Candidate Number: ……………. Candidate Name: …………………….

GRADE 9 SEMI-EXTERNAL EXAMINATION

ENGLISH FIRST LANGUAGE 2101/1

PAPER 1 Reading and Directed 2 hours
Marks 50 Specimen paper
No additional materials are required

INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

 Candidates answer on the question paper in the spaces provided.
 Write your Candidate Number and Name in the spaces at the top of this page.
 Write in dark blue or black pen.
 Do not use correction fluid.

 Do not write in the margin For Examiner's Use.

 Answer all questions.

 The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part
question.

For Examiner's Use

Section 1

Section 2
Total
Marker
Checker

1
 Section 1

Read the following passage before answering the questions that follow.

Passage 1

Social Networking Sites

Social networking sites are a recent and, sometimes, controversial

innovation. They enable people, by means of the internet, to get in
touch with friends easily, without having to worry about interrupting
them in the way that telephone calls might.

People can keep in regular contact with their friends about such things
as the clothes they wear and the music they listen to, even sharing
photos. Using social networking sites is obviously much cheaper than
long-distance travel, and maintaining relationships with friends or family
in faraway places becomes much easier. Since the internet can be
accessed outside the home on smartphones and on laptop or tablet
computers, it makes social networking sites a useful way to utilise
down time, which is time otherwise wasted, for example, in the
dentist’s waiting room or on the bus.

3 Social networking sites have a role to play in the world of work too. In
certain businesses and professions, employees rely on them to keep
themselves up to date with the latest developments in their fields.
People with no jobs or the desire for new or better ones do not have to
wait for advertisements to appear in newspapers; they can be pro-
active and advertise themselves on such sites. Employers are also
able to recruit the best potential employees by examining information
about their background, experience and qualifications posted, and so
make an informed choice which does not rely on interview skills alone.

4 However, more important, social networking sites have many critics

who say that relationships formed through them, unlike face to face
friendships, are too impersonal to be described as real friendships.
They argue that it is all very well to have a hundred cyber friends, but
this number of contacts devalues true friendship. Certainly, to describe
a hundred people as your 'best' friends is absolute nonsense. Also, if
your friend has read on screen every detail of your life that week, and
she yours, what are you going to talk about when you meet?
Information overload is another drawback of these sites, where readers
are bombarded with intimate facts which might be best left unsaid
because they are inappropriate. In fact, most information posted is
utterly boring.

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5 Additionally, the constant desire to know what their contacts are doing
leads networking site users to become almost addicted to checking for
updates. What could be more insulting than to be out with a friend who
makes it clear that the friend he is contacting online is far more
interesting than you are? People often cannot relax in the company of
others because there is a persistent niggle about what their social
networking contacts might be doing. In the business and professional
sphere, too, there is often pressure for instant responses from social
networking sites, so that even taking a short holiday becomes
unthinkable.

In conclusion, it is clear that the trivial information about people on

such sites might not only have social consequences but also have
repercussions in the world of work. Therefore, stricter regulation of
social networking sites are long overdue.

(Source: to be indicated)

3
 Task 1 Comprehension

For Questions 1 - 2, choose the correct answer and encircle only the appropriate
letter.

1 The author's main intention in this text is to

A give an objective view of the advantages and disadvantages of social
networking sites.
B inform people about the usefulness of social networking sites.
C promote the establishment of rules for social networking sites.
D warn people of the dangers of social networking sites. [1]

2 In paragraph 3, the pronoun "them" refers to

A businesses and professions.
B developments.
C employees.
D social networking sites. [1]

3 Indicate whether the following statements are True or False)

According to the writer

A the disadvantages of social networking sites outweigh the advantages.

.………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

B social networking sites improve the value of friendships.

.………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

C social networking sites make job interviews unnecessary.

.………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

D it is a fact that people can often not relax in the company of others

.………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

4 Paragraph 2 gives 2 examples of 'down time'. Give one example of your

own of 'down time' as defined in paragraph 2. Do not use the examples
given in the text.

.………………………………………………………………………………………... [1]

4
5 Rhetorical questions are used in paragraphs 4 and 5 to create a strong tone of
disapproval.

(a) What is a rhetorical question?

.………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

(b) Quote one of the rhetorical questions verbatim.

.………………………………………………………………………………. [1]

6 Write down one illogical or unreasonable assumption for which the author
does not provide reasonable evidence from the fourth paragraph.

.………………………………………………………………………………………...

.………………………………………………………………………………………... [1]

[10]

Task 2 : Grammar and vocabulary

7 Correct the two language errors in the first sentence of paragraph 4 by writing
down the correct version of each error.

.………………………………………………………………………………………...

.………………………………………………………………………………………... [2]

8 What is the root/stem of the word “pro-active”? (paragraph 3).

.………………………………………………………………………………………... [1]

9 Provide a homophone for the word “site” (paragraph 1) and use it in a short
sentence that clearly illustrates the meaning.

.………………………………………………………………………………………...

.………………………………………………………………………………………... [1]

5
10 “this number of contacts devalues true friendship” (paragraph 4). Identify this
string of words as a phrase, clause or a complete sentence.

.………………………………………………………………………………………...

.………………………………………………………………………………………... [1]

11 Explain the meaning of the following words/expressions in the context of this

text:

(a) trivial (paragraph 6)

.……………………………………………………………………………… [1]

(b) controversial (paragraph 1)

.……………………………………………………………………………… [1]

12 Correct the concord error in paragraph 5 by rewriting the entire sentence

correctly, underlining the corrected verb.

.………………………………………………………………………………………...

.………………………………………………………………………………………... [1]

13 Read the following sentence before answering the questions that follow.

"Since the internet can be accessed outside the home on smartphone and on
laptop or tablet computers, it makes social networking sites a useful way to
utilise down time, which is time which might otherwise be wasted in, for
example, the dentist’s waiting room or on the bus."

(a) Copy only the main clause of the above sentence.

.……………………………………………………………………………… [1]

(b) Is the above sentence a simple, complex or compound sentence?

.……………………………………………………………………………… [1]

[10]

[20]

6
 Section 2

Read the following passage before answering the questions that follow.

Passage 2

Monica

1. I could not decide whether or not Monica’s odd behaviour was caused by
old age. Obvious as that might have been, I could not avoid a suspicion:
might it be caused by no more than her plan to get her own way – an old
lady’s prerogative? Without doubt she was highly intelligent and well-
informed, but it was often hard to cope with the strands of her
conversation because of the way in which memory and forgetfulness
crossed and re-crossed each other. Who was the real Monica? I could
not tell.

2. No doubt she had always been eccentric. For example, she would cross
roads without so much as glancing to left or right. Drivers would slam on
their brakes while this elderly lady wandered casually across the busiest
roads in town. Although her idiosyncrasies must always have been there,
perhaps they had become more accentuated as she became older. I
remember well the occasion when my friend Cynthia and I took her to a
concert.

3. To begin with, she insisted on taking her knitting. Neither Cynthia nor I
remonstrated with her as we should have done, but that was only with the
wisdom of hindsight. Knitting during a concert is uncommon; in fact, I had
never seen anyone do it. We entered the packed village hall, and Monica
wanted to sit in the front row. Like a queen she sailed down the central
aisle, and sat down directly opposite the pianist’s chair. Everyone knew
Monica, and from the outset I felt conspicuous and mortified.

4. Soon the musicians arrived and the concert was about to begin. ‘I think
the pianist made her dress out of old curtains,’ said Monica. The pianist
glared at her, offended and embarrassed. I was squirming, trying in vain
to keep calm. The concert started and Monica took out her knitting.

5. Now, knitting is not generally considered to be a noisy occupation. I had

often seen Monica knitting elsewhere and, when she dropped her knitting
needles, as she often did, it had never caused a problem. But on this
occasion the atmosphere in the room was different. Each time the knitting

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 needles fell they clattered onto the wooden floor: it was absolute
mayhem. Cynthia or I had to retrieve them, depending on which side they
dropped. The ball of wool fell and rolled under several chairs. Someone
about four chairs back kicked it back towards her, but the trailing end of
the wool caught round a chair leg and pulled tight, thus yanking the
needles out of Monica’s hands. ‘Be careful,’ she hissed, just as the
pianist, her eyes closed in rapture, was approaching a particularly difficult
section of music. She opened her eyes sharply, simultaneously hitting a
wrong note.

6. An attendant came forward and asked Monica to be quiet. ‘What did you
say?’ she asked loudly, as though she were deaf – which she wasn’t. I
was grinding my teeth in fury and plotting murder in my heart. But worse
was to come. As soon as the first piece of music finished, Monica decided
to leave. With knitting needles dropping all around her, and in full view of
the audience, she swept up the central aisle towards the door.
Tumultuous applause broke out from the audience, stamping, cheering,
whistling – no musicians could have asked for a greater ovation. But we
knew that the applause was not for the musicians or their music. They
bowed stiffly, their faces set in grim smiles. At that point, I made up my
mind that her apparent senility1 was no more than a deception designed
for her own delight.
(Source: to be mentioned)
1
a forgetful old person

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 Task 1: Comprehension

Answer the following questions in your own words as far as possible.

14 (a) What was the 'obvious' explanation for Monica's 'odd behaviour'?
.……………………………………………………………………………… [1]

(b) What did the writer suspect was the real reason for Monica's
behaviour?

.……………………………………………………………………………… [2]

15 Name two ways in which Monica's way of crossing the road was 'eccentric'?
Explain in your own words.
.……………………………………………………………………………………

.……………………………………………………………………………………

.……………………………………………………………………………………

.…………………………………………………………………………………… [3]

16 Quote the simile used in the third paragraph and explain how it adds to the
impression the reader gets of Monica's character.

.……………………………………………………………………………………

.……………………………………………………………………………………

.……………………………………………………………………………………

.…………………………………………………………………………………… [3]

17 Why is Monica’s knitting causing ‘mayhem’ in paragraph 5?

.……………………………………………………………………………………

.……………………………………………………………………………………

.……………………………………………………………………………………

.…………………………………………………………………………………… [2]

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16 Why does the writer mention that Monica wasn't deaf?
.……………………………………………………………………………………

.…………………………………………………………………………………… [2]

17 Why is it ironic that Monica says, "Be careful!" (paragraph 5)

.……………………………………………………………………………………

.…………………………………………………………………………………… [2]

18 Why did the audience applaud so loudly?

.……………………………………………………………………………………

.…………………………………………………………………………………… [2]

19 Describe in your own words what the writer decided about Monica's
'apparent senility', and write down one occurrence that made her come to
this conclusion
.……………………………………………………………………………………

.…………………………………………………………………………………… [2]

[20]

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 Task 2: Directed Writing

22 Write the dialogue that takes place after the concert between the
speaker/narrator and the pianist, where the pianist complains about Monica’s
behaviour and the speaker/narrator apologises. Use information from Passage
2.

Your piece must be between 180 – 200 words.

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……………………………………………………………………………………... [10]

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 [30]

JUNIOR SECONDARY CERTIFICATE

ENGLISH FIRST LANGUAGE 2101/1

PAPER 1: Reading and Directed Writing

Marks 50 Specimen paper

MARK SCHEME

12
 Section 1

Passage 1

Social Networking Sites

Task 1: Comprehension

1 C promote the establishment of rules for social networking sites. √ [1]

2 D social networking sites. √ [1]

3 A True (The writer mentions that the criticism is more important). √ [1]

B False (These sites create impersonal friendships). √ [1]

C False (“Not by interviews alone”).

D False (This is the writer’s opinion) √ [1]

4 Open-ended answer. Use own discretion. √

Do not accept “dentists’ waiting room” or “the bus” as examples. [1]

5 (a) A question that does not require an answer. √

(b) “Also, if your friend has read on screen every detail of your life that week,
and she yours, what are you going to talk about when you meet?” √ [1]

or

“What could be more insulting than to be out with a friend who makes it
clear that the friend he is contacting online is far more interesting than
you are?” √

No mark if not quoted correctly. [2]

6 Most information posted is boring. √ [1]

[10]

13
 Task 2: Grammar and vocabulary

7 importantly √ face-to-face √ [2]

8 Act √ [1]

9 Sight √

√ Sentence containing clear meaning of word.

a the faculty or power of seeing
b a thing that one sees or that can be seen
c a device on a gun or optical instrument used for assisting a person's
precise aim or observation [1]

Sentence (meaning – one of the above -should be clear) and spelling of the
word should be correct to get the mark.

10 “clause √ [1]

11 (a) trivial - Something which is unimportant √

(learners need not write complete sentences) [1]

(b) controversial - Something which is debatable √

(learners need not write complete sentences) [1]
(No version of the given words may be used (e.g. trivia/controversy)

12 Stricter regulation of social networking sites is long overdue. √ [1]

(if only the verb ‘is’ was written down, learners receive no mark)

13 (a) It makes social networking sites a useful way to utilise down time √ [1]
(quotation marks are not required)

(b) Complex √ [1]

[10]

14
 Section 2

Passage 2

Monica

Task 1: Comprehension

Answer the following questions in your own words as far as possible.

14 (a) She was old. √

(b) It was her own way of making sure she got her own way. √
+ 1 for correct language. [3:2+1]

15 She did not look whether there were cars coming, and she didn't walk fast/
she walked slowly/she took her time. √
+ 1 for correct language. [3: 2+1]

16 "like a queen" √ – Monica acts as if she is royalty, as if her every wish

and command should be attended to √.+ 1 for correct language. [3: 2+1]

17 Complete silence because everybody was listening to the pianist's

performance. √+ 1 for correct language. [2: 1+1]

18 It proves that Monica was deliberately being rude. √

+ 1 for correct language. [2: 1+1]

19 She is not careful herself at all, as she is actually the one causing all the
havoc√. + 1 for correct language.

20 They were glad Monica was leaving. √

+ 1 for correct language. [2: 1+1]

21 That Monica only pretended to be senile (absentminded, a forgetful old person,

confused), but that she deliberately acted that way because she enjoyed the
effect it had on others √. Any one of the following: Eg: she talked loudly,
pretending not to hear, but she wasn't deaf/ she made a rude comment loud
enough for the pianist to hear/ she insisted on sitting where everyone could see
her/ the way she (entered and) left the hall, like a VIP, to deliberately focus

15
 attention on herself.+ 1 for correct language [3: 2+1]The candidates' answers
need not be expressed like those in the memo, as long as the meaning is still
the same.
[20]

Task 2: Directed Writing

22 Use Annexe 7 from the syllabus to mark this piece. 8 lines are needed before
any mark can be awarded. [10]

[50]

16
 Annexe 7: Marking grid for shorter and directed writing tasks
JS ENGLISH 1 2 3 4 5
FIRST LANGUAGE
- uses language and style - uses language - language usage - not very effective - language insufficient for

LANGUAGE USAGE AND

purposefully with clear appropriate for task with satisfactory with some language usage, with task though
sense of audience and an awareness of awareness of audience little or no awareness of understandable in
correct register audience and correct and register audience and register places

REGISTER
SHORTER TASKS - fluent and accurate register - vocabulary ordinary but - vocabulary very basic - vocabulary unsuitable
expression - good range of adequate for the task - many errors in grammar for purpose and/or
- excellent range of vocabulary - some more serious hamper reading. audience
appropriate vocabulary - some minor mistakes in errors in grammar do - frequent, serious errors
suitable for the task grammar not impede in grammar
- grammar virtually error- understanding
free

CONTENT AND STRUCTURE

Excellent achievement of task: competent selection of
content shows clear understanding of topic, purpose and
audience; focus maintained throughout; clear, relevant
1 ideas/thoughts organised effectively (excellent structure and
10-9 8 7 (6) (5)
paragraphing); details and examples enhance writing;
layout faultless. Length appropriate
Task achieved: appropriate selection of content; supporting
details mostly relevant and effective; logical grouping of
2 ideas (paragraphing correct); layout correct. Length 8 7 6 5 4
appropriate.

Task partially achieved: content simple but mostly relevant;

sense of purpose and/or audience lacking at times; a few
3 supporting details; paragraphing used, but not always 7 6 5 4 3
successfully; layout might not be completely correct. Length
more or less appropriate.
Task not satisfactorily achieved: content not always
relevant/focussed/correct; no clear sense of purpose and
4 audience; some evidence of appropriate layout, poor (6) 5 4 3 2
paragraphing. Too long/short.

Task only minimally achieved, or not at all: content very

simple/very little/fragmented, or off topic; paragraphing faulty
5 or lacking; layout incorrect /inappropriate. Too long/short (5) 4 3 2 1

17