ICAS English Reading Comprehension — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the passage: "Leah clutched the envelope, her fingers trembling. She had checked the letterbox every afternoon for three weeks. Now that the reply was finally here, she couldn't bring herself to open it." What does the passage suggest about Leah?
- She is bored by the letter
- She has been waiting anxiously for important news (Correct answer)
- She has forgotten who sent the letter
- She is angry at the postal service
Correct answer: She has been waiting anxiously for important news
Her trembling fingers and daily checking show she is nervous and has been eagerly waiting.
The words 'clutched', 'trembling' and 'couldn't bring herself to open it' show nervousness, while checking the letterbox every afternoon for three weeks shows the news matters greatly to her. Readers must infer her feelings, since the passage never states them directly. This kind of inference question is typical of ICAS English.
Question 2: Read the sentence: "The old bridge groaned under the weight of the truck." Which technique is the writer using?
- Simile
- Alliteration
- Personification (Correct answer)
- Onomatopoeia
Correct answer: Personification
Giving the bridge the human action of groaning is personification.
Personification gives human qualities or actions to non-human things. Here the bridge 'groaned', a sound a person makes when in pain or under strain. A simile would compare using 'like' or 'as', and onomatopoeia would be a word that imitates a sound, such as 'creak'.
Question 3: Read the passage: "Despite the forecast of clear skies, the campers packed raincoats. By evening, the first drops were falling." What does the word "despite" tell the reader?
- The campers trusted the forecast completely
- The campers acted in a way that contrasted with the forecast (Correct answer)
- The forecast was correct
- The campers forgot their raincoats
Correct answer: The campers acted in a way that contrasted with the forecast
'Despite' signals a contrast: they packed raincoats even though rain wasn't expected.
The connective 'despite' shows that what follows goes against what might be expected. The forecast said clear skies, yet the campers prepared for rain anyway. The second sentence then reveals their caution was justified. Understanding how connectives shape meaning is a key reading skill.
Question 4: Read the passage: "The recipe calls for two eggs, but you can substitute a mashed banana if you are cooking for someone with an allergy." What is the meaning of "substitute" in this sentence?
- Add something extra
- Use one thing in place of another (Correct answer)
- Remove an ingredient completely
- Cook for a longer time
Correct answer: Use one thing in place of another
To substitute means to replace one thing with another.
The sentence explains that a mashed banana can be used instead of the eggs, so 'substitute' means to put one thing in place of another. Context clues such as 'if you are cooking for someone with an allergy' help confirm that the eggs are being replaced, not added to.
Question 5: Read the passage: "Koalas sleep for up to 20 hours a day. This is not laziness; eucalyptus leaves are so low in energy that koalas must rest to conserve what little they gain." What is the main purpose of the second sentence?
- To describe what koalas eat
- To explain the reason for the behaviour in the first sentence (Correct answer)
- To argue that koalas should be protected
- To compare koalas with other animals
Correct answer: To explain the reason for the behaviour in the first sentence
The second sentence gives the cause of the long sleeping described in the first.
The first sentence states a fact: koalas sleep a lot. The second sentence corrects a possible misunderstanding ('not laziness') and then explains why the sleeping happens: their food gives very little energy. Recognising cause-and-effect relationships between sentences is a common ICAS comprehension task.
Question 6: Read the passage: "'Fine,' Jack muttered, kicking a stone across the path. 'Whatever you say.'" How does Jack most likely feel?
- Delighted
- Grudgingly accepting (Correct answer)
- Confused
- Terrified
Correct answer: Grudgingly accepting
Muttering, kicking a stone and saying 'whatever you say' show reluctant, unhappy agreement.
Although Jack says 'Fine', his muttering tone and the way he kicks a stone show frustration rather than genuine agreement. 'Whatever you say' is a phrase people use when giving in without really agreeing. Readers must combine dialogue and action to infer his mood.
