ESL Reading Comprehension 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the sentence: 'The ancient vase was so fragile that the museum placed it behind thick glass.' What does 'fragile' most likely mean?
- Easily broken (Correct answer)
- Very expensive
- Extremely old
- Beautifully painted
Correct answer: Easily broken
The thick protective glass implies the vase breaks easily, which is what 'fragile' means.
Question 2: Read the passage: 'Ana did not eat breakfast. By noon her hands were shaking and she could not concentrate.' What can you INFER about Ana?
- She is very hungry (Correct answer)
- She is nervous about a test
- She did not sleep well
- She has a medical condition
Correct answer: She is very hungry
Skipping breakfast and showing shaking hands and poor concentration are classic signs of hunger.
Question 3: Read the email subject line: 'Urgent: Your account has been suspended — act now!' Which reading strategy should you use FIRST?
- Check who sent the email before clicking anything (Correct answer)
- Click the link immediately to restore access
- Delete all your emails right away
- Forward it to all your contacts
Correct answer: Check who sent the email before clicking anything
Verifying the sender helps identify phishing attempts before taking any action.
Question 4: Read the paragraph: 'Unlike cats, dogs must be walked outside every day. They also need more social interaction and training.' What is the author's purpose?
- To compare the care needs of dogs and cats (Correct answer)
- To argue that dogs are better than cats
- To explain how to train a dog
- To describe cat behavior
Correct answer: To compare the care needs of dogs and cats
The paragraph uses comparison words ('unlike') to contrast care requirements of the two animals.
Question 5: Read the sentence: 'Despite the heavy rain, hundreds of fans waited outside the stadium.' What does 'despite' tell you?
- The fans waited even though it was raining (Correct answer)
- The fans left because of the rain
- The rain stopped before the fans arrived
- The fans brought umbrellas
Correct answer: The fans waited even though it was raining
'Despite' means 'in spite of,' indicating the fans waited regardless of the bad weather.
Question 6: Read the paragraph: 'The new coffee shop on Main Street is always full. People wait in long lines even before it opens. The owner has already hired five more employees.' What can you conclude?
- The coffee shop is very popular (Correct answer)
- The coffee shop is the only one in town
- The owner is planning to close the shop
- The employees are unhappy
Correct answer: The coffee shop is very popular
Long lines, full capacity, and new hires all point to high popularity.
Question 7: Read the recipe instruction: 'Fold in the egg whites gently so the batter stays light and airy.' What does 'fold in' mean in cooking?
- Mix carefully with a soft, turning motion (Correct answer)
- Stir quickly and vigorously
- Remove from the bowl
- Beat with an electric mixer
Correct answer: Mix carefully with a soft, turning motion
The word 'gently' and the goal of keeping the batter 'light and airy' indicate a slow, careful mixing motion.
ESL Reading Comprehension 3
Read the sentence: 'The ancient vase was so fragile that the museum placed it behind thick glass.' What does 'fragile' most likely mean?