Model Text

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If I were you, then I would make sure that I was ready to believe the unbelievable. The story I’m

about to tell you happened to me last year. Honestly. At school, we had been learning about fair

trade around the world. There were all the usual topic week capers: assemblies, fundraising and

copious powerpoints about what various charities were doing to help people less fortunate than

ourselves. Compared to some topic weeks, I really enjoyed this one (just don’t ask me about

Romans week - I still blush at the mere mention of it). The week had culminated in a Fairtrade

shopping ‘village’, which was taking place in the school hall. Each class had selected items to sell to

our generous, ungrudging parents. Whilst I hadn’t been picked as a stall holder, I had been asked

to supervise in hall for half an hour before the fair commenced to make sure those pesky KS1

children didn’t come in and mess around with all the ethical, intriguing goods.

So, there I was gliding at a snail’s pace around the hall. Intrigued by a minute, yet elaborately

decorated trinket box, I picked up it to examine it more closely. All of a sudden, the room began

to go misty...

In the haze before me, I noticed a crowd of people. Where have these people suddenly come

from? Tentatively, I tiptoed closer to them and I realised I was in a bustling market in front of a

Spanish-looking church. Aisles and aisles of fascinating stalls stretched out as far as my eye

could see and they were selling the most exotic items: spices, radiant items of clothing, intricate

jewellery with matching boxes, sombrero hats and brightly-coloured pinatas. This place was so

lively and exuberating, I thought to myself. The aroma from the street food stands made my

stomach pang with hunger and I reached out to open the trinket box to see if there were any

coins I could use...

Reading Comprehension

Model Text

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Bang! I was back in the hall quicker than a single heartbeat. My heart was thudding in my

chest. In shock, I rubbed my eyes and studied the innocent-looking trinket box. What had just

happened? I peered across the hall to where the market had been in full swing and there was

nothing there... I walked to the next stall and nervously pondered what would happen if I

touched this store’s offering - coffee. With the most delicate of touches, I scooped up some

coffee beans and devoured their pungent aroma. I closed my eyes to truly appreciate their

unique smell, but when I opened my eyes - yet again, I was in a place unknown…

This time, I was in dense and humid place surrounded by vines entwined around gargantuan

trunks. The trunks climbed up and appeared to stretch to the skies, yet it was impossible to

see as the canopy layer at the top enclosed this area making it feel ever so slightly

claustrophobic. My ears were attacked by the sounds of exotic birds chirping as they flew

cautiously above my head. A distant frog was making a thunderous racket as he ribbited

away to his fellow friends in this tropical habitat. I sensed it was a warning call. As I peered

upwards, I suddenly noticed several pairs of eyes staring back down at me. If my animal

knowledge served me correctly, I think they belonged to howler monkeys. Oh dear! I started

to retreat, but foolishly tripped on a root and tumbled backwards…

Lying on the hall floor, I realised I was back in a familiar place once more. Feeling undeterred, I

quickly pulled myself up and scuttled towards the next stall. It was selling bananas. Hang on, I

thought to myself, bananas come from the same place as coffee. Quickly, I raced to the next

table - there was the vehicle to my next adventure, rice! Without warning, I plunged my

hand into a big open bag. Nothing happened initially and my disappointment was tangible.

However, there was a snap and bang and the bag exploded and rice rained all over the hall...

Reading Comprehension

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I found myself knee-deep in what can only be described as a swamp. Green crops stood tall

like soldiers growing proudly out of the soggy ground. In the background, momentous

mountains with green terraces cowered over the field making me feel small and insignificant.

Ahead of me, there were people wearing pointed hats crouched down in a line. They

concentrated intently on harvesting the crops - I realised they were rice pickers. The exact

people we had seen earlier in the week in one of the presentations. These were the people our

money would be helping! I gave them a heartfelt wave and smile, but they were far too busy

to notice. I tried to help with the picking, but as I leant down, I started to spin…

Again, in a flurry, I found myself back in the school hall. The door at the side creaked open

and parents flooded in expectantly wanting to see the stalls. I shook my head in disbelief.

What exactly has just happened to me? There was one thing I knew for sure though: the

items in this hall had come from some of the most beautiful places I had ever seen and it was

absolutely right that we tried to help the people from these places earn what they deserved.

Maybe one day I would get to see exactly where the money goes again...

Reading Comprehension

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Questions

1. What does the author mean with the phrase ‘believe the unbelievable’?

2. What is the purpose of paragraph 1?

3. Find an example of where there is a humorous tone?

4. Find and copy a word that is a synonym of ‘small’?

5. In the second paragraph, the main character Freddie seems relaxed. Find evidence to prove this statement.

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Questions

6. “Tentatively, I tiptoed closer to them” – what does the word tentatively tell us about how Freddie is moving?

7. In the paragraph beginning, “Bang! I was back in the hall quicker than a single heartbeat” how does the author show that Freddie is confused?

8. Tick the word which has the closest meaning to pungent:

9. What is the effect used in the following line and why it is used “My ears were attacked by

the sounds of exotic birds chirping”?

Horrible smell or taste

Strong smell or taste

Mild smell or taste

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Questions

10. In the paragraph beginning, “Lying on the hall floor, I realised I was back in a familiar

place”, how does the character’s mood change?

11. Find evidence that Freddie is happy to see the rice pickers.

12. Sequence the following events from 1 to 5.

13. What does this story tell us about Freddie’s opinion of Fairtrade products?

Freddie realises he is able to transport from one place to another.

Freddie explores the jungle.

The school is having a Fairtrade event.

The monkeys watch Freddie carefully.

Freddie reflects on the importance of Fairtrade.

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Answers

1. What does the author mean with the phrase ‘believe the unbelievable’?

The author wants the reader to believe what appears to an unbelievable story is true

and really happened.

Paragraph 1 provides context to the reader and gives background information as to

why there is a fair trade fair happening at Freddie’s school.

There is humorous undertones through the use of informal brackets sharing an inner

thought of the main character – “(don’t ask me about Romans week – I still blush at the

mere mention of it)”

When the author says that Freddie is “gliding at a snail’s pace” we get the impression

that he must be feeling relaxed because he is walking around slowly and this is the

action of someone who feels safe and relaxed in their environment.

minute

2. What is the purpose of paragraph 1?

3. Find an example of where there is a humorous tone?

4. Find and copy a word that is a synonym of ‘small’?

5. In the second paragraph, the main character Freddie seems relaxed. Find evidence to prove this statement.

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Answers

Freddie is moving nervously towards them as he is lacking confidence and this is reflected

in how he is moving.

The author uses the phrase “in shock” to show that Freddie in surprised by what has just

happened. Also, the author uses the rhetorical question “What had just happened?” to

demonstrate that Freddie is questioning the event and is feeling confused at what he has

just happened.

The author has used a metaphor to describe what sounds Freddie hears. The metaphor

is used to heighten and dramatise how loud the sounds of the birds were. It makes the

reader realise the extent of the noise in the jungle and the fact that his ears are

“attacked” means us think of the noise as being aggressive sounding.

6. “Tentatively, I tiptoed closer to them” – what does the word tentatively tell us about how Freddie is moving?

7. In the paragraph beginning, “Bang! I was back in the hall quicker than a single heartbeat” how does the author show that Freddie is confused?

8. Tick the word which has the closest meaning to pungent:

9. What is the effect used in the following line and why it is used “My ears were attacked by

the sounds of exotic birds chirping”?

Horrible smell or taste

Strong smell or taste

Mild smell or taste

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Answers

The character was nervous and confused after going through the first portal. However,

once he realises that he has been going through portals, but is returning to school he

seems excited and anxious to experience more e.g. “I quickly pulled myself up”. He is

aware of what is happening now and actively chooses where to go next e.g. picking rice.

When Freddie tries to say hello to them “I gave them a heartfelt wave and smile” -

heartfelt sounds warm and positive towards the rice pickers.

We know that Freddie enjoyed learning about Fair trade as he said “I really enjoyed this

one” about the topic week and after his portal adventures he shows empathy to the

workers who benefit from fair trade initiatives by saying “it was absolutely right” to

help them earn a fair wage making or farming the Fairtrade products.

10. In the paragraph beginning, “Lying on the hall floor, I realised I was back in a familiar

place”, how does the character’s mood change?

11. Find evidence that Freddie is happy to see the rice pickers.

12. Sequence the following events from 1 to 5.

13. What does this story tell us about Freddie’s opinion of Fairtrade products?

Freddie realises he is able to transport from one place to another.

Freddie explores the jungle.

The school is having a Fairtrade event.

The monkeys watch Freddie carefully.

Freddie reflects on the importance of Fairtrade.

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