Understanding the Passage and Question

The passage provided is a short dialogue between Magda and Mrs. Smiles. They discuss the weather, Magda's appearance, her study habits, and her upcoming plans regarding her sister's visit.

The question asks about the primary reason for Magda's sister coming over.

Analysing the Options based on the Passage

Let's examine each option in the context of the conversation:

• Option 1: visit her sister

  The passage mentions that Magda's sister is "coming over". Visiting is a general term, but the conversation specifies a more particular reason for her coming.

• Option 2: help Mrs. Smiles

  There is no mention in the passage that Magda's sister is coming to help Mrs. Smiles. The conversation is focused on Magda's family and plans, not Mrs. Smiles' needs.

• Option 3: settle down in England

  Magda says she "shan't go back home until she's settled down." This implies her sister will be settling down in England, but settling down is a consequence or part of a larger plan, not the primary reason for her arrival itself according to the dialogue.

• Option 4: pursue her studies

  Mrs. Smiles asks, "She's coming over here to study?" Magda confirms this directly by replying, "Yes, that's right." This exchange explicitly states the purpose of the sister's trip.

Identifying the Correct Reason for the Visit

Based on the direct statement in the passage, the reason Magda's sister is coming is to study. The conversation explicitly confirms this when Magda agrees with Mrs. Smiles' question about her sister coming "to study". Magda's comment about waiting until her sister is "settled down" supports the idea that the sister plans a longer stay related to an activity like studying.

Step-by-step Derivation

1. Read the dialogue carefully to understand the context of the conversation between Magda and Mrs. Smiles.

2. Locate the part of the dialogue that discusses Magda's sister and her reason for coming.

3. Identify the exchange where Mrs. Smiles asks, "She's coming over here to study?" and Magda replies, "Yes, that's right."

4. This exchange directly answers the question about why Magda's sister is coming.

5. Compare this confirmed reason with the given options.

6. The confirmed reason, "to study," matches option 4.

Therefore, the passage indicates that Magda's sister was coming to pursue her studies.

Revision Table: Key Dialogue Points

Additional Information: Reading Comprehension Strategies

When tackling reading comprehension questions based on passages, consider these strategies:

• Read the questions first: Sometimes knowing the questions beforehand helps you focus on key information as you read the passage.
• Read the passage actively: Try to understand the main idea, the characters involved, and the specific details discussed. Highlight or make notes if possible.
• Identify keywords: Look for keywords in the question and options, and then scan the passage for those terms or synonyms.
• Base answers only on the passage: Do not use outside knowledge. The answer must be supported by the text provided.
• Evaluate all options: Even if you think you've found the correct answer, quickly check why the other options are incorrect based on the passage.
• Look for explicit statements: For factual questions like this one, search for direct answers within the text.

In this specific passage, the direct confirmation from Magda about her sister coming to study is the most explicit piece of evidence supporting the correct answer.