Free CXC English A Paper 1 May/June 2014 past paper from 2014. Includes a worked answer key. Open the PDF, take a timed test, and study with AI on Caribbean AI.
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CSEC English A Paper 1 May/June 2014 - Free CXC Past Paper with Answers
Free CXC English A Paper 1 May/June 2014 past paper from 2014. Includes a worked answer key. Open the PDF, take a timed test, and study with AI on Caribbean AI.
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Every question from this paper as text. See the answers and worked solutions. Questions are the property of the Caribbean Examinations Council; Caribbean AI is not affiliated with CXC.
Her criticism was constructive and honest, with no .................... whatsoever.
malice
candour
coherence
directness
Because she had worked all day, the helper was .................... the task of preparing supper.
deprived of
relieved of
barred from
hindered from
Parents should try to .................... their children so that they may eventually become ....................
discipline ...... timid
train ...... intelligible
pamper ...... acceptable
educate ...... self-sufficient
Justice must be seen to be done, for .................... treatment can cause great ....................
unfair ...... resentment
pronounced ...... anger
unlawful ...... surprise
unrewarded ...... bitterness
There are many who would try to .................... your efforts because of their jealousy.
assist
affect
thwart
encourage
Instructions: Each sentence in this section is followed by four options. Choose the option NEAREST in meaning to the original sentence. Be sure to read all four choices before you select your answer.
His books are interesting and provocative.
His books are most exciting.
His books tend to make the reader angry.
His books are appealing and stimulating.
His books are concerned with trivial topics.
Cigarettes have been linked to lung cancer and, strangely enough, so has bacon.
It is strange that bacon, quite unlike cigarettes, is linked to lung cancer.
It is rather peculiar that bacon, like cigarettes, is connected with lung cancer.
It is no wonder at all that both cigarettes and bacon are linked to lung cancer.
Cancer of the lungs links cigarettes, and strangely enough, bacon.
The people in the market were as varied and curious as the wares they offered for sale.
The people in the market were curious about the variety of goods offered for sale.
The people in the market selling the various and unusual wares were of many races.
A large variety of curios were offered for sale in the market to many different people.
The wares for sale in the market were as different and as strange as the people selling them.
According to the witness, he did not see the accused man near the scene of the crime.
The witness testified that he did not see the accused man commit the crime.
The witness testified that the accused man was not seen by him near the place where the crime was committed.
The witness testified to seeing no evidence that the accused man had committed the crime.
The witness testified that the accused man was far from the location where the crime was committed.
The result of the flooding was some financial loss to those farmers whose crops were destroyed.
The flood destroyed crops and caused some farmers to lose money.
When the flooding was over, the financial destruction of the farmers and their crops was evident.
After the flood, all the farmers suffered financially because of the destruction of their crops.
The financial loss which the farmers suffered was not helped by the flood which subsequently destroyed their crops.
Items 11-15
Instructions: Some of the following sentences are unacceptable because of inappropriate grammar, idiom or vocabulary. Some sentences are acceptable as they stand. No sentence contains more than one inappropriate element.
Choose the ONE underlined part A, B or C that is inappropriate. If the sentence is acceptable as it stands, choose D.
One of the admirable characteristics of the young is that they are not easily scared.
One of the admirable characteristics
is that they are not
easily scared
No error
Peter now have influenza and so is unable to participate in the Inter School Games.
now have influenza
is unable to participate
in the Inter School Games
No error
The rest of the team was not in no mood to continue the game and went off the field.
was not in no mood
to continue the game
and went off the field
No error
Too much students entered the competition; only one of them was good enough to reach the quarterfinals.
Too much students
was good enough
to reach the quarterfinals
No error
The exhibition is expected to be a major attraction, not only to adults, but particular to school children in that area.
is expected to be
not only to adults
but particular to school children
No error
Instructions: Select the option A, B, C or D that BEST describes EACH of the sentences and mark your choice on the answer sheet.
He advanced a step or two to meet his attacker who suddenly became alarmed and retreated back four or five paces.
The sentence is too wordy, that is, repetitive or contains redundancies.
The sentence contains clichés or misused metaphors.
The sentence is incorrect grammatically or faulty in diction.
The sentence is acceptable as it stands.
The Chernobyl accident gave a grim but timely reminder to our shrinking world that no nation can hope to isolate itself from the horrendous effects of a major nuclear disaster.
The sentence is too wordy, that is, repetitive or contains redundancies.
The sentence contains clichés or misused metaphors.
The sentence is incorrect grammatically or faulty in diction.
The sentence is acceptable as it stands.
The politician hammered the nail of his argument into the leafy minds of his audience who had come to hear him speak on the difficult subject of monetary policy.
The sentence is too wordy, that is, repetitive or contains redundancies.
The sentence contains clichés or misused metaphors.
The sentence is incorrect grammatically or faulty in diction.
The sentence is acceptable as it stands.
Seldom do people declare that they are not the products of their environment.
The sentence is too wordy, that is, repetitive or contains redundancies.
The sentence contains clichés or misused metaphors.
The sentence is incorrect grammatically or faulty in diction.
The sentence is acceptable as it stands.
Disgusted with the situation, he decided to jump in the saddle and put down his foot.
The sentence is too wordy, that is, repetitive or contains redundancies.
The sentence contains clichés or misused metaphors.
The sentence is incorrect grammatically or faulty in diction.
The sentence is acceptable as it stands.
Instructions: Read the following poem carefully and then answer items 21-28 on the basis of what is stated or implied.
Taste of Endless Fruit
When a single kite is left in evening sky and I stand black against its saffron pulling in the night-covers with a single thread I think of you. When chickens search the warmth of a hen's wings, When bats break a calm lake like scissors on a warm fabric where a lone fisherman waits alone, on the hill, I think of you.
There is a "single kite" (line 1) left in the sky MOST likely because
it is late
the lone fisherman waits
night covers have descended
the other kite flyers are asleep
What aspect of the sky does the poet focus on?
Size
Shape
Colour
Distance
Of whom is the poet MOST likely thinking in the poem?
An artist at work
An enemy in hiding
A lonely old man
Someone he/she loves
"When bats break a calm lake, like scissors on a warm fabric" (lines 10-11) is an example of
simile
assonance
onomatopoeia
personification
The poet speaks of each of the following EXCEPT
a single kite that is flying
a lone fisherman waiting
bats breaking warm fabric
the hen's wings that are warm
Which of the following literary devices is used in line 4?
Contrast
Metaphor
Hyperbole
Assonance
The poet's intention is to
describe nature
describe the sunset
tell us of the lone fisherman
tell someone he/she is missing him/her
Which word BEST describes the poet's tone?
Caring
Serene
Nostalgic
Serious
Instructions: Read the following extract carefully and then answer items 29-36 on the basis of what is stated or implied.
The moment Aldrick stepped outside, Carnival hit him. And his heart grew big, and he felt a softness flow over him, and on the street, the steelband and masqueraders were assembling. The months of practising and sewing and painting and building were flowing together in the stillness of the morning under the eyes of women and children who had awakened from sleep and dressed hurriedly to come out and watch their band, to see their people, to admire them and cheer them and to accompany them, to tramp the pavement, while the masqueraders occupied the street, as a sort of guard, right into Port of Spain.
It hit him, the red and black and gold and green, the colours and the feathers and the satin, and the people's faces with that look in their eyes, and the smell of cologne and face powder, and the smell of grease and the look of wonder on the children's faces, and the little fellars with sailors caps on; and what reverence and what awe as they alone in the whole world had the real eyes to see the real thing, to see heroes, to see giants, to see gods.
And watching, fascinated by it all, as if he were seeing with the boys' eyes, Aldrick felt a tallness and a pride, felt his hair rise on his head. And eyes brimming with furious tears, Aldrick felt again the fierce love and hope that he had doubted in himself, felt again a sense of mission: felt that yes, there was a place here for him, that there was something to say yes to, and people before whom and on whose behalf he could dance the dragon. With a strong, piercing scream, he stepped into the street, his chains rattling, his arms outflung, his head lolling, in a slow threatening dance of the Beast, so that the people of the Hill turned to him, recognizing him, said "Yes! Yes! That is Dragon!"
Aldrick's reaction in lines 1–2 is one of
fear
pain
anxiety
excitement
The repetition of "and" in line 3 of the extract is intended to show
the continuous nature of the activities
the specific activities involved in costume making
the boring nature of the many activities before Carnival itself
how important each of the activities is to the success of Carnival
Lines 2 and 3 of the extract suggest that preparations for Carnival entail a great deal of
waste
tension
excitement
hard work
The words "... women and children... dressed hurriedly" (lines 4–5) suggest that
time was passing quickly
no one wanted to miss the spectacle
people's appearance did not matter
the people had overslept that morning
The words "... what reverence and what awe..." (line 11) reveal that the spectators were
confusing and condemning
engrossed and respectful
fearful and uncomfortable
apprehensive and appreciative
The reaction of the people to Aldrick's dance was one of
laughter and cheers
surprise and fear
recognition and approval
recognition and fear
In describing Carnival, the writer makes use of the senses. Which of the following senses is NOT used in the extract?
Sight
Taste
Smell
Hearing
What technique does the writer use throughout the passage to heighten the reader's appreciation for the scene?
Description
Narration
Comparison
Explanation
According to paragraph 1 (lines 1-5), which of the following results from conflict between family members?
Disorder in societies
Anxious parents and children
Disruptive behaviour in homes
High levels of tension between parents
According to the extract, all of the following threaten the existence of the family EXCEPT
the high divorce rate in western society
problems family members experience in getting along
conflicts between employers and working parents
the increase in the number of mothers of school age children working outside of the home
The word that is CLOSEST in meaning to "imperatives" (line 9) is
concerns
matters
demands
guidelines
In paragraph 2 (lines 6–11), the writer compares income in the 1950s to income today to show that
people earned more in the 1950s than today
a single income cannot adequately support an average family
people today do not work as hard as people in the 1950s
people today work longer hours for the same pay as in the 1950s
According to the writer in paragraph 3 (lines 12–19), tensions in mother-child relationships can occur because I. mothers are under stress II. parents and children are under stress III. mothers are depressed and hard to deal with
I only
II only
I and III only
II and III only
The writer's MAIN intention in lines 15–19 is to show that
men in two-income households never help in the home
two-income households always experience stress
children in two-income households are neglected
sharing of the workload can help a two-income family
The writer's MAIN purpose is to
focus on the problems experienced by men
reveal the problems experienced by men, women and children
highlight some of the internal problems threatening the existence of the family
show that single income families function better than two-income families
The tone of the passage may be BEST described as
mocking
indignant
complaining
analytical
"Trying out" (line 5) means the same as
fitting on uniforms
being a part of
seeking selection
practising for a game
The purpose of the first sentence in paragraph 1 is to suggest that the writer's point of view is
shared
logical
unanimous
beyond dispute
What did the writer do in order to discover how similar teams worked out at different schools?
Conducted surveys in other schools
Spoke with an official at another school
Observed practice sessions at other schools
Visited a number of schools with girls' teams
Which of the following is NOT cited as a benefit of a soccer team?
Teamwork
Friendships
Improved grades
Keen competition
Paragraph 3 implies that the establishment of a soccer team at the writer's school would
reveal how easy it was for girls to form friendships
allow students to get used to school life more easily
show that there was little difference between two schools
result in the school having a superior team to that at Fairfax
"All-round students" (line 13) are students who are
high achievers in examinations
excellent in sports and athletics
good in all their academic subjects
good in academics and co-curricular activities
The MAIN purpose of the letter is to
promote the benefits of sports for girls
argue that all girls may be skilled at soccer
win support for the establishment of a girls' soccer team
obtain better practice facilities for the girls' soccer team
Which of the following techniques does the writer use to support her argument? I. Citing evidence II. Quoting experts III. Showing the advantages
I and II only
I and III only
II and III only
I, II and III
Which of the following is a statement of opinion?
"I found that fifty girls would be interested in trying out for a soccer team." (lines 4-5)
"A soccer team would be of equal benefit to all the girls at our school." (lines 15-16)
"She is willing to take on the responsibility of coaching the team." (lines 20-22)
"The question of where to practise isn't a problem either." (line 22)
"Mr Lopez", to whom the letter is addressed, is MOST likely a
student
gym teacher
school official
newspaper editor
What does this airline promise if a person joins the Miles Programme?
Faster travel
Free shopping
Frequent shopping
Rewards for every flight
How many bonus miles does a Silver Tier Member receive?
3 000
5 000
7 000
8 000
To which destination can a person fly using 25 000 airline miles?
Asia
Africa
Europe
North America
According to the advertisement, what should a prospective member do if more detailed information is needed about the benefits of the programme?
Fly frequently
Visit the airline's web page
Visit the airline offices
Join the Miles Programme
Which technique does the advertisement use to appeal to travelers to join the Miles Programme?
Facts
Opinion
Persuasive language
Personal experience
The MAIN purpose of the advertisement is to encourage persons to
enjoy air travel
receive an executive Gold Card
fly more often
become members of the Miles Programme