Reading Comprehension I semester

Read the text about a girl’s first day at school and for questions 1 to 6, choose the correct answer.

A1 Reading Test

Memories of my first day at school

I remember my first day at school very well. I knew the school quite well because my older sister, Sandy, went there and every day, dad and I met her at the school gate after school. Every day, she ran out of the school with her friends. She often carried a painting. I felt jealous. I wanted to paint too!

I was five years old when I started school. Most children in my class started school in September, but I started school in January, when I was five years old, because my birthday is in December. Three other kids started school on the same day as me. I was excited about my first day. I had my new uniform: a black skirt, a white t-shirt and green jumper, and a new red bag. When we arrived that day, a teacher met the new children at the school gate. Dad hugged me and said goodbye. I stood with the other children. I didn’t talk to them because I was too nervous. Then, Mrs Wilson took us to our classroom. All the other children were already there. They looked at us when we entered the room. When thirty children looked at me, I started to cry!

But I wasn’t upset for long. I sat with the other children on the carpet and the class teacher, Miss Holland, read us a story. Later, we drew pictures with coloured pencils, and at break time, I made friends with a girl called Megan. At the end of the day, I ran to the school gate with Megan and my picture, just like Sandy always did.

The writer was jealous of Sandy because she _____ at school.

Memories of my first day at school

I remember my first day at school very well. I knew the school quite well because my older sister, Sandy, went there and every day, dad and I met her at the school gate after school. Every day, she ran out of the school with her friends. She often carried a painting. I felt jealous. I wanted to paint too!

I was five years old when I started school. Most children in my class started school in September, but I started school in January, when I was five years old, because my birthday is in December. Three other kids started school on the same day as me. I was excited about my first day. I had my new uniform: a black skirt, a white t-shirt and green jumper, and a new red bag. When we arrived that day, a teacher met the new children at the school gate. Dad hugged me and said goodbye. I stood with the other children. I didn’t talk to them because I was too nervous. Then, Mrs Wilson took us to our classroom. All the other children were already there. They looked at us when we entered the room. When thirty children looked at me, I started to cry!

But I wasn’t upset for long. I sat with the other children on the carpet and the class teacher, Miss Holland, read us a story. Later, we drew pictures with coloured pencils, and at break time, I made friends with a girl called Megan. At the end of the day, I ran to the school gate with Megan and my picture, just like Sandy always did.

The writer started school in ___.

Memories of my first day at school

I remember my first day at school very well. I knew the school quite well because my older sister, Sandy, went there and every day, dad and I met her at the school gate after school. Every day, she ran out of the school with her friends. She often carried a painting. I felt jealous. I wanted to paint too!

I was five years old when I started school. Most children in my class started school in September, but I started school in January, when I was five years old, because my birthday is in December. Three other kids started school on the same day as me. I was excited about my first day. I had my new uniform: a black skirt, a white t-shirt and green jumper, and a new red bag. When we arrived that day, a teacher met the new children at the school gate. Dad hugged me and said goodbye. I stood with the other children. I didn’t talk to them because I was too nervous. Then, Mrs Wilson took us to our classroom. All the other children were already there. They looked at us when we entered the room. When thirty children looked at me, I started to cry!

But I wasn’t upset for long. I sat with the other children on the carpet and the class teacher, Miss Holland, read us a story. Later, we drew pictures with coloured pencils, and at break time, I made friends with a girl called Megan. At the end of the day, I ran to the school gate with Megan and my picture, just like Sandy always did.

The writer and ___ other children started school that day.

Memories of my first day at school

I remember my first day at school very well. I knew the school quite well because my older sister, Sandy, went there and every day, dad and I met her at the school gate after school. Every day, she ran out of the school with her friends. She often carried a painting. I felt jealous. I wanted to paint too!

I was five years old when I started school. Most children in my class started school in September, but I started school in January, when I was five years old, because my birthday is in December. Three other kids started school on the same day as me. I was excited about my first day. I had my new uniform: a black skirt, a white t-shirt and green jumper, and a new red bag. When we arrived that day, a teacher met the new children at the school gate. Dad hugged me and said goodbye. I stood with the other children. I didn’t talk to them because I was too nervous. Then, Mrs Wilson took us to our classroom. All the other children were already there. They looked at us when we entered the room. When thirty children looked at me, I started to cry!

But I wasn’t upset for long. I sat with the other children on the carpet and the class teacher, Miss Holland, read us a story. Later, we drew pictures with coloured pencils, and at break time, I made friends with a girl called Megan. At the end of the day, I ran to the school gate with Megan and my picture, just like Sandy always did.

Before the writer started school, she felt ___.

Memories of my first day at school

I remember my first day at school very well. I knew the school quite well because my older sister, Sandy, went there and every day, dad and I met her at the school gate after school. Every day, she ran out of the school with her friends. She often carried a painting. I felt jealous. I wanted to paint too!

I was five years old when I started school. Most children in my class started school in September, but I started school in January, when I was five years old, because my birthday is in December. Three other kids started school on the same day as me. I was excited about my first day. I had my new uniform: a black skirt, a white t-shirt and green jumper, and a new red bag. When we arrived that day, a teacher met the new children at the school gate. Dad hugged me and said goodbye. I stood with the other children. I didn’t talk to them because I was too nervous. Then, Mrs Wilson took us to our classroom. All the other children were already there. They looked at us when we entered the room. When thirty children looked at me, I started to cry!

But I wasn’t upset for long. I sat with the other children on the carpet and the class teacher, Miss Holland, read us a story. Later, we drew pictures with coloured pencils, and at break time, I made friends with a girl called Megan. At the end of the day, I ran to the school gate with Megan and my picture, just like Sandy always did.

The writer started to cry when ___.

Memories of my first day at school

I remember my first day at school very well. I knew the school quite well because my older sister, Sandy, went there and every day, dad and I met her at the school gate after school. Every day, she ran out of the school with her friends. She often carried a painting. I felt jealous. I wanted to paint too!

I was five years old when I started school. Most children in my class started school in September, but I started school in January, when I was five years old, because my birthday is in December. Three other kids started school on the same day as me. I was excited about my first day. I had my new uniform: a black skirt, a white t-shirt and green jumper, and a new red bag. When we arrived that day, a teacher met the new children at the school gate. Dad hugged me and said goodbye. I stood with the other children. I didn’t talk to them because I was too nervous. Then, Mrs Wilson took us to our classroom. All the other children were already there. They looked at us when we entered the room. When thirty children looked at me, I started to cry!

But I wasn’t upset for long. I sat with the other children on the carpet and the class teacher, Miss Holland, read us a story. Later, we drew pictures with coloured pencils, and at break time, I made friends with a girl called Megan. At the end of the day, I ran to the school gate with Megan and my picture, just like Sandy always did.

On the first day, the writer ___.

A2 English Reading Test

How I spend my free time

Jay Portman describes his unusual hobby, hill running, and tells us why he enjoys it.

Hill running is the sport of running up and down hills and mountains, through open countryside. It’s not popular among my friends, but I love it. My dad took me and my brothers out running when we were little, and then when I was about fifteen, I joined a hill running club, called the York Merlins.

There are some excellent runners in the club. When we do our practice runs, I’m always a long way behind them. But that doesn’t bother me. They’re all really nice and often give me advice. What I love is being outdoors and finding all these beautiful places I never knew were there.

We race against other clubs at the weekends. In these races, runners are told where to finish, but not how to get there. You need a good map and compass so you don’t get lost. Everyone starts together at the beginning, but later in the race you often find yourself running alone.

Anyone can enter these races – you just get there in the morning, pay your £5, and run. There are no T-shirts or medals for the winners. The most you get is a piece of cake! Often there are international hill running champions taking part, but they are just as friendly as everyone else.

That doesn’t mean it’s an easy sport. Last weekend I did a race in heavy rain and high winds, and I was asking myself what I was doing out there. But I got to the end, and that was an amazing feeling.

Jay’s first experience of hill running was with

How I spend my free time

Jay Portman describes his unusual hobby, hill running, and tells us why he enjoys it.

Hill running is the sport of running up and down hills and mountains, through open countryside. It’s not popular among my friends, but I love it. My dad took me and my brothers out running when we were little, and then when I was about fifteen, I joined a hill running club, called the York Merlins.

There are some excellent runners in the club. When we do our practice runs, I’m always a long way behind them. But that doesn’t bother me. They’re all really nice and often give me advice. What I love is being outdoors and finding all these beautiful places I never knew were there.

We race against other clubs at the weekends. In these races, runners are told where to finish, but not how to get there. You need a good map and compass so you don’t get lost. Everyone starts together at the beginning, but later in the race you often find yourself running alone.

Anyone can enter these races – you just get there in the morning, pay your £5, and run. There are no T-shirts or medals for the winners. The most you get is a piece of cake! Often there are international hill running champions taking part, but they are just as friendly as everyone else.

That doesn’t mean it’s an easy sport. Last weekend I did a race in heavy rain and high winds, and I was asking myself what I was doing out there. But I got to the end, and that was an amazing feeling.

How does Jay feel about the good runners in his club?

How I spend my free time

Jay Portman describes his unusual hobby, hill running, and tells us why he enjoys it.

Hill running is the sport of running up and down hills and mountains, through open countryside. It’s not popular among my friends, but I love it. My dad took me and my brothers out running when we were little, and then when I was about fifteen, I joined a hill running club, called the York Merlins.

There are some excellent runners in the club. When we do our practice runs, I’m always a long way behind them. But that doesn’t bother me. They’re all really nice and often give me advice. What I love is being outdoors and finding all these beautiful places I never knew were there.

We race against other clubs at the weekends. In these races, runners are told where to finish, but not how to get there. You need a good map and compass so you don’t get lost. Everyone starts together at the beginning, but later in the race you often find yourself running alone.

Anyone can enter these races – you just get there in the morning, pay your £5, and run. There are no T-shirts or medals for the winners. The most you get is a piece of cake! Often there are international hill running champions taking part, but they are just as friendly as everyone else.

That doesn’t mean it’s an easy sport. Last weekend I did a race in heavy rain and high winds, and I was asking myself what I was doing out there. But I got to the end, and that was an amazing feeling.

What does Jay say is important in the races he enters?

How I spend my free time

Jay Portman describes his unusual hobby, hill running, and tells us why he enjoys it.

Hill running is the sport of running up and down hills and mountains, through open countryside. It’s not popular among my friends, but I love it. My dad took me and my brothers out running when we were little, and then when I was about fifteen, I joined a hill running club, called the York Merlins.

There are some excellent runners in the club. When we do our practice runs, I’m always a long way behind them. But that doesn’t bother me. They’re all really nice and often give me advice. What I love is being outdoors and finding all these beautiful places I never knew were there.

We race against other clubs at the weekends. In these races, runners are told where to finish, but not how to get there. You need a good map and compass so you don’t get lost. Everyone starts together at the beginning, but later in the race you often find yourself running alone.

Anyone can enter these races – you just get there in the morning, pay your £5, and run. There are no T-shirts or medals for the winners. The most you get is a piece of cake! Often there are international hill running champions taking part, but they are just as friendly as everyone else.

That doesn’t mean it’s an easy sport. Last weekend I did a race in heavy rain and high winds, and I was asking myself what I was doing out there. But I got to the end, and that was an amazing feeling.

What do we learn about the races from the fourth paragraph?

How I spend my free time

Jay Portman describes his unusual hobby, hill running, and tells us why he enjoys it.

Hill running is the sport of running up and down hills and mountains, through open countryside. It’s not popular among my friends, but I love it. My dad took me and my brothers out running when we were little, and then when I was about fifteen, I joined a hill running club, called the York Merlins.

There are some excellent runners in the club. When we do our practice runs, I’m always a long way behind them. But that doesn’t bother me. They’re all really nice and often give me advice. What I love is being outdoors and finding all these beautiful places I never knew were there.

We race against other clubs at the weekends. In these races, runners are told where to finish, but not how to get there. You need a good map and compass so you don’t get lost. Everyone starts together at the beginning, but later in the race you often find yourself running alone.

Anyone can enter these races – you just get there in the morning, pay your £5, and run. There are no T-shirts or medals for the winners. The most you get is a piece of cake! Often there are international hill running champions taking part, but they are just as friendly as everyone else.

That doesn’t mean it’s an easy sport. Last weekend I did a race in heavy rain and high winds, and I was asking myself what I was doing out there. But I got to the end, and that was an amazing feeling.

What does Jay say about the last race he did?