ICAS English Reading Comprehension 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the passage: "Our school canteen should stop selling sugary drinks. Studies show children who drink them daily are more likely to develop tooth decay. Water is free, healthy and always available." What type of text is this?
- A narrative
- A persuasive text (Correct answer)
- A recount
- A procedure
Correct answer: A persuasive text
The passage argues for a change and supports it with evidence, which is persuasive writing.
The passage opens with an opinion ('should stop selling'), gives supporting evidence from studies and finishes with a positive alternative. These are features of persuasive writing. A narrative tells a story, a recount retells past events and a procedure gives step-by-step instructions.
Question 2: Read the passage: "Ana glanced at the clock for the fifth time. She tapped her pencil, sighed, and turned back to the blank page." Which word best describes Ana's state?
- Restless (Correct answer)
- Relaxed
- Excited
- Proud
Correct answer: Restless
Repeatedly checking the clock, tapping and sighing show she is restless and struggling to start.
The author shows Ana's feelings through actions: glancing at the clock repeatedly, tapping her pencil, sighing and facing a blank page. Together these signal impatience and difficulty concentrating, best captured by 'restless'. None of the actions suggest she is relaxed, excited or proud.
Question 3: Read the passage: "First, soak the seeds overnight. Next, plant them 2 cm deep in damp soil. Finally, place the pot in a sunny spot and water it every second day." Which step comes immediately before placing the pot in the sun?
- Watering every second day
- Soaking the seeds overnight
- Planting the seeds in damp soil (Correct answer)
- Choosing a pot
Correct answer: Planting the seeds in damp soil
The sequence is soak, plant, then place in the sun.
The sequencing words make the order clear: 'First' soak, 'Next' plant, 'Finally' place in sun and water. So the step immediately before putting the pot in a sunny spot is planting the seeds 2 cm deep in damp soil. Watering comes after placement, and choosing a pot is never mentioned.
Question 4: Read the passage: "The museum's new exhibit was a triumph. Visitors queued around the block, and reviewers praised its creativity." Which word could replace "triumph" without changing the meaning?
- Disaster
- Success (Correct answer)
- Mystery
- Experiment
Correct answer: Success
A triumph is a great success, which matches the long queues and praise.
The second sentence gives context clues: long queues and praise from reviewers. These show the exhibit went very well, so 'triumph' means a great success. 'Disaster' is the opposite, while 'mystery' and 'experiment' do not fit the positive tone.
Question 5: Read the passage: "Although the trail was steep, the view from the summit made every aching step worthwhile." What is the writer's overall attitude to the hike?
- It was too hard and not worth doing
- It was difficult but rewarding (Correct answer)
- It was easy and enjoyable
- It was boring and long
Correct answer: It was difficult but rewarding
The writer admits the difficulty but says the view made it worthwhile.
'Although the trail was steep' acknowledges the difficulty, and 'aching step' reinforces it. However, the main clause says the view made it all 'worthwhile', which shows the positive outweighs the negative. The overall attitude is therefore that the hike was hard but rewarding.
Question 6: Read the passage: "The lighthouse keeper had not seen another person in four months. Each morning he spoke to the gulls, and each evening he set two places at the table." What can the reader infer from the keeper setting two places at the table?
- He is expecting a visitor that evening
- He is lonely and longs for company (Correct answer)
- He has poor eyesight and makes mistakes
- He is preparing for a large dinner party
Correct answer: He is lonely and longs for company
Talking to gulls and setting an extra place suggest he misses human company.
The passage establishes that the keeper has been alone for four months. Speaking to birds and laying a second place, even though no one is coming, are habits that reveal his loneliness and wish for companionship. There is no evidence of a visitor or a party, so the inference of loneliness is the best supported.
ICAS English Reading Comprehension 2
Read the passage: "Our school canteen should stop selling sugary drinks.
Studies show children who drink them daily are more likely to develop tooth decay.
Water is free, healthy and always available." What type of text is this?