Free CXC English A Paper 1 May/June 2016 past paper from 2016. 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 2016 - Free CXC Past Paper with Answers
Free CXC English A Paper 1 May/June 2016 past paper from 2016. 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.
Despite his short-temper, his willingness to give of his wealth to help others to succeed led people to call him .......... .
hasty
foolish
benevolent
old fashioned
When parents display a .......... for one child, the others are likely to feel .......... .
fondness ... lonely
dislike ... indifferent
preference ... jealous
concern ... angry
An attack on someone when that person is most vulnerable may be .......... but is always .......... .
inappropriate .......... thoughtful
rewarding .......... satisfying
destructive .......... distressing
effective .......... unkind
While the committee members .......... insults across the floor, the chairman tried in vain to .......... order.
hurled .......... restore
spoke .......... impose
gave .......... maintain
exchanged .......... conserve
To conceal his true activities, the spy quickly .......... a plausible excuse for his presence there.
fabricated
divulged
explained
disguised
Instructions: Some of the sentences in this section 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.
There is hardly a point to our knocking as no one is not at home.
to
no one
is not
No error
Had they not been forewarned, they might have joined the queue, not knowing that gas was not on sale at that station.
Had they not been
might have joined
not knowing
No error.
The problem with the students is that they arrive late, gives no excuse, and are rude when spoken to.
is
gives
spoken
No error.
June prefers to lie in bed not wanting to go to school nor does any work.
to lie
not wanting
does
No error.
The biased reporter is concerned not so much with the truth of what he writes, as with its credibility.
not so much
of what
as with
No error
Items 11-15 Instructions: Each sentence in this section is followed by four sentences A, B, C and D. Choose the one NEAREST IN MEANING to the original sentence.
The news shocked me so much that I almost forgot what I wanted to say.
The news was so shocking that I could not move.
I could hardly remember my message after such shocking news.
I nearly didn't speak again after the shock of the news.
I was so shocked by the news that I could hardly speak.
If students' efforts are rewarded they would be encouraged to work harder.
Students must be encouraged to work hard.
If students work harder, they will be praised for their effort.
Students whose efforts are compensated generally work better.
If students are praised for their efforts, they usually work harder.
No right thinking person who has lived in the country will fail to understand my disgust at noise.
Every right thinking person will understand my disgust at noise in the country.
Noise in the country is as disgusting to me as it is to all right thinking people.
My disgust at noise will be understood by any right thinking person who has lived in the country.
It is inconceivable that a right thinking person in the country could fail to understand my disgust at noise.
The youth of the country need to organize themselves into cooperatives in order to support the prime minister's drive for self-sufficiency.
Cooperatives are the only means by which the prime minister's plan for self-sufficiency could be achieved by the youth.
The youth should show their support for the prime minister's plans for self-sufficiency by organizing themselves into cooperatives.
The prime minister advised the youth to get into cooperative groups so that they could support his plan for self-sufficiency.
In order to support the plan for self-sufficiency the youth need to organize themselves and cooperate with the prime minister.
The Europeans who were not well off were those who came to the West Indies in search of wealth.
Europeans settled in the West Indies because they were told that they would become richer.
Unemployment at home caused Europeans to come to the West Indies to seek their fortune.
Financial difficulties at home made Europeans who came to the West Indies decide to settle there.
Europeans who came to the West Indies to seek their fortunes were the ones who were not wealthy.
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.
Traffic bottlenecks must be ironed out if we are to prevent giant traffic congestion.
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.
The modern approach to fitness is to adopt a holistic approach: physical, mental and emotional.
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 21-30 on the basis of what is stated or implied.
An Even Shape
Her garden looks in through my window Criss-crossed by the white lattice. Coolers they call them but they are also Hiding places for small girls playing
5 Her garden stands neatly round her house Travels politely unto the verandah To sit in pots or hang Leafily down from large, earth-coloured urns 10 She lives with Mama, shepherding her with her full body The hesitant ins and outs of Mama's half- blind days Feeding her frail consciousness with edited 15 Gleaner news And homemade chicken soup.
In her home, borrowed children touched her china birds with hands Wiped clean from eating sticky cakes, each 20 with a cherry on top Or press moist, breathless kisses round The corners of her smile.
Sometimes she fills the space out With music. Spreading out nostalgia through 25 Strings and flutes, old fashioned love songs Of blue moons and forever until.
Shameful peeping Tom, I sit silent in My lattice watching the even shape of her days 30 To catch, just once, a wider open door behind Her steady eyes.
But in her green edged privacy, self-con- tained 35 She keeps the half-drawn shutters of her life Open just so, and mocks my greed and rest- lessness With a calm refusal to be other than she seems.
Source unknown
The phrase "Her garden looks" (line 1) is an example of
Simile
Metaphor
Sarcasm
Personification
The garden seemed "criss-crossed" (line 2) because the
poet was looking at it through a lattice window
garden beds were laid out in squares
children were walking across the garden
the person looking at the garden was cross-eyed
Which of the following phrases is meant to be taken literally?
"Hiding places for small girls" (line 4)
"Her garden ... / Travels politely unto the verandah" (lines 5–6)
"Feeding her frail consciousness" (line 14)
"... watching the even shape of her days" (lines 28–29)
"Her garden stands neatly round her house" (line 5) tells us that
there were several well-kept potted plants on stands around her house
several tall trees stood along the side of the house
the garden which surrounded the house was well kept
the woman cleaned the flower stands every day
The poet uses the words "frail consciousness" (line 14) to show that Mama
was unconscious most of the time
was not understanding as well as she used to
had fainted because of lack of food
was thin and weak and could hardly walk
Which of the following BEST describes the woman's extra thoughtfulness of her mother?
"She lives with Mama, shepherding her with / Her full body" (lines 10–11)
"Press moist, breathless kisses" (line 21)
"Feeding her ... with edited Gleaner news" (lines 14–15)
"Spreading out nostalgia through Strings and flutes" (lines 24–25)
The poet uses the phrase "borrowed children" (line 17) to show
how much she loved the children
that she had no children of her own
that she did not want children
why she made the children wash their dirty hands
Which of the following were done by the children to show their love for the woman? I. Wiping their hands before touching the china bird II. Eating all the sticky cakes she made them III. Kissing her on the side of her lips
I and II only
I and III only
II and III only
I, II and III
Lines 23–26 suggest that the woman
loved to play loud music
was a musician in an orchestra
enjoyed listening to happy music which tells of love
spread all the musical instruments around the house
The word "nostalgia" (line 24) tells us that the music
would last forever
was played on strings and flute
reminded us that the moon was once blue
brought back pleasant memories of long ago
The writer uses "secret" (line 4) 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 5) indicates that the crowd was
going to a funeral
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, the expression "great experts in 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 alms quickly
had many years of experience in begging
The description in paragraph 2 (lines 8–18) conveys to the reader the impression of
fear and hatred
happiness and love
harshness and poverty
comfort and prosperity
According to the passage, "Kino hesitated a moment" (line 26) because he
had to calm his anger and hatred
was afraid to approach the doctor
wondered whether he had enough money
wanted to kill the doctor with his bare hands
In the passage, the sentence, "This doctor was not of his people" (line 26) suggests that the doctor
did not respect Kino's people
did not understand Kino's people
was not born in the city as Kino was
came from a different background from Kino's
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
Casinos and their effect on society became an issue for the first time about
ten years ago
less than five years ago
over twenty-five years ago
one hundred years ago
How was the issue of casinos dealt with at the time mentioned?
Casinos were not allowed.
Many casinos remained without being monitored.
Most casinos remained while their growth was monitored.
Some casinos remained while their growth was monitored.
"Interestingly" (line 3) could BEST be replaced by the word
logically
ironically
thankfully
conveniently
"given the green light to arcades" (line 4) means that
arcades have been given permission to operate
gambling is practised in the arcades
people gamble day and night under the light
green coloured lights have been given to the arcades
The Bahamas, Antigua, Suriname and Sint Maarten are mentioned to
list countries involved in tourism
give evidence from experts on the issue
prove that gambling is a stimulus to tourism
highlight countries where gambling is allowed
An expression the writer uses to introduce an opposing view (line 16) is
in addition
for example
like most things
on the other hand
Which argument below is NOT used in support of casino gambling?
It degrades the values of society.
It can be beneficial if controlled wisely.
It can be used as another tourist attraction.
It is part of the everyday life of the Caribbean individual.
To what does "... that is the last thing that we may need right now" (lines 18–19) refer?
"everything else that is happening in our islands" (line 17)
"an upsurge of gangs, drugs and violent behaviour among our youth" (lines 17–18)
"cruise ships keeping casinos open while docked on shore" (line 19)
"they flock to the tracks to watch horses run and bet millions annually" (lines 21–22)
"I just can't take it anymore" (line 1) implies that the writer is
crying
arguing
hurting
shouting
The effect that is created by the repetition of "I" in the first paragraph can be BEST described as highlighting the writer's
view
voice
protest
frustration
Which of the following language devices does the writer use MOST in paragraph 2 to explain her plight?
Pun
Contrast
Repetition
The rhetorical question
Which of the following words BEST conveys the emotion that the writer is seeking to arouse in the reader?
Love
Anger
Horror
Empathy
The sentence "I work hard and every report so far indicates that I am an above-average student" (line 5) suggests that the writer
is boastful
is pleading
wants to sustain this performance
is about to fail her examinations
"... jumping up and down as if the place is haunted"(line 12) is an example of which of the following devices?
Irony
Hyperbole
Paradox
Personification
What effect does the writer achieve when she says "Can you imagine my mother and her 16-year-old daughter going to this place in the midst of riotous drinking" (lines 19–20)?
Criticism for their actions in going to a bar
Surprise that the women should hesitate to go there
Admiration from the reader for the women's courage
Scorn for the women's behaviour in going into a bar
The last line of the passage expresses the view that
Carnival will be more festive
the noisy atmosphere will become worse
the writer will become hysterical
the writer's mother will quarrel with the restaurant owner
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 of the following destinations can a person fly using 25 500 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 webpage
Visit the airline offices
Join the Miles Programme
Which technique does the advertisement use to appeal to travellers 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