P6 ENGLISH

Comprehension
Answering questions based on a passage

Read the passage about Cheng Ho carefully and answer the questions that follow.

I lost my family when Chinese rulers defeated the Muslims in the city of Kun Ming in southwestern
China. My ties with royalty officially began when I was ten years old. I became a eunuch and as a servant,
I was assigned to the retinue of Chu Ti, who later became the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty in 1402.
I began playing a more important role as I grew older and started accompanying Chu Ti on his military
campaigns. I must say I fought bravely against the Mongols then and did well enough to become a military
leader and admiral.

Chu Ti, who became known as Emperor Yung Lo, had usurped the throne and he sent me after the
previous emperor whom he was certain had fled the Middle Kingdom. That first voyage with almost three
hundred large and small vessels and a crew of several thousand was just the first in a series of voyages.
In my seven voyages, I took large numbers of vessels and men with me to visit more than thirty countries
ranging from the nearby ones like Champa, Sumatra and Java to those that were much further away like
Arabia and places along the African coast.

Although the search for the previous emperor was foremost, I also took the opportunity to establish
good relations between the Middle Kingdom and the many countries I visited. I brought local products
from the Middle Kingdom like silk and I managed to convey our sincere wish to establish friendly relations
with the various countries. My voyages, though arduous, did achieve results and I finally convinced many
countries to pay tribute.

However, things were not always smooth sailing. On my third voyage, I was taken prisoner by the
king of Sri Lanka and sent back to China. This did not discourage me. I was keen to continue with my
voyages. There were so many countries beyond our shores, countries with their own unique lifestyles and
exotic cultures. To ensure that more places were visited, I split up my convoy of vessels.

Having visited so many different places, I have come to realize the richness of the cultures that exist
outside of the Middle Kingdom. I am keen to revisit some of these places if the new emperor permits. I
certainly do enjoy these voyages.

Taken from SCORE WORKBOOK 6

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P6 ENGLISH

Comprehension
Answering questions based on a passage

1 What type of family was Cheng Ho born into?

2 How did Cheng Ho prove that he was a capable soldier?

3 How do you know that a lot of resources were spent on a voyage?

4 Why did Cheng Ho say that his journeys were not always ‘smooth sailing’?

voyage, he became a prisoner of the king of Sri Lanka and was sent back to China.
3. Many vessels as well as a lot of crew were sent on each voyage. 4. On his third Answers: 1. He was born into a Muslim family. 2. He fought bravely against the Mongols.

Taken from SCORE WORKBOOK 6

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P6 ENGLISH

Grammar
The past perfect tense

Fill in each blank with the past perfect tense of the verb in the brackets.

1 I (work) at a law firm before I formed my own company.

2 I (star) in many films before I became a martial arts teacher.

3 My interest in aviation (start) a long time before I got my pilot licence.

4 By the time my new teacher arrived, I (give) up hope of ever being able to
read.

Answers: 1. had worked 2. had starred 3. had started 4. had given

Taken from SCORE WORKBOOK 6

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P6 ENGLISH

Grammar
The past perfect tense

Fill in each blank with the past perfect tense of the verb in the brackets.

1 The group of men (bind) me with a thick rope and as a result, I was unable
to escape.

2 My family (move) from Hong Kong to America before I was born.

3 Since I (fail) most of my subjects in school, my teacher encouraged me to

join an art college instead.

Answers: 1. had bound 2. had moved 3. had failed

Taken from SCORE WORKBOOK 6

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P6 ENGLISH

Grammar
• The simple past tense • The past perfect tense

Fill in each blank with the simple past tense or the past perfect tense of the verb in the brackets.

1 After the seeds (grow), we (replant) mango trees

outside our house.

2 I (see) the terrible effects of war so I (make) sure

my children never experienced it.

3 We (clean) the farmhouse and the barn even before the sun

(rise).

Answers: 1. had grown, replanted 2. had seen, made 3. had cleaned, rose

Taken from SCORE WORKBOOK 6

© Singapore Asia Publishers Pte Ltd SAPENGP6_W03
Website: www.sapgrp.com | Facebook: Singapore-Asia-Publishers Page 5/5