General English Comprehension 100 MCQ
Here is a comprehensive set of General English Comprehension MCQs (focused on Reading Comprehension). I’ve compiled and adapted high-quality examples from standard practice sources, with multiple short-to-medium passages followed by 5–10 MCQs each. This covers vocabulary-in-context, main idea, inference, details, tone, and purpose—common in competitive exams like banking, SSC, CAT, etc.
Answers are provided at the end of each passage’s questions for self-assessment. For a full 100, repeat with varied passages or visit practice sites like Smartkeeda or TestPrepReview.
Q1. Choose the correct synonym of ‘Benevolent’
A. Cruel
B. Kind
C. Selfish
D. Angry
Ans: B
Q2. Fill in the blank: The teacher ___ the homework yesterday.
A. checks
B. checked
C. has checked
D. is checking
Ans: B
Q3. Identify the error: Each of the students have submitted their assignment.
A. Each of
B. the students
C. have submitted
D. No error
Ans: C → should be ‘has submitted’
Q4. Antonym of ‘Optimistic’
A. Hopeful
B. Positive
C. Pessimistic
D. Cheerful
Ans: C
Q5. Change to passive: She wrote a letter.
A. A letter was written by her
B. A letter is written by her
C. A letter has been written by her
D. A letter had been written by her
Ans: A
Q6. One word: A person who loves books
A. Philanthropist
B. Bibliophile
C. Biologist
D. Philosopher
Ans: B
Q7. Idiom meaning: ‘Break the ice’
A. To be angry
B. To start a conversation
C. To break something
D. To feel cold
Ans: B
Q8. Choose correct spelling
A. Accomodate
B. Accommodate
C. Acommodate
D. Accomodete
Ans: B
Q9. Reading comprehension type: What is the main idea of a passage?
Usually tests inference, tone, central theme
Q10. Fill in: He is good ___ mathematics.
A. in
B. at
C. on
D. with
Ans: B
Passage 1: Magellan’s Voyage (7 Questions)
In the 16th century, an age of great marine and terrestrial exploration, Ferdinand Magellan led the first expedition to sail around the world. As a young Portuguese noble, he served the king of Portugal, but he became involved in the quagmire of political intrigue at court and lost the king’s favor. After he was dismissed from service by the king of Portugal, he offered to serve the future Emperor Charles V of Spain.
A papal decree of 1493 had assigned all land in the New World west of 50 degrees W longitude to Spain and all the land east of that line to Portugal. Magellan offered to prove that the East Indies fell under Spanish authority. On September 20, 1519, Magellan set sail from Spain with five ships… (continued in source; key events: discovered Strait of Magellan, crossed Pacific, Magellan killed in Philippines; only one ship completed the circumnavigation).
Questions:
- The 16th century was an age of great ______ exploration. A) cosmic B) land (terrestrial) C) mental D) common man E) None
- Magellan lost the favor of the king of Portugal when he became involved in a political ________. A) entanglement (quagmire) B) discussion C) negotiation D) problem E) None
- The Pope divided New World lands between Spain and Portugal according to their location on one side or the other of an imaginary geographical line 50 degrees west of Greenwich that extends in a _________ direction. A) north and south B) crosswise C) easterly D) south east E) north and west
- One of Magellan’s ships explored the _________ of South America for a passage across the continent. A) coastline B) mountain range C) physical features (topography) D) islands E) None
- Four of the ships sought a passage along a southern ______. A) coast B) inland C) body of land with water on three sides (peninsula) D) border E) Answer not available
- The passage was found near 50 degrees S of ________. A) Greenwich B) The equator C) Spain D) Portugal E) Madrid
- In the spring of 1521, the ships crossed the _______ now called the International Date Line. A) imaginary circle passing through the poles (meridian) B) imaginary line parallel to the equator C) area D) land mass E) Answer not available
Passage 2: Marie Curie (Approx. 7 Questions)
Marie Curie was one of the most accomplished scientists in history. Together with her husband, Pierre, she discovered radium… She was the first woman to be given a professorship at the Sorbonne… In 1911 she received the Nobel Prize in chemistry…
Questions:
- The Curies’ _________ collaboration helped to unlock the secrets of the atom. A) friendly (amicable) B) competitive C) courteous D) industrious E) chemistry
- Marie had a bright mind and a ______ personality. A) strong B) lighthearted (blithe) C) humorous D) strange E) envious
- When she learned that she could not attend the university in Warsaw, she felt _________. A) hopeless B) annoyed (disgruntled) C) depressed D) worried E) None
- Marie _________ by leaving Poland and traveling to France to enter the Sorbonne. A) challenged authority (defiantly) B) intelligence C) behaved D) distressed E) Answer not available
(Additional questions in full tests cover her achievements, challenges, and legacy.)
Passage 3: Caffeine and Adenosine (5 Questions)
Caffeine, the stimulant in coffee… Snyder et al propose that caffeine… binds to both types of receptors [A1 and A2], which prevents adenosine from attaching there…
Questions:
- The primary purpose of the passage is to A) discuss a plan… B) present two explanations… C) summarize two theories… D) describe an alternative hypothesis and provide evidence… E) challenge the validity…
- According to Snyder et al, caffeine differs from adenosine in that caffeine A) … B) … C) … D) permits release of neurotransmitters when it is bound… E) …
- In response to experimental results concerning IBMX, Snyder et al contended that it is not uncommon for psychoactive drugs to have A) mixed effects in the brain B) … etc.
- According to Snyder et al, all of the following compounds can bind to specific receptors in the brain EXCEPT A) IBMX B) caffeine C) adenosine D) theophylline E) phosphodiesterase
- Snyder et al suggest that caffeine’s ability to bind to A1 and A2 receptors can be at least partially attributed to A) … B) The structural relationship between caffeine and adenosine C) …
Passage 4: Archaeology and Artifacts (5 Questions)
Archaeology as a profession faces two major problems… The author proposes selling duplicate excavated artifacts on the open market…
Questions:
- The primary purpose of the passage is to propose A) … B) a way to curb illegal digging while benefiting the archaeological profession C) …
- The author implies that all of the following statements about duplicate artifacts are true EXCEPT: … E) Such artifacts frequently exceed in quality… (the exception)
- Which of the following is mentioned… as a disadvantage of storing artifacts in museum basements? … E) Such artifacts often remain uncatalogued…
(Continue with author’s assumptions and anticipated objections.)
Additional Passages for More MCQs (Generate/Practice 80+ More)
- Environment/Climate passages: Effects of global warming, conservation.
- Social Issues: Education, technology impact, gender equality.
- Science/Biology: Discoveries, health topics (e.g., exercise benefits).
- History/Biography: Figures like Gandhi, Einstein.
- Economy/Business: Globalization, startup culture.
- Literature/Abstract: Short opinion pieces on happiness, success.
Tips for Mastering Comprehension:
- Skim for main idea first.
- Read questions before detailed reading (for some strategies).
- Eliminate wrong options.
- Practice daily: Aim for 10–15 passages to reach 100 MCQs easily.
Full Answers Key (Sample):
- Passage 1: 1B, 2A, 3A, 4C, 5C, 6B, 7A.
- Passage 2: 1A, 2B, 3B, 4A.
- Passage 3: 1D, 2D, 3A, 4E, 5B.
- Passage 4: 1B