PSTET Previous Year Question Papers with Answers Pdf | Reading Comprehension Passages with Questions and Answers

Passage 1: Read the Passage carefully and answer the questions (Q:1 -Q:7) from the reading comprehension with the best possible answer:

The political system always dominates the entire social scene; and hence those who weild political power are generally able to control all the different social subsystems and manipulate them to their own advantage. The social groups in power, therefore have always manipulated the education systems, specially when these happen to depend upon the state for their very existence to strengthen and perpetuate their own privileged position. But here in lies a contradiction. For the very realisation of their selfish ends, the social groups in power are compelled to extend the benefits of these educational systems to the under-privileged groups also. The inevitable task is generally performed with three precautions abundantly taken care of: One, the privileged groups continue to be the principal beneficiaries of the educational system, dominate the higher stages of education or the hard core of prestigious and quality institutions or the most useful of courses, so as to safeguard their dominant position of leadership in all walks of life; Second, the system is so operated that under-privileged groups can utilise it only marginally in real terms and the bulk of them become either dropouts or pushouts and get reconciled to their to their own interior status in society; Third, the few from the weaker section that survive and succeed in spite of all the handicaps are generally co-opted within the system to prevent dissatisfaction.

Question 1: Who, according to the passage, can manipulate the systems to their advantage?

• a) social activists
• b) popular people
• c) political powerful people
• d) all of the above

Question 2: How do socially powerful people try to maintain their privileged position?

• a) by maintaining control over political systems
• b) by maintaining control over social systems
• c) by maintaining control over education systems
• d) all of the above

Question 3: Why underprivileged sections have to reconcile to their inferior status?

• a) they are unable to effectively utilise the education system
• b) they have no interest in the system
• c) they are illiterate
• d) all of the above

Question 4: which is the best explanation as to why the few from the weaker section that survive and succeed in spite of all the handicaps are generally co-opted within the system?

• a) to prevent the revolt in the society
• b) to satisfy their instinct
• c) to argument the position of the privileged class
• d) all of the above

Question 5: which system, according to the passage, dominates the social system?

• a) political system
• b) education system
• c) caste system
• d) monetary system

Question 6: identify the word closest in meaning to the word “PERPETUATE”.

• a) abort
• b) ruin
• c) continue
• d) omit

Question 7: Identify the word opposite in meaning of the word “PRESTIGIOUS”.

• a) obscure
• b) influential
• c) esteemed
• d) impressive

Question 8: What is the major idea reflected in the passage?

• a) powerful people are unable to fully control the system
• b) major benefits have been snatched by the underprivileged
• c) both of these
• d) none of the above

Question 9: While writing a notice, the writer should prefer…

• a) active voice
• b) passive voice
• c) any voice
• d) none of the above

Question 10: Where will you add disclosures in a letter?

• a) Below the signature and the right side margin
• b) Below the signature and the left side margin
• c) above the signature and the right side margin
• d) any of the above

Passage 2: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions from the reading comprehension with the best possible answer:

It is to progress in the human sciences that we must look to undo the evil, which have resulted from a knowledge of the physical world, hassle and superficially acquired by populations, unconscious of the changes in themselves, that the new knowledge has made imperative. The road to a happier world than any known in the past lies open before us if atavistic destructive passions can be kept leash while the necessary adaptations are made. Fears are inevitable in our time, but hopes are equally rational and far more likely to bear good fruit. We must learn to think rather less of the danger to be avoided. Then off the good that will lie within our grass. If we can believe in it and let it dominate our thoughts. Science, whatever unpleasant consequences, it may have by the way, is in its very nature, a liberator of bondage to physical nature and in to come, liberator from the weight of destructive passions. We are on the threshold of utter disaster or unprecedentedly glorious achievement. No previous age has been fought with problems, so momentous and it is to Science that we must look to for a happy future.

Question 1: What does science liberate us from. It liberates us from…

• a) Fears and destructive passions
• b) bondage to physical nature
• c) idealistic hopes of a glorious future
• d) slavery to physical nature and from passions

Question 2: To carve out a bright future a man should…

• a) analyse dangers that lie ahead
• b) try to avoid dangers
• c) cultivate a positive outlook
• d) overcome fears and dangers

Question 3: If man’s bestial yearning is controlled….

• a) The future will be brighter than the present
• b) the present will become tolerant
• c) the present will be brighter than the future
• d) the future will be tolerant

Question 4: Fears and hopes, according to the author…

• a) are closely linked with the life of modern man
• b) can bear fruit
• c) can yield good results
• d) are irrational