Reading and Comprehension Workbook: Get The R

ADVANCED SKILLS
READING AND
YEAR COMPREHENSION
ENGLISH
2
AGES
WORKBOOK
7–8
Free-to-download sample pages with answers
G e t t he
Re
su
lt s
You
Want !
Donna Gibbs &
Tanya Dalgleish
ON
TI
BRINGING IT
2
S EC
ALL TOGETHER
?
Mixed questions
Use the Step-by-step guide on pages 6–7 to help you read the text and then answer the
questions below. Circle the correct answers or write your answer on the lines.
1 My family
2 I use Cantonese words for my grandparents and call them Por
3 Por and Gong Gong. They live with their dog, Bi Bi. Bi Bi means
4 baby in Cantonese. Bi Bi is a poodle. She is very loving. She
5 likes to sit on people all the time. She sits on your lap if you
6 are seated or on your feet if you are standing. When you walk
7 she gets under your feet and nearly trips you.
8 Every July Por Por and Gong Gong go back to Hong Kong to visit
9 my Uncle Julius. While they are away Bi Bi comes to live with
10 us. I have to feed and brush her and take her for walks. She is
11 not very well trained. Por Por says she doesn’t mind.
12 by Emily Chan
1 What is the dog’s name? 5 What is the Cantonese name for

A Poodle B Gong Gong C Bi Bi grandfather?
2 When do Emily’s grandparents visit A Por Por B Bi Bi C Gong Gong
Hong Kong? 6 Why do you think Bi Bi isn’t well
A when Bi Bi stays with the writer trained?
B in July
C when they see Uncle Julius
The text mainly tells about
© Pascal Press ISBN 978 1 74125 569 0
3
A a dog.
B Emily’s grandparents.
C walking the dog.
4 What might the dog do on walks?

Choose all that apply. Now write!
A misbehave Write about your own family members
B chase birds and the things they do.
C drag on the leash Note: The text is informative—a description.
Answers and explanations on p. 96
58 Excel Advanced Skills Reading and Comprehension Workbook Year 2
Mixed questions
grandpa’s school report (page 75) would have given his
Use the Step-by-step guide on pages 6–7 to help you read the text and then answer the incorrect. Rufus woul
1 Jim Brown 2 C 3 A shelter staff or by Jasm
questions below. Circle the correct answers
4 B
or write5your
C
answers on the lines. 5 This
6 See below is a language qu
was already an old do
Explanations Dad said he was no sp
1 A visit from Mrs Snake 1 This is a fact-finding question. You read Yearly Report
[for] Jim Brown (see lines 3–4).
chicken is a saying th
was no spring chicken
2 Imagine Mrs Koala’s surprise when she peeped down
2 This is a fact-finding question. C is correct. You read
years old. You may k
incorrect as Rufus is
3 the tree later on and saw Mrs Snake slowly wriggling
Art … He [Jim] works very hard (see line 10). A and B are
saying is not used to
4 incorrect
her way upwards. Oh, she was frightened! as the comments do not say that Jim worked very
not a chicken.
hard in these subjects.
6 This is a judgement q
5 “Go away, Mrs Snake!” she called in
3 aThis
loudis a voice.
synthesis question. A is correct. Jim’s
Sometimes I wonder w
community work is something he does outside of
“I’ve come to nurse the baby; Mrs Magpie (see lines 9–10). Jasmi
6 studyingsent
schoolme.”
subjects. It belongs in the General
thinks how sad she w
7 comment
And Mrs Snake wriggled higher up the tree. Right on
(see lines 11–12) space. B and C are incorrect.
A is incorrect. Jasmin
Maths and Science are school subjects and are not to do
8 to the branch where Mrs Koala sat she came,
with communityandwork. abandoned. B is incor
old. She just feels sad
9 coiled herself round the fork. 4 This is an inferring question. B is correct. The only subject think about his old fa
Jim works hard at, and gets excellent results in, is Art.
10 “I don’t want a nurse.” And poor frightened MrsoutKoala
You can work that this makes it likely that Art is his
my friend from
11 tried to push the baby’s head back in the pouch. But
favourite subject. A andheC are incorrect. Jim doesn’t try
hard and spends time dreaming during these subjects so 1 Iraq, Australia, Afgh
12 would peep out. these are not likely to be his favourite subjects. 2 C 3 C
13 This is a language
“He’s a nice little fellow, and like his5 daddy,” said Mrsquestion.
Snake C is correct.
slyly. The must inhim along
wordtake
“I can
this sentence is very definite. It is a strong statement. It is
on my back for such lovely rides up and down Explanations
fromtrees and in and out bigThe black
wordsholes.”
14
an order the Form Master. A is incorrect.
could probably in this sentence suggest it is possible but not
1 This is a fact-finding
15 Extract from Blinky Bill by Dorothy Wall, 1933 to Australia from fara
definite. B is incorrect. The word should in this sentence
Somalia and Sri Lank
means it is something he should do, but it is not certain
that he will do it. 2 This is a fact-finding
friend Hariq escaped f
1 What does Mrs Koala see when6she
This is a judgement
5 Why does
question. the narrator
You should judge that theuse the word
refugees (see lines 2–4)
Form Master does not seem to like him very much. He
peeps down the tree? slyly (line 13)?
only has one nice comment to make about him (Art). You
volunteer. B is incorre
but not when he first
A Baby Koala peeping out. might also guess that Jim causes problems when he brings
3 This is a synthesis qu
animals to school.
B Mrs Snake wriggling up. is about the writer’s f
Rufus (page 76) introduces Hariq. Pa
C Mrs Magpie flying away. problems at school. P
1 Jasmine 2 B 3 B, A, C 4 B dad helps Hariq and
2 Who is speaking in the illustration?
5 A 6 C text is about Hariq bu
is not about the write
6 Do you think Mrs Magpie did send Homework Centre.
Explanations
Mrs Snake? Explain.
1 This is a fact-finding question. You read the label on the
4 This is an inferring q
that Hariq found hom
photo—Jasmine and Rufus (see line 12)—and you read
now he is a star pupi
This is me with my dog, Rufus (see line 2). You know that
3 Which title would suit this text? Jasmine has written the text about her dog. incorrect. Hariq still
Centre is for after sch
A The lucky escape 2 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read become a refugee. He
His owners had moved from a house to a home unit and to Australia.
B Danger couldn’t take Rufus with them (see lines 3–4). A is incorrect.
5 This is a language qu
Rufus’s old owners may have wanted to find him a good

C Baby Koala is taken for a ride home but there is no evidence in the text to confirm this. friend Hariq escaped f
Australia with his mo
C is incorrect. You can’t tell from the text that Rufus’s old
were refugees (see line
4 Mrs Koala thinks Mrs Snake owners didn’t want him. They might have kept him if they
be adults as well as ch
had not moved into a unit.
A is not to be trusted. 3 This is a synthesis question. The sequence is First: B Rufus
come from other plac
B is to be trusted. was left at the animal Now write!A Jasmine found
shelter. Second:
that the writer is prou
Rufus at the animal shelter. Third: C Rufus went to live
is interested in Dad’s
C wants to help her with Baby Koala.
with Jasmine.Write a story about a visitor who made
The writer is not surp
4 This is an inferring question. B is correct. You read Rufus
trouble.
means red (see line 2). You should work out that Rufus
work. C is incorrect. Th
Hariq and does not se
was named byNote:his first The
ownerstext
because he has reddish fur. narrative.
is imaginative—a
when these owners left Rufus at the animal shelter they
It uses conversation.
102 Excel Advanced
Section
Skills2Reading
Bringing it Comprehension
and all together: Mixed questions
Workbook Year 2 59
Mixed questions
questions below. Circle the correct answers or write your answers on the lines or in the boxes.
1 My broken arm
2 Last Saturday I broke my arm.
3 I was playing on the monkey bars in the park when my hand
4 slipped and I fell on the ground. At first my arm looked fine
5 but it hurt a lot. Dad took me home and put an icepack on
6 it. He said that would reduce the swelling and I’d be alright.
7 I sat on the sofa and watched some DVDs.
8 A few hours later my arm was still sore and it started to get
9 a big bruise. Dad took me to the hospital. I had an X-ray. The
10 X-ray was a photo of my arm bones. The doctor said I had a
11 hairline fracture. That’s a really thin crack in the bone.
12 Now I have to wear a cast to keep my bone in place until it mends itself.
13 Stupid monkey bars!
1 What is a hairline fracture? 5 Why is the playground equipment

A an arm bone called monkey bars (line 3)?
B a thin crack in a bone A Monkeys climb on bars
in playgrounds.
C a picture of bones on an X-ray
B Children can pretend to
2 Why did Dad use ice? be monkeys.
A to fix the arm C Children climb and swing
B to keep the swelling down like monkeys.
C to make the arm better 6 Are the monkey bars Stupid
(line 13)? Explain.
3 Write numbers in the boxes to show
the order of events.
I fell off the monkey bars.
I went to the park.
I had an X-ray.
I broke my arm.
4 How does the narrator feel about
breaking her arm? Now write!
A excited
Have you ever broken a bone, hurt
B happy yourself or had an accident? Write a
C disappointed recount of the events.
Notes: The text is informative—a personal
recount.
Answers and explanations on pp. 96–97
Mixed questions
incorrect. Rufus woul
1 Jim Brown 2 C 3 A
questions below. Circle the correct answers or write your answer on the lines. shelter staff or by Jasm
4 B 5 C 6 See below 5 This is a language qu
Dad said he was no sp
1 Roosters Explanations
1 This is a fact-finding question. You read Yearly Report chicken is a saying th
When male chicks grow up they are2 called years old. You may k
This is aroosters.
2
fact-finding question. C is correct. You read
3 Most roosters have feathers that are glossy
Art … Heand [Jim]brightly
works very hard (see line 10). A and B are
incorrect as the comments do not say that Jim worked very
4 coloured. The red combs on the roosters’ heads are
not a chicken.
usually larger than the hens’ combs. 6 This is a judgement q
5 3 Roosters also have
This is a synthesis question. A is correct. Jim’s
6 longer tail feathers than hens. community work is something he does outside of
(see lines 9–10). Jasmi
studying school subjects. It belongs in the General
comment (see lines 11–12) space. B and C are incorrect.
7 Roosters begin crowing at the crack of dawn. Some A is incorrect. Jasmin
8 breeds of roosters crow through much ofcommunity
the day.work. abandoned. B is incor
with
9 Others only crow a few times. Roosters are inferring
4 This is an knownquestion.
for B is correct. The only subject think about his old fa
10 taking care of their female flock. You can work out that this makes it likely that Art is his
my friend from
favourite subject. A and C are incorrect. Jim doesn’t try
11 They crow to tell other roosters to keep
hard out of their
and spends time dreaming during these subjects so 1 Iraq, Australia, Afgh
12 territory. They crow to warn their families of danger
these are not likely to be his favourite subjects. 2 C 3 C
13 5 This is a language question. C is correct. The word must in
when they sense a fox or a dog is nearby.
Explanations
an order from the Form Master. A is incorrect. The words
to Australia from fara
1 The combs on roosters’ heads In The
definite. B is incorrect.
6 whatwordway
shouldare roosters
in this sentence like guards?
are usually that he will do it. 2 This is a fact-finding
A the same size as the hens’ combs.
6 This is a judgement question. You should judge that the friend Hariq escaped f
B smaller than the hens’ combs. volunteer. B is incorre
C larger than the hens’ combs. might also guess that Jim causes problems when he brings
animals to school. 3 This is a synthesis qu
2 Roosters begin crowing is about the writer’s f
A at dusk. problems at school. P
B at dawn. 1 Jasmine 2 B 3 B, A, C 4 B dad helps Hariq and
C at midday. is not about the write
Homework Centre.
3 Roosters’ feathers are comparedExplanations
with 4 This is an inferring q
hens’ feathers photo—Jasmine and Rufus (see line 12)—and you read
A in the whole text. This is me with my dog, Rufus (see line 2). You know that
incorrect. Hariq still
Jasmine has written the text about her dog.
B in paragraph one. 2 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read
become a refugee. He
C in paragraph two. His owners had moved from a house to a home unit and to Australia.
couldn’t take Rufus with them (see lines 3–4). A is incorrect.
Now write! 5 This is a language qu
4 Who is included in a rooster’s family?

home but there is no evidence in the text to confirm this.
A a flock of hens C is incorrect.Choose a different animal. Research Australia
You can’t tell from the text that Rufus’s old
with his mo
B a flock of roosters owners didn’t want him. They might have kept him if they
what they look like and how they behave. be adults as well as ch
C crows and hens Write a report about your
3 This is a synthesis question. The sequence is First: B Rufusanimal.
was left at the animal shelter. Second: A Jasmine found
5 The crack of dawn (line 7) means Rufus at the animal
Note: ThisThird:
shelter. is anC Rufus
informative
went to livetext—a
A the moment the sun rises. with Jasmine.report. It uses descriptive words and makes
4 This is an inferring question. B to
comparisons is correct. anRufus
You read
tell what animal looks work. C is incorrect. Th
B when the sky cracks open. means red (see line 2). You should work out that Rufus Hariq and does not se
like and how it behaves.
C after the sun has been up for was named by his first owners because he has reddish fur.
a while.
102 Excel Advanced
Section
Skills2Reading
Workbook Year 2 61
Mixed questions
1 Eddie’s question
2 Eddie called out from the lounge room, “Hey Mum! Mario’s
3 dad is taking Mario to see his sister play the drums.
4 There’s a concert at her high school on Friday night. Can I
5 go with them? Mario’s dad’s invited me. It finishes at 9 pm.
6 He said I’ll get home before 9.30. He’s going to pick me up
7 here at 5.30. Or I can go home from school with Mario on
8 Friday. They’re having Thai for dinner before the concert.
9 It’s Mario’s sister’s favourite. He said for you to phone him
10 tonight or tomorrow. Or you can talk with him on Friday if
11 he collects me from here. Is that OK?”
12 Mum entered the lounge room. “Say all that again,” she said.
1 Who plays drums? 5 He said for you to phone him tonight

A Eddie or tomorrow (lines 9–10).
B Mario Who is He?
C Mario’s sister A Mario
B Mario’s dad
2 What time does the concert finish?
C the writer
A 5.30 pm
6 Do you think Eddie will be allowed
B 9 pm
to go? Explain.
C 9.30 pm
3 What event led to Eddie’s invitation

from Mario’s dad?
A Eddie’s mum can phone
Mario’s dad.
B Mario’s sister was selected to play
in the concert.
C Eddie can walk home from school
with Mario on Friday.
Now write!
4 Why are they having Mario’s sister’s
Write a conversation you might have with
favourite food?
a family member. Ask for permission to
A There’s nowhere else to eat. do something. Write the family member’s
B It’s her special night. response. Use direct speech.
C Mario likes Thai too. Note: The text is informative—a
conversation. The text includes direct and
indirect speech.

Mixed questions
1 Jim Brown 2 C 3 A
questions below. Circle the correct answers or write your answer on the lines. shelter staff or by Jasm
1 A bluebottle sting Explanations

1 This is a fact-finding question. You read Yearly Report
Jim Brown (see lines 3–4).
2 Last Sunday a bluebottle stung me. It[for]
really hurt. years old. You may k
3 Mum and I went to the beach with Dad. He
Art … Heis a works very hard (see line 10). A and B are
[Jim]
4 volunteer surf lifesaver so he was on duty. not a chicken.
5 I’d been in the water for a while when I felt
3 This a
is a synthesis question. A is correct. Jim’s
6 horrible, burning pain. I spotted a bluebottle (see lines 9–10). Jasmi
7 floating near me. Its long tentacle wascomment
wrapped thinks how sad she w
(see lines 11–12) space. B and C are incorrect.
8 around my arm. Maths and Science are school subjects and are not to do
abandoned. B is incor
with community work.
9 I ran out of the water yelling for Dad.
4 HeThissaid not question. B is correct. The only subject
is an inferring think about his old fa
10 to try to get the tentacle off with my hand. Hehard at, and gets excellent results in, is Art.
Jim works
You can work out that this makes it likely that Art is his
11 splashed it off with sea water and then he used my friend from
12 plastic tweezers to pull the last bit off.hard and spends time dreaming during these subjects so 1 Iraq, Australia, Afgh
13 The pain was horrible. It lasted for ages
5 Thisbutis a a heat question. C is correct. The word must in
language
14 pack helped a bit. Dad said people used thisto use isice
sentence very definite. It is a strong statement. It is
Explanations
15 packs but the latest research says hotcould
water or a heat pack works best.
probably in this sentence suggest it is possible but not
16 in theB iswater
I’ll look out for bluebottles before I godefinite. next
incorrect. time.
The word Dad
should justsentence
in this said I was Somalia and Sri Lank
17 unlucky as there were hardly any bluebottles
that he will doaround
it. that day. 2 This is a fact-finding
18 by Ella 6 This is a judgement question. You should judge that the
1 You wash off a tentacle with might also guess thatWhat
5
animals to school.
does
Jim causes the when
problems latesthe research
brings
A ice water. (line 15) mean? is about the writer’s f
B sea water. A what many people think problems at school. P
C vinegar. 1 Jasmine 2 BB the3 most
B, A, Crecent4 Bstudy of the subject
dad helps Hariq and
2 Where was Ella stung? C the dad’s opinion is not about the write
A on her leg Explanations 6 How did Ella’s dad react to Ella’s Homework Centre.
B on her arm problem? Explain.
C on her foot incorrect. Hariq still
3 What do you do first to treat a 2 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read become a refugee. He
His owners had moved from a house to a home unit and
bluebottle sting? couldn’t take Rufus with them (see lines 3–4). A is incorrect.
to Australia.
A use a heat pack Rufus’s old owners may have wanted to find him a good
B run out of the water C is incorrect. You can’t tell from the text that Rufus’s old
C wash off the tentacle with sea owners didn’t want him. They might have kept him if they be adults as well as ch
had not moved into aNow unit. write!
water 3 This is a synthesis question. The sequence is First: B Rufus
4 How do you treat pain from a Write about a time when you were hurt.that the writer is prou
bluebottle sting? with Jasmine.What happened? How did you get better?
A with heat Note: The text is informative—a
means red (see line 2). You should work out that Rufus personalwork. C is incorrect. Th
B with ice was named byrecount. Thebecause
his first owners writerhegives her fur.
has reddish point of view
C with sea water about events.
102 Excel Advanced
Section
Skills2Reading
Workbook Year 2 63
Mixed questions
questions below. Circle the correct answers or write your answers on the lines.
1 Furry lifesaver
2 Budapest News 19.6.14
3 Visitors to Budapest Zoo were amazed when a
4 huge bear rescued a crow from drowning in its
5 enclosure.
6 The crow had fallen into the bear’s moat. It
7 flapped its wet wings and struggled to get back
8 into the air but it was doomed to drown.
9 The bear watched it for a moment. Then the
10 bear lumbered over. It stuck its paw into the water, scooped the crow into its mouth by a
11 wing tip then lifted the crow out of the water and onto the dirt.
12 The surprised crow rested for a moment then stood up. It was wet and muddy
13 but unharmed.
14 It’s not surprising that the bear showed kindness towards the bird. There are always
15 news stories about different species helping each other.
1 Why did the crow need help? 5 lumbered (line 10)

A A bear was trying to eat it. What does this word mean?
B It was drowning. A rushed quickly
C It was wet and muddy. B walked carefully
C moved heavily
2 What part of the bear lifted the crow
onto the dirt? 6 Why do you think the bear helped
the crow?
3 Choose a different title for the text.

A Budapest Zoo
B Bear saves crow
C A wet and muddy crow
4 What is the writer’s opinion

of events? Now write!
A surprised
Write an item of news about something
B not surprised
that’s happening in your area.
C amazed
Note: The text is informative—an online
news article. The text recounts events in
logical order and gives a point of view.
Mixed questions
1 Jim Brown 2 C 3 A
questions below. Circle the correct answers or write your answers on the lines. shelter staff or by Jasm
1 The Great Mango Mystery Explanations

2 Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Desa Kiara, all the years old. You may k
3 mangoes had disappeared. Phhht. Gone! Art …This made
He [Jim] works the
very hard (see line 10). A and B are
4 people of the kingdom cross and grumpy. They
incorrect as thetold young
comments do not say that Jim worked very
not a chicken.
5 Prince Jason their troubles. He’d solve the mystery if 6 This is a judgement q
3 This is a synthesis question. A is correct. Jim’s
6 anybody could. Sometimes I wonder w
7 Prince Jason searched every centimetre of the(see
comment kingdom. No
lines 11–12) space. B and C are incorrect.
8 mangoes! All of a sudden he remembered Mathshis
andmother,
Science areQueen
school subjects and are not to do
9 Snow, and his father, King Akmal, loved eating mangoes. Had old. She just feels sad
4 This is an inferring question. B is correct. The only subject think about his old fa
10 they gobbled them up? Jim works hard at, and gets excellent results in, is Art.
11 He practised his sternest face in frontYou
ofcan
the work out that this makes it likely that Art is his
mirror.
my friend from
12 Now he was ready to confront his parents.
13 “Did you steal all the mangoes?” he asked in his steeliest voice.
5 This is a language question. C is correct. The word must in
14 “Yes,” they trembled. this sentence is very definite. It is a strong statement. It is
Explanations
15 “You must share the mangoes with everyone,”
could probably Prince Jason
in this sentence saidit isseverely.
suggest possible but not
“Certainly, dearest Jason. We promisemeans
we’ll Somalia and Sri Lank
16 it isnever doheitshould
something again,” hisit isparents
do, but not certainreplied.
17 Prince Jason was hailed as a hero. The Great Mango Mystery was solved and they all friend Hariq escaped f
6 This is a judgement question. You should judge that the
18 lived happily ever after. refugees (see lines 2–4)
might also guess that Jim causes problems when he brings
1 The character hailed as a hero B They had grown old and shaky.is about the writer’s f
(line 17) was Rufus (page 76)C They were trembling with rage introduces Hariq. Pa
problems at school. P
1 Jasmine 2 B because 3 B, A, C they 4had B been found out. dad helps Hariq and
5 The word confront (line 12) means is not about the write
Explanations A move to the front. Homework Centre.
2 Why were the people of Desa Kiara 4 This is an inferring q
cross and grumpy (line 4)?
1 This is a fact-finding say something
Bquestion. unkind.
You read the label on the
A All the mangoes had disappeared.This is me with my dog, face(see
C Rufus with the
line 2). Youtruth.
know that
B Prince Jason couldn’t find the 6
2 This is a fact-finding Do you think Prince
question. B is correct. You read Jason is a hero?
missing mangoes. His owners had moved Explain.
from a house to a home unit and to Australia.
C The people were very hungry. Rufus’s old owners may have wanted to find him a good

3 The story is mainly about C is incorrect. You can’t tell from the text that Rufus’s old
A greed. owners didn’t want him. They might have kept him if they
B the importance of sharing. 3 This is a synthesis question. The sequence is First: B Rufus
C telling lies. that the writer is prou
4 Why did Queen Snow and King with Jasmine. Now Bwrite! The writer is not surp
4 This is an inferring question. is correct. You read Rufus
Akmal tremble (line 14)? means red (see line 2). You should work out that Rufus
A They were guilty and had been was named byWrite his first a mystery
owners becausestory.
he has reddish fur.
found out. Note: The text is imaginative—a narrative.
102 Excel Advanced
Section
Skills2Reading
Workbook Year 2 65
Mixed questions
1 Stay away!
2 Maggie and Marty sat on a branch guarding their
3 nest in the tree above the kindergarten. They happily
4 shared their territory with the kindy children. Last
5 year’s chicks liked the kindy children and begged
6 the children for food. But Marty did not like people
7 cycling past the kindy, on the footpath outside kindy,
8 during nesting season. These were people he did not
9 know. These people were a threat to the chicks.
10 Marty spotted someone on a bicycle. Marty

11 swooped. Clack clack! snapped his beak loudly.
12 That would teach the cyclist to stay away, thought
13 Maggie. Good job, Marty! She looked at her three
14 newly hatched magpie chicks. They’d need her and
15 Marty to protect them for a few weeks yet. They
16 were so defenceless.
1 What is Maggie? 6 What do you think of Marty’s

behaviour?
2 Where do Maggie and Marty live?

A at the kindergarten
B in trees above a kindergarten
C on a nest
3 Why did Marty swoop the cyclist?

A He was protecting his nest.
B He hates cyclists.
C He always defends his territory.
4 Stay away! (line 1) Who thinks this?

A a cyclist
B a magpie
C kindy children Now write!
5 What does defenceless (line 16) mean? Write an animal story. Give the animals
A protective names and personalities.
B resisting attack Note: The text is imaginative—a narrative.
C open to danger Animal characters are given human feelings.

Mixed questions
Use the Step-by-step guide on pages 6–7 to help you read the text and then answer theincorrect. Rufus woul
4 B
or write5your
C
answers on the lines.
6 See below 5 This is a language qu
1 What is a cloud? Explanations

9 Something years old. You may k
2 A cloud is 2 This is a fact-finding question.to
C look upYou
is correct. toread
3 something to look down on oncomments
incorrect10as the a winter’sdo notday.say that Jim worked very
not a chicken.
4 when I’m in a plane or on a mountain; 11 A stormy black frown that scowls 6 This is a judgement q
5 a soft, white pillow to lay my head on;community
12 workat upturned
is something faces.
he does outside of
6 a bouncy mattress for me to play with.comment 13(seeAlines
lonely
11–12) white
space. B wisp
and C are incorrect.
14 drifting abandoned. B is incor
7 Millions of water droplets with community work. across the sky
4 This is an inferring question. B is correct. The only subject
8 tossing in the air. 15 hoping to find a friend. think about his old fa
my friend from
by Donna Gibbs
1 How many water droplets make upthis sentence is5veryWhat does the word lonely suggest
definite. It is a strong statement. It is
a cloud? an order from the Formabout theA iswhite
Master. wisp
incorrect. of cloud Explanations
The words
(line 13)? to Australia from fara
2 What colour are the storm clouds Formin Master does not seem to like him very much. He
this poem? might also guess that Jim causes problems when he brings
A black What attitude does the poet have introduces Hariq. Pais about the writer’s f
6
B grey Rufus (page 76)
towards clouds? Explain. problems at school. P
C white text is about Hariq bu
5 A 6 C
3 The clouds in the poem are Homework Centre.
Explanations
viewed from 1 This is a fact-finding question. You read the label on the
A different positions. photo—Jasmine and Rufus (see line 12)—and you read
B the same position. Jasmine has written the text about her dog.
2 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read
C inside. His owners had moved from a house to a home unit and
to Australia.
4 Why do the people turn their 5 This is a language qu

faces up? Now write!
A They are looking to see if it is owners didn’tWrite
want him.a They
poem might about something
have kept him if they in nature
beginning to rain. had not moved into a unit.
that you admire. What is it? What does it from other plac
come
3 This is a synthesis question. The sequence is First: B Rufus
B They are turning up their noseswas atleft at thelook
animallike?
shelter.What
Second: A does it found
Jasmine do? How does it that the writer is prou
the rain. with Jasmine. make you feel? is interested in Dad’s
C They are hoping it won’t rain. 4 This is an inferring
Note: The text
question. is imaginative—a
B is correct. You read Rufus poem. Itwork. C is incorrect. Th
expresses personal thoughts and feelings Hariq and does not se
was named by his first owners because he has reddish fur.
aboutlefta Rufus
when these owners subject.at the animal shelter they

102 Excel Advanced
Section
Skills2Reading
Workbook Year 2 67
Mixed questions
1 CONCERT to SAVE THIS POSSUM

2 Friday 30th August, Our Assembly Hall, 7.00–8.30 pm
3 Music H Magic H Comedy H Dancing H Drama
4 Whole school fund-raising concert to help save the Mountain pygmy-possum
5 Mountain pygmy-possums only live in three very tiny areas in the high mountains of
6 NSW and Victoria. They are the only Australian mammals that hibernate during winter.
7 THESE POSSUMS NEED OUR HELP! They are endangered due to:
8 1 Ski resorts destroying their habitat
9 2 Climate change making the Alps warm enough for feral foxes and cats to move in
10 3 Climate change making the snow melt earlier in the year. When the snow melts,
11 possums come out of hibernation but their favourite foods, bogong moths, don’t fly
12 to the mountains till later in the year. Possums starve.
13 BUY A TICKET to our CONCERT TO SAVE the MOUNTAIN PYGMY-POSSUM.
14 All money raised will go towards captive breeding programs so the Mountain pygmy-possum
15 doesn’t become extinct. Tickets are $5.
1 Where do Mountain pygmy- 5 What is THIS POSSUM in the title

possums live? CONCERT to SAVE THIS POSSUM?
A the possum in the drawing
B the Mountain pygmy-possum
C pygmy-possums
2 Concert money will be used for 6 Do you think this poster does a
A music at the concert. good job? Explain.
B captive breeding programs.
C food for the possums.
3 What is the purpose of the text?

A to advertise concert tickets
B to advertise ways to help
the possums
C to inform people about the possums
4 What kills possums? Now write!

A bogong moths
Make a poster to inform people about an
B cats and foxes upcoming event at your school.
C hunters Note: The text is informative—a poster. It
uses technical terms.

Mixed questions
4 B
or write5your
C
answer on the lines.
1 Animal sounds Explanations

2 [for] Jim Brown
Animals use sounds to ‘talk’ to each other. People (see lines 3–4).
3 often use onomatopoeic* words for theArt … sounds
He [Jim] works very hard (see line 10). A and B are
4 animals make. We say, for example, that elephants
not a chicken.
5 trumpet, mice squeak, frogs croak, roosters say 6 This is a judgement q
6 cock-a-doodle-do and cats miaow. community work is something he does outside of Sometimes I wonder w
7 Animals make sounds that warn of danger. They
8 make sounds to report where to find Maths
food.andSome A is incorrect. Jasmin
Science are school subjects and are not to do
9 with
animals, such as bats, make sounds to community
find each work. old. She just feels sad
10 other in the dark. Jim works hard at, and gets excellent results in, is Art.
You can work
Different species of animals make different out that this makes it likely that Art is his
sounds.
11 my friend from
12 Cockatoos make sounds like cars screeching to a
13 halt. They also copy human speech. Parrots and
14 budgerigars copy human speech too. A bellbird’s song sounds like bells ringing a melody.
Explanations
15 Some animals make sounds without using
an ordertheir
from thevoices. Crickets
Form Master. and cicadas,
A is incorrect. The words for
16 example, can make sounds by rubbing their body parts.
17 means itthey
*Words that sound like the thing or sound is something he should do, but it is not certain
are describing.
1 Which animals use sound to find Which
5 comment
only has one nice word
out?
to make is him
about the(Art).
oddYou one volunteer. B is incorre
each other in the dark? might also guess thatAJimsqueak
causes problems when he brings
A snails B bells is about the writer’s f
introduces Hariq. Pa
B bats Rufus (page 76)C croak
C roosters 1 Jasmine
6
2 BWhich
3 B, A, C
animal 4 the
in B
text do you dad helps Hariq and
2 Which animals copy human speech? think makes the cleverest sound? is not about the write
Homework Centre.
Choose all that apply. Explanations Explain.
A cockatoos that Hariq found hom
B budgerigars This is me with my dog, Rufus (see line 2). You know that
C parrots Centre is for after sch
2 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read become a refugee. He
3 What is the main idea in the text? His owners had moved from a house to a home unit and to Australia.
A Animals can talk to people. 5 This is a language qu

B Animals use sounds to Australia with his mo
communicate. owners didn’t want him. They might have kept him if they
C Animals make sounds. come from other plac
4 Animals of the same species makewas left at the animal Now write!A Jasmine found
shelter. Second:
A similar sounds to each other. with Jasmine. is interested in Dad’s
Make up a song that includes animal The writer is not surp
B different sounds from each other.
4 This is an inferring question. B is correct. You read Rufus work. C is incorrect. Th
means red (seesounds.
line 2). You should work out that Rufus
C no sounds. was named by his first owners because he has reddish fur.
Note: The text is informative—a report. It
gives factual information with examples.
102 Excel Advanced
Section
Skills2Reading
Workbook Year 2 69
Mixed questions
1 Burketown Times, July 2007

2 Bones of giant animal found
3 Scientists have found the 17 Scientists believe that
4 bones of a very large animal, 18 diprotodons looked
5 a diprotodon. The bones 19 like giant wombats.
6 were dug up in far northern 20 They became extinct
7 Queensland. 21 about 55 000 years ago
8 “We are pleased because 22 after living on earth for
9 we found the skull and 23 around two and a half
10 jaws and most of the rest 24 million years.
11 of the skeleton. It is rare 25 “Climate change, a
12 to find whole diprotodon 26 flood or overhunting More bones of giant-sized 31
13 skeletons,” the team leader 27 may have caused their animals, such as those of 32
14 said. “This animal was 28 disappearance. We are giant kangaroos and lizards, 33
15 probably around the size of 29 still trying to find out,” the have been discovered near 34
16 a small car.” 30 team leader added. the site. 35
1 Where were the bones of the 5 Bones of giant animal found (line 2)
diprotodon found? The word giant suggests that
A southern Queensland A the bones are not real bones.
B far northern Queensland B the report is a fairytale.
C Queensland C the bones found were from an
extra-large animal.
2 What did diprotodons look like?
A giants
6 Do you think scientists will continue
to dig in the area? Explain.
B small cars
C giant wombats
3 The main purpose of the text is to

A report the discovery of the bones
of a giant-sized animal.
B describe diprotodons.
C tell a story about diprotodons.
4 How many bones of the diprotodon

Now write!
were found?
A the complete skeleton Write a newspaper report about a
B a small number discovery.
C most of the skeleton Note: The text is informative—a newspaper
article. It includes quotations from a
scientist.
Mixed questions
4 B
or write5your
C
answer on the line.
1 Tonsillectomy Explanations
2 Bonjour. 2 This is a fact-finding question. C is correct. You read
3 Hello Pépère. I have to get my tonsils Art … He [Jim] works very hard (see line 10). A and B are
out. saying is not used to
not a chicken.
4 hard inyour
Ah, Jean Pierre, you have a problem with these subjects.
5 tonsils, yes? community work is something he does outside of
6 studying
Yes. I keep getting infections and missing school subjects. It belongs in the General
school. thinks how sad she w
7 Well then. I believe this tonsil removalMaths
is a and
good
Science are school subjects and are not to do
8 thing. No? old. She just feels sad
9 Yes. My tonsils are really big. They getJiminworks
thehard
way at, of
andmy
gets excellent
breathing.results Iin,breathe
is Art. through
my mouth instead of my nose and it wakes my friend from
favourite subject. A and C are incorrect. Jim doesn’t try on Friday
me up at night. The operation is
10
11 of next week. I might have to stay in hospital for time
hard and spends onedreaming
night.during these subjects so 1 Iraq, Australia, Afgh
12 Ah, that sounds like fun. You will have a little
5 This holiday.
is a language question. C is correct. The word must in
13 Well not really, Pépère. I’m having an an
operation and I’llMaster.
haveAais sore throat. Explanations
order from the Form incorrect. The words
14 Well then you will need ice-creams. Put your mother on the phone for me, please.
A grandfather’s job is to make sure you have many ice-creams for Somalia and Sri Lank
15 means it is something he should do, but it isyour sore throat.
not certain
1 The conversation is between only has one nice B awkward because they live far apart
comment to make about him (Art). You
A a child and his grandfather. animals to school. C loving and close 3 This is a synthesis qu
is about the writer’s f
B a boy and his doctor. 5 What is a tonsillectomy?
C a parent and child. A a hospital that takes out tonsils problems at school. P
2 What is a reason for having tonsils
5 A 6 C B an operation to remove tonsils text is about Hariq bu
taken out? C a tonsil infection Homework Centre.
Explanations
A They choke you. 6 How does Pépère feel about the This is an inferring q
4
B You get too many infections. photo—Jasmine andoperation?
Rufus (see line 12)—and you read
C They are too big. Jasmine has written the text about her dog.
3 Which statement belongs next in2 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read become a refugee. He
the text? couldn’t take Rufus with them (see lines 3–4). A is incorrect.
to Australia.
A The operation is on Friday of Rufus’s old owners may have wanted to find him a good friend Hariq escaped f
home but there is no evidence
Now write!in the text to confirm this.
next week. C is incorrect. You can’t tell from the text that Rufus’s old
B Open wide and let me look at owners didn’tFind want him. They might have kept him if they
a partner to work with. Act out a be adults as well as ch
your throat. telephone conversation about
3 This is a synthesis question. The sequence is First: B Rufus a topic ofcome from other plac
C Bonjour my daughter. was left at theyour
animalchoice. Then
shelter. Second: writefound
A Jasmine the conversation. that the writer is prou
4 What sort of relationship do the with Jasmine.Note: The text is informative—a The writer is not surp
speakers have? conversation. It shows relationships
within a C is incorrect. Th
work.
A difficult because English is family.
Pépère’s second language
102 Excel Advanced
Section
Skills2Reading
Workbook Year 2 71
Mixed questions
1 WWipe-out!
ipe-out!
2 Wipe-out! We’ll use Light-up! 16
germ gel and UV 17
3 The new soap-in-a-bottle.
light to show you the 18
4 Wipes out germs with germs on your hands. 19
5 powerful germ-fighting Then Wipe-out! will 20
6 ingredients. make them disappear! 21

SEE the difference. 22
7 Buy now.
Our promise to you: 23
8 Your family can be Germs are wiped out! 24
9 healthy and germ-free
10 for just a few cents Say goodbye to 25
11 a day. germs with Wipe-out! 26
12 See Wipe-out! Children will love 27
13 in action at your the germ monster 28
14 local chemist or stickers, free with 29
15 supermarket today. every purchase. 30
1 What is Wipe-out!? 5 The name Wipe-out! sounds

A germ-fighting ingredients A powerful.
B a free sticker B healthy.

C expensive.
C soap-in-a-bottle
6 Would you like to try Wipe-out!?
2 How much does Wipe-out! cost?
Explain your reasons.
A a few cents each day
B five dollars a month
C about a dollar a week
3 What does the text want people to do?

A buy Wipe-out!
B kill germs
C collect stickers
Now write!
4 How does Wipe-out! work?
A It’s a soap-in-a-bottle. Invent a product and design an
B It uses Light-up! germ gel.
advertisement for a magazine.
C It has powerful ingredients to Note: The text is persuasive—an
kill germs. advertisement. It uses commands and free
gifts to sell a product.
Mixed questions
4 B
or write5your
C
1 The herd Explanations
1 This is a fact-finding question. You read Yearly Report chicken is a saying th
Savannah was the herd’s leader, the2 matriarch. All eyes turned years old. You may k
2 This is a fact-finding question. C istowards
correct. Youher.
read
3 Art … He [Jim] works very hard
How would she deal with Lox? Would she allow him to stay with the females(see line 10). A and B are
4 and youngsters any longer? He was now hardthe oldest
in these teenage male. It was his
subjects.
not a chicken.
5 time to leave the herd. He was strong
3 and
This isfit.
a synthesis question. A is correct. Jim’s
6 Savannah gave him a gentle nudge with studying
her school
trunk. subjects. It belongs in
He needed beGeneral
tothe on his way. He thinks how sad she w
7 could live with other young bulls, if heMaths
wanted to, or
and Science areroam on hisand
school subjects own. That
are not to dowas the
8 way of the bulls. The herd sometimes saw Lox’s older brother, Chad, and his cousins
9 4 This is an inferring question. B is correct. The only subject
at the waterhole. Lox could join them. think about his old fa
Savannah nudged him again, coaxing favourite
him away from my friend from
A andthe
C areherd.
10
subject. incorrect. Jim doesn’t try
1 The main elephant in the story is this sentence is6veryWas Savannah
definite. worriedIt isabout
It is a strong statement. Lox
Explanations
A Lox. could probably in thisleaving the herd?
sentence suggest Explain.
it is possible but not
B Chad. definite. B is incorrect. The word should in this sentence
C Savannah. that he will do it. 2 This is a fact-finding
2 What is the name for a group of Form Master does not seem to like him very much. He refugees (see lines 2–4)
elephants? only has one nice comment to make about him (Art). You
3 What do you expect to happen next?
A Savannah will get angry with Lox. is not about the write
B Lox will stay with the herd. Explanations Homework Centre.
C Lox will leave the herd. 1 This is a fact-finding question. You read the label on the
4 Which statement is true in the text?
A Male elephants live at waterholes.
B Young bull elephants prefer to His owners had movedNow from a write!
house to a home unit and to Australia.
roam on their own. 5 This is a language qu

Write an animal story. Do research firstfriend Hariq escaped f
C Female elephants live in herds. home but there is no evidence in the text to confirm this. Australia with his mo
C is incorrect.so
Youyou
can’t can base
tell from thethat
the text story
Rufus’sonold facts about
5 Matriarch is a name for owners didn’t want him. They might have kept him if they
the way the animals live. be adults as well as ch
A the female head of a family. come from other plac
Note:
3 This is a synthesis The The
question. textsequence
is imaginative—a
is First: B Rufus narrative.
B the king of the herd. was left at the animal shelter. Second: A Jasmine found
It is written in the third person. It presentsthat the writer is prou
C an adult elephant. with Jasmine.an animal’s point of view.
4 This is an inferring question. B is correct. You read Rufus work. C is incorrect. Th
means red (see line 2). You should work out that Rufus Hariq and does not se

102 Excel Advanced
Section
Skills2Reading
Workbook Year 2 73
Mixed questions
1 Sandy’s Animal Shelter

2 4th June Archive 22
3 We need more volunteers
4 There are just too many animals for the staff at the shelter to look after. Some
5 days we don’t even have time to pat the animals. We just clean kennels and
6 wash dishes.
7 Comments Tags 23
8 Staff need the help of volunteers just as much as the animals do.
9 I know volunteers like to walk the dogs. Please don’t neglect the cats. They need
10 attention too.
11 1st June
12 Older animals need homes too Blogroll 24
13 It’s difficult to rehome older animals. People choose puppies and kittens rather
14 than older animals. That’s heartbreaking. Links 25
15 Comments
16 Those older animals get so confused. They don’t know why they are at the shelter.
17 They did have families once.
18 5th May
19 Blankets needed
20 It’s getting colder. We need blankets at the shelter. There’s a blanket drive for the
21 beginning of winter.
1 Staff at the shelter 5 What does neglect (line 9) mean?

A did have families once. A lose B ignore C hurt
B clean kennels and wash dishes. 6 How do workers at the shelter feel
C play with animals all day. about the animals?
2 When choosing pets most
people prefer
A dogs that they can walk.
B older animals.
C puppies and kittens.
What is the blog about?
3
A animals at a shelter
B cats and dogs
C an animal shelter Now write!
4 Why was the shelter having a Create a poster to encourage people to
blanket drive? volunteer at an animal shelter.
A Staff feel the cold.
Note: The text is informative—a blog. It
B Animals feel the cold. shares points of views about animal welfare
C Staff and animals feel the cold. and responsible pet ownership.
Mixed questions
4 B
or write5your
C
1 Grandpa’s school report Explanations

2 This is Grandpa’s report from when he was in Year Two. years old. You may k
3 Primrose Primary School Yearly Report
not a chicken.
4 Name: Jim Brown hard in these subjects.
5 Date: December 1956 3 This is a synthesis question. A is correct. Jim’s
6 Subject Result Commentstudying school subjects. It belongs in the General (see lines 9–10). Jasmi
Maths thinks how sad she w

7 C Jim couldcomment
probably
(see do
linesbetter. He needs
11–12) space. B andto tryincorrect.
C are harder. A is incorrect. Jasmin
English Maths and Science are school subjects and are not to do
8 C Jim should try harder.
Science old. She just feels sad
9 C Jim spends
4 Thistoo
is anmuch time
inferring dreaming
question. in class.
B is correct. The only subject think about his old fa
10 Art A Jim works hard at, and gets excellent
Jim’s drawing is excellent. He works very hard. results in, is Art.
11 General comment my friend from
12 Jim must leave his animals at home. School is not the place for mice or guinea pigs.
these are not likely to be his favourite subjects.
13 Peter Raff
Signed: 2 C 3 C
14 Two
Year Form Master this sentence is very definite. It is a strong statement. It is
Explanations
1 Who is this report about? 5 Which statement is the
means it is something he should do, but it is not certain most definite?
that he will do it. A Jim could probably do better. This is a fact-finding
2
B Jim should try
Form Master does not seem to like him very much. He harder. refugees (see lines 2–4)
C Jim must leave his animals
2 In which subject did Jim work animals to school. at home. 3 This is a synthesis qu
very hard?
Rufus (page676)Do you think the Form Master liked introduces Hariq. Pa
A Maths Jim? Explain.
B Science 5 A 6 C text is about Hariq bu
C Art Homework Centre.
Explanations
3 Jim did not participate in community
work this term. This is me with my dog, Rufus (see line 2). You know that
Where could this sentence be 2 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read Centre is for after sch
added? His owners had moved from a house to a home unit and to Australia.
A with the General comment 5 This is a language qu

B with the Science comment C is incorrect. You can’t tell from the text that Rufus’s old
C with the Maths comment owners didn’t want him. They might have kept him if they
4 Which is likely to be Jim’s 3 This is a synthesis question. The sequence is First: B Rufus
was left at the animal Now write!A Jasmine found
shelter. Second:
favourite subject? Rufus at the animal shelter. Third: C Rufus went to live
with Jasmine.Imagine you are a teacher. Write a school
A English The writer is not surp
B Art
report for yourself.
ownerstext
because
is he has reddish fur. school
informative—a
C Science when these owners left Rufus at the animal shelter they
report. It uses evaluative language.
102 Excel Advanced
Section
Skills2Reading
Workbook Year 2 75
Mixed questions
1 Rufus
2 This is me with my dog, Rufus. Rufus means red. We got
3 him from the animal shelter. His owners had moved from a
4 house to a home unit and couldn’t take Rufus with them.
5 Rufus was already an old dog when we got him. He was
6 twelve. Dad said he was no spring chicken but he was in
7 good health so we took him home with us.
8 Mum says it’s good to give a pet a second chance at a
9 good home. Sometimes I wonder whether Rufus misses
10 his old family and whether they miss their furry red dog.
11 Then I feel sad for him. Jasmine and Rufus 12
1 Who wrote the text? B He was quite a young dog.

C He was a dog and not a chicken.
6 Why does Jasmine sometimes feel
sad about Rufus?
2 Why didn’t Rufus’s old owners
A Rufus feels abandoned.
keep him?
B Rufus is old.
A They wanted to find him a good
C She imagines what Rufus might
home.
B They moved from a house to a unit.
be thinking.
C They didn’t want him.
Now write!
3 Sequence the events in Rufus’s life.
First: ____ Second: ____ Third: ____ Imagine being a dog left at an animal
A Jasmine found Rufus at the shelter. How would you feel?
animal shelter.
B Rufus was left at the animal
shelter.
C Rufus went to live with Jasmine.
4 How did Rufus get his name?

A He got his name at the
animal shelter.
B He has red fur.
C Jasmine named him.
5 he was no spring chicken (line 6). Note: The text is informative—a personal
What does this mean? response. It presents the writer’s point of
A He was not a young dog. view.

Mixed questions
4 B
or write5your
C
1 My friend from Iraq Explanations

2 My friend Hariq escaped from the war in Iraq. He came to
3 Australia with his mother, his father and
Art …his sister.
He [Jim] They
works were
very hard (see line 10). A and B are
4 refugees. When he got here he had nothing—only the clothessay that Jim worked very
incorrect as the comments do not
not a chicken.
5 he had on, but he says he was lucky. 6 This is a judgement q
6 Hariq told me that at first school workstudying
in Australia was Itvery
school subjects. belongs in the General
7 difficult. He hadn’t been to school verycomment
often in (seeIraq. He couldn’t
8 read or write very much in his own language. He didn’t speak
9 any English either. Then he met my4 dad.This is an inferring question. B is correct. The only subject think about his old fa
10 My dad is a homework volunteer. He You
spends
can work oneout afternoon
that this makes a week
it likely thathelping
Art is his children
my friend from
11 favourite subject. A and C are incorrect.
like Hariq do their homework at the Homework Centre, after school. All the Jim doesn’t try children
hard and spends time dreaming during these subjects so
12 are refugees. They have come to Australia
these arefrom faraway
not likely like Iraq, Afghanistan,1 Iraq, Australia, Afgh
placessubjects.
to be his favourite 2 C 3 C
13 Somalia and Sri Lanka. Now they call Australia
5 This home.
is a language Hariq
question. is Dad’s
C is correct. starmust
The word pupil.
in
Explanations
1 Name five countries in the text. definite. B is incorrect.
4 Since Hariq
The word shouldmet the
in this writer’s dad to Australia from fara
sentence
A school work is no longer
that he will do it.
6 This is a judgement question.veryYou difficult.
should judge that the
Form Master does not B seemhe to
doesn’t need
like him very to He
much. go to school volunteer. B is incorre
might also guess that Jimany more. but not when he first
causes problems when he brings
animals to school.
C he has become a refugee. is about the writer’s f
Rufus (page576)What does refugee mean in the text? introduces Hariq. Pa
1 Jasmine 2 BA a child 3 B, A,whoC comes
4 B from a dad helps Hariq and
5 A 6 C faraway place text is about Hariq bu
Explanations B someone who escapes to a new Homework Centre.
country
1 This is a fact-finding question. forthesafety
You read label on the
C people from Iraq,
This is me with my dog, Rufus (see line 2). You know that like Hariq now he is a star pupi
6 What does the writer
think about his is for after sch
Centre
2 When Hariq arrived in Australia His owners had moved dad frombeing
a house a to homework
a home unit and volunteer?to Australia.
he was A surprised 5 This is a language qu

A a volunteer. home but there is noBevidenceproud and
in the textinterested
to confirm this.
B the writer’s friend. C jealous
owners didn’t want him. They might have kept him if they
C a refugee. 3 This is a synthesis question. The sequence is First: B Rufus
Now Second:
write! 6 This is a judgement q
was left at the animal shelter. A Jasmine found
3 The text is about Rufus at the animal shelter. Third: C Rufus went to live
with Jasmine.Imagine arriving in a new country with
A Hariq and Iraq. The writer is not surp
B the writer’s dad.
nothing. How would you
feel? work. C is incorrect. Th
ownerstext is
because informative—a
he has reddish fur. personal
C the writer’s friend Hariq. when these owners left Rufus at the animal shelter they
response.
102 Excel Advanced
Section
Skills2Reading
Workbook Year 2 77
Mixed questions
1 The punishment
2 There was once a king who thought he was
3 clever. He did things that made the Greek
4 gods very angry. The god of the underworld
5 came up to earth. He brought handcuffs with
6 him to capture the king but instead the king
7 tricked the god. The god put his own hands
8 into the handcuffs and the king escaped.
9 It took many years but the god of the underworld
10 finally caught the king. He took the king down
11 to the underworld to be punished. The king was
12 given a task to complete. He was told to push a
13 great rock to the top of a hill. However, when he got the rock to the top of the hill, the
14 rock rolled back down. Then the king had to push it up the hill all over again. The king
15 never completed his task. The god of the underworld had his revenge.
1 Who did the king anger? 5 Which word could replace the
phrase all over again (line 14)?
A repeatedly
B quickly
2 What did the god use to try to C often
capture the king?
A rope 6 Why did the god give the king such
B handcuffs
a nasty punishment?
C poison
3 Which of these events

happened first?
A The god punished the king.
B The king tricked the god.
C The king escaped.
4 How did the king feel about the

Greek gods? Now write!
A He was unafraid of them. What punishment do you receive if you

B He admired them. break a rule? Explain.
C He looked up to them. Note: This is an imaginative text—a
narrative. It is a Greek legend. It is told in
the third person and is in the past tense.
Mixed questions
1 Jim Brown 2 C 3 A
questions below. Circle the correct answers or write your answers on the lines. shelter staff or by Jasm
1 Animal dads Explanations The male

seahorse
1 This is a fact-finding question. hasYearly Report
You read
[for] Jim Brown (see linesa3–4).
pouch.
2 The seahorse years old. You may k
3 The seahorse is a fish. The mother seahorse incorrect as Rufus is
4 incorrect as the comments do not say that Jim worked very
lays hundreds of eggs in the father’s pouch. not a chicken.
5 The eggs hatch inside his pouch. The tiny
6 fry fend for themselves after they leave
7 the pouch. studying school subjects. It belongs in the General
8 The Emperor penguin with community work.
9 The Emperor penguin is a bird. The4mother
This is an inferring question. B is correct. The only subject think about his old fa
10 Jim works hard at, and gets excellent results in, is Art.
lays one egg onto her feet. Then she shifts
11 the egg onto the father penguin’s feet. Theysubject. A and C are incorrect. Jim doesn’t try my friend from
favourite
12 hard and spends time dreaming during these subjects so
don’t let the egg touch the ice. The father 1 Iraq, Australia, Afgh
13 keeps the egg warm with his pouch. The egg The male
14 hatches in two months. The mother penguin Emperor
an order from the Form Master. A is incorrect. Thepenguin words has Explanations
15 comes back to feed her chick. a pouch. 1 This is a fact-finding
1 What are baby seahorses called?6 This is a judgement6 Why
question. doYouyou think
should a seahorse
judge that the has friend Hariq escaped f
Form Master does not hundreds
seem to like of himbabies
very much. but
He an Emperor
penguin only has one?
2 What is a baby penguin called? introduces Hariq. Pa
Rufus (page 76)
3 What is the main idea in both texts? Homework Centre.
Explanations
A animal babies 1 This is a fact-finding question. You read the label on the
B animals that lay eggs photo—Jasmine and Rufus (see line 12)—and you read
C animal dads Jasmine has written the text about her dog.
4 Why can’t the egg touch the ice? His owners had moved from a house to a home unit and become a refugee. He
to Australia.
A It mustn’t get wet. couldn’t take Rufus with them (see lines 3–4). A is incorrect.

B The cold will crack it. home but there is no evidence in the text to confirm this.
C It will make the ice crack. C is incorrect. You can’t tell from the text that Rufus’s old
5 What is a pouch (lines 4 and 13) andhad not moved into aNow unit. write!
what is it for? was left at the animal shelter. Second: A Jasmine found
Find out about another animal dad that
with Jasmine. cares for its young (e.g. the marsupial is interested in Dad’s
frog,question.
4 This is an inferring the arowanaB is correct.fish or the
You read Rufusrhea). Write
a report.
Note: This is an informative text—a report.
102 Excel Advanced
Section
Skills2Reading
Workbook Year 2 79
Mixed questions
questions below. Circle the correct answers or write your answer on the line.
1 The song of the magic pudding

2 “O, who would be a puddin’,
3 A puddin’ in a pot,
4 A puddin’ which is stood on
5 A fire which is hot?
6 O sad indeed the lot
7 Of puddin’s in a pot.
…
8 But as I am a puddin’,
9 A puddin’ in a pot,
10 I hope you get the stomach ache
11 For eatin’ me a lot.
12 I hope you get it hot,
13 You puddin’-eatin’ lot!”
14 From The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay, 1918
15 Thanks to HC & A Glad for permission to quote from The Magic Pudding and for use of the illustration.
1 What is the puddin’ in? 6 Why does the puddin’ hope that the
people who eat it get a stomach ache?
A because it is a nasty, mean puddin’
B because it wants to punish them
2 What is the puddin’ stood on?
for eating it
A a stove B a fire C a bench
C because it is in a grumpy mood
3 What is the puddin’s purpose in
singing its song?
Now write!
A to give information
B to tell a story Write a poem or a story about a
C to make a complaint character that has magical powers.
Why does the puddin’ look cross Note: This is an imaginative text—a poem
4
and sad in the illustration? about being a magic pudding. It is written in
the first person in the voice of the pudding.

A It is annoyed about being a
It talks in a rough, informal way, dropping
puddin’.
the ‘g’ off the end of its words (puddin’ for
B It doesn’t like its hat.
pudding; eatin’ for eating). Notice that
C It wants to frighten the reader. an apostrophe ( ’ ) is used to replace the
5 Which word describes how it feels to missing letters.
be a puddin’ in a pot?
A hot B sad C happy

Mixed questions
4 B
or write5your
C
1 Dinosaurs Explanations
2 Dinosaurs lived on earth a very long time ago. By the time years old. You may k
humans lived on earth, dinosaurs hadArt become incorrect as Rufus is
3 … He [Jim]extinct.
works very hard (see line 10). A and B are
4 How, then, do we know anything about incorrect as the comments do not say that Jim worked very
dinosaurs? not a chicken.
5 Dinosaur fossils are the answer. A 3fossil
This is
is arock that
synthesis question. A is correct. Jim’s
6 community work
shows evidence of life from long ago. Dinosaur fossils is something
give he does outside of (see lines 9–10). Jasmi
us evidence of dinosaur bones and skeletons, thinks how sad she w
7 comment (seeeggshells
8 Maths and
and nests, as well as footprints and other Science are school subjects and are not to do
impressions. abandoned. B is incor
9 Dinosaur fossils have been found all over the world. A dinosaur fossil old. She just feels sad
10 Jim works hard
Paleontology is the study of fossils. Dinosaur at, andtell
fossils gets excellent results in, is Art.
paleontologists about
dinosaurs; their sizes and shapes andfavourite
how they my friend from
11 subject.moved.
A and C are Fossils
incorrect.of
Jimdinosaur
doesn’t try teeth tell
12 what kinds of food different dinosaurshard andFor
ate. spends time dreaming
example, during
plant these subjects
eaters had so blunt teeth.1 Iraq, Australia, Afgh
13 Where fossils are found can tell about the environments the dinosaurs lived in.
14 Without fossils we’d know nothing at this
all sentence
about isdinosaurs!
very definite. It is a strong statement. It is
Explanations
1 When did dinosaurs live on earth?means it is something he should do, but it is not certain
6
that he will do it.
Would you like to be a 2 This is a fact-finding
A not long ago. 6 This is a judgementpaleontologist? Explain.
question. You should judge that the
B a while ago. only has one nice comment to make about him (Art). You
C a very long time ago. might also guess that Jim causes problems when he brings
2 Dinosaurs lived on earth is about the writer’s f
A before humans. problems at school. P
dad helps Hariq and
B after humans. 1 Jasmine 2 B 3 B, A, C 4 B
C at the same time as humans. is not about the write
Homework Centre.
The main idea in the text is Explanations
3 4 This is an inferring q
A what fossils are. photo—Jasmine and Rufus (see line 12)—and you read
B how we know about dinosaurs. This is me with my dog, Rufus (see line 2). You know that incorrect. Hariq still
C how dinosaurs became extinct. 2 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read become a refugee. He
4 A fossil of a long sharp tooth would
to Australia.
show that the dinosaur ate Rufus’s old owners may have wanted to find him a good
A insects. C is incorrect. You can’t tell from the text that Rufus’s old
Now write!
B plants. be adults as well as ch
C animals. Research and write a report
3 This is a synthesis question. The sequence is First: B Rufus about an come from other plac
was left at theanimal thatSecond:
animal shelter. has become extinct.
A Jasmine found
5 A paleontologist is a person who Rufus at the animal shelter. Third: C Rufus went to live
studies with Jasmine.Note. The text is informative—an
A extinct things. explanation.
4 This is an inferring question. BIt explains
is correct. You how we get
read Rufus work. C is incorrect. Th
B living things.
information about the past.
was named by his first owners because he has reddish fur. It uses technical
language
when these owners related
left Rufus to fossils.
at the animal shelter they
C fossils.
102 Excel Advanced
Section
Skills2Reading
Workbook Year 2 81
6 This is a judgement question. You are likely to judge (see lines 3–4). A is incorrect because Baby Koala is in Mrs
that it does seem to be a good thing. The class is positive Koala’s pouch and she is not looking at him when she
about multiculturalism. The children talk about different looks down the tree. C is incorrect because Mrs Magpie is
events organised to celebrate multiculturalism, such as not there.
the football round and the food festival. Adriana and May 2 This is a fact-finding question. You read the words “Go
Britt enjoyed attending these events. The children also like away, Mrs Snake!” she [Mrs Koala] called in a loud voice
the idea of tasting foods from different cultures, such as (see line 5). In the illustration you can see that Mrs Koala is
souvlaki and Swedish meatballs. speaking to Mrs Snake.
3 This is a synthesis question. B is correct. The text is mainly
about the threat to Baby Koala, or the danger he is in, from
mixed questions Mrs Snake. A is incorrect. No-one escapes in this text. C
is incorrect. Mrs Snake says she will take Baby Koala for a
my family (page 58) ride but this doesn’t happen.
4 This is an inferring question. A is correct. Mrs Koala
1 C 2 B 3 A doesn’t trust anything Mrs Snake says. She thinks Mrs
4 A, B and C 5 C 6 See below Snake is trying to trick her into letting her take Baby
Koala away. B is incorrect. Mrs Koala thinks Mrs Snake
Explanations lies to get what she wants and is not to be trusted. C is
1 This is a fact-finding question. C is correct. You read They incorrect. Mrs Koala is frightened of Mrs Snake and
live with their dog, Bi Bi (see line 3). A is incorrect. Poodle does not believe that Mrs Snake wants to help her with
is the breed of dog. B is incorrect. Gong Gong is a name Baby Koala.
Emily uses for her grandfather. 5 This is a language question. The word slyly means ‘in a
2 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read sneaky or cunning way’. The ‘s’ sounds in said Mrs Snake
Every July Por Por and Gong Gong go back to Hong Kong slyly (see line 13) imitate the sound of a snake hissing. The
(see line 8). A is incorrect because it doesn’t tell when the writer is letting readers know that Mrs Snake is being
grandparents visit Hong Kong. C is incorrect. It tells what tricky and cunning with what she says. what Mrs Snake
the grandparents do in Hong Kong. says is not to be trusted.
3 This is a synthesis question. A is correct. Paragraph one 6 This is a judgement question. You could judge that
introduces the grandparents and their dog. Paragraph Mrs Magpie would not send Mrs Snake. Mrs Snake is
two tells what happens to the dog when the grandparents likely to be lying when she says this. She wants to hide
travel. B is incorrect as the text only discusses the the fact that she came to see Baby for her own reasons.
grandparents because it tells about their dog. C is incorrect You could also judge that Mrs Magpie may have sent
as walking the dog is mentioned only once at the end of Mrs Snake. Mrs Magpie might have wanted to get the
the text. snake away from her own babies or for some other
4 This is an inferring question. A, B and C are correct. reason.
You read I have to … take her for walks. She is not very
well trained (see lines 10–11). You can work out that the my broken arm (page 60)
dog might misbehave, chase birds and drag on the leash,
1 B 2 B 3 2, 1, 4, 3 4 C
because it is not … well trained (see line 11).
5 C 6 See below
5 This is a language question. C is correct. You read Por Por
says she doesn’t mind (see line 11). You can work out that
the word for grandmother is Por Por. You read Bi Bi means Explanations
baby in Cantonese (see lines 3–4). So you can work out that 1 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read The
the word for grandfather must be Gong Gong. A and B are doctor said I had a hairline fracture. That’s a really thin
therefore incorrect. crack in the bone (see lines 10–11). A is incorrect. A hairline
6 This is a judgement question. You can judge that Bi fracture can happen to a bone anywhere in the body. A
Bi is treated like a baby. You might judge that the fracture is not a bone. C is incorrect. The hospital took an
grandparents spoil her. Perhaps the grandparents didn’t X-ray of the arm to see the hairline fracture.
have the energy to train her when she was a puppy. Or 2 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read Dad
the grandparents didn’t know how to train her. Or the took me home and put an icepack on it. He said that would
grandparents didn’t want to try to train her. You read She reduce the swelling (see lines 5–6). (Note that reduce means
is not very well trained. Por Por says she doesn’t mind (see ‘make lower or less’.) A and C are incorrect. The ice will
lines 10–11). You can judge that the grandparents love Bi not fix the arm or make it better.
Bi just the way she is. 3 This is a synthesis question. The sequence is 2, 1, 4, 3. 1 I
went to the park. 2 I fell off the monkey bars. 3 I broke my
A visit from mrs Snake (page 59) arm. 4 I had an X-ray.
4 This is an inferring question. C is correct. Look at the
1 B 2 Mrs Koala 3 B photo. You can tell by the expression on the child’s face
4 A 5 See below 6 See below that she is disappointed. A and B are incorrect. The child
does not look excited or happy.
Explanations 5 This is a language question. C is correct. Monkeys climb and
1 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read that swing by their arms. This is what children do on monkey
Mrs Koala saw Mrs Snake slowly wriggling her way upwards bars. They climb and swing like monkeys. A is incorrect.

B is
Monkeys don’t climb on the bars in the playground.grandpa’s schoolon Eddie’s information.
report (page C is incorrect
75) as this is something would have given his
incorrect. The equipment is not called monkey bars because Eddie might do if he goes to the concert. incorrect. Rufus woul
children use it to pretend to be monkeys. 1 Jim Brown 4 This2is Can inferring 3 question.
A B is correct. You can infer shelter staff or by Jasm
6 This is a judgement question. You should judge that the 4 B that5theCmain reason 6 See below
for the Thai dinner is that it is5Mario’s This is a language qu
monkey bars cannot be stupid. The writer’s broken arm sister’s favourite food. She is playing in the concert. Herwas already an old do
was an accident. It wasn’t anyone’s fault and it was Explanations
not dad is proud of her so as a special treat the family will eat Dad said he was no sp
the fault of the monkey bars. Put yourself in the writer’s her choice for dinner.
1 This is a fact-finding question. You read Yearly Report A is incorrect. There is no chicken
evidence is a saying th
position to understand how she feels. You can judge that [for] Jim Brown (see in the text to confirm that there’s nowhere else to eat. Cwas no spring chicken
lines 3–4).
she is annoyed because her arm is broken and she wants might be true. Mario might like Thai too but that’s not years the old. You may k
to be able to blame someone or something. This is why she main reason for the Thai dinner. incorrect as Rufus is
calls the monkey bars Stupid (see line 13). This is a language saying is not used to
5 comments
incorrect as the do not say that JimBworked
question. veryHe refers to
is correct.
Mario’s dad. You read Mario’s dad’s invited me … He not a chicken.
Roosters (page 61) said … He’s going to (see lines 5–6). This makes A and 6 CThis is a judgement q
incorrect. Sometimes I wonder w
1 C 2 B 3 B 4 A community work is something he does outside of
6 subjects.
This is a It judgement question. You can judge that (see lines 9–10). Jasmi
5 A 6 See below studying school belongs in the General
Eddie will be allowed to go with Mario’s family once thinks how sad she w
hisare
mother A is incorrect. Jasmin
Maths and Science schoolhas heard all
subjects andthe areinformation
not to do again and
Explanations with community checkedwork. with Mario’s dad. You can tell that Eddie
1 This is a fact-finding question. C is correct. You read The is excited because he talks without pause and with old. She just feels sad
4 This is an inferring question. B is correct. The only subject
red combs on the roosters’ heads are usually larger than the enthusiasm. You can judge that his mother is used to think about his old fa
hens’ combs (see lines 4–5). A and B are incorrect because Eddie and Mario getting together after school. You can
the roosters’ combs are larger rather than smaller or the judge that Eddie is very comfortable and familiarmy with friend from
same size as hens’ combs. Mario’s family.
2 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read these are not likely to be his favourite subjects.
Roosters begin crowing at the crack of dawn (see line 7). A A bluebottle sting (page 63) 2 C 3 C
and C are incorrect because roosters do not begin to crow
this sentence is 1veryB definite. It2is B a strong statement.
3 C It is 4 A Explanations
at these times.
an order from the 5 B Form Master. A
6 See below The words
is incorrect.
3 This is a synthesis question. B is correct. The only placecould probably in this sentence suggest it is possible but not
where roosters’ feathers are compared with hens’ feathers to Australia from fara
is in paragraph one. A and C are incorrect. Paragraph two Explanations
is about roosters crowing and looking after their flocks.that he will do 1 it. This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read 2 He This is a fact-finding
4 This is an inferring question. A is correct. A rooster’s splashed it off with sea water (see lines 10–11). A and C are friend Hariq escaped f
family is made up of his flock of female hens. B is incorrect incorrect because ice water and vinegar are not what you refugees (see lines 2–4)
because each rooster has a number of hens in his flock.only has one niceuse to splash off a tentacle. volunteer. B is incorre
comment to make about him (Art). You
C is incorrect because there are no crows included in amight also guess 2 thatThisJim fact-finding
is a causes question. B is correct. You read but not when he first
Its
problems when he brings
rooster’s family. animals to school. long tentacle was wrapped around my arm (see lines3 . A is a synthesis qu
This
7–8)
5 This is a language question. A is correct. The phrase crack and C are incorrect because Ella was not stung on her leg is about the writer’s f
of dawn (see line 7) refers to very early in the morning.
Rufus It (page 76) or on her foot. introduces Hariq. Pa
is the time when the sun first begins to light the sky. You 3 This is a synthesis question. C is correct. You read thatproblems at school. P
can work out that B is incorrect because you know the 1 skyJasmine 2afterB Ella was 3 B, A, Cby the 4
stung B
bluebottle her dad washed the dad helps Hariq and
doesn’t crack open. C is incorrect because if the sun has 5 A 6 Ctentacle off with sea water. A is incorrect. The heat packtext is about Hariq bu
been up for a few hours, it must be after dawn. was used after the tentacle was washed off. B is incorrect. is not about the write
6 This is a judgement question. Roosters keep a lookExplanations
out for Ella did run out of the water but this did not treat her Homework Centre.
their flock and warn them if danger is nearby. sting. The first thing Ella’s dad did to treat the sting4wasThis get is an inferring q
the tentacle off. that Hariq found hom
Eddie’s question (page 62) This is me with4 myThis an inferring
dog,isRufus question. A is correct. You read Thenow he is a star pupi
(see line 2). You know that
pain incorrect. Hariq still
Jasmine has written thewastexthorrible.
about her It lasted
dog. for ages but a heat pack helped a
1 C 2 B 3 B 4 B bit … the latest research says hot water or a heat pack works Centre is for after sch
5 B 6 See below best (see lines 13–15). B and C are incorrect. Neither icebecome nor a refugee. He
sea water are suggested to help with pain.
Explanations 5 This a language B is correct. The latest 5 is This is a language qu
mayis have wantedquestion.
Rufus’s old owners to find him a good

1 This is a fact-finding question. C is correct. You read Mario’s the newest or most recent. The word research refers friend Hariq escaped f
dad is taking Mario to see his sister play the drums (see lines
C is incorrect. You tocan’t
making a study
tell from theoftext
something.
that Rufus’s Theold prefix re- meansAustralia with his mo
2–3). This means that Mario’s sister plays the drums. A isowners didn’t want ‘again’
him.and Theysearch
mightmeans
have kept‘lookhimcarefully
if theyfor something’.
incorrect as Eddie is the writer. B is incorrect as you readhad not moved into If you research a subject (e.g. bluebottle stings) you be adults as well as ch
a unit.
that Mario’s sister, rather than Mario, is playing drums. make a close study of it to find out more about it. A come from other plac
2 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read Itwas left at the animal is incorrect. what many people think can be different 6 This is a judgement q
shelter. Second: A Jasmine found
from what the latest research
finishes at 9 pm (see line 5). It refers to the concert. A isRufus at the animal shelter. Third: C Rufus went to live tells us. Ella’s dad is a that the writer is prou
incorrect. This is when Mario’s dad will collect Eddie. with C Jasmine. lifesaver so he needs to keep up to date with the latestis interested in Dad’s
is incorrect. This is the time that Mario’s dad will bring research into bluebottle stings. C is incorrect. Ella’s dad The writer is not surp
4 This is an inferring is not givingBhis
question. is opinion.
correct. You He read Rufuswhat the latest work. C is incorrect. Th
is saying
Eddie home. means red (see lineresearch
2). You should work out that Rufus
has found out. Hariq and does not se
3 This is a synthesis question. B is correct. The reason forwas named by his first owners because he has reddish fur.
the invitation is that Mario’s sister is playing in the concert. 6 This is a judgement question. You judge that Ella’s dad
A is incorrect. This is what Eddie’s mum can do to check acted calmly when Ella came running to him yelling.
102 Excel Advanced Skills Reading and Comprehension

Section 3 Answers
Workbook Year 2 97
He tells Ella what she should not do and then patiently disappeared. B is incorrect because the people hadn’t asked
explains the reasons for what needs doing. He uses his Prince Jason to look for the mangoes at this point in the
expert knowledge to treat the sting. story. C is incorrect as there is no evidence in the text that
the people were hungry.
Furry lifesaver (page 64) 3 This is a synthesis question. B is correct. Queen Snow
and King Akmal create a problem for the people of
1 B 2 its mouth 3 B 4 B Desa Kiara because they don’t share the mangoes with
5 C 6 See below them. Once they promise to share the mangoes, all is
well. A is incorrect. The story is not about greed. C is
Explanations incorrect. The story is not about telling lies.
1 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read a 4 This is an inferring question. A is correct. The parents
huge bear rescued a crow from drowning in its enclosure trembled when their son used his steeliest voice (see line
(see lines 3–5). A is incorrect. The bear rescued the 13). He caused them to tremble in fear because they were
crow. It did not try to eat the crow. C is incorrect. The guilty. B is incorrect. There is no evidence in the text
crow was wet and muddy after it was rescued from that Prince Jason’s parents had grown old and shaky. C is
drowning. incorrect. Prince Jason’s parents immediately confessed
2 This is a fact-finding question. You read in the text that and promised not to repeat their crime. This shows that
the bear used its mouth to lift the crow out onto the dirt. their trembling comes from fear of their son’s anger, rather
3 This is a synthesis question. B is correct. The whole text than from their own anger or rage.
is about the bear saving the crow from drowning. A is 5 This is a language question. C is correct. You read He
incorrect because the text is not about the zoo although it practised his sternest face in front of the mirror. Now he was
is where the bear lives. C is incorrect. This is a fact in the ready to confront his parents (see lines 11–12). The Prince
text but the text is mainly about the bear’s act of kindness, had realised that his parents had stolen the mangoes.
rather than the crow being wet and muddy. He went to meet them face to face and challenge them
4 This is an inferring question. B is correct. You can infer about their crime. A is incorrect because Prince Jason did
that the writer was not surprised that the bear helped not move to the front. B is incorrect because there is no
the crow. You read It’s not surprising that the bear showed evidence that Prince Jason is unkind.
kindness towards the bird (see line 14). A is incorrect. The 6 This is a judgement question. You are likely to judge that
crow is described as being surprised, not the writer. C is Prince Jason behaves like a hero in this story because he is
incorrect. Zoo visitors, rather than the writer, were amazed wise and brave.
(see line 3). • He listened to the troubles of his people.
5 This is a language question. C is correct. You read The bear • He confronted his parents about their crime.
watched it for a moment. Then the bear lumbered over (see • He solved the mystery.
lines 9–10). You need to visualise what the bear looked like
• He made the people of the kingdom happy.
as it moved across its enclosure. It moved heavily because
it was huge. A is incorrect. You can work out that the huge Stay away! (page 66)
bear did not rush quickly. It took its time, watching the
1 a magpie 2 B 3 A 4 B
crow for a moment, then it lumbered over. B is incorrect.
You can work out that the bear did not need to walk 5 C 6 See below
carefully in its own enclosure.
6 This is a judgement question. You might make any of the Explanations
following judgements. 1 This is a fact-finding question. You read that Maggie
• It was a captive bear, not a wild bear. looked at her three newly hatched magpie chicks (see lines
13–14).
• It had no need to kill for food.
• I was not interested in killing for sport. 2 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read that
Maggie and Marty sat on a branch guarding their nest in the
• It felt sorry for the crow.
tree above the kindergarten (see lines 2–3). A is incorrect.
• It was smart enough to work out that the crow was in They do not live at the kindergarten. C is incorrect. They do
trouble and it knew how to save it. not live in a nest.
3 This is a synthesis question. A is correct. Marty swoops
The great mango mystery (page 65) because he is defending his nest during nesting season. B
1 Prince Jason 2 A 3 B 4 A and C are incorrect. Marty only hates cyclists and defends
his territory from them during nesting season and not all
5 C 6 See below
the time.
4 This is an inferring question. B is correct. The text gives
Explanations Maggie’s point of view but both magpies think the cyclist
1 This is a fact-finding question. You read Prince Jason was should stay away. A is incorrect. You know the cyclist
hailed as a hero (see line 17). He was a hero because he would want the magpie to stay away but the cyclist’s
solved the mystery. point of view is not given in the text. C is incorrect. The
2 This is a fact-finding question. A is correct. You read all evidence in the text tells you that kindy children like the
the mangoes had disappeared. Phhht. Gone! This made magpies.
the people of the kingdom cross and grumpy (see lines 5 This is a language question. C is correct. You read They’d
2–4). The word This helps you connect the people being need her and Marty to protect them for a few weeks yet.
cross and grumpy to the reason: that all the mangoes had They were so defenceless (see lines 14–16). The suffix -less

means ‘without’. You can work out that defenceless grandpa’s
means school
3 This is areport synthesis(page question.75) A is correct. Connect would have given his
‘without defence’. The magpie chicks could not look ideas from across the text to work out that the poster incorrect. Rufus woul
after themselves. They were open to danger. A and B 1 areJim Brown 2 C
is advertising 3 A B is incorrect. The concert shelter staff or by Jasm
a concert.
incorrect. This is what the magpie parents do. The parents 4 B ticket5 sales
C will go6towards See below helping the possum but 5 This is a language qu
protect their young and resist attack from cyclists. This is ways to help the possum are not listed on the poster. C was already an old do
not what defenceless means. Explanations is incorrect. The poster does inform people about theDad said he was no sp
6 This is a judgement question. Think about what Marty 1 This is a fact-finding possums and their
question. You readproblems
YearlybutReportthis is not the main chicken is a saying th
does and why he behaves like this. You should judge that [for] Jim Brown (see purpose of the poster.
lines 3–4).
Marty is only defending his chicks. This is Marty’s natural is an inferring
4 This question. question. B read
is correct. You can infer years old. You may k
2 This is a fact-finding C is correct. You
behavior. You would be incorrect if you judged Marty to be that, because climate change is making the mountains incorrect as Rufus is
cruel or mean to the cyclist. warmer, foxes and cats will move in and they will kill saying is not used to
and
eat the possums. A is incorrect. Bogong moths are eaten not a chicken.
What is a cloud? (page 67) by possums. The moths don’t eat possums. C is incorrect. 6 This is a judgement q
Hunters don’t kill the possums. Sometimes I wonder w
1 millions 2 A 3 A community work is something he does outside of
5 This is a language question. B is correct. THIS POSSUM (see lines 9–10). Jasmi
4 A 5 See below 6 See below studying school subjects. It belongs in the General
(see line 1) refers to the species of Mountain pygmy- thinks how sad she w
possum and not just the possum A is incorrect. Jasmin
Maths and Science are school subjects and are notintothe dodrawing (A) or any
Explanations abandoned. B is incor
with community other work.kind of pygmy-possum (C).
1 This is a fact-finding question. You read A cloud is … 6 This is a judgement question. You need to decide old. She just feels sad
4 This is an inferring question. B is correct. The only subject think
Millions of water droplets / tossing in the air (see lines 7–8). whether or not this poster
Jim works hard at, and gets excellent results in, is Art. would encourage people to go about his old fa
2 This is a fact-finding question. A is correct. You read AYou can work outtothat thethis
concert
makessoitthatlikelya lot
thatofArt
money is hisis raised to help the
cloud is .... A stormy black frown that scowls (see lines 2–11). my friend from
favourite subject. possums.
A and C are Youincorrect.
might judge that thetry
Jim doesn’t poster does a good
B and C are incorrect as the storm clouds in this poem are job because:
not described as grey or white. • to it shows a picture of the possum and its size compared
these are not likely be his favourite subjects. 2 C 3 C
3 This is a synthesis question. A is correct. Sometimes to a person’s finger
the poet thinks about looking down at clouds. At • it tells the time and date of the concert and what
other times she is beneath the clouds looking up. B is entertainment the concert includes Explanations
incorrect because the poet describes clouds she has • it tells some facts about problems the possum has 1 inThis is a fact-finding
seen or imagined from different positions or places. C the wild to Australia from fara
is incorrect. There is no evidence that the poet is ever • it tells people what the money will be for. Somalia and Sri Lank
inside them. You might judge that the poster will not be successful.
that he will do it.
4 This is an inferring question. A is correct. People6turnThis is a judgement You might think that the poster does not make the friend Hariq escaped f
question. You should judge that the
up their faces to see if rain is beginning to fall from concert seem interesting enough to make people wantrefugees to (see lines 2–4)
the stormy black (see line 11) clouds. B is incorrect. It attend. volunteer. B is incorre
is people’s faces that are upturned, not their noses. C is but not when he first
incorrect. The poet does not suggest that people hope it Animal
animals to school.
sounds (page 69) 3 This is a synthesis qu
won’t rain. is about the writer’s f
1 B 2 A, B and C 3 B
5 This is a language question. The word lonely (see Rufus (page 76) introduces Hariq. Pa
line 13) suggests to readers that the cloud, like a person,
4 A 5 B 6 See below problems at school. P
has feelings. It feels sad because there are no other clouds
nearby. It drifts about alone in the immense sky looking 5 A Explanations
6 C text is about Hariq bu
for a friend. A sad, wistful mood is created. 1 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read bats is not about the write
6 This is a judgement question. You are likely to judge that ... make sounds to find each other in the dark (see lines Homework Centre.
Explanations
the poet is fascinated by clouds. She expresses a sense of 9–10). A and C are incorrect because snails and roosters 4 This do is an inferring q
wonder at the magical way they take over her thoughts; not use sound to find each other in the dark. that Hariq found hom
how they change themselves from droplets of water into 2 myThis a fact-finding question. A, B and C are correct.now he is a star pupi
This is me with dog,isRufus (see line 2). You know that
amazing shapes and forms; and how they create different also copy human speech. Parrotsincorrect. Hariq still
Jasmine has written Youthe readtextCockatoos
about her…dog. and
moods and feelings. budgerigars copy human speech too (see lines 12–14). Centre is for after sch
2 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read become a refugee. He
His owners had 3 moved
This isfrom a synthesis
a house to a home Bunit
question. is correct.
and The main ideato Australia.
CONCERT to SAVE THIS pOSSum inwith
the text
couldn’t take Rufus themis (see
that lines
animals use sound to communicate with
3–4). A is incorrect.
(page 68) each A aisgood 5 can This is a language qu
mayotherhaveand withto humans. incorrect. Animals
Rufus’s old owners wanted find him

communicate with people but it is not true that animals friend Hariq escaped f
1 See below 2 B 3 A 4 B talk in the same the waytextas humans. C isoldincorrect. It is true Australia with his mo
C is incorrect. You can’t tell from that Rufus’s
5 B 6 See below that animals make sounds but this is not the main idea were
in refugees (see line
the text. be adults as well as ch
Explanations 4 This is an inferring question. A isBcorrect. come from other plac
3 This is a synthesis question. The sequence is First: Rufus You read
Different species
1 This is a fact-finding question. You read that these was left at the animal shelter. Second: A Jasmine found of animal make different sounds 6
(see This
line is a judgement q
possums only live in three very tiny areas in the high Rufus at the animal 11). You can work out from this that a single species will that the writer is prou
shelter. Third: C Rufus went to live
mountains of NSW and Victoria (see lines 5–6). with Jasmine. make similar, rather than different, sounds. The sounds
2 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read they make are part of what makes them a species. B is The writer is not surp
4 All
This is an inferring question. B is correct. You read Rufus work. C is incorrect. Th
money raised will go towards captive breeding programsmeans so incorrect because different species make different sounds
red (see line 2). You should work out that Rufus Hariq and does not se
the Mountain pygmy-possum doesn’t become extinct (seewas named by hisfrom each other, but a single species makes similar sounds.
first owners because he has reddish fur.
lines 14–15). A and C are therefore incorrect. C is incorrect. Most species make sounds.

Section 3 Answers
Workbook Year 2 99
5 This is a language question. B is correct. The word 2 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read I
bells is the odd one out. It is not a word for a sound keep getting infections and missing school (see line 6). A is
(onomatopoeia). A and C are incorrect. The words squeak incorrect. Large tonsils can get in the way of breathing but
and croak are words for sounds made by animals. they do not choke you. C is incorrect. The child in the text
6 This is a judgement question. Answers will vary. You might says his tonsils are really big but this alone is not a reason
decide, for example, that a bird that can copy human speech to have them taken out.
is the cleverest. 3 This is a synthesis question. C is correct. At the
beginning of the text the grandfather says Bonjour
Bones of giant animal found (page 70) and Jean Pierre says Hello (see lines 2–3). At the end of
the text Pépère tells the child to put his mother on the
1 B 2 C 3 A 4 C phone. Think about what would happen next in the
5 C 6 See below conversation. Pépère would say Bonjour (Hello) to Jean
Pierre’s mother. A is incorrect. This information was
Explanations stated earlier in the text. B is incorrect. This is something
1 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read the doctor in the photo might have said before the
The bones were dug up in far northern Queensland (see conversation of the text.
lines 5–7). A is incorrect because they were dug up in 4 This is an inferring question. C is correct. Read between
the north, not the south, of Queensland. C is true and the lines to work out that Pépère and his grandson have
partly correct but the answer ‘far northern Queensland’ a close and loving relationship. The grandchild shares his
is more exact. news with Pépère. Pépère is interested to hear his news
2 This is a fact-finding question. C is correct. You read and speaks kindly to him. A is incorrect. You can infer that
Scientists believe that diprotodons looked like giant wombats English is Pépère’s second language but there is nothing
(see lines 17–19). A is incorrect as the diprotodons did not
in the text to say that this makes the relationship difficult.
look like giants, although they were giant-sized animals. B is incorrect. The evidence in the text shows that the
B is incorrect. Diprotodons did not look like small cars, relationship is not awkward, even though they might live
although they were a similar size. far apart.
3 This is a synthesis question. A is correct. The main 5 This is a language question. B is correct. The title of the
purpose of this newspaper article is to report the discovery text is Tonsillectomy. The boy tells his grandfather about
of the bones of a giant-sized animal. B is incorrect. The having to get his tonsils out. You should work out that a
article does describe diprotodons but this is not its main tonsillectomy is an operation to remove tonsils. A and C
purpose. C is incorrect. The article does not tell a story are therefore incorrect.
about diprotodons. 6 This is a judgement question. You can judge that Pépère
4 This is an inferring question. C is correct. You read is confident that his grandson will be fine. He might
“We are pleased because we found the skull and jaws and think his grandson is a little worried so he reassures him
most of the rest of the skeleton. It is rare to find whole by being light-hearted and focusing only on a holiday in
diprotodon skeletons,” (see lines 8–13). This suggests the hospital and eating ice-cream.
team found most of the skeleton. A and B are incorrect.
You can work out they were unable to find all of the Wipe-out! (page 72)
skeleton (A) and that they found more than a small
1 C 2 A 3 A 4 C 5
number of bones (B).
A 6 See below
5 This is a language question. C is correct. The word giant
(see line 19) is used to describe the unusually large bones
that were found. A and B are incorrect. The word giant is Explanations
an adjective describing the size of the bones. Use of the 1 This is a fact-finding question. C is correct. You read
word giant does not suggest that the bones are not real Wipe-out! The new soap-in-a-bottle (see lines 2–3). A is
bones or that the report is a fairytale. incorrect. wipe-out! includes germ-fighting ingredients
but this is not what wipe-out! is. B is incorrect. Children
6 This is a judgement question. You read about other bones
can get a free sticker if they buy wipe-out! but wipe-out!
of giant-sized animals being discovered nearby. You judge
is not a free sticker.
that scientists will want to look for more skeletons in the
area. This is because new discoveries are likely to provide 2 This is a fact-finding question. A is correct. You read
scientists with information about the animals and what for just a few cents a day (see lines 10–11). B and C are
caused them to become extinct. incorrect. These amounts are incorrect guesses at what
wipe-out! might cost over a longer time period than that
Tonsillectomy (page 71) given in the text.
3 This is a synthesis question. A is correct. The text is an
1 A 2 B 3 C 4 C advertisement. Its purpose is to convince people to buy
5 B 6 See below soap. You read Wipe-out! The new soap-in-a-bottle … Buy
now (see lines 2–7). B is incorrect. The purpose of the text is
Explanations to sell soap, not to get people to kill germs. C is incorrect.
The text does not tell people to collect the stickers. You
1 This is a fact-finding question. A is correct. You read Put
read Children will love the … stickers (see lines 27–29).
your mother on the phone for me, please. A grandfather’s job
is to make sure you have many ice-creams (see lines 14–15). 4 This is an inferring question. C is correct. You read
B and C are therefore incorrect. Wipe-out! The new soap-in-a-bottle. Wipes out germs
with powerful germ-fighting ingredients (see lines 2–6).

A is
wipe-out! uses powerful ingredients to kill germs.grandpa’s school
5 This is areport language (page
question. 75)
A is correct. You read would have given his
incorrect. This is what wipe-out! is, not what it does. B Savannah was the herd’s leader, the matriarch. All eyes incorrect. Rufus woul
1 Jim Brown
is incorrect. Light-up! gel and UV light are used to show 2 Ctowards her3 (see
turned A line 2). You can work out that shelter staff or by Jasm
people the germs on their hands. This is not what wipe- 4 B the 5leader 6 Seeofbelow
C or matriarch the elephant herd is a female
out! does. elephant called Savannah. Matriarch is used to refer to was a already an old do
Explanations female head of any family, not just elephants. B is incorrect
5 This is a language question. A is correct. To wipe out Dad said he was no sp
something is to destroy it completely. This makes the1 name
This is a fact-finding because a kingYou
question. is a read
maleYearly Report is a female. C ischicken is a saying th
and Savannah
wipe-out! sound active and powerful. The exclamation[for] Jim Brown (see incorrect because a matriarch is the powerful female and
lines 3–4).
mark as part of the name emphasises this. It sounds as not just any mature (grown-up) elephant. years old. You may k
if germs have no hope of surviving when wipe-out! is 6 This is a judgement question. Savannah was not worried incorrect as Rufus is
used on them. B is incorrect. The advertisement connects about Lox. The male elephants or bulls leave the herd saying is not used to
using wipe-out! with staying healthy and germ-free but when they are teenagers and so Savannah wanted Lox not a chicken.
to
the name is not itself linked with ideas about staying leave. She nudged him with her trunk to push him6out.This is a judgement q
healthy. C is incorrect. The name wipe-out! doesn’t3 This is a synthesis question. A is correct. Jim’s
She knew he could live with the other young bulls if heSometimes did I wonder w
sound expensive. A name like ‘Liquid Gold’ would sound community work is something he does outside of
not want to roam alone yet. You can judge that she was(see not lines 9–10). Jasmi
expensive but not wipe-out! studying school subjects. It belongs in the General
worried about him leaving the herd. thinks how sad she w
6 This is a judgement question. Answers will vary. You A is incorrect. Jasmin
might like the idea of seeing wipe-out! in action. You Sandy’s Animal Shelter (page 74)
might want to use the Light-up! germ gel and UV light to old. She just feels sad
see the germs and then see if wipe-out! really does4make This is an inferring 1 Bquestion. B 2 isCcorrect. The3 onlyC subject 4 B think about his old fa
them disappear. You might judge that wipe-out! sounds Jim works hard 5 at, and
B gets excellent
6 See results
below in, is Art.
fun to use. You might want to collect the free stickers. Or my friend from
you might state that wipe-out! doesn’t interest you. You favourite subject. A and C are incorrect. Jim doesn’t try
Explanations
might not care about a soap product or free stickers. hard and spends time dreaming during these subjects so
fact-finding question. B is correct. Staff at the
1 Iraq, Australia, Afgh
these are not 1 This
likely is ahis
to be favourite subjects. 2 C 3 C
shelter clean kennels and wash dishes. You read the fact
The herd (page 73) 5 This is a language question. C is correct. The word must in
in the text: Some days we don’t even have time to pat the
animals. We just clean kennels and wash dishes (seeExplanationslines
1 C 2 herd 3 C an order from the Form Master. A is incorrect. The words
4–6). A is incorrect. The statement applies to older 1 animals
This is a fact-finding
4 C 5 A 6 See below could probably in this sentence suggest it is possible but not
and not staff. You read Those older animals get so confused. to Australia from fara
They don’t know why they are at the shelter. They did have Somalia and Sri Lank
Explanations families once (see lines 16–17). C is incorrect. You can 2 read
This is a fact-finding
that he will do it.
1 This is a fact-finding question. C is correct. You read that staff have too much work to do to play with animals friend Hariq escaped f
all day.
Savannah was the herd’s leader, the matriarch (see line refugees (see lines 2–4)
2). The text is about her and her attitude and leadership. 2 This is a fact-finding question. C is correct. You read volunteer. B is incorre
Each of the three paragraphs starts with Savannah. A is People choose puppies and kittens rather than older animals but not when he first
incorrect. Lox is the male elephant that is being told to (see lines 13–14). A and B are not facts in the text and 3 are
This is a synthesis qu
animals to school.
leave the herd. B is incorrect. Chad is Lox’s older brother. therefore incorrect. is about the writer’s f
Chad is mentioned only once. 3 76) This is a synthesis question. C is correct. The text is about introduces Hariq. Pa
Rufus (page
2 This is a fact-finding question. A word for a group of staff and volunteers, as well as animals, at an animal problems at school. P
elephants is herd. You read Savannah was the herd’s leader
1 Jasmine 2shelter.
B A and
3 B,B A,
areCincorrect.
4 BThey are each only part of dad helps Hariq and
(see line 2). the answer because they don’t include the people workingtext is about Hariq bu
5 A 6 C
3 This is a synthesis question. C is correct. You read at the shelter. is not about the write
Savannah gave him a gentle nudge with her trunk. He 4 This is an inferring question. B is correct. Animals at Homework Centre.
the
Explanations
needed to be on his way (see line 6). You can work out that shelter need blankets because it is the beginning of4winter. This is an inferring q
Lox will leave the herd. He has to. That was the way1of This is a fact-finding question. You read the label on the
A and C are correct. Staff might feel the cold but the that Hariq found hom
the bulls (see lines 7–8). A is incorrect. Savannah nudgesphoto—Jasmine and Rufus (see line 12)—and you read
blanket donations are needed for the animals at the shelter. now he is a star pupi
Lox gently. The terms nudged and coaxing (see line 10) areThis is me with my dog, Rufus (see line 2). You know that
Jasmine has 5 Thisthe
written a language
is text about question.
her dog. B is correct. The text uses incorrect. Hariq still
gentle movements. You can work out that Savannah will neglect (see line 9) to mean ignore. The writer worries that Centre is for after sch
not get angry with Lox. B is incorrect. You read Savannah volunteers spend more time with the dogs at the shelterbecome a refugee. He
nudged him again, coaxing him away from the herd (seeHis owners had moved from a house to a home unit and
than the cats. The writer tells volunteers not to ignore to Australia.
line 10). You can work out that Lox will not be allowed couldn’t
to take Rufus with them (see lines 3–4). A is incorrect.
(forget about) the cats. You read They [cats] need attention 5 This is a language qu
stay with the herd any longer. Rufus’s old owners may have wanted to find him a good
too (see lines 9–10). A and C are incorrect. Animals at the friend Hariq escaped f
4 This is an inferring question. C is correct. Read between home but there is no evidence in the text to confirm this.
shelter may have been lost or hurt in the past but this isAustralia with his mo
the lines to work out that the female elephants and C is incorrect. You can’t tell from the text that Rufus’s old
not what the writer means by neglect in the text. were refugees (see line
younger elephants live together in a herd. As soon as theyowners didn’t want him. They might have kept him if they
6 This is a judgement question. The workers are the staff be adults as well as ch
are old enough, male elephants move away from the herd. had not moved into a unit.
and volunteers. You read we don’t even have time to patcome the from other plac
A is incorrect. You read The herd sometimes saw Lox’s This is a synthesis question. The sequence is First: B Rufus
3 older
animals (see line 5) and It’s difficult to rehome older 6animals This is a judgement q
brother … and his cousins at the waterhole (see lines 8–9)was
. left at the animal shelter. Second: A Jasmine found
… That’s heartbreaking (see lines 13–14). You also read older that the writer is prou
Rufus
This does not suggest that they live at the waterhole. They at the animal shelter. Third: C Rufus went to live
animals get so confused (see line 16). You can judge thatis interested in Dad’s
just visit the waterhole for a drink and then they roam with Jasmine. workers at the shelter worry about the happiness of theThe writer is not surp
4 This is an inferring
away. B is incorrect. You read He could live with other animals and B
question. is correct.
finding new You
homesreadforRufus
them. You can judge work. C is incorrect. Th
means red (see linethat
young bulls, if he wanted to, or roam on his own (see lines 2). You should work out that Rufus
workers care about the animals and would like to be Hariq and does not se
6–7). You can work out that younger males have a choice. was named by hisable firsttoowners
do morebecause he has reddish fur.
for them.
Not all will prefer to roam on their own. when these owners left Rufus at the animal shelter they

Section 3 Answers
Workbook Year 2 101
grandpa’s school report (page 75) would have given his name and other details. A and C are
incorrect. Rufus would not have needed to be named by
1 Jim Brown 2 C 3 A shelter staff or by Jasmine.
4 B 5 C 6 See below 5 This is a language question. A is correct. You read Rufus
was already an old dog when we got him. He was twelve.
Explanations Dad said he was no spring chicken (see lines 5–6). Spring
1 This is a fact-finding question. You read Yearly Report chicken is a saying that means something is young. Rufus
[for] Jim Brown (see lines 3–4). was no spring chicken because he was already twelve
years old. You may know this is old in dog years. B is
incorrect as Rufus is an old dog. C is incorrect. The
saying is not used to tell people that Rufus is a dog and
not a chicken.
6 This is a judgement question. C is correct. You read
Sometimes I wonder whether Rufus misses his old family.
(see lines 9–10). Jasmine puts herself in Rufus’s position and
thinks how sad she would feel if her family left her behind.
A is incorrect. Jasmine cannot really know that Rufus feels
abandoned. B is incorrect. Jasmine is not sad that Rufus is
old. She just feels sad when she imagines what Rufus might
4 This is an inferring question. B is correct. The only subject think about his old family.
my friend from Iraq (page 77)
hard and spends time dreaming during these subjects so 1 Iraq, Australia, Afghanistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka
these are not likely to be his favourite subjects. 2 C 3 C 4 A 5 B 6 B
Explanations
1 This is a fact-finding question. You read They have come
to Australia from faraway places like Iraq, Afghanistan,
Somalia and Sri Lanka (see lines 12–13).
that he will do it. 2 This is a fact-finding question. C is correct. You read My
friend Hariq escaped from the war in Iraq … They were
refugees (see lines 2–4). A is incorrect. The writer’s dad is a
volunteer. B is incorrect. Hariq is the writer’s friend now
but not when he first came to Australia.
animals to school. 3 This is a synthesis question. C is correct. The text
is about the writer’s friend, Hariq. Paragraph one
Rufus (page 76) introduces Hariq. Paragraph two describes Hariq’s
problems at school. Paragraph three tells how the writer’s
1 Jasmine 2 B 3 B, A, C 4 B dad helps Hariq and other children. A is incorrect. The
5 A 6 C text is about Hariq but not Iraq. B is incorrect. The text
is not about the writer’s dad except how he helps at the
Homework Centre.
Explanations
4 This is an inferring question. A is correct. You read
that Hariq found homework very difficult at first but
now he is a star pupil at the Homework Centre. B is
incorrect. Hariq still goes to school. The Homework
Centre is for after school. C is incorrect. He has not
2 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read become a refugee. He was a refugee when he first got
5 This is a language question. B is correct. You read My

friend Hariq escaped from the war in Iraq. He came to
Australia with his mother, his father and his sister. They
were refugees (see lines 2–4). A is incorrect. Refugees can
be adults as well as children. C is incorrect. Refugees also
come from other places and not just Iraq.
6 This is a judgement question. B is correct. You can judge
that the writer is proud of his dad and also that he or she
is interested in Dad’s work at the Centre. A is incorrect.
with Jasmine.
The writer is not surprised about his or her dad’s volunteer
4 This is an inferring question. B is correct. You read Rufus work. C is incorrect. The writer has made friends with
means red (see line 2). You should work out that Rufus Hariq and does not seem jealous.

The punishment (page 78) grandpa’s school
6 This is areport (page
judgement 75)
question. You should judge that would have given his
once the fry leave the dad’s pouch they have to fend forincorrect. Rufus woul
1 the Greek gods 2 B 3 B 1 Jim Brown 2 C so many
themselves, 3 A will get eaten by predators. The shelter staff or by Jasm
4 A 5 A 6 See below 4 B 5 C needs to6have
seahorse Seehundreds
below of babies for a few 5 to This is a language qu
survive to adulthood. The Emperor penguin only has one was already an old do
Explanation Explanations baby because it takes two parents to share childcare duties Dad said he was no sp
1 This is a fact-finding question. You read He [the king]
1 This in the icy-cold environment.
did is a fact-finding question. You read Yearly Report The chick could not survive
things that made the Greek gods very angry (see lines 3–4) . Jim Brown (see
[for] on its own and the parents could not manage to look after
lines 3–4).
more than one chick at a time. years old. You may k
The god of the underworld came up to earth. He broughtArt … He [Jim] works very hard (see line 10). A and B are
handcuffs with him to capture the king (see lines 4–6). Aincorrect
and
The song of the
as the comments do not say that Jim worked very
magic pudding saying is not used to
not a chicken.
C are incorrect. There is no evidence in the text that thehard in these(pagesubjects. 80)
god used rope or poison. 6 This is a judgement q
3 This is a synthesis 1 aquestion.
pot
A is correct. Jim’s
2 B 3 C 4 A Sometimes I wonder w
3 This is a synthesis question. B is correct. The king tricked
5 B 6 B (see lines 9–10). Jasmi
the god when the god tried to capture him (B). Then the studying school subjects. It belongs in the General
king escaped (C) and after that the god punished the king comment (see lines 11–12) space. B and C are incorrect.
Explanations A is incorrect. Jasmin
(A). This makes A and C incorrect. Maths and Science are school subjects and are not to do
1 This is a fact-finding question. You read “O, who would abandoned.
be B is incor
4 This is an inferring question. A is correct. You read Therewith community work.
a puddin’, / ABpuddin’ in aThepot,’only lines 2–3).
(seesubject old. She just feels sad
was once a king who thought he was clever. He did 4 This is an inferring
things question. is correct. think about his old fa
that made the Greek gods very angry (see lines 2–4). YouJim works hard 2 at,This
andisgets a fact-finding
excellent results question.in, isBArt.
is correct. You read A
can work out that the king did these things because heYou can work outpuddin’ that this which
makes is stood on that
it likely / A fire
Artwhichis hisis hot?’ (see lines 4–5).
3 This is aCsynthesis question. C is correct.
my friend from
was not afraid of the gods. B and C are incorrect because favourite subject. A and are incorrect. Jim doesn’t try The puddin’
there is no evidence that the king admired or looked up hardto and spends timeuses the song toduring
dreaming complain theseabout
subjectsits miserable
so life. A is1 Iraq, Australia, Afgh
the gods. these are not likely incorrect.
to be hisThe favourite not a story. B is incorrect. The 2 C
song issubjects. 3 C
5 This is a language question. A is correct. The phrase 5 allThis is a languagesong includes
question. C isinformation
correct. Theabout wordthe must puddin’s
in life but its
over again (see line 14) means repeating the same thingthis sentence is very purpose
definite. is toItcomplain
is a strongabout that life.
statement. It is
Explanations
over and over. B is incorrect. To do something over andan order from4theThis Form is an inferring
Master. question. A
A is incorrect. The is words
correct. The poem is a
over may not be to do it quickly. C is incorrect. To do could probably in complaint
this sentence by the puddin’
suggest it is about
possible its but
life.not
It gets put on fire is a fact-finding
1 a This
something over and over and never finish the task is more and eaten
definite. B is incorrect. The when it is cooked.
word should in thisNo wonder it looks cross andAustralia from fara
sentence
to
sad in the picture! B is incorrect. It is true that the puddin’ Somalia and Sri Lank
times than often. means it is something he should do, but it is not certain
6 This is a judgement question. You judge that the god was that he will do it. dislikes being in a pot (its hat in the picture) but this isThis is a fact-finding 2
angry with the king. He had tricked him and trapped 6 himThis is a judgement onlyquestion.
part of the shouldCjudge
Youreason. is incorrect.
that theThere is no evidence
that the puddin’ wants to frighten the reader. refugees (see lines 2–4)
in his own handcuffs. The god made the punishment cruel Form Master does not seem to like him very much. He
is a language B is volunteer. B is incorre
to get his revenge on the king. only has one 5 niceThis
comment to makequestion.
about him correct.
(Art). YouThe puddin’
might also guess that complainsJim causes aboutproblems
being a puddin’
when he . You read O sad indeed but
brings (see
not when he first
Animal dads (page 79) animals to school.line 6). A is incorrect. The word hot (see line 12) is not used is a synthesis qu 3 This
to describe how the puddin’ feels. It is used by the puddin’ is about the writer’s f
1 fry 2 a chick 3 C Rufus (page 76) to describe the fire and also when talking about the hot or introduces Hariq. Pa
4 B 5 See below 6 See below burning stomach ache it hopes people get when they eatproblems it. at school. P
1 Jasmine 2C Bis incorrect. 3 B, You A,can
C tell that 4 Bthe puddin’ is not happy.dad helps Hariq and
5 A 6 6This C is a judgement question. B is correct. You read I hope text is about Hariq bu
Explanations
1 This is a fact-finding question. You read The eggs hatch you get the stomach ache / For eatin’ me a lot (see lines is not about the write
Homework Centre.
Explanations
inside his pouch. The tiny fry fend for themselves (see lines 10–11). The puddin’ hopes this because it wants to get its
5–6). 1 This is a fact-finding revenge and pay
question. Youbackreadthose who on
the label eattheit. A is incorrect. ItThis is an inferring q
4
is not simply that Hariq found hom
2 This is a fact-finding question. You read The egg hatches photo—Jasmine and Rufus (seebecause it is nasty
line 12)—and you and readmean. The puddin’
has a good reason for its unkind wishes. C is incorrect. now he is a star pupi
in two months. The mother penguin comes back to feed her This is me with my dog, Rufus (see line 2). You know that
The puddin’ may be in a grumpy mood but this is not incorrect. Hariq still
the
chick (see lines 13–15). Jasmine has written the text about her dog.
reason it wants the people who eat it to get a stomach Centre is for after sch
ache.
title, is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read
3 This is a synthesis question. C is correct. You read 2the This become a refugee. He
Animal dads (see line 1). Both texts are about animal dads His owners had moved from a house to a home unit and to Australia.
and how they care for their young. A is incorrect because couldn’t Dinosaurs (page 81)
it take Rufus with them (see lines 3–4). A is incorrect. 5 This is a language qu
doesn’t focus on the dads. B is incorrect because the text Rufus’s

is old owners may have wanted to find him a good
1 C 2 A 3 B 4 C friend Hariq escaped f
not about all animals that lay eggs. home but there is no evidence in the text to confirm this.
5 C 6 See below Australia with his mo
4 This is an inferring question. B is correct. You can work C is incorrect. You can’t tell from the text that Rufus’s old
out that the ice would be too cold for the egg and the owners didn’t want him. They might have kept him if they be adults as well as ch
egg would crack. You should also know that birds sit on
Explanations
eggs to keep them warm in the nest until they hatch. 1 This is a fact-finding
3 This is a synthesis question. The sequence is First: B Rufus question. C is correct. You read
The penguin needs to keep its egg warm. A is incorrectwas left at the animal Dinosaursshelter.lived on earth
Second: a very long
A Jasmine found time ago (see line 2). A is a judgement q
6 This
B are incorrect
andshelter. because they that the writer is prou
because water would not hurt an egg. C is incorrect. An Rufus at the animal Third: C Rufus went toarelivenot facts in the text.
egg could not make ice crack. An eggshell is more fragile with Jasmine.2 This is a fact-finding question. A is correct. You read By
than ice. 4 This is an inferring thequestion.
time humans lived on You
B is correct. earth,readdinosaurs
Rufus had become work. C is incorrect. Th
5 This is a language question. A pouch is like a pocket ormeansa red (see lineextinct
2). You (seeshould 2–3). B
lines work outand C are
that Rufus incorrect because
fold of skin. The pouch keeps the baby or babies safe untilwas named by hisdinosaurs
first owners lived on earth
because he hasbefore humans,
reddish fur. not after or at the
they can come out into the world. when these owners same lefttime
Rufus as at
theythedid.
animal shelter they

Section 3 Answers
Workbook Year 2 103
3 This is a synthesis question. B is correct. The whole text sharks, lions and crocodiles. A and B are incorrect. You
explains how we know about dinosaurs. Paragraph one can infer that dinosaurs did not need long, sharp teeth to
introduces the topic of dinosaurs and asks How … do we eat insects or plants.
know anything about dinosaurs? (see line 4). Paragraph 2 5 This is a language question. C is correct. You read
explains that fossils tell us about dinosaurs. Paragraph 3 Paleontology is the study of fossils (see line 10). This suggests
explains what fossils tell us about dinosaurs. Paragraph 4 that paleontologists are people who study fossils. Suffixes
tells us that Without fossils we’d know nothing at all about -er, -or and -ist are used for people (e.g. garden—gardener;
dinosaurs! (see line 14). A is incorrect. The text does tell invention—inventor, dentistry—dentist). A is incorrect.
what fossils are but this information is only one part of Some of the fossils a paleontologist studies might not
paragraph 2. C is incorrect. The text does not explain how be from extinct plants or animals, just things that were
dinosaurs became extinct. alive a long time ago. B is incorrect because the fossils a
4 This is an inferring question. C is correct. You read Fossils paleontologist studies are not living things.
of dinosaur teeth tell what kinds of food different dinosaurs 6 This is a judgement question. You might judge that being
ate … plant eaters had blunt teeth (see lines 11–12). Read a paleontologist sounds interesting or exciting—digging
between the lines to work out that dinosaurs with long, up fossils, discovering fossils and examining fossils. Or you
sharp teeth would have eaten meat. Sharp teeth can tear at might judge it would be a boring job because you are more
flesh. Creatures alive today that have sharp teeth include interested in the present than the past.

?
Marking grid for section 2: Mixed
grandpa’s questions
school (pages
report (page 75) 58–81)would have given his
Student name: _________________________________________________________________________
Explanations Dad said he was no sp
Use 3 or 8 to record correct and incorrect answers in the columns. Look for patternschicken
of is a saying th
errors to identify areas that require revision.
[for] Jim Brown (see lines 3–4). was no spring chicken
Date 1
2 3 4 5 incorrect as Rufus is
Text title page completed Fact-finding Art …Synthesis
He [Jim] works veryInferring A and B are
hard (see line 10). language Judgement
My family 58 not a chicken.
A visit from 59 3 This is a synthesis question. A is correct. Jim’s
Mrs Snake community work is something he does outside of
My broken 60 thinks how sad she w
arm A is incorrect. Jasmin
Roosters 61 with community work.
Eddie’s 62 4 This is an inferring question. B is correct. The only subject think about his old fa
question Jim works hard at, and gets excellent results in, is Art.
A bluebottle 63 my friend from
sting
Furry 64 these are not likely to be his favourite subjects. 2 C 3 C
lifesaver 5 This is a language question. C is correct. The word must in
The Great 65 Explanations
Mango an order from the Form Master. A is incorrect. The words
Mystery could probably in this sentence suggest it is possible but not
Stay away! 66 Somalia and Sri Lank
What is a 67 that he will do it. 2 This is a fact-finding
cloud? friend Hariq escaped f
CONCERT to 68 Form Master does not seem to like him very much. He
SAVE THIS only has one nice comment to make about him (Art). You
POSSUM might also guess that Jim causes problems when he brings
Animal 69 is about the writer’s f
sounds
Bones of 70 problems at school. P
giant animal 1 Jasmine 2 B 3 B, A, C 4 B dad helps Hariq and
found text is about Hariq bu
5 A 6 C
Tonsillectomy 71 is not about the write
Homework Centre.
Wipe-out! 72
Explanations
The herd 73 that Hariq found hom
Sandy’s 74 This is me with my dog, Rufus (see line 2). You know that
Animal Jasmine has written the text about her dog.
Shelter 2 This is a fact-finding question. B is correct. You read become a refugee. He
Grandpa’s 75
school couldn’t take Rufus with them (see lines 3–4). A is incorrect.
report Rufus’s old owners may have wanted to find him a good
Rufus 76 Australia with his mo
My friend 77 owners didn’t want him. They might have kept him if they
from Iraq had not moved into a unit.
The 78 6 This is a judgement q
punishment was left at the animal shelter. Second: A Jasmine found
Animal dads 79 is interested in Dad’s
with Jasmine.
The song of 80 4 This is an inferring question. B is correct. You read Rufus work. C is incorrect. Th
the magic means red (see line 2). You should work out that Rufus Hariq and does not se
pudding was named by his first owners because he has reddish fur.
Dinosaurs 81
102 Excel Advanced Skills Reading and Comprehension Workbook

marking Year
grid 2 105

Reading and Comprehension Workbook: Get The R

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Reading and Comprehension Workbook: Get The R

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

ADVANCED SKILLS

Free-to-download sample pages with answers

1 What is the dog’s name? 5 What is the Cantonese name for

4 What might the dog do on walks?

Rufus’s old owners may have wanted to find him a good

1 What is a hairline fracture? 5 Why is the playground equipment

4 Who is included in a rooster’s family?

1 Who plays drums? 5 He said for you to phone him tonight

3 What event led to Eddie’s invitation

Answers and explanations on p. 97

1 A bluebottle sting Explanations

1 Why did the crow need help? 5 lumbered (line 10)

3 Choose a different title for the text.

C A wet and muddy crow

4 What is the writer’s opinion

1 The Great Mango Mystery Explanations

friend Hariq escaped f

10 Marty spotted someone on a bicycle. Marty

1 What is Maggie? 6 What do you think of Marty’s

2 Where do Maggie and Marty live?

3 Why did Marty swoop the cyclist?

4 Stay away! (line 1) Who thinks this?

Answers and explanations on pp. 98–99

1 What is a cloud? Explanations

Rufus’s old owners may have wanted to find him a good

Answers and explanations on p. 99

1 CONCERT to SAVE THIS POSSUM

1 Where do Mountain pygmy- 5 What is THIS POSSUM in the title

3 What is the purpose of the text?

4 What kills possums? Now write!

Answers and explanations on p. 99

1 Animal sounds Explanations

Rufus’s old owners may have wanted to find him a good

1 Burketown Times, July 2007

3 The main purpose of the text is to

C tell a story about diprotodons.

4 How many bones of the diprotodon

4 Wipes out germs with germs on your hands. 19

5 powerful germ-fighting Then Wipe-out! will 20

6 ingredients. make them disappear! 21

11 a day. germs with Wipe-out! 26

12 See Wipe-out! Children will love 27

13 in action at your the germ monster 28

14 local chemist or stickers, free with 29

15 supermarket today. every purchase. 30

1 What is Wipe-out!? 5 The name Wipe-out! sounds

B a free sticker B healthy.

3 What does the text want people to do?

Rufus’s old owners may have wanted to find him a good

Answers and explanations on p. 101

1 Sandy’s Animal Shelter

1 Staff at the shelter 5 What does neglect (line 9) mean?

1 Grandpa’s school report Explanations

Maths thinks how sad she w

Rufus’s old owners may have wanted to find him a good

1 Who wrote the text? B He was quite a young dog.

4 How did Rufus get his name?

Answers and explanations on p. 102

1 My friend from Iraq Explanations

Rufus’s old owners may have wanted to find him a good

3 Which of these events

C The king escaped.