Reading comprehension (entrance exams) worksheet with answers

Seahorses are unusual fish. The female lays her eggs in a pouch on the male’s belly, and the male carries them until they hatch. Which seahorse carries the eggs until they hatch?

1. ANeither parent
2. BThe female
3. CBoth parents in turn
4. DThe male

Dolphins are mammals, not fish. They breathe air through a blowhole on top of their heads and must come to the surface to breathe. Mother dolphins feed their young with milk. Which detail shows that dolphins are mammals?

1. AThey have smooth skin, fins and a strong tail.
2. BThey swim very fast.
3. CThey live in the ocean.
4. DMothers feed their young with milk.

“Omar was elated when he heard he had passed his driving test. He jumped up and down and hugged his instructor.” What does “elated” mean?

1. AVery nervous
2. BVery angry
3. CVery happy
4. DVery tired

“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. CGloomy and grey
4. DCheerful

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. AAutopsies were no longer performed in that hospital after the year 1840.
2. BChlorine was used to make medicines for new mothers.
3. CThe mothers died because of problems during birth only.
4. DHand washing reduced the spread of infection to the mothers.

“The new phone is lighter, has a bigger screen and lasts longer on a single charge than the old model. It also costs more.” Which is a disadvantage of the new phone?

1. AIt is lighter.
2. BIts battery lasts longer.
3. CIt has a bigger screen.
4. DIt costs more.

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

A medication guide says: “Store below 25 °C. Keep out of reach of children. Discard 28 days after opening.” A bottle was opened on March 3. On which date should it be discarded?

1. AMarch 25
2. BApril 3
3. CMarch 31
4. DMarch 28