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2024 Grd-7-English Notes-T3-2022 (Tom Newby School)
2024 Grd-7-English Notes-T3-2022 (Tom Newby School)
GRADE 7
TERM 3
GM 2018
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THEME 1 .......................................................................................................................... 4
NOUNS ....................................................................................................................... 4
ADVERBS ................................................................................................................... 5
ADJECTIVES .............................................................................................................. 6
DEGREES OF COMPARISON.................................................................................... 8
CLAUSES .................................................................................................................... 9
SYNONYMS .............................................................................................................. 13
ANTONYMS .............................................................................................................. 13
HOMOPHONES ........................................................................................................ 14
ABBREVIATIONS...................................................................................................... 15
QUESTIONNAIRES .................................................................................................. 19
THEME 2 ........................................................................................................................... 24
COLON ...................................................................................................................... 28
APOSTROPHE.......................................................................................................... 28
INTERVIEWS ............................................................................................................ 31
THEME 3 ........................................................................................................................... 34
PRONOUNS .............................................................................................................. 34
THEME 4 ........................................................................................................................... 41
PREPOSITIONS........................................................................................................ 41
THEME 5 ........................................................................................................................... 56
ARTICLES ................................................................................................................. 56
COMPREHENSION .................................................................................................. 62
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THEME 1
NOUNS
What is a noun?
A noun is a part of speech that is used to name a person, place, thing, quality, or action.
Common nouns Names things that are around us e.g. table, book, window
Proper nouns Names of people, books, songs, titles. They begin with a capital
letter e.g. John, BMW, London, Tom Newby School, Master
Street
Collective nouns Describes a group of things or people as a unit e.g. herd, flock
Uncountable nouns Can only be used in singular. They cannot be counted e.g. rice,
water, coffee, gas
Singular nouns A noun that is only one item e.g. book, pencil, tree, car
A nouns that is many e.g. books, pencils, trees, cars (add s)
Plural nouns
No apostrophe is used in plural form.
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Activity 1: Nouns
UNDERLINE THE NOUNS IN EACH SENTENCE AND STATE THE TYPE OF NOUN
THAT HAS BEEN USED.
ADVERBS
What is an adverb?
An adverb is a word that modifies verbs, adjectives and other adverbs.
Adverb of manner
An adverb of manner tells us how something is done or happens.
Most adverbs of manner end in –ly such as happily, sadly, slowly, quickly.
Adverb of time
An adverb of time tells us when an action happened/happens e.g. yesterday, tomorrow,
now, later, two weeks ago.
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Activity 2: Adverbs
ADJECTIVES
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Activity 3: Adjectives
REWRITE THE SENTENCES BELOW. FIRST UNDERLINE THE NOUN, THEN CIRCLE
THE ADJECTIVE. REMEMBER, IF THERE ARE 2 NOUNS IN THE SENTENCE, CHECK
WHICH NOUN IS BEING DESCRIBED.
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DEGREES OF COMPARISON
1. Not everyone agrees that she is (pretty, prettier, prettiest) than her sister.
2. Can an elephant be (tall, taller, tallest) than a giraffe?
3. That pond is the (shallow, shallower, shallowest) in this area.
4. That has to be the (interesting, more interesting, most interesting) film I have
seen.
5. Of the two paths, this is (short, shorter, shortest) to get there.
6. He is easily the (bad, worse, worst) player in the team.
7. The second half of the play was (little, less, the least) exciting.
8. What is (far, farther, the farthest) distance you have ever run?
9. Jill’s writing was (neat, neater, neatest) than Jack’s.
10. The owl is the (wise, wiser, wisest) from all the other birds.
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CLAUSES
What is a clause?
A clause is a group of words containing a subject as well as a verb.
A clause may function as a noun or as an adjective or as an adverb.
If it functions as a noun, it is a noun clause.
If it functions as an adjective, it is an adjectival clause.
If it functions as an adverb, it is an adverbial clause.
NOUN CLAUSES
Example
1. What Amber did, shocked her family.
2. Billy’s mistake was that he did not go for extra lessons.
3. Whichever one you buy, has a guarantee.
ADJECTIVAL CLAUSES
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Example
1. The orange that he bought was delicious.
2. The car, which is the latest model, is very expensive.
3. The people who live next door, are good neighbours.
ADVERBIAL CLAUSES
Examples
Time = when?
Place = where?
Manner = how?
Purpose = why?
Examples
1. There was a netball match on Saturday. (when)
2. He was in a hurry, so he ate his food quickly. (how)
3. Meet her at the Northmead Mall. (where)
4. They did not attend school on because of the bad weather. (why)
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Example
1. Joe went to the store.
2. Sarah and Jessie are going swimming.
Co-ordinating conjunctions
F for
A and
N nor
B but
O or
Y yet
S so
Examples
1. I tried to speak Spanish and my friend tried to speak English.
2. Alex was playing football, so Maria went shopping.
3. Katlego cooked dinner, yet Thandi never ate.
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Examples
1. When he handed in his homework, he forgot to give the teacher the last page.
2. The teacher returned the homework after she noticed the error.
3. The students are studying because they have a test tomorrow.
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SYNONYMS
Synonyms are words that have the same or very similar meaning.
Examples:
Beautiful attractive, gorgeous, dazzling, ravishing, graceful, elegant.
ANTONYMS
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SYNONYM ANTONYMS
child
scared
quiet
fast
right
rich
fog
glum
best
light
HOMOPHONES
Homophones are words that are pronounced the same, but are spelt different and have a
different meaning.
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Activity 7: Homophones
ABBREVIATIONS
Acronym: an abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and
pronounced as a word.
Example
SARS South African Revenue Service
AWOL Absent Without Official Leave
PIN Personal Identification Number
WHO World Health Organisation
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Truncation: Truncation refers to the shortening of a word by removing part of it. This
type of abbreviation consists only of the first part of a word. These are most often used when
referring to proper titles such as months of the year or days of the week.
Example
Mon Monday
Oct October
Fri Friday
Feb February
Clipped: this is similar to truncation in that you are using a part of the word to form
the abbreviation. in this case, the middle or end is being used.
Example
phone telephone
burger hamburger
plane aeroplane
fridge refridgerator
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Activity 8: Abbreviations
PUNCTUATION: ELLIPSIS
Example:
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against
unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated…
3. Pause in writing:
Stories and novels use ellipses to a very different effect. An ellipsis can demonstrate a
pause in dialogue, a pause in narrative or a character or a narrator trailing off.
Example:
“I’m not sure what to do…” he stammered.
This demonstrates the inability of the character to make up his mind.
A narrator might say: “He was without hope… desolate, empty… the epitome of a broken
heart.”
This is pausing for emphasis.
PUNCTUATION MARKS
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Activity 9: Punctuation
this experience gave percy an idea over the next few months he spent hours
experimenting in his workshop he designed round glass studs that reflected the light from
a cars head-light
percy shaws invention is used throughout the world today they are called cat eyes
QUESTIONNAIRES
What is a Questionnaire?
A questionnaire is a research instrument consisting of a series of questions for the
purpose of gathering information from respondents. Questionnaires can be thought of as a
kind of written interview. They can be carried out face to face, by telephone, computer or
post.
Questionnaires provide a relatively cheap, quick and efficient way of obtaining large
amounts of information from a large sample of people. Data can be collected relatively
quickly because the researcher would not need to be present when the questionnaires
were completed. This is useful for large populations when interviews would be impractical.
However, a problem with questionnaire is that respondents may lie due to social
desirability. Most people want to present a positive image of themselves and so may lie or
bend the truth to look good, e.g., pupils would exaggerate revision duration.
Creating Questions:
2. Plan questions that will help you get the information you need.
Begin with a broad span of questions, then narrow them down until each one relates to your
goals in some way. Keep questions and answers simple, using as few words as possible.
You may want to rely on open-ended questions, closed-ended questions, or a mix of the
two.
EXAMPLE OF A QUESTIONNAIRE
My friends
My teacher
Recess
Lunch
Pizza
Ice-cream
Pyjama
Other
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Chocolate
Vanilla
Dogs
Cats
8. I prefer (crayons, colour pencils, markers, just a pencil) when asked to colour
something.
Crayons
Colour Pencils
Markers
Just a pencil
Jewellery
Notepads
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Fun pens/pencils
Stickers
Puzzles
Mazes/Colouring Books
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THEME 2
1. wife
2. fish
3. deer
4. mouse
5. goose
6. baby
7. tooth
8. woman
9. child
10. firefly
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DIRECT SPEECH
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INDIRECT SPEECH
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ROOT WORDS
IDENTIFY THE ROOT WORD FROM THE LIST OF WORDS IN THE TABLE BELOW.
WORDS ROOT WORDS
sleepy
worked
dishes
unhappy
rewrite
goodness
thoughtful
bicycle
submarine
running
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COLON
COLON
APOSTROPHE
Contraction
A contraction refers to a shortened form of a word, syllable, or word group, created by
omission of internal letters which are replaced by an apostrophe.
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Examples
I am I'm
I will I'll
I do not I don't
I cannot I can't
There is There's
where is where's
who is who's
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Possession
Possession means ownership of a noun.
Examples:
The family’s house – singular noun - ’s
The boys’ scooters – plural noun s’
Hercules’ strength was legendary. – s’ – do not add another s if the word/name ends in s
Children’s rights – plural word – add ’s
Plural dates do not take an apostrophe e.g. 1800s
Abbreviations do not take an apostrophe e.g. CEOs
Possessive pronouns do not take an apostrophe e.g. ours
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INTERVIEWS
As a student, after graduation, you will be looking for a job? What can you expect
during the job interview? The interview questions that managers ask candidates will
typically be focused on why you are interested in the job and why the company
should hire you.
Even if you have limited work experience, you can still answer these kinds of
interview questions well. Review these entry level interview questions and sample
answers.
Consider how you would answer, so you're ready to respond during the job
interview.
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THEME 3
PRONOUNS
Types of pronouns:
• Personal pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, they)
• Reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves,
themselves)
• Possessive pronouns (mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs)
• Demonstrative pronouns (this, that, those, these)
• Relative pronouns (who, which, that, whose)
Personal pronouns
A personal pronoun, is used as a substitute for proper and common nouns.
Examples
John is a doctor - He is a doctor
The laptop is on the desk - It is on the desk
A subject pronoun is used when the pronoun is the subject of the sentence.
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I mine myself
he his himself
it its itself
we ours ourselves
Possessive Pronouns
Like its name suggests, a possessive pronoun indicates ownership.
Possessive pronouns do not contain apostrophes.
A possessive pronoun is used to avoid repeating information that has already been
made clear.
These useful pronouns make sentences less confusing, mine, yours, his, hers, ours,
theirs.
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Reflexive pronouns
Reflexive pronouns are used when the object is the same as the subject.
Examples: myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, themselves
For example, in the sentence "he hurt himself", he and himself refer to the same person.
In the above examples, the reflexive/intensive pronouns can be removed without changing
the meaning.
Demonstrative pronouns?
Demonstrative pronouns are words that show which person or thing is being referred to. The
demonstratives are this, that, these, and those.
In the sentence:
This is my brother
this is a demonstrative
Use of demonstrative pronouns:
Demonstratives differ according to:
distance: near or far,
number: singular or plural.
This - -
That - -
These - -
Those - -
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SIMPLE TENSES
Tenses are forms of a verb that show the time. There are three main tenses: present, past,
and future.
Past tense: used to refer to something that happened or existed in the past. The past tense
is also called the simple past.
Examples:
My grandfather played in a football team.
I ate a big spicy piece of pizza for my breakfast.
Present tense: used to refer to something that happens or exists now. The present tense
is also called the simple present.
Examples:
The heart pumps blood through the body.
Dogs bark.
Future tense: refers to something that has not happened at the time of speaking. The future
tense makes use of the words will and shall.
Examples:
I will call you.
We shall have a discussion in three days.
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REWRITE THE SENTENCES BELOW AND CHANGE THEM TO THE TENSES LISTED
WITHIN BRACKETS.
Active Voice:
In the active voice, the subject performs the action.
For example: The country mouse visited the town mouse.
Passive Voice:
In the passive voice, the subject receives the action.
For example: The town mouse was visited by the country mouse.
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Meeting minutes provide an important record of proceedings, whether it’s for a corporate
staff meeting, a board meeting or an informal committee meeting.
Being able to quickly take notes keeps meetings on track and provides a clear summary
to those who weren’t able to attend.
Agenda:
The agenda is a formally written list of things that will be discussed at a meeting.
Chairperson:
The chair is the person who runs the meeting.
They are usually of a higher stature within the company.
They take the lead role in decision making and drawing up final conclusions.
They will also run the agenda of the meeting and allow people to speak in turn.
Minutes:
Minutes of a meeting are the written record of a meeting.
They typically describe the events of the meeting, starting with a list of attendees, a
statement of the issues considered by the participants and related responses or
decisions for the issues.
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THEME 4
PREPOSITIONS
Prepositions are words that show the relationship of one thing to another.
They refer to place, position time manner or reason.
They usually appear before nouns and pronouns.
The following table contains rules for some of the most frequently used prepositions
Prepositions – Time
since from a certain point of time (past till now) since 1980
for over a certain period of time (past till now) for 2 years
to / till / marking the beginning and end of a from Monday to/till Friday
until period of time
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till / until in the sense of how long something is He is on holiday until Friday.
going to last
by, next to, left or right of somebody or something Jane is standing by / next to /
beside beside the car.
under on the ground, lower than (or covered the bag is under the table
by) something else
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below lower than something else but above the fish are below the
ground surface
above higher than something else, but not a path above the lake
directly over it
across getting to the other side (also over) walk across the bridge
getting to the other side swim across the lake
through something with limits on top, bottom and drive through the tunnel
the sides
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Chronological order:
A method of organisation in which actions or events are presented as they occur (or
occurred) in time.
Emotive language:
The deliberate use of strong, emotive words to play on the readers’ feelings. It’s a
language that carries strong emotions.
Bias: A tendency to believe that some people, ideas, etc. are better than others. This
belief usually results in people being treated unfairly.
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you may be prejudiced against New Zealanders even though you have never met any, or
you had a bad encounter with one New Zealander and decided that all New Zealanders
are rude.
On the other hand, a bias can be based on a thorough knowledge of a person/thing - for
example, one might think that a mother shouldn't judge an art competition in which her son
is one of the competitors because she may be biased towards him.
Stereotypes:
A stereotype is used to categorise a group of people. People don't understand that type of
person, so they put them into classifications, thinking that everyone who is similar, needs
to be like that or anyone who acts like their classifications, is one.
The stereotype for Goths are black clothes, black make-up, depressed and hated by
society.
The stereotyped ideas associated with Punks are mohawks, spikes, chains, menace to
society, always getting into trouble.
Rhetoric devices:
Rhetoric devices are techniques that an author or speaker uses to convey to the listener or
reader a meaning, with the goal of persuading him or her towards considering a topic from
a different perspective. They use sentences designed to encourage or provoke a rational
argument from an emotional display of a given perspective or action.
NEWSPAPER ARTICLE
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These individuals produce news stories using investigative reporting and excellent
editing and newspaper writing skills.
These stories are then presented to the public in the form of a newspaper.
1. Headline
This is the heading of the newspaper article.
A headline must get the attention of the audience so that they want to continue
reading the article.
It can be written in larger font than the rest of the article.
2. Byline
This states the name of the journalist who wrote the article.
It can sometimes include the type of journalist the person is e.g. sports journalist.
It can also include the day and date.
3. Place line
This gives the name of the area where the event took place.
4. Lead paragraph
This paragraph contains the most essential information that the journalist had to
research to write the article.
This section answers Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How?
5. Body
This paragraph includes all other information the audience may want to know about
the headline.
The journalist must decide what else the audience will want/need to know within the
article and do more research to include this information.
This section may also include witness interviews and other direct quotes from
people involved in the event being written about. This adds accuracy to the article.
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Headline
Benoni - A car thief was nabbed after he was locked in the vehicle that he was trying to steal.
The anti-hijack system that was installed in the car, enabled when the car thief tried to start
the vehicle.
Body
The police were called to attend to the matter, after two thieves were identified as trying to
steal a car. The neighbourhood was alerted when the alarm of the car triggered when the
thieves tried to break in. On hearing the sound of the sirens, the one suspect fled the scene.
The other suspect could not escape because he was trapped inside the car, when the anti-
hijacking system engaged. On arrival, the police were surprised to find a 23 year old man
trapped inside the vehicle that he wanted to steal. The thief was taken into police custody
where he awaits his day in court.
Quotation
"The thief, who was trying to steal my car, was locked inside and could not get out due to
the smart anti-hijacking system I had installed recently,” said Mr Sithole, the owner of the
vehicle. The police officers also added that the second thief was found hiding in the alley,
waiting for his accomplice. He too was taken into custody.
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Write a newspaper article about an exciting event that happened at your school.
Your story must be 100-120 words long. Follow the format above.
Follow the writing process.
READ THE NEWSPAPER ARTICLE BELOW AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT
FOLLOW.
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Questions
1. What is cyber bullying?
2. What did the authors of this study say would happen, if the evidence found was
ignored?
3. What percentage of participants believed that cyber bullying had increased over the
past 2 years?
4. Name five different types of cyber bullying incidents which have been reported.
5. What effects does cyber bullying have on a young person’s mental health?
6. What would you do if you were being bullied?
7. Why do you think young people bully others?
Jeff Wicks
NEWS24 Reporter
Wednesday, 14 October 2022
Durban – A dog named Hero has lived up to his name, staying with an injured dog
companion for days, only leaving to fetch food and return it to his injured companion.
Hero’s story is a remarkable tale of loyalty, which played out two weeks ago at a section of
a railway track in Durban. Another dog and Hero had been spotted on the railway tracks.
Someone reported the dogs to the Durban and Coast SPCA, saying the dogs had been hit
by a train. Only one dog had been hit by a passing train. It was paralysed due to severe
spinal damage and it was unable to move.
For three days, Hero stayed with the injured hound, leaving only to fetch food and return it
to the injured dog. On March 18, Inspector Lucas Moloi responded to the call. SPCA
spokesperson Lindsey Fogarty said, “Moloi arrived at the scene to find Hero caring for the
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injured animal. Security officers in the area reported that they had seen the dog going out
to look for food and bringing it back to his injured friend.”
Hero stayed close by as Inspector Moloi carried his canine companion to safety, watching
over her and ensuring no further harm was caused. “The injured dog had a severe spinal
injury and had to be put down to prevent further suffering. Her guardian angel is up for
adoption, looking for his forever home,” Fogarty said.
“Hero is such an amazing dog. He is very loving and desperate for attention. He adores
belly rubs. He is a little timid, but he won’t let that get in the way of making new friends.”
Hero is recovering from a bit of a cough, is otherwise in good health and in high spirits.
The good news is that he is at the beginning stages of adoption by a Durban family.
Questions:
Write the correct letter in your books.
1.2. What does the title “Hero by name, hero by action” mean?
A) The dog, whose name was Hero, was a hero to save another dog.
B) Two dogs named Hero were injured on the train tracks.
C) A dog saved another dog whose name was Hero.
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1.5. Why did Hero return to the injured dog every day?
He went back to . . . the dog
A) guard
B) harm
C) feed
D) defend
1.8. Why did Hero keep watch while the other dog was taken to safety?
Hero wanted to see if the dog was . . .
A) hungry.
B) injured.
C) clean.
D) safe.
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1.10. What does the picture caption “Hero the Super dog” mean?
Hero can . . .
A) feed dogs.
B) save lives.
C) run fast.
D) fly high.
A) The dog could not move because the dog was paralysed.
B) The dog could not move because it was paralysed.
C) Because the dog could not move it was paralysed.
D) The dog could not move. The dog was paralysed.
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1.16. What is the figure of speech in ‘The train was as fast as lightning’.
A) alliteration
B) metaphor
C) simile
1.17. Choose the correctly punctuated sentence from the given options.
The reporter said I really admire that dog.
A) The reporter said that I really admire that dog.
B) The reporter said, “I really admire that dog.”
C) The reporter said, I really admire that dog.
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1.27 What is the name of the section that shows where the incident took place?
A) Lead paragraph
B) Place line
C) Headline
2. Summarise the entire story into 6 sentences only. Write the summary in one paragraph.
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THEME 5
ARTICLES
Definite article:
A definite article is used when you refer to something specific/particular.
Use the in your sentence.
Example
The sailors sailed across the Amazon River.
By using the article the, it shows that they sailed specifically across the Amazon River.
Indefinite articles
An indefinite article is used when you refer to something general or not specific.
Use a or an in the sentence.
a is used with a word that begins with a consonant.
an is used with a word that begins with a vowel.
Example
The sailors sailed across a vast river.
By using the article a, it shows that they did not sail across a specific river. Using a creates
a general statement.
Example
I heard an interesting story yesterday.
By using the article an, it shows that I heard a random story that was interesting.
Using an does not specify or name the story.
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EVALUATION PARAGRAPHS
Topic Sentence
• The topic sentence is the first sentence in a paragraph.
• It introduces the main idea of the paragraph.
• It summarizes the main idea of your paragraph or indicates, to the reader, what the
paragraph will be about.
I argue that Canada is one of the best countries in the world. Canada has a high standard
of education. Students are taught by well-trained teachers and are encouraged to continue
studying at university. As a result, Canada is a desirable place to live.
Supporting Details
Supporting details follow the topic sentence and make up the body of a paragraph. They
give details to develop and support the main idea of the paragraph. They should give
supporting facts, details, and examples.
Canada is one of the best countries in the world. Canada has a high standard of
education. Students are taught by well-trained teachers and are encouraged to continue
studying at university. As a result, Canada is a desirable place to live.
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Closing Sentence
The closing sentence is the last sentence in a paragraph.
It restates the main idea of your paragraph using different words.
Canada is one of the best countries in the world. Canada has a high standard of
education. Students are taught by well-trained teachers and are encouraged to continue
studying at university. As a result, Canada is a desirable place to live.
Literal language is used to mean exactly what is written. It is the dictionary meaning of
the words that are used. This is referred to as denotation.
Figurative language is used to mean something other than what is written, something
symbolic, suggested, or implied. This is referred to as connotation. Poets often used
figurative language to give multiple possible meanings to their poems.
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TYPES OF SENTENCES
SENTENCE TYPES
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DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY
Writers use the descriptive essay to create a vivid picture of a person, place, or thing.
Unlike a narrative essay, which relates a personal story, the purpose of a descriptive
essay is to reveal a story through detailed, sensory imagery (using your senses).
The descriptive essay uses the power of language and all the senses to bring a subject
to life for the reader.
This is where adjectives play an important role in a descriptive essay. Using adjectives
will enhance your writing and make it more interesting.
Description is used often, to create atmosphere and mood: films do this visually, writers
do this with words.
When a person is writing a descriptive essay, there should be very detailed
observations.
Write about what you see in your mind. The more detail that you give, the better the
story.
If the reader comes away from a descriptive essay with the feeling that they have really
met a person, gone to a particular place, attended a certain event/occasion or held a
certain object, the writer has done a good job.
Read the following descriptive essay on Carnival Rides. Notice that it is not a story
about ‘Johnny visiting Gold Reef City”, it is describing the carnival rides.
Carnival Rides
I have always been fascinated by carnival rides. It amazes me that average, ordinary people
eagerly trade in the peacefulness of the ground for the chance to be tossed through the air
like vegetables in a food processor. It amazes me that at some time in history, someone
thought that people would enjoy this, and that person invented what must have been the
first of these terrifying machines. For me, it is precisely the thrill and excitement of having
survived the ride that keeps me coming back for more.
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My first experience with a carnival ride was a “Ferris Whee”l at a local fair. Looking at that
intimidating monstrosity spinning the life out of its sardine-caged occupants, I was amazed!
It was huge, smoky and noisy. Ever since that initial impression became fossilized in my
imagination many years ago, these rides have reminded me of mythical beasts, amazing
dinosaurs carrying off their screaming passengers like cows lining up at the abattoir. Even
the droning sound of their engines brings to mind the great roar of a fire-breathing dragon
with smoke spewing from its exhaust-pipe nostrils.
The first ride on one of these fantastic beasts gave me an instant rush of adrenaline. As the
death-defying ride started, a lump in my throat pulsed like a misplaced heart ready to walk
the plank. As the ride gained speed, the resistance to gravity built up against my body until
I was unable to move. An almost faint pause as the wheel reached the top of its climb
allowed my body to relax in a brief state of normalcy. After that, it was an assault of stomach-
turning weightlessness as the machine continued its rotation and I descended back toward
the earth. A cymbal-like crash vibrated through the air as the wheel reached the bottom, and
much to my surprise I began to rise again.
Each new rotation gave me more confidence in the churning machine. Every ascent left me
elated that I had survived the previous death-defying fall. When another nerve-wracking
climb failed to follow the last exhilarating descent and the ride was over, I knew I was
hooked. Physically and emotionally drained, I followed my fellow passengers down the
clanging metal steps to reach the safety of my former footing. I had been spared, but only
to have the opportunity to ride again.
My fascination with these fantastic flights is deeply engrained in my soul. A trip on the
wonderful “Ferris wheel” never fails to thrill me. Although I am becoming older and have less
time, or less inclination, to play, the child-like thrill I have on a “Ferris Wheel” continues with
each and every ride.
COMPREHENSION
Read the following text on WhatsApp and answer the questions set on it.
1 WhatsApp is a free to download messenger app for smartphones. WhatsApp uses the
internet to send messages, images, audio or video. The service is very similar to text
messaging services, however, because WhatsApp uses the internet to send messages,
the cost of using WhatsApp is significantly less than texting.
2 Brian Acton and Jan Koum came up with the idea of WhatsApp while working out in the
gym. Their goal was to connect people all around the world free of charge. WhatsApp
quickly became the most popular messaging app, despite the internet being flooded with
other messaging apps. In fact, WhatsApp has been downloaded over 48 million times,
ever since its launch. Since its inception, the messaging app has known many changes.
3 Initially WhatsApp was just a simple messaging application when it was founded in 2009.
However, it only became famous as of February 2014 when it reached over 200 million
users. Within the same month, the application was acquisitioned by Mark Zuckerberg. The
CEO of Facebook said that the application matches his vision of having a tool which
provides internet services for free. The purchase of WhatsApp cost a solid $19 billion.
4 Just a few months later, it reached over 600 million active users in August 2014. Seeing
the success of the app, the developers decided to make it even more interesting. In March
2015, they added a new feature to the app- the free voice calling. Many telephone
companies felt threatened after this feature was released. In November 2016, video calling
was introduced followed by WhatsApp’s release of their own set of emoji’s (emoticons) in
October 2017.
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5 There are various other features which make messaging easier on WhatsApp. For
instance, the application lets you bold, strike or italicize a text before sending it. Group
chats are very popular amongst WhatsApp users. The best feature as per users is the fact
that you are made aware of whether the receiver has seen or ignored your message.
WhatsApp allows users to keep in touch with people living abroad and you can share your
live location with family and friends.
6 As per the stats, 60 billion messages are sent and received on WhatsApp on a daily
basis. Plus, there are over 600 million photos alongside 100 million video messages which
are sent every day! It is also responsible for 27% of the selfies which are shared on social
media.
Source: www.whatsappfounders.com
Word count: 400 words
Question 1:
1.1 Choose the correct answer and write down the correct letter only.
1.1.1 The abbreviation ‘app’ in the text refers to … (1)
A) an application
B) an appliance
C) approximately
D) appropriate
1.1.2 Which of the following statements is TRUE in paragraph 1? (1)
A) WhatsApp is completely free to use.
B) WhatsApp works the same as text messaging services.
C) WhatsApp is a cheaper way of sending text messages.
D) WhatsApp doesn’t need an internet connection to send messages.
1.1.3 Why did Brian Acton and Jan Koum go to the gym? (1)
A) To work out.
B) To create WhatsApp.
C) To come up with a new idea.
D) To connect people all around the world.
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1.2 Which word in line 7 suggests that there are a lot of messaging apps? (1)
1.3 How many times has WhatsApp been downloaded? (1)
1.4 Match the important events in WhatsApp’s history from Column B with the (5)
correct dates in Column A and write down only the letter on your answer
sheet. Example 1.4.1 E
Column A Column B
1.4.1. A. WhatsApp reaches over 600 million active
2009 users.
1.4.2. B. WhatsApp introduces free voice calling.
August 2014
1.4.3. C. WhatsApp reaches over 200 million active
March 2015 users.
1.4.4. D. The year WhatsApp was founded.
November 2016
1.4.5. E. WhatsApp introduces video calling.
October 2017
F. WhatsApp releases their own emoticons.
1.5 What vision did the creators of WhatsApp and Mark Zuckerberg share? (1)
1.6 Write down two facts from paragraph 3 which prove that WhatsApp is (2)
successful.
1.7 Why do you think telephone companies felt threatened (line 20) after (1)
WhatsApp added free voice calling to their app?
1.8 Say whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE.
1.8.1 You need to add a minimum of two people to your conversation to form a (1)
group chat.
1.8.2 WhatsApp allows you to talk to people in other countries. (1)
1.9 Do you think being able to share your live location is a good or a bad idea? (2)
Formulate two well developed sentences to support your answer.
1.10 Was the comprehension text’s purpose to entertain or to inform? (2)
Give a reason for your answer.
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2.1 Which company would be happiest with this chart? Give a reason for your (2)
answer.
2.2 What does the abbreviation ‘M’ stand for? (1)
Choose the correct answer. Write down the correct letter only.
A) Magnitude
B) Million
C) Billion
D) Monthly
2.3 Identify the word used in the heading that means to take over. (1)
2.4 Who is Facebook’s closest competitor? (1)
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2.5 Name two ways in which the heading grabs the reader’s attention. (1)
2.6 What is Twitter’s logo? (1)
2.7.1 What do we call a person with lots of money? (1)
2.7.2 Do you think the original developers of WhatsApp made lots of money? (2)
Write down the sentence from the last paragraph of the text that proves
this.
Read the questions first, and then the passage. Thereafter, answer the questions.
Questions:
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1 Icy winds that feel like tiny blades making paper cuts across your skin; temperatures
that sometimes dip so low that there’s a risk even your tear ducts could freeze. But worst
they say, is the endless white vista that stretches for kilometres on end and the sun that
never sets.
2 It hardly sounds like a dream destination, but for a few brave souls, the North Pole
holds an irresistible appeal – just ask Sibusiso Vilane. The 42 year-old-mountaineer from
Mpumalanga is the first black African to have conquered what is known to explorers as the
“Three Poles Challenge” – the North and South Pole and Mount Everest.
3 He first climbed Everest, which stands at an incredible 8 848m above sea level, in
2003. He then went back and climbed the mountain again – this time from the more
dangerous North Ridge on the Tibetan side. In 2008 he spent 65 days completing a
gruelling 1 113km trek to the South Pole.
4 After finishing both expeditions – which put him in the record books as the first Black
African to achieve this feat – he still wasn’t satisfied and yearned to see the North Pole. He
got his chance in February this year when a four-man crew of two Russians, a Czech
guide and an American, put out word through mountaineering channels that they were
looking for a fifth man to join their expedition. Sibusiso jumped at the chance.
5 “I’d have liked to do it with an African team, but they do not do this sort of thing, so you
go with the team you get,” he says as he chats to us a day after his return to his duplex in
Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. While the media is still abuzz about his record-breaking
achievement, there’s only one thing on the father of four’s mind: the wonderful
homecoming meal that his wife Nomsa cooked for him. “It’s strange because I hardly eat
meat, but my first meal whenever I get home, must be meat and pap,” he says, flashing a
toothy grin.
6 Sibusiso has scaled all seven of the world’s highest summits. In 1999 he climbed
Kilimanjaro in Tanzania followed by Everest four years later. In 2006 he completed
Aconcagua in Argentina, Elbrus in Russia, Carstensz Pyramid in Indonesia and Vinson
Massif in Antarctica. In 2008 he climbed Mount McKinley in America, which stands 6 194m
above sea level.
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7 “My adventures have taught my kids that the world is only as big as their dreams and I
want to spread that message to as many children as I can,” he says. Now that he has
conquered the world’s most challenging summits and the Poles, what’s next for the
intrepid adventurer? “Next year I want to climb Everest again – but this time without
oxygen,” he says enthusiastically
Read the questions first, and then the passage. Thereafter, answer the questions.
Johnny Clegg
1 South African music legend Johnny Clegg has died at the age of 66. The singer
was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015 and opened up to “The Juice” about
his disease. “I’m dealing with another parallel world that I work in with my diagnosis.
Pancreatic cancer is lethal. There’s no way out of it.” During an interview with YOU in
February, the legendary musician opened up about his new album and life after music
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2 As the front man of Juluka and Savuka, he gave us unforgettable and distinctly South
African songs such as “Impi”, “Asimbonanga” and “Scatterlings of Africa.” After four
decades in the industry - during which he broke barriers, wowed audiences around the
globe, jived with Madiba and earned an OBE (Order of the British Empire) from Britain’s
Queen Elizabeth – Johnny announced his retirement last year following a battle with
pancreatic cancer.
3 We caught up with the legend, who had just completed the SA leg of his Final Journey
World Tour, to find out more about his new album and life after music. What’s it like to
know you’re on your final tour? “It’s bittersweet but what I’ve done is turned it into an
autobiographical show.” Why did you call your new album King of Time? “It’s a
tongue-in-cheek title. I’ve managed to outlast a lot of my contemporaries with my
own musical style.”
4 Tell me something most people don’t know about you? “I can’t read music! I play
entirely by ear.” “Asimbonanga”, a song you wrote for Nelson Mandela, released in 1987,
is described as one of your most iconic songs. Can you sing the chorus to us?
“Asimbonanga--------------------(we have not seen him)
Asimbonang' uMandela thina-----(we have not seen Mandela)
Laph'ekhona--------------------(in the place where he is)
Laph'ehleli khona”--------------(in the place where he is kept)
5 What can fans expect? “I’ve always written about the country and politics but there are
also songs about the environment, and some love songs. I think SA is in a pretty dark
place right now, but I believe we have the tools to change it. I have a song called, “Colour
of my Skin”, basically saying, we’ve had 23 years of democracy and yet colour is still such
an important issue.
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Question 1: Comprehension
1.1. Select the most suitable answer from the options given.
1.1.1. Johnny Clegg belonged to ______ band/s in his lifetime. (1)
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
1.1.2. Johnny Clegg died of Pancreatic cancer. A result of this type of cancer is: (1)
A) a skin disorder.
B) bleeding nose.
C) loss of appetite and weight.
D) changes in hair colour.
1.1.3. Johnny Clegg described being on his final tour as “bittersweet”. What does this
mean? (1)
A) a pleasurable experience
B) a painful experience
C) both an exhausting and an energising experience
D) both a pleasurable and a painful experience
1.1.4. Johnny Clegg turned his final show into an autobiographical show. This means that
the show was about: (1)
A) the struggles of his own country.
B) the struggles of his own band.
C) the story of his own life.
D) the story of Nelson Mandela’s life.
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1.2. Quote a sentence from the extract that shows that race is still a bone of contention in
South Africa. (1)
1.3. State whether the following sentences (1.3.1 - 1.3.2) are TRUE or FALSE. Give a
reason for your answer.
1.3.1. Johnny Clegg has a pessimistic view of South Africa’s current status. (2)
1.3.2. “It’s a very fertile place in which to write”, means that South Africa is a productive
place in which to write. (2)
1.4. Why does Jonny Clegg feel that the title of his new album is tongue-in-cheek?(2)
1.5. List 2 of Johnny Clegg’s hit singles mentioned in the passage. (2)
1.6. Last year, Johnny Clegg embarked on his Final Journey world tour. The name of the
tour turned out to be quite an ironic one. Explain the irony? (2)
1.7. Johnny Clegg said, “I’ve managed to outlast a lot of my contemporaries.” Do you
agree with his statement? Substantiate your answer. (1)
1.8. Suggest a reason as to why Johnny Clegg wrote the song, “Asimbonanga”. (1)
1.9. What do you think an anthropologist does? (1)
1.10. “I play entirely by ear.” – paragraph 4. What does this phrase mean? (1)
Question 2: Language
2.1. Identify the underlined punctuation mark in: (1)
2.1.1. ...earned an OBE from Britain’s Queen Elizabeth – Jonny announced his
retirement last year following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
2.2. Write a suitable collective noun to complete the sentence below. (1)
2.2.1. A __________________ of musicians went on tour with Jonny Clegg.
2.3. Find the root word and suffix in the word below. (1)
2.3.1. autobiographical
2.4. Rewrite the sentence below replacing the adjective with its superlative form. (1)
2.4.1. Colour is still an important issue.
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2.10 Find a synonym from the passage for the following definition: (1)
2.10.1. part or bit
2.11 Find an antonym from the passage for the following word: (1)
2.11.1 international
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