Reading exam

English first language

By / Ward Thabet

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 The Sinking of the Titanic, 1912

On April 10, 1912, the Titanic, largest ship afloat, left Southampton, England on

her maiden voyage to New York City. The White Star Line had spared no

expense in assuring her luxury. A legend even before she sailed, her

passengers were a mixture of the world’s wealthiest basking in the elegance of

first class accommodations and immigrants packed into steerage.

She was touted as the safest ship ever built, so safe that she carried only 20

lifeboats – enough to provide accommodation for only half her 2,200 passengers
and crew. This discrepancy rested on the belief that since the ship’s

construction made her “unsinkable”, her lifeboats were necessary only to rescue

survivors of other sinking ships. Additionally, lifeboats took up valuable deck

space.

Four days into her journey, at 11:40P.M. on the night of April 14, she struck an

iceberg. Her fireman compared the sound of the impact to “tearing of calico,

nothing more.” However, the collision was fatal and the icy water soon poured

through the ship.

It became obvious that many would not find safety in a lifeboat. Each passenger

was issued a life jacket but life expectancy would be short when exposed to

water four degrees below freezing. As the forward portion of the ship sank

deeper, passengers scrambled to the stern. John Thayer witnessed the sinking

from a lifeboat. “We could see groups of almost fifteen hundred people still

aboard, clinging in clusters or bunches, like swarming bees; only to fall in

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masses, pairs or singly, as the great after part of the ship, two hundred and fifty

feet of it, rose into the sky, till it reached a sixty-five or seventy degree

angle.” The great ship slowly slid beneath the water two hours and forty minutes

after collision.

The next morning, the liner Carpathia rescued 705 survivors. One thousand five

hundred and twenty-two passengers and crew were lost. Subsequent inquiries

attributed the high loss in life to an insufficient number of lifeboats and

inadequate training in their use.

Answer the following Questions:

1- From the second paragraph, give two reasons why the Titanic only carried

20 lifeboats.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(2 marks)

2-In paragraph one, the writer contrasts the wealthy passengers with the poor

ones. Pick out two phrases from this paragraph which show this contrast.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(2 marks)

3. In paragraph three we are told that when the ship struck the iceberg, the fireman on board
compared the sound to “the tearing of calico”. Explain what this phrase implies about how serious
the collision sounded to the fireman.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(2 marks)

4. In paragraph four, an eyewitness in a lifeboat uses a simile to describe the people left on board
as the ship sinks.

a) Write down the simile*

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(1 mark)

b) Explain the effect this simile has on the reader.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(1 mark)

5-What is the kind of text ?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
6-Metion three of its feature ?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

(1 mark)

B-Why the author used the words “additionally “ in the second paragraph?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(1 mark)

7-The author used the figure language in the passage ? What is the kind of it and write it ?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)
B-Why the author used the words “however“ in the third paragraph?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
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 (1 mark)

C-What is the meaning of word “calico “ in the third paragraph ?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… (1 mark)

D-Replace the word “insufficient “and “inadequate” in the last paragraph by

another suitable words.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

(2 marks )

E-The author mention an opinion .Prove it by writing the phrase .

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(1 mark )

Find out

1-Two passive sentences in the paragraph ?

*…………………………………………………………………………………….
*…………………………………………………………………………………….
Summerise the mean points ( form 40 to 50 words )

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(4 marks )

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 Reading Comprehension 2

In this extract from Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens, Nicholas has come
to teach at Dotheboys Hall. Here the headmaster, Mr Squeers, shows him the
schoolroom and the pupils for the first time.

By degrees, the place resolved itself into a bare and dirty room with a couple
of windows whereof a tenth part might be of glass, the remainder being stopped
up with old copy-books and paper. There were a couple of long old rickety
desks, cut and notched and inked and damaged, in every possible way; two or
three rooms, a detached desk for squeers and another for his assistant. The
ceiling was supported like that of a barn, by cross beams and rafters, and the
walls were so stained and discoloured, that it was impossible to tell whether they
had ever been touched with paint or whitewash.

But the pupils – the young nobleman! The last faint traces of hope, the
remotest glimmering of any good to be derived in this den, faded from the mind
of Nicholas as he looked in dismay around! Pale and haggard faces, lank and
bony figures, children with the countenances of old men, deformities with irons
upon their limbs, boys of stunted growth, and others whose long meager legs
would hardly bear their stooping bodies, all crowded on the view together; there
were the bleared eye, the hare lip, the crooked foot, and every other ugliness or
distortion that told of un-natural aversion conceived by parents for their offspring,
or of young lives which, from the earliest dawn of infancy, had been one horrible
endurance of cruelty and neglect. There were little faces which should have
been handsome, darkened with scowl of sullen suffering; there was childhood

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 with the light of its eye quenched, its beauty gone and its helplessness alone
remaining.

Answer the following questions :

1. What impression do you get of the schoolroom from the first paragraph?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

(2 marks )

2. Write down two phrases from the second paragraph which tell us clearly that
the boys have been badly treated.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

(2 marks)

3. How does the writer give us a strong sense of how dreadful this school is? You

should comment on:

The kind of details he includes

The words he uses

The length of the sentences

4-What is the meaning of word “bleared” in the second paragraph?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………( 1 mark)
B- Find two passive sentences in the text ?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………( 1 mark)

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5-What is the technique of writing does the author use ?

1-…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2-………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

3-………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

(2 marks )

6-The author uses adjectival phrases in the text . Which paragraph and write
it down ?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….( 1 mark )

B-Do you think why the author used dash in the second paragraph?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….( 1 mark )

C-Why do you think the author use semicolon in the second paragraph ?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….( 1 mark )

7-How does the author create the mood ?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….( 1 mark )

8-What does mean “crooked foot “?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….( 1 mark )

A-Find synonym of word “eye quenched “ due to its meaning in the passage?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….( 1 mark )

B- Find synonym of word “stooping body “ due to its meaning in the passage?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….( 1 mark )

C- Find synonym of word “distortion “ due to its meaning in the passage?

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………………………………………………………………………………………………………….( 1 mark )

Best wishes ,

Ward Thabet

Grammar section

Correct the following verbs

1-While you ( write ) …………………..that letter ,the bell (ring ) …………….

2-Our guests ( arrive ) ………….early as he ( study ) ……………upset .

3-Hani and Mona usually ( swim ) ………………on Fridays .

4-Look !The dog ( dig ) …………………a hole in the garden .

5-Last night , he ( sleep ) …………………early .

6-Ben ( study ) ……………hard every weekend .

7-While the children ( sleep ) ……………….,they ( hear ) ……………….a

scream .

8-At the moment , my dad ( write ) ……………………

9-She (hide ) ……………………the tree last night .

10-He often ( study ) …………………..hard .

11-They (watch ) ……………….the comedy film everyday .

12-My father never (travel ) ……………………….to China .

13-Mona ( leave ) ………………early yesterday .

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14-Look!The horse ( run ) ……………….quickly .

15-Where ………….you (teach ) …………..last summer ?

16-As I (do ) ……………….my homework, my dad (come ) ……………..into

the room.

17-She ( ride ) ……………… a horse last Wednesday .

18-While the boys ( play ) ………………..football during the break ,one of them

(fall ) ……………….and (hurt ) ………………his arm .

19-Mosataf (lose ) ……………..his bag while we ( shop ) …………….

Finish off the sentences by adding more detail to these subordinate clauses .

1-While the rain poured down, …………………………………………….

2-Before the party had started, …………………………………………….

3-Unless the bus arrives , ……………………………………………………….

6-…………………………………………,before it’s too late .

7-………………………………………because I don’t know the answer .

Underline adverb and mention its type

1-Hala is always happy, and she likes to sing loudly .

2-The boys sometimes begin to fight, but my mother put a stop to it .

3-The porter assure us that our luggage would arrive tomorrow .

Change the following sentences to plural

1-This is a big factory .

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………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

2-That puppy is cute .

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

3-I went to the ceremony .

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

4-The woman plays with her child .

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

5-The wolf eats the deer .

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Correct the following sentence to be in the present simple .

1-The mice chews the rope .

2-The oxen is working in the field .

3-The child drink because he is thirsty .

4-The goose swim in the pond .

5-My tooth are hurting.

Determine(simile – metaphor – personification – alliteration )

1-She was brave as a lion .

2-Fresh rain tapped its fingertips on the roof .

3-The chilling cold almost chopped him apart .

4-He ran as a light flash

5-The trees whispered in the wind.

6- The flames licked the sides of the walls .

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7-He was an angry ox .

8-His words are sharp as a pencil

9-The sun was a gleaming pearl .

10-My work steals my time .

Correct the following .

1-My brother has a ( tidy ) …………………….room than me .

2-Sudan is ( big ) ……………………. than Egypt .

3-I’ m ( good ) ……………………. now than yesterday .

4-She’s got ( little ) ……………………. money than you, but she doesn’t care .

5-He thinks Chinese is ( difficult ) ……………………. language in the world .

6-Valencia played ( bad ) ……………………. than Real Madrid yesterday .

7-Cats are not ( intelligent ) ……………………. as dogs .

8-Show me ( good ) ……………………. restaurant downtown .

9-(Hot) ……………………. desert of all is the Sahara and it’s in Africa.

10-Who is ( talkative ) ……………………. Person in your family ?

11-A good book is (good ) ……………………. than a newspaper .

12-His financial position is even ……………………. ( bad ) than it was last year.

13-Safeen is (smart ) ……………………. than Aly .

14-Mona is ( pretty ) ……………………. than her sister .

15-She is much ( happy ) ……………………. With him than she was with her first
husband .

16-It is ( honourable ) …………………. to fight than to surrender without fighting .

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17-She is even (gay ) ……………………. today than she was yesterday .

18-The new classroom is a little ( big ) ……………………. than the old one .

19-The outlook is very much ( hopeful ) ……………………. than it was some years
ago .

20-Fresh blood is (red ) ……………………. dry blood .

21-I have even ………………….time than I had yesterday. (little )

1) Link the sentences using the words in the brackets.

1. I went to bed very late. I am tired today. (therefore)

……………………………………………………………………………………[1]

2. I can take my bike to the park. My dad has fixed it. (because)
……………………………………………………………………………………[1]

3. We are having pasta. We are also having curry for dinner. (not only/but
also)
……………………………………………………………………………………[1]

4. I was listening to the weather forecast. You put an umbrella in my bag.

(While)
……………………………………………………………………………………[1]

5. I will always support my local team. They always lose! (even if)
……………………………………………………………………………………[1]

6. He goes abroad on holiday. He doesn’t like flying. (Although)

……………………………………………………………………………………[1]

7. My brother is grumpy. He has got to do his homework. (However)

……………………………………………………………………………………[1]

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8. My mum takes me to the match every week. She doesn’t like football (even
though)
……………………………………………………………………………………[1]

2) Change the active voice to passive voice.

1. I think they make these cars in Japan.

……………………………………………………………………………………[1]

2. You must not drop litter in the street in Singapore or you'll get a fine.
……………………………………………………………………………………[1]

3. Someone smashed our window last night.

……………………………………………………………………………………[1]

4. They have already mended the TV set. You can collect it.
……………………………………………………………………………………[1]

5. People will need more public transport in the near future.

……………………………………………………………………………………[1]

6. People are spending less money on cars this year.

……………………………………………………………………………………[1]

3) Change the passive voice to active voice.

1. A new hospital is going to be built.

…………………………………………………………………………………….

2. I wasn’t asked for my address.

…………………………………………………………………………………….

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3. A number of trees were blown down by the strong winds.
……………………………………………………………………………………

4. The radio was invented by Marconi.

…………………………………………………………………………………….

5. My salary is paid to me every month.

……………………………………………………………………………………..

4) Complete the conditional sentences with the verbs in brackets.

1. We ……………………enough time if we wanted to see the castle. (have)

2. In case you ………………. a car, will you teach me to drive? (buy)

3. She …………………… angry if you had told her. (get)

4. If they ……………….. our product when we asked them, they would get a
discount now. (support)

5. Even if I ………………… him, he won't come. (ask)

Best wishes

Ward Thabet

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