Class Register Number

Candidate Name

PEIRCE SECONDARY SCHOOL

Department of English Language, Literature and Drama
First Semestral Examination for Secondary Two Express

ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Paper 2 Comprehension

Thursday 28 April 2016 1100 h ─ 1250 h

1 hour 50 minutes

Additional Materials:
Insert

QUESTION BOOKLET
Candidates answer in the Question Booklet.

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write your class, register number and name on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid.
Answer all questions.
Write your answers in the spaces provided in the Question Booklet.
The Insert contains the texts for all the sections.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
The total marks for this paper is 50.
For Examiner’s Use
Section A /5
Section B /20
Section C /25
Total /50
Parent’s Signature

This question booklet consists of 8 printed pages including the cover page
FINAL COPY by Ms Jasvin Kaur
[Turn over
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Peirce Secondary School | SAx | EL(P1) | xE | 201x | Insert | Ms Xxx XX

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Section A [5 marks]

Text 1

Refer to the advertisement (Text 1) on page 2 of the Insert for Questions 1-3.

1. What is the purpose of the advertisement? Quote a piece of evidence from the
advertisement that supports your answer.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….[2]

2. What is the writer’s reason for including a hashtag #ColdOutside as well as a website
www.spca.bc.ca/adopt?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….[1]

3. Look at the photograph of the cat in the advertisement and the message ‘Please rescue
me. It’s cold outside.’ What is the effect of using both the photograph and message
together?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………….………...[2]

Peirce Secondary School | SA1 | EL (P2) | Question Booklet | 2 (Express) I 2016 | Ms Jasvin Kaur
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Section B [20 marks]

Text 2

Refer to Text 2 on page 3-4 of the Insert for Questions 4-13.

4. ‘I have always found this quite peculiar, considering my parents never took to water.’
(lines 2-3).

Explain why the writer found his name peculiar.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[2]

5. State two discomforts the writer felt with his name.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[2]

6. Which word from paragraph 3 suggests that the writer looked down on his classmate?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[1]

7. ‘The spiteful words would waft across the yard to my ears, unprovoked…’ (line 19)

What do the following descriptions suggest about the name-calling?

Word/Phrase Writer’s description of the name-calling

‘spiteful’

‘unprovoked’

[2]

8. ‘…like the smell of piss long after it has evaporated.’ (lines 23-24).

Why does the writer compare his feelings to urine?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[2]

Peirce Secondary School | SA1 | EL (P2) | Question Booklet | 2 (Express) I 2016 | Ms Jasvin Kaur
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9. In paragraph 5, the writer compares his teachers’ tongues to ‘charioteers driving wild
horses, oblivious to [his] pain.’ (lines 24-25).

Explain in your own words what the comparison means.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[2]

10. ‘…the guests never leave their rooms; they expect not only lodging but full board’ (lines
30-31).

What does this suggest about the guests?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[1]

11. State two ways in which the writer gives human-like characteristics to describe how the
animals might behave if they were hotel guests.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[2]

12. In paragraph 7, the writer describes life at the zoo as ‘paradise on earth’ (line 38).

Explain how the following details would convey this idea

Word/Phrase How the word/phrase conveys ‘paradise on earth’

‘vast grounds’

‘majestic creatures’

[2
]

Peirce Secondary School | SA1 | EL (P2) | Question Booklet | 2 (Express) I 2016 | Ms Jasvin Kaur
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13. The structure of the text reflects the various emotions felt by Piscine during his youth.
Complete the flow chart by choosing one word from the box to summarise the key
emotion described in each paragraph of the text. There are some extra words in the box
you do not need to use.

Piscine’s emotions

embarrassment anger confusion sorrow

nostalgia depression exasperation

Flow Chart

paragraph 1: (i) ……………………………

paragraph 2: (ii) ……………………………

paragraph 3: (iii) ……………………………

paragraph 4: (iv) ……………………………

[4]

Peirce Secondary School | SA1 | EL (P2) | Question Booklet | 2 (Express) I 2016 | Ms Jasvin Kaur
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Section C [25 marks]

Text 3

Refer to Text 3 on page 5 of the Insert for Questions 14-22.

14. According to paragraph 1, what is one way in which the black rat differs from the brown
rat?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[1]

15. Which word in paragraph 2 suggests that the brown rat is active at night?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[1]

16. How do rats make up for their poor sense of sight?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[1]

17. ‘They are able to detect the most minute amounts of poison, down to one part per
million.’ (lines 12-13)

Identify the word in the sentence that has the same meaning as ‘small’.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[1]

18. ‘It can run and climb city buildings with ‘squirrel-like agility.’ (line 16).

What is the writer’s intention of using the phrase ‘squirrel-like agility’?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[1]

19. Identify the phrase in paragraph 2 which has the same meaning as ‘pest’ to describe
rats.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[1]

Peirce Secondary School | SA1 | EL (P2) | Question Booklet | 2 (Express) I 2016 | Ms Jasvin Kaur
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20.
I think that rats are Yes, but they clearly are
very adaptable such a nuisance to the city
creatures. and wreak havoc
everywhere they go.

Susan John

Identify two pieces of evidence from paragraph 2 that will allow Susan to support her
view.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[2]

21. ‘…some rat nests have been found stuffed with the gnawed shavings of the wood-based,
spring-loaded snap traps that are used in attempts to “embrace” the rat.’ (lines 30-32)

What do you think is the purpose of having the word ‘embrace’ in inverted commas?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...[2]

22. Using your own words as far as possible, summarise where rats are commonly found
and the problems they pose to a city.

Use only the material from paragraphs 3 to 5.

Your summary must be in continuous form (not note form). It must not be longer than 80
words (not counting the words given to help you begin).

One common place where rats are found is……………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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Peirce Secondary School | SA1 | EL (P2) | Question Booklet | 2 (Express) I 2016 | Ms Jasvin Kaur
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-End of Paper-

Peirce Secondary School | SA1 | EL (P2) | Question Booklet | 2 (Express) I 2016 | Ms Jasvin Kaur