Comprehension Passage

Read the passage, then answer the 5 questions that follow. Marking schemes are included.

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow

High up in the mountains of Kenya lives a small bird called the sunbird. With its bright, shining feathers that sparkle in the sunlight, it is one of the most beautiful birds in the region. The sunbird has a long, thin beak that is perfectly shaped for sipping sweet nectar from the deep flowers that grow on the mountain slopes.

The sunbird plays a very important role in nature. As it moves from flower to flower in search of food, tiny grains of pollen stick to its head and feathers. When the bird visits the next flower, this pollen rubs off, helping the plants to make seeds. Without the sunbird, many of these mountain flowers would not be able to grow new plants.

Sadly, the homes of these birds are slowly disappearing. People cut down trees and clear the land to build houses and grow crops. As the forests shrink, the flowers that the sunbirds depend on become fewer and fewer. The birds are then forced to travel further to find enough food to survive.

Many people are now working to protect these special birds. Some schools have started planting indigenous trees and flowers to bring the sunbirds back. By caring for the environment, communities can make sure that future generations will still be able to enjoy the beauty of the sunbird singing among the mountain flowers.

  1. Question 1

    1 mark

    Why is the sunbird's beak perfectly shaped for its diet?

    A. It is wide and flat for catching insects

    B. It is long and thin for sipping nectar from deep flowers

    C. It is curved and sharp for tearing meat

    D. It is short and strong for cracking seeds

    (1 mark)

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  2. Question 2

    1 mark

    How does the sunbird help the mountain flowers?

    A. It builds nests that shelter the flowers

    B. It carries pollen from flower to flower, helping plants make seeds

    C. It eats the insects that damage the flowers

    D. It waters the flowers with nectar

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme

    B. It carries pollen from flower to flower, helping plants make seeds

  3. Question 3

    1 mark

    The word 'shrink' as used in the passage means

    A. move away

    B. become larger

    C. become smaller

    D. stay the same

    (1 mark)

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  4. Question 4

    1 mark

    What can we infer is the main threat to the sunbirds?

    A. A lack of sunlight

    B. Too much rain in the mountains

    C. Other birds attacking them

    D. The loss of their forest homes

    (1 mark)

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  5. Question 5

    1 mark

    Which is the best title for this passage?

    A. Building Houses in the Mountains

    B. How to Plant Trees

    C. The Beautiful and Important Sunbird

    D. Flowers of Kenya

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

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