MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL ANNUAL ASSESSMENT 2023

GRADE 5
ENGLISH

PAPER 1
JUNE 26, 2023 (a.m.)

1 hour and 10 minutes

READ THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.

1. This test has 40 questions. You have 1 hour and 10 minutes to answer them.

2. Each question has four suggested answers: (A), (B), (C) and (D). Read each
question carefully, then choose the correct answer.

3. On your answer sheet, find the number that matches the question you intend to
answer.

4. Shade the circle which has the same letter (A), (B), (C), or (D), that matches your
answer for each question.

Sample Question

The correct answer to this question is “favourite”. So (D) has been shaded.

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

6. When the supervisor tells you to begin, turn the page and work as quickly and as
carefully as you can.

7. If you try a question and find that you cannot answer it, leave it and go on to
the next one. You may return to that question later.

DO NOT TURN OVER THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO.
 ~2~

Questions 1 and 2

Choose the correct spelling of the word to complete each sentence.

1. I have a ______ of biting my fingernails.

(A) habit
(B) habitt
(C) habbit
(D) habbitt

2. It is an honour to ___________ an award from the president.

(A) receve
(B) receive
(C) reseive
(D) recieve

Question 3

3. Which of the following words would come first if they were arranged in
alphabetical order?

(A) Replay
(B) Conflict
(C) Trumpet
(D) Manners
 ~3~

Question 4

Select the group of words that is arranged in alphabetical order.

4. (A) plant part peace pray

(B) part plant pray peace
(C) part peace plant pray
(D) peace part pray plant

Question 5

Choose the word that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word in the
sentence.

5. The Head teacher held a brief meeting with the teachers.

(A) long
(B) short
(C) quick
(D) sudden

Question 6

Choose the prefix which can be added to the underlined word in the sentence to
form the opposite.

6. John behaved while his parents were away.

(A) ill
(B) un
(C) dis
(D) mis
 ~4~

Questions 7 and 8

Choose the word that means the same as the underlined word in each sentence.

7. The children were tired after the long field trip.

(A) lively
(B) happy
(C) excited
(D) exhausted

8. The angry man was prevented from entering the building.

(A) silly
(B) happy
(C) furious
(D) confused

Questions 9 and 10

Choose the compound word in each sentence.

9. The children had cupcakes at their graduation ceremony.

(A) children
(B) cupcakes
(C) ceremony
(D) graduation
 ~5~

10. The canteen sells healthy breakfast in the morning.

(A) healthy
(B) morning
(C) canteen
(D) breakfast

Question 11

Choose the correct suffix which can be added to the word in the bracket to
complete the sentence.

11. After washing the dishes, they were ____________ (spot).

(A) less
(B) fully
(C) able
(D) ness

Questions 12 - 14

Choose the most appropriate word to complete each sentence.

12. John is a very cooperative pupil. I like ______ a lot.

(A) he
(B) his
(C) him
(D) them
 ~6~

13. Judy cut a _____________of banana from the farm.

(A) heap
(B) clump
(C) bunch
(D) bundle

14. The porters moved the __________ glass table carefully.

(A) large
(B) fragile
(C) strong
(D) beautiful

Questions 15 and 16

Choose the most suitable conjunction to complete the sentence.

15. We were late for school ______ the bus broke down.

(A) but
(B) and
(C) when
(D) because

16. Andrew ate some snacks ____________ his sister played videogames.

(A) so
(B) yet
(C) while
(D) because
 ~7~

Question 17

Choose the correct punctuation mark to complete each sentence.

17. Mother bought pumpkin pepper and bora at the market.

(A) ,

(B) !

(C) “

(D) ?

Question 18

Choose the sentence in which the apostrophe is correctly placed.

18. (A) The childrens’ books were in the classroom.

(B) The childrens books’ were in the classroom.
(C) The childrens book’s were in the classroom.
(D) The children’s books were in the classroom.
 ~8~

Questions 19 and 20

Choose the correct form of the verb to complete each sentence.

19. The class ___________ yesterday.

(A) read
(B) reads
(C) reading
(D) are reading

20. We __________ to the party if you invite us.

(A) will come

(B) are come
(C) have come
(D) were coming

Question 21

Choose the word in the sentence that is used as an adjective.

21. The tree was laden with juicy mangoes.

(A) was
(B) tree
(C) juicy
(D) laden
 ~9~

Question 22

Choose the correct form of the adjective to complete the sentence.

22. Gavin was the ____________ of the three bowlers in the cricket team.

(A) faster
(B) fastest
(C) more fast
(D) more faster

Question 23

Choose the word that is used as an adverb in the sentence.

23. The boys read fluently in the exam.

(A) boys
(B) read
(C) exam
(D) fluently
 ~ 10 ~

Question 24

Choose the word that is used as a preposition in the sentence.

24. The hummingbird made a nest in the tree.

(A) a
(B) in
(C) the
(D) made

Questions 25 and 26

Choose the most suitable form of the verb to complete the sentence.

25. The choir ______ very well at the music festival last week.

(A) sing
(B) sung
(C) sang
(D) sings

26. Ravi ___________ a picture of the mountains.

(A) is drawing
(B) am drawing
(C) are drawing
(D) were drawing
 ~ 11 ~

Questions 27 – 29

The four sentences below are not in the correct order to form a paragraph. Read
the sentences carefully and then answer the questions that follow.

1. One windy day it fell.

2. Luckily, no one was hurt.
3. Many homeless persons slept under it.
4. There was an old building down the road.

27. Which sentence should begin the paragraph?

(A) Sentence 1
(B) Sentence 2
(C) Sentence 3
(D) Sentence 4

28. Which sentence should end the paragraph?

(A) Sentence 1
(B) Sentence 2
(C) Sentence 3
(D) Sentence 4

29. The correct order of the sentences should be

(A) 4, 3, 1, 2
(B) 4, 2, 1, 3
(C) 3, 1, 4, 2
(D) 3, 4, 1, 2
 ~ 12 ~

Questions 30 – 35

Read the story below carefully and then answer the questions that follow.

1 More than anything else in life, Josh wanted to beat the school record in the 100
metre dash. The record had been set five years ago. It was exactly twelve seconds.
He trained very hard with his friends Alex and Stanley. Sports day this year was
an opportunity for him to achieve his goal.
5 On the day, eight boys stood at the starting line for the signal that would start
the 100-metre race. The gun went off. In a split second, Roger Banks was leading
the pack. Josh got off to a bad start, but he gave it his all. He ran faster and faster.
He passed all the other boys except Roger. Josh was gaining on Roger, but he
was not able to pass him before he hit the tape.
10 Josh was so disappointed, but he knew he had done his best and he knew he
would have a chance at his goal. He went up to Roger, shook his hand and
congratulated him on his achievement.
Source: Unknown

30. Who won the race?

(A) Alex
(B) Josh
(C) Roger
(D) Stanley

31. According to the passage, how long ago was the school record set?

(A) 2 years
(B) 3 years
(C) 4 years
(D) 5 years
 ~ 13 ~

32. What was Josh’s main goal?

(A) He wanted to win the race.

(B) He wanted to beat Roger Banks.
(C) He wanted to beat the school record.
(D) He wanted to congratulate Roger Banks.

33. What is the meaning of the word “gaining” as used in line 8?

(A) Catching up Roger

(B) Quickly passing Roger
(C) Running alongside Roger
(D) Going further away from Roger

34. Why was Josh disappointed?

(A) He did his best.

(B) He had a bad start.
(C) He had to shake Roger’s hand.
(D) He was unable to beat the school record.

35. What word in the last paragraph means the same as “opportunity”?

(A) Goal
(B) Chance
(C) Achievement
(D) Congratulated
 ~ 14 ~

Questions 36 – 40

Read the story below carefully and then answer the questions that follow.

1 Hurricanes are large tropical storms that develop in the oceans of the world.
Hurricanes gather heat and energy from the warm ocean water. The heat
increases the power of the hurricane. Hurricanes that remain over warm water
usually get bigger and stronger. Hurricane winds move in a circle around a point
called the eye, which is the centre of the storm. To be called a hurricane, a storm
must have wind speeds of at least 74 miles per hour.
7 When a hurricane comes ashore, there are heavy rains, large waves and strong
winds. These cause damage to buildings, cars and trees. In the Caribbean, the
hurricane season begins in June and ends in November. When a hurricane is
approaching, there is usually a combination of rain and strong winds.
Meteorologists study the weather and watch these hurricanes very carefully, so
they can warn people how strong a hurricane is and where it is heading.

Adapted from http://reading-sage.blogspot.com/2014/07/4th-grade-expository-

reading-passages.html. Retrieved 23 August 2018.

36. Where can the “eye” of the hurricane be found?

(A) Next to the storm

(B) Around the storm
(C) Close to the storm
(D) Centre of the storm
 ~ 15 ~

37. When does the hurricane season in the Caribbean begin?

(A) May
(B) June
(C) October
(D) November

38. Which word in the passage tells us that a hurricane is coming?

(A) Increases
(B) Combination
(C) Approaching
(D) Meteorologists

39. What changes can be seen when a hurricane is coming?

(A) Strong winds

(B) Small waves
(C) Less rainfall
(D) Cool ocean water

40. Why do meteorologists send out warnings about coming hurricanes?

(A) Persons can be prepared for the storm.

(B) Persons can carry out their outdoor activities.
(C) Persons can continue to plant their kitchen gardens.
(D) Persons can visit their friends and family during the storm.

END OF TEST
IF YOU FINISH BEFORE TIME IS UP, CHECK YOUR WORK ON THIS TEST.