MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, YOUTH &

INFORMATION

GRADE 4 LANGUAGE ARTS

DIAGNOSTIC TEST

SEPTEMBER 2020

General Instructions:
This Grade 4 diagnostic test is based on content that would have been taught in Grade 3.

This test has sixty (60) questions. Each question has three (3) answer choices. Read each
question and answer choice carefully. There is only one correct answer to each question.
Choose the BEST answer.

It is important that you try your best to answer all the questions.
1. Which letters give the sound at the end of the word “roast”?

A. ‘oa’
B. ‘th’
C. ‘st’

2. Which word has the same sound as /aw/ in “draw”?

A. taught
B. way
C. away

3. Which word has a long ‘o’ sound?

A. slot
B. boat
C. plough

4. Which word has the silent ‘w’?

A. west
B. whistle
C. write

5. In which of the following words is the vowel controlled by the ‘w’?

A. grown
B. welcome
C. worship

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6. Which word has a cluster in the initial position in the sentence below?

She says, she sells seashells by the seashore.

A. she
B. says
C. seashore

7. Which word is correctly spelled?

A. docter
B. teachar
C. fear

8. Which word is correctly spelt?

A. torezim
B. tourism
C. tourism

9. How many syllables are in the word believing?

A. 3
B. 4
C. 2

10. Which word has the same number of syllables as the word nutrition?

A. dentist
B. family
C. cardiologist

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11. Which prefix will change the meaning of the word healthy?

A. dis
B. in
C. un

12. Which word completes the following sentence?

There are __________ mangoes in the bucket.

A. eight
B. hate
C. ate

13. Read the sentence below then select the meaning of the underlined word.

My grandfather dozes off a lot on the couch; he’s awake one

minute then asleep the next!

A. counts to a dozen
B. falls into a light sleep
C. snores

14. In which sentence does the word fly mean moving through the air?

A. I fly my new kite every day after school.

B. A fly was buzzing outside my window.
C. Another name for a zipper is a fly.

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15. What is the opposite of the underlined word in the sentence below?

The boy was punished for being the most disciplined student.

A. indisciplined
B. obedient
C. stubborn

16. Which homonym correctly completes the sentence below?

_____ mother decided not to take them on the road with

her because it was not safe for them.

A. There
B. Their
C. They’re

17. What does the word CAUTION in the picture below mean?

A. be careful
B. don’t walk
C. wet floor

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18. Which phrase correctly completes the sentence below?

“I _____ want to go to school today,” cried Mark.

A. do not
B. is not
C. am not

19. Which word correctly completes the sentence below?

Your _______ have grown. You need new boots.

A. foots
B. foot
C. feet

20. Which word correctly completes the sentence below?

Jason considers himself an/a __________

because he played a role in one movie.

A. actress
B. actor
C. producer

21. Which of the following is a proper noun?

A. town
B. fruit
C. Kingston

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In questions 22 and 23, Select the pronoun in each sentence.

22. John and I will be playing on the same team.

A. I
B. team
C. John

23. Those mangoes look nice and juicy.

A. mangoes
B. Those
C. look

24. Which conjunction correctly completes the sentence below?

I really wanted to go to the park_____ it was raining.

A. so
B. and
C. but

25. Which verb correctly completes the sentence below?

It _____ a very good match, both teams played well.

A. were
B. was
C. did

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26. Which word shows the correct way to write the past tense of the underlined
word in the sentence?

Ramone bring his pet goat to school today.

A. bought
B. brought
C. bringing

27. Which word correctly completes the sentence below?

Yesterday my dog Rover _________ up my favourite shoe.

A. chewd
B. chew
C. chewed

28. Which word correctly completes the sentence below?

The bell had _____ several times before we heard it.

A. rang
B. rung
C. ring

29. Which phrase correctly completes the sentence below?

We will not be going to the party because she _____ invited us.

A. had not
B. has not
C. have not

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30. Which word correctly completes the sentence below?

Suzie will _____ the basket of fruits for Mr. Brown.

A. carries
B. carried
C. carry

31. Which sentence is the plural form of the one given in the box?

I run to school every morning because I am always late.

A. We run to school every morning because we are always late.

B. We ran to school every morning because we are always late.
C. We runs to school every morning because we are always late.

32. Look at the picture then use it to help you complete the sentence.

The cat is _____ the table.

A. over
B. beside
C. under

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33. Which word correctly completes the sentence below?

Akeem allowed the other two boys to climb over

the wall because he was the _____ of all of them.

A. short
B. shorter
C. shortest

34. Which conjunction would best complete the sentence below?

Julie was cooking dinner _____ her mother was

preparing the table; this showed team work.

A. while
B. when
C. but

35. Which sentence correctly describes the diagram below?

A. There are more red marbles than blue marbles.

B. There are more blue marbles than red marbles.
C. There is an equal number of red marbles as there are blue marbles.

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36. Which words could be used to make the sentence plural?

“This mango will fall from the tree in no time,” said Tony.

A. These mangoes
B. Them mangos
C. That mango

37. Which word is used to describe texture in the sentence below?

The brown, rusty leaves covered the drive-way.

A. brown
B. covered
C. rusty

38. Which word in the sentence below is an adverb?

Kevin carefully read the instructions on the box.

A. carefully
B. read
C. box

39. Which word best completes the sentence?

Roy’s knee was ________ hurt from the fall.

A. badly
B. so
C. worst

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40. Which punctuation mark correctly completes the sentence?

Will we be going to the heritage site on the day of the

field trip

A. ,
B. .
C. ?

41. Which word would most likely begin a sentence that ends with a question
mark?

A. She
B. The
C. When

42. Which word best completes the sentence?

_____ you know where I can find the principal?

A. Do
B. When
C. Who

43. Which correctly completes the sentence?

The teachers were very happy when they learnt that the
students _____ injured in the accident.

A. were’nt
B. weren’t
C. werent’

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44. Which word in the sentence should have an “s” to show possession?

Jason toothbrush is kept in a case to protect it from bacteria.

A. case
B. toothbrush
C. Jason

45. Which word best completes the sentence?

The patient sat in the ___________ chair.

A. doctor’s
B. doctors’
C. doctores’

46. Which sentence is correctly punctuated?

A. “Yes! I passed! Shouted Sam when he got his exam results”.

B. “Yes, I passed!” shouted Sam when he got his exam results.

C. “Yes I passed. Shouted Sam when he got his exam results!”

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Read the passage below then use it to answer questions 47 - 49.

Culture is the way of life of a people. Jamaica has a unique culture that is often
referred to as a ‘melting pot”. This is so because of the different ethnic groups
that came to Jamaica at one point or another. Today we boast of a rich and
different culture.

As Jamaicans, the way we live shows a little part of each group that came here.
We relax in hammocks like the Tainos, use names like “Rio Bueno” because of
the Spanish, and play games such as cricket and football because of the English.
Our African ancestors gave us words like ‘nyam’ and ‘brawta’ and have us
laughing to Anancy stories. Jamaicans curry everything! Well, this delicious
‘curry’ came from the Indians, and rice that we eat almost every day, came from
the Chinese. Hence, our motto – Out of many, one people!

47. Which title would be most suitable for the passage?

A. Culture
B. Jamaica’s Culture
C. Jamaica Nice

48. Which of the following is the topic sentence in the passage?

A. Culture is the way of life of a people.

B. Jamaicans curry everything.
C. Today we boast of a rich and different culture.

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49. What is the main idea of the passage?

A. The Africans gave us new words.

B. We relax in hammocks.
C. Jamaica’s culture comes from different places.

Read the paragraph below then use it to answer question 50.

Devon loved to surprise his mom. He knew she was going to be getting home late
from work today. So he made some lemonade for her. He placed it in the freezer
because he wanted it to get cold quickly. He then sat down and waited for his
mother to get home. He had a cold surprise for her.

50. What would be the most suitable title for the story?

A. Cold Lemonade
B. Devon’s Surprise
C. Getting Home

51. Mary got an essay to write about the importance of trees. Which of the
following could she use as her topic sentence?

A. Trees help us to have fresh air to breathe.

B. Trees provide shade.
C. I love to sit under the logwood tree.

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Read the story below then use it to answer questions 52 to 55.

The Bun Eating Contest

Omar and his brother, Charlie, were preparing their snacks. Omar challenged
his brother to a bun – eating contest. They hurriedly tied the buns with two
pieces of strings and fastened them to a tree in their backyard; they were
moving as quick as lightning. On the count of three, as they were about to take
their first bite, Charlie’s bun fell and Nip, the dog, grabbed it. Omar dropped to
the ground with laughter.

52. Which is the correct order of the events in the story?

A. The boys challenged each other, they went to the backyard, the dog
ate the bun, the other brother laughed.

B. The boys were in the back yard, they packed their lunch, the dog ate
the bun, Omar laughed.

C. The boys were eating bun, they challenged each other, the dog ate the
bun, the bun fell to the ground, their mother called them inside.

53. Why did Charlie and Omar fasten the strings to the tree?
A. to see who could tie the string to the tree first
B. to watch the buns swing
C. to complete the competition without touching the bun

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54. Which text feature was used for the title of the story?
A. bold
B. italics
C. sub heading

55. Use the story to determine if the statement below is a fact or an opinion.

Charlie felt angry when Nip ate the bun.

A. fact
B. opinion
C. both fact and opinion

56. Which statement could be a supporting detail to the main idea below?

Sally went shopping after school one day.

A. She bought one bag for school.

B. Sally fell asleep at school.
C. Suzan’s mother left her dog at home.

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Read the poem below then use it to answer questions 57 – 59.

Who has Seen the Wind?

Who has seen the wind?

Neither I nor you!

But when the leaves hang trembling

The wind is passing through.

Who has seen the wind?

Neither you nor I!

But when the trees bow down their heads

The wind is passing by.

By Christina Rossetti

57. According to the poem, how do we know when the wind is passing
through?

A. the leaves tremble

B. the leaves fall off the tree
C. the leaves become dry

58. The poem has two sections. What is each section called?

A. line
B. paragraph
C. stanza

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59. What is another word for ‘wind’?

A. blow
B. breeze
C. blast

Read the poem below then use it to answer question 60.

60. In the poem, the words cat and fat in lines 1 and 2 may be identified as
_____.

A. rhymes
B. metaphors
C. similes

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