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Ishikawa Entrance English practice questions

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Question 1Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage: 'Kenji had planned to cycle to the library, but when he saw the heavy rain he decided to take the bus instead. He arrived dry, though twenty minutes later than he had hoped.' Which statement best describes why Kenji chose the bus?

  1. He wanted to arrive earlier than cycling would allow.
  2. His bicycle had a mechanical problem that morning.
  3. The rain made cycling unpleasant or impractical for him. Correct answer.
  4. The library was too far away to reach by bicycle.

Explanation

The passage states that Kenji changed his plan after seeing the heavy rain, and that the bus let him arrive dry. This causal link between the weather and his choice is what the text supports, while the delay is a consequence he accepted rather than his reason for choosing the bus.

Question 2Reading Comprehension

A passage says: 'The museum's new wing opened in April. Visitor numbers rose sharply in May and June, but the museum's café reported no increase in sales during the same period.' What can reasonably be inferred from this passage?

  1. The new wing was unpopular with visitors.
  2. The new wing attracted more visitors, but they did not spend more at the café. Correct answer.
  3. Most visitors came only to eat at the café.
  4. The café was closed for renovation during May and June.

Explanation

The passage contrasts rising visitor numbers with flat café sales, so the safe inference is that more people came without extra café spending. Any claim about closure or visitor motivation goes beyond what the text states.

Question 3Reading Comprehension

In the sentence 'Although the instructions were brief, they were remarkably clear,' what is the function of the word 'Although'?

  1. It signals a contrast between the two clauses. Correct answer.
  2. It marks the second clause as a hypothetical condition.
  3. It adds a second reason supporting the first clause.
  4. It introduces a result caused by the second clause.

Explanation

'Although' is a concessive conjunction: it sets up an expectation (brief instructions are often unclear) and then contrasts it with the surprising fact that the instructions were clear. It does not express cause, addition, or condition.

Question 4Reading Comprehension

Passage: 'When the town council proposed closing the main street to cars on weekends, shop owners feared a loss of customers. After six months, however, most reported slightly higher sales, and pedestrians said the street felt safer.' Which conclusion is best supported?

  1. Pedestrians disliked the change but shop owners supported it.
  2. The closure was a failure because shop owners opposed it at first.
  3. The feared loss of customers did not occur, and the change had some benefits. Correct answer.
  4. The council should close all streets in the town to cars.

Explanation

The passage presents an initial fear, then reports that sales were slightly higher and pedestrians felt safer. The best-supported conclusion is therefore that the feared harm did not materialise and that benefits appeared.

Question 5Reading Comprehension

Read: 'The recipe says to simmer the sauce for twenty minutes. Simmering means keeping the liquid just below boiling point, with small bubbles rising slowly.' According to the passage, what should the cook avoid?

  1. Stirring the sauce during cooking
  2. Using a lid on the pot
  3. Cooking the sauce for exactly twenty minutes
  4. Letting the sauce bubble rapidly at a full boil Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage defines simmering as keeping the liquid just below boiling with only small slow bubbles. A rapid full boil is therefore the opposite of the described technique and is what the cook should avoid.

Question 6Reading Comprehension

Passage: 'Dr. Sato's study followed 200 office workers for a year. Those who walked to work reported fewer headaches than those who drove. She cautions, however, that people who already feel unwell may choose to drive.' Why does the author include Dr. Sato's caution?

  1. To suggest that the link between walking and fewer headaches may not be causal Correct answer.
  2. To show that driving is more dangerous than walking
  3. To prove that walking causes headaches to disappear
  4. To criticise the workers for choosing to drive

Explanation

The caution raises an alternative explanation: poor health may lead people to drive rather than walk, so walking might not be the cause of fewer headaches. This is a standard move to limit causal claims from observational data.

Question 7Reading Comprehension

Which sentence uses the pronoun 'it' with a clear and correct referent?

  1. When the committee reviewed the plan, they said it needed more detail.
  2. The manager told the assistant that it would be finished by Friday.
  3. The report was long, and it was clear that everyone had read it carefully before the meeting began.
  4. My brother bought a new camera, and it takes excellent photographs. Correct answer.

Explanation

In option 2, 'it' refers unambiguously to the camera, the only singular non-human noun available, and the meaning is natural. The other options leave 'it' pointing to something unclear or grammatically mismatched.

Question 8Reading Comprehension

Passage: 'Tickets for the concert go on sale Monday at 10 a.m. Members may buy them from 9 a.m. by phone only. Online sales open to everyone at 10 a.m.' A non-member wants to buy a ticket online. When can they first do so?

  1. Sunday at 10 a.m.
  2. Monday at 9 a.m.
  3. Any time before Monday
  4. Monday at 10 a.m. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage gives members an early phone-only window at 9 a.m. and opens online sales to everyone at 10 a.m. A non-member buying online must therefore wait until Monday at 10 a.m.

Question 9Reading Comprehension

Read: 'The village festival was once held in the main square. As the square grew crowded, organisers moved the event to the riverside park, where there is more space. Some older residents still say the festival has lost its traditional atmosphere.' What is the main point of the passage?

  1. The riverside park is more beautiful than the square.
  2. The festival should return to the main square.
  3. Older residents no longer attend the festival.
  4. The festival's location changed for practical reasons, with some regret about the loss of tradition. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage explains a practical cause for the move (crowding) and notes a nostalgic reaction. A good main-idea statement captures both elements rather than picking one detail.

Question 10Reading Comprehension

In the sentence 'Having finished the report, Maya sent it to her manager,' what does the opening phrase describe?

  1. An action that the manager performed
  2. An action that happened at the same time as sending
  3. An action completed by Maya before she sent the report Correct answer.
  4. A condition that must be met before the report is written

Explanation

A participial phrase at the start of a sentence normally describes the subject of the main clause, here Maya. 'Having finished' marks an action completed before the main verb 'sent'.

Question 11Reading Comprehension

Passage: 'The company announced that it would stop using plastic packaging by 2025. Environmental groups welcomed the news but noted that the company had made a similar promise in 2018 without meeting it.' What attitude do the environmental groups show?

  1. Cautious approval combined with doubt about follow-through Correct answer.
  2. Complete indifference to the announcement
  3. Strong opposition to ending plastic packaging
  4. Unqualified support for the company's plan

Explanation

The groups 'welcomed' the news, which is approval, but they also point to a broken promise, which signals scepticism. The combination is cautious approval with doubt, not pure support or opposition.

Question 12Reading Comprehension

Which sentence correctly uses 'fewer' or 'less' according to standard written English?

  1. We had less problems with the new system than expected.
  2. There were less visitors this year than last year.
  3. The new office has fewer desks than the old one. Correct answer.
  4. This recipe uses fewer sugar than the other one.

Explanation

Standard usage pairs 'fewer' with countable plural nouns such as 'desks' and 'less' with uncountable nouns such as 'sugar'. Only option 3 follows this pattern correctly.

Question 13Reading Comprehension

Passage: 'The library now lends tools as well as books. A member may borrow up to three items at a time. Tools must be returned within one week; books may be kept for three weeks.' A member borrows one hammer and two novels on the same day. By when must all three items be returned?

  1. Within two weeks, the average of the two loan periods
  2. Within three weeks, because the member borrowed more books than tools
  3. There is no deadline because the items were borrowed together
  4. Within one week, because the hammer has the shortest loan period Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage sets a one-week limit for tools and a three-week limit for books. When a member borrows both, the earliest deadline applies to the tool, so the hammer must go back within one week.

Question 14Reading Comprehension

Read: 'Unlike her earlier novels, which were set in cities, Aoki's latest work takes place in a remote mountain village. Reviewers have praised its quiet atmosphere, though some found the pace too slow.' What does the passage suggest about the novel's setting?

  1. It is a busy city much like the ones in her earlier novels.
  2. It is a departure from the urban settings of her earlier work. Correct answer.
  3. It is the same as the setting of all her previous books.
  4. It was criticised by every reviewer.

Explanation

The phrase 'Unlike her earlier novels, which were set in cities' explicitly contrasts the new rural setting with the previous urban ones. The passage therefore presents the setting as a change.

Question 15Reading Comprehension

Passage: 'The survey found that employees who took regular short breaks made fewer errors than those who worked without stopping. However, the authors note that workers may take breaks precisely because their tasks are going well.' What is the role of the second sentence?

  1. It introduces a possible weakness in the first sentence's conclusion. Correct answer.
  2. It repeats the first sentence in different words.
  3. It explains how the survey data were collected.
  4. It gives an example supporting the survey's main finding.

Explanation

The second sentence offers a rival explanation for the correlation: good task conditions may allow breaks rather than breaks causing accuracy. This qualifies the conclusion drawn in the first sentence.

Question 16Reading Comprehension

Which sentence places the adverb in the most natural standard position?

  1. She speaks English and Japanese fluently. Correct answer.
  2. She fluently speaks English and Japanese.
  3. Fluently she speaks English and Japanese every day.
  4. She speaks fluently English and Japanese.

Explanation

Adverbs of manner normally follow the object in English, so 'speaks English and Japanese fluently' is the most natural order. Placing the adverb between the verb and its object is ungrammatical, and fronting it is marked and unusual.

Question 17Reading Comprehension

Passage: 'The city installed sensors in 500 parking spaces. Drivers use an app to see which spaces are free. Within a year, the time drivers spent searching for parking fell by 30 percent, and complaints about traffic near the shopping district dropped.' What benefit is directly reported?

  1. A rise in the number of parking spaces available
  2. A reduction in the total number of cars in the city
  3. Less time spent searching for parking and fewer traffic complaints Correct answer.
  4. Lower parking fees for app users

Explanation

The passage names two measured outcomes: search time fell by 30 percent and complaints about nearby traffic dropped. Other possible benefits are not mentioned and cannot be assumed.

Question 18Reading Comprehension

Read: 'The essay argues that homework should be limited in primary school. Its evidence, however, comes almost entirely from secondary-school studies.' What criticism does this passage make?

  1. The essay is written in an unclear style.
  2. The essay is too short to be convincing.
  3. The essay ignores the views of parents.
  4. The essay's evidence may not apply to the age group it discusses. Correct answer.

Explanation

The criticism targets a mismatch between the claim (primary school) and the evidence (secondary-school studies). Evidence from older students may not transfer to younger ones, which weakens the argument.

Question 19Reading Comprehension

In the sentence 'The teacher, who had taught for thirty years, retired in March,' what information does the clause 'who had taught for thirty years' add?

  1. It identifies which teacher retired among several.
  2. It states the reason the teacher retired.
  3. It gives extra, non-essential information about the teacher. Correct answer.
  4. It describes what the teacher did after retiring.

Explanation

The commas mark a non-defining relative clause, which adds supplementary detail rather than identifying the noun. The reader already knows which teacher is meant, so the clause is extra information.

Question 20Reading Comprehension

Passage: 'The bakery opens at 7 a.m. and usually sells out of bread by noon. On Sundays it closes at 1 p.m.; on other days it stays open until 6 p.m.' A customer arrives at 12:30 p.m. on a Sunday. What does the passage imply?

  1. The bakery closed at noon that day.
  2. The bakery is closed because it is Sunday.
  3. The bakery is open, but bread may already be sold out. Correct answer.
  4. The bakery is open and will have plenty of bread.

Explanation

On Sundays the bakery closes at 1 p.m., so 12:30 p.m. is within opening hours. However, bread usually sells out by noon, so the customer may find none left.

Question 21Reading Comprehension

Which sentence correctly uses a conditional to describe an unreal situation in the past?

  1. If I had known about the delay, I would take an earlier train.
  2. If I would have known about the delay, I would have taken an earlier train.
  3. If I had known about the delay, I would have taken an earlier train. Correct answer.
  4. If I knew about the delay, I would have taken an earlier train.

Explanation

The third conditional pairs 'if' with the past perfect ('had known') and the main clause with 'would have' plus past participle ('would have taken'). It describes an imagined past that did not happen.

Question 22Reading Comprehension

Passage: 'In the 1950s the town's harbour handled thousands of fishing boats each year. Today only a handful remain, and the old warehouses have been converted into apartments and cafés.' What change does the passage describe?

  1. A recent increase in the number of fishing boats
  2. The complete destruction of the old warehouses
  3. The construction of a new harbour elsewhere
  4. A decline in fishing activity and a reuse of harbour buildings Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage contrasts many boats in the past with only a handful today, and it notes that warehouses became apartments and cafés. Together these describe economic decline plus physical reuse.

Question 23Reading Comprehension

Read: 'Some psychologists argue that praise should focus on effort rather than ability. Telling a child "you are clever", they claim, may make the child avoid difficult tasks for fear of losing that label.' What is the reasoning behind the psychologists' argument?

  1. Praise for ability can create a fear of failure that discourages challenge. Correct answer.
  2. Children who are praised for effort always succeed at difficult tasks.
  3. Praise for ability makes children work harder on difficult tasks.
  4. Children should never be praised by adults.

Explanation

The passage links ability praise to a fear of losing the 'clever' label, which in turn leads children to avoid difficult tasks. That chain of reasoning is what supports the preference for effort praise.

Question 24Reading Comprehension

Which sentence uses 'however' correctly in punctuation?

  1. The train was delayed; however, we still arrived on time. Correct answer.
  2. The train was delayed however, we still arrived on time.
  3. The train was delayed, however we still arrived on time.
  4. The train was delayed however we still arrived on time.

Explanation

As a conjunctive adverb joining two independent clauses, 'however' needs a semicolon before it and a comma after it. Option 2 follows this pattern.

Question 25Reading Comprehension

Passage: 'The article claims that learning a musical instrument improves memory in children. It cites one study of forty students who had chosen to learn the violin. The study did not compare them with children who chose other activities.' What is the main weakness the passage identifies?

  1. The study was conducted by violin teachers.
  2. The study used too many participants to analyse.
  3. The study lasted for an unreasonably long time.
  4. The study lacked a comparison group, so other factors may explain the results. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage points out that the violin learners were not compared with children who chose different activities. Without such a comparison, it is unclear whether music or other traits of those children explain better memory.

Question 26Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'The museum's new wing opens on Friday. Entry is free for the first week, but visitors must book a timed ticket online. School groups are exempt from booking and may enter through the side gate.' According to the passage, what must ordinary visitors do during the first week?

  1. Pay a small entrance fee
  2. Book a timed ticket online Correct answer.
  3. Wait until the second week
  4. Enter through the side gate

Explanation

The passage states that entry is free but visitors must book a timed ticket online, so booking is the only requirement mentioned for ordinary visitors. Payment and the side gate apply to other groups or are not required at all.

Question 27Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'Kenji cycles to the station every morning. Last winter he began taking the bus on rainy days, and he says he now arrives at work less tired than before.' What change did Kenji make last winter?

  1. He began using the bus when it rained Correct answer.
  2. He stopped going to work by train
  3. He started cycling a longer route
  4. He moved closer to his workplace

Explanation

The passage says that last winter Kenji began taking the bus on rainy days, which is the only change described. The other options introduce details the passage never mentions.

Question 28Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'The café has removed its paper menus. Customers now scan a code at the table to see the menu on their phones. The owner says this has reduced printing costs, though some older customers ask staff for help.' What is one effect of the change mentioned in the passage?

  1. The café has raised its prices
  2. Fewer staff are employed at the café
  3. Older customers have stopped visiting
  4. Printing costs have gone down Correct answer.

Explanation

The owner states that the change has reduced printing costs, which is the effect explicitly given. The passage notes that some older customers need help but does not say they stopped coming.

Question 29Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'The town library runs a reading club on the first Saturday of each month. Children aged six to ten meet in the morning, and teenagers meet in the afternoon. Parents do not need to stay, but they must collect their children on time.' What are parents required to do?

  1. Collect their children punctually Correct answer.
  2. Register their children one month ahead
  3. Pay a fee for each session
  4. Stay with their children during the club

Explanation

The passage says parents need not stay but must collect their children on time, making punctual collection the stated requirement. The other options contradict or add to what is written.

Question 30Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'The company's sales rose sharply in spring. Managers first credited a new advertising campaign, but later analysis showed that a rival's factory closure had removed a major competitor from the market.' What did the later analysis suggest?

  1. Spring is always the strongest season for sales
  2. The rise was mainly due to a competitor leaving the market Correct answer.
  3. The advertising campaign was poorly designed
  4. Sales figures had been recorded incorrectly

Explanation

The later analysis showed that a rival's factory closure removed a competitor, implying this, rather than advertising, drove the sales rise. The passage contrasts the managers' first belief with the later finding, so the analysis points to the competitor's exit.

Question 31Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'The recipe says to brown the onions slowly. Rushing this step, the author warns, leaves them pale and sweet rather than deep and savoury.' What is the author's main point about browning onions?

  1. Slow cooking develops a deeper flavour Correct answer.
  2. Sweet onions are always preferable
  3. The step can safely be skipped
  4. Onions should be added last

Explanation

The author contrasts slow browning, which produces a deep savoury result, with rushing, which leaves onions pale and sweet. This supports the point that slow cooking develops the desired deeper flavour.

Question 32Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'The sign at the trailhead reads: The upper path is closed until June for repair. Walkers may use the lower path, but it becomes muddy after rain and is unsuitable for pushchairs.' What can a reader conclude about the lower path?

  1. It is always dry and firm
  2. It is reserved for pushchairs
  3. It is usable but has limitations Correct answer.
  4. It is closed until June

Explanation

The sign permits walkers to use the lower path while warning that it becomes muddy and is unsuitable for pushchairs, so it is usable but limited. The closure applies to the upper path, not the lower one.

Question 33Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'When the new bridge opened, journey times across the river fell by half. Yet within two years traffic had returned to its earlier level, because more drivers chose the route.' What does this example illustrate?

  1. Bridges always reduce congestion permanently
  2. Drivers prefer longer journey times
  3. Public transport is cheaper than driving
  4. Improved roads can attract additional traffic Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage shows that a faster route attracted more drivers until traffic matched earlier levels, a pattern in which improved roads generate extra traffic. The other options are not supported by the details given.

Question 34Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'The reviewer praises the novel's opening chapters as vivid and original. She then notes that the final third repeats the same scenes from a different character's view, which, she argues, weakens the book's momentum.' What is the reviewer's overall view of the novel?

  1. It is strongest in its final third
  2. It is weak throughout and should be avoided
  3. It is too short to develop its characters
  4. It is strong at first but loses pace later Correct answer.

Explanation

The reviewer calls the opening vivid and original but says the repeated final third weakens momentum, giving a mixed judgement that starts strong and weakens. This combines both halves of the review rather than selecting only one.

Question 35Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'The notice states that the swimming pool will close for three weeks from 1 August. Memberships will be extended by the same period, and swimming lessons will move to the outdoor pool at the sports centre.' What happens to memberships during the closure?

  1. They are cancelled without refund
  2. They are transferred to the sports centre
  3. They are reduced in price
  4. They are extended by three weeks Correct answer.

Explanation

The notice says memberships will be extended by the same period as the closure, which is three weeks. The other options describe actions the notice does not mention.

Question 36Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'The article describes how the village rebuilt its school after the flood. Villagers supplied labour, a local company donated materials, and former students raised money abroad. The writer stresses that no single donor paid for the building.' What point does the writer emphasise?

  1. The government refused to help the village
  2. The flood destroyed several buildings
  3. One wealthy donor funded the whole school
  4. The school was rebuilt through combined efforts Correct answer.

Explanation

The writer lists villagers, a company and former students contributing, then stresses that no single donor paid for the building, emphasising combined effort. The emphasis is on shared contribution rather than any one source.

Question 37Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'The instructions say to apply the paint in thin layers. A second coat should be added only after the first is dry to the touch. Applying thick layers, the label warns, causes cracking as the paint dries.' Why does the label warn against thick layers?

  1. They cost more than thin layers
  2. They dry too quickly to see
  3. They cannot be painted over
  4. They cause the paint to crack Correct answer.

Explanation

The label warns that applying thick layers causes cracking as the paint dries, which is the reason given. The other options are not stated in the passage.

Question 38Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'The city's bike-sharing scheme began with 300 bicycles. Vandalism and lost bikes cut the fleet to 150 within a year, so the operator introduced a deposit and tracking devices. Since then, losses have fallen sharply.' What was the effect of the deposit and tracking devices?

  1. The scheme was closed down
  2. Losses of bicycles fell sharply Correct answer.
  3. The number of bicycles was reduced
  4. Deposits were made illegal

Explanation

The passage states that since the deposit and tracking devices were introduced, losses have fallen sharply. This identifies the effect of the new measures directly.

Question 39Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'In her speech, the mayor listed the new hospital, the repaired roads and the expanded library. She did not mention the cancelled bus route, which had angered many residents.' What does the passage suggest about the mayor's speech?

  1. It gave a balanced account of her record
  2. It focused mainly on transport
  3. It was interrupted by residents
  4. It avoided an unpopular topic Correct answer.

Explanation

The mayor listed achievements but omitted the cancelled bus route that had angered residents, suggesting she avoided an unpopular subject. The passage implies selective emphasis rather than balance.

Question 40Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'The study compared two groups of students. One group reread each chapter twice; the other wrote a short summary after reading once. On a test a week later, the summary group recalled more, even though they had spent less time on the material.' What does the study suggest?

  1. Rereading is the most effective method
  2. Summarising aids later recall Correct answer.
  3. Tests should be given immediately
  4. Time spent studying guarantees better results

Explanation

The summary group recalled more a week later despite spending less time, suggesting that summarising aids retention. The study therefore challenges the idea that more time or rereading is automatically better.

Question 41Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'The letter from the council explains that the footpath will be widened. It acknowledges that some trees will be removed but states that twice as many new trees will be planted nearby.' How does the letter try to reduce concern about the trees?

  1. By delaying the work until next year
  2. By promising more trees than are lost Correct answer.
  3. By moving the footpath away from the trees
  4. By denying that any trees will be removed

Explanation

The letter admits some trees will be removed but promises that twice as many will be planted, using replacement to reduce concern. The acknowledgement is paired with a larger replanting figure.

Question 42Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'The manual advises users to charge the battery fully before first use. It adds that leaving the device plugged in overnight occasionally is harmless, but doing so every night shortens battery life over time.' What advice does the manual give about overnight charging?

  1. It is required before every use
  2. It makes the battery last longer
  3. It should never be done under any circumstances
  4. It is fine occasionally but harmful if repeated Correct answer.

Explanation

The manual says occasional overnight charging is harmless but doing it every night shortens battery life, so the advice is that it is acceptable occasionally but not repeatedly. This captures the contrast the manual draws.

Question 43Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'The exhibition displays letters written by soldiers to their families. A note beside the entrance explains that the letters were chosen not for their historical importance but for their ordinary tone, which the curator believes brings the period closer to visitors.' Why were the letters chosen?

  1. Because their everyday tone feels close to visitors Correct answer.
  2. Because they are the oldest items in the collection
  3. Because they were written by famous generals
  4. Because they describe major battles in detail

Explanation

The note says the letters were chosen for their ordinary tone, which the curator believes brings the period closer to visitors. The passage explicitly denies that historical importance was the reason.

Question 44Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'The council planted grass along the riverbank instead of building a concrete wall. When the river rose last spring, the grass held the soil in place, and the bank survived better than the walled sections downstream.' What is the passage arguing for?

  1. Using natural methods to protect riverbanks Correct answer.
  2. Draining the river during spring
  3. Building more concrete walls along rivers
  4. Moving houses away from the river

Explanation

The grass bank survived better than walled sections, so the passage supports natural methods of bank protection. The comparison is designed to favour the natural approach over concrete.

Question 45Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'The newspaper reports that the factory will close in December. It says 200 jobs will be lost, though a union representative claims the figure may be lower if some staff are transferred to the company's other site.' What does the union representative suggest?

  1. All staff will be transferred
  2. The factory will remain open
  3. The newspaper invented the story
  4. The job losses may be fewer than reported Correct answer.

Explanation

The union representative says the figure may be lower if some staff are transferred, suggesting job losses could be fewer than the reported 200. The representative does not dispute the closure itself.

Question 46Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'The coach told the team that winning was secondary. What mattered, she said, was that each player improved on a personal target set at the start of the season.' What does the coach value most?

  1. Avoiding competition altogether
  2. Beating every opposing team
  3. Individual improvement against targets Correct answer.
  4. Keeping the same targets each year

Explanation

The coach says winning is secondary and that personal improvement against targets set at the start of the season matters most. This places individual progress above results.

Question 47Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'The blog post claims that drinking coffee before bed improves sleep. It offers no evidence beyond the writer's own experience and ignores several studies that report the opposite.' How should a reader treat the blog's claim?

  1. As a well-supported scientific finding
  2. As proven by several studies
  3. With caution, because it lacks evidence Correct answer.
  4. As a widely accepted medical fact

Explanation

The post relies only on the writer's experience and ignores studies reporting the opposite, so a careful reader should treat the claim with caution. The lack of evidence is the key weakness identified.

Question 48Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'The sign in the car park says: Two hours free. Tickets must be displayed. Vehicles without a ticket may be clamped, and a release fee of 50 pounds applies.' What is the consequence of parking without displaying a ticket?

  1. The vehicle is moved to another car park
  2. The vehicle may be clamped and a fee charged Correct answer.
  3. The driver receives a warning letter
  4. The driver must pay for two hours

Explanation

The sign states that vehicles without a ticket may be clamped and that a release fee of 50 pounds applies. This is the stated consequence, so the other options are not supported.

Question 49Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'The first electric trams in the city were praised as clean and quiet. Within a decade, however, critics complained that the overhead wires spoiled the appearance of the main streets, and some argued that the trams should run underground.' What changed over the decade?

  1. The city removed all overhead wires
  2. The trams stopped running entirely
  3. The trams became noisier than before
  4. Public opinion shifted from praise to criticism Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage contrasts early praise with later complaints about the overhead wires, showing a shift in public opinion from approval to criticism. The change is in attitudes, not in the trams' operation.

Question 50Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage and answer the question. 'The charity's report shows that donations rose by 20 per cent last year. It notes, however, that most of the increase came from one large corporate gift, and that individual donations stayed the same.' What concern does the report raise?

  1. Individual donors gave more than before
  2. The rise depended on a single large gift Correct answer.
  3. The charity spent too much money
  4. Donations fell overall last year

Explanation

The report notes that most of the increase came from one large corporate gift, suggesting the rise is not broadly based. Individual donations staying the same supports this concern.