Reading comprehension (entrance exams) worksheet with answers

A sign-in sheet at the clinic has these columns: Name, Time In, Reason for Visit, Time Out. What should a patient write in the third column?

1. ATheir name
2. BThe reason for the visit
3. CThe time they left
4. DThe time they arrived

A volunteer schedule reads: “Morning shift 8–12: Jo, Raj. Afternoon shift 12–4: Ken, Lily. Evening shift 4–8: Jo, Mia.” Who works two shifts?

1. AKen
2. BMia
3. CJo
4. DRaj

Exercise makes the heart beat faster. This sends more blood and oxygen to the muscles that are working. Why does the heart beat faster during exercise?

1. ATo send more oxygen to working muscles
2. BTo help the body fall asleep
3. CTo cool down the skin quickly
4. DTo slow down breathing

Paragraph: “Kiwi birds live in New Zealand. They cannot fly, even though they have small wings. Their soft feathers look more like hair. Many people enjoy hiking in New Zealand’s mountains. Kiwis come out at night to find food.” Which sentence does NOT belong in the paragraph?

1. AKiwis come out at night to find food.
2. BTheir soft feathers look more like hair.
3. CMany people enjoy hiking in New Zealand’s mountains.
4. DThey cannot fly, even though they have small wings.

“The storm knocked down power lines across the county. Schools closed, and many families spent the night by candlelight.” What was the effect of the fallen power lines?

1. ASchools opened earlier the next day.
2. BThe storm became stronger.
3. CFamilies bought new power lines.
4. DMany homes had no electricity.

In the 1840s, the doctor Ignaz Semmelweis noticed that many mothers died after childbirth in wards where doctors came straight from performing autopsies. When he required doctors to wash their hands in a chlorine solution, the death rate dropped sharply. What does the passage suggest?

1. AHand washing reduced the spread of infection to the mothers.
2. BAutopsies were no longer performed in that hospital after the year 1840.
3. CChlorine was used to make medicines for new mothers.
4. DThe mothers died because of problems during birth only.

“The phone rang at 3 a.m. Lena’s heart pounded as she reached for it, already imagining the worst.” What does the author suggest by “already imagining the worst”?

1. ALena was annoyed by a wrong number.
2. BLena expected bad news.
3. CLena knew who was calling.
4. DLena was excited about a surprise.

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