SBI PO: Reading comprehension

Dear readers, here we are presenting you a Reading Comprehension for the upcoming SBI PO Exam. Hope you like the post :)

Directions (1-15): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it.

Certain words are given in bold to help you to locate them while answering some of the questions.

Long, long ago in a big forest, there were many trees, among the cluster of trees, there was a very tall pine tree. He was so tall that he could talk to the stars in the sky. He could easily gaze over the heads of the other trees. One day, late in the evening, the pine tree saw a little girl approaching him.

He could see her only because at his height. She was in tears. The pine tree be at as low as he could and asked the weeping girl. �What is the matter? Why are you crying?� the little girl, still sobbing replied, �I was gathering flowers for the Christmas and I have lost my way�. The pine tree said to the little girl, �It is late in the evening, it will not be possible for you to return to your house, which is at the other end at the forest, sleep for the night in this place.� The pine tree pointed out to an open cave-like place under him. The little girl was frightened at wild animal. 

The girl quickly crept into the cave-like place. The pine tree was happy and pleased with himself. He stood stiff like a  older guarding the place. He was pleased with himself for doing his duty. After some time, the pine tree heard the wolves coming that way, �the hungry wolves would find the little girl and denour her up. I must do something quickly�. He said to himself the sound become louder and louder as the wolves were coming nearer and nearer.

The pine tree earnestly called out to his friend the North wind, �Please, North wind help me. Blow me down�. The north wind replied, �Don�t be silly. I will not blow you down. Why should I ruin my friend?� On hearing this, the pine tree got annoyed simply because of the wastage of precious time. He said in an angry tone, �Stop that nonsense, do as I will you� the North wind began to blow and the pine tree fell with a loud sound at the mouth of the cave-like place. The passage to the cave was there by blocked, making it impossible for the wolves to enter. The little girl was thus saved from the hungry wolves.

Answer the following question:

1. Why was the little girl crying?

(1) She had a habit to do so

(2) She had lost the garland of Christmas flowers

(3) She was afraid at the wild animals.

(4) She could not trace the way to her home in the forest.

(5) None of these

2. What made the pine tree angry?

(1) The girl was crying.

(2) The use of the word �Silly� by the North wind against him.

(3) The North Wind wanted to break their friendship

(4) The intention of the North wind to blow the pine tree down.

(5) None of these

3. How could the pine tree see the little girl?

(1) He had a desire to develop friendship with her.

(2) The stars informed him of the little girl.

(3) He heard the sobbing of the girl.

(4) He was the tallest tree in the forest.

(5) None of these

4. Who helped the pine tree to save the life of the girl?

(1) The Wolf                     

(2) The cave

(3) North wind                   

(4) The Stars

(5) None of these

5. Why did the girl spend the night in the cave-like place?

(1) She did not want to go to her home.

(2) The cave like place was covered with the tree-trunk.

(3) The weather outside was very cold.

(4) She wanted to see the hidden wild animals inside it.

(5) None of these

6. Where was the house of the girl located?

(1) In the deep forest      

(2) Near the pine tree

(3) At the end of the forest         

(4) Beside the cave-like place     

(5) None of these

7. Why was the pine tree happy with himself?

(1) He was proud of his height.

(2) He had got a chance to do his duty

(3) He could locate the girl who had lost her way in the forest.

(4) He succeeded in commanding the North wind.

(5) None of these

8. Which of the following statements is not TRUE in the context of the passage?

(1) There was a cluster of trees in the forest.

(2) The pine tree could talk to the stars in the sky.

(3) The girl did not want to enter the cave.

(4) The girl lost her way while collecting flower.

(5) The pine tree fell down with a loud sound.

9. How was the little girl saved from the wolves?

(1) The pine tree blocked the passage to the cave making it impossible for the wolves to enter.

(2) The blow of the North wind threatened the wolves and drove them away.

(3) The cave like place hide the girl and so the wolves could not locate her.

(4) The pine tree became the soldier and drove the wolves a way.

(5) None of these

10. Which of the following statement is TRUE in the context of the passage?

(1) The sound of the wolves became louder because of the force of the North wind.

(2) The North wind at first request to blow the pine tree down.

(3) The pine tree asked the girl to go home in the night.

(4) The weeping girl was not consoled by the pine tree.

(5) The little girl was saved from the hungry wolves.

Directions (11-13): Choose the word which is most nearly the SAME in meaning as the word/ group of words given in bold and italics in the passage.

11. SILLY

(1) Sad                

(2) Foolish           

(3) Simple

(4) Proud             

(5) Polite

12. CREPT

(1) Walked                       

(2) Pushed          

(3) Crawled

(4) Pulled            

(5) Rushed

13. CALLED OUT

(1) Instructed      

(2) Advised          

(3) Begged

(4) Helped                       

(5) Went

Directions (14-15): Chose the word which is most Opposite in meaning as the word/ group of words given in bold as used in the passage.

14. LOUDER

(1) Softer            

(2) Little   

(3) Smaller

(4) Noisy             

(5) Silent

15. ANNOYED

(1) irritated          

(2) upset 

(3) pleased

(4) sore               

(5) inked

ANSWERS:

1. 4

2. 5

3. 4

4. 3

5. 2

6. 3

7. 2

8. 3

9. 1

10. 5

11. 2

12. 3

13. 3

14. 1

15. 3