P6 English SA1 2017 — Nanyang | Singapore Past Year Paper

Q: ____________ the rain, the football match has been cancelled.

3. Owing to. 'Owing to' is a prepositional phrase meaning 'because of', which correctly introduces the cause (the rain) of the cancellation. 'Since' would need a clause, and 'Despite'/'Regardless of' express contrast, which does not fit.

Q: Climbing mountains ____________ a daunting task if one has a fear of heights.

1. is. The gerund subject 'Climbing mountains' is singular and the statement is a present general truth, so the singular present-tense verb 'is' is correct.

Q: Simon's obtained full marks for his Mathematics paper, ____________ he?

4. hasn't. 'Simon's' here is 'Simon has' (present perfect 'has obtained'). A positive statement takes a negative question tag, so the correct tag is 'hasn't he?'.

Q: Last night, the farmer discovered that one of the geese ____________ missing.

3. was. The subject 'one (of the geese)' is singular, and the sentence is set in the past ('Last night'), so the singular past-tense verb 'was' is correct.

Q: Joshua, as well as his sisters, ____________ glad that the terrible ordeal was over.

3. was. The phrase 'as well as his sisters' is parenthetical and does not change the singular subject 'Joshua'. The past-tense singular verb 'was' agrees with him.

Q: The security guard saw a man ____________ over the fence last night.

1. climb. After a verb of perception like 'saw', the bare infinitive 'climb' is used to describe the complete action witnessed.

Q: The eleven-year-old girl's speech was very moving. It touched the hearts of everyone ____________ was present.

1. who. The relative pronoun refers to people ('everyone') and acts as the subject of 'was present', so 'who' is correct. 'Whom' is an object pronoun and 'which' is for things.

Q: The burglar could not have entered the house if you ____________ the door.

4. had locked. This is a third conditional referring to an unreal past. The 'if' clause requires the past perfect 'had locked' to match 'could not have entered'.

Q: The team members decided to go ____________ what the leader suggested.

4. with. 'Go with' is the phrasal verb meaning to accept or agree to follow a suggestion, which fits the context of agreeing to the leader's idea.

Q: ____________ did Mary expect such a warm reception at the party.

3. Little. 'Little' is a negative adverb that triggers subject-verb inversion ('did Mary expect') and means she hardly expected the warm reception.

Q1 MCQ 1 mark

____________ the rain, the football match has been cancelled.

Q2 MCQ 1 mark

Climbing mountains ____________ a daunting task if one has a fear of heights.

Q3 MCQ 1 mark

Simon's obtained full marks for his Mathematics paper, ____________ he?

Q4 MCQ 1 mark

Last night, the farmer discovered that one of the geese ____________ missing.

Q5 MCQ 1 mark

Joshua, as well as his sisters, ____________ glad that the terrible ordeal was over.

Q6 MCQ 1 mark

The security guard saw a man ____________ over the fence last night.

Q7 MCQ 1 mark

The eleven-year-old girl's speech was very moving. It touched the hearts of everyone ____________ was present.

Q8 MCQ 1 mark

The burglar could not have entered the house if you ____________ the door.

Q9 MCQ 1 mark

The team members decided to go ____________ what the leader suggested.

Q10 MCQ 1 mark

____________ did Mary expect such a warm reception at the party.

Q11 MCQ 1 mark

The teacher was ____________ by her student's constant refusal to obey the class rules.

Q12 MCQ 1 mark

Do not stand too close to the edge of the cliff! The jagged rocks and strong currents of the sea below can be ____________.

Q13 MCQ 1 mark

There was an additional ____________ on sports in today's newspapers.

Q14 MCQ 1 mark

Despite her disability, she remains ____________ and even went on to win an Olympic medal!

Q15 MCQ 1 mark

Many people are ____________ by the thought of eating dead insects.

Q16 MCQ 1 mark

Kevin and his friends decided to report their find to the police. The field was soon ____________ with policemen and the bomb disposal unit from the army. (Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word 'swarming'.)

Q17 MCQ 1 mark

Kevin and his friends crowded around the police ____________ curiously as the army personnel moved forward to defuse the bomb. (Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word 'cordon'.)

Q18 MCQ 1 mark

...the army personnel moved forward to ____________ the bomb. (Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word 'defuse'.)

Q19 MCQ 1 mark

Upon seeing their extreme caution, Kevin felt an ____________ shudder as moments before he had examined the bomb so casually and flippantly. (Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word 'involuntary'.)

Q20 MCQ 1 mark

...moments before he had examined the bomb so casually and ____________. (Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word 'flippantly'.)

Q21 MCQ 1 mark 🖼 Visual

The main purpose of the flyer is to ____________.

Q22 MCQ 1 mark

A vegetarian who has an iron deficiency can eat more ____________ to supplement his/her diet.

Q23 MCQ 1 mark

A peanut is not considered a nut as ____________.

Q24 MCQ 1 mark

The poster contains some phrases like "Go Nuts", "The 'Nut' Case" and "I am not NUTS about peanuts". What is the writer's purpose of using them?

Q25 MCQ 1 mark

Why have some schools gone "peanut-free"?

Q26 MCQ 1 mark

Why do consumers nowadays prefer cashew spreads to the peanut butter spread?

Q27 MCQ 1 mark

What can one conclude from the news article?

Q28 MCQ 1 mark

Which of the following statements is CORRECT?

Q29 Open-ended 1 mark

There are 10 blanks, numbered 29 to 38, in the passage below. From the list of words given (A) a, B) along, C) around, D) at, E) each, F) from, G) has, H) have, J) into, K) it, L) that, M) them, N) to, P) what, Q) yet), choose the most suitable word for each blank. Use each word once only. 'Have you ever heard about carnivorous plants? Drawn by ____ (29) seems like the scent of nectar from a flowerlike patch of red on the ground, a fly lands on the fleshy pad of a reddish leaf.'

Q30 Open-ended 1 mark

Suddenly, there are walls ____ (30) it. The two sides of the leaf are closing against ... (Choose the most suitable word from the list for blank 30.)

Q31 Open-ended 1 mark

The two sides of the leaf are closing against ____ (31) other, spines along its edges interlocking like the teeth of a jaw trap. (Choose the most suitable word from the list for blank 31.)

Q32 Open-ended 1 mark

As the fly struggles ____ (32) escape, the trap squeezes shut. (Choose the most suitable word from the list for blank 32.)

Q33 Open-ended 1 mark

Now, instead of offering sweet nectar, the leaf unleashes enzymes that eat away ____ (33) the fly's organs, gradually turning ... (Choose the most suitable word from the list for blank 33.)

Q34 Open-ended 1 mark

...the leaf unleashes enzymes that eat away at the fly's organs, gradually turning ____ (34) into goo. (Choose the most suitable word from the list for blank 34.)

Q35 Open-ended 1 mark

The fly ____ (35) suffered the ultimate humiliation for an animal: It has been killed by a carnivorous plant – the Venus Flytrap. (Choose the most suitable word from the list for blank 35.)

Q36 Open-ended 1 mark

Pitcher plants, another carnivorous plant, use ____ (36) another strategy. (Choose the most suitable word from the list for blank 36.)

Q37 Open-ended 1 mark

They grow long tube-shaped leaves ____ (37) which insects fall. (Choose the most suitable word from the list for blank 37.)

Q38 Open-ended 1 mark

This is how the pitcher plant becomes ____ (38) death trap. (Choose the most suitable word from the list for blank 38.)

Q39 Open-ended 1 mark

Each of the underlined words contains either a spelling or grammatical error. Write the correct word in each of the boxes. 'You've probably seen images of Singapore's national icon, the Merlion, with the head ____ (39) of a lion and the body of a fish.' (Correct the underlined word for blank 39 — context follows: 'The body symbolises Singapore's beginings (40)'.)

Q40 Open-ended 1 mark

The body symbolises Singapore's beginings (40) as a fishing village when it was called Temasek, means (41) 'sea town' in old Javanese. (Correct the underlined word for blank 40: 'beginings'.)

Q41 Open-ended 1 mark

...when it was called Temasek, means (41) 'sea town' in old Javanese. (Correct the underlined word 'means'.)

Q42 Open-ended 1 mark

Its head represents Singapore's original name, Singapura, or 'lion city' at (42) Malay. (Correct the underlined word 'at'.)

Q43 Open-ended 1 mark

Today, you can glims (43) this 37-metre-high Merlion Tower who (44) is positioned at the heart of Sentosa Island. (Correct the underlined word 'glims'.)

Q44 Open-ended 1 mark

...this 37-metre-high Merlion Tower who (44) is positioned at the heart of Sentosa Island. (Correct the underlined word 'who'.)

Q45 Open-ended 1 mark

It offers visitors a penoramick (45) view of Sentosa Island, Singapore City and neighbouring islands from the ninth to the twelfth floor. (Correct the underlined word 'penoramick'.)

Q46 Open-ended 1 mark

This icon is a popular attraction for tourists visits (46) Singapore, similar to other important landmarks around the world. (Correct the underlined word 'visits'.)

Q47 Open-ended 1 mark

Designs (47) and sculpted by an Australian arkitect (48), this Merlion was completed in 1995. (Correct the underlined word 'Designs'.)

Q48 Open-ended 1 mark

...sculpted by an Australian arkitect (48), this Merlion was completed in 1995. (Correct the underlined word 'arkitect'.)

Q49 Open-ended 1 mark

If you pay close attention to more intriging (49) details inside, you will notice that each of the Merlion's teeth represent (50) a different ethnic group in Singapore. (Correct the underlined word 'intriging'.)

Q50 Open-ended 1 mark

...you will notice that each of the Merlion's teeth represent (50) a different ethnic group in Singapore – Malay, Chinese, Indian and Eurasian. It is designed to signify prozparity (51) for all citizens of Singapore. (Correct the underlined word 'represent'.)

Q51 Open-ended 1 mark

Fill in each blank with a suitable word. 'You do not need to have a sweet tooth to recognize the familiar names of family-owned companies such as Cadbury, Mars and Hershey's. Today, the average person ____ (51) about 5 kilograms of chocolate each year.'

Q52 Open-ended 1 mark

____ (52) most of its 4000-year history, it was actually consumed as a bitter beverage ... (Fill blank 52 with a suitable word.)

Q53 Open-ended 1 mark

...it was actually consumed as a bitter beverage ____ (53) than a sweet edible treat. (Fill blank 53 with a suitable word.)

Q54 Open-ended 1 mark

Evidence has been ____ (54) to prove that chocolate was produced by the ancient Mesoamericans living in present-day Mexico as early as 1900 B.C.. (Fill blank 54 with a suitable word.)

Q55 Open-ended 1 mark

They were the ____ (55) to cultivate the Cacao plants found in the rainforests of Central America. (Fill blank 55 with a suitable word.)

Q56 Open-ended 1 mark

They fermented, roasted and ground the cacao beans ____ (56) a paste which was mixed with water, vanilla, honey and other spices to brew a frothy chocolate drink. (Fill blank 56 with a suitable word.)

Q57 Open-ended 1 mark

Chocolate was found to have nutritional and medicinal properties, ____ (57) led them to believe that it possessed mystical qualities. (Fill blank 57 with a suitable word.)

Q58 Open-ended 1 mark

By the 1500s, chocolate had made its way to Spain where it quickly ____ (58) a favourite. (Fill blank 58 with a suitable word.)

Q59 Open-ended 1 mark

Although the Spanish sweetened the bitter drink ____ (59) cane sugar and cinnamon, one thing ... (Fill blank 59 with a suitable word.)

Q60 Open-ended 1 mark

...one thing ____ (60) unchanged: Only the rich could ____ (61) the expensive drink. (Fill blank 60 with a suitable word.)

Q61 Open-ended 1 mark

Only the rich could ____ (61) the expensive drink. (Fill blank 61 with a suitable word.)

Q62 Open-ended 1 mark

By the 19th century, the popularity of chocolate quickly ____ (62) to other European countries. (Fill blank 62 with a suitable word.)

Q63 Open-ended 1 mark

In 1828, Johannes van Houten ____ (63) the cocoa press. (Fill blank 63 with a suitable word.)

Q64 Open-ended 1 mark

The cocoa-press ____ (64) it easier to obtain cocoa powder. (Fill blank 64 with a suitable word.)

Q65 Open-ended 1 mark

This powder was mixed with ____ (65) sugar and other ingredients, and poured into molds to make chocolate bars. (Fill blank 65 with a suitable word.)

Q66 Structured 2 marks

For each of the questions 66 to 70, rewrite the given sentence(s) 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 given sentence(s). '"Don't forget to submit your registration form to Mrs Tan next Monday," Jubilee told me.' Jubilee told me ____________.

Q67 Structured 2 marks

We must leave the party now if we are going to catch the bus. It is time ____________.

Q68 Structured 2 marks

They will have completed the project before the deadline. The project ____________.

Q69 Structured 2 marks

Peter is the most sensible pupil in the class. No other ____________.

Q70 Structured 2 marks

Fortunately, we were well prepared for the competition. It was ____________.

Q71 Open-ended 2 marks

From the evidence in paragraph 1, suggest two reasons why the travellers' lips were "blackened" and "bleeding". [2m]

Q72 Open-ended 1 mark

Which sentence in paragraph 1 best describes the desert sands as lifeless? [1m]

Q73 Open-ended 2 marks

Why was Abu the best person to lead the author and his companions through their journey? [2m]

Q74 Open-ended 2 marks

After travelling for twenty days in the desert, the author and his companions would have to look for wells. Explain clearly why their survival depended on finding one. [2m]

Q75 Open-ended 2 marks

Look at the table below. What do the words on the left column refer to in the passage? Write your answers in the column on the right. [2m] Words: 'them (line 21)' and 'them (line 33)'.

Q76 Structured 3 marks

Based on the story, state whether each statement in the table below is true or false, then give one reason why you think so. [3m] Statements: (a) 'The author's companions were kind people.' (b) 'The leading camel had no problem going downslope.' (c) 'The bull camel had been carrying the largest water skin since the start of the journey as it was the strongest.'

Q77 Open-ended 2 marks

What do you think the author meant by "we had to press on" (line 40)? [2m]

Q78 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] '____ The water skins were loaded onto the rear camel. ____ The author realised that the party's water supply was safe. ____ Abu guided the leading camel up the first sand dune they encountered.'

Q79 Structured 3 marks

Look for a word in paragraph 6 which is of the same meaning as the word or words in the table below. Write your answer in the column on the right. [3m] Words: 'valuable', 'distressing', 'yearned'.

Q80 Open-ended 2 marks

Why did the author and his companions not dare take a hot drink despite shivering in the cold night air? [2m]

P6 English SA1 2017 — Nanyang

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