Irfan School- Sawfar Grade 7 to 8 (2024-2025)
Name: ___________________ Date:
Instructor: Mrs. Diala Temraz Time: 60 minutes
Mark: /20
English Language- Entrance Exam
After carefully reading the provided text, answer the questions that follow.
The History of Chocolate
Chocolate bars. Chocolate ice cream. Chocolate milk. Delicious! But where does chocolate come
from?
Chocolate is made from the fruit of cacao trees, starting about 100 million years ago. The
Olmecs of Mexico were probably the
first to grow the cacao plant. It is thought that they used the cacao beans to make drinks, but there is
no written history for the Olmecs.
The Olmecs passed their cacao knowledge on to the Ancient Maya of Mexico and Central America,
who made chocolate into a spicy drink used in ceremonies. Cacao started to become very precious.
Later the Aztecs used cacao for trade and the cacao seeds as a form of currency.
In 1502, Christopher Columbus was the first European explorer to come into
contact with cacao beans when he and his crew captured a trade ship. He presumed the beans were a
type of almond and brought them back to Europe, not knowing the potential value of the unusual
beans.
The Spanish Conquistador, Hernán Cortés, arrived in Central America in 1519. There he saw the
Aztec Emperor drinking ‘Xocalatl’, the earliest known hot chocolate, and Cortés realised the great
value that it had. Almost ten years later, Cortés established a cacao plantation for trading. He took
the beans back to Spain along with the chocolate drink recipe. Here, cinnamon and other spices were
added to the bitter brew and it was sweetened with sugar.
In 1657, the first chocolate house was opened in London. Cacao was an expensive import and only
the rich could afford to drink chocolate. In fact, in France, chocolate could be drunk only by the
royal family.
Up until the 1700s, chocolate was mainly a drink, but in 1830 the first real, moulded chocolate bar
was produced. By the late 19th century, chocolate companies such as Cadbury were mass-producing
boxes of chocolates.
Today, chocolate is a multi-billion dollar industry and people all over the world love the taste of
chocolate. This is an industry that will not go away any time soon. You can even make your own!
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1. Who was the first civilization to grow the cacao plant? (1)
a. The Ancient Maya
b. The Olmec
c. The Spanish
2. Who was the first European explorer to come into contact with cacao beans? What did he
think it was? (2)
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3. Mention two ways the Spanish made the bitter cacao drink taste better. (2)
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4. What is the best meaning for the term “mass produced”? (1)
a. Produced in large quantities
b. Produced overseas
c. Produced for Kings, Queens and Emperors
4. Is the following sentence True or False? (1)
The Ancient Mayans drank the spicy chocolate all the time.
Give a reason for your answer. (1)
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Grammar:
1.Fill in the correct form of the verb given. (1.75 pts.)
1. Who ____________________ to? – He ____________________ to his sister Maria, who
__________________ usually in England at this time of the year. (he write, write, be)
2. Marty ____________________ just when his mother __________________ into his room.
(smoke, come)
3. She _______________ an hour ago and _______________ back yet. (leave, not come)
2. Change the sentences to passive voice. (2.5 pts.)
1. The Browns have built the large house.
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2. A jellyfish stung her while she was swimming. ___________________________________________
3. They gave her a nice present. _________________________________________________
4. Jane is singing the new song. _________________________________________________
5. The storm destroyed the house. _______________________________________________
3. Tell whether the following sentences are simple, compound or complex sentences. (1.5 pts.)
1. We have to go to bed when the clock chimes ten o’clock. ____________________
2. Jennifer liked William’s friend, and she also liked his cousin. _________________
3. The big brown dog ran after the blue and red ball. _________________
Writing:( /5)
In a well-organized paragraph write about the reasons you are moving to Irfan High School.
Add a title, topic sentence, enough supporting details and a concluding sentence.
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