Comprehension
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.
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.
Question: 1
Why has the author lost interest in human beings ?
Why has the author lost interest in human beings ?
Updated On: Jul 15, 2026
- Because they make the author suffer.
- Because the human beings do not bring with them the warmth and the comfort which comes naturally with the night, starts and the wind.
- Because human beings are not mysterious.
- All of the above.
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The Correct Option is D
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The correct option is (D) : All of the above..
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This question asks why the author says at the start of the passage that she is losing interest in human beings. Let's check each proposed reason against the passage's own words.
- Because they make the author suffer: the passage says this directly, that she wants neither books nor men, because they make her suffer. This is stated as one plain, explicit reason.
- Because human beings do not bring the warmth and comfort that come naturally with the night, the stars, and the wind: the author asks whether one of them can talk to her like the night, the Summer night, like the stars or the caressing wind. This question implies that people cannot offer what the night, stars, and wind offer her, pointing to a lack of comfort in human company by comparison.
- Because human beings are not mysterious: the passage says the night is solemn and it means mystery, setting up mystery as something she values in the night. Since she draws this contrast right after describing her preference for the night over human company, the implication is that people lack this same mysterious quality that draws her in.
- All of the above: since each of the first three reasons has direct or implied support from the passage's own lines, none of them can be dismissed in favour of a single cause.
The passage gives several overlapping reasons for the author's loss of interest in people: they cause her suffering, they lack the comfort of nature, and they lack its mystery, rather than pointing to just one of these on its own.
Therefore, the correct answer is All of the above.
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Question: 2
The author has compared the night with :
The author has compared the night with :
Updated On: Jul 15, 2026
- The Katydids
- The Necromancer‘s spell
- Stars
- All of the above.
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The Correct Option is B
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The correct option is (B) : The Necromancer‘s spell.
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The question asks what the author compares the night to, in the given passage. Let's look at each option:
- The Katydids: Katydids are insects mentioned in the passage as making the night sounds, but they are part of the night's setting, not something the night itself is compared to.
- The Necromancer's spell: A necromancer is someone associated with dark magic and communicating with the unknown. Comparing the night to a necromancer's spell captures the sense of mystery, enchantment and quiet power that falls over everything once darkness sets in. This matches the tone of the comparison the author is making.
- Stars: Stars are objects that appear during the night, but the passage compares the night as a whole to something else, not to the stars themselves.
- All of the above: Since only the necromancer's spell fits as the actual point of comparison, this option cannot be correct.
Reading through the options this way, the necromancer's spell is the only one that describes what the night is compared to rather than something merely present during the night.
So the correct answer is The Necromancer's spell.
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Question: 3
Why has the author called the 'katydids‘ wise ?
Why has the author called the 'katydids‘ wise ?
Updated On: Jul 15, 2026
- Because they sing a slumber song.
- Because they tell the author to only 'sleep‘.
- Because they do not indulge in unnecessary and unimportant talks.
- Because they are not fools.
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The Correct Option is C
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The correct option is (C) : Because they do not indulge in unnecessary and unimportant talks.
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This question asks for the reason the author calls the katydids wise. Let's assess each option:
- Because they sing a slumber song: Singing a slumber song describes what the katydids do, but it does not by itself explain why that behaviour makes them wise.
- Because they tell the author to only sleep: This describes the message of their song, not the quality of wisdom the author is pointing to.
- Because they do not indulge in unnecessary and unimportant talks: Wisdom, in the way the author uses it here, comes from restraint, saying only what matters and staying quiet otherwise. The katydids are called wise because their song is brief and purposeful rather than idle chatter, which is exactly the quality of a wise creature.
- Because they are not fools: This is simply the opposite of being foolish, it restates the idea of wisdom without giving the actual reason behind it.
The option that gives the real reason, avoiding needless talk, is the one that matches why the author uses the word wise.
So the correct answer is Because they do not indulge in unnecessary and unimportant talks.
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Question: 4
Which of the following can be inferred from the passage ?
Which of the following can be inferred from the passage ?
Updated On: Jul 15, 2026
- Being close to nature can bring one closer to God.
- Nature is just a mystery.
- Books and Man are both detestable.
- None of these.
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The Correct Option is A
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The correct option is (A) : Being close to nature can bring one closer to God.
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This question asks which statement can be inferred, that is, reasonably concluded even though it may not be spelled out word for word, from the passage about the night and the katydids. Let's weigh each option:
- Being close to nature can bring one closer to God: The passage's night scene, with its stars, insect songs and quiet stillness, is described with a reverence that goes beyond simply describing scenery, it points to nature as something that lifts the mind toward the divine. This fits the general tone and message running through the passage.
- Nature is just a mystery: While nature is treated with wonder in the passage, calling it just a mystery reduces it to something unexplained and nothing more, which understates the deeper, spiritual connection the passage is building toward.
- Books and Man are both detestable: There is no basis in the passage for such a harsh judgment on books or on people, this option goes well beyond anything the passage supports.
- None of these: Since one option is well supported by the tone and content of the passage, this cannot be correct.
The reverent, almost sacred way the passage treats the night and nature supports the idea that closeness to nature draws a person nearer to God.
So the correct answer is Being close to nature can bring one closer to God.
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Question: 5
Which of the following words from the passage mean 'rough‘ ?
Which of the following words from the passage mean 'rough‘ ?
Updated On: Jul 15, 2026
- Solemn
- Caressing
- Coarse
- Slumber
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The Correct Option is C
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The correct option is (C) : Coarse.
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This is a straightforward vocabulary question, we need the word among the options that means rough. Let's go through each:
- Solemn: Solemn means serious or grave in manner, it describes a mood or tone, not a rough texture or quality, so it does not match.
- Caressing: To caress means to touch gently and lovingly, this is close to the opposite of rough, so it can be ruled out.
- Coarse: Coarse means rough or lacking in fineness, whether describing texture, sound or manner. This is a direct match for the meaning rough.
- Slumber: Slumber simply means sleep, it has nothing to do with texture or roughness.
Checking the dictionary sense of each word shows only one lines up exactly with rough.
So the correct answer is Coarse.
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Top CLAT Questions
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