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Year 9 English — Reading between the lines

Work out what a passage implies but does not state outright.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.Read: "Arjun read the letter twice, folded it carefully and put it in his pocket without a word. His hands were not quite steady." What can you infer about Arjun?

    • a) The letter has affected him deeply.
    • b) He cannot read.
    • c) The letter is a shopping list.
    • d) He is bored by the letter.

  2. 2.Read: "The tickets were sold out within an hour of going on sale." What can you infer?

    • a) The event was unpopular.
    • b) The event was in great demand.
    • c) The event was cancelled.
    • d) The tickets were expensive.

  3. 3.Read: "She wiped her eyes quickly and turned to the window before anyone could see." Write one word for what she was hiding.

  4. 4.Read: "The coach did not look at Sameer once during the team announcement." What does this most likely suggest?

    • a) The coach cannot see well.
    • b) Sameer has not been selected.
    • c) Sameer was not present.
    • d) Sameer has been made captain.

  5. 5.Read: "Every wall of the small room was covered with certificates and medals." What can you infer about the person who lives there?

    • a) They dislike sport.
    • b) They have won many awards.
    • c) They have just moved in.
    • d) They collect stamps.

  6. 6.Passage: "Rain drummed on the tin roof. Kavi put down his book, fetched a bucket and placed it under the wet patch on the ceiling." Sort each statement.

    Groups: Stated in the passage · Inferred from the passage

    • There is a wet patch on the ceiling.
    • Kavi did not want water on the floor.
    • It is raining.
    • The roof is leaking.

  7. 7.Read: "By the time the bell rang, only three answers were filled in. Ria kept glancing at the clock." What can you infer?

    • a) Ria has run out of time.
    • b) The clock was broken.
    • c) Ria was not in the examination hall.
    • d) Ria finished early.

  8. 8.Read: "Nobody answered the bell, and three days of newspapers lay on the step." What is the most likely explanation?

    • a) Somebody is at home but asleep.
    • b) Nobody has been home for days.
    • c) The bell is broken.
    • d) The newspapers arrived this morning.

Answer key — Year 9 English — Reading between the lines

  1. 1. a) The letter has affected him deeply.
  2. 2. b) The event was in great demand.
  3. 3.
    • tears
    • crying
    • sadness
  4. 4. b) Sameer has not been selected.
  5. 5. b) They have won many awards.
  6. 6. It is raining. → Stated in the passage; There is a wet patch on the ceiling. → Stated in the passage; The roof is leaking. → Inferred from the passage; Kavi did not want water on the floor. → Inferred from the passage
  7. 7. a) Ria has run out of time.
  8. 8. b) Nobody has been home for days.