Quest for Clerk: Reading Comprehension

Directions (1-10): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given after the passage. Certain words/phrases have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.


A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island.The two survivors who have been a good friends, not knowing what else to do, agreed that they had no other recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides 

of the island.The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat its fruit. The other man’s parcel of land remained barren.

After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, there was nothing.Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing.

Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island.

He considered the other man unworthy to receive God’s blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven booming, “Why are you leaving your companion on the island?”

“My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them,” the first man answered. “His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything.”

“You are mistaken!” the voice rebuked him. “He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings.”

“Tell me,” the first man asked the voice, “What did he pray for that I should owe him anything?”

“He prayed that all your prayers be answered “

1.Why did the first man think that he was the only one who prayed to God?

I.Because he had power

II.Because all his wishes came true

III.Because he and his wife were worthy

a.I & III

b.II & III

c.III only

d.II only

e.None of these

2.According to the author what is NOT TRUE in the given passage?

I.First man's wife was selfish.

II.Two survivors became friends on the island.

III.Second man's prayers were answered.

a.II only

b.II & III 

c.III only

d.I only

e.All are true

3.What can you say about the first man given in the stroy?

a.he was kind hearted.

b.he had good sense of humour.

c.he was careless person.

d.he was mean and selfish person

e.None of these

4.According to passage what is TRUE statement?

a.First person's all prayers were not answered.

b.Second person shown the true meaning of friendship.

c.A ship was wrecked due to God's anger.

d.second person prayed for himself.

e.None of these

Directions (5 to 7): Choose the word which is most similar in meaning of the word printed in bold as used in the passage.

5.Recourse

a.similar

b.hindrance

c.stoppage

d.remedy

e.shift

6.Docked

a.fix

b.divide

c.loose

d.hook up

e.sail

7.Rebuked

a.flatter

b.please

c.compliment

d.passes

e.censure

Directions (8 to 10): Choose the word which is most OPPOSITE in meaning of the word printed in bold as used in the passage.

8.booming

a.bringing

b.adding

c.encouraging

d.growing

e.disadvantageous

9.stay

a.live

b.break

c.abet

d.vacant

e.dwell

10.wrecked

a.bombard

b.destroyed

c.attached

d.repaired

e.rotate

Answers:

1.d

2.a

3.d

4.b

5.d

6.d

7.e

8.e

9.d

10.d