CSEC English A Paper 1 May/June 2008 - Free CXC Past Paper with Answers

The journalists were impressed by the .......... of the statesman whose speeches had a profound .......... on all who heard them.

appearance ....... reaction

presence ....... result

emotion ....... sensation

eloquence ....... effect

The clerk was granted a promotion because she was .......... .

The community was .......... when the hard working pastor was accused of corruption.

Justice must be seen to be done, for .......... treatment can cause great .......... .

unlawful ..... surprise

pronounced ... anger

unfair ..... resentment

unrewarded ... bitterness

Are you trying to ............ that all along he knew of the plot to oust the committee?

Directions: In the following sentences one of the underlined words may be misspelt. Choose from the three options A, B, C, the word that is misspelt. If no word is misspelt, choose answer D. Mark your choice on the answer sheet.

When the museum purchased his paintings the artist received many complements.

The secretary had made up a callendar of events but there was not enough stationery to give each member a copy.

When you are compiling the estimates for reccurrent expenditure do you include breakages?

The arguments put forward by the irate parent merely helped to further agravate the situation.

The opinion that men are superior to women is a fallacy which men themselves perpetuated for centuries.

Items 11-15

Directions: Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word or phrase.

After the story was published in the newspaper his colleagues ostracised him.

The celebrated author published his second novel when he was only twenty-one.

The headgear worn by the factory worker is made from artificial material.

As far as I am concerned, the lattice windows are the most conspicuous feature on the building.

She seems to be sensitive to the feelings of others.

Directions: Each sentence in this section is followed by four sentences. Choose the one nearest in meaning to the original sentence. Be sure to read all four choices before you select your answer and mark your choice on the answer sheet.

When James returned from New York, his accent had changed, although he was there for only three months.

For three months James changed his accent when he returned from New York.

James changed his accent when he returned from New York because he was only there for three months.

Despite being in New York for only three months, James' accent had changed upon his return.

James' accent had not changed for three months although he had returned from New York.

Although you have the right to dissent, you have to be careful that you do not disregard the established rules and regulations or you may be expelled.

You will be expelled whenever you show disregard for established rules and regulations, although you are right to dissent.

When you dissent and show disregard for established rules and regulations, you may be expelled.

Showing disregard for established rules and regulations when you dissent will cause you to be expelled.

You can disagree but you have to be cautious not to flout established rules and regulations or it may bring about your expulsion.

It took the construction firm nearly three years to complete the new highway because of the uneven terrain and consistent inclement weather.

Because of the uneven ground and very bad weather, the firm took over three years to complete the new highway.

The construction firm took three years to finish the new highway because of the uneven ground and very bad weather.

The new highway was finished in just under three years because the construction firm was faced with uneven ground and regular bad weather.

For nearly three years the construction firm encountered uneven grounds and consistently bad weather when they tried to complete the new highway.

You had become tardy in your preparations for your examination during the last two months, so you must burn the candle at both ends during this week if you want to succeed.

Since you have not done much preparations for your examinations during the last two months, this week you must work doubly hard if you want to succeed.

During this week if you want to succeed you must burn two candles in preparing for your examination, since you were tardy during the last two months.

If you want to pass your examination during this week, you must work doubly hard, since you were tardy during the last two months.

If the candles are not burnt at both ends, as you prepare for your examinations this week, you will fail because you have been tardy during the last two months.

The Minister said that the members of the Opposition had acted very irresponsibly because they were not in full possession of the facts and were constantly misleading the people.

The Minister was accused by irresponsible members of the Opposition of not having full knowledge of the facts and misleading the people.

The Minister accused the Opposition of irresponsible action because of their lack of knowledge and their persistent misleading of the people.

Not only did the Minister say that the Opposition was irresponsible but that they were also ignorant and misleading the people.

It was the uninformed opinion of the Opposition that caused the Minister to accuse them of acting irresponsibly and of constantly misleading the people.

In the passage, the phrase 'newly renovated' (line 1) suggests that the

surroundings look more attractive

patrons will be more welcome

quality of the food has improved

service will be quicker than before

In the passage, 'in the twinkling of an eye' (line 13) means the same as

According to the passage, which ONE of the following does 'SNACKTIME RESTAURANT' claim to offer?

Quick service and reasonable prices

Prompt service and enjoyable snacks

Nutritious snacks and takeaway service

Reasonable prices and pleasant surroundings

This advertisement is designed to appeal to all of the following EXCEPT the

diet conscious eater

fast foods enthusiast

In the passage, the author uses all of the following devices EXCEPT

The episode described in the poem took place after

Which of the following BEST describes the speaker as he is revealed in lines 1-4?

Disdainful but sympathetic

Thoughtful and tender

Loving but practical

The speaker's impression of the girl when he decided to take her with him was that she was

The speaker and the girl were walking across the country because

their train had reached its destination

their grandmothers had deserted them

they were looking for a safe place

they were playing truant

Katya, as revealed in lines 24-29 of the poem, can BEST be described as

cheerful and understanding

bossy and resourceful

friendly and talkative

Despite his feeling of tiredness, which of the following made the boy keep on moving across the country?

The speaker in the last eleven lines of the poem (lines 30-40) can BEST be described as

confident and boastful

proud and persevering

The fact that the speaker in the poem "... even whistled" (line 34) indicates that the speaker was

cheerfully optimistic

trying to cheer up Katya

attempting to hide his feelings

In the passage, the writer uses the phrase "harsh outer walls" (line 2) to show that

the walls were made of concrete

the poor people's houses had no walls

the city appeared unfriendly

there were gardens beyond

The writer uses "secret" (line 3) to describe the gardens because

they were hidden from view

many treasures were concealed there

the occupants whispered there

many people did not know of them

The word "procession" (line 4) indicates that the crowd was

moving in a long orderly group

walking together like a mob

moving about aimlessly.

Which of the following statements is NOT true about the beggars?

They were inquisitive about people.

They knew about human nature.

They had a good relationship with the doctor.

They knew everything that went on around them.

In the passage, "great experts of financial analysis" (lines 8-9) means that the beggars

could immediately determine the rich from the poor

could analyse the financial state of the country

were able to add their aims quickly

had many years of experience in begging

The description in paragraph 2 (lines 8-17) conveys to the reader the impression of

comfort and prosperity

hard work and poverty

According to the passage, "Kino hesitated a moment" (line 24) because he

wondered whether he had enough money

wanted to kill the doctor

was afraid to approach the doctor

had to wait until the gate was opened

In the passage, the sentence, "This doctor was not of his people" (line 24) suggests that the doctor

did not respect Kino's people

came from a different culture from Kino's

did not understand Kino's people

was not born in the city as Kino was

What do the lines "And as Kino raised his right hand ... but with his left hand reached to take off his hat" (lines 29-31) reveal about Kino?

His murderous intent

His conflicting emotions

Which of the following is NOT illustrated in the passage?

The kindness of the beggars

The curiosity of the city people

The suffering of Juana and Kino

The contrast between the rich and the poor

Koznyshev decided "to think it over" (line 9) because he wanted

to make quite sure that he was not being untrue to Marie's memory

a chance to compare Kitty to Varenka

to determine whom he really loved

to be sure that he wasn't allowing himself to be influenced by emotion

In lines 12–15 of the extract, Koznyshev is revealed as a person who is

When Kozneyshev says, "... I vowed to myself I would remain true to her memory" (lines 13–14), he means that he would never

love anyone else but Marie

tell an untruth about Marie

Koznyshev's view of Kitty (who is mentioned in lines 38 and 45) is that she is

young and irreligious

unthinking and unattractive

childish and insensitive

Koznyshev would like to see all of the following in his future wife EXCEPT

Which of the following, in Koznyshev's eyes, was an admirable quality which Varenka possessed?

Koznyshev uses Varenka's saying about men in Russia and in France (lines 55–61) to support his own view that

she was indeed knowledgeable about matters of the world

age was really a matter of opinion

forty was the right age at which to marry

being a Russian he was too old for Varenka

Koznyshev's major consideration acting against his marrying Varenka was that he

thought he was too old for Varenka

thought his emotions were adversely affecting his reasoning ability

would lose the romantic image he enjoyed in the eyes of others

wanted to remain true to Marie's memory

"Throwing away his cigar, Koznyshev advanced towards her with a determined step." (lines 72–74). What does this suggest he has decided to do?

To tell Varenka how young he felt

To compliment Varenka on her pretty dress.

To escort Varenka home

To ask Varenka to marry him

Within the last paragraph, the nature of Koznyshev's considerations changes as he thinks about marrying Varenka. Which of the following BEST describes this change?

From rational to emotional

From impersonal to personal

From practical to idealistic

From particular to general

The activity described in the poem is

"She" in the poem is MOST likely

"She crowds the card table ..." (line 5) suggests

she sits close to the card table

many people sit around the card table

there are many card tables

the card table is packed

The comparison between the paper casings and homemade sausages (lines 14-15) is a reference to

The "crawlspace" (line 19) MOST likely refers to

the foundation of the house

The money is being saved to

place in the bank downtown

package in paper casing

safeguard against need in winter

The phrase "solid as any foundation" (lines 19-20) suggests

what a huge fortune was buried

how secure it made the owners feel

how fragile the jars were

that the foundations needed reinforcement

CSEC English A Paper 1 May/June 2008 - Free CXC Past Paper with Answers

CSEC English A Paper 1 May/June 2008 Questions