Read the paragraphs below and answer the questions.
It was winter in the city. The sun was sinking fast. Night was drawing in. Snow whipped down from the sky in icy flakes. It was too cold for snow to melt, so it covered everything in white: the rooftops and drainpipes, the back streets and alleys.
A silver-blue cat with amber eyes raced forwards through the streets. His name was Varjak Paw, and he was running as fast as he could. He loved being out in the city. He'd grown up indoors, a pet in a house. He'd always dreamed about living free and wild. Now his dreams were coming true.
Beside him ran his friends: a spiky black-and-white cat called Holly, a shaggy chocolate-brown one named Tam, and a huge black dog called Cludge. They knew the city better than Varjak; he was still learning how to survive on the streets. And winter was harsh. Food was scarce. They'd been hunting all day with no luck. Now they were going to the city dump, hoping to find some scraps the people had thrown away.
1. What does 'Night was drawing in' mean?
2. Give one reason why winter is a bad time for a cat living on the streets.
3. Where are Holly, Tam and Cludge running towards?
4. Why does Varjak enjoy being outside in the city?
They swerved into an alleyway. A rusting iron gate loomed up before them, rattling in the wind. It was the entrance to the dump. Far away on some main road, traffic rumbled and roared, but here the cars were all broken down. Their windscreens were smashed, their tyres slashed. Fragments of shattered glass stuck out of the snow. They could rip a cat's paws to pieces.
So this is it, thought Varjak. The city dump.
'Can't we keep hunting?' he said. 'I've got a good feeling. We're going to catch a mouse – we've got to!'
'I wish we would,' panted Tam. 'I'm starving.'
'Me too,' said Holly. 'But we haven't even seen a mouse since this snow started. They must be hiding from the weather. Or from her.' She shivered.
Above their heads, through swirling snow, an amber street light flickered into life. Day was almost done; nightfall was close. Holly and Tam shifted about on their paws. Even Cludge seemed nervous.
'Let's get it over with,' said Holly, her voice like the crunch of gravel. 'We don't want to be here after dark.'
5. What does 'hoping to find some scraps' tell us about the cats?
6. What is meant by 'her voice like the crunch of gravel'?
7. Holly says 'They must be hiding from the weather. Or from her.' What does 'Or from her' add to the atmosphere?
Tam looked up at the rusty gate and shuddered. 'Er – why don't you and Varjak go first? I'll stay here and keep a look-out – even if I have to eat last,' she said, sounding noble.
Holly rolled her mustard-coloured eyes. 'I might've known. Fine. Come on, Varjak. At least now we know who's scared and who's not.'
'I'm not scared!' protested Tam. 'It's just that we need a look-out. What if she comes? It's actually braver to go last. It's actually...' She paused, and scratched her head. 'Actually, I think I'll come with you.'
'Oh no you don't,' laughed Holly. 'You're right. We need a look-out – and congratulations, Tam, you've got the job!'
Tam's big, round eyes went huge with fright. 'But – but - '
'It's all right,' said Varjak. He could see Holly was joking; but he could also see that Tam was not. 'I'll be look-out. I'll stand guard with Cludge.'
Tam's fur settled. 'Thanks, Varjak! I'll save you some food – if we find any.'
Holly and Tam crept forwards through the snow, past hulking smashed-up cars, picking their way over shattered glass towards the gate. Chains and padlocks hung from it, clattering in the wind. But they found gaps, cracks, ways through that people would never think of. In moments, Varjak and Cludge stood alone.
thud thud thud
Varjak's fur prickled. He thought he could hear something behind him. A cat's tail thumping? Something was moving, something was watching him.
8. Why were the words 'thud thud thud' written like that — in lowercase, on their own line?
9. How does the writer use the weather and setting to build tension in the passage?
10. How does the description of the city dump's entrance add to the tension?
11. How does the ending of the passage create suspense?