Answers will vary for questions that require the child

Focus test 3: Grammar

to answer in their own words. Possible answers to
most of these questions are given in italics. 1 grab 2 slice
3 tear 4 gobble
Focus test 1: Spelling 5 scrub 6 smash

ANSWERS
7–14 Proper Abstract Common Collective
1 scarves 2 reefs
nouns nouns nouns nouns
3 photos 4 crocuses
Kuwait hate axe colony
5 diagnoses 6 muffs
Doughton love pen pal host
7 p 8t
9 e 10 b 15–16 Andy climbed over the gate into the field of
11 n 12 d cows.
13 bumped 14 shipping 17 The hat was blown off his head as the wind
15 trekked 16 knotted gusted.
17 croaking 18 whipped 18 The cat jumped onto the wall to survey her
19–24 necessary, science, confidence, decision, territory.
tolerance, exercise 19 Frankie was sitting in the study doing her
25 elegant 26 harass homework.
27 fulfilled 28 comparison 20–21 Beyond the fields, the sun could be seen
29 vicious 30 parliament glinting through the clouds.
22 Child’s sentence with an adverb underlined.
Focus test 2: Sentences E.g. The dog happily chased the ball.
23 Child’s sentence with an adjective underlined.
1 present 2 past E.g. The boy flew the red kite.
3 past 4 present 24 Child’s sentence with a pronoun underlined.
5 past 6 present E.g. Did he really want that?
7–8 The children ate the cake, the biscuits, the 25 Child’s sentence with a verb underlined.
crisps but not the sandwiches! E.g. The wheels of the car skidded on the ice.
9 The Johnson family travelled to Auckland, New 26 Child’s sentence with a connective underlined.
Zealand and then returned to Australia. E.g. The film was great but it was a bit too long.
10–11 Jess loved the books Coraline, The Secret 27 The freezing cold, bleak weather encouraged

Bond STRETCH English Tests and Papers 9–10 years

Garden, The Growing Summer and The Silver the children to stay indoors.
Sword. 28 The healthy, red-faced, old gentleman danced
12 Where have I put my blue goggles that let the through the night.
water in, my stripy swimsuit and beach towel 29 The fast-paced, exciting game lasted for hours.
that has a mark on it? 30 The wet, slimy, stinking mud clung to their
13 W J Hardiman boots.
14 Hong Kong
15 A Small Pinch of Weather
Focus test 4: Vocabulary
16 Mrs Zucherman
17 American Indian Myths and Legends 1 hen 2 duchess
18 Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone 3 grandmother 4 mare
19–23 “It is freezing outside,” complained Jake. 5 doe 6 bride
“I need my gloves.” 7 never 8 question/query
24 o’clock 25 could’ve 9 natural 10 descend
26 they’ll 27 don’t 11 inaccurate 12 deny
28 there’s 29 we’re 13 tiredness resulting from hard work
30 shan’t 14 unclear, not clearly expressed
15 a conversation or discussion
A1
 16 a place of worship for Jewish people 14–15 Child’s own answer highlighting a rule that they
17 a long speech by one performer find surprising and why (or if they do not find
18 an introduction to something any surprising, why not).
19 maths 20 paper
21 phone 22 ad or advert Focus test 6: Spelling
ANSWERS

23 intro 24 net
1 receipt 2 reprieve
25 All good things come to an end.
3 weir 4 perceive
26 Barking up the wrong tree.
5 yield 6 vein
27 The boot is on the other foot.
7–12 piano, spaghetti, viola, cello, pizza, volcano
28 Rub salt in the wound.
13 aerodynamic
29 Keep your shirt on.
14 aeroplane or aquaplane
30 As snug as a bug in a rug.
15 autograph 16 autobiography
17 aerodrome 18 aquamarine
Focus test 5: Comprehension 1 19 bored 20 hire
1 You should wear reflective clothing or 21 idol 22 doe
accessories once it gets dark (and always a 23 taut/torte 24 soul
helmet). 25 instructor 26 perpendicular
2–3 Cycling clothes shouldn’t be loose or flap 27 similar 28 warrior
around as they may get caught in the 29 particular 30 professor
chainwheel or cover the lights. Light-coloured
or fluorescent clothes will also help you to be Focus test 7: Sentences
seen. A helmet should always be worn.
1–2 “I’m looking for my toothbrush,” moaned Tim.
4 Amber pedal reflectors were introduced on
3–4 “Who are you?” whispered Jamie.
1 October 1985.
5–6 She felt a cold hand touch her face, chilling
5–6 Rule 66 states ‘be considerate of other road
her to the bone.
users, particularly blind and partially sighted
7–8 Without warning, Nicola grabbed Najib’s arm.
pedestrians’.
9–10 Barney, the dog, came in covered with mud
7 It is dangerous to swerve while cycling as
after his walk.
there are other road users and they won’t
11–12 “I’ll carry it,” offered Mum. “It really is very
expect you to suddenly move out into the road
heavy.”
Bond STRETCH English Tests and Papers 9–10 years

and therefore could knock into you.

13–17 Child’s own passage including two statements,
8–9 Abreast (line 19) means side by side, in the
two questions and an exclamation, punctuated
same direction.
correctly.
Traffic calming features (lines 36–37) means
18–19 When will this rain stop because I really want
additions made to the road that are intended
to go outside?
to slow the traffic.
20–21 The lorry driver made a mess of the verge as
10–11 Child to consider all the dangers that they
he avoided the cyclist.
need to be aware of when overtaking, for
22–23 They walked along the path kicking at stones.
example know what is behind them, be aware
24–25 The plane dropped suddenly and the
of the speed vehicles are travelling around
passengers screamed!
them, and other potential dangers, for instance
26–27 The vase crashed to the ground breaking into
cars pulling out of side roads.
many pieces.
12–13 The difference between a ‘MUST’ and a
28 I smiled at myself in the mirror.
‘should’ instruction is that a ‘MUST’ instruction
29 I dashed to the shop before it closed.
has to be obeyed but a ‘should’ instruction
30 I hurt myself as I climbed over the fence.
suggests that it would be a good idea to do
something but it isn’t absolutely essential.

A2
 22 hairspray, hairpin
Focus test 8: Grammar
23 motorboat, motorcycle
1 Cleo, the cat, watched the birds before she 24 sundown, sunflower
caught one. 25 He is as cold as ice.
2 Damien reluctantly worked on his homework. 26 She is as graceful as a swan.

ANSWERS
3 The family rushed to catch the train just before 27 He swims like a fish.
it pulled out of the station. 28 She runs like a cheetah.
4 As time passed, the boredom set in. 29 He is as sneaky as a fox.
5 The concert music could be heard a great 30 She dives like a dolphin.
distance away.
6 Jay thinks peanuts taste delicious. Focus test 10: Comprehension 2
7 place
8 manner 1 The escaped horse was worth a thousand
9 manner pounds.
10 place 2–3 The bush riders were excited and ready for the
11 time ride, ‘For the bushmen love hard riding where
12 manner the wild bush horses are’.
13–14 easier, easiest 4 The old man gave the orders to the other
15–16 more cheerful, most cheerful riders.
17–18 wealthier, wealthiest 5 The hills provided shelter in the form of a thick
19–20 more beautiful, most beautiful scrub. The riding was much more dangerous
21–22 Theirs are damaged and broken much more for those on horseback.
than ours. 6–7 The riders stopped at the top of the mountain.
23–24 Hers is much tidier than mine. The man from Snowy River didn’t hesitate
25–26 Mine goes faster free-wheeling than his. when chasing the wild horses down the
27–28 Mine take much longer to clean than theirs. mountain side.
29–30 Hers are higher and further than his. 8–10 Child’s own answer describing how the man
from Snowy River pursued the horses without
fear, with excitement, at great speed and with
Focus test 9: Vocabulary
great skill.
1 factor 11 The simile ‘he raced him down the mountain

Bond STRETCH English Tests and Papers 9–10 years

2 facility like a torrent down its bed’ describes the
3 face descent down the mountain.
4 fabulous 12–13 Child’s own answer to make reference to
5 fabric the fact that the pony was exhausted, barely
6 fable being able to trot, ‘he could scarcely raise a
7 crunch trot’ (line 37), he was bleeding where he had
8 glug been driven on by his rider, ‘blood from hip to
9 squawk shoulder’ (line 38) but he had loved the ride.
10 plop 14–15 Yes, the escaped horse was caught, as this
11 squelch line describes, ‘Till they halted cowed and
12 whizz beaten, then he turned their heads for home’.
13–18 opera, pizza, bungalow, chutney, restaurant, The man from Snowy River must have felt
chef exhausted but elated, achieving what he had.
19 backstroke, backwater
20 eyelash, eyewitness
21 forethought, forearm

A3
 26 separate
Mixed paper 1
27 interrupt
1 The farmer’s daughter made quite a fuss of 28 persistence
Martin. 29 medieval
2–3 The farmer’s daughter kept rabbits as pets 30 noticeable
ANSWERS

because she liked them and liked looking after 31 more expensive
them. 32 sillier
4–5 Dulcie Maude has a low opinion of dogs, 33 better
suggesting that they ask for attention from 34 happier
humans, as the sentence, ‘always fussing 35 more beautiful
around humans, sucking up to them’ 36 impolite
indicates. 37 unreliable
6–7 ‘Curiosity killed the cat’ (lines 26–27) is a 38 illegitimate
proverb. It means beware of the dangers of 39 impatient
unnecessary investigation. 40 illiterate
8 The farmer used the cart-shed loft for storing 41 noun
everything he thought might be useful one 42 verb
day. 43 verb
9 Martin discovered the mouse as it shot out 44 noun
from under the bath while he was exploring 45 noun
the cart-shed loft. 46 I don’t want any help.
10 Martin is a cat/kitten. 47 We aren’t ever going to get there.
11 The word ‘automatically’ has been used in the 48 There isn’t a toilet in this shop.
sentence as it is an instinct for cats to catch 49 The sun is never going to come out today.
mice. 50 We have got no money.
12 If you are ‘rooted to the spot’, this implies that 51 sweaty runner
you can’t move because anything growing 52 glossy vase
with roots can’t move on its own. 53 henpecked chicken
13 Martin thinks the mouse has a strange name 54 dog-eared book
because he thinks it is called ‘pregnant’ and 55 delicious chips
he hasn’t heard the word before. 56 Their
Bond STRETCH English Tests and Papers 9–10 years

14–15 a Tormenting (line 57) means teasing or 57 his

provoking. 58 She
b Burden (line 64) means something carried 59 they
or a heavy load. 60 it
16–18 You can tell that the mouse felt terrified during 61–65 miniskirt, hillock, figurine, eaglet, gosling
its encounter with Martin by the following 66 a type of vegetable okra
extracts: “I beg you to spare me” (line 45), 67 a person who works on machinery machinist
“Kill me and have done” (line 69) and “made it 68 something that follows on from an
shudder more violently” (line 74). earlier event sequel
19–20 Martin might want to keep his mouse a secret 69 a disadvantage drawback
because Dulcie Maude might laugh at him or, 70 small fragments smithereens
worse still, might eat his pet! 71–75 Five compound words using the word ‘back’,
21 learn for example, backstroke, backdrop, backbite,
22 worm backtrack, backlash, backhand.
23 route 76 Something good that isn’t recognised initially.
24 laugh
25 bough
A4
 77 Continuing to be upset about something that 7–9 Child’s own answer detailing life as a child in a
happened in the past. factory. Information needs to be included about
78 People cannot fundamentally alter their main long hours, tiredness and rough treatment.
characteristics. 10–11 Child’s own opinion, for example, ‘The
79 A small, mild punishment. punishments were effective up to a point, but

ANSWERS
80 When something that isn’t nice happens to you the factory owners could have shown workers
after you have mistreated others. that if they worked hard, they would improve
81–85 Niall was enjoying a cycle ride when suddenly their working conditions.’
a car swerved towards him. “Watch out!” he 12 The overseer was in charge of the factory floor.
screamed, but he was too late. “Where am I?” He supervised the workers.
was his first question as he came around after 13 Phosphorus is a chemical that was used to
the accident. make matches.
full stop = 3 14–15 The workers were given no compensation for
exclamation mark = 1 either having a day off or for becoming ill as
question mark = 1 a result of their terrible working conditions.
86–90 Child’s own sentences using the connectives There was always the potential that they might
correctly. A connective is a word (or words) lose their job.
that joins clauses or sentences. 16 If they didn’t have family to support them, they
91 Harry (is or was) hurt after falling off the shed would end up at the workhouse.
roof. 17–18 In 1895 workers began to be given
92 We (are or were) going to have a barbeque compensation for industrial illness.
despite the fact it (is or was) raining! 19–20 Child’s own answer stating what they think
93 The birds (were) singing happily until the cat needs improving most urgently and why.
came along. 21 reversible
94 The sea (is or was) freezing but we still (are or 22 infusing
were) going in for a swim! 23 refusal
95 might not 24 operator
96 what will 25 largest
97 must have 26–30 Verb Past tense Present tense
98 how will to grab grabbed grab/grabs
99–100 why is, why has to watch watched watch/watches

Bond STRETCH English Tests and Papers 9–10 years

to glide glided glide/glides
Mixed paper 2 to munch munched munch/
munches
1 Most Victorian factory owners’ main concern
was to make money. 31 circum 32 bi
2 Despite poor working conditions, there were 33 trans 34 tele
always people who needed a job. 35 auto
3 Laws were introduced to protect workers. 36–40 suddenly, questionnaire, immediate, familiar,
4 Children would have been chosen as they occurrence
were small and could get under and between 41 The rabbit loved to eat its carrot.
the pieces of machinery to clean them. 42 The party continued into the evening.
5–6 Working under machinery was very dangerous 43 I ate a snack before lunch.
as hair or clothes could be caught, causing 44 Dennis painted a/the wall many times.
horrific injuries. In 1884 a law was passed to 45 The pencil was broken by the child.
protect moving parts of machinery in cotton 46 caught
mills, though it took a long time until this was 47 find
enforced. 48 loves

A5
 49 blew 5–6 The second verse describes a rough and wild
50 squeezed sea. The line, ‘Shaking his wet sides over
51 hers the cliffs,’ illustrates a rough, wild sea as it is
52 mine describing the sea spray crashing against the
53 yours cliffs.
ANSWERS

54 his 7 The sea is barely moving, it is calm and

55 ours tranquil.
56 soon 8–9 Child’s own answer stating whether they like
57 behind the link James Reeves makes with a hungry
58 next sea dog in his poem and why.
59 failure 10–11 Child’s description of the sea, touching on the
60 exciting different aspects that are described in the first
61–65 Child’s own pairs of gender words, for verse of ‘The Sea’.
example, duke – duchess, uncle – aunt, dog – 12–13 Yes, the way he describes the sea is full of
bitch. warmth and interest.
66–70 puppet, purchase, purify, purist, purse 14 A tall ship is referred to in the poem ‘Sea
71 JP 72 USA Fever’.
73 kg 74 VIP 15 The wind is like a sharp knife, it is a strong,
75 PTO cold wind.
76–80 worm, purple, year, dandelion, phone 16–17 It is likely that ‘Sea Fever’ has been written first
81–89 Overlooking the Martha Brae River is the as the language used is from an earlier period,
Good Hope Great House, a fine example of a for example ‘whetted’, ‘yarn’.
Georgian house, furnished with antiques and 18 The poet would like to go with company as
with a commanding view of the surrounding the line ‘And all I ask is a merry yarn from a
countryside. Tours are available around the laughing fellow-rover,’ suggests.
house and estate, with its old water wheel, kiln 19–20 Child’s answer detailing which poem they liked
and sugar mill ruins. the best and why.
90 the dog’s lead 21–25 merciful, hopeful, bountiful, doubtful, dutiful
91 the firefighters’ helmets 26 countries 27 lilies
92 the kangaroos’ pouches 28 buoys 29 flies
93 the horses’ saddles 30 valleys 31 conceit
Bond STRETCH English Tests and Papers 9–10 years

94 the children’s classroom 32 retrieve 33 hygiene

95 the girl’s shoe 34 deceive 35 belief
96–100 The child’s sentences, each with a further 36 announcement 37 scarceness
clause added. A clause is a section of a 38 likely 39 spaceship
sentence with a verb. 40 motherhood
41–46
Concrete nouns Abstract nouns
Mixed paper 3 kite excitement
1 James Reeves describes the sea as a hungry sky terror
dog. ground relief
2–3 The lines describe the sea coming in and out, 47 Mum suggested that it was time to get ready.
up and down the beach, moving the stones as 48 Daniel asked where they were going tomorrow.
it does so. 49 Jay questioned whether he had to go to school
4 It describes a quiet, windless day when even today.
the reeds next to the shore no longer make a 50 Dad had an idea and suggested they go on a
sound. bike ride.

A6
 51–55 Five prepositions (a word that relates other 6–8 Child’s answer describing the difference
words to each other) listed, for example above, between their own school life and that of Jung
among, past, beside, within. Chang’s, for example the role of the teacher,
56–60 the number of lessons, the role of the student.
Adjectives Comparative Superlative
9–10 a ‘Preoccupied’ means engaged.
adjectives adjectives

ANSWERS
heavy heavier heaviest b ‘Frantically’ means agitated and anxious.
good better best 11 We know the furnaces are dangerous as Jung
stupid more stupid most stupid Chang visited a teacher in hospital who had
been burned by the molten iron.
61 important, distinguished
12–13 The most shocking information in paragraph
62 something that is about to happen
two is the fact that nurses were actually
63 to make sure
feeding the furnaces through operations,
64 to take out insurance
rather than concentrating on the operations
65 past tense of ‘to buy’
that were being performed.
66 past tense of ‘to bring’
14 Jung Chang moved to a special compound,
67 France
the centre of government for the province.
68 Italy
15 They now had to eat in a canteen, they no
69 France
longer had to prepare their own food.
70 Italy
16 Jung Chang’s parents were sometimes
71 Germany
expected to keep the furnace’s temperature in
72–75 plop, drip, splash, splosh
their office up so it never dropped.
76–80 odd, unfamiliar, weird, crazy, peculiar
17–18 If the labour force were no longer working
81–84 “I can’t do this anymore!” screamed Leah,
on the land, they were not producing the
as she buried her head in her numeracy
food needed to feed people. Therefore, there
homework.
wouldn’t be enough food and people would
85–91 Tyler asked, “What time is the clown arriving?”
start to starve.
“Quarter to four,” replied his mum.
19–20 Child’s answer showing they can empathise
(1 mark is also given for the new line when a
with the people of China at this time.
different person begins speaking.)
21 extraordinary
92–95 Towan Beach, a private beach with perfect
22 contradictory
sand, is set behind the Trewince Manor Hotel,
23 battery

Bond STRETCH English Tests and Papers 9–10 years

just a mile from Portscatho.
24 satisfactory
96–100 The given sentences completed with phrases.
25 delivery
A phrase is a group of words that usually
26 bred
doesn’t contain a subject or a verb.
27 chews
28 hoarse
Mixed paper 4 29 mousse
1 Jung Chang was six when she started primary 30 wrung
school. 31 banjo
2 ‘Major occupation’ is the way Jung Chang 32 buffalo
describes her role of picking up steel items. 33 cocoa
Like a job, it occupies her time. 34 vitamin
3–5 Child’s own description of Jung Chang’s walk 35 drama
to school, describing how long it takes, what 36 hoof
the scenery is like, what she does on the way.

A7
 37 wolf
38 fishwife
39 penknife
40 wharf
41–45 Five sentences that include each of the listed
ANSWERS

adverbs.
46–47 happiness, sadness
48–49 its, their
50–51 because, therefore
52–53 largest, smallest
54–55 drag, scream
56–60 Child’s own examples of adjectival phrases
using the nouns given. An adjectival phrase is
a group of words that describes a noun.
61 foreign
62 depend
63 incident
64 acquaint
65 doubt
66 to suffer from deafness
67 to keep silent
68 to rain very heavily
69 to be sleepy
70 to be someone very special
71 abbreviation
72 Before Christ
73 adjective
74 volume
75 number
76–77 mean, spiteful
78–80 rough, uneven, bumpy
Bond STRETCH English Tests and Papers 9–10 years

81–100 It was a hot morning. Mum opened Jacob’s

curtains before turning to him. “Today is a
special day. Get up quickly!” and she left.
Five minutes later he was having his breakfast.
“I am impressed,” stated Mum, “I wish you
were this quick every day!”
“Where are we off to?” asked Jacob.
“Nowhere ... but we’ve a visitor,” she smiled.

A8