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LIC AAO Reading Comprehension Questions with Answers & Explanations

20 Reading Comprehension questions from the English Language section of LIC AAO, each with the correct answer and a worked explanation. Try each question first, then tap Show answer to check. When you're ready, take the timed chapter-wise test to see your all-India rank.

Question 1

Read the passage and answer the question. Mangroves are trees and shrubs that grow along tropical and subtropical coastlines, where land meets the sea. They have adapted to survive in salty water and in soil that is low in oxygen. Many mangroves have special roots that rise above the mud to take in air, while others filter salt out of the water they absorb. These forests play an important role for both nature and people. Their dense roots slow down waves and reduce the damage caused by storms and tidal surges, protecting coastal villages. They also act as nurseries for fish, crabs and shrimp, which supports local fishing communities. In addition, mangroves store large amounts of carbon in their soil, helping to slow climate change. Despite these benefits, mangrove forests have been cleared in many places for farms, ports and housing. Protecting and replanting them is now seen as one of the most cost-effective ways to defend coasts. Where do mangroves usually grow?

  1. AIn the middle of oceans
  2. BOn high mountains
  3. CAlong tropical and subtropical coastlines
  4. DIn cold deserts
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (C) Along tropical and subtropical coastlines
Question 2

Read the passage and answer the question. Mangroves are trees and shrubs that grow along tropical and subtropical coastlines, where land meets the sea. They have adapted to survive in salty water and in soil that is low in oxygen. Many mangroves have special roots that rise above the mud to take in air, while others filter salt out of the water they absorb. These forests play an important role for both nature and people. Their dense roots slow down waves and reduce the damage caused by storms and tidal surges, protecting coastal villages. They also act as nurseries for fish, crabs and shrimp, which supports local fishing communities. In addition, mangroves store large amounts of carbon in their soil, helping to slow climate change. Despite these benefits, mangrove forests have been cleared in many places for farms, ports and housing. Protecting and replanting them is now seen as one of the most cost-effective ways to defend coasts. How do mangroves protect coastal villages?

  1. AThey keep fishermen away from the sea
  2. BThey produce fresh drinking water
  3. CTheir dense roots slow down waves and reduce storm damage
  4. DThey block all sunlight from the coast
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (C) Their dense roots slow down waves and reduce storm damage
Question 3

Read the passage and answer the question. Mangroves are trees and shrubs that grow along tropical and subtropical coastlines, where land meets the sea. They have adapted to survive in salty water and in soil that is low in oxygen. Many mangroves have special roots that rise above the mud to take in air, while others filter salt out of the water they absorb. These forests play an important role for both nature and people. Their dense roots slow down waves and reduce the damage caused by storms and tidal surges, protecting coastal villages. They also act as nurseries for fish, crabs and shrimp, which supports local fishing communities. In addition, mangroves store large amounts of carbon in their soil, helping to slow climate change. Despite these benefits, mangrove forests have been cleared in many places for farms, ports and housing. Protecting and replanting them is now seen as one of the most cost-effective ways to defend coasts. Why are mangroves called "nurseries"?

  1. AThey provide timber for schools
  2. BChildren play in them
  3. CThey are grown in plant nurseries
  4. DYoung fish, crabs and shrimp grow among them
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (D) Young fish, crabs and shrimp grow among them
Question 4

Read the passage and answer the question. Mangroves are trees and shrubs that grow along tropical and subtropical coastlines, where land meets the sea. They have adapted to survive in salty water and in soil that is low in oxygen. Many mangroves have special roots that rise above the mud to take in air, while others filter salt out of the water they absorb. These forests play an important role for both nature and people. Their dense roots slow down waves and reduce the damage caused by storms and tidal surges, protecting coastal villages. They also act as nurseries for fish, crabs and shrimp, which supports local fishing communities. In addition, mangroves store large amounts of carbon in their soil, helping to slow climate change. Despite these benefits, mangrove forests have been cleared in many places for farms, ports and housing. Protecting and replanting them is now seen as one of the most cost-effective ways to defend coasts. According to the passage, how do mangroves help with climate change?

  1. AThey absorb salt from the air
  2. BThey stop rainfall
  3. CThey store large amounts of carbon in their soil
  4. DThey cool the sea water
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (C) They store large amounts of carbon in their soil
Question 5

Read the passage and answer the question. Mangroves are trees and shrubs that grow along tropical and subtropical coastlines, where land meets the sea. They have adapted to survive in salty water and in soil that is low in oxygen. Many mangroves have special roots that rise above the mud to take in air, while others filter salt out of the water they absorb. These forests play an important role for both nature and people. Their dense roots slow down waves and reduce the damage caused by storms and tidal surges, protecting coastal villages. They also act as nurseries for fish, crabs and shrimp, which supports local fishing communities. In addition, mangroves store large amounts of carbon in their soil, helping to slow climate change. Despite these benefits, mangrove forests have been cleared in many places for farms, ports and housing. Protecting and replanting them is now seen as one of the most cost-effective ways to defend coasts. What is the main idea of the passage?

  1. AMangroves grow only in India
  2. BMangroves are harmful to fishing
  3. CMangroves are valuable ecosystems that need protection
  4. DMangroves should be replaced by ports
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (C) Mangroves are valuable ecosystems that need protection
Question 6

Read the passage and answer the question. Millets are a group of small-grained cereals such as jowar, bajra and ragi that have been grown in India for thousands of years. They are hardy crops that can grow in poor soil with little water, which makes them well suited to dry regions. Nutritionally, millets are rich in fibre and minerals like iron and calcium, and many of them release sugar into the blood more slowly than polished rice or refined wheat. Despite these advantages, millet consumption declined over several decades as diets shifted towards rice and wheat. In recent years, however, there has been renewed interest in millets, both for their health benefits and because they need less water than many other crops. The United Nations declared 2023 the International Year of Millets, an idea proposed by India. Encouraging farmers to grow millets and consumers to eat them could improve nutrition and help agriculture adapt to a changing climate. Which of the following is mentioned as a millet in the passage?

  1. AMaize
  2. BBarley
  3. CBasmati
  4. DRagi
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (D) Ragi
Question 7

Read the passage and answer the question. Millets are a group of small-grained cereals such as jowar, bajra and ragi that have been grown in India for thousands of years. They are hardy crops that can grow in poor soil with little water, which makes them well suited to dry regions. Nutritionally, millets are rich in fibre and minerals like iron and calcium, and many of them release sugar into the blood more slowly than polished rice or refined wheat. Despite these advantages, millet consumption declined over several decades as diets shifted towards rice and wheat. In recent years, however, there has been renewed interest in millets, both for their health benefits and because they need less water than many other crops. The United Nations declared 2023 the International Year of Millets, an idea proposed by India. Encouraging farmers to grow millets and consumers to eat them could improve nutrition and help agriculture adapt to a changing climate. Why are millets well suited to dry regions?

  1. AThey grow only in cold climates
  2. BThey must be grown under shade
  3. CThey need heavy irrigation
  4. DThey can grow in poor soil with little water
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (D) They can grow in poor soil with little water
Question 8

Read the passage and answer the question. Millets are a group of small-grained cereals such as jowar, bajra and ragi that have been grown in India for thousands of years. They are hardy crops that can grow in poor soil with little water, which makes them well suited to dry regions. Nutritionally, millets are rich in fibre and minerals like iron and calcium, and many of them release sugar into the blood more slowly than polished rice or refined wheat. Despite these advantages, millet consumption declined over several decades as diets shifted towards rice and wheat. In recent years, however, there has been renewed interest in millets, both for their health benefits and because they need less water than many other crops. The United Nations declared 2023 the International Year of Millets, an idea proposed by India. Encouraging farmers to grow millets and consumers to eat them could improve nutrition and help agriculture adapt to a changing climate. Which nutrient is NOT mentioned as being found in millets?

  1. AFibre
  2. BVitamin C
  3. CIron
  4. DCalcium
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (B) Vitamin C
Question 9

Read the passage and answer the question. Millets are a group of small-grained cereals such as jowar, bajra and ragi that have been grown in India for thousands of years. They are hardy crops that can grow in poor soil with little water, which makes them well suited to dry regions. Nutritionally, millets are rich in fibre and minerals like iron and calcium, and many of them release sugar into the blood more slowly than polished rice or refined wheat. Despite these advantages, millet consumption declined over several decades as diets shifted towards rice and wheat. In recent years, however, there has been renewed interest in millets, both for their health benefits and because they need less water than many other crops. The United Nations declared 2023 the International Year of Millets, an idea proposed by India. Encouraging farmers to grow millets and consumers to eat them could improve nutrition and help agriculture adapt to a changing climate. Which year was declared the International Year of Millets?

  1. A2018
  2. B2020
  3. C2023
  4. D2025
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (C) 2023
Question 10

Read the passage and answer the question. Habits are the small decisions we make so often that they become automatic. Researchers estimate that a large share of what we do each day is driven by habit rather than conscious choice. A habit has three parts: a cue that triggers it, a routine that follows, and a reward that makes the brain want to repeat it. Because of this loop, trying to break a bad habit through willpower alone often fails. A more effective approach is to keep the same cue and reward but replace the routine. Someone who snacks when bored, for example, might take a short walk when boredom strikes, which still offers a break and a small sense of pleasure. Good habits are also easier to build when they are small. Reading two pages a day feels effortless, yet over a year it adds up to several books. The key insight is that lasting change rarely comes from dramatic resolutions; it comes from small actions repeated consistently until they no longer require effort. According to the passage, what are the three parts of a habit?

  1. AWillpower, effort and motivation
  2. BA goal, a plan and a result
  3. CA cue, a routine and a reward
  4. DA decision, an action and a regret
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (C) A cue, a routine and a reward

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Question 11

Read the passage and answer the question. Habits are the small decisions we make so often that they become automatic. Researchers estimate that a large share of what we do each day is driven by habit rather than conscious choice. A habit has three parts: a cue that triggers it, a routine that follows, and a reward that makes the brain want to repeat it. Because of this loop, trying to break a bad habit through willpower alone often fails. A more effective approach is to keep the same cue and reward but replace the routine. Someone who snacks when bored, for example, might take a short walk when boredom strikes, which still offers a break and a small sense of pleasure. Good habits are also easier to build when they are small. Reading two pages a day feels effortless, yet over a year it adds up to several books. The key insight is that lasting change rarely comes from dramatic resolutions; it comes from small actions repeated consistently until they no longer require effort. Why does breaking a bad habit through willpower alone often fail?

  1. ABecause willpower is only useful for good habits
  2. BBecause habits cannot be changed at all
  3. CBecause the habit loop of cue and reward remains active
  4. DBecause people do not want to change
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (C) Because the habit loop of cue and reward remains active
Question 12

Read the passage and answer the question. Habits are the small decisions we make so often that they become automatic. Researchers estimate that a large share of what we do each day is driven by habit rather than conscious choice. A habit has three parts: a cue that triggers it, a routine that follows, and a reward that makes the brain want to repeat it. Because of this loop, trying to break a bad habit through willpower alone often fails. A more effective approach is to keep the same cue and reward but replace the routine. Someone who snacks when bored, for example, might take a short walk when boredom strikes, which still offers a break and a small sense of pleasure. Good habits are also easier to build when they are small. Reading two pages a day feels effortless, yet over a year it adds up to several books. The key insight is that lasting change rarely comes from dramatic resolutions; it comes from small actions repeated consistently until they no longer require effort. What does the passage suggest as a better way to change a bad habit?

  1. AKeep the cue and reward but replace the routine
  2. BAvoid every situation that causes boredom
  3. CRemove all rewards from one's life
  4. DMake a dramatic new year resolution
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (A) Keep the cue and reward but replace the routine
Question 13

Read the passage and answer the question. Habits are the small decisions we make so often that they become automatic. Researchers estimate that a large share of what we do each day is driven by habit rather than conscious choice. A habit has three parts: a cue that triggers it, a routine that follows, and a reward that makes the brain want to repeat it. Because of this loop, trying to break a bad habit through willpower alone often fails. A more effective approach is to keep the same cue and reward but replace the routine. Someone who snacks when bored, for example, might take a short walk when boredom strikes, which still offers a break and a small sense of pleasure. Good habits are also easier to build when they are small. Reading two pages a day feels effortless, yet over a year it adds up to several books. The key insight is that lasting change rarely comes from dramatic resolutions; it comes from small actions repeated consistently until they no longer require effort. The example of "reading two pages a day" is used to show that

  1. Abooks should be read slowly
  2. Blarge goals are easy to achieve
  3. Csmall actions repeated consistently add up
  4. Dreading is the best habit of all
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (C) small actions repeated consistently add up
Question 14

Read the passage and answer the question. Habits are the small decisions we make so often that they become automatic. Researchers estimate that a large share of what we do each day is driven by habit rather than conscious choice. A habit has three parts: a cue that triggers it, a routine that follows, and a reward that makes the brain want to repeat it. Because of this loop, trying to break a bad habit through willpower alone often fails. A more effective approach is to keep the same cue and reward but replace the routine. Someone who snacks when bored, for example, might take a short walk when boredom strikes, which still offers a break and a small sense of pleasure. Good habits are also easier to build when they are small. Reading two pages a day feels effortless, yet over a year it adds up to several books. The key insight is that lasting change rarely comes from dramatic resolutions; it comes from small actions repeated consistently until they no longer require effort. Which word is closest in meaning to "effortless" as used in the passage?

  1. APointless
  2. BTiring
  3. CEasy
  4. DCareful
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (C) Easy
Question 15

Read the passage and answer the question. Over the past decade, digital payments have transformed how people in India buy and sell. A shopkeeper who once accepted only cash can now receive money instantly through a mobile phone by displaying a simple QR code. For customers, this means not having to carry exact change; for small businesses, it creates a record of transactions that can help them obtain loans. However, the shift has also brought new challenges. Fraudsters use fake calls and messages to trick people into sharing their PINs or approving payment requests. Older citizens and first-time smartphone users are especially vulnerable. Experts advise a few simple rules: never share a PIN or one-time password, remember that a PIN is needed only to send money and never to receive it, and verify the name of the person before approving any payment. With awareness, the convenience of digital payments can be enjoyed safely. What benefit of digital payments for small businesses is mentioned?

  1. AThey can avoid all customers who pay cash
  2. BThey get free mobile phones
  3. CThey no longer need to pay taxes
  4. DA transaction record that can help them obtain loans
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (D) A transaction record that can help them obtain loans
Question 16

Read the passage and answer the question. Over the past decade, digital payments have transformed how people in India buy and sell. A shopkeeper who once accepted only cash can now receive money instantly through a mobile phone by displaying a simple QR code. For customers, this means not having to carry exact change; for small businesses, it creates a record of transactions that can help them obtain loans. However, the shift has also brought new challenges. Fraudsters use fake calls and messages to trick people into sharing their PINs or approving payment requests. Older citizens and first-time smartphone users are especially vulnerable. Experts advise a few simple rules: never share a PIN or one-time password, remember that a PIN is needed only to send money and never to receive it, and verify the name of the person before approving any payment. With awareness, the convenience of digital payments can be enjoyed safely. Who are described as especially vulnerable to fraud?

  1. ABank employees
  2. BOlder citizens and first-time smartphone users
  3. CYoung students only
  4. DShopkeepers in large cities
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (B) Older citizens and first-time smartphone users
Question 17

Read the passage and answer the question. Over the past decade, digital payments have transformed how people in India buy and sell. A shopkeeper who once accepted only cash can now receive money instantly through a mobile phone by displaying a simple QR code. For customers, this means not having to carry exact change; for small businesses, it creates a record of transactions that can help them obtain loans. However, the shift has also brought new challenges. Fraudsters use fake calls and messages to trick people into sharing their PINs or approving payment requests. Older citizens and first-time smartphone users are especially vulnerable. Experts advise a few simple rules: never share a PIN or one-time password, remember that a PIN is needed only to send money and never to receive it, and verify the name of the person before approving any payment. With awareness, the convenience of digital payments can be enjoyed safely. According to the passage, when is a PIN required?

  1. ANever
  2. BOnly to receive money
  3. CBoth to send and to receive money
  4. DOnly to send money
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (D) Only to send money
Question 18

Read the passage and answer the question. Over the past decade, digital payments have transformed how people in India buy and sell. A shopkeeper who once accepted only cash can now receive money instantly through a mobile phone by displaying a simple QR code. For customers, this means not having to carry exact change; for small businesses, it creates a record of transactions that can help them obtain loans. However, the shift has also brought new challenges. Fraudsters use fake calls and messages to trick people into sharing their PINs or approving payment requests. Older citizens and first-time smartphone users are especially vulnerable. Experts advise a few simple rules: never share a PIN or one-time password, remember that a PIN is needed only to send money and never to receive it, and verify the name of the person before approving any payment. With awareness, the convenience of digital payments can be enjoyed safely. Which of the following is NOT one of the safety rules mentioned?

  1. ANever share a PIN or one-time password
  2. BVerify the name before approving a payment
  3. CRemember that receiving money needs no PIN
  4. DUse only cash for large purchases
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (D) Use only cash for large purchases
Question 19

Read the passage and answer the question. Over the past decade, digital payments have transformed how people in India buy and sell. A shopkeeper who once accepted only cash can now receive money instantly through a mobile phone by displaying a simple QR code. For customers, this means not having to carry exact change; for small businesses, it creates a record of transactions that can help them obtain loans. However, the shift has also brought new challenges. Fraudsters use fake calls and messages to trick people into sharing their PINs or approving payment requests. Older citizens and first-time smartphone users are especially vulnerable. Experts advise a few simple rules: never share a PIN or one-time password, remember that a PIN is needed only to send money and never to receive it, and verify the name of the person before approving any payment. With awareness, the convenience of digital payments can be enjoyed safely. The tone of the passage is best described as

  1. AHumorous
  2. BCompletely negative
  3. CBalanced and informative
  4. DAngry and critical
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (C) Balanced and informative
Question 20

Read the passage and answer the question. Millets are a group of small-grained cereals such as jowar, bajra and ragi that have been grown in India for thousands of years. They are hardy crops that can grow in poor soil with little water, which makes them well suited to dry regions. Nutritionally, millets are rich in fibre and minerals like iron and calcium, and many of them release sugar into the blood more slowly than polished rice or refined wheat. Despite these advantages, millet consumption declined over several decades as diets shifted towards rice and wheat. In recent years, however, there has been renewed interest in millets, both for their health benefits and because they need less water than many other crops. The United Nations declared 2023 the International Year of Millets, an idea proposed by India. Encouraging farmers to grow millets and consumers to eat them could improve nutrition and help agriculture adapt to a changing climate. Which of the following is mentioned as a millet in the passage?

  1. ABasmati
  2. BRagi
  3. CBarley
  4. DMaize
  5. ENone of these
Show answer
Answer: (B) Ragi

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