Read the passage carefully before attempting Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill in the blanks dropdown) below.
Last winter, Priya was at home feeling bored. It was raining heavily outside, so she couldn’t go out. She was looking through old DVDs on her parents’ shelf when she found a film called Spirited Away. She had never heard of it before, but the colourful picture on the cover looked interesting. She decided to watch it.
The film is a Japanese animation about a ten-year-old girl called Chihiro. One day, Chihiro’s family stops at a mysterious place, and suddenly everything changes. Strange and magical things start happening, and Chihiro has to work hard and be brave to save her parents. The story moves quickly, and the characters are unusual and fascinating. The animation is absolutely beautiful — every scene looks like a painting.
Priya loved the film immediately. She watched it again the next day, and then she read about it online. She discovered that the director, Hayao Miyazaki, made many other wonderful films too. Now she is going to watch all of them. She thinks Spirited Away is the best film she has ever seen because it is exciting, emotional, and completely different from anything else. She has already recommended it to all her friends.
Exercise 1
Read the passage about a favourite film or book carefully, then choose the correct answer for each question based on the text.
Example: What is the name of the film or book the person talks about?
Answer: The person talks about their favourite film called "The Lion King."
My Favourite Film or Book
Have you ever watched a film so many times that you know every word? Or read a book that you couldn't put down? In this lesson, you will read about a teenager who discovered her favourite film completely by accident. Before you read, think about these questions: What is your favourite film or book? Why do you like it so much?
Reading Passage: The Film That Changed Everything
Last winter, Priya was at home feeling bored. It was raining heavily outside, so she couldn't go out. She was looking through old DVDs on her parents' shelf when she found a film called Spirited Away. She had never heard of it before, but the colourful picture on the cover looked interesting. She decided to watch it.
The film is a Japanese animation about a ten-year-old girl called Chihiro. One day, Chihiro's family stops at a mysterious place, and suddenly everything changes. Strange and magical things start happening, and Chihiro has to work hard and be brave to save her parents. The story moves quickly, and the characters are unusual and fascinating. The animation is absolutely beautiful — every scene looks like a painting.
Priya loved the film immediately. She watched it again the next day, and then she read about it online. She discovered that the director, Hayao Miyazaki, made many other wonderful films too. Now she is going to watch all of them. She thinks Spirited Away is the best film she has ever seen because it is exciting, emotional, and completely different from anything else. She has already recommended it to all her friends.
Key Vocabulary in Context
| Word / Phrase | Part of Speech | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| animation | noun | a film made using drawings or computer images, not real actors | My little brother loves watching animation on Saturday mornings. |
| mysterious | adjective | strange and difficult to understand or explain | There was a mysterious noise coming from the old house. |
| brave | adjective | not afraid of difficult or dangerous situations | The brave girl spoke in front of the whole school. |
| fascinating | adjective | very interesting and attractive | The documentary about sharks was absolutely fascinating. |
| scene | noun | one part of a film, showing events in one place | My favourite scene is when the two characters finally meet. |
| emotional | adjective | making you feel strong feelings such as happiness or sadness | The ending of the film was very emotional — I nearly cried. |
| recommend | verb | to tell someone that something is good and they should try it | Can you recommend a good restaurant near here? |
| cover | noun | the front of a DVD case or book, which shows a picture and the title | I chose the book because the cover looked really exciting. |
Reading Strategies & Comprehension Tips
Skimming for the Main Idea
Read the passage quickly — just 30 seconds — without stopping at difficult words. Ask yourself: What is this text mainly about? You should be able to answer: "A girl called Priya discovered a film she loves." This is your main idea.
Scanning for Specific Information
Exam questions often ask about specific details, such as names, places, or times. To find these quickly, look for capital letters (names like Priya, Chihiro, Miyazaki) and time expressions (like last winter, the next day, now). You do not need to re-read the whole passage — just scan for these signals.
Understanding Opinions
This passage includes Priya's personal opinions. Look for phrases like "she thinks," "she loved," and "she has already recommended." These phrases tell you what Priya believes and feels — and they are often the target of comprehension questions about opinions.
Using Context to Guess Meaning
If you see an unfamiliar word, look at the words around it. For example, if you don't know the word fascinating, notice that it describes the characters and comes after the word unusual. This tells you it is a positive word meaning very interesting.
Common Reading Pitfalls & Traps
Trap 1: Confusing Chihiro with Priya
The passage has two main characters: Priya (the real teenager watching the film) and Chihiro (the character inside the film). Questions may ask about one or the other. Read carefully — it is Chihiro who has to save her parents, not Priya.
Trap 2: Misreading Time Expressions
The passage uses several different time words: last winter, the next day, and now. A common mistake is to mix up the order of events. Remember: first Priya watched the film, then she watched it again, then she read about it online, and now she is planning to watch more films.
Trap 3: The Reason She Chose the Film
Priya chose the film because of the colourful picture on the cover — not because someone recommended it, and not because she already knew the director. Be careful with questions about why she decided to watch it.
Trap 4: False Cognates with "Emotional"
In some languages, a similar-looking word means "annoying" or "dramatic." In English, emotional simply means something that causes strong feelings. In context here, it is a positive quality that Priya likes about the film.
Quick Summary
In this passage, you read about Priya, a teenager who found a Japanese animated film called Spirited Away by accident one rainy winter day. She loved it so much that she watched it twice, researched the director, and plans to watch all his other films. She thinks it is the best film she has ever seen because it is exciting, emotional, and unique. You practised skimming for the main idea, scanning for names and time expressions, and understanding a character's opinions.
Now read the passage carefully and complete Exercise 1 (Multiple Choice) and Exercise 2 (Fill-in-the-gap dropdown) below.
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