Reading Comprehension – Topic for Verbal Aptitude Test

Reading Comprehension or just Comprehension, is a topic in verbal aptitude that tests your ability to understand, comprehend and answer questions based on a passage. This is the most asked topic in Verbal Aptitude Tests.

Example Question

Usually, a passage is given and a few questions are asked on the passage. The passage may be about one or two paragraphs. Usually, three to five questions are asked in a passage. Let us see an example passage and questions.

Example Passage

The Amazon Rainforest, often referred to as the “lungs of the Earth,” covers over 5.5 million square kilometers across nine countries in South America. It is the largest tropical rainforest in the world and is home to an estimated 390 billion individual trees, comprising around 16,000 different species. The Amazon is not only vital for the biodiversity it harbors but also plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth’s climate by absorbing large amounts of carbon dioxide and producing oxygen.

In addition to its environmental significance, the Amazon Rainforest is also home to about 400-500 indigenous tribes, many of whom live in relative isolation. These tribes have unique cultures, languages, and traditions that have been passed down through generations. The forest provides them with food, shelter, and medicine, making it integral to their way of life.

However, the Amazon is under threat from deforestation, mining, and agricultural expansion. Large areas of the forest are being cleared for cattle ranching and soybean production, leading to habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity. Efforts to protect the Amazon include establishing protected areas, promoting sustainable land use practices, and supporting the rights and livelihoods of indigenous communities.

Example Questions

1. What is the approximate size of the Amazon Rainforest?
2. How many species of trees are estimated to be in the Amazon Rainforest?
3. Why is the Amazon Rainforest referred to as the “lungs of the Earth”?
4. How many indigenous tribes are estimated to live in the Amazon Rainforest?
5. What are some of the primary threats to the Amazon Rainforest mentioned in the passage?
6. What efforts are being made to protect the Amazon Rainforest?

Answers

1. The approximate size of the Amazon Rainforest is over 5.5 million square kilometres.
2. The Amazon Rainforest is estimated to have around 16,000 different species of trees.
3. The Amazon Rainforest is referred to as the “lungs of the Earth” because it plays a crucial role in regulating the Earth’s climate by absorbing large amounts of carbon dioxide and producing oxygen.
4. About 400-500 indigenous tribes are estimated to live in the Amazon Rainforest.
5. Some of the primary threats to the Amazon Rainforest mentioned in the passage are deforestation, mining, and agricultural expansion.
6. Efforts being made to protect the Amazon Rainforest include establishing protected areas, promoting sustainable land use practices, and supporting the rights and livelihoods of indigenous communities.

How to Improve Your Reading Comprehension

To improve your reading comprehension, you need to have a good vocabulary, reading skills and verbal aptitude in general.

Read more: How to improve your Reading Comprehension