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Year 5 comprehension: A fair test for insulation

Read this non-fiction passage, then answer six questions about details, word meanings, inferences and purpose.

Before you read

Read once for the main idea, then look back for details. You can use the passage while answering.

A fair test for insulation

A class wants to compare three materials that might slow the cooling of warm water. They wrap identical cups in felt, paper and bubble wrap. A fourth cup has no wrapping, so they can compare each material with an unwrapped cup.

For a fair test, the cups begin with the same amount of water at the same temperature. They stand in the same room, away from direct sunlight. The class measures each cup after the same number of minutes. Changing several conditions at once would make the results harder to interpret.

Before measuring, the pupils predict which cup will stay warmest. Their predictions are ideas to check, not results. If a measurement surprises them, they record it rather than replacing it with the value they expected.

A single reading may be affected by an error. Repeating the investigation can show whether a similar pattern appears again. Even then, the conclusion should describe the tested materials and conditions. A material that works well around a cup is not automatically the best choice for every building, coat or lunch box.

Print this passage

Download the original passage, six questions and a separate answer section. The PDF includes links back to this page and the free diagnostic.

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Practise reading

Check your understanding

6 questions. Keep the passage open above and look back for evidence. This practice score stays on this page until you leave or restart. It is not an exam grade or a saved assessment.

Read all questions and answers

  1. 1. Why is one cup left unwrapped?

    • A. To hold all the thermometers
    • B. To replace every other cup halfway through
    • C. To make the water start colder
    • D. To compare the wrapped cups with an unwrapped cup
    Show answer 1

    To compare the wrapped cups with an unwrapped cup: The first paragraph explains the unwrapped cup’s comparison role.

  2. 2. Which conditions are kept the same at the start?

    • A. The wrapping material on every cup
    • B. The predictions made by each pupil
    • C. The final measured temperature
    • D. The amount and temperature of the water
    Show answer 2

    The amount and temperature of the water: The water starts with the same amount and temperature; the wrapping material is what changes.

  3. 3. What does “interpret” mean here?

    • A. Work out what the results mean
    • B. Choose the warmest prediction
    • C. Wrap the cups more tightly
    • D. Change the recorded readings
    Show answer 3

    Work out what the results mean: Keeping conditions alike makes it easier to understand what the results show.

  4. 4. Why should an unexpected measurement be recorded?

    • A. Evidence may differ from a prediction
    • B. A prediction is always the correct measurement
    • C. Surprising readings do not need checking
    • D. It proves the material works in every situation
    Show answer 4

    Evidence may differ from a prediction: The passage distinguishes a prediction from a result, so evidence should not be replaced by an expectation.

  5. 5. How can repetition help?

    • A. It removes the need for equal water amounts
    • B. It turns a cup experiment into a test of buildings
    • C. It can show whether a similar pattern occurs again
    • D. It ensures every material gives the same result
    Show answer 5

    It can show whether a similar pattern occurs again: Repeating helps check the pattern and reveal a possible one-off error.

  6. 6. What is the main purpose of this passage?

    • A. Give instructions for building a house
    • B. Describe the history of warm drinks
    • C. Explain how to make and interpret a fair comparison
    • D. Prove that bubble wrap is always best
    Show answer 6

    Explain how to make and interpret a fair comparison: It explains controlled conditions, honest recording, repetition and limits on conclusions.

Explore comprehension skills

An original passage written for Trace Learn. Authored 2026-09-30. These are teaching questions, not a school entrance paper.

Questions parents ask

Does this practice save a score?

No. Answers are checked on this page. They are not sent to an assessment service or saved to a learner profile. Restarting or leaving clears the practice score.

Should I look back at the passage?

Yes. Find the words that support your answer. For an inference, explain how the details suggest your idea.

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