Free CXC English A Paper 1 May/June 2017 past paper from 2017. 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 2017 - Free CXC Past Paper with Answers
Free CXC English A Paper 1 May/June 2017 past paper from 2017. 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.
We found her <u>appreciative</u> of the help that we had given her on this matter.
unhappy about
displeased at
ungrateful for
intolerant of
While the employers approved of his work habits, they objected to his <u>radical</u> views.
capitalist
informed
fashionable
conservative
At the sound of the bell, the lower forms went <u>reluctantly</u> back to their classrooms.
willingly
hurriedly
anxiously
punctually
The guest speaker's address was <u>devoid</u> of humour and this made persons uneasy.
full of
indicative of
controlled by
presented with
As a result of the available evidence, the accused was <u>apprehended</u> and no further action was taken.
evicted
released
cautioned
summoned
Instructions: Each sentence has either one or two words missing. Choose from the four options the word or pair of words which BEST completes the meaning of the sentence.
Despite his being somewhat short-tempered, 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 ............
concern ............ unsympathetic
dislike ............ indifferent
fondness ............ lonely
preference ............ jealous
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
Are you trying to ............ that all along he knew of the plot to oust the committee?
clarify
accuse
identify
insinuate
Items 11-15 Instructions: Each sentence in this section is followed by four sentences, A, B, C and D. Choose the sentence NEAREST in meaning to the original sentence.
Mary still wanted to marry John even though he had lost all his money.
Mary agreed to marry John although he had lost all his money.
The loss of all John's money did not affect Mary's wish to marry him.
John's money did not matter to Mary who still wanted to marry him.
Mary intended to marry John even if he were to lose all his money.
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 co-operatives in order to support the prime minister's drive for self-sufficiency.
Co-operatives are the only means by which the prime minister's plan for self-sufficiency could be achieved by the youth.
The prime minister advised the youth to get into co-operative groups so that they could support his plan for self-sufficiency.
The youth should show their support for the prime minister's plans for self-sufficiency by organizing themselves into co-operatives.
In order to support the plan for self-sufficiency the youth need to organize themselves and co-operate with the prime minister.
Realizing that her suitcase was left on the bus, the woman desperately tried to attract the conductor's attention.
When the desperate woman realized that she was leaving the bus without her suitcase, she tried to attract the conductor's attention.
The woman became aware of the fact that she no longer had her suitcase and did her best to catch the attention of the bus conductor.
The woman made all attempts to attract the conductor's attention to the suitcase which she had left on the bus.
The conductor's attention was attracted by the woman who in desperation, had forgotten her suitcase on the bus.
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.
We could reach the survivors neither by boat or by plane, and so we abandoned our search as futile.
neither by boat
or by plane
as futile
No error
I formed the brilliant idea of climbing the fence and to hang from the top of the rail until the bull went away.
I formed the brilliant idea
of climbing the fence
and to hang
No error
She was not feeling well at the beginning of the journey, and sitting at the front of the car made her feel worse.
was not feeling well
sitting at the front
made her feel worse
No error
My ambition is to have a good job and to further my studies at one of the more prestigious universities.
is to have
to further my studies
at one of the more prestigious
No error
The better of the two athletes claim never to have used the dangerous drugs found in his possession.
The better of the two athletes
claim never to have used
found in his possession
No error
Items 21–30 Instructions: Read the following poem carefully and then answer Items 21–30 on the basis of what is stated or implied.
A Bad Day
I cannot smile today nor be pleasant today I do not like people today and particularly hate children today today I am sad today I am mad at everybody and everything I hurt today I can't love today nor see beauty today I wish the wind away No, I can't be happy today I looked down the future today and began to die today
Cynthia Wilson, "A Bad Day". Hibiscus Bears A Blue Flower - Poems and Musings, Cynthia Wilson, 2004, p. 64.
Which of the following is NOT true of the poet today?
She cannot smile.
She cannot be sad today.
She does not love children.
She cannot see beauty in anything.
Which of the following words BEST describes the poet's mood?
Jovial
Anxious
Reflective
Melancholic
The word "particularly" (line 4) is NEAREST in meaning to
rarely
truthfully
especially
sincerely
Which of the following is an example of alliteration?
"cannot smile today" (line 1)
"can't love today" (line 9)
"wish the wind away" (line 12)
"I can't be happy today" (line 13)
The poet repeats the word "today" for
balance
emphasis
consistency
enhancement
The words "nor see beauty" (line 10) mean that the poet cannot
see nature
see her friend
tolerate people
appreciate anything
"I looked down the future today" (line 14) is an example of
simile
metaphor
onomatopoeia
personification
The poet "began to die" (line 15) probably because
the weather was gloomy
she could not control her anger
future events did not look promising
there were too many people around her
The mood of the poem can BEST be described as
depressing
peaceful
sarcastic
apprehensive
The poet's intention is to
express her state of being
show us her dislike of children
demonstrate her hatred of people
encourage herself to be contented
The expression "this bush does reduce you to an animal" (lines 1–2) implies that Shark would
eat like an animal
walk on all fours like an animal
be forced to adopt the instincts of an animal
hunt for prey like an animal for survival
The advice given to Shark in the first sentence was meant to warn him that
he should not be in the bush after dark
he could miss seeing the river in the dark
he should be careful about dangerous animals in the bush
there were things he did not yet know about life
"The forest darkened" (lines 6-7) suggests that the
sun had set by this time
trees leaned over the river
sun made trees create shadows
trees were blocking out the sunlight
The phrase "molasses-black" (line 12) describes
the colour of the water
the thickness of the water
how slowly the water flowed
how the water smelled like molasses
The conclusion we may draw about Shark "scanning the far bank" (line 13) is that he was
examining carefully
glimpsing the bank
peering through the bushes
looking at the trees nearby
The phrases "scanning the far bank"(line 13), "descended stealthily" (line 13), "hid my ... pouch" (line 14), "crouched down" (line 15) show that Shark is
looking for a friend
expecting an attack from animals
expecting someone who was not a friend
searching for a place to set up camp
Based on the extract, the only feeling Shark did NOT experience was
fear
aloneness
anticipation
satisfaction
The concluding sentence of this extract
suggests that Shark expected someone or something to appear at any moment
indicates that Shark was tired and wished to take a short rest
summarizes the events which took place
indicates that Shark had achieved his goal
Which of the following suggested titles BEST suits the extract?
Nameless River
Lessons in Life
Lost in the Wild
Tracking in the Bush
According to the writer in lines 1–9, what is the most frightening thought that occurs when a guest stares at your bookshelves?
He will be bored by your selection of books.
He would ask to borrow one of your favourite books.
He might show disapproval of your taste in books.
He will be distracted from the important business at hand by looking at your books.
The guest looks "from title to title, as from girl to girl in an overheated dance hall" (lines 5-6). This comparison is intended to suggest a feeling of
anticipation
frustration
confusion
maliciousness
The writer uses a series of short sentences in lines 7-8 to suggest his feeling of
pleasure
disbelief
excitement
apprehension
The writer, in paragraph 2 (lines 10-15), describes in detail how he obtained the book in order to
explain to the reader why he is so attached to the book
make the guest aware of how he came to own the book
show the reader that he did not mind if the guest borrowed the book
give his guest the background necessary to understand what the book is about
The word "Mind?" (line 15) is written in italics because the author wishes to emphasize
how much he minds lending his book to his friend
that his thoughts are not spoken aloud to his friend
how much of a history the particular book has
that he does not mind at all lending the book to his friend
In line 19, the writer uses square brackets to indicate that the word in these brackets
is an expansion of those not in brackets (lines 16-18)
parallels those words not in brackets (lines 16-18)
contradicts those words not in brackets (lines 16-18)
is there to emphasize those words not in brackets (lines 16-18)
"One has books; one has friends; they are bound to meet" (lines 20-21). This statement implies that it is
unusual to have neither books nor friends
inevitable that books will be borrowed by one's friends
possible to avoid such meetings by hiding away one's books
impossible to have a friend who does not want to keep one's books
According to the writer, which of the following is TRUE?
The borrower of books never raises the question of money.
The borrower of books only returns the books because of a sense of guilt.
The borrower is more inclined to remember books than money.
The borrower of money becomes a slave to the lender.
The writer's use of the word "brain" (line 1) is meant to
make fun of the decisions
exaggerate the traffic problems
create a comparison of streets
compliment those responsible
When the writer repeats "not them" in paragraph 1, he implies that
he is choosing someone to complain to
no one knows who is in charge of the traffic management
no one wants to accept responsibility for the traffic situation
he is searching diligently for the person in charge of traffic
"Stoke Street" (line 7), "Celestial Road" (line 9) and "Delino Street" (line 17) can BEST be considered as
assigned parking places for diplomats
examples to support the writer's case
prohibited streets for drivers
streets that attract a lot of attention
The writer's tone can be described as
puzzled
resigned
sarcastic
complimentary
The last sentence of the letter is similar to paragraph 5 because both of them
mention cars
express disgust
are complimentary
contain rhetorical questions
The letter was MOST likely published in a
newspaper
press release
tourist brochure
school magazine
The author of this passage is MOST likely a
motorist
pedestrian
traffic warden
government official
"Again the small man suffers!" (line 14) implies that the small man is often
ignored
disadvantaged
the one who is wrong
discriminated against
According to the information provided, the MAIN theme of the symposium is
youth
drug abuse
adolescent health
sexually transmitted diseases
Which of the following groups is NOT a sponsor of the symposium?
Ministry of Youth
Ministry of Health
Conference of Churches
National Council on Drug Abuse
Which of the following words can BEST replace 'symposium' in the advertisement?
Exhibition
Conference
Discussion
Conversation
How can those who want to participate register for the event?
Call the Ministry of Youth and speak to Yvonne Dalton.
Contact Yvonne Dalton and call the Ministry of Education.
Telephone the Ministry of Youth and the Ministry of Education.
Complete a registration form and return it to the Ministry of Health.
All of the following groups are specifically invited to attend EXCEPT
youth groups
members of the public
parents of young people
doctors, nurses, and other health care workers