English 20-2 Reading Comprehension Practice Test May 2026

This guide is designed specifically for the Alberta English 20-2 curriculum, but the strategies apply to most high school ELA reading assessments.

"The Last Crossing"

By J. M. Hughes (adapted)

Mariana stood at the edge of the ferry dock, her duffel bag heavy on her shoulder. Behind her, the mainland’s grey skyline blurred into the morning fog. Ahead, the island rose from the water like a half-remembered dream — green, wild, and quiet.

Three years ago, she had left this island. She had been eighteen, desperate to escape the slow rhythm of island life, the gossip that travelled faster than the ferry, the weight of her father’s expectations. “You’ll come back,” he had said, not looking up from mending his fishing net. She had promised herself she wouldn’t.

Now, her father was gone. A neighbour’s letter had reached her in the city: “The cancer took him fast. The house is yours if you want it.”

Mariana had not cried. Not on the bus, not in the waiting room of the ferry terminal, not even when she saw the familiar dent in the dock railing — a dent she had made with her bicycle at twelve.

The ferry horn startled her. An old man with weather-beaten skin and kind eyes gestured for her to board.

“First time back?” he asked.

“Does it show?”

“You’re holding your bag like it might bite you.”

She almost smiled. Almost.

During the crossing, she stood at the bow, salt spray flecking her jacket. The city had taught her to move fast, to talk loud, to never look anyone in the eye too long. The island demanded the opposite. It demanded patience. It demanded stillness. She wasn’t sure she had any stillness left.

As the island grew closer, she noticed the changes: a new café by the dock, a collapsed barn, a house she remembered as red now painted blue. But the smell — the smell of wet earth, pine, and salt — was exactly the same.

Her phone buzzed. A message from her roommate: “Did you make it? When will you be back?”

Mariana looked at the screen, then at the island. She typed: “I don’t know yet.” Then she turned off her phone and slipped it into her pocket.

The ferry bumped against the dock. The old man lowered the ramp.

“Welcome home,” he said.

Mariana picked up her bag. For the first time in three years, she did not correct him.

Part B: Multiple-Choice Questions (10 marks)

Circle the best answer for each question.

1. At the beginning of the passage, Mariana’s feelings about returning to the island can best be described as:
   a) Excited and hopeful
   b) Relieved and peaceful
   c) Anxious and uncertain
   d) Angry and resentful

2. When Mariana’s father said, “You’ll come back,” he most likely meant that:
   a) She would forget her keys.
   b) The island was impossible to leave permanently.
   c) He would force her to return.
   d) She owed him money. english 20-2 reading comprehension practice test

3. The dent in the dock railing serves mainly to:
   a) Show that the dock is poorly maintained
   b) Foreshadow a future accident
   c) Connect Mariana to her childhood and past
   d) Introduce a mystery about who caused the dent

4. The old man’s comment, “You’re holding your bag like it might bite you,” suggests that:
   a) Mariana is afraid of animals.
   b) The bag is poorly made.
   c) Mariana is tense and uncomfortable.
   d) The old man is trying to rob her.

5. According to the passage, what did the city teach Mariana?
   a) To be patient and still
   b) To appreciate nature
   c) To move fast and talk loud
   d) To avoid taking ferries

6. Why does Mariana turn off her phone at the end of the passage?
   a) Her battery is dead.
   b) She is angry at her roommate.
   c) She wants to disconnect from her city life, at least temporarily.
   d) The island has no cell service.

7. The line “She did not correct him” (referring to the old man saying “Welcome home”) implies that:
   a) Mariana has forgotten the old man’s name.
   b) Mariana no longer rejects the idea of the island as home.
   c) Mariana plans to leave again immediately.
   d) The old man is mistaken about who she is.

8. Which of the following details best supports the idea that the island has changed since Mariana left?
   a) The smell of wet earth and salt
   b) The dent in the dock railing
   c) A house she remembered as red now painted blue
   d) The ferry horn startling her

9. The mood of the passage is primarily:
   a) Humorous and light
   b) Mysterious and suspenseful
   c) Reflective and bittersweet
   d) Action-packed and exciting

10. The title “The Last Crossing” most likely refers to:
    a) The final ferry trip of the day
    b) Mariana’s decision to return to the island permanently
    c) A dangerous storm crossing
    d) The old man’s last day of work

Practice Test Questions (Multiple Choice)

Questions 1-3 refer to Text 1 (Prose Fiction).

1. The detail that Grandpa Joe’s knuckles are "swollen like walnuts" primarily suggests: This guide is designed specifically for the Alberta

• A) He is an old man with arthritis.
• B) He is a professional boxer.
• C) He is cold in the garage.
• D) He has been working with his hands for decades.

2. When Mira turns off her phone, the reader can infer that she has decided to:

• A) Run away to the lake.
• B) Prioritize her grandfather’s wisdom over peer pressure.
• C) Call Sophie later.
• D) Give up on the motorcycle.

3. The author uses short sentences ("It is a cemetery. It is a museum. It is a time machine.") to create a rhythm that feels:

• A) Confused and frantic.
• B) Authoritative and emphatic.
• C) Childish and playful.
• D) Scientific and detached.

Questions 4-5 refer to Text 2 (Non-Fiction).

4. According to the passage, what is the most important factor for concentration?

• A) Absolute silence.
• B) The specific decibel level of noise.
• C) The feeling that you can manage your sound environment.
• D) Listening to classical music only.

5. The word agency in this context most nearly means:

• A) A government organization.
• B) A business contract.
• C) A sense of control or power.
• D) A type of background noise.

Questions 6 refers to Text 3 (Visual Text).

6. The central irony of the political cartoon is that:

• A) Thunderclouds are not actually angry.
• B) The umbrella is too small to cover the person.
• C) Privacy settings are intended to protect, but here they are ineffective (full of holes).
• D) The person should be running, not standing still.

Questions 7-8 refer to Text 4 (Poetry).

7. The metaphor "a broken appliance in the kitchen of grief" suggests that time is:

• A) Useful and necessary.
• B) Mechanical, frustrating, and non-functional.
• C) Warm and comforting.
• D) Loud and disruptive.

8. The poet’s tone is best described as: "The Last Crossing" By J

• A) Jubilant and celebratory.
• B) Resigned and melancholic.
• C) Angry and vengeful.
• D) Confused and hopeful.