Reading Comprehension Test 1 - Fiction

In paragraph one, Michael sees an egret.

What does an egret look like?

Select 2 options

• like a heron

• ugly

• white/ snow-white

• big

Look at paragraph beginning: I was watching...

Which phrase from this paragraph means 'unexpectedly'?

Tick one

• don't you know

• without any warning

• really strange

• about to happen

What is the first sign that there is something unusual in the Thames?

Select one

• the egret lifted off

• the river flooded

• it had a strange smell

Then I spotted something slicing slowly through the water towards me. In this line, the word spotted is closest in meaning to ...

Tick one.

• studied

• watched

• noticed

• witnessed

Match Michael's thoughts about the whale with what he sees.

'He thinks it is a shark...

Tick one

• when he first sees it's face

• when he first sees it's fin

• when he first sees it's head

Match Michael's thoughts about the whale with what he sees.

'He thinks it is a dolphin' ...

Tick one

• When he first sees it's face

• when he first sees it's fin

• when he first sees it's head

Match Michael's thoughts about the whale with what he sees.

'He thinks it is a whale'...

Tick one

• when he first sees it's face

• when he first sees it's fin

• when he first sees it's head

Look at the paragraph beginning: Then I spotted something...

Tick two different feelings Michael experiences when he first sees the whale.

• love

• frightened

• annoyed

• excited

How can you tell that Michael is very interested in animals?

Give two ways.

• knows the difference between whales and sharks/dolphins

• knows the names of birds

• He wants to be a vet

• He visits the farm

Look at the last paragraph.

What is Michael's reaction to seeing the whale?

Tick two

• angry

• amazed

• sad

• astonished