Reading Comprehension
Learn Reading Comprehension with notes, examples, and practice questions.
Chapter Overview
Read the questions first, then skim for keywords. Always support answers with evidence from the passage.
Class 10 reading comprehension tests understanding of unseen passages — factual, discursive, or literary. CBSE Section A carries 20 marks through multiple-choice and short-answer questions on inference, vocabulary in context, and main ideas.
Passage Types
- Factual: science, history, biographical excerpts
- Discursive: opinion, social issues, environment
- Literary: narrative or descriptive fiction extracts
Question Skills
- Main idea and title selection
- Inference: what is implied but not stated
- Reference: 'it', 'they' — trace back to antecedent
- Vocabulary: meaning of word/phrase in context
- True/false with justification from text
Answering Strategy
- Use own words unless quoting is asked
- Keep short answers to word limit (30–40 words)
- Copy exact line only when question says 'quote'
- Never add information outside the passage
Solved Examples
Step-by-step solutions — read each step before checking the final answer.
Inference
Passage says a student 'stared at the blank page for an hour.' What does this suggest?
- 1Blank page = writing task
- 2Stared for long time = unable to start
Answer
The student had writer's block or lacked ideas.
Context vocabulary
'The drought left the fields parched.' Meaning of 'parched'?
- 1Drought = no rain
- 2Fields dry and cracked
Answer
Extremely dry; lacking moisture.
Key Points to Remember
- ✓ Read twice: once for gist, once for detail
- ✓ Underline key sentences linked to questions
- ✓ Tone: formal, ironic, sympathetic — note author's attitude
- ✓ Time management: ~15 minutes for one passage
Exam Tips
- • Attempt MCQs before long answers
- • For 'find a word' questions scan the relevant paragraph
- • Justify true/false with one line from text
- • Check spelling when copying from passage
Practice MCQs — Reading Comprehension
Test your understanding with topic-wise multiple choice questions. Explanations appear after each answer.
Best first step in unseen passage is: