Free Printable 2025091314 BC 2nd Mock Exam

1-23.

1.

What do the words “At last“ suggest? (line 1)

a)

The king’s death was unexpected.

b)

The king was very young when he died.

c)

The king died after being ill for a while.

d)

The king died suddenly.

2.

Mary was a “maiden lady“ in 1547. (line 3)

What does this mean?

a)

She was married.

b)

She was unmarried.

c)

She was a servant.

d)

She had servants.

3.

“She was a stern, austere, hard-hearted woman“. (lines 4–5)

Why do you think the author used these three adjectives to describe Mary?

a)

To emphasise how unpleasant he believed her to be.

b)

To emphasise how diverse her character was.

c)

To emphasise how powerful she was.

d)

To emphasise how clever she was.

4.

What was the approximate age difference between Edward and Mary in 1552?

a)

Five years

b)

Twenty-two years

c)

Seventeen years

d)

We have no way of knowing.

5.

Henry could “in some sense, dispose of his crown by will…“ (lines 26–27)

What does this mean?

a)

Henry had a big say in who became king or queen after him.

b)

Henry could give his favourite crown to whomever he wanted to.

c)

Henry could throw his crown in the bin if he wanted to.

d)

Henry could quit being king whenever he wanted to.

6.

What is the meaning of the word “concurrence“ as used in line 30?

a)

Presence

b)

Happening

c)

Agreement

d)

Meeting

7.

Why did the author think that Henry “had little difficulty in carrying any law through Parliament“? (lines 34–35)

a)

People liked him.

b)

He always had fantastic ideas that nobody wanted to oppose.

c)

People were scared to go against him.

d)

He used his intelligence to eloquently persuade people to do what he wanted.

8.

What is another way of saying, “this head of yours shall be off“? (line 47).

a)

I will no longer be the head of Parliament.

b)

You will have to leave the country.

c)

You will lose your job as head of Parliament.

d)

Your head will be cut off.

9.

If it is true, what was the likely reason for Henry putting “his hand upon the kneeling legislator’s head“?

(lines 44–45)

a)

To be kind.

b)

To be affectionate

c)

To be intimidating

d)

To be funny

10.

Why did Mary become queen after Edward died?

a)

She was Henry’s second oldest child.

b)

Edward had not had any children.

c)

Edward’s child was too young to become king.

d)

Elizabeth did not want to become queen.

11.

Which of the following statements is true?

a)

Edward was a brutal king.

b)

Edward had a long and untroubled reign.

c)

Edward was a powerful king.

d)

Edward never had any real power as king.

12.

Approximately how old was Mary when she died?

a)

Forty-seven

b)

Forty-three

c)

Thirty-six

d)

Thirty-eight

13.

What was Elizabeth’s position during Mary’s reign?

a)

She was heir to the throne.

b)

She was second in line to the throne.

c)

She was third in line to the throne.

d)

She had no prospect of becoming queen.

14.

What does the use of the words “plots, intrigues and conspiracies“ suggest? (lines 72–73)

a)

People were ready to embrace Elizabeth as their queen.

b)

Elizabeth was protected by important people.

c)

There were people around Elizabeth who were not trustworthy.

d)

Elizabeth was not a woman who could be trusted.

15.

Who was made protector during Edward’s reign?

a)

Jane Seymour

b)

Thomas Seymour

c)

The Earl of Hertford

d)

King Edwards’s mother

16.

What was the job of protector when Edward was king?

a)

To get Mary ready to be queen

b)

To decide whether Edward was suitable to be king

c)

To decide who would be king next

d)

To oversee the kingdom while King Edward was a minor

17.

Thomas Seymour and his brother were “in King Henry’s favour“. (line 79)

What does this mean?

a)

King Henry valued and liked the brothers.

b)

King Henry owed the brothers a favour.

c)

The brothers owed King Henry a favour.

d)

The brothers liked King Henry.

18.

What is the meaning of the word “decease“ as used in line 80?

a)

Reign

b)

Power

c)

Illness

d)

Death

19.

Who was the Duke of Somerset?

a)

The Earl of Hertford

b)

Thomas Seymour

c)

Jane Seymour

d)

King Edward

20.

“They were not, however, satisfied with any moderate degree of power.“ (lines 87–89)

What do these words tell us?

a)

Jane Seymour’s brothers wanted to share power.

b)

Jane Seymour’s brothers wanted to be very powerful.

c)

Jane Seymour’s brothers wanted positions that carried only a little power.

d)

Jane Seymour’s brothers did not want to be in positions of powers.

21.

What is the most likely reason that Thomas Seymour wanted to marry King Henry’s widow?

a)

It would make him king.

b)

King Henry had expressed a desire for him to do so.

c)

He was completely in love with her.

d)

He hoped that it would give him more power.

22.

What relation was Edward to the Duke of Somerset?

a)

He was the Duke of Somerset's uncle.

b)

He was the Duke of Somerset's nephew.

c)

He was the Duke of Somerset's cousin.

d)

He was the Duke of Somerset's brother.

23.

How was the Duke of Somerset likely to have felt when Edward died?

a)

Pleased that Mary would become queen

b)

Worried that he would lose power

c)

Relieved that he no longer had the role of protector

d)

Upset that he would never see his beloved Edward again

24.

If you turn these words into the longest sentence you can, which word is superfluous?

the have to to to police released of photographs the members gang want they talk

a)

Police

b)

Released

c)

Photographs

d)

Talk

e)

To

25.

If you turn these words into the longest sentence you can, which word is superfluous?

cold was as hat and scarf warm put Trevor his gloves and on it so

a)

Cold

b)

Hat

c)

And

d)

Gloves

e)

Warm

26.

If you turn these words into the longest sentence you can, which word is superfluous?

the wood from cottages brick made stone and from fishermen’s were

a)

Wood

b)

From

c)

Cottages

d)

Brick

e)

Fishermen's

27.

If you turn these words into the longest sentence you can, which word is superfluous?

the was with golf and of lots camping cupboard

filled suitcases clubs all the gear

a)

Golf

b)

Lots

c)

Camping

d)

Cupboard

e)

Clubs

28.

If you turn these words into the longest sentence you can, which word is superfluous?

the floppy waved the daffodils spring pretty their heads

a)

Heads

b)

Spring

c)

The

d)

Floppy

e)

Waved

29.

If you turn these words into the longest sentence you can, which word is superfluous?

boundary around by their will lions roaring the prowling territory protect

a)

Boundary

b)

Lions

c)

Roaring

d)

Around

e)

Prowling

30.

If you turn these words into the longest sentence you can, which word is superfluous?

opening if purse girl out money took ice-cream her the counted the then her

a)

If

b)

Opening

c)

Girl

d)

Money

e)

Counted

31.

If you turn these words into the longest sentence you can, which word is superfluous?

fruit orange tree the are the of oak acorns

a)

Acorns

b)

Oak

c)

The

d)

Tree

e)

Orange

32.

If you turn these words into the longest sentence you can, which word is superfluous?

during summer from we be seven a the months shall open days week

a)

Summer

b)

Seven

c)

Days

d)

Months

e)

From

33.

Which two words in this sentence must swap place so that the sentence makes sense?

add the batter then mix the dried fruit

A. add

B. the

C. batter

D. then

E. mix

F. the

G. dried

H. fruit

Write only the letters associated with the two correct words, e.g. ‘AE’

(a)

34.

Which two words in this sentence must swap place so that the sentence makes sense?

the bridge crossed beneath the babbling brook that flowed over it

A. the

B. bridge

C. crossed

D. beneath

E. the

F. babbling

G. brook

H. that

I. flowed

J. over

K. it

Write only the letters associated with the two correct words, e.g. ‘AE’

(a)

35.

Which two words in this sentence must swap places so that the sentence makes sense?

the guilty pair were detained by further questioning for the police.

Remember: you can only select 2 answer options.

A. the

B. guilty

C. were

D. detained

E. by

F. questioning

G. for

H. the

I. police

Write only the letters associated with the two correct words, e.g. ‘AE’

(a)

36.

Which two words in this sentence must swap places so that the sentence makes sense?

the dog had large wagging eyes and a chocolate tail.

A. the

B. dog

C. had

D. large

E. wagging

F. eyes

G. and

H. a

I. chocolate

J. tail

Write only the letters associated with the two correct words, e.g. ‘AE’

(a)

37.

Which two words in this sentence must swap places so that the sentence makes sense?

the sun's gold made the rising mist a shimmering rays.

A. the

B. sun's

C. gold

D. made

E. the

F. rising

G. mist

H. a

I. shimmering

J. rays

Write only the letters associated with the two correct words, e.g. ‘AE’

(a)

38.

Which two words in this sentence must swap places so that the sentence makes sense?

studying has such benefits many as thriving in exams.

A. studying

B. has

C. such

D. benefits

E. many

F. as

G. thriving

H. in

I. exams

Write only the letters associated with the two correct words, e.g. ‘AE’

(a)

39.

Which two words in this sentence must swap places so that the sentence makes sense?

hosing down big children outside is unpredictable so keep dogs inside.

A. hosing

B. down

C. big

D. children

E. outside

F. is

G. unpredictable

H. so

I. keep

J. dogs

K. inside

Write only the letters associated with the two correct words, e.g. ‘AE’

(a)

40.

Which two words in this sentence must swap places so that the sentence makes sense?

they climbed across the mountain and up the deep ravine.

A. they

B. climbed

C. across

D. the

E. mountain

F. and

G. up

H. the

I. deep

J. ravine

Write only the letters associated with the two correct words, e.g. ‘AE’

(a)

41.

Which two words in this sentence must swap places so that the sentence makes sense?

beat the flour before folding in the eggs

A. beat

B. the

C. flour

D. before

E. folding

F. in

G. the

H. eggs

Write only the letters associated with the two correct words, e.g. ‘AE’

(a)

42.

Which two words in this sentence must swap places so that the sentence makes sense?

we camped in the stream and used the field for washing.

A. we

B. camped

C. in

D. the

E. stream

F. and

G. used

H. the

I. field

J. for

K. washing

Write only the letters associated with the two correct words, e.g. ‘AE’

(a)

43-87.

This is an extract from The Myth of Blubber Town by Matthew Birkhold.

Perched on a desol_1_ island in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard — 1,500 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle — sits the settlement of Smeerenburg. Founded by Dutch whalers in 1619, Smeerenburg — literally “Blubber Town” — was once the busiest polar site for rendering oil fr_2_ blubber. As new hunting grounds and tech_3_es rendered land-based processing obs 4 , the outpost became unnecessary. Faraway Smeerenburg was abandoned by 1663.

Despite its brief exis 5 , myths of a bustling Blubber Town lived on. Sailors recounted streets lined with churches, shops, and bakeries. Other tales described the clubs and shops forlorn whalers could visit. Respected scie 6 and historians, including William Scoresby and Fridtjof Nansen, repeated the stories, claiming tens of tho 7 of people dwelled on the icy island. In reality, no more than fifteen ships carrying four hundred men visited the site.

Smeerenburg began with a happy acc 8 . Searching for a Northeast Passage in 1596, famed navigator Willem Barentsz (1550–1597) stumbled upon the Svalbard islands. Here, along the rocky co 9 , he found countless bowhead whales and saw an opportunity. The Dutchman planted a flag and claimed the lucrative waters for the Un 10 Provinces.

For the next century, the Dutch ruled the whale trade, sup 11 almost all of Europe with oil for lamps and whale bones for corsets and hoop-skirts. The peerless Dutch navy saf 12 sailing routes against English, German, and French interlopers as Dutch whalers ass 13 exclusive rights to the best hunting grounds in the Arctic. The resulting near mon 14 allowed Dutch companies to keep prices art 15 high and further gild their coffers. The legacy of this Golden Age domi 16 is recorded in our language: in addition to maritime words like “maelstrom”, “skipper”, and “cruise”, the terms “iceberg” and “walrus” are also der 17 from Dutch exploits in the Arctic.

In 1614 an alli 18 of Dutch cities created the Noordsche Compagnie as a whaling cartel, which sent ships north each June. Following a three-week jou 19 , the ships arrived to what they called Spitsbergen and remained until September or October, when the growing ice thre 20 to trap them.

This is an extract from The Daughters of the Moon by Italo Calvino.

The moon is old, Qfwfq agreed, pitted with holes, worn out. Rolling naked through the skies, it erodes and loses its flesh like a bone that’s been gn 21 ed. This is not the first time that such a thing has happened. I remember moons that were even older and more bat 22 than this one; I’ve seen loads of these moons, seen them being born and running across the sky and dy 23 out, one punctured by hail from sh 24 stars, another exploding from all its craters, and yet another oozing drops of topaz-coloured sweat that evap 25 immediately, then being covered by greenish clouds and red 26 to a dried-up, spongy shell.

What happens on the earth when a moon dies is not easy to describe; I’ll try to do it by ref 27 to the last instance I can remember. Following a lengthy period of evolution, the earth had more or less reached the point where we are now; in other words, it had entered the ph 28 when cars wear out more quickly than the so 29 of shoes. Beings that were barely human manufactured and bo 30 and sold things, and cities covered the continents with luminous colour. These cities grew in appr 31 the same places as our cities do now, however different the shape of the continents was. There was even a New York that in some way res 32 the New York familiar to all of you, but was much newer, or, rather, more awash with new pro 33 , new toothbrushes, a New York with its own Manhattan that stretched out dense with skys 34 gleaming like the nylon bristles of a brand-new too 35 sh .

In this world where every object was thrown away at the slig 36 sign of breakage or aging, at the first dent or stain, and rep 37 with a new and perfect substitute, there was just one false note, one shadow: the moon. It wandered through the sky naked, corroded, and grey, more and more alien to the world down here, a hangover from a way of being that was now out 38 .

Ancient expr 39 like “full moon”, “half-moon” and “last-quarter-moon” continued to be used but were really only fig 40 of speech: how could we call “full” a shape that was all cracks and h 41 and that always seemed on the point of crashing down on our heads in a shower of rub 42 ? Not to mention when it was a waning moon! It was red 43 d to a kind of nib 44 cheese rind, and it always disappeared before we expected it to. At each new moon, we won 45 whether it would ever appear again (were we hoping that it would simply disappear?), and when it did reappear, looking more and more like a comb that had lost its teeth, we averted our eyes with a shudder.

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