NAME: .

CLASS:

Section A
[25 Marks]
Time suggested: 50 Minutes
Questions 1- 6 are based on the following passage.
1

Almost all people want to have a flawless skin. So important is the pressure to have a flawless
skin for some people that a lot of money is spent on buying treatment or facial products and a
lot of time is spent for facial treatments at the beauty centre or in front of the mirror. The appearance
of a clean and acne-free skin reflects a persons overall health, not forgetting general hygiene
standards. Acne is not an unusual skin problem. However, it is still regarded by many people,
especially women, as one of most feared skin problems.
Many assumptions have been formed to explain why acne erupts, but the major factors that
can contribute to acne formation include changes in hormone levels. This is why many who are in
teens face acne problems as their hormone levels change to adjust to adulthood. Another factor is
genetics, which is way we can often see that acne seems to be a main problem in some families
but not in others. The blockage of skin pores such as those caused by excess sebum and dirt, as well
as infection caused by bacteria around the oil glands in the skin, could also be among the reasons for
acne or pimples to develop.
Acne eruption cannot be controlled so easily but there are several things that we can avoid to
reduce the severity of the condition. A common method, which is used by many women who want
to take a short cut to solve their problem, is to use concealer onto acne before make-up is applied.
For some people, this method works effectively and they have picture perfect skin in no time.
But the after-effect can be devastating. This is because the concealer could block skin pores even
further, causing dirt and oil to be trapped. This promotes infection and more acne.

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Many people also find it very hard to get rid of the habit of squeezing their acne to the extent
that the skin bleeds. While many of us assume that when we squeeze that pimple, the dirt of pus will
be removed from the skin, this is very unadvisable as it actually allows dirt, oil, and infection to
travel even deeper into the skin layers and sometimes develop into swellings, which could
eventually cause scarring.

20

In addition, it is also not recommended that one uses harsh facial scrubs excessively, or scrub the
skin surface too hard. Violent scrubbing of a pimpled skin will irritate the skin and thus worsen its
condition further. Many beauty consultants will advise acne-problem people to use a mild cleanser
in small amounts, and apply only its foam onto the skin.

25

What we eat and drink is also important for our general well-being as well as skin health. Many
doctors would advise that one should take plenty of water as mean of flushing unwanted and
harmful toxins from the body. Toxins in the body is very dangerous and harmful. It could be the
main reason for pimples and acne to develop.

Apart from that, one can also improve his or her skin condition by taking vitamin and mineral
supplements. If the skin has been inflamed for example, a nutrient, zinc, could help heal acne. Zinc
can be obtained from food or from supplements we can buy at pharmacies. Eating food rich in
vitamins A, C and E, like oranges, tomatoes and apricots, may also help. In fact, most fruits and
vegetables are good for the skin and body that we should try to eat them as a regular portion of our
daily diet. In addition, there are beneficial herbs like Echinacea and evening Primrose Oil which
have been found to have healing and anti-inflammatory properties.

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NAME: .

CLASS:

1. From Paragraph 1,
a. What do you understand by the phrase having a flawless skin ?

[1m]

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b. According to the writer, why is it important to have acne-free skin?

[1m]

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2. From Paragraph 2,
a. What is the main reason for acne to erupt?

[1m]

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b. Why do many teenagers face acne problems?

[1m]

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3. From Paragraph 4,
a. The writer mentions that, This is very unadvisable as it could actually allow dirt, oil and
infection to travel even deeper into the skin. What does this refer to?

[1m]

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b. Why is it unadvisable to squeeze the acne?
[1m]
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4. From Paragraph 7, give two ways to improve our skin conditions.
[2ms]
i.
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ii.
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5. In your own words, give two reasons why you should take good care of your skin conditions.
i.
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ii.
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6. Based on the passage given, write a summary on:
The reasons for acne development
Things to avoid in order to control acne and
Ways to improve skin condition or heal acne
Credit will be given for use of words but care must be taken not to change the original meaning.
Your summary must:

Be in continuous writing (not in note form)

Use materials from line 7 39
Not be longer than 130 words including the 10 words given below

NAME: .

CLASS:

Begin your summary as follows:

Acne is regarded as a common yet most feared skin
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NAME: .

CLASS:

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NAME: .

CLASS:

Section B
[20 Marks]
Time suggested: 20 Minutes
7. Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow.
NATURE
H.D. Carberry
We have neither Summer nor Winter
Neither Autumn nor Spring.
We have instead the days
When the gold sun shines on the lush green canef ields Magnific ently.
The days when the rain beats like bullet on the roofs
And there is no sound but the swish of wat er in the gullies
And trees struggling in the high Jam aic a winds.
Also there are the days when leav es fade from off guango trees
And the reaped canef ields lie bare and fallow to the sun.
But best of all there are the days when the mango and the logwood blossom
When bushes are full of the sound of bees and the sc ent of honey,
When the tall grass sway s and shivers to the slight est breath of air,
When the buttercups have paved the earth with yellow stars
And beauty comes suddenly and the rains h ave gone.

a. Quote the expression from the poem which describe a wet and rainy day.

[1m]

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b. When you read the line trees struggling in the high Jamaica winds, describe the scene that
flashes in your eyes.

[1m]

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c. What does the line When the gold sun shines on the lush green canefields suggest to you about
the canefield?

[1m]

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d. What are the days enjoyed by the poet? Would you feel the same? Support your answer with a
reason.

[2m]

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NAME: .

CLASS:

8.