ENGLISH HOME LANGUAGE

GRADE 9

READING COMPREHENSION

MARKS TOTAL: 30

TIME: 45 MINUTES

Instuctions:

1. Answer all the questions.

2. Read all the instructions very carefully.

3. Write neatly and legibly.

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SECTION A: COMPREHENSION
Read the text below and answer the questions that follow.

Career Exploration: How to Get the Inside Scoop Adapted from careervision.org

The last time you went out for ice cream, what did you have? Did you stick with
your same old favourite? Or did you waffle between several delectable
1
flavours? In the end, did you like what you chose? But even if you weren’t
smitten with your frozen treat, you probably weren’t too disappointed. After all,
it’s ice cream…how bad could it be?

The stakes just aren’t that high when you go to the ice cream shop. But, the
higher the stakes, the more time you should devote to exploring the
2
possibilities. Take, for example, your career. How can you best consider your
options?

Know Your Tastes. Wouldn’t it be great if you could try every flavour at the ice
cream shop? But, as enjoyable as that might seem, it’s just not realistic.
3
Instead, begin by knowing your tastes. For instance, if you love chocolate, you
might like rocky road ice cream.
Along the same lines, the first step in career exploration is knowing yourself.
Look inside: explore your interests, personality, and most importantly, your
4
aptitudes, or natural talents.

Look at the Menu. Even if you know your tastes, should you order a scoop of
rocky road? It’s still hard to say because you still need to know more about its
flavour. Start by reading the menu. Rocky road is chocolate ice cream with
nuts and marshmallows. If you like all these ingredients, you’ll probably like the 5
ice cream.
The next step in the career exploration process follows the same path. Identify
careers that might be a good match for you, based on what you know about
6
yourself. Then gather information about each one.

 Read about occupations. You can find out more about your preferred
occupations through the internet. You might focus on getting information like
what is the nature of the work or what training is needed to enter the field.
Watch videos of career overviews. Along with detailed descriptions of 7
occupations, career videos often incorporate informational interviews with
individuals working in the field.
Read job postings. You’ll notice that an occupation’s specific job tasks and
work environment can vary a little, based on each employer’s specific needs.

Try a Sample. Remember that rocky road ice cream? Do the ingredients 8
appeal to you? If they do, then it’s time to taste a sample.

Page 2 of 5
 And now that you’ve researched careers of interest, you undoubtedly have a
lot to chew on. Compare what you know about these occupations to what you
9
know about your talents and interests. Based on your analysis, determine
which careers you want to “sample”. Here’s how:

 Do your own interviews. Talk with people who work in the occupation you’re
contemplating. Ask family and friends if they know someone who works in that 10
field.
 You can also get the inside scoop with real world experience through job
shadowing, internships or volunteer experiences.

Now that you have taken time and effort to choose the best for you, you can 11
relax and enjoy the taste of success.

Question 1
1.1 Name the steps that you should take when exploring a career. (3)
1.2 List three ways that you can get hands-on experience in a particular field. (3)
1.3 Give a reason why you will or will not enjoy rocky road ice cream. Use the (2)
information in par 5 to help you in your answer.
1.4 Summarise ways, according to the text, that you can get information about a (3)
certain career.

1.5 State what type of information you might get from a job listing. (2)
1.6 What is the main idea of paragraph 1? (2)

1.7 What was the intention of the author when they decided to write this article? (1)

1.9 What, do you think, will be the outcome on your career choices, if you go job (2)
shadowing?

1.10 What does the following sentence reveal about searching for a career? (2)

If you like all these ingredients, you’ll probably like the ice cream.

1.11 Explain the effect of comparing choosing a career to choosing an ice cream. (3)

1.12 Do you agree with the view that if you follow all of the steps that you will (2)
“enjoy the sweet taste of success”?
1.13 Comment on the phrase “have a lot to chew on” (Par 9). Is it appropriate or (2)
not in this context?
1.14 Comment critically whether or not you think the extended metaphor of (2)
choosing a treat, is effective or not.
1.15 You can also get the inside scoop with real world experience through job (1)
shadowing, internships or volunteer experiences.
State why this sentence is a fact or an opinion.
Sub-total: [30]

Page 3 of 5
 ENGLISH HOME LANGUAGE
GRADE 9
READING COMPREHENSION
MEMO
Question 1

1.1 Name the steps that you should take when exploring a career. 3
(know what you like, look at different careers, try them out)
1.2 List three ways that you can get hands on experience in a particular 3
field.
(job shadowing, internships, volunteer experiences.)

1.3 Give a reason why you will or will not enjoy rocky road ice cream. 2
Use the information in par xx to help you in your answer.
Rocky road is chocolate ice cream with nuts and marshmallows.
Learners response will vary. 1 mark for stating if they will enjoy
it and one mark for the reason.
I would love it √ because I love chocolates and nuts.√
1.4 Summarise ways, according to the text, that you can get information 3
about a certain career.

•Read about occupations.

•Watch videos of career overviews.

•Read job postings.

1.5 State what type of information you might get from a job listing 2
Specific job tasks and an idea about the work environment
1.6 What is the main idea of paragraph 1? 2

Choosing an ice cream is easy. Choosing a career is hard.

1.7 What was the intention of the author when they decided to write this 1
article?

To give learners an idea of how to decide on a career.

1.9 What, do you think, will be the outcome on your career choices, if you 2
go job shadowing?

You will have real world experience and be able to make a better
choice.

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1.10 What does the following sentence reveal about searching for a 2
career?

If you like all these ingredients, you’ll probably like the ice cream.

It means that you should look at the different aspects of a career

before deciding that you might like it or not.

1.11 Explain the effect of comparing choosing a career to choosing an ice 3

cream.

Choosing a career is often a daunting idea and people don’t

know where to start. Choosing an ice cream is easy. By
comparing the two, it makes choosing a career seem easier.

1.12 Do you agree with the view that if you follow all of the steps that you 2
will “enjoy the sweet taste of success”?
Most likely – yes: It seems like good advice to make an informed
decision.
Also accept other reasonable alternatives. Example: No: People
change and what you like today, you might not like tomorrow.

1.13 Comment on the phrase “have a lot to chew on” (Par 9). Is it 2
appropriate or not in this context?
It is very appropriate because the word ‘chew’ relates to the food
aspect. The phrase ‘something to chew on’ means that you
have to think about something – in this case your career
choices.
1.14 Comment critically whether or not you think the extended metaphor of 2
choosing a treat, is effective or not.
It is effective because people like thinking about positive things,
like an ice cream more than stressful things, like choosing a
career. 30

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