Section A: Grammar MCQ (10 marks)

Circle the correct option (a) – (d).

1. These mangoes have a sweet taste, _____________ they?

a. do
b. don’t
c. didn’t
d. aren’t

2. All the pupils from 6 Courage, as well as their form teacher, _____________ to
report to the hall at 7.15 a.m. tomorrow.

a. is
b. are
c. was
d. were

3. _____________ of the pouring rain, we pressed on with determination to reach the

summit of the mountain.
a. However
b. Therefore
c. Regardless
d. Nevertheless

4. To ____________did you give the green file? Was it to Mrs Tan?

a. who
b. what
c. which
d. whom

5. One month ago, we _____________ the museum before it closed for renovation.
 a. visit
b. visited
c. have visited
d. were visiting

6. Samantha and her sister _____________ very excited when they saw the birthday
cake.
a. is
b. are
c. was
d. were

7. The ice cream _____________ by the time we reached home.

a. melts
b. melted
c. is melting
d. will have melted

8. Last week, I _____________ a movie with my friends after having dinner.

a. watch
b. watched
c. have watched
d. was watching

9. The salesman _____________ excellent services your mother was complimenting

is my cousin.

a. who
b. which
c. whom
d. whose
10. Mrs Tan looks fit _______________ her age. No one believes that she will be
turning ninety tomorrow.

a. even if
b. in spite of
c. because of
d. even though

Section B: Vocabulary MCQ (5 marks)

Circle the correct option (a) – (d).

11. At the end of the day, the pupils _______________ their books into their bags
before leaving the classroom.

a. strived
b. sieved
c. shoved
d. swerved

12. According to _____________, the traffic accident was caused by a speeding car.

a. onlookers
b. casualties
c. eyewitnesses
d. paramedics

13. We have been warned by our teachers at the start of each examination paper that
cheating is ________________.

a. a close shave
b. to be on the rocks
c. no laughing matter
d. a thorn in one’s flesh
14. The siblings had a _____________ with each other after arguing relentlessly over
a game. They refused to speak to each other for several weeks.

a. falling out
b. falling back
c. falling away
d. falling apart

15. Aidan’s nutritionist advised him to eat in ______________ in order to stay

healthy.

a. caution
b. restriction
c. moderation
d. suppression
Section C: Vocabulary Cloze (5 marks)
Circle the correct option (a) – (d).

A fun camp at the start of the university year in 2013 turned Heng’s life upside
down. It was a freak accident in Sentosa and he became paralysed from the chest
down when he dived into the sea. But rather than give in to (16) despair, he has forged
a new path for himself.

He is now pursuing a teaching degree at the National Institute of Education and

has just (17) finished his teaching attachment at Bedok Secondary School. He enjoyed
his interactions with the students who were touched and inspired by how he faced his
(18) challenges.

Heng (19) considers himself fortunate that the accident did not happen 20 years
ago when Singapore was not (20) easy to get around for people with disabilities.
Now, he can take the bus or MRT in his motorised wheelchair by himself and reply to
messages via a touchscreen phone using his thumb.

Adapted from ‘Generation Grit: Paralysed at 21, his will to live was unwavering”,
The Straits Times, 2019

16.
a. fear
b. envy
c. emptiness
d. hopelessness

17.
a. unfolded
b. perfected
c. completed
d. developed
18.
a. demands
b. obstacles
c. expectations
d. confrontations

19.
a. regards
b. reviews
c. examines
d. scrutinizes

20.
a. attainable
b. exposable
c. accessible
d. approachable
Section D: Comprehension MCQ (8 marks)
Circle the correct option (a) – (d)

WELCOME TO
FOREST
ADVENTURE!

FUN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE FOR KIDS

Unlike other obstacle courses housed in concrete buildings, Forest
Adventure is the first and only treetop obstacle course in Singapore.
Though Forest Adventure is specially designed for children aged 5 to 12,
it is also open to teenagers aged 13 to 18. Like most obstacle courses, it
has a wide range of stations with awesome zip lines. It is a fun and
rewarding experience for every little adventure!

Parents are welcome to join in the fun with your children. We actually
require for parents or an accompanying buddy (14 years or above) to
accompany children below 7 years old.

Average completion time: 1 hour

The course may be physically and emotionally challenging for some

children. Therefore, parental support and guidance is required. If you
are planning to accompany your child on the course, remember to make
a booking for yourself too.

Instructors are on the course to help along for the first few crossings, if
required. However, we will not follow your child throughout the entire
course.

Should your child be uncomfortable, we will take him/her down and

provide you a voucher to come back again when he/she is ready.

Opening Hours
We are open every day (including public holidays) from 9.30 am to
6.30pm, except Mondays (We will open on Monday if it is a public
holiday). The last session is 5pm. We want to make sure that you have
plenty of time to complete the course before dark.

Safety First

Forest Adventure is a high risk activity. However, do not worry as our

well-trained and friendly instructors will be watching out for you!

Getting Ready
Here are a few tips to make your visit at Forest Adventure a memorable
one!

MEASURE YOUR CHILDREN

For safety reasons, children who do not meet the height requirements
are not allowed on the course. To avoid disappointment, we suggest
that you measure your children’s height and ensure they are at lease
1.1m for the Kids Course or 1.35m for the junior Course

ADULT SUPERVISION ON THE COURSE

Children below 7 years old on the Kids Course must be accompanied by
a parent or a buddy aged 14 years old or above. 1 buddy to a maximum
of 3 kids.

CONSENT FORM
Participants below 18 must have the Forest Adventure Consent Form
signed by a parent or guardian. If you are below 18 and coming on your
own, please remember to get the form signed before you leave home.
Without the signed form, you will not be able to go on the course.

BRING AS LITTLE AS YOU NEED

For safety reasons, you will be asked to empty your pockets prior to
going on the course. Please note that mobile phones are strictly not
allowed. Coin lockers are available.

GETTING THERE
There is a 10-minute walk between Bedok Reservoir Park car park and
our site. There will be signage along the way to guide you. We also
suggest you make a pit stop at the washroom situated just after Water
Venture, prior to reaching our site as you will be wearing the harness for
at least 1 hour!

21. According to the text, the main aim of Forest adventure is for ____________.
 a. parents to bond with their children
b. children to learn to be independent
c. children to have fun through adventure
d. children to be physically and emotionally challenged

22. For someone to accompany a six-year-old child for the course, he or she needs
to be _______________.

a. an adult
b. above 7 years old
c. above 14 years old
d. 14 years old or above

23. The photographs of the happy children in the advertisement help the readers
_________________________.

a. see what a treetop course actually looks like

b. gauge the difficulty level of the treetop course
c. make up their mind about joining the adventure
d. understand the safety equipment used for the course

24. Based on the text, which of the following is not true?

a. Most children can complete the course in one hour on average.

b. Parents are also required to make a booking if they want to accompany
their child.
c. Children who are afraid to participate in the course can come back again
when they are more ready.
d. Parents do not need to accompany their child below seven years old
because instructors are there to help.

25. What are the opening hours of Forest Adventure?

a. 9 am to 5 pm daily
b. 9.30 am to 5 pm daily except public holidays
c. 9 am to before dark daily except public holidays
d. 9.30 am to 6.30 pm from Tuesdays to Sunday and public holidays
 26. Which of the following statements is true?

a. Forest Activity is a high-risk activity

b. It is a 15-minute walk from Bedok Reservoir Park car park to the Forest
Adventure site.
c. Participants below the age of 21 need a signed consent form
d. Instructors will follow the children throughout the entire course.

27. Which of the following must the participants do before they reach Forest
Adventure?

a. Use the toilet before arrival.

b. Ensure that they bring sufficient cash for their meals.
c. Ensure that their parents accompany them to the course.
d. Fill out a consent form if participant is below 18 years old.

28. Based on the text, what is the most unique about the obstacle course in Forest
Adventure?

a. It is specially designed for children aged 5 to 10.

b. It is the only treetop obstacle course in Singapore.
c. It has a wide range of stations with awesome zip lines.
d. It allows the instructor to be with the child for the first few crossings.

Section E: Grammar Cloze (10 marks)

Fill in the blanks with a correct word from the box.
 (A) after (D) before (G) is (K) the (N) to
(B) an (E) by (H) must (L) their (P) was
(C) at (F) ever (J) of (M) then (Q) with

When trains broke down on 15 and 17 December 2012, they were the worst

days ever for Singapore’s MRT system. A power fault caused train services to come

(29) ___________ a halt. The air-conditioning at the affected stations (30)

___________ also cut off. More than 200,000 commuters were affected. Hundreds

(31) ___________ them had to walk along tunnels to safety.

No train system (32) ___________ perfect. There will always be breakdowns

now and (33) ___________. However, when something goes wrong, there has to be

(34) ___________ immediate response. Staff (35) ___________ know what to do in

an emergency to guide passengers to safety. They have to help travellers reach (36)

___________ destinations which alternative ways such as using shuttle buses.

In the breakdown in 2012, the government took the incident very seriously.

After the dust had settled, it appointed a team, called the Committee of Inquiry, to

investigate what had happened. It was headed (37) ___________ a judge, who

examined all the evidence carefully (38) ___________ coming to a fair conclusion.

The government was committed in ensuring that the incident would not be repeated.
Adapted from an article from What’s Up, January 2012

Section F: Editing (10 marks)

Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical
error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes.

Our guide stopped outside the tent and shouted something in Dutch. The flap
(39) (40)

was instantaenously pulled back and a tall, fair-haired man came out. Dressed with

the dark green uniform of a Dutch officer, he had multiple lacerations on the left side
(41) (42)

of his face. Speak fluently in Dutch to our guide, who replied in the same lenguage,

he then turned to us.

(43)

The scarred man eye us coldly. He drew aside the flap of his tent, but the
(44) (45)

gesture are not one of hospitality. He then spoke with much hostility.

“I’ll take you first,” he nodded at Don. “You,” he stared at me, “can wait

outside.”

Don and I were interroggated one after another. We were undawnted by his
(46) (47)

looks, which was a little intimidating at times. We had to swear our loyealty to the
(48) (49)

(50)
Dutch. He added that we could remaining with his contingent if we promised him

good behaviour. He promised to hide us from the Japanese but in turn, we had to

obey his orders.

Adapted from You’ll Die in Singapore by Charles McCormac

Section G: Comprehension Cloze (15 marks)

Fill in the blanks with a suitable word using the contextual clues
available.
 A strange noise brought Alistair fully awake. He (51) _______________ heavy

breathing and plodding footsteps. They were moving towards him. Craning his (52)

________________ , he made out a set of enormous curving horns and the vast bulk

of the last animal he had expected to see – a Cape buffalo! Alistair thought, “A lone

bull buffalo is one of the (53) ________________ feared and treacherous animals in

Africa.”

Standing a distance away in the clearing, it (54) _______________ its muzzle

to catch Alistair’s scent. Its enormous horns spanned more than one metre. He knew

that one hook of those horns could send a man (55) ______________ into the air.

Alistair also knew that the hunting world was full of stories of hunters gored or (56)

_______________ to death by these behemoths. Unable to run, Alistair sat up

painfully and lobbed a stone, (57) _______________ the beast on the head. But it

merely shook its head as if bothered by a fly and stepped nearer. It gazed at Alistair

before it carefully folded its front legs and (58) _______________ a grunting sigh,

and plopped down its great (59) _______________ .

Astonished, Alistair (60) ________________ as the buffalo placidly chewed

cud, its gaze fixed in the same direction that Alistair had been watching all night.

After puzzling (61) ________________ it for some time, Alistair came to realise that
the buffalo was actually guarding him! He wondered if he was benefiting from an

extraordinary instance of one animal (62) _______________ its life to help another

being. Whatever the reason, Alistair was thankful.

Suddenly, the buffalo lurched to its (63) _______________ and ran off,

crashing through the scrub. Alistair became alert instantly. Squinting into the brilliant

light on the river, Alistair counted four figures. Help eventually reached him that

dawn.

After (64) _______________ from his injuries months later, Alistair returned

to work as a guide but with a renewed (65) ________________ of wonder. He says,

“After being injured and stranded, a buffalo helped me survive. I don’t suppose

anyone will ever be able to explain that act of mercy – something I’ll never forget.”

Adapted from The Reader’s Digest Classic Reads 2016, “Encounter in the African

Bush”

Section H: Synthesis and Transformation (10 marks)

Rewrite the given sentences(s) using the word(s) provided. The
meaning of your sentence must be the same as the meaning of the
given sentence(s).

66. Jenny likes painting. She hates to draw.

Jenny prefers _______________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

67. You will not feel cold if you wear a jacket.

Unless _____________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

68. Rani can make a card for her teacher. She can also bake some cookies for her
teacher

____________________________________ either ______________________ or

__________________________________________________________________

69. Meng was in a very bad mood. His car had broken down.

____________________________________ whose _______________________

__________________________________________________________________

70. “I forgot to complete my assignment last night,” Jane said.

Jane said _________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________
Section I: Comprehension Open-ended (20 marks)
Read the passage and answer all questions carefully.
 (1) It was high noon when we finally arrived in Phnom Penh. Our taxi driver’s
yelling at fellow motorists as he navigated his way through the frenzied streets of the
city filled with smog, dust and smoke was a rude welcome. Amidst the chaos, Clara
kept extremely quiet as she took in the once familiar sights of packed buses and
motorists jostling for space.

(2) Suddenly, her eyes were drawn inexplicably to the sight of a scrawny girl
no older than ten holding a baby who was bawling his eyes out. Wearing a faded
dress, her desperate pleas for money could be made out based on her body language.
“She has probably rented that baby as you can get more money out of people that
way since a bawling baby would tug at people’s heartstrings,” Clara said as a matter
of fact before turning her head away, eyes glistening with tears as vivid memories of
being a street urchin came back.

(3) Clara had been adopted by an American couple at the tender age of seven.
Even though she loved them dearly, she had a burning desire to know if her biological
parents were still alive and wanted to track them down. “I miss them,” she said sadly,
“I did not even have time to say goodbye.”

(4) It was by sheer luck that a woman from an orphanage who had spotted
Clara begging in the streets asked her if she wanted to follow her back. Eager to
escape her cruel fate, she readily agreed. Once at the orphanage, she was taught to say
that she was an orphan so she would have a chance of being adopted.

(5) Clara could not remember anything about her family. All she could recall
was that her mother’s name was Sonia. Thus, finding her family seemed almost
impossible, but nevertheless, we enquired with the locals and distributed pamphlets
hoping for any information. This led to several Sonias coming forward, each claiming
that she had lost her daughter several years ago. Thus, the task became more arduous.

(6) Then, one day, as we were packing our things to go back to America, we
heard a soft knock on our hotel room door. In the doorway stood a young girl who
politely introduced herself as Tara, Clara’s older sister. “We were begging together,
do you remember? I told you that I had to use the toilet, but when I came back, you
were gone!” Tara exclaimed. Suddenly, the distrusting expression that had initially
filled Clara’s face began to fade. Tara saw it too, and quickly continued, “I went home
in tears fearing I had lost you forever.”

(7) Worried that she might be misled, I urged Clara to ask about her mother’s
ill health. To save money for her daughters, Sonia had refused to buy any medication
for herself resulting in her having to amputate one of her legs. If Tara knew the
ending to that harrowing story, there would be no doubt that she was Clara’s sister.
“Mum had to be on a wheelchair due to her disability,” she replied in between sobs.
“Tara, it’s really you! My sister!” She cried as they embraced each other. I was
grateful that my best friend had finally been reunited with her family.

Adapted from: A lost childhood

71. Which two-word phrase from the first paragraph tells us that the traffic on the
road was out of control? (1m)

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

72. According to Chantrea, how could a beggar “get more money out of
people…”? (lines 9-10) (2m)

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

73. Based on information from lines 13-20, fill in the blanks in the following table.
(2m)

How Chantrea felt What made Chantrea feel that way

 She had the opportunity to stay in the orphanage

regretful

74. Why was Chantrea told to lie that was an orphan? (1m)

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

75. Based on the story, state whether each statement in the table below is true or
false, then give one reason why you think so. (3m)

Statement True/False Reason

(a) Chantrea was reminded

of her plight when she saw
the girl begging.

(b) Chantrea was forced to

go to the orphanage.

(c) Chantrea doubted that

Tevy was her sister at first.

76. Look at the table below. What do the words in the left column refer to in the
passage? Write your answers in the column on the right. (2m)

Word(s) from the passage What the word(s) refer(s) to

 This (line 24)

The task (line 25)

her (line 36)

77. Write 1, 2 and 3 in the blanks below to indicate the order in which the events
occurred in the passage. (1m)

_________________________ Chantrea was adopted by an American couple.

_________________________ Chantrea and the author arrived in Phnom

Penh.

__________________________ Soni had one of her legs amputated.

78. Choose one word from lines 25-37 which has a similar meaning to each word
or phrase below. (3m)

difficult and laborious

agonising

guided wrongly

79. From the last paragraph, explain how Chantrea confirmed that Tevy was her
sister. (2m)

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

80. Which two of the following words best describe how Chantrea felt in line 39?
Put a tick in the correct boxes. (2m). DO NOT TICK MORE THAN TWO
BOXES.
excited

confused

proud

obliged

relieved

suspicious
Answer Key

1. b
2. b
3. c
4. d
5. b
6. d
7. b
8. b
9. d
10. b
11. c
12. c
13. c
14. a
15. c
16. d
17. c
18. b
19. a
20. c
21. c
22. d
23. c
24. d
25. d
26. a
27. d
28. b
29. N
30. P
31. J
32. G
33. M
34. B
35. H
36. L
37. E
38. D
39. instantaneously
40. in
41. Speaking
42. language
43. eyed
44. was
45. hostility
46. interrogated
47. undaunted
48. were
49. loyalty
50. remain
51. heard
52. neck
53. most
54. lifted
55. flying
56. trampled
57. hitting
58. heaving
59. body
60. stared
61. cover
62. risking
63. feet
64. recovering
65. sense
66. Jenny prefers painting to drawing.
67. Unless you wear a jacket, you will feel cold.
68. Rani can either make a card or bake some cookies for her teacher.
69. Meng, whose car had broken down, was in a very bad mood.
70. Jane said that she had forgotten to complete her assignment the previous night.
71. Frenzied streets
72. A beggar could get more money out of the people by renting a baby so that its
cries would cause people to take pity on the beggar and as a result give more.
73. Fortunate / lucky
She didn’t have time to say goodbye to her family
74. Chantrea was told to lie so that she would have a chance of being adopted
75. (i) True – Eyes glistening with tears as vivid memories of being a street urchin
came back.

(ii) False – Chantrea readily agreed to go to the orphanage to escape from being
a street urchin.

(iii) True – The distrusting expression that had initially filled Chantrea’s face
began to fade.

76. It refers to enquiring with the locals and distributing pamphlets

It refers to Chantrea finding her family
It refers to Soni
77. 2, 3, 1
78. Arduous
 Harrowing
misled
79. Chantrea asked Tevy about her mother’s illness and Tevy correctly disclosed
her mom’s disability
80. Excited, relieved