Year 5 NAPLAN Reading Sample Questions

SAMPLE QUESTION 1 — Medium

Read the passage below, then answer the question. Australia has strict biosecurity laws to protect its unique wildlife and agricultural industries from introduced pests and diseases. Travellers arriving in Australia must declare any food, plants, or animal products they are carrying. Items that could carry insects, seeds, or bacteria may be confiscated at the border. The cane toad is a well-known example of the damage introduced species can cause — it was brought to Australia in 1935 to control beetles on sugar cane farms but instead spread rapidly, harming native wildlife. This history explains why Australia takes biosecurity so seriously. What lesson does the passage suggest Australians have learned from the cane toad?

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SAMPLE QUESTION 2 — Medium

In the sentence 'The lyrebird is one of nature's greatest mimics,' what does the word 'mimics' most closely mean?

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SAMPLE QUESTION 3 — Medium

Two readers reviewed the same novel. Reviewer 1 called it 'beautifully restrained.' Reviewer 2 called it 'frustratingly vague.' What does this disagreement MOST suggest?

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SAMPLE QUESTION 4 — Medium

The archaeologist's analysis was incisive — she identified the critical flaw in the previously accepted dating method within minutes of examining the evidence, and explained it clearly in a way that reframed the entire field. What does 'incisive' MOST likely mean?

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SAMPLE QUESTION 5 — Medium

Why does the author end the passage by telling readers to listen carefully on a forest walk?

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SAMPLE QUESTION 6 — Medium

Read the following text: The rock wallaby is a nimble climber, able to leap across steep cliff faces and rocky outcrops with remarkable ease. Its thick, padded feet act like natural grip pads, helping it land safely on uneven surfaces. Unlike larger kangaroos, the rock wallaby rarely ventures onto flat, open ground, preferring instead the shelter of rocky ridges and gorges. This habitat provides protection from predators such as foxes and wedge-tailed eagles. Based on the text, why is the rock wallaby's habitat important to its survival?

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SAMPLE QUESTION 7 — Medium

What can the reader conclude about why a female lyrebird chooses a particular male?

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SAMPLE QUESTION 8 — Medium

Read the passage below, then answer the question. When Priya's grandfather visited from India, she worried he would be bored in their small coastal town. He had spent his life in a crowded city and she was sure the quiet would frustrate him. Instead, Thatha — as she called him — woke before sunrise each morning to walk to the beach. He collected shells, watched pelicans, and sat for long stretches staring out at the waves. One evening, Priya asked if he missed the city. He shook his head slowly. 'In the city,' he said, 'I could never hear myself think. Here, I have room to breathe.' Priya looked at the horizon and, for the first time, saw her hometown the way a stranger might — as something quietly extraordinary. What does Priya's grandfather mean when he says 'I have room to breathe'?

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SAMPLE QUESTION 9 — Medium

A student argued: 'The canteen should offer vegan options because the rest of the world is moving toward plant-based diets.' A critic responded: 'What the rest of the world is doing is not your argument. The argument has to be about what benefits the students and families at this school.' What is the critic MOST doing?

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SAMPLE QUESTION 10 — Medium

Read the passage below, then answer the question. Australia's alpine region, found mostly in New South Wales and Victoria, is one of the country's least-known environments. In winter, the peaks of the Snowy Mountains are blanketed in snow, attracting skiers and snowboarders. Yet in summer, the same slopes burst into colour as wildflowers carpet the meadows. Animals such as the mountain pygmy possum, which is found nowhere else on Earth, have adapted to survive the harsh alpine conditions. Rising temperatures caused by climate change are threatening this ecosystem — the snowfields are shrinking each decade, which reduces the habitat available to cold-adapted species. Scientists warn that without action, some alpine species may face extinction within this century. According to the passage, why is climate change particularly dangerous for the mountain pygmy possum?

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