Reading comprehension (entrance exams) worksheet with answers

Monarch butterflies in North America travel thousands of kilometres each autumn to spend the winter in warmer places, such as forests in Mexico. Where do many monarch butterflies spend the winter?

1. AIn the far north of Canada
2. BOn islands near Japan
3. CIn deserts in Africa
4. DIn forests in Mexico

Our town library will hold a free reading program for children every Saturday in July. Sessions start at 10 a.m. and last one hour. No sign-up is needed. How long does each session last?

1. AOne hour
2. BOne month
3. CAll day
4. DTen minutes

“Please do not feed the ducks bread,” says a sign by the pond. “Bread can make them ill. Use the duck food sold at the kiosk instead.” What does the sign suggest instead of bread?

1. ALeftover rice from home
2. BFresh fruit
3. CSeeds from the garden
4. DDuck food from the kiosk

“The children had been told not to touch the cake. When their mother came back, there was a finger-shaped hole in the icing and chocolate on Tom’s chin.” What can you infer?

1. ATom had tasted the cake.
2. BTom does not like chocolate.
3. CThe cake was not finished.
4. DThe mother made a mistake.

“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. BCheerful
3. CGloomy and grey
4. DTense

“Mary Seacole was a Jamaican-born nurse who travelled to the Crimean War at her own expense. There she ran a hotel near the battlefield where she cared for sick and injured soldiers.” What does “at her own expense” mean?

1. AShe paid the costs of the trip herself.
2. BShe was paid by the army to go.
3. CShe went against her family’s wishes.
4. DShe travelled there in great danger.

A parking garage charges “$3 for the first hour and $2 for each additional hour or part of an hour.” A visitor parks for 3 hours and 20 minutes. How much does the visitor pay?

1. A$11
2. B$10
3. C$9
4. D$7

The author writes: “Our school’s new start time of 9 a.m. instead of 8 a.m. has been a success. Attendance is up, and students say they feel more awake. A few parents have complained about later pick-ups.” Which statement best summarises the passage?

1. AParents and students all dislike the later start.
2. BThe school plans to start even earlier next year.
3. CThe later start helps students, but some parents object.
4. DThe later start has failed, and attendance has fallen sharply.