SA1 revision

Synthesis & TransformationCloze passagesComprehension

Mr Abel Kok

Synthesis

1. There are 3 main types of synthesis & transformation questions: Connectors, direct to indirect and passive to active.

2. NOTE: Do not apply the learning points for each type across the three types of questions.

3. Use a highlighter for direct to indirect speech to highlight the words.

Synthesis

Peter gives his sister a pen. His sister is elated.

_____________________so ______________________.

What do you think of this answer?

Peter gives his sister a pen so his sister is elated.

Answer should be:

Peter gives his sister a pen so she is elated.

Synthesis

Sue said, “I will like to go Malaysia tomorrow.”

Sue said that__________________________________.

What do you think of this answer?

Sue said that I will like to go Malaysia tomorrow.

Answer should be:

Sue said that she would like to go Malaysia the following day.

Synthesis

Sue says, “I will like to go Malaysia tomorrow.”

Sue says that__________________________________.

Answer should be:

Sue says that she will like to go Malaysia tomorrow.

Synthesis

The man took a lot of money.

A lot of money________________________________.

Answer should be:

A lot of money was taken by the man.

Synthesis

Someone took a lot of money.

A lot of money________________________________.

Answer should be:

A lot of money was taken.

Synthesis

Some took a lot of money from the drawer.

A lot of money________________________________.

Answer should be:

A lot of money was taken by the man from the drawer.

Synthesis

Tim dislikes Science. Mary dislikes Science too.

Neither________________________________.

Answer should be:

Neither Tim nor Mary likes Science.

Synthesis

Tim dislikes Science. Tim’s friends dislike Science too.

Neither________________________________.

Answer should be:

Neither Tim nor his friends like Science.

NOTE: The verb must agree with the second subject, in this case, ‘friends’.

Do remember to use the following ways to tackle cloze passages in

the future.•Know your word classes

•Look for clues in the passages

Cloze passages: Look out for clues.

1. The accident was a fatal one. The victim was ________on the spot.

2. We were lucky to escape punishment from the ________. The teacher decided to ________. us on the account that it was our first offence.

3. The python is a ferocious predator. It will gobble its prey in whole after strangling them to death. There will be no escape for small ________ like the rabbit or the chickens once enshrined in its coil. ________ bones will be ________ in a matter of seconds.

Answers:1. The accident was a fatal one. The victim was ______on the spot.2. The accident was a fatal one. The victim was killed on the spot.

3. We were lucky to escape punishment from the ______. The teacher decided to _____ us on the account that it was our first offence.

4. We were lucky to escape punishment from the teacher. The teacher decided to forgive us on the account that it was our first offence.

5. The python is a ferocious predator. It will gobble its prey in whole after strangling them to death. There will be no escape for small ______ like the rabbit or the chickens once enshrined in its coil. ______ bones will be ______ in a matter of seconds.

6. The python is a ferocious predator. It will gobble its prey in whole after strangling them to death. There will be no escape for small animals like the rabbit or the chickens once enshrined in its coil. Their bones will be crushed in a matter of seconds.

Try this:Bip was a grey dragon. He wanted to live in the zoo at the king’s castle. But the zoo wanted an orange dragon.

_____1____, Bip ate orange crayons, orange pencils, and orange paint. However, he was still ____2_____ . He was sad and tears trickled down his cheeks.

A small boy saw Bip. “Don’t ____3_____ ,” he said. “I’ll help you.” He took Bip to a pool. He put something ____4_____ the pool. The water turned bright orange!

“Try it,” the boy told Bip. Splash! Bip jumped in. He stayed all ____5_____ .

The next day Bip went to the _____6____ .“Come right in,” the zoo keeper said. “We have

looked everywhere for an ___7______ dragon like you!” Bip was ecstatic.

Answers:Bip was a grey dragon. He wanted to live in the zoo at the king’s castle. But the zoo wanted an orange dragon.

Therefore, Bip ate orange crayons, orange pencils, and orange paint. However, he was still grey. He was sad and tears trickled down his cheeks.

A small boy saw Bip. “Don’t cry,” he said. “I’ll help you.” He took Bip to a pool. He put something into the pool. The water turned bright orange!

“Try it,” the boy told Bip. Splash! Bip jumped in. He stayed all night.

The next day Bip went to the zoo.“Come right in,” the zoo keeper said. “We

have looked everywhere for an orange dragon like you!” Bip was ecstatic.

Do remember to use the following ways to tackle cloze passages in

the future.•Know your word classes

•Look for clues in the passages

Examination skills for Comprehension skills

1. READ the questions first then the passage.

2. USE Connectors (especially for important key words)

3. USE TAPS

Other comprehension skills: Main idea , sequencing of events.