Amhaz Educational Institutions

School: My New College First Semester Exam Subject: English Language

The English Department
Scholastic year: 2015-2016 Grade: Eight Section: A, B, C
Date: …………….. Duration: 120 ms.
Name: .............................. Mark: /20

Part One: Reading

Read the following text, and then work out the activities that follow.

1 Camping suggests many things_ woods, mountains, lakes, fishing, hunting,

rest from noise, and outdoor life. Camping includes everything from spending a
night in a tent in one’s backyard under the stars to passing several weeks in the
wilderness, far from the nearest town. The camper may travel on foot, on
horseback, or any way he wants. He may even fly to faraway spots in wild
country

2 The equipment to be carried on a camping trip depends largely upon the

desire of the person. No one should carry too much weight, especially if the
camping trip is to include long walks. The real camper learns to get along without many things that tire him when
he carries them day after day. After returning from the first camping trip, it is a good idea to sort out the equipment
into three piles. Into one pile, the camper should put things he used every day. He should make a second pile of
those he used at least once. A third pile should have in it those which he did not use at all. On the next trip, this
third pile should be left at home, and the second pile, too, if possible. But the first-aid kit should always be taken
even if it has not been used before.

3 Clothes are more important in the camp because they receive rough treatment, and if they are ruined, they
cannot be replaced. A camper’s health and comfort depend on the proper clothing. For example, when hiking
through underbrush, campers should wear long trousers and long-sleeved shirts for protection against scratches.

4 Today organized camping for boys and girls is developing in almost all countries. Experienced directors are
opening organized camps. These camps are providing many activities in camp setting and starting places for trips
in the wilderness. Campers in these organized camps usually stay from one to eight weeks, enjoying their time to a
large extent away from crowdedness and noise.

5 School camping is a program of outdoor education for the benefit of school children. Teachers, camp personnel,
and the students themselves plan the camp program. In this way, the students learn to work and play together. At
the same time, they gather valuable knowledge of nature study, conservation, and the outdoor crafts. Students also
study pioneer life and undertake conservation projects. At the end of the camp session, the students return to their
classrooms for further study of these subjects.
Comprehension Questions

A. Answer the following questions in complete sentences. (7pts.)

1. Based on your understanding of paragraph 2, state the difference between a professional camper and an
amateurish/unprofessional one concerning equipment.
2. How do school children benefit from school camping?
3. According to your experience, what benefits might a camper reap/get from having a first-aid kit as an
equipment?
4. What does each underlined pronoun in the above text refer to?
a. him (parag. 2) b. them (parag. 2) c. those (parag.2) d. they (parag. 3)

5. What is the type of the text? What is the writer's purpose behind writing it?

B. Write the main idea of paragraph 2, and then supply it with a suitable title. (1pt.)

C. The following statements are taken from the text. Copy the following chart on your answer sheet, and
then fill it with the suitable paragraph number that fits each statement. (1.5pts.)

Statement Paragraph
Number
1. Campers should also wear some kind of head covering for protection against the sun or bad
weather.
2. They often bring back special study materials such as specimens of rocks, insects, and
leaves.

3. No matter where or how the camper goes, the mere thought of camping makes him/her
enthusiastic for the freedom of the outdoors.

D. Copy the following graphic organizer on your sheet, and then fill it with either cause or effect. (1.5pts.)

Cause Effect
1. The students return to their classrooms a.

2. b. They receive tough treatment.

3. Campers should wear some kind of head covering c.

E. The following sentences are wrong because they misinterpret the information given in the text. Correct
them. (1.5pts.)

1. Camping includes spending only a night in the forest.

2. Campers can wear any kind of clothing in the camp.
3. A camper always needs a lot of equipment.
F. Refer to the text to find words that almost have the same meaning as the following. (2pts.)

1. unable to rest (parag.1):______________________

2. places (parag.1): ___________________________
3. suitable (parag. 3): ________________________
4. collect (parag. 4): ___________________________

Part Two: Grammar

H. Fill in with the appropriate past form (Simple or Continuous). (2pts.)

1. Her husband _______________ (wait) at the airport when she ____________________ (arrive)
2. I __________________ (read) an interesting story when you ___________________ (see) me in the library.
3. We ________________ (find) no time to rest because we ____________________ (prepare) for the term test.
4. The plane _______________ (take) off when I _____________________(remember) that I had left the camera at home.

I. Put the verbs in brackets into n the Present Progressive or the Present Simple. (2pts.)

1. The baker family____________________ (buy) a new house next week.

2. The children __________________ (wear) their old clothes this year.
3. Grandpa __________________ (pay) the bakers a visit now.
4. A: I ____________________ (think) about visiting Jane this afternoon.
B: I wouldn’t bother. I_______________________ (think) she’s away on holiday.
5. A: I _____________________ (see) my boss about a pay rise this afternoon.
B. I __________________ (see). That’s why you __________________ (wear) a suit and a tie.

J. Part Three: Writing (20pts.)

Extracurricular activities such as camping in the above text, scouting, hiking, etc… leave their positive
effects on our character/ personality, on our social behavior, and eventually on our productivity as a whole
In a well- organized essay of about 150 words, select any two positive effects and discuss them by citing proper
evidence and means of support.
Fill the graphic organizer first, and then take the following word bank into consideration.

Positive effects of
Type of activity Effects on character Effects on behavior Effects on productivity
1. a. a. a.
b. b. b.
c. c. c.
2. a. a. a.
b. b. b.
c. c. c.

Word Bank
Self-confidence, reliance, strength of character, optimism, excitement, respect,
loyalty, ethical values, joy, team spirit, cooperation, social integration, etc…

GOOD WORK
Comprehension Exam (Answer Key)

A. 1. An amateurish camper carries too much weight, while the real (professional) camper learns how to get along
without many things that tire him.
2. School children learn to work and play together since school camping is a program of outdoor activities.
5. A camper might need the first- aid kit in case he hurt or injured himself.
4. him= a camper them= many things those= things they= clothes
5. The type of the text is expository. The writer's purpose is to inform us about camping in general.

B. A good, successful camping trip greatly depends on the proper equipment a camper carries.
Camping Equipment

C.
Statement Paragraph
Number
1. Campers should also wear some kind of head covering for protection against the sun or bad 3
weather.
2. They often bring back special study materials such as specimens of rocks, insects, and 1
leaves.

3. No matter where or how the camper goes, the mere thought of camping makes him/her 5
enthusiastic for the freedom of the outdoors.

D.
Cause Effect
a. for further study of these subjects.
2. Camping clothing are important
c. for protection against the sun or bad
weather.

E.
1.Camping includes everything from spending a night in a tent in one's backyard under the stars to passing several
weeks in the wilderness.
2. Campers should wear special clothes.
3. A real camper learns to get along without many things.

F. 1. restless 2. spots 3. proper 4. gather

G.
1. was waiting / arrived
2. was reading / saw
3. found / were preparing
4. was taking off / remembered

H 1. is buying
2. are wearing
3. is paying
4. A: am thinking
B: think
5. A: am seeing
B. see/ are wearing