UPSC Prelims 2013·CSAT·Reading Comprehension·Passage Comprehension

Passage - 1 Seven-year-old Jim came home from the park without his new bicycle. "An old man and a little boy borrowed it," he explained. "They are going to bring it back at four o'clock." His parents were upset that he had given his expensive new bicycle, but were secretly proud of his kindness and faith. Came four o'clock, no bicycle. The parents were anxious. But at 4:30, the door bell rang, and there stood a happy man and a boy, with the bicycle and a box of chocolates. Jim suddenly disappeared into his bedroom, and then came running out. "All right," he said, after examining the bicycle. "You can have your watch back!" Jim returned the watch to the old man and the little boy because

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Last updated 23 May 2026, 3:31 pm IST
  1. Athey gave him chocolates
  2. Bhis father was proud of him
  3. Che was satisfied with the condition of his bicycleCorrect
  4. Dthey were late only by 30 minutes.

Explanation

The correct answer is C because the passage explicitly states, "All right," he said, after examining the bicycle. "You can have your watch back!" This shows Jim was holding the watch as collateral and returned it only after he was satisfied that his bicycle was in good condition. Analysis of options: A) they gave him chocolates: While they did give him chocolates, the passage does not link the return of the watch to receiving chocolates. The return is linked to examining the bicycle. B) his father was proud of him: His parents' pride was for his initial kindness and faith, not the reason he returned the watch. Jim's action was based on the bicycle's condition. C) he was satisfied with the condition of his bicycle: This is directly supported by "after examining the bicycle. 'All right,' he said..." The "All right" signifies his satisfaction, leading to the return of the watch. D) they were late only by 30 minutes: The lateness is a fact, but the passage does not indicate that the degree of lateness was the reason for returning the watch. The return is clearly tied to the bicycle's examination.
Reading Comprehension: Passage - 1 Seven-year-old Jim came home from the park without his new bicycle. "An old man and a little boy borrowed it
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