The document contains an interview with Michael Yamashita about his experience living in Japan and his career as a professional photographer. Some of the key points discussed include Yamashita's adjustment to Japanese culture after moving there from the US, his parents speaking Japanese at home as a secret language despite being fluent, and the difficulties of being a photographer such as timing, weather conditions, and competition. The reading comprehension questions that follow test understanding of these and other details from the interview.

1. RE4 U1B Comprehension Questions
1. What is the interview in the reading mainly about?
a) Yamashita’s views on photography in Japan
b) Yamashita’s adjustment to Japanese culture
c) Yamashita’s profession
d) Yamashita’s travels
2. The word ‘it’ in line 22 refers to...
a) working in a company
b) learning Japanese
c) living in Japan
d) the beginning of the trip
3. In line 25, the sentence ‘My parents were both fluent in
Japanese, but they only used Japanese at home as a sort of
secret language.’ is closest in meaning to:
a) In the home Japanese parents always speak secretly.
b) Parents who are fluent in Japanese speak secret languages at
home.
c) Despite speaking Japanese perfectly, my parents only ever spoke
Japanese as a kind of secret language.
d) My Japanese parents are fluent in other languages and they often
use those as a type of secret language at home.
4. In line 30, what does the phrase ‘fitting in’ mean?
a) liking other people
b) being part of a group
c) being avoided
d) being interested in other people
5. Which of the following statements is false according to the
text?
a) Michael Yamashita has travelled to many countries as a
professional photographer.
b) Michael Yamashita left the USA to study history in Japan.
c) Michael Yamashita spent half of his time in Japan teaching English.
d) Michael Yamashita spent four years in Japan without leaving the
country.
6. What can we infer about Michael Yamashita from the first
interview question (line 1 – 17)?
a) He felt 100% American.
b) He studied English in Japan.
c) He wanted to find out more about Japan and being Japanese.
d) He studied Japanese in America.
7. ‘You have to eat and drink photography’ on line 126 is closest
in meaning to...
a) You have to make photography as important as eating or drinking.
b) You have to take photos even while eating and drinking.
c) You have to get deeply involved in photography.
d) Photography makes you hungry and thirsty.
8. What difficulties does Michael Yamashita mention about being
a photographer? Write your answer in your own words.
1. What is the interview in the reading mainly about?
a) Yamashita’s views on photography in Japan
b) Yamashita’s adjustment to Japanese culture
c) Yamashita’s profession
d) Yamashita’s travels
2. The word ‘it’ in line 22 refers to...
a) working in a company
b) learning Japanese
c) living in Japan
d) the beginning of the trip
3. In line 25, the sentence ‘My parents were both fluent in
Japanese, but they only used Japanese at home as a sort of
secret language.’ is closest in meaning to:
a) In the home Japanese parents always speak secretly.
b) Parents who are fluent in Japanese speak secret languages at
home.
c) Despite speaking Japanese perfectly, my parents only ever spoke
Japanese as a kind of secret language.
d) My Japanese parents are fluent in other languages and they often
use those as a type of secret language at home.
4. In line 30, what does the phrase ‘fitting in’ mean?
a) liking other people
b) being part of a group
c) being avoided
d) being interested in other people
5. Which of the following statements is false according to the
text?
a) Michael Yamashita has travelled to many countries as a
professional photographer.
b) Michael Yamashita left the USA to study history in Japan.
c) Michael Yamashita spent half of his time in Japan teaching English.
d) Michael Yamashita spent four years in Japan without leaving the
country.
6. What can we infer about Michael Yamashita from the first
interview question (line 1 – 17)?
a) He felt 100% American.
b) He studied English in Japan.
c) He wanted to find out more about Japan and being Japanese.
d) He studied Japanese in America.
7. ‘You have to eat and drink photography’ on line 126 is closest
in meaning to...
a) You have to make photography as important as eating or drinking.
b) You have to take photos even while eating and drinking.
c) You have to get deeply involved in photography.
d) Photography makes you hungry and thirsty.
8. What difficulties does Michael Yamashita mention about being
a photographer? Write your answer in your own words.
1
Created by James Charles

2. RE4 U1B Comprehension Questions
Answer Key: 1C 2B 3C 4B 5C 6C 7C
8 (open ended):
Line 75 timing
Line 90 weather / difficult conditions
Line 124 competition
2
Created by James Charles