Question 1

Ahmad was watching television when he ____ the doorbell ring.

Accepted Answer

(3) heard. The sentence describes an event that happened in the past while Ahmad was already doing something else. 'Was watching' indicates a continuous past action, and 'heard' correctly indicates a single completed past action (the doorbell ringing) that interrupted or occurred during the watching. Options (1) and (2) are present tense, and (4) is a present participle which doesn't fit the past simple context for the doorbell ringing action.

Question 2

The ceiling fan that spins ____ our heads makes the room much cooler.

Accepted Answer

(4) above. A ceiling fan is typically installed on the ceiling, meaning it is positioned higher than our heads. Therefore, 'above' is the correct preposition to describe its location relative to our heads. 'Into' and 'along' are incorrect for location, and 'under' means below, which is the opposite of where a ceiling fan is.

Question 3

John accidentally added too ____ salt in his cooking. The soup was too salty.

Accepted Answer

(4) much. Salt is an uncountable noun. For uncountable nouns, 'much' is used to quantify a large amount. 'Few' and 'many' are used for countable nouns, while 'little' implies a small amount, which contradicts 'too salty'. Thus, 'much' is the appropriate quantifier here.

Question 4

Every morning, Julia ____ a cup of Milo before going to school.

Accepted Answer

(3) drinks. The phrase 'Every morning' indicates a habitual action, which requires the simple present tense. For a third-person singular subject like 'Julia', the verb in the simple present tense takes an '-s' ending. Therefore, 'drinks' is the correct form.

Question 5

"I need a vase for ____ flowers," Tom said, holding the bunch carefully.

Accepted Answer

(3) these. 'Flowers' is a plural noun. When referring to plural items that are nearby or currently being held (indicated by 'holding the bunch carefully'), the demonstrative pronoun 'these' is used. 'This' and 'that' are for singular nouns, and 'those' is for plural nouns that are further away.

Question 6

Tigers use their stripes to ____ themselves while hunting in tall grass.

Accepted Answer

(4) camouflage. The stripes on a tiger's body help them blend in with their surroundings (like tall grass and shadows) to hide from prey. This natural ability to blend in is called 'camouflage'. 'Cover' and 'shield' are too general, and 'recycle' is irrelevant.

Question 7

Tom woke up late for school. He ran ____ to catch his school bus.

Accepted Answer

(2) as fast as lightning. Since Tom woke up late and needed to catch his bus, he would need to run very quickly. The idiom 'as fast as lightning' perfectly conveys extreme speed. The other options describe heat, slowness, or calmness, which are not appropriate for the context.

Question 8

Janet is a ____. She does research on species of plants.

Accepted Answer

(2) botanist. A person who specializes in the study of plants is called a botanist. A florist sells flowers, a zoologist studies animals, and an archaeologist studies human history through excavation.

Question 9

Pulau Ubin is a ____ area, so people are not allowed to take home any sea animals or plants.

Accepted Answer

(3) protected. The phrase 'people are not allowed to take home any sea animals or plants' indicates that the area is preserved and its natural resources are safeguarded. This aligns with the definition of a 'protected' area, such as a nature reserve, where exploitation of wildlife is restricted.

Question 10

The old door ____ loudly when David opened it. His father told him to oil it to stop the sound.

Accepted Answer

(3) squeaked. An old door that needs oiling to stop a sound typically makes a high-pitched, grating noise. 'Squeaked' is the most appropriate verb to describe this kind of sound made by a door hinge in need of lubrication. 'Shouted' is for humans, 'sneezed' is a bodily function, and 'squawked' is usually for birds or loud, harsh human sounds.

P3 English CA2 2025 — Nan Hua

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