Grade 6
English Language Test
Short Comprehension
Question 1:Read the passage below and answer the questions
in full:
Welcome to the new WakaNation – where every customer
(affectionately known as Wakafans) gets to be the boss! Wakaberry
is a unique and interactive self-service, soft-serve frozen yoghurt
bar; established in Durban, May 2011. We offer only the best 100%
REAL frozen yoghurt which is SUPER LOW IN FAT! The froyo
flavours vary from store to store, but customers can expect a wide
variety including classics like Strawberry, Vanilla, Mixed Berry and
English Toffee and quirkier taste sensations like Green tea,
Pomegranate, Kiwi and Watermelon. Toppings wise, for the fit and
healthy we offer fresh fruit, nuts, and cereals, and for the
downright wicked there are deliciously decadent desserts such as
sweets, chocolates and sauces. Wakaberry is the first South
African frozen yoghurt brand to offer this unique self-serve
concept that allows each customer to be the boss of their own creation. The affordable
pricing and pay-per-weight system means that customers can have as much or as little as they
like.
1.
Explain in your own words what makes Wakaberry unique.
(3)
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
2.
Does Wakaberry cater for the health-conscious person? Give a reason for your
answer.
(2)
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
3.
Find Synonyms from the passage for the following words:
unconventional
____________________
dearly
self-indulgent
____________________
inexpensive
1
(4)
____________________
________________
Grade 6
English Language Test
Punctuation
4.
Using prefixes, change the following words into Antonyms of the root word:
healthy
5.
_____________________
affordable
(2)
____________________
Explain the phrase “to be the boss of their own creation”.
(2)
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6.
A morpheme or Portmanteau is the word used to describe the morphing or
combination of two words to form a new word, e.g. “lithe” and “slimy” becomes
“slithe”. Can you find an example of such a word in the passage? Which two
words are ‘morphed’ to form this new word?
(2)
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Question 2: Add all the apostrophes that have been left out in the
following sentences:
1.
(13)
The leopards home range is about five hundred square metres, which is one of
the reasons why theyre so difficult to spot.
2.
Carnivores diet can be anything from small reptiles to buck, but theyll never eat
grass.
3.
Asias lions are nearly extinct and most lions can be found in Africas bush.
4.
Dr. John Lewis research into the decline of the Amur leopards numbers, will help
a lot towards saving these leopards lives.
5.
I cant believe a cheetahs speed and Id love to see if a cheetah can reach a
Mercedes speed!
2
Grade 6
English Language Test
Punctuation
Question 3:
Rewrite the following passage, using the correct punctuation.
½ each (16)
when jack the jack russell terrier jumped onto a desk to steal breakfast he got a pile
of bagel crumbs and some pennies tearing open the bagel wrapper to get to the food
he accidentally toppled a box of coins and gulped down 111 pennies owner tim kelher
noticed that jack was sick and rushed him to the vet at 17h00 on november 20 2013
coins contain materials that are harmful to dogs so jacks doctors knew they had to act
fast they inserted a tube with a camera through his mouth into his belly using the
camera to guide them staff scooped out the pennies a few at a time theyve never seen
so many pennies in a dogs tummy hes on a penny-free diet now says tim his owner
Extract from National Geographic Kids, Issue 115, March 2014
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
3
Grade 6
English Language Test
Parts of Speech
Question 4: Read the passage below from “Peter Pan” and answer the
questions which follow:
The Return Home
Everyone woke up early the next day. It was a very long journey back home and the sea was quite
rough, so the going would be slow.
With slight alterations from Wendy, the pirates’ clothes fit the boys just fine—pants cut off at the
knees and jaunty hats and eye patches. The scowls they added themselves.
Peter, of course, was the captain. Nibs and John were first and second mates. None of the boys had
any training in sailing a pirate ship, but they pretended they were a crew of sailors—which in
Neverland is always enough. As they worked, securing jibs and sheets and all sorts of other sailor
words, they sang and cheered heartily. Finally , they got the ship out into the open sea, let loose her
sails, and started for England. It was time.
Peter had decided that they’d sail as far as the Azore Islands and then fly the rest of the way. He
stood at the wheel and addressed his pirate crew.
“Oh! You scum,” he cried. “You mangy dogs! There will be no mutiny on my ship, or else!”
The boys knew that Peter was only pretending to a pirate, but, unlike them, he couldn’t always tell the
difference. He was even wearing Hook’s old clothes. So they laughed, but nervously.
Peter Pan, Retold from the J.M. Barrie Original, Zamorsky, Tania, 2009
1.
List all the underlined words where an apostrophe has been used. Specify if it is
used to indicate possession or if it is used in contractions.
(4)
_____________ - _______________
_______________ - ______________
_____________ - _______________
_______________ - ______________
2.
Take the contractions listed above and rewrite them into separate words.
(2)
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
4
Grade 6
English Language Test
Parts of Speech
3.
Classify the following words, that have been underlined in the passage. Specify
which ’Part of Speech’ is represented by the word, choosing from the options
below. Also specify the type of adverb or adjective. Remember to read the words
within context.
½ each (18)
common noun
adverb
verb
collective noun
proper noun
interjections indefinite article
abstract noun
pronoun
definite article
prepositions
woke
but
early
a crew of sailors
very
Neverland
journey
sailor
and
heartily
slow
into
slight
time
alterations
Azore Islands
Wendy
of
at
his
eye
pirate
added
or
Peter
oh
was
my
the
mangy
Nibs
a
first
difference
none
nervously
5
adjective
conjunctions
Grade 6
English Language Test
Antonyms, Synonyms, Root words & Figures of
Speech
Question 5: Read the following extract from a poem and
answer the questions which follow:
The Children’s Hour by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Between the dark and the daylight,
When the night is beginning to lower,
Comes a pause in the day’s occupations,
That is known as the Children’s Hour.
I hear in the chamber above me
The patter of little feet,
The sound of a door that is opened,
And voices soft and sweet.
From my study I see the lamplight
Descending the broad hall stair,
Grave Alice, and laughing Allegra,
And Edith with golden hair.
A whisper, and then a silence
Yet I know by their merry eyes
They are plotting and planning together
To take me by surprise
A sudden rush from the stairway,
A sudden raid from the hall!
By three doors left unguarded
They enter my castle wall!
They climb up into my turret
O’er the arms and back of my chair;
If I try to escape, they surround me;
They seem to be everywhere.
(continued)
1.
Look at the word ‘unguarded’, specify the prefix, root and suffix of the word:(6)
________________________________________________________________
Now do the same for the following words:
inedible _____________
_________________
____________
unmovable _____________
_________________
____________
vice-captaincy _____________
_________________
____________
6
Grade 6
English Language Test
Antonyms, Synonyms, Root words & Figures of
Speech
2.
Find Synonyms for the following words in the poem:
(6)
room
- _______________
wide
- ___________________
unprotected
- _______________
happy
- ___________________
activities
- _______________
attack
- ___________________
3.
Circle all the correct answers from the options given below:
a)
The word “patter” in the sentence; “The patter of little feet,” is an example of:
i) a pronoun
b)
5.
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
6.
ii) ascending
iii) upwards
ii) chamber
iv) downstairs
iii) turret
iv) wall
iii) gloomy
iv) cheerful
An antonym for the word “grave” is:
i) solemn
4.
iv) personification
The word in the passage that means the same as “small tower”, is:
i) castle
d)
iii) onomatopoeia
An antonym for the word “descending” is:
i) downwards
c)
ii) a simile
(5)
ii) sober
Write down two antonyms and two synonyms for the word “sudden”:
(4)
Antonyms
___________________________________________________
Synonyms
___________________________________________________
Complete the following (where applicable) and indicate which Figure of Speech
has been used.
(6)
She walked into the house as quiet as a ________ , but I woke up. __________
The little boy is as fit as a ____________ after his long sickness. ___________
Timothy is a wolf and eats everything he sees. _________________
That boy is a tiger on the rugby field! ___________________
Change the following words by adding a prefix to the root word and explain how
the meaning of the word is changed:
(4)
known
enter
cycle
behave
___________________
___________________
___________________
___________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
7
Grade 6
English Language Test
Short Comprehension—Memo
Question 1:Read the passage below and answer the questions
in full:
1.
Explain in your own words what makes Wakaberry unique.
(3)
At Wakaberry you can select your own choice of frozen yoghurt and topping, it is
not too expensive and you pay according to the weight of your frozen yoghurt.
2.
Does Wakaberry cater for the health conscious person? Give a reason for your
answer.
(2)
Yes, Wakaberry is made with real frozen yoghurt that has very little fat and some
of the toppings are healthy, e.g. fresh fruits, nuts and cereals.
3.
Find Synonyms from the passage for the following words:
unconventional
quirky/quirkier
dearly
self-indulgent
decadent
inexpensive
4.
5.
affectionately
affordable
Using prefixes, change the following words into Antonyms of the root word:
healthy
unhealthy
affordable
(4)
(2)
unaffordable
Explain the phrase “to be the boss of their own creation”.
(2)
Each customer is in charge of their own selection of frozen yoghurt and topping.
You can decide exactly how much of which option you would like to have and
thereby you make a new creation of frozen yoghurt.
6.
A morpheme or Portmanteau is the word used to describe the morphing or
combination of two words to form a new word, e.g. “lithe” and “slimy” becomes
“slithe”. Can you find an example of such a word in the passage? Which two
words are ‘morphed’ to form this new word?
(2)
froyo - combination of frozen and yoghurt
8
Grade 6
English Language Test
Punctuation & Sentences—Memo
Question 2: Enter all the apostrophes that have been left out in the
following sentences:
1.
The leopard’s or leopards’ home range is about five hundred square metres,
which is one of the reasons why they’re so difficult to spot.
2.
Carnivores’ diet can be anything from small reptiles to buck, but they’ll never eat
grass.
3.
Asia’s lions are nearly extinct and most lions can be found in Africa’s bush.
4.
Dr. John Lewis’ research into the decline of the Amur leopard’s numbers, will help
a lot towards saving these leopards’ lives.
5.
I can’t believe a cheetah’s speed and I’d love to see if a cheetah can reach a
Mercedes’ speed!
Question 3:
(13)
Use your red pen and enter all the necessary punctuation:
When Jack the Jack Russell terrier jumped onto a desk to steal breakfast, he got a pile
of bagel crumbs and some pennies. Tearing open the bagel wrapper to get to the food,
he accidentally toppled a box of coins and gulped down 111 pennies. Owner Tim Kelher
noticed that Jack was sick and rushed him to the vet at 17h00 on November 20, 2013.
Coins contain materials that are harmful to dogs, so Jack’s doctors knew they had to
act fast. They inserted a tube with a camera through his mouth into his belly, using the
camera to guide them, staff scooped out the pennies a few at a time. They’ve never
seen so many pennies in a dog’s tummy. “He’s on a penny-free diet now!”, says Tim
his owner .
½ each (18)
9
Grade 6
English Language Test
Parts of Speech
Question 4: Read the passage below from “Peter Pan” and answer the
questions which follow:
1.
List all the underlined words where an apostrophe has been used. Specify if it
used to indicate possession or is used in contractions.
(4)
pirates’- possession, they’d- contraction, couldn’t– contraction, Hook’s– possession
2.
Take the contractions listed above and rewrite them into separate words.
they’d—they had
3. woke
(2)
couldn’t—could not
verb
but
conjunction
early
adverb—time
a crew of sailors
collective noun
very
adjective—quantity
Neverland
proper noun
journey
noun / abstract noun
sailor
adjective—descriptive
and
conjuction
heartily
adverb– manner
slow
adjective (‘going’ used as noun)
into
preposition
slight
adjective—descriptive
time
abstract noun
alterations
common noun
Azore Islands
proper nouns
Wendy
proper noun
of
preposition
at
preposition
his
pronoun
eye
adjective– descriptive
pirate
adjective—descriptive
added
verb
or
conjunction
Peter
proper noun
oh
interjection
was
verb
my
preposition
the
definite article
mangy
adjective– descriptive
Nibs
proper noun
a
indefinite article
first
adjective—quantity
difference
abstract noun
none
adjective—quantity
nervously
adverb– manner
( 18)
10
Grade 6
English Language Test
Antonyms, Synonyms, Alphabetical order & Figures
of Speech– Memo
Question 5: Read the following extract from a poem and
answer the questions which follow:
1.
2.
Look at the word ‘unguarded’, specify the prefix, root and suffix of the word:(6)
Prefix—un
Root—guard
Suffix—ed
Now do the same for the following words:
inedible in
eat
ible
unmovable un move
able
vice-captaincy vice captain
cy
Find Synonyms for the following words in the poem:
(6)
room
- chamber
wide
- broad
unprotected
- unguarded
happy
- merry
activities
- occupations
attack
- raid
3.
Circle the all correct answers from the options given below:
a)
The word “patter” in the sentence; “The patter of little feet,” is an example of:
i) a pronoun
b)
5.
ii) ascending
iii) upwards
iv) downstairs
ii) chamber
iii) turret
iv) wall
iii) gloomy
iv) cheerful
An antonym for the word “grave” is:
i) solemn
4.
iv) personification
The word in the passage that means the same as “small tower”, is:
i) castle
d)
iii) onomatopoeia
An antonym for the word “descending” is:
i) downwards
c)
ii) a simile
(5)
ii) sober
Write down two antonyms and two synonyms for the word “sudden”:
Antonyms
slowly, gradually, unhurriedly
Synonyms
quickly, hurried, unexpected, rapidly
(4)
Complete the following (where applicable) and indicate which Figure of Speech
has been used.
(6)
i) She walked into the house as quiet as a mouse , but I woke up. simile
ii) The little boy is as fit as a fiddle after his long sickness. simile
iii) Timothy is a wolf and eats everything he sees. metaphor
iv) That boy is a tiger on the rugby field! metaphor
11
Grade 6
English Language Test
Antonyms, Synonyms, Alphabetical order & Figures
of Speech—Memo
6.
Change the following words by adding a prefix to the root word and explain how
the meaning of the word is changed:
(4)
known
enter
cycle
behave
unknown - not known, changed into antonym
re-enter - back or doing something again
bicycle or tricycle
- bi—two, tri– three
misbehave
- wrong, not behaving, changed into an antonym
12