QUESTION 1: STRUCTURE [20 MARKS]
There are two sections under this question. Answer both Section 1 and Section 2.
Section 1: Vocabulary (10 marks)
From the given four options, choose the one that completes the sentence correctly. [½ mark each]
1 Mr. Musonda is adept …………… repairing bicycles. (at, to, on, by) [½]
Answer: Mr. Musonda is adept at repairing bicycles. adept at + doing something.
2 They went on a five-kilometre hike …………… the forest. (along, between, over, through) [½]
Answer: They went on a five-kilometre hike through the forest. Movement inside something from one side to the other.
3 Nelly sat …………… Masela during the lecture. (before, beside, aside, besides) [½]
Answer: Nelly sat beside Masela during the lecture. Beside means next to; besides means in addition to.
4 After lifting the trophy, they celebrated their moment …………… glory. (for, in, of, with) [½]
Answer: After lifting the trophy, they celebrated their moment of glory. Fixed phrase: a moment of glory.
5 The Minister arrived for the ground-breaking ceremony for the newly constructed school hall …………… exactly 08 00 hours. (to, at, in, on) [½]
Answer: The Minister arrived for the ground-breaking ceremony for the newly constructed school hall at exactly 08 00 hours. Use at with clock times.
6 There is some reluctance …………… the part of learners. (about, from, on, with) [½]
Answer: There is some reluctance on the part of learners. Fixed phrase: on the part of.
7 The students were urged to abide …………… the university regulations. (by, on, to, with) [½]
Answer: The students were urged to abide by the university regulations. Abide by means obey.
8 She dotes …………… her youngest daughter. (at, in, on, with) [½]
Answer: She dotes on her youngest daughter. Dote on means love very much.
9 Mutinta climbed …………… the roof to take photos of the king. (across, at, on, onto) [½]
Answer: Mutinta climbed onto the roof to take photos of the king. Movement to a position on top of something.
10 The team failed to progress …………… the semi-final stage of the Olympic Games. (across, beyond, on, over) [½]
Answer: The team failed to progress beyond the semi-final stage of the Olympic Games. Further than a point or stage.
11 From the top of the mountain, we could see the river winding …………… the valley far away. (in, off, through, up) [½]
Answer: From the top of the mountain, we could see the river winding through the valley far away.
12 The head teacher meted …………… a severe punishment to the learners who were caught cheating in the examination. (at, down, out, over) [½]
Answer: The head teacher meted out a severe punishment to the learners who were caught cheating in the examination. Mete out means give a punishment.
13 Mulima could not decide …………… the red dress and the blue one for the party. (among, between, from, on) [½]
Answer: Mulima could not decide between the red dress and the blue one for the party. Between for two choices; among for more than two.
14 Zelipa completed the marathon …………… four hours, setting a new personal record. (afterwards, from, into, within) [½]
Answer: Zelipa completed the marathon within four hours, setting a new personal record. Inside a time limit.
15 The hospital is …………… our school, making it convenient for emergencies. (close, nearly, near, on) [½]
Answer: The hospital is near our school, making it convenient for emergencies. Near needs no extra word; close would need to.
16 Mwanaumo remained calm and composed …………… the interview process. (inwards, in, on, throughout) [½]
Answer: Mwanaumo remained calm and composed throughout the interview process. From start to finish.
17 The teacher left …………… Chavuma yesterday. (to, for, into, towards) [½]
Answer: The teacher left for Chavuma yesterday. Leave for a destination.
18 He felt much better …………… taking the medicine. (after, at, upon, off) [½]
Answer: He felt much better after taking the medicine.
19 Interviews were conducted …………… the officers in order to obtain information from the witnesses. (among, by, from, with) [½]
Answer: Interviews were conducted by the officers in order to obtain information from the witnesses. By introduces the doer in a passive sentence.
20 Any form of misbehaviour is frowned …………… in this school. (by, with, upon, to) [½]
Answer: Any form of misbehaviour is frowned upon in this school. Frown upon means disapprove of.
Section 2: Transformations (10 marks)
Complete Sentence B so that it means the same as Sentence A (1 mark each).
-
A: However hungry my uncle was, he did not eat anything.
B: Hungry as my uncle was, he did not eat anything. (adjective + as + subject + verb = “although”) -
A: It was reported that they had not renewed their trading licences.
B: They were reported not to have renewed their trading licences. (the earlier action becomes “to have + past participle”) -
A: I would rather keep quiet than chat with you.
B: I prefer keeping quiet to chatting with you. (prefer + -ing … to + -ing) -
A: He won’t be released if he doesn’t pay the fine.
B: Unless he pays the fine, he won’t be released. (unless = if … not, so the verb becomes positive) -
A: The prisoners had not at any time been subjected to inhuman treatment.
B: At no time had the prisoners been subjected to inhuman treatment. (negative opening → inverted word order) -
A: The children are eating pumpkins.
B: Pumpkins are being eaten by the children. (present continuous passive: are being + past participle) -
A: Somebody has stolen my apple. (add a question tag)
B: Somebody has stolen my apple, haven’t they? (somebody takes “they” in a tag; positive statement → negative tag) -
A: Grace was too tired to cook the evening meal.
B: So tired was Grace that she could not cook the evening meal. (so + adjective at the start → inversion; “too … to” becomes “so … that … could not”) -
A: Kalunga and his friends have already submitted their application letters.
B: Kalunga, together with his friends, has already submitted their application letters. (“together with” does not make the subject plural, so the verb is singular: has) -
A: “I will have completed this course by July next year,” said Chembo.
B: Chembo said that he would have completed that course by July the following year. (reported speech: will → would, this → that, next year → the following year)
QUESTION 2: COMPREHENSION [20 MARKS]
The passage, Aflatoxins: Unpacking the Mystery (adapted from the Zambia Daily Mail, 30 August 2024), explains what aflatoxins are, why developing countries are most at risk, how they affect health, and how they can be controlled.
1 According to Paragraph 1, aflatoxins affect …
A crops only
B feed and food
C non-crop food
D one type of food
Answer: B. The passage opens: “Aflatoxins are food and feed contaminants.” Feed is food for animals.
2 Paragraph 2: we can conclude that people in developing countries …
A are never contaminated
B are rarely poisoned
C only eat groundnuts and maize
D rely more on groundnuts and maize
Answer: D. They are at greatest risk “given their dependence on commodities like groundnuts and maize as their staple food”. C is too strong: “only” is not stated.
3 Paragraph 3: what may affect the level of aflatoxin contamination in food?
A drought only
B humidity only
C lots of factors
D temperature only
Answer: C. “Many factors, such as climate change, may affect the level …” The word only makes A, B and D wrong, as the passage names several factors.
4 What other word is used in the passage to refer to aflatoxins?
A cancer
B fungi
C moisture
D risk
Answer: B (fungi). Paragraphs 3 and 6 refer to the aflatoxins growing on farm produce as “fungi”.
5 Paragraph 4: aflatoxins can get into the human body through the …
A eyes and ears
B head and feet
C mouth and nose
D skin and nails
Answer: C. Toxicity occurs when aflatoxins are “either ingested or inhaled”: swallowed through the mouth or breathed in through the nose.
6 Paragraph 4: a child with long-term exposure to aflatoxins may experience …
A abdominal pains only
B nausea and vomiting
C painful convulsions
D stunted growth
Answer: D. Long-term exposure causes “impaired growth and development in children”. A, B and C are symptoms of short-term (acute) poisoning.
7 According to Paragraph 5, to control aflatoxins one should first …
A create room for control
B enhance surveillance
C find out the levels of aflatoxins
D minimise the risk
Answer: C. “The initial step is to test for levels of aflatoxins.” Surveillance and control are what this step leads to.
8 Paragraph 6: what is crucial in preventing high levels of aflatoxins?
A drying and storage of the harvested crops
B good temperature and harvesting
C harvesting and storage
D prevention and control
Answer: A. “Drying agricultural produce after harvesting and storage are key.”
9 Paragraph 8: spreading wrong information can …
A discourage those affected from looking for medical treatment
B encourage them to seek attention promptly
C make others seek therapy with caution
D prevent further toxicity
Answer: A. Wrong information “could prevent others from seeking medical attention”.
10 Find one underlined word in the passage that means the same as: (i) identified the presence or existence, (ii) likely to be harmed, (iii) with various parts or aspects, (iv) close observation. [2]
(i) detected · (ii) susceptible · (iii) integrated · (iv) surveillance
Spell each word exactly as it appears in the passage: a misspelt word scores nothing.
QUESTION 3: SUMMARY [20 MARKS]
The passage Body Piercing describes extreme piercing of the lips, nose, tongue, navel and other body parts, why young people do it, and the risks. In not more than 130 words, sum up the negative consequences of body piercing. The summary has been started for you: “Body piercing has a number of negative consequences.”
Step 1: list the points
Only negative consequences count. Reasons why people get pierced (fashion, independence, self-respect) and background facts (where piercing is traditional) are not consequences, so leave them out.
- Lip piercing causes difficulty in breathing, chewing and swallowing.
- Infections may arise.
- Unsterile equipment can transmit hepatitis, AIDS, tuberculosis and tetanus.
- Navel piercings are irritated by clothing.
- Piercing the cartilage of the nose or ears is more dangerous than piercing an earlobe.
- Mouth piercing can cause choking on swallowed jewellery, numbness and loss of taste.
- It can cause prolonged bleeding and chipped or fractured teeth.
- Salivary flow increases and drooling becomes hard to control.
- Gums get injured and speech is impeded.
- Ugly scarring and allergic reactions occur.
- Visible piercings can cost people jobs that involve meeting customers.
- Scar tissue in girls’ breasts can block milk ducts, preventing breastfeeding later.
Step 2: write in connected prose
Body piercing has a number of negative consequences. Piercing the lips causes difficulties in breathing, chewing and swallowing. Infections may arise, and unsterile equipment can transmit deadly diseases such as hepatitis, AIDS, tuberculosis and tetanus. Navel piercing gets irritated by clothing. Piercing the cartilage of the nose or ears is more dangerous than piercing an earlobe. When the mouth is pierced, one may choke on swallowed jewellery and suffer numbness, loss of taste, prolonged bleeding and chipped or fractured teeth. Salivary flow increases, making drooling hard to control, while gums get injured and speech is impeded. Ugly scarring and allergic reactions to jewellery occur. Some employers ban visible piercings, limiting job opportunities. Scar tissue in young girls’ breasts can block milk ducts, making it impossible to breastfeed in future.
(129 words, including the given opening)
Where marks are lost: going over 130 words, copying whole sentences from the passage, or including the reasons for piercing. Count your words before you finish, and use your own linking words to join the points.
Keep practising
Try another paper under timed conditions, then check your work against the solutions.