STD 8 ENGLISH - COMPREHENSION

‘Comprehension’ means ‘understanding’. When you learn to read, you first need to recognise words and understand what they mean. You learn to answer ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘when’, ‘where’, ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions. But comprehending what you’re reading goes beyond basic questions. ‘Why’, for example, is not always straightforward. Sometimes an author only gives you hints and clues about what is happening and why characters behave the way they do.

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1.	Robyn gingerly lifted the edge of the tea towel, took a deep breath, then peered at the contents of the bowl. Which word best describes how Robyn feels?

A. Terrified

B. Apprehensive

C. Angry

D. Silly

2.	Robyn gingerly lifted the edge of the tea towel. Which of the following would express the opposite meaning?

A. Robyn crumpled the tea towel in her fist

B. Robyn slowly raised the tea towel

C. Robyn looked under the tea towel

D. Robyn snatched the tea towel away

3.	A pungent odour seeped from beneath the tea towel, making her eyes water. What does 'pungent' mean?

A. Sweet and delicate

B. Sharp or strong

C. Inviting

D. Salty

4.	Which one of the following words is NOT a synonym for 'odour'?

A. Taste

B. Scent

C. Smell

D. Aroma

5.	After a moment or two, Robyn gathered her courage enough to examine the source of the odour. What does 'gathered her courage' mean?

A. Robyn spent a long time writing down the pros and cons of looking in the bowl

B. Robyn collected lots of occasions when she had been brave

C. Robyn waited until she felt brave

D. Robyn gathered lots of medals for bravery

6.	'Gathered her courage' is an example of …….

A. simile

B. metaphor

C. personification

D. alliteration

7.	Green liquid oozed from beneath the misshapen lumps which had once been potatoes and carrots. What is the effect of the phrase 'which had once been'?

A. The contents of the bowl are so old that the carrots and potatoes are no longer recognisable

B. The vegetables only appear to be carrots and potatoes

C. The carrots and potatoes have been transformed into different vegetables

D. This phrase just tells the reader which vegetables are in the bowl

8.	What does 'misshapen' mean?

Missing

A regular shape

An unusual shape

Deformed

9.	'James,' Robyn shouted, 'could you please warn me next time you're planning to turn your stew into a science experiment?' What is the effect of this sentence?

A. Mysterious

B. Factual

C. Humorous

D. Frightening

10.	Which of the following would create an entirely different effect compared to the sentence in question nine?

A. ‘James,’ Robyn called, ‘would you please stop leaving your science experiments in the fridge?’

B. ‘James,’ Robyn shouted, ‘if you leave your old dinner in the fridge one more time…’

C. ‘James,’ said Robyn, ‘how many times have I told you not to leave your old dinners in the fridge?’

D. ‘James,’ Robyn called, falteringly. ‘It’s back.’

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