English The Pangolin Answer Key

Questions 9 to 18 Read the text below and choose the best word for each space. For each question, mark the correct letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet. The Pangolin The pangolin, often referred to as an anteater, is an animal usually found (0) ____in_____ Asia. (9) _________ it is sometimes mistaken to be a reptile, it is in fact a mammal. Perhaps the most surprising and disappointing (10) _________ about the pangolin is that it is the world’s most traded animal. Some estimates (11) _________ that sales of pangolins now account for up to 20 per cent of the entire wildlife black market. The demand for pangolins comes mostly from China where pangolin scales are thought to be a (12) _________ for many health problems yet there is no evidence to support this. There are eight types of pangolins in the world. Generally, the scales on their skin (13) _________ 20% of the pangolin’s body weight. Pangolins can (14) _________about 20,000 ants a day or more than 70 million ants a year. An adult Pangolin’s tongue is over 40 centimetres longer than the length of its (15) _________ body. Being solitary creatures, they meet only to find a partner and produce (16) _________ one and three young ones. Baby pangolins, which have a soft skin at first, are raised over a two-year period. When the pangolin senses (17) _________, it curls itself up into a ball. It will protect its face by hiding it under its tail. The third Saturday of February each year is now ‘World Pangolin Day’ and there is a growing effort to (18) _________ awareness about saving these endangered creatures. It is hoped that the future generations can benefit from this effort. 0 A. in B. of C. at D. from 9 A. If B. Despite C. Since D. Although 10 A. fact B. news C. reason D. information 11 A. tell B. suggest C. advise D. propose 12 A. cure B. factor C. symptom D. prevention 13 A. consist of B. result in C. contribute to D. make up 14 A. find B. collect C. consume D. hunt 15 A. total B. entire C. actual D. overall 16 A. over B. among C. with D. between 17 A. risk B. threat C. danger D. problem 18 A. give B. make C. create D. introduce Part 3 You are going to read an extract from an article. For questions 19 to 26, choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D) and mark the correct letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet. _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Looking back on my childhood, I remember sitting in our small kitchen watching my mother cooking. We were living in Ipoh, Perak. I was then six years old. My parents, my sister, my two brothers and I all lived together in an old wooden hut. Dad struggled to make a living in his coffee shop. Mum had to worry about our daily bread. Our kitchen was simple. An earthen stove blackened by smoke forever greeted us with its round mouth. Mum would start her busy daily routine in the kitchen while I would be sitting, happily watching her in action. She would sit on a low stool in the kitchen and chop the wood with a clumsy axe. She would place the chopped wood under the stove and set them alight. As the wood burned, the food she cooked gave off a delicious aroma. Times were hard so my mother could only afford to make us ordinary dishes, such as vegetables with dried shrimp and fried eggs. But for me, sitting at that old wooden table with the whole family, and gobbling up the steamy rice and the simple food was very much satisfying. Once in a while Mum cooked her favourite dish of steamed chicken and that would be a big occasion, indeed. By nature, she was a clean and tidy woman, but sitting by the fire at such moments her hair would be messy, forehead beaded with sweat and her cheeks covered in grey ash. But her large eyes shone with a beauty only a mother can have. These wonderful meals Mum laboured so hard to prepare helped brighten our lives even as poverty and hard times weighed us down. When I was eight, our whole family moved south to Singapore. Life did not improve much as all six of us were forced to huddle in a rented room. Life conditions were really difficult. Mum just kept quiet and she preferred to stick with her family behind closed doors, and when she had to stir out of the room, she would go her own way, minding her own business. She was determined not to let the crowded conditions prevent her from feeding her family properly. Now Mum would cook using coal instead of firewood. Mum had to buy the coal from the shop and carry it home. The process of cooking using it was even harder but it did not stop Mum from giving the best to her family. I am sure she had much to worry about though she did not share her fears with us. Dad worked very hard and was out day and night. Mum would cook, share the meal with us and keep a portion for Dad. Then she quickly put out the fire to reuse the coal. Returning home late in the evening, Dad was tired and hungry but he would swallow down his cold dinner with no complaint. He understood that coal was expensive. During our first two years in Singapore, life was a struggle but slowly our fortunes improved. When I was ten years old, we finally moved into a new apartment. We now had a large kitchen and most importantly, a gas stove. For Mum, all those years of chopping firewood and carrying coal home were over. The spontaneous rush of gas which now burst forth at the turn of the knob must have come as a great relief. Cooking became so much more enjoyable that she bought any new recipe books and tried them all. Working by the gas stove, she no longer seemed distracted by distant thoughts although she still missed her previous kitchen. Mum looked even happier when Dad started to help out in the kitchen. Dad even accompanied her on shopping sprees. Meals which had once been a source of comfort now became one of joy. In the years that followed, grey hair had slowly appeared on my parents’ heads and so had a sense of contentment with their lives. They now live in a good-sized apartment and the kitchen is equipped with a gas stove, an oven and a microwave – all conveniences that once seemed so impossible. Sitting on the balcony amidst the gorgeous flowers, they enjoy peace after those difficult years. 19 In paragraph 2, why does the writer use the phrase happily watching her in action? A She enjoyed being of help to her mother. B She felt contented to be with her mother. C She admired her mother’s cooking skills. D She found her mother’s routine amazing. 20 In paragraph 3, what does the writer say about her mother’s character? A She was discouraged by the economic hardship faced by the family. B She was conscious of the way she looked when she was cooking. C She was concerned about what the future holds for her children. D She was determined to put food on the table for everyone. 21 In paragraph 4, how did the writer describe their new life in Singapore? A They could not go out much. B The mother started a business. C The family had to depend on others. D They had to live in a cramped place. 22 In paragraph 5, what was the proof that their lives changed for the better? A It took them ten years to turn their lives around. B They could afford to get a place of their own. C The family reused the coal to save money. D The father did not complain anymore. 23 What effect did moving to the new apartment have? A It made mum want to return to their old home. B It meant that providing food was no longer problematic. C It encouraged dad to spend more time with the family. D It made the writer want to be more involved with the meal preparation. 24 Why had preparing meals become more pleasurable for Mum? A Buying groceries with Dad was fun. B Trying out new recipes gave her joy. C Using the gas stove made cooking simpler. D Having a bigger area made her work easier. 25 How does the writer feel about her parents in the last paragraph? A grateful that they can grow old together B relieved that their life has become easier C envious of the possessions they now have disappointed that they are not as active as they once were D 26 What is the purpose of the writer writing this article? A To share precious memories of her mother. B To recall how she faced the difficulties in her life. C To look back at how her Dad worked hard for the family. D To show the beautiful relationship between her and her parents. Part 4 Questions 27 to 32 You are going to read an article about a student who went for a leadership camp for the first time. Six sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A to H the one which fits each gap (27 to 32). There are two extra sentences which you do not need to use. Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet. A Camp for Future Leaders Being a school prefect, I often have to help other students. To provide them with an example to follow, I have to be their role model. Last month, for the first time, my school selected me to attend a leadership camp. Unsure of what to expect initially, I left with a real feeling of achievement at the end of the camp. I now know what it takes to be a good leader. The camp activities were creatively designed to motivate and boost our confidence. For example, during the < Speak Easy= activity, we were encouraged to reveal our secrets and innermost feelings. To our horror, the facilitators made it compulsory for everyone to participate. 27 We had no choice but to build up our courage and speak up. This set the tone for future activities. The next activity was something I had been looking forward to. It was a workshop on how to deal with disciplinary cases in the safest way possible. The hands-on activity taught me how to deal with these sorts of difficult situations. 28 This knowledge is something to be shared with the new prefects in my school. The activity that had the most impact on me dealt with learning not to judge others based on looks or position. 29 This approach is not only useful for me as a prefect, but also in everyday life. There were also other enjoyable experiences during my short stint at the camp. 30 But the truth was I occasionally got homesick. Fortunately, the warm and friendly attitudes of the staff put me at ease. I learned how to cope at a camp that felt like < home away from home=. I was especially impressed with the camp facilitators who led the sessions. They were always approachable and helpful in ensuring that all the activities were fun, apart from giving us practical tips that would be useful in many aspects. 31 This would be an advantage to us not only now, but when we step into the working world. The leadership camp is a great way to gain skills necessary for dealing with real-life situations. 32 Credit must be given to the great way the leadership camp was organised. It should be recommended to anyone else who aspires to be a leader. A We should listen to the views and ideas of all people. E We learned about time management and how to handle stress effectively. B Now, I am more confident about addressing problems of behaviour with the junior students. F I really tried to focus on all the positives. C Everyone who attended noticed a huge change in how they behave and treat people. G I also shared my experience with other leaders. D I was pushed out of my comfort zone. H Surprisingly, everybody volunteered to go first. Part 5 Questions 33 to 40. We interviewed six teenagers about what community service means to them. Read the texts below and answer the questions that follow. Teens on Community Service A - SHAH, 16 years old Opportunities to volunteer are everywhere, even right in our own backyard. I started with something that I really believe and have an interest in – joining a project that gives free tuition to the little kids from a few poor families in my neighbourhood. That experience taught me to be more compassionate. B - JULIE, 14 years old When I was younger, I helped out at a nearby animal shelter. At first I didn't know many people there and wasn't very enthusiastic. Later, as I got to know the animals and staff members, I learned how to enjoy my time there. Every now and then, I go over to feed the animals and play with them. It is very beneficial and I get new experiences doing things that I’ve never done before. C - HOCK LIM, 17 years old I go to an old folks’ home as a volunteer and spend time with the residents there. Sometimes, my friends and I go there after school. Listening to the stories about their past experiences has taught us some useful life lessons. Once in a while, we bring along a guitar to entertain them. D - AMELIA, 13 years old Last year, we had a class project where we had to complete 10 hours of community service. So my class decided to help clean up the zoo compound. Although very tiring, I feel that doing this type of community service is rewarding. E - JEREMY, 15 years old For as long as I can remember, I have always been involved in community service – going to children's homes with my parents to organise parties especially on special occasions. The joy on the children’s faces never cease to warm our hearts and that’s what keeps us going back. F - AIDA, 17 years old I wanted to support my local library so I set up a Story Corner and read to children on Saturdays. Setting up community projects is very meaningful, no matter how small it may be. Every little step counts. I hope that one day my classmates will join me. Questions 33 to 36 Which paragraph (A - F) describes the following experiences of community service? Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet. Statements Paragraph 33 I did not enjoy the work initially. ………….. 34 I organised my work by myself. ………….. 35 I sympathise with the unfortunate in my area. ………….. 36 I get input to have a better understanding of the world. ………….. Questions 37 to 40 Complete the notes below using information from the text. Choose no more than one word from the passage for each answer. Mark your answers on the separate answer sheet. What We Know About Community Service Those (37) who are interested in working with animals could help out at a or zoo. For senior citizens, it is useful to think of ways to (38) them. Helping children is also about making them happy; celebrating birthdays by having (39) is one way to do this. Try not to think too big. Do something that will make the lives of the needy more (40) and happy.