Comprehension
Public speaking is a powerful real-life skill. Over the centuries, impressive speeches made by people from various walks of life have helped to change hearts, minds and shape the world as we see it today. Speeches that are delivered with intense emotions and conviction can infuse compassion and forgiveness; elevate levels of hatred and destruction; break or unite nations.
On October 5, in 1877 in the mountains of Montana Territory, when Chief Joseph surrendered to General Nelson A. Miles, the former gave a Surrender Speech. The speech included these words: "It is cold, and we have no blankets; the little children are freezing to death. I want time to look for my children, and see how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my Chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever."
The heart-wrenching speech bared the grief and misery of the speaker, and those subjected to overwhelming hardships.
During World War II, the speech We Shall Fight on the Beaches delivered by Winston Churchill on June 4, 1940 is considered a high-powered speech that strengthened the determination of those present in the House of Commons. In the speech, he said, "Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills;"
In 1950, William Faulkner was honoured with a Nobel Prize for his significant contributions to the American novel. This was the time when the Soviet Union had found the possible implications of the use of the atomic bomb, and people had begun to live in the fear of annihilation. In his Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech, Faulkner urged writers of various genres to think and write beyond the fear of destruction, and instead write materials that would lift the human spirit. The powerful message included: "I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance. The poet's, the writer's, duty is to write about these things. It is his privilege to help man endure by lifting his heart, by reminding him of the courage and honor and hope and pride and compassion and pity and sacrifice which have been the glories of his past. The poet's voice need not merely be the record of man, it can be one of the props, the pillars to help him endure and prevail."
Undoubtedly, effective speeches have a long-lasting impact on the minds of the listeners, and they elevate the levels of awareness or actions the speaker intends to raise or catalyze.
On October 5, in 1877 in the mountains of Montana Territory, when Chief Joseph surrendered to General Nelson A. Miles, the former gave a Surrender Speech. The speech included these words: "It is cold, and we have no blankets; the little children are freezing to death. I want time to look for my children, and see how many of them I can find. Maybe I shall find them among the dead. Hear me, my Chiefs! I am tired; my heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands I will fight no more forever."
The heart-wrenching speech bared the grief and misery of the speaker, and those subjected to overwhelming hardships.
During World War II, the speech We Shall Fight on the Beaches delivered by Winston Churchill on June 4, 1940 is considered a high-powered speech that strengthened the determination of those present in the House of Commons. In the speech, he said, "Even though large tracts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills;"
In 1950, William Faulkner was honoured with a Nobel Prize for his significant contributions to the American novel. This was the time when the Soviet Union had found the possible implications of the use of the atomic bomb, and people had begun to live in the fear of annihilation. In his Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech, Faulkner urged writers of various genres to think and write beyond the fear of destruction, and instead write materials that would lift the human spirit. The powerful message included: "I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance. The poet's, the writer's, duty is to write about these things. It is his privilege to help man endure by lifting his heart, by reminding him of the courage and honor and hope and pride and compassion and pity and sacrifice which have been the glories of his past. The poet's voice need not merely be the record of man, it can be one of the props, the pillars to help him endure and prevail."
Undoubtedly, effective speeches have a long-lasting impact on the minds of the listeners, and they elevate the levels of awareness or actions the speaker intends to raise or catalyze.
Question: 1
The main idea of the passage is that
The main idea of the passage is that
Updated On: Jul 14, 2026
- All leaders should be accomplished public speakers.
- An impactful speech can convey a strong message to the listeners.
- A speech should sound pleasing to the ears of the listeners.
- Publicspeakers should be bold and argumentative.
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The Correct Option is B
Approach Solution - 1
The correct option is (B): An impactful speech can convey a strong message to the listeners.
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Approach Solution -2
The passage opens with the claim that speeches delivered with intense emotion can change hearts, minds, and the world, and it then supports this claim with three examples: Chief Joseph's Surrender Speech, Churchill's wartime address, and Faulkner's Nobel speech. The question asks what the passage is fundamentally arguing. Let's assess each option against that structure.
- All leaders should be accomplished public speakers: The passage never discusses leadership as a role or skill to be cultivated; Faulkner was a novelist, not a political leader, and the passage's focus is on the effect of specific speeches, not on prescribing that leaders in general must master oratory. This option introduces a prescription the passage does not make.
- An impactful speech can convey a strong message to the listeners: This matches the passage's opening claim almost word for word, that speeches "delivered with intense emotions and conviction" can "infuse compassion," "elevate levels of hatred," or "break or unite nations." Each of the three examples is offered as proof that a powerfully delivered speech carries a message that stays with its audience, which is exactly the closing line of the passage as well.
- A speech should sound pleasing to the ears of the listeners: None of the three quoted speeches is chosen for being pleasant to listen to. Chief Joseph's speech is about freezing children and death; Churchill's is about fighting on beaches and in the streets. The passage values impact and emotional truth over pleasantness, so this option misreads the basis on which the examples were chosen.
- Public speakers should be bold and argumentative: Faulkner's speech is reflective and consoling rather than argumentative, and Chief Joseph's speech is an admission of defeat rather than a bold argument. "Argumentative" does not describe any of the three examples, so this option cannot be the passage's main idea.
Only the second option is consistent with both the passage's opening claim and all three supporting examples.
Therefore, the correct answer is An impactful speech can convey a strong message to the listeners.
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Question: 2
The tone of the Surrender Speech is
The tone of the Surrender Speech is
Updated On: Jul 14, 2026
- Satiric
- Optimistic
- Poignant
- Narcissistic
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The Correct Option is C
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The correct option is (C): Poignant.
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Approach Solution -2
The question asks for the tone of Chief Joseph's Surrender Speech specifically, quoted in the passage as: "It is cold, and we have no blankets; the little children are freezing to death... My heart is sick and sad... I will fight no more forever." Let's examine each option against these words.
- Satiric: Satire uses irony or exaggeration to mock or criticise a person or institution. There is no mockery or exaggeration in this quote, the speaker states his suffering plainly and directly, so satiric does not fit.
- Optimistic: An optimistic tone would express hope for a better outcome. This speech is a surrender, its speaker explicitly says he will "fight no more forever" and describes children freezing to death, which is the language of defeat and loss, not hope.
- Poignant: Poignant describes something that evokes deep sadness or regret. The quote's focus on cold, dying children, and a "sick and sad" heart is a direct, unadorned expression of grief that is deeply moving to read, which is precisely what poignant describes.
- Narcissistic: A narcissistic tone would centre the speaker's own self-importance or vanity. Chief Joseph's words are focused outward, on his people's suffering and his missing children, not on himself, so narcissistic does not fit.
The words describing freezing children and a heart that is "sick and sad" are a direct, sorrowful admission of loss, which is what "poignant" specifically names.
Therefore, the correct answer is Poignant.
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Question: 3
it is evident that through his speech, Churchill wished to _____ his countrymen ______ .
it is evident that through his speech, Churchill wished to _____ his countrymen ______ .
Updated On: Jul 14, 2026
- Inform, about the challenges that arise in a war-torn country.
- Warn, against the futility of war.
- Remind, how their endeavours to fight against the Nazi rule had failed miserably.
- reassure, that they would combat fiercely against their enemy under all circumstances.
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The Correct Option is D
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The correct option is (D): reassure, that they would combat fiercely against their enemy under all circumstances.
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Approach Solution -2
The quoted lines from Churchill's speech are: "we shall not flag or fail... we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans... we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills." The question asks what Churchill was trying to do with these words, addressed to his countrymen. Let's test each option against this quote.
- Inform, about the challenges that arise in a war-torn country: The quote does not list logistical or civilian challenges of wartime life, it is a declaration of continued fighting, not a factual briefing on hardships, so "inform about challenges" does not match.
- Warn, against the futility of war: The quote never suggests war is futile or pointless, it argues the opposite, that the fight is worth continuing regardless of cost. A warning against futility would discourage further fighting, which contradicts the speech's message entirely.
- Remind, how their endeavours to fight against the Nazi rule had failed miserably: The quote does acknowledge that parts of Europe "have fallen or may fall," but it does not dwell on past failure, it pivots immediately to future resolve ("we shall not flag or fail"). The dominant thrust is forward-looking determination, not a reminder of past failure.
- Reassure, that they would combat fiercely against their enemy under all circumstances: The repeated structure "we shall fight... we shall fight... we shall fight" across every terrain named, beaches, landing grounds, fields, streets, hills, is a rhetorical device meant to reassure listeners that resistance will continue no matter where or how the enemy attacks. This matches the quote's repetition and its list of every possible battleground.
The relentless repetition of "we shall fight," covering every conceivable location, is a reassurance of unwavering resistance, not information, a warning, or a reminder of failure.
Therefore, the correct answer is reassure, that they would combat fiercely against their enemy under all circumstances.
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Question: 4
Which one of the following is the least likely to be used to describe Churchill?
Which one of the following is the least likely to be used to describe Churchill?
Updated On: Jul 14, 2026
- Resolute
- Undaunted
- Complacent
- Unwavering
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The Correct Option is C
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The correct option is (C): Complacent.
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The passage describes Churchill's speech as one that "strengthened the determination" of the House of Commons through a repeated pledge to keep fighting "whatever the cost may be." The question asks which word is least likely to describe him, based on that portrayal. Let's assess each option.
- Resolute: Resolute means firm and determined. Churchill's repeated declaration that Britain would fight on every front regardless of cost is a direct expression of firm determination, so this word fits him well and is not the answer.
- Undaunted: Undaunted means not discouraged or intimidated by difficulty or danger. Even while acknowledging that large parts of Europe had fallen or might fall to the enemy, Churchill's tone remains defiant rather than fearful, so this word also fits him and is not the answer.
- Complacent: Complacent means self-satisfied and unconcerned about danger, often to the point of being unprepared for it. Churchill's speech is the opposite of this, it is a call to continued vigilance and effort in the face of a very real threat, acknowledging that danger is immediate and serious. A complacent leader would downplay the threat, but Churchill's words do the reverse, they emphasise the scale of the fight ahead.
- Unwavering: Unwavering means steady and not changing. The repeated, unbroken structure of "we shall fight... we shall fight..." across every possible battleground shows a steadiness of resolve that does not waver, so this word fits him and is not the answer.
Three of the four words describe steady, undiscouraged determination, which is exactly what the quoted speech conveys, while "complacent" describes an unconcerned ease that is the direct opposite of the urgency in Churchill's words.
Therefore, the correct answer is Complacent.
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Question: 5
In the sentence : ‘The poet’s voice need not merely be the record of man, it can be one of the props, the pillars to help him endure and prevail’ Faulkner has used _______ to convey the power of a poet’s writings.
In the sentence : ‘The poet’s voice need not merely be the record of man, it can be one of the props, the pillars to help him endure and prevail’ Faulkner has used _______ to convey the power of a poet’s writings.
Updated On: Jul 14, 2026
- A metaphor
- A simile
- An onomatopoeia
- A transferred epithet
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The Correct Option is A
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The correct option is (A): A metaphor.
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The quoted line is: "The poet's voice need not merely be the record of man, it can be one of the props, the pillars to help him endure and prevail." The question asks which figure of speech Faulkner uses here. Let's check each option against the actual wording.
- A metaphor: A metaphor describes one thing by directly calling it another, without using "like" or "as." Here, a poet's "voice" is directly called "one of the props, the pillars," structures that hold something up, without any comparison word linking them. This is a direct, implied comparison, which is the definition of a metaphor.
- A simile: A simile makes the same kind of comparison but uses "like" or "as" to signal it explicitly, for example "the poet's voice is like a pillar." The actual sentence contains no such word, the voice simply "can be" the pillar, so this is not a simile.
- An onomatopoeia: Onomatopoeia refers to a word that imitates the sound it describes, such as "buzz" or "crash." Nothing in this sentence imitates a sound, so this option does not apply at all.
- A transferred epithet: A transferred epithet applies an adjective to a noun other than the one it logically describes, for instance a "sleepless night" (the person is sleepless, not the night). There is no adjective being shifted from one noun to another in this sentence, so this option also does not apply.
Calling a voice a "pillar" without any comparison word is a direct, implied equation of two unlike things, which is a metaphor rather than a simile, an onomatopoeia, or a transferred epithet.
Therefore, the correct answer is A metaphor.
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Top CLAT Questions
- In the realm of contemporary literature, the interplay between character and setting is a nuanced dance that shapes the narrative’s essence. The setting, often described with painstaking detail, becomes more than a backdrop; it becomes a character, influencing the plot and character development.
Consider, for instance, the barren expanse of the desert in Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake. The arid landscape mirrors the sense of isolation felt by the protagonist, Gogol, as he navigates his identity crisis in a foreign land. The relentless sun and vast sands are not mere descriptions; they are the silent witnesses to his inner turmoil.
On the other end of the literary spectrum, there is Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things. The lush, vibrant Kerala backwaters are not just the setting; they are a character woven into the fabric of the story. The teeming, humid landscape reflects the complex web of human relationships and secrets that unravel in the narrative. This interplay is not confined to contemporary literature alone. In Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy Macbeth, the eerie and foreboding setting of the Scottish moors casts a dark shadow over the characters’ actions. The moors, shrouded in mist and mystery, serve as an ever-present omen of the impending tragedy. - The crisis of justice that is the subject matter of discussion in the media today is in fact the crisis of “justice for the middle class”. The main difference between India and the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries is that whereas the middle class in these countries has reasonable access to justice, in India it does not. A vocal and powerful middle class has emerged in India since 1991. It is demanding reasonable access to justice. Much of the judicial reform effort will help meet this demand…
The question of justice for the poor is, however, an altogether different challenge. No country in the world has been able to secure justice for the poor. Most of the jails of the richest countries are filled with the poorest. The “masses” are more often victims of the criminal justice system than of crime. In India as well, jails are almost exclusively filled with the poor. The civil justice system is hardly accessible to them. They are often victimised by lawyers, touts and court staff. They are docket-excluded, a new type of untouchability. The language and the logic—and the colonial and feudal culture—of the judicial system are alien to them. It rarely takes cognisance of their needs and interests.
Their main concern, therefore, is to escape the attention of the justice system, criminal and civil. A landless Dalit person in the interior of Madhya Pradesh once gave me an insightful definition of a court from the perspective of the masses: “A court is a place where you are forcibly taken by the police to be punished; no one goes to a court.” In contrast, many lawyers and judges colloquially define a court as “a temple of justice where rights are protected”.
These sharply divergent visions mean that justice for one section is often injustice for another. Protecting the livelihood of traditional taxi and auto drivers from predatory pricing by corporate app-based taxi providers by imaginatively using the available tools of law to delay their incursion would be seen by the rich and by sections of the middle class as a failure of the judicial system, and possibly as also resulting in a downgrading of the “ease of doing business” measure. However, the masses would see such a judicial intervention as strong evidence of a good justice system. Although the conflict over competing visions of the nation and conflicting demands from social and economic segments have confined judicial reform of judicial administration mainly to “neutral” areas such as process reform, procedural law, technology, planning and court and case management, judge strength, and the workload of judges, there has been considerable improvement in these areas, and the judicial system has improved its performance.
[Extracted, with edits, from “Justice and the Two Ideas of India”, by G. Mohan Gopal, Frontline] - Everything she wanted was here, at Carignano, in Kasauli. Here, on the ridge of the mountain, in this quiet house. It was the place, and the time of life, that she had wanted and prepared for all her life-as she realized on the first day at Carignano, with a great, cool flowering of relief - and at last she had it. She wanted no one and nothing else. Whatever else came, or happened here, would be an unwelcome intrusion and distraction. This she tried to convey to the plodding postman with a cold and piercing stare from the height of the ridge onto his honest bull back. Unfortunately, he did not look up at her on the hilltop but stared stolidly down at the dust piling onto his shoes as he plodded on. A bullock-man, an oafish ox, she thought bitterly. She stepped backwards into the garden and the wind suddenly billowed up and threw the pine branches about as though to curtain her. She was grey, tall and thin and her silk sari made a sweeping, shivering sound and she fancied she could merge with the pine trees and be mistaken for one. To be a tree, no more and no less, was all she was prepared to undertake.
What pleased and satisfied her so, here at Carignano, was its barrenness. This was the chief virtue of all Kasauli of course-its starkness. It had rocks, it had pines, it had light and air. In every direction there was a sweeping view - to the north, of the mountains, to the south, of the plains. Occasionally an eagle swam through this clear unobstructed mass of light and air, that was all. And Carignano, her home on the ridge, had no more than that. Why should it? The sun shone on its white walls. Its windows were open the ones facing north opened on to the blue waves of the Himalayas flowing out and up to the line of ice and snow sketched upon the sky, while those that faced south looked down the plunging cliff to the plain stretching out, flat and sere to the blurred horizon.
Yes, there were some apricot trees close to the house. There were clumps of iris that had finished blooming. There was the kitchen with a wing of smoke lifting out of its chimney and a stack of wood outside its door. But these were incidental, almost unimportant.
[Extracted, with edits and revisions, from “Fire on the Mountain” by Anita Desai] - English literature is a vast and diverse field that has left an indelible mark on the world of letters. From the eloquent plays of William Shakespeare to the complex novels of Jane Austen and the profound poetry of William Wordsworth, English literature offers a window into the human experience. One of the luminaries of English literature is William Shakespeare, often hailed as the greatest playwright in the history of English language. His works, including Hamlet, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet, are celebrated for their exploration of human nature, love, ambition, and tragedy. His characters, such as the tormented Hamlet and the star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet, continue to captivate readers and audiences worldwide.
The 19th century ushered in a new era of literary giants. Jane Austen’s novels, such as Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, provide incisive social commentary through the lens of wit and romance. Austen’s heroines, like Elizabeth Bennet and Elinor Dashwood, remain beloved literary figures known for their intelligence and resilience. The Romantic era brought forth poets like William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who celebrated * 8 UG the beauty of nature and the emotional intensity of the individual. Wordsworth’s ‘‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’’ and Coleridge’s ‘‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’’ are testament to the power of the written words to evoke profound emotions and imagery. Moving towards 20th century, English literature continued to evolve. Virginia Woolf’s ground-breaking novel Mrs. Dalloway explored the inner thoughts and lives of its characters with a modernist narrative style. Dystopian visions, as seen in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four provided stark warnings about the dangers of totalitarianism and the erosion of individual freedom.
Today, English literature is a global phenomenon, transcending borders and languages. Indian authors like Arundhati Roy, with her novel The God of Small Things, have won prestigious international literary awards. The book not only explores intricate family dynamics but also delves into the broader socio-political landscape of India. In summary, English literature is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the written word. It encompasses an array of authors, themes, and styles that continue to captivate and inspire readers across the world. - On the evening of the 10th, General Dyer arrived at Amritsar, and the Deputy-Commissioner handed over the civil power to him. He issued a proclamation by word of mouth that no meetings should be held. Two days later, after there had been no sort of riot, nor murder, General Dyer heard that a meeting was to be held at the Jallianwala Bagh. He proceeded there with about fifty troops, half British, half Indian, and a certain number of Ghurkas, armed with their kukris. The Jallianwala Bagh is an open space, half a mile square, which has one entry wide enough for three persons. The troops got in and lined up on a mound of debris. The walls, seven feet high, and the surrounding houses enclosed the people. There were, too, three alleys through which the people might have been able to pass. Within thirty seconds of the troops getting in, General Dyer gave orders to fire, and the crowd of people, estimated at anything from 5,000 to 20,000, who were sitting on the ground peacefully listening to the mob oratory, were fired on. The result of the troops’ fire into the mass of people we do not know. But we do know that Dyer’s own estimate of the casualties resulting from ten minutes continual individual firing, was 400 to 500 killed and 1,500 wounded. The people were not able to escape. They were people who had not offered any violence and who had not been warned. These people were shot down. After ten minutes, the ammunition was exhausted and the troops marched off, and they left 1,500 wounded there. There were men lying there for two days, dying of thirst, eating the ground, bleeding to death and nobody to look after them. Those who lived nearby came and carried away some of the wounded from the heap of dead and dying, but the unfortunate country people died there miserably of their wounds. This is what is done in 1919 in British India…
Centuries hence you will find Indian children brought up to this spot, just as they visit now the Cawnpore Well, and you can imagine the feelings of these Indians for generations over this terrible business.
[Col. Wedgwood, MP, speaking in the British Parliament, 22 December 1919]
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