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The Old Railway Station

Oliver had always wondered why the abandoned railway station stood alone at the edge of the village. Ivy climbed the brick walls, and tiny wildflowers pushed through cracks in the platform where hundreds of passengers had once hurried to catch trains.
One Saturday morning, he persuaded his grandfather to take him there. The old man smiled quietly as they walked along the narrow path.

“When I was your age,” he said, “this place never seemed to sleep.”

Oliver looked around in disbelief.

“It feels completely forgotten.”

“Only if you look with your eyes,” Grandfather replied. “Listen carefully.”

Oliver closed his eyes.

Instead of silence, he imagined the hiss of steam, the clatter of wheels, excited conversations and children waving handkerchiefs from carriage windows. Suddenly the empty station seemed alive again.

Grandfather pointed towards an old wooden bench.

“Your great-grandmother sat there every Friday while waiting for her sister to arrive from the city.”

Oliver brushed away some leaves covering the bench. The wood was weathered, but still strong.

“It isn’t just an old station,” he said softly.

Grandfather nodded.

“No. It’s a place that remembers.”

As they walked home, Oliver realised that buildings could hold stories just as people did.

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1 / 10

Which word best describes Grandfather?

Thoughtful.

Impatient.

Strict.

Careless.

Nervous.

2 / 10

Why did Oliver visit the old railway station?

He was delivering a parcel.

He hoped to find hidden treasure.

He wanted to catch a train.

He had promised to meet a friend.

He was curious about the abandoned station.

3 / 10

Which word best describes Oliver's first impression of the station?

Crowded.

Forgotten.

Busy.

Exciting.

Dangerous.

4 / 10

What lesson does Oliver learn by the end of the passage?

Buildings can preserve memories and stories.

Old buildings should always be repaired.

Villages are quieter than cities.

Railways are more useful than roads.

Buildings should never be demolished.

5 / 10

Why does Oliver brush the leaves from the bench?

He is beginning to value its history.

He wants to clean the station.

He wants to sit down.

He is looking for something underneath.

He wants to feed the birds.

6 / 10

Which sentence best shows that Oliver's opinion has changed?

It isn't just an old station.

The ivy covered the walls.

Your great-grandmother sat there...

One Saturday morning...

It feels completely forgotten.

7 / 10

Which detail suggests that the station was once full of activity?

The empty bench.

The imagined sound of trains and passengers.

Ivy climbed the walls.

Wildflowers grew through the platform.

The narrow path leading there.

8 / 10

The word weathered most nearly means:

Damaged by age and the weather.

Clean and polished.

Painted.

Colourful.

Recently repaired.

9 / 10

What is the main purpose of the passage?

To explain how trains work.

To show how places can hold memories and meaning.

To persuade people to visit railway stations.

To explain railway history.

To describe village life.

10 / 10

What does Grandfather mean when he says, "Only if you look with your eyes"?

People should only believe what they see.

Oliver should wear his glasses.

Memories can help us understand places beyond what we can see.

Oliver needs better eyesight.

The station looks different at night.

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The New Transport Hub

Every weekday morning, thousands of commuters pass through the city’s transport hub. Digital screens display arrival times every few seconds while automatic announcements echo across the bright concourse.

Most travellers hardly notice the building itself. They are focused on catching trains, buying coffee or checking messages on their phones.

Yet the station has been carefully designed. Wide windows allow natural light to flood the platforms, and solar panels help power the building. Rainwater collected from the roof is used to water nearby gardens, reducing waste throughout the year.

Unlike stations built a century ago, today’s transport centres aim to be efficient as well as environmentally friendly. Fast lifts, clear signs and step-free access make journeys easier for people of all ages.

Although technology has transformed travel, one thing has remained the same. Stations continue to bring people together. Friends meet after long journeys, families say goodbye before holidays and strangers briefly share the same destination before going their separate ways.

The station may look modern, but its true purpose has changed very little: connecting people with places—and with each other.

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1 / 10

Why are solar panels mentioned?

To show the station has environmentally friendly features.

To describe the station's roof.

To explain how trains are powered.

To compare different types of energy.

To reduce ticket prices.

2 / 10

The word efficient most nearly means:

Decorative.

Expensive.

Time-consuming.

Complicated.

Working well with little waste.

3 / 10

Why does Grandfather tell Oliver about his great-grandmother?

To show that the bench was comfortable.

To help Oliver understand the station's personal and family history.

To teach him about trains.

To explain why the station closed.

To tell a funny family story.

4 / 10

Which word best describes the mood of the old railway station at the beginning of Text A?

Joyful.

Peaceful and abandoned.

Excited.

Lively.

Busy.

5 / 10

What is the main purpose of the transport hub?

To attract tourists.

To display modern technology.

To provide entertainment.

To replace old railway stations.

To connect people with places.

6 / 10

Why does the author include the conversation between Oliver and his grandfather?

To help readers understand the importance of memories and history.

To introduce a new character.

To make the story longer.

To explain how trains work.

To describe the village.

7 / 10

What does the phrase "the empty station seemed alive again" suggest?

The station was rebuilt.

A train arrived unexpectedly.

Oliver imagined what the station was like in the past.

The station suddenly became busy again.

New passengers appeared.

8 / 10

Which phrase best shows that nature has reclaimed the old railway station?

The narrow path leading there.

The old wooden bench.

Oliver closed his eyes.

Ivy climbed the brick walls, and tiny wildflowers pushed through cracks.

Hundreds of passengers hurried to catch trains.

9 / 10

According to the passage, what do most commuters focus on?

Shopping in the station.

Catching trains and getting on with their journeys.

Speaking to station staff.

Studying the building's design.

Looking at the gardens.

10 / 10

Which statement best summarises the author's message?

Technology is more important than people.

Stations continue to bring people together despite changing over time.

Old stations were better than new ones.

Modern stations are only about technology.

Travelling by train is becoming less popular.

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1 / 12

Which pair of words best describes the tone of the two texts?

Text A – cheerful; Text B – confusing.

Text A – humorous; Text B – frightening.

Text A – angry; Text B – mysterious.

Text A – dramatic; Text B – sarcastic.

Text A – nostalgic; Text B – informative.

2 / 12

What is one important similarity between the two texts?

Both describe stations that are no longer used.

Both take place in the countryside.

Both show that railway stations connect people.

Both focus on famous trains.

Both are written as newspaper reports.

3 / 12

Which statement is supported by Text B?

Modern stations no longer need staff.

Old railway stations were more environmentally friendly.

Most commuters visit stations to admire the architecture.

Technology has completely changed the purpose of stations.

Although stations have changed, their main purpose remains the same.

4 / 12

Which feature mentioned in Text B makes the station easier for everyone to use?

Step-free access.

Rainwater collection.

Wide windows.

Digital screens.

Solar panels.

5 / 12

Which statement would both authors most likely agree with?

Modern stations are better than old stations.

Technology has made history unimportant.

Railway stations are valuable because they bring people together.

Old stations should all become museums.

Travelling by train is the fastest form of transport.

6 / 12

Where does the story take place?

A small village

New York City

London

Paris

Scrooge's imagination

7 / 12

What is Scrooge's profession?

Teacher

Doctor

Lawyer

Businessman

Baker

8 / 12

Why has the writer chosen to present two different railway stations?

To explain how to build a railway station.

To argue that modern stations should be closed.

To show that villages are better than cities.

To persuade people to travel by train.

To compare how stations have changed while keeping a similar purpose.

9 / 12

How is Text B organised?

As a conversation between two people.

By describing the station's features and explaining their purpose.

In the order of historical events.

As a newspaper interview.

As a set of instructions.

10 / 12

How does the focus of Text A differ from Text B?

Text A is fictional, while Text B is poetry.

Text A is about travelling, while Text B is about farming.

Text A focuses on memories and history, while Text B focuses on modern transport.

Text A describes a city, while Text B describes a beach.

Text A explains technology, while Text B tells a mystery story.

11 / 12

Why does the author mention that friends meet and strangers briefly share the same destination?

To show that stations help bring people together.

To compare different stations.

To encourage people to make new friends.

To describe a holiday tradition.

To explain why trains are crowded.

12 / 12

What can the reader infer about modern commuters?

They spend most of their time admiring stations.

They prefer old stations.

They are mainly focused on reaching their destinations.

They dislike travelling by train.

They always talk to strangers.

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