CXC - Caribbean Examinations Council English A: Reading Comprehension Questions and Answers

Question 1

Read the passage below and then answer the questions that follow.

The village of Saltwind Point once clung to the coast like a determined mollusc, its lifeblood the turquoise sea. Every morning, the fishing fleet, a colourful regalia of hand-built pirogues, would venture out, returning with the ocean's bounty. The air, thick with the scent of salt and grilling fish, was punctuated by the boisterous haggling at the daily market. Now, a profound quiet has settled. The new coastal highway, a relentless serpent of grey tarmac, bypassed the village completely, redirecting the life-giving flow of tourists and traders. Furthermore, large-scale commercial trawlers, like insatiable leviathans, scour the deep waters miles offshore, leaving only meagre catches for the local fishermen. The young people, seeing no future in mending nets for a few fish, are lured away by the glittering promises of the city, leaving the old-timers to gaze at the horizon, their memories far richer than their current reality.

What is the main purpose of the passage?

Accepted Answer

To explain the economic and social decline of a village.

Answer

The passage details the multiple factors (the new highway, commercial trawlers, youth migration) that have led to the downturn of Saltwind Point's economy and the change in its social fabric. While it mentions the beauty and traditions, the central focus is on the village's decline.

Question 2

In the passage, the new coastal highway is described as a 'relentless serpent of grey tarmac'. What is the primary effect of this description?

Accepted Answer

To imply the highway brought danger and poison to the village's way of life.

Answer

The use of the word 'serpent' is a metaphor. Serpents often carry negative connotations of being sneaky, dangerous, and poisonous. This metaphor suggests that the highway, while perhaps seeming like progress, ultimately had a destructive and venomous effect on the village by cutting it off.

Question 3

The word 'meagre' in the phrase 'leaving only meagre catches for the local fishermen' most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

Insufficient

Answer

The context explains that the large trawlers take most of the fish, so the local fishermen are left with very little. 'Insufficient' or 'scanty' is the correct meaning of 'meagre' in this context, indicating the small quantity of their catch.

Question 4

Which of the following can be most reasonably inferred about the young people of Saltwind Point?

Accepted Answer

They feel forced to leave due to a lack of opportunities.

Answer

The passage states that the young people see 'no future in mending nets for a few fish' and are 'lured away by the glittering promises of the city'. This implies a lack of viable economic options in the village is the primary driver for their departure, making it less of a choice and more of a necessity for their future.

Question 5

A former resident of Saltwind Point is being interviewed for a documentary. She says, 'I had to leave. The market closed, and my father's boat could barely catch enough to feed our family, let alone sell.' Which sentence from the passage best supports her statement?

Accepted Answer

large-scale commercial trawlers...scour the deep waters miles offshore, leaving only meagre catches for the local fishermen.

Answer

The resident's statement directly links her family's inability to catch enough fish to their economic hardship. The sentence about the commercial trawlers leaving 'meagre catches' provides the direct cause for the problem she describes, thus best supporting her scenario.

CXC - Caribbean Examinations Council Practice Test

CXC - Caribbean Examinations Council Practice Test

CXC - Caribbean Examinations Council English A: Reading Comprehension Questions and Answers