Reading Comprehension Test

Submitted by Pitchaya Lhasudta 1003

Line 1 The Wars of the Roses (1455-1485) were a series of fairly brief civil wars fought
between the Houses of York, Lancaster and eventually Tudor and their supporters. They began
as a struggle for control of the court of Henry VI but turned into a battle for the throne that was
won twice, first by the Yorkist Edward IV and then after his death by the first Tudor monarch,
Henry VII.

Line 6 Wars of the Roses lasted for thirty years most of this period was actually peaceful.
The fighting can be split into three main periods of conflict. The first lasted from 1455 until 1464
(with gaps) and saw Edward IV established as king. The second lasted from 1469-71 and saw
Edward IV briefly deposed by Warwick the Kingmaker and the supporters of Henry VI. After
Edward regained the throne the rest of his reign was peaceful, and the fighting only resumed
after his brother Richard III came to the throne in controversial circumstances. This final phase
of the war contained its most famous battle, at Bosworth, and ended with the establishment of
the Tudor dynasty.
Line 14 The trigger for all of the conflict that followed was the unexpected death of
Henry V in 1422. His son Henry VI was only nine months old at the time, and so a regent was
needed. The role was split between Henry V's brothers. John, duke of Bedford, became regent in
France, where he continued to win victories. Humphrey, duke of Gloucester, had personal charge
of Henry VI, but wasn't appointed Protector of the Realm and thus had to share power with the
Royal Council. The council was led by Henry Beaufort, bishop of Winchester, the last surviving
son of John of Gaunt and thus a great uncle of the child king.
Line 21 Henry VII finally ended the long chaos of the Wars of the Roses by defeating the
last Yorkist king, Richard III. Over thirty years only one monarch, Edward IV, had died of
natural causes, although if he had lived much longer then the final stage of the wars probably
wouldn't have happened. Although few aristocrat families died out, many suffered several
generations of losses with an unusually high number of peers killed in or soon after battles. Each
swing of fortune affected everyone in the affinities of the defeated peers, so the impact will have
been felt across wide parts of society. Not every aristocratic family was involved in the fighting
and not every region of the country saw conflict, but the relief with which Henry VII was
welcomed on his way to London after Bosworth demonstrates how tired of war the country had
become.

Source: http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/wars_roses.html#k

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1. The word “reign” in line 10 is closest in meaning to

a. to rule
b. to live
c. to prevail
d. to exist

2. What does the word “trigger” in line 14 mean?

a. continues
b. inspires
c. shoot
d. start

3. The word “its” in line 12 refers to...

a. war
b. circumstances
c. phase
d. throne

4. The word “he” in line 23 refers to...

a. Richard III
b. Henry VII
c. Henry V
d. Edward IV

5. Where did the last battle occur?

a. Bedford
b. Bosworth
c. Gloucester
d. Winchester

6. Who lead the royal council?

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a. Henry IV
b. John
c. Henry Beaufort
d. Humphrey

7. Who did Henry VII defeated to end the war?

a. Edward
b. Richard III
c. Edward IV
d. Henry VI

8. Which of the following statement is true?

a. At the end of the war Lancaster family came into power

b. After Edward regained the throne, London was chaotic
c. The most famous battle of the war, at Bosworth was won by Yorkist
d. Humphrey was one of Henry’s brothers

9. What is the main point of the third paragraph?

a. The role that was split among the brothers

b. The consequences after Henry’s death
c. The cause of the war
d. The activities of Henry’s brothers

10. What’s the best title for this passage?

a. The War of the Roses

b. The war between Lancaster and Tudor
c. The facts about the War of the Roses
d. The legend of the War of the Roses