Free CXC English A Paper 1 May/June 2018 past paper from 2018. 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 2018 - Free CXC Past Paper with Answers
Free CXC English A Paper 1 May/June 2018 past paper from 2018. 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
Items 6-10 Instructions: Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word or words. Mark your choice on the answer sheet.
He was eager to share the news with his friends.
worried
reluctant
displeased
unavailable
Many parents and even some teenagers do not approve of the amount of permissiveness in today's society.
restrictiveness
competitiveness
progressiveness
broadmindedness
Every effort was made to avert the chance of failure.
ensure
exclude
examine
overcome
The president of the students' association never mentioned the treasurer's integrity.
skill
loyalty
inability
dishonesty
She seems to be sensitive to the feelings of others.
unaware of
unaffected by
uninterested in
undecided about
Items 11-15 Instructions: Revise each of the following sentences according to the directions that follow it. Do not change the meaning of the original sentence. Look at the options, A to D, for the word or phrase that best suits your revised sentence and mark your choice on the answer sheet.
People from crowded nations cannot get over the accessibility of Canada's natural environment, in all its magnificence.
Begin the sentence with
It is impossible for
to be over
to get over
to have got over
to getting over
If Charlie invites me, I will go to his party.
Begin the sentence with
Were Charlie to invite me
I would go
I will have gone
I would have gone
I would have been
More is experienced in one day of the life of a learned man than an ignorant man experiences in his whole lifetime.
Begin the sentence with
A learned man
experienced more in one day
more experienced in one day
experiences more in one day
has more experience in one day
She found, even after she had made several attempts to regulate the sprinkler, that the water was still reaching the furniture on the verandah.
Begin the sentence with
Having made
she found that
she had found that
she was finding that
and finding that
The cricket match ended abruptly when many of the spectators stormed the field.
Begin the sentence with
Many of the spectators stormed
so
but
getting
preventing
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.
Select the ONE underlined part that you feel is inappropriate and choose the corresponding letter. If the sentence is acceptable as it stands, choose D. Mark your choice on the answer sheet.
Considering the chaos you <underline>would cause</underline> (A) if you <underline>were</underline> (B) to resign now, I have no choice <underline>than to</underline> (C) refuse your request. <underline>No error</underline> (D)
would cause
were
than to
No error
"You may notice that the windows of the house next to the <underline>playground looks</underline> (A) like <underline>those</underline> (B) of <underline>ancient English cottages</underline> (C)." <underline>No error</underline> (D)
playground looks
those
ancient English cottages
No error
There is hardly a point <underline>to our knocking</underline> (A) as <underline>no one</underline> (B) <underline>is not</underline> (C) at home. <underline>No error</underline> (D)
to our knocking
no one
is not
No error
Tom, the most talented of those musicians who <underline>need help</underline> (A), <underline>has promised</underline> (B) to give <underline>his services</underline> (C) free of charge for any worthwhile cause. <underline>No error</underline> (D)
need help
has promised
his services
No error
Any disease of the bones and joints which <underline>are</underline> (A) due to deficiencies in a single nutritional factor <underline>can</underline> (B) be <underline>prevented</underline> (C). <underline>No error</underline> (D)
are
can
prevented
No error
Instructions: Some of the following sentences are unacceptable because they contain errors; no sentence contains more than one error. Some of the sentences are acceptable as they stand. On the answer sheet, mark the ONE option that best describes each sentence, as follows:
There are many who have not considered the need to abstain from alcohol, but sobriety is truly the only option for one who wishes to engage in healthy lifestyle practices.
The sentence is wordy, is repetitive or contains redundancies.
The sentence contains a cliché or misused metaphors.
The sentence is incorrect grammatically or faulty in diction.
The sentence is acceptable as it stands.
He wanted to beg for his old job, but that ship has sailed, and he had to simply play the hand that was dealt him.
The sentence is wordy, is repetitive or contains redundancies.
The sentence contains a cliché or misused metaphors.
The sentence is incorrect grammatically or faulty in diction.
The sentence is acceptable as it stands.
Rising from the throne, the crowd cheered their noble monarch as he walked solemnly forward to greet the foreign dignitaries.
The sentence is wordy, is repetitive or contains redundancies.
The sentence contains a cliché or misused metaphors.
The sentence is incorrect grammatically or faulty in diction.
The sentence is acceptable as it stands.
The moon shone brightly in the clear night sky, its cool light a blessing after the searing heat of day.
The sentence is wordy, is repetitive or contains redundancies.
The sentence contains a cliché or misused metaphors.
The sentence is incorrect grammatically or faulty in diction.
The sentence is acceptable as it stands.
When the clerk raised his voice in protest, his boss asked him to hold his tongue since empty vessels made the most noise and are often thrown in the den to be eaten by the lions.
The sentence is wordy, is repetitive or contains redundancies.
The sentence contains a cliché or misused metaphors.
The sentence is incorrect grammatically or faulty in diction.
The sentence is acceptable as it stands.
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 conscious- ness" (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
Which word BEST describes the home-owner's attitude towards the hillside near his house?
Angry
Proud
Pleased
Possessive
The words "struck him" (line 2) suggest that to the homeowner the sudden appearance of the squatter's house
stirred disgust at the nature of the home
awoke interest in how quickly it was built
aroused shock at the unexpected neighbour
stimulated pain because of the loss of privacy and control
The phrase "sat on" (line 9) tells us that the house is
set into the hillside
comfortably situated
precariously located
placed directly on the hill
Which of the following did the homeowner believe gave him the right to claim the hill?
Its proximity to his home.
It was not easily accessible.
The length of time he lived there.
No one had moved in for some time.
The word "littered" (line 7) highlights the owner's belief that the squatters' settlements were I. temporary II. a blemish III. poorly built
II only
I and III only
II and III only
I, II and III
Which of the following BEST captures the homeowner's biggest fear?
The silk-cotton tree would become gigantic
Proper houses would be built on the hillside
The hillside would become a squatters' settlement
Littering would become a problem on the hillside
The repetition of "his hill" (lines 3, 20) by the narrator
displays the depth of his disgust
shows how persistent his shock was
presents the homeowner's stub-bornness
emphasizes the passion behind his attitude
Which words BEST sum up the home-owner's view of squatters' settlement?
"sprung up daily" (line 7)
"society out of control" (line 8)
"marred his view" (line 9)
"houses, proper ones" (line 11)
The writer's MAIN purpose in the extract is to
show that the ocean is very diverse
convince the reader to visit the ocean
describe the beauty of the ocean to humans
discuss the different creatures that live in the ocean
The word "prejudiced" (line 1) is NEAREST in meaning to
racial
biased
negative
unpleasant
The writer says that prejudiced eyes see the oceans as being "as homogeneous as outer space" (lines 1-2). This description suggests that the oceans seem to be
empty and far away
the cause of prejudice
a rich and varied place
one continuous stretch of water
The statement "some marine creatures treat the whole maritime world as their oyster" (lines 2-3) suggests that the creatures
live in oysters
feed on oysters
stay in one part of the ocean
move freely throughout the oceans
According to the extract, "patchiness" (line 13) refers to
variation
confusion
movement
piecing together
Which of the following BEST describes the type of writing in the extract?
Critical
Narrative
Informative
Argumentative
According to the extract, which of the following statements is FALSE?
There are more species on land than in the ocean.
There are more species in the ocean than on land.
Many ocean creatures divide their time in different parts of the ocean.
Many sea creatures take different forms at different stages of their lives.
The clause "there are so many different ways of making a living in the oceans" (line 16) refers to
tourists
fishermen
scientists
marine creatures
The advertisement was most likely taken from a
newspaper
geography text
tourism brochure
naturalist magazine
Which of the following is nearest in meaning to "off the beaten track" (line 1)?
On unpaved trails
Into the wilderness
Through dense vegetation
Along routes not regularly traversed
Which of the following does the advertisement promise?
I. Scenic beauty II. Sedate enjoyment III. Outdoor adventure
I and II only
I and III only
II and III only
I, II and III
The phrase "The neat sugar cane fields sweep down the rolling hills" (line 5) contains an example of
contrast
repetition
metaphor
specific reference
This advertisement seeks to persuade the reader mainly through the use of
detail
imagery
suspense
exaggeration
What does the 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?
3000
5000
7000
8000
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's 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