Reading comprehension is both an art and a science. It is a science because you have to understand grammar and all of the rules that govern the reading, writing and speaking of the language, in our case English. If the writer or speaker does not follow grammar and the rules associated with it then he would be talking or writing nonsense and no one would understand what he is trying to say. Likewise, if the reader or listener has not studied his grammar he will not be able to understand what is being said or written. Communication is a two way process and both players must follow conventions and rules.
Reading comprehension is also an art because the language allows us some freedom in choice of words and the way we construct our sentences. It is here that the writer or speaker can use his creativity in putting across his message in a particular manner. It is up to the reader or listener to make sense of what is being said or written.
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Words and grammar are something we are all exposed to when we learn the language formally in school and informally outside of school. In this learning we develop skills in reading comprehension. When you see a report in the morning newspaper it is vital that you read the report carefully and understand what the writer is trying to report on. More often than not, there is a reference to a context and when you think about it the report becomes more clear and meaningful. You begin to recall all that you have learned in the past and apply this knowledge to understand the report. The writer of the report strings sentences in such a way that it has relevance to what is happening and you, as a reader, should always remember the context to which the writer refers.
Read the following text then play the quiz to test your reading comprehension levels.
India has many rivers that get flooded during the monsoon season. The rivers swell up and flood water gets into villages situated along the banks of the rivers. Indian villages are dependent on the river waters for growing their crops. When rivers get flooded and water enters the lands growing the crops, the crops get damaged. Villagers lose their means of livelihood and the country has less food for its people. When there is less food for people the prices of food items go up. Besides shortage of food, floods cause many lives to be lost as people get washed away in the swirling waters.
1.
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Why do rivers get flooded? |
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[ ] |
Because of monsoons. |
[ ] |
Because they are long rivers. |
[ ] |
Because India has too many rivers. |
[ ] |
Because rivers have to get flooded. |
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2.
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"The rivers swell up and flood water gets into villages situated along the banks of the rivers" - What does the writer mean by this sentence? |
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There is no shortage of water in the village. |
[ ] |
Little boys can play in the water. |
[ ] |
Villagers can have baths daily. |
[ ] |
Excessive water entering villages is harmful. |
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3.
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Why does the writer say 'Indian villages are dependent on the river waters for growing their crops'? |
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[ ] |
Because the Indian Government says so. |
[ ] |
Because crops need water to grow and rivers supply the water. |
[ ] |
Because the Gods say so. |
[ ] |
Because the villagers say so. |
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4.
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What do you think is the reason for crops getting damaged? |
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[ ] |
Too many rivers is the reason for damage to crops. |
[ ] |
Villagers are the reason for damage to crops. |
[ ] |
Flooding is the reason for damage to crops. |
[ ] |
Too many people is the reason for damage to crops. |
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5.
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What do villagers lose as a result of floods? |
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[ ] |
Oxygen. |
[ ] |
River water. |
[ ] |
Land on which crops are grown. |
[ ] |
Means of livelihood. |
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6.
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Why does the country have less food during the monsoon? |
|
[ ] |
Because crops get damaged and there is less supply of food. |
[ ] |
Because India's people grow less crops. |
[ ] |
Because there is no water to grow crops. |
[ ] |
Because many people die in floods. |
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7.
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Why should food prices go up if there is less food? |
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[ ] |
Because the government fixes the prices. |
[ ] |
Because the villagers fix the prices. |
[ ] |
Because demand is high and supply is low. |
[ ] |
Because many people die in floods. |
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8.
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Besides shortage of food what other damage do floods cause? |
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[ ] |
Loss of rivers. |
[ ] |
Loss of human lives. |
[ ] |
Loss of oxygen. |
[ ] |
Loss of land. |
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9.
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In what context is the term 'swirling waters' used? |
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[ ] |
In the context of entering lands. |
[ ] |
In the context of monsoon. |
[ ] |
In the context of damaging crops. |
[ ] |
In the context of washing people away. |
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10.
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Which of the four options is not a reason why villages are located on the banks of rivers? |
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[ ] |
Because people want to lose their lives in floods. |
[ ] |
Because water from rivers can be used for drinking. |
[ ] |
Because water from rivers can be used for growing crops. |
[ ] |
Because fertile land near rivers can be used by villagers to grow crops. |
|
|
1.
|
Why do rivers get flooded? |
|
[x] |
Because of monsoons. |
[ ] |
Because they are long rivers. |
[ ] |
Because India has too many rivers. |
[ ] |
Because rivers have to get flooded. |
|
|
2.
|
"The rivers swell up and flood water gets into villages situated along the banks of the rivers" - What does the writer mean by this sentence? |
|
[ ] |
There is no shortage of water in the village. |
[ ] |
Little boys can play in the water. |
[ ] |
Villagers can have baths daily. |
[x] |
Excessive water entering villages is harmful. |
|
|
3.
|
Why does the writer say 'Indian villages are dependent on the river waters for growing their crops'? |
|
[ ] |
Because the Indian Government says so. |
[x] |
Because crops need water to grow and rivers supply the water. |
[ ] |
Because the Gods say so. |
[ ] |
Because the villagers say so. |
|
|
4.
|
What do you think is the reason for crops getting damaged? |
|
[ ] |
Too many rivers is the reason for damage to crops. |
[ ] |
Villagers are the reason for damage to crops. |
[x] |
Flooding is the reason for damage to crops. |
[ ] |
Too many people is the reason for damage to crops. |
|
|
5.
|
What do villagers lose as a result of floods? |
|
[ ] |
Oxygen. |
[ ] |
River water. |
[ ] |
Land on which crops are grown. |
[x] |
Means of livelihood. |
|
|
6.
|
Why does the country have less food during the monsoon? |
|
[x] |
Because crops get damaged and there is less supply of food. |
[ ] |
Because India's people grow less crops. |
[ ] |
Because there is no water to grow crops. |
[ ] |
Because many people die in floods. |
|
|
7.
|
Why should food prices go up if there is less food? |
|
[ ] |
Because the government fixes the prices. |
[ ] |
Because the villagers fix the prices. |
[x] |
Because demand is high and supply is low. |
[ ] |
Because many people die in floods. |
|
|
8.
|
Besides shortage of food what other damage do floods cause? |
|
[ ] |
Loss of rivers. |
[x] |
Loss of human lives. |
[ ] |
Loss of oxygen. |
[ ] |
Loss of land. |
|
|
9.
|
In what context is the term 'swirling waters' used? |
|
[ ] |
In the context of entering lands. |
[ ] |
In the context of monsoon. |
[ ] |
In the context of damaging crops. |
[x] |
In the context of washing people away. |
|
|
10.
|
Which of the four options is not a reason why villages are located on the banks of rivers? |
|
[x] |
Because people want to lose their lives in floods. |
[ ] |
Because water from rivers can be used for drinking. |
[ ] |
Because water from rivers can be used for growing crops. |
[ ] |
Because fertile land near rivers can be used by villagers to grow crops. |
|
|