English 1119/2 July 2008 Monthly Test

This question paper consists of 4 sections : Section A, Section B, Section C and Section
D. Answer ALL questions.
Section A
[15 marks]
Questions 1 and 2

Why do we need to protect our turtles?

A
B
C
D

The best way to inform the public about the importance of saving the turtles is
A
B
C
D

Question 3

The sea is becoming too polluted

The turtle population is declining
Turtles are being harmed by tourists
Turtles are very popular with children

through educational campaigns

by banning the sale of turtle eggs
by increasing the number of hatcheries
through the enforcement of laws against pollution
THE GUARD HOUSE
REGISTER HERE BEFORE

Which of the following statements BEST explains the sign above?

A
You must report to the guard at the guardhouse before you go in.
B
The guard will give you a registration form before your enter.
C
You have to register at the guardhouse if you want to be a guard.
Question 4
Read the extract below and answer the following question.

English 1119/2 July 2008 Monthly Test

Some people scratch their names on the wall for the following reasons EXCEPT
that
A
B
C
D

they are very proud

they are not knowledgeable
they do not care for property
they are very ashamed of their acts

Question 5

The advertisement will attract students for the following reasons EXCEPT
A
B
C
D

students can score highly

the teachers are very experienced
the workshop is conducted in a hotel
students can do much better in exams

Question 6
INVITATION TO OUR 10th WEDDING
ANNIVERSARY
* RSVP before 15th November 2008
6

In the care above, RSVP can best be replaced with the phrase

A
C
Question 7

please come
deliver now

B
D

please reply
celebrate now

When you are in this shop, you should be

A
thrifty
B
careful
C
active
D
silent

Question 8

English 1119/2 July 2008 Monthly Test

The phrase bury the hatchet means to

A
B
C
D

dig a hole and bury something

forget previous misunderstandings
pretend like someone
learn to work together

Questions 9 15
Read the following passage and then fill in the blanks with the BEST answer.
A tourist was walking along the beach at sunset __9__ he noticed a man, a local
native, who kept picking up something and __10__ it back into the water. The tourist was
puzzled. He caught the man and asked him why he was doing that.
Im throwing these starfish back into the sea. You see, its low tide right now and
all these starfish have been washed up onto the shore. If I dont throw __11__ back,
theyll die up here from lack __12__ oxygen.
I understand, the tourist replied, but there must be thousands of starfish on this
beach. You cant possibly get to all of them. There are simply too __13__ . And dont you
realize this is happening on hundreds of beaches up and down this coast. Dont you see
that you cant possibly make a __14__?
The local native smiled, bent down and picked up yet __15__ starfish, and as he
threw it back into the sea, he replied, at least that one will live!
(Adapted from Chicken Soup For The Soul Home Delivery)
9

A before
B while

C when
D after

10 A taking
B leaving

C pushing
D throwing

11 A it
B them

C they
D those

12 A in
C at

B of
D off

13 A much
C varied

14

A difference
B proposal
C solution
D result

15

A
B
C
D

others
another
other
more

B many
D abundant

English 1119/2 July 2008 Monthly Test

ANSWER KEY FOR SECTION A

1

10

11

12

13

14

15

Section B

English 1119/2 July 2008 Monthly Test

[10 marks]
Questions 16 25
Read the following information on the new 7 wonders of the world and answer the
questions that follow.
CHICHEN ITZA, MEXICO

COLOSSEUM, ITALY

From its famed heyday as the Mayan

political and economical centre, as well as
site for human sacrifices, several surviving
structures including the Pyramids of
Kulkulkan and the Temple of the Warriors
can still be found here.

Construction of the Colosseum

began under the rule of Emperor
Vespasian to celebrate a good
victory. More recently, the site has
provided the backdrop of concerts
by Ray Charles, Paul McCartney
and Elton John.
GREAT WALL OF CHINA, CHINA

PETRA, JORDAN
Petra was known as the capital of the
Nabatean empire of King Aretas IV
hewn out of rose red rock cliffs.
Masters of water technology, the
Nabateans provided their city with
great tunnel construction and water
chambers. Keep an eye out for its
appearance in movies like Indiana
Jones and The Last Crusade and
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation.

Chinas first emperor Shih Huang Ti

fortified and linked existing defensive
walls to keep the invading Mongol
tribes out, which inadvertently created
the largest man made monument
ever to have been built.

MACCHU PICCHU, PERU

TAJ MAHAL, INDIA

The lost city of Macchu Picchu was built

by the Incan Emperor Pachachutec and
was only rediscovered three centuries later
by American historian Hiram Bingham in
1911. The site consists of several mystical
structures including the Intihuanata stones
which shamans believe will allow a person
to see the spirit world by rubbing their
forehead on it.

The Taj Mahal was built by Mogul Emperor,

Shah Jahan to honour the memory of his
beloved wife, Mumtaz. Constructed out of
white marbles and standing amidst carefully
manicured gardens, it is considered the
finest monument of Muslim art and
architecture.

CHRIST THE REDEEMER, BRAZIL

Thirty eight metres tall, this statue of Christ overlooks Rio de Janeiro, the capital city of
Brazil from its perch atop the Corcovado Mountain. Earlier this year, the statue was
struck by lightning during a violent electrical storm, but miraculously, it remained
unharmed.
(Adapted from Astro View Magazine July 2008 Issue)
Questions 16 20
5

English 1119/2 July 2008 Monthly Test

For each of the description below, name the place of interest that the following people
should visit.
No Description
16 Jennifer would like to visit the largest
man made monument ever to have
been constructed.
17 Peter is studying Mayan
Anthropology.
18 Siti Nurhaslinda is very interested in
special and unique stones.
19 Johan is an architect. He is interested
in designs of Islam architecture.
20 Lee is an enthusiast in water
technology.

Place of Interest

[5 marks]
Questions 21 25
Based on the information given, give short answers to the following questions.
21

How high is the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil?

___________________________________________________

22

Intihuanata stones which shamans believe will ______________

____________________________________________________

23

[1 mark]

Why did Shah Jahan build the Taj Mahal?

____________________________________________________

25

[1 mark]

One of the singers who had used Colosseum as the backdrop of concerts was
____________________________________________________

24

[1 mark]

[1 mark]

One of the structures which can still be found in Chitchen Itza, Mexico is
____________________________________________________

[1 mark]

Section C

English 1119/2 July 2008 Monthly Test

[10 marks]
Questions 26 30
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.

English 1119/2 July 2008 Monthly Test

(Adapted from Joyce Carol Oates, Upon the Sweeping Flood,

The Granta Books of the American Short Story,
published by Granta Books 1992)

26

From paragraph 1,
(a)
Why did Stuart slow down and stop his car?
_____________________________________________________ [1

mark]
(b)

What was the policemans advice to Stuart?

_____________________________________________________ [1

mark]
(c)

Why did he give this advice?

_____________________________________________________ [1

mark]
27

From paragraph 2, find a word that tells us that the children came from a poor
family.
___________________________________________________________ ]1

mark]
28

From paragraph 3, how did they manage to climb up to the attic?

___________________________________________________________ [1

mark]
29

From paragraph 4, how does the author give us an idea of how strong the wind
was? Give two examples.
(i)
___________________________________________________
(ii)

30

___________________________________________________ [2 marks]

From paragraph 5,
(a)
Stuart took the axe and began hacking at the roof timbers above him. Why

English 1119/2 July 2008 Monthly Test

did he do this?
__________________________________________________
(b)

[1 mark]

In your opinion, what can you do to help the flood victims of your
neighbourhood?
__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________

[2 marks]

Section D
[15 marks]
Question 31
Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow.
Monsoon History
Drinking milo,
Nyonya and baba sit at home.
This was forty years ago.
Sarong wrapped they counted
Silver paper for the dead.
Portraits of grandfathers
Hung always in the parlour.
Shirley Geok-lin
31

(a)

In line 4, the word they refers to _______________________________

[1 mark]

(b)

Why do they count silver paper for the dead?

___________________________________________________________
[1 mark]

(c)

Which phrase shows Malay influence in the baba nyonya way of life?
__________________________________________________ [1 mark]

(c)

Portraits of grandfathers hung always in the parlour

In your own words, what do you think the persona means by the
statement above.
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English 1119/2 July 2008 Monthly Test

__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________ [2 marks]

Question 32
Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow.
Monsoon History
Reading Tennyson, at six
p.m. in pajamas,
Listening to down pouring
rain: the air ticks
With gnats, black spiders fly,
Moths sweep out of our rooms
Where termites built
Their hills of eggs and queens zoom
In heat. We wash our feet
For bed, watch mother uncoil
Her snake hair, unbuckle
The silver mesh around her waist,
Waiting for father pacing
The sand as fishers pull
From the Straits after monsoon.
Shirley Geok-lin Lim
32

(a)

Which phrase tells you that they enjoy poetry?

__________________________________________________ [1 mark]

(b)

What two things does mother do before she goes to bed?

(i)

_____________________________________________

(ii)

_____________________________________________
[2 marks]

(c)

Why is the personas father pacing the sand?

____________________________________________________ [1 mark]

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English 1119/2 July 2008 Monthly Test

(d)

Why do you think they wear pajamas at 6 p.m.?

___________________________________________________ [1 mark]

Question 33
Read the extract from the short story The Drovers Wife and answer the questions that
follow.
It must be near one or two o clock. The fire is burning low. Alligator lies
with his head resting on his paws and watches the wall. He is not a very
beautiful dog to look at and the light shows numerous old wounds where the
hair will not grow. He is afraid of nothing on the face of the earth or under
it. He will tackle a bullock as readily as he will tackle a flea. He hates all
other dog except kangaroo dogs - and has a marked dislike to friends or
relatives of the family.

33

(a)

Which line tells you that Alligator is very brave?

________________________________________________ [1 mark]

(b)

What was Alligator waiting for?

________________________________________________ [1 mark]

(c)

Who was looking out for the snake with Alligator?

_______________________________________________ [1 mark]

(d)

Would you like to have a pet like Alligator? Why?

_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________ [2 marks]

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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English 1119/2 July 2008 Monthly Test

LIM/080708/2232/ All Rights Reserved

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