PET Reading Comprehension Strategies 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A product review says: 'The camera takes sharp photos, but the battery life is disappointing.' What is the overall tone of the review?
- Entirely positive
- Entirely negative
- Mixed — praising one feature and criticising another (Correct answer)
- Neutral and factual only
Correct answer: Mixed — praising one feature and criticising another
The review expresses both praise (sharp photos) and criticism (poor battery), making the tone mixed.
Question 2: Which clue word signals a contrast between two ideas in a reading passage?
- Furthermore
- Therefore
- However (Correct answer)
- Similarly
Correct answer: However
'However' is a contrast signal word that introduces an idea that opposes or qualifies what was said before.
Question 3: A paragraph begins: 'First, boil the water. Then, add the pasta. Finally, drain and serve.' What type of text is this?
- A description of a restaurant
- A set of instructions in sequence (Correct answer)
- An opinion about Italian food
- An advertisement for pasta
Correct answer: A set of instructions in sequence
Sequence words like 'first,' 'then,' and 'finally' indicate a step-by-step instructional text.
Question 4: You are asked to match headings to paragraphs in a PET reading task. What should you do first?
- Read all the headings and try to memorize them
- Read each paragraph quickly to find its main idea, then match it to a heading (Correct answer)
- Match headings using only the first word of each paragraph
- Choose the heading with the most similar vocabulary to the paragraph
Correct answer: Read each paragraph quickly to find its main idea, then match it to a heading
Identifying the main idea of each paragraph first allows you to match it accurately to the correct heading.
Question 5: An email says: 'I am writing to complain about the service I received at your store last Saturday.' What is the main purpose of this email?
- To ask for information about store hours
- To express dissatisfaction and seek a resolution (Correct answer)
- To thank staff for excellent service
- To request a job application form
Correct answer: To express dissatisfaction and seek a resolution
The phrase 'writing to complain' clearly signals the email's purpose is to express dissatisfaction.
Question 6: In a PET reading passage, a character says she 'could not help laughing.' What does this expression mean?
- She refused to laugh
- She laughed against her will or without being able to stop (Correct answer)
- She helped others to laugh
- She decided to laugh politely
Correct answer: She laughed against her will or without being able to stop
'Could not help' + gerund means the action happened involuntarily or was impossible to prevent.
Question 7: A travel article states: 'The island is best visited in spring when temperatures are mild and the crowds are thin.' What can you infer about summer visits?
- Summer is also a mild and quiet time to visit
- Summer is likely hotter and more crowded (Correct answer)
- The island is closed to tourists in summer
- Summer has unpredictable weather
Correct answer: Summer is likely hotter and more crowded
By stating spring is best due to mild temperatures and few crowds, the text implies summer is the opposite — hot and busy.
PET Reading Comprehension Strategies 3
A product review says: 'The camera takes sharp photos, but the battery life is disappointing.' What is the overall tone of the review?