Reading comprehension (entrance exams) worksheet with answers

Many animals are active at night and sleep during the day. These animals are called nocturnal. Owls, bats and foxes are examples of nocturnal animals. What does “nocturnal” mean?

1. ALiving in water
2. BEating only plants
3. CSleeping all winter
4. DActive at night

A permission slip reads: “Please sign and return this form by Friday if your child may join the trip to the science museum on 12 May.” When must the form be returned?

1. ANext Monday
2. BOn 12 May
3. CAt the museum
4. DBy Friday

A thermometer label says: “Clean the tip with alcohol before and after each use.” When should the tip be cleaned?

1. AOnly when it looks dirty
2. BOnly once a week
3. CBefore and after each use
4. DOnly after each use

“After weeks of practice, Mei could finally play the whole piece without looking at the music.” What does “finally” suggest?

1. AShe learned it on the first day.
2. BIt took her a long time to succeed.
3. CShe played it for the last time.
4. DShe gave up the piano after that.

“Tomás has worked as a paramedic for ten years. He says the hardest part of the job is not the long hours but telling families bad news.” What does Tomás find hardest about his job?

1. ALearning new medical skills
2. BDriving the ambulance at night
3. CGiving bad news to families
4. DWorking long hours

A patient reads: “Take this medicine on an empty stomach, one hour before breakfast.” She usually eats breakfast at 8 a.m. When should she take the medicine?

1. AAt 9 a.m. after breakfast
2. BAt 8 a.m. with breakfast
3. CAt bedtime, before she sleeps
4. DAt 7 a.m.

The author writes: “Since the town banned plastic bags, litter on the beach has fallen. Therefore, the ban is the only reason the beach is cleaner.” What is the main weakness of this argument?

1. APlastic bags are not really a type of beach litter.
2. BThe author does not say who lives near the beach.
3. CThe author gives no date for the ban.
4. DOther changes may also have reduced the litter.

“In the early 1900s, many cities added chlorine to drinking water. Over the following decades, deaths from diseases spread by water, such as typhoid, fell sharply.” Which conclusion is most reasonable?

1. ACities stopped treating water after the 1900s.
2. BChlorination likely helped reduce waterborne disease.
3. CChlorine was the only reason that any of the deaths fell.
4. DTyphoid is caused by drinking too much chlorine.