THE TWELFTH CANTONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETITION – Primary schools 2013

12TH CANTONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETITION

READING
Primary Schools

Sarajevo, 19 April 2013

Code: _________

INSTRUCTIONS

The test has three sections:

- Reading - 10 questions (10 points)
- Vocabulary - 30 questions (30 points)
- Grammar - 60 questions (60 points)
TOTAL: 100 questions (100 points)

♥ The time allowed: 100 minutes

♥ Read the questions carefully
♥ Answer the questions on the Answer Sheet
♥ Do not write anything on the Test set
♥ For each question choose only one answer (the best alternative)
♥ Do the Answer Sheet as in the example below:

Example: We _________________ a test now.

A do B have done C are doing D to do
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COMPREHENSION

Ministry for Education, Science and Youth – Pedagogical Institute

 THE TWELFTH CANTONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETITION – Primary schools 2013

After reading the story, choose the correct alternative for each question. Circle one answer.

Jacob hated finishing things almost as much as he loved starting them. As a result, he had got into a million hobbies and
activities; however he never stuck with any of them long enough to get any good. He begged his mother for months for
a guitar so that he could play Black Eyed Peas songs to Angie, a girl he liked, but after he finally got one for Christmas,
he found out that guitars don’t play themselves. He took a few lessons, but strumming the strings hurt his fingers and he
didn’t like holding the pick, so now the five-hundred dollar guitar lives under his bed.

After reading an ad in the back of one of his comic books, Jacob decided that he wanted a Wonder- Sweeper 5000 metal
detector, so that he could find buried pirate treasure. So he mowed lawns all summer and didn’t spend his money on ice-
cream like his younger brother, Alex. He saved it all in a shoe box in his closet. Then he shoveled driveways all winter,
and he didn’t spend his money on candy and chips like his classmates. By the time spring came he had saved $200, and
he purchased the Wonder-Sweeper 5000 metal detector. He beeped it around the park for a while, but he soon found out
that no pirates had ever set sail in his neighborhood, and if they had they didn’t leave any treasure. Even though he
found a key ring, forty-seven cents, and all the bottle caps he could throw, he buried the metal detector in his closest.

Given Jacob’s history with hobbies, it was no surprise that Jacob’s father was reluctant to buy him a magician’s kit for
his birthday. "Geez, Jacob… You sure you wouldn’t rather I got you more guitar lessons?" He suggested. Jacob was
insistent. "Dad, you’ve got to get me the magician’s kit. This time I’ll stick with it for real. I promise! Come on, Dad,"
Jacob begged. Jacob’s father sighed and then replied, "Oh, I don’t know, Jacob. Things are awfully tight right now." But
Jacob’s father was reminded of his own youth long ago, when he quit football and started karate practice before hardly
getting his equipment dirty. So when Jacob’s birthday came around, Jacob was both surprised and pleased to find the
magician’s kit that he had desired so badly with a big bright bow on it.

Jacob opened up the box and unwrapped the many parts in the kit. As he did so, he imagined sawing his pet cat in half
and putting it back together to the amazement of his friends and family. He took the many fake coins, trick cards, and
rope pieces of varying length on the kitchen table and imagined pulling rabbits out of his hat and turning them into
pigeons with a mysterious puff of smoke. As Jacob continued pulling plastic thumbs, foam balls, and giant playing cards
out of the magic kit, a commercial on the TV caught his attention. "Hey kids! Have you ever wanted to go to space?
Experience what it’s like to be an astronaut? Do you want to explore the universe? Well, now you can." As the
commercial continued playing, Jacob walked away from the magic kit on the kitchen table and stared at the TV screen
longingly. "For only $195 you can go to space camp and live life like an astronaut for a whole weekend. Enroll now for
a once in a life time experience." Jacob’s cry rang throughout the house as he yelled, "MOM!"
He now knew what his true purpose in life was.
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1. According to the text, why does Jacob stop playing the guitar?

Ministry for Education, Science and Youth – Pedagogical Institute

 THE TWELFTH CANTONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETITION – Primary schools 2013

6. Why does Jacob’s father buy Jacob the magician’s kit?

a) It hurt his fingers.
b) He’d rather play drums. a) Jacob mowed the lawn.
c) It was too easy. b) Jacob reminded his father of himself.
d) He failed math. c) Jacob bought ice cream for his brother.
d) Jacob found his father’s key ring.
2. Why does Jacob decide that he wants a metal detector?
7. What distracts Jacob’s attention from the magician’s kit?
a) He sees a man at the park with one.
b) His father had one as a child. a) a TV commercial
c) He saw a TV commercial for one. b) his father
d) He read an ad for one in a comic book. c) the kitchen table
d) a comic book
3. How does Jacob get the items
that he wants in the story? 8. Based on the end of the story, Jacob is most likely to go
on and do which of the following?
a) He asks his mom.
b) He asks his dad. a) become a great magician
c) He shovels driveways and mows lawns. b) learn to play guitar well
d) He does all of these things to get what he wants. c) detect an incredible hidden treasure
d) raise money to go to space camp
4. When did Jacob buy the metal detector?
9. Which happened first in the text?
a) in the fall
b) in the summer a) Jacob asked his dad for the magician’s kit.
c) in the spring b) Jacob got a guitar for Christmas.
d) in the winter c) Jacob mowed lawns.
d) Jacob shoveled driveways.
5. Why doesn’t Jacob’s father want to get him the
magician’s kit for his birthday? 10. Which happened last in the text?

a) Jacob failed math class. a) Jacob saved up $200.

b) Jacob quits too many expensive activities. b) Jacob found forty-seven cents in the park.
c) Jacob has been mean to his younger brother. c) Jacob took guitar lessons.
d) Jacob went to the park without permission. d) Jacob knew his true purpose in life.

This is the end of Reading Section. Now do the next section. ♥

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VOCABULARY SECTION

Ministry for Education, Science and Youth – Pedagogical Institute

 THE TWELFTH CANTONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETITION – Primary schools 2013

Choose the correct word or phrase for each question.

1. It was the most _______________ 6. Leaders often have to make __________

holiday I have ever had. decisions for the benefit of their groups.

a) relaxing
a) popularity
b) relaxed
b) impopular
c) surprised
c) unpopularly
d) bored
d) unpopular
2. She is different _______________ her
7. The factory is _______________ in a
sister.
suburb of Manchester.
a) from
a) place
b) to
b) situated
c) than
c) built
d) of
d) surrounded
3. I have forgotten to inform them to come
to the meeting. The _______________ 8. You should _______________ a lawyer
is on me. before you sign that document.

a) guilt a) counsel
b) blame b) communicate
c) culprit c) consult
d) mistake d) check

4. The tusks were _______________ to 9. She was given the award in

good use, protecting the mammoths' _______________ of her academic
young from other animals, and brushing achievements.
away snow.
a) charge
a) held b) recognition
b) put c) spite
c) set d) aspiration
d) kept
10. Water was _______________ slowly
5. The profit of the company only from the pipe.
increased _____________ and the
a) filtering
marketing director was fired.
b) spilling
a) significance c) gushing
b) insignificantly d) leaking
c) insignificance
d) significantly 11. Some of the delegates made an
extremely useful _______________ to
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the discussion.

Ministry for Education, Science and Youth – Pedagogical Institute

 THE TWELFTH CANTONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETITION – Primary schools 2013

a) contribution 16. Long vehicles should be ___________

b) suggestion to travel in the day time as they are a
c) insertion great threat to small vehicles.
d) opinion
a) banned
12. Which pair is different? b) cut
c) included
a) search - seek d) allowed
b) many - numerous
c) reliable - dependable 17. The place where we met was very
d) jolly – cheerful _______________.

13. Which words describe females? a) romantically

b) romanic
a) niece / aunt / sister-in-law / lioness c) romance
b) cow / ram / rooster / nephew d) romantic
c) hen / poetess / chicken / billy-goat
d) doctor / teacher / architect / son-in-law 18. ___________ I saw that Mary was a
better mathematician __________ John.
14. To end a relationship with a wife, a
husband or a boyfriend is a) than - then
_______________. b) then - then
c) than - than
a) to break out d) then – than
b) to be angry
c) to discomfort 19. If he keeps _______________ the
d) to break up teacher, no one will understand the
lesson.
15. He is _______________ the most
understanding teacher of our school. I a) interrupt
don't know how you got on his bad b) interruptions
side. c) interrupting
d) interruption
a) possibly
b) impossible 20. Which pair is the same?
c) impossibly
d) possible a) selfish - unselfish
b) brave - courageous
c) hardworking - lazy
d) fat – slim
b) important
c) acceptable
d) strong
21. Reasonable price is:
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a) clear

Ministry for Education, Science and Youth – Pedagogical Institute

 THE TWELFTH CANTONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETITION – Primary schools 2013

22. Which of the following verbs is not c) speak

possible? d) announce

a) drive a bike
27. Some of the world's famous crime
b) ride a bike
writers have achieved the ___________
c) get off a bike
success of all.
d) repair a bike
a) largest
b) greatest
23. It was very______________excursion. c) highest
d) prime
a) education
b) educational
28. If you have an ambition to become
c) educated
the____________ Agatha Christie what
d) uneducated
should you do?

a) next
24. Which word is misspelled?
b) following
c) subsequent
a) politician d) later
b) seeson
c) typical 29. Like any good recipe you have to know
d) engineer the main __________ of a successful novel.

a) parts
25. Earth is the only __________ we know b) ingredients
in the universe that can support human life. c) pieces
d) sections
a) situation
b) place 30. In the virtual classrooms of the future
c) position the students will_________on their headset,
d) site and be transported into an imaginary school.

a) place
b) put
c) set
d) get

This is the end of Vocabulary Section. ♥

26. Most people are born with the natural

ability to__________ stories, but only a rare
few have the determination to become
professional authors.

a) say
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b) tell

Ministry for Education, Science and Youth – Pedagogical Institute

 THE TWELFTH CANTONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETITION – Primary Schools 2013

GRAMMAR SECTION

Read the questions carefully and choose the

correct answer. 7. If I _______ you, I _________ go to the
doctor's.
1. Carlos _____ my letters a few days ago.
a) am / will
a) answers b) were / will
b) answer c) am / would
c) answered d) were / would
d) has answered
8. I think you _________ leave early.
2. "I __________ here for ten years."
a) should
a) live b) had to
b) am living c) must
c) have lived d) are going to
d) lived
9. Which irregular plurals are correct?
3. Brian and Claire got married
___________. a) men / feet / tooth / mice / knifes
b) men / foot / teeth / mouse / knifes
a) five years ago c) man / feet / teeth / mice / knives
b) since five years d) men / feet / teeth / mice / knives
c) for five years
d) five years yet 10. Could you bring me _____ glass of water,
please?
4. Debra ________ television when the
storm ______________. a) the
b) a
a) watched / begins c) some
b) is watching / begin d) –
c) watches / begun
d) was watching / began 11. We've just moved into our house, and we
haven't got ________________.
5. What time ____________ (phone) me?
a) a furniture
a) are you phoning b) any furniture
b) you phone c) some furniture
c) you have phoned d) - furniture
d) are you going to phone
12. My homework is very difficult. There
6. I _____________ the dentist at 4.30 on are _________ new words to learn.
Saturday.
a) not enough
a) will see b) too many
b) am seeing c) enough
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c) am going to see d) too much

d) saw
 THE TWELFTH CANTONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETITION – Primary Schools 2013

13. Can you wait _____________, please? 19. Have you ever been to___________?

a) out a) Canada or United States

b) out of b) the Canada or the United States
c) outside c) Canada or the United States
d) on out d) the Canada or United States

14. ___ Rolling Stones are ____ very old 20. I'm tired. I think I __________ to bed.
rock group.
a) am going
a) - / a b) go
b) The / a c) will go
c) The / - d) went
d) The / the
21. Which past participle forms are
15. Mario took his pet snake ____ his correct?
English class.
a) come / written / said / played / read
a) to b) came / wrote / said / played / read
b) at c) came / written / sayed / played / read
c) in d) come / write / said / played / red
d) into
22. Nerina is _________ to drive a car.
16. Direct speech: "I'm having a good
time,'' said Carol. a) oldest
b) old enough
a) She says she is having a good time. c) older
b) She said she has had a good time. d) older enough
c) She said she was having a good time.
d) She said she is having a good time. 23. They have taken my car. __________isn't
running.
17. Mary can't stand ________ in cities.
a) they
a) drive b) their
b) driving c) theirs
c) the drive d) them
d) drove
24. The French ___________ classes are using
18. I like your new bike.___________really the new books.
fast!
a) teacher's
a) Its b) teachers
b) It's c) teacher
c) It d) teachers'
d) There is
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 THE TWELFTH CANTONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETITION – Primary Schools 2013

25. You've cooked the meat ____________.

31. If the traffic gets very bad we ______
a) beautiful the train.
b) beautifuly
c) beautifully a) may not miss
d) more beautiful b) may have miss
c) might miss
26. Tarik is __________________ than all of d) might not miss
his sisters.
32. The house __________ sold for five
a) the oldest hundred pounds.
b) more old
c) older a) has been
d) the most old b) had been
c) have been
27. Sonia looks very ________________. d) has being

a) unhappilly 33. Have you got ____ shampoo?

b) unhappy
c) unhapy a) some
d) inhappily b) any
c) -
28. I ____________ phone you if I _______ d) many
from Alice.
34. There were only _____ people at the
a) am going to / heard meeting.
b) will / hear
c) would / hear a) a little
d) will / heard b) a few
c) much
29. That cheese ___________ you like d) many
comes from Scotland.
35. My sister works in _______________.
a) where
b) who a) a flower shop
c) which b) flowers shop
d) what c) shop flower
d) shop's flower
30. My mother usually comes to stay
_____________ Christmas. 36. I managed to get to sleep__________
there was a lot of noise.
a) at
b) off a) because
c) in b) although
d) of c) in spite of
d) because of
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 THE TWELFTH CANTONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETITION – Primary Schools 2013

37. Maybe I'll open a window. But if I 43. __________ a car when you were living
______ it, it ____ be very noisy. in London?

a) opened / will a) Had you

b) has opened / will b) Were you having
c) opened / would c) Have you had
d) open / will d) Did you have

38. Everybody _________ know more than 44. Sally lives in London, ________?
one language.
a) is she
a) are going to b) isn't she
b) ought to c) does she
c) must d) doesn't she
d) have to
45. I made a stupid mistake. I _________
the wrong train.
39. My family ____ away just now.
a) got at
a) is b) got out of
b) are c) got on
c) was d) got off
d) is /are (both)

40. I can' t bear ________ spiders. 46. Richard didn't help me. He sat in an
armchair and _______ nothing.
a) to look at
b) it to look at a) do
c) look at b) doing
d) it to look c) did
d) done
41. Look – I ______ a new jacket.
47. ________ room is bigger than _______.
a) bought
b) have buy a) my / her
c) buy b) mine / hers
d) have bought c) my / hers
d) mine / her
42. How long have you ________ the
piano? 48. We didn't speak _______ the meal.

a) learnt a) while
b) learned b) for
c) been learning c) during
d) been learned d) at
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 THE TWELFTH CANTONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETITION – Primary Schools 2013

49. "Do you like reading books?" "It

depends _________ the book."
55. Everything is going well. We
a) about ________any problems so far.
b) on
c) to a) didn't have
d) for b) don't have
c) haven't had
50. I enjoyed __________ very much at d) doesn't have
the party.
56. We _______________ by a loud noise
a) yourself during the night.
b) myself
c) herself a) woke up
d) themselves b) are woken up
c) were woken up
51. I would like _______ pot of coffee, please d) were waking up
and ______ boiled eggs.
57. The police officer stopped us and asked us
a) - / - where __________.
b) a / some
c) - / any a) were we going
d) - / some b) are we going
c) we are going
52. It's Rachel's birthday tomorrow and I d) we were going
__________ her a present.
58. "What's that noise?" "It sounds
a) hasn't bought __________ a baby crying."
b) didn't bought
c) haven't bought a) as
d) haven't buy b) like
c) as if
d) as though
53. I'm afraid I ______ come to your party
next week. 59. These postcards are nice. ________?

a) can a) How much are they

b) can't b) How many are they
c) could c) How much they are
d) couldn't d) How much is they

54. Robert ______ away two or three 60. Don't worry_______late tonight.
times a year.
a) if I'm
a) is going usually b) when I'm
b) is usually going c) when I'll be
c) usually goes d) if I'll be
d) goes usually
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This is the end of the test. Good luck! ♥

 THE TWELFTH CANTONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETITION – Primary Schools 2013

ANSWER KEY

READING COMPREHENSION VOCABULARY SECTION

1 A 1 A 11 A 21 C

2 D 2 A 12 A 22 A

3 D 3 B 13 A 23 B

4 C 4 B 14 D 24 B

5 B 5 B 15 A 25 B

6 B 6 D 16 A 26 B

7 A 7 B 17 D 27 B

8 D 8 C 18 D 28 A

9 B 9 B 19 C 29 B

10 D 10 D 20 B 30 B

GRAMMAR SECTION

1 C 11 B 21 A 31 C 41 D 51 B

2 C 12 B 22 B 32 A 42 C 52 C

3 A 13 C 23 C 33 B 43 D 53 B

4 D 14 B 24 D 34 B 44 D 54 C

5 D 15 A 25 C 35 A 45 C 55 C

6 B 16 C 26 C 36 B 46 C 56 C

7 D 17 B 27 B 37 D 47 C 57 D

8 A 18 B 28 B 38 B 48 C 58 B

9 D 19 C 29 C 39 D 49 B 59 A

10 B 20 C 30 A 40 A 50 B 60 A
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