English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 6

Name and Surname: 

Grade 6:
45
Date:

The History of Chocolate

Chocolate bars. Chocolate ice cream. Chocolate milk. Delicious!
But where does chocolate come from?

Chocolate is made from the fruit of cacao trees, starting about

100 million years ago. The Olmecs of Mexico were probably the
first to grow the cacao plant. It is thought that they used the cacao
beans to make drinks, but there is no written history for the Olmecs.

The Olmecs passed their cacao knowledge on to the Ancient Maya of

Mexico and Central America, who made chocolate into a spicy drink used
in ceremonies. Cacao started to become very precious. Later the Aztecs used
cacao for trade and the cacao seeds as a form of currency.

In 1502, Christopher Columbus was the first European explorer to come into
contact with cacao beans when he and his crew captured a trade ship. He presumed
the beans were a type of almond and brought them back to Europe, not knowing the
potential value of the unusual beans.

The Spanish Conquistador, Hernán Cortés, arrived in Central America in 1519. There
he saw the Aztec Emperor drinking ‘Xocalatl’, the earliest known hot chocolate, and
Cortés realised the great value that it had. Almost ten years later, Cortés established
a cacao plantation for trading. He took the beans back to Spain along with the
chocolate drink recipe. Here, cinnamon and other spices were added to the bitter brew
and it was sweetened with sugar.

In 1657, the first chocolate house was opened in London. Cacao

was an expensive import and only the rich could afford to drink
chocolate. In fact, in France, chocolate could be drunk only by the
royal family.

Page 1 of 7 visit twinkl.co.za

 English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 6

Up until the 1700s, chocolate was mainly a drink, but in 1830

the first real, moulded chocolate bar was produced. By the
late 19th century, chocolate companies such as Cadbury were
mass-producing boxes of chocolates.

Today, chocolate is a multi-billion dollar industry and

people all over the world love the taste of chocolate. This
is an industry that will not go away any time soon. You
can even make your own!

Did you know...?

To make good chocolate you only need four ingredients: cocoa beans, cocoa
butter, sugar and milk powder.

Section A: Comprehension
Level One and Two: Literal/ Reorganisation Questions 6 Marks

1. Who was the first civilization to grow the cacao plant? (1)

The Ancient Maya

The Olmec
The Spanish
2. Who was the first European explorer to come into contact with cacao beans? What did he
think it was? (2)

3. Mention two ways the Spanish made the bitter cacao drink taste better. (2)

Page 2 of 7 visit twinkl.co.za

 English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 6
4. What is the best meaning for the term “mass produced”? (1)

Produced in large quantities

Produced overseas
Produced for Kings, Queens and Emperors


Level Three: Inference Questions 6 Marks

5. Shade the answer that best explains why can we not be completely sure of what the
Olmecs used cacao for? (1)

We haven’t found their There are no written records
 They kept it a secret
ruins yet of theirs that we can check

6. Is the following sentence True or False? (1)

The Ancient Mayans drank the spicy chocolate all the time.


Give a reason for your answer. (1)

7. How do we know that the Aztecs placed great value on the cacao seeds? (1)

8. Give two reasons why, prior to the 1700s, only the rich were able to drink hot chocolate. (2)

Page 3 of 7 visit twinkl.co.za

 English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 6

Level Four and Five: Evaluation and Appreciation Questions 3 Marks

9. What do you think the Ancient civilizations would think of the chocolate produced today?
Would they like it or not? Give a reason for your answer. (2)

10. Hernán Cortés is described as a Spanish “Conquistador”. What do you think the term
“conquistador” means? (1)

Total: / 15

Section B: Language Structure and Conventions

1. Add the correct punctuation each sentence. (2)

a. aztecs called the cacao drink “xocalatl”


b. when did the first chocolate house open in london

2. Underline the abstract noun in the following sentence. (1)

The thought of his own plantation filled Cortés with happiness.

3. Indicate whether the following sentences contain an example of a simile or a metaphor. (2)

a. Hot chocolate is like a liquid hug - 

b. Xocalatl was the king of hot chocolates - 

Page 4 of 7 visit twinkl.co.za

 English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 6
4. Rewrite the following sentence in indirect speech. (1)
“We are excited to launch our new chocolate bars,” announced the head of Cadbury.

5. Look at the sentence below and identify the required parts of speech. (2)
The Aztec emperor slowly sipped the delicious hot chocolate.

a. Proper Adjective - 

b. Adverb of manner - 

6. Underline the subject and circle the object in the sentence below.
Chocolate was eaten by royals and emperors.
Total: / 10

Section C: Writing
Imagine that you are Hernán Cortés and have arrived in Central America. Write a letter
to King Charles V, the ruler of the Spanish empire. Tell him about your discovery of cacao
and describe how it tastes. Try to convince him of its value and of your idea to set up a
plantation.

Write down some ideas as a draft in the space below before creating your final piece with the
appropriate layout.

Your letter should be between 100 and 120 words.

Draft:

Page 5 of 7 visit twinkl.co.za

 English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 6

Final:

Page 6 of 7 visit twinkl.co.za

 English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 6

Total: / 20

Page 7 of 7 visit twinkl.co.za

 English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 6 Answers
Section A: Comprehension Answers
Level One and Two: Literal/ Reorganisation Questions 6 Marks

1. Who was the first civilization to grow the cacao plant? (1)

The Ancient Maya

The Olmec
The Spanish
2. Who was the first European explorer to come into contact with cacao beans? What did he
think it was? (2)
Christopher Columbus was the first European to come in contact with cacao beans. He
thought they were almonds.

3. Mention two ways the Spanish made the bitter cacao drink taste better. (2)
They added cinnamon and other spices, as well as sugar.

4. What is the best meaning for the term “mass produced”? (1)

Produced in large quantities

Produced overseas
Produced for Kings, Queens and Emperors


Level Three: Inference Questions 6 Marks

5. Shade the answer that best explains why can we not be completely sure of what the
Olmecs used cacao for? (1)

We haven’t found their There are no written records
 They kept it a secret
ruins yet of theirs that we can check

6. Is the following sentence True or False? (1)

The Ancient Mayans drank the spicy chocolate all the time.
Give a reason for your answer. (1)
False – They only drank it on special occasions and ceremonies.

7. How do we know that the Aztecs placed great value on the cacao seeds? (1)
They used it as a form of currency/money.

8. Give two reasons why, prior to the 1700s, only the rich were able to drink hot chocolate. (2)
Cacao was expensive and difficult to come by.

Page 1 of 3 visit twinkl.co.za

 English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 6 Answers

Level Four and Five: Evaluation and Appreciation Questions 3 Marks

9. What do you think the Ancient civilizations would think of the chocolate produced today?
Would they like it or not? Give a reason for your answer. (2)
Learner’s own answer. They may say that the civilizations wouldn’t agree with cacao
being mass produced/ consumed so often because it was meant to be a sacred or special
thing. Others may say that the civilizations would be happy that their drink is still
enjoyed hundreds of years later.

10. Hernán Cortés is described as a Spanish “Conquistador”. What do you think the term
“conquistador” means? (1)
It means to conquer. (Allow any other reasonable interpretation of the term. To take
over or colonise may also be an age-appropriate interpretation)

Total: / 15
Section B: Language Structure and Conventions
1. Add the correct punctuation each sentence. (2)

a. aztecs called the cacao drink “xocalatl”

Aztecs called the cacao drink “Xocalatl”.

b. when did the first chocolate house open in london

When did the first chocolate house opened in London?

2. Underline the abstract noun in the following sentence. (1)

The thought of his own plantation filled Cortés with happiness.

3. Indicate whether the following sentences contain an example of a simile or a metaphor. (2)
a. Hot chocolate is like a liquid hug - simile
b. Xocalatl was the king of hot chocolates - metaphor

4. Rewrite the following sentence in indirect speech. (1)

“We are excited to launch our new chocolate bars,” announced the head of Cadbury.
The head of Cadbury announced that they were excited to launch their new chocolate
bars.

5. Look at the sentence below and identify the required parts of speech. (2)
The Aztec emperor slowly sipped the delicious hot chocolate.
a. Proper Adjective - Aztec
b. Adverb of manner - slowly

Page 2 of 3 visit twinkl.co.za

 English Home Language Baseline Assessment - Grade 6 Answers
6. Underline the subject and circle the object in the sentence below.
Chocolate was eaten by royals and emperors.

Total: / 10

Section C: Writing Answers

0-1 2 3 4-5
Planning Planning is Planning is Planning is Planning is
haphazard/ complete but adequate and detailed and
rushed/ minimal effort shows some shows realistic
has been put thought/effort on well thought out
Incomplete.
in. part of learner. ideas.
Layout None of the Two of the Three of the Four / Five of
requirements: required elements required required elements the required
• Date present in layout/ elements present. elements present.
Only one of the present.
• Salutation
required elements
• First Person present.
• Emotions
• Signing off

Spelling and Many spelling Minimal Few spelling Few spelling

Language errors are present, spelling errors errors and grade- errors and
sentences are but word choice appropriate word learner shows
simplistic and is simplistic. choice. Sentences above average
below grade level. Tense is are linked with vocabulary.
inconsistent. appropriate
conjunctions.

Content: Content of final Content of final Content of the Content of the

Interpretation draft misses draft somewhat final draft is final draft is
and the brief. Does appropriate, appropriate and exceptionally
Understanding not follow learner shows shows attention descriptive and
instructions and some level of to detail. appropriately
instructions
struggles to link understanding Good, logical formulated.
to theme. Learner but has not sequencing Logical
has not put in delivered of story and sequencing of
sufficient effort overall. paragraphing information and
to write a good Adequate format. excellent use of
letter. sequencing of letter format.
information.

Total: / 20

Page 3 of 3 visit twinkl.co.za