Free CXC English A Paper 1 January 2021 past paper from 2021. 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 January 2021 - Free CXC Past Paper with Answers
Free CXC English A Paper 1 January 2021 past paper from 2021. 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.
The distinguished actor avoided the press whenever he was on holidays.
praised
attacked
contacted
interviewed
The compassionate man was known by many in the crowd.
fussy
cruel
indifferent
dissatisfied
As far as I am concerned, the lattice windows are the most conspicuous feature on the building.
negative
important
insignificant
understandable
It seemed probable that the country will maintain the curfew for another week.
unlikely
impudent
undecided
inevitable
Many teenagers and even some parents do not agree with the amount of restrictiveness in today's society.
strife
cruelty
permissiveness
competitiveness
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.
It is my pleasure to give you some information concerning proper nutrition. (A) pleasure (B) information (C) nutrition (D) No error
pleasure
information
nutrition
No error
The nurses were given seperate quarters because the main building did not have enough room for them. (A) seperate (B) enough (C) No error (D) given
seperate
enough
room
No error
The arguments put forward by the irate parent merely helped to further agravate the situation. (A) arguments (B) irate (C) agravate (D) No error
arguments
irate
agravate
No error
The opinion that men are superior to women is a fallacy which men themselves perpetuate. (A) superior (B) fallacy (C) perpetuate (D) No error
superior
fallacy
perpetuate
No error
His intelligence rather than his hieght was the deciding factor when considering him for promotion. (A) intelligence (B) hieght (C) deciding (D) No error
intelligence
hieght
deciding
No error
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.
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
People from crowded nations cannot get over the accessibility of Canada's natural environment, in all its significance.
Begin the sentence with It is impossible for
to be over
to get over
to have got over
to getting over
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 It is impossible for
she found that
and finding that
she had found that
she was finding that
"It's going to be alright," Mom assured me.
Begin the sentence with Mom assured me that
there
it was
simply
only
These students are hard-working as well as respectful.
Begin the sentence with Not only
and
though
rather than
but they are also
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 is inappropriate and choose the corresponding letter, A, B, C. If the sentence is acceptable as it stands, choose D.
"Mary, will you please full up the buckets before the water supply is cut off?" No error
full up
cut off
No error
Julie prefers to lie in bed not wanting to go to school nor does any work. No error
to lie
not wanting
does
No error
He shared the sweets among you and me. No error
shared
among
me
No error
Peter have dengue and feels weak, so he is unable to participate in the interschool games. No error
have
weak
participate
No error
Too much students entered the competition; only one of them was good enough to reach the quarter finals. No error
Too much
was
to reach
No error
Instructions: Each sentence has one word missing. Choose from the four options the word which BEST complete the meaning of the sentence. Mark your choice on the answer sheet.
There are many who would try to .......... your efforts because of their jealousy.
assist
affect
thwart
encourage
Most parents do not .......... indiscipline from their children.
tolerate
promote
frown on
supervise
The clerk was granted a promotion because she was ..........
indolent
agreeable
negligent
industrious
The debate on the best way to enter the Free Trade Agreement had not yet been ..........
resolved
accepted
approved
discovered
The lawyer gave his client some good .......... about taxes.
advice
methods
solutions
guarantees
Instructions: Read the following poem carefully and then answer Items 26-33 on the basis of what is stated or implied.
Beat That Light
I think the horses must be laughing, Kicking up their heels and chaffing, Watching from their green abode The things that drove them off the road, 5 Whinnying in soft derision At breakdown, blowout and collision, Neighing, as they roam the prairies, Motorists' obituaries.
Read the epitaphs¹ on Monday 10 Of drivers various and Sunday; Beep the horn and howl the klaxon² For Hebrew, Latin, and Anglo-Saxon; Howling klaxon, beeping horn, The funeral dirge on Monday morn, 15 Usher out the unlucky drivers Without convincing the survivors Here's a curve and here's a truck, Take a chance, and trust to luck, The next one's practically standing still.
¹ epitaph means a short piece of writing or poem about a dead person ² klaxon means a type of loud horn formerly used on motor vehicles
Why does the poet feel the horses are laughing (line 1)?
He hears them laughing.
The prairie is all theirs to roam.
They are treated well by their owners.
They were replaced with something which causes harm.
What are the "things" suggested in line 4?
Vehicles
Accidents
Explosions
Traffic jams
Which of the following words suggests the drivers' destiny?
Whinnying (line 5)
Breakdown (line 6)
Obituaries (line 8)
Howling (line 13)
According to the poet, what days seemed to be most prone to fatalities?
Mondays
Sundays
Festivals
Public holidays
What is the poet's tone in lines 17-18?
Sarcastic
Persuasive
Indifferent
Enthusiastic
The poet is recommending that drivers drive
slowly
quickly
carefully
recklessly
What is the poet referring to in lines 9-10?
Speed
Safety
Cautious drivers
Death announcements
Which of the following means NEARLY the same as the title of the poem. "Beat That Light"?
Drive faster
Hit the light
A flashing traffic light
Use corporal punishment
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" (line 6-7) suggests that the
sun had set by this time
trees leaned over the river
sun made trees create shadows
trees were blacking 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
glimpsing the bank
examining carefully
peering through the bushes
looking at the trees nearby
The phrases "scanning the far bank" (line 13), "descended stealthily" (line 13), "hid my balata 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
According to paragraph 1 (lines 1-4), deaths from heart disease, cancer and debility are on the increase because of
the dangers posed by modern living
growing substance abuse in today's society
traditional lifestyles in developing countries
longer life expectancy in recent years
The words "succumbing" and "dependence" (line 5 and 6) imply that the habits of cigarette smoking, alcohol and drug use
inhibit development
are created by the users
give rise to a state of numbness
have an overpowering effect on people
The writer feels that deaths from cigarette smoking can BEST be minimized if
countries initiate health programmes
governments institute new policies
individuals simplify their lifestyles in the area of health
individuals make more personal choices about health programmes
From paragraphs 1 and 2 (lines 1-10), we may deduce that cancer is
on the increase in developing countries
caused by excessive alcohol, drug and cigarette use
more likely to cause the death of people under 60 years of age
one major drawback to health programmes in developing countries
In the extract, it is suggested that one reason people smoke is because cigarette smoking
is fashionable in modern society
provides governments with needed revenue
provides release and relaxation for individuals
is promoted by numerous advertisements
In the last paragraph (lines 29-31), which of the following is NOT suggested as a way in which dangers to health can be reduced?
Individuals altering patterns of living
Allocating funds adequately to policies
Governments implementing new policies
Politicians becoming more responsible
The purpose of the speech is to
introduce a new product
find out the needs of the audience
condemn the efforts of the opponents
condemn the efforts of the opponents
The speech was MOST likely given at a
board meeting
business meeting
political meeting
church meeting
The speaker addresses the audience as "you" in order to
present himself to the audience
distance himself from the audience
accuse the audience of failing in their duty
make the audience feel he cares about them
The speaker suggests that because the candidate "comes from a foreign country" (line 3) he will
not appreciate them
leave them at anytime
be an advantage to them
not represent them well
When the speaker says, "You need to live like valued citizens" (lines 7), he attempts to
change the villager's way of life
make the villagers feel good about their selves
make the villagers feel they are treated well by their representatives
change the villager's views of their lives so that they choose his candidate
The name Dimsville is suitable for the village because
it is an important name
there is no electricity in the village
it is named after someone who used to live there
the villagers feel hopeless because they lack basic amenities
In paragraph 1, the speaker repeats the words "He is the man" because he wants to
present the candidate
emphasize the power the candidate possesses
impress upon the audience that he is offering them the best person for the job
inform the villagers that they need a man an not a woman to represent them
Which of the following devices is NOT used in the speech?
Pun
Metaphor
Repetition
Rhetorical question
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
All of the following groups are specifically invited to attend the symposium EXCEPT
youth groups
members of the public
parents of young people
doctors, nurses and other health care workers
How can those who want to participate register for the event?
Contact Yvonne Dalton and call the Ministry of Education
Call the Ministry of Youth and speak to Yvonne Dalton
Telephone the Ministry of Youth and the Ministry of Education
Complete a registration form and return to the Ministry of Health
The MAIN address is to be delivered by
Bukawela Tudor
Prof. Nancy Sewell
Dr. C. Smith-Browne
Major Leonard Akansa