An English passage followed by multiple choice questions is one of the tasks set in the Kent Test. Why not have a go at one of our purpose-written mini-exercises for Year 5 readers?

The Handkerchief      

Do you carry a cotton handkerchief in your pocket?

If you do, you may not give it a thought until you use it – to wrap something in, or keep off the sun or wipe your hands or nose. Actually, a list of uses of this little square of clean white cloth could go on and on.

In English history it is recorded that King Richard II kept a handkerchief for blowing his nose. That is over six hundred years ago. The fashion was adopted by his followers and it has continued ever since.

In earlier times handkerchiefs were made from expensive material like silk and muslin (a kind of cotton) and might be beautifully decorated with needlework. This made them an attractive target for pick-pockets like the Artful Dodger in Oliver Twist.

Nowadays many people carry disposable tissues rather than a handkerchief for wiping their nose or hands. Paper tissues don’t generally cost much money and they may prevent us from carrying dirty handkerchiefs in our jeans or trousers’ pockets.

Some of our grand or great grandparents would have washed dirty handkerchiefs separately from other clothes – by boiling them in soap flakes to destroy the germs. Then they would iron them and fold them lovingly.

A clean handkerchief is a very pleasant thing to have! 

1. Choose one of A, B, C or D in the following questions.

 History records that King Richard II:
A.   invented the handkerchief
B.   wore a handkerchief
C.   used a handkerchief
D.   lost a handkerchief

2. In the past pick-pockets stole handkerchiefs mainly because:
A   they were worth money
B   they were easy to steal
C   they were beautiful
D   they were different colours

3.  An advantage of paper tissues is:
A    they cannot be stolen
B    they are easy to write on
C    they are cheap to buy
D    they can be re-used

4.  One advantage of a cotton handkerchief is:
A   it cannot get forgotten
B   it can last a long time.
C   it cannot get creased.
D   it can get dirty.

5.   The word closest in meaning to ‘lovingly’ (underlined) is:
A   softly
B   accurately
C   hopefully
D   carefully

Answers
Can a cat break dishes?  There are 5 words in the sentence. The first letter of each word is the correct answer respectively to the 5 questions above.