Chapter 02 — Reading comprehension and evidence
Track: common | Study time: 75–100 minutes | Recall task: write the rule before checking the key.
Pareeksha English foundation notes
Reading Comprehension
What to remember
- Read the passage for its main idea first, then answer; every answer must be supported by words in the passage.
- Fact is stated in the passage; inference is a sensible conclusion drawn from it. Never choose an option that goes beyond the passage.
- For vocabulary in context, test each option by putting it back into the sentence; the meaning must fit the sentence, not just the dictionary.
1. Passage types
Exam passages are usually short, from 150 to 400 words. Knowing the type helps you read faster.
Type | Purpose | Typical signals
Narrative | Tells a story or event | Names, time order, past tense
Descriptive | Paints a picture of a place or person | Adjectives, details of sight and sound
Expository | Explains a topic or process | Facts, definitions, steps
Argumentative | Defends a point of view | "should", "must", reasons, examples
Factual or scientific | Gives information on science or society | Numbers, terms, cause and effect
Literary or reflective | Shares thoughts and feelings | Figures of speech, personal tone
The tone is the writer's attitude. Common tones are formal, humorous, critical, optimistic, pessimistic, sarcastic and neutral. Words such as "unfortunately" show regret; "remarkably" shows admiration.
2. A reading strategy that works
- Skim the first and last sentences of each paragraph. They carry the main idea and the conclusion.
- Read the questions before the passage if time is short. Then you know what to look for.
- Read the whole passage once at a steady speed. Do not stop at hard words.
- Find the answer in the passage and mark the line. Do not answer from your own knowledge.
- Remove wrong options. Wrong options are often too strong, too narrow, opposite, or not mentioned.
- Check the title question last. A good title covers the whole passage, not one part.
Types of questions:
- Main idea or title: what the whole passage is about.
- Detail or fact: a direct answer from one place in the text.
- Inference: what is suggested but not stated.
- Vocabulary in context: the meaning of a word as used here.
- Author's tone or purpose: why the passage was written.
- True or false statements: check each line against the text.
3. Fact versus inference
A fact is written in the passage. An inference is a conclusion that must follow from what is written. A guess has no support and is wrong.
Sample passage A:
"The old library in the village opens only for two hours every evening. Even so, a long line of children waits at its gate before the doors open. The librarian, a retired teacher, knows each child by name and keeps a book ready for each of them."
- Fact: the library is open for two hours every evening.
- Reasonable inference: the children enjoy reading, or at least value the library.
- Unsupported guess: the children have no books at home. The passage does not say this.
Rules for inference:
- Use only the information given.
- Choose the option that is the safest and most directly supported.
- Avoid extreme words such as "always", "never", "all", "only", "completely" unless the passage uses them.
- Be careful with options that are true in the real world but not stated in the passage.
4. Vocabulary in context
One word often has many meanings. The sentence decides which meaning is used.
Sample passage B:
"The minister gave a candid reply to the reporters. He did not hide the fact that the project was late, and he named the reasons for the delay."
Here, "candid" means honest and open. The clue is "did not hide the fact".
Clues to look for:
- Contrast clue: words like "but", "however", "although". Example: "He was frugal, but his brother spent freely." Frugal is the opposite of spending freely, so it means careful with money.
- Example clue: a list that explains the word.
- Definition clue: the passage explains the word in the next phrase.
- Cause and effect clue: the result helps you guess the word.
Common words that change meaning with context:
Word | Meaning 1 | Meaning 2
Bear | Carry | Tolerate
Fair | Just | Light-coloured or a market
Fine | Of good quality | A penalty
Draw | Make a picture | Pull or attract
Plain | Simple | A flat land
Matter | Substance | Be important
5. Main idea and title
Sample passage C:
"Many farmers now use mobile phones to check weather reports and market prices. This helps them decide when to sow and where to sell. Some farmers say their earnings have risen because they no longer depend on middlemen for price information."
- Main idea: mobile phones are helping farmers make better decisions and earn more.
- Good title: "Phones in the Farmer's Hand".
- Poor titles: "Weather Reports" (too narrow) or "Problems of Farmers" (not in the passage).
Test of a good main idea: it must cover all paragraphs. If an option fits only one detail, it is too narrow. If it says more than the passage, it is too broad.
6. Tone, purpose and attitude
Match the writer's words to the tone.
Tone | Clue words | Example idea
Critical | "failed", "careless", "poor" | Faults of a plan
Appreciative | "admirable", "inspiring" | Praise for a teacher
Humorous | Playful exaggeration | A funny event
Neutral or objective | Facts without opinion | A report
Optimistic | "hope", "bright future" | A positive outlook
Sarcastic | Saying one thing, meaning another | Mocking a foolish act
The purpose can be to inform, to persuade, to entertain or to describe. A passage that gives steps of a process mainly informs. A passage that urges readers to act mainly persuades.
7. Handling difficult passages
- Do not panic at unknown words. Read the full sentence and guess from the clue.
- Do not spend more than a few minutes on one passage. Move on if stuck.
- In statement-based questions, check each statement separately and then choose the combination.
- In "except" or "not true" questions, find three true statements and pick the one left.
- Read a long passage in parts; link each part to a one-line summary in your mind.
- Practise with newspaper editorials and short stories to build speed.
- When two options both look right, pick the one that uses the passage's own idea in simple words. Wrong options often add a new reason, a new person or a new result that the passage never mentions.
- After choosing an answer, point to the line that proves it. If you cannot point to a line, look again.
- Keep a short vocabulary list of words met in passages, with their meanings in plain English, and revise it every week.
Sample passage D (for practice):
"Rivers carry silt down from the hills and spread it over the plains when they flood. This silt makes the soil rich. Farmers on the plains have long grown crops on this soil. However, floods can also destroy houses and crops, and so people try to control rivers with dams and embankments."
Questions to think about: What is the benefit of floods? (rich soil) What is the harm? (damage to houses and crops) What do people do to control floods? (build dams and embankments) What is the tone? (balanced and informative).
Exam traps
- Right in the real world, not in the passage: pick only what the passage supports.
- Too extreme: options with "always", "never" or "only" are often wrong.
- Too narrow title: a title built from one detail does not cover the passage.
- Opposite meaning: an option that reverses what the passage says.
- Dictionary meaning vs context meaning: the first meaning you know may not fit.
- Fact vs opinion: "It is the best plan" is opinion; "The plan has three parts" is fact.
- Inference vs assumption: an inference needs textual support; an assumption does not have it.
- Tone vs topic: the topic is what the passage is about; the tone is the writer's attitude.
One-liners
- Read the first and last sentences of each paragraph to find the main idea.
- A fact is stated in the passage; an inference follows from it.
- Answers must come from the passage, not from outside knowledge.
- A good title covers the whole passage.
- Context decides the meaning of a word.
- Contrast words such as "but" and "however" give vocabulary clues.
- Extreme words like "always" and "never" often signal wrong options.
- An expository passage explains; an argumentative passage persuades.
- Tone is the writer's attitude to the subject.
- In "except" questions, find the three true statements first.
- A passage that only gives steps of a process mainly informs.
- Do not spend too long on one passage.
Worked reasoning and learner clinic
Passage method in practice. Before reading the options, write a five-word summary of each paragraph. This prevents an attractive detail from replacing the passage’s main idea. Then locate the sentence that supports each answer. For an inference, combine two stated facts and stop as soon as the conclusion is secure. Do not add a cause, motive or outcome the writer did not give.
Fact, inference and assumption. If a passage says the clinic extended hours and more people attended, the increase is a fact. It may be reasonable to infer that the new hours were convenient for some visitors. It is not safe to say the clinic improved health outcomes; no outcome data are supplied. This distinction is central to objective comprehension and to accurate report writing.
Vocabulary in context. Cover the answer choices and predict a plain substitute for the target word. Check whether the sentence uses a contrast marker, example, definition or result. Then compare only options that fit both meaning and grammar. A synonym that changes a positive word into a negative one is wrong even if the topic appears related.
Tone and purpose. Tone describes attitude; purpose describes what the writer is doing. A neutral report can have an informative purpose. A critical editorial can aim to persuade. Do not infer tone from the topic alone. Look for evaluation words, certainty, humour, criticism and the presence or absence of a requested action.
A practical timing routine. Read the title and first sentence of each paragraph, then the questions. Return to the passage for exact details. On a difficult inference, remove options that are extreme, outside the text or too narrow. Mark a question and move on rather than spending the time needed for several easier questions.
Telugu-medium transfer check
For each passage claim, mark whether it is stated, safely inferred or absent. Keep the author’s evidence as the boundary; outside knowledge may be true but still fail to answer the passage question.
Retrieval practice
After reading, write a six-word main idea, then locate the sentence that supports each answer. For an inference, state the clue and the limited conclusion it permits.
Error-log prompt
When you select a claim that the passage does not support, quote the relevant line and rewrite the claim at the level of certainty the text allows.
Study plate 02. Recall the sequence before you begin the question set.
Chapter 02 practice questions
001. Choose the correct form: "The news ___ good."
A. have been
B. are
C. were
D. is
Key: D | Explanation: "News" is singular in meaning. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
002. Choose the correct form: "She has been working here ___ 2018."
A. during
B. for
C. since
D. from
Key: C | Explanation: "Since" is used with a point in time. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
003. Choose the correct form: "He has lived here ___ ten years."
A. by
B. from
C. since
D. for
Key: D | Explanation: "For" is used with a period. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
004. Fill in the blank: "___ hour has passed."
A. A
B. An
C. No article
D. The
Key: B | Explanation: "Hour" begins with a vowel sound. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
005. Fill in the blank: "He is ___ university student."
A. an
B. no article
C. a
D. the
Key: C | Explanation: "University" begins with a consonant sound /ju/. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
006. Fill in the blank: "She is afraid ___ snakes."
A. of
B. at
C. with
D. from
Key: A | Explanation: "Afraid of" is the fixed form. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
007. Fill in the blank: "I prefer tea ___ coffee."
A. than
B. to
C. from
D. over
Key: B | Explanation: "Prefer ... to" is correct. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
008. Choose the correct sentence.
A. I knowing him.
B. I am know him.
C. I am knowing him.
D. I know him.
Key: D | Explanation: "Know" is not used in the continuous form. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
009. Choose the correct form: "Mathematics ___ a difficult subject."
A. were
B. are
C. is
D. have
Key: C | Explanation: Mathematics is singular. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
010. Fill in the blank: "He is good ___ drawing."
A. in
B. on
C. at
D. for
Key: C | Explanation: "Good at" is the fixed form. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
011. Fill in the blank: "She goes to ___ school every day to study."
A. no article
B. a
C. the
D. an
Key: A | Explanation: "School" for its main purpose takes no article. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
012. Fill in the blank: "___ Godavari is a long river."
A. An
B. No article
C. A
D. The
Key: D | Explanation: Rivers take "the". Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
013. Choose the correct form: "The train ___ when we reached the station."
A. leaves
B. had left
C. has left
D. left
Key: B | Explanation: The earlier of two past actions uses the past perfect. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
014. Choose the correct form: "A number of students ___ absent today."
A. is
B. are
C. was
D. has
Key: B | Explanation: "A number of" takes a plural verb. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
015. Choose the correct form: "The number of students ___ large."
A. are
B. have
C. is
D. were
Key: C | Explanation: "The number of" takes a singular verb. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
016. Choose the correct form: "Neither the boys nor the teacher ___ late."
A. were
B. have
C. are
D. is
Key: D | Explanation: The verb agrees with the nearer subject, "teacher". Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
017. Choose the correct form: "The captain, along with his players, ___ here."
A. is
B. are
C. were
D. have
Key: A | Explanation: "Along with" does not change the verb; the subject is "captain". Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
018. Choose the correct form: "Each of the boys ___ a pen."
A. have
B. are
C. has
D. were
Key: C | Explanation: "Each" is singular. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
019. Choose the correct form: "The scissors ___ on the table."
A. was
B. are
C. is
D. has
Key: B | Explanation: "Scissors" is always plural. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
020. Choose the correct form: "Many a student ___ failed."
A. has
B. have
C. are
D. were
Key: A | Explanation: "Many a" takes a singular verb. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
021. Fill in the blank: "He died ___ cancer."
A. by
B. with
C. from
D. of
Key: D | Explanation: A disease takes "die of". Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
022. Fill in the blank: "She is married ___ a doctor."
A. to
B. by
C. from
D. with
Key: A | Explanation: "Married to" is the fixed form. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
023. Fill in the blank: "The teacher congratulated him ___ his success."
A. at
B. on
C. about
D. for
Key: B | Explanation: "Congratulate ... on" is the fixed form. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
024. Fill in the blank: "The bag is different ___ mine."
A. with
B. to
C. from
D. than
Key: C | Explanation: "Different from" is the correct form. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
025. He sat ___ the two girls; one was on his left and the other was on his right.
A. beside
B. among
C. besides
D. between
Key: D | Explanation: "Between" is for two. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
026. Consider these statements. 1. "A" is used before the sound of a consonant. 2. "An" is used before the letter "u" always.
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Key: A | Explanation: Sound decides: "a university", "an umbrella". Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
027. Consider these statements. 1. "Since" is used with a period of time. 2. "For" is used with a period of time.
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Key: B | Explanation: "Since" is for a point of time. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
028. Consider these statements. 1. "Each" takes a singular verb. 2. "A number of" takes a singular verb.
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Key: A | Explanation: "A number of" takes a plural verb. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
029. Consider these statements. 1. "Furniture" is an uncountable noun. 2. We say "a furniture".
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Key: A | Explanation: Uncountable nouns take no "a". Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
030. Consider these statements. 1. "Beside" means next to. 2. "Besides" means in addition to.
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Key: C | Explanation: Both are correct. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
031. Consider these statements. 1. Rivers take "the". 2. Names of cities take "the".
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Key: A | Explanation: City names take no article. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
032. Consider these statements. 1. In a standard present-state meaning, verbs such as “love” and “want” are generally not used in the continuous form. 2. “I am wanting a pen” is the usual form for a present need.
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Key: A | Explanation: Stative verbs avoid the continuous form. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
033. Match the verb with its preposition.
A. interested - of
B. depend - at
C. proud - to
D. prevent - from
Key: D | Explanation: We say "prevent ... from". Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
034. Match the tense with its form.
A. Future perfect - will + V1
B. Past continuous - has + V3
C. Present perfect - had + V3
D. Past perfect - had + V3
Key: D | Explanation: Past perfect is "had + V3". Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
035. Choose the correct form: "Bread and butter ___ my usual breakfast."
A. were
B. is
C. have
D. are
Key: B | Explanation: Two items forming one idea take a singular verb. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
036. Choose the correct form: "He is one of the boys who ___ honest."
A. is
B. has
C. are
D. was
Key: C | Explanation: "Who" refers to the plural "boys". Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
037. Choose the correct form: "Either the teacher or the students ___ responsible."
A. was
B. are
C. is
D. has
Key: B | Explanation: The nearer subject is plural. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
038. Choose the sentence that is correct.
A. He is senior over me.
B. He is senior than me.
C. He is senior to me.
D. He is senior from me.
Key: C | Explanation: "Senior to" is the fixed form. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
039. Fill in the blank: "By next June, she ___ her course."
A. will finish
B. finished
C. has finished
D. will have finished
Key: D | Explanation: Future perfect is used for an action complete by a future time. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
040. Fill in the blank: "She is ___ honest girl."
A. a
B. the
C. no article
D. an
Key: D | Explanation: "Honest" begins with a vowel sound because the "h" is silent. Check the verb pattern, time marker and subject before selecting a form; nearby words do not replace the grammatical head.
041. Read the passage, then answer.
Which statement is false according to the passage?
A library catalogue lists books by title, author and subject. A search by subject may return several works by different authors. A reader should check the publication details before borrowing, especially when two books have similar titles. The catalogue helps locate a book; it does not judge its quality.
A. Publication details can help distinguish books
B. Quality is not judged by the catalogue
C. A subject search returns exactly one book
D. A subject search may return several works
Key: C | Explanation: The passage says several works may appear.
042. Read the passage, then answer.
The writer’s advice is to
A library catalogue lists books by title, author and subject. A search by subject may return several works by different authors. A reader should check the publication details before borrowing, especially when two books have similar titles. The catalogue helps locate a book; it does not judge its quality.
A. Judge a book by its catalogue entry
B. Verify details when titles are similar
C. Borrow the first result automatically
D. Ignore author names
Key: B | Explanation: The passage recommends checking publication details.
043. Read the passage, then answer.
What did the display show?
A bus service added a digital display showing the next scheduled departure. During a power cut, a printed timetable at the stop remained useful. Passengers asked the operator to keep both forms of information. The operator agreed to review the display’s reliability each month.
A. Next scheduled departure
B. Ticket refund history
C. Road ownership
D. Passenger names
Key: A | Explanation: This is stated in the first sentence.
044. Read the passage, then answer.
Why was the printed timetable useful?
A bus service added a digital display showing the next scheduled departure. During a power cut, a printed timetable at the stop remained useful. Passengers asked the operator to keep both forms of information. The operator agreed to review the display’s reliability each month.
A. The buses stopped permanently
B. The display showed every route
C. Passengers had no clocks
D. There was a power cut
Key: D | Explanation: The passage links its usefulness to the power cut.
045. Read the passage, then answer.
What did passengers request?
A bus service added a digital display showing the next scheduled departure. During a power cut, a printed timetable at the stop remained useful. Passengers asked the operator to keep both forms of information. The operator agreed to review the display’s reliability each month.
A. Cancel the bus service
B. Publish passenger names
C. Keep both information formats
D. Remove all timetables
Key: C | Explanation: They asked the operator to retain both forms.
046. Read the passage, then answer.
What will the operator review monthly?
A bus service added a digital display showing the next scheduled departure. During a power cut, a printed timetable at the stop remained useful. Passengers asked the operator to keep both forms of information. The operator agreed to review the display’s reliability each month.
A. Printed ink colour
B. Display reliability
C. Passenger examination marks
D. Road tax
Key: B | Explanation: The final sentence says reliability will be reviewed.
047. Read the passage, then answer.
The passage suggests that
A bus service added a digital display showing the next scheduled departure. During a power cut, a printed timetable at the stop remained useful. Passengers asked the operator to keep both forms of information. The operator agreed to review the display’s reliability each month.
A. A backup can help when technology fails
B. Digital displays never fail
C. Paper is always more accurate
D. Power cuts cancel schedules
Key: A | Explanation: The printed timetable remained useful during a power cut.
048. Read the passage, then answer.
The central idea is
A bus service added a digital display showing the next scheduled departure. During a power cut, a printed timetable at the stop remained useful. Passengers asked the operator to keep both forms of information. The operator agreed to review the display’s reliability each month.
A. Replacing every bus
B. Removing public information
C. A history of electricity
D. Combining digital information with a paper backup
Key: D | Explanation: The passage is about retaining both information forms.
049. Read the passage, then answer.
What is written on each bed’s label?
A school garden has three raised beds. Students label each bed with the crop name and sowing date. At harvest, the class compares how much water each crop used and how well it grew. The teacher says the comparison is useful for learning, but one season is too short to establish a permanent rule.
A. Market price only
B. Weather forecast for a year
C. Crop name and sowing date
D. Student marks
Key: C | Explanation: The labels contain the crop name and sowing date.
050. Read the passage, then answer.
What does the class compare?
A school garden has three raised beds. Students label each bed with the crop name and sowing date. At harvest, the class compares how much water each crop used and how well it grew. The teacher says the comparison is useful for learning, but one season is too short to establish a permanent rule.
A. Road distance
B. Water use and growth
C. Uniform colour
D. School fees
Key: B | Explanation: Both comparisons are stated in the third sentence.
051. Read the passage, then answer.
Why is one season insufficient?
A school garden has three raised beds. Students label each bed with the crop name and sowing date. At harvest, the class compares how much water each crop used and how well it grew. The teacher says the comparison is useful for learning, but one season is too short to establish a permanent rule.
A. It is too short for a permanent rule
B. No crops were planted
C. Labels cannot be read
D. Water was not used
Key: A | Explanation: The teacher explicitly limits the conclusion.
052. Read the passage, then answer.
The word “establish” means
A school garden has three raised beds. Students label each bed with the crop name and sowing date. At harvest, the class compares how much water each crop used and how well it grew. The teacher says the comparison is useful for learning, but one season is too short to establish a permanent rule.
A. Destroy
B. Forget
C. Borrow
D. Set up or prove firmly
Key: D | Explanation: In context, the class cannot prove a lasting rule from one season.
053. Read the passage, then answer.
Which conclusion is careful?
A school garden has three raised beds. Students label each bed with the crop name and sowing date. At harvest, the class compares how much water each crop used and how well it grew. The teacher says the comparison is useful for learning, but one season is too short to establish a permanent rule.
A. Water use is irrelevant
B. Three beds prove a national trend
C. The activity supports learning but gives limited evidence
D. One crop is best forever
Key: C | Explanation: This preserves the teacher’s qualification.
054. Read the passage, then answer.
The passage is mainly about
A school garden has three raised beds. Students label each bed with the crop name and sowing date. At harvest, the class compares how much water each crop used and how well it grew. The teacher says the comparison is useful for learning, but one season is too short to establish a permanent rule.
A. A market auction
B. A classroom crop comparison
C. A national farming law
D. A school fee plan
Key: B | Explanation: The entire passage concerns the learning activity.
055. Read the passage, then answer.
Where may visitors consult originals?
The town archive keeps old maps in protective folders. Visitors may consult them in a reading area, but they cannot take an original map home. Staff can provide a digital copy when the record is clear enough to scan. Some sheets need conservation before scanning.
A. In a reading area
B. At home
C. In a market
D. On a bus
Key: A | Explanation: The passage identifies the reading area.
056. Read the passage, then answer.
Why might a digital copy not be available immediately?
The town archive keeps old maps in protective folders. Visitors may consult them in a reading area, but they cannot take an original map home. Staff can provide a digital copy when the record is clear enough to scan. Some sheets need conservation before scanning.
A. Maps have no records
B. Visitors cannot read
C. The archive has no folders
D. Some sheets need conservation
Key: D | Explanation: Conservation is required for some sheets.
057. Read the passage, then answer.
What can staff provide?
The town archive keeps old maps in protective folders. Visitors may consult them in a reading area, but they cannot take an original map home. Staff can provide a digital copy when the record is clear enough to scan. Some sheets need conservation before scanning.
A. A guarantee of historical accuracy
B. A map to keep permanently
C. A digital copy when scanning is suitable
D. A new original map
Key: C | Explanation: The passage conditions the copy on scan suitability.
058. Read the passage, then answer.
What is prohibited?
The town archive keeps old maps in protective folders. Visitors may consult them in a reading area, but they cannot take an original map home. Staff can provide a digital copy when the record is clear enough to scan. Some sheets need conservation before scanning.
A. Scanning clear records
B. Taking an original map home
C. Consulting an original
D. Using folders
Key: B | Explanation: Visitors cannot take original maps home.
059. Read the passage, then answer.
The passage’s tone is
The town archive keeps old maps in protective folders. Visitors may consult them in a reading area, but they cannot take an original map home. Staff can provide a digital copy when the record is clear enough to scan. Some sheets need conservation before scanning.
A. Practical and informative
B. Furious
C. Comic
D. Persuasive advertising
Key: A | Explanation: It explains archive procedures neutrally.
060. Read the passage, then answer.
Which statement is supported?
The town archive keeps old maps in protective folders. Visitors may consult them in a reading area, but they cannot take an original map home. Staff can provide a digital copy when the record is clear enough to scan. Some sheets need conservation before scanning.
A. Every map is already digitised
B. Original maps may be borrowed
C. Scanning is never allowed
D. Preservation can affect access method
Key: D | Explanation: The passage says conservation may precede scanning.
061. Read the passage, then answer.
What did volunteers record?
A coastal clean-up was planned after volunteers counted plastic waste along a short stretch of shore. The team recorded the date, length surveyed and item types. It repeated the count one month later on the same stretch. The organiser warned that these two counts cannot represent every beach.
A. Fish prices
B. Weather for ten years
C. Date, survey length and item types
D. Only the names of visitors
Key: C | Explanation: These three pieces of information are listed.
062. Read the passage, then answer.
Why repeat the count on the same stretch?
A coastal clean-up was planned after volunteers counted plastic waste along a short stretch of shore. The team recorded the date, length surveyed and item types. It repeated the count one month later on the same stretch. The organiser warned that these two counts cannot represent every beach.
A. To change the shoreline
B. To compare observations at one location
C. To prove every beach is clean
D. To avoid recording item types
Key: B | Explanation: Using the same stretch makes the two observations more comparable.
063. Read the passage, then answer.
What limitation did the organiser state?
A coastal clean-up was planned after volunteers counted plastic waste along a short stretch of shore. The team recorded the date, length surveyed and item types. It repeated the count one month later on the same stretch. The organiser warned that these two counts cannot represent every beach.
A. Two counts cannot represent every beach
B. No waste was found
C. The team surveyed the whole coast
D. Dates do not matter
Key: A | Explanation: The organiser warns against overgeneralising.
064. Read the passage, then answer.
The best inference is
A coastal clean-up was planned after volunteers counted plastic waste along a short stretch of shore. The team recorded the date, length surveyed and item types. It repeated the count one month later on the same stretch. The organiser warned that these two counts cannot represent every beach.
A. All coastal waste was measured
B. The first count caused the second
C. Every beach has identical waste
D. The records allow a limited comparison over time
Key: D | Explanation: The same stretch was counted twice, but broader claims are disallowed.
065. Read the passage, then answer.
Which title fits best?
A coastal clean-up was planned after volunteers counted plastic waste along a short stretch of shore. The team recorded the date, length surveyed and item types. It repeated the count one month later on the same stretch. The organiser warned that these two counts cannot represent every beach.
A. Plastic Production Law
B. A Guide to Sea Travel
C. A Small Shoreline Survey
D. Every Beach Is Clean
Key: C | Explanation: The title describes the limited survey.