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Year 6 English — Reading for clues

Answer what a short passage says outright, and what it only leaves clues about.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.Read: "First the sky darkened. Then the wind rose, and the door banged shut. Only after that did the rain start." Put the events in the order they happened.

    • The rain started.
    • The door banged shut.
    • The wind rose.
    • The sky darkened.

  2. 2.Passage: "Rain fell all morning. Anna came into the hall carrying her shoes, and left wet footprints across the floor." Sort each statement.

    Groups: Stated in the passage · Worked out from the passage

    • Anna had been outside in the rain.
    • It rained all morning.
    • Anna had been walking barefoot.
    • Anna was carrying her shoes.

  3. 3.Match each detail to what it tells you.

    • The lights were off and the door was locked.
    • He was carrying a bat and wearing pads.
    • Her umbrella was dripping in the corner.
    • The plates were empty and the chairs pushed back.
    • He was going to play cricket.
    • The meal was over.
    • The shop was shut.
    • She had come in from the rain.

  4. 4.Read: "The path was so narrow that they had to walk in single file." What does "narrow" mean here?

    • a) Very long
    • b) Full of stones
    • c) Very dark
    • d) Not wide

  5. 5.Read: "Meera read the notice board twice, then walked away smiling and swinging her bag." How does Meera feel?

    • a) Frightened
    • b) Bored
    • c) Pleased
    • d) Angry

  6. 6.Read: "Ravi's shirt was torn, his knee was bleeding, and his bicycle lay on its side by the road." What has most likely happened?

    • a) He has just bought a new bicycle.
    • b) He has fallen off his bicycle.
    • c) He is mending his bicycle.
    • d) He has won a race.

  7. 7.Read: "Nila's bag was heavy with library books. She had borrowed six, although the rule allowed only four." How many books was she allowed to borrow?

    • a) Four
    • b) Ten
    • c) Two
    • d) Six

  8. 8.Read: "The classroom door stood open, the fan was still turning, and a half-finished drawing lay on Nila's desk. Her bag was gone." What has most likely happened?

    • a) Nila did not come to school at all.
    • b) Nila has left in a hurry.
    • c) Nila has been at her desk all afternoon.
    • d) Nila has finished her drawing.

Answer key — Year 6 English — Reading for clues

  1. 1. 1. The sky darkened. 2. The wind rose. 3. The door banged shut. 4. The rain started.
  2. 2. It rained all morning. → Stated in the passage; Anna was carrying her shoes. → Stated in the passage; Anna had been walking barefoot. → Worked out from the passage; Anna had been outside in the rain. → Worked out from the passage
  3. 3. The lights were off and the door was locked. → The shop was shut.; He was carrying a bat and wearing pads. → He was going to play cricket.; Her umbrella was dripping in the corner. → She had come in from the rain.; The plates were empty and the chairs pushed back. → The meal was over.
  4. 4. d) Not wide
  5. 5. c) Pleased
  6. 6. b) He has fallen off his bicycle.
  7. 7. a) Four
  8. 8. b) Nila has left in a hurry.