Free practice on Reading Comprehension for Class 5, following the Cameroon primary school curriculum (English subsystem). Every answer is explained, so a parent who is not sure of the answer can still help.
Stories tell events. Poems use rhythm and images. Speeches try to convince or inform. Short novels have chapters. Each genre helps in different ways — read them all.
Genres: Story · Poem · Speech · Short novel · Song · Play
Beyond 'what happened', ask 'why?' and 'how do I feel?'. What did the character learn? What is the theme (main idea)? Great readers think while they read.
If you meet a new word, do not stop! Read the whole sentence, then guess the meaning from the surrounding words. This is called using context. Then check with a dictionary later.
What did Ekema's father sell?
Answer: B. Second-hand books
Paragraph 1 says it directly: second-hand books, beside the road at Mile 17.
Four books at 250 francs each — how many francs is that altogether?
Write your answer, then check below.
Answer: 1000
250 × 4 = 1,000 francs, which is exactly what Ekema said before the customer had finished counting.
Why did the father say nothing and look at Ekema?
Answer: B. It was his way of asking Ekema for the total
The story never explains the look. You work it out from what happens next — Ekema answers. That is inferring.
Why did the table make more money that year?
Answer: C. Ekema kept the accounts accurately
Nothing states this outright. You place two facts side by side: Ekema took over the accounts, and takings went up.
How old was Ekema?
Write your answer, then check below.
Answer: nine / 9 / nine years / 9 years
Scanning for a number: paragraph 2 opens with 'Ekema was nine'.
Where does the wind in the poem come from?
Answer: B. The north
Line 1 tells you: the wind comes down from the north.
'dry as an empty cup' — what is the poet comparing here?
Answer: B. The wind to an empty cup
When a poet says one thing is 'as … as' another, that is a simile. The wind is compared to an empty cup to show how completely dry it is.
'The hills go pale' tells you that…
Answer: B. dust has covered the hills
The verse before says the wind carries red dust and never sets it down. The pale hills are that dust settling. Poems often make you join two lines like this.
What are the people in the poem waiting for?
Answer: B. The first good rain of May
The last two lines say it: they wait beside the window for the first good rain of May.
How many lines are there in each verse of this poem?
Write your answer, then check below.
Answer: four / 4 / four lines / 4 lines
Count down one verse: four lines. A group of lines in a poem is called a verse or stanza.
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