Grade 7 Reading Comprehension Exercises

This reading comprehension exercise that includes multiple choice questions will be adequate practice in understanding long text. Read the passage carefully. Then answer the questions that follow.

A Lucky Escape

An eagle hovered in the sky and puffy clouds rolled south as noon drew close. Summer had already gone and the trees on the ridge were beginning to turn red-gold and yellow. In the distance, cattle moved slowly towards their resting spot near the river’s edge. It was here that the Jones family and their friends, the Harris family, had chosen to have their annual picnic. Mr. Jones collected wood and lit the barbecue fire.

While the four adults chattered around the fire site, their six children played cricket near the fast–flowing river. The constant thwack of the cricket ball against the bat indicated that Tom Harris was starring once again, while frustrated groans from John Jones revealed his desperation to catch Tom out. In the three years that they had been good friends, John had never managed to dismiss Tom, no matter how hard he tried.

The game continued at a fast pace until a frantic cry was heard all of a sudden. “Dad, help! John fell into the river.” Both men reacted immediately. Mr. Jones stripped off his clothes and plunged into the icy water in an effort to reach the boy. Mr. Harris ran along the bank, anxiously looking for something to help him pull the boy to safety.

Mr. Jones reached his son, grasped him under the shoulders and held him afloat as the river carried them along. “Stay calm and don’t struggle. We will be out of here in no time, son,” he gasped. They continued floating down the river while Mr. Harris ran along the bank, shouting words of encouragement, until, to his joy, he saw a bridge a short distance ahead. He sprinted to the bridge. There he noticed a stout branch lying at the water’s edge. He dragged it onto the bridge and held it over the side until it touched the river. Just then, Mr. Jones and John swept into view. “Grab hold of this,” Mr. Harris shouted.

Desperately, the two clutched at the spiky lifeline. Within minutes, Mr. Harris had dragged it to the river bank and hauled them onto it. They lay there gasping for breath. “Did you take the catch?” Mr. Jones asked as he recovered his sense of humour. With a sheepish grin, John raised his right arm. Clenched firmly in his hand was a red cricket ball. “Yes Dad,” he said. All three began to laugh and they were still laughing when the other members of their families arrived a few minutes later.

From paragraph 1

1. What does the word ‘hovered’ suggest about the eagle’s movement?
a) The eagle was flying very fast.
b) The eagle was flying very slowly.
c) The eagle remained in one place.
d) The eagle was flying very high.

2. What season of the year would it be in this story?
a) Summer
b) Autumn
c) Winter
d) Spring

From paragraph 2

3. Which of the following is the closest meaning to the word ‘thwack’?
a) Move
b) Strike
c) Bump
d) push

From paragraph 3

4. Which of these phrases is closest in meaning to the word ‘frantic’?
a) Very loud
b) Quite tearful
c) With great fear
d) Sounding hoarse

5. Why did Mr. Harris run along the river bank?
a) He could not swim.
b) He wanted to encourage Mr. Jones and John.
c) He knew there was a bridge further downstream.
d) He wanted to find something with which he would be able to drag them to safety.

From paragraph 4

6. How did Mr. Harris get Mr. Jones and John out of the river?
a) He jumped in and pulled them to the river bank.
b) He was able to pull them out from the bridge.
c) He hauled them out using a branch that Mr. Jones and John held on to.
d) He managed to call someone and get help.

From paragraph 7

7. What does the ‘spiky lifeline’ refer to?
a) The branch that Mr. Harris used.
b) A thorny bush by the river bank.
c) Life vest John was wearing.
d) A long rope

8. Why were the three male characters laughing after the incident?
a) They were never really in danger.
b) Despite the accident, John had caught Tom out.
c) Despite the incident, they were safe and sound.
d) They were laughing at the expressions on the others’ faces.

Answer Scheme

• c)
• b)
• b)
• c)
• d)
• c)
• a)
• b)