Ekurhuleni North

NOVEMBER EXAMINATION
10 November 2017

GRADE 8 DISTRICT COMMON EXAMINATION

SUBJECT : ENGLISH FAL

PAPER 2

TASK : DISTRICT COMMON EXAMINATION

TIME : 2 HOURS

MARKS : 70

This assessment task consists of 8 pages

THIS ASSESSMENT TASK CONSISTS OF 9 PAGES

Grade 08 English First Additional Language 1|Page

 This examination paper consists of 4 Sections:

Section A: Question 1: Reading comprehension (20)

Section B: Question 2: Visual literacy (10)

Section C: Question 3: Language in context (20)

Section D: Question 4: Response to literature (20)

(to be set by schools)

TOTAL: (70)
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. This is NOT a fill-in test. Separate lined paper will be given to you to write your answers
on.

2. At multiple choice questions, write only the number of the question and your answer e.g.
1.4 – A.

3. Answer all the questions.

4. Write neatly and legibly.

5. Number your answers exactly as on the question paper.

6. Answer in your own words unless specifically asked to quote.

7. Good Luck!

Grade 08 English First Additional Language 2|Page

SECTION A: READING COMPREHENSION

Read through the passage and then answer all the questions on the paper provided.
TEXT A

The magic of words and books

1. “The first time I saw it, it was like some unreachable,
forbidden treasure. I was only 9 years old, standing in front
of the fiction shelf at a bookstore, and the cover of Stephen
King’s novel, Misery, whispered to me from the shelves.To
my great surprise, my parents picked it up and took it to
the cashier to buy it for me. And I was hooked. Not just on
King, but on the never-ending universe of books. When the
cashier handed me that paperback, my first novel, it was
like being handed a prize.”
2. Today, Douglas Kruger works as an author and speaker,
and it is the best of all worlds. “I get to write stories about
the highest levels of human thinking, and then I get to walk
onto a stage and share those stories with audiences. I
learned to type when I was still at school, which means that I can now set down my
thoughts almost as quickly as I can speak.”

3. I have written seven business books to date, and they have opened doors for me in ways
that I could never have imagined. I have been invited to speak at conferences all around
the world, including places as far off as South East Asia, and from time to time, I even
get to appear on TV, talking about my books, all because of the magic of words …

4. All because of the magical world of reading and writing. Oh, and I read everything!
Beside my bed, you will still find novels by Stephen King, but alongside them, you will
also find true histories of ancient populations, humorous columns by car expert Jeremy
Clarkson, comic books, books on space exploration and books on bodybuilding.

5. The answers to everything are available in books. Any problem you have ever worried
about, any topic you’ve ever been interested in, the information is cleverly hidden
between the pages of books. You need only have the courage to go exploring. Take
your brain on a journey from which it will return completely altered, and, certainly, much
richer.

6. I work very hard to ensure that my books are not dry, stuffy textbooks. They are always
packed with stories, loaded with humour and stuffed with emotion and ideas. I like to
help people to dream about how much more they could achieve.

7. And for me, it all started one memorable day, when my parents unexpectedly said, ‘yes’,
and handed me a surprising gift.”
Adapted from: The Power of Print, issue 12. Oct 2017

Grade 08 English First Additional Language 3|Page

 1.1 “The first time I saw it, it was like some unreachable, forbidden treasure.” (1)
The word it in the sentence above refers to a …
A) bookstore
B) treasure
C) book
D) king

1.2 The fiction shelf in a bookstore contains books that deal with … (1)
A) history.
B) facts.
C) imagination.
D) humour.

1.3 Douglas Kruger says that the horror novel, Misery, whispered to him from (1)
the shelves. This is an example of the figure of speech called …
A) alliteration.
B) personification.
C) onomatopoeia.
D) metaphor.

1.4 Quote FOUR consecutive words to prove that the author did not expect his (1)
parents to buy him the Stephen King novel.

1.5 In your own words, explain what the author means by “… the never-ending (1)
universe” of books.

1.6 Which school subject would have taught Douglas the skill he needed to (1)
write his books?
A) English
B) Accounting
C) Hospitality Studies
D) Computer Application Technology

1.7 Complete the following sentence by adding a noun of your own. (1)
Write down only the correct word.

The underlined expression in the sentence “…they’ve opened doors for me

in ways that I could never have imagined” means that Douglas feels that his
writing has given him _____________ that he never thought possible.

1.8 Which ONE word in paragraph 4 tells you that like Douglas Kruger, Jeremy (1)
Clarkson is also a master in his field of study?

1.9 Douglas has six types of books on his bedside table. What does this tell (1)
you about him, apart from the fact that he reads a lot?

1.10 Give the antonym of the word motivate by adding a prefix. Write down (1)
only the correct word.

1.11 In your own words, explain what you think Douglas Walker’s purpose is (2)
when writing books.

Grade 08 English First Additional Language 4|Page

 1.12 Do you agree with Douglas that the answers to everything are available in (1)
books? Motivate your answer.

1.13 Considering the passage, do you think a book is a good gift to give to a (2)
teenager? Explain your answer. [15]

TEXT B

1.14 List the TWO social media platforms where you can find this company. (2)

1.15 How would you contact the company to place an order if you don’t have (1)
access to the internet?

1.16 Would you be able to order the printed mugs for six members of your family (2)
(1 mug per person) from this company as gifts? Motivate your answer.
[5]

TOTAL SECTION A: [20]

Grade 08 English First Additional Language 5|Page

SECTION B: VISUAL LITERACY

QUESTION 2

Study the following comic strip and then answer the questions based on it:

TEXT C

FRAME 1 FRAME 2 FRAME 3 FRAME 4

FRAME 5 FRAME 6 FRAME 7 FRAME 8

WWW.GOCOMICS.COM
Note: Calvin is the man and the woman’s son and Hobbes is the tiger toy.

2.1 Which two visual clues does the artist use to show that this takes place at (2)
night?

2.2 What are Calvin’s parents looking for? (1)

Refer to frame 3 and 4

2.3 How do you know that Calvin’s mother is shouting in frame 3? (2)

2.4 Why does Calvin’s father say that his mother is crazy? (1)

Refer to frame 5

2.5 Quote TWO words to show that Calvin’s father was up for most of the night. (1)
Grade 08 English First Additional Language 6|Page
 Refer to frame 7
2.6 (1)
Write the word C’mon out in full.

Refer to frame 8
2.7 (1)
How does the artist show that Calvin is sleeping?
2.8 (1)
What is the implication of the father’s answer “Only at night”? [10]

TOTAL SECTION B: 10

SECTION C: LANGUAGE IN CONTEXT

QUESTION 3
Refer to TEXT A - paragraph 2

3.1 Rewrite the following sentence in the singular form. (1)

I get to write stories about the highest levels of human thinking.

3.2 Rewrite the following sentence in the past tense. (1)

I get to walk onto a stage and share those stories with audiences.

3.3 Use the homonym of the underlined word in a good, clear sentence of your (2)
own.
I learnt to type when I was still at school.

Refer to TEXT A - paragraph 3

3.4 Rewrite the following sentence in the passive voice, starting with the (1)
underlined words
I have written seven business books.

3.5 Rewrite the following sentence in the negative form. (1)

I have been invited to speak at conferences all around the world.

3.6 Complete the following paragraph by giving the correct form of the word
in brackets, as instructed below. Write down only the correct word.
At the moment, technology 3.6.1 grow (add a continuous tense verb) and (1)
there is talk of becoming a 3.6.2 paper- (a society without paper – add a (1)
suffix) society as we begin to use tablets, computers and cellphones more.
As you are sitting in 3.6.3 (add a pronoun) classroom now, look around (1)
you and take note 3.6.4 (add a preposition) everything that is available to
you because of paper. Paper is here to stay: from the smallest 3.6.5 book- (1)
(diminutive of book – add a suffix) to novels, magazines and packaging to
protect 3.6.6 value (form an adjective) goods, even toilet paper and (1)
kitchen wipes!
A world without paper would provide information in an 3.6.7 -personal (1)
(form an antonym using a prefix) way.
Grade 08 English First Additional Language 7|Page
 3.7 Study the following cartoon (TEXT D), then answer all the questions

TEXT D

FRAME 1 FRAME 2 FRAME 3 FRAME 4

3.7.1 Change the underlined words in frame 1 into the indirect speech. (6x½ ) (3)
Start your answer with: Calvin told Hobbes that …

3.7.2 Change Hobbes’ (the tiger’s) words in frame 2 into a question by (1)
adding a question tag. Rewrite the entire sentence.

3.7.3 What is the function of the apostrophe in the underlined words (1)
don’t and won’t in frame 2?

3.7.4 Rewrite the tiger’s words in frame 3, adding the correct punctuation (1)
marks.

3.7.5 Complete the following sentence by adding an appropriate adjective (1)

of your own. You may write down only the word.

In frame 3, Calvin and Hobbes are excited when they realise they are
alone for the evening, but when they see the babysitter arriving in
frame 4, their facial expressions show that they are 7.5.1 ________.
[20]

TOTAL SECTION C: [20]

SECTION D: RESPONSE TO LITERATURE

To be set by schools

TOTAL SECTION D: [20]

GRAND TOTAL [70]

Grade 08 English First Additional Language 8|Page