The Reading Comprehension Generator is a single HTML file that runs entirely in any web browser — no installation or account required. You open it, fill in a form, and it instantly produces a polished, interactive reading comprehension worksheet.
The tool is designed for English language teachers who want to create professional-grade assessments quickly. It supports nine different question types and two distinct modes: a free-form Practice Mode for homework and guided learning, and a controlled Test Mode with an optional timer and automatic scoring.
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One file — everything included
The generator is a single .html file. All styles, logic, and question-rendering code are bundled inside. You never need to download anything else. Simply double-click the file to open it in your browser.
There is no setup required. Follow these steps to open the tool for the first time:
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Open the file in your browser
Find the link that I will provide in the Telegram group (Look for contributions by Mourad Mekki). Click it, or right-click and choose Open with → Chrome / Firefox / Edge / Safari. Any modern browser works.
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Explore the generator panel
You will see the main generator form. It is pre-filled with a sample worksheet so you can click Generate Practice Worksheet immediately to see a live preview of what the tool produces.
💡 The sample data uses all major question types — it's a useful reference while you learn the format.
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Return to the editor at any time
Once you have generated a worksheet, click the ← Back button in the toolbar to return to the form. Your inputs are preserved exactly as you left them — nothing is cleared when you go back.
The generator form has five sections. Work through them from top to bottom before clicking Generate.
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Section 1 — Select Mode
Choose between Practice Mode and Test Mode by clicking the corresponding card. This is the most important choice — it determines how students interact with the worksheet. See Section 5 of this guide for a full comparison.
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Section 2 — Page Information
Fill in: School Name, Teacher Name, Date, Grade / Level, Term / Semester, and the Worksheet Title. These appear in the printed header and in the student file name. The Grade and Term fields are used to auto-generate the download filename.
💡 The Term field accepts any text: "Term 1", "Semester 2", "Spring 2026", etc.
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Section 3 — Reading Passage
Paste or type your reading text into the large textarea. To create paragraph breaks, leave a blank line between paragraphs (press Enter twice). The tool preserves your paragraph structure in the printed and interactive output.
💡 You can paste directly from Word, Google Docs, or any website. Formatting will be stripped automatically.
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Section 4 — Questions
Write one question per line. Each question must include a type tag in parentheses at the end of the line. The tool reads this tag to automatically render the correct interactive input. See Section 4 of this guide for all supported types and examples.
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Section 5 — Answer Key
Enter one answer per line, matching the question numbers exactly. The answer key powers the automatic checking and scoring. Students never see this directly — it is hidden inside the file. See Section 6 of this guide for formatting rules per question type.
The generator automatically detects the question type from the keyword in parentheses at the end of each question line. Write your question naturally, then add the type in parentheses. The number prefix (1., 2., etc.) is optional but recommended for readability.
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The golden rule
Every question must end with its type in parentheses, e.g. (true/false). If you forget the tag, the question will default to a plain text input — which still works, but loses the interactive formatting.
Renders clickable radio-style options. Write your choices inline as A) text B) text C) text within the question line. The tool separates options automatically.
All modes
Renders two large selectable buttons labelled True and False. Only one can be selected at a time. Answer key: write True or False.
All modes
Renders three buttons: Yes, No, Not Given. Ideal for IELTS-style comprehension questions. Answer key: write Yes, No, or Not Given.
All modes
Detects gaps marked with ______ (two or more underscores) and replaces each with an inline text input. Write the full sentence with underscores in position. Answer key: comma-separated answers in order.
All modes
Renders a multi-line text area for open responses. In Practice Mode, a fuzzy match checks the student's answer against the key. In Test Mode, the answer is captured for review in the score report.
All modes
Identical to short answer. Use this keyword when you want to signal to students that any reasonable response is acceptable — there is no single correct answer.
All modes
Creates a left column of terms and a dropdown for each. Students select the correct match. In the question line, list pairs separated by |. Answer key: use word=match pairs, comma-separated.
All modes
Same rendering as matching. Use this keyword to indicate to students they are matching headings to paragraphs, sections, or ideas.
All modes
Creates a word bank and numbered drop zones. Students drag chips from the bank into slots. Items are shuffled on load. Answer key: comma-separated words in the correct order for slots 1, 2, 3…
All modes
Example — All types in one question list
1. What is the main idea of the passage?
(short answer)
2. The author supports social media use.
(true/false)
3. Is it stated that TikTok is the most popular platform?
(yes/no/not given)
4. Choose the best title. A) Social Media Risks B) Youth and Technology C) Digital Policy
(multiple choice)
5. Social media can ______ self-esteem and ______ identity.
(fill in the blanks)
6. Match each word: anxiety|worry, curated|selected, integral|essential
(matching)
Select your mode at the very top of the form before filling in anything else. The mode you choose shapes the entire student experience.
📖 Practice Mode
- Per-question Check button — instant feedback
- Show / Hide Answer button per question
- Reset button clears all inputs
- Check All scores the full worksheet at once
- Print button for paper-based use
- No time pressure — open-ended session
- Best for: homework, revision, self-study
📋 Test Mode
- No feedback until full submission
- No answer reveals during the session
- Optional countdown timer (you set the minutes)
- Timer starts only when student clicks "I'm Ready!"
- Automatic scoring on submission
- Full score report with answer review
- Student can download a PDF of their results
- Best for: quizzes, exams, assessed tasks
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Test Mode — Timer configuration
When you select Test Mode, a configuration panel appears below the mode cards. Toggle Enable Countdown Timer on if you want a timed test, then set the number of minutes. The timer does not start when the student opens the file — it starts only after they click I'm Ready! on the welcome screen.
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Student identity fields in Test Mode
In Test Mode, an extra row of fields appears for Student Name, Class, and Student School. These pre-fill the student file but students can update them on the welcome screen and in the results modal before downloading their PDF. You can leave these blank if you prefer students to fill them in themselves.
Write answers in the Answer Key textarea, one per line, in the same order as your questions. Line 1 of the answer key corresponds to question 1, line 2 to question 2, and so on. If a question has no definitive answer (e.g. a fully open response), leave that line blank.
Answer key — format per question type
Short answer / Open answer: Write a key phrase the student's response should contain.
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Social media has both positive and negative impacts.
True/False: Write
True or
False exactly.
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False
Yes/No/Not Given: Write
Yes,
No, or
Not Given exactly.
→
Not Given
Multiple choice: Write only the letter of the correct option.
→
B
Fill in the blanks: Comma-separated answers in the order the blanks appear.
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erode, distort
Matching / Match headings: Write
word=match pairs, comma-separated.
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anxiety=a feeling of worry, curated=carefully selected, integral=essential
Drag and drop: Write the correct order as comma-separated items.
→
social media, teenagers, identity, wellbeing
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Short answer checking is flexible
For short and open answers, the tool uses a fuzzy match — it checks whether the student's response contains the key phrase, or whether the key phrase contains their response. This means you do not need to predict the exact wording. A single key phrase like "social media affects youth" will correctly accept a longer student answer that includes those words.
Once your form is complete, click the large Generate Worksheet Page button at the bottom. The generator will:
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Parse your questions automatically
The tool reads every question line, extracts the type keyword, and renders the correct interactive input — radio buttons for multiple choice, toggle buttons for true/false, inline inputs for fill in the blanks, drag chips for drag and drop, and so on.
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Render the 2-column layout
The passage appears on the left in a sticky panel that scrolls independently. Questions appear on the right. Both are visible at the same time on desktop, so students can read and answer without switching views.
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Preview and test it yourself
Try answering a few questions, click Check, toggle answers on and off, and test the timer if you are in Test Mode. Once satisfied, download the student file. Use ← Back to return and adjust anything.
After previewing your worksheet, click the green ⬇ Send to Students button in the toolbar. This downloads a self-contained HTML file specifically built for students — with no editor, no Back button, and no generator interface.
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The student file is completely self-contained
It requires no internet connection, no app, and no account. Students simply double-click the file to open it in any browser — on Windows, Mac, Chromebook, or a tablet. All question logic, styling, timer, and scoring are embedded inside.
The filename is generated automatically from your form fields using this structure:
grade9_b2_upper_intermediate_term3_social_media_youth.html
grade9_b2_upper_intermediate
Grade / Level field
_
term3
Term / Semester field
_
social_media_youth
Title field (first 30 chars)
Special characters, accents, punctuation, and spaces are converted to underscores automatically. You can rename the file before sending — it has no effect on functionality.
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Send via email
Attach the .html file to an email. Remind students to download it before opening — some email clients may try to preview HTML files in a restricted mode.
⚠️ Gmail and Outlook may block direct HTML downloads. If needed, compress the file into a .zip before attaching, or use a shared drive link.
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Share via Google Drive, OneDrive, or LMS
Upload the file to Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or your school LMS (Moodle, Schoology, Google Classroom, etc.). Share the download link. Students click the link, download the file, and open it locally.
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Share via WhatsApp or Telegram
Send the file directly through messaging apps. Students download it to their device and open it in their mobile or desktop browser. It works on smartphones too, with the layout adapting to smaller screens.
When a student opens the downloaded file, they do not see the worksheet immediately. Instead, they are greeted by a welcome screen — a full-page introduction that displays:
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The welcome screen
Shows the worksheet title, school name, teacher name, grade/level, date, and number of questions — giving the student full context before they begin. The mode is clearly labelled (Practice or Test).
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Instructions tailored to the mode
Practice mode instructions explain how to check answers and use hints. Test mode instructions remind the student not to refresh the page and to submit when finished.
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Timer warning (Test Mode with timer only)
A red alert box clearly states the duration and warns the student that "the timer starts the moment you click I'm Ready!" — giving them time to prepare before committing.
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The "I'm Ready!" button
This is the only way into the worksheet. Clicking it dismisses the welcome screen, reveals the worksheet, and — if the test is timed — starts the countdown at that exact moment. Students fill in their name, class, and school on the candidate bar once inside.
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Test submission and PDF report
When a student clicks Submit Test, a results modal appears showing their score as a percentage and letter grade, time spent, time remaining, and a full answer-by-answer review. They can then click Download PDF Report to generate a printable A4 report with their name, class, school, teacher, score, and complete answer review — which they can save and share with you.
The generator supports two types of printing — one for teachers and one for students.
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Printing the blank worksheet (teacher)
In Practice Mode, the toolbar includes a ⎙ Print button. Click it and use your browser's Print dialog to produce a paper copy. The tool uses a dedicated print stylesheet: the toolbar, mode ribbon, and interactive controls are hidden, and the 2-column layout renders cleanly on A4 paper. All answers are blank — ready for handwriting.
💡 In your browser Print settings, choose "More settings → Paper size: A4" and disable headers/footers for the cleanest output.
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Student PDF score report (Test Mode)
After submitting a test, students click Download PDF Report. This opens a new browser tab with a formatted A4 report that auto-triggers the print dialog. Students choose Save as PDF as the printer to get a digital file, or print directly to paper. The report includes their full name, class, school, teacher, grade, score, time data, and every answer reviewed.
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Always preview before sending
Generate your worksheet and try answering the questions yourself before downloading the student file. This is the best way to catch typos in questions, incorrect answer key entries, or formatting issues with matching and drag-and-drop questions.
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Keep a master copy of your form inputs
The generator does not save your work between sessions — if you close the browser, your form is cleared. Before generating, copy your passage and questions into a Word document or Google Doc so you can regenerate or modify the worksheet later without retyping everything.
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Mix question types for richer assessments
A well-designed worksheet typically combines comprehension questions (short answer, true/false) with vocabulary tasks (matching, fill in the blanks) and structure tasks (drag and drop for sequencing). Aim for a mix that targets both understanding and language skills.
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Use Practice Mode first, then Test Mode
A good workflow is to create a Practice Mode version of a worksheet for homework, let students interact with it, then create a Test Mode version of the same content for the following lesson's assessed activity. The two files are completely independent.
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Set the timer generously for the first use
If this is your students' first time using the tool, add 3–5 extra minutes to your intended duration. The welcome screen and candidate bar take a little time to fill in, and students need a moment to orient themselves.
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It works on phones — but desktop is better
The student file is fully responsive and works on smartphones. However, drag-and-drop questions are much easier with a mouse. If students will use phones, consider replacing drag-and-drop with matching or fill-in-the-blanks for that particular worksheet.
Do students need internet access to use the file?
No. The student file is 100% self-contained. Once downloaded, it works entirely offline. Students can open it at home, in a classroom without Wi-Fi, or anywhere else — as long as they have a web browser.
Can I see students' answers after they submit?
The generator does not collect or transmit data anywhere — there is no server involved. Students receive their score and can download a PDF report. You see their results by receiving that PDF from them (via email, WhatsApp, or your LMS submission portal). If you need centralised collection, ask students to upload their PDF report to your preferred platform.
What happens if a student accidentally closes or refreshes the browser during a test?
Their progress will be lost — the tool does not save state between sessions. This is why the welcome screen instructs students not to refresh or close the page. If this is a concern, tell students to use a desktop browser and avoid clicking the back button. You may also advise them to complete the worksheet in one sitting.
Can students cheat by viewing the answer key in the file?
Technically, anyone who knows how to view a browser's page source could find the embedded answer data. In practice, this requires some technical knowledge. For low-stakes formative assessment and homework, this is generally not a concern. For high-stakes summative exams, consider using the print option and collecting paper copies instead.
Can I edit the worksheet after generating it?
Yes — click the ← Back button in the toolbar to return to the generator form. All your inputs are preserved. Make your changes and click Generate again. Then re-download the student file with the new version.
Can I use this tool for languages other than English?
Yes. The generator is language-agnostic — you can paste passages and questions in French, Arabic, Spanish, or any other language. The interface labels (True, False, Check, etc.) are in English, but the content of the worksheet will appear in whatever language you type. For right-to-left languages such as Arabic, the layout may require minor browser adjustments.
Can I create multiple worksheets and keep them separate?
Yes. Each time you click Send to Students, a separate file is downloaded with a unique filename based on the grade, term, and title you entered. Each file is independent. You can build a library of worksheets simply by keeping these downloaded files organised in folders.
The file won't open or looks broken. What should I do?
Make sure you are opening the file in a modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari — updated within the last two years). Do not open HTML files in Word, Notepad, or other non-browser applications. If the file opens but some features don't work, check that JavaScript is enabled in your browser settings.
Can I share the generator itself with students?
The generator file is designed for teachers. It contains the answer key input field and the full editing interface. You should share only the student file (downloaded via the Send to Students button) — never the generator file itself. The student file has no editing interface and the answers are hidden.
Can I share this generator tool with other teachers?
Absolutely — that is exactly what this guide is for. Simply share the generator link along with this user guide. No licences, accounts, or installations are needed. Each teacher can use it independently.