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AQA Reading Tests

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Question 1
(a) State two features of the walk which made it difficult for the narrator to reach
the mountain
lake (paragraph 1, ‘There is a lake … ’).
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• .................................................................................................................................................
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(b) Explain what the narrator can see as he faces the open country
(paragraph 1, ‘There is a lake … ’).
...................................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................[2]
(c) Which four-word phrase in paragraph 1 suggests that the water in the tiny streams cannot be
seen by the narrator (paragraph 1, ‘There is a lake … ’)?
...............................................................................................................................................[1]
(d) Re-read paragraph 2. Give two reasons why the narrator says the
mountain lake is difficult to find (paragraph 2, ‘The mountain lake is not easy to find … ’).
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• .................................................................................................................................................
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(e) Re-read the passage. Using your own words, explain what the writer means by the
following quotations:
1. ‘ … the brown trout, to cruise the dark waters undisturbed.’ (lines 13–14)
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...................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................[2]
2. ‘ … the brown trout always rise freely, as though to reward us for the effort … ’
(lines 25–26)
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...................................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................[2]
3. ‘ … admiring the varnished scales of Leo’s first trout … ’ (line 29)

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...............................................................................................................................................[2]
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What are John Treagood’s essential daily needs and the difficulties he faces in maintaining his
lifestyle?
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[10]

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(a) Give two reasons why the writer wanted the trip to Delphi to be cancelled
(paragraph 1, ‘I
took a look …’).
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(b) Explain why the writer wanted to speak to the guide ‘out of earshot’ (line 8).
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(c) Explain the writer’s reasons for finally deciding to go on the trip to Delphi (lines 8–12).
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...............................................................................................................................................[2]
(d) Explain the writer’s feelings when they first began to explore the site at Delphi (lines 13–21).
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(e) Give two reasons why the writer found the stadium at Delphi so impressive (paragraph 9, ‘At
the top …’).
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(f) Give the meaning of the following three phrases as the writer uses them in the passage.
(i) ‘feeling in awe of the timeless magnificence of the surroundings.’ (line 19)
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(ii) ‘It was as if everyone recognised the significance of the place.’ (lines 20–21)

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(iii) We stood and stared, overwhelmed by its size’ (lines 24–25)

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What do you learn about the history of Ostia Antica and what it offers to modern-day
visitors?
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(a) Give three examples of man-made materials humans use more than plastic.
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(b) Using your own words, explain what the text means by:
(i) ‘adaptable and durable’ (line 1):
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................ [2]
(ii) ‘an astonishing mass’ (line 4):
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................ [2]
(c) Re-read paragraph 3 ( ‘‘‘We’re rapidly _ emissions.’’’). Give two reasons why disposing of plastics is
difficult.
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(d) Re-read paragraphs 4 and 5 (‘Plastic items _ recycled once.’’’). Identify two facts about how plastic
items are dealt with, which lead to plastic waste littering the environment.
(I) • ..............................................................................................................................
• .............................................................................................................................. [2]
(ii) What changes are needed to improve the recycling of plastic?
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................................................................................................................................ [3]
(e) Re-read paragraphs 6 and 7 (‘In the meantime _ that long.’’’).
Explain the reasons why the problem of plastic waste is not being dealt with quickly enough.
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(f) Using your own words, explain what the writer means by each of the words underlined:

I turned and walked round the promontory to the eastern side. I had only been strolling along

the seashore for minutes, when I caught sight of the first of them: black, unmoving shapes.

(i) strolling ................................................................................................................. [1]

(ii) caught sight .......................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) unmoving ............................................................................................................. [1]

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(a) Give two examples of what advertisements say about Erfoo (Earth Food),
according to the text (paragraph 1).
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(b) Using your own words, explain what the text means by:
(i) ‘Lunch fatigue’ (line 2):
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................ [2]
(ii) ‘meal-replacement powder’ (line 6):
................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................ [2]
(c) Re-read paragraph 2 (‘Coming in _ ate a banana.’).
Give two examples of reactions which show that the writer’s friends and family did not all think
that switching to Erfoo was a good idea.
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(d) Re-read paragraphs 3 and 4 (‘Apparently, Erfoo is favoured by _ I’ve eaten.’).
(i) Identify two advantages the writer hoped switching to Erfoo would bring.
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(ii) Explain what the writer did not like about Erfoo when they first tried it.
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(e) Using your own words, explain what the writer means by each of the words underlined:

Programmers at GD were almost exclusively young, distant, cold-eyed wraiths, in identical

denim. They started early morning, working past midnight, in a hurry to be done, and rich.

(i) almost exclusively.................................................................................................. [1]

(ii) cold-eyed ............................................................................................................... [1]

(iii) identical.................................................................................................................. [1]

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(a) Which one word (in line 3) tells you that the train is having difficulty moving?
...............................................................................................................................................[1]
(b) Give two reasons from paragraph one for the train having difficulty in moving.
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(c) Explain, using your own words, what the writer means by the phrase: ‘a strip of shadow lost
in a field of sparkling whiteness’ (lines 9–10).
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(d) State three things Jack does when the train stops moving (paragraphs 3 and 4).
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(e) Re-read paragraph seven:

(i) Why did Jack not reply to the conductor?
.......................................................................................................................................[1]
(ii) What is the reason for this reaction?
.......................................................................................................................................[1]
(f) Explain why the conductor ‘clenched his hands nervously’ (line 47).
...............................................................................................................................................[1]

(g) Re-read paragraphs 3 and 4. Explain, using your own words, what the writer means by

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the following phrases:

(a) ‘He felt the engine shuddering pathetically…’ (lines 12–13)

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(b) ‘…exhausted, with all its wheels clogged with snow’ (line 14)
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(c) ‘…the engine settled and ceased its straining efforts’ (line 19)
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What the writer enjoyed about Swiss railways and the holiday:

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