TEST CODE

FORM TP 2013070
CARIBBEAN

01218010

MAY/JUNE 2013

EXAMINATIONS

COUNCIL

CARIBBEAN SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE

EXAMINATION
ENGLISH A
Paper 01 - General Proficiency
1 hour 30 minutes
(21 MAY 2013

(p.m.~

READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.

1.

This test consists of 60 items. You will have 1 hour and 30 minutes to answer them .

2.

In addition to this test booklet, you should have an answer sheet.

3.

Each item in this test has four suggested answers, lettered (A), (B), (C), (D). Read each item
you are about to answer and decide which answer is best.

4.

On your answer sheet, find the number which corresponds to your item and shade the space
having the same letter as the answer you have chosen. Look at the sample item below.
Sample Item
Choose the word or set of words that BEST completes each sentence.
Someone who is suffering from influenza needs to be isolated as the disease is _ _ __ _
(A)
(B)

(C)
(D)

lasting
serious
contagious
destructive

Sample Answer

The best answer to this item is "contagious", so answer space (C) has been shaded.

iiiiii

--

5.

If you want to change your answer, be sure to erase it completely before you fill in your new
choice.

6.

When you are told to begin, turn the page and work as quickly and as carefully as you can.
If you cannot answer an item, go on to the next one. You may return to that item later. Your
score will be the total number of correct answers.

! !!!!!

Oiiiiiiii

DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO.

Copyright 2010 Caribbean Examinations Council

All rights reserved.

! !!!!!

01218010/F 2013

-2Items 1- 5

Instructions: Choose the word or phrase that is nearest to OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined
word or phrase.

1.

The tourist brochure gave verbose accounts

of the carnival festivities of last year.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

2.

(D)

3.

intolerant of
displeased at
ungrateful for
unhappy about

The headgear worn by the factory worker

is made from artificial material.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

concise
pleasing
accurate
colourful

We found her appreciative of the help that

we had given to her on this matter.
(A)
(B)
(C)

4.

5.

natural
synthetic
man-made
prefabricated

The old lady enjoyed making malicious

remarks to everyone she met.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

kind
polite
truthful
amusing

As a result of the need for trained staff, the

firm had to dismiss several workers.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

deport
employ
promote
transport

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

01218010/F 2013

-3Items 6-10

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. Mark your choice on
the answer sheet.

6.

.. .. ...... people are likely to be afraid to take

risks in life.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

7.

(D)
8.

Wealthy
Selfish
Cautious
Knowledgeable

When parents display a .......... for one child,

the others are likely to feel .......... .
(A)
(B)
(C)

9.

concern ... unsympathetic

dislike ... indifferent
preference ... jealous
fondness ... lonely

While the Committee members ...... .. ..

insults across the floor, the Chairman tried
in vain to .. .. .. .. .. order.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

10.

hurled .......... restore

spoke ........... impose
gave ............ maintain
exchanged ....... conserve

Are you trying to ............... that all along he

knew of the plot to oust the committee?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

clarify
accuse
persist
insinuate

An attack on someone when that person

is most vulnerable may be .......... but is
always .......... .
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

inappropriate .......... thoughtful

rewarding .............. satisfying
destructive ............ distressing
effective .............. unkind

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

01218010/F 2013

-4Items 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.

11.

Recent floods have made the route

impassable.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

12.

13.

People are unable to travel because

of the floods.
The road cannot be used as a result
of the floods .
Because of heavy showers,
commuters were forced to detour.
Travelling has been brought to a
standstill because offloods.

(A)

(B)

(C)

An interest in their nation's development

plans should be displayed by its young
people.

(A)

(B)
(C)

(D)

Young people should take an

interest in plans for national
development.
National development is dependent
upon the youth.
Young people ought to be aware of
plans for the purpose of national
development.
The nation will advance through
plans proposed by its young
people.

The accident may have been due to the

wetness of the road and not necessarily to
careless driving.

(D)

14.

The wetness of the road and

,the careless driving caused the
accident.
The accident was caused more by
the wet road than by the driver's
unnecessary carelessness.
Careless driving had nothing to do
with the accident which occurred
on the wet road.
The driver was involved in the
accident not necessarily because
he was careless but probably
because the road was wet.

At one time or another every one of us

succumbs to the common cold.
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

Some of us are sure to catch the

cold.
Very few of us will ever catch the
cold.
All of us eventually will contract
the cold.
All of us will be able to resist the
cold eventually.

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

01218010/F 2013

-515.

You have become tardy in your preparations

for your examination during the last two
months, so you must burn the candle at
both ends during this week if you want to
succeed.
(A)

If the candles are not burnt at both

ends, as you prepare for your
examinations this week, you will
fail because you have been tardy
during the last two months.

(B)

During this week if you want

to succeed you must burn two
candles in preparing for your
examination, since you were
tardy during the last two months.

(C)

Ifyou want to pass your examination

during this week, you must work
doubly hard, since you were tardy
during the last two months.

(D)

Since you have not done much

preparation for your examinations
during the last two months, this
week you must work doubly hard
if you want to succeed.

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

01218010/F 2013

-6Items 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.

16.

The secretary had made up a calender of

19.

the deciding factor when considering him

to give each member a copy. No error

D

for the job. No error

After embarrassing his colleague his

A
B
concience bothered him and he eventually

20.

The receipt ofhis letter assured me that such

A

an occurence would not be experienced.

apologised. No error
D

18.

events but there was not enough stationery

17.

His intelligence rather than his hieght was

No error
D

After the incident the boys travelled a

A
B
diffrent route back to school. No error
C
D

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

01218010/F 2013

-7Items 21- 28

Instructions: Read the following extract carefully and then answer items 21- 28 on the basis of what
is stated or implied.
The Oceans

10

15

20

To the prejudiced eyes of land-bound humans the oceans seem like one continuous mass as
homogeneous as outer space. To some extent they are, and some marine creatures treat the
whole maritime world as their oyster. Some of the great whales, for instance, lunge from the
surface to the depths as a matter of course, and divide their feeding and breeding between the
poles and the tropics.
Equally striking to the .marine scientist, however, is the variousness of the oceans. Each sea
embraces several or indeed many distinct environments, each of which occupies a discrete
zone. Some of these zones also vary markedly with time- through the day; with the tides, and
therefore with the phases of the moon; by season; and sometimes in cycles of several years.
And superimposed on all these variations in space and time are the more erratic influences of
currents and of the influx of rivers.
In short, patchiness, in space and time, is as much a feature of the oceans as it is ofland; indeed,
'patchiness' is a great principle in ecology- though it is rarely singled out as such. Each
oceanic zone has its characteristic creatures - sometimes a huge variety of different types, and
sometimes only a few; but many creatures, of all kinds, spend part of their lives in one kind
of environment, and part in another. And because there are so many different ways of making
a living in the oceans - so many permutations of habitats - there is a correspondingly huge
variety of creatures; and many creatures take quite different forms, and live in quite different
ways, at different stages of their lives. There are far fewer species in the oceans than on land,
however, because there are no marine equivalents of the forest trees; and it is the trees that
provide such a myriad of habitats for land-based creatures.

Colin Tudge, "The Oceans", The Museum o{Natural History. 1991.

21.

The writer's MAIN purpose in this passage

is to
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

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

22.

The word "prejudiced" (1 ine 1) is NEAREST

in meaning to
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

racial
biased
negative
unpleasant

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

01218010/F 2013

- 823.

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
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

24.

Which of the following BEST describes

the type of writing in this passage?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

27.

The statement "some marine creatures treat

the whole maritime world as their oyster"
(lines 2-3) suggests that they
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

25.

very far away

full of shiny objects
full of different zones
the same continuous stretch of
water

26.

According to the passage, which of the

following statements is FALSE?
(A)
(B)

live in oysters
feed on oysters
stay in one part of the ocean
move freely throughout the oceans

(C)

(D)

According to the passage, 'patchiness' (line

13) refers to
(A)
(B)

(C)
(D)

variation
confusion
movement
piecing together

28.

Critical
Narrative
Informative
Argumentative

;There are more species in the ocean

than on land.
There are more species on land than
in the ocean.
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"
(lines 16- 17) refers to
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

tourists
fishermen
scientists
marine creatures

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

01218010/F 2013

-9Items 29- 37

Instructions: Read the following passage carefully and then answer the items on the basis of what
is stated or implied.
There were three chimpanzees; I came
to know them well. They were young and
nimble, yet with that over-anxious, ancient of
days expression of their kind; they would play
5 for hours around a sapling outside my door,
climbing and falling and wrestling with the
exaggerated and over-emphatic tumbling of
professional acrobats; it was impossible to
believe in their naivete, so obviously did they
10 show offto any passerby.
They developed for myself first a
powerful curiosity, which caused them to peer
forever through a window, wrapped around each
other in intricate patterns, and then, I rather
15 believe, a certain affection, or at least tolerance,
at which stage they would knock on the door to
be admitted.

20

25

30

I came to feel very warmly about the

apes; they would sit for hours on the floor beside
my doorway, embracing each other, with their
six dark sorrowful eyes fixed intently upon me.
Ifi turned a page or crossed my legs they would
stir quietly, nudging each other. To change my
trousers in these circumstances became also an
embarrassment, so intensely was the process
observed.
There was one genuinely startling
moment; I was working beside the window,
grinding out from the typewriter whatever
contemporary nonsense was required (in fact
a fragment of this book) when I glanced round
and there were the monkeys in a row, by the
doorway, beating out a ragged tattoo with their
fingers on the floor; a very reasonable imitation.

35

40

45

50

The chimpanzees showed interest

in the mechanics of writing; more so in the
process of drawing. One evening when I
was sketching in the plantation, I felt those
questing reflective eyes on me again, and a
group of leathery fingers reached out gently
for the crayon. It occurred to me that whatever
the chimpanzee did with it would scarcely be
more futil~ than what I was doing myself, and
I surrendered it. The effect was gripping. To
begin with, the chimpanzee darted and slashed
at the paper in an uncontrolled way, tearing
the sheet, sometimes missing it altogether;
surprisingly soon a kind of intention came
over him, and on the third or fourth fresh lead
he began to draw. There is no other word to
describe what in fact the ape was doing.
(Source unknown)

29.

Which of the following phrases is used in

(lines 1-15) to compare the chimpanzees
with professional acrobats?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

Young and nimble (lines 2-3)

Over-anxious ... expression (lines
3-4)
Exaggerated and over-emphatic
tumbling (line 7)
Wrapped ... in intricate patterns
(lines 13-14)

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

01218010/F 2013

- 10 30.

When the author says that he "came to feel

very warmly about the apes" (lines 18- 19)
he means that he
(A)
(B)

(C)

(D)

developed a genuine liking for the

chimpanzees
became enthusiastic about the
chimpanzees' interest in writing
grew embarrassed by the
chimpanzees' close observation
of him
became unhappy because the
chimpanzees constantly watched
him with sorrowful eyes

34.

As used in line 39, "questing" means the

same as
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

35.

The writer surrendered the crayons to the

chimpanzee because he
(A)
(B)
(C)

31.

The " genuinely startling moment" referred

to in (lines 27- 28) was caused by the
(A)
(B)

(C)

(D)

monkeys' tuneful drumming on the

floor
imitation of the writer's typing by
the monkeys
interruption of the writer's typing
by the monkeys
writer's discovery of the monkeys
sitting in a row in the doorway

(D)

36.

(A)
(B)

"A ragged tattoo" (line 33) means the same

as
(D)
(A)
(B)
(C)

(D)

a tuneful rhythm
an irritating noise
a rhythmical tapping
an irregular drumming
37.

33.

When the author says that the monkeys

showed interest in the "mechanics of
writing" (line 36) he means that they
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

had completed his own drawing

felt that the chimpanzee could do
no worse than himself
knew that the effect would be
exciting
sensed that the chimpanzee might
be able to draw quite well

We can infer from, "The effect was

gripping" (line 44) that the author was

(C)
32.

clever
trustful
inquisitive
mischievous

amazed at the drawings created by

the chimpanzee
interested in finding out what the
chimpanzee would do next
afraid that the chimpanzee might
become engaged in a futile
exercise
impressed by the chimpanzee's
uncontrollable darting and
slashing at the paper

The passage can best be described as

(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

narrative
scientific
explanatory
imaginative

looked at the way the typewriter

worked
were curious about how things are
put on paper
took away his pens, pencils and
crayons
examined the various parts of the
typewriter

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

01218010/F 2013

- 11 -

Items 38-45
Instructions: Read the following extract carefully and then answer the items on the basis of what is
stated or implied.
Accounting

Nights too warm for TV

we're flung outdoors to the porch,
citronella candles scenting the space
between us, our faces aglow
in-gold light. She crowds the card table
with coin banks, an *abacus,
five and ten dollar rolling paper,
our tidy ledger.

15

I count, line the coins in neat rows,

the abacus clicking out our worth,
how much can we save, stack up
against the seasons - winter coming,
her tightly braided hair turning white;
her hands quick, filling the paper casings
like homemade sausage.

20

There's money in the bank downtown,

but this we'll keep at home
buried in jars beneath the house,
the crawlspace filling up, packed solid
as any foundation.

10

* a device for making calculations

N.D. Trethewey, "Accounting", Callaloo. Vol. 19. No.12

Spring 1996, p.349

38.

The activity described in the poem is

(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

40.

(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

playing cards
counting money
making sausages
viewing television
41.

39.

'She' in the poem is MOST likely

(A)
(B)
(C)

(D)

thrifty
miserly
mercenary
extravagant

Line 3 of the poem is an example of

repetition
assonance
alliteration
euphemism

"She crowds the card table ... " (line 5)

suggests that
(A)
(B)
(C
(D)

the card table is packed

there are many card tables
she sits close to the card table
many people sit around the card
table

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

01218010/F 2013

- 1242.

The comparison between the paper casings

and homemade sausages (lines 14-15) is a
reference to
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

44.

(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

weight
colour
shape
quantity
45.

43.

The "crawlspace" (line 19) MOST likely

refers to
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

a large container
a low, cramped area
very slow movement
the foundation of the house

The money is being saved to

keep it safe
package in paper casing
place in the bank downtown
safeguard against need in winter

The phrase "solid as any foundation"

(lines 19-20) suggests
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

how fragile the jars were

what a huge fortune was buried
'how secure it made the ovmers feel
that the foundations needed reinforcement

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

01218010/F 2013

- 13Items 46- 54
Instructions: Read the following passage carefully and then answer items 46-54 on the basis of
what is stated or implied.

MUSIC TOO LOUD, I CAN'T STUDY

10

15

THE EDITOR: I just can't take it anymore. I just can't take the noise forced on me by a
restaurant and bar located across the street. The noise is unbearable and I cannot concentrate on
my studies. I am writing the CXC exams in May/June this year and I must pass all my subjects.
I am attending a reputable girls' school and I want to achieve good grades to get into the CAPE
class. I work hard and every report so far indicates that I am an above-average student.
I want to make my mother proud. She is a hard-working woman, especially since my father
passed away two years ago. We have been struggling to make ends meet without complaint. But
I must complain now because the restaurant and bar is intent on frustrating my ambitions and the
sacrifices my mother is making. I appreciate the help of the Government in providing opportunities for education but this is going to be futile unless it is possible to take full advantage of them.
Can you imagine having to struggle with a Math problem with thunderous noise bombarding
your eardrums and everything in the house jumping up and down as if the place is haunted? Can
you imagine speaking to a classmate about homework and you can't hear each other? Can you
imagine stuffing cotton in your ears in order to get some sleep? Can you imagine trying to explain
to your teacher that you didn't do your homework or that you sleep in class because of the noise
coming from the restaurant and bar?
The noise coming from this place is a serious obstacle that I am unable to overcome and
I am seeking help in dealing with it.

20

25

46.

Can you imagine my mother and her 16-year-old daughter going to this place in the midst
of riotous drinking to ask them to tum down the music because I want to study or just to get some
sleep? I understand that residents have been calling the police but the response has been ineffective. At the moment of writing this letter (Sunday 19, at 9:30 am) they are blasting away after
going late into last night.
Under the guise of Carnival they will continue their merciless onslaught. From Carnival
Friday night right up until Ash Wednesday morning they will continue non-stop. There will be
total madness.
M Sutton, "Music too loud, I can't study", Newsdav
February 23, 2006.

The words, "I just can't take it anymore"

(line 1), imply that the writer is
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

crymg
argumg
hurting
shouting

47.

The repetition of "I" in the first paragraph

can be BEST interpreted as highlighting
the writer's
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

protest
frustration
disapproval
point of view

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

01218010/F 2013

- 14 48.

Which of the following devices does the

writer use in paragraph 2 to explain her
plight?
(A)
(B)

(C)
(D)

49.

52.

Pun
Litotes
Contrast
The rhetorical question

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)?
(A)
(B)

Which of the following words BEST

conveys the emotion that the writer is
seeking to arouse in the reader?

(C)
(D)

(A)
(B)

(C)
(D)

50.

Pity
Love
Horror
Empathy

53.

The last line of the passage expresses the

view that
(A)
(B)

The following sentence "I work hard and

every report so far indicates that I am an
above-average student" (line 5) suggests
that the writer

(C)
(D)

(A)
(B)

(C)
(D)

51.

is boastful
is pleading
wants to sustain this
is about to fail her exams

" ...jumping up and down as if the place is

haunted"(line 12) is an example of which
of the following devices?
(A)
(B)

(C)
(D)

54.

Admiration from the reader for the

women's courage
Shock from the reader that the
women should consider going
there
Criticism for their actions in going
to a bar
Scorn for the women's behaviour
in going into a bar

Carnival will be more festive

the writer's mother will quarrel
with the restaurant owner
the writer will become hysterical
the noisy atmosphere will become
worse

This kind of writing is BEST classified as

(A)
(B)

(C)
(D)

narrative
descriptive
informative
persuasive

Simile
Paradox
Irony
Personification

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

01218010/F 2013

- 15 Items 55-60
Instructions: Read the following information carefully and then answer items 55- 60 on the basis
of what is stated or implied.

A Jamaica Kincaid Chronology

"I became a writer out of desperation . .. I started to
write about my own life and I came to see that this act
saved my life" (My Brother)

1949
1965
1969

1973
1974
1976
1979
1983
1985
1986
1988
1989
1990
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2001
2002

Born in Antigua, May 25, as Elaine Potter Richardson

Sent to US as a domestic helper
Studies photography at New School of Social Research, NYC,
and Franconia College, New Hampshire, then takes various
short-term jobs and freelance writing assignments (Ingenue,
Ms., Village Voice)
Changes name to Jamaica Kincaid
First piece published in The New Yorker
Staff writer at The New Yorker
Marries composer Allen Shawn
At the Bottom of the River, Morton Dauwen Zabel Award
Writes Annie John; moves to Bennington, Vermont; daughter
Annie born
Annie, Gwen, Lilly, Pam, and Tulip; revisits Antigua
A Small Place (book)
Guggenheim Fellowship; son Harold born
Lucy; Annie Drew visits Vermont
Joins African American Studies Department at Harvard
Leaves The New Yorker
The Autobiography of My Mother (book)
My Brother (book)
My Favourite Plant (editor)
My Garden (book)
Talk Stories (book)
Mr Potter (book)

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

01218010/F 2013

- 16 55.

(A)
(B)

(C)
(D)

56.

58.

What is the birth name of the author?

Annie John
Allen Shawn
Elaine Richardson
Jamaica Kincaid

(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

According to the chronology, when did the

author's publishing career start?
(A)
(B)

(C)
(D)

In what year did the author return to

Antigua?

59.

1973
1974
1976
1988

According to the chronology, how many

years separated the author's two children?

(A)
(B)

(C)
(D)

57.

What was the author's first job in the United

States?

(A)
(B)

(C)
(D)

60.

A writer
A journalist
A researcher
A domestic helper

1965
1974
1985
1986

3 years
4 years
5 years
10 years

Under which name did the author publish

the book The Autobiography ofMv Mother?

(A)
(B)

(C)
(D)

Annie Drew
Elaine Shawn
Elaine Richardson
Jamaica Kincaid

ENDOFTEST

IF YOU FINISH BEFORE TIME IS CALLED, CHECK YOUR WORK ON THIS TEST.

01218010/F 2013