Once 

a Week Comprehension Book 2 Answers 

Once a Week Comprehension Book 2 Answers

Test 1

A 1 The two leaders were Harold and William the Norman.

2 The other names given are ‘The Last of the English Kings’ and ‘William the
Conqueror’.

3 b – on the slopes of a hill

4 It was difficult for the Normans to drive them out because the English had made a
defensive wall of stakes and shields and kept forcing their enemies back down the
hill.

5 The Normans shot their arrows high into the air so that they fell on the heads of the
English.

6 Shooting the arrows in the usual way was unsuccessful because the shield wall
blocked them.

7 ‘The greatest disaster’ was an arrow that pierced King Harold’s eye.

8 a ‘tried repeatedly to dislodge’, ‘force their enemies back’

b ‘pierced’

c ‘in confusion’

9 The English finally ran away because their leader had been killed.

10 c – the English led by Harold

B 1 As black as coal

2 As brown as a berry

3 As green as grass

4 As blue as the sky

C fingerprint teaspoon shoelace firearm

D 1 A shoal of fish 3 a herd of buffaloes

2 A swarm of bees 4 a flock of birds

E 1 The days and the nights seemed long.

2 The berries lay near the leaves.

3 The birds lay near the chimneys.

4 The monkeys bit the ladies.

5 The watches lay in the gutters.

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Once a Week Comprehension Book 2 Answers 

Test 2

A 1 Theras was starting school.

2 He was to go to school because he was seven years old.

3 He had always been at home with his mother and the servants.

4 He had been allowed to play only in the house, or in the street by his front door.

5 He would wear a long cloak out of doors.

6 b – because of the fuss his mother made of him

7 c – because he was going to and fro in the city

8 b – He was seven years old.

c – He lived in a city.

e – His parents were wealthy.

B 1 He is taller than I.

2 Could you see who did it?

3 He sang that song very nicely.

4 The teacher rang the bell at twelve o’clock.

5 The match had just begun.

C 1 The concert was postponed.

2 They left by the door marked EXIT.

3 The sky was cloudless.

4 Ann had many or innumerable friends.

5 John decided to win the prize.

D 1 You must either accept or reject the honour.

2 The valley was near; the mountainside was far.

3 This sum is easy, but that one is hard or difficult.

4 They were led from danger to safety.

5 Do you come here often? No, very seldom or rarely or infrequently.

E 1 lbw – leg before wicket

2 CD – compact disc WWW – World Wide Web

3 HRH - His Royal Highness UN – United Nations

4 DVD – digital versatile disc NASA – National Aeronautics and Space

Administration

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Once a Week Comprehension Book 2 Answers 

Test 3

A 1 The first rays of the rising sun awoke the sleeping flowers.

2 The rose-bay willow herb, the poppy and the convolvulus are named in the story.

3 The convolvulus has a bell shaped flower.

4 The stream was dashing to the river in the valley below.

5 b – They took on new shapes.

6 A colony of moorhens lived in the reeds.

7 The moorhens might look for food, fun and adventure.

8 The chicks became increasingly daring, darting in all directions, as time went on.

9 Their mothers were keeping careful watch, to protect the chicks from enemies.

10 c – animals and human beings

11 brave, high spirited, daring, fearless

B 1 They fought back time and again.

2 The car went by fits and starts.

3 Brian stood head and shoulders above his friends.

4 Everything must be spick and span before the bell goes.

C 2 As Jane walked along she saw a parcel in the gutter.

4 She stooped to pick it up.

1 It was very heavy.

3 She took it to the police station.

5 It was placed in a special cupboard.

D 1 The empress helped the princess.

2 The wife saw the lady to the door.

3 The actress is a spinster.

4 Madam, she is a traitress.

E 1 “Good morning!” said the girl.

2 “Have you a belt?” the man asked.

3 Did you see the lions, elephants and apes at the zoo?

4 “It’s a boundary!” cried the boy.

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Test 4

A 1 The men had fallen overboard from a ship, but managed to swim to the island.

2 They first tried to find some human beings.

3 After searching in vain, they lay down in the shade of a palm-tree and went to
sleep.

4 d – They awoke some hours later.

f – Fierce, stinging insects awoke them.

5 Pat suggested that if they pulled their coats over their heads, the mosquitoes might
go away.

6 c – because he was curious as to what was going on

7 Mike saw some fireflies hovering overhead.

8 He thought the mosquitoes were looking for them with lanterns.

B 1 Francis (The other three are girls’ names.)

2 tulip (It is the only flower grown from a bulb.)

3 caravan (It is the only one with wheels.)

4 sedan-chair (This is the only one that has to be carried.)

C 1 Fingers are to man as claws are to lion.

2 Cup is to saucer as knife is to fork.

3 Walk is to legs as fly is to wings.

4 Radio is to ear as television is to eye.

D 1 BOARD

2 CHEAP

3 COARSE

4 FEINT

E 1 I would expect to find a sword or a dagger in a scabbard.

2 Grapes are grown in a vineyard.

3 A doctor tries to make sick people better, often by diagnosing their illness and
prescribing medicine.

4 One would play football on a football pitch.

5 I would go to a baker to buy bread (or to a supermarket).

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Test 5

A 1 c – a pirate

2 We know he had made a long voyage because he had been sailing ‘for many a day’.

3 We can tell the weather was foggy because a thick haze spread over the sky,
blocking out the sun.

4 It had been very windy all day.

5 d – standing on deck

6 He was hoping to see land.

7 a – towards Scotland

8 c – because the moon was rising

9 a - Rover b – scoured c – haze d - o’erspreads e – quoth

B 1 To weigh anchor means c - to haul up an anchor before setting sail.

2 To bury the hatchet means a – to make peace

3 A leap in the dark means b - to do something without having thought very carefully
about it.

C 1 As the beating of the drum stopped, the door creaked, and the swish of a cane was
heard above the ticking or chiming of the clock.

N.B. There are many other sound words that could be used. Accept any that make
sense!

D 1 Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City,

Manchester United, Real Madrid, Tottenham

E 1 steep hill sleek cat correct result gruff voice

2 handsome prince painful illness plentiful supply

foaming torrent

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Test 6

A 1 Alfred had taken refuge in the hut because he had been defeated by the Danes and
was separated from his army.

2 a - ‘What do you want stranger?’

3 Alfred was given the special job of keeping an eye on the cakes baking at the side
of the fire.

4 He failed to do the job properly because he was thinking about how he could defeat
his enemies.

5 She showed her anger by scolding Alfred soundly.

6 She found out when Alfred’s nobles told her that her visitor was really the king.

7 a – The cakes were laid on the hearth near the fire.

d – They were burned because Alfred forgot to watch them.

8 a had taken refuge b cowherd c cow-byre

B 1 Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.

2 The bride and bridegroom walked down the aisle.

3 The wine was stored in a cellar.

4 He made the parcel secure with sealing wax.

C 1 beer – pier gnash – crash gaol – pail

psalm – calm caught – brought draught – raft

D 1 buy – purchase

2 proud – haughty

3 reveal – show

4 pedestrian – walker

E 1 racket – strings

2 watch – face

3 school – pupils

4 knife - blade

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Test 7

A 1 The ant came to the stream to have a drink.

2 The dove was perched in a nearby tree.

3 The leaf dropped by the dove made a lifeboat for the ant.

4 The dove was in danger because, as she slept, a hunter was about to kill her with
his gun.

5 The ant startled the hunter by biting him sharply on the ankle.

6 c – a kind of rifle

7 a – the current was flowing swiftly

8 tiny, struggling, at his last gasp

B 1 Put the horse into the stable.

2 Lend me your knife and fork.

3 Strike the nail with the hammer or With the hammer strike the nail.

4 A sweet scent came from the bottle or From the bottle came a sweet scent.

C 1 SALARY

2 SALMON

3 SALAD

4 SALT

5 SALVAGE

D 1 duck

2 strike

3 post

4 knot

5 sole

E 1 We are three Lords come out of Spain

That we may court your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane is far too young,

And cannot bear your flattering tongue.

The fairest one that we can see

Is pretty Nancy. Come to me.

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Test 8

A 1 b – no windows

2 He was making a pot.

3 We know he wasn’t sitting down because the passage tells us he was ‘squatting’.

4 e – clay

5 a – The object grew taller.

6 b – It changed its shape so quickly.

7 b – the clay kept on taking fresh shapes

8 b – Theras was happy with what he saw.

d – The wheel was quite solid.

e – The man was a marvellous craftsman.

B 1 crave

2 frail

3 humans

4 physician

C 1 An old man and a young man travelled in a new train.

2 Lend me an anorak instead of a shirt.

3 Here’s a ticket for an exhibition.

4 A piece of toast and an egg make an appetizing meal.

D 1 Two heads are better than one.

2 A stitch in time saves nine.

3 All’s well that ends well.

4 Better late than never.

E Long ago Robin Hood and his men lived in Sherwood Forest, near the town of Nottingham.
In those days you would have seen his friends Friar Tuck and Little John in the greenwood.
Once, King Richard the Lion-heart visited the robbers’ camp, which was a long way from
London.

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Test 9

A 1 The Thames rises in the Cotswold hills.

2 It flows in a south-easterly direction.

3 It passes through Oxford, Windsor and Richmond.

4 a The boat race begins at Putney.

b It ends at Mortlake.

c The course is 7.24 kilometres.

d Oxford and Cambridge Universities take part in the boat race.

5 The Thames flows through Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire,

Buckinghamshire, Middlesex, Surrey, Kent and Essex.

6 c – it was the easiest way to travel through London.

7 c – London Bridge

8 c – The State Barge belonged to the Queen.

d – The State Barge was propelled by oars.

e - The Royal Coach of today does the same job as the State Barge did then.

B 1 innocent – blameless

2 contented – happy

3 protect – guard

4 prompt – speedy

C 1 condiments

2 groceries

3 games or sports

4 jewellery

5 cats

D 1 letter, sentence, paragraph, chapter

2 coffee spoon, teaspoon, dessertspoon, tablespoon

3 pea, onion, turnip, marrow

4 wren, thrush, pigeon, swan

E 1 APPLE 3 BANANA

2 CHERRY 4 GRAPE

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Test 10

A 1 ‘in days of yore’

2 d – that his pigtail was hanging at the back of him

3 He was trying to make the pigtail hang at his face - in front, rather than behind
him.

4 He thought he would be able to do this by turning round.

5 ‘But still it hung behind him.’

6 c – a wise and learned person

7 foolishly, in an extraordinary way, in an unusual way, in a peculiar way

8 I have, I will

B 1 Gaily bedight, a gallant knight,

In sunshine and in shadow,

Had journeyed long, singing a song,

In search of El Dorado.

C 1 CARD

2 CART

3 CAST

4 EAST

D 1 England English English

2 China Chinese Mandarin, Cantonese and other languages

(Chinese can be accepted)

3 Sweden Swedes Swedish

4 Italy Italians Italian

E 1 Robin Hood

2 Harry Potter

3 Robinson Crusoe

4 Scrooge

5 Alice

6 Peter Pan

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Test 11

A 1 d – It was almost certain that the shop had what you wanted.

e – Within the shop it was peaceful.

2 The four things mentioned as being in stock were bootlaces, bull’s eyes, tea cosies
and corn-cure.

3 The two unusual things for which they thought of asking were an elephant and a
king’s crown.

4 The shopkeeper would say,” I can get it for you.”

5 He tied a tortoise to the front door.

6 It had no effect and the shopkeeper carried on as usual.

7 She was interested in her customers’ illnesses and in their children’s progress at
school.

8 a - Local boy: playful, impatient, restless, comical, humorous

b - Shopkeeper: calm, quiet, kindly, tender-hearted, placid

B 1 a scrap of paper a drop of rain a pinch of salt

a speck of dirt

C 1 John will go to Brighton, where he will meet his friend.

2 Everyone has heard of Wellington, who was the hero of Waterloo.

3 He had begun shouting when the police came in.

4 St Paul’s is a famous cathedral, which was built by Wren.

D 1 library

2 shrubbery

3 cemetery

4 solitary

E The coach drew up at the inn, and the only passenger dismounted. He gave his coat a
shake, and then passed into the dining room, where a fire burned in the grate, and hot
coffee awaited him. The coach went on its way, and the innkeeper stared after it.

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Test 12

A 1 a - The frogs lived in a large pond.

b - They wished for a king to rule over them.

2 They didn’t choose a frog for a king because they couldn’t decide which of them it
should be.

3 Jupiter was the king of the gods.

4 He announced his arrival with a great splash.

5 The log only floated in the water and did nothing else.

6 c – a live creature

7 He gobbled up as many as he could catch.

8 The frogs took refuge at the bottom of the pool.

9 They asked Jupiter to take away their cruel king.

10 b – They were always wanting something different.

e - The stork was a merciless ruler.

B 1 This is Betty’s doll.

2 Have you read ‘King Solomon’s Mines’?

3 You have spoilt the child’s game.

4 You have spoilt the children’s game.

5 Are you the boys’ mother?

C 1 The boy said, “I’m afraid.”

2 The crowd shouted, “It’s a goal!”

3 The girl said, “I’m eleven.”

4 The explorer said, “I’m lost.”

D 1 Shoes and socks 4 Bucket and spade

2 Bat and ball 5 Arms and legs

3 Left and right 6 Pen and paper

E 1 Pharaoh

2 phantom

3 phrase

3 photographer

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Test 13

A 1 They wished to encamp near the beach because the mosquitoes were troublesome
in the forest.

2 b – They strolled back e – They wandered back

g – they ambled back

3 They saw parakeets, turtle doves, and wood pigeons

4 b – The birds were brightly coloured.

c – The birds’ feathers were dazzling.

f – They looked with interest at the birds.

5 They made several attempts to kill one of the birds for food.

6 We know they were not successful because the author says that they ‘always
missed’.

7 b – the arrows flew wide d – the stone missed its target

f – their aim was not good enough g – the birds were too difficult to hit

8 They were not aiming at any particular pigeon because we are told it was one of a
flock.

9 a observed b – hues c – parakeet d – attempts e – the midst

B 1 an igloo or house 2 a palace 3 barracks

4 a prison 5 a guest house or hotel 6 a restaurant

C The babbling stream rippled through the valley until she met with her big sister, the river.
Then together they rushed towards the sea, where the white-sailed ships darted to and
fro, and the water sparkled in the summer sun.

D 1 My share is small, your share is smaller, but his is the smallest.

2 Norah was clever, Dora was cleverer, but Cora was the cleverest.

3 Tom lives far away, Dick lives farther, and Harry lives farthest.

4 My hair is dark, Judith’s is darker, and Janet’s is darkest.

E Can you tell the difference between the roar of a lion and the howl of a wolf, or the cry or
mew of a seagull and the coo of a pigeon? We all know that a cat purrs when happy, and
mews or miaows (or meows) when unhappy.

N.B. There are other sound words that could be used.

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Test 14

A 1 There were hills and forests where the North Sea and the English Channel are
today.

2 Some great earthquakes caused the land to sink.

3 The two mountains named are Ben Nevis and Snowdon.

4 c – the bones of dry-land animals have been brought to the surface by fishermen.

5 The two prehistoric animals mentioned are sabre-toothed tigers and mammoths.

6 d – thousands of years ago

7 a – because trawl nets scrape along the seabed

8 b – they once lived, but died out thousands of years ago

B 1 dog – pup or puppy 2 fox – cub 3 hen – chick or chicken

4 cat – kitten 5 swan – cygnet 6 king – prince

C 1 She showed great pride in her work.

2 You must not show your anger at what he has done.

3 She was praised for her bravery.

4 The visitor noticed the cleanliness of the streets.

D 1 He slept peacefully. 4 They fought bravely.

2 She danced gracefully. 5 He hummed quietly.
3 They sang sweetly. 6 She ran swiftly

E 1 A furniture shop 3 A florist, garden centre or supermarket

2 a cycle shop 4 a butcher or a supermarket

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Test 15

A 1 b - The track was narrow and muddy.

c – A stream rippled near at hand.

f – The people were going along quite slowly.

2 Tree trunks stopped them going further along the path.

3 They knew animals had been that way because there were imprints in the soft mud.

4 We know they had not been chopped down because the trunks were ‘uprooted’.

5 He said, “O’er these trees we cannot clamber.”

6 ‘Lying lengthwise, lying crosswise’ tells us that they were lying different ways.

7 a - brooklet b - margin

B 1 You are a very sensible person.

2 The proud king sat on his throne.

3 It was a glorious victory.

4 The mole has a velvety skin.

C 1 b – sells things at people’s houses

2 b – rides horses

3 b – performs operations

4 drives a private car

D unfair, impossible, disconnect, invisible, unhappy, immortal

E 1 cataract

2 compete

3 compartment

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Test 16

A 1 a – out of doors

2 The March Hare, the Hatter and the Dormouse were already at the table.

3 They shouted, “No room! No room!” when they saw Alice.

4 Alice replied, “There’s plenty of room.”

5 c – some wine

6 Alice couldn’t accept the March Hare’s offer because she couldn’t see any wine on
the table.

7 The Dormouse wasn’t comfortable because the other two were using it as a cushion
and resting their elbows on it.

8 The Dormouse didn’t seem to mind because it was asleep.

9 The word plenty is printed differently because, seeing all the room at the table,
Alice emphasised that word.

10 cross, irritated, dissatisfied, annoyed, vexed, displeased

B 1 sea-birds

2 insects

3 capital cities

4 currencies

5 abbreviations

C 1 The school party left the station and made its way down the road. As the children
saw the inviting sea they shouted for joy and hurried down to the beach as fast as
they could. The day was hot and they were keen to have a swim.

D 1 I must have complete obedience from you all.

2 The telephone is a wonderful invention.

3 I look forward to hearing of your success.

4 This is a description of what I saw.

E 1 Each tyre is punctured.

2 Their brother and sister are away from school.

3 Both the chapter and the book are finished.

4 One of the panes is broken.

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Test 17

A 1 John kept his books on a shelf in the bookcase.

2 He liked adventure and school stories.

3 The covers were similar because they were brightly coloured.

4 b – of fights between hunters and animals

d – of spaceships and strange planets

5 We can tell this because the passage says that he ‘knew many of these stories by
heart’.

6 He added new books to the shelf now and then (or from time to time).

7 John’s proudest possession was a colourful encyclopaedia that he had received for
his birthday.

8 breathlessly, excitedly

B 1 As quick as a flash

2 As slow as a tortoise

3 As busy as a bee

4 As keen as mustard

C fire-fighter north-west washbasin watercolour

D At the fair, the roundabout with its galloping horses was a great favourite. The
children eagerly paid their money to ride, time after time, the bright, carved
animals, until there was no money left in their purses.

E 1 She was a studious student.

2 I hope you will have an enjoyable party.

3 The soldiers are in a rebellious mood.

4 The teacher gave the decisive or deciding vote.

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Test 18

A 1 The two most important people in the story are ‘Quickdraw’ Thompson and
‘Bloody’ Jackson.

2 The soldier hid behind a pile of rocks at the edge of the road.

3 He was only just in time because shots were already being fired and the rebels’
cries were very near.

4 b – because he was quick at drawing his gun, and firing.

5 The townspeople down in the valley were in danger of a rebel attack.

6 He had chosen his time carefully because the sleeping townspeople had become
careless, not expecting an attack. They rarely had their guns to hand and did not
keep a careful watch these days for approaching enemies.

7 a – peacefully b – lovely c – whistling

8 courage and determination

B 1 a school

2 a swarm

3 a host

4 a yoke or team

C 1 The children saw the foxes.

2 She put the puppies in their baskets. (or They put …)

3 The cooks sharpened the knives.

4 The deer ate the loaves of bread.

D 1 He is older than she.

2 Did you hear who rang the bell?

3 She read that poem quite loudly.

4 The teacher sang the song at twelve o’clock.

5 The day had just begun.

E 1 Let us try to relieve the army in the hills.

2 Try to think harder about it.

3 It is up to us to provide food for the old people.

4 The conjuror began to mystify his audience.

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Test 19

A 1 c – below in the cellar

2 It was placed in the centre of the table in the study.

3 Jim’s next task was to open the box.

4 He failed to find the decoration he should press to open the box.

5 The carvings were of grinning faces, baskets of fruit and sheaves of corn.

6 When pressed, one of the carvings might cause a panel to slide or a lid to spring
open.

7 When the correct carving was pressed, one side of the box collapsed.

8 It was a rolled treasure map about which much had been written.

9 It was valuable because it would show where a vast hoard of treasure was hidden in
the castle.

10 a - sheaves b – silently c – collapsed d - ornamental e – hoard

11 c – It was some time before Jim solved the problem.

e – The box contained one thing only.

B 1 The children ridiculed the film.

2 The man was bald.

3 Martin was exhausted after the race.

4 Jane was popular.

C 1 This park is public; that garden is private.

2 What is the answer to my question?

3 Singular is the opposite of plural.

4 You will have either success or failure this time.

D 1 Mount

2 Central Intelligence Agency

3 Company Limited

4 British Broadcasting Corporation

E 1 It is time to decorate the dining room.

2 It might be wise to strengthen the wall.

3 Try not to annoy your brother.

4 The prince is going to marry the peasant.

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Test 20

A 1 It was taking place in the evening.

2 b – because they were not quite certain what was happening.

3 We can tell because the children were struggling through tangled blackthorn and
prickly brier.

4 c – There was only one performer present.

e – There was an open space in the forest.

f – He was a rather unusual person.

5 The man was dancing and singing as well as playing the fiddle.

6 The man was performing ‘in a wonderful way’.

7 c – sounding so pleasantly through the trees

B 1 weapons

2 flowers

3 school subjects or lessons

4 corn or grain

5 dairy products

C 1 Snow White

2 Sherlock Holmes

3 Winnie the Pooh

4 The Sleeping Beauty

5 Long John Silver

D 1 An old king lay sick, and when he found his end was drawing near, he said: ‘Let
faithful John come to me.’ Now he was the servant that the king was fondest of,
and he was so called because he had been true to his master all his life.

E 1 The defenders fought tooth and nail at the gates.

2 The attacking army fought with might and main.

3 We must try to make a rough and ready barrier.

4 They stood together through thick and thin.

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Test 21

A 1 d – in a village at the foot of a mountain

2 c – a very long time ago

3 a – a flock of goats

4 He drove his animals to feed every morning.

5 The ready-made fold was part of a ruined castle.

6 He sometimes used this place when it was too late to drive his flock home.

7 The prettiest goat of his flock was missing.

8 He looked for it everywhere.

9 c – because the best grass could be found there

10 a –fold b – flock c – vanished d - in vain

B 3 In the middle of the programme, the radio stopped.

5 David crossed over to the set.

1 He tried hard to find the reason for the break.

4 After a while he gave up in despair.

2 There seemed to be nothing he could do.

N.B. The last two sentences could be the other way round i.e. 2 then 4

C 1 My aunt is the landlady.

2 The countess is my mistress.

3 The nun became and abbess.

D 1 Once upon a time there was a hare, a rabbit and a tortoise.

2 She’s not tired at the moment.

3 It’s not so much its shape as its size.

4 That’s not so.

E 1 goal (The others are all places that hold people convicted of crimes.)

2 uncle (The others are all more closely related.)

3 ice-hockey (The other sports use a ball.)

4 cycle (The others are all on foot.)

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Test 22

A 1 The ship was called the ‘Antelope’ and it was sailing on the Pacific Ocean.

2 Sam was the captain’s servant.

3 He is emptying the captain’s silver teapot.

4 b - He was very worried.

e - He was very much alarmed.

f - He was in a panic.

5 He asked, “Is a thing lost when you know where it is?”

6 He wanted to make doubly sure the captain would not punish him for losing
something, when it was not truly lost!

7 pleased, happy, light of heart

B 1 Oil is to well as coal is to mine.

2 Eleven is to cricket as fifteen is to rugby.

3 I is to me as we is to us.

4 Come is to go as here is to there.

C 1 GAMBLE

2 PEACE

3 GROAN

4 PIECE

D 1 I would expect to find clothes.

2 Many birds build their nests in the forks of trees.

3 You might hear the cry of ‘Fares please!’ on a bus.

4 A carpenter makes furniture and other articles out of wood.

5 One would play a game of football on a football pitch.

6 You should go to an ironmonger or hardware shop to buy a chisel.

E 1 b – to be defeated, or killed

2 c – to overcome one’s enemies, after losing for a while.

3 a – to refuse to have anything to do with a certain person.

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Once a Week Comprehension Book 2 Answers 

Test 23

A 1 We know this because the story tells us it was ‘a distant country’.

2 He claimed his daughter could spin gold out of straw.

3 The king was in the wood hunting.

4 b – he was too fond of money

5 He told the miller’s daughter to spin a great heap of straw into gold.

6 The task was to be completed before morning.

7 c – in a house near the mill on the banks of a stream

8 a – good to look at

9 c – by grinding corn into flour

10 a – if you love your life b – chamber c – boast

B 1 The logs were crackling on the fire.

2 The kettle was singing.

3 Ann’s shout echoed across the hills.

4 The shutters were rattling in the wind.

N.B. Other sound words could be used.

C 1 Asteroid, Earth, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Neptune, Pluto, Saturn, Uranus, Venus

D 1 comfortable chair ugly witch cunning fox snow-capped mountain

2 humble peasant underground stream flowery border well-filled larder

E 1 The explorers rode their camels across the desert.

2 The prisoner confessed his guilt.

3 The fishmonger sells plaice.

4 Have you a car for hire?

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Once a Week Comprehension Book 2 Answers 

Test 24

A 1 b – It was being taken aboard ship.

f – There were thousands of coins, and gold and silver bars. (Probably true!)

2 We can tell this because it took three days to stow the treasure away in the cabin.

3 They decided to leave the pirates on the island.

4 a - medicines (and perhaps tools, a sail and rope to make a shelter, and clothing)

b - powder, shot,

c - a case of tobacco

5 c – the anchor was hauled up and taken aboard

6 The sailors thought the pirates were asking for mercy because they were kneeling
on the sand with their arms raised.

7 a – stored in bags made of canvas

B 1 tier – pier sage – gauge thyme – climb

new – flew role – goal flung – tongue

C 1 purchase – buy

2 valley – glen

3 ate – consumed

4 plump – fat

D Two little blackbirds singing in the sun

One flew away and then there was one;

One little blackbird, very black and tall

He flew away and then there was the wall.

One little brick wall lonely in the rain

Waiting for the blackbirds to come and sing again.

E 1 husband – wife

2 house – door

3 tree – roots

4 boot – sole

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Test 25

A 1 c – a young man

2 ‘He happened to meet Little John.’

3 a – a useful young man

4 We know that he was not really little because the poem tells us that he was seven
feet tall and had ‘large’ limbs.

5 b – they shivered with fright

6 c – fighting and duelling

7 ‘In brief’ means using only a few words, or concisely.

8 b – how they met each other

B 1 Whose ball broke the window?

2 Jack ate the last sweet.

3 Perhaps the miser will show us the gold.

4 The fire burned in a grate.

C 1 MONEY

2 MONARCH

3 MONASTERY

4 MONITOR

D 1 trunk

2 light

3 stern

4 match

E 1 fade

2 column

3 commence

4 portion

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Once a Week Comprehension Book 2 Answers 

Test 26

A 1 We can tell that they lived in the town because the passage mentions a busy
roadway and a pavement on their street.

2 It was an untidy game because it left chalk marks on the ground.

3 The rain finally washed the chalk marks away.

4 ‘Chase’ and ‘Tag’ were noisy and dangerous because the children shouted a lot and
ran around, maybe taking risks with the traffic.

5 b – because they were just off the busy pavements

6 You could tell when the children were playing ‘Statues’ because they would be
standing as still as possible in strange positions.

7 Children’s Fun

B 1 He put an iris and an aster with a lily.

2 She bought a book, a pen and an atlas.

3 A wren is smaller than an owl or an albatross.

4 The juice of an orange makes a good drink.

C 1 A bad workman blames his tools.

2 First come, first served.

3 Look before you leap.

4 Let sleeping dogs lie.

D 1 hastened – hurried

2 wicked – evil

3 healthy – hardy

4 news – information

E There was great excitement in the town when the Queen of England visited. John Brown
arranged a concert at the Majestic Theatre, and Her Highness presented certificates to
pupils of Fairview Primary School for good work in National Savings. The orchestra played
Morning by Grieg, and the town Festival Choir sang Handel’s Messiah.

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Test 27

A 1 The elves stole the baby from its mother.

2 They stole it from the cradle.

3 She knew it was not her baby because in the cradle was a creature with a large
head and staring eyes that did nothing but eat and drink.

4 b – to someone living near by.

5 c – the elves had exchanged it for a real baby

6 She was told to carry the changeling into the kitchen, seat it on the hearth, light a
fire, then boil some water in two eggshells.

7 She did all these things to make the changeling laugh. This laughter would be all
over with him.

8 a – a number of pixies

9 They were carrying the mother’s own child.

10 The visitors disappeared, carrying the changeling.

B 1 poultry

2 food shops (or shopkeepers)

3 dinosaurs

4 berries or fruit

C 1 MEAT 3 BUTTER

2 BREAD 4 COCOA

D And we will sit upon the rocks,

And see the shepherds feed their flocks,

By sunny rivers to whose falls,

Melodious birds sing madrigals.

E 1 RAGE

2 RACE

3 RACK

4 ROCK

5 ROOK

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Test 28

A 1 He needs to make sure he is safe before he can think about escaping.

2 The safest place to be was up in the trees.

3 This place was safe because it was over the heads of the wild animals that were
trying to catch him.

4 The best trap for a lion is an iron cage with some freshly-killed meat as bait.

5 The hero didn’t build these traps because he had none of the materials to make
them.

6 c – because it has sharp teeth and a powerful tail.

7 The best time to catch a large snake is after it has had a good meal.

8 b – it then becomes sleepy

9 c – because it would not be able to use its deadly fangs

10 The writer would be happier catching birds and butterflies because they are easier
to catch and are less dangerous!

B 1 LION 3 CROCODILE

2 ZEBRA 4 ELEPHANT

C 1 an ear of corn a posy of flowers a lock of hair a moment in time

D 1 The guard who blew the whistle is quite old.

2 I found the cricketer whose score was the highest.

3 Here is the car, which was stolen.

4 Look at the girl whom you scolded.

E 1 He taught in a primary school.

2 Mary went to a secondary school.

3 The scenery was magnificent.

4 Modern machinery was put into the factory.

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Test 29

A 1 The circus was going to pitch on the common.

2 It had to pass through the High Street.

3 The musicians in the band were at the head of the procession.

4 We know this because the noise of the drum could be heard many streets away.

5 Koko could do cartwheels and handsprings well.

6 It was painted white and he had a scarlet mouth.

7 It was surprising because he seemed to spend most of his time upside down.

8 The story says a ‘string’ of elephants because they were all joined together, trunk
to tail.

9 b – because real ones would have cost too much.

B 1 Yesterday the sun shone brightly, and the birds sang. I went to the lakeside and
dived into the clear water, where the rowing boats glided smoothly. Tom and I
paddled across to the place where the train began its journey. The guard waved
to us.

C 1 Jack’s desk is broken.

2 The fox’s cub is loose.

3 The foxes’ cubs are loose.

3 John’s dog is a spaniel.

4 Pam’s brooch is better than Mary’s.

D 1 The mate said, “The boat is sinking.”

2 She asked, “Which way is it to the football ground?” or “How do I get to the
football ground?”

3 The duchess told the servant, “Clear the table.”

4 The pirate ordered him, “Walk the plank.”

E 1 North and South 4 Tooth and nail

2 Black and white 5 Table and chair

3 Snakes and ladders

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Test 30

A 1 d – a fairy

2 The dancing is going to take place at night.

3 c – they are snoring

4 They would enter the rooms by gliding through the keyholes.

5 b – dance in a circle on the grass

6 The word ‘nest’ means bed.

7 a – unespied b – glide

8 c – dance lightly

9 a - Let’s dance a round: Here, round is a noun and the sentence means, ‘Let’s
dance a circular dance.’

b - Let’s dance around: Here, around is an adverb and the sentence means, ‘Let’s
dance all over the place, in all directions’.

B 1 Ali Baba

2 Jo

3 Robinson

4 Dr Jekyll

C 1 spider – web 4 dog - kennel

2 bird – nest 5 bee – hive (or nest)

3 wild rabbit – burrow 6 sheep – fold (or pen)

D 1 He set to work to cut down the tree. When it fell he found, in a hollow under the
roots, a goose with feathers of pure gold. He took it up and, carrying it under his
arm, he went to a little inn by the roadside. Here he decided to sleep for the
night on his way home.

E 1 potatoes (The others are grain crops.)

2 fleet (It is the only word connected with the navy.)

3 pawn (It is the only chess piece that is not in the back row on the board.)

4 glue (It is the only one that sticks, rather than ties, two things together.)

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