form 5 english time: 15 minutes listening comprehension · english – listening comprehension –...

English – Listening Comprehension – Teacher’s Paper – Form 5 Secondary – Track 2 – 2015 of 2

DIRECTORATE FOR QUALITY AND STANDARDS IN EDUCATIONDepartment of Curriculum Management Educational Assessment Unit

Annual Examinations for Secondary Schools 2015

FORM 5 ENGLISH TIME: 15 minutesLISTENING COMPREHENSION

Teacher’s Paper

Instructions for the conduct of the Listening Comprehension Examination

The teacher should instruct the candidates to answer the questions on the paper provided. The

following procedure for reading the Listening Comprehension passage is to be explained to the

candidates immediately before proceeding with the examination.

You have been given a sheet containing the Listening Comprehension

questions. You will be given three minutes to read the questions based

on the passage. I shall then read the passage at normal reading speed.

You may take notes during the reading. After this reading there will be a

pause of another three minutes to allow you to answer some of the

questions. The passage will be read a second time and you may take

further notes and answer the rest of the questions. After this second

reading you will be given a further three minutes for a final revision of

the answers.

a. 3 minutes - Candidates read questions

b. 3 minutes - First reading aloud of passage while candidates take notes

c. 3 minutes - Candidates answer questions

d. 3 minutes - Second reading of passage and possibility for candidates to answer questions

e. 3 minutes - Final revision

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of 2 English – Listening Comprehension – Teacher’s Paper – Form 5 Secondary – Track 2 – 2015




Teacher’s PaperWelcome back to the second part of today’s news bulletin.It seems the age-old tradition of children getting a bedtime story before sleeping is weakening in Britain. A new study reveals that around a third of parents do not read bedtime stories to their children. The study, from British online retailer Littlewoods.com, also found that up to 50 per cent of children would prefer to watch TV or play computer games than be read a story. Researchers further discovered that five per cent of British children under the age of seven do not even own a book. Parents came up with a number of reasons why they did not read to their little ones. Thirteen per cent of parents blamed a lack of time, nine per cent said they are just "too stressed", while others said their children were simply not interested.

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Candy Crush Saga was the most downloaded app of 2014, both in Apple's App Store and Google's Play store. It was also the year's top revenue earning app. The game has been downloaded over 500 million times since its launch in 2012 and it has 46 million average monthly users. Candy Crush Saga is the current favourite among gamers.

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Spain's economic problems have led to one of its most famous festivals becoming a "pay-to-join" event. The town of Bunol will start charging participants who want to take part in its world-famous Tomatina tomato-throwing festival. Tourists will have to pay a minimum of 10 euro to be part of the hour-long tomato fight. Regardless, all 15,000 tickets have been sold. Local residents have been allocated 5,000 free tickets. The Tomatina costs the town 150,000 euro to organise. Part of that sum goes toward paying for the 130 tons of tomatoes used as ammunition in the street battles. The streets are literally flooded with tomato juice at the festival's end. Tourists from all over the world have flocked to the Tomatina for decades.

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Michelangelo's masterpiece statue "David" is in great danger of collapsing due to its weak ankles and the structure's 5.5-ton weight. Scientists have confirmed that cracks in the heels of the giant 5.17-metre-tall statue can lead to its crumbling under its own weight. Tests carried out by Florence University confirmed the existence of a whole series of "micro-fractures" that have weakened David's ankles. A number of factors have led to this weakening. These include the poor quality of marble, the fact that the statue has been leaning at an angle for centuries, and vibrations from traffic and museum visitors.

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Two fast-moving wildfires in California have destroyed 10 homes and have forced the evacuation of hundreds more, US officials say. In the Sacramento region, a fire has spread to cover an area of about 4,000 acres, while another blaze threatens homes around Yosemite National Park. The Sacramento fire is around 35% contained.

And that brings us to the end of the news.

Track 2

English – Listening Comprehension – Student’s Paper – Form 5 Secondary – Track 2 – 2015 Page 1 of 1




Name: _____________________________________ Class: _______________

1. State whether the following statements are True (T) or False (F). (3 marks)

(a) The majority of parents do not read bedtime stories to their children. _____

(b) Research showed that five per cent of all British children do not own a book. _____

(c) The Tomatina is a very popular one-day festival. _____

(d) Residents of Bunol do not pay to participate in the Tomatina festival. _____

(e) Ten homes were evacuated in California because of wildfires. _____

(f) Less than half the Sacramento fire is under control. _____

2. Fill in the missing information in the grid below. (4 marks)

average number of Candy Crush Saga users every month

number of tickets sold for Tomatina

tons of tomatoes used for Tomatina

height of the “David” statue

3. Give two reasons why the David statue is weakening. (2 marks) (i) ________________________________________________________________________

(ii) _______________________________________________________________________

4. Based on what you have heard, underline the correct answer. (1 mark)

(a) Bedtime story telling’s popularity has increased/ declined/ stayed the same.

(b) Tomatina is no longer free because of Spain’s agricultural/ cultural/ financial problems.

Track 2

English – Comprehension Text – Form 5 Secondary – Track 2 – 2015 Page 1 of 2

DIRECTORATE FOR QUALITY AND STANDARDS IN EDUCATIONDepartment of Curriculum Management Educational Assessment UnitAnnual Examinations for Secondary Schools 2015

FORM 5 ENGLISH READING COMPREHENSION 30 MARKS

Read this article by Tim Masters.

Touring internationally since 2008, Play Me, I’m Yours is the brainchild of British artist Luke Jerram. Reaching over six million people worldwide – more than 1,300 pianos have already been installed in 43 cities across the globe, from New York to London, China, Sydney, Budapest, Barcelona, Paris, Valletta and Sao Paulo in Brazil bearing the simple invitation - “Play Me, I’m

5 Yours”.

Located in public parks, bus shelters and train stations, outside galleries and markets and even on bridges and ferries the pianos are available for any member of the public to play and enjoy. Who plays them and how long they remain on the streets is up to each community. The pianos are beautifully decorated and personalised by local artists and community members. They become

10 public domain and are free to be enjoyed by all regardless of age, gender, nationality or religion. The pianos in themselves become both sculptures and blank sheet-music waiting to be played.

Luke Jerram says, “The idea for this project came from visiting my local launderette. I saw the same people there each weekend and yet no one talked to one another. I suddenly realised that within the city, there must be hundreds of these invisible communities, regularly spending time with

15 one another in silence. Placing a piano into the space was my solution to this problem, acting as a springboard for conversation and changing the dynamics of a space. The pianos act as a blank canvas for everyone else’s creativity. This is an opportunity for people to express themselves and connect with one another.”

Play Me, I’m Yours was first commissioned in Birmingham, UK in 2008. With 15 pianos located 20 across the city for three weeks it is estimated that over 140,000 people played or listened to music

from the pianos. News of the project spread internationally and the response has been incredible. Play Me, I’m Yours has exploded into a global cultural project. Each new city that commissions the artwork becomes part of this growing legacy. Like a musical equivalent of Facebook or YouTube, street pianos together with the website www.streetpianos.com provide an interconnected resource

25 for the public to express themselves and their creativity. Each city has a unique website where the public upload and share their videos, photos and stories of their interaction with the pianos.

Everywhere, communities have embraced the project. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never touched a piano’s keys before or are an expert player, this is a work of art designed for everyone. And we’ve had amazing tales come out of it – from two people falling in love over a piano and getting married

30 to a homeless man landing a record deal! The most gratifying part is watching people who have never met before stop to chat and play. The pianos are turning strangers into friends. What’s important is that the project reaches a diverse audience.

I was totally fascinated by this concept and when I heard it was being installed in Melbourne Australia, I could not help myself and took the train down to be part of the action. The whole

35 experience touched me in a profound way. People, from tiny 5 year olds, all the way up to eighty year olds, would see the brightly coloured pianos sitting in public places, walk over and begin playing. Some of the older people had not touched a keyboard for many years and the experience thrilled them. Because the pianos were placed in unlikely positions, pedestrians were completely taken aback, but then stayed and enjoyed the music. It never failed to raise a smile from the passers-

40 by! Music is an amazing thing! It can enrich both the listener and the performer at the same time. It’s a win-win situation.

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English – Comprehension Text – Form 5 Secondary – Track 2 – 2015 Page 2 of 2

It has become apparent that there are thousands of pianists out there who don’t have regular access to a piano. Play Me, I’m Yours provides access to this wonderful musical instrument and gives musicians the opportunity to share their creativity by performing in public. A lot of people are too

45 embarrassed to play but they have got a lot of hidden talent. The idea is to bring music to the people and the people to the music. It has brought melody to the streets around the world. This is a simple concept that brings out the best in people and which has brought melody to the streets around the world.

Although the pianos are out on the streets for several days, vandalism hasn’t been a major problem. 50 In Sao Paulo, Brazil a piano costs a year’s wage and none were stolen. After the event the pianos

are donated to local schools and community groups. This project deserves to continue and to receive worldwide support and funding, as it provides an enriching experience to anyone who comes in contact with it. If it comes to a city near you, get out there – enjoy yourself and enrich someone else’s life with music. So all budding pianists, here’s your chance – take part in a little tinkling of

55 the ivories and upload your performance.

(Adapted from an article by Tim Masters)

English – Form 5 Secondary – Track 2 – 2015 Page 1 of 7



FORM 5 ENGLISH LANGUAGE TIME: 2 hours

Name: _____________________________________ Class: _______________

Oral Assessment Listening Comprehension Written Paper TOTAL

A. Choose a word or phrase from the box below to complete the short dialogues that follow. Some words or phrases may be used more than once. 5 marks [ ]

a few enough how many a little how muchtoo much some as much as any

a)

Would you like (1) __________________ coffee?

Yes please. That would be nice.

Do you take (2) __________________ sugar in your coffee?

Just (3) __________________, please.

b)

(4) __________________ do you earn?

Not (5) __________________ to afford going on holiday.

c)

When did you last go to the youth centre?

Quite recently. Just (6) __________________ days ago.

d)

(7)__________________ time do you spend playing videogames every day?

About three hours.

That’s (8) __________________ ! You shouldn’t spend (9) __________________ that.

e)

(10) __________________ cupcakes have you eaten?

Six or seven. They were delicious.

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of 7 English – Form 5 Secondary – Track 2 – 2015

B. Fill in the blanks with a word formed from the one in brackets. The first one has been done for you. 5 marks [ ]

(0) Scientists (science) have (1) _______________ (lock) one of the secrets as to how koalas stay

cool and avoid (2) _______________ (hydrate) in the intense heat of Australian summers – they

hug trees. For decades people thought the (3) _______________ (cuddle) marsupials clung to trees

(4) _______________ (simple) because they were tired and wanted somewhere to nap. (5)

_______________ (research) from Melbourne University have now cast new light on the tree-

hugging habits of the koala. From their (6) _______________ (observe) they found out that there is

a five-degree (7) _______________ (different) in temperature between a tree trunk and the air.

Koalas (8) _______________ (utility) the cooler surface by spreading themselves out on large

branches or by hugging the trunk. This cooling (9) _______________ (technical) helps the koalas

to survive (10) _______________ (increase) hot summers.

C. Fill in each blank space with a suitable word. The first one has been worked out for you. 5 marks [ ]

Humour is an (0) important aspect of life in Britain. A lot of British people (1) _______________

that a good (2) _______________ of humour is more important in a partner (3) _______________

good looks or money. Britain’s comedy industry is huge, with a (4) _______________ number of

TV comedy programmes and festivals. The nation’s (5) _______________ comedians are

superstars. It is well (6) _______________ that laughter is good for you. When you laugh your

body releases hormones (7) _______________ make you feel optimistic (8) _______________ life.

Sunshine has a similar (9) _______________, so maybe the British need laughter (10)

_______________ their weather is so bad.

D. Fill in the blank spaces with the correct form of the verb in brackets. The first one has been done for you. 5 marks [ ]

Last week teenage brother and sister Ken and Emily Booth (0) were (be) on a sailing holiday off the

south of England near Southampton when huge waves (1) __________________ (capsize) their

dinghy and they were thrown into the sea. After they (2) __________________ (hold) on to the

dinghy for about 40 minutes, Emily (3) __________________ (remember) her mobile phone in its

watertight container in her pocket, reached for it and dialled 999. About ten minutes later, they (4)

__________________ (hear) a helicopter. Ken and Emily (5) __________________ (pick) up and

carried to safety. Afterwards Emily said, “We (6) __________________ (be) lucky to be alive. I

don’t know what (7) __________________ (happen) if the mobile (8) __________________ (not

work). I (9) __________________ (never be) so scared in my life and I’m not sure I (10)

__________________ (sail) again.”


E. COMPREHENSION 30 marks

Read the passage on Play me, I’m Yours which is on a separate sheet, and then answer the questions below.

1. Say whether the following statements are TRUE (T) or FALSE (F) and give a reason from the passage. 5 marks [ ]

i) Play Me, I’m Yours has already been held in more than forty cities. ________

because _______________________________________________________________

ii) There are certain restrictions on who can play the pianos. ________

because _______________________________________________________________

iii) Decorating the pianos is allowed. ________

because _______________________________________________________________

iv) The journalist Tim Masters lives in London. ________

because _______________________________________________________________

v) A big number of pianos were vandalised. ________

because _______________________________________________________________

2. List 4 “unlikely positions” where the pianos were placed. 2 marks [ ]

i) _______________________________ ii) ______________________________________

iii) ______________________________ iv) _____________________________________

3. In your own words, explain the phrase Play Me, I’m Yours is the brainchild of British artist

Luke Jerram. (line 1) 2 marks [ ]

____________________________________________________________________________

4. Where was Luke Jerram when he came up with the idea? 1 mark [ ]

___________________________________________________________________________ 5. What was the “problem” that Luke Jerram wanted to solve? 1 mark [ ] ___________________________________________________________________________

6. Where and when was the project first commissioned? 1 mark [ ] ___________________________________________________________________________


7. How is the project similar to Facebook and YouTube? 1 mark [ ]

___________________________________________________________________________

8. What can the public do on the project’s website? 1 mark [ ]

___________________________________________________________________________

9. Which TWO examples of “amazing tales” are given in the article? 2 marks [ ]

i) __________________________________________________________________________

ii) __________________________________________________________________________

10. Explain how “the pianos are turning strangers into friends”? 2 marks [ ]

___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

11. Why is music described as a win-win situation? (line 41) 1 mark [ ]

___________________________________________________________________________

12. Between lines 42 and 48 find TWO facts which have become clear about people from this

project. 2 marks [ ]

i) ________________________________________________________________________

ii) ________________________________________________________________________

13. What happens to the pianos when the Play Me I’m Yours event is over? 1 mark [ ]

___________________________________________________________________________

14. What do these words refer to in the passage? 3 marks [ ]

i) them (line 8) - ___________________________

ii) I (line 12) - ___________________________

iii) themselves (line 25) - ___________________________

iv) I (line 33) - ___________________________

v) their (line 44) - ___________________________

vi) you (line 53) - ___________________________


15. Find words or phrases from lines 27 - 41 which in context mean: 3 marks [ ]

i) welcomed - ____________________________________________________________

ii) very skilled - ___________________________________________________________

iii) satisfying - _____________________________________________________________

iv) varied - ________________________________________________________________

v) excited - _______________________________________________________________

vi) surprised - _____________________________________________________________

16. What is the intention of the writer in this article? 2 marks [ ]

___________________________________________________________________________

F. COMPOSITION (30 marks)

Write between 180 and 200 words on ONE of the following:

1. Write a short story for a writing competition starting in the following manner: She took a deep breath and knocked on the door …

2. You have recently been on a weekend break with your family. The whole experience was rather disappointing. Write a letter to the hotel’s manager, Mr. Grech, in which you complain about several things that went wrong.

The hotel’s address is Dreams Hotel, Sunny Road, Qawra, QWR 127.

3. Write an article for your school magazine in which as a fifth former, you look back at the last five years in your school. Write about any special memories and about people who have influenced you and helped you become the person you are now.


Composition title no: ____

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form 5 english time: 15 minutes listening comprehension · english – listening comprehension –...

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