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Name: _____________________ ( ) Class: ________

BUKIT PANJANG GOVERNMENT HIGH SCHOOL

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2021
SECONDARY 4 EXPRESS
SECONDARY 4 NORMAL ACADEMIC
SECONDARY 5 NORMAL ACADEMIC

ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1128 / 02

Paper 2 Date: 19 August, 2021
Comprehension Duration: 1h 50 min
Candidates answer in the Question Booklet. Time: 1020h – 1210h

Additional Materials: INSERT

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write your index number and name on the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid.
Answer all questions.
Write your answers in the spaces provided in the Question Booklet.
The Insert contains the texts for all the sections.

The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.

Setters: Christine Png, Ng Ee Ling [Turn over]

This Question Booklet consists of 8 printed pages.

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Section A [5 marks]

Refer to the webpage (Text 1) on page 2 of the Insert for Questions 1-5.

1 Refer to the two paragraphs below ‘Come learn to surf with us’. Which two words convey
to the readers that the surf lessons will fit the individual?

…………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

2 Look at the photograph beside ‘Our Surfing Instructors’. With reference to the
information under the sub-heading ‘Our Surfing Instructors’, what quality of the
instructor does the photograph illustrate?

……………………………………………………………………………………………. [1]

3 ‘We provide more instructors and lifeguards in our lessons than any other surf school on
the island.’ What is the intended effect of this statement on the reader?

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………. [1]

4 Which expression in the testimonials section would encourage the surfer ‘looking to push
themselves to their own personal limits’ to enrol in lessons with Waikiki Beach Surf
School?

……………………………………………………………………………………………. [1]

5 Which sentence gives the overall purpose of the webpage?

……………………………………………………………………………………………. [1]
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Section B [20 marks]

Refer to Text 2 on page 3 of the Insert for Questions 6-16.
6 At the beginning of the text, the writer describes spring. Explain how the language used
in Paragraph 1 makes the plants and animals seem happy that it is spring.

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………... [3]

7 The writer describes Margo’s singing as ‘shrilly and untunefully’ (line 8). What do these
words tell us about Margo’s voice and singing?

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………. [2]

8 In Paragraph 2, the writer says, ‘She would dive into the bathroom and once in there she
was as hard to dislodge as a barnacle from a rock. The family in turn would bellow and
batter on the door, getting no more satisfaction than an assurance that she was nearly
finished, an assurance that we had learnt by bitter experience not to have any faith in.’

Which words or phrases in the given sentences describe what happened?

Descriptions Words or phrases from the passage

(i) Margo spent a very long time
in the bathroom.

(ii) The family told Margo to

hurry up.

(iii) The family knew that when

Margo said she would be done
soon it was not true. [3]

9 What phrase in Paragraph 3 indicates that the writer was not surprised that it was Spiro
who first found out that Margo was seeing a man?

……………………………………………………………………………………………. [1]
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10 In Paragraph 3, explain what the writer means when he writes that Spiro ‘watched over
Margo’s welfare with the earnest concern of a guard dog’.

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………. [1]

11 How does the writer convey that Spiro is charged with emotion when speaking to Mrs
Durrell in lines 29-30?

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………. [1]

12 From Paragraph 6, write down the two phrases that show the writer’s opinion of Margo’s
male friend.

Writer’s opinion Phrase

He thinks Margo’s male friend is an insincere
person.

He thinks Margo’s male friend exudes arrogance.

[2]

13 In Paragraphs 8 to 9, how does Mother successfully prevent Larry and Leslie from starting
a conversation with Margo’s male friend?

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………. [1]

14 What is unusual about the writer’s use of the word ‘modestly’ (line 57)?

…………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………. [1]

15 In Paragraph 13, what is the tone of Larry’s comment in line 62?

……………………………………………………………………………………………. [1]
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16 The structure of the text reflects the main stages in the narrative.
Complete the flow chart by choosing one phrase from the box to summarise the main focus
of each stage of the narrative. There are some extra phrases in the box that you do not need
to use.

receiving new information dysfunctional engagement welcoming an honoured

guest
paying attention to first impressions
grooming joyous party
dangerous encounters

Paragraph 1 A new season

Paragraph 2 (i) ..……………………………

Paragraphs 3 – 5 (ii) …………………………….

Paragraphs 6 – 8 (iii) …………………………….

Paragraphs 9 – 13 (iv) ………………………………

[4]

Section C [25 marks]

Refer to Text 3 in the Insert for Questions 17-23.
17 Which one word in paragraph 1 bears the same meaning as ‘disaster’?

………………………………………………………………………………….……….. [1]
18 Explain what the writer means when she says “radioactive particles travelled far and
wide” (line 10, paragraph 2). Answer in your own words without repeating the words
in italics.

……………………………………………………………………………………………

……………….………………………………………………………………………….... [1]
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19 Paragraph 3 discusses the nature of a liquidator’s job which necessarily involves exposure
to radiation. State what characteristics of radiation make the liquidator’s job both difficult
and dangerous.

Nature of Characteristics of radiation

a liquidator’s
job

(i) Difficult …………………………………………………………………..

…….……………………………………………………………..

(ii) Dangerous
………………………………………………………………….

…….…………………………………………………….………

[2]

20 Evgeniy Valentey, the IT specialist, spoke about “the people really victimized in the
process of liquidation” (lines 25-26)

(i) Who is he referring to?

……………………………………………………………………………… [1]

(ii) In what way were these people victimized?

……………………………………………………………………………………. [1]

21 Here is a conversation between two students, Daryl and Lisa, who have read the article.

Daryl Lisa

“It would be thrilling to work in “I think even adults should avoid

Chernobyl in the few years immediately visiting Chernobyl at all cost, even
following the disaster.” today.”
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(a) With reference to paragraph 4, why do you think Daryl is attracted to Chernobyl?

………………………………………………………………………………………

[1]
………………………………………………………………………………………
(b) How would Lisa explain her position with reference to paragraph 5? Give two points.

(i) ……………………………………………………………………………………

(ii) …………………………………………………………………………………… [2]

22 Which sentence in paragraph 7 conveys a resigned tone?

……………………………………………………………………………………………. [1]
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23 Using your own words as far as possible, summarise the reasons for human presence in Chernobyl and the precautions taken to reduce their exposure to
radiation. Use only information from Paragraphs 5 and 6. Your summary must be in continuous writing (not note form). It must not be longer than 80 words
(not counting the words given to help you begin).
Despite the radioactive levels in Chernobyl, people…

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48

49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56

57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64

65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72

73 74 75 76 7 78 79 80 words
End of Paper