FOREWORD. These new questions types are also fun for the child to answer. So, kudos to MOE for that.

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Emmeline Henry
5 years ago
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1 FOREWORD MOE will be changing the format of questions asked in the Comprehension Open-Ended section of English Language Paper 2 from the PSLE 2015 examination. Compre OE has the highest weightage (20 marks) in Paper 2. Also, it is much easier to score in Compre OE than in Vocab cloze or Compre cloze. Many of the answers are in front of you in the passage. Yet, most students routinely lose marks in this section. Why is it so? The answer is lack of practice in framing the answer. I have written this book keeping in mind the extra practice our children need in the new style questions. All passages are like short stories which your child will find interesting to read. I have also included a list of personality adjectives since I noticed that it was a common question in which children were faltering. In the book, question types include: 1. True / False tables 2. Sequencing 3. MCQs 4. Adjective questions 5. Word / phrase meaning, synonym & antonym tables 6. Long answer questions These new questions types are also fun for the child to answer. So, kudos to MOE for that. An exhaustive answer key is also included. However, a word of caution to the parents. Answers in Comprehension Open-Ended (especially reasons for True /False & inferential long answer questions) are subjective. Your child s answer might not match the answer key completely and yet be considered right. It would be a good idea for you to use your own wisdom / judgement while marking the answers. No one is 100% sure of the question types which we will see in PSLE I have attempted to interpret the MOE circular as closely as possible. I HOPE WITH ALL MY HEART THAT EVERY CHILD SHINES Deepa. C. 1

2 List of personality adjectives Common question under the new format: - Personality adjectives on the characters in the passage along with a reason to support the adjective. Adjective Notes Encouraging; Supportive Intelligent; Smart Sentimental; Emotional Self-respecting Proud Arrogant Positive trait in people Positive / negative trait Negative trait Contd. Passage 1 The solitude near the tunnel apparently drew the boys interest. After making their way through the trees, they clambered down with difficulty to the edge of the tunnel, knelt down along the railroad tracks and began to play. To the west, a freight train rolled slowly towards the children. Overhead lights signalled to engineer Jayden Chee that the passenger train ahead was out of the way and they could now move to a higher speed of 60 kms per hour. The engineer pulled the throttle instantly increasing the speed, then turned to conductor Hadi Ahmad who was sitting at the locomotive's left observation window. Jayden and Hadi spotted something ahead at the same instant. What's that up there? asked the engineer. Hadi did not answer and was staring intently. The lighting was so bad on some parts of the railway track and the train s headlights were feeble too. Jayden groped in his knapsack for his pair of binoculars. Meanwhile, Hadi brought his own binoculars to his eyes and struggled to focus in the dim light. A crumpled cardboard box? Discarded rags? Stray cattle? That looks like a human hand, muttered Hadi. And then, he turned horrified as both men guessed at the same instant what was on the track. Jayden threw on the emergency brake and jerked the air-horn handle with all his strength. The horn's blast and Hadi's words exploded at the same time, "Kids on the track!" The wind direction muted the effect of the air-horn. Jayden kept pulling at it relentlessly as he looked at Hadi in desperation. The train would never stop in time. They both knew that harsh truth. Hadi had dealt with emergencies for many years, especially in his police service. Now all his experience took over. He felt his body go on automatic. He sprang through the engine door and raced to the front of the swaying train. He reasoned that he would jump off the front of the 2

3 train and sprint at top speed towards the oblivious kids. Scrambling down a steel ladder, he paused on the bottom rung. It was time to jump. The tunnel was approaching fast. Hadi could clearly see the two little children. They were sitting perilously near the tracks with their backs leaning on the side walls of the tunnel. Hadi waved frantically and shouted, "Get away!" Engrossed in play, Vijay and Sabir still did not move. He mentally calculated the train's deceleration rate and groaned. He realized that though the train was slowing down, he could not outrun it. He had to come up with Plan B. Hadi contemplated that he could push the boys up against the side walls of the tunnel and cover their bodies with his. Finally, as the train s headlight illuminated the kids faces, Sabir looked up and froze. Hadi forced himself to wait until the gap between the train and the boys closed. With perhaps ten feet between them and the front of the train, Hadi sprang forward from the ladder. Landing on the loose, fist-size ballast stones alongside the track, he had to struggle to keep his balance. In two giant strides, he almost reached the children. They stared up at him in wide-eyed shock. Hadi, flinging his body into space, flew towards them. As his body hurtled downward, Hadi covered Vijay completely while reaching out with one arm to grab Sabir also under him. But the train had caught up to them. Hadi saw the black steel edge train clip the young child on the chin. Part of the train then punched into the back of Hadi's work vest. Still, Hadi managed to pull Sabir completely beneath him. Burying his face in the stones, he pushed downward on the two boys with all his strength as the overhang of the train passed inches above them. Why did you not move when the train sounded the air horn or when I hollered at you? Hadi demanded angrily of the two boys. The boys pointed to their ears and shook their heads. It was then that Hadi was struck by the realization. Inspired by Kids on Track by Jack Murphy. Q1. Why did the boys want to play near the railroad tracks? (1 marks) a. No one came there and they would not be disturbed b. The tunnel near the tracks seemed interesting c. The tunnel near the tracks was difficult to climb. ( ) Q2. State True or False. Give reasons to support your answer. (2 marks) Statement T / F Reason a. The engineer Jayden Chee increased the train speed after checking the signal lights. 3

4 b. There was enough lighting on the tracks. Q3. Initially (at first), what did the men think was on the tracks? What was the first indication (hint) that it was kids on track? (2 marks) Q4. Which two actions did Jayden do on realising the kids were on the track? (2 marks) Action 1 Action 2 Q5. In para 4, what was the harsh truth? (1 mark) a. The emergency brakes were useless. b. The train would not stop before running over the kids. c. The kids were unable to hear the air horn. ( ) Q6. Explain clearly why Hadi was a better choice than Jayden to save the kids? (2 marks) 4

5 Q7. Arrange the following events in the correct sequence? (1 mark) Hadi ran to the front of the train. ( ) Hadi jumped through the engine door. ( ) Hadi climbed down a ladder. ( ) Q8. How did Hadi feel in para 6? Why? (2 marks) Q9. Read para 7 & 8, give an adjective to describe Hadi and a reason to support your answer? (2 marks) Adjective Reason Q10. In the last para, what did Hadi realise? (2 marks) Q11. Find the correct word / phrase from the passage? (3 marks) Meaning Para no. Word / Phrase Hopelessness 4 5

6 Unaware 5 Totally absorbed 6 Answer Key Passage 1 Q1. (a) Q2a. T. Overhead lights signalled to engineer Jayden Chee. Q2b.F. The lighting was bad on some parts of the railway track and the train s headlights were feeble. Q3. Initially, the men suspected that it was a crumpled cardboard box or used rags or stray cattle. The first indication was that Hadi spotted something that seemed to be a human hand. Q4. Action 1- Threw on the emergency brakes to stop the train, Action 2- Pulling the air horn of the train strongly to warn the kids. Q5. (b) Q6. Hadi was a better choice because he had been in the police force before where he had dealt with emergency situations. He would instinctively do what was best in a dire / dangerous situation. Q7. (2, 1, 3) Q8. Hadi was anxious / helpless as he waved furiously and yelled loudly for the children to move away from the tracks. OR Hadi was disheartened as he groaned. He realized that his plan of outrunning the train had flopped. Q9. Selfless: Hadi put the lives of the children before his own safety. He showed this by pulling the boys under his body even though he could have been seriously hurt too. Intelligent: He came up with a good plan to save the kids. Brave: He did dangerous acts fearlessly to save the children. Q10. Hadi realized that both the boys were deaf / hearing impaired. That was the reason that the boys had not responded to the loud air horn of the train and had not moved until they actually saw the engine s headlights. Q11. Desperation, Oblivious, Engrossed. 6

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TUTOR WORLD ASHFORD SAMPLE TEST ENGLISH. Multiple-choice SAMPLE TEST 1

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