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Reading Comprehension Previous Year Questions

14 Reading Comprehension (English) questions asked in CIL MT previous year papers, each with the correct answer and explanation. Read them free on UTpaper, or attempt the full papers as timed online tests.

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Vocabulary 11Idioms & Phrases 8Fill in the Blanks 8
Q1CIL MT Systems, 24 Aug 2026 (3:00 PM, CBT-26)
What is the central theme of the passage?
  1. APolitical systems in the 20th century feminist movement
  2. BThe development and achievements of the First Wave of Feminism
  3. CThe economic roles of women in different societies across the world
  4. DThe history of education systems during 19th and 20th centuries
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Correct answer: (B) The development and achievements of the First Wave of Feminism

Q2CIL MT Systems, 24 Aug 2026 (3:00 PM, CBT-26)
Which of the following is a fact mentioned in the passage?
  1. AThe movement achieved voting rights for women in several countries
  2. BThe First Wave ended all gender inequality across the world
  3. CIt was led only by men who believed in equality in the society
  4. DWomen had full political rights before the movement even the right to vote
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Correct answer: (A) The movement achieved voting rights for women in several countries

Q3CIL MT Systems, 24 Aug 2026 (3:00 PM, CBT-26)
What is a limitation of the First Wave as discussed in the passage?
  1. AIt failed to gain any legal rights
  2. BIt rejected political participation
  3. CIt opposed education for women
  4. DIt ignored issues of race and class
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Correct answer: (D) It ignored issues of race and class

Q4CIL MT Systems, 24 Aug 2026 (3:00 PM, CBT-26)
What is the structure of the passage?
  1. AProblem–Solution–Conclusion
  2. BDefinition–Explanation–Evaluation
  3. CCause–Effect–Solution
  4. DChronological–Descriptive
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Correct answer: (B) Definition–Explanation–Evaluation

Q5CIL MT Systems, 26 Mar 2017 (12:30 PM)
Read the following passage and answer the given question. A desert is basically a wilderness or a wasteland. There is little moisture and poor soil such as sand gravel or rock. There are few plants to offer shade. Deserts can be described as harsh places. Many are burning hot by day and cold by night. Every continent has deserts. Much of the western United States is a desert. A desert region called The Outback covers Central Australia. The southern tip of South America is largely desert. Northern Africa is covered by the Sahara, a desert as big as the mainland United States. The Arabian Peninsula, between the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, is almost entirely desert. A large part of central Asia, from China to the Caspian Sea, is mostly desert. Deserts cover 1/8 of our planet. The popular belief is that a desert is dry, hot, waterless and without shelter. But this is not entirely correct. For those who have studied it, the desert can be a beautiful place. It is home to a variety of people, animals and plants that have learnt to live under hot and dry conditions. A desert is not always a flat, unchanging wasteland of dry sand. It may have mountains and hills. It may have an oasis, big or small. An oasis is like a green island in the middle of a desert where a spring of a well gives plants and trees a better chance to grow. All living things need water in order to survive. The few plants and animals that live in deserts have developed the ability to require less water than most plants and animals. Desert plants have adapted to heat and dryness of the desert. Plants such as cacti have special means of storing and conserving water. They often have few or no leaves. Some plants have gotten used to arid environments by growing extremely long roots, allowing them to acquire moisture at or by the water table. The desert animals also have found a way to solve the heat and water problems the dessert environment creates. Camels can drink a lot of water at one time. They can live without water for days together. The reason is they sweat very little. We sweat because we must keep our body temperature constant. We sweat when it gets hot, and this cools the body. Camels can stand a high body temperature. They don't need to sweat and can therefore retain the water they drink for long periods of time. What is the popular belief about the climatic conditions of a desert?
  1. AIt is a region surrounded by mountains and hills.
  2. BIt is sandy where no rain falls and no vegetation grow.
  3. CIt has vast land which is used for cultivation of flowers.
  4. DA variety of animals and plants live there.
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Correct answer: (B) It is sandy where no rain falls and no vegetation grow.

Q6CIL MT Systems, 26 Mar 2017 (12:30 PM)
Read the following passage and answer the given question. A desert is basically a wilderness or a wasteland. There is little moisture and poor soil such as sand gravel or rock. There are few plants to offer shade. Deserts can be described as harsh places. Many are burning hot by day and cold by night. Every continent has deserts. Much of the western United States is a desert. A desert region called The Outback covers Central Australia. The southern tip of South America is largely desert. Northern Africa is covered by the Sahara, a desert as big as the mainland United States. The Arabian Peninsula, between the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, is almost entirely desert. A large part of central Asia, from China to the Caspian Sea, is mostly desert. Deserts cover 1/8 of our planet. The popular belief is that a desert is dry, hot, waterless and without shelter. But this is not entirely correct. For those who have studied it, the desert can be a beautiful place. It is home to a variety of people, animals and plants that have learnt to live under hot and dry conditions. A desert is not always a flat, unchanging wasteland of dry sand. It may have mountains and hills. It may have an oasis, big or small. An oasis is like a green island in the middle of a desert where a spring of a well gives plants and trees a better chance to grow. All living things need water in order to survive. The few plants and animals that live in deserts have developed the ability to require less water than most plants and animals. Desert plants have adapted to heat and dryness of the desert. Plants such as cacti have special means of storing and conserving water. They often have few or no leaves. Some plants have gotten used to arid environments by growing extremely long roots, allowing them to acquire moisture at or by the water table. The desert animals also have found a way to solve the heat and water problems the dessert environment creates. Camels can drink a lot of water at one time. They can live without water for days together. The reason is they sweat very little. We sweat because we must keep our body temperature constant. We sweat when it gets hot, and this cools the body. Camels can stand a high body temperature. They don't need to sweat and can therefore retain the water they drink for long periods of time. The desert region called 'The Outback' is located in:
  1. ACentral Asia
  2. BSouth America
  3. CNorth Africa
  4. DCentral Australia
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Correct answer: (D) Central Australia

Q7CIL MT Systems, 26 Mar 2017 (12:30 PM)
Read the following passage and answer the given question. A desert is basically a wilderness or a wasteland. There is little moisture and poor soil such as sand gravel or rock. There are few plants to offer shade. Deserts can be described as harsh places. Many are burning hot by day and cold by night. Every continent has deserts. Much of the western United States is a desert. A desert region called The Outback covers Central Australia. The southern tip of South America is largely desert. Northern Africa is covered by the Sahara, a desert as big as the mainland United States. The Arabian Peninsula, between the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, is almost entirely desert. A large part of central Asia, from China to the Caspian Sea, is mostly desert. Deserts cover 1/8 of our planet. The popular belief is that a desert is dry, hot, waterless and without shelter. But this is not entirely correct. For those who have studied it, the desert can be a beautiful place. It is home to a variety of people, animals and plants that have learnt to live under hot and dry conditions. A desert is not always a flat, unchanging wasteland of dry sand. It may have mountains and hills. It may have an oasis, big or small. An oasis is like a green island in the middle of a desert where a spring of a well gives plants and trees a better chance to grow. All living things need water in order to survive. The few plants and animals that live in deserts have developed the ability to require less water than most plants and animals. Desert plants have adapted to heat and dryness of the desert. Plants such as cacti have special means of storing and conserving water. They often have few or no leaves. Some plants have gotten used to arid environments by growing extremely long roots, allowing them to acquire moisture at or by the water table. The desert animals also have found a way to solve the heat and water problems the dessert environment creates. Camels can drink a lot of water at one time. They can live without water for days together. The reason is they sweat very little. We sweat because we must keep our body temperature constant. We sweat when it gets hot, and this cools the body. Camels can stand a high body temperature. They don't need to sweat and can therefore retain the water they drink for long periods of time. Why has an oasis been called 'green' island?
  1. AIt has a source of water that supports vegetation.
  2. BIt is surrounded by green hills and mountains.
  3. CThe sand here is conducive for the vegetation.
  4. DIt is in the middle of a vast desert.
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Correct answer: (A) It has a source of water that supports vegetation.

Q8CIL MT Systems, 26 Mar 2017 (12:30 PM)
Read the following passage and answer the given question. A desert is basically a wilderness or a wasteland. There is little moisture and poor soil such as sand gravel or rock. There are few plants to offer shade. Deserts can be described as harsh places. Many are burning hot by day and cold by night. Every continent has deserts. Much of the western United States is a desert. A desert region called The Outback covers Central Australia. The southern tip of South America is largely desert. Northern Africa is covered by the Sahara, a desert as big as the mainland United States. The Arabian Peninsula, between the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, is almost entirely desert. A large part of central Asia, from China to the Caspian Sea, is mostly desert. Deserts cover 1/8 of our planet. The popular belief is that a desert is dry, hot, waterless and without shelter. But this is not entirely correct. For those who have studied it, the desert can be a beautiful place. It is home to a variety of people, animals and plants that have learnt to live under hot and dry conditions. A desert is not always a flat, unchanging wasteland of dry sand. It may have mountains and hills. It may have an oasis, big or small. An oasis is like a green island in the middle of a desert where a spring of a well gives plants and trees a better chance to grow. All living things need water in order to survive. The few plants and animals that live in deserts have developed the ability to require less water than most plants and animals. Desert plants have adapted to heat and dryness of the desert. Plants such as cacti have special means of storing and conserving water. They often have few or no leaves. Some plants have gotten used to arid environments by growing extremely long roots, allowing them to acquire moisture at or by the water table. The desert animals also have found a way to solve the heat and water problems the dessert environment creates. Camels can drink a lot of water at one time. They can live without water for days together. The reason is they sweat very little. We sweat because we must keep our body temperature constant. We sweat when it gets hot, and this cools the body. Camels can stand a high body temperature. They don't need to sweat and can therefore retain the water they drink for long periods of time. Certain plants are able to survive in deserts because they:
  1. Ahave thick stems and few leaves.
  2. Brequire less water than animals.
  3. Chave adapted to survive in hot and dry climate.
  4. Ddevelop especially long roots.
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Correct answer: (C) have adapted to survive in hot and dry climate.

Q9CIL MT Systems, 26 Mar 2017 (12:30 PM)
Read the following passage and answer the given question. A desert is basically a wilderness or a wasteland. There is little moisture and poor soil such as sand gravel or rock. There are few plants to offer shade. Deserts can be described as harsh places. Many are burning hot by day and cold by night. Every continent has deserts. Much of the western United States is a desert. A desert region called The Outback covers Central Australia. The southern tip of South America is largely desert. Northern Africa is covered by the Sahara, a desert as big as the mainland United States. The Arabian Peninsula, between the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, is almost entirely desert. A large part of central Asia, from China to the Caspian Sea, is mostly desert. Deserts cover 1/8 of our planet. The popular belief is that a desert is dry, hot, waterless and without shelter. But this is not entirely correct. For those who have studied it, the desert can be a beautiful place. It is home to a variety of people, animals and plants that have learnt to live under hot and dry conditions. A desert is not always a flat, unchanging wasteland of dry sand. It may have mountains and hills. It may have an oasis, big or small. An oasis is like a green island in the middle of a desert where a spring of a well gives plants and trees a better chance to grow. All living things need water in order to survive. The few plants and animals that live in deserts have developed the ability to require less water than most plants and animals. Desert plants have adapted to heat and dryness of the desert. Plants such as cacti have special means of storing and conserving water. They often have few or no leaves. Some plants have gotten used to arid environments by growing extremely long roots, allowing them to acquire moisture at or by the water table. The desert animals also have found a way to solve the heat and water problems the dessert environment creates. Camels can drink a lot of water at one time. They can live without water for days together. The reason is they sweat very little. We sweat because we must keep our body temperature constant. We sweat when it gets hot, and this cools the body. Camels can stand a high body temperature. They don't need to sweat and can therefore retain the water they drink for long periods of time. Which of the following statements is not true according to the passage?
  1. AThe Arabian Peninsula between the Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea is entirely desert.
  2. BIn a desert region there is little moisture and poor soil.
  3. CCamels can retain water for a long time because they do not sweat.
  4. DAbout 1/8 area of the earth is covered by deserts.
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Correct answer: (A) The Arabian Peninsula between the Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea is entirely desert.

Q10CIL MT Systems, 27 Feb 2020 (8:00 AM)
Read the passage carefully and answer the question that follows. The Postmaster, a native of Calcutta, took up his duties in the remote village of Ulapur. He felt very lonely and homesick. At times he wrote verses. Ratan was his only companion. She was an orphan girl. She did odd jobs for him. He talked to Ratan about his mother, brother and sister. That gave him much comfort. Ratan got very much attached to him. One day the Postmaster fell ill. Ratan nursed him like his mother. Afterwards the Postmaster applied for a transfer. It was rejected. So he resigned his job. Ratan expected him to take her with him. The Postmaster simply laughed at her idea. The laughter haunted her throughout the night. The Postmaster promised to ask his successor to take care of her. It offended her more. Ratan burst out weeping and said there was no need for that. Before his departure he gave her some money. She refused to accept it. While crossing the river in a boat he felt an impulse to go back and bring the girl. It was too late. Meetings and partings are numberless in human life. He consoled himself with this philosophy. Ratan had no such philosophy to console her. She was wandering about the post office with tears in her eyes, fondly hoping that her Postmaster would return. Which of the following did NOT give comfort to the postmaster when he felt homesick?
  1. AHe wrote verses at times.
  2. BHe talked to Ratan about his family.
  3. CWhen Ratan asked him to take her with him, he laughed at the idea.
  4. DRatan nursed him like his mother when he fell ill.
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Correct answer: (C) When Ratan asked him to take her with him, he laughed at the idea.

Q11CIL MT Systems, 27 Feb 2020 (8:00 AM)
Read the passage carefully and answer the question that follows. The Postmaster, a native of Calcutta, took up his duties in the remote village of Ulapur. He felt very lonely and homesick. At times he wrote verses. Ratan was his only companion. She was an orphan girl. She did odd jobs for him. He talked to Ratan about his mother, brother and sister. That gave him much comfort. Ratan got very much attached to him. One day the Postmaster fell ill. Ratan nursed him like his mother. Afterwards the Postmaster applied for a transfer. It was rejected. So he resigned his job. Ratan expected him to take her with him. The Postmaster simply laughed at her idea. The laughter haunted her throughout the night. The Postmaster promised to ask his successor to take care of her. It offended her more. Ratan burst out weeping and said there was no need for that. Before his departure he gave her some money. She refused to accept it. While crossing the river in a boat he felt an impulse to go back and bring the girl. It was too late. Meetings and partings are numberless in human life. He consoled himself with this philosophy. Ratan had no such philosophy to console her. She was wandering about the post office with tears in her eyes, fondly hoping that her Postmaster would return. "At times he wrote verses." The phrase "at times" means ________.
  1. Aoften
  2. Balways
  3. Csometimes
  4. Drarely
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Correct answer: (C) sometimes

Q12CIL MT Systems, 27 Feb 2020 (8:00 AM)
Read the passage carefully and answer the question that follows. The Postmaster, a native of Calcutta, took up his duties in the remote village of Ulapur. He felt very lonely and homesick. At times he wrote verses. Ratan was his only companion. She was an orphan girl. She did odd jobs for him. He talked to Ratan about his mother, brother and sister. That gave him much comfort. Ratan got very much attached to him. One day the Postmaster fell ill. Ratan nursed him like his mother. Afterwards the Postmaster applied for a transfer. It was rejected. So he resigned his job. Ratan expected him to take her with him. The Postmaster simply laughed at her idea. The laughter haunted her throughout the night. The Postmaster promised to ask his successor to take care of her. It offended her more. Ratan burst out weeping and said there was no need for that. Before his departure he gave her some money. She refused to accept it. While crossing the river in a boat he felt an impulse to go back and bring the girl. It was too late. Meetings and partings are numberless in human life. He consoled himself with this philosophy. Ratan had no such philosophy to console her. She was wandering about the post office with tears in her eyes, fondly hoping that her Postmaster would return. Choose the most appropriate option. What is the theme (or main idea) of the passage?
  1. AWe meet so many people in our lives and we cannot remember all of them.
  2. BWe should appreciate those who help us in life.
  3. CHuman relationships have no monetary value.
  4. DWe should not care for the people who help us.
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Correct answer: (C) Human relationships have no monetary value.

Q13CIL MT Systems, 27 Feb 2020 (8:00 AM)
Read the passage carefully and answer the question that follows. The Postmaster, a native of Calcutta, took up his duties in the remote village of Ulapur. He felt very lonely and homesick. At times he wrote verses. Ratan was his only companion. She was an orphan girl. She did odd jobs for him. He talked to Ratan about his mother, brother and sister. That gave him much comfort. Ratan got very much attached to him. One day the Postmaster fell ill. Ratan nursed him like his mother. Afterwards the Postmaster applied for a transfer. It was rejected. So he resigned his job. Ratan expected him to take her with him. The Postmaster simply laughed at her idea. The laughter haunted her throughout the night. The Postmaster promised to ask his successor to take care of her. It offended her more. Ratan burst out weeping and said there was no need for that. Before his departure he gave her some money. She refused to accept it. While crossing the river in a boat he felt an impulse to go back and bring the girl. It was too late. Meetings and partings are numberless in human life. He consoled himself with this philosophy. Ratan had no such philosophy to console her. She was wandering about the post office with tears in her eyes, fondly hoping that her Postmaster would return. Choose the best option that expresses the tone of the passage.
  1. Asentimental
  2. Bserious
  3. Cdismissive
  4. Dcasual
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Correct answer: (A) sentimental

Q14CIL MT Systems, 27 Feb 2020 (8:00 AM)
Read the passage carefully and answer the question that follows. The Postmaster, a native of Calcutta, took up his duties in the remote village of Ulapur. He felt very lonely and homesick. At times he wrote verses. Ratan was his only companion. She was an orphan girl. She did odd jobs for him. He talked to Ratan about his mother, brother and sister. That gave him much comfort. Ratan got very much attached to him. One day the Postmaster fell ill. Ratan nursed him like his mother. Afterwards the Postmaster applied for a transfer. It was rejected. So he resigned his job. Ratan expected him to take her with him. The Postmaster simply laughed at her idea. The laughter haunted her throughout the night. The Postmaster promised to ask his successor to take care of her. It offended her more. Ratan burst out weeping and said there was no need for that. Before his departure he gave her some money. She refused to accept it. While crossing the river in a boat he felt an impulse to go back and bring the girl. It was too late. Meetings and partings are numberless in human life. He consoled himself with this philosophy. Ratan had no such philosophy to console her. She was wandering about the post office with tears in her eyes, fondly hoping that her Postmaster would return. What do you infer about Ratan from the words "She ____ fondly hoping that the Postmaster would return"? Choose the best option, according to the passage.
  1. AThe Postmaster did not like Ratan, so he left her.
  2. BRatan was very much attached to the postmaster.
  3. CThe Postmaster did not at all want to take Ratan with him.
  4. DThe Postmaster treated Ratan only as a servant.
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Correct answer: (B) Ratan was very much attached to the postmaster.

How to use these CIL MT English questions

Every question here was asked in a real CIL MT paper; the paper and shift are shown on the card, and the number opens the question on its own page. Try each one before tapping Show answer, then attempt the full CIL MT papers as timed tests to check your speed under exam conditions.

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