OCT TRAILBLAZER- ENGLISH
Section 1
GRAMMAR MCQ
Read each question carefully. Choose the most suitable answer.
1. The morning calls of the monkeys are a signal _________ the ecologist to wake up
and start hiking.
A. to
C. for
B. when
D. from
2. The forest canopy is formed ________ branches of different trees grow into one
another.
3.
4.
5.
A. with
C. when
B. because
D. around
Epiphytes are plants that grow _________ other plants.
A. between
C. on
B. from
D. under
The cloud forest thrives on water _______ by the clouds.
A. supply
C. supplying
B. supplies
D. supplied
Tree frogs are able to survive and reproduce high up in the trees because rain and
dew __________ in the overlapping leaves to form pools of water.
A. collect
C. collected
B. collects
D. collecting
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Section 2
PUNCTUATION
For questions 6 to 12, choose the correct punctuation to complete the passage. Circle the best
answer.
I was excited when the ecologist showed me how to climb up to reach the canopy. She said, [6]
just use the clamps to grip the rope and pull yourself up [7]. I slowly made my way up [8] step
by step, until I reached a fixed platform. Another person there helped me onto the platform.
From there I could see a branch, overgrown with ferns and an orchid plant with bright red
flowers [9] Suddenly, there was a loud howl [10] I felt scared but the ecologist laughed and
said, [11] don[12]t worry, it is only a howler monkey”.
6.
A. [ ‘ ] apostrophe
B. [ “ ] inverted commas
C. [ , ] comma
D. [ . ] full stop
A. [ ” ] inverted commas
B. [− ] hyphen
C. [ , ] comma
D. [ . ] full stop
A. [ . ] full stop
B. [ , ] comma
C. [ : ] colon
D. [ ‘ ] apostrophe
A. [ “ ] inverted commas
B. [ ? ] question mark
C. [ . ] full stop
D. [ ! ] exclamation mark
A. [ ‘ ] apostrophe
B. [ ? ] question mark
C. [ ! ] exclamation mark
D. [ , ] comma
A. [ ? ] question mark
B. [ ! ] exclamation mark
C. [ ‘ ] apostrophe
D. [ “ ] inverted commas
A. [ ‘ ] apostrophe
B. [ . ] full stop
C. [ ? ] question mark
D. [ , ] comma
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
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Section 3
VOCABULARY MCQ
For questions 13 to 18, four options are given. Circle the best answer.
13. Some people may feel like dwarfs when walking under the ________ trees in the forest.
A. tall
C. monstrous
B. huge
D. towering
14. Canopy forests are still largely untouched and scientists have much to ____________
by exploring such forests.
A. learn
C. discover
B. study
D. examine
15. In order to explore the canopy forest the ecologist _________ a special tool to climb up
the trees.
A. made
C. created
B. devised
D. bought
16. _________ are all types of plants that grow in the cloud forest.
A. Bromeliads
C. Epiphytes
B. Woody shrubs
D. Ferns
17. The hummingbirds in the forest ___________ nectar from the ginger flowers.
A. sucks
C. eats
B. sips
D. licks
18. The sloth is able to move in the tree tops as it is able to _________to branches with its
long arms.
A. cling
C. grip
B. climb
D. grasp
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Section 4
VOCABULARY CLOZE
From the list of words given, choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write the word in
the blanks below.
EACH WORD CAN ONLY BE USED ONCE.
slingshot
teeth
ways
arrow
claws
methods
study
clamps
photograph
The scientist used a [19] ________________________ to shoot a fishing line over a strong
branch. She then used the fishing line to pull her climbing rope over the branch. She slowly
climbs up using her special [20] _______________ to grip the rope. This devise has one-way
[21] _____________________ that bite into the rope. In order to be more comfortable she also
made a seat to sit on when she needed to stop and [22]______________ something in the
forest. This is one of the many [23] _____________ ecologists use to reach the treetops.
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Section 5
COMPREHENSION MCQ
Read the article ‘Life in the Treetops’ from pages 16 to 23 and answer the following questions.
Choose the best answer.
24. Cloud forest trees are unusual from other trees because
A. they grow very tall into the clouds.
B. they take in water through their leaves as well as their roots.
C. many canopy animals only live in the cloud forest trees.
D. they provide the best environment for epiphytes.
25. Thick clouds form in the forest when
A. moist air from the ocean moves up the mountain.
B. rainwater evaporates.
C. strong winds blow clouds over the ocean into the forest.
D. mist and dew get trapped among the treetops.
26. Why do many canopy animals rarely go down to the ground?
A. It is too risky as there are dangerous animals on the ground.
B. They are able to find sufficient food and water in the treetop
ecosystem to survive in the canopy.
C. It is difficult to descend from the treetop to the ground.
D. They often get lost when making their way down in the dense forest.
27. Why do epiphytes grow on high branches?
A. They need moisture and water from the clouds.
B. They are able to get more sunlight which does not penetrate to the
lower levels of the forest.
C. There is more food and nutrients at the higher levels of the forest. .
D. It is quieter and safer up on the high branches.
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Section 6
GRAMMAR CLOZE
There are 7 blanks, numbered 28 to 34, in the passage below. From the list of words given,
choose the most suitable word for each blank. Write its letter (A to L) in the blanks below.
EACH WORD CAN ONLY BE USED ONCE.
(A) its
(B) this
(C) these
(D) in
(E) are
(F) is
(G) those
(H) of
(I) under
(J) over
(K) through
(L) from
Large areas of the earth [28] ________________________ covered with cloud forests. They
flourish [29] ____________________________ mountainous regions with large towering trees.
The floor of the forest is usually damp and wet because the thick forest prevents sunlight [30]
_____________________ reaching the ground. At the top of the forest the branches [31]
_________________________________ different trees grow onto one another and it is like a
roof [32] ______________________ the forest. This is called the forest canopy. The branches
of [33] ______________________ trees are usually covered with many types of plants,
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generally called epiphytes. They get nutrients and moisture from the air and rain and form [34]
___________________ own ecosystem up in the branches.
Section 7
EDITING
Correct each word in bold for spelling errors and the underlined for grammatical errors. Write
the correct answer in the blanks below.
The forest canopy [35] teams with life. The animals and insects which [36] lived here include
hummingbirds, lemur frogs and brown throated [37] sloth. In the high branches, the epiphytes
and the mat under them form [38] the tiny ecosystem. It [39] have soil, plants and many little
creatures which creep and [40] crwl in the mats.
35. ________________________________________________
36. ________________________________________________
37. ________________________________________________
38. ________________________________________________
39. ________________________________________________
40. ________________________________________________
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Section 8
COMPREHENSION CLOZE
Fill in each blank with a suitable word.
Ecologists want to [41] _______________________________________ and study the cloud
forests to learn more about the natural environment. They have come up with many ways of
getting up to the [42] ______________________________________ which is teeming with life.
Some of them even use hang-gliders to [43] ______________________________________
over
the
forest
tops
to
get
a
closer
look.
They
also
use
cameras
to
[44]
______________________________________ animals, plants and flowers on film, which they
can later examine closely in their laboratory.
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Section 9
SENTENCE SYNTHESIS
Rewrite the given sentence(s) using the word(s) provided. Your answer must be in one
sentence. The meaning of your sentence must be the same as the given one(s).
45. In the early morning low clouds normally cover the treetops of the cloud forest. It is
difficult to see the birds and animals. You may be able to spot some of the animals and
birds in the afternoon when it is clearer
______________________________________________________________________
and__________________________________________________________________
but___________________________________________________________________.
46. The forest has many fruits and insects. This provides a source of food to birds and other
creatures.
________________________________________________________________which
____________________________________________________________________.
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Section 10
COMPREHENSION OPEN-ENDED
Read the article ‘Life in the Treetops’ from pages 16 to 23 and answer the following questions.
47. What are the advantages of using a rope and seat method to climb into the forest
canopy?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
48. What are Bromeliads?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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Section 11
GRAPHIC STIMULUS
Read the article ‘Life in the Treetops’. Study the pictures on page 19 and 23 and answer the
following questions. Choose the best answer.
49. What do you think is the purpose of showing these two pictures, picture 1 (page 19) and
picture 2 (page 23)?
A. Picture 1 shows an active
C. They show the different methods
ecologist while picture 2 is just a
of climbing into the forest to study
posed picture.
the forest life.
B. They show two ways of studying
D. They show women posing for
plant and animal life in the treetops.
the photographer in different
postures.
50. The picture on page 23 shows a sloth. What is the unique feature the sloth has to
protect itself from any dangerous situation?
A. It has long arms and is able to
C. It is able to make itself small and
get away quickly using its long
hide among the branches.
arms.
B. It has green algae which grows
D. It is able to change colors and
on its fur and this helps it hide as it
look like a branch or leaves.
looks like it is a plant.
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Answer Key
Section 1: GRAMMAR MCQ
1. A. to
2. C. when
3. C. on
4. D. supplied
5. A. collect
Section 2: PUNCTUATION
6. B. [ “ ] inverted commas
7. A. [ “ ] inverted commas
8. B. [ , ] comma
9. C. [ . ] full stop
10. C. [ ! ] exclamation mark
11. D. [ “ ] inverted comma
12. A. [ ‘ ] apostrophe
Section 3: VOCABULARY MCQ
13. D. towering
14. A. learn
15. A. made
16. C. epiphytes
17. B. sips
18. A. cling
Section 4: VOCABULARY CLOZE
19. Slingshot
20. Clamps
21. Teeth
22. Study
23. Ways
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Section 5: COMPREHENSION MCQ
24. B. they take in water through their leaves as well as their roots.
25. A. moist air from the ocean moves up the mountain.
26. B. They are able to find sufficient food and water in the treetop ecosystem to survive
in the canopy.
27. B. They are able to get more sunlight which does not penetrate to the lower levels of
the forest.
Section 6: GRAMMAR CLOZE
28. [E] are
29. [D] in
30. [L] from
31. [H] of
32. [J] over
33. [C] these
34. [A] its
Section 7: EDITING
35. teems
36. live
37. sloths
38. a
39. has
40. crawl
Section 8: COMPREHENSION CLOZE
41. explore
42. canopy
43. glide
44. capture
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Section 9: SENTENCE SYNTHESIS
45. In the early morning low clouds normally cover the treetops of the cloud forest and it is
difficult to see the birds and animals but you may be able to spot some of the animals
and birds in the afternoon when it is clearer
46. The forest has many fruits and insects which is a source of food to birds and other
creatures.
Section 10: COMPREHENSION OPEN- ENDED
47. This method is good because she can stop to rest or study what she finds, it protects
the trees and also keeps her away from stinging insects on the tree trunks.
48. These are plants with stiff leaves shaped like a pineapple top that grow on branches of
trees.
Section 11: GRAPHIC STIMULUS
49. C. They show the different methods of climbing into the forest to study the forest life.
50. B. It has green algae which grows on its fur and this helps it hide as it looks like it is a
plant.
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