Reading comprehension (entrance exams) worksheet with answers

The instructions on a box of tissues say: “Pull one tissue from the slot at the top. The next tissue will pop up automatically.” What happens after you pull out one tissue?

1. AThe slot closes automatically.
2. BThe box must be opened again.
3. CThe tissues fall out the bottom.
4. DThe next tissue pops up on its own.

Carrots grow underground. The part we eat is the root, which stores food for the plant. Carrots are rich in vitamin A, which is important for eyesight. Which part of the carrot plant do we eat?

1. AThe flower
2. BThe seeds
3. CThe leaves
4. DThe root

Jellyfish have lived in the oceans for millions of years. They have no brain, no heart and no bones. Their bodies are mostly water. What are jellyfish bodies mostly made of?

1. AMuscle
2. BWater
3. CBone
4. DShell

Since the city added bike lanes on Main Street two years ago, the number of cyclists on that street has tripled, and accidents involving cyclists have fallen by half. Which conclusion is best supported by the passage?

1. AMain Street had no cyclists before the lanes.
2. BCyclists on Main Street no longer wear helmets.
3. CMore people cycled on Main Street after the bike lanes were added.
4. DBike lanes will reduce all kinds of car accidents in every city.

Frogs begin life as eggs laid in water. The eggs hatch into tadpoles, which have tails and breathe with gills. Over several weeks, tadpoles grow legs, lose their tails and develop lungs. How is the passage mainly organised?

1. AAs an argument for and against
2. BIn time order, describing stages of growth
3. CAs a comparison of two different animals
4. DAs a problem followed by a solution

“Dear residents, the lift (elevator) in Block A will be out of service from Monday to Wednesday. We apologise for the inconvenience. Residents who need help with heavy items may call the caretaker.” What is the main purpose of the message?

1. ATo introduce a new caretaker
2. BTo inform residents about the lift and offer help
3. CTo announce that Block A is closing for good
4. DTo ask residents to repair the lift themselves

The author writes: “The new reading programme was introduced in September. By June, reading scores had risen. The programme clearly works.” Which further information would best test the author’s claim?

1. AThe colour of the programme’s textbooks
2. BScores from similar schools without it
3. CThe cost of printing the reading books
4. DThe names of the teachers who taught it

Before 1900, many people believed that diseases were caused by “bad air”. The work of scientists such as Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch showed that specific microorganisms cause specific diseases. This germ theory changed how doctors prevented and treated illness. Which choice best describes the structure of the passage?

1. AA problem, several solutions and a personal opinion
2. BA story told from the point of view of a doctor
3. CAn old idea, the evidence that replaced it, and its effect
4. DA list of diseases in order of how common they are