English Reading Comprehension

‘His running shoes were covered in mould’...what does this line from the passage signify?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question.

Nick, my partner, and Todd went way back. In their early 20s, they’d bonded over a mutual love of outdoor sport, riding mountain bikes, ripping into wild ocean swims, and pushing through exhausting triathlon courses, finishing drained but exuberant.
Now, a few years shy of 40, Nick was more accustomed to the comfort of a couch than a bike saddle. His running shoes were covered in mould. And his taste for competition had softened into appreciation for family life.
By contrast, Todd’s life had continued along the same athletic course. He took corporations all over the globe to trek mountains, ride across exotic countryside, and run marathons around the world.
During their reunion, Nick and Todd’s talks intensified and Nick’s eyes started flickering with ambition. On the way home he announced, “I’m going to run a marathon.” He had drawn key details from Todd about what to expect. A marathon pushes the human body to such extremes that the heart rate is elevated to maximum for up to five hours. The average runner finishes 2 cm shorter than they were when they began the race, as muscles deteriorate.
Even Olympians suffer. In order to complete a 42. 2 km course he needed “kilometres under his legs”. There is no shortcut to achieving this: he would have to train, train and train some more. Nick knew he was 10 kg (OK, maybe 15) above fighting weight. And because Todd had not sugar coated the reality – freely admitting to use of anti-inflammatories just to finish – he knew that a marathon hurt like hell.

Who sent Rick a message in December 2004?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows. 

It was before dawn in California, and the always - restless Rick Warren was at work on his home computer, exchanging e-mails with some of the 250,000 pastors in his vast network around the world. Suddenly a message from a minister in Colombo, Sri Lanka, flashed up on his screen. “Rick, please pray for us,” he wrote on that December day in 2004. “We had a huge earthquake two minutes ago, and I’m sure a tidal wave is coming.”
Warren, founder of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, did more than pray. He immediately had his staff contact church leaders in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India with a directive: “Head for high ground. There is a disaster.” The e-mails arrived before the tsunami hit. The following Sunday, he stood up at Saddleback and said, “Folks, we need to help these people who have gone through this tidal wave. Please give a little extra.” The donations that morning totalled US $ 1.6 million ($2.3 million), about US $ 1 million more than the usual Sunday offering. Warren sent it to the churches in the stricken region; it paid for everything from fishing nets to boat repairs. When Hurricane Katrina drowned New Orleans nine months later, Warren raised $ 2.5 million.
Saddleback, a mega church in the hills of affluent Orange County, is one of the few in the world with the members and the means to manage such generosity. But then, Warren is used to big numbers.
Some 83, 000 people worship at Saddleback, choosing from 28 church services on four campuses each week. Warren’s first book – The Purpose Driven Church, published in 1995 and aimed at pastors – has sold a million copies. In 2002 he released The Purpose Driven Life, which sold 30 million, making it one of the best - selling books of all time. He and his wife, Kay, give away 90% of their income to charity, much of it anonymously; in 2004, the last year the figures were made public, they donated nearly $20 million.

Why was Warren used to big numbers?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows. 

It was before dawn in California, and the always - restless Rick Warren was at work on his home computer, exchanging e-mails with some of the 250,000 pastors in his vast network around the world. Suddenly a message from a minister in Colombo, Sri Lanka, flashed up on his screen. “Rick, please pray for us,” he wrote on that December day in 2004. “We had a huge earthquake two minutes ago, and I’m sure a tidal wave is coming.”
Warren, founder of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, did more than pray. He immediately had his staff contact church leaders in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India with a directive: “Head for high ground. There is a disaster.” The e-mails arrived before the tsunami hit. The following Sunday, he stood up at Saddleback and said, “Folks, we need to help these people who have gone through this tidal wave. Please give a little extra.” The donations that morning totalled US $ 1.6 million ($2.3 million), about US $ 1 million more than the usual Sunday offering. Warren sent it to the churches in the stricken region; it paid for everything from fishing nets to boat repairs. When Hurricane Katrina drowned New Orleans nine months later, Warren raised $ 2.5 million.
Saddleback, a mega church in the hills of affluent Orange County, is one of the few in the world with the members and the means to manage such generosity. But then, Warren is used to big numbers.
Some 83, 000 people worship at Saddleback, choosing from 28 church services on four campuses each week. Warren’s first book – The Purpose Driven Church, published in 1995 and aimed at pastors – has sold a million copies. In 2002 he released The Purpose Driven Life, which sold 30 million, making it one of the best - selling books of all time. He and his wife, Kay, give away 90% of their income to charity, much of it anonymously; in 2004, the last year the figures were made public, they donated nearly $20 million.

What was the name of Warren’s first book?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows. 

It was before dawn in California, and the always - restless Rick Warren was at work on his home computer, exchanging e-mails with some of the 250,000 pastors in his vast network around the world. Suddenly a message from a minister in Colombo, Sri Lanka, flashed up on his screen. “Rick, please pray for us,” he wrote on that December day in 2004. “We had a huge earthquake two minutes ago, and I’m sure a tidal wave is coming.”
Warren, founder of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, did more than pray. He immediately had his staff contact church leaders in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and India with a directive: “Head for high ground. There is a disaster.” The e-mails arrived before the tsunami hit. The following Sunday, he stood up at Saddleback and said, “Folks, we need to help these people who have gone through this tidal wave. Please give a little extra.” The donations that morning totalled US $ 1.6 million ($2.3 million), about US $ 1 million more than the usual Sunday offering. Warren sent it to the churches in the stricken region; it paid for everything from fishing nets to boat repairs. When Hurricane Katrina drowned New Orleans nine months later, Warren raised $ 2.5 million.
Saddleback, a mega church in the hills of affluent Orange County, is one of the few in the world with the members and the means to manage such generosity. But then, Warren is used to big numbers.
Some 83, 000 people worship at Saddleback, choosing from 28 church services on four campuses each week. Warren’s first book – The Purpose Driven Church, published in 1995 and aimed at pastors – has sold a million copies. In 2002 he released The Purpose Driven Life, which sold 30 million, making it one of the best - selling books of all time. He and his wife, Kay, give away 90% of their income to charity, much of it anonymously; in 2004, the last year the figures were made public, they donated nearly $20 million.

What does the author mean by calling Happy a ‘matriarch’?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

One morning when I went down to the paddocks to feed the horses, I saw Happy, our fat black Welsh pony, standing near the fence by herself. At 19 years old, she’s the matriarch and usually stays close to the younger ones. When I threw down the hay she didn’t move, which was out of character as she’s usually the first to eat. However, I didn’t think too much of it. A couple of hours later when I went back to check the water in the troughs, she was in exactly the same spot. At 4pm when I went down to feed the horses, Happy still hadn’t moved so I walked across the paddock to see if she was OK.
As I got closer, I noticed that the two top railings of the fence were missing and there was a big gap where it had been kicked down by the over - exuberant stallion in the neighbouring paddock. He could have got through the gap and caused a lot of damage to the younger horses, chasing them or even killing them. Happy had stood all day guarding the gap so that he couldn’t get in.
She didn’t move away until I’d fixed the fence and she was confident the other horses were safe. Then she came to the gate and neighed for her dinner. It’s awful to think what could’ve happened if she wasn’t there to watch the fence.

Who did the author think was a ‘physiotherapist’?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

I’ve grown fond of my two fish. They swim to the side of the tank every morning to watch me put on the jug for breakfast, begging silently to be fed. The big silver fantail goldfish does somersaults, as if putting on a show for his meal. He is a beautiful iridescent white that shines with every colour of the rainbow as he darts around. His friend is a golden, sleeker model, with smaller fins and tail – built for speed.
Once, while cleaning their tank, I scooped them into a clean tank while I rinsed their home and replaced the weeds. The next day I noticed my beautiful fantail was sick. He moped at the bottom of the tank with none of his usual antics to get my attention. His little friend didn’t seem to mind – he ate all the food flakes while the fantail watched. A short while later, the sleeker goldfish began to nip the fantail on the fins, forcing him to move. At first I thought this was aggression towards a sicker fish, but I soon realised he was helping his buddy keep moving, to oxygenate his blood and help him heal. He’s a physiotherapist, I thought.

What are Happy’s eating habits?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

One morning when I went down to the paddocks to feed the horses, I saw Happy, our fat black Welsh pony, standing near the fence by herself. At 19 years old, she’s the matriarch and usually stays close to the younger ones. When I threw down the hay she didn’t move, which was out of character as she’s usually the first to eat. However, I didn’t think too much of it. A couple of hours later when I went back to check the water in the troughs, she was in exactly the same spot. At 4pm when I went down to feed the horses, Happy still hadn’t moved so I walked across the paddock to see if she was OK.
As I got closer, I noticed that the two top railings of the fence were missing and there was a big gap where it had been kicked down by the over - exuberant stallion in the neighbouring paddock. He could have got through the gap and caused a lot of damage to the younger horses, chasing them or even killing them. Happy had stood all day guarding the gap so that he couldn’t get in.
She didn’t move away until I’d fixed the fence and she was confident the other horses were safe. Then she came to the gate and neighed for her dinner. It’s awful to think what could’ve happened if she wasn’t there to watch the fence.

When did Gypsy establish her place firmly in their family?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

We found our tabby cat, Gypsy, at a cat shelter when she was 14 weeks old and she has been with the family for 12 years. Gypsy is everything I could ask for in a cat – affectionate, sweet natured, gentle and loyal.
One Christmas, Gypsy firmly cemented her place in our family. After helping us decorate the tree and place presents underneath, she started to pace the house, mewing loudly and eventually disappearing out the cat window. Once in bed, I could hear a strange rustling sound coming from the garden just outside my window.
Imagine our surprise the next morning when we discovered that Gypsy, determined to contribute, had deposited a very large rat neatly under the tree among the presents.
As she is not much of a hunter and is a lady of larger proportions, I can’t imagine the effort it took for her not only to catch our Christmas gift, but to bring it through the window and drag it under the tree.

Where did the author’s family find Gypsy?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

We found our tabby cat, Gypsy, at a cat shelter when she was 14 weeks old and she has been with the family for 12 years. Gypsy is everything I could ask for in a cat – affectionate, sweet natured, gentle and loyal.
One Christmas, Gypsy firmly cemented her place in our family. After helping us decorate the tree and place presents underneath, she started to pace the house, mewing loudly and eventually disappearing out the cat window. Once in bed, I could hear a strange rustling sound coming from the garden just outside my window.
Imagine our surprise the next morning when we discovered that Gypsy, determined to contribute, had deposited a very large rat neatly under the tree among the presents.
As she is not much of a hunter and is a lady of larger proportions, I can’t imagine the effort it took for her not only to catch our Christmas gift, but to bring it through the window and drag it under the tree.

What can be said about Gypsy's hunting skills?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

We found our tabby cat, Gypsy, at a cat shelter when she was 14 weeks old and she has been with the family for 12 years. Gypsy is everything I could ask for in a cat – affectionate, sweet natured, gentle and loyal.
One Christmas, Gypsy firmly cemented her place in our family. After helping us decorate the tree and place presents underneath, she started to pace the house, mewing loudly and eventually disappearing out the cat window. Once in bed, I could hear a strange rustling sound coming from the garden just outside my window.
Imagine our surprise the next morning when we discovered that Gypsy, determined to contribute, had deposited a very large rat neatly under the tree among the presents.
As she is not much of a hunter and is a lady of larger proportions, I can’t imagine the effort it took for her not only to catch our Christmas gift, but to bring it through the window and drag it under the tree.

What would have happened if Happy would have moved?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

One morning when I went down to the paddocks to feed the horses, I saw Happy, our fat black Welsh pony, standing near the fence by herself. At 19 years old, she’s the matriarch and usually stays close to the younger ones. When I threw down the hay she didn’t move, which was out of character as she’s usually the first to eat. However, I didn’t think too much of it. A couple of hours later when I went back to check the water in the troughs, she was in exactly the same spot. At 4pm when I went down to feed the horses, Happy still hadn’t moved so I walked across the paddock to see if she was OK.
As I got closer, I noticed that the two top railings of the fence were missing and there was a big gap where it had been kicked down by the over - exuberant stallion in the neighbouring paddock. He could have got through the gap and caused a lot of damage to the younger horses, chasing them or even killing them. Happy had stood all day guarding the gap so that he couldn’t get in.
She didn’t move away until I’d fixed the fence and she was confident the other horses were safe. Then she came to the gate and neighed for her dinner. It’s awful to think what could’ve happened if she wasn’t there to watch the fence.

What is the author trying to show by using the word 'moped' in the passage?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

I’ve grown fond of my two fish. They swim to the side of the tank every morning to watch me put on the jug for breakfast, begging silently to be fed. The big silver fantail goldfish does somersaults, as if putting on a show for his meal. He is a beautiful iridescent white that shines with every colour of the rainbow as he darts around. His friend is a golden, sleeker model, with smaller fins and tail – built for speed.
Once, while cleaning their tank, I scooped them into a clean tank while I rinsed their home and replaced the weeds. The next day I noticed my beautiful fantail was sick. He moped at the bottom of the tank with none of his usual antics to get my attention. His little friend didn’t seem to mind – he ate all the food flakes while the fantail watched. A short while later, the sleeker goldfish began to nip the fantail on the fins, forcing him to move. At first I thought this was aggression towards a sicker fish, but I soon realised he was helping his buddy keep moving, to oxygenate his blood and help him heal. He’s a physiotherapist, I thought.

What do we understand from this short passage?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

While hiking in Carnarvon Gorge in Queensland, my family and I noticed a small group of birds diving in and out of the branches of a gum tree. They were chirping very loudly and obviously in distress. We could see a nest in the branches with baby birds inside and a very large goanna walking up the tree trunk, having eyed what he wanted for lunch. The small birds were desperate to chase the goanna away but had little hope because of their size. As we were contemplating what to do, a kookaburra flew down and thumped the goanna very solidly in his side, knocking him off the tree trunk. The small birds quickly settled down to care for their young.

What was Jude’s profession before she met Michel?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question.

Part of the mutual attraction when Jude Smith and Michel Fanton met in 1981 was the interest each had in gardening and self-sufficiency. “Jude was intelligent and very warm but also practical and keen to make a difference,” recalls Michel. “I instantly felt she was a soul mate.”
“I noticed Michel because he seemed like a forest spirit,” Jude says. “He had panpipes with him, which he played during breaks. He was wise, knowledgeable and energetic.”
Although the two were drawn to one another, there were hurdles to overcome: Michel had left his job in the delivery arm of a publishing house, while Jude was scheduled to return to her high-school job in Adelaide, teaching social sciences and English.
Although they were making a home on a 600-hectare property on the edge of rain forest near Lismore, New South Wales, Michel found he was going to have to dig deeper to completely win over Jude’s heart. “She demanded only authentic French cooking,” he recalls. For Michel, this meant growing his own essential ingredients from scratch.
“To make her a summer ratatouille niçoise, I went on a search for seeds for a special meaty tomato that cooks well; a capsicum that is both red and green; round, flavour some courgettes de Nice; and a strong purple garlic. It was pure love that made me do that!”
“Watching Michel go to all that effort to source the plants and tend them deepened our growing bond,” says Jude. “When I finally tasted the food, it was incredibly rich and had a fullness and depth of flavour that made it more satisfying and also more filling.”
For months, the couple rose every day at 5am to establish a half-hectare garden, as well as work on an orchard of fruit and nut trees. Soon, their turmeric, ginger, 130 varieties of tomato, mandarins, macadamias, pecans and custard apples were thriving, along with spices such as cinnamon. But no matter how attentive they were, their cucumbers, rock melons and pumpkins continued to succumb to mildew in the hot, wet climate.
“We don’t believe in using pesticide, and we didn’t want to give up on growing those cucurbits, because we love their taste, so we found a gardener, Joe Connolly, who showed us the way forward,” says Michel.

What was the final suggestion given to Brian by a psychologist?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question.

In 1999, Brian and Nerida Egan had to surrender their Darling Downs property in Queensland. They had run a mixed cattle farm for 12 years, but it hadn’t rained a drop for the last three and they couldn’t afford to continue. The couple walked away with nothing but their cattle dog, Stumpy. “It was soul-destroying to lose everything,” says Brian. “There was this ‘beast’ inside me that had taken over my life. I had no hope and just could not see any future.” At the age of 55, Brian had twice attempted to take his own life and was with severe clinical depression and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as a result of disturbing experiences he witnessed while on naval service in Indonesia in his early 20s. Depression is one of the most significant human costs of the drought, with research showing higher suicide rates in rural communities, especially among men, due to social isolation and difficulty accessing help. The stigma of mental illness left Brian with only his mother, Hilda, and Nerida to rely on. He recalls running and hiding in the wardrobe when people came to the front door. “I was just so ashamed of what I had become, I did not want anyone to see me.”
Brian was sent to Greenslopes Private Hospital in Brisbane, where he would end up being admitted five times over the next two years. “I was catatonic. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t talk or write. I didn’t know who I was, or who anyone else was.”
The doctors tried many different types of medication and treatment on Brian, but with limited benefits. Finally it was suggested to Brian by a psychologist that maybe the best thing for him to do was to go out and find someone worse off, and help them.