NDIDATE= PLEASE NOTE? rest cope 000151 MAY/JUNE 1999 FORM TP 9971 CARIBBEAN EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL SECONDARY EDUCATION CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION ENGLISH A Paper 01 - General Proficiency TL hours READ THE FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY 1 In addition to this test booklet, you should have an answer sheet 2, 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. 3 On your answer sheet, find the number which corresponds to your item and blacken the space having the same letter as the answer you have chosen. Look at the sample item below. Sample Item a Choose the word or set of words that best completes each sentence. All the occupants were ------ from the building before the firemen arrived. Sample Answer (A) extinguished 3) evacuated 2EOO = (C) released (D) protected The best answer to this item is “evacuated”, so answer space (B) has been blackened. 4 Lfyouwant to change your answer, be sure to erase your answer completely and fill in your new choice 5. When you are told to begin, tum the page and work as quickly and as carefully as you can. Ifyou cannot answer an item, omitit and go on to thenextone. You can come back to the harder item later, Your score will be the total number of correct answers 6 Tlus test consists of 60 items. You will have 90 minutes to answer them. Do not be concerned that the answer she in this test provides spaces for nicre answers than there are items DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO Copyright © 1998 Caribbean Examinations Council. 1 All rights reserved OOOIS VE 9ANTONYMS ‘Choose the word or phrase that ismost clearly OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word é Artisans make use of original designs intheir 4. ‘The old lady was given a temporary lodging craftwork at the eee hospital i (A) copied (A) clean g (®) distant @) perthanent (©) obvious (C) satel ©) secondary (D) pleasant i Workers need to be re-trained if they are to 5. How to gain, how to keep, how to recover succeed in business. happiness is|in fact the secret motive of all they do, and all they are willing to endure. (A) fail @) hustle (A) measure fest (©) progress (8) pronounce (D) satisty (©) -renolince (©) — secute He made derogatory remarks about the young man who could not read the message onthe 6. Their actions showed that they were finn in board their rejection of the new law. (A) interesting (A) application (B) degrading (B) ignorance (hurt (C) —unde}standing (D) uplifting (@) acceptance GO ON) TO THE NEXT PAGEale EQUIVALENT SENTENCES Thens7-12 Directions: Each sentence in this section is followed by four sentences. Choose theone nearest in meaning the original sentence. Be sure to read all four choices before you select your answer and mark your pice on your answer sheet : 7 Since IT went to the shop yesterday, Ido not 9 Te Mr. Jones plans to stay overnight in Brus- heed to go there today selshis secretary will reserve ahotel room for him. (A) Since I did not want to go there ; soci, wentis theatop yesterday, (A) “Mr, Jones* secrerary will reserve a (B) —_ I went to the shop yesterday because hotel room for him when he'stays Ido not need to go there today. overnight in Brussels. (C) Having gone to the shop yesterday, 1 (B) Unless Mr. Jones plans to stay over- do notineed t8 go there today, night in Brussels, his secretary will (D) Yesterday I went to the shop and Ido reserveja hotel room for him, not need to go there again today. () Since Mr. Jones plans to stay over- nightin Brussels, his secretary will reservela hotel room for him. The accident may have been due to the wet- (D) Mr, Jonas" secretary will reserve a fess G1 Whe FOMU wad HOE Te yt gaect rep for hist ghoald hc plats’ Jess driving. to stay ovemight in Brussels, | (A) ‘The wetness of the road and the care~ ! less driving caused the accident. 10. Another weakness discovered was a fleet of (B) —Theaccident was caused more by the wet rad than by the driver's un- necessary carclessness (C) Careless driving had nothing to do with the accident which occurred on the wet road. (D) The driver was involved in the acci- dent notnecessarily because he was careless but probably because the road was wet MOISI/F 99 aircraft that, while efficient’ and effective when used for the missions for which they were designed, were ill-suited for the mis sions they were required to perform. (A) The company was in bad shape be- cause it owned a fleet of aircraft which were too small to take the number of passengers who need to travel regularly. (B) One of the weaknesses of the com- pany was that it owned a fleet of aircraft which were very good at the time they were bought but were now too old and in need of repair. (C) ~ The company's prablem was thar it was using perfecd y good aircraft in ways thatthe y were not intended to be used. (D) One of the problems of the company was that it did not take the manu- facturers’ advice on how to use their aircraft. GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE| i { I [. Despite displaying a face that belied recent personal injury, the witness confirmed that the attack on him was savage and brutal; and the judge commented that it was a most ghastly attack. (A) The witness who said that he was brutally attacked was so clearly ly- ing that the judge remarked thathe musthave been attacked by a ghost. (B) Although one could not tell from his appearance, the witness maintained thathe had suffered a vicious attack and the judge indicated his agree- ment with this statement. (C) The judge showed his bias by sup- porting the witness who said thathe was brutally attacked even though his face showed that he was not telling the truth. ©) In spite of the fact thet the witness testified that he was brutally and savagely beaten, his face was com- pletely unmarked and the judge was sceptical about bis evidence 0001S 1/F 99 ‘Thé bad state of result of the poor application of asphalt tech- nology and knowledge by the agencies in- volved in road building and maintenan: he roads in Trinidad is a (A) The roads in Trinidad are bad be- cause the engineers use poor qual ity asphalt to build thern. (B) The agencies résponsible for road building in Trinidad are improp- erly using the methods of making asphalt roads (C) The use of poor asphalt instead of conceete is responsible for the bad road conditions in Trinidad, (D) ‘The roads in Trinidad are bad be- cause they are made of asphalt which is difficult to maintain. GO ON TO THE NE. PAGECONSTRUCTION SHIFT | Directions: 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 choices A to D for the word or phrase that must beincluded in your revised sentence and mark the corresponding space on your answer sheet. The masqueraders who were jumping to the 16. shythm of the steel band music became very exhausted after a while and had to go home early, Substitute so for very (A) and consequently they @) and they (C) forthey (D) that they to escape punishment 1. She tat her parents a lie in or Substitute in order that for in order to (A) she might escape (B) she escaped (she escape (D) she will escape ‘The Australian cricketers fought valiantly against the West Indies team, but all their efforts were in.vain 18 Begin the sentence with: Despite their valiant offorts (A) would defeat (B) were defeated (defeated (D) would be defeated 00015 1/F 99 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: (A) she found thet (B) she had found that (C) she was finding that (D) and finding that Thecricket matdh ended abruptly when many of the spectators stormed the field. Begin the sentence with Many of the spectators stormed (A) make (B) preventing (© causing (D) get The heavy rains prevented us from attending the prograrnme. Begin the sentence with: We were prevented (A) because of (B) inaddition () since (OD) inspite of GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGEREADING COMPREHENSION icections: Read the following passage carefully. Then select the correct option in each item on the basis at what.is stated or implied. Grotesque masks, jigging Jonkoanu dancers and acrobats, ghost stories, Spanish music and pepperpot - these seem far away from carols, mistletoe and chestauts roasting on an open fire, But they are Christmas traditions in various islands in the Caribbean where the birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated with cultural gifts fiom many different roots European colonists brought Christi- anity to the Caribbean, originally to the native Arawak and Carib Indians, though not many of them survived to practise it. Today, Euro- pean Christmas customs survive everywhere across the region: Christmas moming serv- ices in the established churches, feasting on Christmas Day, wassailing or secenading, dances, the giving of gifts and Christmas cards, Santa Claus and Christmas trees. When Africans were brought to the Canbbesa as slaves to work on the sugar plantations, they added to Christianity their own customs and, right away, the Festival beganto evolve and take ona character of its own, In Jamaica, fearsome duppies (ghosts) roamed tie countryside at Cheist- mas, the most legendary being Three-Foot Horse, whose terrifying approach was heralded by the sound of irregular haafeeats, and Rolling Calf, who weakened the hearts oF cural folk when he shuffled by, dragging chains along the pathways at niglit 60 These stories probably date back to the plantations: slaves customarily went upto the great plantation house on Christmas moro- ing to serenade its occupants with songs Rewarded with a two- or-three-day holiday, they made the most of itin their own gardens, reaping provisions both for food and to sell among themselves at the Christmas market. Three hundred years later, the Jonkonau dancers or “masquerades" of Jamaica are still-a pact of Christmas, espe- cially in rural areas. Gratesquely costurnea dancers ace accompanied by musicians play- ing Flutes, drums and tambourines; they g9 about soliciting money. With names like Horse Head, Devil, Belly Woman, Pitchy Patch and Actor Boy, who would dare refuse thern? ‘The origin of the Jonkonaus is uo- clear, but many believe their roots lic along the Gold Coast of Africa, and have beea grafted onto the slaves’ traditional festivities on Christmas evenings long azo. The tradi- tion of Christmas marketis still alive;even ia Jamaica's capital city, where children are taken to shop for toys on Christmas moraine At the grand market, the weekend before Christmas, food is sold for Christmas coak- ing, just as the slaves centuries ago used to sell produce trom their gardens on Christmas Day. (Extracted from Caribbean Christmas by Skye Hemandez pages 33-39) GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE oe oS oe mem | em19. “according to this passage, many of the Arauaks and Caribs never practised Christi- anity because (A) they died before they got the chance todo so (B) they preferred their own religions (©) itdid not fit in with their culmre (D) —_itheld no interest for them ‘The list," Grosteque masks, jigging Jonkonnu dancers and acrobats, ghosts stories, Spanish music and pepperpat. . .” (lines 1-3), ismost likely used by the writer (A) as a dramatic way to start the pas- sage (B) to show some of the traditions as- sociated with Christmas (©) because these things seem attrac- tive and exotic (D) to ilustrate that Caribbean Christ- mas customs originate from dif- ferent cultures Christenas morning services. Santa Claus and Christmas trees are examples of Chastmas customs originating in (A) Africa (B) Jamaica (© Europe (@) Spain The events described in paragraph 4 (lines 25-32) (A) happened only in Jamaica (B) never really happened (©) are actual occurrences (D) bre well known and therefore true GNO1SL/E 99 24, 25. 26. word “probably” (line 33) suggests that iter (A) feltthestoriesoriginated fronifright- ened peopic. (B) didnot know where the stories came fron. C) knew the stories started from ideas of imaginary creatures (D) thought the stories most likely came ao on the plantations. | ‘The writer's attitude to the masqueraders in ines 41 - 50 can best be described as (A) serious @) humorous (CC) ctitical (D) sarcastic Inines 55-63 the writer shows that customs from the past te (A) have been retained in contemporary Jamaica (B) have deen Jost to contemporary society (©) were discarded by Africans (D) were invented by slaves ‘The majoremptasis of the passageis to show that the Caribbean Christmas customs (A) are derived solely from European waditions (B) are a’combination of cultures (C) were dominated by the practices of African slaves (D) were introduced by plantation own ers GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGEtems 27-33 of what is stated or implied. | a | ections: Read the following passage carefully. Then select the carrect option in each item on the basis | z Aclear line was drawn between training and education, You did not have to be educated to be trained. When more sophisticated equipmentand techniques were introduced the ordinary workercauld bbe taught to use them with « minimum of formal instruction of weitten material. Few imagined that their jobs mightoneday become obsolete, and that aneducational background mightbe needed to enable ther to be setrained to do something new Then came the computer and other inndvations in the traditional way of doing things, which required workersatall levelsto work more with words and numbers than with physical objects, and ofter: tounderstand the intellectual concepts behind ibe tasks dey Were performing. A machinist, Foriastance mightbe faced with learning the intricacies of computer assisted design, A clerkin atravel agency might ‘be called upon to find the best price fora travel package by searching an electronic quotation system. A mechanic mighthave to releam his orher trade to deal with the newelectronic devices that now control the workings of an automobile. No longer could most people expect to adapt to changing deminds at work through a combination of native intelligence and friendly coaching. They had (0 be able to understand warer manuals, absorb classreominstruction, respond tocomputer prompts. High schoal dropouts —and eves high school graduates who did not go on to college or university —increasingly found themselves cy, out of the action. Even though they might have the ability to lear, employers Were taking no chance. ‘As more and more systems Were introduced te improve productivity, companies raised their hiri standards. The resultis that today, people withouta high school diploma or a college cenificateliterall need not apply for a wide range of “entry level” jobs ‘The statemeat"aclearline wasdravn” (line 1) 28. The MAIN argument of this passase is that is an example of io5 x 54 (Ad computers have made it necessar: 3 (A) metaphor : for persons to be educated (B)—puo (B) today’s work force must be both edu Ee (C)_— hyperbole ny de! en en Hh, cated and adaptable (D) sarcasm Ma > (C) the computer has replaced “native intelligence and friendly coaching R ; U (DB) aperson must beeducaced inorder te be retrained GO ON TO THE N.30. 31 2 emots to convince his audi use of all of the following (A) contrast (B) repetition (C) specific reference (D) hyperbole (A) cynical poses ‘ (B) argumentative . (C)__ informative (D)__ namative 33, ‘The MAIN purpose of this passage most Bkely is to (A) persuade students toremaininschool (B) show that computershavemade some teeters (©) highlight the difference between training and education (D) show thata good education is meces- sary forgetting a wide raage af jobs “The writer describes some of the things work. ers may have to do because he wants to (A) make readers aware of the level of formal education a worker today needs (B) make readers aware of the types of persons who are employed (©) make readers aware of the types of tasks workers may have ta perform (D) make readers aware that the ability to Jeam is not enough to qualify them for employment “The phrase “cit out of the action” (lines 16+ 17) is an example of (A) dialect @) slang (C) jargon (BD) Stendard English GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGEems 34-39 : = Directions: Read the following extract carefully, Then sel lect the'correct option in each item on the basis gi of what is stated or implied. i ig 1 Get off the Beach and come Sailing =, E 2 2 3 z To echo a statement often made on Spirit of Barbados and Tropical Dreamer “Iedoesa’cger any better than this", = é a 2 3 & = i oe a em men Designed, built and outfitted with your comfort and sa Tropical Dreamer stand apart from the rest. ‘The Professionalism of our erew assure quality and fety in mind, Spirit of Barbados and impeccable condition of our yachts combined with the service second to none, We offer five-hour cruises daily, popular with peopl and snorkeling —one ata shallow shipyrreck, the other ata reef Our rates include FREE transporcation all drinks (including coffee and tea) and an excellent buffet lunch se anchor in @ secluded bay. FREE use of snorkel equipmént (and lessons, if necessary), floating matttesses and friendly service from a Professional crew all add to your enjoyment of a fabulous day of all ages, with twa stops for swimming &e So all you have to bring is a towel, sunscreen, camera and a smile! | According to the information in the adver. 35. By using the werds “comfort” (ine 6),"‘qual- saaent which Folding statements ity” line 8), and “excellent” line Ll) the factual?: | writer hopes to {A) The catamaran is in impeccablecon CA) convince us his cruise is che best dition, (B) make us knowledgeable about @) — Thecatamaranis serviced by ahighly sailing vessel professional crew, (©) wamus about other cruises making (©) Theeatamaran offerstwo stops onits similae claims joumey ©) (D) The catamaran assures you a fabu- E i lous day a8 i i Suggest that we take a cruise for fuaTtems 36. ‘The quotation, “it doesn’t get any betler than this”, Lines 4-5 38. (A) echo the feelings of the other people (B) highlight the company’s success in getting customers (©) einforce the motto of the cruise vessel (D) show the satisfaction the tourist feels after taking the cruise 37. ‘The statements made in paragraph 1 (lines 39. 1 3) appeal to the senses of (A) touch, smell and sight (B) sight, hearing, smell (C)_ taste, touch and sight (D) touch, smell and taste Lines 3 suggest that the services being offered (A) are suilable for children over 10 years of age (B) are suitable for adults who like swimming (©) are suitable for professional people (D) are suitable for any type of tourist ‘The last paragraph (line 14) suggests that the person taking the cruise could (A) leave all his money at home (B)_ come prepared to enjoy the day (C)_ bring only-a smile (0) abandon all the cares of the world +nItems 40 - 49 Directions: Read the following poem carefully. Then select th of what is stated or implied € correct option in each item on the b Propped against the crowded bar he pours into the curved and silver hom his old unhappy longing for a home the dancers twist and tum he leans and wishes he could burn his memories to ashes like some old notorious emperor of some. but no stars blazed across the sky when he was bom 80 Wise men found his hovel, this crowded bar Where dancers twist and turn The “silverhom’ in line 2 refers to 43 (A) awine gobler (B) anice bucket (C) — alarge vase @) — amusical instrument ‘The phrase “his hovel” in line 8 refers to (A) an animal's pen (B) 2 poor home 44. (© acradie ©) ahotl Wheredoesthe actioninlines 1-3 take place? (4) inaliving room (B) Ona dance floor 45. (Ina music ball (D) Ina night club 00015 1/F 99 10 holds all the Fame and recognition he will ever eam on earth or heaven. ‘he Jeans against the bar and pours his old unhappy longing in the saxophone In line 3, “his old unhappy longing home" suggests that the character (A) did not like music (B) _waslonging for success and recogni tion ona wide scale (C) believed he had little talent () was unhappy because he bad house ‘The poet refers to the birth of Chsist ia | (A) 1-2 (B) 5-6 © 7-8 @) 10-11 Lines 2 -3 is an example of (A) personification @) — simie (©) hyperbole (PD) metaphor GO ON TO THE NEXT PAG:Ab tut a0 stars blazed across the sky when he was bom” in line 7 suggests (A) he Was bom on 2 dark aight (8) he was not born to famous parents (©) his birth was not expected to be significant (D) no one was aware of his birth WFR nich of the following words BEST describes the mood of the character in the poem? (A) Melancholy (B) Nostalgia (C) Anger () Optimise 48. 49. Which of the following words are used figuratively? 1. “propped” (line 1) Tl, “pours” (ine 12) TI. “bum” (line 5) TV. “twist and eum" (line 9) (A) [and It @) Wand Iv © > Mandm ©) Wand rv) Which of the follojing statements about the central character if factual? (A) Hewas wd known only in the bar. @) He was old (C) He played exceptionally well () He livedina slum. COON TA Tue see noeDs. Dems 50-56 ae fam tn Directions: Read the following passage carefully. ‘Then select the correct option in each item on the basis jaf what is stated or implied. a! The tours we offer are truly unique and very much off the beaten track. We take you into the country to experience the historical, cultural and breathtaking scenic highlights of te ielaca Our Tich heritage in farming over the centuries has produced grand plantation mensions sumounded by lcniresque litle copses with stately royal palms swaying majestically inthe easterly trade winds, The pegugugarcane fields sweep down the rolling hills towards the wild eastcoast wheve miles of uatouched beaches are graced with the backdrop of rugged clifts and the giant breakers of the Adve crashing ashore. AC Highland Outdoor Tours the choice is yours — whether you're the adventurous type or Prefer a more laid-back tour, just give us a call; we'll probably be able to help you i : i i The advertisementpromisesallthe following 53. “Crashing"“(ine 6) is an example of EXCEPT (A) metaphor (A) scenic beauty (B) personification (B) outdoor adventure ©) hyperbole (C) sedate enjoyment (D) onomatopoeia th (D) — expertadvice 54.” Which word BEST describes the inte ation oj Expression... stately royal palmsswaying the last sentence? e majestically..." (line 4) suggests all of the following EXCEPT (A) Appeal B) Assurance (A) imposing height (©) Encouragement (B) graceful movement (D) — Cormmand (©, unusual beauty ©) — unlimited power 35. Theadvertisementsesksto persuade the reade) i mainly through the use of The word “sweep” (line|5) inthe context of the advertisement suageyts « @) (A) completely cove © (B) neatly adom | (C) lend a tidy effect (D) tumble ungainly (D) suspense 56. The advertisement is directed at (A) explorers (B) tour guides ©) faseign visitors (D) mountaineers GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE i DO0LS I/F 99‘Tteas 57-60 ae Dicectioas wat: Read the following passage carefully. Then select the correct dption in each item on the basis of udhet igstated or implied. “Well, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, we have all heard a great deal this afternoon about purity” and “compassion”. Wehave been told that certain of the ~er—words inthis book have appeared efore in technical works or that they canbe foundinearly English Literature, Wehave patiently listened ya number of learned quotations which are said to be “of historical interest". Some of us may feel that 1ey contain not the slightest jot or tittle of interest whatsoever. We have been lectured at length about uc" Anglo-Saxon heritage”. Inthis case, ladies and gentlemen, itis nothing more or less than a heritage f filth. For what we have to consider—and consider very carefully before we give our yerdict —is not ais passage or that, not some abstract idea, not some passing reference to contemporary furniture or lothes, but the effect and the tendency of the book taken as a whole. Not a book for specialists, or ophisticated people, or scholars in some museum: buta paper-back edition, multiplied by the million, sithin the reach of any manor any boy —orany young girl — with idle curiosity and haif-a-crown to ‘pend. ‘And we have to consider this book not as remote academic professors, not as pedants, but as seople, as men and women of the world. And let me remind you, ladies and gentlemen, that the world Stems, no dangers no hnman weaknesses. ‘The world is full of temptations — temptations of the flesh. And what could be more calculated —more coldly, more callously, more unscrupulausly calculated — to arouse temptation and inflame the appetites than passages such as this?” (Atthis point, she speaker reads a sensuous extract from the book in question) Adapted from “A Four-Letter Word”, Encounter, February, 1965) ‘Sin the extract, each time the phrase “ladies 59. Which of the following.devices is NOT used and gentlemen” (line 6 and line 15) is re ‘by the speaker in an attempt to convince his peated by the speaker, he is attempting to listeners? (A) gather his thoughts (A) Quoting of relevant authorities (B) change the subject (B) Use of irony (C) co-operate with the jury (C) Repetition of certain words and (D) hold the jury's attention phrases (D) Use of the rhetorical question 53The speaker's MAIN argument used in his atternpt to convince the jury is that 60. The speaker is (A) theberitage of English Literature is a (A) arguing that a book is morally dan- corrupt one " gerous (B) the book will have a harmful effect (B) warning his congregation against onthe average reader immoral literature (C) the professors and pedants who judge (C) debating in favour of ceasorship the book are dishonest (D) summing up the argument (D) the worldis full oftemptations ofthe flesh Te VOU FINISH BEFORE TIME 15 CALLED, CHECK YOUR WORK ON THIS TEST.