English

Comprehension
Classic Texts - MCQ
What do I do? What skills do
In a comprehension assessment, you will be given a
I need
text to read, followed by questions. This text could be to improve?
from a wide range of styles. It could be a story, poem
or a non-fiction passage, such as an information text. Doing lots of practice questions will help with
This help sheet focuses on ‘The Wind in the Willows’ becoming familiar with question types but what
which is considered a classic text, published in 1908. else can you do to improve in this area?
Our questions are in mulitiple choice format.
READ, READ, READ! Reading a variety of different
materials will help to prepare you for the exam.
Top Tips! Try to include newspaper articles, poetry and pre-
19th century texts in your list of materials to read.
When you've read a chaper, ask someone to ask
Read the passage first to get a feel of the text.
you questions about it - discussion about what
Try to imagine the text in your head and picture
you've read will help you to understand it better
what it might look like.
and will enable you to understand other opinions
With multiple-choice format (MCQ), you have the
and ideas.
option of eliminating incorrect options first. This
Why not see if you can continue the story by
might help you to find the answer, if you can’t
writing your own ending?
spot it straight away.

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

1 The mole had long wanted to make the acquaintance of the Badger. He seemed, by all accounts, to be such an
important personage and, though rarely visible, to make his unseen influence felt by everybody about the place.
But whenever the Mole mentioned his wish to the Water Rat, he always found himself put off. "It's all right," the
Rat would say. "Badger'll turn up some day or other—he's always turning up—and then I'll introduce you. The best
5 of fellows! But you must not only take him as you find him, but when you find him."
"Couldn't you ask him here—dinner or something?" said the Mole.
"He wouldn't come," replied the Rat simply. "Badger hates Society, and invitations, and dinner, and all that sort
of thing."
"Well, then, supposing we go and call on him?" suggested the Mole.
10 "O, I'm sure he wouldn't like that at all," said the Rat, quite alarmed. "He's so very shy, he'd be sure to be
offended. I've never even ventured to call on him at his own home myself, though I know him so well. Besides, we
can't. It's quite out of the question, because he lives in the very middle of the Wild Wood."
"Well, supposing he does," said the Mole. "You told me the Wild Wood was all right, you know."
"O, I know, I know, so it is," replied the Rat evasively. "But I think we won't go there just now. Not just yet. It's a
long way, and he wouldn't be at home at this time of year anyhow, and he'll be coming along some day, if you'll
wait quietly."

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 English
Comprehension
Classic Texts - MCQ
What do I do?
Read the following questions carefully and select the most appropriate answer.

1 Why did Mole want to meet Badger?

A. He thought he was an influential person

B. He wanted to see where he lived
C. He wanted to meet him for dinner
D. Because he was Water Rat’s friend
E. Because Badger owed him a favour

2 Why doesn’t Water Rat think that Badger will accept his invite for dinner?

A. Badger lives too far away, it’s too far for him to travel
B. Badger is too important and busy
C. Badger doesn’t like socialising with others and he thinks he will be offended
D. Because he doesn’t know Mole very well
E. Because Mole hasn’t been to his house before

3 What does Water Rat mean when he says, "But you must not only take him as you find him, but
when you find him"?
A. Badger is difficult to please
B. Badger is always too busy for invitations and parties
C. Badger doesn’t like large crowds
D. Badger is never at home
E. Badger is unpredictable

4 Why does Water Rat think it's not the right time to visit the Badger?

A. It’s too late in the day

B. Because Badger is away at this time of year
C. Because Mole isn’t ready
D. The Wild Wood is too frightening
E. Because Badger is visiting other friends

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 English
Comprehension
Classic Texts - MCQ
What do I do?
Read the following questions carefully and select the most appropriate answer.

5 In the phrase "Badger'll turn up some day or other," what does the contraction "Badger'll" represent?

A. Badger is
B. Badger will
C. Badger until
D. Badger had
E. Badger all

6 Which word in the passage suggests that the Badger's home is secluded and hidden?
A. Shy
B. Offended
C. Evasively
D. Middle
E. Wild

7 What does the phrase "he'll be coming along some day, if you'll wait quietly" suggest about the
Badger's personality?
A. He is outgoing
B. He is punctual
C. He is easily offended
D. He is elusive
E. He is sociable

8 What does the phrase "It's all right" suggest about the Rat's attitude towards the Mole's desire to
meet the Badger?
A. He is indifferent
B. He is annoyed
C. He is supportive
D. He is uncertain
E. He is frustrated

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 English
Comprehension
Classic Texts - MCQ
Answers

1 Why did Mole want to meet Badger?

A. He thought he was an influential person

B. He wanted to see where he lived
C. He wanted to meet him for dinner
D. Because he was Water Rat’s friend
E. Because Badger owes him a favour

2 Why doesn’t Water Rat think that Badger will accept his invite for dinner?

A. Badger lives too far away, it’s too far for him to travel
B. Badger is too important and busy
C. Badger doesn’t like socialising with others and he thinks he will be offended
D. Because he doesn’t know Mole very well
E. Because Mole hasn’t been to his house before

3 What does Water Rat mean when he says, "But you must not only take him as you find him, but
when you find him"?
A. Badger is difficult to please
B. Badger is always too busy for invitations and parties
C. Badger doesn’t like large crowds
D. Badger is never at home
E. Badger is unpredictable

4 Why does Water Rat think it's not the right time to visit the Badger?

A. It’s too late in the day

B. Because Badger is away at this time of year
C. Because Mole isn’t ready
D. The Wild Wood is too frightening
E. Because Badger is visiting other friends

WWW.THE11PLUSJOURNEY.CO.UK WWW.TUTORTASTIC.CO.UK
 English
Comprehension
Classic Texts - MCQ
Answers

5 In the phrase "Badger'll turn up some day or other," what does the contraction "Badger'll" represent?

A. Badger is
B. Badger will
C. Badger until
D. Badger had
E. Badger all

6 Which word in the passage suggests that the Badger's home is secluded and hidden?
A. Shy
B. Offended
C. Evasively
D. Middle
E. Wild

7 What does the phrase "he'll be coming along some day, if you'll wait quietly" suggest about the
Badger's personality?
A. He is outgoing
B. He is punctual
C. He is easily offended
D. He is elusive
E. He is sociable

8 What does the phrase "It's all right" suggest about the Rat's attitude towards the Mole's desire to
meet the Badger?
A. He is indifferent
B. He is annoyed
C. He is supportive
D. He is uncertain
E. He is frustrated

WWW.THE11PLUSJOURNEY.CO.UK WWW.TUTORTASTIC.CO.UK