English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 5

Name and Surname: 

Grade 5:
40
Date:

Twinkl News

Black Mamba Rescued on Durban Beach

Beachgoers were surprised to find a
2.47m black mamba on Addington Beach
today. The South African Association for
Marine Biological Research, SAAMBR, said
that they had received reports of a large
black snake near the South Pier, so they
were not surprised when they received
the call to rescue the snake from the
beach.

Craig Smith and Lesley Labuschagne,
herpetologists from SAAMBR, responded
to the call for the snake's rescue and
immediately headed to the beach. The
Metro Search and Rescue staff kept the
snake safe until Smith and Labuschagne
arrived on the scene. On arrival, the
herpetologists were very surprised to
discover that the snake was, in fact,
a very large black mamba. The beach
is not their natural habitat as black
mambas are commonly found in the deep
valley areas further inland and spend
their time in the thick vegetation found
there. Smith said, “They are commonly
found in areas such as Reservoir Hills,
Westville and Krantzkloof, to name a
few. This particular snake had possibly
come down through the canals and rivers
that run into the harbour.” He added
that the snake was exhausted when they
found her and she did not try and bite
them in defence when they approached.
Smith and Labuschagne remained calm
and collected throughout the rescue and
the snake was taken back to their lab
at uShaka Sea World for assessment
by the vet. Dr Francois Lampen, the
uShaka vet, was standing by to assess
the snake's condition as soon as she
arrived at uShaka. After assessing her
state, he found that she was too weak
to be immediately returned to a suitable
natural habitat and would require some
time at uShaka to recover before being
released.

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 English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 5

Section A: Comprehension
Level One and Two: Literal/ Reorganisation Questions 5 Marks

1. Where is this report set? (1)

2. What type of snake was rescued? (1)

3. Was the snake a female or male? Find a word in the report to support your answer. (2)

4. Why were Smith and Labuschagne surprised to find a black mamba on the beach? (1)


Level Three: Inference Questions 3 Marks


5. Shade the option that you think best indicates what you think a herpetologist would
study? (1)

 Herbs and other plants Snakes Sea creatures

6. How did the researchers know that the snake was exhausted? (1)

7. Why do you think the snake was so weak when it was found? (1)

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 English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 5

Level Four and Five: Evaluation and Appreciation Questions 2 Marks

8. Why do you think the Metro Search and Rescue staff did not just kill the snake when they
found her? (1)

9. Which facts from the passage indicate that it is dangerous? (1)

Total: / 10

Section B: Language Structure and Conventions

1. State whether the following are Statement, Question or Exclamation sentences. (2)

a. Be careful of that snake! 

b. The snake’s natural habitat was inland valleys. 

2. Underline the abstract noun in the following sentence. (1)

Smith and Labuschagne approached the snake with caution.

3. Indicate whether the following sentence contain an example of a simile or a metaphor. (1)
I thought she was my friend but she turned out to be a snake.

4. Rewrite the following sentence in indirect speech. (1)

“It’s the biggest snake I’ve ever seen,” said Smith. 

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 English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 5
5. Add prefixes to the following words to create antonyms. (2)

a. appear - 

b. lucky - 

6. Underline the subject and circle the object in the sentence below. (2)

The mouse was eaten by the snake.

7. Write down one abbreviation found in the passage. (1)

Total: / 10

Section C: Writing
Imagine that you are one of the herpetologists called to rescue the snake. Write a diary entry
about the event. Your entry should be between 80 and 100 words. Create one rough draft and
edit it carefully before writing a neat, final copy.

Draft:

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 English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 5


Final:


Total: / 20

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 English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 5 Answers
Section A: Comprehension Answers
Level One and Two: Literal/ Reorganisation Questions 5 Marks

1. Where is this report set? (1)

The report was set in Durban.

2. What type of snake was rescued? (1)

A black mamba was rescued.

3. Was the snake a female or male? Find a word in the report to support your answer. (2)
Female – it is referred to as “she”.

4. Why were Smith and Labuschagne surprised to find a black mamba on the beach? (1)
The beach was not it’s natural habitat. / The snake is usually found inland at valleys. 

Level
 Three: Inference Questions 3 Marks

5. Shade the option that you think best indicates what you think a herpetologist would
study? (1)

 Herbs and other plants Snakes Sea creatures

6. How did the researchers know that the snake was exhausted? (1)
The snake was too tired to bite them or move away when approached.

7. Why do you think the snake was so weak when it was found? (1)
The snake had travelled a long distance. It may also not have found anything to eat on
the beach as it was used to catching prey in the valley.

Level Four and Five: Evaluation and Appreciation Questions 2 Marks

1. Why do you think the Metro Search and Rescue staff did not just kill the snake when they
found her? (1)
They may have been too scared to approach the snake. / They may feel that all animals
deserve a right to live. / The snake wasn’t endangering anyone at that point in time.
Any other appropriate answer.

2. Which facts from the passage indicate that it is dangerous? (1)

Many people phoned in to report sighting the snake. / They had to call in specialists to
deal with the snake. / Any other appropriate answer.

Total: / 10

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 English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 5 Answers

Section B: Language Structure and Conventions Answers

1. State whether the following are Statement, Question or Exclamation sentences. (2)
a. Be careful of that snake! Exclamation
b. The snake’s natural habitat was inland valleys. Statement

2. Underline the abstract noun in the following sentence. (1)

Smith and Labuschagne approached the snake with caution.

3. Indicate whether the following sentence contain an example of a simile or a metaphor. (1)
I thought she was my friend but she turned out to be a snake.
Metaphor

4. Rewrite the following sentence in indirect speech. (1)

“It’s the biggest snake I’ve ever seen,” said Smith. 
Smith said that it was the biggest snake he/she had ever seen.

5. Add prefixes to the following words to create antonyms. (2)

a. appear - disappear
b. lucky - unlucky

6. Underline the subject and circle the object in the sentence below. (2)

The mouse was eaten by the snake.

7. Write down one abbreviation found in the passage. (1)

SAAMBR / vet

Total: / 10

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 English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 5 Answers

Section C: Writing Answers

0-1 2 3 4-5
Planning Planning is Planning is Planning is Planning is
haphazard/ complete but adequate and detailed and
rushed/ minimal effort shows some shows realistic
has been put in. thought/effort on well thought out
Incomplete.
part of learner. ideas.
Layout None of the Two of the Three of the Four / Five of the
requirements: required required required elements required elements
• Date elements present elements present. present. present.
in layout/
• Salutation
Only one of
• First Person the required
• Emotions elements present.
• Signing off

Spelling and Many spelling Minimal spelling Few spelling Few spelling
Language errors are errors but errors and grade- errors and
present, word choice is appropriate word learner shows
sentences are simplistic. Tense choice. Sentences above average
simplistic and is inconsistent. are linked with vocabulary.
below grade appropriate
level. conjunctions.

Creativity Learner has Learner Learner has Learner has

written a bland has mainly attempted produced an
final product. stereotypical to produce a interesting final
The learner has ideas. Character creative final product that
simply recounted has some product, but shows creative
the story without emotional ideas don’t line thought and
any reflection responses. up with the emotions.
or emotional creative prompt.
response.

Total: / 20

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