Read the passage carefully before attempting Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill in the blanks dropdown) below.
Last Saturday, Priya’s family had a big surprise. Her aunt called in the morning: “The weather is beautiful today! Let’s go to Riverside Park!” Everyone was very happy. Priya’s mum packed sandwiches, fruit, and cold juice in a large bag. Her little brother Rohan put a football in his backpack.
They took the bus to the park because it was not far from their house. The park had tall trees, green grass, and a small lake. Priya’s dad found a good spot near the water. They put a blanket on the ground and sat together. Rohan and his cousins played football on the grass. Priya’s aunt brought a delicious chocolate cake. Everybody ate a big piece!
In the afternoon, they walked around the lake and gave bread to the ducks. Priya took photos with her phone. “This is the best day!” she said. When they got home, Rohan was very tired and fell asleep on the sofa. Priya looked at her photos and smiled. She was very happy.
Exercise 1
Read the passage about a special family day carefully. Then choose the correct answer for each question based on the text.
Example: Where does the family go on their special day?
Answer: The family goes to the park on their special day.
A Special Family Day
Do you have a favourite day with your family? Sometimes one day is different from all the others. Before you read, think about these questions: What do you like to do with your family on a free day? And what food do you eat on a special day? Now read about Priya's family day out.
Reading Passage: A Picnic at the Park
Last Saturday, Priya's family had a big surprise. Her aunt called in the morning: "The weather is beautiful today! Let's go to Riverside Park!" Everyone was very happy. Priya's mum packed sandwiches, fruit, and cold juice in a large bag. Her little brother Rohan put a football in his backpack.
They took the bus to the park because it was not far from their house. The park had tall trees, green grass, and a small lake. Priya's dad found a good spot near the water. They put a blanket on the ground and sat together. Rohan and his cousins played football on the grass. Priya's aunt brought a delicious chocolate cake. Everybody ate a big piece!
In the afternoon, they walked around the lake and gave bread to the ducks. Priya took photos with her phone. "This is the best day!" she said. When they got home, Rohan was very tired and fell asleep on the sofa. Priya looked at her photos and smiled. She was very happy.
Key Vocabulary in Context
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| surprise | noun | something unexpected and often happy | The birthday party was a big surprise for Maria. |
| packed | verb (past simple) | put things into a bag to take somewhere | He packed his lunch before he left for school. |
| spot | noun | a particular place, often a good one to sit or stand | We found a nice spot under a tree in the garden. |
| blanket | noun | a large, soft piece of cloth used to sit or keep warm | They put a blanket on the grass and had lunch outside. |
| cousins | noun (plural) | the children of your aunt or uncle | My cousins live in another city, but we meet on holidays. |
| delicious | adjective | very good to eat or drink | The soup was delicious, so I had a second bowl. |
| fell asleep | verb phrase (past simple) | started sleeping, often when you did not plan to | She fell asleep on the train after a long day. |
| smiled | verb (past simple) | moved your mouth to show you are happy | He smiled when he saw his old friend at the café. |
Reading Strategies & Comprehension Tips
Scanning for Key Details
This passage has many small facts: names, places, food, and activities. When a question asks who, what, or where, scan the text quickly for the specific word or name in the question. For example, if a question asks "What did Rohan put in his backpack?", look for the name Rohan in the text and read that sentence carefully.
Understanding Time Words
The passage uses simple time words like last Saturday, in the morning, and in the afternoon. These words show you the order of events. Look for these words to understand what happened first, next, and last. This helps you answer sequence questions correctly.
Using Context Clues
If you do not know a word, read the whole sentence. For example, if you do not know the word spot, the sentence says "Priya's dad found a good spot near the water." The words around it tell you it is a place. Use these clues to guess the meaning before checking a dictionary.
Reading for Feeling and Atmosphere
At the end of the passage, notice how Priya and Rohan feel. Priya smiled and was very happy. Rohan was very tired. These small details help you understand the mood of the story and answer questions about how characters feel.
Common Reading Pitfalls & Traps
Confusing Family Members
The passage mentions several family members: Priya, her mum, her dad, her brother Rohan, and her aunt. Be careful not to mix them up. For example, it was the aunt who called in the morning and brought the chocolate cake — not Priya's mum. Always check who did each action before you answer.
Transport Trap
The family took the bus to the park. Some students guess they walked because the text says "it was not far from their house." However, not far does not mean they walked — the text clearly says they used the bus. Read the full sentence before choosing your answer.
The Football Detail
Rohan put the football in his backpack at home. In the park, he played football with his cousins, not with Priya. Do not assume all family members did the same activities together. The text clearly separates what different people did at the park.
False Sequence: The Cake
Students sometimes think the family ate the cake after their walk around the lake. However, the cake is mentioned in the second paragraph, and the walk is in the third paragraph. Pay attention to paragraph order — it shows the sequence of events in this story.
Quick Summary
In this passage, you read about Priya's family and their day at Riverside Park last Saturday. The family travelled by bus, enjoyed a picnic with sandwiches, fruit, juice, and chocolate cake, played football, walked around the lake, and fed the ducks. The story ends at home, where Rohan falls asleep and Priya looks at her photos happily. Now read the passage carefully and complete Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill-in-the-gap dropdown) below.
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