WESTLAKE GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH EXAMINATION TERM 4 2012

Year 9 English Examination

Question and Answer Booklet
November 2012
You have two hours to complete this examination
You must write your answers on this paper and ask for extra paper if necessary.
Use blue or black pen. Do not use Twink.
Name:

___________________________________________________________

Form Class:
_________________English Teacher: __________________________
There are two main parts to this examination.
Section A
Literature Essay

Time to take

Marks

45 minutes

Achieved / Merit / Excellence

Section B
I. Written
Language
Comprehension

Time to take
35 minutes

II. Poetry
Comprehension

25 minutes

III. Grammar and

punctuation

15 minutes

Marks
Achieved = 5 Achieved
Merit
= 3 Merit & 3 Achieved
Excellence = 2 Excellence & 2
Merit & 2 Achieved
Achieved = 3 Achieved
Merit = 3 Merit & 1 Achieved
Excellence = 1 Excellence & 2
Merit & 1 Achieved
Achieved = 23 - 34
Merit
= 35 - 42
Excellence = 43 - 50

Total

120 minutes

Grade

Grade

The language of tests and their meanings:

Multi-choice - where 4 answers are given you must choose only one. If you choose two
you will not be awarded a mark.
Identify: Quote from the text a specific example.
Describe: Give features or characteristics or specific details of the aspect of the text that is
asked for.
Explain: In your own words give reasons for the use of words or images used in the text.
Effect:
Think of the outcome of using a technique or word or what the writer means
to convey. What message is intended?

Page 1

LITERATURE ESSAY
You should spend about 45 minutes on this section.
You should write at least 200 words. The marking schedule is at the end of this
section.
Choose ONE topic you have studied in class this year and write a Literature
Response Essay about
EITHER
a novel
or a non-fiction book
or a play
or poem(s) - you can answer on one or more poems
or short story (stories) - you can answer on one or more short stories
or a film
or inter-textual on two different texts e.g. a novel and a short story, or a poem and a
short story, or a non-fiction book and a poem etc.
Your essay should be clearly paragraphed
Make sure you understand both parts of the question
You must answer both parts.
You should give detailed evidence and quotes from the text in your essay.
Choose ONE of the questions:
1. Describe a character who was interesting.
Explain why this character was interesting.
2. Describe an idea in your text(s) that was challenging or thought provoking.
Explain why it was challenging OR thought provoking
Or Explain how the author made it challenging OR thought provoking.
3. Describe at least TWO techniques the author used to help you understand
an important idea OR an important character.
Explain how the author used the techniques to help you understand the
important idea OR character.
4. Describe an important event in your text(s.)
Explain why it was an important event.
5. Describe a setting that developed a character OR developed an
important idea in your text(s). Explain how it developed a character OR an
idea.
6. Describe an important relationship in your text(s).
Explain why it was an important relationship.

Page 2

The question number I am answering is _______________________

Title of Text(s) _____________________________________________
Author or director or poet __________________________________
Use the planning box to prepare your essay.

You may not need to use all the paper provided.

Page 3

Page 4

Page 5

Literary Essay : Marking Schedule

Content

Not Achieved
Very little knowledge of
the text.
Mostly plot summary
and/or question not
addressed.
Lack of quotations or
details from the text.

Structure and
Paragraphing

Few or no paragraphs.
Unstructured.
Short.

Style

Errors are intrusive:

run-on sentences
/spelling /punctuation /
grammatical errors.
Meaning is often vague.
Expression is limited.

Comment:

Achieved
Basic knowledge of the
text.
Attempts to answer the
question.
Some supporting
quotations and/or details.
Satisfactory length.
Some ideas expressed
clearly, however some
points may still be vague.
Some organization of
ideas into paragraphs.
Good length.

Merit
Familiar with the text.
Answers the question
directly, addressing both
parts.
Relevant, supporting
quotations / details
/examples.

Excellence
Comprehensive
knowledge of the text.
All parts of the question
addressed.
Key events chosen.
Well supported with
relevant examples /
quotations/ details.
Responsive.

Paragraphs that are

logically sequenced.
Content is organized.

Basic sentence structure

and punctuation used. Unintrusive minor errors in
spelling / punctuation /
grammar.

Sentences and
punctuation used
confidently. Occasional
errors.
Ideas expressed clearly.
Details explained with
confidence.

Well-structured
paragraphs.
Ideas are linked smoothly
and in a logical sequence.
Sophisticated sentence
structure. Rare errors.
Controlled writing with
appropriate language
choices.
Complex ideas expressed
clearly and concisely.

Page 6

SECTION B

PROSE COMPREHENSION

Brittany Trilford addresses

world leaders at the opening of
the Rio + 20 World Summit
June 2012

Tena Koutou from New Zealand. My name is Brittany Trilford. I am seventeen years
old, a child. Today, in this moment, I am all children, your children, the worlds three
billion children. Think of me for these short minutes as half the world.
I stand here with fire in my heart. Im confused and angry at the state of the world
and I want us to work together now to change this. We are here to solve the
problems that we have caused as a collective, to ensure that we have a future.
You and your governments have promised to reduce poverty and sustain our
environment. You have already promised to combat climate change, ensure clean
water and food security. These promises have been made and yet, still, our future is
in danger.
We are all aware that time is ticking and is quickly running out. You have 72 hours to
decide the fate of your children, my children, my childrens children. And I start the
clock now tck tck tck.
Let us think back to twenty years ago well before I was even an inkling in my
parents eyes back to here, to Rio, where people met at the first Earth Summit in
1992. People at this Summit knew there needed to be change. All of our systems
were failing and collapsing around us. These people came together to acknowledge
these challenges to work for something better, commit to something better.
They made great promises, promises that, when I read them, still leave me feeling
hopeful. These promises are left not broken, but empty. How can that be?
We, the next generation, demand change. We demand action so that we have a
future and have it guaranteed. We trust that you will, in the next 72 hours, put our
interests ahead of all other interests and boldly do the right thing. Please, lead. I
want leaders who lead.
I am here to fight for my future. That is why Im here. I would like to end by asking
you to consider why youre here and what you can do. Are you here to save face? Or
are you here to save us?

Page 7

Questions:
1. Today in this moment I am all children means
a. I am the only child who is allowed to speak
b. I am the only child who understands climate change
c. I speak for all NZ children
d. I speak on behalf of all children

N/A

2. When was the first Earth Summit? ______________________

N/A

3. Brittany expresses two emotions at the beginning of the speech. Quote the
phrase that shows this.
______________________________________________________ N / A
4. What are the promises that the world leaders have made?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________N / A
5. What does Brittany mean by the statement These promises are left not
broken, but empty
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________ N / A / M
6. Circle the abstract nouns in the following list:
Promises,

Water,

Clock,

Knowledge,

Challenges

N/A

7. There is one abstract noun that Tiffany repeats throughout the speech. What
is it?
____________________________________________________ N / A
8. Tiffany uses personal pronouns to make her speech effective. Put these into
the grid below:
Singular
1st
person

Plural

2nd
person
3rd person
N /A/ M

Page 8

9. At the end of the speech Brittany asks Are you here to save face? Or are
you here to save us? Explain what she means.
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________N / A / M / E
10.Brittany uses different syntax to make her points. Match the sentences with
the correct syntax term from the box below: (Use each term once)
Simple sentence, minor sentence, compound sentence, complex sentence,
rhetorical question, repetition
a. Tena koutou from New Zealand ____________________________________
b. My name is Brittany Trilford. _______________________________________
c. Are you here to save face? ________________________________________
d. Im confused and angry at the state of the world and I want us to work
together now.
______________________________________________

e. You have 72 hours to decide the fate of your children, my children, my

childrens children.
_____________________________________________
f. We are here to solve the problems that we have caused as a collective.
____________________________________________________N / A / M / E
Page 9

11. Brittany uses language techniques to make her points. Match the
examples with the correct language technique from the box below
(not all terms will be used and some can be used more than once)
Alliteration, Metaphor, Simile, Personification, Onomatopoeia
g. I stand here with fire in my heart __________________________________
h. to combat climate change _______________________________________
i. We are all aware that time is ticking _______________________________
j. And I start the clock now- tck tck tck_______________________________
k. I am here to fight for my future ___________________________________
N / A / M /E
Prose grade: Achieved = 5 Achieved
Merit = 3 Merit & 3 Achieved
Excellence = 2 Excellence & 2 Merit & 2 Achieved

TOTAL
This space is deliberately left blank

Page 11

5.

Identify the poetic techniques in the following extracts, from those in the box and
explain the effect of each extract.
Personification, simile, metaphor, alliteration, onomatopoeia, assonance

moves like a ship Technique:

__________________________________________

Effect: _________________________________________________________________
b

you flow forward Technique: __________________________________________

Effect: _________________________________________________________________
c

grey sails flap Technique: ____________________________________________

Effect:________________________________________________________________
d

with her triumphant trunk Technique:

____________________________________

Effect: _________________________________________________________________
N / A/ M / E
6.

Explain the attitude of the poet to the elephant using quotes from the poem.
(Achieved = 1 idea plus quotes, Merit = 2 ideas plus quotes, Excellence = 3 ideas plus quotes.)

_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________ N / A / M / E
Overall Poetry grade: Ach = 3 Ach Merit = 3 Merit & 1 Ach Excellence = 1 Excellence & 2 merit & 1 Ach
Page 12

GRAMMAR
A Word Types: From these options, ( noun, verb, adjective, preposition, article,
pronoun, ) write the correct word type under the following words:
The
mahout
article

elephant

moves

holds

like

the

tail

ship.

flap

like

sails.

She

into

her

mouth

with

in

place.

Her

flings

her

The

fly-bitten

the

ears

Ashoka

triumphant

leaves

trunk.
/25

B. PUNCTUATION
Re-write the following paragraph making punctuation corrections where
needed:
elephants are a symbol of wisdom in asian cultures and are famed for their memory
and intelligence their intelligence level is thought to be comparable to that of dolphins
aristotle once said the elephant is the beast which passeth all others in wit and mind
the word elephant has its origins in a greek word meaning ivory elephants can be
found in africa and india.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
/ 20

Page 13

C. Adverbs and Adjectives

The asterisked words identify the adverbs and adjectives used in the following
passage. Under each word write down whether it is an adverb or adjective. (The first
one has been done for you)
*
*
*
The boy ran quickly round the corner to catch the early train. He held tightly to his
___________adverb__________________________________________________
*
*
*
city ticket and was breathing heavily as the express train pulled into the station.
_________________________________________________________________
*
*
*
He squeezed easily between the passengers and sat sideways in the last seat
___________________________________________________________________
*
*
next to an older man.
____________________

/5

Grammar Grade: Achieved = 23 - 34 Merit = 35 - 42 Excellence = 43 - 50

TOTAL
___________________________________________________________________
This section is not the examination. It is optional for you to use when you have
finished the examination.

ANACONDA, AREA, ARENA, BANANA, COBRA,

DATA, DIPLOMA,DRAMA, FAUNA, FLORA,
HYENA, IDEA, IGUANA, LAVA, LLAMA,MARINA,
MEDIA, OPERA, PANDA, PASTA, PLAZA, SAUNA,
SIESTA,SODA, SOFA, STAMINA, TRIVIA, TUBA,
TUNA, ZEBRA.