Section A: Reading and Poem Analysis

Read Text A, a poem, in the insert, and then answer questions 1-5.

1. In the “Mother to Son”, the mother compares her life to?

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2. Give one word that summarises the writer’s main idea in his poem “Mother to
Son”.

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3. Look at the phrase “Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair (line 20)

(a) Why do you think the author began and finish with it.

Tick ( ) one box

To emphasize important idea

To show the passage of time

To show that the author s forgetful

To describe the stair

(b) Which is the main type of figurative language used in the poem?

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4. The mother’s tone is best described as…

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 5. Explain in your own words the meaning of each of the following as it is used in
the text.

(a) Crystal stair (line 2)

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(b) Turn back (line 14)

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Read Text B in the Insert and then answer the questions 6-9.

6. What is the main purpose of Text B?

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7. Explain in your own words what “palatable” means (line 40)

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8. Look at the title of the passage, Do you agree that “you are what you eat”?

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9. Summarise the importance of eating well and what will happen if we eat
poorly. Use your own words when writing your summary. Your summary must
be 30 words.

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 Section B: Writing

10. Write an informative essay or descriptive essay about fitness and health.

You could include some of the following in your text:

 The facts mentioned on Text B

 Tips from your personal healthy habits

 Your essay must be between 120-150 words only

Space for your plan

Write your text on the next page. [30 marks]

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Content, purpose and audience /10

Spelling /3

Text structure and organization /10

Sentence structure and punctuation /7

TOTAL /30
Name Index No.

SINGAPORE NATIONAL ACADEMY

COMMON ASSESSMENT- TERM-1
YEAR 8

ENGLISH

Candidates answer on the question 10 September 2019

Paper 13:30-14:30

1 hour

Additional Materials: Insert

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write in dark blue or black pen.

Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid.

Answer all questions.

You should pay attention to punctuation, spelling and handwriting.

At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each
Question or part question.

The total number of marks for this paper is 65.

FOR EXAMINER’S USE

Marks
Section A: /15
Section B: / 50
Total: / 65
%
 Mother to Son
BY LANGSTON HUGHES
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
So boy, don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps
’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now—
For I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.