P6 English SA2 2012 — Nanyang | Singapore Past Year Paper

Q: Super Mario and his friends will attend the Meet-and-Greet Sessions at ____.

D. all three shopping malls. The Meet-and-Greet Sessions table shows daily sessions at all three venues — Orchard Plaza (12.30 pm), Wheelock Centre (4.00 pm) and Lot 10 (7.30 pm) — so the sessions are held at all three shopping malls.

Q: If Matthew wants to watch "Super Mario, the Movie" without buying a ticket, he must spend ____.

D. at least $75 at Wheelock Centre. A free cinema pass is given for every $75 spent in any of the participating malls, so he must spend at least $75; Wheelock Centre is a participating mall. 'About $75' is wrong because spending slightly under $75 would not qualify, and $40 only earns a Meet-and-Greet pass.

Q: May Ling received a pass to meet Super Mario and his friends. Who could attend the Meet-and-Greet Sessions with her?

A. Her parents and brother. The pass admits 4 people in total. Including May Ling herself, only 3 others may accompany her — her parents and brother make exactly 3 companions. The other options name 4 companions, exceeding the pass limit.

Q: Super Mario and his friends will attend the Meet-and-Greet sessions for ____ days.

C. eight. The sessions run daily from 20 to 27 November 2012 inclusive: 27 − 20 + 1 = 8 days.

Q: The phrase "While stocks last" means that you can redeem cinema passes ____.

C. only when they are available. 'While stocks last' means redemption is possible only for as long as passes remain available; once stocks run out, no more can be redeemed.

Q: Janet was very sure that she saw David ____ the stack of reports from the cupboard.

A. take. After a verb of perception ('saw') plus an object ('David'), the bare infinitive is used: 'saw David take'.

Q: Mr Lim has decided to reward Jason because he has made ____ mistakes compared to before.

C. fewer. 'Mistakes' is a countable noun and two points in time are being compared, so the comparative 'fewer' is correct. 'Least' is superlative and 'a little' is for uncountable nouns; 'more' contradicts the reward.

Q: All the prefects but one ____ the Leadership Conference which will be conducted next week.

D. are attending. The subject 'All the prefects but one' is plural (the head noun is 'prefects'), and the future arrangement calls for the present continuous: 'are attending'.

Q: There was a heated argument ____ the four group leaders over the points that were awarded for the competition.

B. among. 'Among' is used for more than two parties; since there are four group leaders, 'among' is correct ('between' is reserved for two).

Q: They enjoyed the show, ____ they?

D. didn't. A positive past-tense statement ('They enjoyed') takes a negative past-tense question tag: 'didn't they?'.

Q1 MCQ 1 mark 🖼 Visual

Visual context

Promotional flyer titled 'Movie Mania at the Malls', running from 20 to 27 November 2012, decorated with cartoon images of Super Mario characters. Headline: 'Catch Super Mario and his friends @ the malls!' Body text: Spend $40 and above at the participating malls to receive a pass (admits 4) to the Super Mario Meet-and-Greet Sessions; check out the schedules and bring your own camera. A table headed 'Meet-and-Greet Sessions — Daily from 20 to 27 Nov 2012' lists Venue: Concourse and Time — Orchard Plaza 12.30 pm, Wheelock Centre 4.00 pm, Lot 10 7.30 pm. Further text: Complimentary 'Super Mario, the Movie' cinema pass — free cinema pass for every $75* spent in any of the participating malls; maximum of 3 same-day, same-mall accumulated receipts for each redemption. Fine print: *While stocks last. Redemption must be made on the same day of purchase at the Customer Service counter on Level 1 from 10 am to 10 pm. Other terms and conditions apply.

Super Mario and his friends will attend the Meet-and-Greet Sessions at ____.

Q2 MCQ 1 mark 🖼 Visual

If Matthew wants to watch "Super Mario, the Movie" without buying a ticket, he must spend ____.

Q3 MCQ 1 mark 🖼 Visual

May Ling received a pass to meet Super Mario and his friends. Who could attend the Meet-and-Greet Sessions with her?

Q4 MCQ 1 mark 🖼 Visual

Super Mario and his friends will attend the Meet-and-Greet sessions for ____ days.

Q5 MCQ 1 mark 🖼 Visual

The phrase "While stocks last" means that you can redeem cinema passes ____.

Q6 MCQ 1 mark

Janet was very sure that she saw David ____ the stack of reports from the cupboard.

Q7 MCQ 1 mark

Mr Lim has decided to reward Jason because he has made ____ mistakes compared to before.

Q8 MCQ 1 mark

All the prefects but one ____ the Leadership Conference which will be conducted next week.

Q9 MCQ 1 mark

There was a heated argument ____ the four group leaders over the points that were awarded for the competition.

Q10 MCQ 1 mark

They enjoyed the show, ____ they?

Q11 MCQ 1 mark

After John had washed up and ____ his breakfast, he did his homework.

Q12 MCQ 1 mark

Derek, who is ____ university undergraduate, spoke to us for ____ hour during Assembly.

Q13 MCQ 1 mark

Choose the correct punctuation to complete the passage at (13): "There's no point complaining about it," said her mother (13) "because you can't change the weather. Why don't we watch television for a while?"

Q14 MCQ 1 mark

Choose the correct punctuation to complete the passage at (14): "I don't want to. I want to go to the playground like you promised (14) Lily screamed, throwing a tantrum.

Q15 MCQ 1 mark

Choose the correct punctuation to complete the passage at (15): By this time, her mother was getting impatient with her and said angrily, "Well, we cannot go to the playground now. I'm sure you can find something else to do, can't you (15) Lily's mother stormed off into the kitchen to finish preparing dinner.

Q16 MCQ 1 mark

The chairperson of the environmental awareness group delivered a long ____ on the effects of global warming at the seminar.

Q17 MCQ 1 mark

Jackson remains ____ even after all these years. He is not unfriendly but he refuses to tell us anything about himself.

Q18 MCQ 1 mark

The ____ old lady has many friends and acquaintances. She enjoys talking to people when she goes for her daily evening walks.

Q19 MCQ 1 mark

The judge had no choice but to ____ the accused as there was insufficient evidence to convict him.

Q20 MCQ 1 mark

Mrs Tucker is very unpopular in my neighbourhood because she likes to ____ her wealth.

Q21 MCQ 1 mark

Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word: "The proposed changes, which may be modelled after the system for motorcyclists ... are believed to be part of a wider review on driving licences." (underlined word: proposed)

Q22 MCQ 1 mark

Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined words: "...the system for motorcyclists, whereby riders chalk up experience on smaller bikes before moving on to bigger ones..." (underlined words: chalk up)

Q23 MCQ 1 mark

Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word: "While it is too early to tell how the changes may affect drivers..." (underlined word: affect)

Q24 MCQ 1 mark

Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word: "...one industry body backing such changes said on Monday that it was 'a timely move'..." (underlined word: backing)

Q25 MCQ 1 mark

Choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word: "A police spokesman revealed on Monday that a review on driving licences was ongoing..." (underlined word: revealed)

Q26 MCQ 1 mark

Read the passage and answer the question. The mist had reduced visibility considerably. Dylan cursed his luck for having steered his ship into the mist. Now he had to be extra alert or he would collide with a liner in this busy coast. The weather forecast was wrong as usual, Dylan thought. They had said that the skies would be clear that night. Fortunately, Dylan and his crew had finished hauling up their catch. It had been quite an abundant haul tonight — the trawler was filled to the brim with fish. The rest of the crew were resting in their cabins and only Dylan was in the pilot room. Suddenly, Dylan noticed that the needle of the compass seemed to come alive, spinning crazily like a stopwatch. Dylan felt a lump in his throat. The compass was especially crucial on such a foggy night. It was definitely not the time for it to go awry as the ship could stray off its course easily. He tapped the compass gently, hoping it would miraculously recover. Just then, the radio hissed with a loud burst of static before starting to crackle gibberish. Dylan sensed panic creeping into his heart. "Hello ... coastguard, this is Sea Breeze. Do you read me, over?" There was no answer. Dylan reached out and pressed the alarm to alert the crew. There was no response. The alarm did not go off. Dylan wanted to leave the steering wheel to get the crew to help him. It would be suicidal to leave the pilot room now. He could still hear the chugging of the engine. At least that was still working. He regretted the premature hope as seconds later, he realised that he could not stop the engine! In his fear, he did not see the spectacular sight that had loomed in front of him. What made it difficult for Dylan to see where his ship was heading?

Q27 MCQ 1 mark

Read the passage about Dylan on board the Sea Breeze (the mist had reduced visibility; Dylan and his crew had finished hauling up their catch and the trawler was filled to the brim with fish; the compass, radio, alarm and engine then failed one after another). Dylan was probably a ____.

Q28 MCQ 1 mark

Read the passage about Dylan on board the Sea Breeze. Dylan sensed the first sign of trouble when ____.

Q29 MCQ 1 mark

Read the passage about Dylan on board the Sea Breeze. "At least that was still working." The word "that" refers to the ____.

Q30 MCQ 1 mark

Read the passage about Dylan on board the Sea Breeze. What two things did Dylan do in response to the problems that surfaced?

Q31 Open-ended 1 mark

Grammar Cloze — choose the most suitable word from the list (use each word once only): A) about B) after C) any D) before E) behind F) could G) during H) for J) in K) on L) should M) that N) through P) to Q) when. Google, the Internet search and mapping company, is road-testing cars ____ (31) steer, stop and start without a human driver.

Q32 Open-ended 1 mark

Grammar Cloze — choose the most suitable word from the list (use each word once only): A) about B) after C) any D) before E) behind F) could G) during H) for J) in K) on L) should M) that N) through P) to Q) when. The test cars, known as Carbots, always have a person ____ (32) the wheel to make sure the software is working.

Q33 Open-ended 1 mark

Grammar Cloze — choose the most suitable word from the list (use each word once only): A) about B) after C) any D) before E) behind F) could G) during H) for J) in K) on L) should M) that N) through P) to Q) when. If anything ____ (33) go wrong, the human can immediately start driving.

Q34 Open-ended 1 mark

Grammar Cloze — choose the most suitable word from the list (use each word once only): A) about B) after C) any D) before E) behind F) could G) during H) for J) in K) on L) should M) that N) through P) to Q) when. So far, the driverless autos have travelled ____ (34) 225 000 kilometres with hardly any problems.

Q35 Open-ended 1 mark

Grammar Cloze — choose the most suitable word from the list (use each word once only): A) about B) after C) any D) before E) behind F) could G) during H) for J) in K) on L) should M) that N) through P) to Q) when. ...have travelled about 225 000 kilometres with hardly ____ (35) problems.

Q36 Open-ended 1 mark

Grammar Cloze — choose the most suitable word from the list (use each word once only): A) about B) after C) any D) before E) behind F) could G) during H) for J) in K) on L) should M) that N) through P) to Q) when. Many of the roads ____ (36) which the Carbots have travelled successfully had heavy traffic and difficult bends to manoeuvre.

Q37 Open-ended 1 mark

Grammar Cloze — choose the most suitable word from the list (use each word once only): A) about B) after C) any D) before E) behind F) could G) during H) for J) in K) on L) should M) that N) through P) to Q) when. Yet, there has been only one accident ____ (37) the testing.

Q38 Open-ended 1 mark

Grammar Cloze — choose the most suitable word from the list (use each word once only): A) about B) after C) any D) before E) behind F) could G) during H) for J) in K) on L) should M) that N) through P) to Q) when. The Carbot is still ____ (38) very early testing stages.

Q39 Open-ended 1 mark

Grammar Cloze — choose the most suitable word from the list (use each word once only): A) about B) after C) any D) before E) behind F) could G) during H) for J) in K) on L) should M) that N) through P) to Q) when. Experts agree that it will be years ____ (39) you will be able to buy one.

Q40 Open-ended 1 mark

Grammar Cloze — choose the most suitable word from the list (use each word once only): A) about B) after C) any D) before E) behind F) could G) during H) for J) in K) on L) should M) that N) through P) to Q) when. ____ (40) the auto was first invented, it was called a "horseless carriage." Now it seems it is time for the "driverless carriage" to be part of our lives.

Q41 Open-ended 1 mark

Spelling and Grammar — correct the underlined word for grammar: "Dickson observe (41) that his wife often cut or burned her fingers while cooking."

Q42 Open-ended 1 mark

Spelling and Grammar — correct the word in bold for spelling: "At that time, bandages were sold saperrateli (42) as gauze and tape, but he wanted to make it more manageable for self-application."

Q43 Open-ended 1 mark

Spelling and Grammar — correct the word in bold for spelling: "...but he wanted to make it more mannijerbel (43) for self-application."

Q44 Open-ended 1 mark

Spelling and Grammar — correct the word in bold for spelling: "He cut pieces of adhesive tape and set a piece of steereallesd (44) gauze in the middle."

Q45 Open-ended 1 mark

Spelling and Grammar — correct the underlined word for grammar: "He shared his invention to (45) his employer, Johnson & Johnson..."

Q46 Open-ended 1 mark

Spelling and Grammar — correct the word in bold for spelling: "...and they started mannewfachering (46) handmade ones immediately."

Q47 Open-ended 1 mark

Spelling and Grammar — correct the word in bold for spelling: "The first Band-aids were not well received and did not gain promeenance (47) until 1924."

Q48 Open-ended 1 mark

Spelling and Grammar — correct the underlined word for grammar: "The company gave free Band-aids to Boy Scouts and send (48) thousands of them overseas to the soldiers..."

Q49 Open-ended 1 mark

Spelling and Grammar — correct the underlined word for grammar: "...send thousands of them overseas to the soldiers on (49) World War One."

Q50 Open-ended 1 mark

Spelling and Grammar — correct the underlined word for grammar: "Band-aids became even more popular in the 1950s when Johnson & Johnson began to manufacture pattem (50) Band-aids."

Q51 Open-ended 2 marks

Synthesis/Transformation — rewrite the given sentence(s) using the word(s) provided. Your answer must be in one sentence and keep the same meaning. Both my sister and cousins do not like to dance. Neither ______

Q52 Open-ended 2 marks

Synthesis/Transformation — rewrite the given sentence(s) using the word(s) provided. Your answer must be in one sentence and keep the same meaning. "Why did you search my bag without my permission?" Andy asked Jane. Andy asked Jane ______

Q53 Open-ended 2 marks

Synthesis/Transformation — rewrite the given sentence(s) using the word(s) provided. Your answer must be in one sentence and keep the same meaning. There were countless warnings. Some people still crossed the roads without looking out for traffic. ______ despite ______

Q54 Open-ended 2 marks

Synthesis/Transformation — rewrite the given sentence(s) using the word(s) provided. Your answer must be in one sentence and keep the same meaning. Carol is pessimistic. She never fails to think of the worst possible outcome for any problem she encounters. ______ that ______

Q55 Open-ended 2 marks

Synthesis/Transformation — rewrite the given sentence(s) using the word(s) provided. Your answer must be in one sentence and keep the same meaning. Alison was very disappointed when she did not make it to the finals of the Swimming Championships. Much to ______

Q56 Open-ended 1 mark

Comprehension Cloze — fill in the blank with a suitable word. Legend has it that George Crum was the creator of the potato chip. Crum was a well-known ____ (56) who could prepare tasty dishes.

Q57 Open-ended 1 mark

Comprehension Cloze — fill in the blank with a suitable word. He boasted that he could take any food and ____ (57) it into a dish "fit for a king."

Q58 Open-ended 1 mark

Comprehension Cloze — fill in the blank with a suitable word. One day in the summer of 1953, a customer ____ (58) a dish of fried potatoes.

Q59 Open-ended 1 mark

Comprehension Cloze — fill in the blank with a suitable word. At that ____ (59), the dish was prepared in the standard, thick-cut French style.

Q60 Open-ended 1 mark

Comprehension Cloze — fill in the blank with a suitable word. Yet, the customer ____ (60) the dish and complained that the potatoes were too thick and not salty enough.

Q61 Open-ended 1 mark

Comprehension Cloze — fill in the blank with a suitable word. ...the customer complained that the potatoes were too thick and not salty ____ (61).

Q62 Open-ended 1 mark

Comprehension Cloze — fill in the blank with a suitable word. The complaint angered him. He deliberately ____ (62) additional potatoes into paper-thin wafers, deep-fried and vigorously salted them, and returned them to the customer.

Q63 Open-ended 1 mark

Comprehension Cloze — fill in the blank with a suitable word. He had wanted to irritate the customer by producing French fries ____ (63) thin and crisp to skewer with a fork.

Q64 Open-ended 1 mark

Comprehension Cloze — fill in the blank with a suitable word. Crum was surprised when the patron not only devoured the potatoes but ____ (64) for more.

Q65 Open-ended 1 mark

Comprehension Cloze — fill in the blank with a suitable word. This story is just one of ____ (65) different potato chip creation myths.

Q66 Open-ended 1 mark

Comprehension Cloze — fill in the blank with a suitable word. Perhaps the numerous myths ____ (66) the founding of such a simple food contain a larger truth: even if Crum did not personally invent potato chips, he could have.

Q67 Open-ended 1 mark

Comprehension Cloze — fill in the blank with a suitable word. Several food historians have ____ (67) out that potato chips were likely invented and reinvented independently several times.

Q68 Open-ended 1 mark

Comprehension Cloze — fill in the blank with a suitable word. That is, ____ (68) could have invented the potato chip.

Q69 Open-ended 1 mark

Comprehension Cloze — fill in the blank with a suitable word. However, the potato chip would not have ____ (69) such popularity had it not been for Crum's restaurant.

Q70 Open-ended 1 mark

Comprehension Cloze — fill in the blank with a suitable word. His restaurant was the ideal ____ (70) to make the dish famous. It may not have been where it was first created, but it was definitely where it first became popular.

Q71 Open-ended 2 marks

Read the passage and answer in complete sentences. Brian was relaxing in his shelter, thinking about how well things were going when he smelled the skunk. He looked out of the shelter opening carefully. The skunk was four feet away. Much to Brian's dismay, it whipped up its rear end, tipped its tail over, and aimed directly at Brian's face. It looked at the meat Brian had stored away, then at Brian. It did not spray but continued to aim its tail at Brian. Slowly, Brian reached to his right where the meat was stored, and took a piece of venison. With a smooth, slow movement, he tossed the meat out to the right of the skunk. The skunk's tail jerked when the meat hit the ground, its nose twitched as it smelled it. It lowered its tail, turned and started eating the meat. Brian pulled the door back over the opening of his shelter and left the skunk outside eating. The next morning, he pushed the foliage covering the shelter to the side gingerly, looking both ways. When there was no sign of the skunk, he went out of the shelter and kindled a fire. Soon, he had a small fire going. He put some meat in a pot to make a stew. The skunk returned just as he pulled the pot of meat off the fire. It took on the same position as before. This time Brian knew exactly what he had to do. He took a piece of meat from the pot and threw it on the ground next to the skunk. In a moment when the meat cooled, it picked up the chunk and disappeared around the corner of the large rock that was the back wall of Brian's shelter. After four days, a routine was established. The skunk came to the entrance in the morning, flicked its tail in the air and waited to be fed. Brian fed it and it went back to its burrow at the back of the shelter until the next morning. It seemed almost as if he had a pet skunk. Some nights later, he was awakened by a strange noise. Brian was still in his sleeping bag when he looked up in the dark at the enormous form of a bear leaning over him. The bear had come for the meat, and Brian was the only obstacle between the bear and the meat. The bear cuffed him to the side. It was nowhere near what the bear could have done. It could have broken Brian's legs. Unfortunately for Brian, he was tangled in the zipped-up sleeping bag and could not move fast enough to stay out of the way. The bear hit him again; this time with greater force. Brian could see the bear look down at him, a look full of threat. Brian could see the bear's teeth as it moved toward him. He thought he was going to die. He held his breath as the bear stopped, raised its head and turned to look back over its shoulder to the left. Brian lay still, staring up at the bear. He could smell something other than the bear; a rank, foul, sulphurous smell as the bear turned. It took a full shot of spray directly in the eyes. The effect was immediate and devastating. The bear seemed to roll backward out of the shelter area, slamming its head back and forth on the ground, trying to clear its eyes, hacking and throwing up as it vanished in the night. Brian looked to the source of all this. His saviour stood near the end of the shelter, its tail still in the air; only now aimed at Brian. The tail twitched once, then again, and Brian understood what he had to do. He took a piece of meat from the pile and tossed it to her. The skunk picked up the meat and waddled off into the dark in the direction of her burrow. The stink of skunk was everywhere but Brian did not mind it. After all, it reminded him of how the skunk had rescued him from the bear. Brian smiled as he went back to sleep. He resolved to give the skunk extra food from then on. What caused Brian to look out of his shelter opening carefully?

Q72 Open-ended 2 marks

From the passage about Brian and the skunk (adapted from 'Brian's Winter' by Gary Paulsen): Why did Brian throw the meat in a "smooth, slow movement" (line 6)?

Q73 Open-ended 2 marks

From the passage about Brian and the skunk: Brian 'pushed the foliage covering the shelter to the side gingerly, looking both ways.' (lines 10 and 11) What did Brian expect to see outside his shelter?

Q74 Open-ended 2 marks

From the passage about Brian and the skunk: 'It took on the same position as before.' (lines 13 and 14) Explain clearly what the skunk did.

Q75 Open-ended 2 marks

From the passage about Brian and the skunk: Explain clearly why Brian felt as if he had a pet skunk.

Q76 Open-ended 2 marks

From the passage about Brian and the skunk: Quote a word in paragraph 3 to show that the bear had hit Brian lightly with his paw the first time.

Q77 Open-ended 2 marks

From the passage about Brian and the skunk: Why did Brian not move away from the bear when it attacked him?

Q78 Open-ended 2 marks

From the passage about Brian and the skunk: What did the skunk do to stop the attack from the bear?

Q79 Open-ended 2 marks

From the passage about Brian and the skunk: "... but Brian did not mind it." (Line 39) What does the underlined word refer to?

Q80 Open-ended 2 marks

From the passage about Brian and the skunk: In what way had Brian's feelings towards the skunk changed by the end of the story?

P6 English SA2 2012 — Nanyang

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P6 English SA2 2012 — Nanyang

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