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Reading Comprehension [RC] Questions in CAT 2025, Types & Category
Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on May 02, 2025 12:24 PM IST | #CAT
Reading Comprehension (RC) plays a crucial role in the CAT Exam and can enhance your score. Many students find RC questions challenging, but with the right strategy and consistent practice, they become easier to manage. In this article, we’ll explore the different types of RC questions you might face in CAT 2025 and share effective tips for tackling them successfully. By understanding these question patterns and applying a smart approach, you'll be able to answer RC questions confidently and improve your performance in this section.
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Primary Classification of Reading Comprehension Question Types in CAT
In the CAT Reading Comprehension (RC) section, questions are primarily classified into two categories. The first category focuses on factual questions, which test your understanding of the text's explicit details. The second category includes inferential questions, where you need to analyse and interpret the underlying meaning or tone of the passage. Both types require careful reading and attention to detail. A balanced approach of understanding both facts and inferences is key to performing well in this section. By practising these question types, you can improve your accuracy and speed during the exam.
CATEGORY 1: BIG PICTURE QUESTIONS
The first type of questions you encounter in CAT is the BIG PICTURE QUESTIONS. As the name suggests, these questions are based on the overall content and ideas of the passage. Rather than referring to any specific detail, they refer to the main ideas, tone, and purpose of the author of the passage. For this question category, you need to focus on the overall understanding of the passage and ensure that you identify the critical aspects of the passage. The various question types that fall under this category are:
Main Idea Questions
Primary Purpose Questions
Tone Questions
Structure and Organisation Questions
Author Profession Questions
Title Questions
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Download NowWe will take up each question type and understand the approach for the same.
CATEGORY 2: SPECIFIC DETAIL QUESTIONS
The second question you encounter in CAT is the SPECIFIC DETAIL QUESTIONS. As the name suggests, these questions are based on specific ideas and parts of the passage. These question types revolve around specific contexts and portions of the passage. The key thing for such questions is the retention of information and the ability to break down the passage into as many simple ideas as possible. The various question types that fall under this category are:
Inference based questions
Author agreement/disagreement questions
Paraphrase and meaning identification questions
'Must be true' questions
Fact-based questions
Vocabulary based questions
The above represents the broad classification for the different question types that are probed in CAT reading comprehensions. Let's now pick up these question types one by one and highlight the appropriate approach for each.
Question Type 1: RC Main Idea Questions
This question type revolves around the one thing it explicitly mentions: the passage's main idea. It can be framed in a variety of ways, such as:
What is the main idea of the passage?
What is the main point of the passage?
What is the central idea of the passage?
What is the central point of the passage?
Summarise the passage in one line.
Identify the gist of the passage.
In some cases, this question type employs a simple trick of vaguely preserving the passage's main point but changing the subject. The answer options might be too general or too specific regarding their approach and choice of topics. This common trick is known as the SCOPE TRAP, and you should be careful when solving RC main idea questions. It's essential to be careful not to stray from the scope of the given passage. Remember: always stay within the confines of what was written and focus on retaining the main point of that text.
Question Type 2: RC Primary Purpose Questions
As the name suggests, this question type asks you to identify the purpose of the author of the passage. If the RC main idea question is about the WHAT OF THE PASSAGE, then the RC primary purpose question is about the WHY OF THE AUTHOR/PASSAGE. This question type essentially asks you to identify the purpose behind writing the particular passage. Let's look at some of the different purposes that authors can adopt in this question type:
The author might try to convince the reader about something
The author might try to defy or deny something
The author might try to explain something
The author might try to educate the reader about something
The author might try to debate an issue
The author might try to support or object to a point of view or position
The author might simply be trying to share his or her own experiences
As you can see, all of the above represent some or the other purpose for writing the passage. There are infinite such reasons that can exist while writing a passage. As a good preparation tool, you should always ask yourself why the author has written this and what he is trying to achieve while reading articles. Also, try to list as many reasons as possible to write articles and use your observation skills to the fullest. Gradually, over time, you will begin to understand the different reasons for writing articles and be able to identify relevant patterns for this question type.
Question Type 3: RC Tone Questions
Questions about tone and attitude depend on the author's approach and style. These questions are mainly about identifying the type and nature of the passage and then co-relating that with the sentiment expressed by the author of the passage.
Broadly speaking, each passage has three possible natures:
Positive: something or someone is described positively.
Neutral: something or someone is described in a neutral way.
Negative: something or someone is described negatively.
Once you've identified the type of passage, you can link it to the answer options, which will help you find the answer. As a good practice exercise and method to prepare for this question, list down the words which are commonly used as answer choices for this question type. This list will help you understand the meanings of words and identify the correct answer easily.
Question Type 4: RC Structure and Organisation Questions
The phrasing of this question type is straightforward. The examiner asks you to identify the correct organisation/structure of the passage. You need to figure out how the passage's content has been structured for this particular question type. Here, the examiner aims to evaluate your skills in identifying the organisational/structural elements used by the author of the passage. To help you understand what we are talking about, some examples of the kind of answer options you see in this question type are listed below:
A concept is highlighted, its key variables explained, and its outcomes highlighted
An experience is shared, the underlying idea is exposed, and the scope of the idea is explained.
An experiment is explained and detailed; its outcomes in the present time are explained.
An experience is shared, the underlying activity is exposed, and the scope of the activity is explained.
A distinction/divergence in approach for a certain topic is explained, and the method to resolve this divergence is explained.
A possible way of approaching a topic is questioned, possible schools of thought are explained, and further explanation is provided.
A debate is highlighted, and then its resolutions are provided.
A topic is highlighted, possible positions on the same are brought forward and then a limitation of our approach to the topic is explained.
As you can see from the above, this question type is not about the information, but the structural elements used to present that information. The best way to perfect this question type is to be aware of the different structural elements being used by the author and continuously try to put these into categories such as: facts, opinions, conclusions, examples, analogies, concepts, theories, experiences, topics, debates, etc. Once you begin to do this, you begin to develop a grasp of this question type.
Question Type 5: RC Author Profession Questions
This is a peculiar question where you are asked to identify the suitable/probable profession of the author. The first thing that needs to be kept in mind for this question type is that question asks you to identify the probable/suitable profession of the author. Remember, as a caveat, anyone can write on any subject. But the most probable logical relation we can make is between the subject/area of the passage and the author's profession. The author's profession is likely linked to the topics talked about in the passage. For example:
A neuroscientist is likely to write about subjects related to our nervous system, functions, and disorders.
A political journalist is likely to talk about political events.
A United Nations diplomat is likely to talk about global events.
A central bank governor is likely to talk about economics.
This is how the profession of the author is mapped with the content of the passage. As a starting point for this question type, make sure you read the author description/bio every time you read an article. This will help you intrinsically understand the different authors professions and how they relate to written text.
Question Type 6: RC Title Questions
The RC title question revolves around the passage's main idea, and you are supposed to identify the most likely title. Here, the best answer is the title that best represents the passage's main idea and is closest in expressing the maximum number of dimensions of the passage. Let us look at some of the recent titles that have been featured in newspapers and publications:
The great jobs hunt: Too few Indians are seeking work and mostly among those working quality of employment isn't great
Big Bangalore theory: Why keep banging on about its mess?
The importance of work-life balance and how to cultivate it effectively
Nothing is more difficult than being successful
What explains India slipping in Global Hunger Index rankings?
How the world's harshest lockdown hit India's millions of migrant workers
Thriving on Mars
Geopolitics is for losers
Why did consciousness evolve?
Why making if-then connections might be the key to consciousness
Moral mathematics
We can see from the titles above that some are directly based on the content and some are indirect. By observing these titles, and co-relating them with the articles, you can improve your grasp for this question type.
Question Type 7: RC Inference-Based Questions
These are the complicated ones and pose the greatest challenge to students. Also, the last few years have seen this question type being probed in multiple ways in the exam. The various ways in which this question type has been phrased in the exam is as follows:
Which one of the following can be inferred from the passage?
Which one of the following cannot be inferred from the passage?
All of the following can be inferred from the passage except:
All of the following cannot be inferred from the passage except:
As you can see from the above, the multiple ways of phrasing this question type have added to the complexity levels and made it difficult for students in the exam.
There are two types of inference questions in the CAT:
Actual inference questions: these are questions in which inference is something that is not specified and is derived from the context provided.
Reframing the facts: Several questions in this area are based simply on repeating the facts of the passage. All that is done is to reaffirm the facts mentioned in the passage as alternate words.
You should keep an eye on these questions and find out what kind of questions they are. Also, try to identify the source of the inference in the passage and focus on the relative context (two lines above and below the specified context). They usually contain an indication of the answer given. The critical ability to reach the right conclusion is also to understand the passage's context and key ideas. Once you've done that, you'll be able to identify the correct answer.
Question Type 8: RC Author agreement/disagreement Questions
This is another type of difficult question that frequently appears on the CAT exam. This question is generally phrased as:
According to the information given in the passage/according to the author of the passage, which one of the following would the author agree with?
According to the information given in the passage/according to the author of the passage, which one of the following would the author disagree with?
What do you consider in this question? To identify the agreement or disagreement of the author of the passage, you must identify the key ideas of the passage, and you need to focus on the different points discussed in the passage. By reading the passage carefully, note any crucial points that come up. These will help guide your analysis while answering questions about the author's opinions.
Remember that choices in this question type might contain:
Distortions of content which are very similar to the information given within the passage. These can be difficult to identify and pose a challenge in the exam.
Overgeneralise the given context or situation and thus, in the process, become irrelevant in the given context.
Question Type 9: RC Paraphrase and meaning identification Questions
This is a question type where you are asked to identify the correct meaning of a specific extract from the passage. Generally, you are provided one to two lines in this question type and then are supposed to find the option that explains these lines' meaning. The fundamental trick for this question type is that along with the specific lines probed, the context of these lines (a few lines above and a few lines below the specific content) is essential in identifying the correct answer. The correct answer is generally connected to this context.
Question Type 10: RC Author 'Must be true' Questions
This question type is generally phrased in the following ways:
According to the information given in the passage/according to the author of the passage, which one of them must be true?
According to the information given in the passage/according to the author of the passage, which one of them must be false?
In this question type, you are essentially checking the factual relevance of content and whether the particular sentiment/fact/piece of information mentioned in the question has been mentioned in the same way in the passage or not. This question type demands content retention primarily, and as an approach, you will do well to list important points from each paragraph reading the passage. This will help you locate and connect the information with the answer choices.
Question Type 11: RC Fact-based Questions
This is the easiest question type that features in the CAT exam. Here, you are simply asked to identify the correct statement or fact from the given options. Once again, this question type is essentially about retaining information and quickly verifying the information in the answer choices with the information in the question statement.
Question Type 12: RC Vocabulary based Questions
The last RC question type is based on vocabulary. Here, you can be asked to identify the correct meanings of words or phrases. This question type is essentially driven by your knowledge of vocabulary and your ability to identify the meaning of words contextually. A good reading habit goes a long way in improving the skills required for this question type.
With this, we complete this exhaustive guide dealing with various RC question types. With the help of this guide, you should be able to solve CAT reading comprehensions a lot better and also should be able to refine your preparation approach for CAT reading comprehensions.
CAT Reading Comprehension Study Material
For effective preparation for the Reading Comprehension (RC) section of the CAT exam, it’s essential to use a variety of study materials. Focus on high-quality RC practice books that offer a range of passages and questions similar to those on the exam.
Additionally, reading diverse materials like newspapers, magazines, and academic journals can help improve your comprehension skills and speed. Incorporate online resources and CAT prep apps that provide practice tests and detailed explanations to enhance your understanding and strategy.
Regular practice with these materials will help you become more efficient at analyzing passages and answering questions accurately. You can download and study the following CAT study materials designed exclusively for the CAT Reading Comprehension section.
TITLE | DOWNLOAD LINK |
CAT 2025 Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) Study Material | |
CAT VARC Sample Questions 2025 | |
CAT Previous Year Question Papers |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How much time should I spend on each RC passage during the exam?
Aim to spend around 5-7 minutes per passage. Read the passage quickly but carefully, then answer the questions within 2-3 minutes. Practicing this time management will help you stay on track during the exam.
2. How can I easily answer fact-based RC questions?
For factual questions, go through the passage and seek for particular lines or paragraphs that specifically mention the answer. These are simple and do not need much evaluation.
3. What is the best strategy to solve inference-based questions?
For inference-based questions, consider the actual depth of meaning of the words. Pay attention to the author's tone, meanings, and what he or she does not openly convey. Practice helps with these kinds of questions, otherwise it can be difficult for candidates.
4. How can I determine the central idea of an RC passage?
To determine the primary idea behind the lines given, read the passage's introduction and conclusion. Ignore minor issues and consider the broader picture—ask yourself, "What is the passage really trying to say?"
5. How can I improve my RC score quickly before the CAT exam?
Focus on practicing RC passages every day. Read different topics to improve your comprehension and speed. Work on understanding the main idea and tone quickly, and take mock tests to simulate the actual exam environment.
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Questions related to CAT
Have a question related to CAT ?
With a rank of 33,000 in the VITEEE 2025 exam:
You can get:
VIT-AP (Amaravati) – Category 1 or 2 for most branches including CSE (except CSE specializations might need Cat 2).
VIT-Bhopal – Easily Category 1 for all branches including CSE and its specializations.
Both campuses have relatively lower cutoffs than VIT Vellore or Chennai, so 33,000 rank is considered good for AP or Bhopal campus.
harsh singh 08 May,2025
VIT Bhopal – CSE (Cat 1): Lower fees, good for programming, but newer campus and fewer top-tier companies.
VIT Chennai – ECE (Cat 2): Better campus, more industry exposure, but higher fees and slightly lower average packages for ECE.
Verdict: If you prefer CSE and lower fees, go for VIT Bhopal. If you value campus reputation and industry exposure, choose VIT Chennai ECE.
harsh singh 08 May,2025
Hey there! With a rank of 74k in VITEEE, getting into CSE at VIT AP might be a bit tricky, especially in Category 1, where the competition is pretty fierce. However, you might have a better shot in Category 2, as they usually have more seats and slightly relaxed criteria. It's always worth checking the latest cutoffs and trends, but don't lose hope just yet! Good luck! For more detail call-9962747850
Rohit singh 07 May,2025
With a rank of 74,000 in VITEEE, it is unlikely that you will secure admission in Computer Science Engineering (CSE) in either Category 1 or Category 2 at VIT AP, as the cutoffs for CSE are generally higher. However, you may explore other branches or options.
Sujal Singh 06 May,2025
With a VITEEE 2025 rank of 74,000 , securing admission to the B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) program at VIT-AP University under Category 1 or Category 2 is not feasible .
VIT-AP CSE Cutoff Trends
Based on previous years' data, the cutoff ranks for the CSE program at VIT-AP are as follows:
-
Category 1 : Up to 15,000
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Category 2 : 15,001 – 25,000
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Category 3 : 25,001 – 40,000
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Category 4 : 40,001 – 55,000
Given your rank of 74,000 , you fall beyond the typical cutoff for Category 5. While there might be slight variations in cutoff ranks each year based on factors like seat availability and applicant pool, it's unlikely that the cutoff for Category 5 would extend significantly beyond 70,000.
Alternative Options
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Consider Other Campuses : VIT Bhopal and VIT Chennai may have slightly higher cutoff ranks for CSE in higher categories. Exploring these campuses could increase your chances of admission.
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Explore Other Specializations : If you're open to related fields, programs like CSE with specializations in AI/ML , Data Science , or Cybersecurity might have different cutoff trends.
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Look into Other Institutions : Private universities such as SRM Institute of Science and Technology , Amity University , or Sharda University offer CSE programs with varying admission criteria.
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Alternative Pathways : Consider enrolling in a diploma or certification course in computer science or related fields to build foundational knowledge, and then explore lateral entry options into B.Tech programs. https://engineering.careers360.com/articles/viteee-cutoff
Mayumi DAS 06 May,2025
Popular CAT Questions
Directions for question :
M/s Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, one of the top four audit and accounting firms in the world with headquarters at London, UK, and with an operational presence in 153 countries, hires Management Trainees (MT) from all the premier management institutes of India thrice every year, in the months of January, May and September.
Each new group of Management Trainees (MT) have to go through a four month rigorous training schedule, after which they have to pass through a test consisting of a written assessment and a case-analysis. The top hundred ranked Management Trainees (MT) based on the performance in the test are confirmed as Management Executives (ME). The rest are given the opportunity of undergoing the training for four months one more time along with the next batch of Management Trainees (MT) and then passing through the subsequent test consisting of the written assessment and case-analysis. The Management Trainee (MT) who fails to get confirmed as a Management Executive (ME) the second time is fired.
The scatter-graph below depicts the number of Management Trainees (MT) at Deloitte taking the tests from January 2020 till May 2022, and the vis-à-vis hired Management Trainees (MT) at Deloitte who were fired :
It is also known that for the month of September 2019 at Deloitte, 96 hired Management Trainees (MT) failed to be confirmed as a Management Executive (ME) the first time, and that 36 hired Management Trainees (MT) were fired.
Question :
In which test did the minimum number of Management Trainees (MT) get confirmed as a Management Executive (ME) in the second attempt ?
Option: 1
September 2020
Option: 2
May 2021
Option: 3
January 2021
Option: 4
January 2022
Directions for question:
The bar-graph given below shows the foreign exchange reserves of Nepal (in million Rupees) from 2014 to 2021. Answer the following questions based on the graph :
Question:
What was the percentage increase (rounded to the nearest integer, if deemed necessary) in the foreign exchange reserves in 2020 over 2016 ?
Option: 1 None
Option: 2 None
Option: 3 None
Option: 4 None
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