HBS HBS English Comprehension 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a passage, the word 'benevolent' most nearly means:
- cruel
- kind and generous (Correct answer)
- stubborn
- fearful
Correct answer: kind and generous
'Benevolent' means well-meaning and kindly, i.e., kind and generous.
Question 2: Which sentence uses a simile correctly?
- The dog is a lion.
- She ran like the wind. (Correct answer)
- The moon shone brightly.
- He was very fast.
Correct answer: She ran like the wind.
A simile compares two things using 'like' or 'as'; 'ran like the wind' is a simile.
Question 3: What is the purpose of a topic sentence in a paragraph?
- To conclude the paragraph
- To introduce the main idea (Correct answer)
- To provide evidence
- To list examples
Correct answer: To introduce the main idea
A topic sentence states the main idea of the paragraph, usually at the beginning.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of alliteration?
- The sky is blue.
- Peter picked a peck of pickled peppers. (Correct answer)
- It was a dark and stormy night.
- She smiled quietly.
Correct answer: Peter picked a peck of pickled peppers.
Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sound; 'Peter picked…peppers' uses 'p' repeatedly.
Question 5: What does the prefix 'mis-' mean in the word 'misunderstand'?
- again
- before
- wrongly (Correct answer)
- after
Correct answer: wrongly
The prefix 'mis-' means wrongly or incorrectly, so 'misunderstand' means to understand wrongly.
Question 6: In reading comprehension, 'inference' means:
- copying information directly from the text
- using clues in the text to draw a conclusion (Correct answer)
- summarizing the passage
- identifying the genre
Correct answer: using clues in the text to draw a conclusion
Inference involves using evidence and reasoning to reach a conclusion not directly stated.
HBS HBS English Comprehension 1
In a passage, the word 'benevolent' most nearly means: