Reading comprehension (entrance exams) worksheet with answers

Mars is called the Red Planet because its soil contains iron oxide, which gives it a reddish colour. Why is Mars called the Red Planet?

1. AIts soil contains iron oxide.
2. BIt is very close to the sun.
3. CIt has two small red moons.
4. DIt has red oceans.

A school lunch menu shows: Monday – pasta; Tuesday – tacos; Wednesday – soup and salad; Thursday – fish; Friday – pizza. On which day is fish served?

1. AMonday
2. BTuesday
3. CThursday
4. DFriday

In autumn, squirrels bury nuts in many places to eat during winter. They do not find all of them, and some of the forgotten nuts grow into new trees. What sometimes happens to forgotten nuts?

1. AThey turn to stone.
2. BThey grow into new trees.
3. CFarmers dig them up.
4. DBirds eat them.

“Every morning, Mr. Patel opened his bakery at 5 a.m. By 7 a.m., a line of customers stretched down the street.” What can you infer about the bakery?

1. AIt sells only one type of bread.
2. BIt opens later than other shops.
3. CIt is closing down soon.
4. DIt is popular with many customers.

“Scientists classify a tomato as a fruit because it develops from a flower and contains seeds. In cooking, however, it is usually treated as a vegetable.” What does the passage explain?

1. AHow cooks remove the seeds from tomatoes
2. BWhy tomatoes are healthier than other fruits
3. CWhy a tomato can be called both a fruit and a vegetable
4. DHow to grow tomatoes from seeds

“It was the first warm day of spring. The park was full of people: children flew kites, families had picnics and old friends sat chatting on benches.” What is the mood of the passage?

1. ALonely
2. BTense
3. CCheerful
4. DGloomy and grey

A table described in a report shows the number of flu cases at a clinic: October 12, November 30, December 54, January 41. Which statement does the data support?

1. ACases increased every month from October to January.
2. BJanuary had the most cases.
3. CCases peaked in December and then decreased.
4. DCases were the same in November and January.

A study compares two groups of patients after knee surgery. Group A did physiotherapy three times a week; Group B did it once a week. After two months, Group A could walk farther. The groups were similar in age and health at the start. Why does it matter that the groups were similar at the start?

1. AIt shows that once a week is the best amount.
2. BIt proves that age has no effect on recovery.
3. CIt means that Group B did not have surgery.
4. DIt makes physiotherapy the more likely cause.