Encouraging Pupils to Read a Variety of Texts

1. Pupils need to be familiar with both fiction and non-fiction texts. You can support your children by encouraging them to read a variety of genres(at their level) and by using questioning techniques similar to those on SATs papers (see handout).

2. The ‘Swimming the English Channel’ handout is an excerpt from the 2017 SATs Reading Paper. Skim through the text to see the level of vocabulary and comprehension needed to attempt the questions.

3. Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

4. Question 1

5. Find two different words to show how tired Matthew Webb was. A angry & tired B exhausted & staggered C lone & cold D abandoned & pioneering

6. Question? A A B B C C D D

7. £100

8. Question 2

9. What event made Matthew Webb want to swim the English Channel? A J.B. Thompson’s attempt. B The Second World War C The World Cup D He was inspired by J.B. Thompson.

10. Question? A A B B C C D D

11. £200

12. Question 3

13. Look at the paragraph beginning: Twenty-seven-year-old Webb…Find and copy one word that is closest in meaning to ‘motivated’. A powerful B returned C inspired D eager

14. Question? A A B B C C D D

15. £300

17. Find and copy a group of words that tells you that the drinks of ale, brandy and beef tea are not usual today. A oddballs B unusual C not normal D not standard

18. Question? A A B B C C D D

19. £500

20. Question 5

21. Why do slow Channel swimmers swim further than faster swimmers? A they are lazy B they are always lost C tides and currents Dthe direction they swim

22. Question? A A B B C C D D

23. £1,000

24. Question 6

25. How long did the fastest swim across the Channel take? A 7 minutes B 7 C 7 hours D 7 days

26. Question? A A B B C C D D

27. £2,000

28. Question 7

29. Which of the following is NOT a fact? A The temperature of the water in the Channel can range from 12 ˚C to 18 ˚C. B Faster swimmers do not swim as many miles across the Channel. C Water with a temperature of 18˚C is too cold to swim in. D The direct distance across the Channel is approximately 21 miles.

30. Question? A A B B C C D D

31. £4,000

32. Question 8

33. In what year did the French authorities make it illegal for people to swim from France to England? A 1993 B 1939 C 1399 D 1976

34. Question? A A B B C C D D

35. £8,000

36. Question 9

37. In Safe to swim? Find the word which shows that swimming the Channel is illegal in France. A finished B outlawed C wrong D naughtyy

38. Question? A A B B C C D D

39. £16,000

40. Question 10

41. How did Matthew Webb deal with hypothermia? A coated himself in oil B drank fish oil C wore a special suit D I don’t have a clue

42. Question? A A B B C C D D

43. £32,000

44. Question 11

45. How did Matthew Webb deal with jellyfish? A I don’t have a clue B wore long-johns C wrapped up warm D coated himself in oil

46. Question? A A B B C C D D

47. £64,000

48. Question 12

49. How did Matthew Webb deal with danger? A accompanied by trains B accompanied by taxi C accompanied by boats D accompanied by sharks

50. Question? A A B B C C D D