CSSE Essex 11+

Read: 'Tom hadn't slept all night. As the first grey light crept under his curtains, he heard the front door click and footsteps fade down the path.' What time of day is it in this passage?

• AMidday
• BEarly morning
• CLate evening
• DMidnight

Read: 'The market was a riot of colour: scarlet peppers, golden mangoes and bunches of violet flowers crowded every stall.' The phrase 'a riot of colour' suggests the market was:

• ADangerous and violent
• BFull of bright, varied colours
• CQuiet and empty
• DDull and grey

In the sentence 'The explorer was undaunted by the towering cliffs and pressed on,' the word 'undaunted' most nearly means:

• AFrightened
• BNot discouraged
• CExhausted
• DConfused

Read this poem opening: 'The fog comes / on little cat feet. / It sits looking / over harbour and city.' The fog is being compared to:

• AA harbour
• BA cat
• CA city
• DA boat

Read: 'Although Priya had practised the piece a hundred times, her fingers trembled as she stepped onto the stage.' Why do Priya's fingers tremble?

• ABecause she has not practised
• BBecause she is nervous
• CBecause the stage is cold
• DBecause she has hurt her hand

Which word is the closest SYNONYM for 'reluctant'?

• AEager
• BUnwilling
• CCheerful
• DSudden

Which word is the closest ANTONYM (opposite) of 'generous'?

• AKind
• BMean
• CWealthy
• DFriendly

Read: 'The detective examined the muddy footprints, the broken window and the open drawer, then nodded slowly.' What can we infer the detective is doing?

• ACleaning the house
• BGathering clues about a crime
• CLooking for a lost pet
• DRepairing the window

In the sentence 'The ancient oak tree stood in the meadow,' which word is an adjective?

• Aoak
• Btree
• Cancient
• Dstood

Which sentence uses an apostrophe CORRECTLY?

• AThe dog wagged it's tail.
• BThe childrens' toys were everywhere.
• CThe girl's coat was on the hook.
• DThe cat's are sleeping.

Which sentence shows direct speech punctuated CORRECTLY?

• A"Where are we going?" asked Sam.
• B"Where are we going? asked Sam."
• CWhere are we going? "asked Sam".
• D"Where are we going"? asked Sam.

Which word is spelled CORRECTLY?

• Aseperate
• Bdefinately
• Cnecessary
• Doccassion

Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: 'Neither the teacher nor the pupils ___ ready for the trip.'

• Awas
• Bwere
• Cis
• Dhas

Read: 'The volcano had been silent for centuries. Then, without warning, the ground shook and a column of ash blackened the sky.' Which word from the passage best signals a sudden change?

• Asilent
• Bcenturies
• CThen
• Dsky

Which sentence is a COMMAND (imperative)?

• AThe door is open.
• BClose the door quietly.
• CIs the door open?
• DWhat a heavy door!

In 'She ran quickly to catch the bus,' which word is an adverb?

• AShe
• Bran
• Cquickly
• Dbus

Read: 'The library was as quiet as a tomb.' This phrase is an example of:

• AA simile
• BA metaphor
• CAlliteration
• DOnomatopoeia

Which sentence uses a comma CORRECTLY to separate items in a list?

• AWe bought apples, bread, milk and cheese.
• BWe bought apples bread, milk and, cheese.
• CWe bought, apples bread milk and cheese.
• DWe, bought apples bread milk and cheese.

Read: 'Despite the heavy rain, the team played on, mud splattering their shirts and grins spreading across their faces.' How did the players feel about the match?

• AThey were miserable
• BThey were enjoying themselves
• CThey wanted to stop
• DThey were frightened

Choose the correct word: 'The two friends shared ___ lunch in the park.'

• Athere
• Btheir
• Cthey're
• Dtheirs

Read: 'The scientist recorded the results, double-checked every figure and only then announced her discovery.' Which word best describes the scientist?

• ACareless
• BCareful
• CLazy
• DForgetful

Which word is a CONJUNCTION in the sentence 'I wanted to go outside, but it was raining'?

• Awanted
• Boutside
• Cbut
• Draining

In the sentence 'The path wound through the forest like a silver ribbon,' what is the path compared to?

• AA forest
• BA silver ribbon
• CA river
• DA snake

Which sentence is written in the PAST tense?

• AShe walks to school.
• BShe will walk to school.
• CShe walked to school.
• DShe is walking to school.

Read: 'The new boy stood alone at the edge of the playground, watching the others laugh together. He wished he knew the rules of their games.' What is the main feeling in this passage?

• AExcitement
• BLoneliness
• CAnger
• DPride

Which word correctly completes the sentence: 'The cake tasted ___ than I expected.'?

• Agood
• Bbetter
• Cbest
• Dwell

Read: 'Sweat poured down the runner's face, but with the finish line in sight she found one last burst of speed.' What does 'one last burst of speed' tell us?

• AShe gave up
• BShe made a final effort
• CShe slowed down
• DShe fell over

Which sentence uses a SEMICOLON correctly to join two related ideas?

• AThe sky darkened; rain began to fall.
• BThe sky darkened, rain; began to fall.
• CThe sky; darkened rain began to fall.
• DThe sky darkened rain; began to fall.

What is the correct plural of 'mouse' (the animal)?

• Amouses
• Bmice
• Cmouse
• Dmices

Read: 'The instructions said: first, gather your tools; next, lay out the parts; finally, follow the diagram.' What type of text is this most likely from?

• AA poem
• BA set of instructions
• CA diary entry
• DA persuasive letter

Which prefix added to 'possible' makes a word meaning 'not possible'?

• Are-
• Bim-
• Cpre-
• Dun-

Read: 'The garden, which had once been neat and tidy, was now a tangle of weeds.' Which words form the relative clause?

• AThe garden
• Bwhich had once been neat and tidy
• Cwas now
• Da tangle of weeds

Which word is the closest in meaning to 'enormous'?

• ATiny
• BHuge
• CEmpty
• DHeavy

Read: 'You really must visit the museum this weekend! With its dazzling exhibits and friendly guides, you will not be disappointed.' What is the purpose of this text?

• ATo persuade the reader
• BTo explain how something works
• CTo tell a story
• DTo give a recipe

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

• AMe and him went to the shop.
• BHim and me went to the shop.
• CHe and I went to the shop.
• DI and him went to the shop.

Read: 'The thunder growled in the distance and the trees whispered in the wind.' Which technique is used in 'the trees whispered'?

• APersonification
• BSimile
• CRhyme
• DRepetition

Choose the correct word: 'She could not decide ___ to wear the red coat or the blue one.'

• Aweather
• Bwhether
• Cwether
• Dwheather

Read: 'At first the puppy was nervous, hiding under the table. By the end of the week, it bounded happily to greet every visitor.' How has the puppy changed?

• AFrom bold to shy
• BFrom shy to confident
• CFrom happy to sad
• DFrom calm to angry

Which word completes the sentence correctly: 'If I ___ taller, I could reach the shelf.'?

• Awas
• Bwere
• Cam
• Dbe

Read: 'The old map was yellowed and torn, its edges crumbling like autumn leaves.' What does the comparison to 'autumn leaves' suggest about the map?

• AIt was brand new
• BIt was old and fragile
• CIt was colourful and bright
• DIt was waterproof

Which sentence contains a spelling mistake?

• AThe children were excited.
• BWe recieved a letter today.
• CShe believed his story.
• DThey achieved their goal.

Read: 'Whales are mammals, not fish. Unlike fish, they breathe air through lungs and feed their young with milk.' According to the passage, how are whales different from fish?

• AThey live in water
• BThey breathe air and feed young milk
• CThey have fins
• DThey swim quickly

Which word is a NOUN in the sentence 'The brave firefighter rescued the kitten'?

• Abrave
• Bfirefighter
• Crescued
• Dthe

Read: 'The captain's voice was calm, but his white knuckles gripping the wheel told a different story.' What does the passage suggest about the captain?

• AHe was completely relaxed
• BHe was secretly worried
• CHe was asleep
• DHe was angry with the crew

Which sentence uses CAPITAL letters correctly?

• Awe visited paris in july.
• BWe visited Paris in July.
• Cwe Visited paris in July.
• DWe visited paris In july.