Dr.

Haddis Alemayehu GENERAL SECONDARY SCHOOL SECOND SEMESTER ENGLISH MODEL EXAM FOR
GRADE 12, 2023/2024 (2016) ACADEMIC YEAR. Time allowed: 60’
NAME ________________________________________________GRADE12 ___ NO ______
I. Directions: Read the passage carefully and choose the correct answer for each question
according to the information given in the passage.
Corona viruses are named for their spikes, which look similar to a crown or the sun’s corona, that are part
of their membranes. They can infect both animals and people, and can cause illnesses of the respiratory
system. Most respiratory viruses are transmitted through coughing and sneezing.
Chinese researchers identified a new coronavirus as the pathogen behind the mysterious illness that
sickened many people in Wuhan. The cases were linked to a market that sold live fish, animals and birds.
The market was later shut down and disinfected. Bats are considered a possible source, because they have
evolved to coexist with many viruses, including coronaviruses. Symptoms of this virus include fever,
severe cough and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. The illness damages the lung and causes
pneumonia.
Chinese scientists have warned that some infected people may transmit the virus to others even before
they develop illness or experience any symptoms. If people with no symptoms at all or mild symptoms
unrelated to respiratory illness — like headache or backache — can transmit the virus, that’s ―bad news,
said Dr. William Schaffner, an expert in infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center,
according to the New York Times.
Wearing a mask and gloves helps protect you and the people around you from illness by reducing the risk
that the infection will spread. Wearing a mask may protect you from infection in a crowd if there is an
outbreak. Wearing gloves may protect you from contaminated surfaces. Failure to take precautions
against the virus can lead to an exponential increase in the infection and deaths rates.
(Source: the New York Times)
1. According to paragraph two, the cause of corona viruses were not linked to:
A. sold live fish B. people themselves C. Animals and birds D. bats
2. The word protect paragraph 4 line-2 has similar meaning with ____________.
A. keep B. infect C. spread D. damage
3. Contaminated surface in paragraph-4 line -3 has synonym with _______ .
A. washed B. thought C. polluted D. continued
4. “They” can infect both animals and people… in paragraph one line -2 refers to ______
A. their spikes B. Coronaviruses C. Chinese researchers D. people
5. What does “They” paragraph two line-3- refer to:
A. many people B. birds C. bats D. viruses
II. Vocabulary. DIRECTIONS: The following are incomplete sentences. There are four
alternative words/phrases, A-D, given below each question.
6. My sister stayed behind to___________ our aging grandmother.
A. take after B. come after C. run after D. look after
7. Kidist is probably the most industrious student I have ever encountered. I am very impressed with
her tireless effort and her love for work. The meaning of the underlined word
A. Modern B. wasteful C. Busy D. hard-working

8. It was all tiring, but we had no other option. I really hate such_______________ tasks.
A. exhausting B. uninspiring C. boring D. demanding
9. There is a lot of __________________ in the document she typed yesterday. You will need to
proofread it.
A. unaccuracy B. misaccuracy C. inaccuracy D. unaccurateness
Dr. Haddis Alemayehu GENERAL SECONDARY SCHOOL SECOND SEMESTER ENGLISH MODEL EXAM FOR
GRADE 12, 2023/2024 (2016) ACADEMIC YEAR. Time allowed: 60’
NAME ________________________________________________GRADE12 ___ NO ______
10. We were all ________ for the end of this misunderstanding; after all, they were intimate friends.
A. nervous B. ambitious C. anxious D. jealous
11. I don’t think I am very _____ but I’m not all that bad-looking either.
A. plain B. pretty C. serious D. modest
III. Directions: The following questions are related to different aspects of writing. Read each
very carefully and write the letter of your answer in the separate answer sheet provided.
12. The most appropriate closing to a letter you send to a manager whom you know his name would be:
A. Yours faithfully, B. Sincerely yours, C. Truly yours, D. Good bye,
13. ”I look forward to hearing from you.” Which part of a letter does this line go in?
A. Body B. Closing C. Salutation D. Introduction
14. “ It was great to hear from you after such a long silence.” This is likely taken from the beginning of a:
A. formal letter B. letter to a boss C. friendly letter D. business letter
15. “I am writing in response to your advertisement of 23 April 2014 in the post of project …” Which
part of a letter does this line go in?
A. Salutation B. Introduction C. Body D. Closing
16. Which one of the following words is correctly spelt?
A. enthusiastice B. passionat C. frustrated D. inspiared
17. The most appropriate closing for a letter to your old collage mate is:
A. Sincerely B. Truly yours C. Bye for now D. Faithful yours

IV. Grammar: Read each of them very carefully and choose the best answer from the four
alternatives answers A-D given.
18. As soon as the witness had given his word to the detective, he-----to leave the room.
A. had been allowed B. was allowed C. has been allowed D. allowed
19. He wishes he _______ a lot of money; he thinks that would make his life more interesting.
A. Had B. has had C. will have D. had had
20. If the weather was fine, we --------------early and go for a swim.
A. would all get up B. will all get up C. would all have got up D. all get up
21. The manager employed an accountant_______ he could control its overall income.
A. so as B. so C. however D. so that
22. The staff is working at weekends _____________complete the project in time.
A. so as to B. so that C. for D. in order
23. All my friends wanted coffee, so I ________ them some.
A. will make B. make C. could make D. made
24. My sister ________________ me a parcel two weeks ago, but I received it only yesterday.
A.sent B. had sent C. has sent D. had been sent
25. I have been trying to give up smoking for years now: I wish I ____ in the first place.
A. never started C. have never started
B. had never started D. was never starting
26. I don’t think I’ll need a hand. I am sure I ___ manage to get it upstairs.
A. will B. can C. may D. must
27. When was this school ____________________?
a. founded b. found c. been founded d. been found
Dr. Haddis Alemayehu GENERAL SECONDARY SCHOOL SECOND SEMESTER ENGLISH MODEL EXAM FOR
GRADE 12, 2023/2024 (2016) ACADEMIC YEAR. Time allowed: 60’
NAME ________________________________________________GRADE12 ___ NO ______
28. X: Is the headmaster in his office now?
Y: I don’t know. He _________________ but I’m not sure.
A. must be there B. might be there C. will be there D. ought to be there
29. The news was a bad shock to Kedija, but I hope she will get ____it very soon.
A. off B. over C. to D. on
30. The only reason why I use an old cellphone is because I can't afford ____ these new smart phones.
A. to buy B. for buying C. buying D. to buying
31. If you had that much money, you _____it all on trifles.
A. will waste B. would waste C. will have wasted D. would have wasted
32. It rained heavily last week._______ Most of the farm lands were washed away by the flood.
A. Although B. because C. consequently D. while
33. ------------ her tireless effort to succeed in life, she still leads her life miserably.
A. Although B. despite C. however D. in spite of the fact that
34. Which one of the following sentences has no sentence error?
A. When she sang, the pretty girl in the choir.
B. Blew off the tree because of the wind.
C. The children on the ride screamed loudly they hurt my ears.
D. Don’t run in the house; it’s too dangerous.
35. What kind of sentence error has the following sentence?
“The child asked for his mother crying”
A. fragment B. misplaced participle C. run-on sentence D. subject verb disagreement
36. dictionary : definition :: ___________ : map
A. direction B. south C. atlas D. longitude
37.__________ : king :: bench : Judge

A. throne B. queen C. court D. knight

38. receipt : _________ :: license : marriage

A. money B. store C. purchase D. husband

39. Doctor : Hospital ::

A. Sports fan : stadium C. Criminal : Jail

B. Cow : farm D. Professor : college

40. DEMOCRACY : GOVERNMETN

A. master:: slave C. sonnet: poem

B. storm : blizzard D. tribe: family

Dr. Haddis Alemayehu GENERAL SECONDARY SCHOOL SECOND SEMESTER ENGLISH MODEL EXAM FOR
GRADE 12, 2023/2024 (2016) ACADEMIC YEAR. Time allowed: 60’
NAME ________________________________________________GRADE12 ___ NO ______

Answer sheet
Name___________________________________________ Grade and Section_________ roll no______

1. ____ 15. ____ 29. ____

2. ____ 16. ____ 30. ____
3. ____ 17. ____ 31. ____
4. ____ 18. ____ 32. ____
5. ____ 19. ____ 33. ____
6. ____ 20. ____ 34. ____
7. ____ 21. ____ 35. ____
8. ____ 22. ____ 36. ____
9. ____ 23. ____ 37. ____
10. ____ 24. ____ 38. ____
11. ____ 25. ____ 39. ____
12. ____ 26. ____ 40. ____
13. ____ 27. ____
14. ____ 28. ____