P5 English CA2 2023 — Maris Stella High | Singapore Past Year Paper

Q: "Sixty dollars ____ too much to pay for the dresses," Kate told the salesgirl, as she put them back on the rack.

A. is. "Sixty dollars" refers to a single sum of money, so it takes the singular present-tense verb 'is'.

Q: The bag containing some documents and cash ____ on the road yesterday.

B. was found. The subject is the singular noun 'The bag', and 'yesterday' indicates simple past tense, so the passive 'was found' is correct.

Q: If you do not have a good grasp ____ the concepts, you will not be able to complete the test with ease.

C. of. The fixed collocation is 'a good grasp of (something)'.

Q: Mother realised that something was amiss when she noticed Bob ____ suspiciously in the backyard.

B. behaving. After 'noticed' + object, the present participle 'behaving' is used to describe an ongoing action that was observed.

Q: I will join you ____ you decide to go and exercise at the park.

D. should. 'Should' here means 'if' — expressing a conditional ('if you happen to decide'), which fits the future condition.

Q: My parents intend to take my brother and ____ to Japan during the holidays. ____ will all be staying at Uncle Henry's house.

B. me ... We. 'Me' is the object of 'take'. The subject of the next sentence (parents + brother + speaker) is 'We'.

Q: "If I ____ a bird, I ____ above the mountain," Tom told me.

B. were ... would fly. This is a second conditional (hypothetical/unreal): 'If + were + would + base verb' — 'If I were a bird, I would fly'.

Q: Even though there is ____ chance of rain today, it might be a good idea to carry an umbrella with you.

C. little. 'Chance' is uncountable here; 'little' (a small amount) fits the context — there is only a small chance of rain.

Q: "The deadline for the project has been extended to next Monday. ____, I will submit it today," Bala said to Susan.

D. Nevertheless. 'Nevertheless' signals contrast — despite the extension, Bala will still submit it today.

Q: After I ____ on the couch comfortably, I opened my book and started reading it.

C. had lain. Past perfect 'had lain' shows that the lying down was completed before the opening of the book (sequence of past actions).

Q1 MCQ 1 mark

"Sixty dollars ____ too much to pay for the dresses," Kate told the salesgirl, as she put them back on the rack.

Q2 MCQ 1 mark

The bag containing some documents and cash ____ on the road yesterday.

Q3 MCQ 1 mark

If you do not have a good grasp ____ the concepts, you will not be able to complete the test with ease.

Q4 MCQ 1 mark

Mother realised that something was amiss when she noticed Bob ____ suspiciously in the backyard.

Q5 MCQ 1 mark

I will join you ____ you decide to go and exercise at the park.

Q6 MCQ 1 mark

My parents intend to take my brother and ____ to Japan during the holidays. ____ will all be staying at Uncle Henry's house.

Q7 MCQ 1 mark

"If I ____ a bird, I ____ above the mountain," Tom told me.

Q8 MCQ 1 mark

Even though there is ____ chance of rain today, it might be a good idea to carry an umbrella with you.

Q9 MCQ 1 mark

"The deadline for the project has been extended to next Monday. ____, I will submit it today," Bala said to Susan.

Q10 MCQ 1 mark

After I ____ on the couch comfortably, I opened my book and started reading it.

Q11 MCQ 1 mark

After an ____ investigation, the police were able to track down the burglar.

Q12 MCQ 1 mark

I had to use all my strength to ____ my dog from running away when it saw a squirrel in the park.

Q13 MCQ 1 mark

His old wooden armchair was ____, so he decided to get a new one.

Q14 MCQ 1 mark

Jason ____ his parents' offer to lend him money to start a business as he wanted to be independent.

Q15 MCQ 1 mark

Grandfather wanted a quiet sixtieth birthday celebration without any ____.

Q16 MCQ 1 mark

In the passage about Mike confronting Kenny the bully, the underlined phrase 'step in and take action' is closest in meaning to which word?

Q17 MCQ 1 mark

In the passage, the underlined word 'menacing' (describing Kenny's glare at Mike) is closest in meaning to which word?

Q18 MCQ 1 mark

In the passage, the underlined word 'calm' (describing what Mike tried to be after swallowing hard) is closest in meaning to which word?

Q19 MCQ 1 mark

In the passage, the underlined phrase 'a predicament' (in Mike's line about hating to see others in this state) is closest in meaning to which word?

Q20 MCQ 1 mark

In the passage, the underlined phrase 'in a convincing way' (describing how Mike explained why bullying was wrong) is closest in meaning to which word?

Q21 MCQ 1 mark

The purpose of the questions just below the main heading "A Guide to Keeping Your House Clean and Tidy" is to ____.

Q22 MCQ 1 mark

Based on the section "Declutter and Organise", which statement is not true?

Q23 MCQ 1 mark

In the section "Declutter and Organise", the word "what" in bold refers to ____.

Q24 MCQ 1 mark

The main message in the section "Maintain the System" is ____.

Q25 MCQ 1 mark

The last sentence in the section "Maintain the System" is made up of two parts linked by a dash (—). The dash is used here to present the second part as ____.

Q26 MCQ 1 mark

According to the article, we should clean the floor ____.

Q27 MCQ 1 mark

According to the article, we can make housekeeping less boring by ____.

Q28 MCQ 1 mark

What is the main aim of the article?

Q29 Open-ended 1 mark

From the word list (A) a, (B) an, (C) as, (D) by, (E) for, (F) has, (G) have, (H) how, (J) it's, (K) on, (L) their, (M) thus, (N) when, (P) while, (Q) yet — choose the most suitable letter for blank (29): 'This is caused (29)____ the marine plankton, dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans, which emit a blue light...'

Q30 Open-ended 1 mark

Choose the most suitable letter for blank (30): '...which emit a blue light (30)____ they are agitated.'

Q31 Open-ended 1 mark

Choose the most suitable letter for blank (31): 'Commonly known (31)____ sea sparkles, they are single-celled organisms...'

Q32 Open-ended 1 mark

Choose the most suitable letter for blank (32): '...single-celled organisms that feed (32)____ other plankton in the water.'

Q33 Open-ended 1 mark

Choose the most suitable letter for blank (33): 'To survive in the water, the plankton have developed (33)____ extraordinary mechanism...'

Q34 Open-ended 1 mark

Choose the most suitable letter for blank (34): 'Not only does it (34)____ a blinding effect on the predators, it also attracts prey.'

Q35 Open-ended 1 mark

Choose the most suitable letter for blank (35): '(35)____ does it do so? Well, the light acts as a beacon...'

Q36 Open-ended 1 mark

Choose the most suitable letter for blank (36): 'The unsuspecting organisms are (36)____ lured towards the plankton.'

Q37 Open-ended 1 mark

Choose the most suitable letter for blank (37): 'This increases (37)____ chances of finding food.'

Q38 Open-ended 1 mark

Choose the most suitable letter for blank (38): '(38)____ this glow may be beautiful, there could be harmful impacts on our ecosystems.'

Q39 Open-ended 1 mark

In the letter to Mom and Dad about the Primary 5 camp, correct the underlined word 'exhuastid' in: 'Despite feeling exhuastid, we were able to enjoy Nature's beauty during the hike.'

Q40 Open-ended 1 mark

Correct the underlined word 'imesurable' in: 'Nature's imesurable beauty during the hike.'

Q41 Open-ended 1 mark

Correct the underlined word 'tharougly' in: 'The instructors wanted us to understand the purpose of these activities so they tharougly explained to us...'

Q42 Open-ended 1 mark

Correct the underlined word 'when' in: '...explained to us as to when these activities had been planned...'

Q43 Open-ended 1 mark

Correct the underlined word 'ensure' in: '...as to when these activities had been planned, ensure that we would learn important values...'

Q44 Open-ended 1 mark

Correct the underlined word 'disipleene' in: '...important values such as teamwork and disipleene when we carried out the activities.'

Q45 Open-ended 1 mark

Correct the underlined word 'enjoy' in: 'The activity that I enjoy the most was rock climbing.'

Q46 Open-ended 1 mark

Correct the underlined word 'hold' in: 'Undoubtedly, the campfire, which was hold in the evening, was the highlight of the camp.'

Q47 Open-ended 1 mark

Correct the underlined word 'eegleness' in: 'We gathered to sing songs with great eegleness.'

Q48 Open-ended 1 mark

Correct the underlined word 'apllause' in: 'The class performances were met with thunderous apllause...'

Q49 Open-ended 1 mark

Correct the underlined word 'commend' in: '...and the audience appreciated the commend efforts of the performers.'

Q50 Open-ended 1 mark

Correct the underlined word 'immense' in: 'I am immense grateful that I had the opportunity to attend the camp.'

Q51 Open-ended 1 mark

Fill in blank (51) with a suitable word: 'Say, for example, he is working to a (51)____ deadline to complete a project.'

Q52 Open-ended 1 mark

Fill in blank (52) with a suitable word: '...his brain springs into action and (52)____ signals to his body to release stress hormones.'

Q53 Open-ended 1 mark

Fill in blank (53) with a suitable word: 'His senses become sharper, allowing him to perceive and process information (53)____ efficiently.'

Q54 Open-ended 1 mark

Fill in blank (54) with a suitable word: 'He is then (54)____ able to stay focused and perform under pressure.'

Q55 Open-ended 1 mark

Fill in blank (55) with a suitable word: 'He completes his work in time and the quality may even (55)____ his expectations.'

Q56 Open-ended 1 mark

Fill in blank (56) with a suitable word: 'As can be seen from this example, stress is (56)____ necessarily a bad thing.'

Q57 Open-ended 1 mark

Fill in blank (57) with a suitable word: 'While small amounts of stress can be (57)____ to us, too much stress can be detrimental...'

Q58 Open-ended 1 mark

Fill in blank (58) with a suitable word: '(58)____ we are constantly and heavily subject (59) stress...'

Q59 Open-ended 1 mark

Fill in blank (59) with a suitable word: '...we are constantly and heavily subject (59)____ stress...'

Q60 Open-ended 1 mark

Fill in blank (60) with a suitable word: '...our bodies will produce too much stress hormones (60)____ can have negative effects...'

Q61 Open-ended 1 mark

Fill in blank (61) with a suitable word: 'Studies have shown that excessive stress levels are (61)____ with various health issues like obesity...'

Q62 Open-ended 1 mark

Fill in blank (62) with a suitable word: 'Hence, we should know how to (62)____ stress effectively.'

Q63 Open-ended 1 mark

Fill in blank (63) with a suitable word: '...find the necessary support and resources to (63)____ with stress.'

Q64 Open-ended 1 mark

Fill in blank (64) with a suitable word: '...slow down, relax and get that much (64)____ rest when we are feeling overwhelmed.'

Q65 Open-ended 1 mark

Fill in blank (65) with a suitable word: 'Make time to play, draw or paint, (65)____ time in nature, read a book...'

Q66 Open-ended 2 marks

Rewrite the sentence using the word(s) provided. Your answer must be in one sentence. The meaning of your sentence must be the same as the meaning of the original. Original: 'The blue cup does not belong to him. The white cup does not belong to him either.' Start with: 'Neither of'

Q67 Open-ended 2 marks

Rewrite using the word provided: 'He is so short that he cannot reach the top shelf.' Use the word: 'too'

Q68 Open-ended 2 marks

Rewrite using the word(s) provided: 'You must take care of your health even though you are busy.' Start with: 'No matter'

Q69 Open-ended 2 marks

Rewrite using the word(s) provided: 'The football match was postponed because it was raining heavily.' Start with: 'Due to'

Q70 Open-ended 2 marks

Rewrite using the word(s) provided: '"Why are you standing outside the house?" Mother asked me.' Start with: 'Mother asked me'

Q71 Structured 2 marks

(Comprehension — passage about Mdm Yang at Taichung's main market) What does Mdm Yang do at her stall after midday? [2m] (a) ____ (b) ____

Q72 Structured 2 marks

How have the years of hard work affected Mdm Yang physically? [2m] (a) ____ (b) ____

Q73 Structured 2 marks

Mdm Yang has "earned the respect of all the other stallholders" (line 11). (a) Why are the other stallholders respectful of Mdm Yang? [1m] (b) What did they do as a result of their respect for Mdm Yang? [1m]

Q74 Open-ended 1 mark

From the second paragraph, pick out a word that tells us that Mdm Yang tends to her fruit stall without any help. [1m]

Q75 Open-ended 1 mark

Write 1, 2 and 3 in the blanks below to indicate the order in which the events occurred in the story. [1m] ____ Mdm Yang donated money to her alma mater, Tai Yao Primary School. ____ Mdm Yang's mother contracted cancer and passed on. ____ Mdm Yang won the "Unsung Heroes of Philanthropy" award.

Q76 Open-ended 2 marks

To Mdm Yang, what was one unwelcome effect of her celebrity status? Explain clearly why it was an unwelcome effect. [2m]

Q77 Structured 2 marks

(a) From lines 22–30, pick out a two-word phrase that tells us how Mdm Yang felt about winning the "Unsung Heroes of Philanthropy" award. [1m] (b) What gesture did Mdm Yang make that suggests that this was how she felt about winning the award? [1m]

Q78 Structured 2 marks

Look at the table below. What do the words in the left column refer to in the passage? Write your answers in the column on the right. [2m] (a) them (line 17) (b) it (line 35)

Q79 Structured 3 marks

Based on the passage, state whether each statement in the table below is true or false, then give one reason why you think so. [3m] (a) Mdm Yang is not concerned as to how much profits her fruit stall makes. (b) Mdm Yang decided to help the poor only when she started working. (c) Mdm Yang likes nothing better than to operate her fruit stall.

Q80 Structured 3 marks

Based on the last paragraph, fill in the following table. [3m] Mdm Yang's personal qualities → Evidence from the last paragraph. (a) ____ — Mdm Yang does not crave material gains. (b) Generous — ____ (c) Diligent — ____

P5 English CA2 2023 — Maris Stella High

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