11+ English Assessment Paper
Section 1a: Reading Comprehension
Below you will find an interpretation of ‘The Story of Momotaro’, which is
a Japanese folk tale.
Read the text and answer the questions that follow.
Momotaro
An old woman made her way down
the worn path to the river’s edge.
Despite the heavy basket of clothes
on her back, she quickly navigated
to her usual spot and began the job
of swirling, scrubbing, rinsing and
wringing. Suddenly, a strange sight
caught her eye: from upstream, a
giant peach was travelling down the
river.
Thinking fast, the woman stretched
out and scooped the peach into her
basket. It was a tight fit but, with the
damp clothes obscuring it from view,
the woman and her treasure made
their way up the path.
Safely home, she unpacked the
remarkable peach and placed it on
the kitchen table. When her husband
finally arrived, they both marvelled
at the fruit for some time before
eventually deciding to find out
whether it tasted as good as it looked.
Taking a large knife from the kitchen
drawer, the old woman began to
gingerly cut through the flesh.
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However, when the peach let out a
cry, she jumped back in shock. Slowly
peeking through the small gap that
the knife had made, the couple saw
something miraculous: nestled in the
centre — where the stone should have
been — was a beautiful, healthy baby
boy. The couple carefully opened up
the peach and cradled the child.
“We shall name him Momotaro,”
announced the old man. “We shall
love him and raise him as if he were
our own child.” True to their word,
the couple ensured that Momotaro
had everything that he could ever
need. The old man’s teachings sated
his thirst for knowledge and the old
woman’s delicious cooking satisfied
his hunger.
Many years later, while the
inhabitants slept, a group of ogres
stormed Momotaro’s village and stole
every piece of treasure that they could
find. Desperate to help, Momotaro
vowed to track down the ogres and
return the treasure. Supportive of
their son’s decision, the old couple
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wished Momotaro good luck and
sent him away with a bundle of his
favourite food: millet dumplings. Not
long into his journey, Momotaro was
approached by a large dog.
“Can I have one of those dumplings?”
the dog asked enthusiastically.
“Of course,” replied Momotaro and he
threw a dumpling towards the dog,
who wolfed it down in one bite. After
inquiring about where Momotaro was
heading, the dog offered to accompany
him on his quest. Momotaro and the
dog continued along the path until
they were interrupted by a monkey.
“Hey! Those dumplings look tasty —
can I have one?” pestered the monkey.
“Of course,” replied Momotaro, passing
a dumpling to the monkey. With a full
mouth, it asked where the two were
heading. Momotaro explained and the
monkey decided to join them.
As the three adventurers neared the
ogres’ hideout, a pheasant stopped on
the path ahead.
“May I have a small piece of that
dumpling?” questioned the pheasant.
“I’ve not eaten all day and they look
mightily tasty.” Unable to disagree,
Momotaro tore off a small piece of
dumpling and left it on the ground for
the pheasant. After a short while, the
pheasant offered to join the group and
they continued towards the ogres’ lair.
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11+ English Assessment Paper
Reaching the large, ornate gates that
guarded the entrance to the ogres’
land, Momotaro and the animals
began to silently enact their plan.
Flying up high, the pheasant scouted
the area. Making two quick loops in
the sky, the bird signalled that the
coast was clear. Then, the monkey
scaled the closest wall and dropped
down quietly before opening the gates
from the inside. Safely inside, it was
clear that the ogres were fast asleep.
With the dog standing by in case of
trouble, Momotaro swiftly tied thick
ropes around each of the beasts. When
the final knot had been tied, the ogres
began to stir.
Immediately, it was clear that
the ropes were going to hold, for
thrash as they might, the ogres were
unable to get free. Conceding defeat,
the grotesque creatures turned to
Momotaro and begged to be released.
“I will give you back your freedom,”
began Momotaro, “in exchange for
your treasure and the promise that
you will never harm another human.”
Reluctantly, the ogres agreed.
Laden with treasure, Momotaro made
his way back home. Arriving at the
village, he was welcomed with cheers
of delight, open arms and a plate of
his favourite millet dumplings!
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 11+ English Assessment Paper

Questions
1. Why was the old woman initially by the river edge?




2. Give three words from the text that suggest that the woman sees the peach as special.




3. How do you think the old woman and old man felt about Momotaro’s decision to search
for the stolen treasure?





4. Explain the role of the dog, the monkey and the pheasant in the execution of the plan to
retrieve the stolen treasure.





5. Out of all of the characters, whose role is the most pivotal in the plan to retrieve the stolen
treasure? Explain your answer.





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 11+ English Assessment Paper

6. How does the author portray Momotaro?

Use two examples from the text to support your answer.






7. If you could change the ending of this story, how would you change it and why?






Section 1b: Language Analysis

1. Define the following words from the text.

a. wolfed

b. scouted

c. scaled

d. ornate

e. inhabitants

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 11+ English Assessment Paper

2. What image is the author trying to portray with the words ‘began to gingerly cut through
the flesh’?






3. Which two words are used to describe the ogres?




4. Provide a synonym for the following words from the text.

a. wringing

b. miraculous

c. sated

d. enthusiastically

e. conceding

5. How many times is direct speech used in the text?




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 11+ English Assessment Paper

6. Compare and contrast the image the author portrays of the ogres and of their land.






Section 2: Creative Writing

Write a sequel to ‘The Story of Momotaro’. It should be an adventure story and should
include at least one animal character and one human character, in addition to Momotaro.





















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 11+ English Assessment Paper

Answers 

Section 1a
Question 1
The old woman was initially by the river edge to wash clothes.

Question 2
• treasure
• remarkable
• marvelled

Question 3
Pupils’ own responses, such as: I think the old man and old woman felt proud of their son
because the text says they were ‘supportive of their son’s decision’ and that they ‘wished
him good luck’. They also sent him off with his favourite food which shows they encouraged
him.

Question 4
Pupils’ own responses, such as: The role of the dog was to be ready to support them if there
was any trouble or if the ogres were to wake. The role of the monkey was to enter the ogres’
land by scaling the wall and opening the door from the inside. The role of the pheasant was
to check the area for danger and to signal when the coast was clear.

Question 5
Accept any reasonable answer, as long as a valid reason as to why they feel that their
chosen character is the most pivotal to the execution of the plan has been provided.

Question 6
Accept any answer where the student has said that the author wants to depict Momotaro
as kind, trusted, brave and intelligent (accept all or a selection of these qualities). Elements
from the text to support this opinion include:
• he had a thirst for knowledge
• he wanted to help the village inhabitants recuperate their treasure
• his parents wished him well on his quest and they trusted him
• he willingly gave up some of his food to the animals that asked for it

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 11+ English Assessment Paper Answers

• he confronted the ogres

Question 7
Accept any answer from the student where they have given a detailed explanation as to
how they would change the ending and they have justified their response. Anticipate that
students may feel that the ending is a bit weak, that the ogres could fight to keep their
treasure and/or that Momotaro and the others ‘should’ have to work harder to win back the
treasure.

Section 1b
Question 1
• wolfed – devour greedily
• scouted – search or look for
• scaled – climb up a steep surface
• ornate – elaborate or excessive decoration
• inhabitants – residents or occupants

Question 2
Pupils’ own responses, such as: The image the author is trying to portray is that the old
woman is cutting through the skin of the peach cautiously because it is large and precious
and seems different to regular peaches.

Question 3
• beasts
• grotesque

Question 4
• wringing – squeezing
• miraculous – magical or phenomenal
• sated – quench or satisfy
• enthusiastically – eagerly or keenly
• conceding – admitting that you’re wrong or have lost

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 11+ English Assessment Paper Answers

Question 5
seven

Question 6
Accept any answer where the student references the fact that the ogres’ land appears palatial
and attractive whereas the ogres themselves are portrayed as ugly beasts. Examples from the
text include:
• ‘...large, ornate gates that guarded the entrance to the ogres’ land.’
• a need for the pheasant to have to fly high to see the ogres’ land in its entirety
• the fact that the monkey had to scale ‘the closest wall’ demonstrating that there was
more than one
• ‘...tied thick ropes around each of the beasts.’
• ‘...thrash as they might’
• ‘...the grotesque creatures’

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