Week 12 · English Practice Paper

Reading Passage

Read the story below, then answer the questions that follow.

Leo's Robot

For Leo's seventh birthday, his uncle gave him a shiny toy robot. It had a red chest, silver arms and two bright blue eyes that lit up whenever you pressed the button on its head. As soon as Leo unwrapped it, he loved it. He called it Zip and carried it everywhere, making it march across the table, beep at his teddy bears and stand guard by his bed at night.

The day after Leo's birthday, the sun was shining brightly, so his parents decided to take Leo and his older sister, Amy, to the park for a picnic.

"Can Zip come too?" Leo asked his dad.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Dad said. "Zip has lots of tiny buttons and wires. If he gets rained on, or if sand and grass get inside him, he might stop working properly."

"But he's my best friend," Leo said, holding Zip close. "I can't just leave him at home all by himself."

Leo asked so many times that in the end Dad agreed Zip could come, as long as Leo looked after him very carefully.

"I'll carry him the whole time," Leo promised, wrapping Zip up in his blue jumper. In the car, Leo held Zip tightly on his lap and wouldn't let Amy touch him even once.

When they reached the park, lots of families were already there, playing games and having picnics on the grass. Leo's family found a shady spot under a big tree and spread out their blanket.

"Shall we eat lunch now?" asked Mum. "Yes please, I'm starving!" said Leo. But eating lunch was tricky with only one hand, because he had to hold Zip carefully with the other. While Amy ate two sandwiches and a slice of cake, Leo only managed half a sandwich before he felt too worried to finish it.

After lunch, Dad brought out a kite. "Shall we fly it?" he asked. "Ooh, yes!" said Leo. But flying the kite needed two hands, so Leo watched from the blanket, holding Zip tightly, while Amy and Dad ran across the grass, laughing as the kite climbed higher and higher.

"Come and have a go, Leo!" called Amy, but Leo shook his head. He didn't want Zip to get bumped or dropped.

When it was time to go home, Leo was very quiet in the car. He held Zip just as tightly as before, but he didn't make him beep or march even once.

The next morning was sunny again. "Shall we go swimming?" asked Mum. "You can bring Zip if you like." Leo thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No," he said. "I think I'll leave him at home today. He'll be fine without me for a little while."

Option 1: Continue the story: 'Tom's Strange Delivery'

• Continue the story about who or what is standing on the step.
• Did something go wrong, or was it a lovely surprise? How was it sorted out?
• This can be real or imaginary.
• Use your senses — what did Tom see, hear, smell, taste or touch?