ENGLISH LANGUAGE YEAR 6 PART 1

READING PASSAGES

SECTION 1

Read the passages below carefully and answer the questions that follow by choosing the most
appropriate of the options lettered A-E (number 1-12)

A long time ago, there lived a spider named Anansi. Like all spiders then, Anansi had a body the
side of a bird and eight thick legs, the thickness of a pencil. Anansi was quite lazy. While most
spiders spun webs to trap flies, Anansi asked other animals for food.

One dday, he approached Rabbit who had spent hours collecting greens. Anansi called out,
“What luscious greens! Would you share some with me?”

Rabbit said, “They are not ready, but if you wait a short while, I will share.”

Anansi was impatient. He thought, then said, “I’ll attach one end of a silk thread to you, and the
other one to one of your legs. When the food is ready, pull the thread and I will return.”

So Anansi tied his legs to the Rabbit with a thread of silk and left. The spider soon encountered
some monkeys who were busily peeling bananas.

“Would you share one?” Anansi asked. The monkeys explained that it was impolite for anyone
to eat one until all the bananas were peeled, but if Anansi waited, they would gladly share.
Instead, Anansi tied another thread to his leg and asked the monkeys to tug when the bananas
were peeled. Anansi wandered the forest. He found bees, busy making honey, and tied a thread
to them. He found a pig, sweating as he dug chestnuts up from the soil, and tied a thread to him.
Anansi did this until all eight legs were tied to another animal.

Suddenly, Anansi felt a tug on one of the threads. The Rabbit was ready! Then, another tug. The
monkeys! Then all eight threads pulled at once from every direction. In no time, the tugging
stretched each of the spider’s legs until they were twice long and half as thick.

QUESTIONS

1. Why did Anansi tie his leg to the Rabbit?

A. He thought the tried would remind him to wait patiently.
B. He wanted to see what the monkeys could offer before eating the greens.
 C. He was too impatient to be ready for the greens to ready.
D. He was so hungry that he had to eat the silk thread first.
E. He was concerned that he would not be able to finf Rabbit later.
2. Why did the monkeys ask Anansi to wait?
A. The had not decided yet if they would share with him.
B. They thought id was rude for anyone to eat until all food was ready.
C. They were too busy peeling bananas to stop and share with him
D. The wanted Anansi to do his far share of the work first.
E. They did not have enough bananas for themselves and Anansi.
3. What caused Anansi’s legs to become long and thin?
A. All eight animals pulled his legs to punish him.
B. Anansi’s legs became long and thin from hunger.
C. Anansi’s legs became weakened from wandering the forest for so long.
D. Anansi became tangled in his own web, which pulled had on his legs.
E. All animals pulled the threads at the same time when their food was ready.
4. Which of the following statement is true according to the passage?
A. Anansi encountered the monkeys before the rabbit.
B. The monkey were the first to tug on a silk thread.
C. Anansi’s body, like all spiders, had the wings and beak of a bird.
D. All eight of Anansi’s legs were eventually connected to the animals.
E. Anansi often spun webs to trap flies for this food.
5. In this passage, wandered means:
A. Grew weak
B. Grew impatient
C. Moved about
D. Spun a web
E. Begged
6. In this story, Anansi was punished for his…
A. Hunger
B. Dishonesty
C. Impatience
D. Weakness
E. Greed

PASSAGE 2: AZTEC ATTACK!

Darasimi stumbled across the field, the maize stalks were sharp and stubbly and cut her legs and
she could hardly see where she was going because of the large urn of water she was carrying.
She felt the water splash down the front of her dress and gripped the urn more tightly. She would
be in even more trouble if there were no water left in it by the time she reached her father and
brother who were working in the fields. “Look who’s here,” said father when she finally arrived
at the place where they were harvesting the crop; he took the urn from her. “Now, what have you
done to earn such a harsh punishment?” “I broke the big red and black dish,” said Darasimi, “I
was helping Mother with the cleaning and I dropped it. She was very angry with me and said I
had to bring some water to

you.” Her father smiled, “It was a gift given to us when we were married, and quite precious, so
that’s why she’s upset but we are very glad to see you. Let’s have a drink and then you and
Afolabi can play for a few minutes while I have a rest.” The children chased each other around
the field until they saw their father stand up and pick up his sickle once more. Afolabi sighed, “I
have to go back to work now.
Are you going home?” Darasimi shook her head, “Not yet, mother will find me another horrible
job. I’m going to climb that hill and see what’s on the other side.” Afolabi walked back to join
his father, “Be careful,” he called over his shoulder, “Father says that someone spotted a jaguar
on the hill last week.”
Darasimi raced off towards the hill, stopping now and again to look at the wild flowers. There
was no sign of the jaguar but she saw a sleek brown lizard stretched out on a rock in the sun, it
seemed to be asleep but as soon as her shadow fell across the rock it darted away into the
undergrowth.
She was almost at the top of the hill when she turned to look at the men and boys working in the
fields, it was just possible to pick out her father and brother. The sun was beginning to sink in the
sky and she knew that she would have to run all the way home but she couldn’t resist a peep at
what was on the other side of the hill. What she saw took her breath away! There were hundreds
of men marching towards her, some of them were wearing shiny, silver outfits and riding big
animals with four legs. She had never seen anything so spectacular but instinctively she knew
that it was serious trouble.

She turned and ran down the hill as fast as she could go, dodging rocks and tree roots and
trampling on the flowers that had attracted her only a few minutes earlier. As soon as she saw her
father she began to shout. He looked up curiously and after listening to the news of what she’d
seen, he shouted instructions to the other workers in the field. Everyone immediately picked up
their tools and ran towards the settlement. Darasimi ran as fast as she could but she could not
keep up. Eventually, her father slowed and swept her into his arms as Afolabi raced ahead. News
of the impending attack was spreading as they reached the village. Darasimi’s mother was
standing in the doorway of their house, she was holding father’s bow and arrows and the
fearsome eagle feather helmet he wore whenever there was a battle. Darasimi’s father dropped
her to the ground, accepted the weapons and with a grim expression on his face he marched away
to join the rest of the men and boys who were gathering in the center of the village.

Afolabi was strapping his quiver of arrows to his back as he emerged from the house, he looked
very excited, “My first battle!” he screamed and his face was alight with anticipation. Darasimi
and her mother watched until the men marched away, then Darasimi clapped her hands to her
mouth, “Oh no! I’ve left the water urn in the field!” Her mother smiled, “Don’t worry about that.
You’ll be remembered as a great heroine today. If you hadn’t spotted the enemy marching this
way who knows what would have happened. Now come we must go and take shelter and pray to
the gods that our men will be successful.”
SECTION A

Choose the best word or group of words to fit the passage and put a ring
around your choice.

Darasimi was carrying a large heavy urn of

7. milk wine water beer
to her
8. father grandfather uncle aunt
and her brother who were working in the fields. Father asked why she had
been sent. “I’ve been punished for breaking the red and black

9. cup vase plate dish

when I was cleaning.” Father stopped to rest and the children chased each
other around the

10. road. hill. field. river bank.

When they started work again Darasimi climbed up the

11. rock tree cliff hill

to see what was on the other side. She saw

12. tens armies hundreds thousands

of men marching towards her. She immediately ran to warn the others.

SECTION B

13. Why did Darasimi stumble across the field?

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14. Why was Darasimi punished?

15. Why was Darasimi’s father pleased to see her?

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16. Why do you think ‘Afolabi sighed’ when he saw his father pick up his sickle once more?

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17. How did Darasimi know ‘she would have to run all the way back home’?

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18. What does the author mean by the sentence ’What she saw took her breath away’?

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19. Darasimi had never seen an army before. What do you think made her know ‘that it was
serious trouble’?

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20. What action of Darasimi’s mother suggests this was not the first time an army had invaded
the settlement?
SECTION C
Briefly, write how you would feel if either: You are a boy and you know you would be sent into
battle or you are a girl and you know you would be made to stay behind.

21. Draw a line to match each word to its correct suffix.

Words Suffix
child ship

champion

neighbor

friend

member hood

22. Underline the subject of the sentence below.

A whale lives in the sea.

23. Which sentence must end with a question mark?

Tick one

Shall we go round the fitness trial in the park

We could go tomorrow if you like

 What I really like is the rope bridge

Let me know what you would like to do

24. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

Tick one

Nevertheless we, are going on Saturday

Finally, I think I understand what you mean

Considering, all his efforts the result was disappointing

At the last, count there were twenty people coming

25. Which sentence uses commas correctly?

Tick one

The band will perform at concerts in Belfast, Manchester,

Birmingham, Nottingham and, Sheffield.

The children could choose to play netball, cricket,

hockey or tennis.

Randolph was dressed in gold, green and white

Mr, Edwin plays the Keyboard, Guitar and Violin

26. Draw a line to match each prefix to the correct word to make a new word.

Prefix Word
en cover

de large

dis frost

27. Circle the correct verb form in each underlined pair to complete the passage below.

William Shakespeare, the famous writer, is / was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564

and later move / moved to London where he will become / became an actor. Even today,

Shakespeare’s plays are performed / performed around the world.

28. Draw a line to match each word below to its antonym.

 Word Antonym

near close

cold far

29.
29. What is the
word distant hot class of
the underlined
words?
warm cool
I have two
brothers. Brian is
older and Stanley is younger than me.

Tick one.

adjective

noun

adverb
 verb

30. Which sentence is the most formal? Tick one.

Getting enough sleep is important, isn’t it?

Let’s set off early for school tomorrow.

Do you fancy coming with us to the park?

It is essential that we remember our water bottles

31. Which option is punctuated correctly? Tick one.

He is famous for his innovative music: a mix of recorded

noises, traditional instruments and songs

He is famous for his innovative music a mix of recorded

noises, traditional instruments and songs.

He is famous for his innovative music; a mix of recorded

noises, traditional instruments, and songs

He is famous for his innovative music, (a mix of recorded

noises, traditional instruments and songs)

32. Add a different prefix to each word to form its antonym

Sentences Description

Jake was cycling an action in progress in the present

Jake cycled an action in progress in the past

Jake is cycling an action in the past

33. I __ arrange the flowers for the bouquet. (may/can)
34. __ I borrow this pen from you? (may/might)
35. The teacher __ ask you to bring the homework. (might/can)
36. According to the weather forecast, it ___ snow heavily tomorrow. (may/shall)
37. _-------- it will snow tomorrow (definitely/perhaps)
38. You _________ need a break (definitely/perhaps).
39. Highlight the expanded noun phrases in the sentence

The excited sailor set out on his boat. The dark cloud made him worried but he carried on.
Soon a terrible storm came and broke his boat. Luckily a friendly monster was passing by.
The monster rescued the wet sailor and took him back to safety.

40. What would be the best way to combine these two sentences.
My band teacher taught me how to play three instruments.
My teacher's name is Ms. Gods
Ms. Godsey is my band teacher, and, she taught me how to play three instruments.
Ms. Godsey who taught me how to play three instruments, is my band teacher.
Ms. Godsey, my band teacher, taught me how to play three instruments.
Ms. Godsey is my band teacher because she taught me how to play three instruments.