Secondary Two First Term Mid-term Test Paper (1)
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Subject: ______
Name: ______Class: ______
Date: ______Score: ______/ 100
Part 1 Reading Comprehension (Total: 20 marks)
Pokemon
The word Pokemon means ‘pocket monsters’. The Pokemon series was created by Satoshi Tajiri, a Japanese designer. It first came onto the market as a video game. The game’s goal is to defeat as many monsters as possible. There are many different types of Pokemon – over 250 in total! Each Pokemon has its own character and distinctive look. Only two Pokemon speak English. The most popular Pokemon is Pikachu – an adorable yellow creature with big black eyes. One interesting fact about Pokemon is that they never die – they just faint.
Satoshi got the nickname ‘Dr Bug’ because he loved to collect insects when he was a child. As a boy, he often wandered around the rice fields and rivers to look for insects. Driven by this love, he created the Pokemon series. Each pocket monster is designed to look like an insect, a bird or a water creature. Satoshi once said that he hoped children would have as much fun collecting the pocket monsters as he had collecting insects.
Satoshi is an excellent video game player. In 1978, he started playing Space Invaders, one of the earliest video games. He was 12 then. Addicted to the games, he spent most of that year at video game arcades. By 1982, he had become such an expert that he began publishing his own magazine called Game Freak. This led to his next career move – designing his own video games. Satoshi said that he first thought of making his own games when he became bored with the existing ones on the market. Some time later, he created the Pokemon game. It was released for sale in 1996.
According to Satoshi, all the monsters’ names have special meanings. Take Pikachu for example. In Japanese, Pika is the sound of an electric spark and chu is the sound made by a mouse. When you put the two together, the name suggests an electric mouse! This rule applies to all the other monsters as well. In other words, you can always get a rough idea about a monster’s appearance or character from its name.
A Choose the correct answers. (6 marks, 2 marks each)
1. According to paragraph 1, which of the following statements are TRUE?
i. The Pokemon series was created by a Japanese designer.
ii. The Pokemon first appeared in comic books.
iii. There are over 200 types of Pokemon.
iv. Some types of Pokemon are identical.
v. Most Pokemon do not speak English.
A. i, ii, iii
B. i, iii, v
C. ii, iii, iv
D. iii, iv, v □
2. In which section of a newspaper would you find this article?
A. Sports
B. Technology
C. Business
D. Feature □
3. Look at the word ‘wandered’ in line 9. Now look at the dictionary entry for ‘wander’ below. Which meaning corresponds to the meaning in line 9? Write the correct number in the box provided.
□
B Answer the following questions in complete sentences. (8 marks, 2 marks each)
4. Why did Satoshi get the nickname Dr Bug?
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5. What forms do pocket monsters take?
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6. What special meaning does the name Pikachu have?
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7. What kind of information can you get from the name of a pocket monster?
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C Complete the notes below based on the information given in paragraph 3.
(6 marks, 2 marks each)
Satoshi started playing Space Invaders.8.
9.
10.
The Pokeman game was released for sale.
Part 2 Grammar & Usage (Total: 80 marks)
D Benny is having a job interview at News Agency. Fill in the blanks with the connectives while or when. (20 marks, 2 marks each)
Benny: Good morning, Mr Lau.
Manager: Good morning. Please take a seat.
Benny: Thank you.
Manager: Can you tell me what your major was 1. ______you studied at the University of Hong Kong?
Benny: I was an English major 2. ______I was studying at the University of Hong Kong.
Manager: What was your job responsibility 3. ______you were working as an editor in the ABC publishing company?
Benny: I was responsible for editing the textbooks for primary school students. I felt a sense of satisfaction 4. ______the books were published.
Manager: I see. Can you tell me why you are interested in this job?
Benny: 5. ______I saw the advertisement in the newspaper, I decided to apply for the job because I realised it is challenging. I want to use what I have learnt at school in the media field.
Manager: It’s going to be a tough job. You have to work outdoors even 6. ______the Typhoon Signal No. 8 is hoisted.
Benny: I understand and I don’t mind working outdoors.
Manager: How is your language ability? What languages do you know?
Benny: I am fluent in English and Cantonese. I started learning to speak Mandarin 7. ______I was small.
Manager: Very well. What do you do 8. ______you have any free time?
Benny: I like to listen to music 9. ______reading novels.
Manager: Mr Lee, thank you for coming to the interview. We shall contact you 10. ______we have made the decision.
Benny: Thank you. Goodbye.
E Some of the underlined words in the passage are wrong. Correct them. Put a tick ( Ö ) in the space if there is no mistake. The first two have been done for you as examples. (20 marks, 2 marks each)
Kit and John are brothers. Kit is 2 years 1. older than John. However, John is taller and 2. heavy than Kit. Sometimes, people may think that John is the elder brother of Kit. John is a hardworking student, he works 3. hardest than Kit. John spends a 4. long time reading and studying, while Kit spends more time surfing the net. Kit is an excellent sportsman. He ran 5. fast than his fellow students at Sports Day and won a gold medal, even though he has spent the 6. shortest time training. In school, Kit is 7. popularer than John.Last week, Kit and John joined a 8. sing competition at school. John has a 9. beautifuler voice and he sings
10. good than Kit. John was the ultimate winner of the competition. The judges thought that John was the 11. more skilful singer among the 12. competitor. He won a lot of applause from the audience as well. / 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12. / Ö
heavier
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F Fill in the blanks using the verbs in the table below. You may need to change the form of the verbs when necessary. (20 marks, 2 marks each)
establish / work / be / write / canlive / invent / sing / move / decide
1. We ______in this company for two years already.
2. Katy and David ______classmates when they were in primary school.
3. The foundation ______five years ago to help children of poor families.
4. In the 1950s, many people ______to Hong Kong from China.
5. When Ryan was in London, he ______me a letter every day.
6. May ______to go to the ceremony at the last minute.
7. Humans ______not reach the moon a hundred years ago.
8. Justin ______three songs in the singing contest last night.
9. My dad ______in Vancouver when he was young.
10. Thomas Edison ______the first light bulb in 1882.
G Join the following sentences with and or but. You may need to use appropriate pronouns. (20 marks, 2 marks each)
1. Mason is smart. Mason is sporty.
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2. I have known Peggy for ten years. I do not know Peggy well.
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3. Ivy is good at English. Ivy is weak in Mathematics.
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4. Gordon has no time to play with us now. He can join us later.
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5. Miss Shaw loves literature. Miss Shaw hates physics.
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6. Patrick is only twenty. Patrick has worked for five years.
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7. Joyce has been to Britain. Joyce has been to Spain. Joyce has been to France.
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8. Hong Kong is famous for shopping. Hong Kong is notorious for pollution.
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9. I cannot call you now. I’ll call you tonight.
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10. Sharon knows me. I do not know Sharon.
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Answers
Part 1
A
1. B
2. D
3. 1
B
4. He loved to collect insects when he was young.
5. They look like an insect, a bird or a water creature
6. The name suggests an electric mouse.
7. I can get a rough idea of a pocket monster’s appearance or character.
C
8. Satoshi spent most of the time at video game arcades.
9. He began publishing his own magazine called Game Freak.
10. He created the Pokemon game.
Part 2
D
1. when
2. while
3. while
4. when
5. When
6. when
7. when
8. when
9. while
10. when
E
3. harder
4. longer
5. faster
6. Ö
7. more popular
8. singing
9. more beautiful
10. better
11. most
12. competitors
F
1. have worked
2. were
3. was established
4. moved
5. wrote
6. decided
7. could
8. sang
9. lived
10. invented
G
1. Mason is smart and sporty.
2. I have known Peggy for ten years but I do not know her well.
3. Ivy is good at English but weak in Mathematics.
4. Gordon has no time to play with us now but he can join us later.
5. Miss Shaw loves literature but (she) hates physics.
6. Patrick is only twenty but he has worked for five years.
7. Joyce has been to Britain, Spain and France.
8. Hong Kong is famous for shopping but notorious for pollution.
9. I cannot call you now but I’ll call you tonight.
10. Sharon knows me but I do not know her.
6
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© Aristo Educational Press Ltd. 2008