Hinthar International School

Hinthar International School

Mid Term Exam Class: Pre IG-B/ Pre IG-B2

Subject: English Time allowed: 1:30 hours

Section 1

Reading
A. Read the following passage.

The coconut is an unusual food for many reasons. It is technically a seed, produced by the coconut
palm tree, and as such is one of the largest edible seeds produced by any plant. Its unusual contents also
make it unique in the seed world—the interior consists of both “meat” and “water.” The meat is the white
pith with which we are all familiar, as it is used extensively for cooking and flavorings; the coconut water
is a white liquid that is very sweet and thirst-quenching.

Portuguese explorers gave the nut its name in the 15th century, referring to it as coco, meaning
“ghost” in their language. The three dimples and the hairy texture reminded them of a ghost’s face, and
the tree has retained that name ever since.

The coconut has many varied uses. It is used to make margarine, as well as various cooking oils,
and these cooking oils are used by fast-food restaurants around the world to make such diet staples as
French fries. The coconut fluid is a favorite drink in hot climates, providing a cool and refreshing beverage
right off the tree. This water is also used by manufacturers of various sports drinks because of its isotonic
electrolyte properties. Even the shell itself has many uses, including cattle food and fertilizer.

Yet the coconut is also useful in many ways that have nothing to do with food. Coconut oil is used
for cosmetics, medicines, and can even be used in place of diesel fuel. Dried coconut shells are used in
many countries as a tool, such as a buffer for shining wood floors. The shells are also used for shirt buttons,
and are commonly found on Hawaiian clothing. They are even used for musical instruments and bird
houses!

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And all these are only some of the uses found for the coconut fruit. The coconut palm tree, which
produces the nut, also produces countless useful items. It’s no wonder that the coconut palm has been
called “the tree of life.”

Choose the correct options. (12 Marks)

1. The underlined word pith, as used in the passage, most nearly means

a. helmet.

b. hairy material.

c. black.

d. meaty substance.

2. The coconut earned the nick name “ghost” because

a. of its pale color.

b. it resembles a face.

c. it is round.

d. of its smell

3. The coconut palm is sometimes called “the tree of life” because

a. the Portuguese thought it cured disease.

b. nearly every part of the tree is useful to mankind.

c. it grows near the Equator.

d. of its green color.

4. The passage implies that

a. coconut palms are a valuable plant.

b. coconut oil is the best way to cook.

c. Portuguese explorers loved coconuts.

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d. coconut palms are good shade trees

5. Which of the following is NOT a use for the coconut palm?

a. margarine

b. buttons

c. helium balloons

d. diesel fuel

6. The underlined word staples, as used in the passage, most nearly means

a. fasteners.

b. plans.

c. paperwork.

d. foods.

7. Paraphrase the 2nd paragraph from the passage above. (3 Marks)

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B. Read the passage about ‘John Steinbeck’.

John Steinbeck was born into a family of modest means in 1902. His father worked various jobs
to take care of his family. His mother was a former schoolteacher. Steinbeck had three sisters, and enjoyed
a happy childhood. Though shy, he was very smart, and he became attached to California’s Salinas Valley
at a young age. Steinbeck decided at the age of 14 that he would become a writer, and spent a lot of his
time writing poems and stories.

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To please his parents, Steinbeck enrolled at Stanford University. Unsuited to college life, he came
and went for six years before finally abandoning college for good in 1925. After a short stint in New York
City trying to be a freelance writer, he moved back to California and earned a living working as a manual
laborer. Steinbeck was the author of 31 books, including some of the best known novels in American
Literature: Of Mice and Men (1937), Grapes of Wrath (1939) and East of Eden (1952). Though he had
been publishing since 1929, he first found success with Tortilla Flat (1935), a humorous novel about
paisano life in the Monterey region of his native California. All of his books revolved around social issues,
and Steinbeck believed it was a writer’s job to “dredge up to the light our dark and dangerous dreams for
the purpose of improvement.”

Steinbeck won the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 for The Grapes of Wrath. Twenty-two years later, he
received the Nobel Prize for Literature: "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do
sympathetic humour and keen social perception."

Steinbeck was married three times, and his first wife provided him with financial support while he
concentrated on his writing. They divorced in 1942. His second marriage lasted from 1943 until 1948, and
produced two sons. Steinbeck married his third wife in 1950 and they remained married until Steinbeck
died of heart disease in 1968.

1. Describe Steinbeck’s childhood in your own word. (4 M)

2. With what novel did Steinbeck first achieve success? (2M)

3. What literary honors did Steinbeck win? (2M)

4. Steinbeck was married three times. What was unique about each of these marriages? (2M)

Section 2

Grammar and Use of English

A. Complete each sentence with the correct preposition: (5 Marks)

of for*2 about on

1. I was so pleased when the teacher congratulated me ------------ writing an excellent essay.

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2. Forgive me ------------ interrupting but someone wants to speak to you.

3. I don’t blame you ------------ falling asleep during that film. It was very long.
4. The maths teacher complained ------------ the noise.
5. I was accused ------------ being late but it wasn’t my fault.

B. Choose the correct option. (5 Marks)

1. The key to success is confident/ confidence.

2. The changes in the timetable caused a lot of confused/ confusion in the first week.

3. I wasn’t hurt when I fell off the horse. I was just embarrassed/ embarrassment.

4. You need to calm down, your impatient/ impatience will get you into trouble one day.

5. It is often said that genius is close to insane/ insanity.

C. Add the missing word to these sentences (10 Marks)

1. Some of children who worked in the mill were as young as 6.

2. Each the families lived in a small cottage close to the mail.

3. It was such hard life for the mill workers.

4. Neither Jim’s parents could read or write.

5. Most of older workers developed chest and lung diseases.

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D. Write the sentence using "Reported Speech with Past Perfect Tense”. (10 Marks)

1. “I've bought a flute with my pocket money.” (He said...)

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2. “I made a cake at the weekend.” (She said...)

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3. “I had the green curry when I was in Thailand.” (She said...)

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4. “I haven't had time to practice the guitar.” (He said...)

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5. “I didn't do very well in the exam.” (He said...)

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E. Rewrite the following passage in the Passive. (5 Marks)

Some people reported to polices seeing UFO in the sky. The army sent a helicopter to look at it closer.

The UFO shot the helicopter down and killed both men in it. People have given photographs of the UFO

to the police. Experts are looking at them now.

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F. Rewrite the following sentences by using the prompts. (10 Marks)

1. I forgot to check the email that you sent to me.

If only……………………………………………………………………………………………….

2. You didn’t try hard. So, you failed the exam.

You should………………………………………………………………………………………...

3. You were sleepy while the teacher was teaching.

You shouldn’t……………………………………………………………………………………...

4. I overslept this morning. So, I missed the bus.

I wish……………………………………………………………………………………………….

5. I didn’t bring my umbrella. Now I have to wait till the rain stops.

I wish……………………………………………………………………………………………….

Section 3

Writing
‘Choose a place that you know well and like it a lot. ‘Describe’ that place in detail about 150
words. You should describe about the scenery, local specialties and people in that area. (15
Marks)

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Section 4

Listening
A. Listen to the audio and circle the correct answers. (20 Marks)

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