Question 1

1. A ____ is a small animal that has a shell and moves very slowly.
(1) seal
(2) slug
(3) snail
(4) snake

Accepted Answer

(3) snail. A snail is known for having a shell and moving very slowly. Seals, slugs, and snakes do not fit this description (slugs don't have shells, and seals/snakes are not typically described as moving very slowly in the same context as a snail).

Question 2

2. The lion cub ran away when a ____ of buffaloes came charging towards it.
(1) herd
(2) pack
(3) pride
(4) troop

Accepted Answer

(1) herd. A 'herd' is the collective noun for a group of buffaloes. 'Pack' is typically for wolves/dogs, 'pride' for lions, and 'troop' for monkeys or soldiers.

Question 3

3. The fisherman's wife was ____. She kept asking the magic fish for more wishes.
(1) kind
(2) cruel
(3) greedy
(4) generous

Accepted Answer

(3) greedy. The phrase 'kept asking... for more wishes' indicates an excessive desire for things, which is characteristic of being 'greedy'.

Question 4

4. Penguins lay on their bellies and ____ across the-ice.
(1) slide
(2) crawl
(3) slither
(4) wriggle

Accepted Answer

(1) slide. Penguins are known to 'slide' on their bellies across ice, which is a common form of locomotion for them. 'Crawl' and 'wriggle' suggest slower, less efficient movement, while 'slither' is typically used for snakes.

Question 5

5. Mr Lim is a ____. He sells meat in the market. My mother goes to his stall to buy chicken drumsticks.
(1) chef
(2) baker
(3) butcher
(4) fisherman

Accepted Answer

(3) butcher. A 'butcher' is a person whose trade is cutting up and selling meat. This matches Mr Lim's job description of selling chicken drumsticks in the market.

Question 6

6. We were glad that we arrived early ____ the airport. We had enough time to do some shopping before boarding the flight.
(1) to
(2) at
(3) on
(4) by

Accepted Answer

(2) at. The preposition 'at' is used to specify a location or place, such as 'at the airport'.

Question 7

7. The little girl was crying ____ she was lost.
(1) or
(2) so
(3) but
(4) because

Accepted Answer

(4) because. 'Because' is a conjunction used to introduce a reason or cause. The girl was crying *because* she was lost.

Question 8

8. "____ you reach the top shelf?" asked Mother. "I need your help to take that cookie jar!"
(1) Can
(2) May
(3) Shall
(4) Must

Accepted Answer

(1) Can. 'Can' is used to inquire about someone's ability or capability to perform an action. Mother is asking if the child has the *ability* to reach the shelf.

Question 9

9. Charlie ____ the truth, but nobody believed him.
(1) tell
(2) told
(3) tells
(4) is telling

Accepted Answer

(2) told. The phrase 'nobody believed him' is in the past tense, indicating that Charlie's action of speaking the truth also occurred in the past. Therefore, the simple past tense verb 'told' is appropriate.

Question 10

10. ____ is taller, Sam or Joe?
(1) Who
(2) What
(3) Which
(4) Whose

Accepted Answer

(1) Who. 'Who' is the correct interrogative pronoun to ask about people, especially when comparing two individuals like Sam and Joe.

Question 11

He picked ____ his phone and contacted the police.

Accepted Answer

D. up. The phrasal verb 'picked up' means to lift or take hold of something, in this context, his phone.

Question 12

They had thought that there was no one ____ the house.

Accepted Answer

C. in. The burglars thought no one was 'in' the house, meaning inside the residence, which would make it easier to burglarize.

Question 13

21. David and his friend wanted to ____ at the beach.
(1) jog
(2) swim
(3) cycle
(4) bathe

Accepted Answer

(2) swim. The first paragraph mentions they packed 'swimming trunks' and the last paragraph states they 'had a good time swimming in the sea', indicating their main activity at the beach was swimming.

Question 14

22. David and his friend ____ to the beach.
(1) ran
(2) drove
(3) cycled
(4) walked

Accepted Answer

(3) cycled. The passage states 'They pedalled at top speed' and refers to David's 'bicycle', which implies they travelled to the beach by cycling.

P2 English SA2 2025 — Anglo Chinese

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