Instructions

  • English Section B – Comprehension
  • Duration: 45 minutes + 5 minutes reading time
  • Instructions:
    • Do not open this booklet until instructed.
    • Write your name, school, and candidate number at the top of the page.
    • Comprehension questions are included in this booklet.
    • The comprehension passage is on a separate green sheet.
    • Read through both the passage and all questions before writing anything.
    • Spend at least 5 minutes reading and thinking about the material.
    • Write your answers in the spaces provided after each question.
    • If you need more space for an answer, use the section at the end of the booklet, ensuring to number your answers carefully.
    • Base your answers solely on the provided passage.
  • Total Marks: 50 marks

Once upon a time, in the small village of Eldervale, there lived a curious boy named Oliver. Oliver had a great imagination and loved exploring the woods behind his house. One sunny afternoon, while rummaging through his grandfather’s attic, he stumbled upon an old leather-bound book. The book was dusty and worn, but Oliver could see that it contained maps and stories of adventures from long ago.

Intrigued, Oliver opened the book and discovered a map that looked different from the others. This map was marked with strange symbols and a big red ‘X’ in the middle. His heart raced with excitement as he realised that it might lead to a hidden treasure! Without thinking twice, he decided to follow the map.

The next day, Oliver packed a small backpack with a water bottle, some snacks, and a flashlight. He showed the map to his best friend, Sophie, who was equally excited about the adventure. They set off into the woods, following the directions carefully. As they walked, they saw tall trees, chirping birds, and even a small stream.

After walking for a while, they came across a fork in the path. Oliver looked at the map, which indicated they should take the right path. However, Sophie thought they should take the left path instead. They debated for a moment, but Oliver reminded her that they had to trust the map. They decided to go right.

As they ventured deeper into the woods, they encountered a mysterious old man sitting on a log. His beard was long and white, and he wore a tattered cloak. “Where are you going, young adventurers?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye. Oliver explained about the treasure and showed him the map. The old man smiled and said, “Ah, many have searched for that treasure, but few have succeeded. You must solve three riddles to find your way.”

The first riddle was, “I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with the wind. What am I?” Oliver and Sophie thought hard and finally shouted, “An echo!” The old man nodded and revealed the next riddle.

The second riddle was, “I can be cracked, made, told, and played. What am I?” After a moment of silence, Sophie exclaimed, “A joke!” The old man chuckled and said they were doing well. He then presented the final riddle: “What has keys but can’t open locks?” This one took them longer to figure out, but Oliver eventually said, “A piano!” The old man smiled and clapped his hands.

“Very clever!” he said. “You have solved my riddles. The treasure lies just beyond the old oak tree, but be careful; it is protected by a guardian.” Thanking the man, Oliver and Sophie hurried on, excitement bubbling within them. They soon found the enormous oak tree, its branches stretching out like arms. Beneath its roots, they dug and dug until they hit something hard. It was a chest!

With trembling hands, they opened the chest to find it filled with gold coins, sparkling jewels, and mysterious artifacts. They both couldn’t believe their eyes! They decided to share their treasure with the village, helping everyone in Eldervale. From that day on, Oliver and Sophie became the heroes of their village, known for their bravery and cleverness.

They learned that adventure is not just about the treasure, but also about the friends you make and the challenges you overcome along the way.

Questions

  1. What did Oliver find in his grandfather’s attic?
  2. Describe the map Oliver discovered. What did it look like?
  3. Why was Oliver excited about the map?
  4. What items did Oliver take with him on his adventure?
  5. Who accompanied Oliver on his journey?
  6. What did Oliver and Sophie see in the woods?
  7. What was the first decision Oliver and Sophie had to make?
  8. What did the old man ask the children when they met him?
  9. How many riddles did the old man say they had to solve?
  10. What was the answer to the first riddle?
  11. What was the second riddle given by the old man?
  12. How did Sophie respond to the second riddle?
  13. What took Oliver and Sophie longer to figure out?
  14. What did the old man say after they solved the final riddle?
  15. What did Oliver and Sophie find beneath the oak tree?
  16. How did Oliver and Sophie feel when they opened the treasure chest?
  17. What did they decide to do with the treasure?
  18. What lesson did Oliver and Sophie learn from their adventure?
  19. Why do you think sharing the treasure was important to them?
  20. How did the adventure change Oliver and Sophie’s status in the village?

Answers

  1. Oliver found an old leather-bound book in his grandfather’s attic.
  2. The map he discovered was marked with strange symbols and had a big red ‘X’ in the middle.
  3. Oliver was excited because he thought the map might lead to hidden treasure.
  4. Oliver packed a water bottle, snacks, and a flashlight.
  5. Sophie accompanied Oliver on his adventure.
  6. They saw tall trees, chirping birds, and a small stream.
  7. They had to decide whether to take the left or right path at a fork in the road.
  8. The old man asked them where they were going.
  9. The old man said they had to solve three riddles.
  10. The answer to the first riddle was “an echo.”
  11. The second riddle was “I can be cracked, made, told, and played. What am I?”
  12. Sophie responded with “a joke” to the second riddle.
  13. It took them longer to figure out the answer to the third riddle.
  14. The old man congratulated them for being very clever.
  15. They found a chest filled with gold coins, sparkling jewels, and mysterious artifacts.
  16. They felt astonished and couldn’t believe their eyes.
  17. They decided to share their treasure with the village and help everyone in Eldervale.
  18. They learned that adventure is about friends and overcoming challenges.
  19. Sharing the treasure was important as it fostered community spirit and goodwill.
  20. The adventure changed their status by making them heroes in the village.