Section C Reading Comprehension

SECTION C
Reading Comprehension
[10 marks]
[Time suggested: 30 minutes]
Questions 12 – 16 are based on the following passage.
1 Long, long ago, in Australia, it is said fish could travel as easily on land as
they could swim in water. It happened, so the story goes, that the whole fish tribe
had been playing tag along a sandy beach near the sea. At last, they became
tired of the game. Fin-fin, the leader of the fish, said, "Let us coast down the
great, black rock." Now beyond the level shore where the fish had been playing 5
tag, there were cliffs and rocks. Some of the rocks rose straight out of the water;
others sloped toward the sandy beach.
2 High above the rest towered the great, black rock. The fish climbed to the
top. Then, one after another, they followed the leader, each gliding head first
down the rock. It was fine sport! Then the fish formed a circle and danced while 10
Fin-fin slid down the rock alone. Again and again, he climbed to the top and slid
down as swiftly as an arrow glides from the bow. Finally he turned a somersault
at the foot of the rock and then called to the fish to stop dancing.
3 "It is time to cook dinner," said Fin-fin. "There is a good place for a camp
under the trees on the tall cliff yonder." The fish climbed to the top of the cliff 15
overhanging the sea. They gathered wood and heaped it high at the edge of the
cliff. When all was ready for the bonfire, Fin-fin rubbed two sticks briskly
together. Soon a spark fell upon the wood, and instantly the flames leaped
upward. Then the fish put some roots in front of the fire to roast.
4 While the roots were cooking, the fish stretched themselves under the 20
trees. They had almost fallen asleep when suddenly great drops of rain came
splashing down. A dark cloud, which they had not noticed, had covered the sun.
The rain fell hard and fast and soon put out the fire. Now, you know this was very
serious because people in those days had no matches, and it was difficult to light
a fire. Then an icy wind began to blow too, and the fish were soon shivering in 25
the cold.
5 "We shall freeze to death unless we can build a fire again," cried Fin-fin.
He tried to kindle a flame by rubbing two sticks together. He could not produce
even one spark. "It is of no use," said Fin-fin. "The wood is too wet. We shall
have to wait for the sun to shine again." A tiny fish came forward and bowed 30
before Fin-fin, saying, "Ask my father, Flying-fish, to light the fire. He is skilled in
magic, and he can do more than most fish."
6 So Fin-fin asked Flying-fish to light the fire once more. Flying-fish knelt
before the smouldering ashes and fanned briskly with his fins. A tiny thread of
smoke curled upward, and a feeble red glow could be seen in the ashes. When 35
the tribe of fish saw this, they crowded close around Flying-fish, keeping their
backs toward the cold wind. He told them to go to the other side because he
wanted to fan the fire. By and by the spark grew into a flame, and the bonfire
burned brightly. "Bring more wood," cried Flying-fish. The fish gathered wood
and piled it upon the fire. The red flames roared and sputtered, and crackled. 40
"We shall soon be warm now," said Fin-fin.
7 Then the fish crowded around the fire, closer and closer. Suddenly a
blast of wind swept across the cliff from the direction of the land and blew the fire
toward the fish. They sprang back, forgetting that they were on the edge of the
cliff. And down, down, down, went the whole fish tribe to the bottom of the sea. 45
The water felt warm, for the strong wind had driven the fire down below too.
There, indeed, was the bonfire at the bottom of the sea, burning as brightly as
ever. More wonderful still, the fire never went out like fires do on land. The water
at the bottom of the sea has been warm ever since that day. That is why, on
frosty days, the fish disappear from the surface of the water. They dive to the 50
bottom of the sea where they can keep warm and comfortable around the magic
bonfire. At least this is what some people say.
Taken from http://www.k5learning.com/sites
12. From paragraph 1, what is the name of the leader of the fish?
_________________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]
13 .From paragraph 3,
(a) why did the fish climb to the top of the cliff overhanging the sea?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]
(b) how did Fin-fin create a spark which fell upon the wood?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]
14. From paragraph 4,
(a)why was it difficult to light a fire then?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]
(b) From paragraph 5,
(i)which word brings the same meaning to the word ‘damp’?
_________________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]
(ii) Who was skilled in magic?
_________________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]
15. From paragraph 7,
(a)what pushed the fish to the bottom of the sea?
_________________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]
(b) Why do the fish disappear from the surface of the water on frosty days?
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]
16. In your own words, suggest a lesson that you could learn from the story. Provide a
reason to support your answer.
A lesson:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]
Reason:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

Section C Reading Comprehension

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Section C Reading Comprehension

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SECTION C

[Time suggested: 30 minutes]

Questions 12 – 16 are based on the following passage.

Taken from http://www.k5learning.com/sites

14. From paragraph 4,

(a)why was it difficult to light a fire then?

(i)which word brings the same meaning to the word ‘damp’?

(ii) Who was skilled in magic?

15. From paragraph 7,

(a)what pushed the fish to the bottom of the sea?

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