Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE 0876/01

Paper 1 Reading and Usage
45 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

No additional materials are needed.

INSTRUCTIONS
• Answer all questions.
• Use a black or dark blue pen.
• Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
• Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
• Do not write on any bar codes.

INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 42.
• The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].

This document has 12 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

[Turn over
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Part 1

Questions 1–8

Read the text below.

For each number 1–8, circle the correct word on the next page.

Collecting sneakers

If you ask most teenagers what their favourite kind of shoes is, you probably wouldn’t be

surprised to (0) that it’s sneakers! And it is very (1) that they own more than one

pair. But some people buy sneakers without ever (2) to wear them. Instead, they buy

certain new pairs of sneakers and store them safely until prices have (3) up. Then the

shoes, which are still in perfect (4) , are sold to collectors.

As some sneaker designs are (5) popular, the amounts sellers can (6) for them

are often high. The most expensive shoes, as you might (7) , are styles which are

produced in limited numbers. Many famous sneaker companies also get well-known people like

sports stars and musicians to help design and advertise their sneakers. As a (8) of this,

collectors are willing to pay incredibly high prices for these sneakers.
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Example:

0 listen understand hear realise

1 sure frequent correct probable [1]

2 imagining arranging planning considering [1]

3 gone ended got kept [1]

4 appearance condition value preparation [1]

5 exactly absolutely extraordinarily completely [1]

6 deal cost spend charge [1]

7 know suggest declare approve [1]

8 decision result solution reason [1]

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Part 2
Questions 9–13
Read the text in each question.
What does it say?
For each question, circle the correct letter: A, B or C.
Example
A Jodie regrets not seeing the film with Leo.

Hi Leo B Jodie suggests that the film was too long.

I saw the film you
mentioned. You’re C Jodie agrees with Leo’s opinion of the film.
right – the ending was
worth waiting for. I
watched it by myself,
so at least no one saw
me crying!
Jodie

9 A If parents arrive later than requested they

NOTICES
could miss part of the concert.
School concert
B The school concert is going to begin slightly
earlier than planned.
Please tell your
parents to be in their C Parents can only attend the concert if they
seats at least five have reserved seats.
minutes before the
performance begins. [1]
Otherwise they may
not be allowed in until
after the interval.

Headteacher

10 A People can choose whether or not to be

accompanied when they visit the caves.

B Visitors pay less to see the caves if they

book the trip before arriving.
Golden Caves
Entry only permitted with a guide. C There is an extra charge to go on a tour
20% off tickets bought online in advance of the caves with a guide.
(full-price from ticket office). [1]
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11 New Message Ms Rosetti is emailing students to

A explain why a certain location is suitable.

To: Science class
Send From: Ms Rosetti
B describe the aim of a class trip.

Exciting news! Next week we’re

visiting the coast to study local wildlife. C give information about what species to write
You’ll have to complete a report about about.
your discoveries, so remember to bring
pencils. [1]

12 What is Marton doing in this message?

Hi Jonas A reminding Jonas about the arrangements for

hockey practice
Thanks for letting me
B offering to give Jonas a lift to hockey practice
know that hockey
practice starts earlier
this Saturday! C telling Jonas what time hockey practice
Mum says we can pick starts
you up outside your [1]
house at 9.15 a.m. if
you’d like.

Marton

13 A You need an advance booking to take your

Bicycles which fold are folding bicycle on a train.
permitted on trains at any
time. All other bicycles B If your bicycle folds you can take it on a train
require reservations. whenever you like.

C Folding bicycles are the only type of bicycle

allowed on trains.

[1]
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Part 3

Questions 14–18

Complete the conversation between a girl in a bookshop and a shop assistant.

What does the girl say to the shop assistant?
For Questions 14–18, write the correct letter: A–H.

Example:

Shop assistant: Hello, can I help?

Girl: H
0 …………

Shop assistant: What kind of thing does she like

to read?
F A Just a card. She likes ones with animals.
Girl: 14 ………… [1]
B No, I'll just pay for this thanks.
Shop assistant: We have some exciting foreign
adventure stories. C Really? That’s perfect. My sister likes
G writing too!
Girl: 15 ………… [1]
D That's exactly her sort of thing.
Shop assistant: What about this one instead
then, about a real family, sailing E It sounds great - have you sold many?
around the world?
F Well, do you have anything about travel,
D
Girl: 16 ………… [1] perhaps?

Shop assistant: I hoped it would be! And it’s by G That sounds good, but she’s more into
the daughter, which might be true stories.
interesting.
H I need to buy a book for my sister.
C
Girl: 17 ………… [1]

Shop assistant: Does she? Perhaps she’ll

become an author then. Do you
need anything else?

Girl: A
18 ………… [1]

Shop assistant: No problem – we have lots with

wildlife on them.
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Part 4

Questions 19–26

Complete the article below.

For Questions 19–26, write ONE word for each space.

Example: (0) had

Ultimate Frisbee

had
Most people have probably (0) .......................... a go at playing frisbee in a park, throwing a
did
plastic disc between friends. But (19) .......................... you know that you can play frisbee
as
(20) .......................... a team sport? It’s called ultimate frisbee.

There
(21) .......................... are seven players on each team. Teams are mixed – that means girls
the
and boys play together on (22) .......................... same team. They play on a field
that
(23) .......................... is about the size (24) ..........................
of a football pitch with ‘end zones’

at each end. Players throw the frisbee (25) ..........................

from one team member to another,

down the field. A team scores as (26) ..........................

soon as one of their players catches the

frisbee in the other team’s end zone.

[Total: 8]

[Turn over
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Part 5

Questions 27–36

You are going to read an article about a boy called Kieron and his love of painting.
For Questions 27–36, choose from the sections (A–D) and write the correct letter.
You may choose a letter more than once.

In which section does Kieron…

say what his hobbies are? 27

give several details about the first painting he did? 28 B

say what he includes in every painting? 29 C

C
explain how he feels when he creates a painting? 30

mention what he uses to create his paintings? 31

explain that he took some time to complete a painting? 32

mention an artist he particularly admires? 33

say what he would like to paint in the future? 34

describe a painting he is especially fond of? 35

mention places where his own paintings are displayed? 36

[Total: 10]
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My love of painting
by 15-year-old Kieron O’Driscoll

A
I enjoy all the usual things that other kids my age like doing – hanging out with
friends, going skateboarding and cycling. But I also spend time focusing on my
art, using different brushes and various kinds of paints to produce different
colours, and I try out a variety of techniques. I’ve even been fortunate enough to
show and sell my work through a gallery in my town and also at an arts festival in
the city, which runs for the whole of the month of May.

B
I wasn’t particularly into art when I was very young. I remember my parents
drawing dinosaurs and wildlife for me and I was happy to colour them in, but that
was as far as it went. It was during a family holiday to the seaside that I began
painting by myself. I was inspired by a harbour scene so I asked Mum and Dad for
some drawing paper. And that was it. I began painting the colourful boats on the
water and as the holiday went on, I began to add the background – like the tall
cliffs and some houses – to the picture.

C
I love painting landscapes – particularly ones with stormy skies and scenes that
show traditional farming methods – just like Edward Seago’s. He’s right at the
very top of my list when it comes to great painters. In fact, I live just down the road
from his house and I love knowing that he walked the same roads as me and
painted the same scenery. I find painting very relaxing and I almost forget about
everything else that’s going on around me. I finish each picture off by signing my
name and adding a tiny bird next to my signature.

D
No-one else in my family can paint, but my parents started to collect paintings by
local artists, like June Adamson, before I was born, so I’ve grown up with art on the
walls at home. I looked at them a lot. I particularly like one that’s hanging in the
living room, although I don't know who painted it. It’s of a nearby village. I think
that’s probably because I go there most weekends and enjoy the fields, the skies –
and even the smells! I’m hoping to do a picture of some cattle drinking at a stream. I
think it’ll look great, but I haven’t had the chance to start it yet.
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Part 6

Questions 37–42
Read the text and questions below.
For each question, circle the correct letter: A, B, C or D.

Cheerleading
16-year-old Kerri talks about her hobby

When I was younger, I played ice hockey. I loved it, and had lots of friends on the team. One day, the
coach asked if I’d ever tried cheerleading. I thought that was a strange question, as I didn’t think the
two activities had anything in common. He explained that a local cheerleading team was looking for
new members, and he thought I might be good at it. I wasn’t sure, but I decided to try it.
The first time I went to a cheerleading practice, I felt quite nervous. The team were getting ready to do
their routine at a big football game. It had lots of amazing jumps and some really high lifts. I didn’t
think I could do those things, but I soon learned, and I was excited about preparing for the game. For
a while, I did both ice hockey and cheerleading, which meant four training sessions a week. One day,
I fell badly during an ice hockey match. The doctor told me that the reason I hadn’t really hurt myself
was because cheerleading had made my neck and shoulders quite strong.
In the USA, where I’m from, people are used to seeing cheerleaders at football matches. They’re
mostly girls, and they perform at the side of the field. Because they’re there to encourage the team
and entertain the crowd, people don’t think they’re serious athletes. However, cheerleaders train
incredibly hard, and many of them take part in competitions. To say that they’re not doing a proper
sport is very unfair.
You can learn a lot from cheerleading. If you're someone who's never been in a team before, you’ll
learn how to work with others, and make new friends too. Also, because cheerleading has so many
different routines, it’s great for your memory. That’s really helped me. Unfortunately, I still haven’t
learned how to arrive on time for practice!
The cheerleading team includes different types of people. Some are big and strong, while others are
smaller; some are very lively and confident, but others are quite shy, like me. What’s important is that
everyone knows exactly what to do, so that we can be certain that our teammates won’t drop us or fall
on us, and will know what the next move is.

37 How did Kerri feel when her ice hockey coach suggested cheerleading?
A upset that he didn’t want her on the team anymore
B sad because she didn't want to leave her friends
C surprised because it was so different from ice hockey
D excited about the chance to try something new
[1]
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38 What does Kerri say about her cheerleading training?

A It helped her to improve her ice hockey technique.
B She found it difficult because she had no dance training.
C She didn’t have enough time to attend all the sessions.
D It prevented her from being seriously injured playing ice
hockey. [1]

39 What is Kerri explaining in the third paragraph?

A the reason cheerleading is particularly popular in the USA
B the difference between various types of cheerleading
C why cheerleading should be considered a real sport
D why she thinks more boys should try cheerleading
[1]

40 What has Kerri learned from cheerleading?

A how to work well in a team
B how to remember things better
C how to talk to new people
D how to be on time
[1]

41 Kerry says that all the cheerleaders in a team need to

A have confident characters.
B trust the other members.
C have lively personalities.
D be physically very strong.
[1]

42 What did Kerri write in her diary when she started cheerleading?
A I can see why my coach didn’t B This is the right hobby for me.
think I’d be good at The other team members are
cheerleading. But I might get really loud and never stop
better after a lot of practice. talking – just like me!

C These cheerleaders are D I’m enjoying watching the

incredible – some of them go cheerleaders, but there aren’t
so high! I can’t wait to perform any places available on the
in public. team, and it’s so far from
where I live!

[1]
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