Section A: Unseen Comprehension

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

In a small town nestled between lush green hills, a young girl named Sophie found solace in
books. Unlike other children her age, Sophie preferred the company of stories over
playgrounds. Every evening, she would sit by the window, losing herself in the adventures of
distant lands and unknown creatures. Her parents, both passionate educators, encouraged
her love for reading. They believed that knowledge gained through books would help her
grow into a thoughtful and kind individual.

One summer, a traveling storyteller arrived in town. His tales were unlike anything Sophie
had read before—stories of magic, bravery, and wisdom. Enthralled, Sophie attended every
session, scribbling notes in her journal. One evening, the storyteller announced that he was
leaving the next day. Sophie felt a pang of sadness but mustered the courage to ask him how
he created such fascinating tales.

Smiling, the storyteller replied, “Imagination is a bridge between what we know and what we
dream. Keep reading, keep writing, and one day, your stories will inspire others.”

Determined, Sophie began writing her own stories. At first, they were simple, but with time,
they grew more complex and compelling. Years later, Sophie became a renowned author, her
books cherished by young readers worldwide. She never forgot the storyteller’s words, for
they had shaped her journey.

Questions

1. What was unique about Sophie’s love for books?

2. How did Sophie’s parents influence her reading habits?
3. Describe the impact of the traveling storyteller on Sophie.
4. What message did the storyteller convey to Sophie?
5. How did Sophie’s journey as a writer begin?
6. Identify the main theme of the passage.
7. Find and write one example of each of the following from the passage:
o An adjective
o A verb in past tense
o A prepositional phrase
8. What qualities made Sophie a successful writer?
9. What emotions did Sophie experience throughout the passage? Explain.
10. Why do you think imagination is important for storytelling?

Section B: Grammar

1. Figures of Speech

Identify the figure of speech in the following sentences:

1. The wind whispered through the trees.

 2. She was as brave as a lion.
3. Time is a thief.
4. He fought like a warrior.
5. The stars danced in the night sky.
6. Her smile was a ray of sunshine.
7. The city never sleeps.
8. The waves roared in anger.

2. Idioms

Write the meaning of the following idioms and use them in sentences:

1. A blessing in disguise
2. Break the ice
3. Once in a blue moon
4. Hit the sack
5. Spill the beans
6. Under the weather
7. Beat around the bush
8. Burn the midnight oil

3. Verbals: Participles, Infinitives, and Gerunds

Identify whether the underlined words are participles, infinitives, or gerunds.

1. Running is my favorite hobby.

2. He decided to learn French.
3. The broken window needs repair.
4. She enjoys painting landscapes.
5. They want to travel the world.
6. Singing loudly, she walked into the room.
7. He had no time to waste.
8. Reading books expands knowledge.

4. Conjunctions

Fill in the blanks with appropriate coordinating, subordinating, or correlative conjunctions:

1. I wanted to go out, ____ it started raining.

2. She studied hard, ____ she still failed the test.
3. You can choose ____ tea or coffee.
4. I will wait here ____ you come back.
5. He ran fast ____ he missed the bus.
6. We can go to the park ____ to the zoo.
7. She didn’t go to school ____ she was feeling sick.
8. Not only was the film exciting, ____ it was also inspiring.

5. Active and Passive Voice

Rewrite the sentences in the passive voice:

 1. The chef cooked a delicious meal.
2. The teacher praised the student.
3. The gardener watered the plants.
4. They completed the project on time.
5. She wrote an amazing story.
6. The manager approved the proposal.
7. The team won the championship.
8. The police arrested the thief.

6. Clauses and Phrases

Identify the main clause and the subordinate clause in the following sentences:

1. Although it was raining, we went for a walk.

2. She was happy because she won the competition.
3. If you study hard, you will pass the exam.
4. The book that I borrowed is very interesting.
5. We will leave when the movie ends.
6. Since he was late, he missed the bus.
7. The teacher explained the topic, which was quite difficult.
8. He stayed indoors as it was too cold outside.

7. Direct and Indirect Speech

Convert the following sentences into indirect speech:

1. She said, "I am very happy today."

2. He asked, "Where do you live?"
3. The teacher said, "You must submit your assignments on time."
4. She said, "I will call you later."
5. He said, "I have finished my homework."
6. She asked, "Did you watch the movie?"
7. The doctor said, "Take your medicines on time."
8. He said, "I was working late last night."

8. Sentence Types

Identify whether the following sentences are simple, compound, or complex:

1. She enjoys reading books.

2. I was tired, so I went to bed early.
3. Since it was raining, we stayed indoors.
4. He plays football and she plays basketball.
5. If you practice daily, you will improve.
6. The cat sat on the mat and purred softly.
7. I like ice cream, but my sister prefers cake.
8. Although he tried hard, he couldn’t solve the problem.

9. Tenses
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in the given tense:

1. She ______ (write) a novel last year. (Past Simple)

2. We ______ (study) when the teacher arrived. (Past Continuous)
3. By next week, they ______ (complete) the project. (Future Perfect)
4. He ______ (live) here for five years. (Present Perfect)
5. She ______ (prepare) dinner now. (Present Continuous)
6. He ______ (go) to the market every Saturday. (Present Simple)
7. By the time we arrived, they ______ (finish) their meal. (Past Perfect)
8. Next year, I ______ (travel) to Europe. (Future Continuous)

Answer Key

1. Sophie’s love for books was unique because she preferred stories over playgrounds
and spent hours reading.
2. Her parents, who were educators, encouraged her reading habits and believed books
would help her grow into a thoughtful individual.
3. The storyteller’s tales inspired Sophie to start writing her own stories.
4. The storyteller conveyed the message that imagination bridges knowledge and
dreams, and that Sophie’s stories could one day inspire others.
5. Sophie’s journey as a writer began when she started writing her own stories after
being inspired by the storyteller.
6. The main theme of the passage is the power of imagination and storytelling in shaping
one’s future.
7. Examples:
o Adjective: distant
o Verb in past tense: believed
o Prepositional phrase: by the window
8. Sophie became a successful writer because of her determination, creativity, and
continuous learning.
9. Sophie experienced joy, curiosity, sadness, and determination throughout the passage.
10. Imagination is important for storytelling because it allows writers to create engaging
and unique narratives that inspire readers.

Section B: Grammar

1. Figures of Speech - Answer Key

1. Personification
2. Simile
3. Metaphor
4. Simile
5. Personification
6. Metaphor
7. Personification
8. Personification
2. Idioms - Answer Key

1. A blessing in disguise - A good thing that seemed bad at first.

2. Break the ice - To start a conversation in a social setting.
3. Once in a blue moon - Very rarely.
4. Hit the sack - To go to bed.
5. Spill the beans - To reveal a secret.
6. Under the weather - Feeling sick.
7. Beat around the bush - Avoid getting to the main point.
8. Burn the midnight oil - To work late into the night.

3. Verbals - Answer Key

1. Gerund
2. Infinitive
3. Participle
4. Gerund
5. Infinitive
6. Participle
7. Infinitive
8. Gerund

4. Conjunctions - Answer Key

1. but
2. yet
3. either
4. until
5. but
6. or
7. because
8. but

5. Active and Passive Voice - Answer Key

1. A delicious meal was cooked by the chef.

2. The student was praised by the teacher.
3. The plants were watered by the gardener.
4. The project was completed on time by them.
5. An amazing story was written by her.
6. The proposal was approved by the manager.
7. The championship was won by the team.
8. The thief was arrested by the police.

6. Clauses and Phrases - Answer Key

1. Main clause: we went for a walk; Subordinate clause: Although it was raining
2. Main clause: She was happy; Subordinate clause: because she won the competition
3. Main clause: you will pass the exam; Subordinate clause: If you study hard
4. Main clause: The book is very interesting; Subordinate clause: that I borrowed
 5. Main clause: We will leave; Subordinate clause: when the movie ends
6. Main clause: he missed the bus; Subordinate clause: Since he was late
7. Main clause: The teacher explained the topic; Subordinate clause: which was quite
difficult
8. Main clause: He stayed indoors; Subordinate clause: as it was too cold outside

7. Direct and Indirect Speech - Answer Key

1. She said that she was very happy that day.

2. He asked where I lived.
3. The teacher said that we must submit our assignments on time.
4. She said that she would call me later.
5. He said that he had finished his homework.
6. She asked if I had watched the movie.
7. The doctor advised me to take my medicines on time.
8. He said that he had been working late the previous night.

8. Sentence Types - Answer Key

1. Simple
2. Compound
3. Complex
4. Compound
5. Complex
6. Simple
7. Compound
8. Complex

9. Tenses - Answer Key

1. She wrote a novel last year. (Past Simple)

2. We were studying when the teacher arrived. (Past Continuous)
3. By next week, they will have completed the project. (Future Perfect)
4. He has lived here for five years. (Present Perfect)
5. She is preparing dinner now. (Present Continuous)
6. He goes to the market every Saturday. (Present Simple)
7. By the time we arrived, they had finished their meal. (Past Perfect)
8. Next year, I will be traveling to Europe. (Future Continuous)