Free CXC English A Paper 1 May/June 2020 past paper from 2020. Includes a worked answer key. Open the PDF, take a timed test, and study with AI on Caribbean AI.
Answer keys are free on Caribbean AI. View the answers to every past-paper question at no cost - no payment needed - with step-by-step worked solutions and instant AI marking available on Premium.
CSEC English A Paper 1 May/June 2020 - Free CXC Past Paper with Answers
Free CXC English A Paper 1 May/June 2020 past paper from 2020. Includes a worked answer key. Open the PDF, take a timed test, and study with AI on Caribbean AI.
Opening the interactive papers…
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
The journalists were impressed by the _________ of the statesman whose speeches had a profound _________ on all who heard him.
eloquence.........effect
presence.........result
emotion.........sensation
appearance.........reaction
The new owners will be asked to start the plan as soon as possible and will be expected to _________ the policy of cost reduction approved by the board.
state
develop
frustrate
implement
Although it is possible to move the house, the cost of moving it makes the project _________.
popular
impractical
worthwhile
inconsiderate
To conceal his true activities, the spy quickly _________ a plausible excuse for his presence there.
divulged
disguised
explained
fabricated
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.
She seems to be sensitive to the feelings of others.
unaware of
unsure about
unaffected by
appreciative of
Many teenagers and even some parents, do not agree with the level of restrictiveness in today's society.
permissiveness
unpleasantness
longsightedness
competitiveness
He was eager to share the news with his friends.
worried
reluctant
displeased
unavailable
The president of the students' association never mentioned the treasurer's integrity.
skill
loyalty
inability
dishonesty
While the employers approved of his work habits, they objected to his radical views.
capitalist
informed
fashionable
conventional
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 the 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 of its magnificence.
Begin the sentence with It is impossible for
to be over
to get over
to have got over
to getting over
On learning of the impending hurricane, many persons rushed to the supermarket.
Begin the sentence with Many persons rushed
as they learned
while they learnt
when they learnt
for they were learning
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
experiences more in one day
more experienced in one day
experienced more in one day
has more experience in one day
During my time at school I was involved in extracurricular activities.
Begin the sentence with I was involved in
on staying
while I was
for my stay
when staying
"It's going to be alright," Mum assured me.
Begin the sentence with Mom assured me that
it was
there
simply
only just
Items 16-20 Instructions: 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 Option D.
She is one of the thousands of babies who are diagnosed with that disease.
thousands
diagnosed
disease
No error
The secretary had made up a callendar of events but there was not enough stationery to give each member a copy.
secretary
callendar
stationery
No error
When the museum purchased his paintings the artist received many complements.
museum
received
complements
No error
After embarrassing his colleague his conscience bothered him and he eventually apologized.
embarrassing
colleague
conscience
No error
It is my rivilege to give you some advise concerning proper nutrition.
rivilege
advise
nutrition
No error
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.
So engrossed was he in his task that he did not hear his sister enter the room.
His task was so difficult that he did not observe his sister's entry.
He did not hear his sister enter the room because of the job he was doing.
His sister's entry did not attract his attention because he was enjoying what he was doing.
He was so preoccupied with what he was doing that he was unaware of his sister's entry.
The news shocked me so much that I almost forgot what 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.
Recent floods have made the roads impassable.
People are unable to travel because of the floods.
Because of heavy showers, commuters were forced to detour.
The roads cannot be used as a result of the floods.
Travelling has been brought to a standstill because of the floods.
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 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.
Water pollution is a common problem because people thoughtlessly dump their garbage in water courses.
People throw their garbage in water courses making this an unusual problem.
If people did not dump their garbage in water, we would not have a pollution problem.
Water pollution takes place because people negligently dump their garbage in water courses.
Even though water pollution is a problem, people still dump their garbage in water courses.
Items 26-33 Instructions: Read the following poem carefully and then answer Items 26-33 on the basis of what is stated or implied.
Flowers
I have never learnt the names of flowers From beginning, my world has been a place Of pot-holed streets, where thick, sluggish gutters race In slow time, away from garbage heaps and sewers Past blanched old houses around which cowers Stagnant earth. There scarce green things grew to chase The dull-grey squalor of sick dust; no trace Of plant save few sparse weeds; just these, no flowers.
One day they cleared a space and made a park There in the city's slums; and suddenly Came stark glory like lightning in the dark, While perfume and dark petals thundered slowly. I learnt no names, but hue, shape and scent mark My mind, even now, with symbols holy.
Dennis Craig
The speaker in the poem is
a child playing
an adult dreaming
a child remembering
an adult remembering
How does the speaker feel about flowers in lines 11-14?
Awed
Indifferent
Pessimistic
Unappreciative
The mood of stanza 1 of the poem is
bleak
bland
lonely
desolate
What is the speaker's attitude to the environment in lines 2-8?
Bitter
Acceptance
Contentment
Contemplative
What device is used in line 11 to describe the park?
Simile
Metaphor
Oxymoron
Personification
The use of "stark glory" (line 11) BEST suggests that the flowers I. stimulated the speaker with their beauty II. had a religious significance for the speaker III. amazed the speaker with the difference they made
I and II only
I and III only
II and III only
I, II and III
The device used in line 12 compares the beauty of flowers to
light
storms
thunder
lightning
Which of the following BEST describes the theme of the poem?
Nature is a vital part of human life.
The impact of nature is positive and deep.
The names of plants are unimportant.
Nature, specifically parks, should be introduced in all slums.
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) suggests that the homeowner believes that squatter settlements are
an eyesore
unique to his area
a necessary part of life
a legitimate solution to the housing problem
Which of the following may be one of the homeowner's fears on seeing the house on the hillside?
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 squatter settlements?
"sprung up daily" (line 7)
"society out of control" (line 8)
"marred his view" (line 9)
"houses, proper ones" (line 11)
According to paragraph 1 (lines 1–5), which of the following results from conflict between family members?
Disorder in societies
Anxiety in the workplace
Disruptive behaviour in homes
High levels of tension between parents
According to the passage, all of the following threaten the existence of the family EXCEPT
high divorce rate in Western society
conflicts between employers and working parents
problems family members experience in getting along
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
matters
demands
concerns
guidelines
In paragraph 2 (lines 6–12), the writer compares income in the 1950s to income today to show that
people today work longer hours for the same pay as in the 1950s
people earned more in the 1950s than today
people today do not work as hard as people in the 1950s
a single income cannot adequately support an average family
The writer suggests in lines 12–15, that tensions in mother–child relationships can occur because mothers I. are dealing with the stress of work II. are unable to help children who are under stress III. lack sufficient time to care for children
I only
II only
I and III only
II and III only
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 family
show that single-income families function better than two-income families
Couples feel they must "go their separate ways" (line 23) because of
high divorce rates
inability to live harmoniously
difficulty with Western societies
changes in relations in good times
The tone of the passage may be BEST described as
mocking
indignant
analytical
complaining
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
imagery
suspense
alliteration
exaggeration
One FACT contained in the advertisement is
the price of the product
expert approval of Acne Be Gone!
the product's popularity and effectiveness
that stores everywhere are selling the product
To whom is this product MAINLY targeted?
People who suffer with acne
Ambitious people with money
Girls who want dates for graduation
People who lack confidence because of their appearance
Which of the following techniques are used to persuade in this advertisement? I. Financial enticement II. Showing of the container III. Appeal to fears and desires
I and II only
I and III only
II and III only
I, II and III
A language device used in the advertisement to persuade is
paradox
metaphor
hyperbole
rhetorical questions
What might be the purpose of the size of the font used to describe the side effects?
It hides possible consequences of using the product.
It suggests that the side effects are minor.
It misdirects the reader and leads to erroneous conclusions about acne.
It demonstrates that the problems are minor in comparison to the benefits.
The words "while stocks last" under the checked price MOST likely would have the effect of
enticing the customers to save money
persuading customers to buy the product quickly
prompting Caribbean people to go in search of the product
fooling the prospective buyers into thinking he/she needs the product