Section A

Carefully read the text below, consisting of 13 lines, about salt.

The first and last two 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(✓) 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 meaning of the sentence.

Example:

I arrived�y destination at 2pm.

My mother always wears sensible clothes ✓

For most of us, the shiny-white crystalline substance we know as common salt is

just an ordinary food flavouring. But over the course of thousand of years, this 1

simple mineral has acquired the rich history, holding considerabfe significance in 2

the spheres of economics, politics, religion and health. Superstitions have been 3

created around it. It has also been implicate in causing everything from wars 4

to high blood pressure. Indeed the impossibility of living without salt have long 5

been recognised. Nowadays, one can hardly imagine losing sleep on the 6

thought of an impend world salt shortage. On the contrary, the word salt 7

brings to mind a substance who is inexpensive and readily available. Seawater 8

has lots of salt; it contains an average of 2.6% (by weight) of sodium chloride. 9

The ease on which we can obtain it can be attributed to modern methods of 10

extraction and a virtually unlimited supply of seawater, constantly replenished by

runoff from streams and rivers that erode rocks.

 Section B

Text2

The text below is about Jenny's thoughts after her baby daughter was born. Read it carefully
and answer Questions 5-15.

1 Jenny hadn't particularly wanted a baby; she hadn't yearned for one the way some
women did, hadn't gazed longingly at rocking horses and cribs. Her stormy
relationship with her own mother had made her wary of family ties, and her
marriage to Will Avery, surely one of the most irresponsible men in New England,
hadn't seemed the proper setting in which to raise a child. 5

2 The infant's first cries were not heard until she was tucked into a flannel bunting;
then little yelps echoed from her tiny mouth, as though she were a cat caught in a
puddle. The baby was easily soothed, just a pat or two on the back from the doctor,
but it was too late: her cries had gone right through Jenny, a hook piercing through
blood and bones. Jenny Sparrow Avery was no longer aware of her husband, or the 1 0
nurses with whom he was flirting. She did not care about the blood on the floor or
the trembling in her legs. The doctor handed her the child, the damaged left
shoulder taped up with white adhesive as though it were a broken wing. Jenny
gazed into her child's calm face. In that instant she experienced complete devotion.
Then and there, on the fifth floor of Brigham and Women's Hospital, she 15
understood what it meant to be blinded by love.

3 Jenny named the baby Stella, with Will's approval, of �ourse. For despite the many
problems in the marriage, on this one point they agreed: this child was their radiant
and wondrous star. There was nothing Jenny would not do for their daughter. She,
who had not spoken to her own mother for years, who had not so much as mailed a 20
postcard back home after she had run off with Will, now felt powerless to resist the
mighty forces of her own maternal instinct. She was bewitched by this tiny creature;
the rest of the world fell away with a shudder, leaving only their Stella.

4 Jenny was quite aware of how wrong things could go between mothers and
daughters. Not everyone was doomed to repeat history, however. Family flaws and 25
old sorrows need not rule their lives, or so Jenny told herself every night as she
checked on her sleeping daughter. What was the past, after all, but a leaden
shackle one had a duty to try and escape? It was possible to break chains,
regardless of how old or how rusted, of that Jenny was certain. It was possible to
forge an entirely new life. But chains made out of blood and memory were a 30
 4

thousand times more difficult to sever than those made of steel, and the past could
overtake a person if she wasn't careful. A woman had to be vigilant or before she
knew it she would find herself making the same mistakes her own mother had
made, with the same resentments set to boil.

5 Jenny was not about to let herself relax or take the slightest bit of good fortune for 35
granted. There wasn't a day when she was not on guard. Jenny's·child would not
spend a single night apart from her. Even in the hospital she kept Stella by her side
rather than let her be brought to the nursery. Let other mothers chat on the phone
and hire baby-sitters. Jenny didn't have time for such nonsense. She knew exactly
what could happen if you were not there to watch over your child. 40

6 She laced boots and went over lessons, and she never once complained.
Disappointments, fair-weather friends, math homework, illnesses of every variety
were dealt with and put in their proper place. And if Stella grew up to be a wary,
rather dour girl, well, wasn't that preferable to running wild the way Jenny had?
Wasn't it better to be safe than sorry? Selfish pleasures dissolved the way dreams 45
did, Jenny knew that for certain, leaving behind nothing more than an imprint on the
pillowcase, a hole in your heart, a list of regrets so long you could wrap them
around yourself like a quilt.

Adapted from http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/06/books/chapters/the-probable-future.html

 Sec tion B

Text2

Refer to Text 2 for Questions 5-15.

5 Identify one word from Paragraph 1 that conveys the same idea as 'longed for'.

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

6 In your own words, give two reasons why Jenny had not wanted a baby as
much as some women did.

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

7 Why did Jenny not care about her husband, the blood on the floor or the
trembling in her legs?

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

8 " .. .felt powerless to resist the mighty forces of her own maternal instinct" (lines
21-22)
Based on what you have read from Paragraph 4, what is surprising about this
statement?

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

9 "Family flaws and old sorrows need not rule their lives, or so Jenny told herself
every night" (lines 25-26) What is ironic about the statement?
10 How is the phrase 'leaden shackle' (lines 27-28) effective in describing Jenny's
past?

·············· .................................................................................................................................................................................................. [2]

11 Identify one word each from Paragraph 4 that conveys the same idea as:

i) end: ................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

ii) bitterness: ................................................................................................................................................................... [1]

12 Referring to Paragraph 5, give two examples to show that Jenny was extremely
vigilant when it came to her child.

[2]

13 "She laced boots and went over lessons, and she never once complained."
(line 41)
Based on this statement, what kind of mother do you think Jenny is?

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

14 With reference to Paragraph 6, how was Jenny like when she was young?

................................................................................................................................................................................................................ [1]
15 The structure of the text reveals the various feelings that Jenny has
throughout the course of having a daughter. Complete the graphic organiser
by choosing one word from the box to summarise her feelings from
paragraphs 1 to 5. There are some extra words in the box you do not need to
use.

Jenny's feelings

resentful mesmerised hesitant

cautious disappointed resolute

Graphic organiser

I Paragraph 1

I Paragraphs 2-3 (ii)

l

I Paragraphs 4 (iii)
l

l
j Paragraph 5 (iv}
[4]
 Section C

Text3

The text below is about the consumption of dog and cat meat. Read it carefully and answer
Questions 16-22

1 In a landmark step for animal welfare, Taiwan has outlawed the consumption of dog
and cat meat-the first country in Asia to do so. Anyone who buys or eats the meat
can be fined up to $8,200. Back in 1998, Taiwan made it illegal to slaughter dogs
and cats and sell their meat, but an underground commercial market persisted.
Now, Taiwan has doubled down on punishment. 5

2 The consumption of dog· meat in East Asian countries has sparked an outcry from
the public and animal advocates around the world in recent years, with China's
infamous Lychee and Dog Meat Festival a flashpoint for the fight. Held every June
in Yulin, southern China, the festival is the most notorious mass slaughter of dogs 1 O
for food. About 10,000 dogs are killed every year and eaten throughout the
southern city of Yulin, but the festival has increasingly attracted the ire of animal
rights activists. Millions of people have signed petitions calling for the end of the
annual event.

3 Taiwan's legislature has amended the Animal Protection Act, imposing steeper
fines and lengthier punishments for acts related to animal cruelty. The revised
Animal Protection Act imposes a fine of up to 250,000 Taiwan dollars for eating dog
or cat meat, while the penalties for animal cruelty or slaughter were raised to up to
two years in prison and fines of up to 2 million Taiwan dollars. The law also makes
it illegal to "walk" a pet while riding a scooter or driving a car. Repeat offenders can
be jailed for up to five years and face stiffer fines, and those convicted under the
new law may also be publicly shamed, with their names and photos published by
the government. The amendment still needs to be signed by the president, but
could be law by the end of April.

4 South Korea shows a similar trend away from eating dog meat, especially among 20
young people. As the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics approach, Korea faces
increasing pressure to crack down on the industry and head off international
criticism over its practice of killing dogs for human consumption. This is particularly
so for South Korea's biggest dog meat market, Moran Market. On Monday, officials
and traders began removing butchery facilities and cages in which live animals are
kept before they are slaughtered. Officials in Se'?ngnam, a city near Seoul, said that
 Section C

Text3

Refer to Text 3 for Questions 16-22.

16 Based on Paragraph 1, explain why Taiwan has now doubled down on the
punishment of people who consume dog and cat meat.

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

17 Identify one word each in paragraph 1 that has the same meaning as:

i) ban or make illegal

ii) continued ................................................................................................................................................. [2]

18 Quote one word from Paragraph 2 that conveys the same idea as 'infamous' .

....,■H■■•�H••··.. HHOIOO•••u■•n·•· .. ••........ , •• u ••,, .. �-H····· .. •••••..H ......... o,,■•······.. ···• ...n........ h ...................... H ..................... h,H■H••···· ...........................· ·····••H■■

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

19 With reference to Paragraph 2, explain in your own words how the general
public and animal advocates feel about the consumption of dog meat.

................................................................................................................................................................................................................. [ 1 J

20 Referring to Paragraph 4, explain why South Korea is starting to crack down on

the dog meat industry.

.........................................................................................................................--..................................................................... [2]
21 Here is part of a conversation between two students, Belle and Gavin, who
have read the article.

Belle

Dog meat is very popular in Asia. That's actually not true.

Most people do not
enjoy dog meat.

(i) Identify one example from Paragraph 6 that Belle can give to support her
view

..................................................................................... ·--- ........................................... ___ ........................................... -......

[1]

(ii) Identify one example from Paragraph 6 that Gavin can give to support his
view

....................................................................................... ·---- ............ -....................................................................-............................. -,..

[1]

22 Using your own words as far as possible, summarise what people in China,
Taiwan and South Korea have done in an attempt to end animal cruelty.

Use only information from paragraph 2 - 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.

In an attempt to end animal cruelty in China, -------------