CLAT English Questions with Answer 2026 - Download PDF

CLAT 2026 English Language Question Paper Overview

Also Check: CLAT English Language 5 Years Question Paper Solution

English CLAT 2026 Questions and Answers

Let's gain a deeper understanding of the concept by solving CLAT 2026 English Language Previous Year questions with solutions. But first, let's look at the CLAT sample Questions with solutions for the English Language Section with detailed solutions.

Passage 1

Education is not the amount of information that is put into your brain and runs riot there, undigested, all your life. We must have life-building, man-making, character-making assimilation of ideas. ... If education were identical with information, the libraries would be the sages in the world and encyclopedias are the rishis. By heart the thoughts of others in a school language and stuffing your brain with them, and taking some university degrees, you consider yourself educated. Is this education? What is the goal of your education? Open your eyes and see what a piteous cry for food is rising in the land of Bharata. (Proverbial for India) Will your education fulfil this want?

We want that education by which character is formed, the strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded and by which one can stand on one's own feet. What we need is to study independent of foreign control, different branches of knowledge that exist, and all that in the English language and Western science; we need technical education and all else that will develop industries so that men, instead of seeking service, may earn enough to provide themselves and save against a rainy day. The end and aim of all training, training, should be man-making. The end and aim of all training and education must be man-making. The training by which the current expression of will is brought under control and becomes fruitful is called education. What our country now wants are muscles of iron and nerves of steel, gigantic wills, which nothing can resist, which can penetrate into the mysteries and secrets of the universe and will accomplish their purpose in any fashion, even if it means going down to the bottom of the ocean, meeting death itself.

There is only one method of attaining knowledge. It is by concentration. The very essence of education is concentration of mind. From the lowest to the highest men, all who have become great have become so by concentration. The chemist who works in the laboratory uses the same method to attain knowledge. Knowledge is acquired by concentration.

1. Education, as described by the author, means:

(A) Information
(B) Library
(C) Character
(D) None of the above

Correct Answer: (C) Character

Explanation:

The author explicitly states that education is not just about information, but about "life-building, man-making, character-making assimilation of ideas". Thus, the essence of true education lies in building character.

2. As per the author, the aim of education should be:

(A) To help a person build his/her character
(B) To help a person earn his/her livelihood
(C) To help a person develop his/her intellect
(D) All of the above

Correct Answer: (D) All of the above

Explanation:

The author says we want an education "by which character is formed, strength of mind is increased, the intellect is expanded, and one can stand on one’s own feet", which clearly includes character building, earning a livelihood, and intellectual development.

3. According to the author the country wants:

(A) Massive will power
(B) Spirit of philanthropy
(C) Iron and steel industries
(D) All of the above

Correct Answer: (A) Massive will power

Explanation:

The author emphasizes the need for "muscles of iron and nerves of steel, gigantic wills", which clearly indicates massive will power as the most urgent requirement for the country.

4. According to the author, we need to study:

(A) English Language
(B) Technical Education
(C) Western Science
(D) All of the above

Correct Answer: (D) All of the above

Explanation:

The author mentions the need to study "English language, Western science, and technical education", all of which are essential to building industries and achieving self-reliance.

5. According to the author, which among the following is key to attain knowledge?

(A) University Degrees
(B) Library
(C) Concentration of mind
(D) Hard work and sports training

Correct Answer: (C) Concentration of mind

Explanation:

The author directly states: "There is only one method of attaining knowledge. It is by concentration." Therefore, concentration of mind is key.

6. Which of the following words is related to the word “assimilation”?

(A) Superficial understanding
(B) Indigestion
(C) Internalization
(D) All of the above

Correct Answer: (C) Internalization

Explanation:

The term "assimilation" in the context of the passage refers to the deep internalization and understanding of ideas, rather than superficial or undigested knowledge.

Passage 2

From a very early age, I knew that when I grew up, I should be a writer. I had the lonely child’s habit of making up stories and holding conversations with imaginary persons, and I think from the very start my literary ambitions were mixed up with the feeling of being isolated and undervalued. I knew that I had a facility with words and a power of facing unpleasant facts, and I felt that this created a sort of private world in which I could get my own back for my failure in everyday life. I wanted to write enormous naturalistic novels with unhappy endings, full of detailed descriptions and arresting similes, and also full of purple passages in which words were used partly for the sake of their sound. I will give all this background information not because I think one can assess a writer’s motives without knowing something of his early development.

His subject-matter will be determined by the age he lives in — at least this is true in tumultuous, revolutionary ages like our own — but before he ever begins to write, he will have acquired an emotional attitude from which he will never completely escape. It is his job to discipline his temperament and avoid getting stuck at some immature stage, or in some perverse mood, but if he escapes from his early influences altogether, he will have killed his impulse to write. I think there are four great motives for writing, at any rate for writing prose. They are:
(i) Sheer egoism: Desire to seem clever, to be talked about, to be remembered after death, to get your own back on grown-ups who snubbed you in childhood.
(ii) Aesthetic enthusiasm: Perception of beauty in the external world, or, on the other hand, in words and their right arrangement.
(iii) Historical impulse: Desire to see things as they are, to find out true facts and store them up for the use of posterity.
(iv) Political purpose: Desire to push the world in a certain direction, to alter other people’s idea of the kind of society that they should strive after.

[Extracted with edits from George Orwell’s “Why I Write”]

7. George Orwell’s loneliness during childhood led to:

(A) Estrangement with his father
(B) Unhappy days
(C) Making up stories
(D) Unpleasant incidents

Answer: (C) Making up stories

Explanation: The passage states, "I had the lonely child’s habit of making up stories and holding conversations with imaginary persons..." confirming that his loneliness led to imaginative storytelling.

8. Why does Orwell give background information?

(A) He had the lonely child’s habits
(B) It is essential to know about motives of writers
(C) Because of his historic impulse
(D) Due to the aesthetic enthusiasm

Answer: (B) It is essential to know about motives of writers

Explanation: Orwell says, "I will give all this background information not because I think one can assess a writer’s motives without knowing something of his early development." This indicates he gives background to explain a writer’s motivations.

9. If writer escapes from early impulses, he will ...

(A) Lose his urge to write
(B) Be unable to write creatively
(C) Be able to converse with imaginary characters
(D) Be able to influence others

Answer: (A) Lose his urge to write

Explanation: Orwell states, "...if he escapes from his early influences altogether, he will have killed his impulse to write." Thus, completely escaping those impulses may stop him from writing altogether.

10. For the author, aesthetic enthusiasm is an important motive for writing because it ...

(A) Shapes the thoughts
(B) Creates an artistic piece
(C) Becomes invaluable
(D) Non-utilitarian

Answer: (B) Creates an artistic piece

Explanation: Orwell defines aesthetic enthusiasm as "perception of beauty in the external world, or, on the other hand, in words and their right arrangement," indicating its artistic value.

11. The author strongly advocates the writers to:

(A) Avoid any egoistic impression in their work
(B) Be political in their approach
(C) Be contemporary in their treatment of their work
(D) None of the above

Answer: (C) Be contemporary in their treatment of their work

Explanation: Orwell writes, "His subject-matter will be determined by the age he lives in — at least this is true in tumultuous, revolutionary ages like our own..." suggesting writers should reflect their times.

12. Which of the following is a synonym for the word “tumultuous”?

(A) Chaotic
(B) Disorderly
(C) Turbulent
(D) All of the above

Answer: (D) All of the above

Explanation: “Tumultuous” means loud, confused, and disorderly — all synonyms listed (chaotic, disorderly, turbulent) accurately reflect this meaning.

Passage 3

Punctually at midday, he opened his bag and spread out his professional equipment, which consisted of a dozen orche shells, a square piece of cloth with obscure mystic charts on it, a notebook, and a bundle of palmyra writing. His forehead was dazzling with sacred ash and vermilion, and his eyes sparkled with a sharp, abnormal gleam which was really an outcome of a continual searching look for customers, but which could easily be mistaken to be a prophetic light and felt comforted. The power of his eyes was considerably enhanced by their position—placed as they were between the painted forehead and the dark whiskers which streamed down his cheeks; even a half-wit’s eyes would sparkle in such a setting. People were attracted to him as bees are attracted to cosmos or dahlia stalks; he spread the pages of his books on the clean space and sat there alone with his rules willing through the town hall park. It was a remarkable place in many ways: a crowd always moving up and down this narrow road morning till night. A variety of trades and occupations was represented all along its way: medicine Sellers, sellers of stolen hardware and junk, magicians, and, above all, an auctioneer of cheap cloth, who created enough din all day to attract the whole town. Next to him, in vociferousness, came a vendor of fried groundnut, who gave his ware a fancy name each day, calling it "Bombay Ice Cream" one day, and on the next "Delhi Almond," and on the third "Raja’s Delicacy," and so on and so forth, and people flocked to him. A crowd always surrounded this crowd and billowed before the astrologer too. The astrologer transacted his business by the light of a flare which crackled and smoked up above the groundnut heap nearby.
(Extracted with edits from “An Astrologer’s Day” by R.K. Narayan)

13. Which among the following is the meaning of the expression ‘vociferousness’?

(A) Expressing opinions or feelings in a loud and confident way
(B) Words that are spoken or sung to have a magical effect
(C) Willing or prepared to do something
(D) To hang about aimlessly

Answer: (A) Expressing opinions or feelings in a loud and confident way

Explanation:

“Vociferousness” refers to being loud and forcefully expressive. In the passage, it is used to describe the vendor of groundnuts and his marketing style, which was second in loudness only to the auctioneer.

14. When did the astrologer usually start his day's business?

(A) When people are attracted to him as bees
(B) When the sun comes up and down the road
(C) Punctually at midday
(D) By the light of a flare

Answer: (C) Punctually at midday

Explanation:

The very first line of the passage states, “Punctually at midday, he opened his bag...” indicating the exact time he begins his daily work.

15. What was considered as a prophetic light by the simple clients of the astrologer?

(A) The resplendent forehead of the astrologer with sacred ash and vermillion
(B) The sparkling eyes of the astrologer with an abnormal gleam
(C) The dark whiskers which streamed down the cheeks of the astrologer
(D) The saffron-coloured turban around the head of astrologer

Answer: (B) The sparkling eyes of the astrologer with an abnormal gleam

Explanation:

The passage says the astrologer’s eyes had “a sharp, abnormal gleam…which could easily be mistaken to be a prophetic light” by his clients.

16. Which among the following is the word for the phrase ‘Bright and colourful in an impressive way’?

(A) Mystic
(B) Flare
(C) Sparkle
(D) Dazzling

Answer: (D) Dazzling

Explanation:

“Dazzling” refers to something extremely bright and impressive, often visually. The astrologer's forehead is described as “dazzling with sacred ash and vermilion.”

17. Which among the following is not a trade or occupation represented in the pathway running through the town hall park?

(A) Magicians
(B) Medicine sellers
(C) Auctioneers of cheap Baps
(D) Sellers of Stolen Hardware

Answer: (C) Auctioneers of cheap Baps

Explanation:

The passage lists several traders such as medicine sellers, magicians, sellers of stolen hardware, and an auctioneer of cheap cloth — not cheap Baps. Hence, (C) is incorrect and not represented.

18. Who among the following used names like “Bombay Ice Cream”, “Delhi Almond,” and “Raja’s Delicacy” to attract the crowd?

(A) The sellers of cheap Baps
(B) The sellers of Medicine
(C) The ice cream seller
(D) The groundnut seller

Answer: (D) The groundnut seller

Explanation:

The passage clearly says, “Next to him... came a vendor of fried groundnut, who gave his ware a fancy name each day...”, indicating it was the groundnut seller.

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CLAT 2023–2025 English Question Trends

Common Question Types in CLAT English Section

• Main Idea/Theme

• Author’s Opinion

• Inference-Based Questions

• Vocabulary in Context

• Tone & Attitude

• Strengthen/Weaken Statements

• Fact vs Opinion

Benefits of Solving CLAT Previous Year Question Papers

Preparing for the English Language sections of CLAT 2026 requires not just staying up to date with the types of questions asked but also mastering the test format. One of the finest strategies is to solve the previous year's exam papers. This is the cause:

Knowing the Syllabus and Exam Pattern: Exams from prior years demonstrate the CLAT 2026 Syllabus, CLAT Exam Pattern, structure, kind of questions, and weights given to various English Language skills. This lets applicants know what to expect and reduces surprises on exam day.

Helps in Time Management: By practising previous papers, students can learn time management skills, and candidates can increase their speed and accuracy, two critical skills in the competitive CLAT environment.

Identification of Important Topics: Commonly asked questions or issues covered in previous examinations emphasise important subjects. This insight makes it easier to prioritise study efforts effectively.

Tracking Performance and Self-assessment: Candidates can assess their degree of preparation, pinpoint their areas of weakness, and focus on improving those areas to improve their overall performance by taking these exams.

Boosts self-confidence: Familiarity breeds confidence. Solving previous years' papers regularly boosts confidence and reduces tension and anxiety by making the exam situation less intimidating.

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Preparation Tips For CLAT English Language Section 2026

Here are the Preparation Tips for the CLAT 2026 English Language Section.

• Recognise the portion Structure: It's Important to recognise the CLAT 2026 Exam Pattern. The English Language portion primarily consists of texts that measure comprehension, followed by questions that assess vocabulary, inference, and grammar in context. To properly organise your preparation, become familiar with the different kinds of readings (literature, current events, editorials) and the CLAT 2026 Syllabus.

• Develop a Strong Reading Habit: Read The Hindu, The Indian Express, and periodicals like The Economist regularly. This enhances critical thinking, reading comprehension, and speed, all of which are essential for performing well on CLAT's passage-based questions.

• Improve Your Usage and Vocabulary: Learn five to ten new words and review their antonyms, synonyms, and usage in context. You can improve your memory and answer CLAT's vocabulary-based questions by using resources like Word Power Made Easy or Vocabulary.com.

• Practice Comprehension and Inference Questions: Focus on identifying the primary concept, tone, author’s viewpoint, and implied meanings in passages. You can become more comfortable with the format and timing of the questions by completing past years' CLAT papers and practice exams.

• Practice Sentence Structure and Grammar: While CLAT does not assess grammar directly through individual questions, understanding is indirectly impacted by sentence construction and error detection. Accuracy can be increased by going over Wren & Martin's basic grammar rules.

• Develop Time Management Skills: To ensure that you complete the English part quickly, give each passage 8 to 10 minutes of practice time. Using a timer to practice will help you balance accuracy and speed on the real test and help enhance Time management skills.

• Analyse and Review Errors: After every practice or mock exam, go over your erroneous responses and determine what went wrong. You won't make the same errors on the final exam thanks to this analysis.