Topic: Reading Comprehension

Life Competency: Cognitive- Creative and Critical Thinking

Read the extract from The Signal-Man by Charles Dickens
and answer the following questions.
As I descended the steep, rocky path towards the railway
cutting, a strange sense of unease crept over me. The sky
hung low and heavy, pressing down upon the silent
landscape. The tunnel entrance, framed by jagged rocks,
seemed like a mouth gaping open, waiting for something—
or someone.
A figure stood beside the track, partially hidden by the
shadows of the tunnel. His posture was rigid, his eyes fixed
on something unseen. The wind howled through the cutting,
sending an eerie whistle down the empty track. There was
something unnatural about the whole scene, as if the air
itself was thick with an unspoken warning.
I raised my hand in greeting, but the man did not move.
Instead, he lifted his arm slowly, pointing towards the dark
tunnel behind him. A shiver ran through me, though I did
not know why.
I hesitated, glancing around at the desolate landscape. The
distant hills were shrouded in mist, their outlines barely
visible against the darkening sky. The railway tracks
stretched ahead into the tunnel’s yawning mouth,
disappearing into blackness. A chill ran down my spine. It
was not just the cold evening air but something else—an
intangible presence lurking within the shadows.
The man before me finally spoke, his voice low and
strained. "Did you see it?" he asked, his eyes wide with
fear. Before I could respond, a gust of wind howled through
the cutting again, rattling the telegraph wires above us. The
sound echoed through the tunnel, amplifying into an eerie,
unnatural wail. I turned back to him, but he was already
lowering his hand, his gaze shifting uneasily to the dark
abyss of the tunnel.
Something about the way he stood, his every movement
stiff with anxiety, sent another wave of apprehension
through me. The air seemed heavier now, thick with a
strange tension. I had come expecting an ordinary meeting,
but now, as I stood before the ominous tunnel and the
fearful signal-man, I was certain that something beyond my
understanding was at play.
1. Why does the author use ( ; ) in the sentence “The
tunnel entrance, framed by jagged rocks, seemed like
a mouth gaping open, waiting for something; or
someone.”? [1]
o To connect two closely related ideas
o To add suspense to the description
o To replace a comma
o To indicate a pause for dramatic effect
2. What is the effect of the ( … ) in the phrase “A figure
stood beside the track, partially hidden by the shadows
of the tunnel…”? [1]
o It creates excitement and happiness
o It suggests hesitation and suspense
o It shows a quick transition between ideas
o It replaces a comma
3. Why does the author use multiple ( , ) in “The wind
howled through the cutting, sending an eerie whistle
down the empty track.”? [1]
o To list multiple ideas
o To emphasize hesitation and build tension
o To make the sentence longer
o To introduce a new character
4. Find a sentence from the passage that shows the
narrator feels uneasy about the scene. [1]

5. How does the narrator describe the tunnel entrance?

Provide evidence from the text and explain how this
description contributes to the overall mood of the
passage. [2]
Quotation:

Effect:

6. The passage suggests an eerie, supernatural

presence in the setting. Find evidence from the
passage to support this description. [1]

7. Describe the mood of the overall passage. Support it

with evidence from the passage. [2]
Mood:

Quotation:
 8. Identify which sentence best contributes to the eerie
atmosphere of the passage. [1]
o “The sky hung low and heavy, pressing down
upon the silent landscape.”
o “I raised my hand in greeting, but the man did not
move.”
o “There was something unnatural about the whole
scene.”
o “His posture was rigid, his eyes fixed on
something unseen.”
9. What words or phrases in the passage help build a
sense of mystery and suspense? [1]

10. Identify the use of imagery in the passage.

Explain the effect it creates. [2]
Quotation:

Effect:

11. Briefly state the focus of each paragraph in the

passage. The first one has been done for you. [3]
12. From “As I descended…” The narrator describes the
railway cutting and tunnel entrance, setting an eerie tone.
13. From “A figure stood…”

3. From “I raised my hand…”

12. Identify the literary device used in the following lines.
[2]
(a) “The tunnel entrance, framed by jagged rocks, seemed
like a mouth gaping open.”


(b) “The air itself was thick with an unspoken warning.”



13. Find words or phrases from the passage which mean

the same as, [2]
(a) A feeling of unease or apprehension (para 1)


(b) A sharp, high-pitched sound (para 2)



14. Imagine you are the narrator. You have stepped closer
to the tunnel entrance at night. Describe what you see and
feel. [5]
Your response should include:
 A detailed description of the tunnel and surroundings
 The effect of the darkness and sound on the
atmosphere
 How you feel as you approach
 Use vivid imagery and sensory details to describe the
scene.
30 Marks
Topic: Identifying Figurative Language in a Passage
Life Competency: Cognitive- Creative and Critical Thinking
Read the passage below and answer the following
questions.

The night was a thick blanket of darkness, stretching

endlessly above. A chilling wind whispered through the
trees, rustling the dry leaves like a secret being passed
from one branch to another. The moon hung low, its pale
light casting long, eerie shadows across the quiet street. A
lone cat slinked through the alley, its eyes glowing like two
tiny lanterns. In the distance, the faint hum of a city still
awake echoed through the silence.
Beyond the alley, an old clock tower loomed over the town,
its hands frozen at midnight. The scent of damp earth filled
the air, mingling with the faint aroma of woodsmoke from
unseen chimneys. A creaky wooden sign swayed gently
outside a closed shop, its rusty hinges groaning under the
weight of the wind. Somewhere nearby, an owl hooted, its
call sharp and lonely. Each sound, each shadow, felt like a
whisper of something unseen lurking just beyond sight.

1. Identify the simile in the passage and explain its effect.

[2]
Quotation:
.......................................................................................
................................................................... Effect:
.......................................................................................
...................................................................
2. Find an example of personification in the passage and
explain how it contributes to the mood. [2]
Quotation:
.......................................................................................
................................................................... Effect:
 .......................................................................................
...................................................................
3. What atmosphere or mood does the passage create?
Provide evidence to support your answer. [2]
Mood:
.......................................................................................
................................................................... Quotation:
.......................................................................................
...................................................................
4. What literary device is used in the phrase "The night
was a thick blanket of darkness"? [1]
a) Simile
b) Metaphor
c) Personification
d) Hyperbole
5. How does the description of the setting impact the
reader’s emotions? [2]
.......................................................................................
...................................................................
.......................................................................................
...................................................................
6. What words or phrases in the passage help build a
sense of mystery and suspense? [1]
.......................................................................................
...................................................................
7. Rewrite the following sentence using a simile:
"The wind moved through the trees, making a soft
sound."
.......................................................................................
...................................................................
8. Identify the adjective and adverb in the following
sentence:
"The moon hung low, its pale light casting long, eerie
shadows across the quiet street." [2]
Adjective(s):
 .......................................................................................
............................................... Adverb(s):
.......................................................................................
..................................................
9. What effect does the phrase "a secret being passed
from one branch to another" create? [2]
.......................................................................................
...................................................................
.......................................................................................
...................................................................
10. Imagine you are walking through this setting.
Describe how you feel and what you hear, see, or
smell. [5]
.......................................................................................
...................................................................
.......................................................................................
...................................................................
.......................................................................................
...................................................................
.......................................................................................
...................................................................
11. Identify the metaphor in the passage and explain
how it enhances the description. [2]
Quotation:
.......................................................................................
................................................................... Explanation:
.......................................................................................
...................................................................
12. What role does the owl’s hoot play in setting the
scene’s tone? [1]
.......................................................................................
...................................................................
13. Find a phrase in the passage that uses sensory
imagery and explain how it affects the reader’s
experience. [2]
 Quotation:
.......................................................................................
................................................................... Explanation:
.......................................................................................
...................................................................
How does the phrase “rusty hinges groaning under the
weight of the wind” contribute to the mood of the passage?
[2]