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NSSCO English First Language 6095 study materials
NSSCO English First Language 6095 study resources

NSSCO English First Language 6095 practice questions

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Question 1Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read this sentence: 'Although the rain had stopped, the pitch remained waterlogged, so the match was postponed.' What explicit reason does the passage give for postponing the match?

  1. The teams had not yet arrived
  2. The pitch was still waterlogged Correct answer.
  3. The rain was still falling heavily
  4. The referee was unavailable

Explanation

Explicit meaning is stated directly in the text. The sentence links the waterlogged pitch to the postponement with 'so', making that the stated cause. The rain had already stopped, so it cannot be the reason given.

Question 2Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

A notice reads: 'Learners may collect their results from the office between 08:00 and 13:00 only.' Which statement is supported by explicit information in the notice?

  1. Learners must telephone the office first
  2. Results will be posted to learners' homes
  3. Results can be collected at any time of day
  4. Results are available at the office until 13:00 Correct answer.

Explanation

The word 'only' restricts collection to the stated hours, so 13:00 is the closing time. The notice gives no instruction about telephoning or posting. Reading the time limit literally is what the question rewards.

Question 3Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'Thandi glanced at the clock, then at the door, and began packing her bag slowly.' What does her behaviour most strongly suggest?

  1. She is angry about the time
  2. She has forgotten what she came to do
  3. She is eager to leave immediately
  4. She is waiting for someone and feels reluctant to leave Correct answer.

Explanation

Implicit meaning is inferred from clues rather than stated outright. Glancing at the clock and door signals waiting, while packing 'slowly' signals reluctance. Together the details point to someone delaying departure.

Question 4Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Which option best describes the difference between explicit and implicit meaning in a reading passage?

  1. Explicit meaning appears in headings; implicit meaning appears in the body
  2. Explicit meaning is found only in fiction; implicit meaning only in non-fiction
  3. Explicit meaning is the writer's opinion; implicit meaning is factual
  4. Explicit meaning is stated directly; implicit meaning is suggested and must be inferred Correct answer.

Explanation

Explicit meaning is information the text states plainly, while implicit meaning is conveyed through hints, tone and implication. Readers construct implicit meaning by drawing inferences from evidence. The distinction concerns how meaning is conveyed, not text type or layout.

Question 5Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

A brochure states: 'Our guided walks depart daily at sunrise and last approximately three hours.' Which inference is best supported?

  1. Walkers must bring their own food
  2. Walkers should expect to finish in the morning Correct answer.
  3. The walks are suitable only for experts
  4. The walks are cancelled in winter

Explanation

If a walk begins at sunrise and lasts about three hours, it ends in the morning. This follows logically from the explicit times given. The brochure says nothing about winter, food or expertise, so those inferences lack support.

Question 6Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The hall fell silent as the principal rose. Even the youngest learners stopped fidgeting.' What is the effect created by the second sentence?

  1. It shows the principal was unpopular
  2. It suggests the learners were bored
  3. It implies the hall was too small
  4. It emphasises how complete the silence was Correct answer.

Explanation

The second sentence supplies concrete evidence of the silence described in the first. By noting that even the youngest, usually restless, learners stopped moving, the writer stresses how total the quiet was. The effect is emphasis through example.

Question 7Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Which statement about a text's main idea is correct?

  1. It is the same as the title of the passage
  2. It is always stated in the first sentence
  3. It is the most detailed example in the passage
  4. It is the central point the whole passage is built around Correct answer.

Explanation

The main idea is the controlling point that the supporting details develop. It may be stated anywhere or left implicit, so its position cannot be assumed. Titles and examples support or reflect it rather than define it.

Question 8Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The clinic opens at seven, yet by half past six the queue already stretched past the gate.' What does the sentence imply about the clinic?

  1. It is located in a remote area
  2. It has too few staff to open
  3. It opens later than advertised
  4. Demand for its services is high Correct answer.

Explanation

Arriving well before opening and forming a long queue implies that many people want the service. The contrast word 'yet' highlights the unexpected early crowd. Nothing suggests late opening, understaffing or remoteness.

Question 9Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The committee's report was thorough; it examined every complaint, interviewed all parties and cited each regulation in full.' Which word best characterises the report as described?

  1. Biased
  2. Brief
  3. Hasty
  4. Meticulous Correct answer.

Explanation

The listed actions, examining everything, interviewing everyone and citing regulations in full, all point to careful, thorough work. 'Meticulous' captures that attention to detail. The other options contradict the evidence in the sentence.

Question 10Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'Far from being a nuisance, the stray dogs kept the rats away from the grain store.' What is the writer's attitude towards the stray dogs?

  1. They should be removed immediately
  2. They are a serious danger to the community
  3. They are more useful than troublesome Correct answer.
  4. They are irrelevant to the grain store

Explanation

The phrase 'far from being a nuisance' explicitly rejects the negative view and replaces it with a benefit. Keeping rats from the grain store shows practical value. The attitude is therefore favourable rather than critical.

Question 11Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The new road was completed on schedule. Whether it was completed within budget is another question entirely.' What does the second sentence imply?

  1. The road was finished late
  2. The road was built without permission
  3. The road may have cost more than planned Correct answer.
  4. The road has not yet been opened

Explanation

By separating the schedule from the budget and calling the latter 'another question entirely', the writer implies doubt about cost control. The implication is that the budget may have been exceeded. The first sentence already confirms the schedule was met.

Question 12Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

A writer notes: 'Some claim the new tax will boost revenue. The evidence for this, however, remains thin.' What is the writer doing in the second sentence?

  1. Repeating the claim in different words
  2. Changing the subject to an unrelated matter
  3. Confirming the claim with strong data
  4. Qualifying a claim by questioning its supporting evidence Correct answer.

Explanation

The contrast word 'however' signals a shift from reporting a claim to evaluating it. Saying the evidence is 'thin' questions the claim's basis without denying it outright. This is a qualification rather than a repetition or a change of topic.

Question 13Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'She read the letter twice, folded it carefully and placed it in the drawer without a word.' What is implied about her reaction to the letter?

  1. She is affected by its contents but conceals her feelings Correct answer.
  2. She did not understand the letter
  3. She found the letter amusing
  4. She intends to reply immediately

Explanation

Reading twice suggests the contents matter, while folding carefully and silence suggest controlled emotion. The absence of speech and the deliberate actions imply concealed feelings. Nothing indicates amusement, confusion or an immediate reply.

Question 14Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The market, once the beating heart of the town, now stands half empty on Saturdays.' What does the metaphor 'beating heart' convey about the market's former role?

  1. It was located at the town's geographical centre
  2. It was a place where medical care was provided
  3. It was noisy and disorganised
  4. It was the centre of the town's activity and life Correct answer.

Explanation

A 'beating heart' suggests the source of vitality and central activity. Applied to the market, it conveys that the market once animated the town's daily life. The contrast with 'half empty' reinforces how much has been lost.

Question 15Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The instructions were clear. Nevertheless, half the class assembled the model incorrectly.' What is the function of 'Nevertheless' in this passage?

  1. It introduces a cause for the incorrect assembly
  2. It concludes the passage with a summary
  3. It adds a further example of clarity
  4. It signals a contrast between clear instructions and poor results Correct answer.

Explanation

'Nevertheless' is a contrastive connector showing that the second statement is surprising given the first. It highlights the gap between clear instructions and incorrect assembly. It does not explain the cause or summarise the text.

Question 16Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'Volunteers are asked to arrive at 06:00. Latecomers cannot be accommodated, as the bus leaves promptly.' Why does the writer give the reason for the arrival time?

  1. To criticise the bus driver
  2. To explain why punctuality is essential Correct answer.
  3. To suggest the schedule may change
  4. To discourage people from volunteering

Explanation

The subordinating 'as' introduces a reason: the bus leaves promptly. This explains why latecomers cannot be accommodated and therefore why arriving on time matters. The purpose is practical explanation, not discouragement or criticism.

Question 17Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'His apology was long, elaborate and full of quotations, but it never once mentioned the damage he had caused.' What does the passage imply about the apology?

  1. It avoided the central issue it should have addressed Correct answer.
  2. It was too short to be taken seriously
  3. It was sincere and complete
  4. It was well received by those affected

Explanation

The 'but' clause contrasts the apology's length with its failure to mention the actual damage. This implies that its elaboration concealed an omission of the main point. Length and quotation do not equal sincerity or relevance.

Question 18Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The old bridge carries a single lane of traffic. Engineers warn that it was designed for carts, not lorries.' What conclusion is best supported by both sentences together?

  1. The engineers designed the bridge themselves
  2. The bridge is no longer used by any traffic
  3. The bridge is under strain because it is used beyond its original purpose Correct answer.
  4. The bridge should be widened to carry more lorries

Explanation

Combining the single lane with the warning about lorries shows that current use exceeds the original design. The supported conclusion is that the bridge is strained by inappropriate traffic. Widening is a solution not stated in the text.

Question 19Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The festival programme promised something for everyone: jazz for the traditionalists, drumming for the energetic and storytelling for the young.' What is the effect of the list that follows the colon?

  1. It illustrates the claim that the programme offers variety Correct answer.
  2. It shows the programme is too expensive
  3. It proves the festival is disorganised
  4. It suggests the festival is only for children

Explanation

The colon introduces examples that support the claim 'something for everyone'. Each item addresses a different audience, demonstrating variety. The list therefore substantiates the opening claim rather than introducing new criticisms.

Question 20Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The letter was polite, correct and entirely without warmth.' What does the writer suggest about the letter's tone?

  1. It was formally proper but emotionally cold Correct answer.
  2. It was friendly and personal
  3. It was rude and aggressive
  4. It was poorly written and full of errors

Explanation

'Polite' and 'correct' establish formal propriety, while 'without warmth' denies any emotional feeling. The contrast shows a tone that is proper on the surface but cold beneath. This is a nuanced judgement built on the final phrase.

Question 21Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'Supporters of the scheme point to its efficiency; critics question its fairness. Both sides, it must be said, argue from the same incomplete data.' What is the writer's own position?

  1. Both sides rely on evidence that is insufficient Correct answer.
  2. The supporters are correct about efficiency
  3. The scheme should be abandoned immediately
  4. The critics are correct about fairness

Explanation

The writer reports both sides neutrally and then adds a comment applying to both: they argue from 'the same incomplete data'. The writer's own view is therefore about the quality of evidence on both sides. Endorsing either side or calling for abandonment goes beyond the text.

Question 22Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'It would be generous to call the proposal ambitious.' What does the writer imply about the proposal?

  1. It is modest but achievable
  2. It is unrealistic to the point of being foolish Correct answer.
  3. It is too expensive to fund
  4. It is impressively far-sighted

Explanation

The structure 'it would be generous to call it X' is ironic: the writer implies a harsher description is more accurate. Since 'ambitious' is offered only as a charitable alternative, the proposal is being judged as overreaching or unwise. The tone is sceptical, not admiring.

Question 23Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The committee met for three hours. It agreed to meet again next week.' Which comment best describes the relationship between these two sentences?

  1. The second sentence implies the first meeting failed to reach a decision Correct answer.
  2. The second sentence contradicts the first
  3. The second sentence repeats the first in different words
  4. The second sentence gives a reason for the meeting's length

Explanation

A long meeting followed by an agreement to reconvene implies that the matter was not resolved. The reader infers this from the juxtaposition rather than from any explicit statement. The second sentence adds information rather than repeating or contradicting.

Question 24Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The speaker paused, looked at the audience and said, "I could list our achievements, but you already know them."' Why does the speaker avoid listing the achievements?

  1. The speaker has forgotten what the achievements are
  2. The speaker believes there are no achievements
  3. The audience's shared knowledge is being acknowledged and flattered Correct answer.
  4. The speaker is running out of time

Explanation

The clause 'you already know them' treats the audience as informed insiders, which both respects them and builds rapport. The speaker's point is rhetorical, not a failure of memory or time. The implied message is shared pride in the achievements.

Question 25Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The town's new library is small. It is also the most visited building in the district.' What is the effect of placing these two statements side by side?

  1. It shows the district has few public buildings
  2. It proves the library is too small for its users
  3. It suggests the library should be expanded
  4. It highlights that size does not determine importance Correct answer.

Explanation

The juxtaposition sets a limitation against an achievement, creating the contrast that smallness has not prevented success. The reader is invited to conclude that size is not the measure of value. The other options go beyond what the contrast supports.

Question 26Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

A passage states: 'The dam was finished two years ahead of schedule, a fact the minister repeated at every public appearance.' Which inference about the minister is best supported by the text?

  1. He personally supervised the engineers who built the dam.
  2. He regards the early completion as a political asset worth publicising. Correct answer.
  3. He is unsure whether the dam is actually complete.
  4. He believes the dam should have taken longer to build.

Explanation

The detail that he 'repeated' the fact 'at every public appearance' signals that he treats the achievement as useful publicity. Nothing in the sentence tells us he supervised the work, doubted completion, or wished it slower, so those readings go beyond the evidence.

Question 27Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The recipe says to simmer for twenty minutes. My grandmother never timed anything; she simply knew when it was ready.' What does the second sentence suggest about the grandmother?

  1. She thought twenty minutes was far too short.
  2. She relied on experienced judgement rather than measured instructions. Correct answer.
  3. She preferred recipes that required no cooking.
  4. She was unable to read the recipe correctly.

Explanation

The contrast between a timed instruction and the grandmother's untimed certainty shows she cooked by feel and experience. The text does not imply illiteracy, dislike of cooking, or a view on the timing, so those readings are unsupported.

Question 28Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The council described the consultation as open to all. The meetings, however, were held on weekday mornings in a building with no bus service.' What is the writer's point about the consultation?

  1. The council held too many meetings for people to attend.
  2. Weekday mornings are the most popular time for public meetings.
  3. The building was chosen because it is easy to reach.
  4. Its practical arrangements undercut the claim that everyone could take part. Correct answer.

Explanation

The word 'however' signals a gap between the stated openness and the barriers of timing and access. The writer is exposing the difference between a claim and the reality of who could realistically attend.

Question 29Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The team lost every match that season. Their captain, asked to comment, said only that the players had learned a great deal.' What does the captain's reply most likely do?

  1. It avoids dwelling on the defeats by stressing a different kind of gain. Correct answer.
  2. It announces that the captain is leaving the team.
  3. It blames the players for the poor results.
  4. It confirms that the team won several matches after all.

Explanation

Saying 'only' that the players 'had learned a great deal' shifts attention from the losses to a consolation benefit. The reply is deliberately restrained and does not deny the defeats or attack anyone.

Question 30Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The museum's new wing cost more than the entire original building. Visitors, it seems, mostly come to see the old galleries.' What does the second sentence imply about the new wing?

  1. It attracts far more visitors than the original galleries.
  2. It has been closed to the public since opening.
  3. It has not delivered the public interest that its cost might have justified. Correct answer.
  4. It was cheaper to build than the original building.

Explanation

Placing the enormous cost beside the visitors' preference for the old galleries suggests the new wing has not earned its expense in public attention. The sentence compares visitor interest, not admission policy.

Question 31Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The letter thanked the donors for their 'generous contribution'. It was signed by an assistant who had never met them.' What is the most reasonable inference?

  1. The donors had given very little money.
  2. The assistant refused to sign the letter.
  3. The warmth of the wording may not reflect any personal knowledge of the donors. Correct answer.
  4. The donors and the assistant were close friends.

Explanation

The contrast between the formal gratitude and the signatory's lack of contact with the donors suggests the thanks are conventional rather than personal. The text gives no information about the size of the gift.

Question 32Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The school's new timetable was announced in June. Parents learned of the changes from their children in September.' What does the passage suggest about the announcement?

  1. It was deliberately kept secret from teachers.
  2. It failed to reach the people it was meant to inform. Correct answer.
  3. It was welcomed enthusiastically by parents.
  4. It was repeated several times over the summer.

Explanation

If parents only discovered the changes through their children months later, the official announcement did not effectively reach them. The passage describes a communication failure, not a reaction or a deliberate concealment.

Question 33Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The village well was repaired in 1998. The plaque recording the fact is now more carefully maintained than the well itself.' What is the writer drawing attention to?

  1. A tendency to honour an achievement while neglecting what was achieved. Correct answer.
  2. The high quality of the repairs carried out in 1998.
  3. The importance of plaques in village life.
  4. A plan to build a second well for the village.

Explanation

The comparison between the well-kept plaque and the neglected well points to a gap between commemorating a repair and maintaining its result. The irony lies in caring for the record more than the object.

Question 34Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'Asked whether the figures were accurate, the director replied that they were 'the best available'.' What does the reply avoid doing?

  1. Confirming that the figures are actually correct. Correct answer.
  2. Mentioning the word 'figures'.
  3. Answering the question at all.
  4. Referring to the person who asked.

Explanation

Calling the figures 'the best available' says only that nothing better exists, which sidesteps the question of accuracy. The reply is evasive because it neither confirms nor denies correctness.

Question 35Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The novel sold poorly for a decade. Then a single reviewer praised it, and within a year it was on every school syllabus.' What does the passage suggest about the novel's reputation?

  1. It sold well before the reviewer wrote about it.
  2. It depended heavily on one influential endorsement rather than on gradual discovery. Correct answer.
  3. It was an immediate success when first published.
  4. It was rejected by schools because of the reviewer.

Explanation

The sharp change after 'a single reviewer praised it' indicates that one voice of influence transformed the book's standing. The phrase 'sold poorly for a decade' rules out early success.

Question 36Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The guidebook calls the trail 'suitable for all abilities'. The same page advises walkers to carry two litres of water and a map.' What does the advice imply about the trail?

  1. It has no water sources and no paths.
  2. It is more demanding than the description suggests. Correct answer.
  3. It is closed to walkers during summer.
  4. It is too short to require any preparation.

Explanation

Advising substantial water and a map implies real risk and effort, which sits uneasily with the claim that the trail suits everyone. The reader is expected to notice the gap between the label and the precautions.

Question 37Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'My brother claims he can fix anything. Last month he repaired the gate. It now opens in a way no gate has ever opened.' What is the effect of the final sentence?

  1. It gently undermines the brother's claim through ironic understatement. Correct answer.
  2. It explains exactly how the gate was repaired.
  3. It proves that the brother is a skilled craftsman.
  4. It shows that the gate was never broken.

Explanation

Describing the gate's movement as unlike anything that has ever happened is a comic way of saying the repair failed. The understatement mocks the earlier boast without direct accusation.

Question 38Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The report recommends 'further consultation'. It does not say with whom, for how long, or to what purpose.' What is the writer's criticism of the recommendation?

  1. It proposes consulting too many specific groups.
  2. It rejects consultation altogether.
  3. It sets an unreasonably short deadline.
  4. It is too vague to guide any actual action. Correct answer.

Explanation

Listing the missing details shows that the phrase 'further consultation' is empty of practical content. The criticism targets vagueness, not the number of groups or the length of a deadline.

Question 39Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'The witness described the car as 'dark'. Pressed further, she added that it was 'the kind of dark you notice'.' What does the second remark reveal about her evidence?

  1. It identifies the car's make and model with confidence.
  2. It offers an impression rather than the precise detail the questioner needed. Correct answer.
  3. It shows she saw nothing at all.
  4. It contradicts her earlier description of the colour.

Explanation

The added phrase conveys a felt impression of the colour rather than a factual specification such as shade or registration. It shows the witness is willing to elaborate but cannot supply precise identifying detail.

Question 40Reading comprehension: understanding and interpreting explicit and implicit meaning in a range of texts

Read: 'Every year the company publishes a report on staff wellbeing. Every year the section on workload is the shortest.' What does the pattern imply?

  1. Staff wellbeing has improved every year.
  2. Workload is the least serious problem the staff face.
  3. The company employs very few staff.
  4. The report may be shaped to avoid the most sensitive issue. Correct answer.

Explanation

The repeated shortness of the workload section, in a report otherwise devoted to wellbeing, hints that the most awkward topic is being played down. The pattern is suggestive rather than proof, but it points to selective emphasis.

Question 41Summary and information retrieval: selecting and condensing relevant points from a text

A summary task asks you to condense a passage to about 90 words. Which approach best matches what examiners reward in a summary question?

  1. Writing a personal opinion on the passage's argument
  2. Restating the main points in your own words, joined into connected sentences Correct answer.
  3. Listing every example and statistic from the passage in note form
  4. Copying the opening and closing sentences of each paragraph in full

Explanation

A summary must be selective and in your own words, so the marker looks for the central points rephrased and linked coherently. Lifting whole sentences or piling up examples shows retrieval without condensation, and personal opinion belongs to a different task type entirely.

Question 42Summary and information retrieval: selecting and condensing relevant points from a text

In a summary task, which sentence would normally be treated as a main point rather than supporting detail?

  1. For example, the town's market opens at six on Saturdays.
  2. According to one trader, sales rose by 12 per cent last spring.
  3. The market has traded on the same cobbled square since 1841.
  4. Riverside Council has banned cars from the high street on market days. Correct answer.

Explanation

A main point states the central idea or decision that the passage is built around, and a council ban is a substantive piece of information. The other sentences are illustrations, quoted evidence or background colour that support such a point rather than carry it.

Question 43Summary and information retrieval: selecting and condensing relevant points from a text

A passage contains the sentence: 'The scheme was expensive, slow to build and, in the end, quietly abandoned.' Which summary version best preserves the meaning while condensing?

  1. The scheme was quietly abandoned despite its cost and slow construction. Correct answer.
  2. The scheme was expensive, slow to build and quietly abandoned in the end.
  3. The scheme was expensive and slow to build.
  4. The scheme was abandoned because it was expensive.

Explanation

A good condensed version keeps all three elements of the original judgement - cost, delay and abandonment - while reducing the wording. It must not add a causal link the original never states, nor drop one of the listed features.

Question 44Summary and information retrieval: selecting and condensing relevant points from a text

You are asked to summarise a passage in no more than 60 words. Which habit most often causes candidates to lose marks on this kind of task?

  1. Changing the passage's vocabulary into your own phrasing
  2. Reordering the points so related ideas sit together
  3. Using connectives such as 'however' and 'therefore' to link points
  4. Including illustrative examples and repeated statistics Correct answer.

Explanation

Summary marks depend on selecting the essential points and expressing them economically, so padding with examples and figures wastes the word allowance. Linking words, sensible reordering and rewording are all expected features of a good summary.

Question 45Summary and information retrieval: selecting and condensing relevant points from a text

A passage argues that school uniforms reduce morning stress for families. Which sentence, if included in a summary, would be an unsupported addition rather than a retrieved point?

  1. Uniforms are said to reduce stress on families at the start of the day.
  2. Uniforms remove the daily debate about what to wear.
  3. Uniforms simplify the choices children face before lessons.
  4. Uniforms should be compulsory in every school in the country. Correct answer.

Explanation

A summary reports only what the passage claims; recommending a national policy goes beyond the text and imports the writer's or candidate's opinion. The other options restate the passage's point about reduced stress and simpler choices.

Question 46Summary and information retrieval: selecting and condensing relevant points from a text

Which opening best signals that a summary is condensing a longer passage rather than quoting it?

  1. In my view the festival has become far too commercial in recent years.
  2. The festival, which began in 1998, attracted record crowds last August.
  3. The passage explains how the festival grew and why organisers changed the site. Correct answer.
  4. The writer says, and I quote, that the festival 'attracted record crowds'.

Explanation

A summary opening normally frames the whole passage, naming its subject and the aspects it covers, which is what an overview sentence does. Quotation, isolated detail and personal opinion all fail to signal a condensed account of the source.

Question 47Summary and information retrieval: selecting and condensing relevant points from a text

A passage states: 'Critics claim the new bridge will spoil the estuary; supporters reply that it will cut journey times by half.' Which summary sentence best captures the passage's content?

  1. The bridge will spoil the estuary and should not be built.
  2. Journey times will be cut by half once the bridge opens.
  3. The bridge has divided opinion between concern about the estuary and claims of faster journeys. Correct answer.
  4. The estuary is an important habitat that must be protected.

Explanation

The passage presents two opposing views, so the summary must record the disagreement and both sides of it. Selecting only one side, or adopting a side, misrepresents the balanced content of the original.

Question 48Summary and information retrieval: selecting and condensing relevant points from a text

When selecting points for a summary, which text features most reliably signal that a sentence contains a key idea?

  1. The sentence contains a direct quotation
  2. The sentence introduces a new topic or a conclusion Correct answer.
  3. The sentence is the longest in its paragraph
  4. The sentence appears in the final paragraph

Explanation

Topic sentences and concluding statements typically announce or draw together the central ideas, which is why they are the first place to look when selecting points. Length, quotation and position alone are unreliable indicators of importance.

Question 49Summary and information retrieval: selecting and condensing relevant points from a text

A 500-word passage is to be summarised in 100 words. Roughly how should the summary be organised?

  1. A list of bullet points in the exact order of the original
  2. A brief overview followed by the main points grouped logically Correct answer.
  3. A paragraph for each of the original's paragraphs, one sentence each
  4. One sentence for the introduction, then every remaining sentence copied in order

Explanation

Summaries are judged on selection and coherence, so an overview plus logically grouped main points serves the reader best. Preserving the original's paragraph structure or order is not required and often produces a shapeless list.

Question 50Summary and information retrieval: selecting and condensing relevant points from a text

A passage says: 'Many people assume recycling is the answer, but reducing what we buy has a far greater effect.' Which summary version keeps the writer's emphasis?

  1. Recycling is the answer to waste for many people.
  2. Recycling has a far greater effect than many people assume.
  3. Reducing purchases matters more than recycling, although recycling is often assumed to be the solution. Correct answer.
  4. People should buy fewer things and recycle more.

Explanation

The writer uses contrast to subordinate recycling and stress reduction, so the summary must preserve that ranking of ideas. Flattening the contrast into two equal recommendations, or reversing it, changes the writer's meaning.