W7 PTE Reading Practice: The Railway Children

Roberta

Phyllis

Peter

Nesbit

"Help!"

"Look!"

"Listen!"

"Stop!"

They were easy and gentle to walk down.

They were difficult to go up and down.

No one ever used them.

They were wide and flat.

It was very loud.

It was gentle but strange.

It was a cheerful sound.

It was a familiar sound.

Because the rocks and trees have fallen onto the railway line and a train is due.

Because the tunnel might flood.

Because someone might fall down the steep stairs.

Because someone might trip over the tree.

excited

magical

scared

bored

to help the reader imagine how the trees seemed to shift before the landslide

to describe what kind of trees grew near the tunnel

to show that the trees were actually alive and moving on purpose

to explain why the children were climbing the steps

He becomes excited and wants to watch the train go by.

He reacts quickly and seriously, knowing there could be a dangerous accident.

He decides they should all go back home immediately.

He laughs and tells the others not to worry.

He wants to decorate the trees.

He thinks red will frighten the birds away.

His favourite colour is red.

He knows something red will show up clearly to the train driver.

She wishes they had stayed at home to read.

She is cross with Phyllis for being slow.

She thinks the petticoats will get dirty.

She fears the driver won't see them in time.

to show that they are whispering

to make the word harder to read

to show that multiple people are speaking at once

to show that Peter is shouting loudly in alarm

Lunch by the Train

The Steep Steps

Bobbie's Birthday

The Walking Trees