Reading Comprehension Quiz

Read the following paragraph: "As I approached the sweet shop, my heart raced with anticipation. The colorful jars filled with candy lined the shelves, each one promising a different kind of delight." What is the main focus of this paragraph?

• The narrator’s anticipation of entering the sweet shop

• The variety of candies available in the shop

• The colorful appearance of the sweet shop

• The narrator’s favorite candy in the shop

Answer explanation

The main focus of the paragraph is the narrator's anticipation of entering the sweet shop, as indicated by the phrase 'my heart raced with anticipation.' The colorful jars and variety of candies enhance this feeling but are not the main focus.

Which of the following sentences from Boy creates a tense mood through descriptive language?

• "The bicycle ride was exhilarating, the wind rushing past my ears as I sped down the hill."

• "The Headmaster’s voice echoed ominously, each word dripping with displeasure as he addressed the silent room."

• "The sweet shop was a burst of color, with candies of every shape and size filling the shelves."

• "The Matron’s office was always tidy, with a faint scent of antiseptic lingering in the air."

Answer explanation

The sentence about the Headmaster creates a tense mood with words like 'echoed ominously' and 'dripping with displeasure,' which evoke a sense of foreboding and seriousness, contrasting with the other more lighthearted descriptions.

Which sentence best shows how the boys felt about Mrs. Pratchett in Boy?

• They were scared of Mrs. Pratchett.

• Their hearts pounded as Mrs. Pratchett glared at them, her bony fingers clenching the coin they had given her.

• Mrs. Pratchett was a mean and unpleasant woman.

• They avoided Mrs. Pratchett whenever they could.

Answer explanation

The correct choice illustrates the boys' fear and anxiety towards Mrs. Pratchett, as indicated by their pounding hearts and her intimidating glare, which captures their emotional response effectively.

What can you infer about the Matron’s personality based on this description: "The Matron’s footsteps echoed in the hallway, each step growing louder as she approached. The boys stiffened in their beds, knowing that a scolding was inevitable."

• She is kind and gentle.

• She is strict and intimidating.

• She is often confused and disorganized.

• She is friendly and well-liked by the boys.

Answer explanation

The Matron's footsteps echoing and the boys stiffening indicate her strict and intimidating nature. The inevitability of a scolding suggests she instills fear rather than kindness or friendliness.

In Chapter 4, "The Great Mouse Plot," what motivated the boys to put a dead mouse in Mrs. Pratchett's jar of candy?

• They wanted to scare her.

• They wanted to see her reaction.

• They were angry at Mrs. Pratchatt for being rude to them.

• They thought it would be funny.

Answer explanation

The boys were motivated by their anger towards Mrs. Pratchett for her rudeness. This led them to play a prank by putting a dead mouse in her candy jar, reflecting their desire to retaliate for her behavior.

Which of the following sentences best maintains focus on the narrator’s fear of the Matron in Boy?

• The Matron’s office was decorated with pictures of her family.

• The Matron’s sharp eyes missed nothing, and her presence alone made my heart race with fear.

• The boys often whispered about the Matron when she wasn’t around.

• The school’s gardens were well-kept, with flowers blooming in neat rows.

Answer explanation

The correct choice emphasizes the narrator's fear directly by describing the Matron's intimidating presence and sharp eyes, which evoke a strong emotional response, unlike the other options that focus on unrelated details.

Which revision best improves the sentence by adding showing details? "He was angry at the shopkeeper."

• He felt very upset with the shopkeeper.

• He glared at the shopkeeper, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

• He didn’t like the way the shopkeeper talked to him.

• He walked away from the shopkeeper without saying a word.

Answer explanation

The correct choice, "He glared at the shopkeeper, his fists clenched tightly at his sides," adds vivid details that illustrate his anger through body language, enhancing the emotional impact of the sentence.

What was the effect of the boys putting the dead mouse in Mrs. Pratchett's candy jar in Boy?

• Mrs. Pratchett laughed and thought it was a joke.

• The boys were caught and severely punished by Mr. Coombes.

• The boys became heroes among their classmates.

• Mrs. Pratchett never found out who did it.

Answer explanation

The boys were caught and severely punished by Mr. Coombes because their prank with the dead mouse in Mrs. Pratchett's candy jar was discovered, leading to consequences for their actions.

What is a central theme in the chapters of Boy that were read this week?

• The importance of following rules

• The conflict between authority figures and students

• The joy of childhood friendships

• The excitement of discovering new places

Answer explanation

In the chapters read this week, the central theme revolves around the conflict between authority figures and students, highlighting the struggles and tensions that arise in educational settings.

Which sentence from Boy uses sensory details effectively to describe the setting?

• The classroom was filled with desks and chairs.

• The sweet shop smelled of sugar and chocolate, and the sound of the bell ringing as I opened the door filled me with excitement.

• The playground was large and empty.

• The teacher wrote on the chalkboard.

Answer explanation

The correct choice uses sensory details effectively, describing the sweet shop's smell of sugar and chocolate and the sound of the bell, which creates a vivid and engaging setting compared to the other options.