OC reading: connecting ideas across two short texts

Quick Answer

When a question covers two texts, find the evidence in each text separately before choosing an answer. This page has two original text pairs, eight questions and a table that shows where each answer comes from. It is general reading practice from Braintree Coaching Australia, not a copy of the official test.

Who is this practice for?

Year 3 and Year 4 children who read one short text well and are ready to use two together. Sit beside your child for the first pair and ask them to point to the words that decided each answer. Nothing is timed and no score is kept.

The NSW Department of Education's OC practice tests do not describe paired texts, so treat this as general reading practice. For single-passage steps see our OC practice tests page.

How do I answer a question about two texts?

1. Read Text A, then Text B. Do not look at the options yet.
2. Read the question and underline who it asks about: Text A, Text B, both, or what a writer would think.
3. Find a phrase in each text that the question depends on. Write them down.
4. Check each option against both texts. An option can be true of one text only, true of neither, or the right idea given to the wrong text.

Pair 1: a notice and a diary entry

Text A: School notice

The book fair will be held in the school library from Monday 11 March to Thursday 14 March. Classes may visit during their normal library lesson. Parents are welcome before school each morning from 8:15 until the first bell at 8:50. Every book costs between $5 and $15, and students must pay with cash only. The fair will raise money for new cushions in the reading corner. Students who bring a signed permission note will receive a free bookmark. The fair closes at 3:00 each afternoon, so please do not arrive after that time.

Text B: Sam's diary

Tuesday. Our class went to the book fair in the library today. Mrs Okafor let us spend twenty minutes there, and she reminded us to walk and not run. The sign said cash only, so I brought coins from my money box. I chose a space book that cost $12 and paid with a ten-dollar note and two coins. Mia forgot her permission note, so she did not get a bookmark. I got mine on Monday, when Dad dropped me off early. I think the fair is a good idea, but the library was very crowded and loud. I am saving the rest of my money for the next one.

Question 1. Which of these is said in Text A but not in Text B?

• A. Mia forgot her permission note.
• B. Sam paid with a ten-dollar note.
• C. The library was crowded and loud.
• D. The fair raises money for new cushions.

Question 2. Both texts agree that:

• A. students must pay with cash.
• B. the fair runs for a full week.
• C. parents may not visit.
• D. every book costs $15.

Question 3. Which detail is only in Text B?

• A. The fair closes at 3:00.
• B. Students with a signed note get a bookmark.
• C. The library was very crowded and loud.
• D. The fair is held in the school library.

Question 4. What would the writer of Text A most likely think about Mia not getting a bookmark?

• A. It was unfair, because every student should get one.
• B. It follows the rule that a signed note is needed.
• C. The fair should have been held later in the week.
• D. Mia should have paid more for her book.

Pair 2: two reports that disagree

Text A: Class 4R's creek report

Class 4R visited Cooper's Creek on Wednesday morning to count living things. The creek runs behind the school oval. We worked in groups and counted for thirty minutes. Each group wrote its numbers on a clipboard and checked them with another group. We found 14 frogs, 6 tadpoles and 3 turtles. The water was clear and cool, and we saw no rubbish near the bank. Our teacher said the creek looks healthy because frogs need clean water. We think the council should leave the creek as it is. We will visit again in winter to see whether the numbers change.

Text B: Class 4T's creek report

Class 4T visited Cooper's Creek on Friday afternoon and counted for twenty minutes. We used a net, then put every animal back in the water. The creek runs behind the school oval. We found 9 frogs, 11 tadpoles and 1 turtle. The water was cool, but it was cloudy after rain on Thursday, and we collected a bag of rubbish from the bank. Frogs can live in cloudy water, so the numbers alone do not prove the creek is healthy. We think the council should put a bin near the bank. We also plan to visit again in winter.

Question 5. Which class found more tadpoles than frogs?

• A. Both classes
• B. Neither class
• C. Class 4T
• D. Class 4R

Question 6. Both reports agree that:

• A. the water was cool.
• B. the water was clear.
• C. there was rubbish on the bank.
• D. the creek should be left as it is.

Question 7. Which detail is only in Text B?

• A. Frogs need clean water.
• B. The class will visit again in winter.
• C. The class counted turtles.
• D. Rain fell the day before the visit.

Question 8. What would the writer of Text A most likely say about the bin suggested in Text B?

• A. It is needed, because the creek is dirty.
• B. It is not needed, because we saw no rubbish near the bank.
• C. It is a good idea, because there were only three turtles.
• D. It is wrong, because frogs need bins.

Answers and the evidence table

Every answer rests on a phrase from at least one text. Where the question needs both texts, both columns are filled. Where only one text can decide it, the other column says what that text does not contain.

Evidence for each answer

Question	Text A evidence	Text B evidence	Answer
1	"raise money for new cushions in the reading corner"	No mention of cushions or fundraising; it has Mia's note, the ten-dollar note and the crowd	D
2	"students must pay with cash only"	"The sign said cash only, so I brought coins"	A
3	No mention of a crowd or noise	"the library was very crowded and loud"	C
4	"Students who bring a signed permission note will receive a free bookmark"	"Mia forgot her permission note, so she did not get a bookmark"	B
5	"14 frogs, 6 tadpoles" (more frogs)	"9 frogs, 11 tadpoles" (more tadpoles)	C
6	"clear and cool"	"The water was cool, but it was cloudy"	A
7	No mention of rain	"cloudy after rain on Thursday"	D
8	"we saw no rubbish near the bank"	"we collected a bag of rubbish from the bank"; "put a bin near the bank"	B

Why the wrong options are wrong

• True, but of Text B only: Q1 A, B and C.
• In both texts, so not "only Text B": Q3 B and D, and Q7 B and C.
• Plausible but in neither: Q2 B, C and D; Q8 C and D.
• An opinion held by one text only: Q6 D is Text A's opinion, not Text B's.
• Right idea given to the wrong text: Q6 B is Text A's finding; Q6 C is Text B's. Q7 A is Text A's reason.

Can my child try it with two texts at home?

Yes, with any library book. Ask your child to read the blurb on the back cover and the first page, then fill in this table with a pencil. Add one claim about the book each time, such as "the main character is brave".

Blank evidence table

Claim	Blurb says	First page says	Both, one or neither?

For the next step see our OC past papers page, the free mock tests, or OC preparation.