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AP SSC English (Third Language) study materials
AP SSC English (Third Language) study resources

AP SSC English (Third Language) practice questions

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Question 1Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

Read this line from an unseen passage: 'The old bridge groaned under the weight of the truck, yet it held.' Which word best shows that the bridge was under strain?

  1. groaned Correct answer.
  2. held
  3. weight
  4. old

Explanation

The verb 'groaned' attributes a sound of strain to the bridge, a personification that signals it was struggling. The other words give background detail or describe the outcome, not the strain itself.

Question 2Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

In a seen passage you studied, a character keeps silent while others argue. Which detail from such a passage would best support the idea that the silence is deliberate?

  1. The character presses his lips together and shakes his head slowly. Correct answer.
  2. The character was not present when the argument began.
  3. The character looks out of the window during the argument.
  4. The character is described as the youngest in the family.

Explanation

Deliberate silence needs evidence of a controlled choice, and pressing the lips together while shaking the head shows restraint and judgement. The other details either explain absence or give background rather than intention.

Question 3Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

A passage states: 'The village fair, once a grand affair, now draws only a handful of visitors.' What does this sentence mainly suggest?

  1. The fair is held less often than before.
  2. The fair has moved to a new location.
  3. The fair has declined in popularity over time. Correct answer.
  4. The fair has become more expensive to attend.

Explanation

The contrast between 'once a grand affair' and 'only a handful of visitors' marks a fall in attendance and importance. Nothing in the sentence mentions cost, frequency, or a change of place.

Question 4Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

In an unseen passage, the writer says: 'Rain had not touched the fields for eleven weeks.' Which literary device is mainly used here?

  1. Hyperbole
  2. Simile
  3. Personification Correct answer.
  4. Understatement

Explanation

Rain is treated as something that can 'touch' the fields, which gives it a human action and is personification. A simile would need 'like' or 'as', and the other devices do not fit the wording.

Question 5Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

A seen passage describes a farmer who 'counted every coin twice before spending it'. Which character trait does this detail chiefly reveal?

  1. Generosity
  2. Thrift Correct answer.
  3. Cowardice
  4. Carelessness

Explanation

Counting coins twice before spending shows caution with money, which is the meaning of thrift. Generosity would involve giving freely, and the other traits do not match the detail.

Question 6Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

Read this extract: 'The train was late, the platform was crowded, and the tea was cold. Ravi, however, smiled at everyone.' What does the contrast in this extract emphasise?

  1. The poor service at the station
  2. The discomfort of travelling by train
  3. Ravi's cheerful nature despite difficulties Correct answer.
  4. Ravi's impatience with the crowd

Explanation

The list of irritations is set against Ravi's smiling, and the word 'however' signals the contrast. The emphasis therefore falls on his good humour rather than on the problems themselves.

Question 7Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

In a passage, a boy says to his friend: 'You have been practising since dawn, haven't you?' What is the main purpose of this question?

  1. To criticise the friend's skill
  2. To request information he does not have
  3. To confirm something he already suspects Correct answer.
  4. To order the friend to stop practising

Explanation

A question ending in a tag like 'haven't you?' usually seeks agreement with what the speaker already believes. The boy is checking his assumption rather than asking for new facts.

Question 8Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

A passage says: 'The library was a second home to Meena.' What does this comparison mean?

  1. Meena visited the library only once.
  2. Meena worked as a librarian.
  3. Meena lived inside the library building.
  4. Meena found the library familiar and comforting. Correct answer.

Explanation

Calling a place a 'second home' is figurative, meaning it felt familiar, safe and welcoming. It does not mean literal residence or employment.

Question 9Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

An unseen passage opens: 'Nobody in the village remembered a summer like it.' What is the main function of this opening sentence?

  1. To state the writer's opinion about farming
  2. To create curiosity about an unusual event Correct answer.
  3. To describe the geography of the village
  4. To introduce a specific character by name

Explanation

An opening that stresses how extraordinary a summer was invites the reader to read on to learn what happened. It builds suspense rather than giving information about people, place or farming.

Question 10Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

Read: 'The teacher's words were a lamp in the darkness of my confusion.' Which two things are being compared?

  1. Words and confusion
  2. The teacher and a lamp
  3. Darkness and a teacher
  4. Words and a lamp Correct answer.

Explanation

The sentence says the teacher's words were a lamp, so the comparison is between the words and a lamp. 'Darkness' and 'confusion' are the situation being illuminated, not the compared items.

Question 11Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

A seen passage ends with: 'The gate closed behind him with a soft click.' Why might a writer choose this as the final sentence?

  1. To show that the gate was broken
  2. To introduce a new character
  3. To explain how the gate was repaired
  4. To suggest a quiet but final ending to the episode Correct answer.

Explanation

A small sound like a soft click at the close of a narrative often marks a quiet, definite ending. It creates mood rather than giving practical information about the gate.

Question 12Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

In a passage, a man who has lost his job says: 'At least I can sleep late now.' What does this remark most likely show?

  1. Genuine delight at having free time
  2. That he dislikes sleeping
  3. That he has found a better job
  4. A bitter joke covering his worry Correct answer.

Explanation

Saying 'at least' about a small benefit after a serious loss usually signals irony or self-mockery. The remark hides anxiety behind humour rather than expressing real joy.

Question 13Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

A passage reports: 'According to the survey, most students walk to school.' Which word shows that the information comes from a source rather than the writer's own observation?

  1. walk
  2. most
  3. school
  4. According to Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase 'according to' attributes information to a named source, the survey. It signals reported evidence rather than the writer's direct experience.

Question 14Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

Read: 'The river, which had been calm all morning, suddenly turned grey and restless.' What is the effect of the clause between the commas?

  1. It gives the river a name.
  2. It explains where the river flows.
  3. It sets up a contrast with the sudden change. Correct answer.
  4. It shows that the river never changes.

Explanation

The inserted clause describes the earlier calm, which sharpens the contrast with the sudden grey, restless water. It provides background that makes the change more striking.

Question 15Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

A passage describes a shopkeeper who 'knew the price of everything and the value of nothing'. What is the writer suggesting about him?

  1. He is poor at arithmetic.
  2. He is generous with his money.
  3. He sells goods too cheaply.
  4. He understands only money, not worth. Correct answer.

Explanation

The contrast between price and value suggests he measures things only in money and misses deeper worth. It is a criticism of his outlook, not of his arithmetic.

Question 16Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

In an unseen passage, a narrator says: 'I have never told anyone this before.' What effect does this create for the reader?

  1. It tells the reader the story is fictional.
  2. It makes the reader feel trusted with a secret. Correct answer.
  3. It proves the narrator is unreliable.
  4. It shows the narrator is forgetful.

Explanation

A confession that something has never been shared before draws the reader into a confidential relationship with the narrator. It creates intimacy rather than proving unreliability.

Question 17Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

A passage states: 'The market was a sea of faces.' Which reading of this sentence is most accurate?

  1. The market sold mainly fish.
  2. The market was flooded with water.
  3. The market was empty and quiet.
  4. The market was extremely crowded with people. Correct answer.

Explanation

'A sea of faces' is a metaphor for a very large crowd. The comparison uses the image of a sea to suggest number, not actual water.

Question 18Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

A seen passage describes a girl who 'practised the same scales until her fingers ached'. Which quality does this detail best illustrate?

  1. Carelessness
  2. Timidity
  3. Impatience
  4. Perseverance Correct answer.

Explanation

Repeating an exercise until it causes physical discomfort shows steady effort and refusal to give up, which is perseverance. The other qualities do not fit this behaviour.

Question 19Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

Read this sentence from a passage: 'Not a leaf stirred; not a bird called.' What mood does the writer create?

  1. A noisy, festive mood
  2. A busy market scene
  3. A cheerful morning scene
  4. A tense, still atmosphere Correct answer.

Explanation

The repeated negatives and the images of stillness suggest silence and suspense. The absence of movement and sound creates tension rather than festivity or cheer.

Question 20Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

A passage says of a new teacher: 'Within a week, the class that had been famous for noise had fallen silent.' What does this suggest about the teacher?

  1. The teacher cancelled most lessons.
  2. The teacher was popular but ineffective.
  3. The teacher punished the whole class.
  4. The teacher quickly established control. Correct answer.

Explanation

The rapid change from a noisy class to a silent one suggests firm, effective discipline. No mention is made of punishment or cancelled lessons, and the change shows effectiveness rather than weakness.

Question 21Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

In a passage, a character repeats the phrase 'it doesn't matter' three times in one conversation. What does this repetition most likely reveal?

  1. That she wants to change the subject politely
  2. That she is trying to hide strong feelings Correct answer.
  3. That the matter is truly unimportant to her
  4. That she has forgotten the topic

Explanation

Repeating a denial several times often signals the opposite of what is said, hinting at suppressed feeling. The repetition draws attention to the effort of appearing unconcerned.

Question 22Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

A passage presents two accounts of the same accident, one from a driver and one from a passer-by. What is the main reason a writer would include both?

  1. To prove that the driver was lying
  2. To lengthen the passage with extra detail
  3. To show how the same event can be seen differently Correct answer.
  4. To describe the road where it happened

Explanation

Two versions of one event let the reader compare perspectives and see how viewpoint shapes a report. The purpose is not simply to add length or to fix blame.

Question 23Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

Read: 'He was as stubborn as a mule.' Which statement about this sentence is correct?

  1. It is a simile using the word 'as'. Correct answer.
  2. It is a metaphor comparing him to a mule.
  3. It is personification of a mule.
  4. It is hyperbole with no comparison.

Explanation

A comparison introduced by 'as' is a simile, since it explicitly links the man to a mule. A metaphor would state the comparison without 'as' or 'like'.

Question 24Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

A passage notes that a village well 'had served three generations'. What does this detail mainly add to the passage?

  1. It shows the well is newly built.
  2. It gives the well a sense of history and importance. Correct answer.
  3. It proves the well is unsafe.
  4. It explains how wells are dug.

Explanation

Saying the well served three generations gives it age and significance in the life of the community. It does not describe construction or safety.

Question 25Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

In a passage, a traveller describes a city as 'a place where the clocks seem to argue with each other'. What does this image most likely suggest?

  1. The city has many clock shops.
  2. Time in the city feels confused and inconsistent. Correct answer.
  3. The people of the city are always punctual.
  4. The clocks are broken and need repair.

Explanation

Clocks that 'argue' is personification suggesting disagreement about time, so the image conveys confusion and inconsistency. It is figurative, not a report about repairs or shops.

Question 26Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

An unseen passage reads: 'The bus arrived forty minutes late. Sita had already read the noticeboard twice, counted the ceiling fans, and memorised the timetable.' Which detail most clearly shows that Sita was waiting a long time?

  1. She had memorised the timetable after reading the board twice and counting the fans. Correct answer.
  2. She was standing at a bus stop.
  3. There was a noticeboard at the stop.
  4. The bus arrived forty minutes late.

Explanation

The passage never states that time passed slowly; the reader infers boredom from the list of small, repeated activities. Doing several pointless tasks in sequence signals a long and tedious wait. The lateness of the bus supports this, but the accumulation of activities is the stronger evidence of how the wait felt.

Question 27Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

In a seen passage, a farmer says: 'The rain came, but it came too late.' Which reading best explains the second half of his statement?

  1. The farmer disliked rain at any time of year.
  2. The rain was lighter than the farmer expected.
  3. The rain arrived after the crops had already been lost. Correct answer.
  4. The rain fell in the evening rather than the morning.

Explanation

The word 'but' sets the arrival of rain against its timing, so the sentence contrasts a good event with a useless one. 'Too late' means the rain came after the moment when it could still help, implying the crops had already failed. The remark is about timing and consequence, not about the hour of day or the amount of rain.

Question 28Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

A passage contains the sentence: 'The old bridge groaned under the weight of the lorry.' Which technique is the writer using in the word 'groaned'?

  1. Alliteration, the repetition of an initial consonant.
  2. Personification, giving the bridge a human sound. Correct answer.
  3. Simile, comparing the bridge to a person with 'like' or 'as'.
  4. Hyperbole, an obvious exaggeration for effect.

Explanation

'Groaned' is a verb normally used for people or animals in pain, and here it is applied to a bridge. Giving an inanimate object a human action or sound is personification. A simile would need a comparison word such as 'like' or 'as', which is absent here.

Question 29Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

An unseen passage says: 'My grandmother kept her opinions in a locked cupboard.' What does this image most likely suggest about her?

  1. She was fond of giving advice to strangers.
  2. She had forgotten what she believed.
  3. She rarely shared what she really thought. Correct answer.
  4. She owned a large amount of furniture.

Explanation

The metaphor compares opinions to objects stored away and locked, which suggests they were kept private and not brought out. A locked cupboard hides its contents rather than destroying them, so she still holds her views but does not display them. The image is about concealment, not about furniture or forgetfulness.

Question 30Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

A passage reports: 'Several residents claim that the new road has made the crossing safer.' Which feature of this sentence marks the information as unverified?

  1. The word 'residents'
  2. The word 'safer'
  3. The word 'claim' Correct answer.
  4. The word 'crossing'

Explanation

Reporting verbs carry the writer's attitude towards the information. 'Claim' signals that the writer is repeating what others say without confirming it, whereas a neutral verb such as 'say' or 'report' would present it more plainly. The other words describe the people or the situation but do not comment on whether the statement is true.

Question 31Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

Read this extract from a passage: 'The hall was full. Every seat had been taken an hour before the programme began, and latecomers stood along the walls.' What does the detail about the latecomers mainly show?

  1. The organisers had forgotten to arrange seating.
  2. The programme started earlier than advertised.
  3. The hall had too few chairs for its size.
  4. The event attracted more people than it could seat. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage states that every seat was taken and that later arrivals had to stand, which together show demand beyond the hall's capacity. The purpose of the detail is to convey how popular the event was. There is no suggestion of a change in the starting time or of poor organisation.

Question 32Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

A character in a passage says: 'Don't trouble yourself about me; I am quite used to being overlooked.' What does the tone of this remark most strongly convey?

  1. Cheerful indifference to other people's plans
  2. Genuine gratitude for help recently received
  3. Bitter self-pity expressed through politeness Correct answer.
  4. Anger openly directed at the listener

Explanation

The polite phrasing 'don't trouble yourself' clashes with the complaint about being overlooked, and that clash produces a tone of hurt disguised as courtesy. The speaker is drawing attention to neglect while pretending to dismiss it. The tone is therefore self-pitying rather than cheerful, grateful, or openly furious.

Question 33Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

A passage opens with a description of a quiet street, then reports that a crowd has gathered outside one house, and then returns to the quiet street. What is the main effect of returning to the quiet street at the end?

  1. It introduces a new character to the story.
  2. It proves that the crowd has moved to another street.
  3. It explains the cause of the crowd gathering.
  4. It frames the disturbance and shows that normal life resumes. Correct answer.

Explanation

Returning to the opening setting creates a frame, a circular structure that encloses the central event. Ending on the quiet street suggests that the disturbance has passed and ordinary life continues. The return does not introduce people, prove where the crowd went, or explain why it gathered.

Question 34Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

In a passage, a boy who has just failed an examination says nothing, folds the result sheet neatly, and puts it in his pocket. What does this action most likely reveal about his feelings?

  1. He is confused about what the sheet contains.
  2. He is controlling his disappointment in public. Correct answer.
  3. He has decided to leave school immediately.
  4. He is proud of the result and wants to show it.

Explanation

Folding the sheet neatly and pocketing it are small, careful actions that suggest the boy is holding himself together rather than reacting openly. The silence and the tidiness point to suppressed emotion. A proud or confused boy would behave differently, and no decision about leaving school is mentioned.

Question 35Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

A passage describes a town where 'the same three families had run the council for thirty years'. Which idea does this detail best support?

  1. The families were unpopular with everyone.
  2. The town changed its leaders very often.
  3. Power in the town stayed in a few hands. Correct answer.
  4. The council did very little useful work.

Explanation

The detail tells us that leadership remained with three families over three decades, which supports the idea of concentrated, unchanging power. It does not comment on how much work the council did or on how popular the families were. The length of time is the key point.

Question 36Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

Read: 'The letter lay on the table all morning. Nobody touched it, though everyone passed it.' What does the writer suggest about the family?

  1. They were too busy to notice the letter.
  2. They were waiting for a visitor to read it.
  3. They were avoiding the news it might contain. Correct answer.
  4. They had not seen the letter arrive.

Explanation

The contrast between passing the letter and never touching it implies deliberate avoidance rather than accident. If nobody had noticed it, the writer would not stress that everyone passed it. The sentence therefore hints at fear or unease about the letter's contents.

Question 37Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

A passage uses the sentence: 'The instructions were clear, the map was accurate, and the road was well marked.' Which word best describes the feeling this sentence creates about the journey ahead?

  1. Nostalgia
  2. Confidence Correct answer.
  3. Suspicion
  4. Alarm

Explanation

Each clause adds a positive condition, and the repetition of the structure builds a sense of everything being in order. A reader expects the journey to go well. Alarm, nostalgia, and suspicion would need details suggesting danger, memory of the past, or doubt, none of which appear.

Question 38Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

In a passage, a shopkeeper refuses to give credit to a poor customer but does give it to a rich one. Which statement best describes what the writer is doing with this contrast?

  1. Showing that the shopkeeper has no interest in money
  2. Explaining why the shop is losing customers
  3. Exposing the shopkeeper's unfair treatment of the two customers Correct answer.
  4. Describing the shopkeeper's fair and equal treatment of customers

Explanation

Setting the two customers side by side invites the reader to compare the treatment each receives. Because the only difference is wealth, the contrast highlights unfairness. The writer is not praising the shopkeeper, and nothing suggests indifference to money or a loss of trade.

Question 39Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

An unseen passage states: 'By the time the fire engine reached the lane, the neighbours had already formed a line and were passing buckets.' What is the main purpose of this sentence in the passage?

  1. To describe the narrowness of the lane
  2. To explain how the fire started
  3. To show the community acting before help arrived Correct answer.
  4. To praise the speed of the fire service

Explanation

The phrase 'by the time' sets the neighbours' action earlier than the arrival of the fire engine, so the sentence emphasises their self-reliance. It highlights how the community responded on its own. It does not comment on the fire service's speed, the cause of the fire, or the lane's width.

Question 40Reading Comprehension (unseen and seen passages)

A passage says of a singer: 'Her voice filled the hall without a microphone.' Which inference is best supported by this statement?

  1. The hall was smaller than most concert halls.
  2. Her voice was powerful enough to reach the whole audience. Correct answer.
  3. She preferred singing without any instruments.
  4. The audience was unusually quiet that evening.

Explanation

Filling a hall without amplification implies that the voice carried naturally to every listener, which points to its power. The sentence says nothing about the size of the hall, the behaviour of the audience, or the use of instruments. Only the strength of the voice is being described.

Question 41Grammar (tenses, voice, reported speech, clauses, articles, prepositions, concord)

Choose the correct form to complete the sentence: She ____ to school every day by bicycle.

  1. goes Correct answer.
  2. is go
  3. go
  4. going

Explanation

The simple present tense is used for habitual actions, and with a third-person singular subject such as 'she' the verb takes the -s ending, giving 'goes'. The time phrase 'every day' signals a routine rather than an action in progress.

Question 42Grammar (tenses, voice, reported speech, clauses, articles, prepositions, concord)

Choose the correct passive form of the sentence: 'The teacher praised the students.'

  1. The students were praised by the teacher. Correct answer.
  2. The students were praising by the teacher.
  3. The students praised the teacher.
  4. The students are praised by the teacher.

Explanation

The original sentence is in the simple past active, so the passive needs 'were' plus the past participle 'praised'. The object 'the students' becomes the subject and the agent follows 'by'.

Question 43Grammar (tenses, voice, reported speech, clauses, articles, prepositions, concord)

Fill in the blank with the correct article: He is ____ honest man.

  1. a
  2. the
  3. an Correct answer.
  4. no article

Explanation

The indefinite article 'an' is used before a word beginning with a vowel sound, and 'honest' starts with a silent 'h' so the first sound is the vowel /ɒ/. The noun is being introduced for the first time, so the definite article is not appropriate.

Question 44Grammar (tenses, voice, reported speech, clauses, articles, prepositions, concord)

Choose the correct preposition: She has been living in Hyderabad ____ 2015.

  1. by
  2. from
  3. for
  4. since Correct answer.

Explanation

'Since' is used with a point in time to show when an action started, and it pairs with perfect tenses such as 'has been living'. '2015' is a starting point, not a length of time.

Question 45Grammar (tenses, voice, reported speech, clauses, articles, prepositions, concord)

Choose the correctly formed question in the simple past.

  1. Where do you went yesterday?
  2. Where did you went yesterday?
  3. Where did you go yesterday? Correct answer.
  4. Where you went yesterday?

Explanation

In past simple questions the auxiliary 'did' carries the tense, so the main verb stays in its base form: 'did you go'. The question word comes first, then the auxiliary, then the subject.

Question 46Grammar (tenses, voice, reported speech, clauses, articles, prepositions, concord)

Choose the correct pronoun to complete: The books are on the table; please put ____ in the bag.

  1. them Correct answer.
  2. theirs
  3. their
  4. they

Explanation

The pronoun replaces 'the books', which is the object of the verb 'put', so the object pronoun 'them' is required. Subject and possessive forms cannot serve as a direct object here.

Question 47Grammar (tenses, voice, reported speech, clauses, articles, prepositions, concord)

Choose the correct form of the verb to complete: If it ____ tomorrow, we will cancel the match.

  1. rained
  2. will rain
  3. rains Correct answer.
  4. is raining

Explanation

In a first conditional the if-clause uses the simple present and the main clause uses 'will' plus the base verb. The present form 'rains' expresses a real future possibility.

Question 48Grammar (tenses, voice, reported speech, clauses, articles, prepositions, concord)

Choose the sentence in which the subject and verb agree correctly.

  1. Each of the students are having a notebook.
  2. Each of the students were having a notebook.
  3. Each of the students have a notebook.
  4. Each of the students has a notebook. Correct answer.

Explanation

The subject is 'each', which is singular, so the verb must be singular: 'has'. The phrase 'of the students' is a prepositional modifier and does not change the number of the subject.

Question 49Grammar (tenses, voice, reported speech, clauses, articles, prepositions, concord)

Change into reported speech: Ravi said, "I am busy now."

  1. Ravi said that he is busy now.
  2. Ravi said that I was busy then.
  3. Ravi says that he was busy now.
  4. Ravi said that he was busy then. Correct answer.

Explanation

When the reporting verb is in the past, the present tense 'am' shifts to the past 'was', and the time word 'now' becomes 'then'. The first-person pronoun 'I' changes to 'he' to refer to the speaker.

Question 50Grammar (tenses, voice, reported speech, clauses, articles, prepositions, concord)

Choose the correct passive form: People believe that the temple is very old.

  1. The temple was believed to be very old.
  2. The temple believes to be very old.
  3. The temple is believed to be very old. Correct answer.
  4. The temple is believing to be very old.

Explanation

Impersonal reporting verbs like 'believe' form a passive with 'it is believed that...' or with the subject raised: 'The temple is believed to be...'. The present tense of the original is kept.