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Class 5 English — Reading for clues

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

Name: ________________________

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

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

  2. 2.Read: "The train to the hills leaves at six in the morning and takes four hours." How many hours does the journey take?

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

  4. 4.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 is mending his bicycle.
    • c) He has won a race.
    • d) He has fallen off his bicycle.

  5. 5.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.
    • She had come in from the rain.
    • The shop was shut.

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

  7. 7.Passage: "The bell had already rung when Sameer reached the school gate, out of breath and with his tie in his hand." Sort each statement.

    Groups: The passage tells you this · The passage does not say

    • Sameer came to school by bus.
    • The bell had already rung.
    • Sameer was out of breath.
    • Sameer had eaten his breakfast.
    • Sameer's sister was with him.
    • Sameer had his tie in his hand.

  8. 8.One word, please. Read: "Grandmother keeps her spectacles in a red tin box on the top shelf." What colour is the box?

Answer key — Class 5 English — Reading for clues

  1. 1. a) Not wide
  2. 2. 4
  3. 3. 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
  4. 4. d) He has fallen off his bicycle.
  5. 5. 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.
  6. 6. a) Nila has left in a hurry.
  7. 7. The bell had already rung. → The passage tells you this; Sameer was out of breath. → The passage tells you this; Sameer had his tie in his hand. → The passage tells you this; Sameer had eaten his breakfast. → The passage does not say; Sameer came to school by bus. → The passage does not say; Sameer's sister was with him. → The passage does not say
  8. 8. red