Indoor games are enjoyable when played after tiring daily work.
3. If boys and girls try to seek pleasure by idleness and self- indulgence, their life will become miserable.
4. We are likely to forget what we have read unless we discuss what we have read or write criticism of them or write articles or book, using the knowledge gathered from our reading.
5. rest instead of labour : rest without doing any work requiring physical labour.
self-indulgence : the habit of gratifying one's own desires.
primitive : relating to very old times.
pursue : run after.
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Comprehension Passage - 2
There was once a young man who was strong and healthy and enjoyed his work.
In every way he felt on top of life, and has no sympathy for the 'dismal Jimmies' and 'old fossils' who seemed to form such a large proportion of the population.
One day he got an attack of influenza. He had, had it before and paid little attention to it, but this time he developed pneumonia and was dangerously ill.
When he recovered he could only move slowly. He was easily tired and life became a burden to him.
When he was well enough to go to work he found the journey home very trying.
He looked at the strong young men sitting comfortably in the train or bus, and then feeling tired himself, noticed how tired some of the older people were who were standing beside him.
Gradually he got strong again, but when he was in a train or bus he now looked round to see if there was any older person in need of seat, and if there was he gave up his, 'I've got my strength back now,' he said to himself, 'these older people will never have their strength again.
QUESTIONS
1. What was the young man's attitude towards odd looking and old men before he was dangerously ill ?
2. What were the physical after effects of his illness? 3. How did he draw a distinction between him and old men while travelling with them by bus?
4. When did his attitude towards the weak and the old change?
5. Explain the meaning of the following: dismal, fossils, pneumonia, recovered.
ANSWERS
1. He had no sympathy for such persons. He looked down upon them with contempt.
2. He got easily tired and felt that life was a burden to him. Particularly during journey by bus or train he felt tired if he did not get a seat.
3 He felt that he could get back his strength after his illness because he was young Old men would never get strength. So they deserved sympathy back.
4.When he had to travel after his illness and saw strong young men sitting comfortably in train or bus while he remained standing he decided to offer seats to old men when he would be strong.
5. dismal : fearful looking.
fossils : old and out of date persons who are not prepared to accept new ideas
pneumonia : a disease which affects the lungs, Many years ago it was a serious disease now it is curable.
recovered : became cured of a disease.
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Conclusion
This comprehension passage teaches us that leisure becomes meaningful only after work.
Games, reading, and discussions are valuable when we use them productively.
For students, learning to answer comprehension questions not only helps in exams but also improves overall understanding and writing skills.
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FAQ about Comprehension Writing
Q1. Why do I forget answers quickly after solving a comprehension passage?
Many students forget answers because they only read once without revising. Discussing the passage or writing a short summary helps in retaining it longer.
Q2. Is it okay if my comprehension answers are longer than one sentence?
Yes, but keep them short and to the point. Examiners prefer clarity over length. Long answers may look like you are copying from the passage.
Q3. How can I save time in comprehension during exams?
Practice skimming and scanning. Read the questions first, then focus on key parts of the passage. This saves valuable exam time.
Q4. Can I use my own examples while answering comprehension questions?
Unless the question asks for your opinion, avoid adding extra examples. Stick to the passage and express in your own words.
Q5. Why are some comprehension passages so difficult to understand?
Sometimes passages are taken from advanced literature or editorials. The trick is to focus on context, underline keywords, and ignore difficult words that don’t affect the meaning.
Q6. Do comprehension passages improve English vocabulary naturally?
Yes. Each passage introduces new words in context, which makes it easier to remember and use them later.
Q7. Should I read the whole passage first or the questions first?
Both methods work, but beginners should read the passage first for overall understanding. With practice, reading the questions first can save time.
Q8. Can practicing comprehension daily really help in essay writing?
Definitely, Comprehension improves your ability to express ideas clearly, which directly helps in essay writing and precis writing.
Q9. How many comprehension passages should I practice per day to see improvement?
Start with one passage daily. Once comfortable, solve 2–3 passages a day for faster progress.
Q10. Do online comprehension passages help as much as textbook ones?
Yes, online passages are equally useful. In fact, digital ones often come with answers and explanations that guide you better than textbooks.
