Week 14 · English Practice Paper

Reading Passage

Read the story below, then answer the questions in sentences.

Pippin's Big Crossing

Pippin the tortoise lived under a blackberry bush in a cosy garden. Every morning he looked across the stream at the vegetable patch, where the juiciest lettuces grew. He longed to reach it, but the stream was much too deep and fast for a small tortoise to cross.

Pippin's friend, an old owl called Hazel, told him that somewhere along the stream there must be a safe crossing. "Watch the other animals," she said. "They will show you the way."

So Pippin tucked himself under the fence and watched. First a family of ducks waddled past, then two field mice scurried by, and later three fat wood pigeons flapped overhead. All of them seemed to know exactly where they were going.

Every animal turned left at the old apple tree and walked along the bank until they reached a little wooden bridge. One by one, they crossed over safely and disappeared into the vegetable patch on the other side. Pippin's heart thumped with excitement. At last, he was sure he had found the way.

Option 1: A quest to find something special

• Think about who is going on the journey.
• Where are they going, and why?
• What obstacles or surprises do they meet along the way?
• How does your story end?