CUET Reading Comprehension: Narrative Passages
A Narrative Passage tells a story or describes a series of events in a structured format. Unlike factual passages that focus on data and facts, narrative passages revolve around characters, settings, conflicts, and resolutions. They may be fictional or based on real-life events but are always written in a storytelling format.
In CUET (UG) English, narrative passages test your ability to:
- Follow the sequence of events,
- Understand character motivation and emotions,
- Identify themes,
- And infer conclusions or moral lessons.
✨ 10 Tricks to Ace Narrative Comprehension Questions in CUET
1️⃣ Read the entire passage first:
Get the full story in your mind before you attempt the questions.
2️⃣ Identify the main characters and setting:
Note who is involved and where the events are taking place.
3️⃣ Track the sequence of events:
Narrative passages follow a timeline. Understand what happened first, next, and finally.
4️⃣ Spot conflicts and resolutions:
Find the main problem faced by the characters and how it was resolved.
5️⃣ Understand emotions and motivations:
What are the characters feeling or thinking? Why did they act in a certain way?
6️⃣ Underline key dialogues or actions:
These often carry clues to answering inference-based questions.
7️⃣ Look for theme and moral:
Is there a hidden message or a life lesson the story wants to convey?
8️⃣ Watch out for indirect information:
Narrative questions may ask you about implied meanings, so practice reading between the lines.
9️⃣ Avoid personal bias:
Base your answers on the information given, not on what you think “should” happen.
🔟 Time Management:
Don’t spend too much time re-reading; read once carefully and then locate answers quickly.
🎯 Introductory Narrative Passage Example (approx. 250 words)
The train whistled through the foggy evening as Mira clutched her bag tightly. It was her first solo journey to a new city, and while excitement pulsed through her veins, so did nervousness. She glanced around the almost empty compartment and caught sight of an elderly man seated opposite her. He smiled warmly.
As the journey progressed, the man shared stories of his travels, from hiking in the Himalayas to boating in Kerala’s backwaters. Mira, who had always been shy, found herself opening up. They laughed about simple things – bad tea on the train, children running down the aisles, and even about getting lost in unknown cities.
When the train finally screeched to a halt at her destination, Mira thanked the stranger. “You made this ride feel like an adventure,” she said. The old man chuckled, “Life is a series of journeys, and every stranger can be a friend waiting to happen.”
As Mira stepped onto the bustling platform, she realized she felt lighter, braver, and somehow ready for the new chapter ahead.
✨ MCQs Based on Narrative Passage
1️⃣ Where was Mira traveling?
(1) To her hometown
(2) To a new city
(3) To visit relatives
(4) Back to college
Answer: (2) To a new city
2️⃣ How did Mira feel at the beginning of the journey?
(1) Excited and confident
(2) Nervous but also excited
(3) Angry and frustrated
(4) Indifferent and bored
Answer: (2) Nervous but also excited
3️⃣ What did the elderly man do during the journey?
(1) Read a newspaper
(2) Slept the entire time
(3) Shared travel stories with Mira
(4) Ignored Mira completely
Answer: (3) Shared travel stories with Mira
4️⃣ What was Mira’s biggest takeaway from the journey?
(1) She would never travel alone again
(2) Life’s journeys can turn strangers into friends
(3) She disliked solo travel
(4) She needed to avoid elderly people on trains
Answer: (2) Life’s journeys can turn strangers into friends
5️⃣ What changed in Mira by the end of the journey?
(1) She became more anxious
(2) She felt braver and ready for new experiences
(3) She decided to cancel her trip
(4) She became more distrustful of strangers
Answer: (2) She felt braver and ready for new experiences
6️⃣ Which literary element is MOST visible in this passage?
(1) Technical information
(2) Personal opinions
(3) Character development and theme
(4) Statistical data
Answer: (3) Character development and theme
✨ Advanced Narrative Passage (Higher Difficulty Level)
Narrative Passage:
Arjun had always felt most comfortable behind the scenes, quietly working as a stagehand at the town’s community theater. One day, when the lead actor suddenly fell ill hours before the premiere of the much-anticipated play, panic gripped the cast and crew. The director, in desperation, turned to Arjun and asked him to step in.
Although reluctant, Arjun agreed. He spent every spare moment backstage absorbing the script and mimicking the lead actor’s delivery. When the curtains finally rose, Arjun’s heart pounded as he stepped into the spotlight. His voice trembled at first, but as the story unfolded, something remarkable happened. He connected with the character and felt a surge of confidence.
By the end of the play, Arjun had not only delivered a stellar performance but also received a standing ovation. For years, he had believed that his place was behind the scenes. But that night, Arjun realized that true potential is often discovered in moments of adversity. The experience left him wondering how many hidden talents lie dormant simply because of fear or hesitation.
MCQs with Answer Key
1️⃣ What role did Arjun have before stepping into the spotlight?
(1) The director of the play
(2) A supporting actor
(3) A stagehand
(4) The scriptwriter
Answer: (3) A stagehand
2️⃣ Why did the director ask Arjun to step in as the lead?
(1) Arjun was an understudy
(2) Arjun had prior acting experience
(3) The lead actor fell ill and there was no replacement
(4) Arjun volunteered for the role
Answer: (3) The lead actor fell ill and there was no replacement
3️⃣ What does Arjun’s transformation on stage symbolize?
(1) The fear of public speaking
(2) The importance of rehearsals
(3) The discovery of hidden potential during challenging times
(4) The value of being behind the scenes
Answer: (3) The discovery of hidden potential during challenging times
4️⃣ How did Arjun feel when he first started performing?
(1) Confident and eager
(2) Nervous but grew confident
(3) Uninterested and bored
(4) Overconfident and careless
Answer: (2) Nervous but grew confident
5️⃣ What is the central theme of the passage?
(1) The role of teamwork in theater
(2) Overcoming fear and realizing one’s hidden abilities
(3) The importance of staying backstage
(4) The challenges of memorizing scripts
Answer: (2) Overcoming fear and realizing one’s hidden abilities
6️⃣ Which of the following best describes Arjun’s change in perspective?
(1) He decided never to act again
(2) He realized he preferred being behind the scenes
(3) He began to believe in trying new things despite initial fear
(4) He regretted stepping on stage
Answer: (3) He began to believe in trying new things despite initial fear
Passage 3: Narrative
The Clockmaker’s Lament
In the shadowed alleys of Old Delhi, where dust clung to every crevice, lived Ravi, a clockmaker whose hands trembled with age. His shop, a relic of forgotten decades, brimmed with ticking relics—pendulums swaying like metronomes of a life slipping away. Once, his craft adorned the mantles of nawabs; now, quartz watches mocked his obsolescence.
One winter dusk, a stranger entered, cloaked in a tattered shawl. “Fix this,” he rasped, sliding a pocket watch across the counter. Its face was cracked, hands frozen at 3:17—an hour Ravi couldn’t place. He toiled through the night, gears clinking like whispered secrets, but the watch resisted. By dawn, it ticked once, then stilled. The stranger returned, eyes hollow. “It’s my time,” he murmured, vanishing into the fog.
Ravi’s nights grew restless. The watch haunted him—its chime echoed in dreams, a dirge for something lost. He scoured bazaars for clues, finding a faded ledger: “March 17, 1947, 3:17—train derailment, 82 dead.” The stranger’s watch marked a tragedy Ravi’s father had survived, repairing clocks for survivors’ kin. Had he failed a ghost?
Weeks later, Ravi left the watch on a temple step, a silent apology. That night, rain washed the city clean, and his shop felt lighter. He never fixed another clock—his hands, once deft, now carved wooden birds, free of time’s weight. The stranger’s shadow lingered, a reminder that some wounds tick louder than gears.
MCQs
- What was Ravi’s profession before quartz watches?
- (A) Watch salesman
- (B) Clockmaker for nawabs
- (C) Bazaar merchant
- (D) Wood carver
- Answer: (B) Explanation: Para 1 says his craft once served nawabs.
- What was unusual about the stranger’s watch?
- (A) It was brand new
- (B) Its hands were stuck at 3:17
- (C) It chimed constantly
- (D) It had no face
- Answer: (B) Explanation: Para 2 notes “hands frozen at 3:17.”
- Why did Ravi work all night on the watch?
- (A) To earn money
- (B) To prove his skill
- (C) To unravel its mystery
- (D) To please the stranger
- Answer: (C) Explanation: Para 2 implies effort despite resistance, hinting at curiosity.
- What event did the watch’s time connect to?
- (A) A war battle
- (B) A train derailment
- (C) A family death
- (D) A bazaar fire
- Answer: (B) Explanation: Para 3 reveals “train derailment, 82 dead.”
- What did Ravi do with the watch in the end?
- (A) Kept it in his shop
- (B) Sold it at the bazaar
- (C) Left it at a temple
- (D) Fixed it fully
- Answer: (C) Explanation: Para 4 says he left it on a temple step.
- The “lament” in the title reflects Ravi’s:
- (A) Anger at the stranger
- (B) Regret over his craft’s decline
- (C) Fear of ghosts
- (D) Joy in carving birds
- Answer: (B) Explanation: Para 1-4 trace his craft’s loss and emotional burden.
3. Narrative Passage
Passage:
As a child, Asha was fascinated by the stars. Every night, she would sit on the rooftop of her house in a small village, gazing at the vast sky, wondering what lay beyond. Her father, a farmer, noticed her curiosity and gifted her a small telescope on her tenth birthday. It was the happiest day of her life.
From that day on, Asha spent hours studying the moon, planets, and stars. Encouraged by her teachers, she worked hard and excelled in school. Despite financial difficulties, her parents supported her education. After years of perseverance, Asha earned a scholarship to study astrophysics in a reputed university.
Her story inspired many girls in her village to pursue science. Asha later became a scientist at a space research center, contributing to important projects. She returned to her village often, giving talks to students and encouraging them to dream big. Her journey from a stargazing child to a scientist showed that with determination, even the sky is not the limit.
MCQs:
- What did Asha enjoy doing as a child?
(1) Gardening
(2) Stargazing ✅
(3) Painting
(4) Writing poems
- Who gifted Asha a telescope?
(1) Her teacher
(2) Her uncle
(3) Her father ✅
(4) Her friend
- What was Asha’s favorite object to observe with the telescope?
(1) Trees
(2) The sky and stars ✅
(3) Rivers
(4) Birds
- What did Asha study at the university?
(1) Engineering
(2) Biology
(3) Astrophysics ✅
(4) Geography
- What did Asha’s success inspire in her village?
(1) Migration to cities
(2) More interest in farming
(3) More girls pursuing science ✅
(4) More children leaving school
What is the central theme of this story?
(1) Importance of wealth
(2) Power of determination and dreams ✅
(3) Disadvantages of rural life
(4) Competition among students
4.Passage:
As the sun dipped behind the mountains, Priya stood at the edge of the forest, staring at the winding trail that led deeper into the valley. She had spent the last three years working as an environmental scientist in a bustling city, but something about her hometown’s fading greenery had brought her back.
The village elders had spoken of a mysterious grove hidden deep within the valley — a place where the trees whispered stories of the past. Skeptical but intrigued, Priya decided to explore. Her childhood memories guided her, and the smell of wildflowers evoked a sense of nostalgia she hadn’t felt in years.
Hours passed as she trekked through uneven terrain, encountering birds and animals that seemed to recognize her. Finally, she arrived at the grove. To her astonishment, the trees formed a natural amphitheater, and the wind carried the faint sound of singing. As she sat beneath a towering banyan tree, a wave of tranquility washed over her, and for the first time in a long while, Priya felt connected to her roots.
Questions:
- What motivated Priya to return to her hometown?
- (a) A work assignment
- (b) Concern for the fading greenery ✅
- (c) A vacation plan
- (d) A family wedding
- What had the village elders spoken about?
- (a) A sacred temple
- (b) A hidden grove in the valley ✅
- (c) A river that healed wounds
- (d) An ancient library
- How did Priya feel as she explored the valley?
- (a) Anxious and fearful
- (b) Confused but determined
- (c) Nostalgic and peaceful ✅
- (d) Lost and hopeless
- What did Priya notice about the animals she encountered?
- (a) They avoided her path
- (b) They seemed to recognize her ✅
- (c) They were aggressive
- (d) They guided her directly to the grove
- What unique feature did the grove have?
- (a) A hidden cave
- (b) A waterfall
- (c) A natural amphitheater ✅
- (d) An ancient shrine
- How did Priya feel at the end of the passage?
- (a) Lonely and disheartened
- (b) Energized and ready to leave
- (c) Calm and connected ✅
- (d) Indifferent and confused
5. Narrative Passage (Advanced Level)
Passage:
In the heart of Warsaw, in the years following World War II, a young archivist named Elzbieta spent her days cataloging the remnants of Polish heritage. The war had left the city in ruins, and Elzbieta worked tirelessly to preserve what little remained.
One day, while sifting through a pile of debris in an abandoned synagogue, she uncovered a hidden chamber. Inside were hundreds of Jewish family photographs, letters, and documents untouched by time. Realizing their historical value, Elzbieta faced a moral dilemma. Her superiors, intent on nationalistic preservation, urged her to incorporate these artifacts into state archives under a different narrative.
Conflicted, Elzbieta secretly contacted international Jewish organizations, risking her career and freedom. Eventually, with their help, the artifacts were returned to the families who had survived or their descendants.
Elzbieta never spoke publicly about her actions, but her quiet courage preserved an irreplaceable part of cultural memory. Her story surfaced decades later when the archives were declassified.
MCQs:
- What role did Elzbieta have after WWII?
- (a) Museum curator
- (b) Historian
- (c) Archivist ✅
- (d) Librarian
- Where did Elzbieta find the hidden chamber?
- (a) A library
- (b) A museum basement
- (c) An abandoned synagogue ✅
- (d) A bomb shelter
- What moral dilemma did Elzbieta face?
- (a) Whether to destroy or preserve the artifacts.
- (b) Whether to obey her superiors or return the artifacts properly. ✅
- (c) Whether to publish the photos or keep them hidden.
- (d) Whether to keep the chamber’s discovery secret.
- What risk did Elzbieta take by contacting international organizations?
- (a) Risk of deportation
- (b) Risk to her career and freedom ✅
- (c) Risk of being discredited as a historian
- (d) Risk of imprisonment abroad
- What was the fate of the artifacts?
- (a) Destroyed by the government
- (b) Displayed in the national museum
- (c) Returned to Jewish families or their descendants ✅
- (d) Sent to a secret vault
- What is the central idea of the passage?
- (a) Impact of war on heritage
- (b) Quiet heroism in cultural preservation ✅
- (c) Government corruption in archives
- (d) The rebuilding of Warsaw
Explanation Keys:
- “Archivist” is explicitly mentioned.
- “Abandoned synagogue” is directly stated.
- The passage clearly outlines the conflict between duty and ethics.
- The risk to her “career and freedom” is mentioned.
- It says the artifacts were “returned to families or their descendants.”
- The key theme is Elzbieta’s moral courage.
Passage 2: Narrative
The Day the River Spoke
Last summer, I visited my grandmother’s village by the Yamuna River. It was a scorching June day, and the riverbank buzzed with kids splashing in the shallow waters. I’d heard stories of its past glory—crystal-clear waves and fish darting beneath—but now, it was a muddy trickle, choked with plastic. Grandma said it wasn’t always like this.
As I sat by the bank, an old fisherman approached, his net slung over his shoulder. “This river used to feed us,” he sighed, pointing to a heap of garbage downstream. He told me how, decades ago, he’d catch enough fish in an hour to sell at the market. Now, he barely caught two in a day. I asked why it changed. “Factories upstream,” he muttered, “and us—throwing junk.”
That evening, a storm rolled in. Thunder cracked, and rain pounded the earth. I watched from the porch as the river swelled, sweeping away bottles and bags. It roared louder than I’d ever heard, like it was shouting back at the village. The next morning, it was calmer but cleaner—some trash had washed away. Grandma smiled, “The river spoke last night—it’s tired of our mess.”
I couldn’t shake her words. Back in the city, I joined a cleanup drive, hauling sacks of waste from a local stream. Each soggy wrapper I picked reminded me of the fisherman’s empty net and the river’s angry roar. Maybe it wasn’t just a storm—maybe it was a lesson. The Yamuna taught me that nature fights back when pushed too far, and we’d better listen.
MCQs
- What was the river like in the past, according to Grandma?
- (A) Muddy and slow
- (B) Crystal-clear with fish
- (C) Dry and empty
- (D) Full of garbage
- Answer: (B) Explanation: Para 1 mentions “crystal-clear waves and fish.”
- What did the fisherman blame for the river’s decline?
- (A) Storms and rain
- (B) Kids playing
- (C) Factories and littering
- (D) City cleanup drives
- Answer: (C) Explanation: Para 2 cites “factories upstream” and “throwing junk.”
- What happened to the river during the storm?
- (A) It dried up completely
- (B) It swelled and cleared some trash
- (C) It flooded the village
- (D) It stayed the same
- Answer: (B) Explanation: Para 3 says it swelled and swept away garbage.
- How did the narrator feel after the storm?
- (A) Confused
- (B) Inspired to act
- (C) Angry at the fisherman
- (D) Sad and helpless
- Answer: (B) Explanation: Para 4 shows he joined a cleanup, inspired by the river.
- What did Grandma mean by “the river spoke”?
- (A) It literally talked
- (B) It showed its frustration
- (C) It warned of more storms
- (D) It thanked the village
- Answer: (B) Explanation: Para 3 ties the roar to being “tired of our mess.”
- What lesson did the narrator learn?
- (A) Rivers are dangerous
- (B) Nature fights back when mistreated
- (C) Fishing is a lost art
- (D) Storms clean rivers
- Answer: (B) Explanation: Para 4 concludes “nature fights back.”
