The Exam Coach 11 CEM English & Verbal Reasoning Paper 5

11+ CEM English and Verbal
Reasoning Paper 5
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Page 1
11+ CEM English and Verbal Reasoning Paper 5
Instructions:
● You have 50 minutes to answer 55 questions.
● There are 3 sections in this paper. The time allowed for each section is stated below.
1. Comprehension - 20 minutes
2. Missing Words - 15 minutes
3. Synonyms- 15 minutes
● Read the instructions given at the beginning of each section before answering the questions.
● Each question is worth 1 mark.
● Put a line through the correct answer by choosing one of the options A-D or A-E in your
answering booklet.
Example:
The Correct way to mark your The Incorrect way to mark your
answers on the answer sheet: answers on the answer sheet:
Correct Incorrect
Use a pencil to mark your answers. Rub out any errors, do not cross them out.
Please take care when marking your answers on your answer sheets.
Make sure you mark your answer on the line that matches the question number and
mark only one answer per line.
Information about the test papers:

● The page number is in the top right corner of each page.
● The timings for the different sections are shown on the example pages.
Instructions at the bottom of the pages inform you:
● If you can continue to the next page
● When you should wait for instructions before you turn the page
● When you have reached the end of a section.
The following symbols and phrases are used on the test papers.
Symbol Description: Symbol Description: Symbol Description: Symbol Description:

Time allowed for the Go to the next page. Do not turn the page STOP WORKING. You
section. until you are told to may check your work
do so. from this section only.

Page 2
Section 1 - Comprehension
Instructions
Carefully read through the passage of writing, then answer the questions that follow.
Mark your chosen answer for each question on the answering sheet. You will have four
options (A - D) for each question.
Example Passage
The apathetic boy walked home from school. It started to rain.
Example i.
i) Which of the following words is closest in meaning to the word “apathetic”
A. Uninterested
B. Amazed
C. Agitated
D. Pitiful
The answer here is A as apathetic means “showing or feeling no interest or enthusiasm.

Therefore, “uninterested” is closest in meaning to the word “apathetic”.
The answer A has been marked for you on your answer sheet
Example ii.
ii) What happened as the boy walked home?
E. It got dark
F. It began to rain
G. He felt happy
H. He got lost
The correct answer is B.

Mark the letter B on your answering sheet.
You have 20 minutes to answer 20 questions.

Page 3
When Gretel was Fifteen

by Nina Rhoades
As the extract begins, the students and teachers of the school have sat down for dinner.
“War has been declared.”

Miss Minton’s hand trembled slightly as she laid down the evening paper, but otherwise
she showed no sign of unusual emotion. There was a moment of dead silence, and every
face grew suddenly grave. They all knew what it meant, those twelve pupils, and five
teachers, seated at Miss Minton’s long supper table. For nearly three years, this terrible 5
thing called war had been devastating Europe, bringing pain and misery to millions of
once happy homes. Now their own country was to cast in her lot with the Allies, in the
great fight for humanity. It was the first time in the twenty years and more, during which
Miss Minton had been the mistress of her small school for girls, that the lady had ever
been known to look at a newspaper at meal time, but tonight she had left instructions 10
that the paper should be brought to her the moment it arrived. For weeks everyone had
been expecting the war cloud to burst, and yet now that it had happened, they were all
conscious of a certain shock. Amy Bowring began to cry.
“My brother will have to go,” she sobbed; “he was at Plattsburg all last summer. Oh, it’s
dreadful. I don’t see why the President didn’t prevent it.” 15
Ada Godfrey’s black eyes flashed indignantly. Her uncle had gone down on the Lusitania.
“I’m glad he didn’t prevent it,” she said. “We ought to have gone in two years ago. It’s time
those Germans learned they don’t own the whole world.”
“Ada,” said Miss Minton, reprovingly, and she glanced down the long table to where little
Fräulein Sieling, the German teacher, sat next to Gretel Schiller. Ada bit her lip, and she, 20
too, glanced at the only two people among them all to whom Germany meant more than a
name. Fräulein had grown very pale, and there was a frightened look in her blue eyes, but
she was buttering a muffin with apparent calmness. Gretel Schiller had flushed, and her
lips were quivering. Gretel’s father had been a famous German pianist, and although he
had died several years before, and Gretel was living with an American half-brother and 25
his wife, and was in every way quite as much an American herself as any of them, they all
knew that she worshipped her father’s memory.
“You remember the Civil War, don’t you, Miss Minton?” Grace Moss asked, by way of
steering the conversation into smoother waters. Grace was one of the oldest pupils in the

Page 4
school, and felt privileged to ask questions. 30

“Yes,” answered Miss Minton, with a sigh. “I was only a child, but I remember many things
about that time. My eldest brother was killed at Gettysburg. Amy, if you can’t control
yourself, you will have to leave the table.”
Miss Minton was always stern, but her tone was kinder than her words, and Amy made an
effort to check her sobs, and go on with her supper. 35
“Do you remember the Civil War, too, Miss Laura?” Geraldine Barlow inquired of Miss
Laura, Miss Minton’s younger sister, who sat at the other end of the table.
“No, dear, I was too young. My sister is ten years older than me. I think she is the only
person here who has any memory of what real war is like. Of course there was the little
war with Spain, twenty years ago, but that was over so quickly.” 40
“Perhaps this war will be over quickly too, now that America has gone in,” said Angel
Thayer, who always looked on the bright side of things. “I don’t believe the Germans can
hold out much longer. Perhaps they will give in, and ask for peace before our boys get
over.”
“Not much hope of that,” said Margaret May. “My father writes that Germany is terribly 45
strong still. He ought to know something about it, for he has been working in the French
hospitals for over a year.” Margaret spoke confidently. She was very proud of that father of
hers, the poor country doctor, who had left his practice at home, and gone to tend the
wounded boys in France.
At that moment Fräulein pushed back her chair from the table. “May I be pardoned if I 50
go to my room?” she asked in her slow, careful English, and she cast an appealing glance
at Miss Minton. “I have a very bad headache.”
“Certainly,” said Miss Minton kindly, and as the little German teacher hurriedly left the
room, she added in a reproachful tone to Ada,
“I am afraid you have hurt Fräulein’s feelings, Ada. It is not her fault that her country is at 55
war with us.”
Gretel’s grave face brightened and she gave Miss Minton a grateful glance.

Page 5
1) What is everyone about to do at the beginning of the passage?
A. Leave the table

B. Read the newspaper
C. Have dinner
D. Have a lesson
2) “Miss Minton’s hand trembled slightly” (line 2). What does this tell us?
A. She was excited
B. She was unsettled
C. She was ill
D. She was old
3) How did Miss Minton learn that war had been declared?
A. By reading the newspaper

B. From a letter
C. Another teacher told her
D. We are not told in this passage
4) “A moment of dead silence” (line 3). Which literary technique is used in this sentence?
A. A simile
B. Alliteration
C. A metaphor
D. Personification
5) How many people are seated at the table?

A. Twelve
B. Five
C. Eight
D. Seventeen

Page 6
6) How long had the war been going on for?

A. It had just started
B. Four years
C. Just over two years
D. Just under three years
7) What is meant by the word “devastating” in line 6?

A. Very dangerous
B. Highly destructive
C. Almost broken
D. Starting a war
8) Why did Miss Minton leave instructions that the "paper should be brought to her the
moment it arrived" (line 11)?
A. She always read the newspaper at dinner
B. She was eager to read the day’s news
C. She wanted to see if the war was over
D. She liked newspapers
9) Which of the following is most opposite in meaning to the word “conscious” (line 13)?
A. Unaware
B. Able
C. Awake
D. Omniscient
10) What analogy is used by the author to describe the news of war breaking in line 12?
A. The sea
B. Bad weather
C. An earthquake
D. Silence

Page 7
11) Why does Amy Bowring begin to cry?
A. Because they are at war

B. Because the war is finally over
C. Because she will have to go and fight
D. Because her brother will have to go and fight
12) Who does Amy Bowring blame for America joining the war?
A. Her brother
B. Germany
C. The President
D. Lusitania
13) Who supported America joining the war?
A. Ada Godfrey
B. Amy Bowring
C. Miss Milton
D. Fräulein Sieling
14) Why does Germany mean “more than a name” to Fräulein Sieling and Gretel Schiller
(lines 21-22)?
A. Because they are both German
B. Because they are both German teachers
C. Because they both dislike Germany
D. Because they both fought for Germany in the war
15) Which two reactions did the two German people at the table display?
Option 1: Cried
Option 2: Bit her lip
Option 3: Flushed
Option 4: Grew pale
A. Options 1 and 2 only
B. Options 3 and 4 only
C. Options 1 and 3 only
D. Options 2 and 4 only

Page 8
16) Which word is a synonym for "quivering" (line 24), as it is used in this passage?
A. Moving
B. Wiggling
C. Falling
D. Trembling
17) What “privilege” does Grace Moss have (line 30)?
A. She is the oldest

B. She is a teacher
C. She can ask questions
D. She is respected
18) Which of the following words best describes Angel Thayer?

A. Optimistic
B. Guilty
C. Pessimistic
D. Innocent
19) What “boys” are referred to in line 49?

A. Children
B. The boys at the school
C. Frenchmen
D. Soldiers
20) Why does Fräulein Sieling claim to have a headache?

A. Because she had a headache
B. Because she wanted an excuse to leave
C. Because she was angry
D. Because Amy Bowring was crying so loudly
End of Section 1. Remember to check your work.

Page 9
Section 2 - Missing Words

Instructions
In each of the following sentences, there are either one or two words missing.
For questions 1-9, put a line though the correct answer by choosing ONE of the five
options (A-E). For questions 10-20, choose TWO of the five options A-E.
Each word can only be used once.
Example i.
The eagle [QUESTION i] through the air.
A B C D E
flew ran flying fly go
Answer i.
The answer here is A.
A has been marked in your answering booklet for you.
Example ii.
The [QUESTION ii] travelled into [QUESTION iii].
A B C D E
spaceship shops space home went
Answer ii. and iii.

The answers here are A - spaceship and C - space.
Mark example ii as A and example iii as C in your answering booklet.

Page 10
Yesterday, I [QUESTION 1] to the supermarket.
A B C D E
go goes going went will
The King held an [QUESTION 2] royal feast.
A B C D E
extravagant huge magnificent magical delicious
Sally always dreamed [QUESTION 3] being a pilot.
A B C D E
if of off an or
The exhausted dog [QUESTION 4] asleep in his dinner.
A B C D E
fell went goes will always
When it rains, [QUESTION 5] you can see a rainbow.
A B C D E
always maybe never occasional sometimes
Plants need to be [QUESTION 6] every day.
A B C D E
walked paid seen watered light

Page 11
The cows were [QUESTION 7] on the grass in the field.
A B C D E
eating grazing walking gazing swallowing
I have a major [QUESTION 8] of rollercoasters.
A B C D E
excitement like scare phobia upsetting
The scared cat was [QUESTION 9] by the dog.
A B C D E
chased fled played attack feared
Geoff goes to bed at [QUESTION 10] half eight.
A B C D E
not exact precisely just almost
The [QUESTION 11] patient was calmed by the [QUESTION 12] doctor.
A B C D E
terrifying exception elegant professional worried
The [QUESTION 13] mountain took us hours to [QUESTION 14].
A B C D E
climb walk go gigantic average

Page 12
The woman took her [QUESTION 15] cat to the vet for [QUESTION 16].
A B C D E
wounded operation treatment injury medicate
Bees help [QUESTION 17] flowers and they make [QUESTION 18].
A B C D E
honey pollen pollinate mix hives
The [QUESTION 19] sank beneath the [QUESTION 20] of the ocean.
A B C D E
spaceship sea surface midst submarine

Page 13
Section 3 - Synonyms
Instructions
Select the word that means the same as the given word in each question.
Mark your answer in the answering booklet by choosing one of the options A - D.
There is only one correct answer for each question.
Example i.
i) tired
exhausted rest dream snooze
A B C D
Answer i.
The correct answer is A as exhausted means the same as tired.
The answer A has been marked for you on your answer sheet.
Example ii.
i) poor
needy paid impoverished rich
A B C D
Answer ii.
The correct answer is C as impoverished means the same as poor.
Mark the letter C on your answer sheet.

Page 14
1) complicated
composition delicate intricate simple
A B C D
2) intense
stressed severe mild moderate
A B C D
3) construct
build demolish crush establish
A B C D
4) strategy
journey approach mission scheme
A B C D
5) complaint
compliment objection speech statement
A B C D
6) currency
circulation economy money fund
A B C D

Page 15
7) majority
minority part most less
A B C D
8) feeble
ill fragile broken frail
A B C D
9) prodigal
wasteful economical mean alone
A B C D
10) unique
ordinary single common distinctive
A B C D
11) anticipate
wait expect want complain
A B C D
12) artificial
expensive modern unnatural genuine
A B C D

Page 16
13) vacant
empty occupied busy mindless
A B C D
14) minute
huge timed minuscule magical
A B C D
15) sacred
cursed hallowed haunted expensive
A B C D


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11+ CEM English and Verbal

● To receive free 11+ practice papers/answers and preparation workshops

● Our youthful super-tutors deliver the best 11 Plus exam preparation

● Want to expand your child’s vocabulary? Listen to The Exam Coach

© The Exam Coach | teamkeen@theexamcoach.tv

11+ CEM English and Verbal Reasoning Paper 5

Information about the test papers:

Symbol Description: Symbol Description: Symbol Description: Symbol Description:

© The Exam Coach | teamkeen@theexamcoach.tv

i) Which of the following words is closest in meaning to the word “apathetic”

The answer here is A as apathetic means “showing or feeling no interest or enthusiasm.

ii) What happened as the boy walked home?

The correct answer is B.

You have 20 minutes to answer 20 questions.

© The Exam Coach | teamkeen@theexamcoach.tv

When Gretel was Fifteen

“War has been declared.”

© The Exam Coach | teamkeen@theexamcoach.tv

school, and felt privileged to ask questions. 30

© The Exam Coach | teamkeen@theexamcoach.tv

1) What is everyone about to do at the beginning of the passage?

A. Leave the table

A. By reading the newspaper

5) How many people are seated at the table?

© The Exam Coach | teamkeen@theexamcoach.tv

6) How long had the war been going on for?

7) What is meant by the word “devastating” in line 6?

© The Exam Coach | teamkeen@theexamcoach.tv

11) Why does Amy Bowring begin to cry?

A. Because they are at war

13) Who supported America joining the war?

© The Exam Coach | teamkeen@theexamcoach.tv

17) What “privilege” does Grace Moss have (line 30)?

A. She is the oldest

18) Which of the following words best describes Angel Thayer?

19) What “boys” are referred to in line 49?

20) Why does Fräulein Sieling claim to have a headache?

End of Section 1. Remember to check your work.

© The Exam Coach | teamkeen@theexamcoach.tv

Section 2 - Missing Words

Each word can only be used once.

The eagle [QUESTION i] through the air.

The [QUESTION ii] travelled into [QUESTION iii].

Answer ii. and iii.

You have 15 minutes to answer 20 questions.

© The Exam Coach | teamkeen@theexamcoach.tv

Yesterday, I [QUESTION 1] to the supermarket.

The King held an [QUESTION 2] royal feast.

Sally always dreamed [QUESTION 3] being a pilot.

The exhausted dog [QUESTION 4] asleep in his dinner.

When it rains, [QUESTION 5] you can see a rainbow.

Plants need to be [QUESTION 6] every day.

© The Exam Coach | teamkeen@theexamcoach.tv

The cows were [QUESTION 7] on the grass in the field.

I have a major [QUESTION 8] of rollercoasters.

The scared cat was [QUESTION 9] by the dog.

Geoff goes to bed at [QUESTION 10] half eight.

The [QUESTION 13] mountain took us hours to [QUESTION 14].

© The Exam Coach | teamkeen@theexamcoach.tv

End of Section 2. Remember to check your work.

© The Exam Coach | teamkeen@theexamcoach.tv

exhausted rest dream snooze

needy paid impoverished rich