Practice reading comprehension questions to improve your ability to understand written passages and answer questions based on the given text.
Why Phishing Still Works
Companies spend heavily on firewalls, encryption and monitoring tools, yet many security breaches still begin with a single email. Phishing, in which an attacker pretends to be a trusted person or organisation in order to steal passwords or money, succeeds because it targets people rather than machines. A well-written message creates a sense of urgency: an account will be closed today, a payment has failed, a manager needs help at once. Under pressure, even careful employees click first and think later.
Training alone does not solve the problem. Employees who attend a yearly session may remember the lesson for a few weeks, but attackers change their methods constantly. Messages that once gave themselves away through poor spelling now read like genuine business letters, because attackers can use automated writing tools. Blaming the person who clicked is also counterproductive, since staff who fear punishment tend to hide their mistakes, and a hidden mistake gives the attacker more time.
A more effective approach accepts that some people will be fooled and limits the damage. Multi-factor authentication means that a stolen password is not enough to enter an account. Giving each employee access only to the systems needed for their work stops one stolen account from opening every door. Just as important is a culture in which reporting a suspicious message is quick and free of blame, so that the security team can warn others within minutes. Security, in other words, should be designed around how people actually behave, not how we wish they would.
Companies spend heavily on firewalls, encryption and monitoring tools, yet many security breaches still begin with a single email. Phishing, in which an attacker pretends to be a trusted person or organisation in order to steal passwords or money, succeeds because it targets people rather than machines. A well-written message creates a sense of urgency: an account will be closed today, a payment has failed, a manager needs help at once. Under pressure, even careful employees click first and think later.
Training alone does not solve the problem. Employees who attend a yearly session may remember the lesson for a few weeks, but attackers change their methods constantly. Messages that once gave themselves away through poor spelling now read like genuine business letters, because attackers can use automated writing tools. Blaming the person who clicked is also counterproductive, since staff who fear punishment tend to hide their mistakes, and a hidden mistake gives the attacker more time.
A more effective approach accepts that some people will be fooled and limits the damage. Multi-factor authentication means that a stolen password is not enough to enter an account. Giving each employee access only to the systems needed for their work stops one stolen account from opening every door. Just as important is a culture in which reporting a suspicious message is quick and free of blame, so that the security team can warn others within minutes. Security, in other words, should be designed around how people actually behave, not how we wish they would.
Question 1
Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?
Explanation
The last paragraph says a better approach "accepts that some people will be fooled and limits the damage", and the final sentence asks for security designed around how people actually behave.
Option A is wrong because the passage says these tools alone do not stop phishing, not that they are unnecessary. Option C is wrong because the passage says "training alone does not solve the problem". Option D is wrong because the passage calls blaming them counterproductive.
Option A is wrong because the passage says these tools alone do not stop phishing, not that they are unnecessary. Option C is wrong because the passage says "training alone does not solve the problem". Option D is wrong because the passage calls blaming them counterproductive.
Question 2
According to the passage, why do phishing messages often succeed?
Explanation
The passage says a well-written message "creates a sense of urgency", and that under pressure even careful employees "click first and think later".
Option A is wrong because phishing targets people rather than machines. Option B is wrong because the attacker only pretends to be a trusted person. Option D is wrong because the passage does not connect their timing to training.
Option A is wrong because phishing targets people rather than machines. Option B is wrong because the attacker only pretends to be a trusted person. Option D is wrong because the passage does not connect their timing to training.
Question 3
What can be inferred from the passage about poor spelling in an email?
Explanation
Phishing messages "once gave themselves away through poor spelling" but "now read like genuine business letters". So a student can infer that good spelling no longer shows a message is safe, and spelling is no longer a dependable test.
Option A is wrong because poor spelling used to point to a fake message, not a genuine one. Option B is wrong because urgency is the reason given for their success. Option C is wrong because the passage speaks only of phishing messages that now read like business letters.
Option A is wrong because poor spelling used to point to a fake message, not a genuine one. Option B is wrong because urgency is the reason given for their success. Option C is wrong because the passage speaks only of phishing messages that now read like business letters.
Question 4
As used in the passage, the word "counterproductive" means
Explanation
Blame is meant to improve security, but staff who fear it hide their mistakes, which gives the attacker more time. So it works against its own aim.
Option B is wrong because the passage is about the effect of blame, not its cost. Option C is wrong because nothing says that blame is required. Option D is wrong because ease is not discussed.
Option B is wrong because the passage is about the effect of blame, not its cost. Option C is wrong because nothing says that blame is required. Option D is wrong because ease is not discussed.
Question 5
The tone of the author in this passage is best described as
Explanation
The author explains a problem calmly and then sets out specific steps such as multi-factor authentication, limited access and blame-free reporting.
Option A is wrong because the author offers clear measures that work. Option C is wrong because the subject is treated seriously. Option D is wrong because the author advises against blaming employees.
Option A is wrong because the author offers clear measures that work. Option C is wrong because the subject is treated seriously. Option D is wrong because the author advises against blaming employees.
The Real Cost of Clean Cars
Electric vehicles produce no exhaust from the tailpipe, which has made them central to plans for cleaner air in crowded cities. For a person breathing beside a busy road, this benefit is real and immediate. Yet the popular claim that these vehicles are completely clean does not survive a closer look.
The first difficulty lies in the battery. Batteries need minerals such as lithium, cobalt and nickel, and mining them consumes water, disturbs land and can harm nearby communities. Building an electric car therefore usually causes more emissions at the factory than building a comparable petrol car. The vehicle begins its life, in effect, with a carbon debt.
The second difficulty is the source of the electricity. A car charged from a grid that depends largely on coal has not removed emissions; it has partly moved them from the street to a distant power station. A car charged from solar or wind power performs far better.
None of this means that the shift to electric transport is a mistake. Most lifetime studies find that electric cars repay their carbon debt after enough distance has been driven, and that their advantage grows as the grid becomes cleaner. Recycling can also reduce the need for fresh mining, although recycling systems are still developing in many countries. The honest conclusion is that an electric car is neither a miracle nor a fraud. Its value depends on how it is made, how it is charged and how long it stays on the road.
Electric vehicles produce no exhaust from the tailpipe, which has made them central to plans for cleaner air in crowded cities. For a person breathing beside a busy road, this benefit is real and immediate. Yet the popular claim that these vehicles are completely clean does not survive a closer look.
The first difficulty lies in the battery. Batteries need minerals such as lithium, cobalt and nickel, and mining them consumes water, disturbs land and can harm nearby communities. Building an electric car therefore usually causes more emissions at the factory than building a comparable petrol car. The vehicle begins its life, in effect, with a carbon debt.
The second difficulty is the source of the electricity. A car charged from a grid that depends largely on coal has not removed emissions; it has partly moved them from the street to a distant power station. A car charged from solar or wind power performs far better.
None of this means that the shift to electric transport is a mistake. Most lifetime studies find that electric cars repay their carbon debt after enough distance has been driven, and that their advantage grows as the grid becomes cleaner. Recycling can also reduce the need for fresh mining, although recycling systems are still developing in many countries. The honest conclusion is that an electric car is neither a miracle nor a fraud. Its value depends on how it is made, how it is charged and how long it stays on the road.
Question 6
Which of the following is the most suitable title for the passage?
Explanation
The passage accepts the benefit of electric cars and then examines their hidden costs in batteries and electricity, so this title covers both sides.
Option B is wrong because the author says plainly that an electric car is not a fraud. Option C is wrong because solar power is mentioned only as one source for charging. Option D is wrong because the passage does not describe how batteries are made.
Option B is wrong because the author says plainly that an electric car is not a fraud. Option C is wrong because solar power is mentioned only as one source for charging. Option D is wrong because the passage does not describe how batteries are made.
Question 7
According to the passage, what is the immediate benefit of electric vehicles?
Explanation
The first paragraph says electric vehicles "produce no exhaust from the tailpipe", which is "real and immediate" for a person beside a busy road.
Option A is wrong because batteries need lithium, cobalt and nickel. Option B is wrong because the passage compares emissions at the factory, not price. Option C is wrong because some are charged from grids that depend on coal.
Option A is wrong because batteries need lithium, cobalt and nickel. Option B is wrong because the passage compares emissions at the factory, not price. Option C is wrong because some are charged from grids that depend on coal.
Question 8
In the passage, the phrase "carbon debt" refers to
Explanation
The sentence before says building an electric car "usually causes more emissions at the factory". The car starts with this extra amount, which it must later repay through cleaner driving.
Option A is wrong because the phrase is about emissions, not finance. Option B is wrong because no tax is mentioned. Option D is wrong because electric cars have no tailpipe exhaust.
Option A is wrong because the phrase is about emissions, not finance. Option B is wrong because no tax is mentioned. Option D is wrong because electric cars have no tailpipe exhaust.
Question 9
Which of the following would, according to the logic of the passage, give an electric car the greatest benefit for the climate?
Explanation
The passage says the value of the car depends on how it is charged and how long it stays on the road. Long use repays the carbon debt, and clean power increases the advantage.
Option A is wrong because frequent replacement adds factory emissions and leaves less time to repay the carbon debt. Option C is wrong because this partly moves emissions to a power station. Option D is wrong because the carbon debt is repaid only after enough distance has been driven.
Option A is wrong because frequent replacement adds factory emissions and leaves less time to repay the carbon debt. Option C is wrong because this partly moves emissions to a power station. Option D is wrong because the carbon debt is repaid only after enough distance has been driven.
Question 10
Which of the following best describes the author's attitude towards electric vehicles?
Explanation
The author says the shift is not a mistake and that the advantage grows, but also insists that the value depends on how the car is made, charged and used.
Option A is wrong because the author says the shift to electric transport is not a mistake. Option B is wrong because the author points out real problems with batteries and electricity. Option C is wrong because the author examines the issue closely and reaches a view.
Option A is wrong because the author says the shift to electric transport is not a mistake. Option B is wrong because the author points out real problems with batteries and electricity. Option C is wrong because the author examines the issue closely and reaches a view.
The Quiet Change in How India Pays
Not long ago, a vegetable seller in an Indian town dealt only in cash and kept change in a tin box. Today the same seller may display a printed QR code, and customers pay by phone in seconds. Much of this change rests on the Unified Payments Interface, or UPI, launched in 2016. Its strength lies in interoperability: a customer of one bank can pay a customer of another without either of them needing a card machine, and different apps work on the same system.
For small sellers the benefits go beyond convenience. A QR code costs very little compared with a card machine. Payments reach the account directly, which reduces the risk of theft and the trouble of arranging change. Over time, a record of daily sales may also help a small business to show lenders that it has steady income, something that was difficult when all trade was in cash.
The change is not without problems. Fraudsters persuade people to scan a code or share a PIN, and victims are often those new to digital banking. Elderly people, and those without a smartphone or a reliable network, can feel shut out when cash is treated as a nuisance. A failed payment during a server problem can leave both buyer and seller stranded.
A payment system can be judged by more than its speed. The real test is whether it remains safe and open to those who are least comfortable with it.
Not long ago, a vegetable seller in an Indian town dealt only in cash and kept change in a tin box. Today the same seller may display a printed QR code, and customers pay by phone in seconds. Much of this change rests on the Unified Payments Interface, or UPI, launched in 2016. Its strength lies in interoperability: a customer of one bank can pay a customer of another without either of them needing a card machine, and different apps work on the same system.
For small sellers the benefits go beyond convenience. A QR code costs very little compared with a card machine. Payments reach the account directly, which reduces the risk of theft and the trouble of arranging change. Over time, a record of daily sales may also help a small business to show lenders that it has steady income, something that was difficult when all trade was in cash.
The change is not without problems. Fraudsters persuade people to scan a code or share a PIN, and victims are often those new to digital banking. Elderly people, and those without a smartphone or a reliable network, can feel shut out when cash is treated as a nuisance. A failed payment during a server problem can leave both buyer and seller stranded.
A payment system can be judged by more than its speed. The real test is whether it remains safe and open to those who are least comfortable with it.
Question 11
According to the passage, what is the main strength of UPI?
Explanation
The passage says, "Its strength lies in interoperability: a customer of one bank can pay a customer of another."
Option A is wrong because UPI works without a card machine. Option B is wrong because the seller is only an example. Option D is wrong because the tin box belongs to the old cash system.
Option A is wrong because UPI works without a card machine. Option B is wrong because the seller is only an example. Option D is wrong because the tin box belongs to the old cash system.
Question 12
How could a record of daily sales help a small seller, according to the passage?
Explanation
The passage says such a record "may also help a small business to show lenders that it has steady income".
Option B is wrong because payments reach the seller's account, so an account is still needed. Option C is wrong because the passage says fraud remains a problem. Option D is wrong because prices are not discussed.
Option B is wrong because payments reach the seller's account, so an account is still needed. Option C is wrong because the passage says fraud remains a problem. Option D is wrong because prices are not discussed.
Question 13
As used in the passage, the word "nuisance" is closest in meaning to
Explanation
The sentence speaks of cash being treated as something unwanted, which leaves some people feeling shut out. A nuisance is something that causes annoyance or trouble.
Option A is wrong because cash is not described as something required. Option C is wrong because the sentence treats cash as unwanted, not valuable. Option D is wrong because using cash is not presented as a crime.
Option A is wrong because cash is not described as something required. Option C is wrong because the sentence treats cash as unwanted, not valuable. Option D is wrong because using cash is not presented as a crime.
Question 14
Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as a problem of digital payments?
Explanation
The third paragraph lists fraud, exclusion and failed payments. Fees charged to customers are never mentioned.
Option A is wrong because the passage mentions this fraud directly. Option B is wrong because the passage says this can leave a buyer and seller stranded. Option D is wrong because the passage names this problem directly.
Option A is wrong because the passage mentions this fraud directly. Option B is wrong because the passage says this can leave a buyer and seller stranded. Option D is wrong because the passage names this problem directly.
Question 15
With which statement would the author most likely agree?
Explanation
The last sentence says the real test is whether the system "remains safe and open to those who are least comfortable with it".
Option A is wrong because the author says a system "can be judged by more than its speed". Option B is wrong because the author lists clear benefits and does not reach this verdict. Option C is wrong because the author worries about people who still depend on cash.
Option A is wrong because the author says a system "can be judged by more than its speed". Option B is wrong because the author lists clear benefits and does not reach this verdict. Option C is wrong because the author worries about people who still depend on cash.