NATIONAL ASSESSMENT

GENERAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATE (GEC)

2023 GRADE 9 PILOT STUDY

Subject: English First Additional Language

Marks: 70

Duration: 150 Minutes

excluding 15 minutes reading time

This test consists of 22 pages, excluding the cover page.

Grade 9 English FAL 1
Instructions to the learner
1. You will receive 15 minutes reading time before you begin answering this test.
2. Read all the instructions and questions carefully.
3. Answer all questions.
4. Use the provided answer booklet to write all your answers.

The test starts on the next page.

Do not turn the page until you are told to do so.

Grade 9 English FAL 2

Question 1: Comprehension
Read the text below and answer the questions set.

Terror Strikes…ACNE!
The teenager’s plague

1 You might want to call it an epidemic, but it is not contagious, and it takes on many
different forms in the young people it affects. Some of you (but only a few) will be
lucky enough to sail through your teenage years without having to worry about
pimples – but most of you will be hit sooner rather than later, no matter what you do.
Acne is so common; it's considered a normal part of puberty. But knowing that
doesn't make it easier if you've got a big pimple on your face.

2 In some people it starts early and hangs on for years. In others it may wait until the
age of sixteen and seventeen or even twenty to appear. Still others have to suffer so-
called ‘flare ups’: that means they sometimes have it and they sometimes don’t.

3 The good news is that in most people spots clear up completely – eventually. It does,
however, leave scars; often these marks are not the kind you can see on the outside;
they are scars on the inside, like shyness and feelings of insecurity.

4 Acne cannot be passed from one person to another, and – strictly speaking – it isn’t
even a disease. It has never killed anyone.

5 So, what is acne and what can you do about it?

6 Acne is caused by blockages and inflammation inside the hair follicles which produce
lumps beneath the surface of the skin - pimples. It shows up as different types of
bumps: blackheads - open pores that get clogged and have a darker top;
whiteheads - closed pores that get clogged and bulge out from the skin, pimples, or
cysts.

7 Teens get acne because of the hormone changes that come with puberty. If your
parents had acne as teens, it's more likely that you will too. For most people, though,
acne goes away almost completely by the time they are out of their teens.

Grade 9 English FAL 3

 8 Sometimes we search the internet to try and find some miracle cure for acne, even
though we suspect that nothing will really work. Young people who are struck with
this awful, yet normal, condition sometimes do funny things.

9 The best thing you can do is to keep your face, neck and shoulders clean with soap
and water and wait. DON’T scrub your face with a washcloth — acne can't be
scrubbed away, and scrubbing may make it worse by irritating the skin and pores. By
the time you reach your twenties the acne should have, and probably would have,
disappeared as quietly as it came.

10 So, what more needs to be said? Not much. Just that, acne is quite normal, and it
DOES go away – just be patient, hang in there.


Adapted from Clear skin, healthy skin by Alan E Nourse, Dynamic English 1998;
https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/acne.

1.1 What is the text about?

A terror
B acne
C plagues
D teenagers (1)

1.2 How long could this skin condition last?

A many years
B sixteen years
C seventeen years
D twenty years (1)

Grade 9 English FAL 4

 1.3 Find a word similar in meaning to the word ‘plague’ in the sub-title.

A contagious
B pimples
C epidemic
D puberty (1)

1.4 What are ‘scars on the inside’? (Paragraph 3)

A shyness and feelings

B spots and insecurities
C spots and shyness
D shyness and insecurities (1)

1.5 ‘Acne cannot be passed from one person to another.’ (Paragraph 4)

Choose an option below that supports this statement.
It…

A is not contagious.
B does not clear up.
C is an epidemic.
D is a common disease. (1)

1.6 Which word in Paragraph 3 reassures us that we will not suffer from acne
forever?

A insecurity
B eventually
C shyness
D completely (1)

Grade 9 English FAL 5

 1.7 What does the information in Paragraph 6 suggest?

A Pimples can lead to death.

B Acne is not something everyone experiences.
C Victims feel like they are going to die.
D Acne changes the texture of the skin. (1)

1.8 Why would acne in teenagers be considered normal?

A Some teenagers suffer so-called flare ups.

B Most teenagers consider it an epidemic.
C Most teenagers experience it at some stage.
D Most teenagers sail through their teenage years. (1)

1.9 ‘As quietly as it came.’ (Paragraph 9)

Identify the figure of speech reflected above.

A onomatopoeia
B metaphor
C personification
D assonance (1)

1.10 What can be concluded from the information in Paragraph 9?

A Using products and skin creams will help manage acne.

B Scrubbing your face may irritate your skin and make acne worse.
C There are many cures and medicines to cure acne.
D You must ensure that you scrub your face daily with a washcloth. (1)

Grade 9 English FAL 6

 1.11 ‘Young people who are struck with this awful, yet normal, condition sometimes
do funny things.’ (Paragraph 8)
What is the implied meaning of the word ‘funny’ in the sentence above?

A People’s actions are laughable.

B People believe and do strange things.
C People pass jokes about pimples and acne.
D People think having pimples and acne is funny. (1)

1.12 Which statement is false? (Paragraph 6)

A Whiteheads and blackheads are types of bumps.

B Blockages and inflammation cause acne.
C Acne is caused by hair follicles.
D Open pores get clogged. (1)

1.13 How are ‘blackheads’ and ‘whiteheads’ different? (Paragraph 6)

A Blackheads are closed pores, but whiteheads are open pores.

B Blackheads are open pores, but whiteheads are closed pores.
C Blackheads are clogged but whiteheads are darker.
D Blackheads are cysts but whiteheads are clogged. (1)

1.14 What is meant by ‘hang in there’? (Paragraph 10)

A Stay in your room.

B Do not give up.
C Spend time with friends.
D Give up easily. (1)

Grade 9 English FAL 7

 1.15 ‘The good news is that in most people spots clear up completely – eventually.’
(Paragraph 3)
What effect does the above sentence have on the reader?

A It creates a feeling of security.

B It creates a feeling of disappointment.
C It creates a feeling of admiration.
D It creates a feeling of optimism. (1)

1.16 What is the main idea of Paragraph 7?

A Acne will go away completely for most people.

B Acne is caused by hormone changes in puberty.
C Acne is a skin condition experienced by teens.
D Acne is caused by parents during teen years. (1)

1.17 What is the function of the colon used in Paragraph 6?

A To indicate a break.
B To show a new important idea.
C To provide extra information.
D To imply direct speech. (1)

1.18 What does Paragraph 8 infer?

A Young people are desperate for a cure.

B Young people often search for normal things.
C Young people think nothing will work.
D Young people find the internet awful. (1)

Grade 9 English FAL 8

 1.19 Which option best shows the author’s attitude throughout the passage?

A pessimistic
B hopeful
C arrogant
D joyful (1)

1.20 Who is the article aimed at?

A toddlers
B teens
C parents
D grandparents (1)

1.21 ‘Acne is quite normal, and it DOES go away’. (Paragraph 10)

How does the above statement make the reader feel?

A reassured
B enthusiastic
C attentive
D inspired (1)

1.22 Which word best describes the author’s tone?

A humorous
B depressing
C empathetic
D discouraging (1)

Grade 9 English FAL 9

 1.23 What advice would you give a teenager suffering from acne?

A Scrub with a washcloth.

B Find a miracle cure.
C Pass it on to a friend.
D Be patient, it will pass. (1)

1.24 Why do you think the sub-heading ‘The teenager’s plague’ was chosen for this
passage?

A Acne is a disease spread by teenagers.

B Acne seems like a disease spread by bacteria.
C Acne seems like a disease for teenagers.
D Acne is a disease that affects bacteria. (1)

1.25 What is the purpose of this text?

A To advise on medicine for acne.

B To confuse teens about acne.
C To make people laugh and feel good.
D To offer a message of hope. (1)

[25]

Grade 9 English FAL 10

Question 2: Visual Literacy
2.1: Advertisement
Read the text below and answer the questions set.

Adapted from Real January 2020

Grade 9 English FAL 11

2.1.1 What product is being advertised?

A sickness
B blooming flowers
C bath soap
D mother and daughter (1)

2.1.2 Who is the target market of this advertisement?

A People who love flowers.

B Everyone who wants to sell soap.
C Mothers and daughters who get sick.
D Families who want protection from germs. (1)

2.1.3 ‘100% proven to reduce cases of sickness.’

Why is ‘100%’ written in a larger font?

A To attract the attention of buyers.

B To guarantee a discount to the buyers.
C To highlight the fragrance of the soap.
D To highlight who will buy the product. (1)

2.1.4 Which phrase is used to promote trust in the product?

A No Mush Bar Shape

B Better germ protection
C Complete soap range
D Faster and better (1)

Grade 9 English FAL 12

2.1.5 What effect do the flowers in the picture have on the readers?
The flowers suggest that the soap has…

A great value.
B better lathering.
C better germ protection.
D new fragrances. (1)

Grade 9 English FAL 13

2.2: Cartoon

Read the text below and answer the questions set.

http://wondermark.com/the comic strip doctor garfield

2.2.1 Where is the cartoon set? (1)

2.2.2 What is the relationship between the characters in this cartoon? (1)

2.2.3 What tone is displayed by the person in Frame 2 (1)

2.2.4 Explain how humour is created in this cartoon? (1)

2.2.5 Why could Garfield’s behaviour be considered as inappropriate? (2)

Give two reasons.

2.2.6 Give a reason for the change in Garfield’s attitude in Frame 3. (1)

2.2.7 Explain, in one sentence, the message this cartoon is giving about cats? (1)

2.2.8 Do you think the man will try and make his cat, Garfield, beg again? Provide a (2)
reason for your answer.

[15]

Grade 9 English FAL 14

Question 3: Summary

Read the text below and write a summary on how to live a happy life as a teenager.

1. List SEVEN points in full sentences.

2. Number your sentences from 1- 7.
3. Write only ONE point per sentence.
4. Use your own words as far as possible.
5. Your summary should be 50-60 words in length.
6. Indicate the total number of words you have used in brackets at the end of your summary.
7. You do not require a title for your summary.
A wholesome teenager is a happy teenager.

Life can be difficult and have many challenges. We must be good fighters to have a chance
to succeed in the battle. Let us talk about how one can achieve a happy life as a teenager.

It is important to take care of yourself, and one way to do so is to shower yourself with love
and attention and give yourself self-affirmation daily. Look at yourself in the mirror and
repeat to yourself that there is no one like you and everyone wants to be like you.

Self-respect is an important skill that will guide you. Ask yourself why you should not respect
yourself and cherish what you have. Investing in your personal development can increase
your happiness, so take advantage of any opportunity to stay active and learn a new skill. For
example, start doing extra mural activities like music, drawing, making crafts, etc.

If you isolate yourself from friends and family, you may feel lonely. Talk to them and make
plans to do things together. You may play simple games like chess, cards, and snakes &
ladders. You may watch films together or even read and discuss books together.

Mixing with peers is important for character development because you will learn and be
educated on a variety of issues by discussing various topics with different people.

Being grateful for our families and friends teaches us to be connected to what we have.
Above all, try to avoid negative thoughts. What’s done is done. Don’t cry over spilled milk.
Instead concentrate on the next step and be happy.
Adapted from: https//www.wikihow.com/Be- Happy-Yourself-as-a-Teen

[10]

Grade 9 English FAL 15

Question 4: Language Structures and Conventions

Read the text below and answer the questions set.

Sincerely yours
Handwriting is a simple and beautiful way of connecting with others, but it may be
a dying art.

1 The loss of handwriting in our high-tech world is saddening. People of all ages
and professions (mostly doctors) have bad handwriting as keyboards replace pen
and paper. School children love doing assignments on computer and struggle to
write, having had little practice.

2 The older generation learnt to write by dipping a pen in ink and then carefully
forming letters. After that came the fountain pen and then the ballpoint pen.
Handwriting dominated every aspect of school-going children’s lives from the first
moment they started to shape letters.

3 Handwritten letters are as rare as square apples. Few of us write letters any
longer, even to our nearest and dearest. We communicate by e-mail, fax, SMS,
and phone. All these methods are faster, but the trajedy is that the
communication is lost after the message has been delivered. Just by pressing a
'delete' button, an entire history can be destroyed.

4 Should children still be taught to write with pen and paper? Should pen and paper
be kept alive when laptops and mobiles are faster and more accurate?
Handwritten cards, letters and notes from dear family members and friends who
have passed away are precious possessions. We should write thank-you notes to
friends and family, postcards instead of e-mails and SMS messages when they
travel and keep handwritten journals for their own memories.

End of test
5 Steven Miller, the archivist at an art gallery said, "Saving material in digital format
only is risky and unstable. We do not know how long it will survive.
Adapted from Reader's Digest March 2010

Grade 9 English FAL 16

 4.1 ‘School children love doing assignments.’ (Paragraph 1)
Identify the abstract noun in the sentence above.

A love
B doing
C school
D children (1)

4.2 ‘The loss of handwriting in our high-tech world is saddening.’ (Paragraph 1)

What type of sentence is reflected above?

A simple
B complex
C command
D compound (1)

4.3 ‘it may be a dying art.’(Sub-title)

Which word has a similar meaning in context to the underlined word in the
sentence above?

A diving
B deleting
C developing
D disappearing (1)

4.4 ‘Handwritten letters are as rare as square apples.’ (Paragraph 3)

Provide an antonym for the word ‘rare’ in the sentence above.

A scarce
B exclusive
C common
D restricted (1)

Grade 9 English FAL 17

 4.5 ‘Few of us write letters any longer, even to our nearest and dearest.’
(Paragraph 3)

Identify what the underlined section of the sentence is.

A a clause
B a phrase
C a subject
D an object (1)

4.6 Nowadays we communicate by e-mail. E-mail is faster.

Which sentence shows the correct use of the conjunction?

A Nowadays, we communicate by email, although it is faster.

B Nowadays, we communicate by e-mail because it is faster.
C Nowadays, we communicate by e-mail, however, it is faster.
D Nowadays, we communicate by e-mail unless it is faster. (1)

4.7 ‘The older generation learnt to write by dipping a pen in ink.’ (Paragraph 2)
Select the adjective in the sentence above.

A older
B learnt
C dipping
D generation (1)

4.8 Handwriting was once seen as a simple way of connecting with others.
The underlined word in the sentence above is an adverb of …

A time.
B degree.
C manner.
D frequency. (1)

Grade 9 English FAL 18

 4.9 The fountain pen preceded the ballpoint pen.
Which sentence below is correctly written in the passive voice?

A The ballpoint pen is preceded by the fountain pen.

B The ballpoint pen was preceded by the fountain pen.
C The ballpoint pen were preceded by the fountain pen.
D The ballpoint pen will be preceded by the fountain pen. (1)

4.10 In which sentence is the homophone for ‘write’ used correctly?

A The letters we right connect us.

B The love letters were a right of passage.
C They right their names on the school desks as memoirs.
D I hope we are doing the right thing to replace letters. (1)

4.11 Handwritten cards and letters from dear family members and friends who have
passed away are precious possessions.
Give the possible meaning of the sentence above.

A Handwritten cards and friends are precious possessions.

B Family members and friends are precious possessions.
C Handwritten cards and letters are precious possessions.
D Family members and handwritten cards are precious possessions. (1)

4.12 ‘We communicate by e-mail, fax, SMS and phone.’ (Paragraph 3)

Give the full form of the underlined abbreviation.

A short memory service

B short massive service
C short message service
D short massage service (1)

Grade 9 English FAL 19

 4.13 ‘Handwriting dominated every aspect of school-going children’s lives.’
(Paragraph 2)
Select the option which explains the use of the apostrophe in the underlined
word.

A It indicates a break.
B It indicates a plural.
C It shows possession.
D It shows a contraction. (1)

4.14 ‘We should write thank-you notes to friends and family.’ (Paragraph 4)
The underlined word is an example of a …

A relative pronoun.
B personal pronoun.
C reflexive pronoun.
D possessive pronoun. (1)

4.15 The underlined word in Paragraph 3 has been misspelt.

Identify the correct spelling of the word.

A tragedy
B tragidy
C tradgidy
D tradjedy (1)

4.16 Which sentence is written in the correct tense?

A In the past people write thank-you notes to friends and family.

B In the past people wrote thank-you notes to friends and family.
C In the past people writes thank-you notes to friends and family.
D In the past people will write thank-you notes to friends and family. (1)

Grade 9 English FAL 20

 4.17 Steven Miller said, “We do not know how long it will survive.” (Paragraph 5)
Which sentence is correctly written in reported speech?

A Steven Miller said that they do not know how long it will survive.
B Steven Miller said that they did not know how long it will survive.
C Steven Miller said that they do not know how long it would survive.
D Steven Miller said that they did not know how long it would survive. (1)

4.18 Select the option that is an example of a stereotype.

A Some handwritten cards are precious.

B All doctors have bad handwriting.
C At school learners are taught to write.
D Archivists write in digital format. (1)

4.19 ‘Handwriting is a simple and beautiful way of connecting with others, but it may
be a dying art.’
What is the function of the sub-heading?

A It gives more information about the writer.

B It illustrates how to end a handwritten letter.
C It advertises simple and beautiful handwriting.
D It gives more information about the headline. (1)

Grade 9 English FAL 21

 4.20 Should pen and paper ‘be kept alive’ when laptops and mobiles are faster and
accurate? (Paragraph 4)
Give the meaning of the phrase ‘be kept alive’ in context of the above statement.

A to be alive
B bringing back to life
C dominant and active
D continuing in existence (1)

[20]

End of test

Grade 9 English FAL 22