Free Year 5 Navigate and read for specific purp... Practice | Skillo

Question 1 — Easy

Read the passage below, then answer the question. For thousands of years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have used traditional fire management practices known as cultural burning. Unlike large, uncontrolled bushfires, cultural burns are carefully planned and carried out at specific times of year when conditions are right. They help clear undergrowth, encourage new plant growth, and reduce the risk of larger, more dangerous fires. Many Australian land managers now work alongside Indigenous knowledge holders to incorporate these practices into modern fire management strategies. This approach respects ancient knowledge while also protecting communities and ecosystems. What is one reason cultural burning is described as beneficial in the passage?

Answer: Option A is correct — The passage explicitly lists reducing the risk of larger, more dangerous fires as one of the benefits of cultural burning. The other options either contradict or are not supported by the passage.

Question 2 — Medium

Read the passage below, then answer the question. The Sydney Harbour Bridge opened in 1932 and remains one of Australia's most iconic structures. At the time of its construction, it was the widest long-span bridge in the world. More than 1,400 workers helped build it over eight years, and six million hand-driven rivets hold its steel arches together. The bridge carries eight lanes of traffic, two railway lines, a footpath, and a bicycle path. Every year, thousands of visitors climb to the summit of the arch — 134 metres above sea level — for panoramic views of the harbour and the city. The bridge was nicknamed 'the Coathanger' by locals because of its distinctive curved shape. Why was the Sydney Harbour Bridge given the nickname 'the Coathanger'?

Answer: Option B is correct — The passage states the bridge was nicknamed 'the Coathanger' because of its distinctive curved shape, which resembles a coathanger.

Question 3 — Hard

Read the passage below, then answer the question. Wombats are burrowing marsupials found across much of southern and eastern Australia. They are powerfully built, with short legs and strong claws perfectly suited for digging. A single wombat can excavate a burrow system stretching more than 30 metres underground. These burrows provide shelter from extreme heat and cold and are shared by other animals such as wallabies and reptiles. Wombats have a unique adaptation — their backward-facing pouch prevents dirt from filling it while they dig. They are herbivores, feeding mainly on grasses and roots, and play an important role in aerating soil. Despite their slow appearance, wombats can run at speeds of up to 40 kilometres per hour when threatened. What is unusual about the way a wombat's pouch is positioned?

Answer: Option A is correct — The passage specifically states that the wombat has a backward-facing pouch, which is an adaptation that prevents dirt from filling the pouch while the animal is digging.