Q.1
The words in capitals below consist of a typically tightly-written newspaper headline. Which of the explanations do you believe offers the clearest and most likely guess as to what the full story is about? YARD QUIZ STATION BLAZES SUSPECT
  • Someone has been caught setting fires in the yard outside a railway station
  • Somebody dressed in a blazer, and claiming to be on his way to the recording of a quiz show, has had an accident in a yard
  • The Metropolitan Police are questioning someone who they believe was responsible for a series of arson attacks on police stations
  • The police have interviewed everyone at a railway station, and are now threatening to use a flame-thrower to force a criminal out of hiding inside
Q.2
The words in capitals below consist of a typically tightly-written newspaper headline. Which of the explanations do you believe offers the clearest and most likely guess as to what the full story is about? BUS STRIKES HIT BAND
  • A bus has collided with a group of famous musicians
  • A campaign of strikes by bus drivers has affected a pop group, perhaps because they (or, more likely, their audiences) are less easily able to reach the concerts
  • Some of the striking bus drivers have been involved in a fight with members of a gang
  • Members of the band have been driving buses in order to keep the service going
Q.3
The words in capitals below consist of a typically tightly-written newspaper headline. Which of the explanations do you believe offers the clearest and most likely guess as to what the full story is about? UNITED SHARES PLUNGE SHOCK
  • All the players at a football club are sharing one enormous bath with their opponents after a game; many people regard this disclosure as unacceptable
  • The financial value of shares in United has dropped abruptly, and people are panicking about losing their money
  • Many companies have suffered steep falls in the value of their shares, and even football clubs are now feeling the effects of this
  • United Airlines is as alarmed as any other company in the industry, after another airline's plane fell into the sea recently with a great number of casualties
Q.4
The words in capitals below consist of a typically tightly-written newspaper headline. Which of the explanations do you believe offers the clearest and most likely guess as to what the full story is about? ROYAL PARKS VAN IN LAKE DRAMA
  • A van that is used by people who maintain the Royal Parks has been involved in some unusual happening, in or around a lake (presumably within one of the parks); possibly a collision (or near-collision) or some other accident
  • A member of the Royal Family has driven a van into a lake, as though trying (for some reason) to park it underwater
  • A van once used by a member of the Royal Family is going to be involved in some sort of show that will be performed alongside a lake
  • A member of the Royal Family has a very minor part, as a van-driver in the background, during a guest appearance on a television series set in the Lake District
Q.5
The words in capitals below consist of a typically tightly-written newspaper headline. Which of the explanations do you believe offers the clearest and most likely guess as to what the full story is about? FINE COUNCILLOR LOSES SEAT
  • Someone who has given long and noble service on a local council is sadly becoming old and forgetful, and now can't remember where he left his deckchair
  • A SEAT car has been stolen from outside the home of a local councillor
  • A councillor who was fined (i.e. had to pay a legal penalty for breaking council rules, e.g. parking his car where this was not allowed) has been in enough trouble over this that he was not elected back into office, and no longer sits in Council meetings
  • The ancient family home ('seat') of a councillor has been destroyed, perhaps by fire, and we should be sorry that this should happen to such a good public servant
Q.6
The words in capitals below consist of a typically tightly-written newspaper headline. Which of the explanations do you believe offers the clearest and most likely guess as to what the full story is about? FINAL BRIDGE DEAL BID TRUMPED
  • There were exciting scenes in the final game of a Bridge tournament (the card-game)
  • Just as people believed a contract had been awarded to build or repair a major bridge, another company swooped in with a better offer which has been accepted
  • The person who was supposed to be dealing the cards was dramatically interrupted
  • There is a big civil engineering project coming up and the relevant people are giving it a lot of publicity, including a fanfare of trumpets
Q.7
The words in capitals below consist of a typically tightly-written newspaper headline. Which of the explanations do you believe offers the clearest and most likely guess as to what the full story is about? LOCAL WOMAN'S JAIL GHOST HORROR
  • The ghost of a woman has been seen in a local jail
  • A local woman in jail has been frightened by a ghost
  • All, or several, of the (female) prisoners in a local jail have been scared by a ghost
  • It is horrible to think of a female ghost in prison
Q.8
The words in capitals below consist of a typically tightly-written newspaper headline. Which of the explanations do you believe offers the clearest and most likely guess as to what the full story is about? READING WATCH GANG HELD
  • A group of people have been holding out their watches for people to read
  • A meeting has been held of a group of volunteers who help children with their reading
  • If you read this newspaper you can go to its website and watch the activities of a gang
  • In the town of Reading, a group of people has been arrested by police on suspicion of robbing jewellery shops
Q.9
The words in capitals below consist of a typically tightly-written newspaper headline. Which of the explanations do you believe offers the clearest and most likely guess as to what the full story is about? GAY STORM BISHOP SLAMS NEW CATHEDRAL DOORS
  • During some very windy weather, a cheerful but practical bishop personally closed the cathedral doors ~ rather violently ~ to keep the wind and rain outside the building
  • A bishop has very publicly closed the doors of his cathedral, to keep out people protesting about homosexuality in the church
  • A senior clergyman, conspicuous in the ongoing debate about homosexual priests, has now made public criticism of some new doors that have been fitted in a cathedral
  • A bishop has stormed out of his cathedral because the new doors are painted in colours that he does not consider solemn enough
Q.10
The words in capitals below consist of a typically tightly-written newspaper headline. Which of the explanations do you believe offers the clearest and most likely guess as to what the full story is about? FLIES CLOSE TROUBLED RESTAURANT
  • A restaurant has been in trouble (maybe for financial reasons) and the owner has fled abroad by plane
  • The police have now closed their dossier on a restaurant where there had been 'incidents' (i.e. trouble with people fighting)
  • A restaurant has had various problems, but now it has been shut down after an infestation of insects
  • Diners at the restaurant have been complaining about noisy low-flying aircraft spoiling their 'dining experience'
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