Year 3 Test 1 Reading: original practice questions, not affiliated with ACARA

1Every summer, the town of Port Wattle holds a sandcastle contest on the beach. This year, Leo wanted to win the blue ribbon more than anything.

2Leo and his little sister Nell dug a deep moat and piled wet sand into a tall tower. Leo patted the walls with a flat spade until they were smooth. Nell collected tiny shells to decorate the windows.

3“Don’t put those on,” said Leo. “They will make it look messy.” Nell’s face fell. She wandered off to the rock pool and sat down with her chin in her hands.

4Soon, a judge walked along the beach with a clipboard. She stopped beside Leo’s tower and tilted her head. “It is very neat,” she said, “but it looks a bit plain.”

5Leo looked over at Nell. Then he ran to the rock pool. “Nell, could you please bring the shells back? I think they would look good.”

6Nell grinned and filled her bucket. Together, they pressed the shells into the walls until the whole tower sparkled in the sun. When the judge came back, she smiled and said, “Now that is a castle!”