Reading for Meaning

Read the Passage and answer all the questions below in the order set.

From paragraph 1

3 (a) What was the first sign of Mr Lutchman’s interest in gardening?

(b) Pick out and write down the single word in the paragraph which shows that Mr Lutchman had more than
just an ‘interest’ in gardening.

(c) Why was Mr Lutchman envious of his neighbor?

From paragraph 2

4 (a) What was Mrs Lutchman’s ‘threat’?

(b) Mr Lutchman had developed a ‘new air of domesticity’. In which two ways is this ‘domesticity’ shown?

From paragraph 3

5 (a) What was it about the landscape on the day of the excursion which showed that it was ‘dry and
uncultivated’?

(b) The sign said ‘Plants for sale’. Give two reasons from the paragraph why this is surprising.

(c) The sign also said ‘Visitors welcome’. Give one reason from the paragraph why this is surprising.

From paragraph 4

6 What exactly was the ‘logic’ of the gardener’s generosity?

From paragraph 5

7 (a) What was Mr Lutchman ‘tempted’ to do?

(b) Mr Lutchman swooped down to take the tree. What effect does ‘swooping down’ have that
would not be achieved by, for example, ‘bending down’?

(c) The gardener showed his disapproval of Mr Lutchman by wagging his finger at him. In what one
other way did the gardener show his disapproval?

From paragraph 6

8 Mr Lutchman planted the avocado tree in the back yard. Explain fully why this was ‘ironic’.

From the whole passage

9 For each of the words or phrases below, circle the letter (A, B, C or D) which has the same
meaning that the word or phrase has in the passage.
1. unpremeditated ( line 2)
A unplanned B unexpectedly C surprisingly D naturally

2. persisted ( line 12 )
A tried B continued C determined D steadfast
3. encouraged ( line 31 )
A forced B pleased C reassured D motivated

4. dilapidated ( line 38 )
A wrecked B ancient C destroyed D useless

5. comprehension ( line 47 )
A learning B understanding C reason D explanation [5]

10 Re-read paragraph 2 and 4, which contains a phrase that tells us about the behavior or feelings of
the writer.

Explain:

 The meaning of the phrases as they are used in the passage.

 The effect of the phrases as they are used in the passage.

(a) ‘ new air of domesticity’

Meaning
Effect

b) “ encouraged by the logic of this generosity “

Meaning
Effect