Reading & Comprehension

Maya stood at the school gates long after the bell had rung, her bag still zipped shut and her eyes fixed on the empty car park. She checked her phone for the third time in a minute. What can the reader infer about Maya from this extract?

• AShe has forgotten that her school bag is still inside the classroom building.
• BShe is anxious because someone has not arrived to collect her.✓
• CShe is simply bored and wants to go home early to relax for the evening.
• DShe is excited because her closest friends are about to arrive very soon.

Answer: A character's actions often reveal feelings the text does not state directly. Maya lingers at the gates, checks her phone repeatedly and keeps her bag zipped shut, all signs of waiting anxiously for someone who has not appeared. There is no evidence in the extract of excitement, a forgotten bag, or a wish to relax, so those options are not supported by the details given.

The old dog no longer ran to greet visitors at the door. Instead, he lifted his head a fraction, thumped his tail twice against the floor, and let it fall still again. What does the dog's behaviour suggest?

• AThe dog is now too old or tired to move with his former energy.✓
• BThe dog is frightened of the visitors and is hiding somewhere in the house.
• CThe dog does not recognise any of the visitors currently standing at the door.
• DThe dog has been carefully trained to ignore anyone who ever arrives.

Answer: Writers often show a character's state through small physical details rather than stating it outright. The dog once ran to the door but now only lifts its head and thumps its tail twice, suggesting reduced energy consistent with old age or tiredness rather than fear, unfamiliarity, or training. The extract gives no evidence that the dog fails to recognise visitors or has been deliberately taught to ignore them.

By the time Tom reached the bus stop, the timetable board was blank and a single crisp packet spun in the wind across the empty road. What can be inferred from this extract?

• ATom decided to walk the whole way instead of waiting for the bus.
• BTom has missed the last bus and is now stranded.✓
• CTom is waiting at entirely the wrong bus stop for his journey.
• DTom has arrived early and is now waiting patiently for his bus.

Answer: An empty timetable board and litter blowing across a deserted road both suggest that the usual bus service has already finished for the day. This supports the idea that Tom has missed the last bus and is now stranded, rather than arriving early, choosing to walk, or being at an unrelated stop. Nothing in the extract mentions Tom's plans or the correct location for his journey.

Priya read the letter twice, folded it along its original creases, and slid it back into the drawer beneath a pile of old photographs. What does Priya's action of hiding the letter suggest about her feelings towards it?

• AShe wants everyone living in the house to read the letter immediately.
• BShe wants to keep the letter private and revisit it later.✓
• CShe plans to throw the letter away very soon without rereading it.
• DShe has completely forgotten what the contents of the letter actually were.

Answer: Folding a letter carefully along its original creases and hiding it beneath other items suggests the writer values it and does not want it seen casually, rather than forgetting or discarding it. This supports the idea that Priya wants to keep the letter private and revisit it later. The extract gives no indication she has forgotten its contents, intends to throw it away, or wants the household to read it.

The kitchen was silent except for the tick of the clock. Two mugs sat untouched on the table, the tea inside them long since gone cold. What can be inferred about the people who made the tea?

• AThey made the tea for guests who never actually existed at all.
• BSomething interrupted them before they could drink it.✓
• CThey deliberately let the tea grow cold before choosing to drink it.
• DThey simply do not enjoy drinking hot tea early in the morning.

Answer: Two full mugs of cold tea left untouched suggest the people making them were interrupted before they could drink, rather than choosing to let the tea cool on purpose. There is no detail in the extract about the tea being made for guests, or about anyone disliking hot drinks, so those explanations are not supported. The silence and stillness in the kitchen reinforce the sense that something unexpected happened.

Jamal's trainers squeaked against the gym floor as he paced the sideline, glancing at the scoreboard every few seconds and chewing the drawstring of his hood. What does Jamal's behaviour suggest about his emotional state?

• AHe is relaxed and confident about winning easily.
• BHe is nervous about the outcome of the match.✓
• CHe is bored because the match has already ended.
• DHe is completely uninterested in the match result.

Answer: Pacing, repeatedly checking a scoreboard and chewing a hood string are all physical signs commonly associated with nervousness, supporting the idea that Jamal is anxious about how the match will end. Nothing in the extract suggests he is uninterested or relaxed, and the scoreboard he keeps checking implies the match is still in progress rather than finished. His restless behaviour is the key clue pointing to nerves rather than calm.

The garden had once been full of colour, but now the borders were choked with bramble and the greenhouse glass lay cracked in the grass. What can be inferred about the garden's recent history?

• AIt is currently being replanted by a new owner.
• BIt has been neglected for a considerable time.✓
• CIt was damaged in a storm the previous night.
• DIt was designed deliberately in this wild style.

Answer: Brambles overtaking the borders and cracked greenhouse glass lying in the grass both suggest a long period without care, supporting the idea that the garden has been neglected for some time. Deliberate wild planting would not typically include broken glass left where it fell, and there is no mention of a recent storm or a new owner replanting. The overall picture is one of gradual decline rather than a single recent event.

Every time the teacher mentioned the trip, Leo suddenly became very interested in the contents of his pencil case. What does Leo's reaction most likely suggest?

• AHe is avoiding the subject because something about the trip worries him.✓
• BHe has already finished all of his packing for the upcoming trip.
• CHe is excited and cannot wait to hear all of the details about it.
• DHe is simply tidying the contents of his pencil case at that exact moment.

Answer: Suddenly focusing on an unrelated object, such as a pencil case, when a topic is raised is a common sign of avoidance, supporting the idea that Leo is uneasy about the trip. The extract gives no evidence that he is excited or already packed, since his reaction is specifically triggered by the mention of the trip rather than a coincidence. This timing is the key detail that points to avoidance rather than routine tidiness.

The notice on the community board read: 'Car park closed for resurfacing from Monday 6th until further notice. Please use the side street entrance.' Underneath, someone had scrawled in pen: 'Again?! Third time this year.' Which detail from the extract best supports the idea that this closure is a recurring problem?

• AThe official notice giving the start date of the closure.
• BThe heading describing the board as a general community noticeboard.
• CThe instruction telling residents to use the side street entrance instead.
• DThe handwritten comment noting it is the third closure this year.✓

Answer: A handwritten comment noting that a closure has happened for the third time in a year is direct evidence that the problem keeps recurring, unlike the official notice, which only gives one instance's dates. The instruction about the side entrance and the general reference to the noticeboard describe the current closure but do not show a pattern over time. Only the added comment provides evidence of repetition.

The report stated that river levels had risen forty centimetres overnight and that three roads near the bridge remained closed to traffic. Which piece of evidence in the extract most directly shows the flooding is affecting daily life?

• AThe fact that three roads near the bridge are closed to traffic.✓
• BThe overnight measurement showing how much the river's level had risen.
• CThe general reference to a report being published recently somewhere.
• DThe plain description of the bridge's exact geographic location.

Answer: Three roads being closed to traffic is a concrete example of the flooding disrupting daily life, unlike a water-level measurement, which is factual but does not by itself describe an effect on people. The general mention of a report being published and the bridge's location are background details rather than evidence of impact. The road closures are the clearest link between the flooding and everyday disruption.

Amelia claimed she had trained every day that month. Her coach's logbook, however, showed only nine sessions attended out of a possible thirty. Which evidence in the extract contradicts Amelia's claim?

• AThe simple reference to Amelia having her own personal coach.
• BThe coach's logbook recording just nine attended sessions.✓
• CThe simple mention that a typical month has around thirty days in it.
• DAmelia's own statement about her daily training routine in detail.

Answer: A logbook recording only nine attended sessions directly contradicts Amelia's claim of daily training, since nine sessions is far fewer than the roughly thirty days in the month. Her own statement is the claim being tested rather than evidence against it, and the number of days in a month or the existence of a coach are neutral background facts. The recorded attendance is the only detail that actually disproves what she said.

The estate agent's listing described the flat as 'bright and spacious', yet the photographs showed heavy curtains drawn across every window in each room. Which detail undermines the listing's description of the flat as bright?

• AThe mention that photographs were included with the listing online.
• BThe general claim made in the listing that the flat is spacious.
• CThe plain fact that the flat has multiple separate rooms.
• DThe heavy curtains shown drawn across every window.✓

Answer: Curtains drawn across every window directly contradicts a description of the flat as bright, since closed curtains block natural light regardless of the flat's actual size or layout. The claim about the flat being spacious and the simple fact that it has several rooms do not address brightness at all, and the mention of photographs being included is not evidence either way. The detail about the curtains is the one that undermines the specific word used in the listing.

Scientists tagged 200 salmon before release. Six months later, tracking data showed that only 34 had survived the journey upstream. Which figure from the extract provides direct evidence of the salmon's survival rate?

• AThe finding that only 34 of the 200 tagged salmon survived.✓
• BThe general description of the salmon's upstream journey.
• CThe total number of salmon tagged before release.
• DThe length of time that passed before tracking data was reviewed.

Answer: The figure of 34 surviving out of 200 tagged salmon is the direct evidence of how many fish completed the journey, since a survival rate is defined by comparing an outcome to a starting total. The total tagged and the six-month timeframe provide necessary context but are not themselves the survival evidence, and the general description of the journey adds no numerical detail. The tracking result is the only option that states an actual outcome.

The diary entry read: 'Mother says we are simply visiting the coast for a rest. But she has packed every document from the study, and Father has not smiled in weeks.' Which detail in the extract hints that the trip may not be a simple holiday?

• AThe claim that the family is visiting the coast.
• BThe statement in which Mother describes the trip as simply a rest.
• CThe passing reference to Father generally being a quiet person.
• DThe mention that every document from the study has been packed.✓

Answer: Packing every document from the study is an unusual amount of paperwork for what is described as a simple rest by the coast, hinting that something more serious may be happening. Mother's own claim that it is only a holiday is the statement being questioned rather than evidence against it, and Father's mood is not specific enough on its own to support the suspicion. The detail about the documents is the strongest clue that the stated reason may not be the full story.

This leaflet uses short sentences, colourful headings and simple diagrams to explain how to use the new library app to primary school children. What does the leaflet's use of short sentences and simple diagrams suggest about its intended audience?

• AIt is written for local councillors deciding on library funding.
• BIt is written for library staff who require detailed technical instructions for the app.
• CIt is written for young children who need information explained clearly and simply.✓
• DIt is written for adult researchers who need dense, highly academic content.

Answer: Short sentences, bright headings and simple diagrams are typical features of texts written to be accessible to young children, supporting the idea that this leaflet is aimed at them. Library staff, adult researchers and councillors would more typically expect denser, more detailed or more formal information. The simplicity of the language and visuals is the clearest clue to who the leaflet is written for.

The speech opened: 'Fellow shareholders, before we discuss this year's figures, I want to thank every member of staff for their commitment.' What can be inferred about the audience for this speech?

• AThe audience is made up of shareholders attending a company meeting.✓
• BThe audience is a class of school students who are currently studying business.
• CThe audience is a panel of judges sitting at a public speaking contest.
• DThe audience is a group of new employees on their first day.

Answer: Addressing the audience directly as 'fellow shareholders' and discussing the year's figures both indicate that the speech is being given at a company meeting attended by shareholders. New employees, school students and public speaking judges would not typically be greeted with this specific form of address about company results. The opening line is the clearest signal of who the audience actually is.

Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to formally complain about the repeated delays to the 8.15 service, which have caused me to be late for work on five occasions this month. What is the primary purpose of this extract?

• ATo formally request a refund for a single missed appointment last week.
• BTo formally complain about a recurring problem with a train service.✓
• CTo formally apply for a position with the train company.
• DTo formally invite the train company to a community event.

Answer: The formal opening and the direct statement of complaint about repeated delays show that the main purpose of the extract is to formally complain about a recurring problem. There is no mention of applying for a role, requesting a refund for a single appointment, or issuing an invitation, so those purposes are not supported by the text. The reference to five occasions in one month also shows the problem is ongoing rather than a single incident.

Imagine standing on a beach as the sun sinks below the horizon, painting the sky in streaks of gold and crimson, while the waves hush softly at your feet. What is the main purpose of this extract?

• ATo instruct the reader on how to swim safely in open water.
• BTo report factual, statistical data about sea tides and water temperatures.
• CTo persuade the reader to avoid visiting beaches at sunset.
• DTo create a vivid, sensory picture that engages the reader's imagination.✓

Answer: Vivid sensory language, such as 'painting the sky' and waves that 'hush softly', is characteristic of descriptive writing intended to engage a reader's imagination rather than convey instructions or factual data. There is no safety guidance, no measured tide or temperature information, and no argument discouraging beach visits, so those purposes are not supported. The imagery is the main clue to the extract's descriptive purpose.

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Step 2: Grease the tin. Step 3: Mix the dry ingredients before adding the eggs. What is the purpose of numbering the steps in this extract?

• ATo persuade the reader that baking is a genuinely enjoyable hobby.
• BTo describe the writer's own personal feelings about baking here.
• CTo compare two different methods of baking a cake.
• DTo guide the reader through a process in the correct order.✓

Answer: Numbering steps in a clear sequence is a common feature of instructional writing, helping the reader complete a process such as baking in the correct order. The extract contains no persuasive language, no personal opinion, and no comparison between different methods, so those purposes are not supported. The step-by-step structure is the clearest evidence of its instructional purpose.

Breaking: emergency services remain at the scene this morning after a burst water main flooded the high street, forcing several shops to close. Considering its style and content, who is the most likely intended audience for this extract?

• AReaders of a local news website following an ongoing local story.✓
• BStudents revising the historical causes of flooding events.
• CNovelists researching realistic settings for an entirely unrelated short story.
• DEngineers responsible for designing the original layout of the water main.

Answer: The word 'Breaking' and the focus on an ongoing local event are typical features of local news reporting aimed at readers following the story as it develops. Students revising historical causes, engineers and novelists researching settings would engage with very different kinds of text, none of which match this style and urgency. The immediate, factual tone points most strongly to a local news audience.

After finishing the paragraph about photosynthesis, Ben realised he could not explain in his own words how plants produce energy, so he went back and reread it. What does Ben's action of rereading the paragraph demonstrate?

• AHe is checking and repairing his understanding of a difficult idea.✓
• BHe has misplaced his book and is searching for the page.
• CHe is copying the paragraph out neatly for a display.
• DHe is bored and simply wants to pass the time in class.

Answer: Returning to a paragraph after realising an idea cannot be explained is a clear sign of checking and repairing understanding, a key reading strategy. There is no suggestion in the extract that Ben is bored, has lost his book, or is copying text for a display, since his stated reason is specifically about being unable to explain the content. His deliberate rereading is what marks this as a comprehension strategy rather than a coincidence.

Whenever Farah reads a new chapter, she pauses at the end of each page to summarise what has happened so far in her own head. Which reading strategy is Farah using?

• AShe is memorising the text word for word without thinking.
• BShe is skimming the text quickly to save time overall.
• CShe is reading the chapter in a random, disorganised order.
• DShe is regularly checking her understanding as she reads.✓

Answer: Pausing after each page to summarise events in her own head is a classic strategy for checking understanding while reading, rather than skimming, memorising word for word, or reading in a disorganised way. The extract specifically describes this happening regularly at the end of every page, which points to a consistent monitoring strategy. None of the other options match this deliberate, repeated behaviour.

Which of these is the most effective strategy for checking that a text has been understood?

• ANoting only the title and the name of the author.
• BCounting the total number of paragraphs in the text.
• CPausing to summarise the main point in your own words.✓
• DReading the text once, quickly, from start to finish.

Answer: Summarising the main point in your own words forces a reader to actively process meaning, making it a reliable way to check understanding, unlike simply reading quickly once through. Counting paragraphs or noting only a title and author gives no information about whether the content itself has been understood. Active recall and restating are widely recognised as more effective comprehension checks than passive reading.

Confused by an unfamiliar word in the report, Zac looked it up in a dictionary and then reread the sentence to see if the new meaning made sense in context. Why did Zac reread the sentence after looking up the word?

• ATo count how many separate times the word appeared throughout the whole report.
• BTo find a different, more familiar word with a similar meaning nearby.
• CTo check that his new understanding fitted logically with the rest of the sentence.✓
• DTo memorise the precise spelling of the unfamiliar word for a future test.

Answer: Rereading a sentence after looking up an unfamiliar word allows a reader to check that the dictionary definition actually makes sense in its specific context, confirming genuine understanding. The extract does not mention Zac trying to memorise spelling, searching for a synonym, or counting repetitions of the word, so those options are not supported. His rereading is specifically about testing meaning in context.

A reader who reaches the end of a page and cannot recall any of the events just described should most usefully do what?

• ASkip ahead several pages until the story becomes clearer.
• BContinue reading without pausing to reconsider anything.
• CGo back and reread the page more carefully before continuing.✓
• DClose the book and assume the chapter was not important.

Answer: Going back to reread a page more carefully is the most useful response when nothing from it can be recalled, since it directly addresses the gap in understanding. Skipping ahead, closing the book, or continuing without pausing would all risk losing track of the story even further rather than repairing understanding. Rereading is a fundamental strategy for checking and correcting comprehension.

The article was broken into sections titled 'Background', 'Current Situation' and 'What Happens Next', each printed in bold above its paragraph. What is the purpose of these bold section headings?

• ATo help the reader navigate and locate specific information quickly.✓
• BTo persuade the reader that the article's argument is correct.
• CTo replace the need for any paragraphs within the article.
• DTo disguise the fact that the article contains few real facts.

Answer: Bold section headings such as 'Background' and 'What Happens Next' allow a reader to locate specific information quickly without reading the whole article, which is their main organisational purpose. There is no evidence the headings are intended to persuade or disguise a lack of facts, and paragraphs still follow beneath each heading rather than being replaced. Their function is purely to guide navigation through the text.

In a non-fiction text, what is the main purpose of a table of contents?

• ATo list every single character who appears within the whole text.
• BTo provide a detailed summary of the writer's personal opinions.
• CTo advertise other books written by the same author.
• DTo show the reader where each section can be found in the text.✓

Answer: A table of contents lists sections alongside page numbers so that a reader can find specific information within a text quickly. It does not typically summarise the writer's opinions, list characters, or advertise other books, since those are not its organisational function. Its purpose is navigational rather than persuasive or promotional.

The recipe listed the ingredients in a bulleted column on the left, while the numbered method ran down the right-hand side of the page. Why has the writer organised the ingredients and method in this way?

• ATo let the reader check ingredients and follow the method separately and clearly.✓
• BTo discourage the reader from attempting the recipe at all.
• CTo make the page appear longer than the recipe actually is.
• DTo hide the exact quantities that are needed for each different ingredient.

Answer: Separating ingredients into a bulleted list from the numbered method allows a reader to check what is needed and then follow the steps clearly, without the two types of information becoming muddled. There is no indication the layout is intended to lengthen the page artificially, hide quantities, or discourage attempting the recipe, since the ingredients are listed in full. Clear separation of listing and sequence is a standard feature of recipe writing.

Why might a novelist choose to structure a chapter using a flashback rather than strict chronological order?

• ATo avoid having to describe any of the story's main characters.
• BTo reveal important background information at a moment that increases its impact.✓
• CTo make the events of the story completely impossible to follow.
• DTo shorten the overall chapter so it fits onto a single page.

Answer: A flashback allows a writer to place important background information at the exact moment it will have the greatest effect on the reader, rather than simply presenting events in the order they happened. It is not used to make a story impossible to follow, to avoid describing characters, or purely to shorten a chapter, since flashbacks can appear in chapters of any length. Timing information carefully is the main reason writers choose this structure.

Beneath the photograph of the flooded street, a short line of text read: 'The high street on Tuesday morning, hours after the water main burst.' What organisational feature is being used here, and what is its purpose?

• AA caption, used to explain what a nearby image shows.✓
• BA subheading, used to introduce an entirely new topic.
• CA bibliography, used to list every source consulted.
• DA footnote, used to reference an academic source.

Answer: A short line of explanatory text placed beneath a photograph is known as a caption, and its purpose is to tell the reader what the image shows. A footnote references a source, a subheading introduces a new section of writing, and a bibliography lists sources consulted, none of which match text placed directly under a single photograph. The caption here explains the specific scene shown in the image.

A writer wants readers to be able to compare statistics from several different years at a glance. Which organisational feature would best serve this purpose?

• AA handwritten note added to the very end of the text.
• BA single long paragraph describing each year in turn.
• CA table or chart setting the figures out side by side.✓
• DA short poem written about the general theme of change.

Answer: A table or chart allows figures from several different years to be set out side by side, making direct comparison much easier than reading the same information within a paragraph. A long paragraph would require a reader to hold several numbers in mind at once, while a poem or a handwritten note are not designed to present data clearly at all. Organising numerical information visually is the most effective way to support comparison.

The instructions for assembling the shelving unit used numbered diagrams alongside each short paragraph of text, showing exactly which piece to attach next. What is the benefit of combining numbered diagrams with the written instructions?

• AThe diagrams make the shelving unit look more expensive.
• BThe diagrams are included to fill empty space on the page.
• CThe diagrams replace the need to read the written instructions.
• DThe diagrams make each step of the process easier to follow visually.✓

Answer: Numbered diagrams placed alongside short paragraphs help a reader see exactly what each step of an assembly process should look like, making the written instructions easier to follow accurately. The diagrams do not replace the text, since both appear together, and there is no indication they are included to affect the product's appearance or to fill space. Combining visual and written instructions is a common way to reduce assembly errors.