English Reading Comprehension

Directions: Choose the correct meaning of the word from 1 - 4.

Edge

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Ugh.Look up there, Dragon.It’s a spider?
The dragon looked. “So it is.”
Tom didn’t want the dragon to get the wrong idea, so he said at once that he wasn’t frightened of spiders.
“Oh, no?” answered the dragon readily. “Neither am I.”
“But –“Tom sat down on the edge of his bed and looked up with narrowed eyes “- but I don’t exactly like them.”
“Some people don’t", replied the dragon in a pleasant voice. “Nothing to be ashmed of in not liking them. Lots of people don’t."
Tom became even more thoughtful. “If someone, someone who didn’t mind spiders, were to put one out of the windows that would make the whole room sort of feel better. Do you see?”
“I can certainly see your point of view. Who could you get to do it, though?”
“Well … I thought maybe you could do it for me, Dragon.”
The dragon stiffened slightly. “Me?”
“Well, you’re not frightened of a little spider, are you? I expect you could sleep in a whole room full of spiders and not give it a second thought. I wish I was a dragon.”
There was a short pause. “I‘m not frightened of spiders,” said the dragon, who had turned a little yellow at the mention of a roomful of them. “Not frightened, exactly. No dragon is frightened of spiders. However, some dragons like them and some dragons don’t. And I am one of the ones that don’t,” he finished firmly.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Tom, who could see the dragon’s position only too well. “I wish the spider would say still, that’s all.”
“Yes,” said the dragon from underneath the bed.
Tom was too busy keeping an eye on the ceiling even to notice his friend’s departure. “I think I’ll just go and ask Daddy to get rid of it for us. I wouldn’t like it to fall off the ceiling.”
“It might hurt itself,” agreed the dragon in a muffled voice. “I’ll just keep out of the way until the thing’s settled.”
Outside his bedroom door, Tom bumped into Sarah, who was on her way to the bathroom for a glass of water.
“You’re supposed to be asleep,” she pointed out.
Tom explained the problem.
“Oh, I’ll put it out for you,” Sarah said carelessly. “I don’t mind spiders. Where is it?”
Tom showed her. “And don’t touch it till I’ am out of the way.”

What did tom say to the dragon, with regard to the spider?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Ugh.Look up there, Dragon.It’s a spider?
The dragon looked. “So it is.”
Tom didn’t want the dragon to get the wrong idea, so he said at once that he wasn’t frightened of spiders.
“Oh, no?” answered the dragon readily. “Neither am I.”
“But –“Tom sat down on the edge of his bed and looked up with narrowed eyes “- but I don’t exactly like them.”
“Some people don’t", replied the dragon in a pleasant voice. “Nothing to be ashmed of in not liking them. Lots of people don’t."
Tom became even more thoughtful. “If someone, someone who didn’t mind spiders, were to put one out of the windows that would make the whole room sort of feel better. Do you see?”
“I can certainly see your point of view. Who could you get to do it, though?”
“Well … I thought maybe you could do it for me, Dragon.”
The dragon stiffened slightly. “Me?”
“Well, you’re not frightened of a little spider, are you? I expect you could sleep in a whole room full of spiders and not give it a second thought. I wish I was a dragon.”
There was a short pause. “I‘m not frightened of spiders,” said the dragon, who had turned a little yellow at the mention of a roomful of them. “Not frightened, exactly. No dragon is frightened of spiders. However, some dragons like them and some dragons don’t. And I am one of the ones that don’t,” he finished firmly.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Tom, who could see the dragon’s position only too well. “I wish the spider would say still, that’s all.”
“Yes,” said the dragon from underneath the bed.
Tom was too busy keeping an eye on the ceiling even to notice his friend’s departure. “I think I’ll just go and ask Daddy to get rid of it for us. I wouldn’t like it to fall off the ceiling.”
“It might hurt itself,” agreed the dragon in a muffled voice. “I’ll just keep out of the way until the thing’s settled.”
Outside his bedroom door, Tom bumped into Sarah, who was on her way to the bathroom for a glass of water.
“You’re supposed to be asleep,” she pointed out.
Tom explained the problem.
“Oh, I’ll put it out for you,” Sarah said carelessly. “I don’t mind spiders. Where is it?”
Tom showed her. “And don’t touch it till I’ am out of the way.”

Directions: Choose the correct meaning of the word from 1 - 4.

Exactly

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Ugh.Look up there, Dragon.It’s a spider?
The dragon looked. “So it is.”
Tom didn’t want the dragon to get the wrong idea, so he said at once that he wasn’t frightened of spiders.
“Oh, no?” answered the dragon readily. “Neither am I.”
“But –“Tom sat down on the edge of his bed and looked up with narrowed eyes “- but I don’t exactly like them.”
“Some people don’t", replied the dragon in a pleasant voice. “Nothing to be ashmed of in not liking them. Lots of people don’t."
Tom became even more thoughtful. “If someone, someone who didn’t mind spiders, were to put one out of the windows that would make the whole room sort of feel better. Do you see?”
“I can certainly see your point of view. Who could you get to do it, though?”
“Well … I thought maybe you could do it for me, Dragon.”
The dragon stiffened slightly. “Me?”
“Well, you’re not frightened of a little spider, are you? I expect you could sleep in a whole room full of spiders and not give it a second thought. I wish I was a dragon.”
There was a short pause. “I‘m not frightened of spiders,” said the dragon, who had turned a little yellow at the mention of a roomful of them. “Not frightened, exactly. No dragon is frightened of spiders. However, some dragons like them and some dragons don’t. And I am one of the ones that don’t,” he finished firmly.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Tom, who could see the dragon’s position only too well. “I wish the spider would say still, that’s all.”
“Yes,” said the dragon from underneath the bed.
Tom was too busy keeping an eye on the ceiling even to notice his friend’s departure. “I think I’ll just go and ask Daddy to get rid of it for us. I wouldn’t like it to fall off the ceiling.”
“It might hurt itself,” agreed the dragon in a muffled voice. “I’ll just keep out of the way until the thing’s settled.”
Outside his bedroom door, Tom bumped into Sarah, who was on her way to the bathroom for a glass of water.
“You’re supposed to be asleep,” she pointed out.
Tom explained the problem.
“Oh, I’ll put it out for you,” Sarah said carelessly. “I don’t mind spiders. Where is it?”
Tom showed her. “And don’t touch it till I’ am out of the way.”

What did dragon say to Tom?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Ugh.Look up there, Dragon.It’s a spider?
The dragon looked. “So it is.”
Tom didn’t want the dragon to get the wrong idea, so he said at once that he wasn’t frightened of spiders.
“Oh, no?” answered the dragon readily. “Neither am I.”
“But –“Tom sat down on the edge of his bed and looked up with narrowed eyes “- but I don’t exactly like them.”
“Some people don’t", replied the dragon in a pleasant voice. “Nothing to be ashmed of in not liking them. Lots of people don’t."
Tom became even more thoughtful. “If someone, someone who didn’t mind spiders, were to put one out of the windows that would make the whole room sort of feel better. Do you see?”
“I can certainly see your point of view. Who could you get to do it, though?”
“Well … I thought maybe you could do it for me, Dragon.”
The dragon stiffened slightly. “Me?”
“Well, you’re not frightened of a little spider, are you? I expect you could sleep in a whole room full of spiders and not give it a second thought. I wish I was a dragon.”
There was a short pause. “I‘m not frightened of spiders,” said the dragon, who had turned a little yellow at the mention of a roomful of them. “Not frightened, exactly. No dragon is frightened of spiders. However, some dragons like them and some dragons don’t. And I am one of the ones that don’t,” he finished firmly.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Tom, who could see the dragon’s position only too well. “I wish the spider would say still, that’s all.”
“Yes,” said the dragon from underneath the bed.
Tom was too busy keeping an eye on the ceiling even to notice his friend’s departure. “I think I’ll just go and ask Daddy to get rid of it for us. I wouldn’t like it to fall off the ceiling.”
“It might hurt itself,” agreed the dragon in a muffled voice. “I’ll just keep out of the way until the thing’s settled.”
Outside his bedroom door, Tom bumped into Sarah, who was on her way to the bathroom for a glass of water.
“You’re supposed to be asleep,” she pointed out.
Tom explained the problem.
“Oh, I’ll put it out for you,” Sarah said carelessly. “I don’t mind spiders. Where is it?”
Tom showed her. “And don’t touch it till I’ am out of the way.”

What did Tom and dragon see up?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Ugh.Look up there, Dragon.It’s a spider?
The dragon looked. “So it is.”
Tom didn’t want the dragon to get the wrong idea, so he said at once that he wasn’t frightened of spiders.
“Oh, no?” answered the dragon readily. “Neither am I.”
“But –“Tom sat down on the edge of his bed and looked up with narrowed eyes “- but I don’t exactly like them.”
“Some people don’t", replied the dragon in a pleasant voice. “Nothing to be ashmed of in not liking them. Lots of people don’t."
Tom became even more thoughtful. “If someone, someone who didn’t mind spiders, were to put one out of the windows that would make the whole room sort of feel better. Do you see?”
“I can certainly see your point of view. Who could you get to do it, though?”
“Well … I thought maybe you could do it for me, Dragon.”
The dragon stiffened slightly. “Me?”
“Well, you’re not frightened of a little spider, are you? I expect you could sleep in a whole room full of spiders and not give it a second thought. I wish I was a dragon.”
There was a short pause. “I‘m not frightened of spiders,” said the dragon, who had turned a little yellow at the mention of a roomful of them. “Not frightened, exactly. No dragon is frightened of spiders. However, some dragons like them and some dragons don’t. And I am one of the ones that don’t,” he finished firmly.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Tom, who could see the dragon’s position only too well. “I wish the spider would say still, that’s all.”
“Yes,” said the dragon from underneath the bed.
Tom was too busy keeping an eye on the ceiling even to notice his friend’s departure. “I think I’ll just go and ask Daddy to get rid of it for us. I wouldn’t like it to fall off the ceiling.”
“It might hurt itself,” agreed the dragon in a muffled voice. “I’ll just keep out of the way until the thing’s settled.”
Outside his bedroom door, Tom bumped into Sarah, who was on her way to the bathroom for a glass of water.
“You’re supposed to be asleep,” she pointed out.
Tom explained the problem.
“Oh, I’ll put it out for you,” Sarah said carelessly. “I don’t mind spiders. Where is it?”
Tom showed her. “And don’t touch it till I’ am out of the way.”

Where did Tom want to put the spider?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Ugh.Look up there, Dragon.It’s a spider?
The dragon looked. “So it is.”
Tom didn’t want the dragon to get the wrong idea, so he said at once that he wasn’t frightened of spiders.
“Oh, no?” answered the dragon readily. “Neither am I.”
“But –“Tom sat down on the edge of his bed and looked up with narrowed eyes “- but I don’t exactly like them.”
“Some people don’t", replied the dragon in a pleasant voice. “Nothing to be ashmed of in not liking them. Lots of people don’t."
Tom became even more thoughtful. “If someone, someone who didn’t mind spiders, were to put one out of the windows that would make the whole room sort of feel better. Do you see?”
“I can certainly see your point of view. Who could you get to do it, though?”
“Well … I thought maybe you could do it for me, Dragon.”
The dragon stiffened slightly. “Me?”
“Well, you’re not frightened of a little spider, are you? I expect you could sleep in a whole room full of spiders and not give it a second thought. I wish I was a dragon.”
There was a short pause. “I‘m not frightened of spiders,” said the dragon, who had turned a little yellow at the mention of a roomful of them. “Not frightened, exactly. No dragon is frightened of spiders. However, some dragons like them and some dragons don’t. And I am one of the ones that don’t,” he finished firmly.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Tom, who could see the dragon’s position only too well. “I wish the spider would say still, that’s all.”
“Yes,” said the dragon from underneath the bed.
Tom was too busy keeping an eye on the ceiling even to notice his friend’s departure. “I think I’ll just go and ask Daddy to get rid of it for us. I wouldn’t like it to fall off the ceiling.”
“It might hurt itself,” agreed the dragon in a muffled voice. “I’ll just keep out of the way until the thing’s settled.”
Outside his bedroom door, Tom bumped into Sarah, who was on her way to the bathroom for a glass of water.
“You’re supposed to be asleep,” she pointed out.
Tom explained the problem.
“Oh, I’ll put it out for you,” Sarah said carelessly. “I don’t mind spiders. Where is it?”
Tom showed her. “And don’t touch it till I’ am out of the way.”

Directions: Choose the correct meaning of the word from 1 - 4.

Underneath

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

“Ugh.Look up there, Dragon.It’s a spider?
The dragon looked. “So it is.”
Tom didn’t want the dragon to get the wrong idea, so he said at once that he wasn’t frightened of spiders.
“Oh, no?” answered the dragon readily. “Neither am I.”
“But –“Tom sat down on the edge of his bed and looked up with narrowed eyes “- but I don’t exactly like them.”
“Some people don’t", replied the dragon in a pleasant voice. “Nothing to be ashmed of in not liking them. Lots of people don’t."
Tom became even more thoughtful. “If someone, someone who didn’t mind spiders, were to put one out of the windows that would make the whole room sort of feel better. Do you see?”
“I can certainly see your point of view. Who could you get to do it, though?”
“Well … I thought maybe you could do it for me, Dragon.”
The dragon stiffened slightly. “Me?”
“Well, you’re not frightened of a little spider, are you? I expect you could sleep in a whole room full of spiders and not give it a second thought. I wish I was a dragon.”
There was a short pause. “I‘m not frightened of spiders,” said the dragon, who had turned a little yellow at the mention of a roomful of them. “Not frightened, exactly. No dragon is frightened of spiders. However, some dragons like them and some dragons don’t. And I am one of the ones that don’t,” he finished firmly.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Tom, who could see the dragon’s position only too well. “I wish the spider would say still, that’s all.”
“Yes,” said the dragon from underneath the bed.
Tom was too busy keeping an eye on the ceiling even to notice his friend’s departure. “I think I’ll just go and ask Daddy to get rid of it for us. I wouldn’t like it to fall off the ceiling.”
“It might hurt itself,” agreed the dragon in a muffled voice. “I’ll just keep out of the way until the thing’s settled.”
Outside his bedroom door, Tom bumped into Sarah, who was on her way to the bathroom for a glass of water.
“You’re supposed to be asleep,” she pointed out.
Tom explained the problem.
“Oh, I’ll put it out for you,” Sarah said carelessly. “I don’t mind spiders. Where is it?”
Tom showed her. “And don’t touch it till I’ am out of the way.”

Author's attitude towards pollution as per Passage II is ________________.

Passage – I

Every year there are changes in climate in different parts of the world. Some of these changes are due to natural causes. However, some climatic changes are caused by air pollution and these changes may increase. 
If the pollution affects the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the results are likely to be serious. Carbon dioxide constitutes only a small part of the atmosphere. But it has an important function in maintaining the balance between radiation from the sun entering the atmosphere and radiation leaving the Earth. Some of the radiation is absorbed by the Earth and some is radiated back into the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide in the atmosphere prevents some of the radiation from leaving the atmosphere. Thus the heat remains in the atmosphere and carbon dioxide helps to prevent the temperature of the Earth from falling.

If the proportion of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increased as a result of air pollution, the temperature of the atmosphere may rise. This might eventually cause the ice in the north and the south poles to melt. If this happened, the sea level would rise and parts of the Earth would be flooded. The likelihood of this happening is remote, but the possibility exists.

There is also a fairly strong possibility that the dust level in the atmosphere will rise as a result of industrial pollution. This dust pollution will reflect sunlight back into space. If this happens, less sunlight will reach the Earth and the temperature will fall.

Another danger comes from the destruction of the Earth's vegetation, such as the forests of Brazil, which are being cleared to make way for farmland and cities. Trees use carbon dioxide and their destruction may upset the balance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Passage – II

An acre of rainforest is destroyed every second for farmland we’ll use for a few years and leave. That rainforest is not replaceable. We complain rainforest is not replaceable. We complain there’s not a cure for HIV or many other diseases, but we destroy forest that it’s plants produce many medicines and one of those plants could contain a cure for a disease.

We use huge machinery to destroy the rainforest. These machines release chemicals into the air which pollutes the stuff we breathe into our bodies. Every time we gun that engine or peel our tires we pollute the air. If we want to breathe healthy air so we can enjoy the outdoors, we’re going to have to be more conscious on what we do. What do you think about a huge flood that kills all living things on land? Well, every time you spray the hairspray or cheese in a can you release aerosol which depletes the ozone. Because of our lack of knowledge or care there is now a huge hole over Antarctica. If to much heat gets to the glaciers they will melt overfilling the oceans causing massive floods on dry land. Floods so bad they would kill all living things. Would it kill you to not drive for the fun of it, possibly walk or car pool? Well, since people have over-used the gas of the world we’re facing a shortage of fossil fuel which is what powers our cars. With this problem other problems occur. Air pollution, noise pollution, and over crowding are some to just name a few. This problem needs to be taken care of quickly. The problem of pollution is something has to end and end soon. If something doesn’t stop the pollution will take over and destroy us which is no body’s fault but ourselves. The problem is bad but if we start to clean up now we could still make it a wonderful life (again).

According to passage I, the probability of pollution showing its extremity is ______________.

Passage – I

Every year there are changes in climate in different parts of the world. Some of these changes are due to natural causes. However, some climatic changes are caused by air pollution and these changes may increase. 
If the pollution affects the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the results are likely to be serious. Carbon dioxide constitutes only a small part of the atmosphere. But it has an important function in maintaining the balance between radiation from the sun entering the atmosphere and radiation leaving the Earth. Some of the radiation is absorbed by the Earth and some is radiated back into the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide in the atmosphere prevents some of the radiation from leaving the atmosphere. Thus the heat remains in the atmosphere and carbon dioxide helps to prevent the temperature of the Earth from falling.

If the proportion of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increased as a result of air pollution, the temperature of the atmosphere may rise. This might eventually cause the ice in the north and the south poles to melt. If this happened, the sea level would rise and parts of the Earth would be flooded. The likelihood of this happening is remote, but the possibility exists.

There is also a fairly strong possibility that the dust level in the atmosphere will rise as a result of industrial pollution. This dust pollution will reflect sunlight back into space. If this happens, less sunlight will reach the Earth and the temperature will fall.

Another danger comes from the destruction of the Earth's vegetation, such as the forests of Brazil, which are being cleared to make way for farmland and cities. Trees use carbon dioxide and their destruction may upset the balance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Passage – II

An acre of rainforest is destroyed every second for farmland we’ll use for a few years and leave. That rainforest is not replaceable. We complain rainforest is not replaceable. We complain there’s not a cure for HIV or many other diseases, but we destroy forest that it’s plants produce many medicines and one of those plants could contain a cure for a disease.

We use huge machinery to destroy the rainforest. These machines release chemicals into the air which pollutes the stuff we breathe into our bodies. Every time we gun that engine or peel our tires we pollute the air. If we want to breathe healthy air so we can enjoy the outdoors, we’re going to have to be more conscious on what we do. What do you think about a huge flood that kills all living things on land? Well, every time you spray the hairspray or cheese in a can you release aerosol which depletes the ozone. Because of our lack of knowledge or care there is now a huge hole over Antarctica. If to much heat gets to the glaciers they will melt overfilling the oceans causing massive floods on dry land. Floods so bad they would kill all living things. Would it kill you to not drive for the fun of it, possibly walk or car pool? Well, since people have over-used the gas of the world we’re facing a shortage of fossil fuel which is what powers our cars. With this problem other problems occur. Air pollution, noise pollution, and over crowding are some to just name a few. This problem needs to be taken care of quickly. The problem of pollution is something has to end and end soon. If something doesn’t stop the pollution will take over and destroy us which is no body’s fault but ourselves. The problem is bad but if we start to clean up now we could still make it a wonderful life (again).

What is the meaning of 'sighed'?

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

That evening, Tom told the dragon that he would be getting another surprise the following day.
“Let me guess”, the dragon said, shutting his eyes so tightly that the scales along his forehead buckled and squeaked. “Don’t tell me, don’t tell me…”
“I am not going to”, promised Tom.
The dragon’s eyes flew open, “I know, It’s a … a football.”
Tom laughed and said, “No.” The eyes snapped shut again.
“Don’t tell me, don’t tell me …”
“I won’t.”
“It’s a … firework?”
With his one open eye, the dragon saw Tom shake his head again, smiling.
“You’ll never guess.”
The dragon sighed and unfurrowed his forehead to fix a pleading gaze on Tom’s face. “I give up then. What is it?”
“Wait and see. It’s a surprise.”
“Yes, I know that. But I like to know what my surprises are going to be,” the dragon explained. “It helps me get ready for them.”
Tom relented a little. “I’ll give you a clue, but that’s all. It’s something nice to eat. Not,” he added in a hurry, in case the dragon got the wrong idea, “not what you like best. But something nice.”
Tom reassured him. The surprise was going to be much tastier than the sandwich.
That, thought the dragon, would not be difficult. Finding something less tasty than the sandwich would be a challenge. Even so, he cheered up. Following his own train of thought, he said in a careless voice, “While we’re on the subject of surprises, didn’t you once tell me you had a sister?”
Tom knew perfectly well that the dragon knew perfectly well about Sarah, and he gave his friend a look full of suspicion. “What’s Sarah got to do with surprises?”
You eat surprises and you eat sisters, thought the dragon, trying hard to look harmless. What could be simpler than that?
He didn’t speak out loud, however, because Tom’s disapproving gaze made him feel guilty. He could see that it might have been a mistake to introduce the subject of Sarah as he had. He had spoken without thinking, and was sorry for it.
“How was football this afternoon?” It was a lucky question for the dragon to hit on, just as the silence was threatening to turn awkward. Tom’s expression brightened.
“Didn’t I tell you? We drew, nil-nil, so we get one whole point. Are you sure I didn’t tell you about it before?”
“Quite sure,” lied the dragon. He much preferred hearing Tom’s account of the day’s play again to discussing difficult topics such as a dragon’s diet and its relation to young female relatives.

What is the meaning of 'squeaked'?

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

That evening, Tom told the dragon that he would be getting another surprise the following day.
“Let me guess”, the dragon said, shutting his eyes so tightly that the scales along his forehead buckled and squeaked. “Don’t tell me, don’t tell me…”
“I am not going to”, promised Tom.
The dragon’s eyes flew open, “I know, It’s a … a football.”
Tom laughed and said, “No.” The eyes snapped shut again.
“Don’t tell me, don’t tell me …”
“I won’t.”
“It’s a … firework?”
With his one open eye, the dragon saw Tom shake his head again, smiling.
“You’ll never guess.”
The dragon sighed and unfurrowed his forehead to fix a pleading gaze on Tom’s face. “I give up then. What is it?”
“Wait and see. It’s a surprise.”
“Yes, I know that. But I like to know what my surprises are going to be,” the dragon explained. “It helps me get ready for them.”
Tom relented a little. “I’ll give you a clue, but that’s all. It’s something nice to eat. Not,” he added in a hurry, in case the dragon got the wrong idea, “not what you like best. But something nice.”
Tom reassured him. The surprise was going to be much tastier than the sandwich.
That, thought the dragon, would not be difficult. Finding something less tasty than the sandwich would be a challenge. Even so, he cheered up. Following his own train of thought, he said in a careless voice, “While we’re on the subject of surprises, didn’t you once tell me you had a sister?”
Tom knew perfectly well that the dragon knew perfectly well about Sarah, and he gave his friend a look full of suspicion. “What’s Sarah got to do with surprises?”
You eat surprises and you eat sisters, thought the dragon, trying hard to look harmless. What could be simpler than that?
He didn’t speak out loud, however, because Tom’s disapproving gaze made him feel guilty. He could see that it might have been a mistake to introduce the subject of Sarah as he had. He had spoken without thinking, and was sorry for it.
“How was football this afternoon?” It was a lucky question for the dragon to hit on, just as the silence was threatening to turn awkward. Tom’s expression brightened.
“Didn’t I tell you? We drew, nil-nil, so we get one whole point. Are you sure I didn’t tell you about it before?”
“Quite sure,” lied the dragon. He much preferred hearing Tom’s account of the day’s play again to discussing difficult topics such as a dragon’s diet and its relation to young female relatives.

What was the difficult topic discussed between Tom and dragon?

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

That evening, Tom told the dragon that he would be getting another surprise the following day.
“Let me guess”, the dragon said, shutting his eyes so tightly that the scales along his forehead buckled and squeaked. “Don’t tell me, don’t tell me…”
“I am not going to”, promised Tom.
The dragon’s eyes flew open, “I know, It’s a … a football.”
Tom laughed and said, “No.” The eyes snapped shut again.
“Don’t tell me, don’t tell me …”
“I won’t.”
“It’s a … firework?”
With his one open eye, the dragon saw Tom shake his head again, smiling.
“You’ll never guess.”
The dragon sighed and unfurrowed his forehead to fix a pleading gaze on Tom’s face. “I give up then. What is it?”
“Wait and see. It’s a surprise.”
“Yes, I know that. But I like to know what my surprises are going to be,” the dragon explained. “It helps me get ready for them.”
Tom relented a little. “I’ll give you a clue, but that’s all. It’s something nice to eat. Not,” he added in a hurry, in case the dragon got the wrong idea, “not what you like best. But something nice.”
Tom reassured him. The surprise was going to be much tastier than the sandwich.
That, thought the dragon, would not be difficult. Finding something less tasty than the sandwich would be a challenge. Even so, he cheered up. Following his own train of thought, he said in a careless voice, “While we’re on the subject of surprises, didn’t you once tell me you had a sister?”
Tom knew perfectly well that the dragon knew perfectly well about Sarah, and he gave his friend a look full of suspicion. “What’s Sarah got to do with surprises?”
You eat surprises and you eat sisters, thought the dragon, trying hard to look harmless. What could be simpler than that?
He didn’t speak out loud, however, because Tom’s disapproving gaze made him feel guilty. He could see that it might have been a mistake to introduce the subject of Sarah as he had. He had spoken without thinking, and was sorry for it.
“How was football this afternoon?” It was a lucky question for the dragon to hit on, just as the silence was threatening to turn awkward. Tom’s expression brightened.
“Didn’t I tell you? We drew, nil-nil, so we get one whole point. Are you sure I didn’t tell you about it before?”
“Quite sure,” lied the dragon. He much preferred hearing Tom’s account of the day’s play again to discussing difficult topics such as a dragon’s diet and its relation to young female relatives.

What is the food that dragon usually ate?

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

That evening, Tom told the dragon that he would be getting another surprise the following day.
“Let me guess”, the dragon said, shutting his eyes so tightly that the scales along his forehead buckled and squeaked. “Don’t tell me, don’t tell me…”
“I am not going to”, promised Tom.
The dragon’s eyes flew open, “I know, It’s a … a football.”
Tom laughed and said, “No.” The eyes snapped shut again.
“Don’t tell me, don’t tell me …”
“I won’t.”
“It’s a … firework?”
With his one open eye, the dragon saw Tom shake his head again, smiling.
“You’ll never guess.”
The dragon sighed and unfurrowed his forehead to fix a pleading gaze on Tom’s face. “I give up then. What is it?”
“Wait and see. It’s a surprise.”
“Yes, I know that. But I like to know what my surprises are going to be,” the dragon explained. “It helps me get ready for them.”
Tom relented a little. “I’ll give you a clue, but that’s all. It’s something nice to eat. Not,” he added in a hurry, in case the dragon got the wrong idea, “not what you like best. But something nice.”
Tom reassured him. The surprise was going to be much tastier than the sandwich.
That, thought the dragon, would not be difficult. Finding something less tasty than the sandwich would be a challenge. Even so, he cheered up. Following his own train of thought, he said in a careless voice, “While we’re on the subject of surprises, didn’t you once tell me you had a sister?”
Tom knew perfectly well that the dragon knew perfectly well about Sarah, and he gave his friend a look full of suspicion. “What’s Sarah got to do with surprises?”
You eat surprises and you eat sisters, thought the dragon, trying hard to look harmless. What could be simpler than that?
He didn’t speak out loud, however, because Tom’s disapproving gaze made him feel guilty. He could see that it might have been a mistake to introduce the subject of Sarah as he had. He had spoken without thinking, and was sorry for it.
“How was football this afternoon?” It was a lucky question for the dragon to hit on, just as the silence was threatening to turn awkward. Tom’s expression brightened.
“Didn’t I tell you? We drew, nil-nil, so we get one whole point. Are you sure I didn’t tell you about it before?”
“Quite sure,” lied the dragon. He much preferred hearing Tom’s account of the day’s play again to discussing difficult topics such as a dragon’s diet and its relation to young female relatives.

What did Tom say to the dragon?

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

That evening, Tom told the dragon that he would be getting another surprise the following day.
“Let me guess”, the dragon said, shutting his eyes so tightly that the scales along his forehead buckled and squeaked. “Don’t tell me, don’t tell me…”
“I am not going to”, promised Tom.
The dragon’s eyes flew open, “I know, It’s a … a football.”
Tom laughed and said, “No.” The eyes snapped shut again.
“Don’t tell me, don’t tell me …”
“I won’t.”
“It’s a … firework?”
With his one open eye, the dragon saw Tom shake his head again, smiling.
“You’ll never guess.”
The dragon sighed and unfurrowed his forehead to fix a pleading gaze on Tom’s face. “I give up then. What is it?”
“Wait and see. It’s a surprise.”
“Yes, I know that. But I like to know what my surprises are going to be,” the dragon explained. “It helps me get ready for them.”
Tom relented a little. “I’ll give you a clue, but that’s all. It’s something nice to eat. Not,” he added in a hurry, in case the dragon got the wrong idea, “not what you like best. But something nice.”
Tom reassured him. The surprise was going to be much tastier than the sandwich.
That, thought the dragon, would not be difficult. Finding something less tasty than the sandwich would be a challenge. Even so, he cheered up. Following his own train of thought, he said in a careless voice, “While we’re on the subject of surprises, didn’t you once tell me you had a sister?”
Tom knew perfectly well that the dragon knew perfectly well about Sarah, and he gave his friend a look full of suspicion. “What’s Sarah got to do with surprises?”
You eat surprises and you eat sisters, thought the dragon, trying hard to look harmless. What could be simpler than that?
He didn’t speak out loud, however, because Tom’s disapproving gaze made him feel guilty. He could see that it might have been a mistake to introduce the subject of Sarah as he had. He had spoken without thinking, and was sorry for it.
“How was football this afternoon?” It was a lucky question for the dragon to hit on, just as the silence was threatening to turn awkward. Tom’s expression brightened.
“Didn’t I tell you? We drew, nil-nil, so we get one whole point. Are you sure I didn’t tell you about it before?”
“Quite sure,” lied the dragon. He much preferred hearing Tom’s account of the day’s play again to discussing difficult topics such as a dragon’s diet and its relation to young female relatives.

What is the meaning of 'suspicion' as per the context of the passage?

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

That evening, Tom told the dragon that he would be getting another surprise the following day.
“Let me guess”, the dragon said, shutting his eyes so tightly that the scales along his forehead buckled and squeaked. “Don’t tell me, don’t tell me…”
“I am not going to”, promised Tom.
The dragon’s eyes flew open, “I know, It’s a … a football.”
Tom laughed and said, “No.” The eyes snapped shut again.
“Don’t tell me, don’t tell me …”
“I won’t.”
“It’s a … firework?”
With his one open eye, the dragon saw Tom shake his head again, smiling.
“You’ll never guess.”
The dragon sighed and unfurrowed his forehead to fix a pleading gaze on Tom’s face. “I give up then. What is it?”
“Wait and see. It’s a surprise.”
“Yes, I know that. But I like to know what my surprises are going to be,” the dragon explained. “It helps me get ready for them.”
Tom relented a little. “I’ll give you a clue, but that’s all. It’s something nice to eat. Not,” he added in a hurry, in case the dragon got the wrong idea, “not what you like best. But something nice.”
Tom reassured him. The surprise was going to be much tastier than the sandwich.
That, thought the dragon, would not be difficult. Finding something less tasty than the sandwich would be a challenge. Even so, he cheered up. Following his own train of thought, he said in a careless voice, “While we’re on the subject of surprises, didn’t you once tell me you had a sister?”
Tom knew perfectly well that the dragon knew perfectly well about Sarah, and he gave his friend a look full of suspicion. “What’s Sarah got to do with surprises?”
You eat surprises and you eat sisters, thought the dragon, trying hard to look harmless. What could be simpler than that?
He didn’t speak out loud, however, because Tom’s disapproving gaze made him feel guilty. He could see that it might have been a mistake to introduce the subject of Sarah as he had. He had spoken without thinking, and was sorry for it.
“How was football this afternoon?” It was a lucky question for the dragon to hit on, just as the silence was threatening to turn awkward. Tom’s expression brightened.
“Didn’t I tell you? We drew, nil-nil, so we get one whole point. Are you sure I didn’t tell you about it before?”
“Quite sure,” lied the dragon. He much preferred hearing Tom’s account of the day’s play again to discussing difficult topics such as a dragon’s diet and its relation to young female relatives.