ENGLISH SHARED ASSESSMENT TASK

November 2022
PAPER A – COMPREHENSION AND LANGUAGE

Name : __________________________________________________

MARK ALLOCATION MARK ACHIEVED

Section A : Comprehension 40 marks
Section B : Language 45 marks

TOTAL 85 marks

Percentage: %

Instructions:
1. Read the comprehension text, “A Chaotic Carnival of Wild Abundance”.

2. Answer the questions on the question sheet in full sentences where applicable.

3. As far as possible, answer the questions in your own words, unless you are asked to quote.

4. Errors in spelling and grammar will be penalised.

5. No Tippex may be used.

Page 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Spelling
Punctuation

WORK CAREFULLY AND ACCURATELY

Time Allocation: 2 hours maximum including 10 minutes pre-reading

SECTION A: COMPREHENSION
English Shared Assessment 2022 Comprehension and Language Page 1 of 10
1. Other than a personal blog, where do you think this article would appear? [1]
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Magazine

2. In which country is the Masai Mara? [1]

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Kenya

3. What event does this article discuss? [1]

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Migration

4. Refer to line 1: ‘the sea of red grass’

4.1 Identify the figure of speech used in the line above. [1]
___________________________________________________________________________

4.2 What is being compared in this figure of speech? [1]

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4.3 Explain the effectiveness of the comparison. [1]
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5. Quote a sentence fragment from the first paragraph to show that the ‘sea of red
grass’ is long. [1]
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6. In line 11, the words ‘had taken on a darker shade’ could have two meanings.
Complete the table to show that you understand both meanings. [2]
The literal meaning The figurative meaning

English Shared Assessment 2022 Comprehension and Language Page 2 of 10

7. What is the writer suggesting about the behaviour of people and animals in the line
‘… make the party at Copa Cabana on New Year’s Eve look positively controlled.’?
(line 16) [2]
___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

8. List two ways in which ‘everything proceeds in an orderly fashion’. (line 18) [2]

__________________________________________________________________________

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9. ‘the grass on the other side of the river … is somehow more nutritious’ (lines 21/22)
This sentence refers to the idiom: The grass is greener on the other side.

9.1 Underline the correct answer from the following options to explain this idiom. [1]
a. A man stays home from work to watch Netflix.
b. A family emigrates to Australia because of load shedding.
c. I take a walk to the park because I live in a block of flats.

9.2 What do you understand by the term ‘idiom’? [1]

__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

10. The writer changes his metaphor in line 24. What does he compare the migration to
in this line? Quote 2 separate words from the line to support your answer. [3]
___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

11. What do you think is meant by the word ‘gnuing’ in line 25? [1]
English Shared Assessment 2022 Comprehension and Language Page 3 of 10
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12. Refer to line 28:

‘a gnu crossing of the murderous Mara river …’

12.1 What comparative figure of speech is operating in this line? [1]

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12.2 Give a reason for your answer to the previous question. [1]
___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

13. In your own words, explain how the people who are watching the gnu feel in lines 31
and 32. [2]
___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

14. Quote 2 sentence fragments from lines 32-33 that tell us that the rangers are trying
to be positive for their guests. [2]
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15. What do you think is meant by the word ‘outlandish’, when it says the rangers
‘provide an outlandish theory’? (line 36) [1]

___________________________________________________________________________

16.1 Identify the mood that is conveyed in paragraph 8, lines 37–41. [1]

English Shared Assessment 2022 Comprehension and Language Page 4 of 10

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16.2 Quote 2 separate words from lines 37-41 to justify your response to 16.1. [2]

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17. Refer to line 44: ‘… her greatest spectacle.’

Who or what is the word ‘her’ referring to? [1]
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18. In the space below, draw and label a simple sketch of what the imagery in paragraph
9, lines 44-46, suggests to you. Use the marking rubric and the symbol key to guide
you. [3]
Marking rubric for rough Symbol to use to
sketch and label: create your sketch
River ½

Movement of the gnu 1 1 gnu

Visitor vehicles ½ 1 vehicle

River banks 1 1 river bank

19. ‘It is frankly terrifying.’ (line 47)

English Shared Assessment 2022 Comprehension and Language Page 5 of 10
19.1 Why do you think the line above is a paragraph by itself? [1]
___________________________________________________________________________

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19.2 What is it that has frightened the writer the most? [1]
___________________________________________________________________________

20. Sum up the events of the passage by working out the correct order and sequence.
Write numbers 1-6 next to the appropriate statement. [6x½=3]
Event that occurred: Correct order of event
from 1-6
The chaos that takes place is terrifying.

The great herds begin to arrive in the Mara.

The herds and spectators wait for something to happen.

Finally, one gnu makes the leap into the river.

The spectators watch in awe.

There are reports that the migration is approaching.

21. In the final paragraph, the author uses the words ‘spirit’, ‘brave’ and ‘respect’.
In your own words, explain the message that he wants to convey in this final paragraph. [2]
__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

SECTION B: LANGUAGE NAME:_________________________________

English Shared Assessment 2022 Comprehension and Language Page 6 of 10

1. Complete the table below by selecting words from the sentences in bold. [13]
The herds of gnu sweep towards the bank. Most of the herds funnel through well-worn
channels, many of the gnu throw themselves desperately off the edge, they plummet to
water if lucky and rocks if not.

Part of Speech Answer from the sentences.

1 common noun

1 collective noun

2 adjectives

1 compound adjective

1 definite article

2 verbs

1 adverb

1 pronoun

1 conjunction

2 prepositions

2. Name the figure of speech that is operating in lines 25-26, ‘accompanied by three
billion flies’. [1]
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3. Provide a synonym of your own for ‘stupefied’ (line 32). [1]

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4. Provide an antonym of your own for ‘colossal’ (line 34). [1]

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English Shared Assessment 2022 Comprehension and Language Page 7 of 10

5. Complete the table below by identifying and explaining the function of the
punctuation marks indicated in the following examples: [10]

Punctuation mark example Name of Function of punctuation mark

punctuation mark
New Year’s Eve (line 16)

Let us begin with the cause:

the herds (line 17)
they’ve (line 23)

murderous Mara river …

(line 28)
wet-animal-smelling mass
(line 50)

6. ‘There is an air of expectation – this is what everyone has travelled so far to see – a
gnu crossing of the murderous Mara River.’ (lines 27-28)

6.1 Name the punctuation marks used in the line quoted above. [1]
__________________________________________________________________________

6.2 Explain the function of the punctuation marks indicated. [1]

__________________________________________________________________________

6.3 Name another punctuation mark that could replace the indicated punctuation marks.[1]
__________________________________________________________________________

English Shared Assessment 2022 Comprehension and Language Page 8 of 10

7. Use the word ‘wonder’ from line 51 and its homophone in different sentences to
show the different meanings of these two words. [2]
__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

8. Use the sentence below to complete the following set of instructions: [3]

From time to time, one gnu pushed a hoof over the edge.
8.1 Draw a rectangle around the verb of the sentence.

8.2 Circle the subject of the sentence.

8.3 Underline the predicate of the sentence.

9. Dictionary entry
Read the dictionary entry below and answer the questions that follow.

Migrate (maɪˈɡreɪt)
vb
1. to go from one region, country, or place of abode to settle in another, esp in a foreign country
2. (Zoology) (of birds, fishes, etc) to journey between different areas at specific times of the year
[C17: from L migrāre to change one's abode]

9.1 Circle the pronunciation of the word ‘migrate’ on the dictionary entry provided. [1]

9.2 What part of speech is the word ‘migrate’? Write it out in full. [1]

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9.3 What is the etymology of the word ‘migrate’? Write it out in full. [1]

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9.4.1 What part of speech is the word ‘migration’ in line 7 of the text? [1]

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English Shared Assessment 2022 Comprehension and Language Page 9 of 10

9.4.2 Change the suffix of ‘migration’ to create an adjective form of the word. [1]

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9.5 Write down a word which has added a prefix to the word ‘migrate’. [1]

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10. Read the cartoon below and then carry out the instructions with care.

https://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/w/wildebeest.asp

The crocodile speaking is called Mamba. His caption reads as follows -

If we make it greener on this side of the river, the wildebeests will cross here …

10.1 Rewrite Mamba’s words using the correct punctuation for direct speech. Place
Mamba’s name at the end of the sentence. [2]
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___________________________________________________________________________

10.2 Rewrite Mamba’s words as indirect/reported speech. [3]

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___________________________________________________________________________

English Shared Assessment 2022 Comprehension and Language Page 10 of 10