Magic Carpet Primary School2016 E.C.

English Language Model Examination for Grade Eight (8)

SECTION ONE: Reading Comprehension

DIRECTION: Read the following passage carefully and answer questions 1-

11 according to the information therein. Blacken the letter of your choice
on the separate answer sheet provided.

When a lecturer recommends a book to read, it is usually for a particular purpose.

The book may contain useful information about the topic being studied or it may be
invaluable for the ideas or views that it puts forward and so on. However, when
students pick up a book to read, they tend to have no particular purpose in mind
other than simply to read the book. Often they open the book and start reading
page by page, line by line, and word by word. In other words they read slowly and in
great detail. The result is that students frequently do not have an overall view of
what they are reading; also they tend to forget fairly soon what they have been
reading.

Students can make their reading much more effective by adopting a strategy
aimed at helping them to understand and to remember what they read. First, they
should decide precisely why they are reading the book; perhaps it is to find some
information that will answer a question. Possibly, it is to understand a difficult idea
or argument, and so on. Then, the student should decide what they are going to
read; it is seldom necessary to read the whole book.

When it has been decided what is to be read, a chapter of a book, for example, then
it is helpful to get an overview of the contents before starting to read. This can be
done by reading the introduction, usually the opening paragraph and the
conclusion, usually the final paragraph. Some students find it useful to skim or read
very quickly some sections in order to get the gist, general idea of the contents.

Finally, students should ask themselves a specific question connected with the main
parts of the reading. They should then make every effort to answer it by making
appropriate notes as they read. This will help them to focus on the reading as well
as providing a summary which can be re-read later. This is, perhaps the most
effective element in the reading strategy.

If a student puts into practice everything that has been suggested so far, can we
say that she/he read efficiently? Well, we must remember that most students have
a lot to read and only a limited time in which to read it. As a result it is important
that a student reads as quickly as possible. If she/he can increase her/his reading
speed without loss of comprehension, then she/he will become a more efficient
reader.

Basically there are three main kinds of silent reading speed, all for different
purposes. The slowest is speed-study-speed, for a high level of understanding and
when it is necessary to remember details. Next is average speed, for easier
textbooks, novels, etc. the fastest is skimming, when it not necessary to have a high
level of comprehension. It is used to get a general idea of what an article or a book
is about.

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 Magic Carpet Primary School2016 E.C. English Language Model Examination for Grade Eight (8)

1. Which one is true about the writer’s attitude towards the students’ reading
habit?
A. Students tend to have a purpose for reading.
B. Students are efficient readers as they read more often at great speed.
C. They fail to recall what they have read.
D. They have adopted their own reading strategy.
2. According to the passage an effective reader is someone
who:__________________________
A. doesn’t adopt his /her own reading techniques.
B. reads as quickly as possible without the loss of comprehension
C. reads line by line or page by page without having a purpose to read.
D. doesn’t have ideas or views to put forward.
3. According to the passage a student who wants to get maximum understanding
from a text______
A. should set goals for reading a book before she/he starts reading
B. don't have to ask specific questions connected with the topic
C. shouldn’t read fast as it leads to loss of comprehension.
D. needn't make appropriate notes as she/he read.
4. To get an overview of the contents before starting to read, a student
___________________
A. should read the introduction and conclusion.
B. should do a pre-reading activity.
C. should read the whole text as quickly as possible.
D. scan the entire text.
5. According to the text the kind of reading that is necessary to remember details
is___________.
A. average speed reading C. speed-study-speed
B. skimming D. reading between the lines
6. The pronoun "it" in paragraph 1 line 2 refers to
A. the book B. the lecturer C. the information D. students
7. The word invaluable in paragraph 1 line 2 is used to
mean________________________
A. valueless C. good-for-nothing
B. worthless D. having a great value
8. The type of reading strategy mentioned on the text that is used when higher
level of comprehension is not necessary is _______________________________
A. skimming C. deep reading
B. silent reading D. slow reading
9. The word overview in paragraph 4 line 2 means____________________
A. General idea C. supporting sentences
B. details D. illustrations
10.What does the pronoun "it" in paragraph 4 line 2 refer to?
A. the specific question C. appropriate notes
B. the main part of their reading D. the students themselves

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 Magic Carpet Primary School2016 E.C. English Language Model Examination for Grade Eight (8)

11.This text is written for_________________________________

A. students B. lecturers C. parents D. teachers

SECTION 2 Grammar and usage

DIRECTION: For items 12-44 choose the alternative that correctly

completes each sentence and blacker the letter of your choice on the
separate answer sheet provided

12.What you ……… just now was quite difficult to understand

A. Explain B. explaining C. explained D. explains
13.I never knew ………………………………
A. where had the boys gone. C. had gone where the boys.
B. the boys had gone where. D. where the boys had gone.
14.My cousin is a salesperson. She ……………….. clothes.
A. had sold B. will have been selling C. will have sold D. sells
15.You ________ obey the rules if you want to stay with us.
A. May B. should C. didn’t have to D. should have
16.The sentence that cannot be changed onto passive voice is:_____________
A. I shut all the windows and doors every night.
B. They will paint the house soon.
C. She is drinking a lot of coffee these days.
D. The baby always wakes up at this time of the day.
17.The sentence in the present simple is _________________________.
A. Three men found three million dollars in a crashed plane.
B. I don’t believe you at all
C. They have just finished eating their breakfast.
D. What are you doing with that dagger?
18.He _____________ so coward that he didn’t enter the house.
A. is B. was C. has been D. will be
19.The flowers ____________twice a week when grandpa was here. They are now
completely dry.
A. used to be watered C. will be watered
B. must be watered D. are watered
20.They always announce the result of the exam in June. This could be changed into
passive as:___
A. The result of the exam is always announced in June.
B. The result of the exam will always be announced in June.
C. The result of the exam was always announced in June.
D. The result of the exam has always been announced in June.
21.Tesfaye ______________ his best to fix the faulty oven, but his skill at repairing
electrical devises wasn't good enough to succeed.
A. has done B. did C. is doing D. should have
22.The inconsiderate driver ___________ for parking his vehicle in the wrong place.
A. condemned B. was fined C. is harassing D. will inflicted

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 Magic Carpet Primary School2016 E.C. English Language Model Examination for Grade Eight (8)

23.Some people claim that the microprocessor is _________ invention of the 20th
century.
A. the more advanced C. the more modern
B. the greatest D. the less useful
24.The battle of Adwa ________________ place 127 years ago.
A. has been taken B. takes C. will take D. took
25.Subsistence agriculture _______________ in many parts of Ethiopia until now.
A. have been practiced C. was being practiced
B. is being practiced D. was practiced
26.Enkutatash _______________ on September 11, Meskerem 1, in Ethiopia every
year.
A. was celebrated C. had been celebrated
B. is celebrated D. was being celebrated
27.I inherited two cars, a red one and a blue one, from my father. Of the two I would
say ______
A. the red car is the most latest car
B. the blue car is the fastest
C. the red car is more reliable
D. the red car is as more beautiful as the blue one
28.I've bought an electric corkscrew. I hope it's _________________________ the last
one.
A. the most useful one as the C. the best
B. more useful than D. as less useless as
29.__________ subject to learn in college is probably physics.
A. The more interesting C. the most easy
B. The hardest D. The most easier
30.I can't remember what l _________________ when I heard about the crush.
A. have been doing B. was doing C. will be doing D. am doing
31.At 1 pm, when I got home from work, my daughter ____________________.
A. has already been there C. is sleeping
B. was cooking dinner D. watches news on TV.
32.I get some of my best ideas when I __________________.
A. am walking C. walked
B. was walking D. had been walking
33.He ______ out of the window for a moment and then went on working.
A. glanced B. looks C. watch D) will see
34.We’re going to have our house done up. The decorators ___________ next week.
A. are coming B. comes C. have come D. came
35.Japanese cooking ________________ a lot of dairy food.
A. don't require B. doesn't use C. require D. need
36.We _________ on reading even after the lights had been turned off.
A. have kept B. kept on C. will keep D. keep
37.You will have to call a cap. I ___________ drive since I broke my arm last June.
A. won't be able to B. must C. can D.
38.The incidence of street crimes in Addis _______________ greatly in the last two
years.

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 Magic Carpet Primary School2016 E.C. English Language Model Examination for Grade Eight (8)

A. has increased B. is increasing C. increase D. increasing

39.In which sentence could the verb indicate either present or past time?
A. They run out of papers.
B. The janitors throw all the papers into the pit.
C. We put the papers in the drawer.
D. The children take the papers to their school.
40.The dog ______ as its owner kicked it once again.
A. winced B. winces C. is wincing D. wince
41.The letter of the choice that contains a sentence whose action began in the past
and still happening is ______.
A. They have gone to the cinema.
B. They are going to the cinema.
C. They were going to the cinema.
D. They used to go to the cinema every Sunday.
42.While I ________________ a documentary, I fell asleep.
A. have been watching B. was watching C. am watching D. watch
43.We couldn’t see through the window clearly because it _________________properly.
A. Hasn’t been cleaned C. has been cleaned
B. will be cleaned D. wasn’t cleaned
44.The pen is _______________________ the sword.
A. more mighty than C. not as mightier as
B. as mighty as D. less mightier than

SECTION 3: Communication

DIRECTION: For items 45-47 choose the alternative that correctly

completes the dialogues.

45.Neima: Amharic is less complicated than English.

Saron: Yes, ____________________________.
A. let me agree to disagree. C. I couldn’t agree more.
B. I am not sure about that. D. that’s not right.
46.Linda: What do you think visiting the art museum for our social science’s group
work?
Ribika: _____________________________________, but I think the cost is too
expensive.
A. Absolutely not C. I’m afraid I don’t agree with you.
B. That sounds great D. That’s not right
47.Melat: I think women are more patient with children than men.
You: _____________________________________________ but I don’t think so. Men can
also be as patient as women with children.
A. Don’t get me wrong, C. You are right,
B. Yes, definitely, D. Exactly,

SECTION 4: Vocabulary

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 Magic Carpet Primary School2016 E.C. English Language Model Examination for Grade Eight (8)

DIRECTION: For items 48-52 choose the alternative that best keeps the
meaning of the words in bold.

48.Many dwellers in Addis Ababa walk home contemplating their own more
pedestrian lifestyle.
A. Boring B. exciting C. remarkable D. walker
49.You don't seem to understand the gravity of the situation. The house rent as
well as cost of living in this city is a matter of utmost urgency.
A. Insignificance C. attraction
B. seriousness D. magnetism
50.The government hasn’t still taken any new measures to regulate the cost of
living.
C. Adjust B. unrestricted C. control D. advance
51.Our father had great designs for our lives before he died.
A. Sketch B. Create C. Dream D. Outline
52.These trees would have provided valuable habitat for wildlife.
A. Home B. unnatural surrounding C. water D.

SECTION 5: Sentence comprehension

Direction: for items 53-57 choose the alternative that contains the same
or nearly the same meaning with the original sentence given

53.Netsanet is older than Yoadan, but younger than Eliham.

A. Eliham is the oldest.
B. Netsanet is the youngest.
C. Yoadan is older than Netsanet.
D. Yoadan is younger than Netsanet but older than Eliham.
54.He used to drink alcohol.
A. He is an alcoholic. C. He never drinks alcohol now.
B. He still drinks alcohol. D. He is drinking alcohol.
55.It looks as if Deborah isn’t as more intelligent as Nebyat.
A. Both are equally intelligent.
B. Deborah is less intelligent than Nebyat.
C. Neither Nebyat nor Deborah is intelligent.
D. Nebyat is less intelligent than Deborah.
56.I don’t know how to drive a truck, so I cannot get the job. Which conditional
sentence best keeps the meaning of this sentence?
A. Unless I know how to drive a truck, I won’t get the job.
B. I will get the job if I know how to drive a trick.
C. If I had known how to drive a truck, I would have gotten the job.
D. I would get the job if I knew how to drive a truck.

57.Solomon is brave. Seifu is less brave. Saron is the least brave. Therefore,

A. Solomon isn't as brave as Saron and Seifu.

B. Seifu isn't as brave as Saron.
C. Saron is less brave than Seifu.
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 Magic Carpet Primary School2016 E.C. English Language Model Examination for Grade Eight (8)

D. Solomon is the least brave of all.

SECTION 6: Punctuation and Capitalizations

Direction: For items 58–60 choose the letter of the choice that contains
correctly punctuated sentence.

58.
A. She was ordered to bring computer appliances stationeries and some food
groceries
B. The table was cluttered with stationeries: highlighters, erasers, pencil
sharpener, paper clip and marker.
C. I left my new oxford dictionary at the canteen in magic carpet Primary School
D. sara always buys the saturday edition of the newspaper.
59.
A. It was useless to try to please him, he criticized everything.
B. my final answer still stands “No”
C. The dog wagged it’s tail when the boy came home.
D. It was all over the news: “The Prime Minister resigned in tears.”
60.My father
A. was born on Monday, January 15th, 1965 E.C.
B. who works in ethiopian airlines is 51 years old.
C. will be here by three o’clock at the latest otherwise, he won’t come.
D. said “we will buy a new computer soon”.

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