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Bagrut English practice questions

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Question 1Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A short online article about urban beekeeping states: 'City rooftops can host healthy bee colonies because parks and balconies offer a steady supply of flowers from spring to autumn.' According to the passage, what makes city rooftops suitable for bees?

  1. The absence of other insects in urban areas
  2. The continuous availability of flowering plants nearby Correct answer.
  3. The cooler temperatures found on high buildings
  4. The large amount of honey already stored there

Explanation

The passage links healthy rooftop colonies to a steady supply of flowers from parks and balconies across the seasons. The other details are not mentioned in the text, so only the flower supply explains suitability.

Question 2Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A narrative passage reads: 'Maya had practiced the piano for months, but when she sat down at the recital, her hands would not stop shaking. She looked at the audience, took one slow breath, and began.' What does the passage suggest about Maya's state just before she played?

  1. She decided to leave the stage
  2. She had forgotten the piece completely
  3. She was nervous but managed to calm herself Correct answer.
  4. She was angry at the audience

Explanation

Shaking hands and a slow breath indicate nervousness, while beginning to play shows she calmed herself. The passage gives no sign of forgetting, anger, or leaving.

Question 3Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A short informational text says: 'Recycling one aluminium can saves enough energy to power a television for about three hours.' What is the main purpose of this sentence in the text?

  1. To give a concrete example of recycling's benefits Correct answer.
  2. To explain how televisions are manufactured
  3. To describe the history of recycling programs
  4. To argue that aluminium is dangerous

Explanation

The sentence uses a specific comparison to show the practical value of recycling. It illustrates a benefit rather than explaining manufacturing, danger, or history.

Question 4Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

Read this short passage: 'The library now lends tools as well as books. Members can borrow a drill, a sewing machine, or a ladder for up to a week.' Which statement is supported by the passage?

  1. Tools must be returned the same day they are borrowed
  2. Members may keep borrowed tools for seven days at most Correct answer.
  3. The library sells drills to its members
  4. Only books can be borrowed from the library

Explanation

The phrase 'for up to a week' means the maximum loan period is seven days. The passage describes lending, not selling, and clearly includes tools.

Question 5Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A passage about sleep states: 'Teenagers need about eight to ten hours of sleep, yet many get fewer than seven.' Which conclusion is best supported by this sentence?

  1. Teenagers sleep more than adults do
  2. Many teenagers sleep less than the recommended amount Correct answer.
  3. Teenagers need less sleep than younger children
  4. Seven hours is enough for most teenagers

Explanation

The sentence contrasts the recommended eight to ten hours with the fewer than seven that many teenagers actually get. That gap directly supports the conclusion that many sleep less than recommended.

Question 6Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A narrative passage says: 'When the storm finally passed, the villagers found the bridge washed away, so they rowed across the river to reach the market.' Why did the villagers use boats?

  1. Because the river had dried up
  2. Because the market had moved to the river
  3. Because boats were faster than walking
  4. Because the bridge had been destroyed by the storm Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage states the bridge was washed away, and the word 'so' shows the rowing is a result of that loss. The boats replace the unusable bridge.

Question 7Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A short text explains: 'Some plants, such as cacti, store water in thick stems. This lets them survive long dry periods.' What is the function of the thick stems according to the passage?

  1. They help the plant grow taller quickly
  2. They attract insects for pollination
  3. They hold water that helps the plant survive drought Correct answer.
  4. They protect the plant from cold weather

Explanation

The passage directly links thick stems to water storage and survival during dry periods. Pollination, cold protection, and rapid growth are not mentioned.

Question 8Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A paragraph reads: 'The museum's new wing is free on weekday afternoons but charges full price at weekends.' Which visitor would pay nothing to enter the new wing?

  1. A family visiting on a Saturday morning
  2. A student visiting on a Tuesday afternoon Correct answer.
  3. A tourist visiting on a Sunday afternoon
  4. A teacher visiting on a Saturday evening

Explanation

Free entry applies to weekday afternoons, and Tuesday afternoon fits that condition. Saturday and Sunday visits fall under the full-price weekend rule.

Question 9Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A passage notes: 'Unlike paper bags, cloth bags can be reused hundreds of times, which reduces the waste sent to landfills.' What contrast is the passage making?

  1. Cloth bags are more expensive to produce
  2. Landfills are no longer used in the region
  3. Paper bags are stronger than cloth bags
  4. Reusable cloth bags create less waste than single-use paper bags Correct answer.

Explanation

The word 'unlike' signals a contrast, and the passage credits cloth bags' reuse with reducing landfill waste. Strength, cost, and the end of landfills are not part of the comparison.

Question 10Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

Read this passage: 'Coach Levin rarely raised his voice, yet the team listened to every word. After the final whistle, the players gathered around him without being asked.' What does the passage imply about the coach?

  1. He shouted more than other coaches
  2. He was disliked by most of the players
  3. He had never coached a team before
  4. He earned the players' respect without shouting Correct answer.

Explanation

The players listen closely and gather voluntarily even though the coach rarely shouts, which implies respect earned through quiet authority. The other options contradict or go beyond the text.

Question 11Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A text states: 'Although electric buses cost more to buy than diesel buses, they are far cheaper to run and produce no exhaust fumes.' Which advantage of electric buses does the passage emphasize?

  1. Longer routes than diesel buses
  2. Lower operating costs and cleaner air Correct answer.
  3. Faster travel on busy roads
  4. A lower purchase price than diesel buses

Explanation

The passage concedes a higher purchase price but highlights cheaper running costs and no exhaust fumes. Those two points match lower operating costs and cleaner air.

Question 12Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A short article says: 'Volunteers cleaned 300 kilograms of plastic from the beach in one morning. Organizers hope the event will encourage residents to reduce single-use plastic.' What do the organizers hope will happen?

  1. Volunteers will clean the beach every day
  2. Residents will use less disposable plastic Correct answer.
  3. The beach will be closed to the public
  4. Plastic will be banned across the country

Explanation

The second sentence states the organizers' hope that residents reduce single-use plastic, which means using less disposable plastic. The other outcomes are not stated.

Question 13Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A passage reads: 'The recipe says to add the salt after the water boils. Adding it earlier can slow the boiling.' What does the passage warn against?

  1. Putting salt in before the water boils Correct answer.
  2. Using too much salt in the recipe
  3. Stirring the water while it heats
  4. Boiling the water for too long

Explanation

The text advises adding salt after boiling and warns that earlier addition can slow boiling. That warning directly concerns adding salt too soon.

Question 14Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A narrative passage says: 'Rami checked his watch twice, then began walking toward the door. His friend was already forty minutes late.' What is the most likely reason Rami walks toward the door?

  1. He has just seen his friend arrive
  2. He wants to buy a new watch
  3. He is thinking about leaving because his friend is very late Correct answer.
  4. He is looking for the bathroom

Explanation

Checking the time repeatedly and noting a forty-minute delay suggests impatience and a plan to leave. The other options are not supported by the details given.

Question 15Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A text explains: 'Because the town sits in a valley, cold air settles there at night, making it several degrees cooler than the hills above.' Why is the town cooler than the hills?

  1. The town has fewer buildings than the hills
  2. Cold air sinks into the valley where the town is located Correct answer.
  3. The town is closer to the sun than the hills
  4. The hills block all sunlight from the town

Explanation

The passage gives a clear cause: cold air settles in the valley at night. The word 'because' introduces this explanation, which matches the first option.

Question 16Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A short article about a school garden says: 'Students sell the vegetables they grow to buy seeds for next year.' What does this show about the garden project?

  1. It is run by local farmers
  2. It only grows flowers
  3. It partly funds itself through sales Correct answer.
  4. It depends entirely on donations

Explanation

Selling vegetables to buy seeds shows the project raises some of its own money. Nothing suggests full reliance on donations, flowers, or outside farmers.

Question 17Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A passage says: 'The festival was moved indoors after the forecast predicted heavy rain, but the number of visitors did not drop.' What can be inferred about the visitors?

  1. They came only to see the weather
  2. They did not know about the rain
  3. They were not discouraged by the change of venue Correct answer.
  4. They preferred the outdoor location

Explanation

Attendance stayed the same despite the move and the rain, which suggests visitors were not put off by the change. The other options are not supported by the text.

Question 18Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

Read this passage: 'The new app reminds users to drink water, but it also tracks how often they stand up. Its designer says the aim is not to add another task but to fit into routines people already have.' What is the designer's goal?

  1. To replace all other health apps
  2. To sell water bottles to users
  3. To create extra chores for users
  4. To blend the app into existing daily habits Correct answer.

Explanation

The designer explicitly says the aim is to fit into routines people already have, which means blending into existing habits. The text rejects adding tasks.

Question 19Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A text notes: 'In some cities, buses run every ten minutes during rush hour but only every hour late at night.' What does this comparison show?

  1. Buses are always crowded at night
  2. Night buses are more expensive
  3. Rush hour buses are usually empty
  4. Service frequency changes depending on the time of day Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage contrasts ten-minute daytime service with hourly late-night service, showing frequency varies by time. Crowding, price, and empty buses are not discussed.

Question 20Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A narrative passage reads: 'Nora had rehearsed her speech a hundred times, but as she stepped onto the stage, the words she had planned seemed to vanish.' What does the phrase 'seemed to vanish' most likely mean here?

  1. She suddenly found it hard to remember her prepared words Correct answer.
  2. She decided to give a completely different speech
  3. She spoke louder than she had planned
  4. She forgot the names of her audience

Explanation

The context of stepping onto the stage after rehearsing suggests nerves made the prepared words hard to recall. The phrase describes memory difficulty, not a deliberate change of speech.

Question 21Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A passage states: 'Unlike traditional light bulbs, LED bulbs use a fraction of the electricity and last for years.' Which claim is supported by the passage?

  1. LED bulbs are difficult to install
  2. LED bulbs are cheaper to buy than traditional bulbs
  3. LED bulbs consume less power and last longer than traditional bulbs Correct answer.
  4. Traditional bulbs produce brighter light

Explanation

The comparison directly credits LED bulbs with using a fraction of the electricity and lasting for years. Purchase price, brightness, and installation are not addressed.

Question 22Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

Read this passage: 'The village well had run dry for weeks. Then, one morning, the children heard water splashing and ran to tell everyone.' What does the splashing most likely indicate?

  1. Someone dropped a bucket by mistake
  2. A pipe has broken somewhere else
  3. The children are playing a game
  4. The well has started producing water again Correct answer.

Explanation

Given that the well had been dry, the sound of splashing and the children's excitement point to water returning. The other explanations ignore the context of the dry well.

Question 23Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A text argues: 'Banning plastic straws alone will not clean the oceans; most plastic waste comes from discarded fishing equipment and packaging.' What is the writer's main point?

  1. Packaging causes no environmental harm
  2. Fishing should be stopped completely
  3. Straw bans are too narrow to solve the larger plastic problem Correct answer.
  4. Plastic straws are the biggest source of ocean waste

Explanation

The writer uses the word 'alone' and cites larger sources to argue that straw bans address only a small part of the problem. The other options misstate the sources or overstate the conclusion.

Question 24Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A passage reads: 'The scientist's early results were dismissed as errors. Years later, other researchers reached the same conclusions using better instruments.' What does the passage suggest about the scientist's early work?

  1. It was eventually shown to be correct despite being doubted Correct answer.
  2. It was based on better instruments than later work
  3. It was proven false by later research
  4. It was never checked by anyone else

Explanation

Later researchers reaching the same conclusions with better instruments implies the early results were valid, even though they were initially dismissed. The other options contradict this.

Question 25Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A text says: 'The council planted trees along the main road, and within a year shop owners reported more customers, though traffic noise also fell.' Which conclusion is best supported?

  1. The trees may have improved the street in more than one way Correct answer.
  2. The trees caused traffic to increase
  3. Shop owners opposed the planting
  4. Traffic noise became louder after planting

Explanation

The passage reports both more customers and less traffic noise after planting, supporting the idea of multiple benefits. The other options reverse or contradict the stated effects.

Question 26Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

Read this short passage: 'The library opens at nine, but the returns box outside the door is available all night. Readers who finish a book late can drop it in the box instead of waiting for the morning.' What does the passage suggest about the returns box?

  1. It is only for books borrowed the same day.
  2. It is kept inside the main reading room.
  3. It closes one hour before the library does.
  4. It lets readers return books outside opening hours. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage contrasts the nine o'clock opening with a box that is 'available all night', and it names late finishers as the users. Together these details show the box exists so books can be returned when the building is closed.

Question 27Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A short text says: 'The town's market moved from the main square to the old railway yard last spring. Stallholders complained about the dust at first, but most now say the new site is easier to reach by bus.' What is the main point of the text?

  1. Bus companies paid for the market to move.
  2. Stallholders have mixed but improving views of the new site. Correct answer.
  3. The railway yard is no longer used by trains.
  4. The market has stopped operating in the town.

Explanation

The text reports an initial complaint about dust followed by a current view that the site is easier to reach. That combination of early doubt and later approval is the central message about how stallholders see the move.

Question 28Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

Read this passage: 'Every autumn the class collects fallen leaves and spreads them under the young trees behind the school. By spring the leaves have partly broken down, and the soil beneath them is darker and softer than the bare ground nearby.' What is the purpose of spreading leaves under the trees?

  1. To stop grass from growing near the trees.
  2. To improve the soil as the leaves break down. Correct answer.
  3. To mark which trees belong to the class.
  4. To keep the trees warm during winter frosts.

Explanation

The passage links the leaves to soil that becomes darker and softer by spring, which is the visible result of decay. The described purpose is therefore to enrich the soil rather than to protect or mark the trees.

Question 29Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A notice reads: 'Borrow a bike for the day and return it to any station in the city. The first thirty minutes are free; after that you pay by the hour.' Which rider pays nothing?

  1. One who rides for twenty-five minutes. Correct answer.
  2. One who borrows it on a weekend.
  3. One who keeps the bike for two hours.
  4. One who returns it to a different station.

Explanation

The notice makes the first thirty minutes free and charges hourly only after that. A ride of twenty-five minutes falls entirely inside the free period, so no payment is due.

Question 30Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

Read this passage: 'Maya had trained for months to swim the lake. On the morning of the race the water was choppy and cold. She finished last, but she climbed out grinning and told her coach she wanted to try again next year.' What does Maya's reaction show about her?

  1. She blames the weather for her result.
  2. She regrets entering the race at all.
  3. She plans to give up open-water swimming.
  4. She values finishing over winning. Correct answer.

Explanation

Maya finishes last yet grins and asks to try again, which shows the effort mattered more to her than the placing. Her wish to return next year rules out disappointment or quitting.

Question 31Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A short article states: 'The bakery on King Street bakes only what it expects to sell that day. Anything left at closing time is given to a nearby shelter. The owner says this means fresher bread for customers and less waste.' What is one result of this policy?

  1. The bakery sells bread at a discount after closing.
  2. Customers receive bread baked earlier that week.
  3. Unsold bread goes to people who need it. Correct answer.
  4. Leftover bread is thrown away each evening.

Explanation

The article says plainly that anything unsold at closing is given to a shelter, which is the practical outcome of the policy. The other stated benefit is fresher bread for paying customers, not discounts or older stock.

Question 32Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

Read this passage: 'The school choir used to practise in the gym, where the sound bounced off the walls and the singers could not hear one another. This year they meet in the small hall, which has curtains and a carpet. The conductor says the choir now sings more quietly and listens more carefully.' Why does the choir sing more quietly in the new room?

  1. The small hall holds fewer people than the gym.
  2. The conductor asked them to save their voices for concerts.
  3. The new room absorbs sound, so the singers can hear themselves. Correct answer.
  4. The choir has fewer members than in previous years.

Explanation

The passage contrasts the echoing gym with a hall softened by curtains and carpet, and it links that change to quieter singing and closer listening. Soft surfaces reduce echo, which lets the singers monitor their own sound.

Question 33Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A text explains: 'Many desert animals are active at night and rest in shade during the day. The ground is cooler after dark, and the air is often more humid, so the animals lose less water.' What does the text suggest about why these animals avoid the daytime?

  1. They need sunlight to find their food.
  2. They sleep for most of the twenty-four hours.
  3. They are less visible to predators at night.
  4. They lose less water in the cooler, damper night air. Correct answer.

Explanation

The text gives two conditions, cooler ground and more humid air, and states the result directly: the animals lose less water. That water saving is the reason offered for night activity.

Question 34Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

Read this passage: 'When the town built its first pedestrian street, shopkeepers on that road feared they would lose customers who arrived by car. Two years later, sales on the street had risen, and several shops had extended their opening hours.' What does the passage show about the shopkeepers' fear?

  1. It led the council to reopen the road to cars.
  2. It was reasonable at the time but did not come true. Correct answer.
  3. It was correct, since sales fell after the change.
  4. It was based on a survey of local drivers.

Explanation

The fear is presented before the change, and the outcome two years later is higher sales and longer opening hours. The passage therefore treats the worry as understandable but mistaken rather than justified or acted upon.

Question 35Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A short text says: 'The new swimming pool is heated by solar panels on its roof. On cloudy weeks the water is a little cooler, but the running costs are far lower than those of the old gas system.' Which statement is supported by the text?

  1. The solar panels cost more to install than the pool itself.
  2. The pool is always kept at the same temperature.
  3. The old gas system has been kept as a backup.
  4. Heating costs fell after the change to solar power. Correct answer.

Explanation

The text compares running costs directly, saying they are far lower than with the old gas system. That comparison supports the claim that heating became cheaper, while the cloudy-week detail shows the temperature is not constant.

Question 36Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

Read this passage: 'The narrator describes her grandmother's kitchen: the table always covered with flour, the window that never quite closed, the radio left on for the cat. Years later, standing in her own new kitchen, she keeps the radio on, though she has no cat.' What does the final detail suggest?

  1. She has copied her grandmother's habits without needing a practical reason. Correct answer.
  2. She dislikes the silence of her new home.
  3. She is planning to get a cat for her new kitchen.
  4. She has forgotten how her grandmother's kitchen looked.

Explanation

Keeping the radio on without a cat repeats a habit whose original purpose no longer applies. The detail shows the narrator carrying her grandmother's routines into her own life for their meaning rather than their use.

Question 37Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A text reports: 'The city planted 500 trees along its hottest streets. Sensors showed that summer temperatures under the trees were up to three degrees lower than on nearby streets without them. Residents also reported walking more often.' Which conclusion is best supported?

  1. Trees lower street temperatures and encourage walking. Correct answer.
  2. Residents walked more because bus services improved.
  3. Planting trees is cheaper than building shade structures.
  4. The sensors were placed only on the hottest days.

Explanation

The text gives two measured or reported results of the planting: lower summer temperatures and more walking by residents. Combining them gives the supported conclusion, while the other options add facts the text does not contain.

Question 38Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

Read this passage: 'The reviewer calls the film's first hour slow, its dialogue flat, and its ending predictable. She then gives it four stars out of five, explaining that the lead actor's performance alone is worth the ticket.' What is unusual about the review?

  1. It praises a film it criticises in almost every other respect. Correct answer.
  2. It describes the plot in more detail than the acting.
  3. It refuses to give the film any rating at all.
  4. It recommends a film that has not yet been released.

Explanation

The reviewer lists several faults and still awards a high rating because of one performance. That gap between widespread criticism and strong praise is what makes the review striking.

Question 39Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

A short article states: 'For years, researchers assumed the birds nested only on the cliffs. A student's photographs of nests in low bushes were dismissed as a mistake. When three separate teams later found the same thing, the original assumption was quietly dropped.' What does the article illustrate about scientific knowledge?

  1. It can be corrected when repeated evidence appears. Correct answer.
  2. It rarely changes once it has been published.
  3. It is based on photographs rather than observation.
  4. It depends mainly on the reputation of the researcher.

Explanation

The article shows an assumption surviving first dismissal and then giving way once several teams report the same finding. That pattern illustrates knowledge being revised through repeated, independent evidence rather than authority alone.

Question 40Reading comprehension of accessible texts (short informational and narrative passages)

Read this passage: 'The village shop closed when the supermarket opened on the bypass. Now the supermarket delivers to the village twice a week, but only to customers who order online. The shop's former owner says, "We lost the place where people met as much as the place where they bought milk."' What does the former owner's remark emphasise?

  1. Online ordering is difficult for older residents.
  2. The shop mattered as a social meeting point, not only as a supplier. Correct answer.
  3. The bypass has made travel to the supermarket easier.
  4. The supermarket's prices are too high for villagers.

Explanation

The remark pairs a place of meeting with a place of buying and treats the loss of the first as equally important. It therefore stresses the shop's social role alongside its practical one.

Question 41Reading comprehension of longer texts (articles, reports, literary excerpts)

A magazine article opens: 'For years, city planners treated the old harbor as a problem to be solved. Today they treat it as an asset to be managed.' What is the main rhetorical function of these two sentences within the article's introduction?

  1. They introduce a named expert whose opinion the article will later quote.
  2. They present a contrast between past and present attitudes to set up the article's central argument. Correct answer.
  3. They summarize statistical evidence that the rest of the article will analyze.
  4. They list the technical steps planners follow when redesigning a waterfront.

Explanation

The paired sentences set 'for years' against 'today' and 'problem' against 'asset', a deliberate contrast. In an introduction this contrast signals the shift in thinking the article will develop, so it frames the central argument. No statistics, experts, or procedural steps appear in the quoted lines.

Question 42Reading comprehension of longer texts (articles, reports, literary excerpts)

Read this excerpt: 'The letter lay unopened for three days. Marta passed it each morning on her way to the kitchen, and each morning she found a reason to leave it there.' What does the detail about the unopened letter mainly reveal about Marta?

  1. She plans to return the letter to its sender.
  2. She is avoiding whatever the letter contains. Correct answer.
  3. She expects the letter to be from a stranger.
  4. She has forgotten where she put the letter.

Explanation

The repeated daily ritual of finding 'a reason to leave it there' shows deliberate postponement, which signals avoidance. The narration emphasizes choice rather than forgetfulness, and nothing indicates the sender's identity or a plan to return it.

Question 43Reading comprehension of longer texts (articles, reports, literary excerpts)

An article states: 'The bridge was completed in 1932, four years behind schedule and at nearly twice the projected cost.' Which inference about the project is best supported by this sentence alone?

  1. The bridge was completed earlier than the planners expected.
  2. The bridge was built using untested engineering methods.
  3. The original budget and timetable proved unrealistic. Correct answer.
  4. Public opposition delayed the start of construction.

Explanation

A project that runs four years late and doubles its cost shows that the original estimates did not match reality. The sentence supports only that inference; it says nothing about methods, public opinion, or an early finish, and in fact contradicts the last of these.

Question 44Reading comprehension of longer texts (articles, reports, literary excerpts)

In a report, the writer notes: 'Attendance at the museum rose by 40 percent after admission fees were abolished.' Which conclusion can a reader most reasonably draw from this single statement?

  1. Most visitors came from outside the city.
  2. The museum's exhibitions improved in quality that year.
  3. The museum no longer needs any source of income.
  4. Free admission was followed by a substantial increase in visitors. Correct answer.

Explanation

The sentence reports a correlation in time: fees were dropped and attendance then rose sharply. That supports only a cautious statement about the sequence, not claims about exhibition quality, visitor origins, or the museum's finances.

Question 45Reading comprehension of longer texts (articles, reports, literary excerpts)

A news report begins: 'When the floodwaters receded, residents of the valley discovered that the river had quietly redrawn the map of their fields.' What is the effect of the word 'quietly' in this sentence?

  1. It indicates that the residents were asleep during the flood.
  2. It suggests the change happened gradually and without warning. Correct answer.
  3. It shows that officials had announced the change in advance.
  4. It implies the river made a loud noise as it changed course.

Explanation

The adverb personifies the river and stresses that the reshaping of the fields went unnoticed until afterward. This supports an interpretation of gradual, unannounced change rather than noise, sleep, or official warning.

Question 46Reading comprehension of longer texts (articles, reports, literary excerpts)

Read the paragraph: 'The committee reviewed the proposal twice. It examined the cost estimates, the timeline, and the environmental impact. In the end, it recommended that the project proceed.' Which sentence best states the paragraph's main idea?

  1. The committee examined cost estimates in detail.
  2. The project's timeline was the committee's main concern.
  3. The environmental impact of the project was unclear.
  4. After careful review, the committee supported the project. Correct answer.

Explanation

The paragraph moves from repeated review to a final recommendation to proceed, so its main idea combines careful examination with approval. The other options single out one detail of the review rather than capturing the paragraph's overall point.

Question 47Reading comprehension of longer texts (articles, reports, literary excerpts)

A literary excerpt reads: 'Grandfather kept his tools in perfect order, each one hanging on its own hook, and he would not lend them to anyone, not even to his sons.' What does this detail most strongly suggest about the character?

  1. He is careless with his possessions.
  2. He values order and control over his belongings. Correct answer.
  3. He is planning to sell the tools.
  4. He dislikes his sons and refuses to speak to them.

Explanation

The precise arrangement and the refusal to lend the tools point to a man who prizes order and keeps strict control over what is his. The passage does not support carelessness, a family estrangement, or any plan to sell.

Question 48Reading comprehension of longer texts (articles, reports, literary excerpts)

An article about remote work states: 'Employees report higher satisfaction when working from home, yet many also describe feeling disconnected from their colleagues.' Which statement best captures the article's point?

  1. Remote work brings benefits along with social costs. Correct answer.
  2. Employees prefer offices to working from home.
  3. Remote work produces only negative outcomes for employees.
  4. Colleagues rarely communicate with remote workers.

Explanation

The sentence balances 'higher satisfaction' against feeling 'disconnected', presenting gains and losses together. That balance supports a mixed picture rather than an entirely negative or entirely positive one.

Question 49Reading comprehension of longer texts (articles, reports, literary excerpts)

Read this passage: 'Some historians argue that the invention of the printing press caused an immediate revolution in reading habits. Others point out that for decades after Gutenberg, most Europeans still encountered texts through oral reading in churches and squares.' What is the second group of historians doing?

  1. Arguing that Gutenberg did not invent the printing press.
  2. Agreeing that the printing press changed reading overnight.
  3. Claiming that written texts were unimportant in Europe.
  4. Questioning the speed of the change attributed to the printing press. Correct answer.

Explanation

The second group emphasizes that oral reading persisted for decades after Gutenberg, which challenges the claim of an 'immediate revolution'. They are disputing the pace of change, not the invention itself or the value of written texts.

Question 50Reading comprehension of longer texts (articles, reports, literary excerpts)

A report notes: 'The new recycling scheme reduced household waste by a fifth, but only in neighborhoods where collection was weekly. Where collection was fortnightly, waste levels barely changed.' Which factor appears to determine the scheme's success?

  1. The cost of the recycling program
  2. The type of materials being recycled
  3. The size of the households involved
  4. The frequency of waste collection Correct answer.

Explanation

The report contrasts weekly and fortnightly collection and links the difference directly to whether waste fell. That makes collection frequency the variable that distinguishes success from failure in the passage.