Portfolio Activity – 1

Topic: A Miscellany of Grammar

Nature of Task: Individual
Task: Grammar Test

Tick (3) the right answer of each item from the four options (a) was (c) has
given below it. You can choose only one answer. No cutting (b) is (d) were
or rewriting is allowed. The first one has been done as an 8. It's very hot today, .............. it?
example. (1 × 20 = 20 Marks) (a) is (c) isn't
e.g. I ...... a younger brother and a younger sister. (b) was (d) aren't
We study in the same school. 9. The crop ..... harvested by the time rains set in.
(a) has (c) have (a) has been (c) was being
(b) had (d) am having (b) is being (d) will have been
10. The leader, as well as the party workers, ........
1. The boys are busy doing .............. homework.
disappointed by the defeat.
(a) there (c) theirs
(a) is (c) are
(b) their (d) there's
(b) am (d) were
2. Look how the cat .............. in the sun!
11. ........... you please help me with the luggage,
(a) was basking (c) has basked
Rakesh?
(b) will bask (d) is basking
(a) Shall (c) May
3. My .............. reaction at his success was one of
(b) Should (d) Can
surprise.
12. ............. that the poor animal was in trouble, I
(a) firstly (c) first
stopped my car to free him from the snare.
(b) one (d) initially
(a) See (c) To see
4. Both the boys help ......... other a lot. Such is
(b) Saw (d) Seeing
their friendship.
13. I'd like ....... the Principal.
(a) one (c) any
(a) meet (c) meeting
(b) every (d) each
(b) to meet (d) to meeting
5. "Can you show me ...... good pens, please?"
14. The police could not confirm ............. a local
(a) some (c) little
political leader was involved in the recent
(b) any (d) much
rioting in the city.
6. The Titanic, the unsinkable ship, .......... on its
(a) as (c) whether
very first voyage on the night of 14 and 15
(b) while (d) although
April 1912.
15. Our vehicle broke down when we're passing
(a) sink (c) sank
........ the Kaziranga National Park.
(b) sinks (d) was sinking
(a) into (c) through
7. We've reached just in time. The film ..............
(b) from (d) in
about to start.
 2 Portfolio Activity (Grammar) English 8

16. I've come ............ this interesting information Procedure: The teacher will administer the test randomly
on Einstein. to the whole class. She/He may choose to announce it
beforehand. Students will take the test individually. On
(a) along (c) to
the day of the test, the teacher will distribute copies of
(b) with (d) across the test and give the necessary instructions (2-3 minutes)
17. You would have easily won the prize .... regarding what the test is about and how much time has
been allocated to it, and how many marks it carries.
(a) ...if you would finish the project in time.
After the test gets over, he/she will collect the
(b) ...if you had finished the project in time. completed test-sheet for marking.
(c) ...if you finish the project in time. Students will complete the test by ticking (3) the
(d) ...if you finished the project in time. correct options.

18. The girl ............ her father to buy her a doll. Assessment Criteria: Each test item carries 1 mark.
Therefore, the score is equal to the number of correct
(a) exclaimed (c) said to
items. No negative marking for wrong answers. An
(b) requested (d) told to assessment scale indicates the level of competence in
19. The sentence: The old woman said, "Ow! My grammar a candidate has at the time of the test.
leg hurts" can be rewritten in reported Expected Time: 20 minutes (excluding the time for
speech as: giving instructions and distributing and collecting test-
sheets)
(a) The old woman told that my leg hurt.
Remedial Follow-up: Based on their performance,
(b) The old woman said that her leg was individual candidates may need customized and formal
hurt. teaching of grammar items assessed in the test.
(c) The old woman told that Ow, her leg Follow-up Activity (Optional): If necessary, another
hurt. test may be conducted after the remedial teaching is
(d) The old woman exclaimed in pain completed.
that her leg hurt.
ASSESSMENT SCALE FOR GRAMMAR
20. The sentence: "Alexander Fleming discovered
Score Levels of Competence
Penicillin in 1928" can be rewritten in passive
voice as: 17-20 correct answers Advanced

(a) Penicillin has been discovered by 14-16 correct answers Fairly Advanced
Alexander Fleming in 1928. 10-13 correct answers Satisfactory
(b) Penicillin is discovered by Alexander 6-9 correct answers Some signs of development
Fleming in 1928. but there is a potential for
(c) Penicillin was discovered by improvement

Alexander Fleming in 1928. 5 or fewer correct Weak command over

answers grammar and needs
(d) Alexander Fleming was discovered
remedial support
by Penicillin in 1928.
Total score obtained = ...........................
Skills Assessed: Knowledge of a variety of grammar topics.
Learning Objective: To test how advanced a student's
knowledge of grammar is.
Portfolio Activity – 2
Topic: Grammar in Context
Nature of Task: Individual
Task: Grammar Test

(1) (3)
Complete the following passage by filling in the blanks with In the following passage, one word has been omitted in
suitable words. Write your answers in the space provided. each line against which a blank is given. Write the missing
(½ × 8 = 4 Marks) word along with the word that comes before and the word
that comes after it in the space provided. Ensure that the
Covering almost the whole (a) ......... the Arabian
word that forms your answer is underlined.
Peninsula, the Arabian Desert (b) ................. the (½ × 8 = 4 Marks)
largest desert of Asia and among (c) ......... world's
Nowadays, tea and fruit juice stalls use
largest. Located (d) ........ the southwestern part of disposable paper cups instead glass (a) .....
the continent, (e) ....................... desert spans about tumblers. After use, paper cups (b) .....
23,00,000 sq. km. (f) ............... the largest part of the are flung the dustbin. Honeybee (c) .....

desert lies (g) ........... Saudi Arabia, it also spills over searching nectar-bearing flowers (d) .....
are drawn the sugary residue in the (e) .....
(h) ................. the neighbouring countries.
discarded cups. However, once get (f) .....
(2) into the cup they unable to (g) .....
The following passage has not been edited. There is an error get and they perish. (h) .....
in each of the lines against which a blank is given. Write the
........................................... ..........................................
incorrect word and the correction in the space provided.
Remember to underline the word that you have supplied. ........................................... ..........................................

(½ × 8 = 4 Marks) ........................................... ..........................................

The collision among birds and airplanes (a) ...... ........................................... ..........................................
is call BASH – Bird Aircraft Strike (b) ...... (4)
Hazard. Birds generally strike a parts (c) ...... Rearrange the following words and phrases to form
as engine fans, windshield, nose or (d) ...... meaningful sentences. Write the correct sentences in the
wing-edges. Although birds suffering (e) ...... space provided. (1 × 4 = 4 Marks)
the much in such accidents, aircraft also (f) ....... (a) carbon dioxide / made up / a dense atmosphere
sustain heavy damages and sometime (g) ...... / Venus has / mainly of

crash, leading for tragic losses. (h) ...... ..................................................................................

........................................... ........................................... ..................................................................................

(b) cover / thick clouds / the planet's surface / of
........................................... ...........................................
sulphuric acid droplets
........................................... ........................................... ..................................................................................
........................................... ........................................... ..................................................................................
 4 Portfolio Activity (Grammar) English 8

(c) is reflected / 96% of the light / by these clouds (g) .............................................. from the freezer and
/ falling on Venus
(h) ............................................................. to unmould.
..................................................................................
(6)
..................................................................................
Read the following conversation between Mrs Pankil and her
(d) any other planet / Venus appears / from the two young sons Ujas and Ken, aged 8 and 10 respectively.
Earth / when observed / brighter than
Then complete the passage that reports this conversation in
.................................................................................. indirect speech by filling in the blanks appropriately.
.................................................................................. (1 × 5 = 5 Marks)
(5) Mrs PANKIL : Where has the Christmas cake disappeared?
Given below are some instructions to make 'Frozen Orange UJAS : I don't know anything about the cake. I haven't
Pops'. Read them carefully and then complete the paragraph eaten it.
that describes in passive voice how the process was carried Mrs PANKIL : Ken, have you eaten the cake?
KEN : Nope. I did not go to the kitchen at all.
out. (½ × 8 = 4 Marks)
Mrs PANKIL : Then who ate it all?
Instructions: UJAS AND KEN : It must be the dog.
1. Bring the orange juice and honey to a simmer in a wide
Mrs Pankil was very shocked to find the Christmas
saucepan, whisking occasionally, over medium-high heat.
cake missing. First she asked Ujas e.g. where the
2. Cook the mixture until it is reduced to 2 cups.
3. Allow it to cool completely. Christmas cake had disappeared. Ujas replied that
4. Add yogurt, orange zest, vanilla and a pinch of salt to the (a) .................................................................. about the
orange-honey mixture. cake and that he hadn't eaten it. Then Mrs Pankil
5. Blend and puree it until it becomes smooth.
asked Ken (b) ............................................................... .
6. Pour the mixture into the pop moulds and freeze until it is set.
7. To serve, take out the pops from the freezer and run them Ken replied in the negative and told her (c) .............
under warm water to unmould. ...................................................... to the kitchen at all.
Mrs Pankil then wanted to know (d) ..........................
HOW THE FROZEN ORANGE POPS WERE MADE
................................... . Both the boys at once replied
First of all, orange juice and honey (a) ......................
that (e) .......................................................................... .
....................................................... in a wide saucepan,
ASSESSMENT SCALE FOR GRAMMAR
whisking occasionally over medium-high heat. Next,
Score Levels of Competence
the mixture (b) ...............................................................
.................... reduced to 2 cups. Then it (c) .................. 22-25 correct answers Highly Advanced

............................................ completely. Now, yogurt, 18-21 correct answers Advanced

orange zest, vanilla and a pinch of salt (d) ............... 14-17 correct answers Satisfactory

.......................................................................... mixture . 10-13 correct answers Growing

After that, it (e) ............................................................... Below 10 Needs to improve

....................................... smooth. Finally, the mixture

Total score obtained = ...........................
(f) ......................................................................................
............................. until it was set. To serve, the pops
Portfolio Activity – 3
Topic: Vocabulary in Context
Nature of Task: Individual
Task: Vocabulary Test

The following passages have twenty underlined (a) drops (c) concludes
words/phrases. There is a question based on each of them (b) stops (d) occurs
that has four options for answers. Read the passages 5. The correct spelling of the misspelt word
carefully and tick (3) the most suitable answer to each of 'numberous' is
the questions. (1 × 20 = 20 Marks) (a) numerous (c) numberuos
(A) (b) numberos (d) numeruos
An event that most tourists to Kerala find 6. If something is described as 'once-in-a-
1
enthralling is the Vallam Kali, which in Malayalam lifetime experience', it coveys which of the
2 3 following meanings?
literally means "boat game". It is a traditional
(a) occurs once every year
form of canoe racing. It is mainly conducted during
4 (b) happens after a long time
the harvesting festival called Onam, which falls in
5
(c) is quite an ordinary event
autumn. Vallam Kali includes races of numberous
(d) is something very special
kinds of paddled longboats but the most important
of these races is called 'Chundan Vallam' or 'the (B)
7
snake boat'. If you happen to be in Kerala during In India, it has always been the custom to look
8
the autumn season, don't miss the once-in-a- after the aged. Even after the collapse of the joint
6
lifetime experience to witness the race. family, the parents in old age continued to live with
their children and grandchildren. But urbanisation
1. Which of the following best conveys the 9 10
is altering all this. Small flats cannot acommodate
meaning of the word 'enthralling'? 11
everybody. Parents are either tucked away in
(a) dangerous (c) colourful 12
some dark, remote corner or are shared round
(b) boring (d) fascinating
the year with other members of the family.
2. Which of the following can replace the 13
Inevitably , as urbanization increases, the old in
word 'literally' (line 3) without changing the 14
India may find themselves an embarrassment to
meaning?
(a) symbolically (c) nearly the young as is the case in the West.

(b) actually (d) usually 7. Which of the following can best replace the
3. Which of the following means the opposite of underlined word 'custom' in line 1?
the word 'traditional' as used in line 3 of the (a) means (c) method
passage? (b) trend (d) practice
(a) modern (c) outdated 8. Which of the following is closest in meaning
(b) classical (d) unique to the word 'collapse' in line 2?
4. The word 'falls' as used in line 5 of the passage (a) start (c) disrespect
means which of the following? (b) fall (d) success
 6 Portfolio Activity (Grammar) English 8

9. Which of the following options means the (a) playground (c) underground
same as 'altering'? (b) prayer ground (d) burial ground
(a) shaping (c) changing 16. The word 'significance' can be replaced by
(b) making (d) developing which of the following words?
10. Which of the following is the correct spelling (a) belief (c) custom
of the misspelt word 'acommodate'? (b) touch (d) importance
(a) acomodate (c) accommodait
17. A word that means the opposite of the word
(b) accomodate (d) accommodate
'towering' is
11. Which of the following best describes the (a) tall (c) short
meaning of the word 'tucked' as it is used in (b) huge (d) major
the passage?
18. The word 'dawn' can be replaced by
(a) ignored (c) transported
(a) daybreak (c) night
(b) pushed (d) buried
(b) sunset (d) noon
12. The word 'remote' means which of the
19. The word that best illustrates the meaning of
following?
the word 'appease' is
(a) far away (c) close by
(a) bribe (c) see
(b) nearby (d) made-up
(b) please (d) visit
13. Which of the following can best replace the
20. The correct spelling of the misspelt word
underlined word 'inevitably'?
'favourible' is
(a) soon (c) unnecessarily
(b) unavoidably (d) slowly (a) favorable (c) favourabel
(b) favouraible (d) favourable
14. The word 'embarrassment' conveys the
meaning of
(a) honour (c) satisfaction ASSESSMENT SCALE FOR VOCABULARY
(b) pride (d) humiliation Score Range of Vocabulary
(including collocation
(C) and spelling)
15
Apart from being known as an ancient cemetery , 17-20 correct answers Advanced
the Stonehenge in England has certain religious 14-16 correct answers Fairly Advanced
16
significance attached to it. Modern day priests 10-13 correct answers Satisfactory
17
gather at the towering structure on summer 6-9 correct answers The range needs to be
18
solstice and stay up till dawn to mark the occasion. increased

In pagan traditions, certain ceremonial acts were 5 or fewer correct answers Low range. Remedial
19 intervention is necessary
observed on the day to appease gods for fertile
20
land, favourible weather and good harvest. Total score obtained = ...........................

15. The word 'cemetery' means which of the

following?