RSL 11+ Comprehension

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RSL 11+ Comprehension: Multiple Choice, Book 1 For the exclusive use of the purchaser – © RSL Educational Ltd

RSL 11+ Comprehension: Multiple Choice Book 1

The papers in this book are accompanied by detailed, teaching mark schemes, offering careful guidance for each question. These explain the essential skills to students of all abilities, providing a thorough preparation for any multiple-choice comprehension test. They are structured in different ways, so that students will learn not to be daunted by an unfamiliar format.

Some papers give four options for each question, A to D, while others offer five, A to E. This means that the common formats of GL, CEM and independent school tests are covered. There is no meaningful difference in the technique required for these two question styles, so all the papers will be suitable for any student.

The papers focus on multiple-choice comprehension skills. They don’t include other tasks that appear in some exams, such as cloze (fill in the gap) exercises.

If you want to practise with separate answer sheets, you can find them at the back of this book.

If you find this book useful, you might be interested in my 11 Plus Lifeline service at www.11pluslifeline.com. 11 Plus Lifeline offers printable resources for all 11+ exam types, covering comprehension, creative writing, maths and reasoning (verbal and non-verbal). It does not repeat any material from my books.

How to use this pack: Advice for students

These materials can be used in many different ways. You may choose to start by working on one question at a time, checking each answer against my solutions.

When you’re correcting your work, it’s a good idea to take notes of any important points: this will help you remember them.

These papers will be most useful if you complete them in order. Although each test and mark sheet can stand alone, when used in sequence they will build up your skills steadily.

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Several ability-graded time limits are provided at the top of each paper. I recommend that you ignore them! The papers in this book will be most useful without such limits, because they focus on teaching strong technique. When the right skills have been acquired, it is usually a fairly simple matter to speed them up. Timing problems are almost always caused by a lack of confidence with core techniques.

If you do choose to complete some papers under timed conditions, bear in mind that the shortest optional allowance is extremely difficult and only for people who want a real challenge. You don’t need to be able to finish one of these papers in 15 minutes in order to do well in an 11+ exam!

Make use of the scissor lines! If you cut out the comprehension passages and the answer sheets, you’ll avoid having to flick to and fro.

Also Available

11 Plus Lifeline (printable resources for all subjects): www.11pluslifeline.com RSL Creative Writing (several volumes) RSL 11+ Comprehension: Multiple Choice, Book 2 (coming soon) RSL 11+ Comprehension (written answers – standard format) RSL 11+ Comprehension, Volume 2 RSL 11+ Maths RSL 8+ to 10+ Comprehension

RSL 13+ Comprehension GCSE Maths by RSL, Higher Level (9-1), Non-Calculator GCSE Spanish by RSL, Volume 1: Listening, Speaking GCSE Spanish by RSL, Volume 2: Reading, Writing, Translation GCSE French by RSL, Volume 1: Listening, Speaking GCSE French by RSL, Volume 2: Reading, Writing, Translation GCSE German by RSL, Volume 1: Listening, Speaking GCSE German by RSL, Volume 2: Reading, Writing, Translation

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Contents

1 White Fang standard level 5

Guidance and solutions 18

2 Armies in the Fire standard level 33


3 Pterosaurs intermediate level 63


4 Ethan Frome challenging level 91


5 Dracula challenging level 115


6 Mary Seacole advanced level 139


Answer Sheets (optional) 171

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White Fang

Standard Level

Jack London’s White Fang follows the lives of dogs, wolves and humans in Canada and the United States during the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1890s. The book has been made into several films.

Building your skills? Take as long as you need. Starting to time your work? Allow 30 minutes. Close to the exam? Allow 20 minutes, or 15 for a real challenge.

The day began auspiciously. They had lost no dogs during the night, and they swung out upon the trail and into the silence, the darkness, and the cold with spirits that were fairly light. Bill seemed to have forgotten his forebodings of the previous night, and even waxed facetious with the dogs when, at midday, they overturned the sled on a bad piece of trail. 5

It was an awkward mix-up. The sled was upside down and jammed between a tree-trunk and a huge rock, and they were forced to unharness the dogs in order to straighten out the tangle. The two men were bent over the sled and trying to right it, when Henry observed One Ear sidling away.

“Here, you, One Ear!” he cried, straightening up and turning around on the dog. 10

But One Ear broke into a run across the snow, his traces trailing behind him. And there, out in the snow of their back track, was the she-wolf waiting for him. As he neared her, he became suddenly cautious. He slowed down to an alert and mincing walk and then stopped. He regarded her carefully and dubiously, yet 15

desirefully. She seemed to smile at him, showing her teeth in an ingratiating rather than a menacing way. She moved toward him a few steps, playfully, and then halted. One Ear 20

drew near to her, still alert and cautious, his tail and ears in the air, his head held high.

He tried to sniff noses with her, but she retreated playfully and coyly. Every 25

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advance on his part was accompanied by a corresponding retreat on her part. Step by step she was luring him away from the security of his human companionship. Once, as though a warning had in vague ways flitted through his intelligence, he turned his head and looked back at the overturned sled, at his team-mates, and at the two men who were calling to him. 30

But whatever idea was forming in his mind, was dissipated by the she-wolf, who advanced upon him, sniffed noses with him for a fleeting instant, and then resumed her coy retreat before his renewed advances.

In the meantime, Bill had bethought himself of the rifle. But it was jammed beneath the overturned sled, and by the time Henry had helped him to right the load, One Ear 35 and the she-wolf were too close together and the distance too great to risk a shot.

Too late One Ear learned his mistake. Before they saw the cause, the two men saw him turn and start to run back toward them. Then, approaching at right angles to the trail and cutting off his retreat they saw a dozen wolves, lean and grey, bounding across the snow. On the instant, the she-wolf’s coyness and playfulness disappeared. With a 40

snarl she sprang upon One Ear. He thrust her off with his shoulder, and, his retreat cut off and still intent on regaining the sled, he altered his course in an attempt to circle around to it. More wolves were appearing every moment and joining in the chase. The she-wolf was one leap behind One Ear and holding her own.

“Where are you goin’?” Henry suddenly demanded, laying his hand on his partner’s 45

arm.

Bill shook it off. “I won’t stand it,” he said. “They ain’t a-goin’ to get any more of our dogs if I can help it.”

Gun in hand, he plunged into the underbrush that lined the side of the trail. His intention was apparent enough. Taking the sled as the centre of the circle that One Ear 50

was making, Bill planned to tap that circle at a point in advance of the pursuit. With his rifle, in the broad daylight, it might be possible for him to awe the wolves and save the dog.

“Say, Bill!” Henry called after him. “Be careful! Don’t take no chances!”

Henry sat down on the sled and watched. There was nothing else for him to do. Bill 55 had already gone from sight; but now and again, appearing and disappearing amongst the underbrush and the scattered clumps of spruce, could be seen One Ear. Henry judged his case to be hopeless. The dog was thoroughly alive to its danger, but it was running on the outer circle while the wolf-pack was running on the inner and shorter circle. It was vain to think of One Ear so outdistancing his pursuers as to be 60 able to cut across their circle in advance of them and to regain the sled.

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The different lines were rapidly approaching a point. Somewhere out there in the snow, screened from his sight by trees and thickets, Henry knew that the wolf-pack, One Ear, and Bill were coming together. All too quickly, far more quickly than he had expected, it happened. He heard a shot, then two shots, in rapid succession, and he 65 knew that Bill’s ammunition was gone. Then he heard a great outcry of snarls and yelps. He recognised One Ear’s yell of pain and terror, and he heard a wolf-cry that bespoke a stricken animal. And that was all. The snarls ceased. The yelping died away. Silence settled down again over the lonely land.

He sat for a long while upon the sled. There was no need for him to go and see what 70

had happened. He knew it as though it had taken place before his eyes.

From White Fang by Jack London

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Depending on the exam style that you’re preparing for, you may choose to use one of the answer sheets at the back of this book, or to write your answers in the spaces provided, like this:

8. How many dibbles are in a squiggle?

A This many B That many C More or less D Half of B

Answer: ………

B

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Section A

You must choose the best answer to each question.

1. What is meant by the phrase “with spirits that were fairly light” (lines 2-3)?

A The men have drunk most of the whisky in their bottles. B The men are full of jollity and enthusiasm. C The men feel a dark foreboding. D The men feel reasonably positive and relaxed.

Answer: ………

2. Which option best conveys Bill’s first reaction when the sled overturns?

A He forgets his good mood and is furious. B Because he is in a good mood, he greets the accident with amusement. C He is horrified. D He is in a bad mood, but still manages to see the funny side.

Answer: ………

3. Which of these things is not stated in paragraph 2?

A A dog begins to sneak away. B The sled is trapped between two objects. C The men have to use the dogs to try and pull the sled free. D Freeing the sled is a complex job.

Answer: ………

4. One Ear runs away because …

A he doesn’t want to help free the sled. B he wants to meet a female wolf whose presence he has sensed. C he is cautious. D he is trying the steal the traces.

Answer: ………

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5. What is suggested by “in an ingratiating rather than a menacing way” (lines 17-18)?

A In an ungrateful – though not intimidating – fashion B Aggressively, inspiring fear C In an amicable but intimidating way D In a friendly, unthreatening manner

Answer: ………

6. How does the female wolf lure One Ear away from safety?

A She makes him think that the humans are behind her. B She doesn’t quite let him sniff noses, walking back a little each time he tries. C Each time he sniffs her nose, she walks back further. D She makes him realise that he can be free and happy without humans.

Answer: ………

7. What happens in lines 27-30?

A One Ear seems to have a vague sense that he is in danger, and looks back at the sled. B The wolf warns One Ear about the humans. C One Ear feels guilty, and wonders whether to go back to the sled. D One Ear realises that the wolves are going to kill him, and decides to run back to the humans.

Answer: ………

8. Why doesn’t Bill use his rifle to shoot the wolf?

A He can’t free it from beneath the sled. B He isn’t a good shot, so can’t be sure that he won’t hit One Ear. C It takes a long time to free it from under the sled. By the time he has it, the animals are far away and he might hit One Ear by accident. D He has an ethical objection to shooting animals.

Answer: ………

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9. How do the wolves attempt to trap One Ear?

A They slip out of the trees and form a circle around him and the she-wolf. B They encourage him to sniff their noses. C Several wolves join the she-wolf and chase after him. D When One Ear turns to flee, groups of wolves move onto the trail to block him, while the she-wolf attacks him from behind.

Answer: ………

10. Why does Bill run into the forest to save One Ear?

A He wants to show the wolves who is boss. B The wolves have already killed too many dogs, and he can’t face the prospect of losing another. C He has gone mad with fear. D He is too scared to stay with the exposed, vulnerable sled.

Answer: ………

11. Which of these things is not part of Bill’s plan, as imagined by Henry in lines 49-53?

A Anticipating One Ear’s course and placing himself on it B Presenting an intimidating figure to the wolves C Taking the sled to the centre of One Ear’s route D Scaring the wolves away

Answer: ………

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12. One Ear “was running on the outer circle while the wolf-pack was running on the inner and shorter circle” (lines 59-60).

What does this mean?

A One Ear was running round the wolves while they circled inside, preventing him from attacking the she-wolf. B The wolves had surrounded One Ear. C The wolves were circling closer to the sled than One Ear was, preventing him from reaching it. D Because the wolves were circling behind him, One Ear could not run towards the sled and risk turning his back to them.

Answer: ………

13. Why does Henry think that One Ear’s escape attempt is “hopeless” (line 58)?

A One Ear is becoming too tired to escape. B There are too many wolves for One Ear to get away from them. C The dog has been too badly injured by the she-wolf’s initial attack. D There is no chance of the dog getting far enough ahead of the wolves to run across in front of them and reach the sled.

Answer: ………

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14. He recognised One Ear’s yell of pain and terror, and he heard a wolf-cry that bespoke a stricken animal. And that was all. The snarls ceased. The yelping died away. (lines 67-68)

This section contains a moderately long sentence, followed by three short sentences.

Which of the following explanations for this is best?

A The long sentence is like an animal’s long cry, while the short sentences are like the shots that Bill is firing with his gun. B The long sentence shows the jumbled chaos of the fight, with everything happening quickly, while the short sentences emphasise the simplicity and quietness that follow. C This is an old-fashioned way of using punctuation. D The short sentences show Henry’s excitement, as he realises that Bill and One Ear have won.

Answer: ………

15. Why does Henry stay sitting on the sled in lines 70-71?

A He knows that Bill and One Ear are dead, so there’s no point in moving. B He’s too scared to go out and fight the wolves. C He is desperately hoping that One Ear and Bill will emerge from the trees, so he stays to wait for them. D He can see Bill and One Ear lying dead from where he is.

Answer: ………

16. Which option best describes the personalities of Henry and Bill?

A Henry is calm and patient, while Bill is more impulsive. B Bill dies, but Henry survives. C Bill is more of a leader. Henry prefers to wait for instructions. D Henry is self-centred, whereas Bill cares deeply about the dogs.

Answer: ………

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17. Which of the following conclusions cannot be drawn from the passage as a whole?

A The forest is a wild and dangerous place. B Stress and fear affect different people in different ways. C Dogs are more reliable than humans. D Wolves are intelligent and cooperative hunters.

Answer: ………

Section B

Answer these questions about the meanings of words as they are used in the text.

18. Which of these options is closest in meaning to “auspiciously” (line 1)?

A gloomily B cautiously C menacingly D promisingly

Answer: ………

19. Which option gives an antonym for “dissipated” (line 31)?

A concentrated B weakened C ethical D mocked

Answer: ………

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20. Which of these words is closest in meaning to “coyness” (line 40)?

A wickedness B bashfulness C slyness D joy

Answer: ………

21. Which option is the worst match for “succession” (line 65)?

A series B sequence C order D clamour

Answer: ………

Section C

22. Which of these words is not a verb?

A lost (line 1) B right (line 8) C alert (line 13) D sniff (line 24)

Answer: ………

23. Which line does not contain a proper noun?

A line 3 B line 10 C line 38 D line 67

Answer: ………

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24. Which line contains an example of alliteration?


Answer: ………

25. Which option shows an adjective and an adverb?

A “mincing” (line 13), “playfully” (line 25) B “scattered” (line 57), “awkward” (line 6) C “high” (line 23), “bethought” (line 34) D “step” (line 26), “night” (line 1)

Answer: ………

TOTAL 25 MARKS

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White Fang – Solutions

1. What is meant by the phrase “with spirits that were fairly light” (lines 2-3)?

A The men have drunk most of the whisky in their bottles. B The men are full of jollity and enthusiasm. C The men feel a dark foreboding. D The men feel reasonably positive and relaxed.

Before you start to answer any comprehension question, you must quickly re-read the relevant part of the passage – including what comes immediately before and after.

In this case, that means re-reading lines 1-3 or 1-5.

Multiple-choice questions are often written to trick people who only look at the question paper and don’t review the passage.

You may worry that looking back at the text will waste time. In fact, people who check the passage before answering a question often save time, because they find the right answer more quickly than somebody who doesn’t.

The next step isn’t to select the best answer (although if you do think you know the answer, you should note it down – perhaps by writing “?” next to that option’s letter). It’s far too easy to leap at an answer that looks right, but isn’t.

You need to reduce your options as far as possible. Ideally, you’ll end up with two options to compare, rather than four, minimising the risk of making a silly mistake.

This is even more important when there are five options – for example, in the next chapter of this book.

Start by looking for options that are obviously wrong.

We can tell that the men aren’t too worried. For one thing, they haven’t lost any dogs in the night. More importantly, Bill has “forgotten his forebodings”.

Option C is definitely not right, so you can cross it out.

Option A might look tempting if you know that the word “spirits” can refer to strong alcoholic drinks. However, “with spirits that were fairly light” would be a strange way to talk about bottles being mostly empty. A cook wouldn’t say “my flour is light” if they wanted to communicate that the ingredient was nearly finished: the closest they’d come would be if they said “the bag is getting light”, or something along those lines.

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Option A is very unlikely, so can be crossed out with a good degree of confidence.

Now we’re left with B and D, which are similar.

Concentrate on these options and work out where the essential difference is.

B suggests that the men are very happy. D contains the word “reasonably”: although they feel “positive”, they aren’t

totally without concerns.

The key phrase in the question is “fairly light”. This matches D much better than it does B.

The instructions ask for “the best answer” to each question, and this must be D.

2. Which option best conveys Bill’s first reaction when the sled overturns?

A He forgets his good mood and is furious. B Because he is in a good mood, he greets the accident with amusement. C He is horrified. D He is in a bad mood, but still manages to see the funny side.

Look at the long sentence in lines 3-5. The most important phrase is hidden in the middle:

Bill seemed to have forgotten his forebodings of the previous night, and even waxed facetious with the dogs when, at midday, they overturned the sled on a bad piece of trail.

“And even” means that the second part of the sentence adds something to the first: it doesn’t contradict it. Bill has “forgotten” his negative feelings, and what follows must also show his positive mood.

This makes A and C impossible.

B and D both look plausible, but “and even” should steer you towards B. What’s more, the passage gives no evidence of Bill being “in a bad mood” before this point.

“Waxed” means became and “facetious” means treating serious issues humorously. However, it’s possible to work out the correct answer even if you don’t know these things.

Having said that, if you can’t get close to the meaning of “foreboding” (the sense that something bad may happen), you might struggle. Think about the meanings of “fore” and – if you can – “bode”, as in “this bodes ill”.

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3. Which of these things is not stated in paragraph 2?

A A dog begins to sneak away. B The sled is trapped between two objects. C The men have to use the dogs to try and pull the sled free. D Freeing the sled is a complex job.

A, B and D are all clearly stated in paragraph 2.

One Ear is described “sidling away” (A): even if you don’t know the verb “sidle”, “away” should be enough of a clue.

The sled is “jammed between a tree-trunk and a huge rock” (B). The situation is “an awkward mix-up”, the two men are “bent over” in an effort

to “right” the sled, and “they were forced to unharness the dogs in order to straighten out the tangle” (D).

On the other hand, because the men have to “unharness” the dogs so that they don’t get in the way, C is wrong … so it’s the correct answer!

4. One Ear runs away because …

A he doesn’t want to help free the sled. B he wants to meet a female wolf whose presence he has sensed. C he is cautious. D he is trying the steal the traces.

I mentioned in my discussion of Question 1 that even if you spot the right answer straight away, you shouldn’t jump straight in.

This is a good example of that. If you’ve read the passage properly, B will jump out as the most likely answer … but don’t commit yourself too soon! Put a question mark next to it, then glance through lines 8-16 and check the other options. Once you’re sure that they are all wrong, circle the correct option and put its letter in the answer space.

5. What is suggested by “in an ingratiating rather than a menacing way” (lines 17-18)?

A In an ungrateful – though not intimidating – fashion B Aggressively, inspiring fear C In an amicable but intimidating way D In a friendly, unthreatening manner

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Even if you don’t know the word “ingratiating”, you’ll know “menacing” – and of course, “rather than” means that these words are contradictory.

“Ingratiating” must have a meaning that doesn’t belong with “menacing”.

If the wolf is not “menacing”, then B isn’t correct. C isn’t right either, because it suggests that the wolf was “intimidating” – which is a synonym for “menacing”.

Synonyms have the same meaning as each other in a given context.

You’re left with A and D. Both of these may look reasonable. However, you need to take the broader context – what’s going on in the story – into account. Is it more likely that One Ear would be tempted away by a wolf who looks “ungrateful”, or by one who looks “friendly”?

What’s more, it’s hard to imagine how a smile might look “ungrateful” – especially when the wolf hasn’t been given anything for which they ought to show gratitude.

6. How does the female wolf lure One Ear away from safety?

A She makes him think that the humans are behind her. B She doesn’t quite let him sniff noses, walking back a little each time he tries. C Each time he sniffs her nose, she walks back further. D She makes him realise that he can be free and happy without humans.

There’s no evidence in the passage to support D, while A requires a misunderstanding of lines 27-30.

It’s true that the wolf lets One Ear sniff her nose in line 32. However, this is the only time. He has “tried” to do it before this, but “every” attempt sees her draw back, out of reach.

C is wrong because “each time” is wrong.

You might wonder how B can be right. It states that she “doesn’t” let him sniff her nose, yet I’ve already said that this happens in line 32.

The reason is simple, but quite subtle. The question asks how the she-wolf “lures One Ear away from safety”. By line 32 he has already been lured well away, almost certainly beyond the protection of Bill and Henry – a view supported by lines 34-36, which describe what was happening “in the meantime”.

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Another consideration is that the section about her offering nose-sniffs, then pulling away each time, is followed by the statement that “step by step she was luring him away”: a clear match for the wording of the question, and a sign that the answer should come from this part of the text.

7. What happens in lines 27-30?

A One Ear seems to have a vague sense that he is in danger, and looks back at the sled. B The wolf warns One Ear about the humans. C One Ear feels guilty, and wonders whether to go back to the sled. D One Ear realises that the wolves are going to kill him, and decides to run back to the humans.

B and D both involve misunderstandings of the passage. The wolf doesn’t issue any warnings, and One Ear does not yet know what will happen: in fact, he continues to follow the wolf after this.

C is plausible, but there’s nothing in the passage to suggest that One Ear feels “guilty” at this point.

A is the only option to match “as though a warning had in vague ways flitted through his intelligence” in line 28.

8. Why doesn’t Bill use his rifle to shoot the wolf?

A He can’t free it from beneath the sled. B He isn’t a good shot, so can’t be sure that he won’t hit One Ear. C It takes a long time to free it from under the sled. By the time he has it, the animals are far away and he might hit One Ear by accident. D He has an ethical objection to shooting animals.

A is only partly correct: Bill does get the rifle free in line 35.

Meanwhile, D has no support in the passage.

B might be right. However, we aren’t told that Bill “isn’t a good shot”. It might be that he’s very skilled. The range is still too great, bearing in mind how close the dogs are to each other.

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C matches the passage without problems.

9. How do the wolves attempt to trap One Ear?

A They slip out of the trees and form a circle around him and the she-wolf. B They encourage him to sniff their noses. C Several wolves join the she-wolf and chase after him. D When One Ear turns to flee, groups of wolves move onto the trail to block him, while the she-wolf attacks him from behind.

This is the relevant section:

… the two men saw him turn and start to run back toward them. Then, approaching at right angles to the trail and cutting off his retreat they saw a dozen wolves, lean and grey, bounding across the snow. On the instant, the she-wolf’s coyness and playfulness disappeared. With a snarl she sprang upon One Ear. (lines 37-41)

See how each phrase in bold matches part of option D:

When One Ear turns to flee turn and start to run back

groups of wolves move onto the trail to block him

cutting off his retreat they saw a dozen wolves

while the she-wolf attacks him from behind

she sprang upon One Ear

10. Why does Bill run into the forest to save One Ear?

A He wants to show the wolves who is boss. B The wolves have already killed too many dogs, and he can’t face the prospect of losing another. C He has gone mad with fear. D He is too scared to stay with the exposed, vulnerable sled.

The safest thing would be to stay at the sled – with Henry and the other dogs to help scare the wolves away. This makes D incorrect.

There may be elements of truth in all of A, B and C. However, B most clearly matches the passage, and you need the best answer:

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“I won’t stand it,” he said. “They ain’t a-goin’ to get any more of our dogs if I can help it.” (lines 47-48)

11. Which of these things is not part of Bill’s plan, as imagined by Henry in lines 49-53?

A Anticipating One Ear’s course and placing himself on it B Presenting an intimidating figure to the wolves C Taking the sled to the centre of One Ear’s route D Scaring the wolves away

Here are lines 49-53. I’ve highlighted those parts that match options A, B and D:

Gun in hand, he plunged into the underbrush that lined the side of the trail. His intention was apparent enough. Taking the sled as the centre of the circle that One Ear was making, Bill planned to tap that circle at a point in advance of the pursuit [A]. With his rifle, in the broad daylight, it might be possible for him to awe the wolves [B/D] and save the dog [implies D].

The passage says that Bill “takes the sled as the centre of the circle” that One Ear is making as he runs. This means that he imagines One Ear running in a circle, with the sled’s location at the centre. It doesn’t mean that he moves the sled!

12. One Ear “was running on the outer circle while the wolf-pack was running on the inner and shorter circle” (lines 59-60).

What does this mean?

A One Ear was running round the wolves while they circled inside, preventing him from attacking the she-wolf. B The wolves had surrounded One Ear. C The wolves were circling closer to the sled than One Ear was, preventing him from reaching it. D Because the wolves were circling behind him, One Ear could not run towards the sled and risk turning his back to them.

This is likely to be confusing, so it’s important to start by reducing your options as far as possible.

B can’t be right, if One Ear is “on the outer circle” with the wolves “on the inner”.

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Meanwhile, D introduces things not in the passage: the idea that the wolves are “circling behind” and the question of whether it’s dangerous to turn your back on a wolf.

A looks reasonable, right up the last four words. One Ear is trying to get to the safety of the sled – not to attack any of the wolves.

This way, you can end up with the right answer, C, even without fully understanding what’s happening in the text!

One Ear’s situation looks a bit like this:

One Ear

Wolves

He wants to reach the sled, but the wolves are circling along a route between him and his goal. If he tried to cut across in front of them, they would almost certainly catch him.

In fact, because the inner circle is shorter, they can keep level with him without running as fast as he must.

13. Why does Henry think that One Ear’s escape attempt is “hopeless” (line 58)?

A One Ear is becoming too tired to escape. B There are too many wolves for One Ear to get away from them. C The dog has been too badly injured by the she-wolf’s initial attack. D There is no chance of the dog getting far enough ahead of the wolves to run across in front of them and reach the sled.

The diagram I’ve just provided should help to explain why D is right. “It was vain to think of One Ear so outdistancing his pursuers as to be able to cut across their circle in advance of them and to regain the sled” (lines 61-62).

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Meanwhile, there’s no evidence for A or C.

B may be implied by the text, but it isn’t stated; and there certainly isn’t any clear connection between it and line 58.

14. He recognised One Ear’s yell of pain and terror, and he heard a wolf-cry that bespoke a stricken animal. And that was all. The snarls ceased. The yelping died away. (lines 67-68)

This section contains a moderately long sentence, followed by three short sentences.

Which of the following explanations for this is best?

A The long sentence is like an animal’s long cry, while the short sentences are like the shots that Bill is firing with his gun. B The long sentence shows the jumbled chaos of the fight, with everything happening quickly, while the short sentences emphasise the simplicity and quietness that follow. C This is an old-fashioned way of using punctuation. D The short sentences show Henry’s excitement, as he realises that Bill and One Ear have won.

This section describes the moment when One Ear is killed by the wolves, becoming silent.

As an experienced reader, you’ll know that there’s nothing obviously old-fashioned about the punctuation of these lines (C).

D simply doesn’t make sense: Henry has reached the opposite conclusion.

A may look reasonable; but Bill ran out of ammunition several seconds before. Since then, the sounds have been of the wolves completing their victory, and of One Ear’s final, futile resistance. It wouldn’t make sense to suggest gun sounds at this point.

In the end, B is the only option that works

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15. Why does Henry stay sitting on the sled in lines 70-71?

A He knows that Bill and One Ear are dead, so there’s no point in moving. B He’s too scared to go out and fight the wolves. C He is desperately hoping that One Ear and Bill will emerge from the trees, so he stays to wait for them. D He can see Bill and One Ear lying dead from where he is.

The encounter between One Ear, Bill and the wolves happens “somewhere out there” (line 62), and Henry only learns about it from sounds. He imagines it “as though it had taken place before his eyes” (line 71) – which means that it did not, making D almost certainly wrong.

He is not waiting (C): he stays where he is because there is “no need” to move (line 70). This is a good match for A.

It’s possible that B is also true; but there would be no reason for Henry to move, even if he wasn’t scared, so this is not the reason “why” Henry stays with the sled.

As line 71 makes clear, he already knows what has taken place: there would be no sense in risking his life to confirm it.

16. Which option best describes the personalities of Henry and Bill?

A Henry is calm and patient, while Bill is more impulsive. B Bill dies, but Henry survives. C Bill is more of a leader. Henry prefers to wait for instructions. D Henry is self-centred, whereas Bill cares deeply about the dogs.

B isn’t about personality.

Bill is determined to go and help One Ear, but he doesn’t attempt to “lead” Henry in the same direction (C). Meanwhile, Henry doesn’t stay put because he’s waiting for “instructions”. He seems to stay because he regards Bill’s actions as unwise and dangerous. All told, C doesn’t make sense.

It’s possible that Bill cares more for the dogs (D), though there isn’t any evidence to support this beyond the fact that he goes to help One Ear. There’s nothing at all to indicate that Henry is “self-centred”.

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Meanwhile, A matches the passage well. Bill makes quick decisions based on his emotions (“I won’t stand it”), whereas Henry is prepared to sit calmly when that’s the sensible choice – even when his friend has just been killed.

17. Which of the following conclusions cannot be drawn from the passage as a whole?

A The forest is a wild and dangerous place. B Stress and fear affect different people in different ways. C Dogs are more reliable than humans. D Wolves are intelligent and cooperative hunters.

Both A and B would be obvious conclusions from the passage, so neither of these is the answer.

D also fits the text well: the wolves lead One Ear away with a trick, then team up to trap him.

C isn’t relevant to the passage. One Ear leaves the sled when he shouldn’t, and ends up dead … but the same could be said of Bill. Who’s to say which species is more “reliable” here?

18. Which of these options is closest in meaning to “auspiciously” (line 1)?

A gloomily B cautiously C menacingly D promisingly

If you know what “light spirits” are (see my answer to Question 1), A and C are easy to rule out.

Although it may be hard to choose between B and D, bear in mind that “The day began auspiciously” introduces the paragraph, the rest of which is more about positivity than caution. On balance, D looks like a better fit – which is fortunate, as it is the correct answer!

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19. Which option gives an antonym for “dissipated” (line 31)?

A concentrated B weakened C ethical D mocked

“Weakened” seems to closely match what is happening: One Ear has been thinking about the sled, and perhaps about trying to return to it, but the wolf distracts him, weakening the thought so that it disappears.

If “weakened” is close to the meaning of “dissipated”, you need to consider which of the other options is closest to being opposite in meaning. The only plausible option is “concentrated”, A.

“Ethical” is a trap for somebody who knows the word “dissipated”, but doesn’t check the passage. “Dissipated”, as well as being a form of the verb “dissipate” (meaning “disappear” or “spread out until imperceptible”), can also be an adjective meaning “excessively indulgent” or “greedily immoral” – but this fact has no relevance here.

20. Which of these words is closest in meaning to “coyness” (line 40)?

A wickedness B bashfulness C slyness D joy

Her “coyness” vanishes along with her “playfulness”, so it’s likely to have something in common with that word. “Wickedness” doesn’t fit.

“Bashfulness” and “joy” look like the best fits in this sentence.

You can also find “coyly” in line 25 and “coy” in line 33. These examples might help you to work out the meaning of “coyness”, so long as you bear in mind that the same word can sometimes be used in different ways in different places.

“She retreated playfully and coyly” (lines 24-25) matches option B best of all: the she-wolf is flirting with One Ear.

“Coy” has a meaning somewhere between flirtatious and shy.

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21. Which option is the worst match for “succession” (line 65)?

A series B sequence C order D clamour

This question is quite easy, because three of the options – “series”, “sequence” and “order” have very similar meanings.

“Clamour” is already an obvious odd-one-out, even before you’ve thought properly about the phrase “in rapid succession”.

22. Which of these words is not a verb?

A lost (line 1) B right (line 8) C alert (line 13) D sniff (line 24)

For this question, the instruction to think about words “as they are used in the text” is not only useful, but essential.

Every one of these words can be a verb in the right context:

I lost the key. She needs to right the skateboard before she can get back on it. They alert the police. You sniff every time the wind blows!

You need to think about whether they are verbs in the specific instance given by each line reference.

When we look for “alert” in line 13, we find “He slowed down to an alert and mincing walk”. Here, “walk” is a noun and “alert” is an adjective describing it.

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23. Which line does not contain a proper noun?


A proper noun is a noun that must take a capital letter: a name, usually for a person, animal or place.

Don’t confuse proper nouns with pronouns, which are completely different: pronouns replace nouns, such as when I write “I” instead of “Robert”.

Here are the proper nouns matching A, B and D:

A line 3 “Bill” B line 10 “One Ear” D line 67 “One Ear”

24. Which line contains an example of alliteration?


A Cambridge Dictionary definition explains alliteration as “the repetition of consonants at the beginning of two or more words, as in live and learn”.

Line 69 actually contains two examples: “silence settled” and “lonely land”.

25. Which option shows an adjective and an adverb?

A “mincing” (line 13), “playfully” (line 25) B “scattered” (line 57), “awkward” (line 6) C “high” (line 23), “bethought” (line 34) D “step” (line 26), “night” (line 1)

As for Question 22, you have to look at each word in the text, or you’re guessing!

A “Mincing” (line 13) is an adjective; “playfully” (line 25) is an adverb.

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B “Scattered” (line 57) is an adjective, and so is “awkward” (line 6). C “High” (line 23) is an adjective; “bethought” (line 34) is a verb. D “Step” (line 26) is a noun, as is “night” (line 1).

If your grammar is strong and you’re confident after looking at A – you KNOW that one word is an adjective, and the other an adverb – it isn’t essential to go through the other options. Indeed, in an exam it might not be the best use of your time.

This is a rare exception to the rule that you should always consider all the options before choosing your answer!

END

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Answer Sheet 1

You may choose to practise with answer sheets like this, similar to the format used in some exams. I recommend cutting these pages out of the book before using them.

Mark your answers like this:

Any answer sheet can be used with any exercise from this book. When an exercise only offers options A to D, simply ignore the E answer boxes.

1. A B C D E

2. A B C D E

3. A B C D E

4. A B C D E

5. A B C D E

6. A B C D E

7. A B C D E

8. A B C D E

9. A B C D E

10. A B C D E

11. A B C D E

12. A B C D E

13. A B C D E

14. A B C D E

15. A B C D E

16. A B C D E

17. A B C D E

18. A B C D E

19. A B C D E

20. A B C D E

21. A B C D E

22. A B C D E

23. A B C D E

24. A B C D E

25. A B C D E

1. A B C D E

RSL 11+ Comprehension

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