Chapter: 04. The River Bank
Practice Paper: The River Bank
Section A: Comprehension Check
Mole cleaned his home until he had dust in his throat and eyes. True or False: Mole had seen many rivers before this one. False The Rat corrected Mole’s statement by calling it:
b) THE River Section B: Short Answer Questions
What natural phenomenon was moving around Mole, prompting him to leave his house? Spring was moving in the air above and in the earth below and around him. Where did Mole find himself rolling after he emerged from his tunnel? He found himself rolling in the warm grass of a great meadow. What did the Mole notice twinkling in the dark hole on the opposite bank? He noticed something bright and small, like a tiny star, which turned out to be the Water Rat’s face. What specific food items, besides gherkins and salad, did the Rat mention for their picnic? The Rat mentioned French rolls, cress sandwiches, lemonade, and soda water. Section C: Think and Answer
How does the description of spring “penetrating” Mole’s dark house contribute to his decision to leave? What does it suggest about the power of nature? The description of spring “penetrating” Mole’s dark, lowly house implies that its vibrant, life-giving energy was so strong it couldn’t be contained, even underground. This suggests nature’s irresistible power to awaken curiosity and a desire for freedom. It effectively ‘called’ Mole out of his mundane chores and into the outside world, highlighting nature’s profound influence on even the most settled creatures. Compare the Rat’s attitude towards the Wild Wood and the Wide World. What is the main difference in his perception of these two areas? The Rat views the Wild Wood as a place of untrustworthy inhabitants (weasels, stoats, foxes) and therefore a place to avoid due to potential danger. His attitude is one of caution and mild disdain. In contrast, he dismisses the Wide World as something that simply doesn’t matter to him or Mole. He hasn’t been there, has no intention of going, and strongly discourages Mole from even thinking about it. This shows a difference between perceived threat (Wild Wood) and complete disinterest/insularity (Wide World). Section D: Word Power
Match the word from the story to its correct meaning: c. Coming through or passed into a. The back part of a ship b. Moved hands and feet about quickly d. Extremely happy and excited Use the word “trotted” in a sentence of your own. The little dog trotted along happily beside its owner. (Accept any grammatically correct and contextually appropriate sentence.) Section E: Language Focus (Subject and Predicate)
Circle the subject and underline the predicate in each of these sentences.
The happy Mole saw the river for the first time. The Water Rat offered him a boat ride. Many exciting things waited beyond the river bank. Section F: Sound Sense (Vowel Sounds)
Identify the vowel sounds (ai, ee, oo, ay, ie, ea, oa) in the brackets beside these words.
Section G: Creative Corner (Composition)
Look at the picture below carefully. Describe it in a few sentences, including what the animals might be doing or feeling. Then, give it a suitable title.
(Sample Answer)
This picture shows a cozy night scene in a forest. A fox, a squirrel, and a rabbit are gathered around a small campfire, sharing a warm moment. They appear to be toasting marshmallows, enjoying the sweet treat and the warmth of the fire under the moonlight. The animals look content and happy, enjoying their friendship and the peaceful atmosphere of nature. Suitable Title: Forest Friends by the Campfire (Accept any suitable title that reflects the image) 
Answer key