I85PREP
⌘ K
Hiroshima Entrance English study materials
Hiroshima Entrance English study resources

Hiroshima Entrance English practice questions

One question at a time. Build your Hiroshima Entrance English understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A passage states: 'Although the museum was closed for renovation, a small team of volunteers continued to catalogue its collection behind locked doors.' According to the passage, what were the volunteers doing?

  1. Cataloguing the museum's collection Correct answer.
  2. Guiding visitors through the galleries
  3. Repairing the museum building
  4. Designing a new exhibition

Explanation

The passage says directly that the volunteers continued to catalogue the collection. The renovation was the reason the museum was closed, but it was not the volunteers' task. Only one option restates information explicitly given in the sentence.

Question 2Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A passage reads: 'Kenji had rehearsed his speech for weeks, yet on the morning of the ceremony his notes seemed to dissolve into meaningless marks.' What does the phrase 'dissolve into meaningless marks' most likely suggest about Kenji?

  1. He was suddenly unable to make sense of his notes. Correct answer.
  2. He had written the notes in a foreign language.
  3. He decided to speak without any preparation.
  4. He had forgotten to bring his notes.

Explanation

The metaphor of notes 'dissolving' indicates that they stopped conveying meaning to Kenji at that moment. The surrounding words 'seemed to' signal a subjective experience of panic rather than a physical change. The other options add events the passage does not describe.

Question 3Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A paragraph begins: 'Recycling programs succeed only when residents trust the sorting system. If people suspect that separated materials are later combined, participation falls sharply.' What is the main point of this paragraph?

  1. Residents prefer to avoid separating waste.
  2. Public trust is essential to the success of recycling. Correct answer.
  3. Recycling is too expensive for most cities.
  4. Sorting materials is technically difficult.

Explanation

The paragraph links the success of recycling to residents' trust in the sorting system. The second sentence explains how a loss of trust reduces participation. The other options introduce concerns the paragraph does not raise.

Question 4Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A text says: 'The library extended its opening hours during exam season, and the number of students using the study rooms doubled.' Which inference is best supported?

  1. Longer hours made the study rooms more accessible to students. Correct answer.
  2. Students study better at night than during the day.
  3. The library had previously been unpopular with students.
  4. The library should keep extended hours all year.

Explanation

The text connects extended hours with a rise in study-room use, which supports the inference that access improved. The other options go beyond the evidence by making claims about study quality, past popularity, or future policy.

Question 5Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

In a passage about a hiker, the writer notes: 'She checked the sky, then packed her raincoat without a word.' What does this detail most likely indicate?

  1. She had lost her raincoat earlier.
  2. She wanted to leave the raincoat behind.
  3. She was angry with her companions.
  4. She expected rain and prepared for it. Correct answer.

Explanation

Looking at the sky and then packing a raincoat implies she anticipated rain. The silence ('without a word') adds atmosphere but does not change the practical meaning. The other options contradict the action of packing the coat.

Question 6Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A passage explains: 'Unlike solar panels, which need direct sunlight, geothermal systems draw heat from below the ground and work day or night.' What is the writer contrasting?

  1. The environmental impact of two energy sources
  2. The reliability of two energy sources under different conditions Correct answer.
  3. The installation time of two energy sources
  4. The cost of two energy sources

Explanation

The word 'unlike' sets up a contrast between solar panels, which depend on sunlight, and geothermal systems, which work continuously. The comparison concerns operating conditions and reliability. Cost, installation time, and environmental impact are not part of the contrast.

Question 7Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A notice in a passage says: 'Applications received after the deadline will be considered only if places remain.' What does this mean for a late applicant?

  1. The application must be submitted again next year.
  2. The application will definitely be rejected.
  3. The application will be accepted automatically.
  4. The application may be accepted depending on available places. Correct answer.

Explanation

The conditional 'only if places remain' means acceptance is possible but not guaranteed. The notice makes late applications dependent on capacity. Options claiming definite rejection or automatic acceptance misread the condition.

Question 8Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A passage describes a village festival: 'The drums began at dusk, and by midnight the square was still full.' What can be concluded about the festival?

  1. It ended before midnight.
  2. It attracted few people.
  3. It continued late into the night. Correct answer.
  4. It was cancelled because of rain.

Explanation

The square being 'still full' at midnight shows the festival was ongoing late at night. The phrase 'by midnight' marks a point well after the dusk start. The other options contradict the description of a full square.

Question 9Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A passage states: 'The company's profits rose, but its reputation among local residents declined after the factory expansion.' Which statement best captures the relationship between the two facts?

  1. The company's reputation improved with higher profits.
  2. The factory expansion caused profits to fall.
  3. Local residents benefited from the expansion.
  4. Financial gain occurred alongside a social cost. Correct answer.

Explanation

The conjunction 'but' contrasts rising profits with declining local reputation, showing gain on one side and loss on the other. The passage does not claim that expansion lowered profits or helped residents.

Question 10Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Read this sentence: 'Had the engineers tested the bridge under heavy loads, the flaw might have been discovered earlier.' What does the sentence imply?

  1. Heavy loads are not a concern for bridges.
  2. The engineers did not test the bridge under heavy loads. Correct answer.
  3. The flaw was discovered before the bridge opened.
  4. The engineers tested the bridge thoroughly.

Explanation

The past unreal conditional ('Had the engineers tested...') describes a situation that did not happen. It implies the testing was not done, which is why the flaw was found late. Options that assert testing occurred contradict this structure.

Question 11Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A writer says of a character: 'Marta never raised her voice, yet the room grew quiet whenever she entered.' What does this contrast reveal about Marta?

  1. She commanded respect without being loud. Correct answer.
  2. She was afraid of large groups.
  3. She spoke too softly to be heard.
  4. She was unpopular with her colleagues.

Explanation

The contrast between a quiet voice and the room falling silent suggests authority that does not depend on volume. The reaction of others shows influence, not fear or unpopularity. The sentence does not indicate that she was inaudible.

Question 12Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A passage notes: 'The report was praised for its thoroughness but criticized for its length.' What does this suggest about the report?

  1. It was rejected entirely by its readers.
  2. It received no criticism at all.
  3. It was both admired and faulted for different qualities. Correct answer.
  4. It was too short to cover the topic.

Explanation

The structure 'praised for... but criticized for...' shows mixed evaluation: approval of one quality and disapproval of another. The report was not wholly rejected, and its length was seen as excessive rather than insufficient.

Question 13Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A passage reads: 'The scientist's early papers were largely ignored. Only decades later did researchers recognize the ideas that had lain dormant in them.' What does 'lain dormant' imply about the ideas?

  1. They were proven false long ago.
  2. They were copied from other scientists.
  3. They were published in several languages.
  4. They were present but unnoticed for years. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Dormant' means inactive or sleeping, so the ideas existed in the papers but attracted no attention until later. The surrounding sentence confirms the long period of neglect. The other options add claims about accuracy, origin, or language that the passage does not make.

Question 14Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A paragraph states: 'Some argue that remote work reduces commuting stress. Others point out that it blurs the boundary between work and rest.' How is the paragraph organized?

  1. It presents a single argument and then refutes it.
  2. It lists causes and then describes their effects.
  3. It contrasts two opposing views on one issue. Correct answer.
  4. It describes a process in chronological order.

Explanation

The paragraph sets one position ('some argue') against another ('others point out'), which is a contrast of views. Neither side is refuted, and no chronological process or cause-effect chain is developed.

Question 15Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A passage says: 'The new policy was intended to simplify the process; in practice, it added two additional forms.' What is the writer's attitude toward the policy?

  1. Mildly critical, noting an unintended result Correct answer.
  2. Enthusiastic support
  3. Neutral description without evaluation
  4. Complete indifference to the outcome

Explanation

The contrast between intention ('simplify') and outcome ('added two additional forms') signals mild criticism of an unintended effect. The writer reports a gap between goal and result rather than offering praise. Indifference is unlikely because the writer deliberately points out the discrepancy.

Question 16Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A passage reads: 'Because the trail was poorly marked, even experienced hikers sometimes lost their way.' Which cause is identified for hikers getting lost?

  1. The trail was too short.
  2. The weather changed suddenly.
  3. The hikers lacked experience.
  4. The trail markings were inadequate. Correct answer.

Explanation

The word 'because' introduces the cause: the trail was poorly marked. The passage emphasizes that even experienced hikers were affected, which rules out lack of experience as the cause. Weather and trail length are not mentioned.

Question 17Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A text states: 'The orchestra's conductor insisted on absolute silence during rehearsals, allowing no exceptions.' What does 'allowing no exceptions' emphasize?

  1. The conductor's rule was applied strictly. Correct answer.
  2. The conductor disliked the musicians.
  3. The conductor occasionally tolerated noise.
  4. The conductor wanted shorter rehearsals.

Explanation

'Allowing no exceptions' reinforces the strictness of the silence rule. It shows the conductor applied the requirement consistently, not that he disliked the players or wanted shorter sessions.

Question 18Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A passage says: 'While the city invested heavily in new bike lanes, the number of cyclists rose only slightly.' Which conclusion is best supported?

  1. Bike lanes were unpopular among residents.
  2. Investment alone did not produce a large increase in cycling. Correct answer.
  3. Investment in bike lanes guarantees more cyclists.
  4. The city wasted all of its money.

Explanation

The 'while' clause contrasts heavy investment with a small result, supporting the conclusion that spending alone was insufficient. The passage does not show that lanes were unpopular or that the money was entirely wasted.

Question 19Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A passage reads: 'The novelist refused to explain her endings, saying that a story should keep a door open.' What does the metaphor of the open door suggest?

  1. She wanted readers to interpret the ending themselves. Correct answer.
  2. She had not finished writing the story.
  3. She disliked her readers.
  4. She planned to write a sequel immediately.

Explanation

An open door suggests room for the reader's own interpretation rather than a firmly closed conclusion. The refusal to explain supports this reading. The metaphor does not indicate an unfinished draft, a planned sequel, or dislike of readers.

Question 20Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A passage notes: 'The volunteers restored the photographs, but they could not recover the captions written on the back.' What limitation does the passage describe?

  1. The photographs were too damaged to restore.
  2. The volunteers lacked interest in the project.
  3. The captions could not be recovered. Correct answer.
  4. The photographs had never had captions.

Explanation

The 'but' clause states the specific limitation: the captions were lost even though the photographs were restored. This shows partial success. The passage does not say the photos were unrestorable or that captions never existed.

Question 21Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A passage states: 'Critics who dismissed the novel as simple overlooked the intricate structure beneath its plain prose.' What is the writer suggesting about the critics?

  1. They objected to the novel's difficult language.
  2. They had not read the novel at all.
  3. They praised the novel's complexity.
  4. They judged the novel too quickly and missed its depth. Correct answer.

Explanation

The word 'overlooked' shows the critics missed something, and 'beneath its plain prose' indicates hidden complexity. The writer implies their judgment was superficial rather than that they never read the book. The critics' complaint was simplicity, not difficulty.

Question 22Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A passage reads: 'The two accounts of the accident agree on the time and place but diverge sharply on who arrived first.' What does this imply about the accounts?

  1. They were written by the same person.
  2. They disagree about the sequence of events. Correct answer.
  3. They contain no reliable information.
  4. They are identical in every detail.

Explanation

'Diverge sharply on who arrived first' means the accounts conflict about the order of events. They still agree on time and place, so they are not wholly contradictory or entirely unreliable. Authorship is not mentioned.

Question 23Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A passage says: 'The committee's recommendation was unanimous, though several members privately admitted doubts.' What does this reveal about the recommendation?

  1. It was rejected by a majority of members.
  2. It reflected complete agreement among all members.
  3. It appeared unanimous while some members had reservations. Correct answer.
  4. It was made without any discussion.

Explanation

The sentence separates the public outcome (unanimous) from private feelings (doubts). This shows outward agreement masking internal hesitation. The recommendation was not rejected, and discussion is not ruled out.

Question 24Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A passage states: 'Far from solving the housing shortage, the new development absorbed land that could have been used for public parks.' What is the writer's stance toward the development?

  1. Supportive, because it solved the housing shortage.
  2. Critical, because it used land with alternative public value. Correct answer.
  3. Uncertain, because the outcome is unknown.
  4. Neutral, because the writer lists only facts.

Explanation

The phrase 'far from solving' denies the claimed benefit, and the loss of potential parkland adds a cost. Together these signal a critical stance. The writer is not neutral, since evaluative language frames the outcome negatively.

Question 25Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

A passage describes a scientist who 'published cautiously, revising each paper many times before submission.' Later it says her colleagues 'rushed their findings into print.' What contrast is being drawn?

  1. Theoretical work versus experimental work
  2. Funding shortages versus abundant resources
  3. Careful scholarship versus hasty publication Correct answer.
  4. Young researchers versus senior researchers

Explanation

The contrast is between the scientist's repeated revision and her colleagues' rapid publication. This is a contrast of working styles regarding care and speed. The passage does not frame it as theory versus experiment, age, or funding.

Question 26Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "When the museum reopened after renovation, visitor numbers doubled in the first month. Curators, however, noted that most newcomers spent under twenty minutes inside and rarely entered the upper galleries. Membership sales, meanwhile, barely changed." What does the passage suggest about the reopening?

  1. It permanently transformed the museum into a major tourist destination.
  2. It convinced curators that the upper galleries should be closed.
  3. It attracted many first-time visitors whose engagement with the collection was shallow. Correct answer.
  4. It increased membership sales far more than expected.

Explanation

The passage contrasts a rise in visitor numbers with short visits and little use of the upper galleries, which points to broad but shallow engagement. Membership sales barely changed, so the reopening did not deepen commitment. The word "however" signals this gap between quantity and quality.

Question 27Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The town council approved the new library branch on the condition that its annual running costs be covered by donations for the first three years. If fundraising falls short in any year, the branch must reduce its opening hours." According to the passage, what happens if donations do not cover running costs in the second year?

  1. Donations are collected for an extra year.
  2. The branch closes permanently.
  3. The council pays the difference from its general budget.
  4. The branch must reduce its opening hours. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage states a direct conditional: if fundraising falls short in any year, the branch must reduce its opening hours. The second year falls within the three-year period, so the condition applies. Nothing in the text mentions council funding or closure.

Question 28Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The research team measured soil moisture at forty sites every week for two years. They found that sites shaded by trees retained moisture far longer than open sites, even during dry spells. The team cautioned, however, that all forty sites lay on the same hillside and shared the same soil type." Why does the team add the caution at the end?

  1. To explain why the study lasted only two years.
  2. To argue that soil moisture is impossible to measure accurately.
  3. To suggest that tree shade has no effect on moisture.
  4. To acknowledge that their findings may not apply to other locations. Correct answer.

Explanation

The caution highlights a limitation: all sites shared one hillside and one soil type. This restricts how far the results can be generalized beyond that setting. The team is qualifying its conclusion, not denying the shade effect.

Question 29Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The bakery's owner introduced a loyalty card offering a free loaf after ten purchases. Sales of bread rose slightly, but sales of cakes and pastries fell sharply. The owner later admitted that customers were buying cheap loaves to fill their cards quickly instead of buying pastries as they used to." What best explains the fall in pastry sales?

  1. The bakery stopped making pastries altogether.
  2. Pastries were no longer fresh.
  3. Customers changed their buying habits to earn free loaves faster. Correct answer.
  4. The bakery raised the price of pastries.

Explanation

The owner's own explanation is that customers bought cheap loaves to complete their loyalty cards quickly. This shift in behavior replaced their usual pastry purchases. The passage gives no evidence of price changes, discontinuation, or freshness problems.

Question 30Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "In her review, the critic wrote that the film 'moves at a deliberate pace, asking viewers to sit with silences that most directors would cut.' She concluded that the result was 'either patience rewarded or boredom prolonged, depending on the viewer.'" What is the critic's overall stance toward the film?

  1. She praises it without reservation.
  2. She condemns it as a failure.
  3. She sees its slowness as a quality whose value depends on the audience. Correct answer.
  4. She finds it technically incompetent.

Explanation

The critic describes the film's slow pace neutrally and ends with a two-sided judgment tied to the viewer. This shows she regards the slowness as neither automatically good nor bad. The phrase "depending on the viewer" is the key signal.

Question 31Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The city installed sensors in 500 public rubbish bins to report when they were full. Collection routes were then planned from this data. Fuel use fell by eighteen percent, but the sensors themselves required batteries that were replaced every six months and often ended up in landfill." Which statement best captures the passage's view of the sensor programme?

  1. It delivered real savings while creating a new environmental cost. Correct answer.
  2. It failed completely and should be abandoned.
  3. It eliminated the need for rubbish collection.
  4. It had no measurable effect on fuel use.

Explanation

The passage reports a concrete benefit, an eighteen percent drop in fuel use, alongside a new drawback: battery waste. Presenting both sides shows a balanced assessment rather than outright praise or rejection. The correct option captures that combination.

Question 32Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The village's only doctor retired in spring. For months, residents travelled two hours by bus to the nearest clinic. Then a nurse practitioner opened a small practice above the post office, and the number of residents seeking routine check-ups returned to its earlier level." What can be inferred about the nurse practitioner's practice?

  1. It offered only emergency treatment.
  2. It was less popular than the distant clinic.
  3. It restored access to routine care in the village. Correct answer.
  4. It replaced the need for the bus service.

Explanation

Check-up numbers returned to their earlier level once the practice opened, which indicates that routine care became accessible again locally. The passage links the practice directly to that recovery. It says nothing about emergency-only care or the bus service ending.

Question 33Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The novelist's first book sold fewer than a thousand copies. Her second, published eight years later, became a bestseller. Interviewers often ask how she coped with the long silence. She replies that she was not silent at all: she was writing, discarding and rewriting, and the eight years were the most productive of her life." What does the novelist mean by her reply?

  1. She considers the gap between books a period of active work rather than inactivity. Correct answer.
  2. She regrets the delay between her two books.
  3. She believes interviewers should not ask about her career.
  4. She had stopped writing during those eight years.

Explanation

The novelist rejects the word "silence" by describing continuous writing and rewriting. She reframes the eight-year gap as productive rather than empty. The correct option restates that reframing.

Question 34Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The council's plan to pedestrianise the main street was tested for six months. Shops on the street reported a ten percent rise in sales, while shops on parallel streets reported a five percent fall. Bus passengers complained that their stops had moved, and air quality monitors recorded lower pollution on the main street." Which group's experience is presented as a cost of the trial?

  1. Shops on the main street
  2. Air quality monitors
  3. Bus passengers Correct answer.
  4. The council

Explanation

The passage lists bus passengers among those who complained, because their stops had moved. Their experience is therefore presented as a negative consequence, or cost, of the trial. The other groups either benefited or are not described as losing anything.

Question 35Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The two historians agree that the fire began in the warehouse district on the night of 3 May. One places the start at a candle left burning in a textile shop; the other argues that a damaged lamp in a neighbouring stable was responsible. Both acknowledge that no witness saw the first flame." What is the main point of the passage?

  1. The fire was deliberately set by a shop owner.
  2. The historians agree on the fire's origin but not its cause. Correct answer.
  3. Both historians rely on a single reliable witness.
  4. The historians disagree about when and where the fire started.

Explanation

The passage states that the historians agree on the time and district of the fire's start but offer different explanations for what caused it. The disagreement concerns the cause, not the location or date. No witness is said to have seen the first flame.

Question 36Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The label on the jar reads: 'Keep refrigerated after opening. Once opened, use within five days. Do not freeze.' A shopper buys the jar on Monday, opens it on Wednesday, and leaves it in a cupboard until the following Tuesday." Which instruction has the shopper failed to follow?

  1. Buying the product on a Monday
  2. Keeping the jar sealed before opening
  3. Using the product within five days of opening Correct answer.
  4. Storing the jar below freezing

Explanation

The jar was opened on Wednesday, but it was still in use the following Tuesday, which is six days later. That exceeds the five-day limit stated on the label. The other options either describe actions the label does not require or misread the storage instruction.

Question 37Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The company introduced a four-day week for its 200 employees. Output per employee rose, and sick days fell by a third. Managers noted, however, that meetings were shortened and that several projects were delivered later than originally scheduled." What does the passage suggest about the four-day week?

  1. It improved productivity while slowing some project delivery. Correct answer.
  2. It lengthened meetings considerably.
  3. It had no effect on sick days.
  4. It reduced output per employee.

Explanation

The passage reports higher output per employee and fewer sick days, but also later delivery of several projects. Together these indicate a productivity gain with a trade-off in scheduling. The correct option captures both sides.

Question 38Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The guidebook warns that the mountain path is 'unmarked beyond the second bridge and should be attempted only by walkers with map-reading experience.' It adds that mobile phone reception is unreliable above the treeline." What kind of reader does the guidebook consider suitable for the path?

  1. A group travelling with a professional guide
  2. A walker able to navigate with a map beyond the marked section Correct answer.
  3. A beginner who relies on a phone for directions
  4. Anyone visiting the mountain in summer

Explanation

The guidebook requires map-reading experience because the path is unmarked after the second bridge, and it warns that phone reception is unreliable. A reader who can navigate by map therefore matches the stated conditions. The passage does not mention seasons or professional guides.

Question 39Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The playwright's early works were performed in a theatre seating only ninety people. Reviewers rarely attended. When a larger theatre revived one of these plays twenty years later, audiences were surprised by how modern the dialogue sounded, and several critics wrote as if the plays had just been written." What does the passage imply about the early plays?

  1. They were written in an outdated style.
  2. They were performed in large theatres from the start.
  3. Their quality was not widely recognised when they first appeared. Correct answer.
  4. They were widely reviewed when first performed.

Explanation

The plays were staged in a tiny theatre with few reviewers present, yet later audiences found them strikingly modern. This contrast implies that their merit went largely unnoticed at first. The passage never suggests the plays themselves were old-fashioned.

Question 40Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The report on the new tram line states: 'Journey times between the station and the hospital fell from twenty-two minutes to fourteen. Ridership on the route rose by forty percent in the first year. However, the projected cost overrun of fifteen percent has not yet been explained to the public.'" Which statement is supported by the passage?

  1. The cost overrun has been fully explained.
  2. Journey times fell to ten minutes.
  3. Ridership rose by forty percent in the first year. Correct answer.
  4. The tram line cost less than projected.

Explanation

The passage gives the ridership figure directly: a forty percent rise in the first year. This is a stated fact, not an inference. The other options contradict figures or statements in the passage.

Question 41Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The editor returned the manuscript with a single note: 'You have written three introductions. Choose one and let the reader enter the story once.' The author deleted the first two chapters and later said the book 'began' on the day that note arrived." Why does the author say the book began that day?

  1. She decided to abandon the book that day.
  2. The editor's advice gave the book its true starting point. Correct answer.
  3. The editor agreed to publish the book that day.
  4. She finished writing the whole manuscript that day.

Explanation

The editor's note told the author to remove redundant introductions and let the reader enter the story once. By cutting the first two chapters, the author found where the book should actually begin. Her remark plays on the word "began" to mean the story's true opening, not the start of her writing.

Question 42Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The community garden was built on a vacant lot that had been used for decades as an informal dumping ground. Soil tests revealed high levels of lead. Volunteers removed the top layer of soil and replaced it with clean earth before planting. Produce from the garden is now tested each season." Why is the produce tested each season?

  1. To compare the garden with other gardens
  2. To decide which vegetables grow fastest
  3. To measure how many volunteers attend
  4. To check that the soil replacement keeps the food safe Correct answer.

Explanation

The soil originally contained high lead levels, and the volunteers replaced the top layer to make the site safe. Seasonal testing of produce follows logically as a check that this remedy continues to work. The passage links the testing to the contamination problem.

Question 43Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The museum's audio guide is available in twelve languages, but a survey found that only four percent of visitors used it. Most said they preferred to read the labels. The museum has therefore decided to enlarge the labels and add short summaries beside each display, while keeping the audio guide unchanged." What does the museum's decision show?

  1. It believes the audio guide is used by most visitors.
  2. It is responding to visitors' stated preference for written information. Correct answer.
  3. It plans to reduce the number of languages offered.
  4. It intends to withdraw the audio guide.

Explanation

The survey showed that visitors preferred reading labels, and the museum acted by enlarging labels and adding summaries. This is a response to expressed preference. The audio guide is explicitly kept unchanged, so it is not being withdrawn or reduced.

Question 44Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The scientist's notebook records a failed experiment in careful detail: the temperature, the quantities used, the unexpected colour of the solution. In the margin she has written, 'Wrong, but interesting. Try again with half the acid.'" What does the margin note reveal about the scientist's attitude?

  1. She regarded the failure as worthless and moved on.
  2. She treated the unexpected result as a lead worth pursuing. Correct answer.
  3. She blamed her equipment for the failure.
  4. She was uncertain about the quantities she had used.

Explanation

The note calls the result "interesting" and proposes a specific change for the next attempt, which shows she saw value in the unexpected outcome. Recording details carefully also supports a investigative attitude. She does not dismiss the result or blame equipment.

Question 45Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The town's annual music festival began in 1998 with three local bands playing in a car park. It now draws international performers and sells out within hours. Long-time residents say the streets are too crowded that weekend, and some shops close early because staff cannot reach them through the crowds." Which statement best summarises the passage?

  1. The festival has shrunk since its first year.
  2. Local residents unanimously welcome the festival.
  3. The festival has grown greatly, bringing both prestige and local inconvenience. Correct answer.
  4. The festival no longer attracts international performers.

Explanation

The passage traces growth from three local bands to international performers selling out quickly, then notes crowding and shops closing early. This combines prestige with local inconvenience. The other options contradict the described growth or the residents' complaints.

Question 46Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The instructions on the seed packet read: 'Sow indoors in early spring. Keep the soil damp but not waterlogged. Move the seedlings outside only after the last frost, and harden them off over a week by placing them outdoors for gradually longer periods each day.'" According to the packet, what should a gardener do before moving seedlings outside permanently?

  1. Sow a second batch of seeds indoors.
  2. Keep the seedlings in complete darkness.
  3. Water the seedlings heavily every day.
  4. Place them outdoors for increasingly long periods over a week. Correct answer.

Explanation

The packet defines hardening off as placing seedlings outdoors for gradually longer periods each day over a week. This is the stated preparation before permanent outdoor planting. Heavy watering, resowing, and darkness are not part of the instructions.

Question 47Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The reviewer praised the restaurant's food but wrote that 'the service moved at the speed of a glacier on a cold day.' She added that she would return, but only on a weekday evening when the dining room was quieter." What does the reviewer imply about weekend visits?

  1. The food is better at weekends.
  2. Weekday evenings are busier than weekends.
  3. Service is likely to be even slower when the restaurant is busy. Correct answer.
  4. The restaurant is closed at weekends.

Explanation

The reviewer compares service to a glacier, meaning very slow, and says she would return only when the dining room is quieter. The implication is that a busier time, such as a weekend, would mean worse service. She recommends a quieter weekday evening for that reason.

Question 48Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The city's bicycle-sharing scheme was designed for short trips. Riders pay nothing for the first thirty minutes and a rising fee thereafter. Data show that most journeys last under fifteen minutes, but a small number of riders keep bicycles for several hours, and some of these bicycles are later found abandoned." What problem does the pricing structure fail to prevent?

  1. Riders using the scheme in the city centre
  2. Riders making short trips
  3. Riders taking bicycles for long periods Correct answer.
  4. Riders paying for the first thirty minutes

Explanation

The rising fee is meant to discourage long use, yet the data show that some riders keep bicycles for hours. The pricing therefore fails to prevent long rentals. Short trips are the scheme's intended purpose, not a problem.

Question 49Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The letter from the headteacher reads: 'We are writing to inform you that your daughter's class will visit the science museum on 14 June. Pupils should bring a packed lunch and wear comfortable shoes. The coach will leave school at 8:30 a.m. and return by 4 p.m. Please return the signed consent form by 7 June.'" What must a parent do by 7 June?

  1. Collect their daughter from the museum.
  2. Pay for the museum entrance.
  3. Bring a packed lunch to school.
  4. Return the signed consent form. Correct answer.

Explanation

The letter asks parents to return the signed consent form by 7 June. That is the only action with that deadline. The packed lunch and shoes are instructions for pupils on the day, and no payment or collection is mentioned.

Question 50Reading comprehension (long passages, detail and inference)

Passage: "The architect designed the library with a glass roof so that readers would work under natural light. After the first summer, staff reported that the building became uncomfortably hot by midday and that blinds had to be closed, defeating the purpose of the glass. A second layer of reflective glass was added the following year." What does the second layer of glass show?

  1. That the architect had always planned two layers of glass
  2. That readers preferred artificial light
  3. That the library was too small
  4. That the original design overlooked a practical consequence of its main feature Correct answer.

Explanation

The glass roof was intended to provide natural light, but it produced midday heat that forced blinds shut. Adding reflective glass corrects a problem the original design did not anticipate. This shows the design overlooked a practical consequence.