Portfolio Activity – 1

Topic: A Miscellany of Grammar

Nature of Task: Individual
Task: Grammar Test

Tick (3) the right answer of each item from the four options 7. This puppy was found roaming about
given below it. You can choose only one answer. No cutting aimlessly ............. the garden.
or rewriting is allowed. The first one has been done as an (a) on (c) at
example. (1 × 20 = 20 Marks) (b) in (d) into
e.g. Hello, Arun. Where ......... you yesterday? 8. She felt on top ............. the world when she
(a) was (c) are secured the top position in the debate.

(b) were (d) did (a) in (c) above

(b) of (d) on
1. She has provided me ........... lot of information
about 'Bhangra'. 9. The fire brigade arrived after the fire .............
(a) a (c) the put out.
(b) an (d) some (a) was being (c) will be
(b) has been (d) had been
2. When is ............. next test, Alex?
(a) you (c) yours 10. My father usually goes to his office by car, but
(b) your (d) your's today he ............. by bus.
(a) goes (c) was going
3. Not ............. people know what happened to
(b) is going (d) are going
the thief after he was arrested.
(a) some (c) many 11. If she had waited a little more, she .......... have
(b) every (d) any got the bus.
(a) must (c) will
4. I have ............. money on me. I'm totally broke.
(b) should (d) would
(a) some (c) much
(b) any (d) no 12. When my mother was young, she ............... be
very beautiful.
5. Do you think robots are ............. than human
(a) should (c) used to
beings?
(b) will (d) must
(a) smart (c) smartest
(b) smarter (d) more smart 13. The fire victims ....... in the local civil hospital.
(a) is treated (c) are treating
6. Choose the option that has all the adjectives
(b) are being treated (d) will be treating
in the 'correct order': My sister gifted me a ..... .
(a) big beautiful pink doll house 14. Five hundred new saplings ............. in the last

(b) big doll beautiful pink house three days.

(c) beautiful big pink doll house (a) have been planted
(b) has been planted
(d) beautiful pink big doll house
 2 Portfolio Activity (Grammar)
(c) were being planted
(d) are being planted
15. The sentence: The King said to Cordelia, "If
you say nothing, you will get nothing!" can be
rewritten in the indirect speech as:
(a) The King said to Cordelia that if you
say nothing, you will get nothing.
(b) The King warned Cordelia that if she
said nothing, she would get nothing.
(c) The King asked Cordelia to get
nothing if she said nothing.
(d) The King told to Cordelia that she if
says nothing, she would get nothing.
16. The girl ............. in wonder that her new frock
was very beautiful.
(a) said (c) exclaimed
(b) told (d) asked
17. The teacher told the class .............
(a) that the Earth was a planet
(b) the Earth was a planet
(c) whether the Earth is a planet
(d) that the Earth is a planet
18. ............. he was very sick, he insisted on going
to school.
(a) When (c) Although
(b) If (d) Because
19. We can consider rewriting the whole book,
............. you are not happy with this draft.
(a) unless (c) but
(b) so (d) if
20. Is your friend ............. so rude?
(a) ever (c) quite
(b) usually (d) certainly
Skills Assessed: Knowledge of a variety of grammar topics.
English 7
Learning Objective: To test how advanced a student's
knowledge of grammar is.
Procedure: The teacher will administer the test
randomly to the whole class. She/He may choose to
announce it beforehand. Students will take the test
individually. On the day of the test, the teacher will
distribute copies of the test and give the necessary
instructions (2-3 minutes) regarding what the test is
about and how much time has been allocated to it, and
how many marks it carries. After the test gets over,
he/she will collect the completed test-sheet for marking.
Students will complete the test by ticking (3) the
correct options.
Assessment Criteria: Each test item carries 1 mark.
Therefore, the score is equal to the number of correct
items. No negative marking for wrong answers. An
assessment scale indicates the level of competence in
grammar a candidate has at the time of the test.
Expected Time: 20 minutes (excluding the time for
giving instructions and distributing and collecting test-
sheets)
Remedial Follow-up: Based on their performance,
individual candidates may need customized and formal
teaching of grammar items assessed in the test.
Follow-up Activity (Optional): If necessary, another
test may be conducted after the remedial teaching is
completed.
ASSESSMENT SCALE FOR GRAMMAR
Score Levels of Competence
17-20 correct answers Advanced
14-16 correct answers Fairly Advanced
10-13 correct answers Satisfactory
6-9 correct answers Some signs of development
but there is a potential for
improvement
5 or fewer correct Weak command over
answers grammar and needs
remedial support
Total score obtained = ...........................
Portfolio Activity – 2
Topic: Grammar in Context
Nature of Task: Individual
Task: Grammar Test

(1) (3)
Complete the following passage by filling in the blanks with In the following passage, one word has been omitted in
suitable words. Write your answers in the space provided. each line against which a blank is given. Write the missing
(½ × 8 = 4 Marks) word along with the word that comes before and the word
According to (a) ....... World Health Organisation,
that comes after it in the space provided. Ensure that the
word that forms your answer is underlined.
India (b) ................. home to 1.20 crore people who
(½ × 8 = 4 Marks)
(c) .............. visually impaired. (d) ............ them, over
Located at the heart the city (a) .....
200,000 are children. It is estimated (e) .................
of Singapore, Singapore Botanic (b) .....
only 5 per cent of these children receive education Gardens is visited millions every year. (c) .....
(f) ................. special schools. The key (g) ................. It spread across 183 acres and is (d) .....
spreading education among (h) ................. is the more three times the age of Singapore (e) .....
knowledge of Braille. itself. It is the first garden Asia (f) .....

(2) and first tropical garden in the (g) .....

The following passage has not been edited. There is an error world to recognised by UNESCO. (h) .....
in each of the lines against which a blank is given. Write the ........................................... ..........................................
incorrect word and the correction in the space provided.
........................................... ..........................................
Remember to underline the word that you have supplied.
(½ × 8 = 4 Marks) ........................................... ..........................................

........................................... ..........................................
It is say that listening is a great (a) ......
way on master languages, especially (b) ...... (4)
pronunciation. Their are plenty (c) ...... Rearrange the following words and phrases to form
on free audio books available online. (d) ......
meaningful sentences. Write the correct sentences in the
space provided. (1 × 4 = 4 Marks)
Just chose your favourite story (e) ......
and start listening to them. It's (f) ....... (a) living land animals / are / giraffes / the world's
largest
a fun way to improve your's (g) ......
listening but language skills. (h) ...... ..................................................................................
..................................................................................
........................................... ...........................................
(b) only on / herbivores, feeding / plants / they
........................................... ........................................... are
........................................... ........................................... ..................................................................................

........................................... ........................................... ..................................................................................

 4 Portfolio Activity (Grammar) English 7

(c) can grow / 18 feet / to around / an adult male (6)

..................................................................................
Read the following conversation between a Press Reporter and the
PWD Minister and then complete the passage that reports the
..................................................................................
conversation. (1 × 5 = 5 Marks)
(d) to look out / use their height / giraffes / for
predators PRESS : Sir, what do you have to say about the corruption in
REPORTER your ministry?
..................................................................................
PWD : There's no corruption in my ministry whatsoever.
.................................................................................. MINISTER

(5) PRESS : But your secretary was caught red-handed accepting

REPORTER bribe from a well-known businessman two days back.
Given below are some instructions for making a bouquet of
PWD : I don't know anything about this development. I will
pencil shavings. Read them carefully and then complete the
MINISTER comment after I have found out the truth.
following paragraph that describes in passive voice how this
bouquet was made. Remember to use appropriate past tense A press reporter wanted to know what the PWD
forms of verbs. ( 4 Marks) Minister (a) ....................................................................

Method: .......................... ministry. The minister claimed that

1. Sharpen the pencil carefully to form long unbroken shavings. (b) ....................................................................................
2. Take two ice-cream sticks.
in his ministry whatsoever. Trying to corner the
3. Cut one stick into 2 rectangular pieces.
4. Stick these two pieces on one end of the other ice-cream minister, the reporter alleged that the minister's
stick in the form of a 'V'. secretary (c) ..................................................................
5. Curl the shavings very carefully to form flowers.
.........................................................................................
6. Stick these flowers on the 'V' of the other stick.
7. Paint the 'flowers' in bright colours. accepting bribe from a well-known businessman
two days earlier. The minister replied that (d) .........
HOW A BOUQUET OF PENCIL SHAVINGS WAS MADE
.........................................................................................
First of all, the(a) ...........................................................
about that development and added that (e) .........
............................ carefully such that long unbroken
........................................................................ the truth.
shavings (b) .................................................................. .
Next, two ice-cream sticks (c) .....................................
ASSESSMENT SCALE FOR GRAMMAR
............................... and one of them (d) ....................... Score Levels of Competence

....................................................... rectangular pieces. 22-25 correct answers Highly Advanced

Then, these two pieces (e) .......................................... 18-21 correct answers Advanced

......................... in the form of a 'V' on one end of the 14-17 correct answers Satisfactory

other ice-cream stick. Now, the shavings (f) ............ 10-13 correct answers Growing

.................................................. to form flowers which Below 10 Needs to improve

(g) ............................................................... on the 'V' of Total score obtained = ...........................

the other stick. Finally, the flowers (h) .......................
..................................................... in bright colours.
Portfolio Activity – 3
Topic: Vocabulary in Context
Nature of Task: Individual
Task: Vocabulary Test

The following passages have twenty underlined (c) a piece of land surrounded by water bodies
words/phrases. There is a question based on each of them (d) rural area with fields, farms and trees
that has four options for answers. Read the passages 5. The word 'firmly' can be replaced by which of
carefully and tick (3) the most suitable answer to each of the following?
the questions. (1 × 20 = 20 Marks) (a) naturally (c) strongly
(A) (b) loosely (d) gently
Since times immemorial1, trees have provided 6. The word 'eroded' means the same as which
people with wood, food, fibres and medicines. of the following?

Throughout history, people have used their wood (a) cleaned up (c) covered with
to fashion2 tools, construct buildings and create
(b) deposited with (d) washed away
works of art, and things like boats and wheels.
(B)
They have also used it for fuel. Trees help conserve3
Comunication is the most important skill in life.
7

natural resources like soil and water. In the

You spend ages8 learning how to read and write,
countryside , they act as wind breakers and
4

and years learning how to speak. But what about

prevent the top soil from being blown away. Their
listening? If you're like most people, you probably
roots firmly5 hold the soil together to ensure that it
seek9 first to be understood. And in doing so, you
does not get eroded by heavy rains or floods.
6

may overlook10 the other person completely, act

1. The word 'immemorial' in line 1 means the as if you're listening, or pay heed to11 only the words
same as which of the following? being said, but miss the meaning entirely. So why
(a) memorable (c) original does this happen? Well, it's because most people
(b) forgotten (d) ancient listen with the intent12 to reply, not to understand.
2. Which of the following can best replace the
7. The correct spelling of the misspelt word
word 'fashion' in line 4?
'comunication' is
(a) invent (c) make
(a) communicasion
(b) use (d) change
(b) cummunication
3. Which of the following is the opposite in (c) comunicaition
meaning to the word 'conserve' as used in the (d) communication
passage?
8. The word 'ages' has been used in which of the
(a) use (c) save
following senses?
(b) waste (d) protect
(a) long time (c) precious time
4. The 'countryside' is an area that is (b) little time (d) all our lives
(a) all the area of a country
9. The meaning of the word 'seek' in line 5 is best
(b) any green area in a city or town
explained by
 6 Portfolio Activity (Grammar) English 7

(a) refuse (c) answer 15. The word 'ingredient' can be replaced by
(b) follow (d) want which of the following?
10. Which of the following means the same as the (a) item (c) addition
word 'overlook' as used in the passage? (b) dish (d) decoration
(a) notice (c) ignore 16. The word 'yields' can be best replaced by
(b) consider (d) oversee (a) consumes (c) requires
11. Which of the following can best replace the (b) takes (d) produces
expression 'pay heed to'? 17. The word 'oozes' means the same as
(a) reply to (c) note down (a) absorbs (c) flows
(b) listen to (d) find out (b) fills (d) blocks
12. The word 'intent' can be best replaced by 18. The word 'spike' in line 11 conveys the meaning
(a) target (c) purpose of
(b) meaning (d) plan (a) petal (c) stem
(b) leaf (d) thorn
(C)
19. The opposite of the word 'invaluable' is
The coconut tree is an elegant palm-tree growing
(a) valuable (c) costly
up to a hundred feet high. Did you know that all
(b) useless (d) essential
parts of this magnificent13 tree are of some use or
20. The correct spelling of the word 'thaching' is
the other for mankind? Its fruit or seed, which
(a) thacthing (c) thacching
many consider is the largest nut in the world, has a (b) thatching (d) thaching
sweet kernel that is consumed14 raw or dried up
and used as an ingredient15 in many dishes. The
dried kernel also yields16 a lot of oil that is used as a
cooking medium and as hair oil. The coconut water ASSESSMENT SCALE FOR VOCABULARY
is sweet and nutritious. The sap which oozes17 from Score Range of Vocabulary
the cuts made on the young flower spike can be 18 (including collocation
and spelling)
turned into sugar. The hard shell of a coconut is used
in making cups, buttons etc. The trunk is invaluable19 17-20 correct answers Advanced

timber and the leaves are used for thaching20. 14-16 correct answers Fairly Advanced
10-13 correct answers Satisfactory
13. Which of the following can best replace the
word 'magnificent'? 6-9 correct answers The range needs to be
increased
(a) large (c) ordinary
5 or fewer correct answers Low range. Remedial
(b) beneficial (d) wonderful
intervention is necessary
14. The word 'consumed' can be replaced by
which of the following words without Total score obtained = ...........................
changing the meaning?
(a) preserved (c) kept
(b) used (d) crushed