ACER Level P Reading and Viewing Practice

Try each question first, then open the worked solution to check your answer and see how to reach it.

1. 1.Read the text: "The little bird built its nest high in the sturdy oak tree, carefully weaving twigs and soft grass to protect its eggs from the harsh wind." Why did the bird weave grass into its nest?

   • ATo make it look pretty
   • BTo protect its eggs
   • CTo hide from predators
   • DTo catch insects
   Show answer and working

   Answer: B (To protect its eggs)

   The text explains the purpose of the nest: the bird wove 'twigs and soft grass to protect its eggs from the harsh wind'. The word 'to' introduces the reason. Making the nest look pretty, hiding or catching insects are not mentioned, so they cannot be the answer.

2. 2.Read the text: "Max put on his thickest coat, wrapped a woolly scarf around his neck, and stepped out into the crisp, white morning." What season is it likely to be?

   • ASummer
   • BSpring
   • CWinter
   • DAutumn
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   Answer: C (Winter)

   The season is not named, so use the clues. Max wears his 'thickest coat' and 'a woolly scarf', and steps into a 'crisp, white morning'. Warm clothes and a white, frosty or snowy morning point to winter. Summer would not need a thick coat.

3. 3.Read the text: "As the sun began to set, the sky transformed into a brilliant canvas of bright pink, deep orange, and soft purple hues." What time of day is it?

   • AEarly morning
   • BMidday
   • CEvening
   • DMidnight
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   Answer: C (Evening)

   The text says 'As the sun began to set', which tells us the time of day: evening is when the sun sets. The pink, orange and purple sky supports this, because those colours appear at sunset. Early morning has a sunrise, not a sunset, so read the verb carefully.

4. 4.Read the text: "Mia eagerly tore the colourful wrapping paper off the square box, wondering what amazing gift her parents had chosen for her birthday." How was Mia feeling?

   • ASad
   • BAngry
   • CExcited
   • DBored
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   Answer: C (Excited)

   Mia 'eagerly tore' the paper off, 'wondering what amazing gift' she had received. 'Eagerly' and 'amazing' show she was looking forward to it, which means excited. Nothing in the text suggests she was sad, angry or bored, so those options do not fit the clues.

5. 5.Read the text: "Because the soil in the desert is so dry and it rarely rains, cacti have adapted by storing water inside their thick, fleshy stems." Why do cacti store water?

   • ABecause it rains too much
   • BBecause the soil is very dry
   • CTo share with animals
   • DTo grow taller
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   Answer: B (Because the soil is very dry)

   The sentence begins with 'Because', which introduces the reason: 'the soil in the desert is so dry and it rarely rains'. With so little water around, cacti store it in their stems. Option A is the opposite of the text, and sharing with animals or growing taller are not mentioned.

6. 6.Read the text: "The sly fox hid quietly behind the bushes, waiting patiently for the unaware rabbit to wander close enough." Why was the fox hiding?

   • AIt was scared
   • BIt was playing a game
   • CIt was waiting for the rabbit
   • DIt was sleeping
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   Answer: C (It was waiting for the rabbit)

   The fox was 'waiting patiently for the unaware rabbit to wander close enough'. Waiting for prey to come close explains why it hid. The word 'sly' also suggests it was planning something. It was not scared, playing or sleeping, because the text shows it was alert and waiting.

7. 7.Read the text: "Sam's stomach grumbled loudly as he smelled the delicious aroma of fresh bread baking in the oven." What does a grumbling stomach mean?

   • ASam is tired
   • BSam is hungry
   • CSam is full
   • DSam is sick
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   Answer: B (Sam is hungry)

   This question asks what a clue means. Sam's stomach grumbled as he 'smelled the delicious aroma of fresh bread'. A grumbling stomach is a common sign of hunger, and the smell of food supports this. Being tired, full or sick does not fit with being drawn to delicious food.

8. 8.Read the text: "When the school bell finally rang at three o'clock, the children grabbed their backpacks and cheered, happy to start their weekend." Why were the children cheering?

   • AThe weekend was starting
   • BIt was lunchtime
   • CThey had a test
   • DThey found a toy
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   Answer: A (The weekend was starting)

   The children cheered, 'happy to start their weekend'. The text tells us the reason directly. It was three o'clock, which is the end of the school day, not lunchtime, and nothing mentions a test or a toy. Look for the words that explain a feeling to find the answer.

9. 9.Read the text: "The heavy rain poured down for three days straight, causing the nearby river to overflow its banks and flood the small valley." What caused the flood?

   • AMelting snow
   • BHeavy rain for three days
   • CA broken dam
   • DHigh winds
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   Answer: B (Heavy rain for three days)

   The text gives the cause: 'The heavy rain poured down for three days straight, causing the nearby river to overflow'. The word 'causing' links the rain to the flood. Melting snow, a broken dam and high winds can cause floods, but none of them is mentioned here.

10. 10.Read the text: "Even though the puzzle had over five hundred pieces, Sarah worked on it patiently every evening until the beautiful picture of the mountains was complete." How did Sarah work on the puzzle?

    • AQuickly
    • BPatiently
    • CAngrily
    • DCarelessly
    Show answer and working

    Answer: B (Patiently)

    The text says Sarah 'worked on it patiently every evening until the beautiful picture of the mountains was complete'. Working a little every evening on a 500-piece puzzle shows patience. Nothing suggests she rushed, got angry or was careless, so those options contradict the text.