CLAT English Language
CLAT English Language section tests candidates on two tenets – Language Mastery and Reading Comprehension. Language Mastery involves vocabulary and grammar. Vocabulary requires the candidates to have a good hold of words, in addition to word usage based on different contexts. Reading Comprehension requires that the candidate understand the overall theme of the passage, arguments and counter-arguments, agreements and disagreements, comparisons and contrasts, and more.
The following passages, each of which are around 450 words long, are derived from contemporary and historically significant fiction or non-fiction, including technical and scientific passages. Due diligence has been given to ensure the passages cover a wide range of topics. The passages have been chosen from a variety of sources, and are as close to the samples provided by the Consortium of NLUs. All the questions are pegged exactly at the level of difficulty of CLAT.
Are you ready to face the nuances of the language English is? Dive in and solve the following questions, available for free!
CLAT 2020 English Language: Human limitations and grandeur of the night
I am losing my interest in human beings; in the significance of their lives and their actions.
Someone has said it is better to study one man than ten books. I want neither books nor men;
they make me suffer. Can one of them talk to me like the night – the Summer night? Like the
stars or the caressing wind?
The night came slowly, softly, as I lay out there under the maple tree. It came creeping,
creeping stealthily out of the valley, thinking I did not notice. And the outlines of trees and
foliage nearby blended in one black mass and the night came stealing out from them, too, and
from the east and west, until the only light was in the sky, filtering through the maple leaves
and a star looking down through every cranny.
The night is solemn and it means mystery.
Human shapes flitted by like intangible things. Some stole up like little mice to peep at me. I
did not mind. My whole being was abandoned to the soothing and penetrating charm of the
night. The katydids began their slumber song: they are at it yet. How wise they are. They do
not chatter like people. They tell me only: "sleep, sleep, sleep." The wind rippled the maple
leaves like little warm love thrills. Why do fools cumber the Earth! It was a man‘s voice that
broke the necromancer‘s spell. A man came today with his "Bible Class." He is detestable
with his red cheeks and bold eyes and coarse manner and speech. What does he know of Christ? Shall I ask a young fool who was born yesterday and will die tomorrow to tell me things of Christ? I would rather ask the stars: they have seen him.
[Short Story by Kate Chopin]
Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
- Being close to nature can bring one closer to God.
- Nature is just a mystery.
- Books and Man are both detestable.
- None of these.
Explanatory Answer
Although the author is frustrated with man and his books, that is not the main idea of the passage. The author conveys that an experience of Nature is richer and more meaningful than the transient activities and talks of humans.
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