Reading Comprehension (RC) is an essential component of the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section in the CAT exam. The RC section involves reading passages from various subjects like literature, business, science, philosophy, and social sciences. After reading the passages, candidates must answer a set of questions that assess their understanding of the content. These passages test a candidate’s ability to grasp complex information, identify the main ideas, draw logical inferences, and evaluate the author’s arguments.CAT RC passages are sourced from a variety of fields, including:

• Social Sciences and Humanities – History, Philosophy, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, etc.
• Science and Technology – AI, Robotics, Space Science, Climate Change, etc.
• Business and Economics – Market Trends, Global Economy, Financial Systems, Corporate Strategies.
• Current Affairs and Politics – International Relations, Governance, Public Policy.
• Literature and Art – Literary Criticism, Classical Literature, Art History.

Types of Questions in the CAT Reading Comprehension Section:

Based on previous years' CAT exam papers, the types of questions you can expect in the RC section are:

1. Main Idea-Based Questions: These questions ask you to identify the central theme or main point of the passage. Understanding the key message of the passage is crucial to answering these questions accurately.

2. Fact-Based or Detail-Based Questions: These questions require you to extract specific details or facts directly from the passage. They test your attention to detail and your ability to pick out relevant information.

3. Inference-Based Questions: Inference-based questions ask you to go beyond the explicit information in the passage. You’ll need to derive conclusions or interpret the meaning based on what’s implied rather than what is directly stated.

4. Tone and Attitude-Based Questions: These questions focus on the author’s attitude or tone, such as whether the author is optimistic, critical, neutral, or sarcastic. You need to understand how the author feels about the subject matter.

5. Vocabulary-Based Questions: Vocabulary-based questions assess your understanding of specific words or phrases within the context of the passage. These questions test your ability to understand the meaning of words based on the surrounding text.

6. Title-Based Questions: For title-based questions, you are asked to choose the most appropriate title that best represents the passage. These questions assess your overall understanding of the content and main ideas.

7. Logical Structure-Based Questions: These questions test your understanding of how ideas are connected and organized in the passage. You may need to identify how the author has structured the passage and how the ideas flow logically.

Key Topics in CAT Reading Comprehension: 

While there is no fixed syllabus for the RC section, based on previous years’ exam patterns, we can identify a few common topics that often appear:

• Social Sciences – Topics from history, psychology, philosophy, and sociology are commonly included.
• Science and Technology – Passages related to AI, space science, robotics, and environmental issues like climate change.
• Business and Economics – Passages focusing on market trends, economic theories, and financial topics.
• Current Affairs and Politics – Topics related to governance, international relations, and public policy.
• Literature and Art – Literary criticism, classical literature, and discussions around art history.