NSW Selective Reading Comprehension free practice questions with answers
Read question 1 and its full worked answer from paper 1 of our 20-paper NSW Selective Reading Comprehension set, then download the 4-page PDF. These are original practice questions, not official past papers. Page updated 3 November 2026.
What does the man in the raincoat's behaviour at the stall suggest?
A He found comfort in the smell and warmth of the food.
B He was too poor to afford a proper meal that evening.
C He was angry at the stall's quiet and unwelcoming manner.
D He was trying to remember the name of the stall.
Correct answer: A — He found comfort in the smell and warmth of the food.
- What is the question asking? It asks what the man's behaviour tells us about how he felt.
- Go back to the text and find the evidence: “He only breathed in the steam as though it were something he had lost and found again.”
- The text says he breathed in the steam like something 'lost and found'. Then his shoulders loosen as he eats. Both details point to comfort, not hunger, anger or confusion.
- So the correct answer is A (He found comfort in the smell and warmth of the food.).
- Why the other options are wrong:
- B: He left three notes, so money was not his problem.
- C: Nothing shows anger; his shoulders loosen as he eats.
- D: The text compares the steam to something he had lost and found, not a name.
An inference is a conclusion the clues force you to make: find the clue in the text, then ask what it must mean.
Your sample is downloading. Liked it? NSW Selective Reading Comprehension Paper 1 is the full paper: 17 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes (4 options each), a printed version of the computer-based test, with a worked solution for every question.
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Questions about this sample
What is in the NSW Selective Reading Comprehension free sample?
The first 3 questions from paper 1 of the set, in the real exam layout, followed by the step-by-step worked answers. It is a 4-page PDF; this page shows question 1 with its answer.
How many full NSW Selective Reading Comprehension papers are there?
20 original papers for Year 6 students preparing for Year 7 selective entry. Each is 17 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes (4 options each), a printed version of the computer-based test, with a worked solution for every question. Papers start at A$11.99 and download instantly as a PDF.
Are these official past papers?
No. The sample is taken from our own original practice paper and is not an official past paper or affiliated with any exam authority.