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More →A passage ends: “She folded the letter, placed it back in the drawer, and did not mention it again.” This most strongly suggests that she:
- wanted to put its contents out of mind
- was proud of the letter
- planned to reply soon
- had never actually read it
Show answer & explanation
Answer: wanted to put its contents out of mind
Hiding the letter away and refusing to speak of it implies she wished to forget it. Nothing points to pride, a planned reply, or that it was unread — the meaning is carried by her actions, not stated outright.
Answer: wanted to put its contents out of mind
Hiding the letter away and refusing to speak of it implies she wished to forget it. Nothing points to pride, a planned reply, or that it was unread — the meaning is carried by her actions, not stated outright.
“The committee, in its infinite wisdom, scheduled the sports carnival for the wettest week of the year.” The phrase “in its infinite wisdom” is used to:
- praise the committee’s careful planning
- mock the committee’s decision
- explain why it rained
- thank the organisers
Show answer & explanation
Answer: mock the committee’s decision
Pairing “infinite wisdom” with an obviously poor choice is verbal irony — the writer means the opposite of the words, mocking the decision. Spotting that gap between what is said and what is meant is the key skill here.
Answer: mock the committee’s decision
Pairing “infinite wisdom” with an obviously poor choice is verbal irony — the writer means the opposite of the words, mocking the decision. Spotting that gap between what is said and what is meant is the key skill here.
Mathematical Reasoning
More →A tank is 3⁄5 full. After 12 litres are added, it is 7⁄10 full. How many litres does the full tank hold?
- 80
- 100
- 120
- 240
Show answer & explanation
Answer: 120
The 12 L raised the level by 7⁄10 − 3⁄5 = 7⁄10 − 6⁄10 = 1⁄10 of the tank. So 1⁄10 of the tank is 12 L, which means the full tank holds 12 × 10 = 120 L.
Answer: 120
The 12 L raised the level by 7⁄10 − 3⁄5 = 7⁄10 − 6⁄10 = 1⁄10 of the tank. So 1⁄10 of the tank is 12 L, which means the full tank holds 12 × 10 = 120 L.
A number is multiplied by 3, then 4 is subtracted. The result is the same as adding 10 to the original number. What is the number?
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Show answer & explanation
Answer: 7
Turn the words into an equation: 3n − 4 = n + 10. Subtract n from both sides: 2n − 4 = 10, so 2n = 14 and n = 7. Check: 3×7 − 4 = 17, and 7 + 10 = 17. ✓
Answer: 7
Turn the words into an equation: 3n − 4 = n + 10. Subtract n from both sides: 2n − 4 = 10, so 2n = 14 and n = 7. Check: 3×7 − 4 = 17, and 7 + 10 = 17. ✓
Thinking Skills
More →Four runners finished a race. Anna beat Ben. Ben beat Cara. Dan finished between Anna and Ben. Who came third?
- Anna
- Dan
- Ben
- Cara
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Ben
Anna beat Ben with Dan between them → Anna, Dan, Ben. Ben beat Cara, so Cara is last. Full order: Anna (1st), Dan (2nd), Ben (3rd), Cara (4th).
Answer: Ben
Anna beat Ben with Dan between them → Anna, Dan, Ben. Ben beat Cara, so Cara is last. Full order: Anna (1st), Dan (2nd), Ben (3rd), Cara (4th).
“If it rains, the match is cancelled.” The match was NOT cancelled. What can we conclude for certain?
- It rained
- It did not rain
- The match was postponed
- Nothing can be concluded
Show answer & explanation
Answer: It did not rain
If rain always leads to cancellation, then a match that went ahead cannot have had rain — if it had rained, it would have been cancelled. (This is the contrapositive; “Nothing can be concluded” is the common trap.)
Answer: It did not rain
If rain always leads to cancellation, then a match that went ahead cannot have had rain — if it had rained, it would have been cancelled. (This is the contrapositive; “Nothing can be concluded” is the common trap.)
Writing
More →In a persuasive essay, which sentence uses evidence most effectively?
- Everyone knows libraries are important.
- Libraries are extremely, incredibly important to everyone.
- Last year our local library ran 200 free classes for over 3,000 people.
- I really think libraries are good and important.
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Last year our local library ran 200 free classes for over 3,000 people.
Specific facts and numbers persuade far more than opinion or repetition. “Everyone knows”, vague intensifiers (“extremely, incredibly”) and “I really think” are all assertion without proof — concrete evidence is what markers reward.
Answer: Last year our local library ran 200 free classes for over 3,000 people.
Specific facts and numbers persuade far more than opinion or repetition. “Everyone knows”, vague intensifiers (“extremely, incredibly”) and “I really think” are all assertion without proof — concrete evidence is what markers reward.
Rewrite this to cut the repetition and make it vivid: “It was a very, very cold day and the cold made everyone cold.”
Show answer & explanation
Answer: e.g. “Frost bit at every finger, and the whole street shivered.”
Strong writing replaces repeated flat words (“very, very cold… cold… cold”) with precise, sensory detail. Vary your words and show the effect rather than restating it.
Answer: e.g. “Frost bit at every finger, and the whole street shivered.”
Strong writing replaces repeated flat words (“very, very cold… cold… cold”) with precise, sensory detail. Vary your words and show the effect rather than restating it.
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