Basic Skills: Comprehension Written Expression

Basic Skills
Comprehension
Year
3
and Written
Ages
8–9
Expression
Free-to-download sample pages with answers
Wa n t!
Yo u
e s u l ts
Ge t t he R
Alan Horsfield
2 C o m p r e h e n s i o n a n d W r i t t e n E x p r e s s i o n Ye a r 3 Finding Facts 1
Finding
FindingFacts—Live or Die
Facts—Bongarri
by Ross
By Mary Latham and Peter Sloan
F O’Callaghan
When finding facts you will often be asked Most exercises in this part of the book are
Bongarri was a strong legged emu. He It was Tamboola, the
questions beginning with Who, When, based upon factual writing. The story Live
lived on the Queensland plains between dingo, and he was on the
Where, What and, sometimes, How and or Die is based upon a real life experience,
Winton and Longreach. There he scratched prowl for food. Tamboola loved
Why. You will be asked to search for so it is a good book to start ‘finding facts’.
and pecked for food in the red soil under nothing more than emu for dinner.
answers to questions that help you You should answer with full sentence answers
the brigalow trees. He was on the lookout for
understand the time and place of the action unless told to do otherwise. Full sentence
Bongarri looked like a bundle of untidy something now.
in the extract, as well as who is involved. answers help you to understand the
feathers, but that did not worry him at all. Bongarri had not seen him and
questions and think through your answers.
He and his mate had a lovely round nest he certainly had not heard him.
and read
Now therethe
were ten dark shelled eggs in it.
passage. Of this Tamboola was sure. So
Bongarri sat on the nest, waiting for the the dingo lay low, watching
eggs to hatch. He was a most contented and sniffing. He knew the emu
and happy trip
A fishing emu.goes wrong wasEarly
comingonecloser, so he
morning, Rod packed his
Rod Ansellday
But one wasa aslinky form crept
26-year-old into
stockman kept his two ears pointed
vehicle with his equipment and supplies
the
(who)brigalow.
. He worked as a bull-catcher in up well, and
of food listening.
water. As an experienced
the north of Western Australia and in bushman, he knew he had to be well
1.theWho
Northern Territory (where).
was Tamboola? prepared. He took two boats with him:
In May 1977 (when) Rod decided to one large one and one small one. He took
2.go How
on a did Bongarri
short fishingget his food?
holiday at the blankets, a rifle and bullets, knives and
mouth of the lonely Victoria River. The sharpening tools, all rolled up in his
river was about 160 kilometres from his swag; also some matches, a small stove
home (how far) in Kununurra. and some basic food, packed in tins.
3. What did Bongarri look like?
1. Who was Rod Ansell? (Suggested answer) Rod Ansell was a (26-year-old) stockman.
The words in brackets improve the answer but are not essential. Now you can try these.
2. Where did Rod Ansell work?
4. Where did Bongarri have his nest?
3. How far did Rod have to go for his holiday?
5. When was Bongarri most happy?

4. When did Rod decide to go for his holiday?
© Pascal Press ISBN 978 1 86441 278 9
5. Complete this sentence.

As a person
Complete thesewho worked in the bush Rod knew it was important to be
sentences. .
Answers (Answers may vary a little.)
6. Tamboola’s
1. Rod Ansell was favourite
a stockman.food
2. was
Rod worked in the north of Western Australia and the Northern .
Territory. 3. Rod had to go 160 kilometres. 4. Rod went on holidays in May (1977). 5. prepared
7. Tamboola kept his two ears pointed up so that he could
(The answers can be checked in the underlined sections of the extract).
.
2 C o m p r e h e n s i o n a n d W r i t t e n E x p r e s s i o n Ye a r 3
Finding Facts—Bongarri
By Mary F O’Callaghan

and there were ten dark shelled eggs in it. Of this Tamboola was sure. So
and happy emu. was coming closer, so he
But one day a slinky form crept into kept his two ears pointed
the brigalow. up well, listening.
1. Who was Tamboola?

2. How did Bongarri get his food?

Complete these sentences.

6. Tamboola’s favourite food was .
7. Tamboola kept his two ears pointed up so that he could .

Finding
Finding
Facts—Great
Facts—Bongarri
Dinosaurs
By Mary
by Ross
F O’Callaghan
Latham and Peter Sloan
Triceratops
Bongarri was a strong legged emu. He Although
It it was athe
was Tamboola, big and bulky animal,
Triceratops
lived on the was one of the
Queensland largest
plains of the
between triceratops
dingo, could
and he wasrunon quite
the fast. With its
ceratopsian
Winton group of dinosaurs.
and Longreach. There he Ceratopsia
scratched long, sharp
prowl horns
for food. it was better
Tamboola loved armed than
means ‘horned faces’.
and pecked for food in the red soil under most other plant eaters that
nothing more than emu for dinner. roamed the
theTriceratops had a large body with a
brigalow trees. land.was
He Unless attacked,
on the lookouthowever,
for triceratops
massive head.looked
Bongarri On itslike
head it hadof
a bundle three
untidy was a peaceful
something now.animal.
horns. Thebut
feathers, two brow
that didhorns,
not worryabovehimitsat all. Bongarri had not seen him and
eyes, were over 1 metre long.
He and his mate had a lovely round nest Around its he certainly had not heard him.
neckthere
and triceratops
were ten haddark
a thick bonyeggs
shelled platein it. Of this Tamboola was sure. So
(frill) which
Bongarri satprotected its neck.
on the nest, It looked
waiting for thea the dingo lay low, watching
little like
eggs a rhinoceros.
to hatch. He was a most contented and sniffing. He knew the emu
Triceratops
and happy emu. lived in North America was coming closer, so he
aboutBut130onemillion years ago.
day a slinky formOther
crept into kept his two ears pointed
members
the of the ceratopsian family have
brigalow. up well, listening.
been found in other parts of the world.
1. Where did triceratops live?
2. How did triceratops protect itself?


Answer True or False to these statements.
3. Triceratops was slow and clumsy.
5.
4. When was Bongarri
Triceratops most
looked like happy?
a very large rhinoceros.
5. Triceratops had two horns above its eyes.
6. Dinosaurs, like triceratops, were only found in North America.

7. Circle the
Complete words
these that describe triceratops.
sentences.
6. Tamboola’s
slow favourite
plant eaterfood was
lazy peaceful horned .

8. Triceratops roamed the earth about years ago.
Finding Facts—Kylie the Kangaroo

by Gordon Winch
Kylie was a small kangaroo. She was A small kangaroo like Kylie took very
small when she was a joey in her mother’s tiny steps and she was always left behind
pouch and she was small when she grew up. in the hot Australian sun.
No matter how much Kylie ate, she didn’t Kylie came last in the Kangaroo Carnival
seem to get any bigger. She was small Races and she felt very badly about it.
when she started and she stayed small. Then she was knocked out in the first
Being small was a big problem for Kylie. round of the Kangaroo Boxing Tournament.
The other kangaroos laughed at her when Kylie felt bad about that, too. When all the
they all went walking, because Kylie kangaroos went to watch tennis, little Kylie
couldn’t keep up. could not even see. She felt even worse.
All kangaroos went walking in those
days, for the simple reason that they had
not heard of hopping.
1. What was Kylie?

2. What was Kylie’s big problem?
3. How were the kangaroos in the extract different?
4. Why was Kylie always left behind?
5. Name two events in which Kylie did poorly.

1.
2.
6. Complete this sentence.
When Kylie went to watch the tennis she was sad because she .
Finding Facts—Simpson
Finding and Duffy
Facts—Bongarri
by Mary Small
Once there
Bongarri waswas a man legged
a strong and a donkey.
emu. He dangerous. The soldiers
It was Tamboola, the called it
The man’s name was John Simpson
lived on the Queensland plains between Shrapnel
dingo, andGully
he wasbecause
on the the
Kirkpatrick, but everyone
Winton and Longreach. called
There him
he scratched enemy hid behind treesloved
prowl for food. Tamboola
Simpson.
and pecked Heforwas a soldier
food in the redin the
soil under and big more
nothing rocks,than
waiting
emu for dinner.
Australian
the brigalow army. He went to war half
trees. to fire
He wasononanyone
the lookout for
wayBongarri
across the world,
looked like to a placeofcalled
a bundle untidy who went now.
something
Gallipoli, in Turkey.
feathers, but that did not worry him at all. past.
Bongarri had not seen him and
HeGallipoli is close
and his mate hadtoathe sea;
lovely a hot,
round nestdry he certainly had not heard him.
and
anddusty
there place
were tenwith steep
dark rugged
shelled eggscliffs.
in it. Of this Tamboola was sure. So
The Australians waited in ships
Bongarri sat on the nest, waiting for the off the the dingo lay low, watching
Anzac
eggs to Cove.
hatch.ToHeescape
was athe mostenemy guns
contented and sniffing. He knew the emu
they
and had
happyto emu.
land on the beaches at night. was coming closer, so he
Then they
But onehad
dayto scramble
a slinky formup the into
crept cliffs kept his two ears pointed
tothefight. It was a terrible war and many
hundreds of brave soldiers were killed.
Simpson worked with the Medical
1.
Corps Whoas was Tamboola?
a stretcher bearer. His job was
to go
2. to the
How didbattle fields
Bongarri getand bring back
his food?
badly wounded soldiers to the dressing
station on the beach. There they were
given first aid. The track down the cliffs
was long and winding, steep and
1. What did everyone call John Simpson Kirkpatrick?

2. What was John Simpson Kirkpatrick’s job in the army?
3. Where is Gallipoli?
4. When
5. Describe
wasthe track down
Bongarri mostthe cliffs.
happy?
5. Choose the best way to complete this sentence. (Tick the correct )
The steep
Complete track
these down the cliff was especially dangerous because
sentences.
it was hot
6. Tamboola’s and dusty.
favourite food was .
the enemy
7. Tamboola kept fired on ears
his two anyone who up
pointed used
so it.
that he could .
Finding Facts—Numbat, Run

by Jill Morris
The numbat and other carnivorous themselves. Then she carries them on her back.
marsupials The chuditch has six young and six teats.
The numbat is a carnivorous marsupial. The dibbler (a marsupial mouse) carries
It eats termites. her young in a fold on her belly as she runs
The echidna also eats termites, scooping about. The dibbler has eight teats, but she
up the living food with its sticky tongue. has about twelve offspring, so some miss
The numbat and the echidna do not out.
have much else in common. Unlike the The Tasmanian Devil has a pouch, which
numbat, the echidna hatches its offspring opens backwards. It carries its young on its
from an egg. back.
The chuditch (a native cat) carries her All of these carnivorous marsupials are a
babies in a folded pouch on her belly until little like the numbat. But the numbat is
they are old enough to walk around for really in a family of its own.
Choose the best answer to complete questions 1 and 2.

1. All the animals are similar because they
lay eggs.
eat termites.
are carnivorous.
carry their babies on their back.

2. Some baby dibblers may die because
they cannot find enough termites.
their mother has a pouch

that opens backwards.
some of the dibbler’s eggs do not hatch.
their mother does not have enough teats.

3. In what way are the echidna and numbat similar? They are similar because they
Finding Facts—Ships
Finding and Boats
Facts—Bongarri
By Mary F by Marcia Vaughan
O’Callaghan
For carrying things Container Ships

Ships and boats have been used to carry These ships carry all kinds of cargo—
cargo around the world for centuries. In food, furniture, machinery, books,
olden times wooden sailing ships were cars—packed into large metal boxes called
used. Modern cargo ships, built of steel, containers. A container is about the size
carry either containers or bulk cargo. of a small room. It can hold a lot of cargo.
Containers have made cargo shipping
Sailing Ships much more efficient because they can
The old sailing ships had many heavy be loaded on board very quickly and
canvas sails fixed to tall wooden masts. easily by special cranes. Because of their
Large crews were needed to work these uniform size, containers stack neatly on
sails and sail the ships. Voyages were deck. At the other end they can be
dangerous. Many ships were wrecked in unloaded straight on to trains or trucks
storms. Sometimes pirates attacked and and taken to their final destination
stole their cargo. without any unpacking.

1. What is a container ship used for?
2. Name one danger for sailing ships.

Wheredid
3. What areBongarri
containers kept
look on a container ship?
like?
4. How are containers loaded onto a container ship?

5. Sailing ships are built of and container ships are built of .
6. When
5. A container is about most
was Bongarri the size of a small garbage bin.
happy? True
False
7. Containers are taken straight from the ship to their destination. True
Complete these sentences. False
8. The sails of sailing ships were made of canvas. True
7. Tamboola kept his two ears pointed up so that he could False .
Finding Facts—Metal Mouth

by Hazel Edwards
Eeehhhowwwwwwwwwwworrrrrr! Steve made excuses. ‘My plate gets in

‘Steve! Are you all right? Where does it the way. And my lips are sunburnt from
hurt?’ sports day. But I’ll be ready for the school
‘You sound like an elephant blowing its concert next week.’
nose!’ ‘Are you playing the trumpet in the end
That Monday was the first time we of year school concert?’ asked mum. She
heard Steve play the trumpet. Well, you looked shocked.
couldn’t call it playing, really. My brother I knew how she felt. Steve might not be
just blew, and a strange hoooing noise the worst musician in the world, but he’d
came out. His dental plate clicked on the be in the last ten. When Mr Petersen told
trumpet, then some drips fell out the end. him to stop recorder lessons, we
‘Yuk!’ understood.
1. Who was making the strange noise?
2. Steve began playing the trumpet

on Monday.
on sports day.
at the school concert.
when Mr Petersen told him to.
3. Steve blamed his sunburn for his bad playing. True
False
4. Mr Petersen told Steve to stop .
5. Steve’s playing was so bad his family thought he might be .
6. Select the best ending.

Steve’s trumpet playing sounded like

an elephant blowing its nose.
Mr Petersen playing the recorder.
2 C o m p r e h e n s i o n a n d W r i t t e n E x p r e s s i o n Ye a r 3 Finding the Main Idea 9
Finding the Main

Finding Idea—Live or Die
Facts—Bongarri
by Ross
By Mary Latham and Peter Sloan
F O’Callaghan
When reading paragraphs you will often be topic sentence, if it is quite long, may
asked to find the main idea. The main idea sometimes contain more information than
is often the same as the topic sentence. It just the main idea.
is the most important piece of information If we look at the story Live or Die again,
for the reader. All other sentences in the we can use it to start ‘finding the main
paragraph add to the meaning of the topic idea’. Any piece of writing can be used for
sentence. They are often called supporting more than one type of comprehension
detail. question.
The topic sentence is often the first Paragraphs are usually made up of more
sentence but it can come in the middle of than one sentence (see Understanding
the paragraph or at the end. You will be Paragraphs, p. 49). Titles and headings
asked to search for answers to questions often give the main idea of a book or of a
that help you understand the story. The chapter.
Now read the passage.

A fishing trip goes wrong Early one morning, Rod packed his
2.Rod Ansell
How was a 26-year-old
did Bongarri get his food? vehicle with his equipment and supplies
stockman. (main idea/topic sentence) of food and water. (main idea/topic
He worked as a bull-catcher in the sentence) As an experienced bushman,
north of Western Australia and in the he knew he had to be well prepared.
Northern Territory. (supporting detail) (supporting detail) He took two boats with
3. What did1977
In May Bongarri look like?
Rod decided to go on a him: one large one and one small one.
short fishing holiday at the mouth of (supporting detail) He took blankets, a
the lonely Victoria River. (main idea/ rifle and bullets, knives and sharpening
topic sentence) The river was about 160 tools, all rolled up in his swag; also some
4.kilometres
Where didfrom his home
Bongarri haveinhisKununurra.
nest? matches, a small stove and some basic
(supporting detail) food, packed in tins. (supporting detail)
1. How many paragraphs are there in this extract from Live or Die?
5.
2. When was Bongarri
How many most happy?
topic sentences would you expect to find?
3. List three things that Rod took with him to Victoria River. (supporting detail)
(a) ________________ (b) __________________ (c) ____________________

Complete thesebe
4. What could sentences.
another good title for this extract?
Answers
1. three
7. 2. threekept
Tamboola 3. his
boats,
twoblankets, food (other
ears pointed up solisted
thatitems also correct)
he could .
4. Getting Ready OR A Special Holiday, and so on.
Finding the Main Idea—Bongarri

by Mary F O’Callaghan
Bongarri was a strong legged emu. He lived But one day a slinky form crept into the
on the Queensland plains between Winton brigalow.
and Longreach. There he scratched and It was Tamboola, the dingo, and he was
pecked for food in the red soil under the on the prowl for food. Tamboola loved
brigalow trees. nothing more than emu for dinner. He was
Bongarri looked like a bundle of untidy on the lookout for something now.
feathers, but that did not worry him at all. Bongarri had not seen him and he
He and his mate had a lovely round nest certainly had not heard him. Of this
and there were ten dark shelled eggs in it. Tamboola was sure. So the dingo lay low,
Bongarri sat on the nest, waiting for the watching and sniffing. He knew the emu
eggs to hatch. He was a most contented was coming closer, so he kept his two ears
and happy emu. pointed up well, listening.
1. How many paragraphs are in this extract?

2. What is the topic sentence for the last paragraph?
3. Paragraph 4 describes
4. Paragraph 2 tells the reader why Bongarri
looked untidy.
sat on the nest.
looked so happy.
had not seen the dingo.

5. Tamboola was on the prowl for .
6. If you had to give the extract a title, a good one would be
Minding the Eggs.

Winton and Longreach.
Silent Danger.
The Lookout.
Finding the Main

Finding Idea—Celebrations
Facts—Bongarri
by Ida Chionh
Trung Thu enclosing a delicious filling, either sweet or

This Vietnamese festival falls on the fifteenth savoury.
day of the eighth month of the Chinese Trung Thu (‘troong-too’) also celebrates
lunar calendar (around September). It Children’s Day in Vietnam. Children carry
celebrates the full moon of mid-autumn, a lighted lanterns and parade through the
time when the moon is traditionally at its streets. The lanterns come in all shapes and
fullest and most beautiful. This festival dates sizes. Some are shaped like the full moon,
back hundreds of years. others like birds, fish, butterflies, even
People watch for the full moon to appear aeroplanes.
so that the festival can begin. There is a There are dragon dances with drums and
special meal, including moon cakes. cymbals crashing. Everyone joins in the noisy
Moon cakes are made with thin soft pastry, celebrations, late into the night.
1.theHow
many paragraphs are there in this extract?
2. Draw a line to match the main idea in the paragraph with the paragraph number.
Paragraph 1 waiting for the moon
Paragraph 2 the time of the festival
Paragraph 3 children celebrating
Paragraph 4 noisy celebrations
3. If you had to give the extract another title, a good title would be
The Moon. A Festival for Everyone.
Flying
4. Where Kites. have his nest?
did Bongarri Eating Moon Cakes.
4. Which paragraph tells you that Trung Thu is more than a family celebration?
Paragraph 1 Paragraph 3
5. WhenParagraph 2
was Bongarri most happy? Paragraph 4


Finding the Main Idea—Misokolaki

by Peter Alexiou
Once upon a time on a faraway Greek Before they went to bed that night the
island, an old man and an old woman lived old woman said a special prayer.
alone in a small stone house near a forest. ‘O God,’ she prayed, ‘how I wish that all
The old man was a woodcutter. the broad beans in the pot could become
One night the old man and the old children!’
woman were peeling broad beans and Early next morning the woodcutter and
putting them into a pot on the stove. his wife were woken up by a terrible noise.
‘If only we had children to bring a little Their house was full of children. Some were
joy and happiness into our lives,’ the old playing and some were singing and some
woman sighed loudly. were quarrelling. Others were crying out for
‘Yes,’ said the old man. ‘If only we had food. The house was filled with a terrible
children.’ racket.
1. How many paragraphs are there in this extract?

2. This is the last paragraph. Tick the box that is the main idea (topic sentence).
Early next morning the woodcutter and his wife were woken up by a terrible
noise.
Their house was full of children.
Some were playing and some were singing and some were quarrelling.
Others were crying out for food.
The house was filled with a terrible racket.
3. If you had to give the extract another title, a good title would be
Peeling Beans.
A Prayer is Answered.
The Naughty Children.
The Woodcutter.
4. The old man and his wife were very happy. True
False
5. The old woman and old man lived on an island. True
False
Finding the
Finding
MainFacts—Bongarri
Idea—Sports and Games
by Shane Power
Ready, Set, Go! Aboriginal people

Bongarri was a strong legged emu. He It was Tamboola, thehave lived in
lived on the Queensland plains between Australia
dingo, andfor
hemany
was onthousands
the of years and
Winton and Longreach. There he scratched prowl for food. Tamboola loved games and
so were the first people to play
and pecked for food in the red soil under sports here.
nothing moreMany of the
than emu forsporting
dinner. skills
the brigalow trees. developed
He was on thefrom everyday
lookout for life. Often they
Bongarri looked like a bundle of untidy used their now.
something imagination and their love of
In all countries throughout the world, play and competition to him
make up games
feathers, but that did not worry him at all. Bongarri had not seen and
many of the skills for games developed as certainly
enjoyablehad leisure activities.
He and his mate had a lovely round nest he not heard him.
from the need to stay alive. Some games Many of the sports andSo games are still
and there were ten dark shelled eggs in it. Of this Tamboola was sure.
developed from the work people did, such played today, butwatching
as in all cultures some
Bongarri sat on the nest, waiting for the the dingo lay low,
as hunting and fishing. People needed
eggs to hatch. He was a most contented and sniffing. He knewmany
have changed and the emunew ones have
the skills of throwing, hitting and beencoming
added.closer, so he
and happy emu. was
climbing to catch their food. Games also
helped people to stay fit and strong.
1. What is the main idea in paragraph 1?

2. The main idea in the last paragraph is: (tick one box)
people play many sports.

3. Whatthe
didgames
Bongarri look like? people haven’t changed.
of Aboriginal
people all over the world learn to play new games.
3. This is the second paragraph. Tick the box that is the main idea (topic sentence).
Aboriginal people have lived in Australia for many thousands of years and so
were the first people to play games and sports here.
Many of the sporting skills developed from everyday life.
Often they used their imagination and their love of play and competition to make
up games as enjoyable leisure activities.
4. If you had to give the extract a subtitle (to go under Ready, Set, Go!), a good subtitle
might be
The beginning of sport in Australia. Why games change.
Where games came from. Learning to hunt.
Write your subtitle in the box under Ready, Set, Go!
Finding the Main Idea—Where Did My

Tonsils Go?
by Hazel Edwards
I’ve never been in hospital before. Except ‘Oh, no!’

when I was born. That was eight years, two All winter before, I had sore throats. We
months and four days ago. had been to Dr Argos so many times. In
When you’re a baby you don’t remember the waiting room, I read all her old
much. This time was different. magazines. And the nurse knew my name.
‘You’re going into hospital,’ said Mum. ‘Hullo, David. Are you here again?’
‘To get your tonsils out.’ Dr Argos is my doctor. She’s nice. She
‘Good! I’ll miss school.’ looked down my throat. Then she checked
‘No you won’t,’ said Mum. ‘You’re going my ears with a funny shaped torch. She
to hospital during the Christmas holidays.’ wrote notes on my card.

2. Write the topic sentence for the first paragraph.
3. Who is the main person (character) in the extract?

Dr Argos
Mum
David
the nurse
4. Which paragraph tells you why
David had to go to the
doctor? Paragraph
5. David went to the doctor to
get his tonsils out.
read magazines.
see the nurse.

have his throat checked.
Finding theFacts—Bongarri
Finding Main Idea—Pandas
By Maryby
F O’Callaghan
Christine A Deacon
The giant panda is about 1.5 metres long Pandas have a very long head. Their jaws
and weighs about 100 to 135 kilograms are very strong and they have thick, wide
when fully grown. Its bones are very heavy, teeth. Like humans, pandas get two sets of
making it about twice as heavy as you teeth: a baby set and an adult set.
would expect for an animal of its size. Pandas are like humans in another way:
Pandas are patterned in black and white, they can grab things tightly with their hands,
with large black patches over their eyes. because they have thumbs. Their ‘thumb’ is
Their fur is very thick and coarse, up to actually a wrist bone, however, and they
5 centimetres long all over their bodies. have five fingers as well as the thumb on
Their skin is two-toned, like their fur: dark each hand.
underneath the black fur, and pink under
the white fur.
1.theHow
brigalow.
many paragraphs are there in this up well, listening.
extract?
2. Draw a line to match up the main idea and the
2. How did Bongarri
supporting detail toget his food? taken from the
information
last paragraph.
Main idea Pandas have five fingers.
3. What did Bongarri look like?are like humans.
Pandas
Supporting detail Pandas can grab things tightly.
Pandas’ thumbs are a wrist bone.
4. The
3. Where dididea
main Bongarri have his2 nest?
in paragraph is to do with the panda’s
colour. skin.
fur length. eye spots.
4. Which paragraph tells you about the size of the panda? Paragraph
5. A good heading for this extract would be
How Pandas Feed. Baby Pandas.

Endangered Animals. Features of the Panda.

Finding the Main Idea—The Birthday

That Grew
by Judith Womersley
They passed the chemist’s and Anna said, ‘Antiques are too dear,’ said Anna. ‘My
‘Why don’t you buy your Mum some soap?’ Mum says Grandma’s furniture is old, but
But Vu said no. it’s worth a lot of money.’
They passed the dentist’s and Bill said, They came to a wool shop and looked at
‘There’s nothing to buy there.’ the jumpers in the window.
They passed the newsagent. ‘That’s what I’ll buy her,’ said Vu.
‘You could buy a notebook for her,’ said ‘What?’ asked Anna. ‘A jumper?’
Bill. Vu shook his head. ‘No,’ said Vu. He smiled. ‘I’ll buy her a ball
They passed the antique shop. of wool. My Mum once said she’d knit if she
‘You could buy that table,’ said Bill. had the time.’
2. Find a paragraph that has only one sentence. Rewrite it here.
3. If you had to give the extract a title,

a good one would be
Looking for a Present.
Going to the Dentist.
The Notebook.
Grandma’s Furniture.
4. Vu has difficulty finding a present for his Mum. True

False
5. Two of Vu’s friends are helping him find a present. True

False
6. Vu thought buying ( a jumper a ball of wool soap ) was a good idea.

(circle one word)
Answers A1
Finding Facts—Bongarri
ANSWERS:
lived1:on Finding
Page the QueenslandFacts—Introduction
plains between dingo, and he was on the
Live or Die by Ross Latham and Peter
Winton and Longreach. There he scratched Sloan prowl for food. Tamboola loved
1. Rod Ansell was a (twenty-six-year-old) stockman.
2.andRodpecked
workedfor food
in the in the
north red soilAustralia
of Western under (and nothing more than
in the Northern emu for dinner.
Territory).
the brigalow trees.
3. Rod had to go 160 kilometres. He was on the
4. Rod went on holidays in May, 1977. lookout forprepared.
5.
PageBongarri
2: Findinglooked like a bundlebyofMary
Facts—Bongarri untidy something now.
F O’Callaghan
1.feathers,
Tamboolabutwasthat did not worry him at all.
a dingo. Bongarri had not seen him and
2.HeHeand
scratched and pecked for food
his mate had a lovely round nestin the red soil (under the brigalow
he certainly hadtrees).
not heard him.
Basic Skills Comprehension and Written Expression Year 3

3.andBongarri looked like a bundle of untidy
there were ten dark shelled eggs in it. feathers. Of this Tamboola was sure. So
4. His nest was on the Queensland plains (between Winton and Longreach).
5.Bongarri sat on
He was most thewhen
happy nest,sitting
waiting fornest.
on his the the dingo lay low, watching
6.eggs
emu.to hatch.7. He was a most contented
listen. and sniffing. He knew the emu
and 3:
Page happy emu.
Finding Facts—Great Dinosaurs (Triceratops) wasby coming closer,and
Ross Latham so Peter
he Sloan
But one day
1. Triceratops liveda in
slinky
Northform crept
America into 130 million
(about keptyears
his two
ago).ears pointed
2.theOnbrigalow.
its head it had three horns (and around its neck up it had a thick
well, bony plate (frill) which protected
listening.
its neck).
3. False 4. True 5. True 6. False 7. plant eater, peaceful, horned
8. Triceratops roamed
1. Who was Tamboola? the earth about 130 million years ago.
Page 4: Finding Facts—Kylie the Kangaroo by Gordon Winch
2. Howwas
1. Kylie didaBongarri get his food?
small kangaroo. 2. Kylie was very small (and she didn’t seem to get any bigger).
3. All kangaroos walked in those days.
4. Kylie was a small kangaroo who took very tiny steps.
5. 1. the Kangaroo Boxing Tournament 2. the Kangaroo Carnival Races
6. When Kylie went to watch the tennis she was sad because she couldn’t watch (see) the games.
3.
PageWhat did Bongarri
5: Finding look like?
Facts—Simpson and Duffy by Mary Small
1. Everyone called him Simpson. 2. Simpson worked (with the Medical Corps) as a stretcher bearer.
3. Gallipoli is in Turkey.
4. The track down the cliffs was long and winding, steep and dangerous.
5. The steep track down the cliff was especially dangerous because the enemy fired on anyone who
used it.
Page 6: Finding Facts—Numbat, Run by Jill Morris
1. All the animals in the extract are similar because they are carnivorous.
2. Some baby dibblers might die because their mother does not have enough teats.
3. They (the echidna and numbat) are similar because they both eat termites.
PageWhen
5. 7: Finding Facts—Ships
was Bongarri mostand Boats by Marcia Vaughan
happy?
1. Container ships arc used to carry all kinds of cargo.
2. Many ships were wrecked in storms. OR Sometimes pirates attacked and stole their cargo.
3. Containers are stacked on the deck. 4. Containers are loaded on board by special cranes.
5. Sailing ships are built of wood and container ships are built of steel.
6. False 7. True 8. True
Complete theseFacts—Metal
Page 8: Finding sentences. Mouth by Hazel Edwards
1. Steve was making the strange noise (playing the trumpet). 2. On Monday. 3. True
6. Tamboola’s
4. Mr Petersen toldfavourite foodhaving
Steve to stop was recorder lessons. .
5. Steve’s playing was so bad his family thought he might be hurt.
6. Steve’s
7. trumpet
Tamboola playing
kept sounded
his two ears like an elephant
pointed blowing
up so that its nose.
he could .
Answers A2
Page 9: Finding the Main idea—Introduction

Live or Die by Ross Latham and Peter Sloan
Basic Skills Comprehension and Written Expression Year 3
1. Three 2. Three
3. boats, blankets, food as well as a rifle, bullets, swag, knives and other listed items
4. Getting Ready or A Special Holiday (other answers possible)
Page 10: Finding the Main Idea—Bongarri by Mary F O’Callaghan
1. Five 2. Bongarri had not seen him and he certainly had not heard him.
3. the dingo (looking for food). 4. looked so happy. 5. food.
6. Silent Danger.
Page 11: Finding the Main Idea—Celebrations by Ida Chionh
1. Four
2. Paragraph 1 waiting for the moon
Paragraph 2 the time of the festival
Paragraph 3 children celebrating
Paragraph 4 noisy celebrations
3. A good title would be A Festival for Everyone.
4. Paragraph 4
Page 12: Finding the Main Idea—Misokolaki by Peter Alexiou
1. Seven 2. Early next morning the woodcutter and his wife were woken up by a terrible noise.
3. A good title would be A Prayer is Answered. 4. False 5. True
Page 13: Finding the Main Idea—Sports and Games by Shane Power
1 . In all countries many of the skills for games developed from the need to stay alive.
2. People all over the world learn to play new games.
3. Aboriginal people have lived in Australia for many thousands of years and so were the first people
to play games and sports here.
4. A good subtitle might be The beginning of sport in Australia.
Page 14: Finding the Main Idea—Where Did My Tonsils Go? by Hazel Edwards
1. Nine 2. I’ve never been in hospital before. 3. David 4. Paragraph 3
5. David went to the doctor’s to get his tonsils out.
Page 15: Finding the Main Idea—Pandas by Christine A Deacon
1. Four
2. Main idea Pandas have five fingers.
Pandas are like humans.
Supporting detail Pandas can grab things tightly.
ANSWERS:
Pandas’ thumbs are a wrist bone.

3. The panda’s colour.
4. Paragraph 1.
5. A good heading for this extract would be Features of the Panda.
Page 16: Finding the Main Idea—The Birthday That Grew by Judith Womersley
1. Eleven 2. There are six, including They passed the antique shop.
3. A good title would be Looking for a Present.
4. True 5. True 6. a ball of wool
Page 17: Sequencing—Introduction

Live or Die by Ross Latham and Peter Sloan
1. Rod packed his vehicle with his equipment and supplies of food and water.
2. Rod packed his vehicle early one morning.
3. While he was away Rod was going to train his two pups.
4. Rod decided to go on a holiday. (A)

Basic Skills: Comprehension Written Expression

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3. How far did Rod have to go for his holiday?

5. When was Bongarri most happy?

5. Complete this sentence.

Bongarri was a strong legged emu. He It was Tamboola, the

1. Who was Tamboola?

3. What did Bongarri look like?

4. Where did Bongarri have his nest?

5. When was Bongarri most happy?

Complete these sentences.

7. Tamboola kept his two ears pointed up so that he could .

2. How did triceratops protect itself?

4. Where did Bongarri have his nest?

6. Dinosaurs, like triceratops, were only found in North America.

7. Tamboola kept his two ears pointed up so that he could .

Finding Facts—Kylie the Kangaroo

1. What was Kylie?

3. How were the kangaroos in the extract different?

4. Why was Kylie always left behind?

5. Name two events in which Kylie did poorly.

1. What did everyone call John Simpson Kirkpatrick?

Finding Facts—Numbat, Run

Choose the best answer to complete questions 1 and 2.

carry their babies on their back.

they cannot find enough termites.

their mother has a pouch

some of the dibbler’s eggs do not hatch.

their mother does not have enough teats.

For carrying things Container Ships

1. Who was Tamboola?

2. Name one danger for sailing ships.

4. How are containers loaded onto a container ship?

5. Sailing ships are built of and container ships are built of .

Finding Facts—Metal Mouth

Eeehhhowwwwwwwwwwworrrrrr! Steve made excuses. ‘My plate gets in

1. Who was making the strange noise?

2. Steve began playing the trumpet

4. Mr Petersen told Steve to stop .

5. Steve’s playing was so bad his family thought he might be .

6. Select the best ending.

Steve’s trumpet playing sounded like

Finding the Main

1. Who was Tamboola?

(a) ________________ (b) __________________ (c) ____________________

Finding the Main Idea—Bongarri

1. How many paragraphs are in this extract?

sat on the nest.

had not seen the dingo.

Minding the Eggs.

Winton and Longreach.

Finding the Main

Trung Thu enclosing a delicious filling, either sweet or

Complete these sentences.

7. Tamboola kept his two ears pointed up so that he could .

Finding the Main Idea—Misokolaki

1. How many paragraphs are there in this extract?

Ready, Set, Go! Aboriginal people

1. What is the main idea in paragraph 1?

people play many sports.

people all over the world learn to play new games.

Finding the Main Idea—Where Did My

I’ve never been in hospital before. Except ‘Oh, no!’

1. How many paragraphs are there in this extract?

(a) (b) (c) ______