NAME: ____________________________ ( ) CLASS: _______

FAIRFIELD METHODIST SCHOOL (SECONDARY)

END-OF-YEAR EXAMINATION 2020

SECONDARY 3 EXPRESS

ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Paper 2 Comprehension

Date: 2 October 2020 Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes

__________________________________________________________________________

Candidates answer on this Question Paper.

Additional Material: Insert

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write your name, class and register number in the spaces provided on page 1 and page 8 of
this question paper.
Submit Sections A and B (pages 1-7) and the summary section (page 8) separately.

Write in dark blue or black ink on both sides of this question paper.
Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid.

Answer all questions.

The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
The Insert contains the texts for Sections A and B.

FOR EXAMINER’S USE

Section A /20

Section B /25

Total /45

Setter: Mr Joseph Guo

This paper consists of 8 printed pages including the cover page.

[Turn over
 NAME: ____________________________ ( ) CLASS: _______

Section A [20 marks]

Refer to Text 1 on page 2 of the Insert for Questions 1-11.

1 In paragraph 1, ‘They believed they were going to die, and they often vindicated that belief.’
(lines 3-4).

What does the writer mean by the word ‘vindicated’?

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………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. [1]

2 Give one reason why ‘Sheldon returned to the house disappointed’. (line 6). Answer in your
own words.

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………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. [2]

3 In paragraph 2, the writer describes the men as being able to ‘understand and potentially take
advantage of this daily situation quickly.’ (lines 9-10).

Identify two separate words in the same paragraph that supports this idea.
[2]
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

4 From paragraph 2, ‘Sheldon was horribly afraid of any sickness overpowering him and leaving
him at their mercy, as he envisioned these men taking charge of the plantation, looting the
stores, and burning the buildings. No, boldness will prevail!’ (lines 11-13).

Explain how the writer creates a contrast between these two sentences.

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………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. [2]

FMS(S) Sec 3 Express End-Of-Year Examination 2020

English Language Paper 2 Question Paper 2
 NAME: ____________________________ ( ) CLASS: _______

5 In paragraph 3, the writer describes the behaviour of Sheldon’s men. Explain how the language
used in paragraph 3 emphasises the fear the men had of Sheldon.

Support your ideas with three details from paragraph 3.

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………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. [3]

6 In paragraph 4, Sheldon ‘was lying on the couch when the canoes were paddled in and hauled
out on the beach.’ (lines 18-19).

According to the underlined phrase, where do you think Sheldon was located near?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. [1]

7 In paragraph 4, ‘Seelee stood beneath and talked to Sheldon above.’ (line 21).

Pick out two separate words in paragraphs 5 and 6 that revealed Seelee’s social status.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. [2]

8 From paragraph 5, identify two traits that Seelee’s eyes promoted.

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………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…… [1]

9 In paragraph 6, state two ways in which Seelee demonstrated that he agreed with what Sheldon
said.

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………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…… [1]

FMS(S) Sec 3 Express End-Of-Year Examination 2020

English Language Paper 2 Question Paper 3
 NAME: ____________________________ ( ) CLASS: _______

10 In paragraph 7, ‘Sheldon was over the moon with what Seelee told him.’ (line 29).

(i) What does the underlined phrase convey about how Sheldon felt?

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………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………… [1]

(ii) Give one piece of evidence to account for how Sheldon felt in 10(i).

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………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. [1]

FMS(S) Sec 3 Express End-Of-Year Examination 2020

English Language Paper 2 Question Paper 4
 NAME: ____________________________ ( ) CLASS: _______

11 The structure of the text reflects Sheldon’s experiences with different people. Complete the flow
chart by choosing one phrase from the box to summarise the main focus of each stage of the
narrative. There are some extra phrases in the box that you do not need to use.

Main focus

a hasty reaction the arrival

a moment of surprise thriving in unfamiliar terrain

a dominant figure a person’s demeanour

Flow chart

Paragraph 1

(i) …………..…………………………………………..

Paragraph 4

(ii) ………………………………………………………

Paragraphs 5 and 6

(iii) ……………………………………………………..

[3]

FMS(S) Sec 3 Express End-Of-Year Examination 2020

English Language Paper 2 Question Paper 5
 NAME: ____________________________ ( ) CLASS: _______

Section B [25 marks]

Refer to Text 2 on pages 3 and 4 of the Insert for Questions 12-17.

12 In paragraph 1, ‘the Iberian Peninsula has been a coveted destination’ (line 1).

(i) Identify another phrase of not more than eight words in this paragraph that reflects the
above idea.

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………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

(ii) Why do numerous tourists travel to Spain and Portugal? Answer in your own words.

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………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]

13 In paragraph 2, ‘The chances of spotting the short-tailed, bushy-bearded feline in the

Iberian scrubland, where lynxes have roamed for millennia, were as good as finding a
needle in a haystack.’ (lines 6-8).

What does the underlined phrase suggest about the possibility of noticing a lynx in the
Iberian scrubland?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

14 Here is a part of a conversation between two students, Anita and James, who have read
the article.

At I am certain that
So,first, I was not
organisations Not
sure if the breeding this programme will
which do not provide necessarily…
help to boost the
programme was an
excellent customer
effective emergency birth rate of lynxes.
service tend to
strategy.
experience financial
Anita losses. James

(i) Identify one reason from lines 34 to 37 that Anita can give to support her view.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

FMS(S) Sec 3 Express End-Of-Year Examination 2020

English Language Paper 2 Question Paper 6
 NAME: ____________________________ ( ) CLASS: _______

(ii) Identify a sentence from paragraph 6 which justifies James’s position.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

15 (i) From paragraph 7, state the difficulty involved in preserving the lynxes in the
Mediterranean scrubland.

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………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

(ii) How can this obstacle be overcome? Answer in your own words.

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………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]

16 In paragraph 8, ‘At a time when extinction threatens so many species worldwide, the
turnaround of the lynx’s fate is truly and remarkably exceptional.’ (lines 50-51).

What tone is the writer creating in lines 50-51?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

FMS(S) Sec 3 Express End-Of-Year Examination 2020

English Language Paper 2 Question Paper 7
 NAME: ____________________________ ( ) CLASS: _______

17 Using your own words as far as possible, summarise the ways in which the Iberian
lynxes were threatened.

Use only information from paragraphs 3 and 4.

Your summary 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).

One way in which the Iberian lynxes were threatened was ……………………………………

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……………………………………………………………………. No. of words: [15]

 End of Paper 
FMS(S) Sec 3 Express End-Of-Year Examination 2020
English Language Paper 2 Question Paper 8