Section A: Reading

Spend 30 minutes on this section.

Read Text A, a newspaper article, in the Insert, and then answer questions 1-12.

1. What are two advantages to the cycling route?

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 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[2]

2. Give one word from paragraph 2 which tells you that there are many things
for everyone to do in the park.

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3. Look at the phrase “to call it a day; (line 11)

(a) What does this phrase suggest the length of the connector
network?

Tick ( ) one box

It is called day

It is equipped with phone booths

It is lined with sun clocks

It is long [1]

(b) What is the main idea of the article?

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4. What does the word scarce suggest about land in Singapore? (line 13)

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5. Give two definition of the word “hopped” tell you about the cyclist desire to see
the trees? (line 15)

a) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[1]

b) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[1]

6. Give one word in line 25 that describes the network?

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7. What makes Singapore to be a city within a garden?

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8. What does the word “undulating” mean? (line 20)

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9. Explain in your own words the meaning of each of the following, as it is used

in the text.

(a) “tranquility (line 12)

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(b) “hunt” (line 23)

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10. How does the final paragraph differ from the rest of the passage?

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11. What is the main purpose of Text A?

Tick ( ) one box

To inform about the park connector network

To describe the activities available in the park

To get readers to visit the park network

To advertise the National Parks Board [1]

 12. Summarize the activities that everyone can do in the Eastern Costal Park
Connector network. Use up to 30 words.

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Read Text B in the Insert, an excerpt from a book, and then questions 13-16

13. What is the main purpose of Text B?

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14. Explain in your own words what “life- affirming pleasure-pain” means (line 40)

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15. Look at the sentence “As I waited in the thick, dim gloom, I wondered what
ghosts might look like”. (lines 1-2)

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16. Look at the sentence “The smells of chili, garlic and ginger were sharp and
powerful”. (lines 26-27)

What literary device is the underlined phrase an example of?

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17. What does the word “sucked” suggest about the way that the narrator is
eating the soup? (line 29)

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18. Look at the sentence “I swallowed and the glow went down to my gut and it
screamed: Alive. Alive. Alive”! (lines 32-33)

What literary device is the underlined phrase an example of?

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19. Summarize the story in your own words. Your summary must be 30 words.

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 Section B: Writing

20. Write an article for your school magazine about a waterpark that you visited

recently.

In your article:

 Include fond memories of your trip to the park

 Use of adjectives (sensory) and literary devices

 Describe the attractions and events

 Inform the readers what they should do/ prepare for their trip to the

waterpark

 Your essay must be between 150-160 words only

Space for your plan

Write your text on the next page. [40 marks]

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Content, purpose and audience /15

Spelling /5

Text structure and organization /10

Sentence structure and punctuation /10

TOTAL /40
Name Index No.

SINGAPORE NATIONAL ACADEMY

Semester Assessment- TERM-1
YEAR 8

ENGLISH

Candidates answer on the question

Paper 1

90 minutes
Additional Materials: Insert

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write in dark blue or black pen.

Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid.

Answer all questions.

You should pay attention to punctuation, spelling and handwriting.

At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each
Question or part question.

The total number of marks for this paper is 65.

FOR EXAMINER’S USE

Marks
Section A: /15
Section B: / 50
Total: / 65
%