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Year 5 NAPLAN Reading Sample Questions

Year 5ReadingMedium difficultyNAP ↗

10 real Year 5 NAPLAN Reading questions from our practice bank. Medium difficulty. Select an answer to reveal the worked solution. Free, no signup, open in 10 seconds.

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Sample questions

All questions are medium difficulty and drawn from the Skillo practice bank. Each worked solution is revealed after you select an answer.

SAMPLE QUESTION 1 — Medium

Two readers reviewed the same novel. Reviewer 1 called it 'beautifully restrained.' Reviewer 2 called it 'frustratingly vague.' What does this disagreement MOST suggest?

AWhether a literary quality is a strength or weakness depends on what a reader values
BOne of the reviewers must not have read the whole novel carefully
CThe author failed to make their intentions clear enough for readers to understand
DLiterary criticism is unreliable and should not be used to judge the quality of books

Select an answer to reveal the worked solution.

SAMPLE QUESTION 2 — Medium

The archaeologist's analysis was incisive — she identified the critical flaw in the previously accepted dating method within minutes of examining the evidence, and explained it clearly in a way that reframed the entire field. What does 'incisive' MOST likely mean?

ACareful and methodical, working through evidence slowly and without error
BSharp and penetrating, quickly identifying what is most important or most flawed
CConfident and persuasive, presenting findings in a way that others readily accept
DWell-researched and thorough, based on many years of study in the same field

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SAMPLE QUESTION 3 — Medium

Read the following text: The rock wallaby is a nimble climber, able to leap across steep cliff faces and rocky outcrops with remarkable ease. Its thick, padded feet act like natural grip pads, helping it land safely on uneven surfaces. Unlike larger kangaroos, the rock wallaby rarely ventures onto flat, open ground, preferring instead the shelter of rocky ridges and gorges. This habitat provides protection from predators such as foxes and wedge-tailed eagles. Based on the text, why is the rock wallaby's habitat important to its survival?

AIt provides shelter from predators and suits the wallaby's natural climbing abilities.
BIt allows the rock wallaby to compete with larger kangaroos for food.
CIt gives the rock wallaby access to flat ground where it can move more quickly.
DIt protects the rock wallaby from the hot Australian sun during summer.

Select an answer to reveal the worked solution.

SAMPLE QUESTION 4 — Medium

What does Priya's grandfather mean when he says 'I have room to breathe'?

AThe coastal air is cleaner and better for his lungs than city air.
BThe quietness of the town gives him mental space and peace.
CHe enjoys being outdoors and walking on the beach each morning.
DHe finds the town less crowded and easier to move around in.

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SAMPLE QUESTION 5 — Medium

A student argued: 'The canteen should offer vegan options because the rest of the world is moving toward plant-based diets.' A critic responded: 'What the rest of the world is doing is not your argument. The argument has to be about what benefits the students and families at this school.' What is the critic MOST doing?

ADefending the current canteen menu as already appropriate for students
BArguing that vegan food is not healthy enough to be served in schools
CPointing out that the global trend evidence is too broad to justify a local decision
DSuggesting that the student should poll families before making the proposal

Select an answer to reveal the worked solution.

SAMPLE QUESTION 6 — Medium

Two students debated homework. Student 1: 'Most students say they do not learn much from the homework they are given.' Student 2: 'If most students are not learning from their homework, that tells us the assignments need to be better designed — not that homework itself should be removed.' What is Student 2 doing with Student 1's evidence?

ARejecting it because it comes from students rather than teachers or published research
BAgreeing with Student 1's conclusion but suggesting a different policy response
CAccepting the evidence but drawing a different conclusion from it
DQuestioning whether the evidence is reliable enough to support any argument

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SAMPLE QUESTION 7 — Medium

A newspaper article about the history of a local park opened with a paragraph about a recent visit by the reporter. It then shifted to the 1890s when the park was established, moved through decades of community use, and ended with the reporter standing on the same path described in the opening. What structural technique does the article use?

AChronological order — events described from earliest to most recent
BProblem–solution — a problem is introduced and resolved across the article
CCircular structure — the article begins and ends at the same point to show continuity
DCompare and contrast — two different parks are placed side by side for comparison

Select an answer to reveal the worked solution.

SAMPLE QUESTION 8 — Medium

A memoir about a musician opens with the author describing the day she gave her final performance — the empty stage, the silence after the last note, the standing ovation. Only in the second chapter does the reader learn she is fifteen years old and just beginning her career. What is the MOST LIKELY structural purpose of this opening?

ATo create immediate intrigue by presenting what seems like an ending, then reframing it as a beginning
BTo suggest the musician's career will be brief and end in personal disappointment
CTo signal that the memoir will be written in reverse chronological order throughout
DTo begin with the most dramatic moment so that readers will feel compelled to continue

Select an answer to reveal the worked solution.

SAMPLE QUESTION 9 — Medium

After a test, a student said: 'I felt so nervous during the test that I know I must have done badly.' What is WRONG with this reasoning?

AFeeling nervous during a test is always a sign that a student has not studied enough
BSome students perform better when completely relaxed rather than when under any pressure
CA student's feelings about their own performance are usually very accurate and reliable
DFeeling nervous during a test does not prove the performance was poor — many students perform well despite nerves

Select an answer to reveal the worked solution.

SAMPLE QUESTION 10 — Medium

A student argued: 'No one has ever proved that ghosts don't exist, so they must be real.' What FLAW does this argument contain?

AThe absence of evidence that something is false is not the same as evidence that it is true
BGhost stories are not a reliable source of scientific information about the world
CMost scientists do not study ghosts and therefore cannot comment on their existence
DPeople who believe in ghosts tend not to think about the question carefully enough

Select an answer to reveal the worked solution.

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About this practice

Skillo's NAPLAN-style practice is authored independently. NAPLAN® is a registered trademark of ACARA. Skillo is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by ACARA. Questions are drawn from the Skillo practice bank and aligned with the Australian Curriculum v9.0 ↗.