Question 1

____ from the two students who were absent, everyone submitted their holiday homework yesterday.

Accepted Answer

A. Apart. 'Apart from' is the correct prepositional phrase meaning 'except for'. 'Except' would need 'for' to work here, and 'Other' / 'Besides' do not fit the structure.

Question 2

Catching spiders with his brothers ____ his hobby when he was young.

Accepted Answer

C. was. The gerund 'Catching spiders' is a singular subject and the sentence is in the past tense ('when he was young'), so the verb must be singular past: 'was'.

Question 3

By the time I alerted the security staff, the suspicious-looking man ____ the train station.

Accepted Answer

B. had left. 'By the time' with a past simple clause requires the past perfect in the other clause to show the earlier of two past actions: 'had left'.

Question 4

Tom heard the girl ____ in pain after she fell off her bicycle.

Accepted Answer

A. scream. Sense verbs like 'hear' are followed by the bare infinitive when describing a complete action: 'heard the girl scream'.

Question 5

Ethan, like his siblings, ____ to the National Museum next week.

Accepted Answer

B. is going. The subject is the singular 'Ethan' ('like his siblings' is a parenthetical phrase, not part of the subject). A future arrangement requires 'is going'.

Question 6

It was surprising that ____ were the questions that the top student could answer in the recent test.

Accepted Answer

A. few. 'Questions' is a countable plural noun, so we need 'few' (countable) rather than 'little' (uncountable). The surprise lies in how few she could answer.

Question 7

Mr Lee informed James and ____ that we would be working on the project as a pair.

Accepted Answer

B. me. The pronoun is the object of 'informed', so the objective form 'me' is required: 'informed James and me'.

Question 8

This informative video is designed ____ people who want to learn how to bake.

Accepted Answer

C. for. The collocation is 'designed for + intended audience' (e.g., designed for beginners).

Question 9

"____ it is normal to feel disappointed at losing a match, you should avoid blaming your teammates for it," the team captain said.

Accepted Answer

A. While. The two clauses express contrast (normal disappointment vs. not blaming teammates), so 'While' (= although) is the correct subordinating conjunction.

Question 10

"He will attend the party if he can make it, ____ he?" Linda asked.

Accepted Answer

B. won't. A question tag mirrors the auxiliary of the main clause and reverses its polarity. The main clause uses positive 'will', so the tag is the negative 'won't'.

Question 11

"That is a ridiculous excuse!" Mrs Lee ____ with frustration when Timothy told her that his dog had eaten his homework.

Accepted Answer

C. sputtered. 'Sputtered' means to speak in a quick, incoherent way, often when upset — fitting Mrs Lee's frustrated outburst. The other verbs do not describe speech.

Question 12

The minister ____ on the government's plan in his speech, so the citizens were clear on the changes they could expect.

Accepted Answer

C. elaborated. 'Elaborated on' means to explain in more detail, which is why citizens became clear. 'Agreed on' / 'decided on' / 'concentrated on' do not produce clarity about changes.

Question 13

The coach ____ the top player's every move during the tennis match in order to understand her style of play.

Accepted Answer

D. scrutinised. 'Scrutinised' means to examine carefully and closely, matching the coach's purpose of analysing the player's style.

Question 14

The detective ____ the accident site to ensure that passers-by are kept away from the area.

Accepted Answer

D. cordoned off. 'Cordoned off' specifically means to seal off an area with a rope/tape to keep people out, which matches keeping passers-by away.

Question 15

Jay's group members were ____ about adopting his idea as they felt that it would probably not work.

Accepted Answer

A. sceptical. 'Sceptical' means doubtful or unconvinced, which matches their feeling that the idea would probably not work.

Question 16

Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word in the passage. Startled — Jacob fumbled for his torch and made his way to the circuit box near the staircase.

Accepted Answer

C. Shocked. 'Startled' means suddenly surprised or shocked by something unexpected (the thunderstorm/blackout), which is closest to 'Shocked'. 'Scared' implies sustained fear, not the sudden jolt.

Question 17

Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined phrase: Without any hesitation, he flipped the switches and tried to get the circuits to work.

Accepted Answer

C. Immediately. 'Without any hesitation' means at once, without delay, which matches 'Immediately'. 'Abruptly' and 'Suddenly' suggest unexpectedness rather than no delay.

Question 18

Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word: After all, he was skilled at solving issues.

Accepted Answer

A. good. 'Skilled at' is closest in meaning to 'good at' — both describe competence. 'Weak' and 'inexperienced' are opposites; 'brave' is unrelated to ability.

Question 19

Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word: Slowly, he made his way to the door, staring worriedly at it.

Accepted Answer

A. anxiously. 'Worriedly' means with worry/concern, closest to 'anxiously'. 'Indifferently' is the opposite; 'appallingly' means shockingly; 'thoughtfully' means with reflection.

Question 20

Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined phrase: However, the heavy downpour and thunder drowned out his voice.

Accepted Answer

D. overwhelmed. 'Drowned out' (a sound) means to overpower it so it cannot be heard, closest to 'overwhelmed'. 'Flooded' applies to water, not sound suppression.

Question 21

How often is the Roadrunner Fun Run held?

Accepted Answer

A. once a year. The advertisement headline describes the Roadrunner Fun Run as 'An annual event for the whole family!', meaning it occurs once a year.

Question 22

The Roadrunner Fun Run is jointly organised by ____.

Accepted Answer

A. Health Promotion Board and Family Life Centre. The footer of the advertisement lists 'Organisers: Family Life Centre || Health Promotion'. The other names appear under 'Sponsors', not organisers.

Question 23

Mr Lim has decided to purchase the Family Package instead of buying the tickets individually. Which one of the following benefits will he definitely enjoy?

Accepted Answer

B. discounted rates. The Family package is $55 with the note '*Enjoy $5 off the actual price!', which is a guaranteed (definite) discount. The Singapore Flyer tickets are only 'while stocks last', so not definite.

Question 24

Upon collection of the race pack, every participant will receive a ____.

Accepted Answer

B. race bib. The race pack contents listed include the Race Bib (#2). The Finisher Medal is collected after the race, the Sports Towel is only for the first 100 collectors, and the box of crayons is for art contest participants only.

Question 25

Siti is unable to collect her race pack on the race pack collection day. She has to ____.

Accepted Answer

A. email Mr Marc Richmond. The advertisement states: 'Participants who are unable to collect the race pack on the collection day should send an email to Mr Marc Richmond at roadrunner@gmail.com requesting for collection on the Race Day.'

Question 26

The phrase "highly rated" under the activity "ROADRUNNER STRIKES!" is in bold to ____.

Accepted Answer

B. stress that the episode is the most liked from the series. 'Highly rated' is bolded to emphasise the episode's high audience approval — i.e., it is the most liked of the series. The other options relate to viewership, age, or location, none of which is what 'highly rated' describes.

Question 27

Based on the advertisement, which one of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

B. Participants are required to wear the Fun Run T-shirts on Race Day.. The race pack listing notes '*must be worn on Race Day' next to the Fun Run T-shirts, making B true. Only those who dance till the end get the Zumba sessions (not all); the Art Contest depicts the current Singapore skyline (not future); for the photo prize the participant must strike a creative pose, not the mascot.

Question 28

The main purpose of the advertisement is to ____.

Accepted Answer

B. promote the Roadrunner Fun Run. The advertisement's headline names the event and the bulk of the content invites readers to register and participate — its central purpose is to promote the Roadrunner Fun Run. Family bonding, the art contest and race-pack details are sub-elements supporting that overall promotion.

P5 English SA1 2023 — Maris Stella High

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