IGCSE - Middle SCHOOL 2023-24

AK TERM 2 Practice Worksheet – English

SECTION A: READING
A. Read the passage carefully then answer the questions that follow.

Some people say that the best defense is a good offense; an octopus, however, would disagree.
In addition to being one of the strangest and most beautiful creatures in nature, the octopus has
some of the most inventive and effective defense mechanisms imaginable. While other animals
have teeth, horns, or claws to help defend them from predators, the octopus concentrates its
energy on hiding from and confusing its attackers. When it wants to get away, the octopus has an
impressive arsenal of tricks at its disposal.

The most well-known of the octopus’s defense mechanisms is its ability to squirt clouds of ink
into the water. Some octopi use this cloud of ink as camouflage; after squirting the ink, the
octopus retreats into the ink cloud where the predator cannot see it. Other octopi use the ink cloud
as a decoy. If a large, intelligent predator such as a shark knows that octopi use ink clouds for
camouflage, it might simply attack the ink cloud blindly, hoping to make contact with the octopus
inside. However, some sneaky octopi will release the ink cloud in one direction and scurry away
in another direction, leaving the predator with nothing but a mouthful of ink. In addition to
confusing predators’ sense of sight, these ink clouds also confuse their sense of smell. The ink is
composed primarily of melanin (the same chemical that gives human skin its color), which can
shut down a predator’s sense of smell. If an octopus cannot be seen or smelled, it has a much
higher chance of escaping an attack.

Another defense mechanism possessed by many octopi is the ability to change color, much like
a chameleon. Most animals get their skin color from chemicals in the skin called chromatophores
(melanin is one of these chromatophores). Chromatophores might contain yellow, orange, red,
brown, or black pigments, and the amount of each pigment present in the skin determines an
animal’s color. While most animals are always the same color, some species of octopi can control
the amount of each color pigment in their skin cells, allowing them to change color. Some
poisonous octopi, when provoked, will change their skin to a bright, eye-catching color to warn
predators that they are dangerous and ready to strike. Other octopi use this ability to change their
skin to the color and texture of seaweed or coral, allowing them to blend in with their
environment. Finally, some octopi—such as the mimic octopus—use this colorchanging ability
to masquerade as another type of animal. The body of an octopus is highly flexible, and some
species can combine this flexibility with their color-changing skills to make themselves resemble
more dangerous animals such as sea snakes or eels.
Yet another defense mechanism possessed by some octopi is the ability to perform an autotomy,
or self-amputation, of one of their limbs and regrow it later. Many species of skink and lizard
also possess this ability, which allows them to shed their tails when caught by a predator and
therefore get away. When a predator catches a tentacle the octopus can amputate this tentacle,
thereby unfettering itself, and regrow the tentacle later. Some octopi, however, are even cleverer.
When threatened by a predator, these octopi will shed a tentacle before being attacked in the hope
that the predator will go after the detached tentacle rather than the octopus itself.

While the octopus may not be the most vicious creature in the ocean, its numerous and clever
defense mechanisms help it to survive in the dangerous undersea world.

Questions

1) Which of the following sentences from the passage best expresses the main idea?

A. The most well-known of the octopus’s defense mechanisms is its ability to squirt clouds
of ink into the water.
B. Some people say that the best defense is a good offense; an octopus, however, would
disagree.
C. Another defense mechanism possessed by many octopi is the ability to change color, much
like a chameleon.
D. When it wants to get away, the octopus has an impressive arsenal of tricks at its disposal.

2) The author claims in paragraph 1 that an octopus would disagree with the statement
“the best defense is a good offense” because

A. octopi employ more defensive than offensive capabilities

B. octopi possess good defensive and offensive capabilities
C. octopi can protect themselves from teeth, horns, and claws
D. not all octopi possess the same defense mechanisms

3) Which of the following statements best describes the organizational structure of

paragraphs 2-4?

A. The author lays out several reasons to support the argument that the octopus has the best
defense mechanisms of any sea creature.
B. The author devotes one paragraph each to explaining three different defense mechanisms
possessed by the octopus.
C. The author devotes one paragraph each to highlighting three potential threats to the octopus
and how the octopus deals with each one differently.
D. The author compares and contrasts three different defense mechanisms employed by the
octopus.

4) According to the passage, which of the following statements about the chemical
melanin are true?

I. An octopus’s ink is composed primarily of melanin. II. Melanin is a chromatophore.

III. Like the octopus, chameleons use melanin to change color.

A. I only
B. I and II only
C. II and III only
D. I, II, and III

5) As used in paragraph 4, which of the following is the best synonym for unfettering?

A. freeing
B. regrowing
C. amputating
D. sacrificing

6) The final paragraph can best be described as a

A. prediction conclusion, in which the author looks toward the future

B. full circle conclusion, in which the author incorporates and builds on a word or theme from
the introduction
C. solution conclusion, in which the author proposes a solution to a problem posed earlier in
the passage
D. summary conclusion, in which the author restates the passage’s main idea

B. Read the passage carefully then answer the questions that follow.

Kinkajous
Kinkajous are mammals that live in the tropical rainforests of Central and South
America. They are small in size and have tiny webbed fingers. Their tails are not so tiny,
however. In fact, their tails are longer than the combined length of their heads and bodies.
The tail is long for one important reason: balance! Kinkajous look for food in trees, which
means they need to have excellent balance in order to stay safe while performing this daily
activity. They can even hang from branches by the tips of their tails. When they want to
return back to the branches, all the kinkajous have to do is climb back up their tails!
Kinkajous are commonly referred to as honey bears because they love to steal honey from
beehives. They also love to drink sweet nectar. This earned them the scientific name of
Potos flavus, which translates to “golden drinker.” Kinkajous are also nicknamed la
llorona. This means ‘the crying woman’ in Spanish. Can you guess why kinkajous have
this nickname? Their loud screeches and barks echo throughout the forest, which makes
them sound like a woman crying.
Kinkajous are normally mild-mannered and sweet. That’s why some people like to have
them as pets. Their constant climbing and screeching can sometimes make them difficult
to own, however. Kinkajous are also nocturnal, so sometimes they can be disruptive when
you're trying to sleep!

Would you want to own a pet kinkajou?

1. Where do kinkajous live?

A. in deserts
B. in dark places
C. in rainforests

2. What is one way a kinkajou uses its tail?

A. Kinkajous use their tails to hang from branches while looking for food.
B. Kinkajous climb their tails like ropes when they play together.
C. Kinkajous swing from their tails from tree to tree.
3. Kinkajous are very noisy animals. Choose the correct option about it.
A. "Some people like to have them as pets."
B. "Their loud screeches and barks echo throughout the forest."
4. Why do kinkajous have the scientific name Potos flavus, which mean golden drinker?
A. Kinkajous like nectar and honey.
B. Kinkajous climb a lot of trees.

5. What is this text about?

A. Kinkajous are small, noisy animals that like to climb and usually live in the rainforest.
B. Kinkajous' tails are longer than their bodies, and they are used for balance.
6. Please read the following sentence from the text. "Their loud screeches and barks echo throughout
the forest, which makes them sound like a woman crying."
Based on this sentence, what does the word screeches mean?

A. wishes
B. yells
C. songs

7. Why do kinkajous need excellent balance?

Ans: Kinkajous need excellent balance in order to stay safe as they look for food in trees.
 8. Why are kinkajous sometimes called “honey bears?”
Ans: Kinkajous like to steal honey from beehives.

9. Why people like kinkajous to be their pet?

Ans: People like kinkajous to be their pet because Kinkajous are normally mild-mannered and
sweet.
10. Write the three facts about kinkajous.

Ans:______________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________

C. Read the passage carefully then answer the questions that follow.

Today, Mike and his mom are going to the library. Mike wants to find a book to read. His mom wants to use a computer
there.

When they get to the library, Mike finds a book about detectives. He also finds a book with chapters about a
friendly ghost. Finally, he finds a book about a man who lives in the woods without food or water. He puts the books on
the front desk and waits for his mom.

Mike's mom sits at one of the computers in the library. She checks her email and looks at pictures of flowers on
the internet. Then she reads a news article on a website.

Mike's mom leaves the computer and walks over to Mike, holding up something out for him. Mike looks at her
quizzically. It takes him a moment to recognize what she is holding. “I got that movie for us to watch tonight," says Mike's
mom. “Are you ready to leave?”

"Sure," Mike says, now holding the movie out in front of him. He reads the cover while walking back to the library
entrance. He puts his books and the movie on the front desk to check out. A librarian stands behind the counter holding
an electronic scanner. "How long can we keep them?" Mike asks her.

"Three weeks," says the librarian.

"Cool," says Mike.

Suddenly, Mike is surprised. His mother is checking out something else that is too big to put on the desk. It’s a
picture of the ocean.

"What is that for?" Mike asks.

"To put on our wall at home," says Mike's mom.

"You can do that?" Mike asks.

Mike's mom smiles at the librarian. "Yes," she says, "but we have to return it in three months."

Questions

1) Based on the books Mike finds to check out, we can tell that he is interested in

A. science
B. nature
C. mystery
D. adventure

2) While at the computer, Mike's mom

I. checks her mail

 II. looks at pictures
III. reads an article

A. I only
B. I and II only
C. II and III only
D. I, II, and III

3) According to the passage, how long can Mike and his mother use the books and the movie before they must return
them to the library?

A. one week
B. two weeks
C. three weeks
D. four weeks

4) Based on its use in paragraph 4, it can understood that quizzically belongs to which of the following word groups?

A. abnormally, strangely, weirdly

B. casually, carelessly, indifferently
C. passionately, keenly, intensely
D. inquisitively, questioningly, curiously

5) As used in paragraph 5, the phrase "check out" most nearly means

A. to see
B. to rent
C. to find
D. to buy

6) What does Mike's mom want to do with the picture of the ocean?

A. She wants to buy it.

B. She wants to hang it on her wall.
C. She wants to give it to her friend as a gift.
D. She wants to donate it to the library.

7) Using the passage as a guide, it can be understood that you can check out which of the following things from the
library?

I. pictures
II. furniture
III. computers

A. I only
B. I and II only
C. II and III only
D. I, II, and III

8) Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?

A. Mike's Mom
B. A Picture of the Ocean
C. At the Library
D. Books, Computers, Movies, and Pictures

SECTION B: USE OF ENGLISH

D. Read the story carefully and fill the story elements in given STORY MAP.

The Fastest Rider in Town

Alicia was the fastest bike rider in town. No one could beat her in a race. she won every
trophy. one day, Alicia was writing at the park. she was speeding on the trail, and she put
her head back to feel the wind on her face. just then, her front tyre hit a rock move add her
bike began to wobble.

Alicia fell off her bike and landed on the sidewalk. Her knees were scrapped, and her elbow
was hurt. Her friend helped her back on the bike , and the rode slowly and safely out of the
park.
Characters:
Title: __________________________
_______________________________ __________________________
__________________ __________________________
D. __________________________
Setting:
_______________________________
_______________________________ Problem/Dilemma:
_______________________________
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_______________________________
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_______________________________
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Solution: __________________________
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E.________________________________
Read each sentence. Write character, setting, problem/dilemma and solution on the line.
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1._Samantha is a friendly and happy girl. she loves to sing and dance. character

2. Henry broke his arm during football practice. Dilemma

3. we went to the beach last week Friday at 3:00 PM. Setting

4. Declan gave me half of his milk after I spilled mine on the floor. solution

5. The mall is huge. The walls were blue, and the floors were white. setting

6. My little brother is funny. He makes a lot of mess and says goofy things. character

7. when Denisha went to bake a cake, she realised there were no eggs. problem

8. Dinas got a bandage after he got a small cut on his knee. solution

9. lenny is short boy with curly hair. He's talkative and smart. character

F. Choose the correct words to complete the sentences.

1. We _______________ about the storm on the news. (hear, heard)

2. They _______________ that it was my birthday. (find out, found out)
3. The waiter _______________ us the menu to look at. (bring , brought)
4. I didn’t _______________ very well last night. ( sleep , slept)
5. Did you _______________ your coat in the cafe? (leave , left)
6. It was so cold that the pipes _______________. (freeze froze)
7. She didn’t _______________ us what to do for homework. (tell, told)
8. He _______________ bad about failing the test. (feel, felt)

G. Put the irregular verb in the past simple tense to fill the gaps.

1. I bought (buy) some food for lunch.

2. Who meet (meet) you at the airport?

3. We all had (have) the same idea.

4. Did (do) you speak to Sophie?

5. I didn’t see (see) the weather forecast earlier.

6. He gave (give) us a lift into town.

7. She read (read) three books in one week!

8. They took (take) a taxi to the hotel.

H. Change the verbs in brackets into the past tense. Some are regular and some are
irregular.

Yesterday (to be) was a busy day. I (wake) woke up at 6am, (have)
had breakfast quickly and then I (go) went to work. I (finish)
finished at noon and then (eat) ate some lunch. Afterwards I (drive)
drove to the shops, (buy) bought some paint and then (paint) painted my bedroom. My
housemate (come) came home from work so I (help) helped
him paint his room, then we (repair) repaired his chair as it (wobble)wobbled a lot. I
(wish) wished I hadn’t, as I hurt my hand! After that I (clean) cleaned my house. I
(vacuum) vacuumed all the downstairs and then (tidy) tidied up the living room
and the kitchen. I was pretty tired by then so I (eat) ate some dinner, (yawn) yawned , and
(go) went to bed!

I. Complete the tables below

Present Past Present Past

Hear Heard Be Was

Leave Left Put Put

Ring Rang Think Thought

Drink Drank Drive Drove

Go Went Break Broke

Get Got Oversleep Overslept

Take Took Sit Sat

Come Came wake woke

See Saw Run Ran

Shut Shut Write Wrote

Lend Lent Dig Dug

Steal Stole Bring Brought

Swim Swam Fly Flew

J. Select the correct option.

1. We ____________________ an interesting film last Tuesday. ( didn’t watched, did not

watch, don’t watch)

2. The students___________________in the garden last week. (didn’t worked, work, didn’t
work)

3. Tom _______________French yesterday. (doesn’t study, didn’t study)

4. Jane_____________________from Canada last month. (didn’t moved, doesn’t move,

didn’t move)

5. They___________________money last week.(didn’t save, don’t save, doesn’t save)

6. Our teacher______________to Turkey last year. (didn’t went, doesn’t went, didn’t go)

7. My brother__________________his toys yesterday. (didn’t found, didn’t find, don’t

found)

8.The cat________________on the tree, and the bird went away. (didn’t jumped, doesn’t
jump, didn’t jump)

K. Make questions in past simple for following answers.

1. I saw him yesterday.

Question: When did you see him?

2. The lamb ate the grass.

Question: What ?

3. They sold their house.

Question: Why did they leave( leave)the house?

4. She spent a lot of money.

Question: How much money she spend?

5.Mary chose white dress.

Question: Which dress Mary choose?

6. The boy said something.

Question: What did the boy say?

7. They went far away.

Question: Where did they go?

L. Choose the correct personality adjective.

1. He likes helping the others.

a. He is helpful

b. He is jealous

c. He is selfish

2. Always happy and smiling!

a. He is cheerful

b. He is generous

c. He is honest

3. He is usually alone and very quiet.

a. He is dishonest

b. He is shy

c. He is smart

4. He has good manners.

a. He is mean

b. He is polite

c. He is rude

5. He doesn’t work hard.

a. He is hardworking

b. He is lazy

c. He is kind

6. She’s always angry.

a. He is bad-tempered

b. He is intelligent

c. He is nice

7.Our teacher is never late.

a. He is punctual

b. He is strict

c. He is unpunctual

8.They like laughing and joking.

a. He is determined.

b. He is funny.

c. He is wise.

9.Brian doesn’t pay attention in class.

a. He is absent-minded.

b. He is attentive.

c. He is talkative.

SECTION D- English Literature

M. Answer the following questions.

1. What happened to the kingdom of Raban?

Ans:The kingdom of Raban was captured by a wicked tribe called the digons.

2. What was special about the stones?

Ans:They were magic stones that could save the kingdom of Raban.

3. Who do you think the guardians were?

Ans:The guardians were the people responsible for safety of the kingdom.

4. What did the guardians do every year?

Ans:They chose a special boy or girl to go on a journey to find the stones.

5. Who did Kehan choose to help him?

Ans:Kehan chose his best friends Bariel and Horaf.

6. How old is Daisy?

Ans: Daisy is 11 years old .

7. Where does she live?

Ans: She lives in the remote village of Los Pinos in Columbia.

9.How many brothers does she have?

Ans: She has two younger brothers.

10.How often does Daisy make the journey?

Ans: Daisy makes the journey everyday.

9. How does she feel when she’s travelling like this?

Ans: She feels nervous every time when she gets rides.

10.What other way could Daisy get to school?

Ans: She could get to school by two hours hike.

11.What responsibilities does Daisy have?

Ans: She has to get her two younger brothers to the other side safely and fixes them one by
one into their harnesses.

12.How fast does the zip wire travel?

Ans:The zip wire travels at a speed of nearly 50 kph.

N. Write the meanings of following words.

1. capture- to take and hold especially by force

2. Guardians- a person who is responsible for the care of someone or something

3. ravine- a small narrow valley with steep sides

4. howl- a long, doleful cry uttered by an animal such as a dog or wolf.

5. snarl- make an aggressive growl.

6. hike - a long walk or tour.

7. canyon- a deep gorge, typically one with a river

flowing through it, as found in North America.

8. harness - a set of straps and fittings.

9. Zipwire- Zipwire-A cable or rope stretched between two points at different heights.

10. Cable- A thick rope of wire

SECTION D-Writing

N. Write 10 sentences on safety advice on the road.

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O. Write the pros and cons of different types of transports.

Pros Cons