01.

Read the paragraph and try some of the interesting methods given there to improve your
English knowledge.

Make it fun!
If your language learning is not enjoyable then you will find it hard to be motivated.
What do you find fun, amusing or fulfilling? Try to incorporate the English language
into that.

If you like computer games, you could find an English language interactive adventure
game where you have to understand and use instructions to play.

Alternatively, if you like cartoons, you could try reading them in English. Similarly, if
you like comedy, watch English comedies or go to see an English comedian.

The goals and aims of the English language learner are crucial to the learning
experience and its success. Why do you want to learn English?

If you keep this goal in mind when learning, you will find a strong motivation which
will carry you through your studies to become a fluent English speaker.

Now use the words in the box to fill in the blanks of the sentences. There are two
sentences together for each word. First one is done for you.

cartoon, ​goal​, similarly, comedy, motivation, English, interactive, fun, crucial, fluent

a. He achieved his ​goal​ .

At last he reached his g ​ oal​ .

b. We learn ____________ language as a subject in the school.

____________ is essential for higher studies.

c. I think they are all having ____________ .

Driving a modern car is a lot of ____________ .

d. Who is your favourite Disney ____________ character.

What’s your favourite ____________ ?

e. ____________ is something that makes you laugh.

I saw an amusing ____________ last night.

f. Teachers are ____________ to the success of the school.

It’s a ____________ decision.
 g. ____________ is the key to success.
What is the ____________ behind this sudden change.

h. Tom is ____________ in English.

I’ve been studying French for a long time but I’m not yet ____________ .

i. The technology can be used to produce ____________ educational programmes.

It is creative and ____________ .

j. All students respond ____________ .

The children were ____________ dressed.

02. This bar graph depicts how internet users aged 16+ prefer to access the internet at
home and in other places.

Here, you are given some sentences that can be used to describe the bar graph. Use the
words given in the box and complete the blanks with them.

percentage, prefer, majority, devices, minority, portable, many, accessing, most, least

i. Here, the horizontal axis represents the ____________ while the vertical axis
represents the ____________ .
*axis → Plu. axes
ii. From this bar graph it is clear that the ____________ of participants ____________
to use smart phones and laptops.
iii. Only a small ____________ prefers a device other than the given four.
iv. It is clear that ____________ participants are ____________ the internet outside
their homes.
v. The desktop computer is the ____________ popular of the four main devices.
vi. In conclusion, mobile and ____________ devices are the ____________ popular
choices among them.
03. Read the following description and examples regarding present perfect continuous tense
to remind the lesson and answer the questions.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense

The present perfect continuous tense is used for an action that began at sometime in the
past and is still continuing.

Formation - subject + has been / have been + (verb + ing)

I He
We
You } have + been + verb + ing She
It } has + been + verb + ing

They

Examples - 1. We h
​ ave been living​ in Colombo ​for ​ten years.
2. Nimal h
​ as been suffering​ from fever ​since ​(from) last week.
3.
a. They have been learning English.
b. Have they been learning English?
c. He has been learning English.
d. Has he been learning English?
e. They have not been learning English.
f. He has not been learning English.
4. How long have you been learning English?

i. Complete each sentence with the present perfect continuous form of the verb in
brackets. Use one word in each blank.
a. Kapila ________ _________ _________ (exercise) for an hour.
b. Nimal ________ _________ _________ (read) the novel for two hours.
c. She ________ __________ _________ (travel) for thirty minutes.
d. Kamal ________ _________ __________ (play) tennis since he was ten.
e. My parents _________ _________ _________ (live) in Kandy since 2015.

ii. For each situation, ask a question using the words in brackets. The first one is done
for you. (you may use, not only present perfect continuous tense but also present
perfect tense)

a. A friend of yours is collecting articles on new inventions to publish a magazine

You ask him - i. how many article / collect
ii. how long / collect
i. How many articles have you collected? (present perfect tense)
ii. How long have you been collecting articles? (present perfect continuous
tense)

b. You have a friend who is learning French.

You ask him - i. how long / learn / French
i. _________________________________________________________ ?
 c. Your friend Nimal is playing for the school cricket team.
You ask him - i. how long / play / cricket / school team
i. _________________________________________________________ ?

d. You have just arrived to meet a friend. He is waiting for you.

You ask him - i. how long / wait
i. _________________________________________________________ ?

e. One of your friends is having a birthday party next week.

You ask him - i. how many friends / invite
i. _________________________________________________________ ?

iii. Make sentences in the present perfect continuous tense using the verbs given in the
brackets.
a. How long _______ ________ ________ _______ (wait) here?
b. We ________ _________ _________ (live) in Canada for 20 years.
c. He ________ ________ ________ (work) in the garden since morning.
d. It ________ ________ _________ (rain) since yesterday.
e. I ________ ________ ________ (use) this laptop for three years.
f. The workers _______ _______ _______ (demand) higher wages for a long
time.
g. “You look tired” “Yes, I ________ ________ ________ (run)”

04. Read the paragraph and complete the missing prepositions that are in the box.

in, in, to, to, of, of, on, from

The importance of learning English

As English is an international language, we cannot illustrate the importance of English in
words. For higher education, we need ____ learn the English language. English is the
storehouse of all knowledge of most ____ the books. Even, all the books ____ higher
education ____ every sector of knowledge are written in the English language. If we want
____ acquire vast knowledge and higher education in any sector, we need to take help ____
those books. All the best things of European and American are available ____ English. If this
source is not available, we will go backward. However, the majority ____ all the information
on the world’s computers is also in English. So if we don’t know English better we will fail to
keep pace with the running world.

“Two t​ enses ​have been used to write this paragraph”. Is this statement true? Prove your
answer with two examples.
i. _______________________________________________________________________
ii. _______________________________________________________________________

05. Write a letter to one of your friends describing the value of learning English as he doesn't
get much effort to learn English. Use about 150 words or more.
06. Enjoy this poem

Distance learning, what a bore.

Our school’s been closed a month or more.
I’m stuck at home. I’m in my room,
And meeting with my class on Zoom.

There’s no more lunchroom. No PE.

Just studying and tests for me.
There’s no more recess. No more ball.
Just staring at my bedroom wall.

The playground’s closed - the swings, the slide -

And everybody’s stuck inside.
We can’t go out and play with friends.
I hope that, pretty soon, this ends.

I know it's only for a while,

but here’s a thought that makes me smile:
Although it might not sound so cool,
I just can’t wait to go to school.
Kenn Nesbitt , Zoom Gloom, 2020

According to the poem -

a. As a result of distance learning, the child in the poem has missed many things that
he loved. What are they?
i. _________________________________________________________________
ii. _________________________________________________________________
iii. _________________________________________________________________
iv. _________________________________________________________________

b. What is he doing now?

i. _________________________________________________________________
ii. _________________________________________________________________
iii. _________________________________________________________________
iv. _________________________________________________________________

c. Finally, what does this child expect?

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________