Sample end of year examination paper 3 Paper 3: Written (comprehension and language)
Instructions to learners: 1. Read all the instructions carefully. 2. Answer all the questions.
Section A: Reading comprehension
What is the bubonic plague? Have you ever heard of the bubonic plague? It is a disease that made a lot of people in medieval times very ill and they died.
While the 21st century has its contagious diseases that we fear, like HIV/AIDS, history’s worst disease
remains the bubonic plague – also known as the Black Death. Centuries ago, it killed some 50 million people in Africa, Asia and medieval Europe. More than a quarter of the population in Europe died of this disease.
People used to think that rats and mice caused the disease. Later they found out that it was actually the fleas on the rats and mice that spread the plague. The plague fleas move from mammal to mammal and are found in many parts of the world. They infect people when they bite them. If the infection is not treated, it can kill you. Antibiotics are very effective. An infected person has to be treated very quickly after they are infected and must receive good medical care.
The disease was spread in places where there was poverty and rats. It’s not ancient history, however. We know that 1 000 to 3 000 people are still infected by this disease each year. Places like India, Southern Africa, South America and the United States of America still suffer. In the United States of America, there are still about 20 cases of the bubonic plague per year.
It is best to stay away from the rats!
____________________________________________________________________________________ Write answers for the following questions: 1. The bubonic plague is also called by another name. What is it?
2. The text says the disease killed some 50 million people. What does the word some mean? 3. Why would people be afraid of contagious diseases?
4. The writer says it is not ancient history. What does he mean by this? 5. Give any five facts that you can find in paragraph four of this text. 6. What causes the disease? How does it spread?
7. What happens in the United States of America every year?
8. Say whether the sentence below is True or False. Give a reason for your answer. The plague flea can only be found in one place in the world.
9. Say in one sentence how, and with what, the disease must be treated. 10. Why do you think the writer says it is best to stay away from rats?
11. List the following sentences in the right order as it is explained in the text. Write down only the letter A, B or C in the correct order. A People should stay away from rats. B
Centuries ago millions of people were killed. C Today we use medicine to treat the bubonic plague. (3)
© Oxford University Press Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd. This page may be reproduced for use in the purchaser’s institution only. 187
(1) (1) (2) (2) (5) (2) (2)
(2) (2) (2)
[40 marks]
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38
