P5 English SA1 2025 — Maha Bodhi | Singapore Past Year Paper

Q: She ____ her homework so she is watching television now.

D. has finished. Present perfect 'has finished' indicates a completed action with present relevance — she completed her homework, so she is now free to watch TV.

Q: "Your mother has been working in the hawker centre for many years, ____ she?" asked Jen.

C. hasn't. The main clause uses present perfect continuous 'has been working', so the question tag must mirror the auxiliary 'has' in the negative: 'hasn't she'.

Q: The discipline mistress warned us that we ____ obey all the school rules or face the consequences for not doing so.

B. must. 'Must' expresses strong obligation, matching the warning and the threat of consequences for non-compliance.

Q: When I reached home, I realised that I ____ my pencil case under my desk in school.

C. had left. The past perfect 'had left' shows that leaving the pencil case happened before the later past action of reaching home.

Q: Tom, together with his friends, ____ to the concert tomorrow.

C. is going. The subject is 'Tom' (singular); 'together with his friends' is a parenthetical phrase that does not affect agreement. 'Tomorrow' signals a planned future, so the present continuous 'is going' is correct.

Q: I was walking home when I heard someone ____ for help in the distance.

B. shouting. After verbs of perception like 'heard', the -ing form 'shouting' describes an action in progress at the moment of hearing.

Q: Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word 'warily' in the passage: 'They moved away warily from the school bully.'

D. cautiously. 'Warily' means in a cautious or careful manner because of possible danger, so 'cautiously' is the closest synonym.

Q: Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word 'scrumptious' in the passage: 'How would I know if your cakes are scrumptious?'

B. delicious. 'Scrumptious' describes food that tastes extremely good, which matches 'delicious'.

Q: Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word 'examined' in the passage: 'Alfie examined them and poked a few pieces of the samples.'

D. scrutinised. In context Alfie inspected the samples closely (poking them), so 'scrutinised' (examined carefully and critically) best matches.

Q: Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word 'warning' in the passage: 'Without any warning, he picked up a piece and threw the cake at James' face.'

A. sign. Here 'warning' means an advance signal that something is about to happen; 'sign' is the closest synonym.

Q1 MCQ 1 mark

She ____ her homework so she is watching television now.

Q2 MCQ 1 mark

"Your mother has been working in the hawker centre for many years, ____ she?" asked Jen.

Q3 MCQ 1 mark

The discipline mistress warned us that we ____ obey all the school rules or face the consequences for not doing so.

Q4 MCQ 1 mark

When I reached home, I realised that I ____ my pencil case under my desk in school.

Q5 MCQ 1 mark

Tom, together with his friends, ____ to the concert tomorrow.

Q6 MCQ 1 mark

I was walking home when I heard someone ____ for help in the distance.

Q7 MCQ 1 mark

Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word 'warily' in the passage: 'They moved away warily from the school bully.'

Q8 MCQ 1 mark

Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word 'scrumptious' in the passage: 'How would I know if your cakes are scrumptious?'

Q9 MCQ 1 mark

Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word 'examined' in the passage: 'Alfie examined them and poked a few pieces of the samples.'

Q10 MCQ 1 mark

Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word 'warning' in the passage: 'Without any warning, he picked up a piece and threw the cake at James' face.'

Q11 MCQ 1 mark

Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word 'offending' in the passage: 'No one dared to take the risk of offending Alfie, afraid to be his next target.'

Q12 MCQ 1 mark

Choose the correct punctuation to complete the text at (12): 'When the sun went under the horizon ( ) Grandmother told me a secret.'

Q13 MCQ 1 mark

Choose the correct punctuation to complete the text at (13): '"What about August ( ) " I asked.'

Q14 MCQ 1 mark

Choose the correct punctuation to complete the text at (14): '"I love him a lot too ( ) " she said softly as she looked into my eyes lovingly.'

Q15 MCQ 1 mark

Choose the correct punctuation to complete the text at (15): '"I want you to know that you have a very special place in my heart. You are my ( ) "'

Q16 Open-ended 1 mark

From the list of words given (A) at, (B) by, (C) into, (D) from, (E) over, (F) after, (G) before, (H) during, choose the most suitable word for the blank: 'There had been cases of Singaporeans trespassing 16) ____ protected forested areas to gather ripe wild durians...'

Q17 Open-ended 1 mark

From the list of words given (A) at, (B) by, (C) into, (D) from, (E) over, (F) after, (G) before, (H) during, choose the most suitable word for the blank: '...ripe wild durians which had fallen 17) ____ the trees and landed on the ground.'

Q18 Open-ended 1 mark

From the list of words given (A) at, (B) by, (C) into, (D) from, (E) over, (F) after, (G) before, (H) during, choose the most suitable word for the blank: 'A road in Singapore, Lorong Lew Lian was named 18) ____ the fruit — "lew lian" means durian in Hokkien.'

Q19 Open-ended 1 mark

From the list of words given (A) at, (B) by, (C) into, (D) from, (E) over, (F) after, (G) before, (H) during, choose the most suitable word for the blank: 'Flowers are borne only for a day, 19) ____ which they are pollinated and drop off.'

Q20 Open-ended 1 mark

From the list of words given (A) at, (B) by, (C) into, (D) from, (E) over, (F) after, (G) before, (H) during, choose the most suitable word for the blank: 'The fruit takes approximately three months to ripen, 20) ____ falling and splitting on the ground.'

Q21 Structured 1 mark 🖼 Visual

Complete the following table. (1m) The table has the column headings 'Where he/she was at the beginning of the story (lines 1 to 5)' and 'Character'. Row 1: at the table — a) ____. Row 2: on the stage — Miss Roberts. Row 3: b) ____ — Mrs Susan.

Q22 Open-ended 1 mark

Which two-word phrase from lines 9 to 12 reveals that David did not want to be sent home? (1m)

Q23 Open-ended 1 mark 🖼 Visual

Which of the following was not mentioned in the conversation between Miss Roberts and Miss Evers? Put a cross (X) in the box beside the correct answer. (1m) Options: Mr Reynolds was late. / One boy would not be accounted for. / The crowd of adults had to choose a boy to care for.

Q24 Structured 2 marks 🖼 Visual

What does the word "it" in the following sentences refer to? (2m) a) "Don't worry, Miss Roberts will see to it," David said hopefully. (line 13) b) But the longer it went on, the more obvious it became that the situation was serious. (line 19)

Q25 Structured 3 marks 🖼 Visual

Use the following words to describe the feelings of the characters in bold when they made the quoted statement. Do not use any word more than once. (3m) Word bank: annoyed, desperate, concerned. a) Tuck whispered to David, "She doesn't know what she is in for." (line 7) b) "Mr Reynolds is two hours late," Miss Evers grumbled. (line 14) c) As Tuck prayed, David mouthed, "Please." (line 26)

Q26 Structured 2 marks 🖼 Visual

Based on the passage, state whether each statement in the table below is true or false, then give one reason why you think so. (2m) a) The teachers were afraid Tuck and David could hear their conversation. b) Miss Evers reprimanded Mr Reynolds for being late.

P5 English SA1 2025 — Maha Bodhi

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