St.
Hilda’s High School
End of Year Examination-June 2020
Grade 9
English Language
Instructions: This paper consists of THIRTY (30) multiple choice questions. Read each
item and select the letter which corresponds with the best answer.
Choose from the FOUR (4) options the one which is NEAREST IN MEANING to the
underlined word.
1 . The old man went to the doctor because he was constantly fatigued and anxious.
A tired
B exhilarated
C worried
D confused
2. The judge was asked to state his impartiality before taking over the case.
A impatience
B experience
C neutrality
D prejudice
3. The principal was compelled to introduce changes.
A willing
B pleased
C forced
D unwilling
4. In order to implement the Council’s decisions, the architect redrew the plans.
A respond to
B carry out
C challenge
D reject
5. Although they worked for many hours, they could find no other solution to the dilemma.
A question
B story
C dimension
D problem
Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined
word or phrase.
6. The punishment meted out to the culprit was lenient.
A unkind
B harsh
C unfair
D malicious
7. The principal chastised the students for their behavior at the football match.
A commended
B recognized
C accepted
D excused
8. The interviewer asked the applicant to elaborate the duties she performed in her last job.
A summarize
B explain
C describe
D outline
9. Every attempt was made to avert the crisis that was about to occur.
A cause
B ensure
C overcome
D confront
10. The patient’s health gradually deteriorated after the operation.
A renewed
B improved
C increased
D altered
Directions: Each sentence in this section has words underlined one of which maybe
misspelt. Choose from the THREE (3) options A, B, C, the word that is misspelt. If no word
is misspelt, choose answer D.
11. The car mounted the pavement narrowly missing the pedestrians. No error
A B C D
12. Upon seeing the children safe, their mother immediately uttered a sigh of releif. No error
A B C D
13. The student was embarassed and anxious to do better in subsequent exams. No error.
A B C D
14. The government ministry stated businesses need to be more flexable. No error
A B C D
15. Members of the committee were asked to give their opinions on the proposals. No error
A B C D
Choose the correct option to complete each of the following statements.
16. The students copied out the passage, and put _______ the correct answers.
A. in B. up C. for D. into
17. Mary applied for the job, but they turned_________.
A. down B. her in C. down her D. her down
18. When the gangsters saw that they were surrounded, they gave______.
A. away B. up C. off D. over
19. They fought fiercely for the gun, but Peter would not let_____ it.
A. go of B. up with C. off with D. go off
20. Good teachers always take an interest______ their students.
A. for B. of C. on D. in
Select the correct verb form to complete the following sentences.
21. Annie and her brothers ___ at school.
A. is B. are
22. Either my mother or my father____ coming to the meeting.
A. is B. are
23. The dog or the cats ___ outside.
A. is B. are
24. Either my shoes or your coat___ always on the floor.
A. is B. are
25. George and Tamara___ want to see that movie.
A. Don’t B. doesn’t
Read the poem below then answer the questions.
Geography lesson
When the jet sprang into the sky,
It was clear why the city
Had developed the way it had,
Seeing it scaled six inches to the mile.
There seemed an inevitability
About what on ground had looked haphazard,
Unplanned and without style
When the jet sprang into the sky.
When the jet reached ten thousand feet,
It was clear why the country
Had cities where rivers ran
And why the valleys were populated.
The logic of geography-
That land and water attracted man-
Was clearly delineated,
When the jet reached ten thousand feet.
When the jet rose six miles high,
It was clear that earth was round
And that it had more sea than land.
But it was difficult to understand
That the men on the earth
Found causes to hate each other, to build
Walls cross cities and to kill.
From that height, it was not clear why.
-Zulfikar Ghose
26. In the first stanza, the poet suggests that viewed from the air:
A. The city seemed to be unplanned and without style.
B. The city seemed to be better planned that it did on the ground.
C. The ground looked haphazard.
D. The city seemed to be highly developed.
27. The words that best sum up the meaning of the second stanza are:
A. land and water
B. when the jet reached ten thousand feet
C. the logic of geography
D. clearly delineated
28. In the second stanza, the poet seems to think that:
A. rivers always run through cities
B. mankind is forced to make decisions about where to live
C. the world is overpopulated in some areas
D. human settlements and behavior are rational
29. What is striking to the reader, when comparing stanza 2 and stanza 3?
A. Mankind seems rational in stanza 2 and crazy in stanza 3.
B. One gets a clearer picture of the world when six miles high than at ten thousand feet.
C. Cities are divided by rivers in stanza 2 but by walls in stanza 3.
D. The earth has more sea than land.
30. What is the theme of this poem?
A . To understand the world, you need to get away from it.
B. It is ironic that creatures who are rational can also be brutal.
C. The world is a global village.
D. Geography helps us to understand humanity.
