Reading Comprehension Practice Test 25
Direction: Read the following passage and answer questions No. 1 to 5 based on it.
The chief condition of happiness, then barring certain physical prerequisites, is the life of reason the specific glory and power of man. Virtue, or rather excellence will depend on clear judgement, self-control, symmetry of desire, artistry of means; it is not the possession of the simple man, nor the gift of innocent intent, but the achievement of experience in the fully developed man, Yet there is a road to it, a guide to excellence, which may save many detours and delays : it is the middle way, the golden mean. The qualities of character can be arranged in triads in each of which can the first and the last qualities will be extremes and vices, and the middle quality, a virtue or an excellence. So between cowardice and rashness is courage; between stingness and extravagance is liberality; between sloth and greed is ambition; between humility and pride is modesty; between secrecy and loquacity is honesty; between quarrel someness and flattery is friendship; between Hamlet’s indecisiveness and on Quixote’s impulsiveness is self-control. The right in ethics or conduct is not different from right in mathematics or engineering; it means correct, fit, what works best to the best results.
1. What is the main idea of the passage?
(a) The qualities of character are three-extremes and middle
(b) In some respects ethics and mathematics resemble
(c) Happiness can be achieved by following the middle path
(d) None of these
Ans. c
2. What is the implied meaning of the passage?
(a) Happiness depends upon physical and mental qualities
(b) Self-control is necessary
(c) Excellence should be achieved
(d) Rational approach lies in following the middle path
Ans. b
3. The author has not said:
(a) The middle path between humility and pride is modesty
(b) Middle path avoids delay in achieving excellence
(c) Right in ethics means that works to the best result
(d) Courage is the middle path of indecisiveness and impulsiveness
4. Which of the following is not the middle path of different qualities?
(a) Liberality
(b) Friendship
(c) Ambition
(d) Secrecy
Ans. d
5. Who, of the following, is not the writer of either Hamlet or Don Quixote?
(a) Ben Johnson
(b) Cervantes
(c) Shakespeare
(d) None of them
Ans. a
