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NGEE ANN SECONDARY SCHOOL

PRELIMINARYEXAMINATIONII
ENGLISHLANGUAGE
PAPER2COMPREHENSION
QUESTIONBOOKLETIIIANSWERS

1128/02
20August2014
1hour50minutes

AdditionalMaterials: Insert,QuestionBookletsI&II

InstructionstoCandidates

Writeyourname,registernumberandclassatthetopofthispage.
Writeindarkblueorblackinkonbothsidesofthepaper.
Donotusestaples,paperclips,highlighters,glueorcorrectionfluid.

Answerallquestions.
WriteyouranswersinthespacesprovidedintheQuestionBooklet.
Theinsertcontainsthetextsforallthesections.

Thenumberofmarksisgiveninbrackets[]attheendofeachquestionorpartquestion.

Checkedbystudent:_____________________Date:__________________
Thisdocumentconsistsof4 printedpagesincludingthecoverpage.

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Section C [25 marks]
Refer to Text 3 on pages 5 and 6 of the Insert for Questions 15 - 21.
15

What evidence is there in paragraph 1 to show that desert conditions do not deter birds
from living there?
[1]
Birds are abundant in arid lands.

16

What advantage that reptiles and mammals have over birds in the desert is mentioned
in paragraph 2?
.
. [1]
They are able to burrow into the ground to escape the heat while birds are not
designed to do so.

17

Give one example of a raptorial bird mentioned in the passage.

..[1]
Owls / hawks / vultures

18

Quote a word from paragraph 4 that shows that reproduction is not easy for desert
birds.
..[1]
strain

19

In most of the world the timing mechanism that initiates sexual development in birds is
related to the changing length of the nights (lines 35-36).
In your own words, explain how shorter nights affect reproduction in birds.

.[2]
From text : physiologically stimulated
When nights are shorter, the birds physical functions / bodily functions (physiologically)
(1)
are activated to begin the reproductive process (stimulated). (1)

20

Here is a part of a conversation between two students, Alice and James, who have
read the article.

It is a real challenge for

birds to ensure the
survival of their
species in the desert!

Alice

I disagree I think
Nature will equip them
with whatever is
necessary to ensure
their survival.

James

(i) Explain with reference to two factors from paragraph 4 why Alice thinks survival of
the bird species is a challenge.
..
...[2]
Reproduction can succeed only when there is sufficient food (insects) but food is limited
in the desert. (1)
Nesting must be undertaken at precisely the right moment (timing is critical) and the
window period for this is also limited.(1)

(ii) With reference to paragraph 6, explain how James would justify his view.
..
.
. [2]
Despite the unfavourable conditions, when the rains come(1), naturally (somehow) the
females quickly develop eggs so that incubation can start (1).

21 Using your own words as far as possible, summarise the challenges birds face in the
desert and how they have adapted to living in the desert.
Use only information from paragraphs 2 and 3.
Your summary must be in continuous writing (not note form). It must not be longer than

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80 words (not counting the words given to help you begin).
The main problem that birds face in the desert is .....................................

No. of words: _________

[15]

- End of Booklet III --- End Of Paper ---

No Point
1
Heat problem
2
few, like the burrowing owl, do use the
burrows of animals
3
Many species simply avoid the problem
by migrating; they use the desert as a
breeding ground when it is most
hospitable, and abandon it in seasons
of drought or cold
4
feed when the heat is least severe
morning and evening for diurnal
species, and night-time for the owls
and other nocturnal ones
5
and to retire to the shade in the middle
of the day
6
Even in the shade the air temperature
often exceeds the highest temperature
birds can tolerate (about 45 degrees
Centigrade),
7
they must expend water to cool
themselves. Having no sweat glands,
they evaporate water from the lungs by
panting, and this effectively cools them.
8
water must be replenished daily. This
is no problem for the insect feeders
and raptorial birds, since the flesh they
eat is made up mostly of water. But the
seed eaters must have real drinking
water,
9
they congregate near springs
10 Doves and some of the finches may fly
miles to drink, and can forage over a
much larger area around a water-hole
11 some birds can survive on water found
in succulent vegetation

Paraphrase
the extreme heat.
Some birds occupy animal burrows to
escape the heat
while others handle it by migrating
during hotter seasons.

Birds have learned to feed at the

coolest times of the day

and to seek shelter away from strong

sunlight in the afternoons.
Despite this, the temperature can still
be intolerable

so they have to reduce their body

temperature by panting.

When water is hard to find,

birds gather around springs,

further their search

or draw water from juicy desert plants.

The main problem that birds face in the desert is the extreme heat. Some birds occupy
animal burrows to escape the heat while others handle it by migrating during hotter
seasons. Birds have learned to feed at the coolest times of the day and to seek shelter
away from strong sunlight in the afternoons. Despite this, the temperature can still be
intolerable so they reduce their body temperature by panting. When water is hard to
find, birds gather around springs, further their search or draw water from juicy desert
plants. (80 words)

7m

5-6m

3-4m

1-2m

0m

Summary Style Descriptors

Sustained and successful attempt to re-phrase text language
Free from lifting except for phrases which are difficult to substitute
Apart from very occasional slips, language is accurate
Noticeable attempt to re-phrase text
Free from stretches of concentrated lifting
Language almost always accurate. Serious errors are isolated or
almost unnoticeable.
Recognisable but limited attempts to re-phrase text detail. Groups of
text expression are interlaced with own words
Expression not always secure but attempt to substitute text will gain
credit
Language largely accurate
Wholesale copying of large areas of text but not a complete
transcript. Attempts to substitute own language limited to single
word expression
Meaning is not in doubt but serious error are more frequent
Irrelevant sections of text more frequent at this level and below
Pretty well a complete transcript of the text expression. Originality is
barely noticeable
Heavy frequency of serious errors impeding reading in many
places
Random transcript of irrelevant sections of the text

No of Points
reworded
(Maximum of 8
points)

Marks awarded
for Style

1-2m

2-3m

3-4m

4-5m

7
4

5-6m

5 and above

5-7m

*Students may be penalised if there are grammatical errors in the answer and obtain
the lower mark in the mark range.
*If there are attempts to substitute other words/structures other than those
underlined in the answer, credit may be given.