1-
Reading Passage
In the heart of the dense, ancient forest, the sun peeked through the towering trees, casting golden
shafts of light on the forest floor. The leaves, like emerald jewels, glowed with life. Birds chirped
merrily, their sweet melodies filling the air with a song of peace. Yet, deep within the forest’s core, a
storm was brewing.
The wind howled with fury, tearing through the branches like a wild beast unleashed. Trees groaned
in protest, their trunks bending but never breaking. Raindrops, as sharp as needles, pounded the
ground, turning soil into thick mud. The once-cheerful birds fell silent, their songs swallowed by the
roar of thunder.
In a small clearing, a lone cottage stood, weather-worn and brave against the storm's relentless
attack. The sky’s gray cloak hung heavily, draped like a mourning shroud. Inside the cottage, an old
woman sat by the fire, her eyes fixed on the flickering flames. The warmth wrapped around her like
a comforting blanket, shielding her from the chaos outside.
"The storm will pass," she whispered to herself, her voice as soft as the first snowfall. Her wrinkled
hands moved rhythmically as she knitted, each stitch a beat in the silent music of patience. The
steady crackle of the fire seemed to agree, offering its gentle applause with every pop of a burning
log.
Key Skills Extraction Table
Example from the
Skill Definition
text
Compound A sentence with two or more independent clauses joined
Sentence by a conjunction.
A sentence with one independent clause and at least one
Complex Sentence
dependent clause.
The writer’s attitude or feeling toward the subject or
Text Tone
audience.
Genre The category or type of the text.
Personification Giving human qualities to non-human things.
Simile A comparison using "like" or "as."
Emotive Language Words or phrases that provoke an emotional response.
Factual Language Objective, provable information.
Metaphor A direct comparison between two things.
Alliteration The repetition of initial consonant sounds.
Sibilance Repetition of "s" or "sh" sounds for effect.
Assonance Repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.
Rhyme Repetition of similar ending sounds in words.
Metonymy A word or phrase substituted with a closely related term.
Short Answer Questions
1. What is the tone of the passage? How does the author achieve this tone?
2. Identify one example of emotive language from the text and explain its effect on the reader.
3. Highlight an example of personification from the passage. What does this literary device add
to the story’s mood?
4. Explain the meaning of the metaphor "The sky’s gray cloak hung heavily." How does it
enhance the imagery in the story?
2-
Reading Passage
The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in swirls of crimson and gold. The small fishing
village, nestled by the sea, buzzed with the chatter of fishermen returning with their day's catch.
Their boats, bobbing gently on the rippling waves, looked like tiny cradles on a vast, endless sea.
Children darted along the shore, their laughter mingling with the soft hush of the tide.
Farther along the beach, an old lighthouse stood tall, its weathered stones a testament to the storms
it had endured. The sea breeze whistled through its cracks, a haunting melody that echoed in the
night. The light at the top spun steadily, a guardian's watchful eye over the dark, unpredictable
waters.
"Storm's coming," muttered one fisherman, gazing at the growing wall of clouds on the horizon.
Lightning flickered, illuminating the sky like shattered glass. Waves began to crash more violently,
their thunderous roars drowning out the sounds of the village. Fishermen hurried to secure their
boats, knots tightening with frantic hands.
In one cottage, a young boy watched the brewing storm with wide, fearful eyes. His mother
wrapped her arms around him, her warmth a shield against the cold dread that seeped into the room.
"It's just a storm, love," she whispered, her voice soft but steady. "We’ve weathered worse."
The first raindrops tapped against the windowpane, light as a drummer’s gentle beat. Then, with a
sudden roar, the sky opened up, releasing a deluge that soaked the world in seconds. The village
lights flickered but held strong, tiny flames of hope against the vast storm’s fury.
Key Skills Extraction Table
Example from the
Skill Definition
text
Compound A sentence with two or more independent clauses joined
Sentence by a conjunction.
A sentence with one independent clause and at least one
Complex Sentence
dependent clause.
The writer’s attitude or feeling toward the subject or
Text Tone
audience.
Genre The category or type of the text.
Personification Giving human qualities to non-human things.
Simile A comparison using "like" or "as."
Emotive Language Words or phrases that provoke an emotional response.
Factual Language Objective, provable information.
Metaphor A direct comparison between two things.
Alliteration The repetition of initial consonant sounds.
Sibilance Repetition of "s" or "sh" sounds for effect.
Assonance Repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.
Rhyme Repetition of similar ending sounds in words.
Metonymy A word or phrase substituted with a closely related term.
Short Answer Questions
1. What is the tone of the passage? How does the author achieve this tone?
2. Identify one example of personification from the text and explain its effect on the reader.
3. Highlight an example of alliteration in the passage. Why do you think the author used this
technique?
4. Explain the meaning of the metaphor "The light at the top spun steadily, a guardian's
watchful eye." How does this enhance the reader’s understanding of the lighthouse’s role in
the story?
3-
Reading Passage
I sat on the edge of my bed, phone in hand, staring at the message I’d just received. My heart
thudded in my chest, each beat louder than the last. "We need to talk," it read. Those four words
carried the weight of a thunderstorm, dark and brooding. My fingers hovered over the screen,
unsure of how to respond.
Outside, the world continued as usual. Cars hummed along the street, a distant siren wailed, and the
gentle patter of rain tapped against the window. The rain’s rhythm was a lullaby, soft and steady, but
it did nothing to calm me. My eyes shifted back to the message, the words blurring slightly as my
mind spun with possibilities.
"Maybe it’s nothing," I muttered aloud, my voice barely more than a whisper. The room’s silence
pressed against me, thick and suffocating. I took a deep breath, willing my heart to slow down, but
it thudded on stubbornly, a wild drumbeat of anxiety.
My cat, Willow, leapt onto the bed with the grace of a dancer, her green eyes glowing like twin
lanterns in the dim light. She rubbed her head against my arm, her purr a gentle, soothing vibration.
"At least you’re calm," I said, scratching behind her ears. Her steady purr reminded me that,
somehow, everything would be okay.
The phone buzzed again in my hand, jolting me like a sudden clap of thunder. I glanced down,
dread pooling in my stomach. Another message appeared. "I’m outside."
Key Skills Extraction Table
Example from the
Skill Definition
text
Compound A sentence with two or more independent clauses joined
Sentence by a conjunction.
A sentence with one independent clause and at least one
Complex Sentence
dependent clause.
The writer’s attitude or feeling toward the subject or
Text Tone
audience.
Genre The category or type of the text.
Personification Giving human qualities to non-human things.
Simile A comparison using "like" or "as."
Emotive Language Words or phrases that provoke an emotional response.
Factual Language Objective, provable information.
Metaphor A direct comparison between two things.
Alliteration The repetition of initial consonant sounds.
Sibilance Repetition of "s" or "sh" sounds for effect.
Assonance Repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.
Rhyme Repetition of similar ending sounds in words.
Metonymy A word or phrase substituted with a closely related term.
Short Answer Questions
1. What is the tone of the passage? How does the author achieve this tone?
2. Identify one example of personification from the text and explain its effect on the reader.
3. Highlight an example of alliteration in the passage. Why do you think the author used this
technique?
4. Explain the meaning of the metaphor "Those four words carried the weight of a
thunderstorm." How does this enhance the reader’s understanding of the character’s
feelings?
