Reading Comprehension [RC] Questions in CAT 2025, Types & Category

Reading Comprehension [RC] Questions in CAT 2025, Types & Category

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CAT Application Date:01 Aug' 25 - 20 Sep' 25

Team Careers360Updated on 09 Sep 2025, 01:54 PM IST

Reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 are a great way to get comfortable with the Verbal Ability section. They help you understand how to approach different types of passages, recognise tones, and tackle varied question formats. Working through CAT RC practice questions regularly improves both speed and accuracy. Start with CAT 2025 RC practice questions, then move on to past papers to upgrade your practice.

This Story also Contains

  1. Weightage of Reading Comprehension in CAT Exam
  2. Types of RC Passages in the CAT Exam
  3. Tips to Improve Reading Speed for CAT RC Practice Questions
  4. How to Build Vocabulary for Reading Comprehension for CAT 2025
  5. Complete Guide to CAT 2025 RC Question Types and Categories
  6. How to Use Previous Year RC Questions to Spot CAT Trends
  7. Common RC Mistakes CAT Aspirants Make and How to Avoid Them
  8. Best CAT RC Study Material and Practice Resources 2025
Reading Comprehension [RC] Questions in CAT 2025, Types & Category
Reading Comprehension [RC] Questions in CAT 2025, Types & Category

Weightage of Reading Comprehension in CAT Exam

Reading Comprehension (RC) carries substantial weight in the CAT exam, typically accounting for 24–28 questions out of 66 in the VARC section, which is approximately 35–40% of that section. Each RC passage usually has 4–5 questions, and aspirants can expect 4–5 passages per CAT exam, covering topics from social sciences, economics, and business to philosophy and literature.

Regular practice with reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 helps students familiarise themselves with diverse passage types and question patterns. Solving cat RC practice questions enhances reading speed, accuracy, and the ability to identify key ideas, inferences, and author tone.

Types of RC Passages in the CAT Exam

Understanding the types of reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 exam helps in solving questions more accurately. These passages vary in topic, tone, and complexity. Regular practice with CAT RC practice questions improves speed and accuracy in reading comprehension for CAT 2025.

1. Philosophical Passages

These passages discuss abstract ideas and concepts like truth, justice, or existence. They often involve complex reasoning and demand full attention. Regular practice through CAT 2025 RC practice questions will help you break down such ideas and understand the author’s line of thought. These are the trickiest and appear often in cat rc passages with solutions.

2. Scientific and Technical Passages

Such RC passages are based on science, technology, or research. They include facts, experiments, and conclusions. Solving reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 on science-related content will train you to read technical terms without getting stuck. These are common in reading comprehension for CAT 2025, especially in the VARC section.

3. Historical Passages

These reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 give details about historical events, movements, or figures. They may compare different time periods or highlight key developments. Practising CAT 2025 RC practice questions based on history will improve your ability to follow timelines and evaluate the author’s point of view.

4. Literary and Art-Based Passages

These reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 passages deal with literature, art, and culture. They usually include critiques, opinions, or analyses of styles and themes. Understanding tone, mood, and vocabulary is essential. Use cat rc passages with solutions that focus on arts and literature to develop these skills.

5. Economic and Business Passages

These reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 include topics like markets, finance, business policies, or global trade. The language can be formal and packed with jargon. Solving CAT 2025 RC practice questions in this area improves familiarity with economic terms and helps you answer fact-based and inference questions confidently.

Tips to Improve Reading Speed for CAT RC Practice Questions

Improving your reading speed is important for solving CAT RC practice questions on time. It helps you read faster, understand better, and attempt more questions with confidence. Whether you're working on CAT 2025 RC practice questions or regular reading comprehension for CAT 2025, faster reading improves your focus and accuracy. These tips will also help you while solving CAT RC passages with solutions:

  • Use newspapers like The Hindu and magazines such as The Economist to expose yourself to different topics and writing styles. This helps in building speed and comfort with reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025.

  • Many students read slowly because they "speak" the words in their minds. Practice reading silently with your eyes. This habit can boost your speed during CAT 2025 RC practice questions.

  • This keeps your focus steady and prevents distractions. It also helps reduce line skipping and improves flow while solving reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025.

  • Give yourself a time limit for each passage and question set. Practising timed reading will prepare you for the actual exam conditions and improve your performance in CAT RC practice questions.

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How to Build Vocabulary for Reading Comprehension for CAT 2025

A strong vocabulary helps you solve reading comprehension for CAT 2025 with more confidence and accuracy. Many CAT RC practice questions include words that are tricky or rarely used in daily life. To solve these reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 quickly, you need to understand the meaning without wasting time. Whether you're working or reviewing CAT RC passages with solutions, having a good word bank makes a big difference.

Maintain a Vocabulary Diary or Digital Note

Keep a small diary or digital note to write new words. Include their meaning, example sentence, and a synonym. This helps you remember them better for CAT 2025 RC practice questions.

Use Flashcards and Revision Apps for Consistent Practice

Apps like Anki or physical flashcards are great for revision. Review them daily to keep words fresh in your memory, especially for reading comprehension for CAT 2025.

Learn Words Through Context, Not Just Meaning

Instead of just memorising meanings, learn how a word is used in a sentence. This method is useful for understanding word usage in CAT RC practice questions.

Solve CAT RC Passages Focusing on Vocabulary and Tone

Some CAT RC passages with solutions focus more on vocabulary and tone. Try solving those regularly. It helps you apply what you’ve learnt in real exam settings.

Expand Vocabulary with Games and Interactive Exercises

Games like Wordle, crossword puzzles, or online vocabulary tests are fun and effective ways to expand your word knowledge.

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Complete Guide to CAT 2025 RC Question Types and Categories

In the CAT Reading Comprehension (RC) section, questions are primarily classified into two categories. The first category focuses of reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 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. By practising these reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025, 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 reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025, 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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We will examine each question type and understand the approach for it.

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 various reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 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

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The above represents the broad classification of the different question types probed in CAT reading comprehension. 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 reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 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.

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. Suppose 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

Question Type 3: RC Tone Questions

Questions about tone and attitude depend on the author's approach and style. These reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 primarily focus on identifying the type and nature of the passage and then correlating that with the sentiment expressed by the author.

Each passage has three possible natures:

  • Positive: something or someone is described in a positive manner.

  • Neutral: Something or someone is described neutrally.

  • 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 that are commonly used as answer choices for this question type. This list will help you understand the meanings of words and easily identify the correct answer.

Question Type 4: RC Structure and Organisation Questions

The phrasing of these reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 type is simple. 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.

  • 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 current outcomes are also 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.

Question Type 5: RC Author Profession Questions

This is a peculiar reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 where you are asked to identify the suitable/probable profession of the author. The first thing to keep in mind for this question type is that the question asks you to identify the probable or suitable profession of the author. As a caveat, remember that 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 related to the topics discussed 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's 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 for it. Here, the best answer is the reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 that best represents the passage's main idea and is closest to 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, the 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's slipping in the 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 correlating them with the articles, you can improve your grasp of 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 reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 type has been phrased in the exam are 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 in alternative words.

You should keep an eye on these reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 and determine what type 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).

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 reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025? 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.

Remember that choices in this question type might contain:

  1. Distortions of content that are very similar to the information given within the passage. These can be difficult to identify and pose a challenge in the exam.

  2. Overgeneralize the given context or situation, and thus, in the process, become irrelevant within the given context.

Question Type 9: RC Paraphrase and meaning identification Questions

This is a reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 type where you are asked to identify the correct meaning of a specific passage extract. Generally, you are provided one to two lines in this question type and then are supposed to find the option that explains the meaning of these lines. 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. These reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 primarily demand content retention, and as an approach, you will do well to list important points from each paragraph while 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 it in the answer choices against 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 type of question.

With this, we complete our exhaustive guide covering various RC question types. With the help of this guide, you should be able to solve CAT reading comprehension a lot better and also refine your preparation approach for CAT reading comprehension

How to Use Previous Year RC Questions to Spot CAT Trends

Practising with reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 is one of the smartest ways to understand exam patterns. By analysing past papers, students can track topic distribution, difficulty shifts, and common traps. Regular work on reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 also builds confidence and sharpens strategy for real exam day.

  • Start with cat rc practice questions to identify strengths in topics like philosophy, economics, or literature.

  • Solve reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 under timed conditions to build stamina.

  • Compare answers of reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 with expert explanations to refine accuracy.

  • Attempt cat 2025 rc practice questions weekly to mirror current difficulty trends.

  • Maintain a notebook of mistakes from reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 to avoid repeating errors.

Common RC Mistakes CAT Aspirants Make and How to Avoid Them

Many students work hard on Reading Comprehension but still struggle in the CAT exam. The main reason is repeating avoidable mistakes like rushing through passages, misinterpreting tone, or falling for trap options. Regular practice with reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 makes you aware of these patterns.

Avoid Skimming and Focus on Details

Many aspirants skim too fast and miss key details. Spending time on CAT RC practice questions improves your balance between speed and accuracy.

Practice Elimination Techniques for Close Options

The exam often includes close options to confuse you. Working through reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 helps you practise elimination techniques and spot subtle differences in choices.

Interpret Tone Accurately

Misreading tone leads to wrong answers. Solve CAT 2025 RC practice questions and check whether your interpretation of tone matches the solutions.

Review Mistakes and Track Errors

Some students jump to the next set without reviewing mistakes. Always revisit reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 and track errors in a separate logbook.

Learn Pacing Strategies

Spending too long on one passage hurts overall attempts. Simulating exam conditions with reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 ensures you learn pacing strategies that work under pressure.

Avoid Random Guessing

Guessing without logic reduces accuracy. Instead, focus on repeated exposure to reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 to build confidence and reduce the need for random guesses.

Best CAT RC Study Material and Practice Resources 2025

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.

Regular practice with these reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 will help you become more efficient at analysing 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

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CAT VARC Sample Questions 2025

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CAT Previous Year Question Papers

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How can I improve my score in CAT RC sections using practice questions?
A:

Analyse mistakes from each passage, understand question patterns, and practise reading comprehension practice questions for CAT 2025 regularly to improve accuracy and speed.

Q: Why are Reading Comprehension practice questions important for CAT preparation?
A:

They help students understand the exam pattern, improve reading speed, and train them to identify key points and answer questions accurately.

Q: How many RC practice questions should I attempt daily for CAT?
A:

Start with 2–3 passages daily, and gradually increase to 4–5 as you get comfortable. Quality and analysis matter more than quantity.

Q: What types of questions usually appear in CAT RC passages?
A:

Main idea, inference, vocabulary, tone, and detail-based questions are commonly asked in CAT Reading Comprehension.

Q: Should I practice only recent year RC passages or all available ones?
A:

Practice a mix of recent CAT 2025 RC practice questions and older passages to get a variety of topics and styles.

Q: Where can I find RC passages with solutions for CAT 2025?
A:

You can find CAT RC passages with solutions in mock tests, official CAT sample questions, and platforms offering CAT 2025 RC practice questions.

Q: Are CAT RC questions only factual or do they include inference too?
A:

They include both. Most CAT RC questions are inference-based, requiring you to read between the lines rather than recall direct facts.

Q: How many RC passages appear in the CAT exam?
A:

Typically, CAT includes 4–5 RC passages with around 3–5 questions each. The exact number may vary slightly depending on the slot.

Q: What types of RC questions are asked in CAT 2025?
A:

CAT 2025 RC questions include inference-based, main idea, tone, title, fact-based, and vocabulary-based questions. These tests both your understanding and interpretation skills.

Q: What are the main types of RC questions in CAT?
A:

Based on the document, there are 12 main types including Main Idea Questions, Primary Purpose Questions, Tone Questions, Inference-based Questions, and Fact-based Questions.

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Hello

The CAT 2025 exam is a national-level MBA entrance test for IIMs and top B-schools in India. It will be held on 30th November 2025 in computer-based mode across ~170 cities.
The registration is open from 1st August to 13th September 2025 on iimcat.ac.in .
Admit cards will be available from 5th November 2025 onward.
Graduates with at least 50 marks (45 for SC/ST/PwD) are eligible to apply.
The exam tests English, Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude in three timed sections.

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For more details and to apply, visit the  official BBAU MBA admission page

Hello Amgothu

With 305 marks in ICAR PG and being from ST category, your chances of getting an AIEEA (CAT) seat is good, especially in plant sciences and less competitive subjects