Year 7 Test Name:

I What is wrong with this extract?

The meeting starts at two. The meeting is in the usual room. The speaker is arriving at
half past one. She will need an overhead projector for the meeting. Our overhead
projector is broken. Get another one from Sally. John will start the meeting. You will
introduce the speaker. The speaker is going to talk for about half an hour. You need to
register any guests. Someone from staffing will do the displays. John will organise coffee
and biscuits for afterwards.

Answer the questions below:

Q1. Each sentence is good on its own.

Q2. Each sentence has something wrong with it.

Q3. It has too many complex sentences.

Q4. It has too many simple sentences.

Q5. It repeats information.

Q6. It doesn't repeat information enough.

Q7. It doesn't flow.

Now try to rewrite it by using compound and complex sentences. You might only need
four sentences this time.

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II Choose the best connective to join the following simple sentences.

1. I pushed the door. It opened with a creak.

And, but, or

2. It was a hot, bright day. The room was strangely cold.

And, so, but

3. The room was dark. I couldn't make out any objects apart from a huge armchair.

But, so, although

4. I took two or three steps into the room. I stopped.

Then, or, although

5. I heard a noise. My skin started tingling with fear.

And, but, or

6. I could hear my own breathing. It sounded unnaturally loud.

So, and, or

7. Something shot out of the shadows. It burst out of the room.

And, or, so

8. It could have been a ghost. It was probably next doors cat.

And, so, but

III Write the definitions for simple, compound and complex sentences and one example
for each.

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Answers:
A1. Yes

A2. No. They are all good sentences on their own.

A3. No. There are no complex sentences here.

A4. Yes, it needs changing.

A5. Yes, using words like 'meeting' far too often.

A6. No! Read it again.

A7. Yes, that's the main problem with it.

The meeting, which starts at two, is in the usual room, but the speaker is arriving at half
past one. She will need an overhead projector so get one from Sally because ours is
broken. John will start the meeting and you will introduce the speaker, who's going to
talk for about half an hour. Someone from staffing will do the displays but you need to
register any guests and John will organise coffee and biscuits for afterwards.

1. I pushed the door. It opened with a creak.

'And' is the best connective. I pushed the door and it opened with a creak.

2. It was a hot, bright day. The room was strangely cold.

'But' is the best connective. It was a hot, bright day but the room was strangely cold.

3. The room was dark. I couldn't make out any objects apart from a huge armchair.

'So' is the best connective. The room was dark so I couldn't make out any objects apart
from a huge armchair.

4. I took two or three steps into the room. I stopped.

'Then' is the best connective. I took two or three steps into the room then I stopped.

5. I heard a noise. My skin started tingling with fear.

'And' is the best connective. I heard a noise and my skin started tingling with fear.

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6. I could hear my own breathing. It sounded unnaturally loud.

'And' is the best connective. I could hear my own breathing and it sounded unnaturally
loud.

7. Something shot out of the shadows. It burst out of the room.

'And' is the best connective. Something shot out of the shadows and it burst out of the
room.

8. It could have been a ghost. It was probably next doors cat.

'But' is the best connective. It could have been a ghost but it was probably next doors cat.