Swan Rescue: Vocab & Techniques

Question 1 of 10

Lilly is an 'unreliable narrator' in the first half. This means...

A) Her descriptions are biased by her hostility — the reader can see through her negative interpretations to the truth

B) She lies about everything that happens

C) She forgets important details of the story

D) She is telling someone else's story, not her own

Question 2 of 10

'Out of step, just off-key' — these are musical terms meaning...

A) Jez is a talented musician who plays in a band

B) Jez doesn't fit with the family's rhythm — he's like a wrong note in their harmony

C) The family always sings songs on their walks

D) Jez talks too loudly

Question 3 of 10

The 'Best Walk' is capitalised because...

A) It's the name of a public footpath on a map

B) It's a spelling mistake

C) It's a treasured family tradition with its own special name — capitalising it shows how important and private it is to them

D) All walks should be capitalised in English

Question 4 of 10

Jez enters the water 'without even taking his smart trainers off'. This detail shows...

A) He doesn't care about his belongings

B) He forgot he was wearing shoes

C) The water is too shallow to get his shoes wet

D) He doesn't hesitate for a second — the swan's life matters more than his expensive shoes, showing genuine selflessness

Question 5 of 10

Jez 'calmly gathered' the attacking swan. His calmness in this situation shows...

A) He has genuine knowledge and confidence with animals — not performing for an audience but acting from real skill

B) He doesn't realise swans are dangerous

C) He is too tired to react quickly

D) The swan isn't actually attacking him

Question 6 of 10

Covering the cygnet's eyes to calm it shows Jez has 'specialist knowledge'. Why is this detail important for the story?

A) It proves Jez is a qualified veterinarian

B) It proves his caring nature is genuine, not fake — he actually knows how to help animals, demolishing Lilly's accusation that he's just trying to look good

C) It shows the cygnet is blind

D) It's a random fact that doesn't matter to the story

Question 7 of 10

'Shivering her eyelashes to make the sunlight tremble pink and orange' is an unusual sensory detail. It shows Lilly is...

A) Crying because she's sad about the swan

B) Getting sunburn on her face

C) Relaxed and at peace for the first time — playing with light through her eyelashes, she's finally enjoying the day

D) Trying to see if Jez is looking at her

Question 8 of 10

The story uses 'showing not telling' for Lilly's change of heart. The evidence is...

A) Lilly says 'I'm sorry, Jez, I was wrong about you'

B) The narrator explains that Lilly's feelings have changed

C) Mum tells Lilly to apologise to Jez

D) Her actions tell us everything: lying peacefully, admitting she was wrong about the picnic, and offering her home-baked cakes to Jez

Question 9 of 10

The 'swan straitjacket' makes Lilly think 'Ready for transit. Just add postage.' This shows...

A) Lilly's natural wit and humour — even in a serious moment, she sees the funny side

B) She wants to post the swan to someone

C) She's bored and not paying attention

D) The RSPCA charges postage for swan rescue

Question 10 of 10

The overall message of the story is...

A) Never trust people who are nice to your dog

B) Don't judge people before you really know them — actions reveal character more truthfully than first impressions

C) Swans are very dangerous and you should never approach them

D) Picnics are always better when the weather is cool

Swan Rescue: Vocab & Techniques

Assessment complete