ASSUMPTION ENGLISH SCHOOL

MID-YEAR EXAMINATION 2019

ENGLISH LANGUAGE (1128/01)
SECONDARY 4 EXPRESS AND 5 NORMAL (ACADEMIC) ANSWER SCHEME

Section A [10 marks]

Question 1

Carefully read the text below, consisting of 12 lines, about modern inventions. The first
and last lines are correct. For eight of the lines, there is one grammatical error in each
line. There are two more lines with no errors.

If there is NO error in a line, put a tick (9) in the space provided.

If the line is incorrect, circle the incorrect word and write the correct word in the space
provided. The correct word you provide must not change the original gin meaning of the
sentence.

Examples:

I arrived to my destination at 2 pm. ……

………at…......
My mother always wears sensible clothes.
hes. ……… 9
…………........

History has taught us thatt human

humans
ns a
are
re tth
the
he most
mo
most cur
curious
uri us and ssmartest
ur
urio martesst
ma

living organism on the

e planet
plane
net and
ne and ass a result
an res
essu
ullt of this
thiis w
we
e iinvent
nvent ne
new
ew 1 organisms (plural)

things. Desp
Despite
pite tth
the
he
he fact
cctt tthat
hatt w
ha we
e hav
have
ave ha
av h
hardly
ard
dly
ly sspent
pe
p ent
nt fifteen
n yyears
ea
ars in th
the 2 9

new millennium,
nniium
m, o
ou
our
ur century
centtur
ce ury wa
w
was
as a
al
already
lre
read
ady full of
of great
grea
great and not-so-great
ea 3 is (tense)

inventions which
hich
ch
h rremind
em
min
nd us
us tthat
hat no
ha
hat n matter
mat
atte
terr how
te h w advancing
ho a society might 4 advanced (WF)

be, human curiosity

ositty n
ne
never
eve
v r fa
fail
ail tto
o se
sseek
ek o
out new advancements and 5 fails (SVA)

technologies. For exam

example,
am
mpl
ple, scientists
sci have created a bio-artificial liver 6 9
which/that
device who gives hope to all those suffering from acute liver failure. In 7 (pronoun)

comparing, a Dutch artist has been making indoor clouds since 2010. 8 comparison (WF)

They only last for the moment and will definitely help anyone who is 9 a (article)

trying to impress others on surrealistic photos, but one wonders what 10 with (preposition)

other use or contribution to society this bizarre invention could have.

Adapted from https://list25.com/25-spectacular-inventions-of-the-21st-century/

---------- End of Answer Scheme ----------

1128/4E5NA/MYE/19
 ASSUMPTION ENGLISH SCHOOL
MID-YEAR EXAMINATION 2019
ENGLISH LANGUAGE (1128/02)
SECONDARY 4 EXPRESS / 5 NORMAL (ACADEMIC) ANSWER SCHEME

Section A [5 marks]

Refer to the webpage (Text 1) on page 2 of the Insert for Questions 1 – 4.

1 Why is the use of alliteration in the tagline “Where There’s A Wish, There’s A
Way” effective?

Makes the tagline easy to remember. OR

Draws reader’s focus to the words “wish” and “way”, emphasising the
main message of helping children fulfil their wishes. OR
The ‘w’ sound creates a hopeful mood for children and their families
waiting to have their wishes fulfilled. [1]

2 What effect are the photographs meant to have on the read

reader?
aderr?
ad

Encourage the reader to help more children

dren ful
fulfil
lfi
fill th
thei
their
eir wi
ei wish
wishes.
s es. OR
Evoke sympathy from the reader so that the hee reader
reaader will
will help
hel
e p more
children fulfil their wishes. [1]

3 Pick a word which summ

summarises
mmar
mmaris
ises
es tthe
h eff
he effect
fffec
ect that thiss fo
foun
foundation
nda
dati
tion has
ti has o
onn its
beneficiaries.

The word iis

s “life
“life-changing”.
e-ch
chan
angi
g ng
ng”.. [1]

4 Id
Identify
deen
nti
t ffyy tw
ttwo
o o
ou
outcomes
utc
com
o es of
of a ‘wish-come-true’
‘w
wiissh-co
come
me--tr
true’ fo
for children with critical
illnesses.
llnes
esse
es
sse es.

(i) Itt a
allows
lllow
ows th
tthem
hem
em to
to fo
focus
ocu
cus
s on
o the possibilities of tomorrow (and not
the e challenges
challe
ch enngges of
of today).
toda
today).
da [1]

(ii) It imbues
mbue es them
th with
wi newfound courage to continue fighting their
illness.
ss. [1]

1128/4E5NA/MYE/19
 2

Section B [20 marks]

Refer to Text 2 on pages 3 – 4 of the Insert for Questions 5 – 16.

5 In Paragraph 1, we are introduced to ‘the Missing In Action (MIA) Remains-

Gathering Team’. In your own words, explain what this tells you about the
purpose of the team.

The team’s purpose is to gather the dead bodies of soldiers (from the
war). [1]

6 In Paragraph 1, we are told that ‘The old tarpaulin covering the truck is torn,
full of holes, letting the water drip, drip, drip through…’

What effect does the writer create with the repetition

n of the
e word
word
r ‘drip’?
‘d

He shows how the rain water drips non-stop

stop on th
the e pl
plas
plastic
asti
as tic sheet
ti sheets. OR
He creates the image and sound effect
ffect of the rrain
ain
ai n wa
w
water
te
er drdrip
dripping
ipp
ipping on the
plastic sheets. [1]

7 In Paragraph 2, Kien
n sleeps
sle
eeepps u
un
uneasily.
neeaasi
s ly. Ex
E
Explain
xpl
p ain h
how
ow th
the
he lang
language
ngua
ng uage used
ua use
sedd in this
th
paragraph suggests
gests that
tha
at the
tth
he environment
enviro
ronm
ro
onnm
men nt contributed
c ntributed
co d to Kien’s
Kie
en’
n’s uneasiness.
unea
un easi
easiness
si

Support
rt your
u exp
ur explanations
pla
anna
attiion
o s wi
w
with
th th
tthree
hre
r e de
details
eta
taiills fr
fr
from Parag
Paragraph
agra
ag
gra
raph
ph 2.

“lon
“long
o gm moist,
oist,
t, c
t, chill
hilll ffingers
i ge
in errs
sssliding
lid
li diing
ng iin
n an
a
and
d ar
around
rou
oundnd
d the h
hammock” suggests
that
th
ha
att the
he humid
he humidity
idit
idity
ity se
s
seemed
emed
edd tto
o cr
creep
re
ee
ep ara
around/
rou
ound
nd// rreach
nd each out and grab Kien. [1]

“the
the
e s
stream
t eam
tr m mo
moans,
oaan
n
ns,
s, ((a
s, a dde
desperate
esper
errat
ate
e complaint)”
c mp
co suggests that the stream
produced
oduc
uc
ced
ed n noise
oise
oi se wwhich
hiich s
h seemed
eem
ee med to be grumbling/protesting/groaning
which
ch wo
w
would
oul
uld c
uld cr
create
rea
eate a nnegative
egat
egative a
at atmosphere/ disturb Kien’s sleep. [1]

“eerie sounds”
soundds” suggests
sugge that the sounds surrounding Kien were
frightening.
ng. [1]

8 Which words or phrases from Paragraph 4 describe the scene of war?

Descriptions of the scene of war Words or phrases from the passage

(i) state of confusion (became) disoriented

(ii) engulfed in flames a sea of fire enveloped them

(iii) relentless ammunition nets of bullets

[3]

1128/4E5NA/MYE/19
 3

9 ‘No jungle grew again in this clearing. No grass. No plants.’ (line 33)

What is the effect of the use of short sentences here?

It emphasises how nothing could grow in the clearing. [1]

10 What is unusual and effective about the phrase ‘silent scream’ (line 36)?

It is unusual as silent means having no sound while scream refers to a

loud/piercing cry, thus contradicting each other. [1]

It is effective as it describes/emphasises Kien’s horror at the sight of his

commander blowing his own brains out, such that no so sound came out
from his scream. [1]

11 In Paragraph 6, we are told that ‘The blood

ood was cold
cold and
and sticky, llike blood
from a corpse.’

What does this suggest aboutt Kien’s physical

ph
p hyyssiiccal
al state?
sta
tate
e?

He was seriously injured/

njured
ed/ al
ed a
almost
lmo
most dead/
dead
d// o
d on
n th
the
he verg
verge
rge
rge of dy
dyin
dying.
ing.
in [1]

12 Why is
s the ‘Ju
‘Jungle
J ngle
le of
of Screaming
S re
Sc eam
ming
g Souls’
S uls’ aptly
So ap
pttly
ly named?
named?

Soo man
many
an
a ny soldiers
so
olld
die
i rsrs died
died
d in
in tthe
he b
he battle
attl
attleea
and
nd it iis
s sa
said
aid the
their souls wander the
jungle.
ju
unng
glee. OR
O
The e sounds
soun
so unds
ds ooff th
tthe
he ju
jungle
unng
gle
le sseem
e m like
ee k tthe
ke he voic
voices of the wandering souls of
dead
eaddssoldiers.
o dier
ol errs.
e [1]

13 (a) What
att does
doe
oe ‘ghostly
oes ‘g
gho
host
stly
st ly music’
musi (line 63) refer to?

It refers
eferrs to the trees and plants moaning in awful harmony. [1]

(b) Explain in your own words the effect that the ‘ghostly music’ can have
on a person.

It can make a person feel uneasy / disturbed. [1]

14 Give one reason to explain why Kien and his scout squad established an
altar.

To honour and recall the wandering souls from the 27th Battalion. OR
To pray for their own safety from the ghosts in the jungle. [1]

1128/4E5NA/MYE/19
 4

15 Complete the flow chart by choosing one phrase from the box that best
describes the following scenes in the text. There are some extra phrases you
do not need to use.

Descriptions

a delightful reunion a sense of gloom

a state of desolation a state of tranquillity

a brutal reality a sinister atmosphere

a familiar place

Scenes in the text

Paragraphs 1 – 2: (i) a sense

se of gloom
om

Paragraphs
hs 3 – 5:
5: (ii)
((i
iii)) a brutal
b utal
br a reality
al

Paragraph
P
Pa ragrra
ap
ph 6 (iii)
((i
iii
ii) a state
sta
statte of desolation
des
esoolatio

Paragraphs
Pa
ara
ragr
gra
ap
aphs 7 – 8: (iv) a sinister atmosphere
(iv

[4]

1128/4E5NA/MYE/19
 5

Section C [25 marks]

Refer to Text 3 on pages 5 – 6 of the Insert for Questions 16 – 22.

16 How does the writer show that the Rattus norvegicus has many names?

The writer uses ‘…’ to show that the list of rat names can go on OR
The writer lists many rat names. [1]

17 Here is part of a conversation between two students.

It seems that It does seem that

rats are way! But rats do
invincible! have a weakness.
aknesss.

Patty Shermy
She

(a) From Paragraph 2,, identify

identtifify two
o physical
phys
ph yssic
ical
al a
attributes
ttri
ttri
ttribu
b te
bu tess of rrats
ats and expl
at explain
how these attributes
butess support
supp
su ppor
ort Patty’s
ort P tty’
Pa y’’s view.
v ew.
vi

(i) Rats have

ha
avve an
an eex
excellent
xc
ceell
leennt sense
sens
se n e of
of smell
sme
ell and
and taste
tas
aste
te which
whic allow
them
tth
hem to
to de
d
detect
ete
t ctt tthe
h m
he most
o t minute
os minu
nu
nute
te of
of poison
poison.
n. [1]

(i
(ii)
ii)) The
Th
he flap
ap of skin
ap skin
sk in between
bet
etw
weeen
en their
their incisors
inc
ncis
nc iso
is ors prevents
p indigestible
materials
ma
atte
eri
raalls from
m going
goi
oingg down
do
ow
wn th
the
e ra
rat’
rat’s
t s throat.
th [1]

(b)
b) With reference
With
W ref
eferen
ef ncce
e to
to the
the same
th me paragraph,
paragra
arr how would Shermy explain his
position?
p
poosi
siti
siti
tion
on?
on

Rats
ts
shhave
av poor
av
ave po
oor e
eyesight
yesigh (despite being nocturnal animals). [1]

18 In Paragraph
ph 2,
2 the rat’s incisors are compared with other items.

What are these items and what is the property that is being compared with
each item?

Item Property

(i) Steel Hardness

(ii) Alligator’s jaws / jaws Biting pressure

[2]

1128/4E5NA/MYE/19
 6

19 (a) In Paragraph 3, the writer says that ‘cables are the vines of the city’.
What does this expression suggest about the rat’s presence in a city?

It suggests that rats are everywhere since cables can be found all
over a city. [1]

(b) Pick a piece of evidence from the same paragraph which supports your
answer.

26 percent of all electric-cable breaks are caused by rats. OR

As many as 25 percent of all fires of unknown-origin are caused by
rats. [1]

20 In Paragraph 3, we are told that ‘a rat gnaws the head ad of a match — the
lightning in the city forest.’ What is effective about this
his comparison?
commpa
pari
riso
ris n

It shows how quickly/ easily a rat (gnawing the

awing th
he he
head off a ma
ad o match) can
start a fire. [1]

21 In Paragraph 4, we are told that

tha
at ‘some
e rat
ra nests
nests
ne sts ha
st have
haveebbeen
een
ee n found
foun
fo und stuffed with
un w
the gnawed shavings gs off tthe
he w
he wood-based,
oo
o od-base
se
ed,
d spri
spring-loaded
ing-lo
oad
ade
ed snap
sna
napp traps
trap
apss that
ap th
hat are
a
used in attempts
s to kill them.’
the
hem.’

What does this

tth
his suggest
sug
ugg
geesstt about
abo
bo
out
u rats?
ra
atts?
s

Th
They
hey
e are
are
re cunning/
cun
un
nning
g/ sl
s
sly/
y/ too
to
oo
occl
clever
lev
eve
err to
to be
be cau
caught.
ugh
ght.
t. [1]

22 Using
sin
ng yo
y
your urr o
own
wn n w words
ords
or ds a
ass farr as p
possible,
ossi summarise the ways in which
rats
s h
have
avve b
a be
been
een
en a able
bllle
b e to
to evade
eva
vade
va de h human
uman beings, and how human beings have
ironically
cally
lyy ssu
supported
uppoorrtte
ed thei
their
e r ex
exis
existence.
isttence
is

Use only
ly information
infor
orma
or mati
ma tion fr
ti from Paragraphs 4 and 5.

Your summary
mary must be in continuous writing (not note form). It must not be
longer than 80 words (not counting the words given to help you begin).

Rats have evaded human beings by …

No. Lifted from the passage Rephrased

Ways in which rats have evaded human beings
1 They dig holes to enter buildings and to digging holes to enter
make nests. buildings and making nests
2 Rat nests can be … literally anywhere. which can actually be
anywhere.
3 Alley rats can forage safely within the Rats can forage safely
shadows created by the alleyway, within the darkness of the
alleyway

1128/4E5NA/MYE/19
 7

4 as well as quickly retreat to the safety of and quickly retreat to the

cover in these narrow channels. darkness if necessary.
5 Their skeletons collapse and they can Rats skeletons can
squeeze into a hole as small as three collapse, allowing them to
quarters of an inch wide. squeeze into small holes.
6 The back of the den then narrows into a In their dens, rats have bolt
long tunnel that opens up on another holes for emergency use,
hole back on the street. This second
hole is called a bolt hole; it is an
emergency exit.
7 A bolt hole is typically covered lightly and these are camouflaged
with dirt or trash – camouflage. with dirt or trash.
8 Sometimes there are networks of Rats create networks of
burrows, which can stretch … even an burrows making
akin them
entire city block. harderr to catch.
How human beings support their existence
9 Cluttered and unkempt alleyways in Human
Huma an beings
bein
be ings
in g support
gs sup their
cities provide ideal rat habitat, existence
exis
ex iste
is tenc
te nce with
nc wit cluttered
clutte
especially those alleyways associated sociated alleyways
a le
alleyw
y ays in cities,
yw cititie
iess, wh
ie which
with food-serving establishments./ hmen nts./
ttss Many
Manan
ny are
are perfect
ar p rfecct habitats
pe hab
ha bi
bitats for rats.
subway rats tend to live ve near stations
stat
st attiio
a on ns
s
that are themselves ves near arr fast-food
fast-fo oodod
restaurants.
10 They live ve in the subways
ssu
ubwa
ubw ayys ac a
according
cco
cord
rdin in
ng to Rats
Raatsso
often
ften survive
sur
u vi
urvive
ve on
the e supplyy ofof discarded
d scar
di arde
ar ded hu h
human
uma
m n food food and
fo and
nd discarded
disc
sccarded d hu
hum
human
man fo
food.
sewer
sewe we
w er leak
er leaks./
ks.
s / Pe
P
People
eopo le
le ccome
om
o me down ffrom rro
om
om
tthe
thhe streets
he stre
st re
eetss an
a
andnd thtthrow
hroow th ttheir
hei
e r un
unfinished
nfi
fini
nishshe edd
food
foood onto
onntto the
th
he tracks…
tracks ks… T
ks Th
The
he rarats
rats
t e eat
at
ffreely
fr
re
eeely fro
from
ro
om the
tth
he waste.
wa ast
stee..

Rats
ats h
ha
have
ave evaded
evaaded
ded h
de hu
human
ummaan beings
be
ein
ings by digging
gs by dig holes to enter buildings and
making
king
g n nests
essts
ts wwhich
hiic
h chh can
an
n aactually
ct
ctually
ct be anywhere. Rats can forage safely
withinn tthe
he d
he darkness
arrkn
a kness s of tthe
he
e alle
alleyway and quickly retreat to the darkness if
necessary.
sarry.
y. Rats
Ratss skeletons
skel
sk eletons can collapse, allowing them to squeeze into
el
small holes.
oles.
s In
s. In th
their d dens, rats have bolt holes for emergency use, and
these are e camouflaged
c mou
ca with dirt or trash. Rats create networks of
burrows making
mak them harder to catch. Human beings support their
existence with cluttered alleyways in cities, which are perfect habitats
for rats. Rats often survive on discarded human food. [15]

(93 words for 10 points)

---------- End of Answer Scheme ----------

1128/4E5NA/MYE/19