11+ Reading Comprehension Test 1.

(Multiple choice format)

Read this passage carefully and then answer the questions that follow.

The ancient grandfather clock in the hallway of Millbrook Manor struck seven, its chimes echoing through the empty corridors. Maya Patel pressed her nose against the frost-patterned window, watching snowflakes dance in the amber glow of Victorian street lamps. Being stuck at her grandparents' house during the power cut was definitely not how she'd planned to spend the first day of half term.

"I can't believe we're missing movie night," grumbled her younger brother Arun, who was attempting to build a house of cards by candlelight.

Their grandmother bustled in, carrying a tray of cocoa. "Now then, you two, stop moping. The Winter Fair starts tomorrow, and they're predicting the first proper snow we've had in years. The whole village will be there. And this year, Professor Blackwood is bringing his Collection."

That caught Maya's attention. Even Arun's house of cards collapsed forgotten as he looked up. Everyone had heard of Professor Blackwood's Collection - a mysterious assortment of supposedly magical artefacts that the eccentric historian had gathered from around the world. He only displayed them once a year.

The next morning, Maya woke to find the village transformed. Everything was blanketed in thick, pristine snow, and colourful bunting had appeared overnight, criss-crossing the narrow streets. Market stalls were being erected on the village green, their canvas tops already dusted with white.

As Maya and Arun helped their grandfather carry boxes of homemade fudge to his stall, they noticed a peculiar sight. A magnificent purple tent had appeared at the far end of the green. A sign beside it read: "Professor Blackwood's Collection of Curiosities - Opening at Noon."

"Look!" Arun pointed to a tall figure in a black coat, carrying an ornate wooden box toward the tent. "That must be him!"

But something seemed odd. The figure was walking very quickly, almost nervously, and kept looking over his shoulder.

Just then, their friend Emily Williams came running up. "Have you heard?" she gasped. "Someone broke into the village museum last night! And the only thing they took was an empty display case - the one that was supposed to hold Professor Blackwood's exhibition!"

Before anyone could respond, a commanding voice rang out across the green. "STOP THAT MAN!"

The figure in the black coat suddenly broke into a run, clutching the wooden box. From the opposite direction came another man, this one red-faced and wearing a rather squashed top hat, who Maya would later learn was the real Professor Blackwood.

What happened next seemed to unfold in slow motion. The running figure slipped on a patch of ice, sending the wooden box flying through the air. Arun, whose cricket skills had finally proved useful for something, made a spectacular diving catch. The impostor scrambled to his feet and disappeared down an alley, with several villagers in pursuit.

Inside the box, carefully wrapped in velvet, was a small brass key covered in strange markings. Professor Blackwood explained it was the key to his grandfather's diary, which contained the truth about the Collection - the real one, not the fake artefacts the thief had planned to display.

"But where is the real Collection?" Maya asked.

The professor's eyes twinkled. "My dear, you've been looking at it all morning. Those aren't ordinary snow crystals making patterns on your windows. Magic, you see, has a peculiar effect on electricity..."

Maya held out her hand, catching a falling flake. For a brief moment, before it melted, she glimpsed what looked like a tiny Victorian street scene, complete with horse-drawn carriages.

"Keep the key safe for now," the professor said to Arun. "The diary's hidden in the manor house somewhere - has been for years. I only realised it must be there when the power started playing up. Magic leaves traces, you see."

Their grandmother appeared, carrying more fudge. "Professor! I see you've met my grandchildren. I hope they haven't been pestering you about the Collection."

"Not at all, Mrs Patel. In fact, they've been remarkably helpful. Would you mind if they helped me search the manor house this afternoon? I have a feeling we might need to check the library first. Old houses do so love to hide things in libraries..."

Maya and Arun exchanged excited glances. Perhaps this wasn't going to be such a boring half term after all.

Reading Comprehension Questions (1-16)

1. Where were Maya and Arun's parents?

   A at a movie night

   B at their own house

   C not mentioned in the story

   D at the Winter Fair

   E in the village museum

2. What did Maya initially think about the Winter Fair?

   A she was excited to go

   B she was looking forward to seeing Professor Blackwood

   C she didn't want to attend

   D she wanted to help set it up

   E she was worried about the snow

3. Which TWO factors made the power cut at the manor house unusual?

   Choose TWO answers:

   1 It only affected the manor house

   2 It happened during a snowstorm

   3 It was caused by magic

   4 It happened during half term

   A 1 and 2

   B 1 and 3

   C 2 and 3

   D 2 and 4

   E 3 and 4

4. What alerted Maya that something was suspicious about the figure in the black coat?

   A he was carrying a wooden box

   B he was walking towards the purple tent

   C he was wearing a black coat

   D he appeared nervous and kept looking back

   E he was walking quickly

5. What was stolen from the museum?

   A Professor Blackwood's diary

   B the brass key

   C a display case

   D the Collection

   E magical artefacts

6. Why did the impostor fail to escape?

   A Arun caught him

   B he slipped on ice

   C the villagers caught him

   D Professor Blackwood stopped him

   E the snow was too deep

7. Which best describes Arun's role in the events?

   A deliberate hero

   B accidental hero

   C curious bystander

   D careful observer

   E unwilling participant

8. What was special about the snow falling in the village?

   A it was the first snow in years

   B it contained historical scenes

   C it was predicted in the forecast

   D it was unusually thick

   E it affected the electricity

9. Where was the diary hidden?

   A in the wooden box

   B in the purple tent

   C in the manor house

   D in the village museum

   E in Professor Blackwood's Collection

10. What was the real purpose of the brass key?

    A to open the display case

    B to unlock the purple tent

    C to unlock Professor Blackwood's diary

    D to release the magic

    E to start the Winter Fair

11. What was Professor Blackwood's grandfather's achievement?

    A predicting the weather

    B building the manor house

    C preserving magic in ordinary objects

    D writing a magical diary

    E creating snow patterns

12. How did Professor Blackwood know the diary was in the manor house?

    A his grandfather told him

    B he saw magic traces

    C the power kept failing

    D he found the key there

    E Maya told him about the patterns

13. Why was Emily's role important in the story?

    A she helped catch the thief

    B she revealed the museum break-in

    C she knew about the Collection

    D she was friends with Maya

    E she helped set up the Fair

14. What was the grandmother's attitude throughout the events?

    A worried about the children

    B focused on selling fudge

    C supportive but practical

    D unaware of the magic

    E concerned about the thief

15. By the end of the story, what had changed about Maya's attitude?

    A she was still bored

    B she wanted to go home

    C she was excited about what might happen next

    D she was worried about the power cut

    E she was tired of the snow

16. What kind of place was the village where the story was set?

    A a modern town

    B a historic village

    C a coastal resort

    D a busy city

    E a farming community

17. "The ancient grandfather clock in the hallway struck seven..." Which word in this phrase is an adjective?

    A ancient

    B grandfather

    C hallway

    D struck E seven

18. What type of word is 'suddenly' in the sentence "The figure suddenly broke into a run"?

    A noun

    B verb

    C adjective

    D adverb

    E preposition

19. Which word is closest in meaning to 'peculiar' as used in the story?

    A strange

    B normal

    C exciting

    D magical

    E hidden

20. Which of these is a proper noun from the story?

    A village

    B winter

    C snow

    D Maya E fair