Zambia Primary School Leaving Examination — English Language (1/1)

Read the passage and answer the question. Every Saturday Mutale walks to the open market in Chipata with a woven basket. She leaves home at sunrise so that she can choose the freshest tomatoes and rape before the sun makes them soft. Traders call out prices, and Mutale has learned to bargain politely until both sides smile. Last week she also bought a small bag of groundnuts for her grandmother, who cannot walk far. On the way home she shares the dusty path with bicycles and ox-carts. Why does Mutale leave home at sunrise?

• ASo she can choose the freshest vegetables before the sun spoils them
• BSo she can avoid paying for tomatoes at the market
• CSo she can ride an ox-cart all the way to Lusaka
• DSo she can sell her grandmother's groundnuts

Read the passage and answer the question. Every Saturday Mutale walks to the open market in Chipata with a woven basket. She leaves home at sunrise so that she can choose the freshest tomatoes and rape before the sun makes them soft. Traders call out prices, and Mutale has learned to bargain politely until both sides smile. Last week she also bought a small bag of groundnuts for her grandmother, who cannot walk far. On the way home she shares the dusty path with bicycles and ox-carts. What did Mutale buy for her grandmother last week?

• AA woven basket of rape
• BA small bag of groundnuts
• CA bicycle for the dusty path
• DA bag of soft tomatoes

Read the passage and answer the question. Every Saturday Mutale walks to the open market in Chipata with a woven basket. She leaves home at sunrise so that she can choose the freshest tomatoes and rape before the sun makes them soft. Traders call out prices, and Mutale has learned to bargain politely until both sides smile. Last week she also bought a small bag of groundnuts for her grandmother, who cannot walk far. On the way home she shares the dusty path with bicycles and ox-carts. What does bargain politely mean in this passage?

• ATo shout until the trader gives food away
• BTo hide the money and run from the stall
• CTo discuss the price respectfully until both sides agree
• DTo write a formal letter about the tomatoes

Read the passage and answer the question. Every Saturday Mutale walks to the open market in Chipata with a woven basket. She leaves home at sunrise so that she can choose the freshest vegetables before the sun makes them soft. Traders call out prices, and Mutale has learned to bargain politely until both sides smile. Last week she also bought a small bag of groundnuts for her grandmother, who cannot walk far. On the way home she shares the dusty path with bicycles and ox-carts. Which sentence best states the main idea of the passage?

• AOx-carts are faster than bicycles on market day.
• BGrandmothers should never eat groundnuts.
• CChipata has only one trader who sells tomatoes.
• DMutale goes to the Chipata market early to buy fresh food and help her grandmother.

Read the passage and answer the question. Every Saturday Mutale walks to the open market in Chipata with a woven basket. She leaves home at sunrise so that she can choose the freshest tomatoes and rape before the sun makes them soft. Traders call out prices, and Mutale has learned to bargain politely until both sides smile. Last week she also bought a small bag of groundnuts for her grandmother, who cannot walk far. On the way home she shares the dusty path with bicycles and ox-carts. What can you reasonably infer about Mutale?

• AShe owns the largest stall in Chipata market.
• BShe dislikes her grandmother and never shares food.
• CShe prefers to shop after the vegetables have wilted.
• DShe is a thoughtful helper who plans her market visit carefully.

Read the passage and answer the question. In September the Grade 7 class at Chibolya Primary prepared a vegetable garden behind the classroom block. They loosened the soil with hoes, mixed in kraal manure, and planted rows of rape, onions and Chinese cabbage before the first heavy rains. Each learner took a watering can on a duty roster. Teacher Phiri told them that mulch of dry grass would keep the soil moist. By the third week tiny green shoots had appeared. What did the learners mix into the soil?

• APlastic bottles from the stream
• BKraal manure
• CDry cement from the storeroom
• DRiver sand only

Read the passage and answer the question. In September the Grade 7 class at Chibolya Primary prepared a vegetable garden behind the classroom block. They loosened the soil with hoes, mixed in kraal manure, and planted rows of rape, onions and Chinese cabbage before the first heavy rains. Each learner took a watering can on a duty roster. Teacher Phiri told them that mulch of dry grass would keep the soil moist. By the third week tiny green shoots had appeared. When did the class plant the vegetables?

• AAfter the maize harvest in June only
• BDuring the December holiday
• CBefore the first heavy rains
• DAfter the shoots had already appeared

Read the passage and answer the question. In September the Grade 7 class at Chibolya Primary prepared a vegetable garden behind the classroom block. They loosened the soil with hoes, mixed in kraal manure, and planted rows of rape, onions and Chinese cabbage before the first heavy rains. Each learner took a watering can on a duty roster. Teacher Phiri told them that mulch of dry grass would keep the soil moist. By the third week tiny green shoots had appeared. According to Teacher Phiri, what is the purpose of the dry-grass mulch?

• ATo keep the soil moist
• BTo hide the hoes from other classes
• CTo keep birds from singing
• DTo make the classroom block taller

Read the passage and answer the question. In September the Grade 7 class at Chibolya Primary prepared a vegetable garden behind the classroom block. They loosened the soil with hoes, mixed in kraal manure, and planted rows of rape, onions and Chinese cabbage before the first heavy rains. Each learner took a watering can on a duty roster. Teacher Phiri told them that mulch of dry grass would keep the soil moist. By the third week tiny green shoots had appeared. What does shoots mean in the last sentence?

• ALoud bangs from a gun
• BNew young plant stems appearing above the soil
• CPhotographs taken by Teacher Phiri
• DWatering cans left in a row

Read the passage and answer the question. In September the Grade 7 class at Chibolya Primary prepared a vegetable garden behind the classroom block. They loosened the soil with hoes, mixed in kraal manure, and planted rows of rape, onions and Chinese cabbage before the first heavy rains. Each learner took a watering can on a duty roster. Teacher Phiri told them that mulch of dry grass would keep the soil moist. By the third week tiny green shoots had appeared. Which statement is an opinion rather than a fact from the passage?

• AThe class planted onions as well as rape.
• BTeacher Phiri spoke to the class about mulch.
• CSchool gardens are the most exciting activity in Zambia.
• DTiny green shoots had appeared by the third week.

Read the passage and answer the question. Last term Grade 7 from Hillcrest Primary travelled by coach to Livingstone. At the falls the guide told them to stay behind the railings because the rocks were wet and slippery. Fine spray rose like smoke, and a rainbow hung over the gorge. Chanda wanted a photograph, but her teacher asked the group to listen first. On the way back they ate nshima and vegetables at a rest stop near Kafue. Where did the class travel?

• ATo a rest stop only, with no other destination
• BTo Livingstone
• CTo the copper mines in Kitwe
• DTo a school in Chipata

Read the passage and answer the question. Last term Grade 7 from Hillcrest Primary travelled by coach to Livingstone. At the falls the guide told them to stay behind the railings because the rocks were wet and slippery. Fine spray rose like smoke, and a rainbow hung over the gorge. Chanda wanted a photograph, but her teacher asked the group to listen first. On the way back they ate nshima and vegetables at a rest stop near Kafue. Why did the guide tell the learners to stay behind the railings?

• ABecause photographs were not allowed in Zambia
• BBecause the coach had already left for Kafue
• CBecause the rocks were wet and slippery
• DBecause the rainbow would disappear if they moved

Read the passage and answer the question. Last term Grade 7 from Hillcrest Primary travelled by coach to Livingstone. At the falls the guide told them to stay behind the railings because the rocks were wet and slippery. Fine spray rose like smoke, and a rainbow hung over the gorge. Chanda wanted a photograph, but her teacher asked the group to listen first. On the way back they ate nshima and vegetables at a rest stop near Kafue. Fine spray rose like smoke is an example of a

• Aproverb about hard work
• Briddle with a hidden answer
• Cformal letter closing
• Dsimile comparing spray to smoke

Read the passage and answer the question. Last term Grade 7 from Hillcrest Primary travelled by coach to Livingstone. At the falls the guide told them to stay behind the railings because the rocks were wet and slippery. Fine spray rose like smoke, and a rainbow hung over the gorge. Chanda wanted a photograph, but her teacher asked the group to listen first. On the way back they ate nshima and vegetables at a rest stop near Kafue. What did the teacher want the group to do before taking photographs?

• AListen first
• BEat nshima at the gorge
• CRun onto the wet rocks
• DReturn to Chipata immediately

Read the passage and answer the question. Last term Grade 7 from Hillcrest Primary travelled by coach to Livingstone. At the falls the guide told them to stay behind the railings because the rocks were wet and slippery. Fine spray rose like smoke, and a rainbow hung over the gorge. Chanda wanted a photograph, but her teacher asked the group to listen first. On the way back they ate nshima and vegetables at a rest stop near Kafue. Which inference is best supported by the passage?

• AThe teacher cares about safety and attention before sightseeing.
• BThe class will never travel by coach again.
• CRainbows only appear when learners eat nshima.
• DKafue is farther from Lusaka than Livingstone is.

Read the school notice and the short follow-up, then answer. NOTICE All Grade 7 learners must return library books to the issue desk before Friday. A learner may borrow two storybooks at a time. Overdue books attract a fine of K2 per day. No book may leave the library without being stamped. Bwalya stamped two books on Monday and promised to finish both before Friday. How many storybooks may a learner borrow at a time?

• AAs many as will fit in a bag
• BTwo
• CSeven
• DNone, because Grade 7 may not borrow

Read the school notice and the short follow-up, then answer. NOTICE All Grade 7 learners must return library books to the issue desk before Friday. A learner may borrow two storybooks at a time. Overdue books attract a fine of K2 per day. No book may leave the library without being stamped. Bwalya stamped two books on Monday and promised to finish both before Friday. What must happen before a book leaves the library?

• AThe learner must pay K2 even if the book is on time
• BThe head teacher must sign every page
• CThe book must be stamped
• DThe learner must wait until Saturday

Read the school notice and the short follow-up, then answer. NOTICE All Grade 7 learners must return library books to the issue desk before Friday. A learner may borrow two storybooks at a time. Overdue books attract a fine of K2 per day. No book may leave the library without being stamped. Bwalya stamped two books on Monday and promised to finish both before Friday. In the notice, overdue means

• Abrand new and never opened
• Bkept longer than the allowed return time
• Cwritten by a Zambian author
• Dreturned earlier than Monday

Read the school notice and the short follow-up, then answer. NOTICE All Grade 7 learners must return library books to the issue desk before Friday. A learner may borrow two storybooks at a time. Overdue books attract a fine of K2 per day. No book may leave the library without being stamped. Bwalya stamped two books on Monday and promised to finish both before Friday. If Bwalya keeps both books until the following Monday, what does the notice say will happen?

• AShe will owe a fine of K2 per day for the late books
• BThe library will give her two extra books free
• CShe will be made head girl automatically
• DShe will pay no fine because Monday is before Friday

Read the school notice and the short follow-up, then answer. NOTICE All Grade 7 learners must return library books to the issue desk before Friday. A learner may borrow two storybooks at a time. Overdue books attract a fine of K2 per day. No book may leave the library without being stamped. Bwalya stamped two books on Monday and promised to finish both before Friday. Which statement about Bwalya is best supported?

• AShe ignored the stamping rule and hid the books.
• BShe may borrow ten books because she is in Grade 7.
• CShe plans to follow the loan limit and the Friday deadline.
• DShe has already paid a fine for last term.

Choose the verb that agrees with the subject. The learners in Grade 7 ______ their English books every morning.

• Aopen
• Bopens
• Copening
• Dhas opened

Choose the correct verb. Neither Tembo nor his sister ______ late for assembly.

• Aare
• Bis
• Cwere being
• Dhave been going

Choose the sentence in which the verb agrees with the subject.

• AThe news are on the radio at seven.
• BMathematics are my favourite subject.
• CThe information is in the teacher's notice.
• DThe pair of scissors are on the desk.

Choose the correct form. Each of the girls ______ brought a pencil for the dictation.

• Ahas
• Bhave
• Cwere
• Dare

Choose the verb in the simple past tense. Yesterday Mwansa ______ water from the borehole.

• Afetch
• Bfetched
• Cfetching
• Dwill fetch

Choose the correct tense. Listen! The head teacher ______ to the Grade 7 class now.

• Aspoke
• Bwas speaking last year
• Cis speaking
• Dspeak

Choose the sentence that uses the present perfect correctly.

• AChilufya has write her composition already.
• BChilufya have written her composition already.
• CChilufya written her composition already.
• DChilufya has written her composition already.

Choose the correct tense for a completed action before another past action. By the time the bell rang, Lombe ______ her summary.

• Afinishes
• Bwill finish
• Chad finished
• Dis finishing

Choose the sentence that stays in one tense.

• ANamwinga walked to school and greets her friends.
• BNamwinga walked to school and greeted her friends.
• CNamwinga walks to school and greeted her friends yesterday only now.
• DNamwinga is walking to school and greeted her friends last week at the same time.

Choose the future form that matches the time word. Next week the class ______ minutes of the prefects' meeting.

• Awill write
• Bwrote
• Chas written
• Dis writing yesterday

Which word is a proper noun?

• Alearner
• Bmarket
• CKitwe
• Dbasket

Choose the sentence that uses an uncountable noun correctly.

• AShe gave me many useful informations.
• BThe furnitures in the staff room are new.
• CWe collected several homeworks yesterday.
• DThere is not much water left in the drum.

What is the plural of the irregular noun child?

• Achilds
• Bchildren
• Cchildes
• Dchildrens

Choose the adjective that correctly compares more than two objects. Of the three maize cobs, this one is the ______.

• Amore large
• Blargest
• Clargely
• Dlarger than all two

Choose the sentence in which the adjective qualifies the noun correctly.

• AThe heavy ran boy to the gate.
• BShe spoke loudness to the visitor.
• CA wooden desk stood in the corner.
• DThey walked quick to the borehole.

Choose the correct comparative form. This path to the borehole is ______ than the one behind the maize field.

• Anarrower
• Bmore narrower
• Cnarrowest of the two
• Dmost narrow than

Choose the adverb that qualifies the verb. The teacher walked into class ______.

• Aquietly
• Bquiet
• Cquietness
• Dquieter desk

Which word in the sentence is an adverb? You must finish writing quickly.

• Amust
• Bwriting
• Cquickly
• DYou

Choose the correct article. The class waited for ______ hour outside the examination room.

• Aa
• Ban
• Cthose
• Dmany

Choose the sentence that uses articles correctly.

• AShe is an university student in Lusaka.
• BHe bought a ox at the cattle market.
• CThey visited the Victoria Falls last term.
• DI saw an boy carrying a umbrella.

Choose the correct preposition. The learners live ______ Kitwe.

• Ain
• Bon
• Cat the Monday
• Dbetween the city only

Choose the correct preposition. The English paper begins ______ 08:00 on Tuesday.

• Ain
• Bon
• Cat
• Dduring the clock

Choose the correct preposition. Please put the composition books ______ the teacher's table.

• Ain Tuesday
• Bat Lusaka
• Cbetween
• Don

Choose the correct pronoun. The head teacher and ______ will welcome the visitors.

• Ame
• BI
• Cmyselfs
• Dthem I

Choose the pronoun that refers back to the girls correctly. The girls finished ______ compositions before break.

• Atheir
• Bher
• Cits
• Dtheirs books

Change the sentence into the passive voice. The dog bit Mary.

• AMary bit the dog.
• BThe dog was biting Mary by herself.
• CMary was bitten by the dog.
• DMary is biting the dog.

Which sentence is in the active voice?

• AThe farmers harvested the maize.
• BThe maize was harvested by the farmers.
• CThe letters were posted yesterday.
• DThe notice has been written by the prefect.

Choose the correct passive form in the present. People speak English in this classroom.

• AEnglish is speaking people in this classroom.
• BEnglish spoken this classroom by people.
• CThis classroom are speak English.
• DEnglish is spoken in this classroom.