dr. nermine ismail schools primary stage grade 4 reading

Dr. Nermine Ismail Schools

Primary Stage

Grade 4

Reading Comprehension

Booklet

2021 – 2022

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

Reading and understanding ....................................................................................................... 2

Reading Steps .............................................................................................................................. 3

Reading Comprehension (1) ....................................................................................................... 5

Reading Comprehension (2) ....................................................................................................... 9

Reading Comprehension (3) ..................................................................................................... 13







Reading Comprehension (10) ................................................................................................... 35

Reading Comprehension (11) …………………………………………………………………………………………………39

3

Reading and Understanding

Here are some tips for handling questions with reading passages:

1. Concentrate

2. Don't rely too much on prior (previous) knowledge. Although you may know

about the subject, the information that is presented will be the source from

which your answer should come.

3. Read the question first. Why read the question before the passage? Because

it saves time to know what you are reading for!

4. Make sure you understand the question. What kind of information will you

need to gather when you read? Will you be looking for facts? Or will you be

using the passage to come up with your own answer?

5. Read the passage. Read the passage as quickly as you can. Look for the answer

as you read. When you find it, take notice of it, but this is important - don't

stop reading yet! Read to the end. That way you can be sure that your answer

is the best, most complete answer possible. If you are reading the passage in

order to provide a written response, read more carefully. Make sure you

understand everything.

6. Providing the answer. Feel free to look back at the passage to double-check

your answer.

-If You Didn't Find the Answer:

7. Try again. Reread the question and the passage. Be sure you know what you

are being asked to think about before you read again.

8. Skip the question. If you still can't find or figure out the answer, skip the

question. You can come back to it after you've finished the rest of the test.

4

Now You Try:

The steps below explain how to find the answer to the question that accompanies

the passage.

Step 1: Read the question and the possible answers. You are looking for the

reason why the Iroquois formed the Iroquois League.

Step 2: Read the passage. Since you're looking for specific information, read

quickly. Information in the first and second paragraphs suggests that the

Iroquois wanted peace and the common good.

Step 3: “Peace and the common good” sounds like the right answer. Still, read

quickly through the last paragraph to be sure there's no other information on

why the League formed.

Step 4: If you didn't get the answer, reread the question. Then reread the

passage. Now do you know the answer?

5

Comprehension Passage (1):

Coral Reefs

Pre-reading Questions:

1. Have you ever heard about coral reefs?

2. Are coral reefs plants or animals?

3. Where are the coral reefs normally found?

4. Do you think that they are important in our environment?Why?

New Vocabulary:

Huge (adj.) Very very big/massive

Shelter (n.) A place giving temporary protection

from any danger or bad weather.

Creature (n.) Any living thing created by God like

human beings, plants or animals.

Danger (n.) A cause of harm or injury.

Pollute (v.) Making water or air dirty.

Sea urchins (n.)

( a kind of sea creatures )

6

Coral reefs are beautiful. Many colorful sea animals live there. Many coral

reefs are huge.The biggest coral reef is 2,600 kilometers long!

But most of all, coral reefs play important roles.

Coral reefs give shelter and food for many sea animals. Starfish, sea sponge,

sea urchins, and many small fish live in these reefs. They can find lots of food

there. Big fish know many small fish live in coral reefs.

So, they often visit coral reefs to hunt small fish.

Coral reefs help both sea animals and people. But people are putting the coral

reefs in danger. People hurt coral reefs by catching fish using bombs and

polluting the sea water. Coral reefs are just pretty, beautiful creatures

underwater.They do their jobs to protect people and animals.

But are we doing our job to protect them?

7

A. Answer the following questions:

1. How do you think coral reefs protect people?

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2. Do you think coral reefs play an important role for many sea animals?

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3. Do you think coral reefs are about to be extinct? Why? Why not?

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B. Choose the correct answer:-

1. Many coral reefs are ------------------.

a) beautiful b) hunt c) long d) chubby

2. Big fish often visit coral reefs to ----------------- small fish.

a) kill b) help c) hunt d) protect

3. People catch fish by bombs and ---------------- sea water.

a) polluting b) protecting c)hunting d) cleaning

8

C. Get from the passage:

1. The antonym of "tiny": ----------------------.

2. The synonym of "protection": ---------------.

3. A word that means "The possibility to harm someone or something":

---------------------------.

9


The Bermuda Triangle


1. Do you believe in mysteries?

2. Have you ever heard about the Bermuda Triangle?

3. Have you ever heard about any mysterious stories happened in Bermuda

Triangle?

4. Do you know any movies about Bermuda Triangle?

New Vocabulary:

Mysterious

(adj.)

Difficult to understand or explain.

Disappear (v.) Being lost, missing or become impossible to find.

(X) appear

Destroy (v.) Damage

Giant (adj.) Huge or massive

Popular (adj.) Famous

10

Many people wonder why many ships and planes disappear in the

Bermuda Triangle. Even some books and movies tell mysterious stories about

the Bermuda Triangle. But is it really a mystery? There are some reasons

the ships and planes disappear in this area.

One reason is nature. The Bermuda Triangle is located near

Southern Florida. There are lots of storms in this area. Many powerful storms

destroy ships and planes in bad weather. Even in a good weather, giant waves

can suddenly appear and sink big ships.

The other reason is because of humans.Sometimes, pilots are not

trained well and make mistakes. The Bermuda Triangle is also a popular place

for pirates because many ships sail there. These pirates kill people and steal

the ships.

The Bermuda Triangle became a mystery because of writers and

movie makers. People love to read books or watch movies about mystery.

The real numbers of disappearing ships and planes are not higher than many

other places. There are just more ships and planes travelling in this area than

other places.

11

A. Answer the following questions:-

1. Do you think nature and humans explain the mystery of Bermuda Triangle?

Why? Why not?

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2. Writers and movie makers made the Bermuda triangle a mystery. Discuss

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3. Do you think pirates are a real threat to the ships that sail in the Bermuda

Triangle? Why? Why not?

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1. Some pilots are not -------------------- well.

a)enough b) mistakes c) popular d) trained

2. Many powerful -------------------- destroy ships and planes in bad weather.

a)humans b) storms c) pirates d) heat

3. The -------------- numbers of disappearing ships and planes are not higher

than many other places.

a)weather b) located c) real d) severe

12

C. Get from the passage:-

1. The antonym of "far": ----------------------.

2. The synonym of "huge": --------------------.

3. A word that means "secret or unknown": ----------------------.

13


The Little Black Lady who said "NO"


1. Did black people use to be treated fairly? How?

2. Have you ever heard about the word “segregation”?

3. What did Rose Parks do? What happened to her?

New Vocabulary:

Arrest (v.):

To be taken to jail

Jail (n.) Prison

Government (n.) The system by which a state or community is

governed.

Law (n.) The system of rules which a particular

country recognizes as regulating the actions

of its members.

Brave (adj.) Ready to face and endure danger or pain

showing courage.

The antonym is: coward

14

On December 1, 1955, a little black lady said, "No!" With this one word,

she changed the world forever. In America at this time, life was hard

for black people.The law treated black people and white people differently.

Rosa parks lived in Montgomery, Alabama. Black people in Montgomery

could not sit at the front of the bus.

They could only sit in the middle or in the back of the bus. One afternoon, Rosa

was sitting in the middle of the bus. Some white men got on the bus, but no

front seats were left. So, the white men told Rosa to move, they wanted to sit

down in her seat.

But Rosa said, "No!" The police came and arrested Rosa. She was put in

jail. Black people, and even some white people got very angry. Most black people

decided to stop using the buses in Montgomery.This made the government

change the law. Like white people, black people could sit where they wanted.

Black people's lives became much better.

Be brave like Rosa. One day, maybe you can make the world a better place!


1. Do you think Rosa Parks was really a brave woman? Why? Why not?

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2. Why do you think life was hard for black people in 1955?

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15

3. "Rosa lit the spark which made the government change the law." How do you

think the government changed the law?

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1. After Rosa was arrested, she was put in --------------------.

a)bus b) jail c) law d) castle

2. You should be ------------------ like Rosa.

a)curious b) hard c) better d) brave

3. The -------------------- treated black people and white people differently.

a)prisoners b) white c) judge d) traders


1. The antonym of "coward": ----------------------.

2. The synonym of "ahead": -------------------------.

3. A word that means "rules, usually made by the government, that is used to

order the way in which a society behaves.":------------------.

16


My New Best Friend


1. Do you have any baby sisters or brothers?

2. How do you feel about them?

3. What do you prefer to be, the eldest or the youngest one?

New Vocabulary:

Classmates (n.) Friends who are in the

same class.

Cry out Crying loudly

Exhausted (adj.) Very tired

I got up. I went to the kitchen. Only Grandma was there. "Where are

Mom and Dad?" Grandma smiled and answered,"Oh, my girl. Do you know you

will have a new best friend soon?" "No, I have no idea." "I already have many

friends: Karen, Boe, Noa, and my classmates. I don't need more friends.

I just miss my mom and dad! "

17

I had breakfast and I went to school. After school, I found my

grandma at school. She was waiting for me in the car. My mom is supposed to

be here. What is going on? "Cynthia, Let's go to the hospital," says Grandma.

"No, I don't want to go to hospital! I am perfectly okay,"

I cried out. Grandma said, "Calm down, baby. You will see your new best friend."

She started driving.

When I got to the hospital, I saw my dad! My dad and grandma went to

a room. I followed them. There was a bed in the room. My mom was in bed.

"Are you okay? You look exhausted. "I said. My mom said, "I am fantastic,

dear." I looked around the room. My best friend Karen was not there. Karen was

at her home! I found something cute and small with my mom.

"What is it? It's so cute and small," I asked my mom. My mom said,

" It's your new best friend. Cynthia, she is your baby sister."

"Is she my baby sister? I like her!" I said. "I will love my best friend

forever. Hey, little girl, I am your sister. Nice to meet you." And I kissed my

baby sister.

18


1. Who do you think was the new best friend?

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2. How does Cynthia's feeling change?

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1. Who usually picks Cynthia up from school?

a) Grandma b) Mom c)Dad d)Baby sister

2. How does the baby look? (Choose two answers)

a) small b)tall c)cute d) beautiful


1. A word that means "tired":- ----------------------.

2. A word that means "students who are in the same class at school":

--------------------------------------

19


An Aggressive Woman


1. Have you ever met an aggressive person?

2. What do you think about working with an aggressive person?

3. What do you prefer to work with a meek person or an aggressive one? Why?

4. Do you think being gentle and friendly will lead you to success?

New Vocabulary:

Aggressive (adj.) Offensive (X) gentle, meek, or quiet

Annoyed (adj.) Upset /slightly angry

Co-worker (n.) A person with whom one works.

Timid (adj.) Shy

Argument (n.) An exchange of opposite views

Complain (v.) Express dissatisfaction or annoyance about

something.

20

Sandra and Lucy worked together. They were friends although they

were very different from each other. Sandra was not afraid to speak her mind.

When her manger gave her something to do, she always wanted to know why it

had to be done.

Often she got other people to do the work for her. Sometimes she

got annoyed and raised her voice. She told people what they were doing

wrong, and then told them to do it the way she wanted it done. Most of her

co-workers thought she was aggressive, and they were a little afraid of her.

Lucy, on the other hand, was much more timid. She didn't like

arguments and tried to avoid them. She was the happiest when the manager gave

her something to do and told her exactly how to do it.

She rarely got upset and was always calm. She never complained. She enjoyed

working in the office, and her co- workers all said she did her job very well.

Sandra liked her because she never argued with her.

The manager reviewed how well the workers did their job.

The manager gave them a written report on their work, and then interviewed

them about the report. The office workers were nervous when it was time to

go in for their interviews.

Lucy went into the interview room first. The manager was happy with

her work. He was impressed because she always completed her work on time.

Lucy was very pleased with her report.

Then it was Sandra's turn. Lucy waited for her outside the interview

room. She could hear that Sandra was getting upset and raising her voice.

After a while it was quiet again. When Sandra came out, Lucy asked her how it

went."Well," said Sandra, "the report said I was aggressive, so I made him

take that part out!"

21


1.Why does Sandra like Lucy?

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2.Why was the manager impressed with Lucy's work?

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B. Choose the correct answer:

1. What is true about Sandra?

a)She respects people. b)She is a quiet person.

c)She is very polite. d)She speaks her mind.

2. What is true about Lucy?

a)She hits people. b)She is a fast worker.

c)She is a quiet person. d)She speaks her mind.

3. Lucy is "timid." This word means she is------------------------------

a)cute b) shy c) loud d) lazy

C) Get from the passage:

1. The antonym of "right": -----------------.

2. The synonym of "stay away from": ------------------.

3. A word that means "behaving in an angry and violent way towards

another person." -----------------.

22


The Cats


1. Do you like cats?

2. Have you ever raised any cats?

New Vocabulary:

Bored (adj.) (X) excited

Mud (n.)

Pave the road Cover a piece of ground with flat stones or bricks.

Recognize (v.) To identify / know

Rinse (v.) Wash something with clean water to remove soap or dirt.

23

One day there were three cats. A white cat, a black cat and a brown

cat.The white cat said, "I'm bored. I don’t have anyone to play with."The black

cat said, "I'm bored. I don't have anyone to play with."

The brown cat said, "I'm bored. I don't have anyone to play with." So,they

decided to meet at the park.

When they got there, they didn't know what to do. The brown cat

wanted to roll in the mud.The black cat wanted to roll in the grass.The white

cat wanted to chase birds.

They had to agree on something. So they agreed to go for a walk on their

way, they saw a man fixing the phone wires, a man paving the road, and a

man painting his house green. They stopped walking and started watching

the third man. When he went in to have lunch, they knocked over all the paint

right on them.

When they got home their owners didn't recognize them and didn't

let them enter the house. So,they met again in the park. The black cat said,

"We need to think of a way to get in our homes." While they were thinking,

the black cat thought of a way to get in their homes, to rinse themselves

off in the river. She said, "We could wash ourselves in the river and get

the paint off of us so that our owners will recognize us." When they did

that, they got wet.

But when they got home, their owners recognized them. The owners

were happy to see their cats and the cats were happy to see their owner.

24


1. How did the three cats feel in the beginning?

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2. Why do you think the cats' owners didn't recognize their cats?

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3. What was the second man doing?

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B. Choose the correct answers:-

1. The three cats decided to meet in the ----------------------.

a)house b)street c) playground d) park

2. The cats stopped to watch the ------------------ man.

a)first b)second c)third d) last

C. Find from the passage a word the means a word which means:

1. To know:- -----------------.

2. To wash:- ----------------.

25

Reading Comprehension (7):

Gladiators


1. What does the word “gladiator” mean?

2. How did the gladiators look like?

3. Have ever seen a movie about gladiators?

New Vocabulary:

Gladiators (n.) Fighters with weapons to fight against other men or

wild animals in an arena.

Ancient (adj.) Very old / belonging to the past and no longer in

existence.

26

Stadium (n.) An athletic or sports ground with tiers of seats for

spectators.

Take place Occur / happen

Armour (n.) The metal covering formerly worn to protect the body

in battle.

Champion (n.) Winner

27

Many people enjoy watching fighting sports. The ancient Romans also liked

to watch fights. The fighters were called gladiators.

The fights took place in a large stadium. People filled the stadium. Then, the

gladiators walked in slowly.

They waved to the cheering crowd. They wore strong armor and held their swords

high. Then, a loud horn sounded the fight started !

Sometimes gladiators fought each other. Other times, they fought wild animals like

lions,crocodiles, and bulls. The gladiator fights lasted all day. Some gladiators

even died. But a champion gladiator received lots of money.

Some gladiators even became very famous. They got a lot of attention like

movie stars nowadays.


1. Why do you think gladiators became very famous?

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2. What do you think gladiators fight?

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3. Why do you think gladiators wear armors?

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28


1. The gladiators fight lasted -------------------.

a. for four days b.all day c. for half a day d. for two days

2. The --------------------------- gladiator received lots of money.

a. champion b. fighting c. famous d. weak

3. The gladiators waved to the --------------------- crowd.

a.loud b. horn c. cheering d. frozen


1. The synonym of "old": ----------------------.

2. The antonym of "weak": --------------------.

3. A word that means "happens": ----------------------.

29


Your ID, Please


1. What does the word “finger prints” mean?

2. Are all the finger prints the same?

3. How can you use the fingerprints?

New Vocabulary:

1.fingerprints (n) - A mark made on a surface by a person's

fingertip, able to be used for identifying

individuals

2.recognizes (v) - identify (someone or something) from having

encountered them before; know again.

30

Everything about us changes. We grow taller. Our voices become different. But

one thing never changes. Our fingerprints!

Turn your hand over. Look at the tips of your fingers. There are many lines on

them.

These lines make a special patterns. They are your fingerprints. Everyone

has different fingerprints. Even twins have different fingerprints.

Fingerprints tell who you are. In the past, people used their fingerprints to sign

papers. Today, some homes have a special door system. You press your finger on a

small screen. Then, the screen reads your fingerprint. It recognizes who you are.

Finally, the system unlocks the door.Soon, nobody will carry any keys or cards. You

will be recognized just by your fingerprints.


1. "Fingerprints tell who you are." What do you think this sentence mean?

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2. Do you think twins have the same fingerprints? Why? Why not?

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3. How can we use our fingerprints?

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31


1. Fingerprints are the lines at the ------------------- of your fingers.

a. pattern b. tips c. keys d.trace

2. Everything about us ---------------------.

a. stays the same b. screen c. changes d.works

3. In the future, you will be ----------------------- by your fingerprints.

a. recognized b. change c. different d. aware


1. The synonym of "long": ----------------------.

2. The antonym of "big": --------------------.

3. A word that means "something we use to open or close doors": -----------.

32


Why do we sleep?


1. Why do we sleep?

2. What happens when you sleep?

3. Why does your mother get angry?

New Vocabulary:

1. bugs (n) - a small insect

2. muscles (n)

- a band or bundle of fibrous tissue in a human or

animal body.

3. active (adj) - being in a state of existence, progress, or motion.

4. memories (n) - something remembered from the past.

33

The sun goes down. It is dark outside. You feel tired. You want to go to sleep. All

living things __ from humans to bugs __ sleep every day.

Our bodies are like machines. We use them all day long. We keep moving and

breathing with our bodies. But machines need to rest sometimes. So do our

bodies. During sleep, our bodies rest. They build up energy for the next day. Our

bodies slow down. Our hearts beat slowly, and our muscles relax.

But our brains are still active even while we are sleeping ! Our brains remember

what we did that day. When we sleep, our brains put the memories into the right

places, or they throw some memories away. This is how we remember important

things and forget bad things.

Sometimes your mom gets angry if you sleep a lot. But now you can tell her your

body is resting and your brain is trying to forget bad things.


1. What is common between humans and machines?

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2. Why do you think humans have to sleep?

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34

3. Do you think our brains sleep while we are sleeping? Why? Why not?

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1. During your sleep, our muscles ----------------------.

a. relax b. beat c. build up d. enlarge

2. "We use them all day long." The underlined word refers to -------------------

a. machines b. our bodies c. our muscles d. human

3. Our bodies --------------------- energy for the next day.

a. rest b.beat c. build up d. lose

C.Get from the passage:

1. The antonym of "remember": ----------------------.

2. The antonym of "good": --------------------.

3. A word that means "the ability to remember information and people":--------

35


The best film


1. What are the most famous film prizes?

2. Why is Oscars important ?

3. Who is Margaret Herrick ?

New Vocabulary:

1. Oscars (n) - an annual award given to a performer, director,

technician, etc.

2. Actor (n) - a person whose profession is acting on the

stage, in films, or on television.

3. Academy (n) - a place of study or training in a special field.

36

One of the most famous film prizes in the world is the Oscar. Every year in

the United States, the Academy of motion picture Arts and Sciences gives Oscars

to people who have done well in films. There is an Oscar for the best film of the

year, another for the best actor, and Oscars for doing many other things well in

films.

Oscars are very important because people want to see films that have won them.

They also want to see actors who have won Oscars. The Academy first gave prizes

to films in 1927, but they were not called Oscars then. Most people think that

Oscar was someone famous in films, but he wasn't. He was no one important. He

was someone that a woman called Margaret Herrick knew. She worked for the

academy and one day she saw the prize on table. She said, "He looks like my friend,

Oscar." From that time on the prizes were called the Oscars.

37


1. Why do you think the Oscars are important?

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2. Who was Oscar?

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3.To whom are Oscars given?

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1.The passage is about --------------------.

a. Margaret Herrick b. the Oscars c. the Academy d. film making

2.The Academy gives prizes to people who:

a. like films b. are friends of Margaret Herrick

c. have done well in films d. actors making films

38

3. An Oscar is -----------------------.

a. a prize b. a film c. an actor d. a concert


1. The synonym of "popular":- -----------------------.

2. The antonym of "worst":- ------------------------.

39


A Japanese journalist wrote a report about why she and millions of other

Japanese have become lovers of running. Eleven years ago, when I started

running, most runners were middle-aged men and high school athletes. Today I

see young girls, old men and others of every age. We also, have today thousands

of running clubs and hundreds of special running boutiques. Running suits are also

offered by top fashion designers.

The Japanese have looked at sports as good for both the mind and the body

and in recent years there has been an increased interest in physical fitness. In

addition, facilities for most sports, such as golf and tennis are extremely limited

and often very expensive. But running can be done almost anywhere and you don't

have to spend a lot of money to do it.

Running can also become a part of a daily routine and help the individual to

live a more orderly life. Most of us today live rather sedentary lives because we

usually work sitting down, using our brains instead of our bodies. Daily, we find

ourselves under increasing mental and psychological pressure from our jobs. So,

running can be looked at as a medicine. While a person is running, he has time to

be alone with his thoughts. I think more and more people are becoming runners

because they have realized that if they want a full and affluent life, they must

be healthy, too. Running is the quickest and easiest way to achieve balance.

40


1) Why is running a more available sport for everyone?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2) How is running a medicine for our daily pressures?

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3) Give a suitable title to this passage.

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1. In the past, runners were mostly (school children – middle-aged men – old men).

2. The underlined word ‘sedentary ‘means (active – inactive - thoughtful).

3. The Japanese have thought that running is good for -------------------

a) increasing mental and psychological pressure

b) our physical and mental health

c) using our brains instead of our bodies

dr. nermine ismail schools primary stage grade 4 reading

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