Week 3 Y6 English Trial Test Copy

You are going to read an article about Yellow-Legged Frogs. Seven sentences have been removed from the article.

For Questions 1-7, choose from the sentences 1-8 the one which fits each gap (1-7).

There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.

Martin Roland Knapp initially got interested in mountain yellow-legged frogs in the late 1980s, when he happened upon a large colony of them while on a leisure trip in California’s Kings Canyon National Park’s remote backcountry.

“It was something I’d never seen before, and it captivated me,” he says. “I spent most of the journey gazing at lakes where the frogs were and looking about at where they weren’t.”

(1)______________________ Frogs were plentiful there as late as the 1970s.

Knapp, a biologist at the University of California, quickly teamed forces with another scientist worried about the frog decline: Kathleen Matthews of the United States Forest Service. Each summer for the past four years, the two scientists have walked roughly 400 miles into the Sierra wilderness to examine high-elevation lakes. (2)____________________

Although the global losses of amphibian species are extensively documented, the causes are sometimes difficult to determine. The reductions have been blamed on habitat loss, pollution, UV radiation, parasites, and imported predators, although the causes appear to differ by location. Many experts are particularly worried about the growing number of frogs of various species discovered in the United States and other countries with missing or additional limbs, missing eyes, and other deformities.

(3)____________________ They don’t know how many of the frogs are still alive.

Before settlers began stocking those waterways with trout in the mid-1800s, almost all of the hundreds of lakes and ponds above 7,500 feet in the High Sierra were fishless. Following WWII, the California Department of Fish and Game began an extensive trout stocking effort in the upper lakes. (4)______________________

The species’ features make it more sensitive to trout predation than many other amphibians. It is a very aquatic creature that spends almost its whole existence in the water. Unlike other frogs, which metamorphose in weeks or months, the mountain yellow-legged frog spends between two and four years as a fragile tadpole. (5)_____________________

Knapp and Matthews investigated over 1,000 lakes and ponds in Kings Canyon National Park where fish feeding was tapered down between 1977 and 1991 in their Forest Service-funded study. They compared those findings to data obtained from more than 1,200 additional waterways in a nearby region of the John Muir Wilderness, where stocking is still taking place.

Because the two research locations are both protected backcountry zones, habitat degradation may be ruled out. (6)_________________________ “The only significant difference between the national park and the wilderness region is the degree of fish stocking and the number of fish there,” Matthews adds.

Their research has proven that when lakes have nonnative trout, there are no frogs, and vice versa. They also discovered that frogs survived in the national park, but they had nearly vanished in the wilderness region.

(7)_________________________ “From what I’ve observed so far, trout appear to be a factor in the frog’s decline,” he adds. “But I’m not sure if they’re the final reason; if fish are a significant part of the problem, we need to think about how we’re going to get rid of them in places where we don’t want the fish.”

Using the following options, Fill the Gap ___ [1] ___ ?

You are going to read an article about Yellow-Legged Frogs. Seven sentences have been removed from the article.

For Questions 1-7, choose from the sentences 1-8 the one which fits each gap (1-7).

There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.

Martin Roland Knapp initially got interested in mountain yellow-legged frogs in the late 1980s, when he happened upon a large colony of them while on a leisure trip in California’s Kings Canyon National Park’s remote backcountry.

“It was something I’d never seen before, and it captivated me,” he says. “I spent most of the journey gazing at lakes where the frogs were and looking about at where they weren’t.”

(1)______________________ Frogs were plentiful there as late as the 1970s.

Knapp, a biologist at the University of California, quickly teamed forces with another scientist worried about the frog decline: Kathleen Matthews of the United States Forest Service. Each summer for the past four years, the two scientists have walked roughly 400 miles into the Sierra wilderness to examine high-elevation lakes. (2)____________________

Although the global losses of amphibian species are extensively documented, the causes are sometimes difficult to determine. The reductions have been blamed on habitat loss, pollution, UV radiation, parasites, and imported predators, although the causes appear to differ by location. Many experts are particularly worried about the growing number of frogs of various species discovered in the United States and other countries with missing or additional limbs, missing eyes, and other deformities.

(3)____________________ They don’t know how many of the frogs are still alive.

Before settlers began stocking those waterways with trout in the mid-1800s, almost all of the hundreds of lakes and ponds above 7,500 feet in the High Sierra were fishless. Following WWII, the California Department of Fish and Game began an extensive trout stocking effort in the upper lakes. (4)______________________

The species’ features make it more sensitive to trout predation than many other amphibians. It is a very aquatic creature that spends almost its whole existence in the water. Unlike other frogs, which metamorphose in weeks or months, the mountain yellow-legged frog spends between two and four years as a fragile tadpole. (5)_____________________

Knapp and Matthews investigated over 1,000 lakes and ponds in Kings Canyon National Park where fish feeding was tapered down between 1977 and 1991 in their Forest Service-funded study. They compared those findings to data obtained from more than 1,200 additional waterways in a nearby region of the John Muir Wilderness, where stocking is still taking place.

Because the two research locations are both protected backcountry zones, habitat degradation may be ruled out. (6)_________________________ “The only significant difference between the national park and the wilderness region is the degree of fish stocking and the number of fish there,” Matthews adds.

Their research has proven that when lakes have nonnative trout, there are no frogs, and vice versa. They also discovered that frogs survived in the national park, but they had nearly vanished in the wilderness region.

(7)_________________________ “From what I’ve observed so far, trout appear to be a factor in the frog’s decline,” he adds. “But I’m not sure if they’re the final reason; if fish are a significant part of the problem, we need to think about how we’re going to get rid of them in places where we don’t want the fish.”

Using the following options, Fill the Gap ___ [2] ___ ?

You are going to read an article about Yellow-Legged Frogs. Seven sentences have been removed from the article.

For Questions 1-7, choose from the sentences 1-8 the one which fits each gap (1-7).

There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.

Martin Roland Knapp initially got interested in mountain yellow-legged frogs in the late 1980s, when he happened upon a large colony of them while on a leisure trip in California’s Kings Canyon National Park’s remote backcountry.

“It was something I’d never seen before, and it captivated me,” he says. “I spent most of the journey gazing at lakes where the frogs were and looking about at where they weren’t.”

(1)______________________ Frogs were plentiful there as late as the 1970s.

Knapp, a biologist at the University of California, quickly teamed forces with another scientist worried about the frog decline: Kathleen Matthews of the United States Forest Service. Each summer for the past four years, the two scientists have walked roughly 400 miles into the Sierra wilderness to examine high-elevation lakes. (2)____________________

Although the global losses of amphibian species are extensively documented, the causes are sometimes difficult to determine. The reductions have been blamed on habitat loss, pollution, UV radiation, parasites, and imported predators, although the causes appear to differ by location. Many experts are particularly worried about the growing number of frogs of various species discovered in the United States and other countries with missing or additional limbs, missing eyes, and other deformities.

(3)____________________ They don’t know how many of the frogs are still alive.

Before settlers began stocking those waterways with trout in the mid-1800s, almost all of the hundreds of lakes and ponds above 7,500 feet in the High Sierra were fishless. Following WWII, the California Department of Fish and Game began an extensive trout stocking effort in the upper lakes. (4)______________________

The species’ features make it more sensitive to trout predation than many other amphibians. It is a very aquatic creature that spends almost its whole existence in the water. Unlike other frogs, which metamorphose in weeks or months, the mountain yellow-legged frog spends between two and four years as a fragile tadpole. (5)_____________________

Knapp and Matthews investigated over 1,000 lakes and ponds in Kings Canyon National Park where fish feeding was tapered down between 1977 and 1991 in their Forest Service-funded study. They compared those findings to data obtained from more than 1,200 additional waterways in a nearby region of the John Muir Wilderness, where stocking is still taking place.

Because the two research locations are both protected backcountry zones, habitat degradation may be ruled out. (6)_________________________ “The only significant difference between the national park and the wilderness region is the degree of fish stocking and the number of fish there,” Matthews adds.

Their research has proven that when lakes have nonnative trout, there are no frogs, and vice versa. They also discovered that frogs survived in the national park, but they had nearly vanished in the wilderness region.

(7)_________________________ “From what I’ve observed so far, trout appear to be a factor in the frog’s decline,” he adds. “But I’m not sure if they’re the final reason; if fish are a significant part of the problem, we need to think about how we’re going to get rid of them in places where we don’t want the fish.”

Using the following options, Fill the Gap ___ [3] ___ ?

You are going to read an article about Yellow-Legged Frogs. Seven sentences have been removed from the article.

For Questions 1-7, choose from the sentences 1-8 the one which fits each gap (1-7).

There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.

Martin Roland Knapp initially got interested in mountain yellow-legged frogs in the late 1980s, when he happened upon a large colony of them while on a leisure trip in California’s Kings Canyon National Park’s remote backcountry.

“It was something I’d never seen before, and it captivated me,” he says. “I spent most of the journey gazing at lakes where the frogs were and looking about at where they weren’t.”

(1)______________________ Frogs were plentiful there as late as the 1970s.

Knapp, a biologist at the University of California, quickly teamed forces with another scientist worried about the frog decline: Kathleen Matthews of the United States Forest Service. Each summer for the past four years, the two scientists have walked roughly 400 miles into the Sierra wilderness to examine high-elevation lakes. (2)____________________

Although the global losses of amphibian species are extensively documented, the causes are sometimes difficult to determine. The reductions have been blamed on habitat loss, pollution, UV radiation, parasites, and imported predators, although the causes appear to differ by location. Many experts are particularly worried about the growing number of frogs of various species discovered in the United States and other countries with missing or additional limbs, missing eyes, and other deformities.

(3)____________________ They don’t know how many of the frogs are still alive.

Before settlers began stocking those waterways with trout in the mid-1800s, almost all of the hundreds of lakes and ponds above 7,500 feet in the High Sierra were fishless. Following WWII, the California Department of Fish and Game began an extensive trout stocking effort in the upper lakes. (4)______________________

The species’ features make it more sensitive to trout predation than many other amphibians. It is a very aquatic creature that spends almost its whole existence in the water. Unlike other frogs, which metamorphose in weeks or months, the mountain yellow-legged frog spends between two and four years as a fragile tadpole. (5)_____________________

Knapp and Matthews investigated over 1,000 lakes and ponds in Kings Canyon National Park where fish feeding was tapered down between 1977 and 1991 in their Forest Service-funded study. They compared those findings to data obtained from more than 1,200 additional waterways in a nearby region of the John Muir Wilderness, where stocking is still taking place.

Because the two research locations are both protected backcountry zones, habitat degradation may be ruled out. (6)_________________________ “The only significant difference between the national park and the wilderness region is the degree of fish stocking and the number of fish there,” Matthews adds.

Their research has proven that when lakes have nonnative trout, there are no frogs, and vice versa. They also discovered that frogs survived in the national park, but they had nearly vanished in the wilderness region.

(7)_________________________ “From what I’ve observed so far, trout appear to be a factor in the frog’s decline,” he adds. “But I’m not sure if they’re the final reason; if fish are a significant part of the problem, we need to think about how we’re going to get rid of them in places where we don’t want the fish.”

Using the following options, Fill the Gap ___ [4] ___ ?

You are going to read an article about Yellow-Legged Frogs. Seven sentences have been removed from the article.

For Questions 1-7, choose from the sentences 1-8 the one which fits each gap (1-7).

There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.

Martin Roland Knapp initially got interested in mountain yellow-legged frogs in the late 1980s, when he happened upon a large colony of them while on a leisure trip in California’s Kings Canyon National Park’s remote backcountry.

“It was something I’d never seen before, and it captivated me,” he says. “I spent most of the journey gazing at lakes where the frogs were and looking about at where they weren’t.”

(1)______________________ Frogs were plentiful there as late as the 1970s.

Knapp, a biologist at the University of California, quickly teamed forces with another scientist worried about the frog decline: Kathleen Matthews of the United States Forest Service. Each summer for the past four years, the two scientists have walked roughly 400 miles into the Sierra wilderness to examine high-elevation lakes. (2)____________________

Although the global losses of amphibian species are extensively documented, the causes are sometimes difficult to determine. The reductions have been blamed on habitat loss, pollution, UV radiation, parasites, and imported predators, although the causes appear to differ by location. Many experts are particularly worried about the growing number of frogs of various species discovered in the United States and other countries with missing or additional limbs, missing eyes, and other deformities.

(3)____________________ They don’t know how many of the frogs are still alive.

Before settlers began stocking those waterways with trout in the mid-1800s, almost all of the hundreds of lakes and ponds above 7,500 feet in the High Sierra were fishless. Following WWII, the California Department of Fish and Game began an extensive trout stocking effort in the upper lakes. (4)______________________

The species’ features make it more sensitive to trout predation than many other amphibians. It is a very aquatic creature that spends almost its whole existence in the water. Unlike other frogs, which metamorphose in weeks or months, the mountain yellow-legged frog spends between two and four years as a fragile tadpole. (5)_____________________

Knapp and Matthews investigated over 1,000 lakes and ponds in Kings Canyon National Park where fish feeding was tapered down between 1977 and 1991 in their Forest Service-funded study. They compared those findings to data obtained from more than 1,200 additional waterways in a nearby region of the John Muir Wilderness, where stocking is still taking place.

Because the two research locations are both protected backcountry zones, habitat degradation may be ruled out. (6)_________________________ “The only significant difference between the national park and the wilderness region is the degree of fish stocking and the number of fish there,” Matthews adds.

Their research has proven that when lakes have nonnative trout, there are no frogs, and vice versa. They also discovered that frogs survived in the national park, but they had nearly vanished in the wilderness region.

(7)_________________________ “From what I’ve observed so far, trout appear to be a factor in the frog’s decline,” he adds. “But I’m not sure if they’re the final reason; if fish are a significant part of the problem, we need to think about how we’re going to get rid of them in places where we don’t want the fish.”

Using the following options, Fill the Gap ___ [5] ___ ?

You are going to read an article about Yellow-Legged Frogs. Seven sentences have been removed from the article.

For Questions 1-7, choose from the sentences 1-8 the one which fits each gap (1-7).

There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.

Martin Roland Knapp initially got interested in mountain yellow-legged frogs in the late 1980s, when he happened upon a large colony of them while on a leisure trip in California’s Kings Canyon National Park’s remote backcountry.

“It was something I’d never seen before, and it captivated me,” he says. “I spent most of the journey gazing at lakes where the frogs were and looking about at where they weren’t.”

(1)______________________ Frogs were plentiful there as late as the 1970s.

Knapp, a biologist at the University of California, quickly teamed forces with another scientist worried about the frog decline: Kathleen Matthews of the United States Forest Service. Each summer for the past four years, the two scientists have walked roughly 400 miles into the Sierra wilderness to examine high-elevation lakes. (2)____________________

Although the global losses of amphibian species are extensively documented, the causes are sometimes difficult to determine. The reductions have been blamed on habitat loss, pollution, UV radiation, parasites, and imported predators, although the causes appear to differ by location. Many experts are particularly worried about the growing number of frogs of various species discovered in the United States and other countries with missing or additional limbs, missing eyes, and other deformities.

(3)____________________ They don’t know how many of the frogs are still alive.

Before settlers began stocking those waterways with trout in the mid-1800s, almost all of the hundreds of lakes and ponds above 7,500 feet in the High Sierra were fishless. Following WWII, the California Department of Fish and Game began an extensive trout stocking effort in the upper lakes. (4)______________________

The species’ features make it more sensitive to trout predation than many other amphibians. It is a very aquatic creature that spends almost its whole existence in the water. Unlike other frogs, which metamorphose in weeks or months, the mountain yellow-legged frog spends between two and four years as a fragile tadpole. (5)_____________________

Knapp and Matthews investigated over 1,000 lakes and ponds in Kings Canyon National Park where fish feeding was tapered down between 1977 and 1991 in their Forest Service-funded study. They compared those findings to data obtained from more than 1,200 additional waterways in a nearby region of the John Muir Wilderness, where stocking is still taking place.

Because the two research locations are both protected backcountry zones, habitat degradation may be ruled out. (6)_________________________ “The only significant difference between the national park and the wilderness region is the degree of fish stocking and the number of fish there,” Matthews adds.

Their research has proven that when lakes have nonnative trout, there are no frogs, and vice versa. They also discovered that frogs survived in the national park, but they had nearly vanished in the wilderness region.

(7)_________________________ “From what I’ve observed so far, trout appear to be a factor in the frog’s decline,” he adds. “But I’m not sure if they’re the final reason; if fish are a significant part of the problem, we need to think about how we’re going to get rid of them in places where we don’t want the fish.”

Using the following options, Fill the Gap ___ [6] ___ ?

You are going to read an article about Yellow-Legged Frogs. Seven sentences have been removed from the article.

For Questions 1-7, choose from the sentences 1-8 the one which fits each gap (1-7).

There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.

Martin Roland Knapp initially got interested in mountain yellow-legged frogs in the late 1980s, when he happened upon a large colony of them while on a leisure trip in California’s Kings Canyon National Park’s remote backcountry.

“It was something I’d never seen before, and it captivated me,” he says. “I spent most of the journey gazing at lakes where the frogs were and looking about at where they weren’t.”

(1)______________________ Frogs were plentiful there as late as the 1970s.

Knapp, a biologist at the University of California, quickly teamed forces with another scientist worried about the frog decline: Kathleen Matthews of the United States Forest Service. Each summer for the past four years, the two scientists have walked roughly 400 miles into the Sierra wilderness to examine high-elevation lakes. (2)____________________

Although the global losses of amphibian species are extensively documented, the causes are sometimes difficult to determine. The reductions have been blamed on habitat loss, pollution, UV radiation, parasites, and imported predators, although the causes appear to differ by location. Many experts are particularly worried about the growing number of frogs of various species discovered in the United States and other countries with missing or additional limbs, missing eyes, and other deformities.

(3)____________________ They don’t know how many of the frogs are still alive.

Before settlers began stocking those waterways with trout in the mid-1800s, almost all of the hundreds of lakes and ponds above 7,500 feet in the High Sierra were fishless. Following WWII, the California Department of Fish and Game began an extensive trout stocking effort in the upper lakes. (4)______________________

The species’ features make it more sensitive to trout predation than many other amphibians. It is a very aquatic creature that spends almost its whole existence in the water. Unlike other frogs, which metamorphose in weeks or months, the mountain yellow-legged frog spends between two and four years as a fragile tadpole. (5)_____________________

Knapp and Matthews investigated over 1,000 lakes and ponds in Kings Canyon National Park where fish feeding was tapered down between 1977 and 1991 in their Forest Service-funded study. They compared those findings to data obtained from more than 1,200 additional waterways in a nearby region of the John Muir Wilderness, where stocking is still taking place.

Because the two research locations are both protected backcountry zones, habitat degradation may be ruled out. (6)_________________________ “The only significant difference between the national park and the wilderness region is the degree of fish stocking and the number of fish there,” Matthews adds.

Their research has proven that when lakes have nonnative trout, there are no frogs, and vice versa. They also discovered that frogs survived in the national park, but they had nearly vanished in the wilderness region.

(7)_________________________ “From what I’ve observed so far, trout appear to be a factor in the frog’s decline,” he adds. “But I’m not sure if they’re the final reason; if fish are a significant part of the problem, we need to think about how we’re going to get rid of them in places where we don’t want the fish.”

Using the following options, Fill the Gap ___ [7] ___ ?

Read the extracts below then answer the questions. 

EXTRACT A:

It was a little pine tree in the middle of a large forest. It couldn’t see anything because the other pine trees surrounding it were so tall. The small tree would often glance at the sky and the stars that peered out at night. And every now and again, the enormous, round moon would sweep over the sky. And all day long, the small pine tree could see above it was blue sky and magnificent white clouds passing past like so many ships on the sea. The small pine tree desired to grow and become tall like the other trees because it wanted to see what was outside the forest. The huge pine trees sang songs as the wind whistled through their branches, while the small pine tree waited day after day, hoping to grow tall and sing songs as well. Year after year, the small tree waited, yet it grew and appeared to spread its magnificent green branches higher and higher.

The small pine tree heard some weird noises one day, when the little snowflakes had flown down and turned the entire world white, and the wind was whistling a happy melody. The tall pine trees bowed their heads, knowing who was approaching. They were known as the woodmen. They were accompanied by a sled carried by horses. The pine tree was taken aback by the spectacle, as it had never seen woodmen, a sled, or horses before. But the old pine trees understood what it all meant since they’d seen the woodmen before. They were curious as to which tree the woodmen would select. The small pine tree had grown, and it was no longer a little tree, but a straight, powerful, and magnificent tree. The woodmen strolled around holding something brilliant and gleaming in their hands. When they arrived at this pine tree, they examined it, shook it, and tapped the axe on its trunk.

How strange the pine tree felt! It was curious as to what they were going to do with it. Suddenly, a harsh sound burst out in the air, followed by another, and still another. The pine tree felt itself swaying and swinging, and it fell, lower and lower until its branches met the soft white snow on the ground. The woodmen gently raised the pine tree, placed it on the sled, and drove the horses away. Pine Tree was overjoyed because he was about to glimpse something of the huge, lovely world.

The woodmen led the horses out of the woodland and into the lovely white world. They continued on until they arrived at a small settlement on the shore. They drove past the hamlet and into a large shipyard, where saws buzzed, hammers pounded, and busy men rushed about. Pine Tree had never witnessed anything like that. He was hoisted from the sled, and his magnificent branches were plucked from the trunk, until one day the carpenters carried him away, and he discovered that he was assisting in the construction of a ship. Boards were nailed on, and the hardworking carpenters laboured day in and day out.

Finally, the sturdy and majestic ship was completed. It floated away after smoothly gliding into the ocean. Pine Tree was overjoyed because he was witnessing new and odd things. The waves slammed onto the ship with reckless abandon. They also appeared to have a song. Pine Tree remembered the tunes that the old pines used to sing. The waves didn’t always sing the same song—sometimes they’d rush and roll against the ship until they were exhausted, then roll on and sing a peaceful melody again.

EXTRACT B:

It was May, but the breeze was still cold since the sun was not yet ready to shed his warmest rays on the waiting ground. However, some birds had arrived, and more were on their way, and many magnificent blossoms were already revealing their pink and white petals, so that from bush and tree, field and flower, came the joyous cry, “Spring is here! Spring is here!”

Now, a young princess was riding through a beautiful orchard in full bloom when she stopped to select a branch of apple blossoms to take to her palace. Everyone who saw the apple blossom complemented its beauty and scent that made the blossom become arrogant and believed that beauty was the only worthwhile thing in the world. But, as the apple blossom gazed out across the field, she reflected, “Not all of the plants are rich and lovely, as I am; others are poor and plain.” And she observed a small, common yellow flower that appeared to raise its bright head and flourish everywhere.

“What is your name?” the apple blossom asked the simple tiny flower.

“My name is the dandelion,” the small flower said.

“Poor little plant,” said the apple blossom. “It’s not your fault; but how sad you must feel to be so plain and to wear such a bad name.”

Before the small plant could respond, a wonderful little sunbeam appeared and remarked, “I see no ugly blossoms. For me, they are all gorgeous in the same way.” And he fell upon the apple blossom but he bowed down and stayed long in the field to fall upon the small yellow dandelion.

Then some small youngsters stumbled over the field. When they noticed the dandelions, the youngest giggled and fell upon them with excitement. The older kids created wreaths and exquisite chains out of them. They carefully selected those that had gone to seed and attempted to blow the petals down with one breath while expressing joyful wishes.

“Do you notice the beauty of the dandelion?” said the sunshine.

“They are only beautiful to children,” exclaimed the ecstatic apple blossom. After a while, an elderly woman entered the field. She picked dandelions’ roots to make tea for the ill, and she sold others for money to purchase milk for the children.

“But beauty is greater than all of this,” the proud tiny apple blossom said. The princess arrived just then. She was holding what appeared to be a gorgeous flower in her palm. She gently shielded it from the breeze. What do you believe it was? It was the dandelion’s airy crown. “See how lovely that is!” she said. “I’ll put it in a painting with the apple blossoms.”

The sunbeam then fell upon the apple blossom, and the apple blossom flushed with shame as he knelt low to fall upon the dandelion.

For questions 8 – 15, choose the option (A, B, C, or D) which you think best answers the question

The seventh and ninth paragraphs of Extract B showed that the dandelions were

Read the extracts below then answer the questions. 

EXTRACT A:

It was a little pine tree in the middle of a large forest. It couldn’t see anything because the other pine trees surrounding it were so tall. The small tree would often glance at the sky and the stars that peered out at night. And every now and again, the enormous, round moon would sweep over the sky. And all day long, the small pine tree could see above it was blue sky and magnificent white clouds passing past like so many ships on the sea. The small pine tree desired to grow and become tall like the other trees because it wanted to see what was outside the forest. The huge pine trees sang songs as the wind whistled through their branches, while the small pine tree waited day after day, hoping to grow tall and sing songs as well. Year after year, the small tree waited, yet it grew and appeared to spread its magnificent green branches higher and higher.

The small pine tree heard some weird noises one day, when the little snowflakes had flown down and turned the entire world white, and the wind was whistling a happy melody. The tall pine trees bowed their heads, knowing who was approaching. They were known as the woodmen. They were accompanied by a sled carried by horses. The pine tree was taken aback by the spectacle, as it had never seen woodmen, a sled, or horses before. But the old pine trees understood what it all meant since they’d seen the woodmen before. They were curious as to which tree the woodmen would select. The small pine tree had grown, and it was no longer a little tree, but a straight, powerful, and magnificent tree. The woodmen strolled around holding something brilliant and gleaming in their hands. When they arrived at this pine tree, they examined it, shook it, and tapped the axe on its trunk.

How strange the pine tree felt! It was curious as to what they were going to do with it. Suddenly, a harsh sound burst out in the air, followed by another, and still another. The pine tree felt itself swaying and swinging, and it fell, lower and lower until its branches met the soft white snow on the ground. The woodmen gently raised the pine tree, placed it on the sled, and drove the horses away. Pine Tree was overjoyed because he was about to glimpse something of the huge, lovely world.

The woodmen led the horses out of the woodland and into the lovely white world. They continued on until they arrived at a small settlement on the shore. They drove past the hamlet and into a large shipyard, where saws buzzed, hammers pounded, and busy men rushed about. Pine Tree had never witnessed anything like that. He was hoisted from the sled, and his magnificent branches were plucked from the trunk, until one day the carpenters carried him away, and he discovered that he was assisting in the construction of a ship. Boards were nailed on, and the hardworking carpenters laboured day in and day out.

Finally, the sturdy and majestic ship was completed. It floated away after smoothly gliding into the ocean. Pine Tree was overjoyed because he was witnessing new and odd things. The waves slammed onto the ship with reckless abandon. They also appeared to have a song. Pine Tree remembered the tunes that the old pines used to sing. The waves didn’t always sing the same song—sometimes they’d rush and roll against the ship until they were exhausted, then roll on and sing a peaceful melody again.

EXTRACT B:

It was May, but the breeze was still cold since the sun was not yet ready to shed his warmest rays on the waiting ground. However, some birds had arrived, and more were on their way, and many magnificent blossoms were already revealing their pink and white petals, so that from bush and tree, field and flower, came the joyous cry, “Spring is here! Spring is here!”

Now, a young princess was riding through a beautiful orchard in full bloom when she stopped to select a branch of apple blossoms to take to her palace. Everyone who saw the apple blossom complemented its beauty and scent that made the blossom become arrogant and believed that beauty was the only worthwhile thing in the world. But, as the apple blossom gazed out across the field, she reflected, “Not all of the plants are rich and lovely, as I am; others are poor and plain.” And she observed a small, common yellow flower that appeared to raise its bright head and flourish everywhere.

“What is your name?” the apple blossom asked the simple tiny flower.

“My name is the dandelion,” the small flower said.

“Poor little plant,” said the apple blossom. “It’s not your fault; but how sad you must feel to be so plain and to wear such a bad name.”

Before the small plant could respond, a wonderful little sunbeam appeared and remarked, “I see no ugly blossoms. For me, they are all gorgeous in the same way.” And he fell upon the apple blossom but he bowed down and stayed long in the field to fall upon the small yellow dandelion.

Then some small youngsters stumbled over the field. When they noticed the dandelions, the youngest giggled and fell upon them with excitement. The older kids created wreaths and exquisite chains out of them. They carefully selected those that had gone to seed and attempted to blow the petals down with one breath while expressing joyful wishes.

“Do you notice the beauty of the dandelion?” said the sunshine.

“They are only beautiful to children,” exclaimed the ecstatic apple blossom. After a while, an elderly woman entered the field. She picked dandelions’ roots to make tea for the ill, and she sold others for money to purchase milk for the children.

“But beauty is greater than all of this,” the proud tiny apple blossom said. The princess arrived just then. She was holding what appeared to be a gorgeous flower in her palm. She gently shielded it from the breeze. What do you believe it was? It was the dandelion’s airy crown. “See how lovely that is!” she said. “I’ll put it in a painting with the apple blossoms.”

The sunbeam then fell upon the apple blossom, and the apple blossom flushed with shame as he knelt low to fall upon the dandelion.

For questions 8 – 15, choose the option (A, B, C, or D) which you think best answers the question

What message is conveyed in Extract B?

Read the extracts below then answer the questions. 

EXTRACT A:

It was a little pine tree in the middle of a large forest. It couldn’t see anything because the other pine trees surrounding it were so tall. The small tree would often glance at the sky and the stars that peered out at night. And every now and again, the enormous, round moon would sweep over the sky. And all day long, the small pine tree could see above it was blue sky and magnificent white clouds passing past like so many ships on the sea. The small pine tree desired to grow and become tall like the other trees because it wanted to see what was outside the forest. The huge pine trees sang songs as the wind whistled through their branches, while the small pine tree waited day after day, hoping to grow tall and sing songs as well. Year after year, the small tree waited, yet it grew and appeared to spread its magnificent green branches higher and higher.

The small pine tree heard some weird noises one day, when the little snowflakes had flown down and turned the entire world white, and the wind was whistling a happy melody. The tall pine trees bowed their heads, knowing who was approaching. They were known as the woodmen. They were accompanied by a sled carried by horses. The pine tree was taken aback by the spectacle, as it had never seen woodmen, a sled, or horses before. But the old pine trees understood what it all meant since they’d seen the woodmen before. They were curious as to which tree the woodmen would select. The small pine tree had grown, and it was no longer a little tree, but a straight, powerful, and magnificent tree. The woodmen strolled around holding something brilliant and gleaming in their hands. When they arrived at this pine tree, they examined it, shook it, and tapped the axe on its trunk.

How strange the pine tree felt! It was curious as to what they were going to do with it. Suddenly, a harsh sound burst out in the air, followed by another, and still another. The pine tree felt itself swaying and swinging, and it fell, lower and lower until its branches met the soft white snow on the ground. The woodmen gently raised the pine tree, placed it on the sled, and drove the horses away. Pine Tree was overjoyed because he was about to glimpse something of the huge, lovely world.

The woodmen led the horses out of the woodland and into the lovely white world. They continued on until they arrived at a small settlement on the shore. They drove past the hamlet and into a large shipyard, where saws buzzed, hammers pounded, and busy men rushed about. Pine Tree had never witnessed anything like that. He was hoisted from the sled, and his magnificent branches were plucked from the trunk, until one day the carpenters carried him away, and he discovered that he was assisting in the construction of a ship. Boards were nailed on, and the hardworking carpenters laboured day in and day out.

Finally, the sturdy and majestic ship was completed. It floated away after smoothly gliding into the ocean. Pine Tree was overjoyed because he was witnessing new and odd things. The waves slammed onto the ship with reckless abandon. They also appeared to have a song. Pine Tree remembered the tunes that the old pines used to sing. The waves didn’t always sing the same song—sometimes they’d rush and roll against the ship until they were exhausted, then roll on and sing a peaceful melody again.

EXTRACT B:

It was May, but the breeze was still cold since the sun was not yet ready to shed his warmest rays on the waiting ground. However, some birds had arrived, and more were on their way, and many magnificent blossoms were already revealing their pink and white petals, so that from bush and tree, field and flower, came the joyous cry, “Spring is here! Spring is here!”

Now, a young princess was riding through a beautiful orchard in full bloom when she stopped to select a branch of apple blossoms to take to her palace. Everyone who saw the apple blossom complemented its beauty and scent that made the blossom become arrogant and believed that beauty was the only worthwhile thing in the world. But, as the apple blossom gazed out across the field, she reflected, “Not all of the plants are rich and lovely, as I am; others are poor and plain.” And she observed a small, common yellow flower that appeared to raise its bright head and flourish everywhere.

“What is your name?” the apple blossom asked the simple tiny flower.

“My name is the dandelion,” the small flower said.

“Poor little plant,” said the apple blossom. “It’s not your fault; but how sad you must feel to be so plain and to wear such a bad name.”

Before the small plant could respond, a wonderful little sunbeam appeared and remarked, “I see no ugly blossoms. For me, they are all gorgeous in the same way.” And he fell upon the apple blossom but he bowed down and stayed long in the field to fall upon the small yellow dandelion.

Then some small youngsters stumbled over the field. When they noticed the dandelions, the youngest giggled and fell upon them with excitement. The older kids created wreaths and exquisite chains out of them. They carefully selected those that had gone to seed and attempted to blow the petals down with one breath while expressing joyful wishes.

“Do you notice the beauty of the dandelion?” said the sunshine.

“They are only beautiful to children,” exclaimed the ecstatic apple blossom. After a while, an elderly woman entered the field. She picked dandelions’ roots to make tea for the ill, and she sold others for money to purchase milk for the children.

“But beauty is greater than all of this,” the proud tiny apple blossom said. The princess arrived just then. She was holding what appeared to be a gorgeous flower in her palm. She gently shielded it from the breeze. What do you believe it was? It was the dandelion’s airy crown. “See how lovely that is!” she said. “I’ll put it in a painting with the apple blossoms.”

The sunbeam then fell upon the apple blossom, and the apple blossom flushed with shame as he knelt low to fall upon the dandelion.

For questions 8 – 15, choose the option (A, B, C, or D) which you think best answers the question

Which Extract(s) mentioned the vanity of a plant?

Read the extracts below then answer the questions. 

EXTRACT A:

It was a little pine tree in the middle of a large forest. It couldn’t see anything because the other pine trees surrounding it were so tall. The small tree would often glance at the sky and the stars that peered out at night. And every now and again, the enormous, round moon would sweep over the sky. And all day long, the small pine tree could see above it was blue sky and magnificent white clouds passing past like so many ships on the sea. The small pine tree desired to grow and become tall like the other trees because it wanted to see what was outside the forest. The huge pine trees sang songs as the wind whistled through their branches, while the small pine tree waited day after day, hoping to grow tall and sing songs as well. Year after year, the small tree waited, yet it grew and appeared to spread its magnificent green branches higher and higher.

The small pine tree heard some weird noises one day, when the little snowflakes had flown down and turned the entire world white, and the wind was whistling a happy melody. The tall pine trees bowed their heads, knowing who was approaching. They were known as the woodmen. They were accompanied by a sled carried by horses. The pine tree was taken aback by the spectacle, as it had never seen woodmen, a sled, or horses before. But the old pine trees understood what it all meant since they’d seen the woodmen before. They were curious as to which tree the woodmen would select. The small pine tree had grown, and it was no longer a little tree, but a straight, powerful, and magnificent tree. The woodmen strolled around holding something brilliant and gleaming in their hands. When they arrived at this pine tree, they examined it, shook it, and tapped the axe on its trunk.

How strange the pine tree felt! It was curious as to what they were going to do with it. Suddenly, a harsh sound burst out in the air, followed by another, and still another. The pine tree felt itself swaying and swinging, and it fell, lower and lower until its branches met the soft white snow on the ground. The woodmen gently raised the pine tree, placed it on the sled, and drove the horses away. Pine Tree was overjoyed because he was about to glimpse something of the huge, lovely world.

The woodmen led the horses out of the woodland and into the lovely white world. They continued on until they arrived at a small settlement on the shore. They drove past the hamlet and into a large shipyard, where saws buzzed, hammers pounded, and busy men rushed about. Pine Tree had never witnessed anything like that. He was hoisted from the sled, and his magnificent branches were plucked from the trunk, until one day the carpenters carried him away, and he discovered that he was assisting in the construction of a ship. Boards were nailed on, and the hardworking carpenters laboured day in and day out.

Finally, the sturdy and majestic ship was completed. It floated away after smoothly gliding into the ocean. Pine Tree was overjoyed because he was witnessing new and odd things. The waves slammed onto the ship with reckless abandon. They also appeared to have a song. Pine Tree remembered the tunes that the old pines used to sing. The waves didn’t always sing the same song—sometimes they’d rush and roll against the ship until they were exhausted, then roll on and sing a peaceful melody again.

EXTRACT B:

It was May, but the breeze was still cold since the sun was not yet ready to shed his warmest rays on the waiting ground. However, some birds had arrived, and more were on their way, and many magnificent blossoms were already revealing their pink and white petals, so that from bush and tree, field and flower, came the joyous cry, “Spring is here! Spring is here!”

Now, a young princess was riding through a beautiful orchard in full bloom when she stopped to select a branch of apple blossoms to take to her palace. Everyone who saw the apple blossom complemented its beauty and scent that made the blossom become arrogant and believed that beauty was the only worthwhile thing in the world. But, as the apple blossom gazed out across the field, she reflected, “Not all of the plants are rich and lovely, as I am; others are poor and plain.” And she observed a small, common yellow flower that appeared to raise its bright head and flourish everywhere.

“What is your name?” the apple blossom asked the simple tiny flower.

“My name is the dandelion,” the small flower said.

“Poor little plant,” said the apple blossom. “It’s not your fault; but how sad you must feel to be so plain and to wear such a bad name.”

Before the small plant could respond, a wonderful little sunbeam appeared and remarked, “I see no ugly blossoms. For me, they are all gorgeous in the same way.” And he fell upon the apple blossom but he bowed down and stayed long in the field to fall upon the small yellow dandelion.

Then some small youngsters stumbled over the field. When they noticed the dandelions, the youngest giggled and fell upon them with excitement. The older kids created wreaths and exquisite chains out of them. They carefully selected those that had gone to seed and attempted to blow the petals down with one breath while expressing joyful wishes.

“Do you notice the beauty of the dandelion?” said the sunshine.

“They are only beautiful to children,” exclaimed the ecstatic apple blossom. After a while, an elderly woman entered the field. She picked dandelions’ roots to make tea for the ill, and she sold others for money to purchase milk for the children.

“But beauty is greater than all of this,” the proud tiny apple blossom said. The princess arrived just then. She was holding what appeared to be a gorgeous flower in her palm. She gently shielded it from the breeze. What do you believe it was? It was the dandelion’s airy crown. “See how lovely that is!” she said. “I’ll put it in a painting with the apple blossoms.”

The sunbeam then fell upon the apple blossom, and the apple blossom flushed with shame as he knelt low to fall upon the dandelion.

For questions 8 – 15, choose the option (A, B, C, or D) which you think best answers the question

What did happen after the Pine Tree in Extract A was cut down by the woodmen?

Read the extracts below then answer the questions. 

EXTRACT A:

It was a little pine tree in the middle of a large forest. It couldn’t see anything because the other pine trees surrounding it were so tall. The small tree would often glance at the sky and the stars that peered out at night. And every now and again, the enormous, round moon would sweep over the sky. And all day long, the small pine tree could see above it was blue sky and magnificent white clouds passing past like so many ships on the sea. The small pine tree desired to grow and become tall like the other trees because it wanted to see what was outside the forest. The huge pine trees sang songs as the wind whistled through their branches, while the small pine tree waited day after day, hoping to grow tall and sing songs as well. Year after year, the small tree waited, yet it grew and appeared to spread its magnificent green branches higher and higher.

The small pine tree heard some weird noises one day, when the little snowflakes had flown down and turned the entire world white, and the wind was whistling a happy melody. The tall pine trees bowed their heads, knowing who was approaching. They were known as the woodmen. They were accompanied by a sled carried by horses. The pine tree was taken aback by the spectacle, as it had never seen woodmen, a sled, or horses before. But the old pine trees understood what it all meant since they’d seen the woodmen before. They were curious as to which tree the woodmen would select. The small pine tree had grown, and it was no longer a little tree, but a straight, powerful, and magnificent tree. The woodmen strolled around holding something brilliant and gleaming in their hands. When they arrived at this pine tree, they examined it, shook it, and tapped the axe on its trunk.

How strange the pine tree felt! It was curious as to what they were going to do with it. Suddenly, a harsh sound burst out in the air, followed by another, and still another. The pine tree felt itself swaying and swinging, and it fell, lower and lower until its branches met the soft white snow on the ground. The woodmen gently raised the pine tree, placed it on the sled, and drove the horses away. Pine Tree was overjoyed because he was about to glimpse something of the huge, lovely world.

The woodmen led the horses out of the woodland and into the lovely white world. They continued on until they arrived at a small settlement on the shore. They drove past the hamlet and into a large shipyard, where saws buzzed, hammers pounded, and busy men rushed about. Pine Tree had never witnessed anything like that. He was hoisted from the sled, and his magnificent branches were plucked from the trunk, until one day the carpenters carried him away, and he discovered that he was assisting in the construction of a ship. Boards were nailed on, and the hardworking carpenters laboured day in and day out.

Finally, the sturdy and majestic ship was completed. It floated away after smoothly gliding into the ocean. Pine Tree was overjoyed because he was witnessing new and odd things. The waves slammed onto the ship with reckless abandon. They also appeared to have a song. Pine Tree remembered the tunes that the old pines used to sing. The waves didn’t always sing the same song—sometimes they’d rush and roll against the ship until they were exhausted, then roll on and sing a peaceful melody again.

EXTRACT B:

It was May, but the breeze was still cold since the sun was not yet ready to shed his warmest rays on the waiting ground. However, some birds had arrived, and more were on their way, and many magnificent blossoms were already revealing their pink and white petals, so that from bush and tree, field and flower, came the joyous cry, “Spring is here! Spring is here!”

Now, a young princess was riding through a beautiful orchard in full bloom when she stopped to select a branch of apple blossoms to take to her palace. Everyone who saw the apple blossom complemented its beauty and scent that made the blossom become arrogant and believed that beauty was the only worthwhile thing in the world. But, as the apple blossom gazed out across the field, she reflected, “Not all of the plants are rich and lovely, as I am; others are poor and plain.” And she observed a small, common yellow flower that appeared to raise its bright head and flourish everywhere.

“What is your name?” the apple blossom asked the simple tiny flower.

“My name is the dandelion,” the small flower said.

“Poor little plant,” said the apple blossom. “It’s not your fault; but how sad you must feel to be so plain and to wear such a bad name.”

Before the small plant could respond, a wonderful little sunbeam appeared and remarked, “I see no ugly blossoms. For me, they are all gorgeous in the same way.” And he fell upon the apple blossom but he bowed down and stayed long in the field to fall upon the small yellow dandelion.

Then some small youngsters stumbled over the field. When they noticed the dandelions, the youngest giggled and fell upon them with excitement. The older kids created wreaths and exquisite chains out of them. They carefully selected those that had gone to seed and attempted to blow the petals down with one breath while expressing joyful wishes.

“Do you notice the beauty of the dandelion?” said the sunshine.

“They are only beautiful to children,” exclaimed the ecstatic apple blossom. After a while, an elderly woman entered the field. She picked dandelions’ roots to make tea for the ill, and she sold others for money to purchase milk for the children.

“But beauty is greater than all of this,” the proud tiny apple blossom said. The princess arrived just then. She was holding what appeared to be a gorgeous flower in her palm. She gently shielded it from the breeze. What do you believe it was? It was the dandelion’s airy crown. “See how lovely that is!” she said. “I’ll put it in a painting with the apple blossoms.”

The sunbeam then fell upon the apple blossom, and the apple blossom flushed with shame as he knelt low to fall upon the dandelion.

For questions 8 – 15, choose the option (A, B, C, or D) which you think best answers the question

How did the writer in Extract B emphasise the apple blossom’s bad attitude?

Read the extracts below then answer the questions. 

EXTRACT A:

It was a little pine tree in the middle of a large forest. It couldn’t see anything because the other pine trees surrounding it were so tall. The small tree would often glance at the sky and the stars that peered out at night. And every now and again, the enormous, round moon would sweep over the sky. And all day long, the small pine tree could see above it was blue sky and magnificent white clouds passing past like so many ships on the sea. The small pine tree desired to grow and become tall like the other trees because it wanted to see what was outside the forest. The huge pine trees sang songs as the wind whistled through their branches, while the small pine tree waited day after day, hoping to grow tall and sing songs as well. Year after year, the small tree waited, yet it grew and appeared to spread its magnificent green branches higher and higher.

The small pine tree heard some weird noises one day, when the little snowflakes had flown down and turned the entire world white, and the wind was whistling a happy melody. The tall pine trees bowed their heads, knowing who was approaching. They were known as the woodmen. They were accompanied by a sled carried by horses. The pine tree was taken aback by the spectacle, as it had never seen woodmen, a sled, or horses before. But the old pine trees understood what it all meant since they’d seen the woodmen before. They were curious as to which tree the woodmen would select. The small pine tree had grown, and it was no longer a little tree, but a straight, powerful, and magnificent tree. The woodmen strolled around holding something brilliant and gleaming in their hands. When they arrived at this pine tree, they examined it, shook it, and tapped the axe on its trunk.

How strange the pine tree felt! It was curious as to what they were going to do with it. Suddenly, a harsh sound burst out in the air, followed by another, and still another. The pine tree felt itself swaying and swinging, and it fell, lower and lower until its branches met the soft white snow on the ground. The woodmen gently raised the pine tree, placed it on the sled, and drove the horses away. Pine Tree was overjoyed because he was about to glimpse something of the huge, lovely world.

The woodmen led the horses out of the woodland and into the lovely white world. They continued on until they arrived at a small settlement on the shore. They drove past the hamlet and into a large shipyard, where saws buzzed, hammers pounded, and busy men rushed about. Pine Tree had never witnessed anything like that. He was hoisted from the sled, and his magnificent branches were plucked from the trunk, until one day the carpenters carried him away, and he discovered that he was assisting in the construction of a ship. Boards were nailed on, and the hardworking carpenters laboured day in and day out.

Finally, the sturdy and majestic ship was completed. It floated away after smoothly gliding into the ocean. Pine Tree was overjoyed because he was witnessing new and odd things. The waves slammed onto the ship with reckless abandon. They also appeared to have a song. Pine Tree remembered the tunes that the old pines used to sing. The waves didn’t always sing the same song—sometimes they’d rush and roll against the ship until they were exhausted, then roll on and sing a peaceful melody again.

EXTRACT B:

It was May, but the breeze was still cold since the sun was not yet ready to shed his warmest rays on the waiting ground. However, some birds had arrived, and more were on their way, and many magnificent blossoms were already revealing their pink and white petals, so that from bush and tree, field and flower, came the joyous cry, “Spring is here! Spring is here!”

Now, a young princess was riding through a beautiful orchard in full bloom when she stopped to select a branch of apple blossoms to take to her palace. Everyone who saw the apple blossom complemented its beauty and scent that made the blossom become arrogant and believed that beauty was the only worthwhile thing in the world. But, as the apple blossom gazed out across the field, she reflected, “Not all of the plants are rich and lovely, as I am; others are poor and plain.” And she observed a small, common yellow flower that appeared to raise its bright head and flourish everywhere.

“What is your name?” the apple blossom asked the simple tiny flower.

“My name is the dandelion,” the small flower said.

“Poor little plant,” said the apple blossom. “It’s not your fault; but how sad you must feel to be so plain and to wear such a bad name.”

Before the small plant could respond, a wonderful little sunbeam appeared and remarked, “I see no ugly blossoms. For me, they are all gorgeous in the same way.” And he fell upon the apple blossom but he bowed down and stayed long in the field to fall upon the small yellow dandelion.

Then some small youngsters stumbled over the field. When they noticed the dandelions, the youngest giggled and fell upon them with excitement. The older kids created wreaths and exquisite chains out of them. They carefully selected those that had gone to seed and attempted to blow the petals down with one breath while expressing joyful wishes.

“Do you notice the beauty of the dandelion?” said the sunshine.

“They are only beautiful to children,” exclaimed the ecstatic apple blossom. After a while, an elderly woman entered the field. She picked dandelions’ roots to make tea for the ill, and she sold others for money to purchase milk for the children.

“But beauty is greater than all of this,” the proud tiny apple blossom said. The princess arrived just then. She was holding what appeared to be a gorgeous flower in her palm. She gently shielded it from the breeze. What do you believe it was? It was the dandelion’s airy crown. “See how lovely that is!” she said. “I’ll put it in a painting with the apple blossoms.”

The sunbeam then fell upon the apple blossom, and the apple blossom flushed with shame as he knelt low to fall upon the dandelion.

For questions 8 – 15, choose the option (A, B, C, or D) which you think best answers the question

According to Extract A, the Pine Tree was presented as

Read the extracts below then answer the questions. 

EXTRACT A:

It was a little pine tree in the middle of a large forest. It couldn’t see anything because the other pine trees surrounding it were so tall. The small tree would often glance at the sky and the stars that peered out at night. And every now and again, the enormous, round moon would sweep over the sky. And all day long, the small pine tree could see above it was blue sky and magnificent white clouds passing past like so many ships on the sea. The small pine tree desired to grow and become tall like the other trees because it wanted to see what was outside the forest. The huge pine trees sang songs as the wind whistled through their branches, while the small pine tree waited day after day, hoping to grow tall and sing songs as well. Year after year, the small tree waited, yet it grew and appeared to spread its magnificent green branches higher and higher.

The small pine tree heard some weird noises one day, when the little snowflakes had flown down and turned the entire world white, and the wind was whistling a happy melody. The tall pine trees bowed their heads, knowing who was approaching. They were known as the woodmen. They were accompanied by a sled carried by horses. The pine tree was taken aback by the spectacle, as it had never seen woodmen, a sled, or horses before. But the old pine trees understood what it all meant since they’d seen the woodmen before. They were curious as to which tree the woodmen would select. The small pine tree had grown, and it was no longer a little tree, but a straight, powerful, and magnificent tree. The woodmen strolled around holding something brilliant and gleaming in their hands. When they arrived at this pine tree, they examined it, shook it, and tapped the axe on its trunk.

How strange the pine tree felt! It was curious as to what they were going to do with it. Suddenly, a harsh sound burst out in the air, followed by another, and still another. The pine tree felt itself swaying and swinging, and it fell, lower and lower until its branches met the soft white snow on the ground. The woodmen gently raised the pine tree, placed it on the sled, and drove the horses away. Pine Tree was overjoyed because he was about to glimpse something of the huge, lovely world.

The woodmen led the horses out of the woodland and into the lovely white world. They continued on until they arrived at a small settlement on the shore. They drove past the hamlet and into a large shipyard, where saws buzzed, hammers pounded, and busy men rushed about. Pine Tree had never witnessed anything like that. He was hoisted from the sled, and his magnificent branches were plucked from the trunk, until one day the carpenters carried him away, and he discovered that he was assisting in the construction of a ship. Boards were nailed on, and the hardworking carpenters laboured day in and day out.

Finally, the sturdy and majestic ship was completed. It floated away after smoothly gliding into the ocean. Pine Tree was overjoyed because he was witnessing new and odd things. The waves slammed onto the ship with reckless abandon. They also appeared to have a song. Pine Tree remembered the tunes that the old pines used to sing. The waves didn’t always sing the same song—sometimes they’d rush and roll against the ship until they were exhausted, then roll on and sing a peaceful melody again.

EXTRACT B:

It was May, but the breeze was still cold since the sun was not yet ready to shed his warmest rays on the waiting ground. However, some birds had arrived, and more were on their way, and many magnificent blossoms were already revealing their pink and white petals, so that from bush and tree, field and flower, came the joyous cry, “Spring is here! Spring is here!”

Now, a young princess was riding through a beautiful orchard in full bloom when she stopped to select a branch of apple blossoms to take to her palace. Everyone who saw the apple blossom complemented its beauty and scent that made the blossom become arrogant and believed that beauty was the only worthwhile thing in the world. But, as the apple blossom gazed out across the field, she reflected, “Not all of the plants are rich and lovely, as I am; others are poor and plain.” And she observed a small, common yellow flower that appeared to raise its bright head and flourish everywhere.

“What is your name?” the apple blossom asked the simple tiny flower.

“My name is the dandelion,” the small flower said.

“Poor little plant,” said the apple blossom. “It’s not your fault; but how sad you must feel to be so plain and to wear such a bad name.”

Before the small plant could respond, a wonderful little sunbeam appeared and remarked, “I see no ugly blossoms. For me, they are all gorgeous in the same way.” And he fell upon the apple blossom but he bowed down and stayed long in the field to fall upon the small yellow dandelion.

Then some small youngsters stumbled over the field. When they noticed the dandelions, the youngest giggled and fell upon them with excitement. The older kids created wreaths and exquisite chains out of them. They carefully selected those that had gone to seed and attempted to blow the petals down with one breath while expressing joyful wishes.

“Do you notice the beauty of the dandelion?” said the sunshine.

“They are only beautiful to children,” exclaimed the ecstatic apple blossom. After a while, an elderly woman entered the field. She picked dandelions’ roots to make tea for the ill, and she sold others for money to purchase milk for the children.

“But beauty is greater than all of this,” the proud tiny apple blossom said. The princess arrived just then. She was holding what appeared to be a gorgeous flower in her palm. She gently shielded it from the breeze. What do you believe it was? It was the dandelion’s airy crown. “See how lovely that is!” she said. “I’ll put it in a painting with the apple blossoms.”

The sunbeam then fell upon the apple blossom, and the apple blossom flushed with shame as he knelt low to fall upon the dandelion.

For questions 8 – 15, choose the option (A, B, C, or D) which you think best answers the question

Which Extract(s) mentioned advantageous plants?

Read the extracts below then answer the questions. 

EXTRACT A:

It was a little pine tree in the middle of a large forest. It couldn’t see anything because the other pine trees surrounding it were so tall. The small tree would often glance at the sky and the stars that peered out at night. And every now and again, the enormous, round moon would sweep over the sky. And all day long, the small pine tree could see above it was blue sky and magnificent white clouds passing past like so many ships on the sea. The small pine tree desired to grow and become tall like the other trees because it wanted to see what was outside the forest. The huge pine trees sang songs as the wind whistled through their branches, while the small pine tree waited day after day, hoping to grow tall and sing songs as well. Year after year, the small tree waited, yet it grew and appeared to spread its magnificent green branches higher and higher.

The small pine tree heard some weird noises one day, when the little snowflakes had flown down and turned the entire world white, and the wind was whistling a happy melody. The tall pine trees bowed their heads, knowing who was approaching. They were known as the woodmen. They were accompanied by a sled carried by horses. The pine tree was taken aback by the spectacle, as it had never seen woodmen, a sled, or horses before. But the old pine trees understood what it all meant since they’d seen the woodmen before. They were curious as to which tree the woodmen would select. The small pine tree had grown, and it was no longer a little tree, but a straight, powerful, and magnificent tree. The woodmen strolled around holding something brilliant and gleaming in their hands. When they arrived at this pine tree, they examined it, shook it, and tapped the axe on its trunk.

How strange the pine tree felt! It was curious as to what they were going to do with it. Suddenly, a harsh sound burst out in the air, followed by another, and still another. The pine tree felt itself swaying and swinging, and it fell, lower and lower until its branches met the soft white snow on the ground. The woodmen gently raised the pine tree, placed it on the sled, and drove the horses away. Pine Tree was overjoyed because he was about to glimpse something of the huge, lovely world.

The woodmen led the horses out of the woodland and into the lovely white world. They continued on until they arrived at a small settlement on the shore. They drove past the hamlet and into a large shipyard, where saws buzzed, hammers pounded, and busy men rushed about. Pine Tree had never witnessed anything like that. He was hoisted from the sled, and his magnificent branches were plucked from the trunk, until one day the carpenters carried him away, and he discovered that he was assisting in the construction of a ship. Boards were nailed on, and the hardworking carpenters laboured day in and day out.

Finally, the sturdy and majestic ship was completed. It floated away after smoothly gliding into the ocean. Pine Tree was overjoyed because he was witnessing new and odd things. The waves slammed onto the ship with reckless abandon. They also appeared to have a song. Pine Tree remembered the tunes that the old pines used to sing. The waves didn’t always sing the same song—sometimes they’d rush and roll against the ship until they were exhausted, then roll on and sing a peaceful melody again.

EXTRACT B:

It was May, but the breeze was still cold since the sun was not yet ready to shed his warmest rays on the waiting ground. However, some birds had arrived, and more were on their way, and many magnificent blossoms were already revealing their pink and white petals, so that from bush and tree, field and flower, came the joyous cry, “Spring is here! Spring is here!”

Now, a young princess was riding through a beautiful orchard in full bloom when she stopped to select a branch of apple blossoms to take to her palace. Everyone who saw the apple blossom complemented its beauty and scent that made the blossom become arrogant and believed that beauty was the only worthwhile thing in the world. But, as the apple blossom gazed out across the field, she reflected, “Not all of the plants are rich and lovely, as I am; others are poor and plain.” And she observed a small, common yellow flower that appeared to raise its bright head and flourish everywhere.

“What is your name?” the apple blossom asked the simple tiny flower.

“My name is the dandelion,” the small flower said.

“Poor little plant,” said the apple blossom. “It’s not your fault; but how sad you must feel to be so plain and to wear such a bad name.”

Before the small plant could respond, a wonderful little sunbeam appeared and remarked, “I see no ugly blossoms. For me, they are all gorgeous in the same way.” And he fell upon the apple blossom but he bowed down and stayed long in the field to fall upon the small yellow dandelion.

Then some small youngsters stumbled over the field. When they noticed the dandelions, the youngest giggled and fell upon them with excitement. The older kids created wreaths and exquisite chains out of them. They carefully selected those that had gone to seed and attempted to blow the petals down with one breath while expressing joyful wishes.

“Do you notice the beauty of the dandelion?” said the sunshine.

“They are only beautiful to children,” exclaimed the ecstatic apple blossom. After a while, an elderly woman entered the field. She picked dandelions’ roots to make tea for the ill, and she sold others for money to purchase milk for the children.

“But beauty is greater than all of this,” the proud tiny apple blossom said. The princess arrived just then. She was holding what appeared to be a gorgeous flower in her palm. She gently shielded it from the breeze. What do you believe it was? It was the dandelion’s airy crown. “See how lovely that is!” she said. “I’ll put it in a painting with the apple blossoms.”

The sunbeam then fell upon the apple blossom, and the apple blossom flushed with shame as he knelt low to fall upon the dandelion.

For questions 8 – 15, choose the option (A, B, C, or D) which you think best answers the question

From the statements below, what is NOT true about the dandelions according to Extract B?

Read the following Poem and Answer Questions 26-30

Envy

This rose-tree is not made to bear

The violet blue, nor lily fair,

Nor the sweet mignonette:

And if this tree were discontent,

Or wished to change its natural bent,                                          5

It all in vain would fret.

And should it fret, you would suppose

It ne’er had seen its own red rose,

Nor after gentle shower

Had ever smelled its rose’s scent,                                                 10

Or it could ne’er be discontent

With its own pretty flower.

Like such a blind and senseless tree

As I’ve imagined this to be,

All envious persons are:                                                               15

With care and culture all may find

Some pretty flower in their own mind,

Some talent that is rare.

The first verse of the poem describes

Read the following Poem and Answer Questions 26-30

Envy

This rose-tree is not made to bear

The violet blue, nor lily fair,

Nor the sweet mignonette:

And if this tree were discontent,

Or wished to change its natural bent,                                          5

It all in vain would fret.

And should it fret, you would suppose

It ne’er had seen its own red rose,

Nor after gentle shower

Had ever smelled its rose’s scent,                                                 10

Or it could ne’er be discontent

With its own pretty flower.

Like such a blind and senseless tree

As I’ve imagined this to be,

All envious persons are:                                                                  15

With care and culture all may find

Some pretty flower in their own mind,

Some talent that is rare.

The writer uses the phrase “with care and culture” in line 16 to

Read the following Poem and Answer Questions 26-30

Envy

This rose-tree is not made to bear

The violet blue, nor lily fair,

Nor the sweet mignonette:

And if this tree were discontent,

Or wished to change its natural bent,                                          5

It all in vain would fret.

And should it fret, you would suppose

It ne’er had seen its own red rose,

Nor after gentle shower

Had ever smelled its rose’s scent,                                                 10

Or it could ne’er be discontent

With its own pretty flower.

Like such a blind and senseless tree

As I’ve imagined this to be,

All envious persons are:                                                               15

With care and culture all may find

Some pretty flower in their own mind,

Some talent that is rare.

The poem in general dwells on the following, EXCEPT

Read the following Poem and Answer Questions 26-30

Envy

This rose-tree is not made to bear

The violet blue, nor lily fair,

Nor the sweet mignonette:

And if this tree were discontent,

Or wished to change its natural bent,                                          5

It all in vain would fret.

And should it fret, you would suppose

It ne’er had seen its own red rose,

Nor after gentle shower

Had ever smelled its rose’s scent,                                                 10

Or it could ne’er be discontent

With its own pretty flower.

Like such a blind and senseless tree

As I’ve imagined this to be,

All envious persons are:                                                               15

With care and culture all may find

Some pretty flower in their own mind,

Some talent that is rare.

Envious people are referred to as

Read the following Poem and Answer Questions 26-30

Envy

This rose-tree is not made to bear

The violet blue, nor lily fair,

Nor the sweet mignonette:

And if this tree were discontent,

Or wished to change its natural bent,                                          5

It all in vain would fret.

And should it fret, you would suppose

It ne’er had seen its own red rose,

Nor after gentle shower

Had ever smelled its rose’s scent,                                                 10

Or it could ne’er be discontent

With its own pretty flower.

Like such a blind and senseless tree

As I’ve imagined this to be,

All envious persons are:                                                               15

With care and culture all may find

Some pretty flower in their own mind,

Some talent that is rare.

The stanzas of the poem are categorised as