Index No: ………………………………

PART A – GRAMMAR (40 marks)

I. Fill in each blank with a suitable preposition from the list given below. Use

each preposition only once. There is one preposition extra. (10 marks)

Before, into, since, with, down, about, from, on, at, to, in

As the train approached the seaside town where I was going to spend my holidays, I went into

the corridor to stretch my legs. I stayed there a short while, breathing in the fresh sea air and

exchanging a few words (1) ………… one of the passengers, whom I had met earlier (2)

………… the station platform.

When I turned to go back (3) ………… my seat, I happened to glance (4) ………… the

compartment next to mine. Sitting there was a man who many years (5) ………… had been my

neighbour. He was a great talker, I remembered; it used to take hours to get away (6) …………

him once he began a conversation. I was not at all sorry when he went to live (7) …………

another part of London. We had not met (8) ………… then, nor did I wish to meet him now,

when my holiday was (9) ………… to begin. Luckily (10) ………… that moment he was much

too busy talking to the man opposite him to catch sight of me.

II. Fill in each blank with the correct form of the verb given in brackets. (15

marks)

Helen was now quite sure that she was going (1) ………… (miss) her train, although she (2)

………… (be) not very far from the station. She (3) ………… (wonder) what (4) ………… (do)

when a bus (5) ………… (come) into sight, (6) ………… (go) in the direction of the station. The

bus-stop (7) ………… (be) not far off, so Helen (8) ………… (get) her suitcase out of the taxi

and (9) ………… (run) towards the bus, which (10) ………… (stop) (11) ………… (let) some

passengers (12) ………… (get off). The bus conductor (13) ………… (see) her (14) …………

(run) and (15) ………… (not, ring) the bell for the bus to start until she had got on.

G.C.E. A/L Examination June- 2018

Conducted by Field Work Centre, Thondaimanaru In Collaboration with

Provincial Department of Education, Northern Province.

FWC

Grade: - 13 (2018) General English I Time: - Three Hours

III. Complete the following questions so as to get the answers given below each

of them. (05 marks)

(1) How long................................................................................................................................?

I have been waiting for half an hour.

(2) Whose ………………………………………………………………………………...............?

I borrowed my uncle’s bike.

(3) Which …………………………………………………………………………………………?

I bought the big one.

(4) Who …………………………………………………………………………………………...?

Jeeva played cricket.

(5) Where …………………………………………………………………...............................?

He has lunch in a transport café.

IV. Complete the following sentences by putting the words / phrases in brackets

in the correct order to make meaningful sentences. (05 marks)

(1) One of the boys …………………..............................................................................................

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

(into the fields / the sheep / was sent out / to look after / in a village)

(2) Having students ………………………………………………………………………………..

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

(is an activity / practice speaking / that is difficult / outside the classroom / to monitor)

(3) This guide ………………………………………………………………………………………

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

(to enrich / in this issue / is designed / your reading of the articles)

(4) We live ………………………………………………………………………………………..

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(with frequent distractions / in a busy world / to think about / and many things)

(5) Students entering ……………………………………………………………………………..

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

(are thinking about / the classroom / a thousand things)

V. Complete the following sentences using the most appropriate conjunction

from those given in the box below. There is one conjunction extra. (05

marks)

(1) ………… she was not there, I spoke to her brother.

(2) I waited ………… the train arrived.

(3) Birds fly ………… fish swim.

(4) Manju ………… Rani was present there.

(5) He finished first ………… he began late.

PART B – COMPREHENSION (20 marks)

I. Of the options given below each sentence in bold print, underline the one

that best expresses its meaning. (05 marks)

(1) I wish I had listened to my parents.

(A) I listened to my parents.

(B) I did not listen to my parents.

(C) I will listen to my parents.

(D) I never listen to my parents.

(2) Though she is beautiful, she is not intelligent.

(A) She is beautiful and intelligent.

(B) She is not beautiful, but intelligent.

(C) She is neither beautiful nor intelligent.

(D) She is beautiful, but not intelligent.

(3) We need more intelligent workers.

(A) We need more workers who are intelligent.

(B) We have enough intelligent workers.

(C) We don’t need intelligent workers.

(D) We don’t have intelligent workers.

(4) Once the test starts you will not be able to talk.

(A) You are allowed to talk during the test.

(B) You are not allowed to talk during the test.

(C) You are allowed to talk at the beginning of the test.

(D) You are not allowed to talk at the beginning of the test.

(5) We just had soup instead of a full meal.

(A) We had soup and a full meal.

(B) We had soup after a full meal.

(C) We had neither soup nor a full meal.

(D) We replaced soup with a full meal.

and if as as well as till though

II. Read the following notice and do the activity that follows. (05 marks)

Department of Disaster Management, Colombo

Notice

Save Your Life

There will be an earthquake drill on Wednesday 29th July, 2018 from 09.00 a.m. to 04.00 p.m.

Everybody will be instructed to leave the building through the emergency exit stairways.

All elevators will not operate at that time. Once the alarm is sounded all those inside the building

should immediately get out.

Director

Underline the most appropriate response.

(1) What is the notice about?

(i) a safety exercise

(ii) a new evacuation system

(iii) an earthquake alarm

(iv) a problem with elevators

(2) What are the building occupants expected to do?

(i) shut off the elevator

(ii) remain calm all throughout

(iii) avoid using the stairs

(iv) vacate the building

(3) How can the occupants vacate the buildings?

(i) Through the emergency doors and windows

(ii) Through the emergency exit steps

(iii) Through the elevators

(iv) Through the emergency doors

(4) Which of the following is true?

(i) the elevators are under repair

(ii) the drill is only a practice

(iii) the drill is to create tension among the occupants

(iv) the alarm signals that the elevators are not working

(5) Find out a word from the notice which has a meaning closet to ‘a warning sound or

signal’

………………………………………………………………………………………….

III. Read the following poem and do the activities that follow. (05 marks)

SYMPATHY

I lay in sorrow, in deep distress;

My grief a proud man heard;

His looks were cold, he gave me gold,

But not a kindly word

My sorrow passed – I paid him back

The gold he gave to me;

Then stood erect and spoke my thanks

And blessed his charity.

I lay in want, and grief and pain;

A poor man passed my way,

He bound my head, he gave me bread,

He watched me night and day.

How shall I pay him back again

For all he did to me?

Oh, gold is great, but greater far

Is heavenly sympathy.

1. How did the proud man help the poet when he was ‘in deep distress'?

(a)He gave him jewels.

(b)He took him home.

(c)He gave some money.

(d)He pitied the poet.

2. What was it he did not give the poet?

(a)money

(b)gold

(c)food

(d)sympathy

3. How did the poor man take care of the poet?

(a) The poor man gave him some money and food

(b) The poor man gave gold and kind words

(c) The poor man gave food to the poet and took care of him day and night

(d) He took the poet home and bound his head which was hurt

4. Which of the following statements is not true?

(a) The poet repaid his debt to the proud man by thanking him

(b) The poor man blessed the charity of the poet

(c) When the poet was in sorrow he was given money

(d) The poet says he cannot repay the poor man for his sympathy

5. Which word in the poem means "giving money to a person who is in need" ?

(a) Charity

(b) sympathy

(c) kindness

(d) distress

IV. Read the following passage and do the activities that follow. (05 marks)

It is bad to have food stuck between your teeth for long periods of time. This is because food

attracts germs, germs produce acid, and acid hurts your teeth and gums. Flossing helps to remove

the food that gets stuck between your teeth. This explains why flossing helps to keep your mouth

healthy, but some doctors say that flossing can be also good for your heart.

It may seem strange that something you do for your teeth can have any effect on your heart.

Doctors have come up with a few ideas about how flossing works to keep your heart healthy.

One idea is that the germs that hurt your teeth can leave the mouth and travel into your blood.

Germs that get into the blood can then attack your heart. Another idea is based on the fact that

when there are too many germs in your mouth, the body tries to fight against these germs. For

some reason, the way the body fights these mouth germs may end up weakening the heart over

time.

Not every doctor agrees about these ideas. Some doctors think that the link between good

flossing habits and good heart health is only a coincidence. A coincidence is the occurrence of

two or more events at one time apparently by mere chance. The incidence of these events is

completely random, as they do not admit of any reliable cause and effect relationship between

them. For example, every time I wash my car, it rains. This does not mean that when I wash my

car, I somehow change the weather. This is only a coincidence. Likewise, some doctors think

that people who have bad flossing habits just happen to also have heart problems, and people

who have good flossing habits just happen to have healthy hearts.

The theory that flossing your teeth helps to keep your heart healthy might not be true. But every

doctor agrees that flossing is a great way to keep your teeth healthy. So even if flossing does not

help your heart, it is sure to help your teeth. This is enough of a reason for everyone to floss their

teeth every day.

1. In the space provided beside each sentence given below, write ‘T’(True) if the sentence is

correct and ‘F’ (False) if it is wrong and ‘U’ (Unknown) if the information given in the text

is not sufficient to decide.

(a) Caring of teeth has an impact of healthy heart. ……………

(b) The passage advices the readers to floss their teeth. ……………

2. In paragraph 3 the author writes, "Not every doctor agrees about these ideas." The

author's purpose in writing this sentence is to

A. provide an example

B. introduce a new topic

C. change a previous statement

D. clarify an earlier assertion

3. Using information in paragraph 3 as a guide, which of the following is the best example of a

‘coincidence’?

A. Sarath wakes up with a sore throat. He eats a piece of bread for breakfast. By noon, he feels

much better. Sarath decides that the bread has cured his sore throat.

B. Fatima remembers to brush her teeth every day, but she only remembers to floss once a

week. She writes a note to herself, reminding herself to floss and sticks it to her bathroom mirror.

C. Vimal is not very good at baseball. He practices playing every day. After a several months of

practice, he is a much better baseball player.

D. Nilani has a bad heart. Her doctor tells her to eat more vegetables and less fatty food. After

nearly a year of doing this, the doctor tells Nilani that her heart is doing much better.

4. Write one word, selecting from the passage, which means the same as the given phrase.

Unable to move ……………………………….

PART C – SUMMARISING (10 marks)

Write a summary of each of the following two texts. Do not use more than fifty (50) words

for each summary. If you exceed the word limit marks will be deducted. Write only one

word in each cage. (05 + 05 = 10 marks)

TEXT 1

Teaching is the noblest of professions. A teacher has a sacred duty to perform. It is he on whom

rests the responsibility of moulding the character of young children. Apart from developing their

intellect, he can inculcate in them qualities of good citizenship, remaining neat and clean, talking

decently and sitting properly. These virtues are not easy to be imbibed. Only he who himself

leads a life of simplicity, purity and rigid discipline can successfully cultivate these habits in his

pupils. Besides a teacher always remain young. He may grow old in age, but not in spite.

Perpetual contact with budding youths keeps him happy and cheerful. There are moments when

domestic worries weigh heavily on his mind, but the delightful company of innocent children

makes him overcome his transient moods of despair.

TEXT 2

Books are a delightful society. If you go into a room filled with books even without taking them

down from the shelves, they seem to speak to you, seem to welcome you, seem to tell you that

they have something inside their covers that will be good for you and that they are willing to

impart it to you. Value them and endeavour to turn them to good account. As to the books which

you should read there is hardly anything definite that can be said. Any good book, that is wiser

than yourself, will teach you something a great many things directly or indirectly. If you mind be

open to lazar, the very wish and curiosity, you have to read it, indicate that you are a person who

likes to get good out of it.

PART D – WRITING (30 marks)

I. Imagine you spent your weekend at your friend’s home. Write a letter thanking

him/her for the hospitality he/she gave you during your stay with him/her. In your

letter, give details of how you were treated by your friend, the places he/she took you

for sightseeing and what your feelings are about his/her treat. Use 125 – 150 words.

Do not exceed this word limit. (15 marks)

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II. Write a letter to the manager of the local bus transport board complaining about the

poor bus service provided in your area and requesting him/her to take necessary

action. Use about 125 – 150 words. Do not exceed this word limit. (15 marks)

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Index No: ………………………………

PART A – VOCABULLARY (25 marks)

I. Underline the correct word ending selecting from those given in brackets. (05 Marks)

Interviewer: Why should I hire you?

Interviewee: I bring an addition (1) ….. (s, al, ally) quality that makes me best person for the job.

Interviewer: What is your long-range objective?

Interviewee: I would like to become the very best (2) account ….. (ant, ing, s) your

company has on staff.

Interviewer: Are you a team (3) play ….. (er, ing, ed) ?

Interviewee: Yes, of course.

Interviewer: Have you ever had a conflict with a boss? How was it resolved?

Interviewee: Only certain (4) disagree ….. (able, ably, ments).

Interviewer: What’s your (5) great ….. (er, est, ness) weakness?

Interviewee: I work too much!

II. Among those meanings given at the end of the text, underline the meaning which is most

appropriate to the context in which the word in bold print appears in the text.

(10 marks)

Crazy Mom’s Fashion

It started 20 years ago. One day, Jane Smith, a busy mom and a loving wife, went shopping for

new clothes. After a few hours of searching, she came home exhausted and disappointed. In the

mid - 80s, few manufacturers made clothes for women over thirty. “Thousands of women in

England have the same problem, and I will help them,” - thought Mrs. Smith. With very little

money, no connections in the fashion world and a husband who thought that her idea was crazy,

the ambitious woman decided to start up her own business.

Jane designed her first collection of twenty clothing items, bought suitable material and sewing

machines, and hired experienced tailors. The Smiths’ balcony turned into a workshop. When the

G.C.E. A/L Examination June- 2018

Conducted by Field Work Centre, Thondaimanaru In Collaboration with

Provincial Department of Education, Northern Province.

FWC

Grade: - 13 (2018) General English II Time: - 2.30 Hours

collection was ready, Jane offered it to a famous chain of stores. To her surprise, they bought the

whole collection at once. When they asked her about the name of her company, Jane looked at

her husband, smiled and said; “Crazy Mom”. The collection was sold in a very short time -

women liked Jane’s models. In a month, the manager of the chain ordered more clothes from

“Crazy Mom” and Jane had to hire more people and find a bigger place for the workshop. The

next step was opening her own shop at the central train station in Manchester.

Now “Crazy Mon” has 50 boutiques all over the world. Mr. Smith left his job as an engineer and

became head of the company. Their four children also work in the company and, according to

Jane, this is what makes the business so successful.

1. exhausted - A. upset B. extremely tired C. unhappily D. worried

2. disappointed - A. very angry B. nervous C. frightened D. unsuccessful

3. manufacturers - A. producers B. sellers C. businessmen D. commuters

4. crazy - A. great B. not sensible C. enthusiastic D. intelligent

5. ambitious - A. jealous B. energetic C. strong desirable D. Studious

6. experienced - A. emotional B. extra ordinary C. excellent D. skilled

7. offered - A. offended B. referred C. objected D. provided

8. models - A. type of products B. ideas C. machines D. skills

9. hire - A. send B. sell C. inform D. rent

10. boutiques - A. hotels B. dress shops C. salons D. canteens

III. Select any five words from the list given below and use each one of them in a meaningful

sentence. You may use the verb in any tense. You may use the plural form of the nouns.

But do not change the form of the other words. (05 marks)

efficient suitable responsible

certify focus disciplined

attest surprise

referee serious

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IV. Underline the most appropriate word from those given below in brackets. (05 marks)

1. You can (carry out, make up, look up) the survey in your school.

2. I like to drink (powerful, strong, heavy) coffee in the morning.

3. You must fill the (matching, suitable, relevant) details of yours in the application form.

4. The police couldn’t come to a (solution, suggestion, conclusion) how the robbery took place.

5. After the trip I felt (severe, high, dead) tired.

Part B – DIALOGUES (25 marks)

I. How do you respond in each of the following situations? Write one sentence / question

for each, beginning with the word/s given. (05 marks)

i. Your friend was absent to the class yesterday. Ask him the reason for his absence.

Why ………………………………………………………………………….................. ?

ii. You are looking for a watch to present on your sister’s birthday. How would you ask the

price?

How much ……………………………………………………………………..................?

iii. You want to know the departure time of the next Jaffna - Colombo intercity train. Ask the

time at the railway counter

When…………………………………………………………………………....................?

iv. You are the announcer in the sport meet. Invite the sports captain to light the Olympic

lamp.

I …………………………………………………………………………….........................

v. You want to know the distance from Jaffna to Kandy from a bus driver. How will you

ask?

How far ………………………………………………………………………....................?

II. Complete the missing parts of the following dialogue between a student who wants to

make an appointment over the phone with a famous artist. Do not use more than two

sentences/ questions in each blank. (05 marks)

Student : Hello (1) ……………………………………………………………..................

Artist : Good morning! Can I help you?

Student :(2) ……………………………………………………………………................?

Artist : Speaking.

Student :Sir, I’m Mathini, a grade 11 student. Can I see you today in the

afternoon? This is regarding a write-up to the school magazine about

you.

Artist (3)……………………………………………………………………....................

M..m What about tomorrow morning?

Student : (4)…………………………………………………………………….................

Artist : At 9.30….? Phone me before you come.

Student : (5)……………………………………………………………………...............

Artist : You are welcome.

III. Pravin has decided to join a health club. The instructor asks him some questions in order

to fill up a form. Use the guidelines and complete the missing parts. (05 marks)

Instructor : Ok, Pravin. Let’s find out how fit you are.

(1) …………………………………………………………………….................?

(He asks his age)

Pravin : I’m thirty-two.

Instructor : (2) And ………………………………………………………………................?

(He asks his weight)

Pravin : I’m 78 Kilos.

Instructor : And (3) ………………………………………...…………………….................?

(He asks his height)

Pravin : One metre eighty.

Instructor : (4) ……………………………………………………………………...............?

(He asks his occupation)

Pravin : I’m a bus driver.

Instructor : Really, (5) …………………………………………………………..................?

(He asks how Pravin spends his free time)

Pravin : I just go for walking when I’m free.

Instructor : OK Nice! sign up here.

Pravin : OK

IV. Your friend is of the opinion that Bilingual Education should be implemented in Sri

Lankan curriculum compulsorily. But you think it would not be suitable for all schools in

Sri Lanka. Write the conversation that took place between you and your friend in the

form of a dialogue. Each of you must speak at least 5 times. (10 marks)

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Part C - COMPREHENSION (30 marks)

I. Read the following text and do the activities that follow. (10 marks)

1. The preparations for a space flight take many months. All of the thousands of parts of the

launching rocket and the spacecraft must be tested and retested. This is done both on the

ground and in test flights without astronauts. The astronauts spend many hours in dummy

spacecraft, practicing the kinds of operations they to perform on the real flight.

2. Some days before the flight is due, engineers begin to assemble the huge launching rocket on

the concrete launching pad. They put together the separate parts, or stages of the rocket, with

the spacecraft on top. They work from a tower, hundreds of feet, called a gantry, which

surrounds the rocket.

3. About 48 hours before launching, the scientists begin to countdown the time remaining. They

make last - minute checks of all the equipment and begin to fill the rocket with fuel. The

astronauts receive their final medical examinations and put on their spacesuits, which will

protect them during the flight.

4. About 2 hours before take-off, the astronauts enter the crew compartment, or capsule of their

spacecraft. They strap themselves in and check their instruments. They lie on their backs in

the capsule because this is the best way to withstand the great “push” of the rocket during

launching.

5. When the astronauts have settled in their capsule, the gantry is removed. The last second of

the countdown tick away; “…. five, four, three, two, one, ignition!” The rocket’s powerful

engines fire and left it, gradually at first, off the launch pad. Enormous flames and clouds of

smoke shoot from the rocket as it rapidly gathers speed and climbs higher and higher.

6. The flight controller on the ground watches the rocket disappears into the clouds and then

follows its course by radar. He makes sure that it is going in exactly the right direction.

(1) Based on the information in the text, write True or False in the space provided, beside each

sentence.

1) The preparation for a space flight takes a very short time (.......... )

2) The astronauts spend many hours in dummy spacecraft before the real flight (.......... )

3) Enormous flame and smoke come from the capsule (.......... )

4) The flight controller disappears into the clouds (.......... )

(2) Underline the most appropriate response in each of the following.

i. Which of the following is the purpose of the dummy space craft?

1) To test the dummy space craft

2) To practice the kinds of operations they have to perform on the real flight.

3) To check all the equipment of the space craft.

ii. Which of the following is not given about a space flight?

1) The astronauts lie on their backs in the capsule

2) The scientist began to count down the time remaining before launching

3) The astronauts on the ground watch the rocket by radar.

(3) Who or what do the words in bold refer to

1) He - (Para 6) ...................................................................................................

2) They - (Para 2) ...............................................................................................

(4) Write the meanings of the following words

1) capsule............................................................................................................

2) enormous........................................................................................................

II. Read the following text and do the activities that follow. (20 marks)

The spread of telecommuting is sure to have far - reaching effects on society. By itself,

telecommuting refers to office workers spending much of their time working from home and

using electronic technologies to communicate with their employers. The border implications of

telecommuting, however, may involve changes to corporate structure, workers’ lifestyles and

even urban planning.

The most obvious changes may be apparent in the ‘normal’ offices of companies,

governments and their organizations. If even half the working week is spent telecommuting from

home, then we would initially expect many empty desks in the office. As offices become smaller,

workers coming in for the day would be expected to share desks with their absent colleagues.

This, in turn may affect the social atmosphere of an organization, however, as less social contact

with one’s colleagues could harm morale and loyalty.

For the individual office worker, telecommuting would mean spending more time at home.

For a parent with young children, this may be a blessing. Moreover, many telecommuters would

be able to work the hours they wished having a nap in the afternoon, for example, but working

some hours in the evening. One substantial benefit for all telecommuting workers is that there

will be no need to travel to work, allowing more free time.

The structure of urban life is also likely to be affected by telecommuting. We would expect

to see fewer cars on the road during peak hours and, eventually, a smaller concentration of

offices in cities central business districts. In short, people will have less reason to travel to city

centers from outlying areas. As more people work and live in the same location, shops and

cultural events will likely be relocated out of the city centre. In sum, telecommuting will serve to

change not only the way we work but also the way we live.

1. Based on the information in the text, write True or False in the space provided beside each

sentence.

a) Under telecommuting all the officers need not go to the office (.......... )

b) Telecommuting will change the way the officers lead their life (.......... )

c) Two officers will always have to share the tables (.......... )

d) The telecommuting will affect the structure of urban life (.......... )

e) The telecommuters do not have any free time in their life (.......... )

2. Underline the most appropriate response

(i) Which idea is not given in this text

a) An individual office worker can spend more time at home

b) Telecommuters could be able to have a nap in the afternoons

c) Telecommuters need not travel to work

d) Telecommuting will not change the way we live

(ii) Which of the following best expresses the main idea of the 2nd para in this text

a) Telecommuting will affect the social atmosphere of the organization

b) There won’t be any obvious changes in the offices

c) The workers need not share desks with their colleagues.

3. Fill in the blanks in the following passage, based on the information in the above text. Do

not use more than two words in each blank.

Telecommuters use electronic (1)………………… to communicate with their employers.

Telecommuting involves changers to urban (2) ……………… The desks in the offices are (3)

..………………… as they work from home. Telecommuting is a (4)……………………….. for a

parent with small children. As they do not need to travel, they will have enough

(5)……………………...time.

4. Who or What do the words/phrases in bold print refer to?

a) their time - (para 1)..................................................................................

b) a blessing - (para 3) ................................................................................

c) they - (para 3)..........................................................................................

5. Write one word for each of the given blanks, selecting from the passage, which means the

same as the following.

a) a position or a place - ………………………………………………………….

b) fellow workers - ……………………………………………………………….

c) short sleep - ……………………………………………………………………

d) tele worker - ……………………………………………………………………

e) finally - …………………………………………………………………………

PART D – WRITING (20 marks)

I. Write a paragraph beginning with the given sentence.

Use about 75 - 100 words. Do not exceed the word limit. Do not write more than one paragraph.

(05 marks)

Natural disasters are inevitable. ………………………………………………………..

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II. Some people argue that the reason for the increase of road accidents is reckless

driving while others believe invalid laws. Write an essay giving your opinions. Use

about 200 words. Do not exceed this word limit. (15 marks)

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