ensto Aeo HELPING YOU 70 PERFORM AT YOUR BEST PRACTICE EXAM Year 8 Reading Comprehension Time Allowed: 30 Minutes Hendersons Educational Services Pty Ltd 143 Auburn Road, Hawthorn, Victoria. 3122. Australia, Phone: 9813 0277; Fax: 9813 0588 ; Email info@hes.com.au; Web site www.hes.com.au -3 ‘GADocumients!PRACTICE EXAMS\Papers\VEAR 8\Reading\200S(MAIOR 30.d0eAt one end of the big barn, on a sort of raised platform, Major was already ensconced on his bed of straw, under a lantem which hung from a beam. He was twelve years old and had lately grown rather stout but he was still a majestic-looking pig, with a wise and benevolent appearance in spite of the fact that his tushes had never been cut. Animal Farm by G. Orvell Question 1 Old Major’s appearance suggests that he is ‘A. both clever and dangerous intelligent and compassionate wise but lacking his tusks like a hog. Frank is not conceited nor does he give himself airs, though unfortunately he is rather too free with his tongue to be an ideal companion and a little inclined to let his prejudices run riot. Question 2 From the passage we can infer that Frank ‘was very proud ]sometimes spoke rudely and with strong opinions CC. was an ideal companion D. was rather riotous in his behaviour. Frank’s interest in the expedition, on his own admission, is mainly a commercial one so it is sometimes a case of “one for you and two for me,” but he never really lets this stand in the way of his zeal for the general efficiency of the expedition. Question 3 Frank’s main interest in the expedition was @yine promotion of excellence and efficiency B. the opportunity to share with the others C. the promotion of his long term financial welfare D. the need to be seen as a jealous staff member. -4 ‘G Documents PRACTICE EXAMS\Papers\YEAR S\Reading\2005(MAJOR 30.doeMany friends came to see Janet in the school play. When it was her time to appear, Janet walked confidently to the middle of the stage. Then she saw all the people. She became frightened and momentarily forgot her lines. But when she saw her friend Linda in the audience, Janet decided to pretend that she was talking to Linda as she said her lines. From then on, it was easier for her to remember the part. ‘SRA Identifying Inferences Question 4 When Janet first went on to the stage she was settled and calm frightened C. excited D. confused. The Taj Mahal, once described as “poetry in stone,” is actually a tomb. The Emperor Shah Jahan of India ordered construction of the eight-sided white marble building in 1631 to honour his wife Mumtaz Mahal who had just died. It took 20,000 workers over 20 years to complete the construction of the tomb, a long. reflecting pool and an immense garden surrounding the area. SRA Drawing Conclusions Question 5 The Taj took 20 years to complete because @Dit was enormous BB. there was a shortage of workers C. no machines were available and all the work was done by human effort D. the heat of India means that work was slow. GADocuments\PRACTICE EXAMS'Papers\YEAR 8\Reading]2005\MAJOR 30.doeOnce they are actually at school, today’s teenagers are more likely to be studying an internet website than reading a book. And if they do study a book, it’s likely to be “a devastating deconstruction of contemporary oppressive patriarchal society” and the resulting assignment is bound to involve “a critical analysis of the gender politics of the Brady Bunch”. Melbourne's Child Question 6 The writer believes that teenagers today A. will only read books because web sites require them to will not often read books - find that websites are the only source of educational materials D. donot like books. “Lord G? This is Lina Halper.” There would be a pause, a gasp. Lord G. would know what was coming. “Yes,” she would continue pleasantly, “yes, you know me. There is that little business—no, we won’t go into details—that little affair in Bognor, in March "23.2... No, of course I won’t mention it, it'll be our little secret—what can I put you down for? Fifty thousand, perhaps? I can’t tell you what it would mean to the Hebrew University.” By this sort of blackmail Lina raised millions of pounds for the university, the most efficient fund-raiser, probably, they had ever known. Uncle Tungsten by Sacks Question 7 Lord G was prepared to pay fifty thousand pounds to help the Hebrew University in Jerusalem because he was frightened that Lina Halper would ruin his reputation he was very fond of Lina Halper D. he had studied there as a student. a it was a noble institution which deserved support -6 GADocuments!PRACTICE EXAMS \Papers\YEAR 8\Reading\2005IMAIOR 30.doeThe book that immediately became my bible, was the CRC Handbook of Physics and Chemistry, a thick, almost cubical book of nearly three thousand pages, containing tables of every imaginable physical and chemical property, many of which, obsessively, I learned by heart. Uncle Tungsten by Socks Question 8 ‘The shape of the CRC Handbook of Physics was very large and flat and rectangular Jong and narrow but very thick C. like a very square box D. there is no way of telling from this text. Question 9 Which statement is a fact? A. All models are beautiful. B. Stylish clothes make women look attractive. Models parade clothing at fashion parades. :veryone likes wearing clean clothes. Few people today would risk the opening of an umbrella inside the house, but still fewer would know why. The umbrella (umbra in Latin, meaning shade) was originally used by African and Eastern royalty purely as a sunshade. Because of this connection with the sun and also because its shape symbolizes the solar wheel, it became sacrilegious to open it in any shaded area out of the domain of the sun. Umbrella: The Sun Wheel Question 10 ‘The people who first developed the umbrella were most likely to be Jhtened of sunstroke Capone the sun as a god to be worshiped C. using the umbrella to show their importance D. people who spoke Latin. , -7 ‘GADocuments\PRACTICE EXAMS\Papers\YEAR 8\Reading\2005MAJOR 30.¢ocIt was a warm, moonlit evening as he stood ankle deep in water. Now it was pitch black, As arranged, Dan was holding a lantern, to act as a beacon, He didn’t want his three sons running aground. Although they had been out several times without him now, this was the first time they had been out at night. They had set out at sunset and agreed to return after four hours. Jack was on the oars when they pushed off into the bay. Dan appreciated that without light it was difficult to gauge the surf to safely ride in on awave, It was a tricky manoeuvre, even in daylight. However, he knew that Jack could manage as well as anyone, himself included. Question 11 The main idca of the passage is A. Dan and Jack’s first fishing trip B. The first fishing trip for the three boys without their father C. ‘The first night fishing trip for the three boys without their father D. Dan's tricky manoeuvre through the surf. Many of the rivers have never been canoed, the few tracks that cut across the landscape are little used and vast areas have yet to see the footprint of modern man. Nature lovers, gold seekers, fishermen, four wheel drive tourers and campers will revel in the wide open spaces, the sheer rugged ranges, the magnificent Aboriginal art and the pristine rivers and gem-like waterholes. The Kimberley by Ron and Viv Moon Question 12 ‘The term “pristine” in this passage is best described as. A, totally unpolluted B. before motorised vehicles C. virgin country D. impure. Question 13 The expression “yet to see the footprint of modern man” is best explained as meaning ‘A. modem man has not yet travelled over this land extensively B. moder man has not yet seen much of this place CC. modem man has not yet put roads through D. modem man has not yet caused environmental changes to happen here. -8 G:\Docaments\PRACTICE EXAMS\Papers\YEAR S\Reading|200S\IMAIOR 30.doe______| millinery has, since the 1960s, been more or less.confined to the Melbourne Recently a witness in a court case stated, “Andrew didn’t have no gun and believe Ime I would know.” Question 14 From this we are certain that: A. Andrew did have a gun B. the witness believed Andrew had a gun C. Andrew did not have a gun D. the witness believed Andrew wasn’t in the possession of a gun. Hats off Australi From the pioneer’s cabbage tree hat, made from natural local materials, to the globally engineered backwards-facing peaked cap of Lleyton Hewitt, hats and caps have shaded the heads of Australians for over two centuries, and form part of the Australian iconography. The Akubra, staple of the rabbit-far industry, has heroic supporters in Greg Norman and Slim Dusty, while the pork pie is confined to TV’s Homicide fans and racing stewards. Women’s Cup. True Blue Question 15 Which word could best replace “iconography” in keeping the message of this text? A. personification B. image C. art D. millinery. Question 16 “The Akubra, staple of the rabbit fur industry,........” means ‘A. the rabbit trappers and outdoor workers all used Akubra hats B. The Akubra is vital to the rabbit fur industry CC. The Akubra is fastened to the rabbit fur industry D. The Akubra is organised by the rabbit fur industry. GADocaments!PRACTICE EXAMS\Papers\YEAR \Reading\200SIMAJOR 30.doeA few weeks ago, the Australian embassy in Jakarta (capital of Indonesia) received an unlikely phone call. The caller was presidential contender and former Indonesian armed forces chief, General Wiranto. Question 17 ‘The person who made the call was: A. the president B. aserving chief of armed forces C. an ambassador D. a candidate for election as president. Question 18 ‘The person who received the phone call was: A. an Australian government employee B. an amy officer C. apresident D. itis impossible to tell. Not without ponderous moments, Taking Flight is the best-informed, most balanced aviation history now available in English. Hallion overlooks no important figure in Europe or the US and deals expertly with key technical puzzlers like wing-warping. Roger Shatlick. Financial Review 12.12.03 Question 19 ‘The book reviewer believes that ‘Taking Flight” is A. an exciting and wonderful read B, the most popular history of aviation ever published C. very technical and puzzling D. an encyclopaedic but sometimes dull book. -10 GADocuments\PRACTICE EXAMS\Papers\YEAR 8\Reading\2005\MAJOR 30.doeThe following is an extract from a guide to TV program highlights: Inside Out Channel 2 11.15am In this, the first of ten mini-documentaries for teenagers looking at the use of English in various contexts, I was staggered to hear the word ‘metaphor’. As an ecstatic Lisa Simpson* once said to her grandmother, ‘You said “rapport”! You didn’t dumb it down.” Bravo *Lisa Simpson is one of the children in the TV cartoon show, The Simpsons Question 20 ‘The writer was staggered to hear the word ‘metaphor’ because A. he had never heard it used on TV before B. _ it was an inappropriate word to use in the context CC. _itwas an unexpected word given the intended audience D. he did not think it fitted in with the subject of the program. While gazelles and antelopes are very swift animals, they don’t have a chance of outrunning their enemy, the cheetah, the fastest mammal in the wilderness. A cheetah was once clocked over a distance of seven hundred yards — about a half mile — and covered it in twenty seconds — seventy-one miles per hour. Perhaps even more startling than that speed, though, is how quickly the cheetah can start. Within two seconds, it can reach forty-five miles an hour from a standing start. Even the best race cars can’t match that. Question 21 ‘The paragraph tells mainly — ‘A. how fast the cheetah is B. gazelles and antelopes are very fast animals C. how the cheetah starts so quickly D. why only racing cars can match the cheetah’s speed from a standing start “i G:XDocuments\PRACTICE EXAMS'Papers\YEAR 8\Reading\200S1MAJOR 30.doc‘Afer the tragic death of both parents Chris was placed in the care of a pretty young woman who later became his mother-in-law. Question 22 Chris married: a daughter of the care giver . a sister of the care giver ". a.son of the care giver . a foster child of the care giver. pop Articles such as Michael Carr-Gregg’s make a questionable contribution to the debate about education. Question 23 ‘The term “questionable contribution” means: anegative contribution a contribution of questions related to the debate a doubtful contribution a.useful contribution. SORP ‘Get out, you dumb bitch,’ he said, and turned back to concentrate on redialling, the numbers. In three silent paces she was behind him. He turned a second time just as she leaned over, took the phone cord in both hands and pulled it round his neck. He raised an arm to protest as she flicked her wrists in one sharp movement. He slumped forward and fell off the bed onto the carpet, just as the voice on the phone said, ‘Thank you for using Telstra.” She realized that she shouldn’t have used the phone cord. Most unprofessional - but nobody called her a dumb bitch. Originel text says “AT&T” Honour Among Thieves by Jeffrey Archer Question 24 ‘The author's use of “Thank you for using Telstra” is best described as A. clever with a double meaning B. sincere C. sarcastic and inappropriate D. humorous and predictable. Po GADocuments\PRACTICE EXAMS\PapersIVEAR 8\Reading}2005(MAJOR 30.doe‘When we arrived at Hong Kong there was a letter in the ship’s mail for me. I was in the boat with the captain some hours while he had it. But do you suppose he could hand a letter to a seaman? When we got to the ship he gave it to the first mate; the first mate gave it to the second mate, and he laid it, mincingly, on the capstan-head, where I could get it! Sailing Alone Around he Word by Stein Question 25 From the description we can imply ‘A. that the captain was a very snobbish man B. that the captain only knew the name of the officers on his ship C. that ordinary seamen did not often receive letters D. that there was a rigid hierarchy on the ship and ordinary seaman were considered inferior. “The Basques have a reputation of being warlike in the service of Basques. But the Loyola family exemplified another Basque tradition, known to both the Carthaginians and Romans, of being warriors for profit. Question 26 Basques would only go to war to protect Basques were warlike to defend their traditions were warlike with other Basques ~ would sometimes go to war in order to make money. PORP After taking control of the town, Pompey, with unflinching immodesty, named it Pompaelo. It was intended to be a great outpost of Roman civilization. Later it became known in Spanish as Pamplona. Question 27 Pompey was probably A. a great city B. a military general a Roman senator Xan influential Spaniard. -13 ‘GADocurhents\PRACTICE EXAMS\Paperst YEAR 8\Reading\200S\MAJOR 30.doclIt does me no good to have the Chevalier house shut up and the Terror starved, when he used to eat enough meat for four, because he can’t stand vegetables. There aren’t many Ihouses in Milasse where they can eat meat twice a day. Yes, the more I think about it...I hadn’t reckoned on being out of pocket. Question 28 The speaker is most likely to be ‘A. The greengrocer in Milasse SSA butcher in Milasse C. A food supplier D. Itis impossible to tell. ‘Source: Political Register, 30th August, 1823 (Factory lines). Any spinner found with his window open 7 5 Any spinner found dirty at his work 1 0 Any spinner found washing himself 1 0 Any spinner leaving his oil can out of its place To Any spinner heard whistling 1 0 Any spinner being five minutes late after last bell rings 1 0 Any spinner being sick and cannot find another spinner to give satisfaction must pay for steam per day 6 0 Question 29 From this table of fines which were applied to the factory workers we can be reasonably certain ‘A that there were no Trade Unions e the owners did not like cheerful workers © there was no paid sick leave D. the spinners were frequently dirty. G:ADocuments\PRACTICE EXAMS'Papers\ YEAR 8\Reading\200SIMAJOR 30.doeBill Smith is a judge who is broad-minded but even-handed when dealing with young offenders. Question 30 Bill Smith A. is bigoted and intolerant B. respects the views and beliefs that differ from his own C. is opinionated and relies on his own beliefs D. is harsh when dealing with young offenders. -15 GADocuments\PRACTICE EXAMS\Papers\ YEAR 8\Reading\20051MAJOR 30.doeBill Smith is a judge who is broad-minded but even-handed when dealing with young offenders. Question 30 Bill Smith A. is bigoted and intolerant B. respects the views and beliefs that differ from his own is opinionated and relies on his own beliefs oO is harsh when dealing with young offenders. -15 GADocuments\PRACTICE EXAMS \Papers\VEAR 8\Reading\200S(MAJOR 30.doc