Year 4 English · Reading non-fiction · Test yourself

Year 4 English Reading non-fiction: check-up and practice test questions

Part of the Year 4 English reading non-fiction chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

Exercise 10Z Check-up

In The Lighthouse, name the two features that show what a picture shows and what a word means.

caption and glossary

Method. Look at the features of the leaflet.

Find the feature for the picture. The caption tells you what Figure 1 shows.
caption
Find the feature for the word. The glossary gives the meaning of lens and beam.
glossary
Write the answer.
caption and glossary

Check. The caption and the glossary each do one job. ✓

Done

What is the purpose of the poster Join the Reading Club!? Write one word.

persuade

Method. Look for the aim of the poster.

Read the commands. Ask, Bring and Sign tell the reader to join.
commands
Name the purpose. A poster that tries to make the reader act persuades.
persuade
Write the answer.
persuade

Check. The poster tries to make the reader join. ✓

Done

Put these three words in alphabetical order: pod, buoyant, gust.

buoyant, gust, pod

Method. Put the words in alphabetical order, letter by letter.

Look at the first letter of each word. Dictionaries order words by their first letter.
p, b, g
Compare the next letters where the first letters match. If the first letters are the same, look at the second letter, then the third.
buoyant, gust, pod
Write the words in order. Put them in alphabetical order, first to last.
buoyant, gust, pod
Write the answer.
buoyant, gust, pod

Check. The words follow the alphabet from the first letter onwards. ✓

Done

Which heading in Making a Loaf of Bread explains why the dough is left in a warm place?

Rising

Method. Find the fact that the text states.

Find the words that answer the question. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.
Cover the dough and leave it in a warm place
Check that the fact is stated, not guessed. The Rising section gives the warm place.
Rising
Write the answer.
Rising

Check. The text states this fact. ✓

Done

What is the main idea of paragraph 3 in Why Rivers Matter? Copy the first sentence.

Rivers are also home to many living things.

Method. Find the fact that the text states.

Find the words that answer the question. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.
Rivers are also home to many living things
Check that the fact is stated, not guessed. The first sentence of the paragraph states the main idea.
Rivers are also home to many living things.
Write the answer.
Rivers are also home to many living things.

Check. The text states this fact. ✓

Done

In Hedgehogs in Our Gardens, what does nocturnal mean? Use the words after it.

come out to feed at night and sleep during the day

Method. Find the fact that the text states.

Find the words that answer the question. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.
they come out to feed at night and sleep during the day
Check that the fact is stated, not guessed. The text explains nocturnal in the sentence that uses the word.
come out to feed at night and sleep during the day
Write the answer.
come out to feed at night and sleep during the day

Check. The text states this fact. ✓

Done

What does a burr do, according to How Seeds Travel?

It sticks to fur or clothing.

Method. Find the fact that the text states.

Find the words that answer the question. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.
a prickly seed case that sticks to fur or clothing
Check that the fact is stated, not guessed. The text says a burr sticks to fur or clothing.
It sticks to fur or clothing.
Write the answer.
It sticks to fur or clothing.

Check. The text states this fact. ✓

Done

Name a feature that shows a text is organised in parts, and say what it helps the reader do.

Accept any answer that names headings, sub-headings or a contents list, and says it helps the reader find a part quickly. For example: headings name each part, so the reader can find the one they need.

Method. Think about the features that organise a text.

Name a feature. Headings name each main part of a text.
headings
Say what it does. It helps the reader find the part they need without reading everything.
find the part
Write the answer.
headings name each part, so the reader can find the one they need

Check. The feature helps the reader find information. ✓

Done

In Hedgehogs in Our Gardens, why might a hedgehog be hard to see during the day? Use the text.

Accept any answer that says it sleeps during the day, because it is nocturnal. For example: it is nocturnal, so it sleeps in the day.

Method. Find the clue, then make the inference.

Find the clue. The text says hedgehogs are nocturnal, which means they sleep during the day.
nocturnal
Make the inference. A hedgehog that sleeps in the day is hard to see then.
sleeps in the day
Write the answer.
it is nocturnal, so it sleeps in the day

Check. The clue explains why it is hard to see. ✓

Done

Explain the difference between a main idea and a detail. Answer in one or two sentences.

Accept any answer that says a main idea is the point of a paragraph, and a detail is a fact or example that supports it. For example: a main idea is the point of a paragraph; a detail is an example that supports it.

Method. Think about what each word means in a paragraph.

Define the main idea. The main idea is the point the paragraph makes.
the point
Define the detail. A detail is a fact or example that supports the point.
a fact or example
Write the answer.
a main idea is the point of a paragraph; a detail is an example that supports it

Check. The main idea is the point, and details support it. ✓

Done

Total 20 marks. Allow about 20 minutes.

Exercise 10X Practice test questions

Contents: 1 Trains; 2 Stations; 3 Tickets.

Which number would you read to learn about tickets?[1 mark]

Method. Find the part about tickets in the contents list.

Read the list. Trains is 1, Stations is 2 and Tickets is 3.
Tickets = 3
Write the answer.
3

Check. Tickets is the third item in the list. ✓

Done

FWhich word comes first in a dictionary: cradle or crate? Write the word only.[1 mark]

cradle

Method. Compare the letters, one at a time.

Compare the first letters. Both words start with c, r, a.
cra
Compare the fourth letters. The fourth letter of cradle is d; the fourth letter of crate is t.
d before t
Write the answer.
cradle

Check. d comes before t in the alphabet. ✓

Done

FWrite the name of the words under a picture that tell the reader what the picture shows.[1 mark]

caption

Method. Think about the feature that goes with a picture.

Recall the feature. A short sentence under a picture tells you what it shows.
under a picture
Name it. That feature is called a caption.
caption
Write the answer.
caption

Check. A caption sits under a picture. ✓

Done

Swim Club! Come along on Tuesday at four o'clock. Bring a towel and a drink. Don't be late!

State the purpose of this poster, and give one feature that shows it.[2 marks]

Accept any answer that gives a purpose such as to persuade pupils to come, with a feature such as the command Bring or the exclamation mark. For example: to persuade pupils to come, shown by the command Bring a towel.

Method. Look for what the poster asks the reader to do, and the words that show it.

Find the purpose. The poster asks the reader to come along to the club.
come along
Find a feature. The command Bring a towel tells the reader what to do.
Bring a towel
Write the answer.
to persuade pupils to come, shown by the command Bring a towel

Check. The purpose and the feature match. ✓

Done

Bees visit many flowers each day. They collect nectar and pollen. Nectar is turned into honey in the hive.

Write the main idea of this paragraph in one sentence.[2 marks]

Accept any sentence that says bees collect nectar and pollen from flowers, and that nectar is turned into honey. For example: Bees collect nectar and pollen from flowers, which is turned into honey.

Method. Find the point the whole paragraph makes.

Read the three sentences. The first two are about collecting from flowers; the last one is about honey.
flowers, honey
Write the main idea. The point is that bees collect nectar and pollen from flowers.
collect nectar and pollen
Write the answer.
Bees collect nectar and pollen from flowers, which is turned into honey

Check. The main idea covers the collecting and the honey. ✓

Done

Tides

Sub-heading: High tide
Sub-heading: Low tide

Which sub-heading would you read to learn about the time when the water is at its lowest? Write the sub-heading.[2 marks]

Low tide

Method. Match the topic of the question to a sub-heading.

Read the question. The question asks about the lowest water.
lowest water
Match the sub-heading. The sub-heading Low tide names that time.
Low tide
Write the answer.
Low tide

Check. The sub-heading names the topic. ✓

Done

RIn one sentence, explain what a summary does.[2 marks]

Accept any sentence that says a summary gives the main points of a text in a short form, in the reader's own words. For example: a summary gives the main points of a text in a short form, in your own words.

Method. Think about what a summary keeps and how it is written.

Say what it keeps. A summary keeps the main points and leaves out small details.
main points
Say how it is written. It is written in the reader's own words, not copied.
own words
Write the answer.
a summary gives the main points of a text in a short form, in your own words

Check. Main points, short form, own words. ✓

Done

Owls hunt at night. They have excellent hearing and sharp eyes. Many owls nest in holes in old trees.

Write the main idea of this text in one sentence, then give one detail that supports it.[3 marks]

Accept any main idea about owls hunting at night, with a supporting detail such as excellent hearing or sharp eyes. For example: Owls are night hunters; they have excellent hearing.

Method. Find the point of the text, then a detail that supports it.

Find the main idea. The text is about owls, and how they hunt at night.
owls hunt at night
Find a supporting detail. Excellent hearing is a detail that supports the hunting.
excellent hearing
Write the answer.
Owls are night hunters; they have excellent hearing

Check. The detail supports the main idea. ✓

Done

Dear parents, please remember to bring your child's water bottle on Monday. Thank you.

Write the purpose and the audience of this letter, and give one feature that shows its purpose.[3 marks]

Accept any answer that gives a purpose such as to remind, an audience of parents, and a feature such as the word please or the command bring. For example: purpose to remind; audience parents; feature: the command bring.

Method. Find who it is written for, what it asks, and the features.

Find the audience. The letter is addressed to parents.
Dear parents
Find the purpose. It reminds parents to bring a water bottle, so the purpose is to remind.
to remind
Find a feature. The command bring and the word please show the purpose.
bring, please
Write the answer.
purpose to remind; audience parents; feature: the command bring

Check. Audience, purpose and feature are all given. ✓

Done

Many shops in town close early on Sundays. The sign on the door says Closed until Monday.

Make an inference about the shop. Give your inference, and one piece of evidence from the text that supports it.[3 marks]

Accept any inference that the shop is closed for the weekend or until Monday, with the sign as evidence. For example: the shop is closed until Monday; the sign on the door says Closed until Monday.

Method. Use the clue on the sign and the sentence about closing early.

Find the evidence. The sign says Closed until Monday.
Closed until Monday
Make the inference. So the shop will not open again until Monday, and the closing early supports this.
closed until Monday
Write the answer.
the shop is closed until Monday; the sign on the door says Closed until Monday

Check. The inference is supported by the sign. ✓

Done

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