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GENERAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE

PAPER I                                                                                                        TIME THREE HOURS

PART A                                                       GRAMMAR                                    ( 40 MARKS )

 

I Fill in each blank  with a suitable  prepositions from the list given below. Use each preposition only once.
in , for , to,  down ,  out,  after, at,  out of,  around,  of
A husband and wife  were driving down a village  round  when they came (1)……………………. a muddy patch and the car get bogged (2)……………………. a minutes  (3)………………….trying to get the car (4)…………………they saw a  young  farmer coming (5)………………………. the  lane trying   some were before  him. The farmer  stopped when he saw the couple (6)…………..trouble   and offered to pull the car out of the mud (7)……………… Rs.250. The husband accepted and  minutes later the car was free. The farmer  turned to the  husband and said  “You know you are the tenth car I’ve helped (8)………………..the mud today. The husband looked (9)………………….. the field incredulity  and asked when do you have time to plough your land (10)……………………. Night is the time when I put water in the  hole.

(10 marks )
II Fill in the blanks with  the correct  form of the verb given in brackets.

 
A  Priest was walking  down a village road and saw a young farmer struggling (1)…………………….. (load )  way back on to a cart after it (2)…………….(fall)  off. You (3)…………………(look) tired , my son said the priest why (4)………………….you…………………(wait) a moment  and I (5) …………………give you a hand.

 

“No thanks said the young man. My father……………………(not like ) it”. ” Don’t be silly the priest said . “Everyone (7)……………….(entitle ) to a  break. (8)………………… come and have  a drink of water. Again  the young man protested that his father would be upset (9)……………………(lose ) his patience, the priest said ” Your  father (10)……………….(be) a real salve driver. Tell me  why I can find well replied the young  farmer he is under the hay!

 
III Construct questions to  get the  words in  bold print as answer.
1 Sunil is going to Gall next Monday.

 
2 Kamani has been making a cake since 8’O clock.

 
3 Amal visits his  relations once a month
4 I am going to buy some story books at the Book shop
5 Rani was crying because  she lost  her book.
IV Rewrite the following phrases in the correct order to  construct  meaningful sentences
1 a lonely day/ but/for a walk /I am too tired/ It is
2 too late/ the application/ that it is/ I told him/ to send
3 not/theirs/is/ours/this house.
4 over there / an engineering/ in that section/are/ the
5 the best/ your paints/ the most/make/ so/have/ given/ you/ of your life
( 5  marks )
PART B COMPREHENSION
Of the options given below each sentence ( in bold print) under the  one that  expresses its meaning
(a) I know a log more about   computers  than my sister does
1 I know a lot more about computers than my sister does
II My sister does not know anything about computers but I know a lot
III My sister know  somethings  about computers but  I know a lot.
IV I know that my sister  does not anything about computers
(b) There is likely to be rain everywhere today except in Colombo.
1 It rained everywhere today except in Colombo.
2 There will be no rain anywhere  today except in Colombo.
III It may rain everywhere today except in Colombo.
IV It is likely  that there will be rain in Colombo today.
(c) I rarely read to go into the city centre except to do some shopping.
I I always go into the city centre  but I don’t do any shipping there.
II I rarely go into the city centre and I don’t do any shopping there.
III It is mainly to do some shopping that I go into the city centre.
IV I do not need to go into the city centre to do any shopping.
(d) Despite fallen g midway through the race she won.
I She could have won, the race if she had not fallen midway through the race.
II She had already won the race when she fell down.
III She won the race although she had fallen midway through the race
IV She won the race as she fell down.
(e) Gamini is not as clever as his brother Vipul.
I Gamini is clever than Vipul.
II Vipul is clever than Gamini.
III Both Gamini and Vipul are equally clever.
IV Both Gaminis and Vipul are not clever.
( 5 marks )
II Read the following text and do the activities  that follow.
In North-west Cameroon in August 1986, there was a volcanic  eruption which caused a toxic gas leak that devastated the area. At least 1200 people were killed and many were left seriously ill with burns and respiratory infections. Nobody could escape because thee was no warning, just a loud explosion followed by a terrible smell like that of rotten eggs, and within a short time, the entire area around Lake Nios, which was the site of the eruption, was shrouded in fumes. It  was if a neutron bomb had exploded destroying nothing but killing all life. The occurrence was the worst incident of its kind and the second times such a disaster had struck this Western African nation.
A Write true or false  beside each sentence in the space printed.
a The volcanic eruption took place around Lake Nios……………………….
b According to the passage a neutron bomb exploded in North West…………………….Cameroon immediately after the volcanic eruption………………………….
c The government had given an alarming signal before this incident…………………..
B Write one word for each blank selecting from the passage which  means the same as each of the given phrases.
a Sudden grant misfortune…………………………..
b Giving information about the future  danger……………………..
( 5 marks )
II Read the following news item and do the activity that follows.
Parachutist wins place of honour our at jump
Even experts were  a little surprised when a man of 62 turned up at a parachute training  school and said he was interested I n learning to become a parachutist.

 

They agreed to put him through the course, but only after giving him a series of test to prove that he was fit enough.

 

Mr.Archie Macfarlane completed the course successfully, surprising everyone  with his ability and toughness.

 

A  few weeks later, when he was ready for his first jump, he confessed to the chief instructor

 

“I told you a bit of a lie.  I am really 75″

 

That was six years ago and yesterday Archie Macfarlane made his 18th jump. He was given the place of honour at a weekend meeting for parachutists over 40 years old.

 

Archie’s interest in parachuting is just one of the hobbies that his wife has to worry  about. He also enjoys mountaineering.

 

Last year he fell while climbing on snow don, and had to be rescued by a helicopter.  His daughter said”sometimes” I think he ought to give it all up. But as my mother says, so long as he’s happy, it is better than being miserable.”

 

Now Archie is thinking of taking up water-skin.
III Fill in the blanks in the following passage   base on the information in the above news item. Don’t use  more than two words in each blanks.
Archie Macfarlane is an unusual person . When the first  learnt parachute jumping, he pretended that he was only (1)…………………….. in fact he was much (II)………………….. than that . Although he is an old man he is  interested in very tough activates like parachuting. (III)…………………..and  wanted skiing. Recently he was given the place of honour at a parachutists  treating . After he  marked his 18th jump[ at the  age of (IV)………………………  his wife and (V)………………….. are worried but think it is best for him to do things that make him happy.

( 5 marks )
IV Read the following poem and do the activities that follow.
Richard Cory

 
Whenever Richard Cory went down town

We people on the pavement looked at him

He was a gentleman from sole to crown.

Clean favoured, and imperil slim.
And he was always quietly arrayed,

and he was always human when he talked;

But still he fluttered pulses when he said,

‘Good morning’ and he glittered when  he walked
And he was rich – richer than a king –

And admirably schooled in every grace;

In fine, we thought he was everything

To make us wish that we were in his place.
So on we worked, and waited for the light,

And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;

And Richard Cory, one calm summer nigh,

Went  home and put a bullet through his head.

(Edwin A.Robinson )
A Write true or false  beside each sentence in the space provided.
a According to the poet, Richard Cory insulted the others very often when he talked (…………………)
b Richard Cory was a very rich person(…………………)
c Richard cory was shot dead by unknown person(…………………)
d Write one word from the poem which  means the same.
( 5 marks )
As each of the following
(1) Not  widely/not excited or agitated……………………….
(2) Dressed
   PART C – SUMMARIZING
I Write a summary of the following text. You may use any number of sentences but do not use more than thirty (30) words. Write only one word in each cage.
A woman was walking down the street one day when she happened to see a man holding a monkey.
The woman asked the man, “where did you find that monkey ?”
The man answered “In the street . Why?”
The woman said ” You should take him to the zoo”
The man said, “That is a good idea”
The next day the woman saw the man with the monkey again. She said, ‘ I thought you were going to take him to the zoo”
The mans answered “Oh, I did, and he really enjoyed it. So,, today I’m going to take him to the movies”
II Write a summary of the following text. You may use any number of sentences but do not use more than twenty (20) words. Write only one word I  each cage.
An old patient called on the doctor and said, “Remember me, doctor ? You cured me of my rheumatism last year and you told me to be careful about getting myself wet?”
“Oh, yes, I do” said the doctor, face lighting up with recognition. ” What can I do for you now?”
“Nothing much doctor,” said the patient.”But I was just wondering whether it’s safe for me to now take a bath !”
PART D WRITING  ( 30 MARKS )
1 Imagine that you visited a friend of  your  living in a distant place and stayed  there for a  week during the last vacation  with the letter you would send him/her after you return home. You should include the following in your letter.
-Remind him/her of some pleasant memories during your stay
-Thank him/her for all arrangements to make you happy.
-Invite him/her   to visit you during the next vacation.
-Explain what you plan to do when he/she come
Use about 60 words.
II Imagine that your father has given you Rs. 5000/- to buy a couple of books.  You want to buy several books   whicch are not locally available . Write to the book shop advertised  book (pages) Find out  from them whether Rs. 5000/- will be enough  for the books you want the books by the beginning of January

(10 marks )
PART E – DIALOGUE

 
I Fill in appropriately the missing parts of the following dialogues. You should use at lease one sentence for each response.
A You have bought a TV set from Daya Electronic Pvt Ltd , Bambalapitiya. After few months , you find that the TV set has developed certain faults. You telephone the Service Manager of the company , Mr.Somarathnam, the Service Manager speaks.  Complete your part of the dialogue.
You:……………………………………………………………………………………………….
Mr.Somarathna : Yes speaking , how can I help you?
You:……………………………………………………………………………………………….
Mr.Somarathnam: Well , what’s wrong with it ?
You:……………………………………………………………………………………………….
Mr.Somarathnam : Are you sure it is not a problem with your antenna ?
You:……………………………………………………………………………………………….
Mr.Somarathnam : OK. May I know your name and mm.tell me when you purchased this TV set ?
You:……………………………………………………………………………………………….
Mr.Somarathna: Could you please bring  TV set over here. We’ll get our technician to check it.
You: OK I’ll bring it this evening. Thank you.
(5 marks )
B You find the following advertisement in a local newspaper. You decide to obtain a loan from this bank to start self-employment  after you’re a/L examination. You meet Mr.N.Premadasa, the Bank Manager to get some  information  complete your part of the dialogue.

The Regional Development Bank loan Schemes for Self Employment

Are you a courageous man?

Full of exceptional creative capabilities with positive thinking.

We are ready to give a helping hand to you.

Without security

At a very soft rate of interest of 8% per annum

On evaluation of a report

From Rs. 50000/= to Rs. 1 Million