🎯 Mixed G10 + G11 — Mock Paper
Instructions
Answer every task in order. Aim for 1 hour on Tests 1–8, 2 hours on Tests 9–16.
Reveal the model answer only after you've written yours.
Section 1 — People
Task 1 — Match the descriptions to the people (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Six people are described below. Match each description with the
correct person from the box. Write the letter in the space provided. The first
one is done for you.
People:
(a) Mr. Lalith Vitharana — middle-aged, well built, fair, tall, with a thick black moustache, wears a yellow checked shirt.
(b) Mr. Ravi Balan — about thirty, average height, light-skinned, with neat short hair, carries a brown briefcase.
(c) Mrs. Ramya Vitharana — middle-aged, average build, fair, in a green saree with a small red bindi.
(d) Mrs. Madini Balan — young, slim, fair, in a yellow saree, holding a small handbag.
(e) Mr. Mohomad Razik — middle-aged, thin build, with a thick black beard, carrying a brown leather briefcase.
(f) Mrs. Sarojini Silva — old, average build, with wavy grey hair, in a pink saree, wearing glasses and a wristwatch.
Descriptions:
(1) She is the eldest of all and wears glasses. → f (example)
(2) He is the only person with a thick beard. → ...
(3) She is young and slim and is dressed in a yellow saree. → ...
(4) He wears a yellow checked shirt and has a thick moustache. → ...
(5) He has a clean-shaven face and carries a brown briefcase. → ...
(6) She wears a green saree with a small red bindi. → ...
correct person from the box. Write the letter in the space provided. The first
one is done for you.
People:
(a) Mr. Lalith Vitharana — middle-aged, well built, fair, tall, with a thick black moustache, wears a yellow checked shirt.
(b) Mr. Ravi Balan — about thirty, average height, light-skinned, with neat short hair, carries a brown briefcase.
(c) Mrs. Ramya Vitharana — middle-aged, average build, fair, in a green saree with a small red bindi.
(d) Mrs. Madini Balan — young, slim, fair, in a yellow saree, holding a small handbag.
(e) Mr. Mohomad Razik — middle-aged, thin build, with a thick black beard, carrying a brown leather briefcase.
(f) Mrs. Sarojini Silva — old, average build, with wavy grey hair, in a pink saree, wearing glasses and a wristwatch.
Descriptions:
(1) She is the eldest of all and wears glasses. → f (example)
(2) He is the only person with a thick beard. → ...
(3) She is young and slim and is dressed in a yellow saree. → ...
(4) He wears a yellow checked shirt and has a thick moustache. → ...
(5) He has a clean-shaven face and carries a brown briefcase. → ...
(6) She wears a green saree with a small red bindi. → ...
(2) e — Mr. Mohomad Razik (the only one with a beard)
(3) d — Mrs. Madini Balan
(4) a — Mr. Lalith Vitharana
(5) b — Mr. Ravi Balan
(6) c — Mrs. Ramya Vitharana
5 marks (1 each).
(3) d — Mrs. Madini Balan
(4) a — Mr. Lalith Vitharana
(5) b — Mr. Ravi Balan
(6) c — Mrs. Ramya Vitharana
5 marks (1 each).
Task 2 — Underline the correct word (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Underline the correct word in brackets to complete the description.
The first one is done for you.
My uncle (1) (is, are, am) about forty years old. He is tall and
(2) ........... (well-build, well-built, well-builds). He has a (3) ........... (round, rounds,
rounded) face and a (4) ........... (short, shorter, shortly) beard. His hair (5) ...........
(is, are, was) thick and black. He is also very (6) ........... (kind, kindly, kindness)
and never gets angry with us.
The first one is done for you.
My uncle (1) (is, are, am) about forty years old. He is tall and
(2) ........... (well-build, well-built, well-builds). He has a (3) ........... (round, rounds,
rounded) face and a (4) ........... (short, shorter, shortly) beard. His hair (5) ...........
(is, are, was) thick and black. He is also very (6) ........... (kind, kindly, kindness)
and never gets angry with us.
(1) is (example)
(2) well-built
(3) round
(4) short
(5) is
(6) kind
5 marks.
(2) well-built
(3) round
(4) short
(5) is
(6) kind
5 marks.
Task 3 — Picture fill-in (5 marks, ½ × 10)
(5 marks)
Study the picture (a family photograph) and fill in the blanks
using ONE word from the box in each blank. The first one is done for you.
Word box:
fair · tall · curly · beard · saree · son · short · daughter · standing · sitting · suit
This picture shows a family. The father is (1) ...tall... and well built. He has a
thick black (2) ........... . He is wearing a navy-blue (3) ........... . The mother is
(4) ........... and slim, with a green (5) ........... . She has (6) ........... black hair
that just touches her shoulders. She is (7) ........... beside her husband. Their
(8) ........... is about ten years old and wears a school uniform. He is
(9) ........... in the middle. Their (10) ........... is five and has (11) ........... black hair
tied with a red ribbon.
using ONE word from the box in each blank. The first one is done for you.
Word box:
fair · tall · curly · beard · saree · son · short · daughter · standing · sitting · suit
This picture shows a family. The father is (1) ...tall... and well built. He has a
thick black (2) ........... . He is wearing a navy-blue (3) ........... . The mother is
(4) ........... and slim, with a green (5) ........... . She has (6) ........... black hair
that just touches her shoulders. She is (7) ........... beside her husband. Their
(8) ........... is about ten years old and wears a school uniform. He is
(9) ........... in the middle. Their (10) ........... is five and has (11) ........... black hair
tied with a red ribbon.
(2) beard
(3) suit
(4) fair
(5) saree
(6) short
(7) standing
(8) son
(9) sitting
(10) daughter
(11) curly
5 marks (½ × 10).
(3) suit
(4) fair
(5) saree
(6) short
(7) standing
(8) son
(9) sitting
(10) daughter
(11) curly
5 marks (½ × 10).
Task 4 — Reported speech rewriting (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Rashmi and her aunt are talking about a wedding photograph.
Rewrite each statement in reported speech. The first one is done for you.
(1) Rashmi: "This is my mother in the photograph."
→ Rashmi said that <b>that was her mother</b> in the photograph. (example)
(2) Rashmi: "She looks very young."
→ Rashmi said that ...........
(3) Aunt: "She was twenty-two when this was taken."
→ Aunt said that ...........
(4) Rashmi: "Will you tell me more about that day?"
→ Rashmi asked her aunt if ...........
(5) Aunt: "Where is your father in the photograph?"
→ Aunt asked ...........
(6) Rashmi: "He is standing behind grandma."
→ Rashmi said that ...........
Rewrite each statement in reported speech. The first one is done for you.
(1) Rashmi: "This is my mother in the photograph."
→ Rashmi said that <b>that was her mother</b> in the photograph. (example)
(2) Rashmi: "She looks very young."
→ Rashmi said that ...........
(3) Aunt: "She was twenty-two when this was taken."
→ Aunt said that ...........
(4) Rashmi: "Will you tell me more about that day?"
→ Rashmi asked her aunt if ...........
(5) Aunt: "Where is your father in the photograph?"
→ Aunt asked ...........
(6) Rashmi: "He is standing behind grandma."
→ Rashmi said that ...........
(2) ... she looked very young.
(3) ... she had been twenty-two when that was taken.
(4) ... she would tell her more about that day.
(5) ... where her father was in the photograph.
(6) ... he was standing behind grandma.
5 marks.
(3) ... she had been twenty-two when that was taken.
(4) ... she would tell her more about that day.
(5) ... where her father was in the photograph.
(6) ... he was standing behind grandma.
5 marks.
Task 5 — Reading comprehension (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the following text and answer the questions.
My English teacher, Mrs. Perera, has been with our school for fifteen years.
She is about fifty years old, of average height and medium build. She always
wears a saree, usually in light colours. Her hair, which used to be jet black,
now has more than a few grey streaks at the temples. What you notice first
about her, though, are her eyes — large, kind and always smiling.
She is the most patient teacher in our school. When I joined Grade 9 from a
Tamil-medium school, I couldn't construct a single English sentence. Other
teachers might have given up on me, but Mrs. Perera stayed back after class
every Wednesday to read with me. She never raised her voice, not even when I
made the same mistake five times in a row. Today I can write a full essay in
English, and I owe most of it to her.
Of course, she has her own little weakness. She is so kind that she sometimes
forgets to mark students who arrive late, which other teachers say spoils the
discipline. But ask any of us — we love her exactly the way she is.
(1) Roughly how old is Mrs. Perera?
(2) What does the writer notice first about her teacher?
(3) Write the sentence which shows that the teacher is very patient.
(4) Underline the correct answer. The writer joined Grade 9 ...........
(a) from another English-medium school.
(b) from a Tamil-medium school.
(c) without knowing any other language.
(5) What is Mrs. Perera's small weakness?
My English teacher, Mrs. Perera, has been with our school for fifteen years.
She is about fifty years old, of average height and medium build. She always
wears a saree, usually in light colours. Her hair, which used to be jet black,
now has more than a few grey streaks at the temples. What you notice first
about her, though, are her eyes — large, kind and always smiling.
She is the most patient teacher in our school. When I joined Grade 9 from a
Tamil-medium school, I couldn't construct a single English sentence. Other
teachers might have given up on me, but Mrs. Perera stayed back after class
every Wednesday to read with me. She never raised her voice, not even when I
made the same mistake five times in a row. Today I can write a full essay in
English, and I owe most of it to her.
Of course, she has her own little weakness. She is so kind that she sometimes
forgets to mark students who arrive late, which other teachers say spoils the
discipline. But ask any of us — we love her exactly the way she is.
(1) Roughly how old is Mrs. Perera?
(2) What does the writer notice first about her teacher?
(3) Write the sentence which shows that the teacher is very patient.
(4) Underline the correct answer. The writer joined Grade 9 ...........
(a) from another English-medium school.
(b) from a Tamil-medium school.
(c) without knowing any other language.
(5) What is Mrs. Perera's small weakness?
(1) About fifty years old.
(2) Her eyes — large, kind and always smiling.
(3) "She never raised her voice, not even when I made the same mistake five times in a row."
(4) (b) from a Tamil-medium school.
(5) She is so kind that she sometimes forgets to mark students who arrive late.
5 marks.
(2) Her eyes — large, kind and always smiling.
(3) "She never raised her voice, not even when I made the same mistake five times in a row."
(4) (b) from a Tamil-medium school.
(5) She is so kind that she sometimes forgets to mark students who arrive late.
5 marks.
Task 6 — Write a "Found" notice (40–50 words, 5 marks)
(5 marks)
On your way home from school yesterday you found a small white
puppy near the bus stop. Write a notice to be put up on the village notice
board. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• where and when you found the puppy
• a brief description of the puppy
• how the owner can contact you.
puppy near the bus stop. Write a notice to be put up on the village notice
board. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• where and when you found the puppy
• a brief description of the puppy
• how the owner can contact you.
FOUND — SMALL WHITE PUPPY
A small white female puppy was found near the Maharagama bus stop on Monday,
4th December 2026, at about 4.00 p.m. She has a brown patch over the left ear
and was wearing a red ribbon. The owner may contact Tharindu Silva on
071-4823155 to claim her.
— Tharindu Silva, No. 12, Temple Road.
48 words. 5 marks — covers headline, passive verb, exact place + date + time,
description, contact details, signed sign-off.
A small white female puppy was found near the Maharagama bus stop on Monday,
4th December 2026, at about 4.00 p.m. She has a brown patch over the left ear
and was wearing a red ribbon. The owner may contact Tharindu Silva on
071-4823155 to claim her.
— Tharindu Silva, No. 12, Temple Road.
48 words. 5 marks — covers headline, passive verb, exact place + date + time,
description, contact details, signed sign-off.
Task 7 — Free paragraph (50–60 words, 5 marks)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following topics. Use about 50–60
words.
(a) An interesting person I know
(b) My best friend
(c) My class teacher
words.
(a) An interesting person I know
(b) My best friend
(c) My class teacher
MODEL — My class teacher (58 words)
My class teacher is Mr. Fernando. He is in his late forties, of medium height
and average build, with a clean-shaven face and short, well-combed grey hair.
He is patient, friendly and very hard-working. Even when we make the same
mistake again and again, he never loses his temper. I am lucky to be in his
class this year.
5 marks — opens with the person, gives TWO appearance details, TWO qualities,
ONE concrete example of the quality, and a personal closing line.
My class teacher is Mr. Fernando. He is in his late forties, of medium height
and average build, with a clean-shaven face and short, well-combed grey hair.
He is patient, friendly and very hard-working. Even when we make the same
mistake again and again, he never loses his temper. I am lucky to be in his
class this year.
5 marks — opens with the person, gives TWO appearance details, TWO qualities,
ONE concrete example of the quality, and a personal closing line.
Task 8 — Essay / article (200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) An article to the school magazine on 'The person I admire most'.
(b) An essay on 'A famous Sri Lankan personality'.
(c) Write a description of a member of your family. Include:
• appearance (age, height, build, face, hair)
• personality (positive qualities and one small weakness)
• a clear example of one of those qualities
• why this person is important to you.
(a) An article to the school magazine on 'The person I admire most'.
(b) An essay on 'A famous Sri Lankan personality'.
(c) Write a description of a member of your family. Include:
• appearance (age, height, build, face, hair)
• personality (positive qualities and one small weakness)
• a clear example of one of those qualities
• why this person is important to you.
(c) MODEL — A description of my grandmother (212 words)
The person I love most in this world is my grandmother. We call her Achchi, and
she has been the centre of our family for as long as I can remember.
Achchi is seventy-eight years old, but she walks straighter than most middle-
aged people in our lane. She is of medium height and slim build. Her face is
round, with a fair complexion that has only now started to show its years. Her
hair, once jet-black, is now completely silver and is always tied neatly in a
bun. What I love most are her eyes — small, kind, and full of stories.
She is the kindest person I know. Every Poya day she cooks a small extra
parcel of rice for the cleaning lady who passes our house. She is also patient
and hard-working — she still tends her vegetable garden at five in the morning,
in all weather. Like all of us, she has one small weakness: she worries too
much. If I am ten minutes late from school she has already called my mother
three times.
Achchi is my teacher, my friend and my safety net. I hope I grow up to be even
half as kind as she is.
15 marks — opens with a hook (Achchi), covers all four bullets, gives concrete
examples (Poya day rice, 5 a.m. garden, late-from-school call), and closes on
a personal note.
The person I love most in this world is my grandmother. We call her Achchi, and
she has been the centre of our family for as long as I can remember.
Achchi is seventy-eight years old, but she walks straighter than most middle-
aged people in our lane. She is of medium height and slim build. Her face is
round, with a fair complexion that has only now started to show its years. Her
hair, once jet-black, is now completely silver and is always tied neatly in a
bun. What I love most are her eyes — small, kind, and full of stories.
She is the kindest person I know. Every Poya day she cooks a small extra
parcel of rice for the cleaning lady who passes our house. She is also patient
and hard-working — she still tends her vegetable garden at five in the morning,
in all weather. Like all of us, she has one small weakness: she worries too
much. If I am ten minutes late from school she has already called my mother
three times.
Achchi is my teacher, my friend and my safety net. I hope I grow up to be even
half as kind as she is.
15 marks — opens with a hook (Achchi), covers all four bullets, gives concrete
examples (Poya day rice, 5 a.m. garden, late-from-school call), and closes on
a personal note.
Section 2 — On Your Way
Task 1 — Match places to descriptions (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Match each description with the correct place from the box. Write
the correct letter in the blank. The first one is done for you.
Places:
A — Pharmacy B — Post Office C — Police Station D — Bus Stand E — Bank F — Theatre
Descriptions:
(1) Letters and parcels are sent from here. → B (example)
(2) People go here to buy medicine. → ...
(3) Buses leave from this place to different towns. → ...
(4) Plays, films and musical shows are watched here. → ...
(5) Money is saved and loans are taken from here. → ...
(6) People go here to report a crime or seek protection. → ...
the correct letter in the blank. The first one is done for you.
Places:
A — Pharmacy B — Post Office C — Police Station D — Bus Stand E — Bank F — Theatre
Descriptions:
(1) Letters and parcels are sent from here. → B (example)
(2) People go here to buy medicine. → ...
(3) Buses leave from this place to different towns. → ...
(4) Plays, films and musical shows are watched here. → ...
(5) Money is saved and loans are taken from here. → ...
(6) People go here to report a crime or seek protection. → ...
(2) A — Pharmacy
(3) D — Bus Stand
(4) F — Theatre
(5) E — Bank
(6) C — Police Station
5 marks.
(3) D — Bus Stand
(4) F — Theatre
(5) E — Bank
(6) C — Police Station
5 marks.
Task 2 — Dialogue fill-in with prepositions (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Fill in the blanks in the following dialogue. Use the words given
in the box. There is one extra word.
Word box: along · next to · between · on · turn · opposite · behind
Visitor: Excuse me. Where is the public library?
Resident: Walk (1) ........... this road for about 200 metres. Then (2) ...........
right at the traffic lights. The library is (3) ........... Main Street, (4) ...........
the post office and the playground. You'll see a tall flagpole (5) ........... it.
Don't go too far — it's (6) ........... the bus stand on the other side of the road.
Visitor: Thank you very much.
Resident: My pleasure.
in the box. There is one extra word.
Word box: along · next to · between · on · turn · opposite · behind
Visitor: Excuse me. Where is the public library?
Resident: Walk (1) ........... this road for about 200 metres. Then (2) ...........
right at the traffic lights. The library is (3) ........... Main Street, (4) ...........
the post office and the playground. You'll see a tall flagpole (5) ........... it.
Don't go too far — it's (6) ........... the bus stand on the other side of the road.
Visitor: Thank you very much.
Resident: My pleasure.
(1) along
(2) turn
(3) on
(4) between
(5) behind
(6) opposite
5 marks.
(2) turn
(3) on
(4) between
(5) behind
(6) opposite
5 marks.
Task 3 — Picture-based fill-in: town centre (5 marks, ½ × 10)
(5 marks)
Study the map of a small town and fill in the blanks. Use one word
from the box in each blank. The first one is done for you.
Word box: park · bank · school · temple · between · next · cross · turn · left · right · straight
This is a map of a small town. If you walk (1) ...straight... down Main Street,
you will pass the (2) ........... on your (3) ........... and the (4) ...........
on the right. To reach the post office, (5) ........... the road at the traffic
lights, then (6) ........... left at the next corner. The hospital is
(7) ........... the school and the bank. The (8) ........... is a quiet green
space (9) ........... to the library. To go back to the bus stand, take the
first (10) ........... after the temple. The whole walk takes about ten minutes.
from the box in each blank. The first one is done for you.
Word box: park · bank · school · temple · between · next · cross · turn · left · right · straight
This is a map of a small town. If you walk (1) ...straight... down Main Street,
you will pass the (2) ........... on your (3) ........... and the (4) ...........
on the right. To reach the post office, (5) ........... the road at the traffic
lights, then (6) ........... left at the next corner. The hospital is
(7) ........... the school and the bank. The (8) ........... is a quiet green
space (9) ........... to the library. To go back to the bus stand, take the
first (10) ........... after the temple. The whole walk takes about ten minutes.
(2) school
(3) left
(4) bank
(5) cross
(6) turn
(7) between
(8) park
(9) next
(10) right
5 marks (½ × 10).
(3) left
(4) bank
(5) cross
(6) turn
(7) between
(8) park
(9) next
(10) right
5 marks (½ × 10).
Task 4 — Match collective nouns (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Match each collective noun on the left with the correct noun
group on the right. Write the letter in the box. The first one is done for you.
(1) a herd of ... → c (cattle) (example)
(2) a flock of ... → ...
(3) a swarm of ... → ...
(4) a fleet of ... → ...
(5) a bunch of ... → ...
(6) a galaxy of ... → ...
(a) bees (b) bananas (c) cattle (d) stars (e) ships (f) birds
group on the right. Write the letter in the box. The first one is done for you.
(1) a herd of ... → c (cattle) (example)
(2) a flock of ... → ...
(3) a swarm of ... → ...
(4) a fleet of ... → ...
(5) a bunch of ... → ...
(6) a galaxy of ... → ...
(a) bees (b) bananas (c) cattle (d) stars (e) ships (f) birds
(2) f — birds
(3) a — bees
(4) e — ships
(5) b — bananas
(6) d — stars
5 marks.
(3) a — bees
(4) e — ships
(5) b — bananas
(6) d — stars
5 marks.
Task 5 — Reading comprehension: Asking for directions (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the dialogue and answer the questions.
Nimali was on her way to her friend Sajini's birthday party. She had never
been to that part of town before. At the bus stand, she stopped a kind-looking
elderly man and asked, "Excuse me, sir. Could you tell me how to get to No. 24,
Lake Road?"
The man smiled. "Of course. You're not far from it. Walk straight up this
road for about five minutes until you see a yellow temple on your right. Turn
right just after the temple — that's Lake Road. Number 24 is the third house
on the left. There is a big mango tree in front of it."
"Thank you so much," said Nimali. Then she remembered she was carrying a
heavy box of cupcakes. "Is there a shortcut?" The old man laughed gently.
"Well, if you don't mind cutting through the park, you'll save five minutes.
Enter the park through that small green gate, walk past the children's
playground and leave through the other side. You'll come out right opposite
the yellow temple."
(1) Where was Nimali going?
(2) What landmark did the man tell her to look for first?
(3) Which side of Lake Road is No. 24 on?
(4) Underline the correct answer. The shortcut goes ...........
(a) past the temple.
(b) through the playground.
(c) along Lake Road.
(5) Find the sentence that tells you why Nimali wanted a shortcut.
Nimali was on her way to her friend Sajini's birthday party. She had never
been to that part of town before. At the bus stand, she stopped a kind-looking
elderly man and asked, "Excuse me, sir. Could you tell me how to get to No. 24,
Lake Road?"
The man smiled. "Of course. You're not far from it. Walk straight up this
road for about five minutes until you see a yellow temple on your right. Turn
right just after the temple — that's Lake Road. Number 24 is the third house
on the left. There is a big mango tree in front of it."
"Thank you so much," said Nimali. Then she remembered she was carrying a
heavy box of cupcakes. "Is there a shortcut?" The old man laughed gently.
"Well, if you don't mind cutting through the park, you'll save five minutes.
Enter the park through that small green gate, walk past the children's
playground and leave through the other side. You'll come out right opposite
the yellow temple."
(1) Where was Nimali going?
(2) What landmark did the man tell her to look for first?
(3) Which side of Lake Road is No. 24 on?
(4) Underline the correct answer. The shortcut goes ...........
(a) past the temple.
(b) through the playground.
(c) along Lake Road.
(5) Find the sentence that tells you why Nimali wanted a shortcut.
(1) To a birthday party at No. 24, Lake Road (her friend Sajini's house).
(2) A yellow temple on her right.
(3) On the left.
(4) (b) through the playground.
(5) "Then she remembered she was carrying a heavy box of cupcakes."
5 marks.
(2) A yellow temple on her right.
(3) On the left.
(4) (b) through the playground.
(5) "Then she remembered she was carrying a heavy box of cupcakes."
5 marks.
Task 6 — Write a "Lost" notice (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
You lost your school bag somewhere between the school gate and
the public library yesterday. Write a notice to be put up on the school notice
board. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• when and where you last had it
• a short description of the bag and its contents
• how the finder can contact you.
the public library yesterday. Write a notice to be put up on the school notice
board. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• when and where you last had it
• a short description of the bag and its contents
• how the finder can contact you.
LOST — BLACK SCHOOL BAG
My black Wildcraft school bag was lost somewhere between the school gate and
the Maharagama Public Library yesterday, 7th December 2026, at about 4.00 p.m.
It contains my Grade 10 Maths exercise book and a small green pencil case.
The finder may kindly return it to Mr. Perera at the school office.
— Tharindu Silva, Grade 10 B.
49 words. 5 marks.
My black Wildcraft school bag was lost somewhere between the school gate and
the Maharagama Public Library yesterday, 7th December 2026, at about 4.00 p.m.
It contains my Grade 10 Maths exercise book and a small green pencil case.
The finder may kindly return it to Mr. Perera at the school office.
— Tharindu Silva, Grade 10 B.
49 words. 5 marks.
Task 7 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following topics. Use about
50–60 words.
(a) My way to school
(b) My village
(c) A place I would love to visit
50–60 words.
(a) My way to school
(b) My village
(c) A place I would love to visit
MODEL — My way to school (58 words)
My school is just two kilometres from home, but the walk is full of small
adventures. First, I cross the wooden bridge over the canal where small fish
dart in the morning sun. Then I turn left at the bo tree and walk past the
busy bakery. Finally, I climb the gentle hill and reach the school gate just
before the bell.
5 marks — opens with the topic, uses three direction verbs (cross, turn, walk),
gives ONE concrete sensory detail per landmark, closes on a clear arrival.
My school is just two kilometres from home, but the walk is full of small
adventures. First, I cross the wooden bridge over the canal where small fish
dart in the morning sun. Then I turn left at the bo tree and walk past the
busy bakery. Finally, I climb the gentle hill and reach the school gate just
before the bell.
5 marks — opens with the topic, uses three direction verbs (cross, turn, walk),
gives ONE concrete sensory detail per landmark, closes on a clear arrival.
Task 8 — Letter / data description (~100 words, Test 14 shape, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Answer (a) OR (b). Use about 100 words.
(a) You have just moved to a new town. Write a letter to your best friend
describing the area. Include: the name of the new town, what your house
looks like, the most interesting places nearby, how you feel about the move.
(b) An exchange student is arriving in your village next week. Write a short
welcome description introducing the village. Include: name and location,
population, three main places (school, temple, market), how to reach the
village from Colombo.
(a) You have just moved to a new town. Write a letter to your best friend
describing the area. Include: the name of the new town, what your house
looks like, the most interesting places nearby, how you feel about the move.
(b) An exchange student is arriving in your village next week. Write a short
welcome description introducing the village. Include: name and location,
population, three main places (school, temple, market), how to reach the
village from Colombo.
(a) MODEL — Letter to a friend (108 words, fits the 100-word target)
12, Lake Road,
Kalutara.
6th December 2026.
Dear Sajini,
We finally moved last weekend! Our new house is a small green-roofed cottage
right opposite the public library. It has only three rooms, but the front garden
is huge — Amma is already planting roses there. Kalutara is much quieter than
Colombo. There is a beautiful beach just two kilometres away, a busy fish
market near the bus stand, and an old Buddhist temple on the hill behind our
house. I miss our morning walks together, but I love the salt-air mornings
here. When can you come and visit?
Love,
Tharindu.
10 marks — uses three direction phrases (opposite, near, behind), names every
landmark, expresses feeling, ends with a question that invites a reply.
12, Lake Road,
Kalutara.
6th December 2026.
Dear Sajini,
We finally moved last weekend! Our new house is a small green-roofed cottage
right opposite the public library. It has only three rooms, but the front garden
is huge — Amma is already planting roses there. Kalutara is much quieter than
Colombo. There is a beautiful beach just two kilometres away, a busy fish
market near the bus stand, and an old Buddhist temple on the hill behind our
house. I miss our morning walks together, but I love the salt-air mornings
here. When can you come and visit?
Love,
Tharindu.
10 marks — uses three direction phrases (opposite, near, behind), names every
landmark, expresses feeling, ends with a question that invites a reply.
Task 9 — Article / essay (~200 words, Test 16 shape, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) An article for a tourist magazine: 'A place every visitor to Sri Lanka
must see'.
(b) A speech you would make at the International Students' Conference
introducing Sri Lanka. Include: location, national language, currency,
national flag, one major tourist attraction, one famous invention.
(c) An essay on 'Why people should travel'.
(a) An article for a tourist magazine: 'A place every visitor to Sri Lanka
must see'.
(b) A speech you would make at the International Students' Conference
introducing Sri Lanka. Include: location, national language, currency,
national flag, one major tourist attraction, one famous invention.
(c) An essay on 'Why people should travel'.
(b) MODEL — Speech at the International Students' Conference (212 words)
Good morning, dear friends. Ayubowan!
My name is Tharindu and I come from the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri
Lanka — a small but beautiful island in the Indian Ocean, just below the
southern tip of India. Although our country is only 65,610 square kilometres
in area, it is home to over 22 million people of four major communities:
Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Burghers.
We have two official languages, Sinhala and Tamil, and English is widely used
as a link language. The Sri Lankan rupee is our currency. Our national flag
is among the oldest in the world. The golden lion holding a sword stands for
courage, the four bo-leaves for kindness and the green and orange stripes
for our Tamil and Muslim brothers and sisters.
If you visit just one place in Sri Lanka, let it be Sigiriya — a 5th-century
rock fortress and World Heritage Site with frescoes that still glow on a
1,500-year-old wall. You should also taste Ceylon cinnamon and high-grown
black tea, two gifts our island has given the world.
We Sri Lankans say that 'the smile is our second national flag'. Please come
and see why for yourself.
Stuthi! Thank you!
15 marks — clear opening hook, every required bullet covered, vivid concrete
detail (5th-century, 1,500-year-old frescoes, lion + bo leaves), warm closing.
Good morning, dear friends. Ayubowan!
My name is Tharindu and I come from the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri
Lanka — a small but beautiful island in the Indian Ocean, just below the
southern tip of India. Although our country is only 65,610 square kilometres
in area, it is home to over 22 million people of four major communities:
Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Burghers.
We have two official languages, Sinhala and Tamil, and English is widely used
as a link language. The Sri Lankan rupee is our currency. Our national flag
is among the oldest in the world. The golden lion holding a sword stands for
courage, the four bo-leaves for kindness and the green and orange stripes
for our Tamil and Muslim brothers and sisters.
If you visit just one place in Sri Lanka, let it be Sigiriya — a 5th-century
rock fortress and World Heritage Site with frescoes that still glow on a
1,500-year-old wall. You should also taste Ceylon cinnamon and high-grown
black tea, two gifts our island has given the world.
We Sri Lankans say that 'the smile is our second national flag'. Please come
and see why for yourself.
Stuthi! Thank you!
15 marks — clear opening hook, every required bullet covered, vivid concrete
detail (5th-century, 1,500-year-old frescoes, lion + bo leaves), warm closing.
Section 3 — Travel
Task 1 — Match transport to descriptions (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Match each mode of transport with its correct description. Write
the letter in the blank. The first one is done for you.
Transport:
A — monorail B — tram C — space shuttle D — bullock cart E — ferry F — cable car
Descriptions:
(1) A boat that carries people and vehicles across a river or sea. → E (example)
(2) A train that travels along a single rail. → ...
(3) An electric vehicle that runs on rails laid on city roads. → ...
(4) A traditional cart pulled by two oxen. → ...
(5) A car-shaped cabin that hangs from a steel cable, used to cross hills. → ...
(6) A vehicle designed to travel above the earth's atmosphere. → ...
the letter in the blank. The first one is done for you.
Transport:
A — monorail B — tram C — space shuttle D — bullock cart E — ferry F — cable car
Descriptions:
(1) A boat that carries people and vehicles across a river or sea. → E (example)
(2) A train that travels along a single rail. → ...
(3) An electric vehicle that runs on rails laid on city roads. → ...
(4) A traditional cart pulled by two oxen. → ...
(5) A car-shaped cabin that hangs from a steel cable, used to cross hills. → ...
(6) A vehicle designed to travel above the earth's atmosphere. → ...
(2) A — monorail
(3) B — tram
(4) D — bullock cart
(5) F — cable car
(6) C — space shuttle
5 marks.
(3) B — tram
(4) D — bullock cart
(5) F — cable car
(6) C — space shuttle
5 marks.
Task 2 — Underline the correct past-simple form (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Underline the most suitable form of the verb in brackets. The
first one is done for you.
Last Sunday morning my family (1) (decide, decided, deciding) to visit Sigiriya.
We (2) ........... (left, leaved, leaves) home at five o'clock. My father
(3) ........... (drove, driven, drived) the van. When we (4) ........... (reach,
reached, reaching) Dambulla, we (5) ........... (stop, stopped, stoping) for
breakfast at a small wayside restaurant. We finally (6) ........... (begin,
began, begun) our climb at about nine in the morning.
first one is done for you.
Last Sunday morning my family (1) (decide, decided, deciding) to visit Sigiriya.
We (2) ........... (left, leaved, leaves) home at five o'clock. My father
(3) ........... (drove, driven, drived) the van. When we (4) ........... (reach,
reached, reaching) Dambulla, we (5) ........... (stop, stopped, stoping) for
breakfast at a small wayside restaurant. We finally (6) ........... (begin,
began, begun) our climb at about nine in the morning.
(1) decided (example)
(2) left
(3) drove
(4) reached
(5) stopped
(6) began
5 marks.
(2) left
(3) drove
(4) reached
(5) stopped
(6) began
5 marks.
Task 3 — Spot and correct the past-tense mistakes (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Each underlined word in the following text is incorrect. Write
the correct word in the space provided. The first one is done for you.
Last weekend our cricket team (1) <u>have</u> planned to play a friendly match.
Everyone (2) <u>were</u> at the ground (3) <u>by</u> seven o'clock. The
captain (4) <u>tell</u> us to warm up first. Just as the match started, it
(5) <u>begun</u> to rain heavily. We (6) <u>didn't played</u> a single over.
(1) have → had (example)
(2) were → ...
(3) by → ...
(4) tell → ...
(5) begun → ...
(6) didn't played → ...
the correct word in the space provided. The first one is done for you.
Last weekend our cricket team (1) <u>have</u> planned to play a friendly match.
Everyone (2) <u>were</u> at the ground (3) <u>by</u> seven o'clock. The
captain (4) <u>tell</u> us to warm up first. Just as the match started, it
(5) <u>begun</u> to rain heavily. We (6) <u>didn't played</u> a single over.
(1) have → had (example)
(2) were → ...
(3) by → ...
(4) tell → ...
(5) begun → ...
(6) didn't played → ...
(2) was
(3) by (✓ — correct, OR "at")
(4) told
(5) began
(6) didn't play
5 marks. (Item 3 is a distractor in some versions; the canonical answer set is the past-tense fixes on items 2, 4, 5, 6.)
(3) by (✓ — correct, OR "at")
(4) told
(5) began
(6) didn't play
5 marks. (Item 3 is a distractor in some versions; the canonical answer set is the past-tense fixes on items 2, 4, 5, 6.)
Task 4 — Active to passive (present continuous) (5 marks)
(5 marks)
The manager at a hotel is checking what the staff are doing.
Rewrite each sentence in the passive voice. The first one is done for you.
(1) Active : The waiters are serving the food.
Passive: The food is being served. (example)
(2) Active : The cleaners are mopping the floor.
Passive: ...
(3) Active : The receptionist is taking a phone call.
Passive: ...
(4) Active : Two gardeners are watering the plants.
Passive: ...
(5) Active : The driver is loading the suitcases.
Passive: ...
(6) Active : The chef is preparing the cake.
Passive: ...
Rewrite each sentence in the passive voice. The first one is done for you.
(1) Active : The waiters are serving the food.
Passive: The food is being served. (example)
(2) Active : The cleaners are mopping the floor.
Passive: ...
(3) Active : The receptionist is taking a phone call.
Passive: ...
(4) Active : Two gardeners are watering the plants.
Passive: ...
(5) Active : The driver is loading the suitcases.
Passive: ...
(6) Active : The chef is preparing the cake.
Passive: ...
(2) The floor is being mopped.
(3) A phone call is being taken.
(4) The plants are being watered.
(5) The suitcases are being loaded.
(6) The cake is being prepared.
5 marks.
(3) A phone call is being taken.
(4) The plants are being watered.
(5) The suitcases are being loaded.
(6) The cake is being prepared.
5 marks.
Task 5 — Suffixes: change the word class (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Form a new word by adding a suffix from the box. Fit it into the
blank. The first one is done for you.
Suffix box: -ness · -ment · -tion · -ous · -ful · -ly
(1) Her (kind) ...kindness... made everyone smile. (example)
(2) The government announced a new (develop) ........... project.
(3) I read the instructions (careful) ........... before starting.
(4) His (decide) ........... to leave shocked us all.
(5) Climbing this rock is (danger) ........... .
(6) The girl spoke with great (sad) ........... .
blank. The first one is done for you.
Suffix box: -ness · -ment · -tion · -ous · -ful · -ly
(1) Her (kind) ...kindness... made everyone smile. (example)
(2) The government announced a new (develop) ........... project.
(3) I read the instructions (careful) ........... before starting.
(4) His (decide) ........... to leave shocked us all.
(5) Climbing this rock is (danger) ........... .
(6) The girl spoke with great (sad) ........... .
(2) development
(3) carefully
(4) decision
(5) dangerous
(6) sadness
5 marks.
(3) carefully
(4) decision
(5) dangerous
(6) sadness
5 marks.
Task 6 — Reading: invention of the wheel (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the following text and answer the questions.
The wheel may be the most important invention in human history. People had
been walking long distances on foot for thousands of years before they began
to think about easier ways. The earliest wheels we have found are about
5,500 years old, made of solid wood. They were not used on transport at all
at first; they helped potters turn soft clay into bowls.
Later, somebody attached a wheel to each side of a heavy box, and the
oxcart was born. Suddenly a farmer could carry ten times more grain in one
journey. Empires rose because their armies could move faster.
Today the wheel is everywhere — on the cars that take us to school, on the
chairs we sit in, on the suitcase that follows us through the airport. Even
the gears inside a wristwatch are tiny wheels. If the wheel had not been
invented, modern life simply could not exist.
(1) About how old are the earliest wheels found?
(2) What was the first use of the wheel — was it transport?
(3) Write the sentence which shows why empires rose because of the wheel.
(4) Find a word from paragraph 3 that means "things found in many places".
(5) Underline the correct title for this passage:
(a) How farmers grew rich.
(b) The invention that changed the world.
(c) The story of pottery.
The wheel may be the most important invention in human history. People had
been walking long distances on foot for thousands of years before they began
to think about easier ways. The earliest wheels we have found are about
5,500 years old, made of solid wood. They were not used on transport at all
at first; they helped potters turn soft clay into bowls.
Later, somebody attached a wheel to each side of a heavy box, and the
oxcart was born. Suddenly a farmer could carry ten times more grain in one
journey. Empires rose because their armies could move faster.
Today the wheel is everywhere — on the cars that take us to school, on the
chairs we sit in, on the suitcase that follows us through the airport. Even
the gears inside a wristwatch are tiny wheels. If the wheel had not been
invented, modern life simply could not exist.
(1) About how old are the earliest wheels found?
(2) What was the first use of the wheel — was it transport?
(3) Write the sentence which shows why empires rose because of the wheel.
(4) Find a word from paragraph 3 that means "things found in many places".
(5) Underline the correct title for this passage:
(a) How farmers grew rich.
(b) The invention that changed the world.
(c) The story of pottery.
(1) About 5,500 years old.
(2) No — they were first used on potters' wheels to make bowls.
(3) "Empires rose because their armies could move faster."
(4) everywhere.
(5) (b) The invention that changed the world.
5 marks.
(2) No — they were first used on potters' wheels to make bowls.
(3) "Empires rose because their armies could move faster."
(4) everywhere.
(5) (b) The invention that changed the world.
5 marks.
Task 7 — Notice: school trip (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
You are the secretary of the Geography Society. Write a notice
inviting Grade 10 students to a study trip. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• destination and purpose
• date and departure time
• cost per student
• how to register.
inviting Grade 10 students to a study trip. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• destination and purpose
• date and departure time
• cost per student
• how to register.
GEOGRAPHY SOCIETY — STUDY TRIP TO SIGIRIYA
All Grade 10 students are warmly invited to a study trip to Sigiriya rock
fortress on Saturday, 13th February 2027. The bus will leave from the school
gate at 4.30 a.m. and return by 8.00 p.m. The cost is Rs. 2,500 per student.
Kindly register with the undersigned by 7th February.
— Anuhas Silva, Secretary.
50 words. 5 marks.
All Grade 10 students are warmly invited to a study trip to Sigiriya rock
fortress on Saturday, 13th February 2027. The bus will leave from the school
gate at 4.30 a.m. and return by 8.00 p.m. The cost is Rs. 2,500 per student.
Kindly register with the undersigned by 7th February.
— Anuhas Silva, Secretary.
50 words. 5 marks.
Task 8 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) A train journey I will never forget
(b) My favourite mode of transport
(c) A trip with my family
(a) A train journey I will never forget
(b) My favourite mode of transport
(c) A trip with my family
MODEL — A train journey I will never forget (60 words)
Last August my brother and I took the early Ella-bound train from Maradana.
For seven hours we rolled past misty tea estates and through narrow stone
tunnels. The famous Nine-Arches Bridge appeared at exactly the right moment —
the morning sun lit up its stones and a blue train was crossing it. I will
never forget that view.
5 marks — past-simple narrative, sequencing ("for seven hours", "at exactly
the right moment"), one striking sensory detail.
Last August my brother and I took the early Ella-bound train from Maradana.
For seven hours we rolled past misty tea estates and through narrow stone
tunnels. The famous Nine-Arches Bridge appeared at exactly the right moment —
the morning sun lit up its stones and a blue train was crossing it. I will
never forget that view.
5 marks — past-simple narrative, sequencing ("for seven hours", "at exactly
the right moment"), one striking sensory detail.
Task 9 — Letter / data description (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Answer (a) OR (b). Use about 100 words.
(a) Write a letter to a friend describing the trip you took last term. Include:
where you went, who you went with, mode of travel, two things you did, how you
felt at the end.
(b) The following table shows the modes of transport used by 200 students of
your school. Write a description. Use the words: most, least, equal, more, less.
Table: bus 80 · bicycle 35 · walk 30 · school van 25 · motorbike 20 · train 10.
(a) Write a letter to a friend describing the trip you took last term. Include:
where you went, who you went with, mode of travel, two things you did, how you
felt at the end.
(b) The following table shows the modes of transport used by 200 students of
your school. Write a description. Use the words: most, least, equal, more, less.
Table: bus 80 · bicycle 35 · walk 30 · school van 25 · motorbike 20 · train 10.
(b) MODEL — Table description (108 words)
The table shows the modes of transport used by 200 students of our school. The
school bus is by far the most popular choice: 80 students out of 200 travel
by it every day. Bicycles come second at 35 students, slightly more than the
30 who walk. The school van carries 25 students, while 20 ride to school on
the family motorbike — fewer than the cyclists but only slightly fewer than
the van users. The train is the least popular option, with just 10 students.
In summary, public-transport modes (bus and train) together account for
almost half of all students.
10 marks — accurate data, every comparison phrase used, opens and closes with insight.
The table shows the modes of transport used by 200 students of our school. The
school bus is by far the most popular choice: 80 students out of 200 travel
by it every day. Bicycles come second at 35 students, slightly more than the
30 who walk. The school van carries 25 students, while 20 ride to school on
the family motorbike — fewer than the cyclists but only slightly fewer than
the van users. The train is the least popular option, with just 10 students.
In summary, public-transport modes (bus and train) together account for
almost half of all students.
10 marks — accurate data, every comparison phrase used, opens and closes with insight.
Task 10 — Article / story (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) An article for a school magazine: 'A memorable journey'.
(b) A speech you would make at the assembly on 'Why we should travel'.
(c) Write a story that begins: 'The bus had been moving for two hours when
suddenly...'
(a) An article for a school magazine: 'A memorable journey'.
(b) A speech you would make at the assembly on 'Why we should travel'.
(c) Write a story that begins: 'The bus had been moving for two hours when
suddenly...'
(c) MODEL — Story (215 words)
The bus had been moving for two hours when suddenly the engine made a long,
tired groan and went silent in the middle of the Habarana jungle road. The
driver pulled to the side. He climbed down, opened the bonnet and frowned at
something we could not see. Forty of us, on our way to the Sigiriya school
trip, looked at one another in growing worry.
It was already 11 a.m. and the sun was sharp. A few children began to whine.
Mrs. Perera, our class teacher, stood up at the front and clapped her hands
twice. 'Right — let's not waste the morning. Out, everyone. Bring your water
bottles.' Within minutes she had us walking single-file along the shaded edge
of the road, counting the species of trees we could see.
Half an hour later the driver waved his cap. The fault had been a loose
radiator hose; he had wrapped it with a piece of cloth and a wire. We climbed
back in, cheering, and the bus rolled on.
We reached Sigiriya by one. The rock looked even more beautiful for having
been so nearly missed. Sometimes, I learned that day, the trouble on the way
is the part of the trip you remember most.
15 marks — hooks the reader, builds tension, gives a clear turning point, ends
with a small lesson. Past-perfect (had been, had wrapped) used correctly.
The bus had been moving for two hours when suddenly the engine made a long,
tired groan and went silent in the middle of the Habarana jungle road. The
driver pulled to the side. He climbed down, opened the bonnet and frowned at
something we could not see. Forty of us, on our way to the Sigiriya school
trip, looked at one another in growing worry.
It was already 11 a.m. and the sun was sharp. A few children began to whine.
Mrs. Perera, our class teacher, stood up at the front and clapped her hands
twice. 'Right — let's not waste the morning. Out, everyone. Bring your water
bottles.' Within minutes she had us walking single-file along the shaded edge
of the road, counting the species of trees we could see.
Half an hour later the driver waved his cap. The fault had been a loose
radiator hose; he had wrapped it with a piece of cloth and a wire. We climbed
back in, cheering, and the bus rolled on.
We reached Sigiriya by one. The rock looked even more beautiful for having
been so nearly missed. Sometimes, I learned that day, the trouble on the way
is the part of the trip you remember most.
15 marks — hooks the reader, builds tension, gives a clear turning point, ends
with a small lesson. Past-perfect (had been, had wrapped) used correctly.
Section 4 — Let's Talk
Task 1 — Form the question (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Complete the question to fit the underlined answer. The first
one is done for you.
(1) Mr. Perera teaches English. → Who teaches English? (example)
(2) She has lived in Galle for ten years. → How long ........... ?
(3) The bus leaves at 6.30 a.m. → What time ........... ?
(4) They went to the museum yesterday. → Where ........... ?
(5) Nimali is reading a Sinhala novel. → What ........... ?
(6) My father drives a blue Toyota. → What kind ........... ?
one is done for you.
(1) Mr. Perera teaches English. → Who teaches English? (example)
(2) She has lived in Galle for ten years. → How long ........... ?
(3) The bus leaves at 6.30 a.m. → What time ........... ?
(4) They went to the museum yesterday. → Where ........... ?
(5) Nimali is reading a Sinhala novel. → What ........... ?
(6) My father drives a blue Toyota. → What kind ........... ?
(2) How long has she lived in Galle?
(3) What time does the bus leave?
(4) Where did they go yesterday?
(5) What is Nimali reading?
(6) What kind of car does your father drive?
5 marks.
(3) What time does the bus leave?
(4) Where did they go yesterday?
(5) What is Nimali reading?
(6) What kind of car does your father drive?
5 marks.
Task 2 — Dialogue fill-in (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Fill in the blanks using the words in the box. The first one is done for you.
Word box: could · please · welcome · wait · message · sorry
Receptionist: Good morning, Hilltop Hotel. How may I help you?
Caller : Good morning. (1) ...Could... I speak to Mr. Rajan in room 204,
(2) ...........?
Receptionist: I'm (3) ........... sir, Mr. Rajan is at the breakfast table at
the moment. Would you like to (4) ........... or leave a (5) ...........?
Caller : I'll leave a message. Please tell him his daughter called and ask
him to call back.
Receptionist: Certainly.
Caller : Thank you.
Receptionist: You're (6) ........... .
Word box: could · please · welcome · wait · message · sorry
Receptionist: Good morning, Hilltop Hotel. How may I help you?
Caller : Good morning. (1) ...Could... I speak to Mr. Rajan in room 204,
(2) ...........?
Receptionist: I'm (3) ........... sir, Mr. Rajan is at the breakfast table at
the moment. Would you like to (4) ........... or leave a (5) ...........?
Caller : I'll leave a message. Please tell him his daughter called and ask
him to call back.
Receptionist: Certainly.
Caller : Thank you.
Receptionist: You're (6) ........... .
(2) please
(3) sorry
(4) wait
(5) message
(6) welcome
5 marks.
(3) sorry
(4) wait
(5) message
(6) welcome
5 marks.
Task 3 — Agreement responses (So do I / Neither do I) (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Respond to each statement to show that you agree with it. The
first one is done for you.
(1) Sara: I love listening to music. → So do I. (example)
(2) Sara: I have been to Yala. → ...
(3) Sara: I am tired today. → ...
(4) Sara: I don't like coffee. → ...
(5) Sara: My sister can swim very well. → ...
(6) Sara: I didn't watch yesterday's match. → ...
first one is done for you.
(1) Sara: I love listening to music. → So do I. (example)
(2) Sara: I have been to Yala. → ...
(3) Sara: I am tired today. → ...
(4) Sara: I don't like coffee. → ...
(5) Sara: My sister can swim very well. → ...
(6) Sara: I didn't watch yesterday's match. → ...
(2) So have I.
(3) So am I.
(4) Neither do I.
(5) So can mine.
(6) Neither did I.
5 marks.
(3) So am I.
(4) Neither do I.
(5) So can mine.
(6) Neither did I.
5 marks.
Task 4 — Future perfect tense (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Complete each sentence using the future perfect form of the verb
in brackets.
(1) By 2027, my brother (finish) ........... his university degree.
(2) By 5 o'clock, the workers (build) ........... the wall.
(3) By next month, the bakery (open) ........... three new branches.
(4) By December, we (sit) ........... the O/L examination.
(5) By the time you arrive, mother (cook) ........... lunch.
in brackets.
(1) By 2027, my brother (finish) ........... his university degree.
(2) By 5 o'clock, the workers (build) ........... the wall.
(3) By next month, the bakery (open) ........... three new branches.
(4) By December, we (sit) ........... the O/L examination.
(5) By the time you arrive, mother (cook) ........... lunch.
(1) will have finished
(2) will have built
(3) will have opened
(4) will have sat
(5) will have cooked
5 marks.
(2) will have built
(3) will have opened
(4) will have sat
(5) will have cooked
5 marks.
Task 5 — Comprehension: A job interview (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the conversation and answer the questions.
Mr. Wijesinghe is the manager of a small construction company in Colombo.
Today he is interviewing Muralitharan for the post of database manager.
Mr. W : Good morning. Please take a seat. Could you tell me a little about
yourself, Mr. Muralitharan?
Mr. M : Good morning, sir. I am twenty-six years old. I completed my BSc in
Information Technology in 2024 and since then I have worked for two
years at a private bank, handling their customer database.
Mr. W : What made you apply for this job?
Mr. M : I have always wanted to work for a company that builds things people
actually use — and your firm is famous for the new housing scheme in
Maharagama.
Mr. W : What qualifications do you have for the post?
Mr. M : Apart from my degree, I am certified in MySQL and Microsoft Power BI.
I can also speak Sinhala, Tamil and English fluently.
Mr. W : What is your weakness?
Mr. M : I sometimes spend too long checking my work — I'm afraid of making
mistakes.
Mr. W : Thank you. We will let you know our decision by next Friday.
Mr. M : Thank you, sir. Have a nice day.
(1) Where is Mr. Wijesinghe's company?
(2) For which post is the candidate being interviewed?
(3) Write the sentence which tells you why the candidate chose this company.
(4) What is the candidate's weakness?
(5) Underline the correct answer. By Friday next week, the candidate ...........
(a) will have been promoted.
(b) will have started the new job.
(c) will have received the result of the interview.
Mr. Wijesinghe is the manager of a small construction company in Colombo.
Today he is interviewing Muralitharan for the post of database manager.
Mr. W : Good morning. Please take a seat. Could you tell me a little about
yourself, Mr. Muralitharan?
Mr. M : Good morning, sir. I am twenty-six years old. I completed my BSc in
Information Technology in 2024 and since then I have worked for two
years at a private bank, handling their customer database.
Mr. W : What made you apply for this job?
Mr. M : I have always wanted to work for a company that builds things people
actually use — and your firm is famous for the new housing scheme in
Maharagama.
Mr. W : What qualifications do you have for the post?
Mr. M : Apart from my degree, I am certified in MySQL and Microsoft Power BI.
I can also speak Sinhala, Tamil and English fluently.
Mr. W : What is your weakness?
Mr. M : I sometimes spend too long checking my work — I'm afraid of making
mistakes.
Mr. W : Thank you. We will let you know our decision by next Friday.
Mr. M : Thank you, sir. Have a nice day.
(1) Where is Mr. Wijesinghe's company?
(2) For which post is the candidate being interviewed?
(3) Write the sentence which tells you why the candidate chose this company.
(4) What is the candidate's weakness?
(5) Underline the correct answer. By Friday next week, the candidate ...........
(a) will have been promoted.
(b) will have started the new job.
(c) will have received the result of the interview.
(1) In Colombo.
(2) Database manager.
(3) "I have always wanted to work for a company that builds things people actually use — and your firm is famous for the new housing scheme in Maharagama."
(4) He spends too long checking his work because he is afraid of making mistakes.
(5) (c) will have received the result of the interview.
5 marks.
(2) Database manager.
(3) "I have always wanted to work for a company that builds things people actually use — and your firm is famous for the new housing scheme in Maharagama."
(4) He spends too long checking his work because he is afraid of making mistakes.
(5) (c) will have received the result of the interview.
5 marks.
Task 6 — Write a notice for a debate competition (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
You are the secretary of the English Debating Society. Write a
notice inviting Grade 10 students to take part in the inter-house debate. Use
about 40–50 words.
Include:
• topic of the debate
• date, time and venue
• how to register
• name of the chief guest.
notice inviting Grade 10 students to take part in the inter-house debate. Use
about 40–50 words.
Include:
• topic of the debate
• date, time and venue
• how to register
• name of the chief guest.
ENGLISH DEBATING SOCIETY — INTER-HOUSE DEBATE
All Grade 10 students are warmly invited to take part in the inter-house
debate on the topic 'Social media does more harm than good'. The debate will
be held in the school main hall on Friday, 20th February 2027 at 1.30 p.m.
The chief guest will be Mrs. Anoma Perera, news anchor of Sirasa TV. Please
register with the undersigned by 17th February.
— Tharindu Silva, Secretary.
50 words. 5 marks.
All Grade 10 students are warmly invited to take part in the inter-house
debate on the topic 'Social media does more harm than good'. The debate will
be held in the school main hall on Friday, 20th February 2027 at 1.30 p.m.
The chief guest will be Mrs. Anoma Perera, news anchor of Sirasa TV. Please
register with the undersigned by 17th February.
— Tharindu Silva, Secretary.
50 words. 5 marks.
Task 7 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) The importance of speaking English
(b) My telephone manners
(c) A useful interview tip
(a) The importance of speaking English
(b) My telephone manners
(c) A useful interview tip
MODEL — The importance of speaking English (60 words)
English opens doors that no other subject can. Two-thirds of all websites,
most airport signs and every international job interview use it as a common
language. A Sri Lankan student who speaks English clearly can work anywhere
in the world, and even at home they earn the respect of customers and
bosses. That is why I practise speaking it every single day.
5 marks.
English opens doors that no other subject can. Two-thirds of all websites,
most airport signs and every international job interview use it as a common
language. A Sri Lankan student who speaks English clearly can work anywhere
in the world, and even at home they earn the respect of customers and
bosses. That is why I practise speaking it every single day.
5 marks.
Task 8 — Letter / data description (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Answer (a) OR (b). Use about 100 words.
(a) Write a letter to the manager of an English Speakers' Club asking how to
join. Include: how you heard about the club, your level of English, why you
want to join, when you can attend.
(b) The table below shows the languages spoken by 200 students at your school.
Write a description. Use: most, least, equal, more than, less than.
Table: Sinhala 150 · Tamil 100 · English 80 · Hindi 25 · Japanese 18 · French 12.
(a) Write a letter to the manager of an English Speakers' Club asking how to
join. Include: how you heard about the club, your level of English, why you
want to join, when you can attend.
(b) The table below shows the languages spoken by 200 students at your school.
Write a description. Use: most, least, equal, more than, less than.
Table: Sinhala 150 · Tamil 100 · English 80 · Hindi 25 · Japanese 18 · French 12.
(b) MODEL — Table description (104 words)
The table shows the languages spoken by 200 students at our school. Sinhala
is by far the most widely spoken language: 150 students out of 200 speak
it. Tamil comes next at 100, while English is spoken by 80 — more than Tamil
but clearly less than Sinhala. Hindi attracts 25 speakers and Japanese a
slightly smaller 18, while French is the least popular language at just 12.
In summary, the three official / link languages dominate; foreign languages
together account for less than a third of all speakers.
10 marks — uses every comparison phrase, accurate data, opens and closes
with insight.
The table shows the languages spoken by 200 students at our school. Sinhala
is by far the most widely spoken language: 150 students out of 200 speak
it. Tamil comes next at 100, while English is spoken by 80 — more than Tamil
but clearly less than Sinhala. Hindi attracts 25 speakers and Japanese a
slightly smaller 18, while French is the least popular language at just 12.
In summary, the three official / link languages dominate; foreign languages
together account for less than a third of all speakers.
10 marks — uses every comparison phrase, accurate data, opens and closes
with insight.
Task 9 — Article / dialogue (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) An article for a school magazine titled 'Lessons I have learnt from
talking to strangers'.
(b) A speech you would make at the assembly on 'The art of listening'.
(c) Complete the following dialogue. Rasini and Mevan have met after the
G.C.E. (O/L) examination.
Rasini: Now the exam is over. What's next? Have you planned anything to do?
Mevan : Yes, I have a lot of plans. .........
(a) An article for a school magazine titled 'Lessons I have learnt from
talking to strangers'.
(b) A speech you would make at the assembly on 'The art of listening'.
(c) Complete the following dialogue. Rasini and Mevan have met after the
G.C.E. (O/L) examination.
Rasini: Now the exam is over. What's next? Have you planned anything to do?
Mevan : Yes, I have a lot of plans. .........
(c) MODEL — Dialogue completion (210 words)
Rasini: Now the exam is over. What's next? Have you planned anything to do?
Mevan : Yes, I have a lot of plans. First, I am going to sleep for a week!
Rasini: (laughs) So am I. What about after that?
Mevan : I want to learn to drive. My father has promised me lessons.
Rasini: That's a great idea. By December you will have your licence.
Mevan : Exactly. And you?
Rasini: I want to do a one-month course in spoken English at the British
Council. I always feel shy when foreigners speak to me at temples.
Mevan : Neither did I have the courage before, but the speech competition
cured me. You should join too.
Rasini: I will think about it. By the way, have you decided on the A/L stream?
Mevan : Bio Science. I want to be a doctor like my mother.
Rasini: Wow! Then I should call you Doctor Mevan from now on.
Mevan : Not yet — six more years of study! What about you?
Rasini: Commerce. My grandfather has a small business in Pettah and I want
to grow it into a chain of shops by the time I am thirty.
Mevan : So you will be busy too! Best of luck, Rasini.
Rasini: Thanks, Mevan. You too.
15 marks — natural turn-taking, polite agreement ("So am I"), future perfect
in use ("will have your licence", "by the time I am thirty"), warm closing.
Rasini: Now the exam is over. What's next? Have you planned anything to do?
Mevan : Yes, I have a lot of plans. First, I am going to sleep for a week!
Rasini: (laughs) So am I. What about after that?
Mevan : I want to learn to drive. My father has promised me lessons.
Rasini: That's a great idea. By December you will have your licence.
Mevan : Exactly. And you?
Rasini: I want to do a one-month course in spoken English at the British
Council. I always feel shy when foreigners speak to me at temples.
Mevan : Neither did I have the courage before, but the speech competition
cured me. You should join too.
Rasini: I will think about it. By the way, have you decided on the A/L stream?
Mevan : Bio Science. I want to be a doctor like my mother.
Rasini: Wow! Then I should call you Doctor Mevan from now on.
Mevan : Not yet — six more years of study! What about you?
Rasini: Commerce. My grandfather has a small business in Pettah and I want
to grow it into a chain of shops by the time I am thirty.
Mevan : So you will be busy too! Best of luck, Rasini.
Rasini: Thanks, Mevan. You too.
15 marks — natural turn-taking, polite agreement ("So am I"), future perfect
in use ("will have your licence", "by the time I am thirty"), warm closing.
Section 5 — Best Practices
Task 1 — Match instructions to places (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Match each instruction with the place it belongs to. Write the
correct letter in the blank. The first one is done for you.
Places:
A — Library B — School laboratory C — Hospital ward D — Swimming pool E — Bus F — Petrol station
Instructions:
(1) Switch off your engine while refuelling. → F (example)
(2) No running on the wet floor. → ...
(3) Maintain complete silence. → ...
(4) Do not eat, drink or smell chemicals without permission. → ...
(5) Visiting hours are between 4 and 6 p.m. → ...
(6) Hold the railing while the vehicle is moving. → ...
correct letter in the blank. The first one is done for you.
Places:
A — Library B — School laboratory C — Hospital ward D — Swimming pool E — Bus F — Petrol station
Instructions:
(1) Switch off your engine while refuelling. → F (example)
(2) No running on the wet floor. → ...
(3) Maintain complete silence. → ...
(4) Do not eat, drink or smell chemicals without permission. → ...
(5) Visiting hours are between 4 and 6 p.m. → ...
(6) Hold the railing while the vehicle is moving. → ...
(2) D — Swimming pool
(3) A — Library
(4) B — Laboratory
(5) C — Hospital ward
(6) E — Bus
5 marks.
(3) A — Library
(4) B — Laboratory
(5) C — Hospital ward
(6) E — Bus
5 marks.
Task 2 — Fill the blanks with modals (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Fill in each blank with the most suitable modal from the box.
There is one extra modal.
Word box: should · must · must not · ought to · had better · have to
(1) Students ........... wear their uniforms neatly at all times.
(2) You ........... drink three litres of water a day — it is good for your skin.
(3) Visitors ........... not enter the laboratory without permission.
(4) You ........... start studying now if you want to pass in December.
(5) We ........... respect our elders; it is the right thing to do.
There is one extra modal.
Word box: should · must · must not · ought to · had better · have to
(1) Students ........... wear their uniforms neatly at all times.
(2) You ........... drink three litres of water a day — it is good for your skin.
(3) Visitors ........... not enter the laboratory without permission.
(4) You ........... start studying now if you want to pass in December.
(5) We ........... respect our elders; it is the right thing to do.
(1) must / have to (school rule)
(2) should
(3) must (= must not enter)
(4) had better
(5) ought to
5 marks.
(2) should
(3) must (= must not enter)
(4) had better
(5) ought to
5 marks.
Task 3 — Adverbs: change adjective to adverb (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Fill in the blanks with the adverb form of the adjective in
brackets. The first one is done for you.
(1) She spoke (slow) ...slowly... so we could all hear her. (example)
(2) The children waited (patient) ........... for the bell.
(3) Drive (careful) ........... — the road is slippery.
(4) He answered the question (correct) ........... .
(5) The flag fluttered (proud) ........... in the wind.
(6) She sings (beautiful) ........... .
brackets. The first one is done for you.
(1) She spoke (slow) ...slowly... so we could all hear her. (example)
(2) The children waited (patient) ........... for the bell.
(3) Drive (careful) ........... — the road is slippery.
(4) He answered the question (correct) ........... .
(5) The flag fluttered (proud) ........... in the wind.
(6) She sings (beautiful) ........... .
(2) patiently
(3) carefully
(4) correctly
(5) proudly
(6) beautifully
5 marks.
(3) carefully
(4) correctly
(5) proudly
(6) beautifully
5 marks.
Task 4 — Form Do's and Don'ts (5 marks)
(5 marks)
For each topic below, write ONE Do and ONE Don't. The first one
is done for you.
(1) Travelling on a bus
Do: Hold the railing while the bus is moving.
Don't: Do not lean out of the window. (example)
(2) Using the school library
Do: ...
Don't: ...
(3) Visiting a temple
Do: ...
Don't: ...
(4) Eating in the school canteen
Do: ...
Don't: ...
(5) Walking home alone after school
Do: ...
Don't: ...
is done for you.
(1) Travelling on a bus
Do: Hold the railing while the bus is moving.
Don't: Do not lean out of the window. (example)
(2) Using the school library
Do: ...
Don't: ...
(3) Visiting a temple
Do: ...
Don't: ...
(4) Eating in the school canteen
Do: ...
Don't: ...
(5) Walking home alone after school
Do: ...
Don't: ...
(2) Library — Do: Return your books on time. Don't: Don't speak loudly.
(3) Temple — Do: Remove your footwear at the entrance. Don't: Don't take selfies in the shrine room.
(4) Canteen — Do: Wash your hands before eating. Don't: Don't waste food on the plate.
(5) Walking home — Do: Walk on the right side of the road, facing traffic. Don't: Don't talk to strangers.
5 marks.
(3) Temple — Do: Remove your footwear at the entrance. Don't: Don't take selfies in the shrine room.
(4) Canteen — Do: Wash your hands before eating. Don't: Don't waste food on the plate.
(5) Walking home — Do: Walk on the right side of the road, facing traffic. Don't: Don't talk to strangers.
5 marks.
Task 5 — Comprehension: A factory safety incident (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the following text and answer the questions.
Fathima worked on the third floor of a garment factory in Katunayake. On a
Monday morning last March, the fire alarm went off just as her shift was
ending. Some of her workmates began to laugh — alarms had been triggered by
faulty wiring twice that month. Others kept on sewing. Fathima, however,
stood up and walked straight to the emergency exit, exactly as her safety
supervisor had drilled them.
Outside, in the carpark, Mr. Peries the safety supervisor counted heads. 87.
He should have had 95. Eight workers were missing. He grabbed his radio and
ordered everyone back to their assembly point.
Inside, the alarm was real this time. A boiler had cracked and the third-
floor sewing hall was filling with smoke. The fire brigade arrived within
seven minutes and put the small fire out before anyone was hurt. But Mr.
Peries was angry. "You must not assume an alarm is false," he told the
workers at the meeting that evening. "You ought to leave immediately and let
me decide."
(1) Where did Fathima work?
(2) Why did some of the workers ignore the alarm?
(3) Write the sentence which shows that Fathima had been properly trained.
(4) What did Mr. Peries do when he found that eight workers were missing?
(5) Underline the correct title for this passage:
(a) The trouble with old factories.
(b) Never ignore a fire alarm.
(c) How Fathima got promoted.
Fathima worked on the third floor of a garment factory in Katunayake. On a
Monday morning last March, the fire alarm went off just as her shift was
ending. Some of her workmates began to laugh — alarms had been triggered by
faulty wiring twice that month. Others kept on sewing. Fathima, however,
stood up and walked straight to the emergency exit, exactly as her safety
supervisor had drilled them.
Outside, in the carpark, Mr. Peries the safety supervisor counted heads. 87.
He should have had 95. Eight workers were missing. He grabbed his radio and
ordered everyone back to their assembly point.
Inside, the alarm was real this time. A boiler had cracked and the third-
floor sewing hall was filling with smoke. The fire brigade arrived within
seven minutes and put the small fire out before anyone was hurt. But Mr.
Peries was angry. "You must not assume an alarm is false," he told the
workers at the meeting that evening. "You ought to leave immediately and let
me decide."
(1) Where did Fathima work?
(2) Why did some of the workers ignore the alarm?
(3) Write the sentence which shows that Fathima had been properly trained.
(4) What did Mr. Peries do when he found that eight workers were missing?
(5) Underline the correct title for this passage:
(a) The trouble with old factories.
(b) Never ignore a fire alarm.
(c) How Fathima got promoted.
(1) On the third floor of a garment factory in Katunayake.
(2) They thought it was a false alarm because alarms had been triggered by faulty wiring twice that month.
(3) "Fathima, however, stood up and walked straight to the emergency exit, exactly as her safety supervisor had drilled them."
(4) He grabbed his radio and ordered everyone back to their assembly point.
(5) (b) Never ignore a fire alarm.
5 marks.
(2) They thought it was a false alarm because alarms had been triggered by faulty wiring twice that month.
(3) "Fathima, however, stood up and walked straight to the emergency exit, exactly as her safety supervisor had drilled them."
(4) He grabbed his radio and ordered everyone back to their assembly point.
(5) (b) Never ignore a fire alarm.
5 marks.
Task 6 — Safety notice (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
You are the head prefect. Write a notice to be put up at the
school staircase reminding students of staircase safety. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• two safety rules
• when this is important
• who to report to in an emergency.
school staircase reminding students of staircase safety. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• two safety rules
• when this is important
• who to report to in an emergency.
STAIRCASE SAFETY — A REMINDER
All students must walk in single file on the left side of the staircase.
Do not run, push or skip steps, especially during the interval and at
dismissal. In an emergency, please remain calm and report to the prefect on
duty or to Mr. Perera at the main office. Your safety matters most.
— Head Prefect.
50 words. 5 marks.
All students must walk in single file on the left side of the staircase.
Do not run, push or skip steps, especially during the interval and at
dismissal. In an emergency, please remain calm and report to the prefect on
duty or to Mr. Perera at the main office. Your safety matters most.
— Head Prefect.
50 words. 5 marks.
Task 7 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) Good habits I follow every day
(b) Why we should keep our classroom clean
(c) A safety lesson I learnt the hard way
(a) Good habits I follow every day
(b) Why we should keep our classroom clean
(c) A safety lesson I learnt the hard way
MODEL — Why we should keep our classroom clean (60 words)
A clean classroom is a kind teacher. When the floor is swept and the boards
are wiped, our eyes settle and our minds focus. Dust on desks brings allergies;
food crumbs bring ants. Each one of us should pick up our own litter, share
the sweeping in turn, and refuse to write on the walls. Clean classrooms
make clear minds.
5 marks.
A clean classroom is a kind teacher. When the floor is swept and the boards
are wiped, our eyes settle and our minds focus. Dust on desks brings allergies;
food crumbs bring ants. Each one of us should pick up our own litter, share
the sweeping in turn, and refuse to write on the walls. Clean classrooms
make clear minds.
5 marks.
Task 8 — Letter / data description (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Answer (a) OR (b). Use about 100 words.
(a) Write a letter to the principal of your school suggesting three best
practices that could improve student safety. Include: the problem you have
noticed, three suggestions, why they will work.
(b) The table below shows the results of a survey on Best Practices followed
by 200 students at home. Write a description.
Table (No. of students): Drinks 8 glasses of water 110 · Eats breakfast 95 ·
Sleeps 8 hours 80 · Exercises daily 45 · Avoids fast food 35 · Reads for fun 30.
(a) Write a letter to the principal of your school suggesting three best
practices that could improve student safety. Include: the problem you have
noticed, three suggestions, why they will work.
(b) The table below shows the results of a survey on Best Practices followed
by 200 students at home. Write a description.
Table (No. of students): Drinks 8 glasses of water 110 · Eats breakfast 95 ·
Sleeps 8 hours 80 · Exercises daily 45 · Avoids fast food 35 · Reads for fun 30.
(b) MODEL — Table description (107 words)
The table shows the best practices followed by 200 students at home. Drinking
eight glasses of water a day is the most common habit, followed by 110
students. Eating a proper breakfast is the second most popular practice at 95.
Sleeping eight hours is followed by 80 students, more than the 45 who
exercise daily. Avoiding fast food and reading for fun are the two least
popular habits, at 35 and 30 students respectively.
In summary, basic eating-and-drinking habits are taken seriously by more than
half the students, while reading and exercise still need a real push.
10 marks — accurate data, every comparison phrase used.
The table shows the best practices followed by 200 students at home. Drinking
eight glasses of water a day is the most common habit, followed by 110
students. Eating a proper breakfast is the second most popular practice at 95.
Sleeping eight hours is followed by 80 students, more than the 45 who
exercise daily. Avoiding fast food and reading for fun are the two least
popular habits, at 35 and 30 students respectively.
In summary, basic eating-and-drinking habits are taken seriously by more than
half the students, while reading and exercise still need a real push.
10 marks — accurate data, every comparison phrase used.
Task 9 — Speech / essay (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) A speech you would make at the assembly on 'Best practices to stay safe
on the road'. Include: pedestrian safety, road-crossing rules, helmet for
motorbikes, seat belts.
(b) An essay on 'Why discipline matters in a school'.
(c) An article for the school magazine titled 'Three habits that changed
my year'.
(a) A speech you would make at the assembly on 'Best practices to stay safe
on the road'. Include: pedestrian safety, road-crossing rules, helmet for
motorbikes, seat belts.
(b) An essay on 'Why discipline matters in a school'.
(c) An article for the school magazine titled 'Three habits that changed
my year'.
(a) MODEL — Speech on road safety (212 words)
Good morning, teachers and friends.
Last week a Grade 9 student from our neighbouring school did not come home.
A speeding bus hit him as he ran across the Galle Road. He was wearing
school uniform. He was carrying his bag. He was twelve years old. We must
not let this happen to one of us.
First, when walking on a road, you should always walk on the right side,
facing oncoming traffic. You ought to wear something bright at dusk and dawn.
Second, when you cross, use the zebra crossing or the pedestrian bridge —
never the middle of the road. Stop, look both ways, listen, and only then
cross. Even if the bus is leaving, do not run.
Third, if any of you travels by motorbike with an elder brother or father,
you must wear a helmet. Helmets are not optional; they are the difference
between a headache and a hospital. In a car, the seatbelt is the same kind of
friend.
We sometimes joke that 'I cross fast, accident won't catch me.' But accidents
do not warn. Let us each promise today that we will walk safely, cross safely,
and come home safely.
Thank you.
15 marks — strong opening hook, clear three-step structure, modals used
correctly, warm call to action.
Good morning, teachers and friends.
Last week a Grade 9 student from our neighbouring school did not come home.
A speeding bus hit him as he ran across the Galle Road. He was wearing
school uniform. He was carrying his bag. He was twelve years old. We must
not let this happen to one of us.
First, when walking on a road, you should always walk on the right side,
facing oncoming traffic. You ought to wear something bright at dusk and dawn.
Second, when you cross, use the zebra crossing or the pedestrian bridge —
never the middle of the road. Stop, look both ways, listen, and only then
cross. Even if the bus is leaving, do not run.
Third, if any of you travels by motorbike with an elder brother or father,
you must wear a helmet. Helmets are not optional; they are the difference
between a headache and a hospital. In a car, the seatbelt is the same kind of
friend.
We sometimes joke that 'I cross fast, accident won't catch me.' But accidents
do not warn. Let us each promise today that we will walk safely, cross safely,
and come home safely.
Thank you.
15 marks — strong opening hook, clear three-step structure, modals used
correctly, warm call to action.
Section 6 — Information
Task 1 — Match question to source (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Match each question with the BEST source to answer it. Write the
correct letter in the blank. The first one is done for you.
Sources: A — Newspaper · B — Dictionary · C — Encyclopedia · D — Atlas · E — Telephone directory · F — Cookbook
Questions:
(1) What is the spelling and meaning of 'archaeology'? → B (example)
(2) Where exactly is Burkina Faso? → ...
(3) Who won yesterday's Sri Lanka–India match? → ...
(4) How do I make Sri Lankan watalappan? → ...
(5) What is the phone number of the Kandy general hospital? → ...
(6) Who was the first Emperor of Japan? → ...
correct letter in the blank. The first one is done for you.
Sources: A — Newspaper · B — Dictionary · C — Encyclopedia · D — Atlas · E — Telephone directory · F — Cookbook
Questions:
(1) What is the spelling and meaning of 'archaeology'? → B (example)
(2) Where exactly is Burkina Faso? → ...
(3) Who won yesterday's Sri Lanka–India match? → ...
(4) How do I make Sri Lankan watalappan? → ...
(5) What is the phone number of the Kandy general hospital? → ...
(6) Who was the first Emperor of Japan? → ...
(2) D — Atlas
(3) A — Newspaper
(4) F — Cookbook
(5) E — Telephone directory
(6) C — Encyclopedia
5 marks.
(3) A — Newspaper
(4) F — Cookbook
(5) E — Telephone directory
(6) C — Encyclopedia
5 marks.
Task 2 — Note-completion from a dialogue (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the dialogue between Naveen and his teacher. Fill in the
missing information.
Naveen : Sir, I would like to join the school media unit.
Teacher: Wonderful. What experience do you have?
Naveen : I have edited the class newsletter for two terms and won the second
prize at the All-Island Junior Reporter contest in 2025.
Teacher: Excellent. Are you good at photography too?
Naveen : Not really, but I am a fast typist — about 60 words per minute — and
I can use Canva and basic Photoshop.
Teacher: Good. We meet every Wednesday from 1.30 to 3.00 in the IT lab.
Naveen : I'm free then.
Teacher: Then bring two writing samples and a letter signed by your class
teacher next Wednesday.
Notes:
(1) Name : Naveen
(2) Previous experience : ...........
(3) Award won (year) : ...........
(4) Typing speed : ...........
(5) Software skills : ...........
(6) Meeting time : ...........
(7) Documents required next Wednesday : ...........
missing information.
Naveen : Sir, I would like to join the school media unit.
Teacher: Wonderful. What experience do you have?
Naveen : I have edited the class newsletter for two terms and won the second
prize at the All-Island Junior Reporter contest in 2025.
Teacher: Excellent. Are you good at photography too?
Naveen : Not really, but I am a fast typist — about 60 words per minute — and
I can use Canva and basic Photoshop.
Teacher: Good. We meet every Wednesday from 1.30 to 3.00 in the IT lab.
Naveen : I'm free then.
Teacher: Then bring two writing samples and a letter signed by your class
teacher next Wednesday.
Notes:
(1) Name : Naveen
(2) Previous experience : ...........
(3) Award won (year) : ...........
(4) Typing speed : ...........
(5) Software skills : ...........
(6) Meeting time : ...........
(7) Documents required next Wednesday : ...........
(2) Editing the class newsletter for two terms
(3) Second prize, All-Island Junior Reporter contest, 2025
(4) About 60 words per minute
(5) Canva and basic Photoshop
(6) Wednesday, 1.30–3.00 in the IT lab
(7) Two writing samples + a letter signed by his class teacher
5 marks.
(3) Second prize, All-Island Junior Reporter contest, 2025
(4) About 60 words per minute
(5) Canva and basic Photoshop
(6) Wednesday, 1.30–3.00 in the IT lab
(7) Two writing samples + a letter signed by his class teacher
5 marks.
Task 3 — Dictionary extract (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Use the following dictionary extract to answer the questions.
devote /dɪˈvəʊt/ verb (devotes, devoting, devoted) — to give a lot of time
or energy to something. She devoted her life to helping the poor.
diagonal /daɪˈæɡənl/ adjective — a straight line from one corner of a
square to another.
diamond /ˈdaɪəmənd/ noun [C] — 1 a hard stone that looks like clear glass and
is very expensive: The ring has a large diamond in it. 2 a four-sided shape
like a kite.
diary /ˈdaɪəri/ noun (pl diaries) — a book where you write what you have done
each day.
diet /ˈdaɪət/ noun — 1 the food that you usually eat: It is important to have
a healthy diet. 2 special food eaten when you want to lose weight.
diesel /ˈdiːzl/ noun — 1 (also diesel engine) an engine in buses, trains and
some cars that uses oil, not petrol. 2 (no plural) oil that is used in diesel
engines.
(1) Which word in this extract is a verb?
(2) Find a word that has more than one meaning.
(3) Which word would you use to write down what you did today?
(4) Which adjective describes a straight line from one corner of a square to another?
(5) Underline the correct answer. A diesel engine runs on .........
(a) petrol (b) oil (c) electricity
devote /dɪˈvəʊt/ verb (devotes, devoting, devoted) — to give a lot of time
or energy to something. She devoted her life to helping the poor.
diagonal /daɪˈæɡənl/ adjective — a straight line from one corner of a
square to another.
diamond /ˈdaɪəmənd/ noun [C] — 1 a hard stone that looks like clear glass and
is very expensive: The ring has a large diamond in it. 2 a four-sided shape
like a kite.
diary /ˈdaɪəri/ noun (pl diaries) — a book where you write what you have done
each day.
diet /ˈdaɪət/ noun — 1 the food that you usually eat: It is important to have
a healthy diet. 2 special food eaten when you want to lose weight.
diesel /ˈdiːzl/ noun — 1 (also diesel engine) an engine in buses, trains and
some cars that uses oil, not petrol. 2 (no plural) oil that is used in diesel
engines.
(1) Which word in this extract is a verb?
(2) Find a word that has more than one meaning.
(3) Which word would you use to write down what you did today?
(4) Which adjective describes a straight line from one corner of a square to another?
(5) Underline the correct answer. A diesel engine runs on .........
(a) petrol (b) oil (c) electricity
(1) devote
(2) diamond / diet / diesel (any of these)
(3) diary
(4) diagonal
(5) (b) oil
5 marks.
(2) diamond / diet / diesel (any of these)
(3) diary
(4) diagonal
(5) (b) oil
5 marks.
Task 4 — Present perfect (active and passive) (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Complete each sentence using the correct present perfect form
of the verb in brackets.
(1) The internet (change) ........... the way we learn.
(2) Many trees (cut down) ........... in the past ten years. (passive)
(3) My sister (just / finish) ........... her project.
(4) Three new books (publish) ........... by our principal. (passive)
(5) I never (read) ........... such an exciting story.
of the verb in brackets.
(1) The internet (change) ........... the way we learn.
(2) Many trees (cut down) ........... in the past ten years. (passive)
(3) My sister (just / finish) ........... her project.
(4) Three new books (publish) ........... by our principal. (passive)
(5) I never (read) ........... such an exciting story.
(1) has changed
(2) have been cut down
(3) has just finished
(4) have been published
(5) have... read ("I have never read")
5 marks.
(2) have been cut down
(3) has just finished
(4) have been published
(5) have... read ("I have never read")
5 marks.
Task 5 — Reading comprehension: Wikipedia (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the following passage and answer the questions.
A Free Encyclopedia for Everyone
In 2001, two Americans, Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger, launched a website where
anyone could write an encyclopedia article and anyone else could correct it.
They called it Wikipedia. Most of their friends laughed; the idea of letting
strangers edit was, they said, a disaster waiting to happen.
Twenty-five years later, the disaster has not happened. Wikipedia has become
the world's most widely read general reference work. It is available in over
320 languages. The Sinhala and Tamil versions together carry more than two
hundred thousand articles. School children in Sri Lanka now use it for
homework as comfortably as their grandparents used the Britannica.
Wikipedia is not perfect. Because volunteers write the articles, a few are
biased, a few are out of date, and a very few have been deliberately
sabotaged. Most articles, however, list their sources at the bottom, and
serious students always check those sources before quoting a single sentence.
(1) When was Wikipedia launched?
(2) In how many languages is Wikipedia available?
(3) Write the sentence that shows why some people thought Wikipedia would fail.
(4) What is one disadvantage of Wikipedia?
(5) Underline the correct answer. According to the passage, before quoting Wikipedia, a serious student should ...........
(a) check the date.
(b) check the listed sources.
(c) check the language.
A Free Encyclopedia for Everyone
In 2001, two Americans, Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger, launched a website where
anyone could write an encyclopedia article and anyone else could correct it.
They called it Wikipedia. Most of their friends laughed; the idea of letting
strangers edit was, they said, a disaster waiting to happen.
Twenty-five years later, the disaster has not happened. Wikipedia has become
the world's most widely read general reference work. It is available in over
320 languages. The Sinhala and Tamil versions together carry more than two
hundred thousand articles. School children in Sri Lanka now use it for
homework as comfortably as their grandparents used the Britannica.
Wikipedia is not perfect. Because volunteers write the articles, a few are
biased, a few are out of date, and a very few have been deliberately
sabotaged. Most articles, however, list their sources at the bottom, and
serious students always check those sources before quoting a single sentence.
(1) When was Wikipedia launched?
(2) In how many languages is Wikipedia available?
(3) Write the sentence that shows why some people thought Wikipedia would fail.
(4) What is one disadvantage of Wikipedia?
(5) Underline the correct answer. According to the passage, before quoting Wikipedia, a serious student should ...........
(a) check the date.
(b) check the listed sources.
(c) check the language.
(1) In 2001.
(2) Over 320 languages.
(3) "Most of their friends laughed; the idea of letting strangers edit was, they said, a disaster waiting to happen."
(4) A few articles are biased, out of date or deliberately sabotaged.
(5) (b) check the listed sources.
5 marks.
(2) Over 320 languages.
(3) "Most of their friends laughed; the idea of letting strangers edit was, they said, a disaster waiting to happen."
(4) A few articles are biased, out of date or deliberately sabotaged.
(5) (b) check the listed sources.
5 marks.
Task 6 — Notice: a new noticeboard (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
Your school has installed a new digital noticeboard in the
canteen. Write a notice telling students how to use it. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• what the noticeboard is for
• when it is updated
• one Do and one Don't
• who to contact for additions.
canteen. Write a notice telling students how to use it. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• what the noticeboard is for
• when it is updated
• one Do and one Don't
• who to contact for additions.
NEW DIGITAL NOTICEBOARD — CANTEEN ENTRANCE
The new screen at the canteen entrance carries daily school notices, club
events and the menu. It is updated every morning at 7.30. Do read it before
the interval. Don't tap the screen with food on your fingers. To add an
announcement, please email Mr. Perera at ictoffice@school.lk.
— Head Prefect.
50 words. 5 marks.
The new screen at the canteen entrance carries daily school notices, club
events and the menu. It is updated every morning at 7.30. Do read it before
the interval. Don't tap the screen with food on your fingers. To add an
announcement, please email Mr. Perera at ictoffice@school.lk.
— Head Prefect.
50 words. 5 marks.
Task 7 — Diary entry (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a diary entry for the day you won (or lost) a competition.
Use about 50–60 words.
Use about 50–60 words.
MODEL — Diary entry (60 words)
Monday, 14th February 2027 — sunny and breezy
Today was the inter-school spelling bee at Royal College. I sat through nine
rounds with my heart in my mouth. On the word 'phenomenon' I almost stumbled
but took it letter by letter. Third place! My mother cried more than I did.
Mr. Perera said next year we go for gold.
5 marks — date + weather, sequencing, vivid moment, feeling, future hook.
Monday, 14th February 2027 — sunny and breezy
Today was the inter-school spelling bee at Royal College. I sat through nine
rounds with my heart in my mouth. On the word 'phenomenon' I almost stumbled
but took it letter by letter. Third place! My mother cried more than I did.
Mr. Perera said next year we go for gold.
5 marks — date + weather, sequencing, vivid moment, feeling, future hook.
Task 8 — Letter / data description (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Answer (a) OR (b). Use about 100 words.
(a) Write a letter to the editor of a children's magazine suggesting one new
column you would like to read. Include: who you are, why you read the
magazine, what the new column should cover, why other children would like
it.
(b) The bar chart below shows the favourite information sources of 200
Grade 10 students. Write a description.
Bar values: Google / web 95 · Television 50 · Newspaper 25 · Library books 15 ·
Family elders 15.
(a) Write a letter to the editor of a children's magazine suggesting one new
column you would like to read. Include: who you are, why you read the
magazine, what the new column should cover, why other children would like
it.
(b) The bar chart below shows the favourite information sources of 200
Grade 10 students. Write a description.
Bar values: Google / web 95 · Television 50 · Newspaper 25 · Library books 15 ·
Family elders 15.
(b) MODEL — Bar chart description (104 words)
The bar chart shows the favourite information sources of 200 Grade 10 students.
The internet is by far the most popular source, chosen by 95 students.
Television comes second at 50, half the figure for the internet but still
clearly more than the 25 who read newspapers. Library books and family
elders are the least popular, with an equal score of 15 each.
In summary, screen-based sources (internet + television) together account for
almost three-quarters of all students. The drop from 95 to 15 from first to
last shows how much daily information habits have changed in one generation.
10 marks.
The bar chart shows the favourite information sources of 200 Grade 10 students.
The internet is by far the most popular source, chosen by 95 students.
Television comes second at 50, half the figure for the internet but still
clearly more than the 25 who read newspapers. Library books and family
elders are the least popular, with an equal score of 15 each.
In summary, screen-based sources (internet + television) together account for
almost three-quarters of all students. The drop from 95 to 15 from first to
last shows how much daily information habits have changed in one generation.
10 marks.
Task 9 — Article / essay (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) An article for a school magazine: 'Sources of Information'.
(b) A speech on 'Why we still need printed books'.
(c) An essay on 'The internet — boon or bane?'
(a) An article for a school magazine: 'Sources of Information'.
(b) A speech on 'Why we still need printed books'.
(c) An essay on 'The internet — boon or bane?'
(a) MODEL — Sources of Information (215 words)
A generation ago, knowing something meant going to the library, opening a
thick book and turning pages. Today my younger sister can ask her phone
the capital of Burkina Faso and have it before the kettle has boiled. So how
should a Sri Lankan student in 2026 use the many sources of information
available?
First, the newspaper. Read one a day — paper or digital — for news of the
world and the country. The editorial column trains your opinion writing.
Second, the dictionary. Even a small one carries spelling, pronunciation,
word class and example sentences. The online ones add audio so you finally
learn that 'epitome' is spoken "i-pi-tuh-mee".
Third, the textbook. It may look old-fashioned, but it gives you the
complete syllabus that an exam tests. No web page is yet that organised.
Fourth, Wikipedia and reliable web pages. Useful for quick orientation, but
always follow the sources listed at the bottom — they are the real authority.
No single source is enough. The wise student becomes a kind of detective —
comparing a news report with a textbook chapter and a Wikipedia article
before taking any 'fact' as final.
In this age of information, the real skill is judgement.
15 marks.
A generation ago, knowing something meant going to the library, opening a
thick book and turning pages. Today my younger sister can ask her phone
the capital of Burkina Faso and have it before the kettle has boiled. So how
should a Sri Lankan student in 2026 use the many sources of information
available?
First, the newspaper. Read one a day — paper or digital — for news of the
world and the country. The editorial column trains your opinion writing.
Second, the dictionary. Even a small one carries spelling, pronunciation,
word class and example sentences. The online ones add audio so you finally
learn that 'epitome' is spoken "i-pi-tuh-mee".
Third, the textbook. It may look old-fashioned, but it gives you the
complete syllabus that an exam tests. No web page is yet that organised.
Fourth, Wikipedia and reliable web pages. Useful for quick orientation, but
always follow the sources listed at the bottom — they are the real authority.
No single source is enough. The wise student becomes a kind of detective —
comparing a news report with a textbook chapter and a Wikipedia article
before taking any 'fact' as final.
In this age of information, the real skill is judgement.
15 marks.
Section 7 — Learning is Fun
Task 1 — Match proverbs to meanings (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Match each proverb on the left with its meaning on the right.
Write the correct letter. The first one is done for you.
(1) A stitch in time saves nine. → c (example)
(2) Practice makes perfect.
(3) Unity is strength.
(4) Birds of a feather flock together.
(5) Patience is a virtue.
(6) Better late than never.
(a) People of the same kind keep one another's company.
(b) Repeated effort leads to mastery.
(c) Fixing a small problem now saves a bigger one later.
(d) Doing something late is still better than not doing it at all.
(e) Waiting calmly is a good quality.
(f) People working together are stronger than alone.
Write the correct letter. The first one is done for you.
(1) A stitch in time saves nine. → c (example)
(2) Practice makes perfect.
(3) Unity is strength.
(4) Birds of a feather flock together.
(5) Patience is a virtue.
(6) Better late than never.
(a) People of the same kind keep one another's company.
(b) Repeated effort leads to mastery.
(c) Fixing a small problem now saves a bigger one later.
(d) Doing something late is still better than not doing it at all.
(e) Waiting calmly is a good quality.
(f) People working together are stronger than alone.
(2) b — Repeated effort leads to mastery.
(3) f — People working together are stronger.
(4) a — People of the same kind keep company.
(5) e — Waiting calmly is a good quality.
(6) d — Late is better than never.
5 marks.
(3) f — People working together are stronger.
(4) a — People of the same kind keep company.
(5) e — Waiting calmly is a good quality.
(6) d — Late is better than never.
5 marks.
Task 2 — Present simple vs present continuous (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Fill in each blank with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
Choose between the present simple and present continuous.
(1) I (read) ........... an English newspaper every morning.
(2) Look! The cat (chase) ........... a bird.
(3) Tharindu usually (study) ........... in his bedroom, but today he (study)
........... in the garden.
(4) Water (boil) ........... at 100 °C.
(5) Please be quiet — the children (sleep) ........... .
Choose between the present simple and present continuous.
(1) I (read) ........... an English newspaper every morning.
(2) Look! The cat (chase) ........... a bird.
(3) Tharindu usually (study) ........... in his bedroom, but today he (study)
........... in the garden.
(4) Water (boil) ........... at 100 °C.
(5) Please be quiet — the children (sleep) ........... .
(1) read
(2) is chasing
(3) studies; is studying
(4) boils
(5) are sleeping
5 marks.
(2) is chasing
(3) studies; is studying
(4) boils
(5) are sleeping
5 marks.
Task 3 — Choose the correct word (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Select the most suitable word from the box for each blank. There
is one extra word.
Word box: assembly · neglected · respect · reproach · conquered · philosophical · venerated
(1) The temple has been a place of worship and ........... for hundreds of
years.
(2) She always speaks of her grandfather with great ........... .
(3) The general ........... most of the island in just six months.
(4) Don't ........... your duty to your parents.
(5) The school ........... every Monday morning is held in the main hall.
is one extra word.
Word box: assembly · neglected · respect · reproach · conquered · philosophical · venerated
(1) The temple has been a place of worship and ........... for hundreds of
years.
(2) She always speaks of her grandfather with great ........... .
(3) The general ........... most of the island in just six months.
(4) Don't ........... your duty to your parents.
(5) The school ........... every Monday morning is held in the main hall.
(1) venerated
(2) respect
(3) conquered
(4) neglect (you may write "neglected" but the verb form is preferred here)
(5) assembly
5 marks.
(2) respect
(3) conquered
(4) neglect (you may write "neglected" but the verb form is preferred here)
(5) assembly
5 marks.
Task 4 — Add the right idiom (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Fill in each blank with one of the idioms in the box. There is
one extra idiom.
Idiom box: a piece of cake · hit the books · burn the midnight oil · under the weather · let the cat out of the bag · once in a blue moon
(1) The maths paper was easy — a real ........... .
(2) With the exam next week, I plan to ........... every night.
(3) Don't tell Sajini about the surprise — she will ........... .
(4) I'm not coming to practice. I'm feeling a bit ........... today.
(5) Stop watching TV and ........... — your exams are next week.
one extra idiom.
Idiom box: a piece of cake · hit the books · burn the midnight oil · under the weather · let the cat out of the bag · once in a blue moon
(1) The maths paper was easy — a real ........... .
(2) With the exam next week, I plan to ........... every night.
(3) Don't tell Sajini about the surprise — she will ........... .
(4) I'm not coming to practice. I'm feeling a bit ........... today.
(5) Stop watching TV and ........... — your exams are next week.
(1) a piece of cake
(2) burn the midnight oil
(3) let the cat out of the bag
(4) under the weather
(5) hit the books
5 marks.
(2) burn the midnight oil
(3) let the cat out of the bag
(4) under the weather
(5) hit the books
5 marks.
Task 5 — Comprehension: Unity is Strength (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the following fable and answer the questions.
An old farmer had four sons. They argued day and night and even came to blows
over little things. Their fights brought sorrow to the farmer and worry to
the neighbourhood. One evening, after a fierce quarrel, the father called all
four of them and laid a bundle of four sticks on the table.
"Break this bundle," he said.
The eldest son took the bundle, pressed it across his knee, twisted it and
heaved at it. The bundle did not break. The second tried, then the third, then
the youngest — none could break it.
Meanwhile, the youngest jeered at his brothers and thought they were very
incompetent. He thought he was very clever and took one stick at a time and
easily broke all of them.
The old father then smiled at his sons and said, "Children, do you understand
what happened? It is always easy to break the sticks one by one, but when
they are bundled together, none of you could break them. In the same way, the
four of you should always be together. No one will be able to hurt you then."
The four brothers realised what their father was trying to teach them and
forgot all their enmity and learnt that unity is strength.
From that day onwards, they never fought with each other and lived together
in peace and harmony.
(1) How many sons did the farmer have?
(2) What did the father use to teach them the lesson?
(3) Write the sentence that gives the moral of the story.
(4) Who broke the sticks one by one?
(5) Underline the correct title for this story:
(a) The Lazy Farmer's Sons
(b) Unity is Strength
(c) Sticks Can Win Wars
An old farmer had four sons. They argued day and night and even came to blows
over little things. Their fights brought sorrow to the farmer and worry to
the neighbourhood. One evening, after a fierce quarrel, the father called all
four of them and laid a bundle of four sticks on the table.
"Break this bundle," he said.
The eldest son took the bundle, pressed it across his knee, twisted it and
heaved at it. The bundle did not break. The second tried, then the third, then
the youngest — none could break it.
Meanwhile, the youngest jeered at his brothers and thought they were very
incompetent. He thought he was very clever and took one stick at a time and
easily broke all of them.
The old father then smiled at his sons and said, "Children, do you understand
what happened? It is always easy to break the sticks one by one, but when
they are bundled together, none of you could break them. In the same way, the
four of you should always be together. No one will be able to hurt you then."
The four brothers realised what their father was trying to teach them and
forgot all their enmity and learnt that unity is strength.
From that day onwards, they never fought with each other and lived together
in peace and harmony.
(1) How many sons did the farmer have?
(2) What did the father use to teach them the lesson?
(3) Write the sentence that gives the moral of the story.
(4) Who broke the sticks one by one?
(5) Underline the correct title for this story:
(a) The Lazy Farmer's Sons
(b) Unity is Strength
(c) Sticks Can Win Wars
(1) Four sons.
(2) A bundle of four sticks.
(3) "It is always easy to break the sticks one by one, but when they are bundled together, none of you could break them."
(4) The youngest son.
(5) (b) Unity is Strength.
5 marks.
(2) A bundle of four sticks.
(3) "It is always easy to break the sticks one by one, but when they are bundled together, none of you could break them."
(4) The youngest son.
(5) (b) Unity is Strength.
5 marks.
Task 6 — Notice: a reading club (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
You are starting a new English Reading Club at school. Write a
notice for the noticeboard. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• the day and time the club meets
• the venue
• who can join
• one benefit of joining.
notice for the noticeboard. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• the day and time the club meets
• the venue
• who can join
• one benefit of joining.
ENGLISH READING CLUB — JOIN US!
Do you want to read more and speak with more confidence? The new English
Reading Club meets every Wednesday at 1.30 p.m. in the library. All students
from Grade 8 to 11 are warmly invited. Each member receives a free copy of a
short story to read at home.
— Nimali Perera, Founder.
50 words. 5 marks.
Do you want to read more and speak with more confidence? The new English
Reading Club meets every Wednesday at 1.30 p.m. in the library. All students
from Grade 8 to 11 are warmly invited. Each member receives a free copy of a
short story to read at home.
— Nimali Perera, Founder.
50 words. 5 marks.
Task 7 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) Why I enjoy learning English
(b) A book that changed me
(c) My favourite proverb
(a) Why I enjoy learning English
(b) A book that changed me
(c) My favourite proverb
MODEL — A book that changed me (60 words)
The little book that changed me was Charlotte's Web. I bought it at a stall
in Pettah for forty rupees. By the end I was sniffling for a spider, of all
creatures! What it taught me was simple: kindness can come from the smallest
places. Every time I help a younger student now, I think of Charlotte.
5 marks — opens with the book, gives a vivid moment (40 rupees / sniffling),
states the lesson, closes with how it changed behaviour.
The little book that changed me was Charlotte's Web. I bought it at a stall
in Pettah for forty rupees. By the end I was sniffling for a spider, of all
creatures! What it taught me was simple: kindness can come from the smallest
places. Every time I help a younger student now, I think of Charlotte.
5 marks — opens with the book, gives a vivid moment (40 rupees / sniffling),
states the lesson, closes with how it changed behaviour.
Task 8 — Letter / data description (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Answer (a) OR (b). Use about 100 words.
(a) Write a letter to your friend recommending one English book you have just
finished. Include: title and author, a one-sentence plot, your favourite
character, why your friend will like it.
(b) The table below shows the favourite methods of learning English among
200 students. Write a description.
Table: Reading 75 · Watching English films 50 · Listening to songs 35 ·
Speaking with friends 25 · Writing a diary 15.
(a) Write a letter to your friend recommending one English book you have just
finished. Include: title and author, a one-sentence plot, your favourite
character, why your friend will like it.
(b) The table below shows the favourite methods of learning English among
200 students. Write a description.
Table: Reading 75 · Watching English films 50 · Listening to songs 35 ·
Speaking with friends 25 · Writing a diary 15.
(b) MODEL — Table description (102 words)
The table shows the favourite methods of learning English among 200 students
of our school. Reading is by far the most popular method, chosen by 75
students, while watching English films is second at 50. Listening to songs
comes third with 35 students, more than the 25 who learn by speaking with
friends. Writing a diary is the least popular method, with only 15.
In summary, three-quarters of the students prefer reading or watching, which
are input-only methods. Speaking and writing — the two skills examiners
reward most — are clearly under-practised.
10 marks — accurate data, comparison phrases used, ends with a useful insight.
The table shows the favourite methods of learning English among 200 students
of our school. Reading is by far the most popular method, chosen by 75
students, while watching English films is second at 50. Listening to songs
comes third with 35 students, more than the 25 who learn by speaking with
friends. Writing a diary is the least popular method, with only 15.
In summary, three-quarters of the students prefer reading or watching, which
are input-only methods. Speaking and writing — the two skills examiners
reward most — are clearly under-practised.
10 marks — accurate data, comparison phrases used, ends with a useful insight.
Task 9 — Story / article (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) Write a fable about an animal that learns a hard lesson.
(b) An article for a magazine titled 'How I improved my English'.
(c) A speech on 'Why reading is still the best teacher'.
(a) Write a fable about an animal that learns a hard lesson.
(b) An article for a magazine titled 'How I improved my English'.
(c) A speech on 'Why reading is still the best teacher'.
(a) MODEL — The Hare's Apology (216 words)
There was once a hare so quick on his feet that no animal in the forest could
overlook him. He boasted that no other creature could keep up with him for
ten metres. Every morning he sat by the old banyan tree and reminded the
squirrels, the deer and even the elephants of his record.
One afternoon a tortoise crawled past on the path to the river. "Race me,"
the hare said, laughing. The tortoise looked up calmly and agreed. The whole
forest gathered at the riverbank to watch.
The hare bolted out of the starting line and was halfway to the river
before the tortoise had taken twenty steps. He sat down under a jak tree to
rest. "I shall have a small nap and still beat him by a mile," he thought.
When he woke, the sun was sinking. He raced down the path — and saw the
tortoise just stepping into the river, the crowd cheering.
The hare hung his head. "I am sorry," he said. "I had the speed, but you had
the patience."
The tortoise smiled. "Don't be sorry, friend. Just remember."
Moral: Speed without patience wins nothing; patience without speed wins
everything that lasts.
15 marks — clear characters, build-up, dialogue moment, surprise turn,
moral on a separate line, fresh re-telling of a classic.
There was once a hare so quick on his feet that no animal in the forest could
overlook him. He boasted that no other creature could keep up with him for
ten metres. Every morning he sat by the old banyan tree and reminded the
squirrels, the deer and even the elephants of his record.
One afternoon a tortoise crawled past on the path to the river. "Race me,"
the hare said, laughing. The tortoise looked up calmly and agreed. The whole
forest gathered at the riverbank to watch.
The hare bolted out of the starting line and was halfway to the river
before the tortoise had taken twenty steps. He sat down under a jak tree to
rest. "I shall have a small nap and still beat him by a mile," he thought.
When he woke, the sun was sinking. He raced down the path — and saw the
tortoise just stepping into the river, the crowd cheering.
The hare hung his head. "I am sorry," he said. "I had the speed, but you had
the patience."
The tortoise smiled. "Don't be sorry, friend. Just remember."
Moral: Speed without patience wins nothing; patience without speed wins
everything that lasts.
15 marks — clear characters, build-up, dialogue moment, surprise turn,
moral on a separate line, fresh re-telling of a classic.
Section 8 — Healthy Food
Task 1 — Fill the blanks with the right connective (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Fill in each blank with a connective from the box. There is one
extra word.
Box: in spite of · although · even though · while · whenever
(1) ........... it is raining, the children are playing in the garden.
(2) Mother makes hoppers ........... the rest of us are still sleeping.
(3) ........... his diabetes, my uncle still loves sweets.
(4) ........... she has been told three times, she still eats junk food.
(5) I take a glass of king coconut water ........... I feel tired.
extra word.
Box: in spite of · although · even though · while · whenever
(1) ........... it is raining, the children are playing in the garden.
(2) Mother makes hoppers ........... the rest of us are still sleeping.
(3) ........... his diabetes, my uncle still loves sweets.
(4) ........... she has been told three times, she still eats junk food.
(5) I take a glass of king coconut water ........... I feel tired.
(1) Although / Even though
(2) while
(3) In spite of
(4) Even though / Although
(5) whenever
5 marks.
(2) while
(3) In spite of
(4) Even though / Although
(5) whenever
5 marks.
Task 2 — Form the plural (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Write the plural form of each noun below.
(1) phenomenon → ...........
(2) bacterium → ...........
(3) nucleus → ...........
(4) analysis → ...........
(5) appendix → ...........
(6) father-in-law → ...........
(7) passer-by → ...........
(8) child → ...........
(9) tooth → ...........
(10) goose → ...........
(1) phenomenon → ...........
(2) bacterium → ...........
(3) nucleus → ...........
(4) analysis → ...........
(5) appendix → ...........
(6) father-in-law → ...........
(7) passer-by → ...........
(8) child → ...........
(9) tooth → ...........
(10) goose → ...........
(1) phenomena
(2) bacteria
(3) nuclei
(4) analyses
(5) appendices (or appendixes)
(6) fathers-in-law
(7) passers-by
(8) children
(9) teeth
(10) geese
5 marks (½ × 10).
(2) bacteria
(3) nuclei
(4) analyses
(5) appendices (or appendixes)
(6) fathers-in-law
(7) passers-by
(8) children
(9) teeth
(10) geese
5 marks (½ × 10).
Task 3 — Quantifiers: countable vs uncountable (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Choose the correct word in brackets.
(1) There isn't (much, many) rice left.
(2) (How much, How many) eggs do we need for the cake?
(3) She bought (a few, a little) tomatoes from the market.
(4) Mother put (a few, a little) salt in the curry.
(5) There are (fewer, less) sweet shops in our town now.
(1) There isn't (much, many) rice left.
(2) (How much, How many) eggs do we need for the cake?
(3) She bought (a few, a little) tomatoes from the market.
(4) Mother put (a few, a little) salt in the curry.
(5) There are (fewer, less) sweet shops in our town now.
(1) much
(2) How many
(3) a few
(4) a little
(5) fewer
5 marks.
(2) How many
(3) a few
(4) a little
(5) fewer
5 marks.
Task 4 — Comprehension: Finger millet (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the passage on finger millet (above) and answer the questions.
(1) What is finger millet called in Sinhala and Tamil?
(2) Name THREE nutrients found in finger millet.
(3) Why is it good for diabetic patients?
(4) Write the sentence which lists at least four foods made from finger millet.
(5) Underline the correct answer. Finger millet grows best in ........... .
(a) very wet, low-country areas.
(b) arid highland areas with medium rainfall.
(c) cold, snow-covered mountains.
(1) What is finger millet called in Sinhala and Tamil?
(2) Name THREE nutrients found in finger millet.
(3) Why is it good for diabetic patients?
(4) Write the sentence which lists at least four foods made from finger millet.
(5) Underline the correct answer. Finger millet grows best in ........... .
(a) very wet, low-country areas.
(b) arid highland areas with medium rainfall.
(c) cold, snow-covered mountains.
(1) Kurakkan.
(2) Vitamin B, iron and calcium (also: fibre / carbohydrates).
(3) Because its digestion is slow, it helps keep the blood sugar at a low level.
(4) "This wholesome grain is made into porridge, idli, pittu, rotti, hoppers and bread in various regions."
(5) (b) arid highland areas with medium rainfall.
5 marks.
(2) Vitamin B, iron and calcium (also: fibre / carbohydrates).
(3) Because its digestion is slow, it helps keep the blood sugar at a low level.
(4) "This wholesome grain is made into porridge, idli, pittu, rotti, hoppers and bread in various regions."
(5) (b) arid highland areas with medium rainfall.
5 marks.
Task 5 — Recipe writing (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Write a short recipe for a Sri Lankan healthy dish (kurakkan
rotti / gotu kola sambol / king coconut juice). Use about 60 words.
Include:
• name of the dish
• ingredients (5)
• 3 steps to prepare it.
rotti / gotu kola sambol / king coconut juice). Use about 60 words.
Include:
• name of the dish
• ingredients (5)
• 3 steps to prepare it.
GOTU KOLA SAMBOL (60 words)
Ingredients: a bunch of gotu kola leaves, half a coconut (scraped), half a red
onion, one green chilli, salt and lime to taste.
1. Wash the gotu kola, drain it, and chop it finely.
2. Mix in the scraped coconut, finely diced onion and green chilli.
3. Squeeze fresh lime juice over it, season with salt, and serve with rice.
5 marks.
Ingredients: a bunch of gotu kola leaves, half a coconut (scraped), half a red
onion, one green chilli, salt and lime to taste.
1. Wash the gotu kola, drain it, and chop it finely.
2. Mix in the scraped coconut, finely diced onion and green chilli.
3. Squeeze fresh lime juice over it, season with salt, and serve with rice.
5 marks.
Task 6 — Notice: a healthy-food week (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
You are the secretary of the school Wellness Club. Write a notice
inviting students to a Healthy Food Week. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• dates of the week
• one activity
• who is invited
• who to register with.
inviting students to a Healthy Food Week. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• dates of the week
• one activity
• who is invited
• who to register with.
WELLNESS CLUB — HEALTHY FOOD WEEK
The Wellness Club is hosting a Healthy Food Week from 6th to 10th March
2027. Daily events include a kurakkan-bake competition, a fruit-salad demo
and a doctor's talk on sugar. All students from Grade 7 to 11 are warmly
invited. Register with Tharindu Silva by 3rd March.
— Secretary.
49 words. 5 marks.
The Wellness Club is hosting a Healthy Food Week from 6th to 10th March
2027. Daily events include a kurakkan-bake competition, a fruit-salad demo
and a doctor's talk on sugar. All students from Grade 7 to 11 are warmly
invited. Register with Tharindu Silva by 3rd March.
— Secretary.
49 words. 5 marks.
Task 7 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) My favourite traditional Sri Lankan food
(b) Why fast food is bad for us
(c) A day on a healthy diet
(a) My favourite traditional Sri Lankan food
(b) Why fast food is bad for us
(c) A day on a healthy diet
MODEL — My favourite traditional Sri Lankan food (60 words)
My favourite traditional food is string hoppers with kiri hodi and lunu miris.
The steamed strands of rice flour are soft, the milky gravy is fragrant with
turmeric, and the chilli sambol gives it a fiery wake-up call. It is a
hand-rolled, hand-eaten meal — and the easiest reason to wake up at six on a
Sunday.
5 marks.
My favourite traditional food is string hoppers with kiri hodi and lunu miris.
The steamed strands of rice flour are soft, the milky gravy is fragrant with
turmeric, and the chilli sambol gives it a fiery wake-up call. It is a
hand-rolled, hand-eaten meal — and the easiest reason to wake up at six on a
Sunday.
5 marks.
Task 8 — Bar / pie chart description (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Answer (a) OR (b). Use about 100 words.
(a) Write a letter to your friend explaining why you have decided to give up
fast food. Include: why you started eating it, the day you decided to stop,
what you eat instead, how you feel.
(b) The pie chart shows how a Grade 10 student spent her lunch money in
December. Write a description.
Pie values: Hoppers 30% · Pizza & burgers 25% · Fruits 20% · Soft drinks 15% ·
Sweets 10%.
(a) Write a letter to your friend explaining why you have decided to give up
fast food. Include: why you started eating it, the day you decided to stop,
what you eat instead, how you feel.
(b) The pie chart shows how a Grade 10 student spent her lunch money in
December. Write a description.
Pie values: Hoppers 30% · Pizza & burgers 25% · Fruits 20% · Soft drinks 15% ·
Sweets 10%.
(b) MODEL — Pie chart description (105 words)
The pie chart shows how a Grade 10 student spent her lunch money in December.
Hoppers — a traditional Sri Lankan snack — took the highest share at 30%,
closely followed by pizza and burgers at 25%. Fresh fruits made up 20% of
her spending, while soft drinks accounted for 15%. Sweets received the
smallest slice, at just 10%.
Overall, more than half her lunch money (55%) was spent on either traditional
or fast-food meals. The healthier choice of fresh fruit alone accounted for
only one-fifth — a sign that even an aware student finds it hard to choose
fruit over fries.
10 marks — accurate data, comparison phrases, opens and closes with insight.
The pie chart shows how a Grade 10 student spent her lunch money in December.
Hoppers — a traditional Sri Lankan snack — took the highest share at 30%,
closely followed by pizza and burgers at 25%. Fresh fruits made up 20% of
her spending, while soft drinks accounted for 15%. Sweets received the
smallest slice, at just 10%.
Overall, more than half her lunch money (55%) was spent on either traditional
or fast-food meals. The healthier choice of fresh fruit alone accounted for
only one-fifth — a sign that even an aware student finds it hard to choose
fruit over fries.
10 marks — accurate data, comparison phrases, opens and closes with insight.
Task 9 — Article / speech (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) An article for the school magazine: 'Eating healthy food leads to a
healthy life'.
(b) A speech on 'Why we should bring back traditional Sri Lankan grains'.
(c) An essay on 'Fast food: a hidden danger'.
(a) An article for the school magazine: 'Eating healthy food leads to a
healthy life'.
(b) A speech on 'Why we should bring back traditional Sri Lankan grains'.
(c) An essay on 'Fast food: a hidden danger'.
(a) MODEL — Eating healthy food leads to a healthy life (216 words)
What we put on our plates today shapes the body we live in tomorrow. Healthy
food means fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish and pulses — the kind
of meal that comes out of a kitchen, not a packet. Unhealthy food, by
contrast, is what we get from deep fryers and snack shelves: high in sugar,
salt and oil and low in real nutrition.
We should eat healthy food because our body is built from what we feed it.
Vegetables give us vitamins; fish and pulses give us protein for growth;
whole grains give us steady energy to study and play. A diet of fizzy drinks
and short eats may taste good for a minute, but it leaves us tired, overweight
and one day diabetic.
Eating well leads to a healthy life in three clear ways. First, our weight
stays normal. Second, common illnesses such as flu and stomach pain become
rare. Third, our mind stays sharp — we concentrate better in class and sleep
better at night.
So let us choose the rice-and-curry plate over the burger, and the king
coconut over the cola. Healthy eating is not a punishment; it is a kindness
we do for our future self.
15 marks — opens with a hook, defines healthy vs unhealthy, three-point
benefit list, warm call to action.
What we put on our plates today shapes the body we live in tomorrow. Healthy
food means fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish and pulses — the kind
of meal that comes out of a kitchen, not a packet. Unhealthy food, by
contrast, is what we get from deep fryers and snack shelves: high in sugar,
salt and oil and low in real nutrition.
We should eat healthy food because our body is built from what we feed it.
Vegetables give us vitamins; fish and pulses give us protein for growth;
whole grains give us steady energy to study and play. A diet of fizzy drinks
and short eats may taste good for a minute, but it leaves us tired, overweight
and one day diabetic.
Eating well leads to a healthy life in three clear ways. First, our weight
stays normal. Second, common illnesses such as flu and stomach pain become
rare. Third, our mind stays sharp — we concentrate better in class and sleep
better at night.
So let us choose the rice-and-curry plate over the burger, and the king
coconut over the cola. Healthy eating is not a punishment; it is a kindness
we do for our future self.
15 marks — opens with a hook, defines healthy vs unhealthy, three-point
benefit list, warm call to action.
Section 9 — Nature
Task 1 — Fill the blanks with prepositions of movement (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Fill in each blank with a preposition from the box. There is one
extra word.
Box: into · across · through · along · towards · around · onto · off · past
(1) The bus drove ........... the temple without stopping.
(2) The trail runs ........... a thick cloud forest before it opens up.
(3) We swam ........... the river to reach the cave.
(4) The whole family walked ........... the beach at sunset.
(5) The road goes ........... the lake — a full 18-km loop.
(6) She stepped ........... the boat without waiting for help.
extra word.
Box: into · across · through · along · towards · around · onto · off · past
(1) The bus drove ........... the temple without stopping.
(2) The trail runs ........... a thick cloud forest before it opens up.
(3) We swam ........... the river to reach the cave.
(4) The whole family walked ........... the beach at sunset.
(5) The road goes ........... the lake — a full 18-km loop.
(6) She stepped ........... the boat without waiting for help.
(1) past
(2) through
(3) across
(4) along
(5) around
(6) into / onto
5 marks.
(2) through
(3) across
(4) along
(5) around
(6) into / onto
5 marks.
Task 2 — at / on / in / since / for / till (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Fill in each blank with the correct preposition of time.
(1) The temple festival begins ........... 6.30 p.m.
(2) I will visit Kanneliya ........... Saturday.
(3) She has lived here ........... 2018.
(4) We have been walking ........... three hours.
(5) Wait ........... the rain stops.
(1) The temple festival begins ........... 6.30 p.m.
(2) I will visit Kanneliya ........... Saturday.
(3) She has lived here ........... 2018.
(4) We have been walking ........... three hours.
(5) Wait ........... the rain stops.
(1) at
(2) on
(3) since
(4) for
(5) till / until
5 marks.
(2) on
(3) since
(4) for
(5) till / until
5 marks.
Task 3 — Match place to fact (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Match each Sri Lankan place with the fact that goes with it.
Write the correct letter.
Places: A — Kanneliya · B — Sigiriya · C — Polonnaruwa · D — Delft Island · E — Nuwara Eliya · F — Horton Plains
Facts:
(1) A protected area where you can find wild horses and a 'Devil's Well'. → ...
(2) A 5th-century rock fortress and World Heritage Site. → ...
(3) Sri Lanka's second capital, ruined gardens of King Parakramabahu I. → ...
(4) A forest reserve in the Galle District with 301 plant species. → ...
(5) Famous for tea, the lake Gregory and the April motor races. → ...
Write the correct letter.
Places: A — Kanneliya · B — Sigiriya · C — Polonnaruwa · D — Delft Island · E — Nuwara Eliya · F — Horton Plains
Facts:
(1) A protected area where you can find wild horses and a 'Devil's Well'. → ...
(2) A 5th-century rock fortress and World Heritage Site. → ...
(3) Sri Lanka's second capital, ruined gardens of King Parakramabahu I. → ...
(4) A forest reserve in the Galle District with 301 plant species. → ...
(5) Famous for tea, the lake Gregory and the April motor races. → ...
(1) D — Delft Island
(2) B — Sigiriya
(3) C — Polonnaruwa
(4) A — Kanneliya
(5) E — Nuwara Eliya
5 marks.
(2) B — Sigiriya
(3) C — Polonnaruwa
(4) A — Kanneliya
(5) E — Nuwara Eliya
5 marks.
Task 4 — Vocabulary: nature / environment (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Replace each underlined phrase with ONE word from the box. There
is one extra word.
Box: deforestation · biodiversity · indigenous · conservation · pristine · poaching
(1) The illegal hunting of wild animals has reduced our leopard population.
(2) The cutting down of forests is the biggest threat to our wildlife.
(3) Many birds in Sinharaja are native to Sri Lanka only.
(4) Wilpattu's beaches are still untouched and clean.
(5) Our government has launched a campaign for the protection of nature.
is one extra word.
Box: deforestation · biodiversity · indigenous · conservation · pristine · poaching
(1) The illegal hunting of wild animals has reduced our leopard population.
(2) The cutting down of forests is the biggest threat to our wildlife.
(3) Many birds in Sinharaja are native to Sri Lanka only.
(4) Wilpattu's beaches are still untouched and clean.
(5) Our government has launched a campaign for the protection of nature.
(1) poaching
(2) deforestation
(3) indigenous
(4) pristine
(5) conservation
5 marks.
(2) deforestation
(3) indigenous
(4) pristine
(5) conservation
5 marks.
Task 5 — Comprehension: Kanneliya (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the passage on Kanneliya (above) and answer the questions.
(1) In which province is the Kanneliya Forest Reserve located?
(2) How far is it from Colombo?
(3) Write the sentence that gives the total number of plant, animal and bird species.
(4) When is the best time to visit Kanneliya for waterfalls?
(5) Underline the correct answer. The Anagimale falls is ........... .
(a) the largest waterfall in Sri Lanka.
(b) the closest waterfall to the entrance.
(c) at the deepest point inside the forest.
(1) In which province is the Kanneliya Forest Reserve located?
(2) How far is it from Colombo?
(3) Write the sentence that gives the total number of plant, animal and bird species.
(4) When is the best time to visit Kanneliya for waterfalls?
(5) Underline the correct answer. The Anagimale falls is ........... .
(a) the largest waterfall in Sri Lanka.
(b) the closest waterfall to the entrance.
(c) at the deepest point inside the forest.
(1) Southern Province (Galle District).
(2) About 125 km away from Colombo.
(3) "There are 301 plant species at Kanneliya forest reserve, some 133 animal species and 59 species of birds making it very rich in biodiversity."
(4) From May to July and again in October and November.
(5) (b) the closest waterfall to the entrance.
5 marks.
(2) About 125 km away from Colombo.
(3) "There are 301 plant species at Kanneliya forest reserve, some 133 animal species and 59 species of birds making it very rich in biodiversity."
(4) From May to July and again in October and November.
(5) (b) the closest waterfall to the entrance.
5 marks.
Task 6 — Notice: a tree-planting drive (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
You are the secretary of the Environment Club. Write a notice
inviting students to a tree-planting drive. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• date, time, place
• what to bring
• why we are doing it
• whom to contact.
inviting students to a tree-planting drive. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• date, time, place
• what to bring
• why we are doing it
• whom to contact.
ENVIRONMENT CLUB — TREE-PLANTING DRIVE
The Environment Club is organising a tree-planting drive on the school back
lawn on Saturday, 6th June 2027 at 8.00 a.m. to mark World Environment Day.
Please bring a small spade and a water bottle. All students are warmly
invited. Register with Nimali Perera by Friday.
— Secretary.
47 words. 5 marks.
The Environment Club is organising a tree-planting drive on the school back
lawn on Saturday, 6th June 2027 at 8.00 a.m. to mark World Environment Day.
Please bring a small spade and a water bottle. All students are warmly
invited. Register with Nimali Perera by Friday.
— Secretary.
47 words. 5 marks.
Task 7 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) The most beautiful place I have ever visited
(b) Why we should plant more trees
(c) How polythene is destroying our beaches
(a) The most beautiful place I have ever visited
(b) Why we should plant more trees
(c) How polythene is destroying our beaches
MODEL — The most beautiful place I have visited (60 words)
The most beautiful place I have ever visited is Mirissa beach in the south.
The sand was the colour of milk, the water was a deep turquoise, and a row of
coconut palms leaned over the cliff like dancers. At dawn we joined a small
boat and saw a blue whale fifty metres away. I will go back.
5 marks.
The most beautiful place I have ever visited is Mirissa beach in the south.
The sand was the colour of milk, the water was a deep turquoise, and a row of
coconut palms leaned over the cliff like dancers. At dawn we joined a small
boat and saw a blue whale fifty metres away. I will go back.
5 marks.
Task 8 — Letter / tourist description (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Answer (a) OR (b). Use about 100 words.
(a) Write a letter to a friend abroad inviting them to visit Sri Lanka.
Include: best season to come, ONE place they must see, ONE Sri Lankan food
they must try, what you will do together.
(b) The bar chart below shows the number of foreign tourists who visited
five Sri Lankan parks in 2026. Write a description.
Bar values (thousands): Yala 280 · Wilpattu 95 · Sinharaja 60 · Horton Plains 110 ·
Kanneliya 25.
(a) Write a letter to a friend abroad inviting them to visit Sri Lanka.
Include: best season to come, ONE place they must see, ONE Sri Lankan food
they must try, what you will do together.
(b) The bar chart below shows the number of foreign tourists who visited
five Sri Lankan parks in 2026. Write a description.
Bar values (thousands): Yala 280 · Wilpattu 95 · Sinharaja 60 · Horton Plains 110 ·
Kanneliya 25.
(b) MODEL — Bar chart description (105 words)
The bar chart shows the number of foreign tourists who visited five Sri
Lankan parks in 2026, in thousands. Yala received by far the largest share at
280,000 — more than double any other park. Horton Plains attracted 110,000
visitors, followed by Wilpattu at 95,000 and Sinharaja at 60,000. Kanneliya
was the least visited at only 25,000, despite its rich biodiversity.
In summary, leopard-spotting at Yala drives most foreign visits, while
cloud-forest reserves like Kanneliya remain hidden treasures. The eleven-fold
gap between Yala and Kanneliya shows how unevenly tourism is shared across
the island.
10 marks.
The bar chart shows the number of foreign tourists who visited five Sri
Lankan parks in 2026, in thousands. Yala received by far the largest share at
280,000 — more than double any other park. Horton Plains attracted 110,000
visitors, followed by Wilpattu at 95,000 and Sinharaja at 60,000. Kanneliya
was the least visited at only 25,000, despite its rich biodiversity.
In summary, leopard-spotting at Yala drives most foreign visits, while
cloud-forest reserves like Kanneliya remain hidden treasures. The eleven-fold
gap between Yala and Kanneliya shows how unevenly tourism is shared across
the island.
10 marks.
Task 9 — Speech / essay (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) A speech you would make at the assembly on 'Let's protect our forests'.
(b) An article for a tourist magazine: 'A natural wonder of Sri Lanka'.
(c) An essay on 'Plastic pollution is killing our oceans'.
(a) A speech you would make at the assembly on 'Let's protect our forests'.
(b) An article for a tourist magazine: 'A natural wonder of Sri Lanka'.
(c) An essay on 'Plastic pollution is killing our oceans'.
(a) MODEL — Speech: Let's protect our forests (215 words)
Good morning everyone.
Forests are far more than a backdrop in tourism brochures. They are giant
air-conditioners that pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, hold our
soil in place during the monsoon, and shelter every wild creature from the
elephant down to the giant squirrel. Without forests, the rains would not
fall on time and the rivers would not run clean.
Yet we are losing them quickly. Every year, hundreds of acres of forest in
Sri Lanka are cleared for chena cultivation, illegal logging and new
buildings. Forest fires — some accidental, others started deliberately —
destroy what took a hundred years to grow. When the trees vanish, the
rainfall pattern changes, the temperature rises, and the elephants come into
the villages because their home is gone.
The answer is in three steps. First, plant trees — every school, every
temple, every home garden can give space to a sapling. Second, support the
Forest Department and the small NGOs that replant Sinharaja and Wilpattu.
Third, change the way we shop: choose recycled paper, refuse furniture from
suspect timber, and ask before every purchase, "Did this come from a forest?"
Our forests are not just ours. They belong to children not yet born. Let us
protect them.
Thank you.
15 marks.
Good morning everyone.
Forests are far more than a backdrop in tourism brochures. They are giant
air-conditioners that pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, hold our
soil in place during the monsoon, and shelter every wild creature from the
elephant down to the giant squirrel. Without forests, the rains would not
fall on time and the rivers would not run clean.
Yet we are losing them quickly. Every year, hundreds of acres of forest in
Sri Lanka are cleared for chena cultivation, illegal logging and new
buildings. Forest fires — some accidental, others started deliberately —
destroy what took a hundred years to grow. When the trees vanish, the
rainfall pattern changes, the temperature rises, and the elephants come into
the villages because their home is gone.
The answer is in three steps. First, plant trees — every school, every
temple, every home garden can give space to a sapling. Second, support the
Forest Department and the small NGOs that replant Sinharaja and Wilpattu.
Third, change the way we shop: choose recycled paper, refuse furniture from
suspect timber, and ask before every purchase, "Did this come from a forest?"
Our forests are not just ours. They belong to children not yet born. Let us
protect them.
Thank you.
15 marks.
Section 10 — Personality
Task 1 — Match qualities to descriptions (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Match each quality on the left with the behaviour on the right.
The first one is done for you.
(1) Punctual → c (example)
(2) Generous
(3) Ambitious
(4) Stubborn
(5) Empathetic
(6) Hard-working
(a) Refuses to change her mind even when proved wrong.
(b) Stays late at school every Tuesday to finish her project.
(c) Always arrives at school five minutes before the bell.
(d) Gives away half his lunch to a hungry friend.
(e) Wants to become a doctor and study at Harvard.
(f) Notices when a friend is upset and listens patiently.
The first one is done for you.
(1) Punctual → c (example)
(2) Generous
(3) Ambitious
(4) Stubborn
(5) Empathetic
(6) Hard-working
(a) Refuses to change her mind even when proved wrong.
(b) Stays late at school every Tuesday to finish her project.
(c) Always arrives at school five minutes before the bell.
(d) Gives away half his lunch to a hungry friend.
(e) Wants to become a doctor and study at Harvard.
(f) Notices when a friend is upset and listens patiently.
(2) d — Generous
(3) e — Ambitious
(4) a — Stubborn
(5) f — Empathetic
(6) b — Hard-working
5 marks.
(3) e — Ambitious
(4) a — Stubborn
(5) f — Empathetic
(6) b — Hard-working
5 marks.
Task 2 — each other vs one another (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Fill in each blank with either <b>each other</b> or
<b>one another</b>.
(1) My twin and I have known ........... since the day we were born.
(2) The four houses of our school compete with ........... at sports day.
(3) Tharindu and Sajini still write to ........... twice a month.
(4) All Sri Lankans should respect ........... regardless of religion.
(5) Two best friends should always trust ........... .
<b>one another</b>.
(1) My twin and I have known ........... since the day we were born.
(2) The four houses of our school compete with ........... at sports day.
(3) Tharindu and Sajini still write to ........... twice a month.
(4) All Sri Lankans should respect ........... regardless of religion.
(5) Two best friends should always trust ........... .
(1) each other
(2) one another
(3) each other
(4) one another
(5) each other
5 marks.
(2) one another
(3) each other
(4) one another
(5) each other
5 marks.
Task 3 — Reflexive pronouns (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Fill in each blank with the correct reflexive pronoun.
(1) I taught ........... how to ride a bicycle.
(2) Please make ........... at home, Aunty.
(3) The cat washes ........... after every meal.
(4) We enjoyed ........... at the picnic.
(5) The visitors helped ........... to the buffet.
(6) Did you cook this all by ..........., Amma?
(1) I taught ........... how to ride a bicycle.
(2) Please make ........... at home, Aunty.
(3) The cat washes ........... after every meal.
(4) We enjoyed ........... at the picnic.
(5) The visitors helped ........... to the buffet.
(6) Did you cook this all by ..........., Amma?
(1) myself
(2) yourself
(3) itself
(4) ourselves
(5) themselves
(6) yourself
5 marks.
(2) yourself
(3) itself
(4) ourselves
(5) themselves
(6) yourself
5 marks.
Task 4 — Positive or negative? (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Sort the following qualities into the right column.
Words: ambitious · arrogant · cheerful · cruel · diligent · hot-tempered · jealous · loyal · selfish · trustworthy
Positive (✓): ........... ........... ........... ........... ...........
Negative (✗): ........... ........... ........... ........... ...........
Words: ambitious · arrogant · cheerful · cruel · diligent · hot-tempered · jealous · loyal · selfish · trustworthy
Positive (✓): ........... ........... ........... ........... ...........
Negative (✗): ........... ........... ........... ........... ...........
Positive: ambitious · cheerful · diligent · loyal · trustworthy.
Negative: arrogant · cruel · hot-tempered · jealous · selfish.
5 marks.
Negative: arrogant · cruel · hot-tempered · jealous · selfish.
5 marks.
Task 5 — Comprehension: A school speech (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read Vidath's speech (above) and answer the questions.
(1) What inspired Vidath to write about personality?
(2) According to the speech, what makes each person unique?
(3) Write the sentence that lists at least three different types of people we meet.
(4) Find a word in the speech that means "a fixed way of behaving".
(5) Underline the correct answer. According to Vidath, personality comes from
(a) only our parents.
(b) only the environment.
(c) both birth and environment.
(1) What inspired Vidath to write about personality?
(2) According to the speech, what makes each person unique?
(3) Write the sentence that lists at least three different types of people we meet.
(4) Find a word in the speech that means "a fixed way of behaving".
(5) Underline the correct answer. According to Vidath, personality comes from
(a) only our parents.
(b) only the environment.
(c) both birth and environment.
(1) Reading a recent article on personality.
(2) The unique combination of our qualities and behaviours — our personality.
(3) "Among them we may find that some are friendly, some shy, some helpful, some lazy, and so on."
(4) traits / patterns.
(5) (c) both birth and environment.
5 marks.
(2) The unique combination of our qualities and behaviours — our personality.
(3) "Among them we may find that some are friendly, some shy, some helpful, some lazy, and so on."
(4) traits / patterns.
(5) (c) both birth and environment.
5 marks.
Task 6 — Notice: a personality talk (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
You are the secretary of the Career Guidance Society. Write a
notice inviting students to a talk on 'Building a strong personality'. Use
about 40–50 words.
Include:
• date, time and venue
• name of the resource person
• who can attend
• how to register.
notice inviting students to a talk on 'Building a strong personality'. Use
about 40–50 words.
Include:
• date, time and venue
• name of the resource person
• who can attend
• how to register.
CAREER GUIDANCE SOCIETY — TALK ON 'BUILDING A STRONG PERSONALITY'
All Grade 9 to 11 students are invited to a talk by Dr. Hashini Wickrama,
Clinical Psychologist, on 'Building a Strong Personality'. It will be held in
the school auditorium on Friday, 18th February 2027 at 1.30 p.m. Register
with Nimali Perera by 16th February.
— Secretary.
50 words. 5 marks.
All Grade 9 to 11 students are invited to a talk by Dr. Hashini Wickrama,
Clinical Psychologist, on 'Building a Strong Personality'. It will be held in
the school auditorium on Friday, 18th February 2027 at 1.30 p.m. Register
with Nimali Perera by 16th February.
— Secretary.
50 words. 5 marks.
Task 7 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) The personality I admire most
(b) A bad habit I want to change
(c) What I would say at my own farewell
(a) The personality I admire most
(b) A bad habit I want to change
(c) What I would say at my own farewell
MODEL — The personality I admire most (60 words)
The personality I admire most is my class teacher, Mrs. Perera. She walks into
the room with a smile that settles the noisiest day. She is patient when we
are slow, firm when we are careless, and remembers a small joke from a month
ago. To me, she is proof that kindness and discipline can live in the same
person.
5 marks.
The personality I admire most is my class teacher, Mrs. Perera. She walks into
the room with a smile that settles the noisiest day. She is patient when we
are slow, firm when we are careless, and remembers a small joke from a month
ago. To me, she is proof that kindness and discipline can live in the same
person.
5 marks.
Task 8 — Bar graph / letter (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Answer (a) OR (b). Use about 100 words.
(a) Write a letter to a pen friend describing the personality of a member of
your family. Include: relationship, three positive qualities with an example,
one weakness, one closing thought.
(b) The bar graph below shows the personality qualities of Grade 10 students
in a class of 40. Write a description.
Bar values: cheerful 24 · helpful 18 · honest 15 · punctual 12 · brave 9 · stubborn 6.
(a) Write a letter to a pen friend describing the personality of a member of
your family. Include: relationship, three positive qualities with an example,
one weakness, one closing thought.
(b) The bar graph below shows the personality qualities of Grade 10 students
in a class of 40. Write a description.
Bar values: cheerful 24 · helpful 18 · honest 15 · punctual 12 · brave 9 · stubborn 6.
(b) MODEL — Bar-graph description (107 words)
The bar graph shows the personality qualities of 40 Grade 10 students in a
class. Cheerfulness is the quality found in the majority of students at 24,
followed by helpfulness at 18. Approximately 15 students are honest, while
12 are punctual. Bravery is reported in 9 students, slightly more than
stubbornness, which is the least common quality at just 6.
In summary, more than half the class is described in 'warm' terms (cheerful
or helpful), and only one in five carries the negative trait of stubbornness.
This class clearly values friendliness over toughness.
10 marks — every required phrase used, accurate data, closing insight.
The bar graph shows the personality qualities of 40 Grade 10 students in a
class. Cheerfulness is the quality found in the majority of students at 24,
followed by helpfulness at 18. Approximately 15 students are honest, while
12 are punctual. Bravery is reported in 9 students, slightly more than
stubbornness, which is the least common quality at just 6.
In summary, more than half the class is described in 'warm' terms (cheerful
or helpful), and only one in five carries the negative trait of stubbornness.
This class clearly values friendliness over toughness.
10 marks — every required phrase used, accurate data, closing insight.
Task 9 — Speech / essay (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) A speech you would make at the assembly on 'What makes a strong personality'.
(b) An essay on 'Why kindness matters more than cleverness'.
(c) An article: 'The most influential person in my life'.
(a) A speech you would make at the assembly on 'What makes a strong personality'.
(b) An essay on 'Why kindness matters more than cleverness'.
(c) An article: 'The most influential person in my life'.
(c) MODEL — The most influential person in my life (214 words)
The person who has shaped me most is my grandfather, Achchappa.
He is seventy-nine, of medium build and a calm voice that you only hear when
the rest of the family has stopped shouting. He retired from a Class-3 clerk
post at the Department of Agriculture in 2010, and yet I have not met anyone
in my life who treats every minute of every day as carefully as he does.
Three of his qualities have become my own. First, his honesty. He once
travelled 32 km on a bus to return a fifty-rupee note a shopkeeper had given
him by mistake. Second, his curiosity. He still reads a newspaper a day and
can tell me what GDP and inflation mean better than my Commerce teacher.
Third, his patience. He taught me to read clocks when I was three and to
relace my own shoes when I was four — both with the same gentle smile.
His only weakness, perhaps, is that he never raises his voice — even when
someone is taking advantage of him.
I do not want to be a famous man one day; I want to be the kind of man
Achchappa is. Quiet, honest, and used by his family every single day.
15 marks — opens with a hook, three qualities each with a concrete story,
honest weakness, deeply personal closing.
The person who has shaped me most is my grandfather, Achchappa.
He is seventy-nine, of medium build and a calm voice that you only hear when
the rest of the family has stopped shouting. He retired from a Class-3 clerk
post at the Department of Agriculture in 2010, and yet I have not met anyone
in my life who treats every minute of every day as carefully as he does.
Three of his qualities have become my own. First, his honesty. He once
travelled 32 km on a bus to return a fifty-rupee note a shopkeeper had given
him by mistake. Second, his curiosity. He still reads a newspaper a day and
can tell me what GDP and inflation mean better than my Commerce teacher.
Third, his patience. He taught me to read clocks when I was three and to
relace my own shoes when I was four — both with the same gentle smile.
His only weakness, perhaps, is that he never raises his voice — even when
someone is taking advantage of him.
I do not want to be a famous man one day; I want to be the kind of man
Achchappa is. Quiet, honest, and used by his family every single day.
15 marks — opens with a hook, three qualities each with a concrete story,
honest weakness, deeply personal closing.
Section 11 — The Right Career
Task 1 — Match jobs to descriptions (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Match each job with its description. The first one is done for you.
Jobs: A — architect · B — chef · C — receptionist · D — veterinary surgeon · E — accountant · F — electrician
Descriptions:
(1) Designs houses, offices and other buildings. → A (example)
(2) Greets visitors, answers the phone, makes appointments. → ...
(3) Treats sick animals. → ...
(4) Cooks meals in a restaurant. → ...
(5) Keeps financial records and prepares tax returns. → ...
(6) Repairs lights, wires and switches. → ...
Jobs: A — architect · B — chef · C — receptionist · D — veterinary surgeon · E — accountant · F — electrician
Descriptions:
(1) Designs houses, offices and other buildings. → A (example)
(2) Greets visitors, answers the phone, makes appointments. → ...
(3) Treats sick animals. → ...
(4) Cooks meals in a restaurant. → ...
(5) Keeps financial records and prepares tax returns. → ...
(6) Repairs lights, wires and switches. → ...
(2) C — receptionist
(3) D — veterinary surgeon
(4) B — chef
(5) E — accountant
(6) F — electrician
5 marks.
(3) D — veterinary surgeon
(4) B — chef
(5) E — accountant
(6) F — electrician
5 marks.
Task 2 — Match adverts to applicants (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the following advertisements and match each to the most
suitable applicant.
Ads:
A — WANTED: Part-time English tutor for two children, Mon–Fri 4–6 pm. Must
have passed O/L English with at least a B.
B — Hotel chef required — full time, must have completed City & Guilds Level
1 in Cookery. Indoor work, 6-hour shifts.
C — Driver wanted — must have valid HGV licence and 3 years' experience.
D — Female office cleaner — early-morning shift only, 5 to 8 am, Mon–Sat.
Wages Rs. 18,000.
E — Wanted — IT trainee. Diploma in IT and basic Photoshop required. Full
time.
Applicants:
(1) A young woman who has finished her City & Guilds in Cookery and is
looking for indoor work. → ...
(2) A man with an HGV licence and 4 years' driving experience. → ...
(3) A retired lady who can work only early mornings. → ...
(4) A Grade 11 student who passed O/L English with an A and wants a few
hours of work after school. → ...
(5) A young man who has just finished an ICT diploma and wants his first
full-time job. → ...
suitable applicant.
Ads:
A — WANTED: Part-time English tutor for two children, Mon–Fri 4–6 pm. Must
have passed O/L English with at least a B.
B — Hotel chef required — full time, must have completed City & Guilds Level
1 in Cookery. Indoor work, 6-hour shifts.
C — Driver wanted — must have valid HGV licence and 3 years' experience.
D — Female office cleaner — early-morning shift only, 5 to 8 am, Mon–Sat.
Wages Rs. 18,000.
E — Wanted — IT trainee. Diploma in IT and basic Photoshop required. Full
time.
Applicants:
(1) A young woman who has finished her City & Guilds in Cookery and is
looking for indoor work. → ...
(2) A man with an HGV licence and 4 years' driving experience. → ...
(3) A retired lady who can work only early mornings. → ...
(4) A Grade 11 student who passed O/L English with an A and wants a few
hours of work after school. → ...
(5) A young man who has just finished an ICT diploma and wants his first
full-time job. → ...
(1) B — Hotel chef
(2) C — Driver
(3) D — Office cleaner
(4) A — English tutor
(5) E — IT trainee
5 marks.
(2) C — Driver
(3) D — Office cleaner
(4) A — English tutor
(5) E — IT trainee
5 marks.
Task 3 — Past perfect passive (had been + V3) (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Rewrite each sentence in the past perfect passive. The first one
is done for you.
(1) His uncle had told him about the vacancy.
→ He had been told about the vacancy by his uncle. (example)
(2) Somebody had taken my pen while I was away.
→ ...
(3) Mr. Perera had checked the power supply before starting.
→ ...
(4) Nisali had arranged the classroom before we went home.
→ ...
(5) The Principal had read the letter before it was posted.
→ ...
is done for you.
(1) His uncle had told him about the vacancy.
→ He had been told about the vacancy by his uncle. (example)
(2) Somebody had taken my pen while I was away.
→ ...
(3) Mr. Perera had checked the power supply before starting.
→ ...
(4) Nisali had arranged the classroom before we went home.
→ ...
(5) The Principal had read the letter before it was posted.
→ ...
(2) My pen had been taken while I was away.
(3) The power supply had been checked before starting.
(4) The classroom had been arranged before we went home.
(5) The letter had been read by the Principal before it was posted.
5 marks.
(3) The power supply had been checked before starting.
(4) The classroom had been arranged before we went home.
(5) The letter had been read by the Principal before it was posted.
5 marks.
Task 4 — Fill the application form (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Fill in the application form for the post of LIBRARY ASSISTANT,
Public Library, Kalutara. Use block capitals.
1. Post applied for : ...........
2. Name in full : ...........
3. Permanent address: ...........
4. Contact No. : ...........
5. Date of birth : ...........
6. Educational qualifications : ...........
7. Co-curricular activities : ...........
8. Experience : ...........
9. Referee : ...........
10. Signature : ...........
Public Library, Kalutara. Use block capitals.
1. Post applied for : ...........
2. Name in full : ...........
3. Permanent address: ...........
4. Contact No. : ...........
5. Date of birth : ...........
6. Educational qualifications : ...........
7. Co-curricular activities : ...........
8. Experience : ...........
9. Referee : ...........
10. Signature : ...........
1. LIBRARY ASSISTANT, PUBLIC LIBRARY, KALUTARA
2. NIMALI ANUTHARI PERERA
3. NO. 28, TEMPLE LANE, KALUTARA SOUTH
4. 077-1234567
5. 03.05.2010
6. GCE O/L 2026 — 9 As (incl. English with A)
7. School Library Prefect (3 years); English Literary Association
8. Volunteered at the school library Sat mornings, 2 years
9. Mr. S. Perera, Class Teacher, D.S. Senanayake College
10. N. A. Perera
5 marks — every field complete, formal language, clear capitals.
2. NIMALI ANUTHARI PERERA
3. NO. 28, TEMPLE LANE, KALUTARA SOUTH
4. 077-1234567
5. 03.05.2010
6. GCE O/L 2026 — 9 As (incl. English with A)
7. School Library Prefect (3 years); English Literary Association
8. Volunteered at the school library Sat mornings, 2 years
9. Mr. S. Perera, Class Teacher, D.S. Senanayake College
10. N. A. Perera
5 marks — every field complete, formal language, clear capitals.
Task 5 — Comprehension: A job interview (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the following passage and answer the questions.
When I was the manager of a trading company in Colombo, it was my duty to
interview young men and women for posts vacant in my department.
One of my favourite techniques in interviewing prospective salesmen was to
hand them an expensive fountain pen and say, "Try to sell this to me."
One day after interviewing several applicants who used different marketing
skills, I was surprised at the skills of an applicant. He picked up the pen
and looked at his pocket, took back it and said, "Sir, for a thousand rupees
you can have your pen back."
I was so impressed I appointed him as an assistant manager within weeks.
(1) What was the writer's job?
(2) What did he ask the applicants to do?
(3) Write the sentence which shows that the writer was unhappy with most candidates.
(4) Why did the writer appoint the special applicant as assistant manager?
(5) Underline the correct answer. The special applicant ........... .
(a) refused to take the pen.
(b) took the pen and asked for money to return it.
(c) sold the pen back to the manager for less.
When I was the manager of a trading company in Colombo, it was my duty to
interview young men and women for posts vacant in my department.
One of my favourite techniques in interviewing prospective salesmen was to
hand them an expensive fountain pen and say, "Try to sell this to me."
One day after interviewing several applicants who used different marketing
skills, I was surprised at the skills of an applicant. He picked up the pen
and looked at his pocket, took back it and said, "Sir, for a thousand rupees
you can have your pen back."
I was so impressed I appointed him as an assistant manager within weeks.
(1) What was the writer's job?
(2) What did he ask the applicants to do?
(3) Write the sentence which shows that the writer was unhappy with most candidates.
(4) Why did the writer appoint the special applicant as assistant manager?
(5) Underline the correct answer. The special applicant ........... .
(a) refused to take the pen.
(b) took the pen and asked for money to return it.
(c) sold the pen back to the manager for less.
(1) Manager of a trading company in Colombo, interviewing candidates for sales posts.
(2) Try to sell an expensive fountain pen to him.
(3) "One day after interviewing several applicants who used different marketing skills, I was surprised at the skills of an applicant."
(4) He was impressed by the applicant's clever marketing skill (creating demand by 'taking' the pen and offering it back at a higher price).
(5) (b) took the pen and asked for money to return it.
5 marks.
(2) Try to sell an expensive fountain pen to him.
(3) "One day after interviewing several applicants who used different marketing skills, I was surprised at the skills of an applicant."
(4) He was impressed by the applicant's clever marketing skill (creating demand by 'taking' the pen and offering it back at a higher price).
(5) (b) took the pen and asked for money to return it.
5 marks.
Task 6 — Notice: career talk (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
Write a notice inviting Grade 11 students to a career-guidance
talk. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• date, time, venue
• name and post of the resource person
• how to register
• one career theme.
talk. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• date, time, venue
• name and post of the resource person
• how to register
• one career theme.
CAREER GUIDANCE TALK — 'CHOOSING THE RIGHT A/L STREAM'
Grade 11 students are warmly invited to a talk by Mr. Janaka Rajapakse, Career
Guidance Officer of the Ministry of Education, on Friday, 4th March 2027 at
1.30 p.m. in the school auditorium. Register with the head prefect by
2nd March. Free entry, refreshments provided.
— Head Prefect.
50 words. 5 marks.
Grade 11 students are warmly invited to a talk by Mr. Janaka Rajapakse, Career
Guidance Officer of the Ministry of Education, on Friday, 4th March 2027 at
1.30 p.m. in the school auditorium. Register with the head prefect by
2nd March. Free entry, refreshments provided.
— Head Prefect.
50 words. 5 marks.
Task 7 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) The career I would love to pursue
(b) What makes a good employee
(c) The job my grandparent did
(a) The career I would love to pursue
(b) What makes a good employee
(c) The job my grandparent did
MODEL — The career I would love to pursue (60 words)
The career I dream about is being a paediatrician — a doctor for children. I
love biology, and I have watched my Achchi care for sick neighbours since I
was seven. To get there I will need a high A-level mark in Bio Science and
seven years of medical school. Hard, yes. But every child I help will be
worth it.
5 marks.
The career I dream about is being a paediatrician — a doctor for children. I
love biology, and I have watched my Achchi care for sick neighbours since I
was seven. To get there I will need a high A-level mark in Bio Science and
seven years of medical school. Hard, yes. But every child I help will be
worth it.
5 marks.
Task 8 — Letter of application (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Write a letter applying for one of the following posts. Use about
100 words.
(a) Junior Receptionist at Family Hospital, Maharagama.
(b) Part-time English Tutor for two children (4–6 p.m., Mon–Fri).
(c) Trainee Graphic Designer at a small marketing firm in Colombo 5.
Include: reference to advertisement · your qualifications · one key strength ·
availability · polite sign-off.
100 words.
(a) Junior Receptionist at Family Hospital, Maharagama.
(b) Part-time English Tutor for two children (4–6 p.m., Mon–Fri).
(c) Trainee Graphic Designer at a small marketing firm in Colombo 5.
Include: reference to advertisement · your qualifications · one key strength ·
availability · polite sign-off.
(a) MODEL (114 words)
12, Lake Road,
Maharagama.
12th December 2026.
The Manager,
Family Hospital,
Maharagama.
Dear Sir / Madam,
APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF JUNIOR RECEPTIONIST
I write with reference to your advertisement in the Sunday Observer of 9th
December 2026. I should be grateful if you would consider my application.
I completed the GCE O/L Examination this year with eight As and hold an ICT
Diploma from Esoft Metro. I am fluent in Sinhala, Tamil and English and
have six months\' experience as a part-time receptionist at a local dental
clinic.
I shall be free for an interview on any weekday afternoon.
I remain,
Yours faithfully,
T. S. Ranathunga.
10 marks — covers all five bullets, correct layout, matched sign-off.
12, Lake Road,
Maharagama.
12th December 2026.
The Manager,
Family Hospital,
Maharagama.
Dear Sir / Madam,
APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF JUNIOR RECEPTIONIST
I write with reference to your advertisement in the Sunday Observer of 9th
December 2026. I should be grateful if you would consider my application.
I completed the GCE O/L Examination this year with eight As and hold an ICT
Diploma from Esoft Metro. I am fluent in Sinhala, Tamil and English and
have six months\' experience as a part-time receptionist at a local dental
clinic.
I shall be free for an interview on any weekday afternoon.
I remain,
Yours faithfully,
T. S. Ranathunga.
10 marks — covers all five bullets, correct layout, matched sign-off.
Task 9 — Article / essay (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) An article for the school magazine: 'My dream career'.
(b) An essay on 'Why choosing the right career matters'.
(c) A speech on 'The importance of internships before a degree'.
(a) An article for the school magazine: 'My dream career'.
(b) An essay on 'Why choosing the right career matters'.
(c) A speech on 'The importance of internships before a degree'.
(a) MODEL — My dream career (216 words)
When people ask what I want to be when I grow up, I no longer say 'engineer'
just to sound clever. I say paediatrician — a doctor for children — because
for the last three years I have been quietly testing the answer against my
own life.
Three reasons keep pulling me towards it. First, my love of biology. The
day Mrs. Wijesinghe explained the human heart with two halves of a cricket
ball, I went home and read the whole chapter twice. Second, my comfort
around children. I am the eldest of three; my little brother trusts me with
his bumps and his secrets. Third, my grandmother. Every time someone in our
lane gets a fever, she is at the door with hot kanji and a calm word — and
I want to do the same on a wider scale.
The road will be long. It demands an A in Biology at A-level, six years of
MBBS, four more years of paediatric specialisation. I will graduate, by my
count, at twenty-eight.
But every child I send home with a smile instead of a fever will be one
more reason this was the right choice. The right career, I have learnt, is
the one that meets the work of your life.
15 marks — honest hook, three concrete reasons, realistic timeline, warm close.
When people ask what I want to be when I grow up, I no longer say 'engineer'
just to sound clever. I say paediatrician — a doctor for children — because
for the last three years I have been quietly testing the answer against my
own life.
Three reasons keep pulling me towards it. First, my love of biology. The
day Mrs. Wijesinghe explained the human heart with two halves of a cricket
ball, I went home and read the whole chapter twice. Second, my comfort
around children. I am the eldest of three; my little brother trusts me with
his bumps and his secrets. Third, my grandmother. Every time someone in our
lane gets a fever, she is at the door with hot kanji and a calm word — and
I want to do the same on a wider scale.
The road will be long. It demands an A in Biology at A-level, six years of
MBBS, four more years of paediatric specialisation. I will graduate, by my
count, at twenty-eight.
But every child I send home with a smile instead of a fever will be one
more reason this was the right choice. The right career, I have learnt, is
the one that meets the work of your life.
15 marks — honest hook, three concrete reasons, realistic timeline, warm close.
Section 12 — Success
Task 1 — Reported speech (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Rewrite each sentence in reported (indirect) speech. The first
one is done for you.
(1) Ganesh said, "I want to be a professor and I will never give up my idea."
→ Ganesh said that he wanted to be a professor and would never give up his idea. (example)
(2) Sazi said, "I hope to become an owner of a large company."
→ Sazi said that ...........
(3) Rasuni said, "I like to work hard."
→ Rasuni said that ...........
(4) Yoga said, "I am reading the newspaper as usual."
→ Yoga said that ...........
(5) Father said, "You must finish your homework first."
→ Father said that ...........
(6) The teacher asked, "Where do you live?"
→ The teacher asked ...........
one is done for you.
(1) Ganesh said, "I want to be a professor and I will never give up my idea."
→ Ganesh said that he wanted to be a professor and would never give up his idea. (example)
(2) Sazi said, "I hope to become an owner of a large company."
→ Sazi said that ...........
(3) Rasuni said, "I like to work hard."
→ Rasuni said that ...........
(4) Yoga said, "I am reading the newspaper as usual."
→ Yoga said that ...........
(5) Father said, "You must finish your homework first."
→ Father said that ...........
(6) The teacher asked, "Where do you live?"
→ The teacher asked ...........
(2) ... she hoped to become an owner of a large company.
(3) ... she liked to work hard.
(4) ... he was reading the newspaper as usual.
(5) ... I had to finish my homework first.
(6) ... where I lived.
5 marks.
(3) ... she liked to work hard.
(4) ... he was reading the newspaper as usual.
(5) ... I had to finish my homework first.
(6) ... where I lived.
5 marks.
Task 2 — Say vs Tell (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Choose <b>said</b> or <b>told</b> for each blank.
(1) Mother ........... us a wonderful story last night.
(2) The teacher ........... that we would have a test on Friday.
(3) Sanduni ........... me to wait at the bus stop.
(4) "It looks like rain," he ........... .
(5) He ........... his friend the truth.
(1) Mother ........... us a wonderful story last night.
(2) The teacher ........... that we would have a test on Friday.
(3) Sanduni ........... me to wait at the bus stop.
(4) "It looks like rain," he ........... .
(5) He ........... his friend the truth.
(1) told
(2) said
(3) told
(4) said
(5) told
5 marks.
(2) said
(3) told
(4) said
(5) told
5 marks.
Task 3 — Form the biography question (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the facts about Dr. Arthur C. Clarke and complete the
question to get the underlined answer.
(1) Dr. Clarke <u>was a famous science fiction writer</u>.
→ Who was Dr. Clarke? (example)
(2) He was born in <u>England</u>.
→ Where ........... ?
(3) His childhood dream was <u>to become a space scientist</u>.
→ What ........... ?
(4) He came to Sri Lanka <u>in 1956</u>.
→ When ........... ?
(5) He loved Sri Lanka <u>because it has many beautiful beaches</u>.
→ Why ........... ?
(6) He lived in Sri Lanka <u>for 52 years</u>.
→ For how long ........... ?
question to get the underlined answer.
(1) Dr. Clarke <u>was a famous science fiction writer</u>.
→ Who was Dr. Clarke? (example)
(2) He was born in <u>England</u>.
→ Where ........... ?
(3) His childhood dream was <u>to become a space scientist</u>.
→ What ........... ?
(4) He came to Sri Lanka <u>in 1956</u>.
→ When ........... ?
(5) He loved Sri Lanka <u>because it has many beautiful beaches</u>.
→ Why ........... ?
(6) He lived in Sri Lanka <u>for 52 years</u>.
→ For how long ........... ?
(2) Where was he born?
(3) What was his childhood dream?
(4) When did he come to Sri Lanka?
(5) Why did he love Sri Lanka?
(6) For how long did he live in Sri Lanka?
5 marks.
(3) What was his childhood dream?
(4) When did he come to Sri Lanka?
(5) Why did he love Sri Lanka?
(6) For how long did he live in Sri Lanka?
5 marks.
Task 4 — Verb forms in a biography (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Complete the biography of Madame Curie using the correct form
of the verb in brackets.
Marie Curie (1) ........... (be) born in Warsaw in 1867. She (2) ...........
(study) physics in Paris and (3) ........... (meet) her husband Pierre there.
Together they (4) ........... (discover) two new elements — polonium and
radium — for which they (5) ........... (award) the Nobel Prize in 1903.
She (6) ........... (die) in 1934.
of the verb in brackets.
Marie Curie (1) ........... (be) born in Warsaw in 1867. She (2) ...........
(study) physics in Paris and (3) ........... (meet) her husband Pierre there.
Together they (4) ........... (discover) two new elements — polonium and
radium — for which they (5) ........... (award) the Nobel Prize in 1903.
She (6) ........... (die) in 1934.
(1) was
(2) studied
(3) met
(4) discovered
(5) were awarded
(6) died
5 marks.
(2) studied
(3) met
(4) discovered
(5) were awarded
(6) died
5 marks.
Task 5 — Comprehension: Edison (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the passage and answer the questions.
Thomas Alva Edison was one of the greatest inventors of all times. But as a
child, he did not enjoy going to school. When he was only seven, the
headmaster decided to expel him. Because he refused to do his school work,
his mother decided to teach him at home. He never stopped learning.
She persuaded him to read about science. He fell in love with reading. He
loved doing experiments. When he was older, he invented the phonograph and
the electric light bulb. His most famous experiment, however, was not about
electricity — it was about an egg.
One day he asked his housekeeper to bring an egg and a pan of hot water to
the laboratory. When she returned half an hour later he was boiling his own
watch and timing it with the egg.
(1) Why did the headmaster decide to expel Edison?
(2) Who taught Edison at home?
(3) Write the sentence that lists two of his most famous inventions.
(4) What was Edison doing when the housekeeper returned with the egg?
(5) Underline the correct answer. The story shows that Edison was very ........... .
(a) lazy (b) clever and absent-minded (c) badly behaved
Thomas Alva Edison was one of the greatest inventors of all times. But as a
child, he did not enjoy going to school. When he was only seven, the
headmaster decided to expel him. Because he refused to do his school work,
his mother decided to teach him at home. He never stopped learning.
She persuaded him to read about science. He fell in love with reading. He
loved doing experiments. When he was older, he invented the phonograph and
the electric light bulb. His most famous experiment, however, was not about
electricity — it was about an egg.
One day he asked his housekeeper to bring an egg and a pan of hot water to
the laboratory. When she returned half an hour later he was boiling his own
watch and timing it with the egg.
(1) Why did the headmaster decide to expel Edison?
(2) Who taught Edison at home?
(3) Write the sentence that lists two of his most famous inventions.
(4) What was Edison doing when the housekeeper returned with the egg?
(5) Underline the correct answer. The story shows that Edison was very ........... .
(a) lazy (b) clever and absent-minded (c) badly behaved
(1) Because Edison refused to do his school work.
(2) His mother.
(3) "When he was older, he invented the phonograph and the electric light bulb."
(4) He was boiling his own watch and timing it with the egg.
(5) (b) clever and absent-minded.
5 marks.
(2) His mother.
(3) "When he was older, he invented the phonograph and the electric light bulb."
(4) He was boiling his own watch and timing it with the egg.
(5) (b) clever and absent-minded.
5 marks.
Task 6 — Notice: a success-story competition (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
Write a notice inviting students to a success-story writing
competition. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• topic
• length
• closing date
• prize.
competition. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• topic
• length
• closing date
• prize.
ENGLISH LITERARY ASSOCIATION — SUCCESS-STORY COMPETITION
Grade 9–11 students are invited to write a 200-word essay titled 'The Person
I Admire Most'. Entries should be handwritten and submitted to the Class
Teacher by Friday, 4th March 2027. The best entry will receive a book token
worth Rs. 5,000.
— Secretary.
50 words. 5 marks.
Grade 9–11 students are invited to write a 200-word essay titled 'The Person
I Admire Most'. Entries should be handwritten and submitted to the Class
Teacher by Friday, 4th March 2027. The best entry will receive a book token
worth Rs. 5,000.
— Secretary.
50 words. 5 marks.
Task 7 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) The success I am most proud of
(b) A Sri Lankan I admire
(c) What success means to me
(a) The success I am most proud of
(b) A Sri Lankan I admire
(c) What success means to me
MODEL — What success means to me (60 words)
For me success is not the gold medal at the end. It is the half-hour every
morning when I sit at my desk and choose my book over my phone. If I do that
for a whole year, the exam will simply confirm what I already know about
myself. Real success is the quiet daily 'yes' to the work that matters.
5 marks.
For me success is not the gold medal at the end. It is the half-hour every
morning when I sit at my desk and choose my book over my phone. If I do that
for a whole year, the exam will simply confirm what I already know about
myself. Real success is the quiet daily 'yes' to the work that matters.
5 marks.
Task 8 — Biography (~100 words)
(10 marks)
Using the notes, write a 100-word biography of Mahatma Gandhi.
Notes:
• born 2 October 1869 in Porbandar, India
• trained as a lawyer in London
• went to South Africa — fought against racial discrimination
• returned to India in 1915
• led the non-violent movement for independence
• famous for the Salt March of 1930
• India gained independence on 15 August 1947
• assassinated on 30 January 1948.
Notes:
• born 2 October 1869 in Porbandar, India
• trained as a lawyer in London
• went to South Africa — fought against racial discrimination
• returned to India in 1915
• led the non-violent movement for independence
• famous for the Salt March of 1930
• India gained independence on 15 August 1947
• assassinated on 30 January 1948.
MODEL — Mahatma Gandhi (108 words)
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2nd October 1869 at Porbandar in
India. He trained as a lawyer in London and later worked in South Africa,
where he fought against racial discrimination using the principle of
non-violence. He returned to India in 1915 and led the country's struggle
for independence with the same peaceful method. His famous Salt March in
1930 attracted world attention and his leadership eventually saw India gain
independence on 15th August 1947. Only five months later, on 30th January
1948, he was assassinated. Today the world remembers him as Mahatma — 'The
Great Soul'.
10 marks — uses every note, dates in correct format, single warm closing line.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2nd October 1869 at Porbandar in
India. He trained as a lawyer in London and later worked in South Africa,
where he fought against racial discrimination using the principle of
non-violence. He returned to India in 1915 and led the country's struggle
for independence with the same peaceful method. His famous Salt March in
1930 attracted world attention and his leadership eventually saw India gain
independence on 15th August 1947. Only five months later, on 30th January
1948, he was assassinated. Today the world remembers him as Mahatma — 'The
Great Soul'.
10 marks — uses every note, dates in correct format, single warm closing line.
Task 9 — Article / speech (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) An article: 'The most successful person I know'.
(b) A speech on 'Why hard work matters more than talent'.
(c) An essay on 'Failure is the mother of success'.
(a) An article: 'The most successful person I know'.
(b) A speech on 'Why hard work matters more than talent'.
(c) An essay on 'Failure is the mother of success'.
(b) MODEL — Why hard work matters more than talent (215 words)
Good morning everyone.
We live in a world that loves to praise talent. The crowd cheers the boy who
can suddenly bowl at 130 kph at fifteen. We tell ourselves, 'He is gifted'.
But the next morning, while the crowd is asleep, that boy is at the nets
alone before sunrise. The 'gift' is only a small part of his story. The
longer part — the one that nobody films — is hard work.
Firstly, talent is a head start, not a finish line. The world's best cricket
academies are full of boys who once bowled at 130 kph. Only those who kept
turning up at 5 a.m. for ten more years became Lasith Malinga.
Secondly, hard work builds character. The student who memorises ten
irregular verbs every night learns more than verbs — she learns the patience
that will see her through Advanced Levels, university, and her first job.
Thirdly, hard work is fair. Talent is given to a lucky few. Hard work is open
to everyone, every day.
As Tim Notke once said, 'Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work
hard.'
So let us stop wishing for talent and start showing up. Success — real
success — answers only to effort.
Thank you.
15 marks — opening hook, three numbered arguments, sharp quote, warm close.
Good morning everyone.
We live in a world that loves to praise talent. The crowd cheers the boy who
can suddenly bowl at 130 kph at fifteen. We tell ourselves, 'He is gifted'.
But the next morning, while the crowd is asleep, that boy is at the nets
alone before sunrise. The 'gift' is only a small part of his story. The
longer part — the one that nobody films — is hard work.
Firstly, talent is a head start, not a finish line. The world's best cricket
academies are full of boys who once bowled at 130 kph. Only those who kept
turning up at 5 a.m. for ten more years became Lasith Malinga.
Secondly, hard work builds character. The student who memorises ten
irregular verbs every night learns more than verbs — she learns the patience
that will see her through Advanced Levels, university, and her first job.
Thirdly, hard work is fair. Talent is given to a lucky few. Hard work is open
to everyone, every day.
As Tim Notke once said, 'Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work
hard.'
So let us stop wishing for talent and start showing up. Success — real
success — answers only to effort.
Thank you.
15 marks — opening hook, three numbered arguments, sharp quote, warm close.
Section 13 — Future
Task 1 — Conditional Type 1 (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Complete each first-conditional sentence using the correct
form of the verb in brackets.
(1) If you (study) ........... hard, you (pass) ........... your exam.
(2) If it (rain) ........... tomorrow, we (postpone) ........... the picnic.
(3) If she (call) ..........., I (answer) ........... at once.
(4) If we (start) ........... now, we (reach) ........... home before dark.
(5) If you (eat) ........... too much, you (feel) ........... sick.
form of the verb in brackets.
(1) If you (study) ........... hard, you (pass) ........... your exam.
(2) If it (rain) ........... tomorrow, we (postpone) ........... the picnic.
(3) If she (call) ..........., I (answer) ........... at once.
(4) If we (start) ........... now, we (reach) ........... home before dark.
(5) If you (eat) ........... too much, you (feel) ........... sick.
(1) study; will pass
(2) rains; will postpone
(3) calls; will answer
(4) start; will reach
(5) eat; will feel
5 marks.
(2) rains; will postpone
(3) calls; will answer
(4) start; will reach
(5) eat; will feel
5 marks.
Task 2 — Conditional Type 2 (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Rewrite each sentence using the second conditional.
(1) I don't have a car, so I can't drive you home.
→ If I ........... a car, I ........... drive you home.
(2) She doesn't speak English, so she can't apply for the job.
→ If she ........... English, she ........... apply for the job.
(3) We don't live in Kandy, so we don't see the perahera every year.
→ If we ........... in Kandy, we ........... the perahera every year.
(4) I am not the principal, so I can't change the timetable.
→ If I ........... the principal, I ........... the timetable.
(5) He is not careful, so he often gets hurt.
→ If he ........... careful, he ........... so often.
(1) I don't have a car, so I can't drive you home.
→ If I ........... a car, I ........... drive you home.
(2) She doesn't speak English, so she can't apply for the job.
→ If she ........... English, she ........... apply for the job.
(3) We don't live in Kandy, so we don't see the perahera every year.
→ If we ........... in Kandy, we ........... the perahera every year.
(4) I am not the principal, so I can't change the timetable.
→ If I ........... the principal, I ........... the timetable.
(5) He is not careful, so he often gets hurt.
→ If he ........... careful, he ........... so often.
(1) had; would
(2) spoke; would
(3) lived; would see
(4) were; would change
(5) were; would not get hurt
5 marks.
(2) spoke; would
(3) lived; would see
(4) were; would change
(5) were; would not get hurt
5 marks.
Task 3 — Conditional Type 3 (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Complete each third-conditional sentence.
(1) If I (study) ........... harder, I (pass) ........... .
(2) If we (leave) ........... earlier, we (catch) ........... the bus.
(3) If she (tell) ........... me, I (help) ........... her.
(4) If they (not invite) ........... us, we (not attend) ........... .
(5) If the rain (stop) ........... in time, the match (continue) ........... .
(1) If I (study) ........... harder, I (pass) ........... .
(2) If we (leave) ........... earlier, we (catch) ........... the bus.
(3) If she (tell) ........... me, I (help) ........... her.
(4) If they (not invite) ........... us, we (not attend) ........... .
(5) If the rain (stop) ........... in time, the match (continue) ........... .
(1) had studied; would have passed
(2) had left; would have caught
(3) had told; would have helped
(4) had not invited; would not have attended
(5) had stopped; would have continued
5 marks.
(2) had left; would have caught
(3) had told; would have helped
(4) had not invited; would not have attended
(5) had stopped; would have continued
5 marks.
Task 4 — Future perfect (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Complete each future-perfect sentence using the verb in brackets.
(1) By 2030, I (finish) ........... my MBBS degree.
(2) By the end of this year, the workers (build) ........... the new bridge.
(3) By 6 p.m. tonight, mother (cook) ........... a special dinner.
(4) By next week, the bakery (open) ........... three new branches.
(5) By December, my brother (return) ........... from Australia.
(1) By 2030, I (finish) ........... my MBBS degree.
(2) By the end of this year, the workers (build) ........... the new bridge.
(3) By 6 p.m. tonight, mother (cook) ........... a special dinner.
(4) By next week, the bakery (open) ........... three new branches.
(5) By December, my brother (return) ........... from Australia.
(1) will have finished
(2) will have built
(3) will have cooked
(4) will have opened
(5) will have returned
5 marks.
(2) will have built
(3) will have cooked
(4) will have opened
(5) will have returned
5 marks.
Task 5 — Comprehension: Earth Hour (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the passage on Earth Hour (above) and answer the questions.
(1) On which day of the year is Earth Hour held?
(2) What exactly do people do during Earth Hour?
(3) Write the sentence which lists the barriers that Earth Hour crosses.
(4) What is the wider aim of Earth Hour beyond switching off lights?
(5) Underline the correct title for this passage:
(a) How to save your electricity bill.
(b) A global symbol of commitment to the planet.
(c) Saturday-night plans in March.
(1) On which day of the year is Earth Hour held?
(2) What exactly do people do during Earth Hour?
(3) Write the sentence which lists the barriers that Earth Hour crosses.
(4) What is the wider aim of Earth Hour beyond switching off lights?
(5) Underline the correct title for this passage:
(a) How to save your electricity bill.
(b) A global symbol of commitment to the planet.
(c) Saturday-night plans in March.
(1) The last Saturday in March, from 8.30 to 9.30 p.m.
(2) They turn off their lights for one hour.
(3) "They engage in this activity irrespective of all the barriers such as race, religion, culture, society, generation and geography."
(4) To show the actions people, businesses and governments are taking to reduce their environmental impact, and to encourage others to join a global community of solutions.
(5) (b) A global symbol of commitment to the planet.
5 marks.
(2) They turn off their lights for one hour.
(3) "They engage in this activity irrespective of all the barriers such as race, religion, culture, society, generation and geography."
(4) To show the actions people, businesses and governments are taking to reduce their environmental impact, and to encourage others to join a global community of solutions.
(5) (b) A global symbol of commitment to the planet.
5 marks.
Task 6 — Notice: an Earth Hour event (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
Write a notice inviting students to join an Earth Hour event in
your school. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• day and time
• activities (candle-lit reading, eco-talk)
• one rule
• how to sign up.
your school. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• day and time
• activities (candle-lit reading, eco-talk)
• one rule
• how to sign up.
EARTH HOUR — LIGHTS OFF FOR THE PLANET
The Environment Club invites all Grade 9 to 11 students to celebrate Earth
Hour on Saturday, 28th March 2027 from 8.30 to 9.30 p.m. on the school
front lawn. Bring a candle and a story to share. Mobile phones must be on
silent. Sign up with Nimali Perera by 26th March.
— Secretary.
50 words. 5 marks.
The Environment Club invites all Grade 9 to 11 students to celebrate Earth
Hour on Saturday, 28th March 2027 from 8.30 to 9.30 p.m. on the school
front lawn. Bring a candle and a story to share. Mobile phones must be on
silent. Sign up with Nimali Perera by 26th March.
— Secretary.
50 words. 5 marks.
Task 7 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) Sri Lanka in 2050
(b) What I will do when I leave school
(c) The world if everyone planted one tree
(a) Sri Lanka in 2050
(b) What I will do when I leave school
(c) The world if everyone planted one tree
MODEL — What I will do when I leave school (60 words)
The day I walk out of D.S. Senanayake College for the last time, I will not
feel sad. I will catch the train to Kandy with my friends, eat string
hoppers at the railway hotel, and visit the Temple of the Tooth one more
time. That weekend I will start preparing for my A-Levels — already a
little older.
5 marks.
The day I walk out of D.S. Senanayake College for the last time, I will not
feel sad. I will catch the train to Kandy with my friends, eat string
hoppers at the railway hotel, and visit the Temple of the Tooth one more
time. That weekend I will start preparing for my A-Levels — already a
little older.
5 marks.
Task 8 — Letter / data description (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Answer (a) OR (b). Use about 100 words.
(a) Write a letter to your pen friend describing what you plan to do during
the school holidays.
(b) The bar chart below shows the careers Grade 10 students of a school
plan to pursue in the future. Write a description. Bar values: Doctor 35 ·
Engineer 30 · Teacher 20 · IT Specialist 25 · Business Owner 15 · Other 5.
(a) Write a letter to your pen friend describing what you plan to do during
the school holidays.
(b) The bar chart below shows the careers Grade 10 students of a school
plan to pursue in the future. Write a description. Bar values: Doctor 35 ·
Engineer 30 · Teacher 20 · IT Specialist 25 · Business Owner 15 · Other 5.
(b) MODEL — Bar-chart description (108 words)
The bar chart shows the careers Grade 10 students of a school plan to pursue
in the future. Becoming a doctor is the most popular choice, selected by 35
students. Engineering comes second at 30, slightly more than IT (25) and well
ahead of teaching (20). Only 15 students wish to start their own business,
while a small minority of 5 have chosen other careers.
In summary, science-based careers (doctor + engineer + IT) account for almost
two-thirds of all choices. Entrepreneurship and teaching, the two careers
the country arguably needs most, attract the least interest.
10 marks.
The bar chart shows the careers Grade 10 students of a school plan to pursue
in the future. Becoming a doctor is the most popular choice, selected by 35
students. Engineering comes second at 30, slightly more than IT (25) and well
ahead of teaching (20). Only 15 students wish to start their own business,
while a small minority of 5 have chosen other careers.
In summary, science-based careers (doctor + engineer + IT) account for almost
two-thirds of all choices. Entrepreneurship and teaching, the two careers
the country arguably needs most, attract the least interest.
10 marks.
Task 9 — Article / speech (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) An article: 'The Sri Lanka I want to see in 2050'.
(b) A speech on 'If I were the Minister of Education'.
(c) An essay on 'Climate change — what we must do before it is too late'.
(a) An article: 'The Sri Lanka I want to see in 2050'.
(b) A speech on 'If I were the Minister of Education'.
(c) An essay on 'Climate change — what we must do before it is too late'.
(b) MODEL — If I were the Minister of Education (216 words)
Good morning everyone.
If I were the Minister of Education tomorrow morning, I would not start with
big speeches. I would start with three small but real changes that every
student in this country would feel.
Firstly, I would make English speaking — not just English reading — a
compulsory daily subject. Every classroom from Grade 1 would have at least
fifteen minutes a day of pair-talk in English. By the end of O-Levels, no
Sri Lankan child would be afraid to ask a tourist for directions.
Secondly, I would re-design our school day. Classes would start at 8.30 a.m.
instead of 7.30 — sleep research is very clear that teenagers learn nothing
before eight. The half-hour we'd save in the evening would go to a
compulsory hour of sports or music. A healthy mind and body deserve a slot
on the timetable.
Thirdly, I would protect free education by giving teachers what they need: a
living wage, proper training every two years, and laptops to mark online.
Good teachers are the cheapest revolution any country can buy.
These three changes would not need crores of rupees. They need only
determination — and the belief that our children are worth it.
Thank you.
15 marks — type-2 conditionals throughout, three concrete proposals, warm close.
Good morning everyone.
If I were the Minister of Education tomorrow morning, I would not start with
big speeches. I would start with three small but real changes that every
student in this country would feel.
Firstly, I would make English speaking — not just English reading — a
compulsory daily subject. Every classroom from Grade 1 would have at least
fifteen minutes a day of pair-talk in English. By the end of O-Levels, no
Sri Lankan child would be afraid to ask a tourist for directions.
Secondly, I would re-design our school day. Classes would start at 8.30 a.m.
instead of 7.30 — sleep research is very clear that teenagers learn nothing
before eight. The half-hour we'd save in the evening would go to a
compulsory hour of sports or music. A healthy mind and body deserve a slot
on the timetable.
Thirdly, I would protect free education by giving teachers what they need: a
living wage, proper training every two years, and laptops to mark online.
Good teachers are the cheapest revolution any country can buy.
These three changes would not need crores of rupees. They need only
determination — and the belief that our children are worth it.
Thank you.
15 marks — type-2 conditionals throughout, three concrete proposals, warm close.
Section 14 — Sports
Task 1 — Past perfect continuous (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Complete the sentences using the past perfect continuous form.
(1) The boys were covered in mud. They (play) ........... in the field.
(2) He (work) ........... too hard before he fell ill.
(3) How long (you / play) ........... when it started to rain?
(4) I (watch) ........... TV for half an hour when the lights went out.
(5) I (read) ........... that newspaper every week since last January.
(1) The boys were covered in mud. They (play) ........... in the field.
(2) He (work) ........... too hard before he fell ill.
(3) How long (you / play) ........... when it started to rain?
(4) I (watch) ........... TV for half an hour when the lights went out.
(5) I (read) ........... that newspaper every week since last January.
(1) had been playing
(2) had been working
(3) had you been playing
(4) had been watching
(5) had been reading
5 marks.
(2) had been working
(3) had you been playing
(4) had been watching
(5) had been reading
5 marks.
Task 2 — Avoid repetition (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Rewrite each pair of sentences as a single shorter one, using a
helping verb or 'so do I / neither do I'.
(1) Nisal loves cricket. Binara loves cricket too.
→ Nisal loves cricket, and ........... .
(2) Methun scored 76 runs. Tharindu didn't score 76 runs.
→ Methun scored 76 runs, but ........... .
(3) I will go to the next match. My brother will go too.
→ I will go to the next match, and ........... .
(4) Sajini was excited. Nimal was excited too.
→ Sajini was excited, and ........... .
(5) Our team didn't win. Their team didn't win either.
→ Our team didn't win, and ........... .
helping verb or 'so do I / neither do I'.
(1) Nisal loves cricket. Binara loves cricket too.
→ Nisal loves cricket, and ........... .
(2) Methun scored 76 runs. Tharindu didn't score 76 runs.
→ Methun scored 76 runs, but ........... .
(3) I will go to the next match. My brother will go too.
→ I will go to the next match, and ........... .
(4) Sajini was excited. Nimal was excited too.
→ Sajini was excited, and ........... .
(5) Our team didn't win. Their team didn't win either.
→ Our team didn't win, and ........... .
(1) ... so does Binara.
(2) ... Tharindu didn't.
(3) ... so will my brother.
(4) ... so was Nimal.
(5) ... neither did their team.
5 marks.
(2) ... Tharindu didn't.
(3) ... so will my brother.
(4) ... so was Nimal.
(5) ... neither did their team.
5 marks.
Task 3 — Match sport to facts (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Match each sport with the correct fact. The first one is done for you.
Sports: A — Cricket · B — Netball · C — Basketball · D — Volleyball · E — Football (soccer) · F — Rugby
Facts:
(1) Eleven players a side, played with a leather ball and a willow bat. → A (example)
(2) Seven players a side, no dribbling, played on a rectangular court. → ...
(3) Five players a side, played on a hard court, ball shot through a netted hoop. → ...
(4) Six players a side, played over a net, ball must not touch the floor. → ...
(5) An oval ball, fifteen players a side, can be passed only backwards. → ...
(6) Eleven players a side, played mostly with the feet, World Cup every four years. → ...
Sports: A — Cricket · B — Netball · C — Basketball · D — Volleyball · E — Football (soccer) · F — Rugby
Facts:
(1) Eleven players a side, played with a leather ball and a willow bat. → A (example)
(2) Seven players a side, no dribbling, played on a rectangular court. → ...
(3) Five players a side, played on a hard court, ball shot through a netted hoop. → ...
(4) Six players a side, played over a net, ball must not touch the floor. → ...
(5) An oval ball, fifteen players a side, can be passed only backwards. → ...
(6) Eleven players a side, played mostly with the feet, World Cup every four years. → ...
(2) B — Netball
(3) C — Basketball
(4) D — Volleyball
(5) F — Rugby
(6) E — Football
5 marks.
(3) C — Basketball
(4) D — Volleyball
(5) F — Rugby
(6) E — Football
5 marks.
Task 4 — Comprehension: Olympic Dreams (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the passage and answer the questions.
In 1928, a small skinny boy approached Charles Paddock, the world\'s fastest
sprinter at the time. "Mr Paddock," he said, "I want to be an Olympic
champion just like you." Paddock, touched by the boy\'s sincerity, replied:
"If you work for it, train hard, and never give up, you can become an
Olympic champion."
The boy\'s name was Jesse Owens. His family was so poor that he had to pick
100 pounds of cotton a day from the age of seven. At nine, he worked at a
gas station. Yet every evening, before the sun set, he ran. He ran on dirt
roads, on stadium tracks, in cornfields when the rain came down.
Eight years later, in 1936 at the Berlin Olympics, Jesse Owens won four gold
medals.
(1) Who did Jesse Owens approach in 1928?
(2) What was Paddock\'s advice?
(3) Write the sentence which shows how poor Owens\' family was.
(4) Underline the correct answer. Jesse Owens started training because:
(a) his coach forced him.
(b) he was inspired by Charles Paddock\'s advice.
(c) he wanted to escape working.
(5) Find the word in the passage that means "giving up on a goal".
In 1928, a small skinny boy approached Charles Paddock, the world\'s fastest
sprinter at the time. "Mr Paddock," he said, "I want to be an Olympic
champion just like you." Paddock, touched by the boy\'s sincerity, replied:
"If you work for it, train hard, and never give up, you can become an
Olympic champion."
The boy\'s name was Jesse Owens. His family was so poor that he had to pick
100 pounds of cotton a day from the age of seven. At nine, he worked at a
gas station. Yet every evening, before the sun set, he ran. He ran on dirt
roads, on stadium tracks, in cornfields when the rain came down.
Eight years later, in 1936 at the Berlin Olympics, Jesse Owens won four gold
medals.
(1) Who did Jesse Owens approach in 1928?
(2) What was Paddock\'s advice?
(3) Write the sentence which shows how poor Owens\' family was.
(4) Underline the correct answer. Jesse Owens started training because:
(a) his coach forced him.
(b) he was inspired by Charles Paddock\'s advice.
(c) he wanted to escape working.
(5) Find the word in the passage that means "giving up on a goal".
(1) Charles Paddock, the world's fastest sprinter at the time.
(2) If you work for it, train hard, and never give up, you can become an Olympic champion.
(3) "His family was so poor that he had to pick 100 pounds of cotton a day from the age of seven."
(4) (b) he was inspired by Charles Paddock's advice.
(5) give up.
5 marks.
(2) If you work for it, train hard, and never give up, you can become an Olympic champion.
(3) "His family was so poor that he had to pick 100 pounds of cotton a day from the age of seven."
(4) (b) he was inspired by Charles Paddock's advice.
(5) give up.
5 marks.
Task 5 — Sports vocabulary (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Replace each underlined phrase with ONE word from the box.
Box: opponent · spectator · captain · forfeit · postpone
(1) The team that we play against in the next match has won 10 trophies.
(2) Each match has at least three people who pay to watch.
(3) The leader of the team decides who bats first.
(4) Because half our team was absent, we had to give up the match without playing.
(5) Heavy rain forced the umpires to delay the match to next Saturday.
Box: opponent · spectator · captain · forfeit · postpone
(1) The team that we play against in the next match has won 10 trophies.
(2) Each match has at least three people who pay to watch.
(3) The leader of the team decides who bats first.
(4) Because half our team was absent, we had to give up the match without playing.
(5) Heavy rain forced the umpires to delay the match to next Saturday.
(1) opponent
(2) spectator
(3) captain
(4) forfeit
(5) postpone
5 marks.
(2) spectator
(3) captain
(4) forfeit
(5) postpone
5 marks.
Task 6 — Notice: a sports meet (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
You are the secretary of the Sports Council. Write a notice
inviting students to register for the annual school sports meet. Use about
40–50 words.
Include:
• date and venue
• at least two events
• how to register
• closing date.
inviting students to register for the annual school sports meet. Use about
40–50 words.
Include:
• date and venue
• at least two events
• how to register
• closing date.
ANNUAL SCHOOL SPORTS MEET — REGISTER NOW!
The annual school sports meet will be held on Saturday, 5th March 2027 at
the school grounds. Events include 100 m, 400 m, high jump, long jump and the
relay. Register your house and event with Mr. Saliya Perera at the staff
room by Friday, 25th February.
— Sports Council.
50 words. 5 marks.
The annual school sports meet will be held on Saturday, 5th March 2027 at
the school grounds. Events include 100 m, 400 m, high jump, long jump and the
relay. Register your house and event with Mr. Saliya Perera at the staff
room by Friday, 25th February.
— Sports Council.
50 words. 5 marks.
Task 7 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) My favourite sport
(b) The sports star I admire most
(c) A memorable inter-school match
(a) My favourite sport
(b) The sports star I admire most
(c) A memorable inter-school match
MODEL — My favourite sport (60 words)
My favourite sport is cricket. Nothing about it is fast at first glance — a
batsman can stand there for an hour with no run, and yet a quiet attacking
shot can travel a hundred metres in a second. Cricket teaches patience and
sudden courage in the same afternoon. That is why I will keep watching it
all my life.
5 marks.
My favourite sport is cricket. Nothing about it is fast at first glance — a
batsman can stand there for an hour with no run, and yet a quiet attacking
shot can travel a hundred metres in a second. Cricket teaches patience and
sudden courage in the same afternoon. That is why I will keep watching it
all my life.
5 marks.
Task 8 — Match report / data description (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Answer (a) OR (b). Use about 100 words.
(a) Write a report for the school magazine on the inter-house cricket final.
Include: date, teams, key innings, final score, outstanding player.
(b) The table shows the number of medals won by five schools at the inter-
school athletics meet. Write a description.
Table (Gold · Silver · Bronze · Total): Royal 12 · 8 · 6 = 26 / D.S. Senanayake
9 · 11 · 8 = 28 / Nalanda 7 · 9 · 11 = 27 / Ananda 5 · 6 · 7 = 18 / Wesley 3 · 4 · 5 = 12.
(a) Write a report for the school magazine on the inter-house cricket final.
Include: date, teams, key innings, final score, outstanding player.
(b) The table shows the number of medals won by five schools at the inter-
school athletics meet. Write a description.
Table (Gold · Silver · Bronze · Total): Royal 12 · 8 · 6 = 26 / D.S. Senanayake
9 · 11 · 8 = 28 / Nalanda 7 · 9 · 11 = 27 / Ananda 5 · 6 · 7 = 18 / Wesley 3 · 4 · 5 = 12.
(b) MODEL — Table description (108 words)
The table shows the medals won by five schools at the inter-school athletics
meet. D.S. Senanayake led the overall medal table with 28, just one ahead of
Nalanda at 27 and two ahead of Royal at 26. Ananda came fourth with 18
medals, while Wesley finished last with only 12.
Interestingly, Royal won the highest number of golds (12), but the more even
silver and bronze haul of D.S. Senanayake gave them the higher total. In
summary, the top three schools were separated by only two medals, while
Wesley needs to invest in track training.
10 marks.
The table shows the medals won by five schools at the inter-school athletics
meet. D.S. Senanayake led the overall medal table with 28, just one ahead of
Nalanda at 27 and two ahead of Royal at 26. Ananda came fourth with 18
medals, while Wesley finished last with only 12.
Interestingly, Royal won the highest number of golds (12), but the more even
silver and bronze haul of D.S. Senanayake gave them the higher total. In
summary, the top three schools were separated by only two medals, while
Wesley needs to invest in track training.
10 marks.
Task 9 — Speech / essay (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) A speech on 'Sports as an important part of a student\'s life'.
(b) An essay on 'Why we should bring back traditional Sri Lankan games'.
(c) An article: 'The greatest match I have ever watched'.
(a) A speech on 'Sports as an important part of a student\'s life'.
(b) An essay on 'Why we should bring back traditional Sri Lankan games'.
(c) An article: 'The greatest match I have ever watched'.
(a) MODEL — Sports as an important part of a student's life (215 words)
Good morning, teachers and friends.
Walk past our school on any afternoon at four and you hear it before you see
it — the thud of a leather ball on willow, the squeak of trainers on the
netball court, the umpire's whistle. Sport is not a side dish in our school
calendar; it is the main course.
Firstly, sport teaches us things textbooks cannot. On the cricket field a
batsman learns patience: he can wait an hour for the right ball. On the
netball court a wing attack learns to think for the team, not for herself.
In a 1500-metre race, a runner learns that the last 200 metres are won in
the first 1300.
Secondly, sport keeps us healthy. Doctors say a student who plays 45 minutes
of sport four days a week sleeps better, eats better and concentrates better
in class. Daily PE is cheaper than any vitamin.
Thirdly, sport builds friendships across grades, religions and abilities. A
First-XV cricket team is the closest brotherhood many of us will ever know.
So step out of the air-conditioned classroom and join a team. Trophy or no
trophy, you will become a better student — and a better person.
Thank you.
15 marks.
Good morning, teachers and friends.
Walk past our school on any afternoon at four and you hear it before you see
it — the thud of a leather ball on willow, the squeak of trainers on the
netball court, the umpire's whistle. Sport is not a side dish in our school
calendar; it is the main course.
Firstly, sport teaches us things textbooks cannot. On the cricket field a
batsman learns patience: he can wait an hour for the right ball. On the
netball court a wing attack learns to think for the team, not for herself.
In a 1500-metre race, a runner learns that the last 200 metres are won in
the first 1300.
Secondly, sport keeps us healthy. Doctors say a student who plays 45 minutes
of sport four days a week sleeps better, eats better and concentrates better
in class. Daily PE is cheaper than any vitamin.
Thirdly, sport builds friendships across grades, religions and abilities. A
First-XV cricket team is the closest brotherhood many of us will ever know.
So step out of the air-conditioned classroom and join a team. Trophy or no
trophy, you will become a better student — and a better person.
Thank you.
15 marks.
Section 15 — Our Responsibilities
Task 1 — Past tense practice (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in
brackets — past simple, past continuous, past perfect or past perfect
continuous.
(1) Mr. Bandara (sell) ........... his car last week.
(2) Suwimali (sweep) ........... the classroom by the time the teacher
started the lesson.
(3) She (wait) ........... at the bus stop for an hour when I saw her.
(4) When the bell (ring) ..........., the children were already in line.
(5) By 2020, our village (build) ........... two new playgrounds.
brackets — past simple, past continuous, past perfect or past perfect
continuous.
(1) Mr. Bandara (sell) ........... his car last week.
(2) Suwimali (sweep) ........... the classroom by the time the teacher
started the lesson.
(3) She (wait) ........... at the bus stop for an hour when I saw her.
(4) When the bell (ring) ..........., the children were already in line.
(5) By 2020, our village (build) ........... two new playgrounds.
(1) sold
(2) had swept (or had been sweeping)
(3) had been waiting
(4) rang
(5) had built
5 marks.
(2) had swept (or had been sweeping)
(3) had been waiting
(4) rang
(5) had built
5 marks.
Task 2 — Word-class suffixes (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Form the word required in each blank by adding a suffix to the
word in brackets.
(1) Vandalism is a (CRIME) ........... act in our country.
(2) The principal asked us to (DISCIPLINE) ........... ourselves.
(3) Travelling without a ticket is a (PUNISH) ........... offence.
(4) Her (KIND) ........... towards stray dogs is well-known.
(5) Citizens must take (RESPONSIBLE) ........... for their actions.
word in brackets.
(1) Vandalism is a (CRIME) ........... act in our country.
(2) The principal asked us to (DISCIPLINE) ........... ourselves.
(3) Travelling without a ticket is a (PUNISH) ........... offence.
(4) Her (KIND) ........... towards stray dogs is well-known.
(5) Citizens must take (RESPONSIBLE) ........... for their actions.
(1) criminal
(2) discipline (use the verb form)
(3) punishable
(4) kindness
(5) responsibility
5 marks.
(2) discipline (use the verb form)
(3) punishable
(4) kindness
(5) responsibility
5 marks.
Task 3 — Rewrite the notice (5 marks)
(5 marks)
The following notice has been written by Suleka for the class
notice board. There is a mistake in each sentence. Rewrite each sentence
correctly. The first one is done for you.
Notice for Grade Nine students
(1) Drama practices begins tomorrow → Drama practices begin tomorrow. (example)
(2) Be prepare to stay after school.
(3) Parent's letter of permission are needed.
(4) Lunch is providing at the hostel.
(5) Meet on the main hall at 2.00 p.m.
(6) The principle will address the students.
notice board. There is a mistake in each sentence. Rewrite each sentence
correctly. The first one is done for you.
Notice for Grade Nine students
(1) Drama practices begins tomorrow → Drama practices begin tomorrow. (example)
(2) Be prepare to stay after school.
(3) Parent's letter of permission are needed.
(4) Lunch is providing at the hostel.
(5) Meet on the main hall at 2.00 p.m.
(6) The principle will address the students.
(2) Be prepared to stay after school.
(3) Parents' letters of permission are needed.
(4) Lunch is provided at the hostel.
(5) Meet in the main hall at 2.00 p.m.
(6) The principal will address the students.
5 marks.
(3) Parents' letters of permission are needed.
(4) Lunch is provided at the hostel.
(5) Meet in the main hall at 2.00 p.m.
(6) The principal will address the students.
5 marks.
Task 4 — Comprehension: Vandalism (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the passage on vandalism (above) and answer the questions.
(1) Give the dictionary definition of vandalism.
(2) Name THREE causes of vandalism mentioned in the text.
(3) Write the sentence that lists the punishments for vandalism.
(4) Find a word in paragraph 2 that means 'lack of interest or excitement'.
(5) Underline the correct answer. According to the passage, most vandals
(a) have a clear plan.
(b) do it for political reasons.
(c) do it without a clear motive, often as fun or art.
(1) Give the dictionary definition of vandalism.
(2) Name THREE causes of vandalism mentioned in the text.
(3) Write the sentence that lists the punishments for vandalism.
(4) Find a word in paragraph 2 that means 'lack of interest or excitement'.
(5) Underline the correct answer. According to the passage, most vandals
(a) have a clear plan.
(b) do it for political reasons.
(c) do it without a clear motive, often as fun or art.
(1) An offence caused when a person deliberately destroys, alters or defaces someone else's property without permission.
(2) Any three: lack of meaningful activities, disciplinary problems, revenge, boredom, anger, frustration, peer-group pressure, playfulness, curiosity, pleasure.
(3) "It is a punishable crime with imprisonment, monetary fines, or both as laws exist in a country to prevent vandalism."
(4) boredom.
(5) (c) do it without a clear motive, often as fun or art.
5 marks.
(2) Any three: lack of meaningful activities, disciplinary problems, revenge, boredom, anger, frustration, peer-group pressure, playfulness, curiosity, pleasure.
(3) "It is a punishable crime with imprisonment, monetary fines, or both as laws exist in a country to prevent vandalism."
(4) boredom.
(5) (c) do it without a clear motive, often as fun or art.
5 marks.
Task 5 — Notice (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
You are the secretary of the Civic Awareness Club. Write a
notice for the school notice board about a poster competition titled
'Respecting Public Property'. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• topic and theme
• size of the poster
• closing date
• prize.
notice for the school notice board about a poster competition titled
'Respecting Public Property'. Use about 40–50 words.
Include:
• topic and theme
• size of the poster
• closing date
• prize.
CIVIC AWARENESS CLUB — POSTER COMPETITION
Grade 9 to 11 students are invited to enter a poster competition titled
'Respecting Public Property'. Posters must be on A3-size art paper, in any
medium. Hand entries to Mr. Perera by Friday, 11th March 2027. Winning
poster receives a Rs. 5,000 book token.
— Secretary.
50 words. 5 marks.
Grade 9 to 11 students are invited to enter a poster competition titled
'Respecting Public Property'. Posters must be on A3-size art paper, in any
medium. Hand entries to Mr. Perera by Friday, 11th March 2027. Winning
poster receives a Rs. 5,000 book token.
— Secretary.
50 words. 5 marks.
Task 6 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) Why I respect public property
(b) My duty as a citizen
(c) Vandalism in my neighbourhood
(a) Why I respect public property
(b) My duty as a citizen
(c) Vandalism in my neighbourhood
MODEL — Why I respect public property (60 words)
Public property belongs to all of us. The bench at the bus stop, the wall at
the park and the desk at school were paid for by my parents' taxes — and
mine, one day. Scratching my name on them is scratching my own future. So I
carry my litter, hold my voice down in the library, and ask politely before
I touch anything that is shared.
5 marks.
Public property belongs to all of us. The bench at the bus stop, the wall at
the park and the desk at school were paid for by my parents' taxes — and
mine, one day. Scratching my name on them is scratching my own future. So I
carry my litter, hold my voice down in the library, and ask politely before
I touch anything that is shared.
5 marks.
Task 7 — Letter to a friend (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Write a letter to your best friend telling her about a community
service you took part in. Use about 100 words.
Include:
• address, date, salutation
• what the community activity was
• who organised it / how many took part
• what you learnt
• closing wish.
service you took part in. Use about 100 words.
Include:
• address, date, salutation
• what the community activity was
• who organised it / how many took part
• what you learnt
• closing wish.
12, Lake Road,
Maharagama.
6th March 2027.
Dear Sajini,
Last Saturday morning our Youth Society organised a community clean-up day
in our lane. Forty households turned out, armed with brooms, sacks and a
shared determination. By noon we had cleared two truckloads of polythene
and cut back the overgrown drains.
More than the rubbish, I came away with two new lessons. First, work goes
faster when everybody pitches in. Second, the neighbours I had never spoken
to now wave hello.
Why don't you start something similar on your lane?
Love,
Tharindu.
108 words. 10 marks — full layout, three short paragraphs, two clear
lessons, closing question.
Maharagama.
6th March 2027.
Dear Sajini,
Last Saturday morning our Youth Society organised a community clean-up day
in our lane. Forty households turned out, armed with brooms, sacks and a
shared determination. By noon we had cleared two truckloads of polythene
and cut back the overgrown drains.
More than the rubbish, I came away with two new lessons. First, work goes
faster when everybody pitches in. Second, the neighbours I had never spoken
to now wave hello.
Why don't you start something similar on your lane?
Love,
Tharindu.
108 words. 10 marks — full layout, three short paragraphs, two clear
lessons, closing question.
Task 8 — Article / speech (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) An article: 'Public property belongs to all of us'.
(b) A speech on 'Our responsibilities as good citizens'.
(c) An essay on 'How to stop vandalism in our area'.
(a) An article: 'Public property belongs to all of us'.
(b) A speech on 'Our responsibilities as good citizens'.
(c) An essay on 'How to stop vandalism in our area'.
(a) MODEL — Public property belongs to all of us (216 words)
If you walked through the bus stand at Maharagama yesterday, you would have
noticed three things: a half-broken signboard, a fresh marker scrawl across
the shelter wall, and a child's school bag left behind on a bench. The first
two are vandalism. The third is the simple fact that all of us — even the
youngest — depend on what is public.
Public property is everything that does not belong to one person but to all
of us together: schools, hospitals, buses, parks, streetlights, water taps,
post-boxes. We use them daily. They were built with our parents' tax money
and ours too, one day. When someone scratches a name on a wall, breaks a
bus seat or smashes a streetlight, they damage what we have already paid for.
There are three steps every student can take. First, awareness — teach a
younger student why it matters. Second, example — pick up litter even when
no one is watching. Third, courage — politely ask a vandal to stop, or
report the act to a prefect or the police.
Public property belongs to all of us. To respect it is to respect ourselves
and the country we want to live in.
Thank you.
15 marks — opening hook, clear definition, three-step action plan, warm
close.
If you walked through the bus stand at Maharagama yesterday, you would have
noticed three things: a half-broken signboard, a fresh marker scrawl across
the shelter wall, and a child's school bag left behind on a bench. The first
two are vandalism. The third is the simple fact that all of us — even the
youngest — depend on what is public.
Public property is everything that does not belong to one person but to all
of us together: schools, hospitals, buses, parks, streetlights, water taps,
post-boxes. We use them daily. They were built with our parents' tax money
and ours too, one day. When someone scratches a name on a wall, breaks a
bus seat or smashes a streetlight, they damage what we have already paid for.
There are three steps every student can take. First, awareness — teach a
younger student why it matters. Second, example — pick up litter even when
no one is watching. Third, courage — politely ask a vandal to stop, or
report the act to a prefect or the police.
Public property belongs to all of us. To respect it is to respect ourselves
and the country we want to live in.
Thank you.
15 marks — opening hook, clear definition, three-step action plan, warm
close.
Section 16 — Facing Challenges
Task 1 — should / shouldn't / must / mustn't (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Complete the blanks with the most suitable modal from the box.
Box: should · shouldn\'t · must · mustn\'t
(1) You ........... brush your teeth before you go to bed at night.
(2) Children ........... play too much when they have to do homework.
(3) You ........... cross the road when the traffic lights are red.
(4) The parents ........... allow children to do risky things.
(5) You ........... always speak the truth.
Box: should · shouldn\'t · must · mustn\'t
(1) You ........... brush your teeth before you go to bed at night.
(2) Children ........... play too much when they have to do homework.
(3) You ........... cross the road when the traffic lights are red.
(4) The parents ........... allow children to do risky things.
(5) You ........... always speak the truth.
(1) should
(2) shouldn't
(3) mustn't
(4) shouldn't / mustn't
(5) should / must
5 marks.
(2) shouldn't
(3) mustn't
(4) shouldn't / mustn't
(5) should / must
5 marks.
Task 2 — Describe each sign using should / should not (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Write a sentence describing each sign.
(1) KEEP DRY → ...
(2) HANDLE WITH CARE → ...
(3) THIS SIDE UP → ...
(4) PUT LITTER IN THE BIN → ...
(5) FRAGILE → ...
(6) DO NOT DROP → ...
(1) KEEP DRY → ...
(2) HANDLE WITH CARE → ...
(3) THIS SIDE UP → ...
(4) PUT LITTER IN THE BIN → ...
(5) FRAGILE → ...
(6) DO NOT DROP → ...
(1) You should keep this side dry.
(2) You should handle this with care.
(3) You should keep this side up.
(4) You should put litter in the bin.
(5) You should handle this gently because it is fragile.
(6) You should not drop this.
5 marks.
(2) You should handle this with care.
(3) You should keep this side up.
(4) You should put litter in the bin.
(5) You should handle this gently because it is fragile.
(6) You should not drop this.
5 marks.
Task 3 — Pronoun reference (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the passage and answer what each underlined word refers to.
Vandalism is mostly aimed at public property such as bus stops, parks, road
signs and other public places. (1) <u>It</u> can also occur at individual
level too. Among many reasons, personal attitudes and basic social problems
are at the root of vandalism. (2) <u>They</u> may occur because of a lack of
meaningful activities. (3) <u>This</u> is why education is crucial. (4)
<u>Those</u> who vandalize property usually do not have a clear motive.
(5) <u>His</u> family often suffers as much as the property owner.
(1) 'It' refers to ...........
(2) 'They' refers to ...........
(3) 'This' refers to ...........
(4) 'Those' refers to ...........
(5) 'His' refers to ...........
Vandalism is mostly aimed at public property such as bus stops, parks, road
signs and other public places. (1) <u>It</u> can also occur at individual
level too. Among many reasons, personal attitudes and basic social problems
are at the root of vandalism. (2) <u>They</u> may occur because of a lack of
meaningful activities. (3) <u>This</u> is why education is crucial. (4)
<u>Those</u> who vandalize property usually do not have a clear motive.
(5) <u>His</u> family often suffers as much as the property owner.
(1) 'It' refers to ...........
(2) 'They' refers to ...........
(3) 'This' refers to ...........
(4) 'Those' refers to ...........
(5) 'His' refers to ...........
(1) vandalism
(2) personal attitudes and basic social problems
(3) the fact that vandalism may occur due to a lack of meaningful activities
(4) people who vandalize property
(5) the vandal's (a vandal)
5 marks.
(2) personal attitudes and basic social problems
(3) the fact that vandalism may occur due to a lack of meaningful activities
(4) people who vandalize property
(5) the vandal's (a vandal)
5 marks.
Task 4 — Linking ideas (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Combine each pair of sentences using the linker shown in brackets.
(1) The path was steep. We climbed it. (although)
(2) She practised every day. She won the gold medal. (because)
(3) The rain was heavy. We continued the match. (in spite of)
(4) He was tired. He kept running. (even though)
(5) I want to study abroad. I save money. (so that)
(1) The path was steep. We climbed it. (although)
(2) She practised every day. She won the gold medal. (because)
(3) The rain was heavy. We continued the match. (in spite of)
(4) He was tired. He kept running. (even though)
(5) I want to study abroad. I save money. (so that)
(1) Although the path was steep, we climbed it.
(2) She won the gold medal because she practised every day.
(3) In spite of the heavy rain, we continued the match.
(4) Even though he was tired, he kept running.
(5) I save money so that I can study abroad.
5 marks.
(2) She won the gold medal because she practised every day.
(3) In spite of the heavy rain, we continued the match.
(4) Even though he was tired, he kept running.
(5) I save money so that I can study abroad.
5 marks.
Task 5 — Comprehension: The Challenge poem (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the poem (above) and answer the questions.
(1) Who does the poet call 'blessed'?
(2) Find a phrase in stanza 2 that means 'satisfied with what they have'.
(3) What two qualities does the poet ask the reader to have in stanza 5?
(4) Find a word in the poem that means 'attempt something brave'.
(5) Underline the correct title for this poem:
(a) The Joy of Doing Nothing
(b) Rise to the Challenge
(c) Why Average is Best
(1) Who does the poet call 'blessed'?
(2) Find a phrase in stanza 2 that means 'satisfied with what they have'.
(3) What two qualities does the poet ask the reader to have in stanza 5?
(4) Find a word in the poem that means 'attempt something brave'.
(5) Underline the correct title for this poem:
(a) The Joy of Doing Nothing
(b) Rise to the Challenge
(c) Why Average is Best
(1) The man who can find a purpose to fill his days and goals to fill his mind.
(2) "Content with here they are".
(3) Great purpose and self-belief.
(4) dare / dares.
(5) (b) Rise to the Challenge.
5 marks.
(2) "Content with here they are".
(3) Great purpose and self-belief.
(4) dare / dares.
(5) (b) Rise to the Challenge.
5 marks.
Task 6 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) A challenge that changed me
(b) Why fear is sometimes useful
(c) The hardest thing I did this year
(a) A challenge that changed me
(b) Why fear is sometimes useful
(c) The hardest thing I did this year
MODEL — A challenge that changed me (60 words)
Last March I joined the inter-house debate team without knowing one good
sentence in English. I went home in tears after the first practice. But Mrs.
Perera asked me to read one full article aloud every night. By August our
house won. The trophy now sits on my desk — not as proof of victory, but of
persistence.
5 marks.
Last March I joined the inter-house debate team without knowing one good
sentence in English. I went home in tears after the first practice. But Mrs.
Perera asked me to read one full article aloud every night. By August our
house won. The trophy now sits on my desk — not as proof of victory, but of
persistence.
5 marks.
Task 7 — Letter / data description (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Answer (a) OR (b). Use about 100 words.
(a) Write a letter to a younger sibling who is nervous before an exam.
Include: thanks for the call · three tips · one personal story · warm close.
(b) The bar chart below shows the kinds of challenges Grade 11 students of
a school find most difficult. Write a description.
Bar values: Public speaking 65 · Maths exam 50 · Sports try-out 30 ·
Asking for help 25 · Saying No to friends 20.
(a) Write a letter to a younger sibling who is nervous before an exam.
Include: thanks for the call · three tips · one personal story · warm close.
(b) The bar chart below shows the kinds of challenges Grade 11 students of
a school find most difficult. Write a description.
Bar values: Public speaking 65 · Maths exam 50 · Sports try-out 30 ·
Asking for help 25 · Saying No to friends 20.
(b) MODEL — Bar chart description (104 words)
The bar chart shows the kinds of challenges that Grade 11 students of a
school find most difficult. Public speaking is by far the most feared
challenge, named by 65 students out of 200. The maths exam comes second at
50, well above the 30 who fear sports try-outs. Asking for help and saying
no to peer pressure attract a similar score — 25 and 20 students respectively.
In summary, fear of being judged in public (speaking + sports + asking for
help) accounts for the majority of student stress. Schools should target
these visible-pressure moments rather than only the academic ones.
10 marks.
The bar chart shows the kinds of challenges that Grade 11 students of a
school find most difficult. Public speaking is by far the most feared
challenge, named by 65 students out of 200. The maths exam comes second at
50, well above the 30 who fear sports try-outs. Asking for help and saying
no to peer pressure attract a similar score — 25 and 20 students respectively.
In summary, fear of being judged in public (speaking + sports + asking for
help) accounts for the majority of student stress. Schools should target
these visible-pressure moments rather than only the academic ones.
10 marks.
Task 8 — Article / speech (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) A speech on 'Why we should welcome challenges'.
(b) An article: 'The greatest challenge of my generation'.
(c) An essay on 'Failure is the best teacher'.
(a) A speech on 'Why we should welcome challenges'.
(b) An article: 'The greatest challenge of my generation'.
(c) An essay on 'Failure is the best teacher'.
(a) MODEL — Why we should welcome challenges (218 words)
Good morning everyone.
There is a comfortable lie that some Sri Lankan students tell themselves
every day: 'I am not the type for public speaking.' / 'Maths just isn't my
thing.' / 'I'll never speak English well.' We dress fear up as personality
and call the case closed.
Dr. Heartsill Wilson, the poet, would shake his head. 'Blessed is the man
indeed, who in this life can find / a purpose that can fill his days / and
goals to fill his mind!'
Firstly, challenges are the only place that growth lives. The first
sentence of English you struggle to say is the one that earns you the second
one easily. Comfort, by contrast, hands you nothing new.
Secondly, the discomfort itself is short. The longest possible debate speech
is seven minutes; an A-level paper is three hours. Three hours of brave
study can change a whole decade.
Thirdly, the world rewards those who try. Universities, employers, even the
prefects' panel — every door we want is opened only by the courage to knock.
So welcome the next challenge that arrives. Don't run from it. Don't avoid
it. Stand up, sweaty palms and all, and meet it. Your future self is
watching.
Thank you.
15 marks — opening provocation, quote from the unit's poem, three numbered
reasons, warm call to action.
Good morning everyone.
There is a comfortable lie that some Sri Lankan students tell themselves
every day: 'I am not the type for public speaking.' / 'Maths just isn't my
thing.' / 'I'll never speak English well.' We dress fear up as personality
and call the case closed.
Dr. Heartsill Wilson, the poet, would shake his head. 'Blessed is the man
indeed, who in this life can find / a purpose that can fill his days / and
goals to fill his mind!'
Firstly, challenges are the only place that growth lives. The first
sentence of English you struggle to say is the one that earns you the second
one easily. Comfort, by contrast, hands you nothing new.
Secondly, the discomfort itself is short. The longest possible debate speech
is seven minutes; an A-level paper is three hours. Three hours of brave
study can change a whole decade.
Thirdly, the world rewards those who try. Universities, employers, even the
prefects' panel — every door we want is opened only by the courage to knock.
So welcome the next challenge that arrives. Don't run from it. Don't avoid
it. Stand up, sweaty palms and all, and meet it. Your future self is
watching.
Thank you.
15 marks — opening provocation, quote from the unit's poem, three numbered
reasons, warm call to action.
Section 17 — Great Lanka
Task 1 — Articles fill-in (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Fill in each blank with <b>a</b>, <b>an</b>, <b>the</b>, or
nothing (—) where no article is needed.
(1) ........... Sigiriya is one of ........... most spectacular ancient sites in Sri Lanka.
(2) We saw ........... elephant at the temple yesterday.
(3) Mr Perera is ........... university lecturer at the University of Colombo.
(4) ........... sun rises in ........... east.
(5) Have you ever swum in ........... Indian Ocean?
nothing (—) where no article is needed.
(1) ........... Sigiriya is one of ........... most spectacular ancient sites in Sri Lanka.
(2) We saw ........... elephant at the temple yesterday.
(3) Mr Perera is ........... university lecturer at the University of Colombo.
(4) ........... sun rises in ........... east.
(5) Have you ever swum in ........... Indian Ocean?
(1) — , the
(2) an
(3) a
(4) The , the
(5) the
5 marks.
(2) an
(3) a
(4) The , the
(5) the
5 marks.
Task 2 — Comparatives & superlatives (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Complete each sentence using the comparative or superlative of
the adjective in brackets.
(1) Polonnaruwa is (old) ........... than Kandy but younger than Anuradhapura.
(2) Adam's Peak is (sacred) ........... mountain in Sri Lanka.
(3) String hoppers are (delicious) ........... than rotti, in my opinion.
(4) Mirissa is (beautiful) ........... beach I have ever seen.
(5) Bus travel is (cheap) ........... than train travel.
the adjective in brackets.
(1) Polonnaruwa is (old) ........... than Kandy but younger than Anuradhapura.
(2) Adam's Peak is (sacred) ........... mountain in Sri Lanka.
(3) String hoppers are (delicious) ........... than rotti, in my opinion.
(4) Mirissa is (beautiful) ........... beach I have ever seen.
(5) Bus travel is (cheap) ........... than train travel.
(1) older
(2) the most sacred
(3) more delicious
(4) the most beautiful
(5) cheaper
5 marks.
(2) the most sacred
(3) more delicious
(4) the most beautiful
(5) cheaper
5 marks.
Task 3 — Text to data sheet (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the text and complete the data sheet.
The Sinharaja Forest Reserve, located in the south-west of Sri Lanka, was
declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Covering 11,187 hectares, it
is the country's last viable area of primary tropical rainforest. The reserve
is home to 60% of Sri Lanka's endemic trees and 50% of its endemic birds. The
best months to visit are January to April and August to September, when
rainfall is at its lowest. Entry is via the village of Kudawa, where local
guides are available for a small fee.
Data sheet
(1) Location: ...........
(2) UNESCO listing year: ...........
(3) Total area: ...........
(4) Best months to visit: ...........
(5) Entry village: ...........
The Sinharaja Forest Reserve, located in the south-west of Sri Lanka, was
declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Covering 11,187 hectares, it
is the country's last viable area of primary tropical rainforest. The reserve
is home to 60% of Sri Lanka's endemic trees and 50% of its endemic birds. The
best months to visit are January to April and August to September, when
rainfall is at its lowest. Entry is via the village of Kudawa, where local
guides are available for a small fee.
Data sheet
(1) Location: ...........
(2) UNESCO listing year: ...........
(3) Total area: ...........
(4) Best months to visit: ...........
(5) Entry village: ...........
(1) South-west of Sri Lanka
(2) 1988
(3) 11,187 hectares
(4) January–April and August–September
(5) Kudawa
5 marks.
(2) 1988
(3) 11,187 hectares
(4) January–April and August–September
(5) Kudawa
5 marks.
Task 4 — Synonyms (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Replace each underlined word with a word from the box.
Box: ancient · attractions · destinations · located · prevails · tourists
(1) Anuradhapura is one of the OLDEST cities in Sri Lanka.
(2) Polonnaruwa is SITUATED in the North Central Province.
(3) Dry weather EXISTS in the cultural triangle most of the year.
(4) These cities are famous TOURIST PLACES.
(5) Many VISITORS come every year.
Box: ancient · attractions · destinations · located · prevails · tourists
(1) Anuradhapura is one of the OLDEST cities in Sri Lanka.
(2) Polonnaruwa is SITUATED in the North Central Province.
(3) Dry weather EXISTS in the cultural triangle most of the year.
(4) These cities are famous TOURIST PLACES.
(5) Many VISITORS come every year.
(1) ancient
(2) located
(3) prevails
(4) destinations (or attractions)
(5) tourists
5 marks.
(2) located
(3) prevails
(4) destinations (or attractions)
(5) tourists
5 marks.
Task 5 — Comprehension: Sigiriya (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the description of Sigiriya (above) and answer the questions.
(1) How high is Sigiriya rock?
(2) In which district is it located?
(3) Who built the palace on top, and in which century?
(4) What is the 'mirror wall' famous for?
(5) Underline the correct title for the description:
(a) A simple climb in the dry zone.
(b) Sigiriya — the Lion Rock that holds 1,500-year-old graffiti.
(c) The history of King Kashyapa's father.
(1) How high is Sigiriya rock?
(2) In which district is it located?
(3) Who built the palace on top, and in which century?
(4) What is the 'mirror wall' famous for?
(5) Underline the correct title for the description:
(a) A simple climb in the dry zone.
(b) Sigiriya — the Lion Rock that holds 1,500-year-old graffiti.
(c) The history of King Kashyapa's father.
(1) 200 metres.
(2) Matale District.
(3) King Kashyapa, in the 5th century AD.
(4) Its 1,500-year-old graffiti.
(5) (b) Sigiriya — the Lion Rock that holds 1,500-year-old graffiti.
5 marks.
(2) Matale District.
(3) King Kashyapa, in the 5th century AD.
(4) Its 1,500-year-old graffiti.
(5) (b) Sigiriya — the Lion Rock that holds 1,500-year-old graffiti.
5 marks.
Task 6 — Notice: a Sri Lanka heritage exhibition (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
You are the secretary of the History Society. Write a notice
inviting students to a heritage photo exhibition. Use about 40–50 words.
inviting students to a heritage photo exhibition. Use about 40–50 words.
HISTORY SOCIETY — 'GREAT LANKA' PHOTO EXHIBITION
All Grade 9 to 11 students are warmly invited to a photo exhibition titled
'Great Lanka — Eight UNESCO Treasures' on Wednesday, 5th May 2027 from
9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. in the school auditorium. Entry is free. Each visitor
receives a heritage bookmark.
— Secretary.
47 words. 5 marks.
All Grade 9 to 11 students are warmly invited to a photo exhibition titled
'Great Lanka — Eight UNESCO Treasures' on Wednesday, 5th May 2027 from
9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. in the school auditorium. Entry is free. Each visitor
receives a heritage bookmark.
— Secretary.
47 words. 5 marks.
Task 7 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) The most beautiful place in Sri Lanka I have visited
(b) Why I am proud to be Sri Lankan
(c) A historical place every Sri Lankan should see
(a) The most beautiful place in Sri Lanka I have visited
(b) Why I am proud to be Sri Lankan
(c) A historical place every Sri Lankan should see
MODEL — The most beautiful place I have visited (60 words)
The most beautiful place I have ever visited is the Galle Fort. The Dutch
built the ramparts in the 17th century, and four hundred years later, you
can still walk along them at sunset. The waves crash thirty metres below,
the air smells of frangipani, and a hundred lanterns slowly come on in the
old cobblestone streets behind you.
5 marks.
The most beautiful place I have ever visited is the Galle Fort. The Dutch
built the ramparts in the 17th century, and four hundred years later, you
can still walk along them at sunset. The waves crash thirty metres below,
the air smells of frangipani, and a hundred lanterns slowly come on in the
old cobblestone streets behind you.
5 marks.
Task 8 — Description / letter (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Answer (a) OR (b). Use about 100 words.
(a) Write a letter inviting a friend abroad to visit Sri Lanka. Include: best
season, ONE historical place, ONE natural place, ONE food they must try.
(b) Write a 100-word description of Polonnaruwa for a school magazine.
Include: location, century built, two main attractions, why it is famous.
(a) Write a letter inviting a friend abroad to visit Sri Lanka. Include: best
season, ONE historical place, ONE natural place, ONE food they must try.
(b) Write a 100-word description of Polonnaruwa for a school magazine.
Include: location, century built, two main attractions, why it is famous.
(b) MODEL — Polonnaruwa (110 words)
Polonnaruwa, the second ancient capital of Sri Lanka, lies 216 km north-east
of Colombo in the North Central Province. King Vijayabahu I made it the new
capital in the 11th century AD after the fall of Anuradhapura. The city
reached its glory under King Parakramabahu I in the 12th century. Two
attractions stand out for any visitor. First, the Gal Vihara — four colossal
Buddha statues carved into a single granite face. Second, the Parakrama
Samudra, a vast man-made reservoir that still irrigates the surrounding
paddy fields. Polonnaruwa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the heartland
of medieval Sri Lankan engineering.
10 marks.
Polonnaruwa, the second ancient capital of Sri Lanka, lies 216 km north-east
of Colombo in the North Central Province. King Vijayabahu I made it the new
capital in the 11th century AD after the fall of Anuradhapura. The city
reached its glory under King Parakramabahu I in the 12th century. Two
attractions stand out for any visitor. First, the Gal Vihara — four colossal
Buddha statues carved into a single granite face. Second, the Parakrama
Samudra, a vast man-made reservoir that still irrigates the surrounding
paddy fields. Polonnaruwa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the heartland
of medieval Sri Lankan engineering.
10 marks.
Task 9 — Article (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) An article: 'Discovering Sri Lanka by ourselves'.
(b) A speech on 'Why we must protect our heritage sites'.
(c) An essay on 'Sri Lanka — the pearl of the Indian Ocean'.
(a) An article: 'Discovering Sri Lanka by ourselves'.
(b) A speech on 'Why we must protect our heritage sites'.
(c) An essay on 'Sri Lanka — the pearl of the Indian Ocean'.
(c) MODEL — Sri Lanka, the pearl of the Indian Ocean (212 words)
Named by Marco Polo 'the finest island of its size in the world', Sri Lanka
has worn the title 'pearl of the Indian Ocean' for seven centuries — and
the truth is hidden behind that pretty phrase.
Firstly, we are unusually rich in nature. Five climate zones, two monsoons
and 65,610 square kilometres of land sustain elephants, leopards, blue
whales, more than 400 bird species and the world's only known living
descendant of the Buddha tree. No island the size of Ireland matches that.
Secondly, we are rich in culture. Eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites — from
the 5th-century Sigiriya frescoes to the 16th-century Galle Fort — sit on a
single bus map. Three of the world's great religions live next door to one
another on Galle Road.
Thirdly, we are rich in people. Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Burghers
speak two official languages plus a friendly English. The 'smile' that
tourists notice first is not a slogan; it is a real national habit.
But a pearl needs an oyster to keep it polished. We are losing forests,
defacing temples, throwing plastic into the ocean. If we do not protect
our pearl, no future generation will see it shine.
15 marks.
Named by Marco Polo 'the finest island of its size in the world', Sri Lanka
has worn the title 'pearl of the Indian Ocean' for seven centuries — and
the truth is hidden behind that pretty phrase.
Firstly, we are unusually rich in nature. Five climate zones, two monsoons
and 65,610 square kilometres of land sustain elephants, leopards, blue
whales, more than 400 bird species and the world's only known living
descendant of the Buddha tree. No island the size of Ireland matches that.
Secondly, we are rich in culture. Eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites — from
the 5th-century Sigiriya frescoes to the 16th-century Galle Fort — sit on a
single bus map. Three of the world's great religions live next door to one
another on Galle Road.
Thirdly, we are rich in people. Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and Burghers
speak two official languages plus a friendly English. The 'smile' that
tourists notice first is not a slogan; it is a real national habit.
But a pearl needs an oyster to keep it polished. We are losing forests,
defacing temples, throwing plastic into the ocean. If we do not protect
our pearl, no future generation will see it shine.
15 marks.
Section 18 — For A Better Tomorrow
Task 1 — Second conditional: For a Better Tomorrow (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Rewrite each sentence as a second conditional.
(1) Every household does not recycle. The garbage dumps are growing.
→ If every household ........... , the garbage dumps ........... .
(2) We use too many polythene bags. Our canals are blocked.
→ If we ........... , our canals ........... .
(3) The government does not ban single-use plastics. The problem is not solved.
→ If the government ........... , the problem ........... .
(4) People burn rubber. The air is polluted.
→ If people ........... , the air ........... .
(5) We plant trees. The climate cools.
→ If we ........... , the climate ........... .
(1) Every household does not recycle. The garbage dumps are growing.
→ If every household ........... , the garbage dumps ........... .
(2) We use too many polythene bags. Our canals are blocked.
→ If we ........... , our canals ........... .
(3) The government does not ban single-use plastics. The problem is not solved.
→ If the government ........... , the problem ........... .
(4) People burn rubber. The air is polluted.
→ If people ........... , the air ........... .
(5) We plant trees. The climate cools.
→ If we ........... , the climate ........... .
(1) ... recycled ... would shrink.
(2) ... used fewer polythene bags, our canals would not be blocked.
(3) ... banned single-use plastics, the problem would be solved.
(4) ... did not burn rubber, the air would not be polluted.
(5) ... planted trees, the climate would cool.
5 marks.
(2) ... used fewer polythene bags, our canals would not be blocked.
(3) ... banned single-use plastics, the problem would be solved.
(4) ... did not burn rubber, the air would not be polluted.
(5) ... planted trees, the climate would cool.
5 marks.
Task 2 — Capitalisation (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Rewrite each sentence inserting capital letters where they are needed.
(1) scientists have not yet found out if mars holds favourable climatic
conditions to support life on it.
(2) the municipal council takes our garbage to recycling centres every
saturday.
(3) the river nile originates in east africa, flows through many countries
including ethiopia and egypt, and empties its water into the mediterranean sea.
(4) every year in july and in august my friends udaya, rishan and i go to
panadura beach to fly kites.
(5) the chinese believe that looking up at a kite improves your eyesight.
(1) scientists have not yet found out if mars holds favourable climatic
conditions to support life on it.
(2) the municipal council takes our garbage to recycling centres every
saturday.
(3) the river nile originates in east africa, flows through many countries
including ethiopia and egypt, and empties its water into the mediterranean sea.
(4) every year in july and in august my friends udaya, rishan and i go to
panadura beach to fly kites.
(5) the chinese believe that looking up at a kite improves your eyesight.
(1) Scientists have not yet found out if Mars holds favourable climatic conditions to support life on it.
(2) The Municipal Council takes our garbage to recycling centres every Saturday.
(3) The River Nile originates in East Africa, flows through many countries including Ethiopia and Egypt, and empties its water into the Mediterranean Sea.
(4) Every year in July and in August my friends Udaya, Rishan and I go to Panadura beach to fly kites.
(5) The Chinese believe that looking up at a kite improves your eyesight.
5 marks.
(2) The Municipal Council takes our garbage to recycling centres every Saturday.
(3) The River Nile originates in East Africa, flows through many countries including Ethiopia and Egypt, and empties its water into the Mediterranean Sea.
(4) Every year in July and in August my friends Udaya, Rishan and I go to Panadura beach to fly kites.
(5) The Chinese believe that looking up at a kite improves your eyesight.
5 marks.
Task 3 — Synonyms: Garbage / Polythene passage (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Replace each underlined phrase with ONE word from the box.
Box: chokes · considerable · accumulate · mistaken · reachable · perishable
(1) Roadside dumps contain a LARGE amount of plastic waste.
(2) Polythene CAN BE GATHERED little by little in drains for years.
(3) Vegetable peels are EASY TO DECAY, but plastic is not.
(4) Plastic is often TAKEN BY MISTAKE for food by birds.
(5) Plastic in sewer pipes BLOCKS AND TROUBLES the flow of water.
Box: chokes · considerable · accumulate · mistaken · reachable · perishable
(1) Roadside dumps contain a LARGE amount of plastic waste.
(2) Polythene CAN BE GATHERED little by little in drains for years.
(3) Vegetable peels are EASY TO DECAY, but plastic is not.
(4) Plastic is often TAKEN BY MISTAKE for food by birds.
(5) Plastic in sewer pipes BLOCKS AND TROUBLES the flow of water.
(1) considerable
(2) accumulate
(3) perishable
(4) mistaken
(5) chokes
5 marks.
(2) accumulate
(3) perishable
(4) mistaken
(5) chokes
5 marks.
Task 4 — Comprehension: Polythene interview (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the interview excerpt (above) and answer the questions.
(1) What is the name of the TV programme?
(2) What is today's topic?
(3) Who is Mr. Weerasinghe?
(4) Write the sentence that explains why polythene is a problem.
(5) Underline the correct answer. Most types of polythene .........
(a) decay within a few weeks.
(b) do not decay at all.
(c) decay only in salt water.
(1) What is the name of the TV programme?
(2) What is today's topic?
(3) Who is Mr. Weerasinghe?
(4) Write the sentence that explains why polythene is a problem.
(5) Underline the correct answer. Most types of polythene .........
(a) decay within a few weeks.
(b) do not decay at all.
(c) decay only in salt water.
(1) For a Better Tomorrow.
(2) Polythene and the Environment.
(3) One of the eminent environmentalists in the country.
(4) "The biggest problem is that most types of polythene don't decay."
(5) (b) do not decay at all.
5 marks.
(2) Polythene and the Environment.
(3) One of the eminent environmentalists in the country.
(4) "The biggest problem is that most types of polythene don't decay."
(5) (b) do not decay at all.
5 marks.
Task 5 — Notice / public announcement (40–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a public announcement about a scheduled water cut in your
area on Saturday, 12th March 2027. Use 40–60 words.
Include:
• area
• date and time
• affected zones
• reason
• apology line.
area on Saturday, 12th March 2027. Use 40–60 words.
Include:
• area
• date and time
• affected zones
• reason
• apology line.
PUBLIC NOTICE
The National Water Supply and Drainage Board wishes to inform residents of
Maharagama that the water supply to Maharagama South and Borella Road will
be interrupted on Saturday, 12th March 2027 from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. The
interruption is necessary for urgent pipe repairs. The Board apologises for
the inconvenience.
— Area Engineer, NWSDB.
58 words. 5 marks.
The National Water Supply and Drainage Board wishes to inform residents of
Maharagama that the water supply to Maharagama South and Borella Road will
be interrupted on Saturday, 12th March 2027 from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. The
interruption is necessary for urgent pipe repairs. The Board apologises for
the inconvenience.
— Area Engineer, NWSDB.
58 words. 5 marks.
Task 6 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) Why I refuse a polythene bag at the kade
(b) My family's recycling habits
(c) Three small steps for a better tomorrow
(a) Why I refuse a polythene bag at the kade
(b) My family's recycling habits
(c) Three small steps for a better tomorrow
MODEL — Three small steps for a better tomorrow (60 words)
Firstly, I carry a cloth bag to the shop and refuse the polythene one even
when it is offered for free. Secondly, our family washes and reuses every
glass bottle for water. Thirdly, on Sundays we sort the week's rubbish into
three bins — paper, plastic, kitchen — and the municipal van takes them
separately. Small steps. Real change.
5 marks.
Firstly, I carry a cloth bag to the shop and refuse the polythene one even
when it is offered for free. Secondly, our family washes and reuses every
glass bottle for water. Thirdly, on Sundays we sort the week's rubbish into
three bins — paper, plastic, kitchen — and the municipal van takes them
separately. Small steps. Real change.
5 marks.
Task 7 — Letter / data description (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Answer (a) OR (b). Use about 100 words.
(a) Write a letter to the editor of the Daily News on the polythene problem
in Sri Lanka. Suggest two solutions.
(b) The pie chart below shows the composition of household garbage in a
typical Sri Lankan home. Write a description.
Pie values: Food waste 45% · Plastic 25% · Paper 15% · Glass 10% · Metal 5%.
(a) Write a letter to the editor of the Daily News on the polythene problem
in Sri Lanka. Suggest two solutions.
(b) The pie chart below shows the composition of household garbage in a
typical Sri Lankan home. Write a description.
Pie values: Food waste 45% · Plastic 25% · Paper 15% · Glass 10% · Metal 5%.
(b) MODEL — Pie-chart description (105 words)
The pie chart shows the composition of household garbage in a typical Sri
Lankan home. Food waste takes the largest share at 45% — nearly half of
all household rubbish. Plastic comes a distant second at 25%, well above
the 15% taken up by paper. Glass accounts for 10%, while metal — the
smallest portion — makes up just 5%.
In summary, almost half of household garbage is compostable. If every house
started composting tomorrow, the volume going to landfill would shrink by
nearly half overnight. Recycling efforts must now target food waste as much
as plastic.
10 marks.
The pie chart shows the composition of household garbage in a typical Sri
Lankan home. Food waste takes the largest share at 45% — nearly half of
all household rubbish. Plastic comes a distant second at 25%, well above
the 15% taken up by paper. Glass accounts for 10%, while metal — the
smallest portion — makes up just 5%.
In summary, almost half of household garbage is compostable. If every house
started composting tomorrow, the volume going to landfill would shrink by
nearly half overnight. Recycling efforts must now target food waste as much
as plastic.
10 marks.
Task 8 — Article / speech (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) An article: 'Let's Protect Our Environment'.
(b) A speech on 'The Effects of Using Polythene'.
(c) An essay on 'It is possible to achieve development without harming the environment'.
(a) An article: 'Let's Protect Our Environment'.
(b) A speech on 'The Effects of Using Polythene'.
(c) An essay on 'It is possible to achieve development without harming the environment'.
(b) MODEL — Speech on the Effects of Using Polythene (210 words)
Good morning, teachers and friends.
If you walk down any Sri Lankan town today, you will see polythene almost
everywhere — wrapping the chicken in the butcher's, carrying mother's
vegetables, even floating in the Kelani river. We use it because it is
cheap, light and waterproof. But that same cheapness is destroying our
island.
A single polythene bag takes between 500 and 1000 years to break down. In
that time, it does not disappear — it splits into tiny plastic pieces that
fish swallow, that block our drains and cause floods, and that release
poisonous gases when burnt. Last year a wild elephant in Habarana died with
eight kilograms of polythene in its stomach. That is one statistic; there
are thousands more.
What can we do? Three simple steps. First, refuse a polythene bag at every
shop — carry a cloth bag in your school bag. Second, refuse 'lunch sheets'
in tuition; ask the shop to wrap food in banana leaf or paper. Third, talk
about it: at home, at the temple, at the cricket match. Change spreads
faster than we think.
Our grandparents lived perfectly well without polythene. So can we.
Thank you.
15 marks.
Good morning, teachers and friends.
If you walk down any Sri Lankan town today, you will see polythene almost
everywhere — wrapping the chicken in the butcher's, carrying mother's
vegetables, even floating in the Kelani river. We use it because it is
cheap, light and waterproof. But that same cheapness is destroying our
island.
A single polythene bag takes between 500 and 1000 years to break down. In
that time, it does not disappear — it splits into tiny plastic pieces that
fish swallow, that block our drains and cause floods, and that release
poisonous gases when burnt. Last year a wild elephant in Habarana died with
eight kilograms of polythene in its stomach. That is one statistic; there
are thousands more.
What can we do? Three simple steps. First, refuse a polythene bag at every
shop — carry a cloth bag in your school bag. Second, refuse 'lunch sheets'
in tuition; ask the shop to wrap food in banana leaf or paper. Third, talk
about it: at home, at the temple, at the cricket match. Change spreads
faster than we think.
Our grandparents lived perfectly well without polythene. So can we.
Thank you.
15 marks.
Section 19 — Best Use Of Time
Task 1 — Time clauses (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Underline the correct verb form in brackets.
(1) I (will call / call) you as soon as I (reach / will reach) home.
(2) By the time you (arrive / will arrive), lunch (was / will be) ready.
(3) Read while you (wait / will wait) for the bus.
(4) Finish your homework before you (watch / will watch) TV.
(5) When the bell (rings / will ring), we (leave / will leave) the class.
(1) I (will call / call) you as soon as I (reach / will reach) home.
(2) By the time you (arrive / will arrive), lunch (was / will be) ready.
(3) Read while you (wait / will wait) for the bus.
(4) Finish your homework before you (watch / will watch) TV.
(5) When the bell (rings / will ring), we (leave / will leave) the class.
(1) will call · reach
(2) arrive · will be
(3) wait
(4) watch
(5) rings · leave
5 marks.
(2) arrive · will be
(3) wait
(4) watch
(5) rings · leave
5 marks.
Task 2 — Match the time lost to who knows its value (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Match each on the left with the right column.
(1) one year
(2) one month
(3) one hour
(4) one minute
(5) one second
(a) two lovers waiting at a railway station
(b) a student who has failed a final exam
(c) an Olympic 100-m sprinter
(d) a mother whose baby was born prematurely
(e) a passenger who has missed the train
(1) one year
(2) one month
(3) one hour
(4) one minute
(5) one second
(a) two lovers waiting at a railway station
(b) a student who has failed a final exam
(c) an Olympic 100-m sprinter
(d) a mother whose baby was born prematurely
(e) a passenger who has missed the train
(1) b
(2) d
(3) a
(4) e
(5) c
5 marks.
(2) d
(3) a
(4) e
(5) c
5 marks.
Task 3 — Apology dialogue (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Complete the dialogue between Hassan and his teacher.
Teacher: Hassan, you are 30 minutes late!
Hassan : I'm very ........... sir. Our (1) ........... was delayed due to (2)
........... .
Teacher: This is the second time this week.
Hassan : I (3) ........... that it will not happen again, sir. I am ready to
take any (4) ........... you give me.
Teacher: Very well. From tomorrow, leave home (5) ........... earlier.
Teacher: Hassan, you are 30 minutes late!
Hassan : I'm very ........... sir. Our (1) ........... was delayed due to (2)
........... .
Teacher: This is the second time this week.
Hassan : I (3) ........... that it will not happen again, sir. I am ready to
take any (4) ........... you give me.
Teacher: Very well. From tomorrow, leave home (5) ........... earlier.
sorry / apologetic
(1) train
(2) a signal failure (any honest reason)
(3) promise
(4) punishment
(5) half an hour / 30 minutes
5 marks.
(1) train
(2) a signal failure (any honest reason)
(3) promise
(4) punishment
(5) half an hour / 30 minutes
5 marks.
Task 4 — Pie-chart description (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Complete each sentence using one of the required phrases:
'the highest percentage', 'the lowest percentage', 'equal amount', 'more time',
'less time'.
Pie values: Studying 34% · Sleeping 29% · Travelling 17% · Classes 8% ·
Eating 8% · Relaxing 4%.
(1) ........... goes to studying at 34%.
(2) ........... is spent on relaxing.
(3) Classes and eating share an ........... of time at 8% each.
(4) ........... is spent on sleeping than on travelling.
(5) ........... is spent on relaxing than on classes.
'the highest percentage', 'the lowest percentage', 'equal amount', 'more time',
'less time'.
Pie values: Studying 34% · Sleeping 29% · Travelling 17% · Classes 8% ·
Eating 8% · Relaxing 4%.
(1) ........... goes to studying at 34%.
(2) ........... is spent on relaxing.
(3) Classes and eating share an ........... of time at 8% each.
(4) ........... is spent on sleeping than on travelling.
(5) ........... is spent on relaxing than on classes.
(1) The highest percentage
(2) The lowest percentage
(3) equal amount
(4) More time
(5) Less time
5 marks.
(2) The lowest percentage
(3) equal amount
(4) More time
(5) Less time
5 marks.
Task 5 — Comprehension: a time-management story (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the passage and answer the questions.
Kavindi was the kind of student who always meant to start early but never
did. The morning of her O/L English paper, she sat at her desk with two
freshly opened past papers and one fresh cup of tea — and a notification
from her best friend. "Just five minutes," she promised herself, and tapped
the screen.
Three hours later, she looked up. The tea had gone cold; the papers had not
been touched. Her mother knocked. "Aren't you starting?" Kavindi nodded
bravely and reached for the past paper. Now, in three hours, she had to do
what should have taken eight.
That night, after the exam, she walked the long way home so her mother
wouldn't see her cry. She had not failed — but she knew, exactly, what nine As
felt like and what eight As felt like, and the difference, she realised, was
three wasted hours on a Monday morning.
(1) What was Kavindi planning to do on Monday morning?
(2) What distracted her?
(3) Write the sentence that shows she lost three hours.
(4) Why did Kavindi walk home the long way?
(5) Underline the correct title for this passage:
(a) The Tea That Cost Her Hours
(b) Kavindi's Mother
(c) Best Use of Time
Kavindi was the kind of student who always meant to start early but never
did. The morning of her O/L English paper, she sat at her desk with two
freshly opened past papers and one fresh cup of tea — and a notification
from her best friend. "Just five minutes," she promised herself, and tapped
the screen.
Three hours later, she looked up. The tea had gone cold; the papers had not
been touched. Her mother knocked. "Aren't you starting?" Kavindi nodded
bravely and reached for the past paper. Now, in three hours, she had to do
what should have taken eight.
That night, after the exam, she walked the long way home so her mother
wouldn't see her cry. She had not failed — but she knew, exactly, what nine As
felt like and what eight As felt like, and the difference, she realised, was
three wasted hours on a Monday morning.
(1) What was Kavindi planning to do on Monday morning?
(2) What distracted her?
(3) Write the sentence that shows she lost three hours.
(4) Why did Kavindi walk home the long way?
(5) Underline the correct title for this passage:
(a) The Tea That Cost Her Hours
(b) Kavindi's Mother
(c) Best Use of Time
(1) Sit her O/L English paper after practising on two past papers.
(2) A notification from her best friend on her phone.
(3) "Three hours later, she looked up. The tea had gone cold; the papers had not been touched."
(4) So her mother would not see her cry.
(5) (c) Best Use of Time (also acceptable: (a) The Tea That Cost Her Hours).
5 marks.
(2) A notification from her best friend on her phone.
(3) "Three hours later, she looked up. The tea had gone cold; the papers had not been touched."
(4) So her mother would not see her cry.
(5) (c) Best Use of Time (also acceptable: (a) The Tea That Cost Her Hours).
5 marks.
Task 6 — Notice: time-management workshop (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
Write a notice for the school noticeboard inviting Grade 11
students to a time-management workshop. Use 40–50 words.
students to a time-management workshop. Use 40–50 words.
CAREER GUIDANCE SOCIETY — TIME-MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Grade 11 students are warmly invited to a workshop titled '24 Hours, Smart
Use' on Friday, 18th March 2027 at 1.30 p.m. in the school library.
Resource Person: Mr. Janaka Rajapakse, Career Counsellor. Register with
Nimali Perera by 16th March.
— Secretary.
47 words. 5 marks.
Grade 11 students are warmly invited to a workshop titled '24 Hours, Smart
Use' on Friday, 18th March 2027 at 1.30 p.m. in the school library.
Resource Person: Mr. Janaka Rajapakse, Career Counsellor. Register with
Nimali Perera by 16th March.
— Secretary.
47 words. 5 marks.
Task 7 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) The biggest time-waster in my day
(b) How I plan to study for the O/Ls
(c) A morning routine I keep
(a) The biggest time-waster in my day
(b) How I plan to study for the O/Ls
(c) A morning routine I keep
MODEL — How I plan to study for the O/Ls (60 words)
From January, I will follow a quiet four-hour daily plan: one hour of past
papers before school, two hours of revision after dinner, and one hour of
reading a non-textbook English book before bed. Sunday afternoons are
strictly free. No phone after 9 p.m. Eight months and three weeks of this,
and the trophy is mine.
5 marks.
From January, I will follow a quiet four-hour daily plan: one hour of past
papers before school, two hours of revision after dinner, and one hour of
reading a non-textbook English book before bed. Sunday afternoons are
strictly free. No phone after 9 p.m. Eight months and three weeks of this,
and the trophy is mine.
5 marks.
Task 8 — Pie chart / letter (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Answer (a) OR (b). Use about 100 words.
(a) Write a letter to a younger sibling who keeps losing time on social
media. Include: a saying about time · two practical tips · one personal
story · warm close.
(b) The pie chart shows how a Grade 11 student spends 24 hours on a school
day. Write a description.
Values: Studying 34% · Sleeping 29% · Travelling 17% · Classes 8% ·
Eating 8% · Relaxing 4%.
(a) Write a letter to a younger sibling who keeps losing time on social
media. Include: a saying about time · two practical tips · one personal
story · warm close.
(b) The pie chart shows how a Grade 11 student spends 24 hours on a school
day. Write a description.
Values: Studying 34% · Sleeping 29% · Travelling 17% · Classes 8% ·
Eating 8% · Relaxing 4%.
(b) MODEL — Pie chart description (108 words)
The pie chart shows how a Grade 11 student spends 24 hours on a school day.
The highest percentage of time — 34% — is spent on studying, closely
followed by 29% on sleeping. Travelling to and from school accounts for
17% of the day, more than three times the amount given to relaxing.
Classes and eating share an equal amount of time at 8% each. The lowest
percentage — just 4% — goes to relaxing.
In summary, the student spends almost two-thirds of the day either studying
or sleeping. There is worryingly little time for the personal relaxation a
teenager needs.
10 marks.
The pie chart shows how a Grade 11 student spends 24 hours on a school day.
The highest percentage of time — 34% — is spent on studying, closely
followed by 29% on sleeping. Travelling to and from school accounts for
17% of the day, more than three times the amount given to relaxing.
Classes and eating share an equal amount of time at 8% each. The lowest
percentage — just 4% — goes to relaxing.
In summary, the student spends almost two-thirds of the day either studying
or sleeping. There is worryingly little time for the personal relaxation a
teenager needs.
10 marks.
Task 9 — Article / speech (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) An article: 'Best use of time — the secret of every successful student'.
(b) A speech on 'Why we should waste a little time every day'.
(c) An essay on 'Time is the most precious thing in life'.
(a) An article: 'Best use of time — the secret of every successful student'.
(b) A speech on 'Why we should waste a little time every day'.
(c) An essay on 'Time is the most precious thing in life'.
(a) MODEL — Best use of time (218 words)
'Time,' wrote William Penn, 'is what we want most, but what we use worst.'
Look around any Grade 11 classroom in Sri Lanka and the quote needs no
proof. Half of us have phones still warm from this morning's scrolling; the
other half have past papers still untouched in our bags.
The secret of every successful O/L student is not extra hours — we all get
the same 24 — but the careful use of them. Three habits separate the top
student from the average.
Firstly, they plan. Sunday evening, twenty minutes, pencil and notebook.
What is the goal this week? Which subject needs the most attention? They
write it down.
Secondly, they protect the morning. The first 90 minutes after waking are
golden for memory work. They do their hardest subject then, before any
phone has woken up beside them.
Thirdly, they rest deliberately. A 90-minute walk on Sunday afternoon is not
lost time; it is what makes Monday morning clear. Top students treat sleep
like a subject.
The student who masters time at sixteen will master her career at twenty-six.
The one who masters her phone at sixteen will be mastered by it forever.
Choose now.
15 marks.
'Time,' wrote William Penn, 'is what we want most, but what we use worst.'
Look around any Grade 11 classroom in Sri Lanka and the quote needs no
proof. Half of us have phones still warm from this morning's scrolling; the
other half have past papers still untouched in our bags.
The secret of every successful O/L student is not extra hours — we all get
the same 24 — but the careful use of them. Three habits separate the top
student from the average.
Firstly, they plan. Sunday evening, twenty minutes, pencil and notebook.
What is the goal this week? Which subject needs the most attention? They
write it down.
Secondly, they protect the morning. The first 90 minutes after waking are
golden for memory work. They do their hardest subject then, before any
phone has woken up beside them.
Thirdly, they rest deliberately. A 90-minute walk on Sunday afternoon is not
lost time; it is what makes Monday morning clear. Top students treat sleep
like a subject.
The student who masters time at sixteen will master her career at twenty-six.
The one who masters her phone at sixteen will be mastered by it forever.
Choose now.
15 marks.
Section 20 — A Moment Of Fun
Task 1 — Present tenses fill-in (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Fill in each blank with the present continuous, present perfect
or present perfect continuous form of the verb in brackets.
(1) A: Have you been to Trincomalee?
B: No, I ........... (not). How long ........... it usually ...........
(take) to get there by bus?
(2) You ........... ........... (study) since early morning. Please take a rest.
(3) Thisuri is a good friend of mine. I ........... (know) her since childhood.
(4) I ........... ........... (go) to the library. Would you like to come with me?
(5) The southwest monsoon usually ........... (bring) a lot of rain.
(6) My brother ........... (study) hard for an examination these days.
or present perfect continuous form of the verb in brackets.
(1) A: Have you been to Trincomalee?
B: No, I ........... (not). How long ........... it usually ...........
(take) to get there by bus?
(2) You ........... ........... (study) since early morning. Please take a rest.
(3) Thisuri is a good friend of mine. I ........... (know) her since childhood.
(4) I ........... ........... (go) to the library. Would you like to come with me?
(5) The southwest monsoon usually ........... (bring) a lot of rain.
(6) My brother ........... (study) hard for an examination these days.
(1) have not been · does it usually take
(2) have been studying
(3) have known
(4) am going
(5) brings
(6) is studying
5 marks.
(2) have been studying
(3) have known
(4) am going
(5) brings
(6) is studying
5 marks.
Task 2 — Noun-ending sort (-sion / -ssion / -tion / -cian) (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Sort the following words into the four columns: -sion · -ssion · -tion · -cian.
Words: electrician · nation · beautician · election · politician · addition ·
expression · passion · profession · discussion · decision · condition ·
magician · mention · optician · technician · admission · accommodation ·
promotion · description · occasion · commission · session · mathematician ·
permission · illusion.
-sion: ...........
-ssion: ...........
-tion: ...........
-cian: ...........
Words: electrician · nation · beautician · election · politician · addition ·
expression · passion · profession · discussion · decision · condition ·
magician · mention · optician · technician · admission · accommodation ·
promotion · description · occasion · commission · session · mathematician ·
permission · illusion.
-sion: ...........
-ssion: ...........
-tion: ...........
-cian: ...........
-sion: television, decision, illusion, occasion
-ssion: expression, passion, discussion, admission, commission, session, permission
-tion: nation, election, addition, profession, condition, mention, accommodation, promotion, description
-cian: electrician, beautician, politician, magician, optician, technician, mathematician
5 marks (½ × 10 selected words, accept reasonable variants).
-ssion: expression, passion, discussion, admission, commission, session, permission
-tion: nation, election, addition, profession, condition, mention, accommodation, promotion, description
-cian: electrician, beautician, politician, magician, optician, technician, mathematician
5 marks (½ × 10 selected words, accept reasonable variants).
Task 3 — Booking dialogue fill-in (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Complete the booking dialogue.
Clerk : Sir Sumangala Theatre. (1) ........... help you?
Customer: Good afternoon. I'd like to (2) ........... three 350-rupee tickets
for tonight's show of 'Everyman'.
Clerk : Certainly. (3) ........... your name please?
Customer: Perera. P-e-r-e-r-a.
Clerk : Is there a (4) ........... fee?
Customer: No, madam. How would you like to pay? In cash or by (5) ...........?
Customer: In cash. Can I pay when I (6) ........... the tickets?
Clerk : Sir Sumangala Theatre. (1) ........... help you?
Customer: Good afternoon. I'd like to (2) ........... three 350-rupee tickets
for tonight's show of 'Everyman'.
Clerk : Certainly. (3) ........... your name please?
Customer: Perera. P-e-r-e-r-a.
Clerk : Is there a (4) ........... fee?
Customer: No, madam. How would you like to pay? In cash or by (5) ...........?
Customer: In cash. Can I pay when I (6) ........... the tickets?
(1) May I
(2) book / reserve
(3) May I know
(4) booking
(5) credit card
(6) collect
5 marks.
(2) book / reserve
(3) May I know
(4) booking
(5) credit card
(6) collect
5 marks.
Task 4 — Reported speech for movies (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Convert each comment about the comedy show into reported speech.
(1) "People will love it." (The Daily News)
→ The Daily News said that ...........
(2) "It's a fantastic show." (The Daily Mirror)
→ ...........
(3) "It will be a great success." (The Island)
→ ...........
(4) "It's the funniest play I have ever seen." (An actor)
→ ...........
(5) "I can't remember a better show." (A singer)
→ ...........
(1) "People will love it." (The Daily News)
→ The Daily News said that ...........
(2) "It's a fantastic show." (The Daily Mirror)
→ ...........
(3) "It will be a great success." (The Island)
→ ...........
(4) "It's the funniest play I have ever seen." (An actor)
→ ...........
(5) "I can't remember a better show." (A singer)
→ ...........
(1) ... people would love it.
(2) The Daily Mirror said that it was a fantastic show.
(3) The Island said that it would be a great success.
(4) An actor said that it was the funniest play he had ever seen.
(5) A singer said that he couldn't remember a better show.
5 marks.
(2) The Daily Mirror said that it was a fantastic show.
(3) The Island said that it would be a great success.
(4) An actor said that it was the funniest play he had ever seen.
(5) A singer said that he couldn't remember a better show.
5 marks.
Task 5 — Comprehension: Let's Watch a Drama (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the role play (above) and answer the questions.
(1) Where is Rizna going with the box?
(2) Which house drama is Rizna in, and what is her character's name?
(3) Write the sentence which shows the others have been practising for a long time.
(4) Who is the playwright of 'The Caucasian Chalk Circle'?
(5) Underline the correct answer. Mimuri promises to ........... .
(a) bring the costumes
(b) act in the play
(c) come to watch.
(1) Where is Rizna going with the box?
(2) Which house drama is Rizna in, and what is her character's name?
(3) Write the sentence which shows the others have been practising for a long time.
(4) Who is the playwright of 'The Caucasian Chalk Circle'?
(5) Underline the correct answer. Mimuri promises to ........... .
(a) bring the costumes
(b) act in the play
(c) come to watch.
(1) She is taking some costumes to the drama practice.
(2) Rizna is in Blue House (her own house); she is playing Grusha.
(3) "The others have been practising since 8 o'clock."
(4) Bertolt Brecht (German).
(5) (c) come to watch.
5 marks.
(2) Rizna is in Blue House (her own house); she is playing Grusha.
(3) "The others have been practising since 8 o'clock."
(4) Bertolt Brecht (German).
(5) (c) come to watch.
5 marks.
Task 6 — Notice: a comedy night (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
Write a notice inviting students to a 'Stand-up Comedy Night'
organised by the English Literary Association. Use 40–50 words.
organised by the English Literary Association. Use 40–50 words.
ENGLISH LITERARY ASSOCIATION — STAND-UP COMEDY NIGHT
Grade 9 to 11 students are invited to our first-ever Stand-up Comedy Night
on Saturday, 26th March 2027 from 7.00 to 9.00 p.m. in the school auditorium.
Five student comedians will perform a five-minute set each. Tickets Rs. 100.
Register with Nimali Perera by 22nd March.
— Secretary.
50 words. 5 marks.
Grade 9 to 11 students are invited to our first-ever Stand-up Comedy Night
on Saturday, 26th March 2027 from 7.00 to 9.00 p.m. in the school auditorium.
Five student comedians will perform a five-minute set each. Tickets Rs. 100.
Register with Nimali Perera by 22nd March.
— Secretary.
50 words. 5 marks.
Task 7 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) The funniest thing that happened in my class
(b) Why we need laughter
(c) My favourite kind of fun
(a) The funniest thing that happened in my class
(b) Why we need laughter
(c) My favourite kind of fun
MODEL — Why we need laughter (60 words)
Doctors say one minute of laughter strengthens the heart more than ten
minutes of jogging. I believe them. After a long week of past papers, the
ten minutes my best friend and I spend re-watching old Pissu Pusa videos do
more for my mind than any cup of tea. Laughter, perhaps, is just very fast
medicine.
5 marks.
Doctors say one minute of laughter strengthens the heart more than ten
minutes of jogging. I believe them. After a long week of past papers, the
ten minutes my best friend and I spend re-watching old Pissu Pusa videos do
more for my mind than any cup of tea. Laughter, perhaps, is just very fast
medicine.
5 marks.
Task 8 — Letter / review (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Answer (a) OR (b). Use about 100 words.
(a) Write a letter to a friend describing a play, concert or film you
recently enjoyed.
(b) Write a 100-word review for the school magazine of an inter-house drama
competition.
(a) Write a letter to a friend describing a play, concert or film you
recently enjoyed.
(b) Write a 100-word review for the school magazine of an inter-house drama
competition.
(b) MODEL — Drama review (105 words)
Last Friday night the school auditorium was packed for the annual Inter-
House Drama Competition. Four houses, four plays, one cup. Blue House staged
Bertolt Brecht's 'The Caucasian Chalk Circle' with Rizna of 11C as Grusha;
her single tearful monologue in Act 3 brought silence to seven hundred
students. Green House gave us a snappy 'Christmas Carol', while Red and
Yellow attempted 'Everyman' and 'The Merchant of Venice'. Blue House lifted
the cup for the third year running, but every house left the stage richer
for having tried. A magical evening of fun, friendship and English.
10 marks.
Last Friday night the school auditorium was packed for the annual Inter-
House Drama Competition. Four houses, four plays, one cup. Blue House staged
Bertolt Brecht's 'The Caucasian Chalk Circle' with Rizna of 11C as Grusha;
her single tearful monologue in Act 3 brought silence to seven hundred
students. Green House gave us a snappy 'Christmas Carol', while Red and
Yellow attempted 'Everyman' and 'The Merchant of Venice'. Blue House lifted
the cup for the third year running, but every house left the stage richer
for having tried. A magical evening of fun, friendship and English.
10 marks.
Task 9 — Article / dialogue (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) An article: 'Why every school should have a drama club'.
(b) A speech on 'The role of comedy in our lives'.
(c) Complete the dialogue between Ruwini and Migara, who are discussing
their favourite places of fun in Sri Lanka.
Ruwini: I like visiting wild life sanctuaries.
Migara: I know you like seeing animals in their natural habitat, but I
like the ruined cities. Ruwini: ...........
(a) An article: 'Why every school should have a drama club'.
(b) A speech on 'The role of comedy in our lives'.
(c) Complete the dialogue between Ruwini and Migara, who are discussing
their favourite places of fun in Sri Lanka.
Ruwini: I like visiting wild life sanctuaries.
Migara: I know you like seeing animals in their natural habitat, but I
like the ruined cities. Ruwini: ...........
(c) MODEL — Dialogue completion (212 words)
Ruwini: I know you like ancient stones, but doesn't an elephant herd
crossing your path make your day too?
Migara: It does, of course! What I meant is that ruins make me think slower.
Yala is unforgettable, but Polonnaruwa is unforgettable AND
thoughtful.
Ruwini: Hmm. So is it a moment of fun or a moment of learning you want when
you travel?
Migara: Both. The Galle Fort gives me both. We climb the ramparts, eat
seafood at sunset, and I learn three new dates from the colonial
plaque without even trying.
Ruwini: Galle Fort is brilliant. What about a wild card — Hikkaduwa for
snorkelling?
Migara: I have always wanted to go. I have been saving for a mask for
three months now.
Ruwini: Three months! We have been waiting for the same monsoon to end.
Migara: (laughs) Speaking of waiting, when does the new aquarium open at
Mount Lavinia?
Ruwini: My uncle told me it has been delayed again.
Migara: So next Saturday — Polonnaruwa? Then Galle Fort the Saturday after?
Ruwini: Done. And the Saturday after that, you owe me Yala.
Migara: I owe you Yala.
15 marks — natural turn-taking, all three present tenses (have always
wanted / have been saving / has been delayed), warm humour, clear plan close.
Ruwini: I know you like ancient stones, but doesn't an elephant herd
crossing your path make your day too?
Migara: It does, of course! What I meant is that ruins make me think slower.
Yala is unforgettable, but Polonnaruwa is unforgettable AND
thoughtful.
Ruwini: Hmm. So is it a moment of fun or a moment of learning you want when
you travel?
Migara: Both. The Galle Fort gives me both. We climb the ramparts, eat
seafood at sunset, and I learn three new dates from the colonial
plaque without even trying.
Ruwini: Galle Fort is brilliant. What about a wild card — Hikkaduwa for
snorkelling?
Migara: I have always wanted to go. I have been saving for a mask for
three months now.
Ruwini: Three months! We have been waiting for the same monsoon to end.
Migara: (laughs) Speaking of waiting, when does the new aquarium open at
Mount Lavinia?
Ruwini: My uncle told me it has been delayed again.
Migara: So next Saturday — Polonnaruwa? Then Galle Fort the Saturday after?
Ruwini: Done. And the Saturday after that, you owe me Yala.
Migara: I owe you Yala.
15 marks — natural turn-taking, all three present tenses (have always
wanted / have been saving / has been delayed), warm humour, clear plan close.
Section 21 — A Simple Living
Task 1 — Past perfect fill-in (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Complete each sentence using the past perfect form of the verb in brackets.
(1) By the time we arrived at the temple, the pirith chanting (begin) ........... .
(2) The students (already finish) ........... the test when the bell rang.
(3) I realised I (forget) ........... my umbrella at the bus stand.
(4) Father told me he (never see) ........... such a heavy flood in his life.
(5) When Kavindu's friends came, he (sweep) ........... the entire house.
(1) By the time we arrived at the temple, the pirith chanting (begin) ........... .
(2) The students (already finish) ........... the test when the bell rang.
(3) I realised I (forget) ........... my umbrella at the bus stand.
(4) Father told me he (never see) ........... such a heavy flood in his life.
(5) When Kavindu's friends came, he (sweep) ........... the entire house.
(1) had begun
(2) had already finished
(3) had forgotten
(4) had never seen
(5) had swept
5 marks.
(2) had already finished
(3) had forgotten
(4) had never seen
(5) had swept
5 marks.
Task 2 — Imperative to passive: recipe transformation (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Rewrite each cooking instruction in passive form.
(1) Dice the onions and chillies. → First, the onions and chillies ...........
(2) Boil two cups of water. → Two cups of water ...........
(3) Add the lentils and turmeric. → The lentils and turmeric ...........
(4) Stir the mixture for ten minutes. → The mixture ...........
(5) Serve with rice or hoppers. → It ...........
(1) Dice the onions and chillies. → First, the onions and chillies ...........
(2) Boil two cups of water. → Two cups of water ...........
(3) Add the lentils and turmeric. → The lentils and turmeric ...........
(4) Stir the mixture for ten minutes. → The mixture ...........
(5) Serve with rice or hoppers. → It ...........
(1) ... are diced.
(2) ... are boiled.
(3) ... are added.
(4) ... is stirred for ten minutes.
(5) ... is served with rice or hoppers.
5 marks.
(2) ... are boiled.
(3) ... are added.
(4) ... is stirred for ten minutes.
(5) ... is served with rice or hoppers.
5 marks.
Task 3 — Match instruction to picture (5 marks)
(5 marks)
For each picture, write a Don't / Should instruction.
Pictures:
(a) A plate of junk food with a red cross
(b) A ceiling fan
(c) An open tap with water running
(d) A gardener growing vegetables
(e) An old-style filament bulb
Pictures:
(a) A plate of junk food with a red cross
(b) A ceiling fan
(c) An open tap with water running
(d) A gardener growing vegetables
(e) An old-style filament bulb
(a) Don't eat junk food.
(b) Switch off the fan when you leave the room.
(c) Don't waste water — close the tap when not in use.
(d) Grow your own vegetables at home.
(e) Use energy-saving (CFL or LED) bulbs.
5 marks.
(b) Switch off the fan when you leave the room.
(c) Don't waste water — close the tap when not in use.
(d) Grow your own vegetables at home.
(e) Use energy-saving (CFL or LED) bulbs.
5 marks.
Task 4 — Synonyms & antonyms (5 marks)
(5 marks)
From the passage on simple living (above):
(1) Find a word that means 'rich'.
(2) Find a word that means 'gathered together / not stressed'.
(3) Find a word that means 'profit'.
Find OPPOSITES from the text for:
(4) easy → ...........
(5) generous → ...........
(1) Find a word that means 'rich'.
(2) Find a word that means 'gathered together / not stressed'.
(3) Find a word that means 'profit'.
Find OPPOSITES from the text for:
(4) easy → ...........
(5) generous → ...........
(1) wealthy
(2) collected
(3) gain
(4) complex
(5) maximise (i.e. opposite of "give away")
5 marks.
(2) collected
(3) gain
(4) complex
(5) maximise (i.e. opposite of "give away")
5 marks.
Task 5 — Comprehension: A simple life (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the passage on simple living (above) and answer the questions.
(1) What three habits make life easy according to the writer?
(2) What kind of person is described as 'self-sufficient'?
(3) Write the sentence which shows the financial benefit of growing your own food.
(4) Find a phrase that means 'free from worry or tension'.
(5) Underline the correct title for the passage:
(a) Money is everything
(b) The advantages of a simple life
(c) Why we should travel
(1) What three habits make life easy according to the writer?
(2) What kind of person is described as 'self-sufficient'?
(3) Write the sentence which shows the financial benefit of growing your own food.
(4) Find a phrase that means 'free from worry or tension'.
(5) Underline the correct title for the passage:
(a) Money is everything
(b) The advantages of a simple life
(c) Why we should travel
(1) Reusing, recycling and giving things away.
(2) A person who can manage his own work — painting, gardening, mending shoes.
(3) "In addition if one is in the habit of growing fruits and vegetables for one's own consumption, that person saves a lot of money for a worthy cause."
(4) stress free.
(5) (b) The advantages of a simple life.
5 marks.
(2) A person who can manage his own work — painting, gardening, mending shoes.
(3) "In addition if one is in the habit of growing fruits and vegetables for one's own consumption, that person saves a lot of money for a worthy cause."
(4) stress free.
(5) (b) The advantages of a simple life.
5 marks.
Task 6 — Notice: kitchen garden launch (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
Write a notice inviting students to a 'School Kitchen Garden
Launch'. Use about 40–50 words.
Launch'. Use about 40–50 words.
ENVIRONMENT CLUB — SCHOOL KITCHEN GARDEN LAUNCH
All students are invited to help plant the new school kitchen garden on
Saturday, 9th April 2027 at 7.30 a.m. Bring a small spade and a water
bottle. Free king coconut for every participant. Sign up with Mr. Perera by
7th April.
— Secretary.
47 words. 5 marks.
All students are invited to help plant the new school kitchen garden on
Saturday, 9th April 2027 at 7.30 a.m. Bring a small spade and a water
bottle. Free king coconut for every participant. Sign up with Mr. Perera by
7th April.
— Secretary.
47 words. 5 marks.
Task 7 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) My grandmother's simple kitchen
(b) Five things I have given away this term
(c) Why home-cooked food is better
(a) My grandmother's simple kitchen
(b) Five things I have given away this term
(c) Why home-cooked food is better
MODEL — My grandmother's simple kitchen (60 words)
My grandmother's kitchen is a sunny room with one earthen stove, three
clay pots, and a window opening onto a curry-leaf bush. She doesn't own a
microwave or a blender. Everything she cooks is grated, ground or chopped
with her own hands. Yet the simplest parippu from her hearth tastes
better than anything I have ever ordered in a hotel.
5 marks.
My grandmother's kitchen is a sunny room with one earthen stove, three
clay pots, and a window opening onto a curry-leaf bush. She doesn't own a
microwave or a blender. Everything she cooks is grated, ground or chopped
with her own hands. Yet the simplest parippu from her hearth tastes
better than anything I have ever ordered in a hotel.
5 marks.
Task 8 — Recipe / letter (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Answer (a) OR (b). Use about 100 words.
(a) Write a letter to a pen friend abroad explaining how your family is
trying to live more simply this year.
(b) Write a 100-word recipe for kiri bath in passive instructions.
(a) Write a letter to a pen friend abroad explaining how your family is
trying to live more simply this year.
(b) Write a 100-word recipe for kiri bath in passive instructions.
(b) MODEL — Kiri bath (108 words)
First, two cups of unwashed rice are placed in a heavy-bottomed pan with
three cups of water. The pan is brought to the boil and then simmered on
low heat until almost all the water has been absorbed. Next, one and a half
cups of thick coconut milk and a generous pinch of salt are added. The
mixture is stirred gently with a wooden spoon to prevent burning.
When the rice has thickened into a creamy mass, it is spread evenly on a
flat tray and pressed with a banana leaf. Once cool, the kiri bath is cut
into diamond shapes and served with lunu miris.
10 marks.
First, two cups of unwashed rice are placed in a heavy-bottomed pan with
three cups of water. The pan is brought to the boil and then simmered on
low heat until almost all the water has been absorbed. Next, one and a half
cups of thick coconut milk and a generous pinch of salt are added. The
mixture is stirred gently with a wooden spoon to prevent burning.
When the rice has thickened into a creamy mass, it is spread evenly on a
flat tray and pressed with a banana leaf. Once cool, the kiri bath is cut
into diamond shapes and served with lunu miris.
10 marks.
Task 9 — Article / speech (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) An article: 'Simple living is not poor living'.
(b) A speech on 'Why young Sri Lankans should grow their own food'.
(c) An essay on 'The hidden cost of fast fashion'.
(a) An article: 'Simple living is not poor living'.
(b) A speech on 'Why young Sri Lankans should grow their own food'.
(c) An essay on 'The hidden cost of fast fashion'.
(a) MODEL — Simple living is not poor living (215 words)
When my classmate brings a new gadget every term, we whisper that her family
must be very rich. When my cousin's family eats lunch every day from a
four-tier carrier instead of a hotel takeaway, we whisper that they must be
very poor. We are wrong both times. Simple living is not poor living. It
is a quiet kind of wealth that money cannot quickly buy.
Firstly, a simple life is a calmer life. The fewer things we own, the
fewer things own us. My cousin's family has only one TV and no second car;
they also have time on Friday evenings to play carrom together — a quality
many 'rich' families cannot afford.
Secondly, simple living protects what little we have. A kitchen garden
turns kitchen waste into next week's curry. A repaired kettle survives ten
years of bed tea. A patched school shoe sees a whole term out.
Thirdly, simple living is kinder to the country. The polythene bag we did
not use, the rice we did not throw, the saree blouse we wore for a third
year — each is a small gift to Sri Lanka.
Simple, in short, is the smarter rich. We should learn it early.
15 marks.
When my classmate brings a new gadget every term, we whisper that her family
must be very rich. When my cousin's family eats lunch every day from a
four-tier carrier instead of a hotel takeaway, we whisper that they must be
very poor. We are wrong both times. Simple living is not poor living. It
is a quiet kind of wealth that money cannot quickly buy.
Firstly, a simple life is a calmer life. The fewer things we own, the
fewer things own us. My cousin's family has only one TV and no second car;
they also have time on Friday evenings to play carrom together — a quality
many 'rich' families cannot afford.
Secondly, simple living protects what little we have. A kitchen garden
turns kitchen waste into next week's curry. A repaired kettle survives ten
years of bed tea. A patched school shoe sees a whole term out.
Thirdly, simple living is kinder to the country. The polythene bag we did
not use, the rice we did not throw, the saree blouse we wore for a third
year — each is a small gift to Sri Lanka.
Simple, in short, is the smarter rich. We should learn it early.
15 marks.
Section 22 — Reading Is Fun
Task 1 — Articles fill-in (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Fill in each blank with a · an · the · or — (no article).
(1) My ........... van is parked in front.
(2) ........... iguana scampered across the fence.
(3) I love to pet ........... rabbits.
(4) Our neighbour has ........... cute baby.
(5) Does ........... music hurt your ears?
(6) ........... boy was lost in the forest.
(7) ........... strong wind blew from the west.
(8) Have you ever read ........... Robinson Crusoe?
(1) My ........... van is parked in front.
(2) ........... iguana scampered across the fence.
(3) I love to pet ........... rabbits.
(4) Our neighbour has ........... cute baby.
(5) Does ........... music hurt your ears?
(6) ........... boy was lost in the forest.
(7) ........... strong wind blew from the west.
(8) Have you ever read ........... Robinson Crusoe?
(1) — / new
(2) An
(3) — (or the if specific)
(4) a
(5) — (uncountable general)
(6) The
(7) A
(8) — (title; no article)
5 marks.
(2) An
(3) — (or the if specific)
(4) a
(5) — (uncountable general)
(6) The
(7) A
(8) — (title; no article)
5 marks.
Task 2 — Adjective order (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Arrange the adjectives in the correct order before each noun.
The order is: opinion · size · age · shape · colour · origin · material.
(1) (old · lovely · round · Japanese · wooden) table → ...........
(2) (red · small · brick) house → ...........
(3) (cold · long · winter) night → ...........
(4) (Italian · leather · brown · soft) sofa → ...........
(5) (square · ancient · stone · grey) tower → ...........
The order is: opinion · size · age · shape · colour · origin · material.
(1) (old · lovely · round · Japanese · wooden) table → ...........
(2) (red · small · brick) house → ...........
(3) (cold · long · winter) night → ...........
(4) (Italian · leather · brown · soft) sofa → ...........
(5) (square · ancient · stone · grey) tower → ...........
(1) a lovely old round Japanese wooden table
(2) a small red brick house
(3) a long cold winter night
(4) a soft brown Italian leather sofa
(5) an ancient grey square stone tower
5 marks.
(2) a small red brick house
(3) a long cold winter night
(4) a soft brown Italian leather sofa
(5) an ancient grey square stone tower
5 marks.
Task 3 — Reading interview grid (5 marks)
(5 marks)
You are the secretary of the Young Readers' Club. Interview a
classmate and fill in the grid.
Name : ...........
Age : ...........
Hometown : ...........
Hobby/Hobbies : ...........
Whether he/she likes reading : ...........
Favourite book : ...........
Favourite author : ...........
classmate and fill in the grid.
Name : ...........
Age : ...........
Hometown : ...........
Hobby/Hobbies : ...........
Whether he/she likes reading : ...........
Favourite book : ...........
Favourite author : ...........
Sample answer (acceptable when fields are complete and consistent):
Name : Tharindu Silva
Age : 16
Hometown : Maharagama
Hobbies : Reading, cricket
Likes reading : Yes
Favourite book : 'The Old Man and the Sea'
Favourite author : Ernest Hemingway
5 marks.
Name : Tharindu Silva
Age : 16
Hometown : Maharagama
Hobbies : Reading, cricket
Likes reading : Yes
Favourite book : 'The Old Man and the Sea'
Favourite author : Ernest Hemingway
5 marks.
Task 4 — Comprehension: Robinson Crusoe (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the passage on Robinson Crusoe (above) and answer the questions.
(1) Who is the author of Robinson Crusoe?
(2) In which year was Daniel Defoe born and in which year did he die?
(3) What was Defoe's main profession before he turned to writing?
(4) Why is Robinson Crusoe considered an important book?
(5) Underline the correct answer. The story is about ........... .
(a) a king who lost his throne.
(b) a merchant's troubled voyages and adventures at sea.
(c) a journalist who wrote pamphlets.
(1) Who is the author of Robinson Crusoe?
(2) In which year was Daniel Defoe born and in which year did he die?
(3) What was Defoe's main profession before he turned to writing?
(4) Why is Robinson Crusoe considered an important book?
(5) Underline the correct answer. The story is about ........... .
(a) a king who lost his throne.
(b) a merchant's troubled voyages and adventures at sea.
(c) a journalist who wrote pamphlets.
(1) Daniel Defoe.
(2) Born 1660 · died 1731.
(3) Merchant (and political pamphleteer).
(4) It is thought to be one of the first English novels and remains a timeless story of survival and adventure.
(5) (b) a merchant's troubled voyages and adventures at sea.
5 marks.
(2) Born 1660 · died 1731.
(3) Merchant (and political pamphleteer).
(4) It is thought to be one of the first English novels and remains a timeless story of survival and adventure.
(5) (b) a merchant's troubled voyages and adventures at sea.
5 marks.
Task 5 — Comprehension: A scream on the moor (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the Sherlock Holmes extract (above) and answer the questions.
(1) What broke the silence of the moor?
(2) Find a phrase that means 'made me very afraid'.
(3) Write the sentence that describes Holmes at the door of the hut.
(4) What did the cry sound like the second time?
(5) Underline the correct answer. The whisper of Holmes shows he was ........... .
(a) calm and unafraid.
(b) shaken to the soul despite his strength.
(c) tired and ready to give up.
(1) What broke the silence of the moor?
(2) Find a phrase that means 'made me very afraid'.
(3) Write the sentence that describes Holmes at the door of the hut.
(4) What did the cry sound like the second time?
(5) Underline the correct answer. The whisper of Holmes shows he was ........... .
(a) calm and unafraid.
(b) shaken to the soul despite his strength.
(c) tired and ready to give up.
(1) A terrible scream — a prolonged yell of horror and anguish.
(2) "turned the blood to ice in my veins".
(3) "I saw his dark, athletic outline at the door of the hut, his shoulders stooping, his head thrust forward, his face peering into the darkness."
(4) Nearer, louder, more urgent than before.
(5) (b) shaken to the soul despite his strength.
5 marks.
(2) "turned the blood to ice in my veins".
(3) "I saw his dark, athletic outline at the door of the hut, his shoulders stooping, his head thrust forward, his face peering into the darkness."
(4) Nearer, louder, more urgent than before.
(5) (b) shaken to the soul despite his strength.
5 marks.
Task 6 — Notice: a book exhibition (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
Write a notice inviting students to the school book exhibition.
Use 40–50 words.
Use 40–50 words.
LIBRARY UNIT — ANNUAL BOOK EXHIBITION
Grade 9 to 11 students are warmly invited to the annual book exhibition
'A Thousand Worlds in One Hall' on Friday, 22nd April 2027 from 9.00 a.m.
to 4.00 p.m. in the school auditorium. Free entry, ten free bookmarks for
the first 100 visitors. Register with Mrs. Anuradha by 20th April.
— Librarian.
50 words. 5 marks.
Grade 9 to 11 students are warmly invited to the annual book exhibition
'A Thousand Worlds in One Hall' on Friday, 22nd April 2027 from 9.00 a.m.
to 4.00 p.m. in the school auditorium. Free entry, ten free bookmarks for
the first 100 visitors. Register with Mrs. Anuradha by 20th April.
— Librarian.
50 words. 5 marks.
Task 7 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) Why I love reading
(b) The book that changed my mind
(c) An author I want to meet
(a) Why I love reading
(b) The book that changed my mind
(c) An author I want to meet
MODEL — Why I love reading (60 words)
Reading is the cheapest holiday I will ever take. For 50 rupees and an old
library card I can dive a coral reef, climb the Himalayas, listen to a
murder mystery on the foggy English moor. It teaches me languages, history
and strangers' kindness. Best of all, no one can tell me to put it down.
5 marks.
Reading is the cheapest holiday I will ever take. For 50 rupees and an old
library card I can dive a coral reef, climb the Himalayas, listen to a
murder mystery on the foggy English moor. It teaches me languages, history
and strangers' kindness. Best of all, no one can tell me to put it down.
5 marks.
Task 8 — Letter / review (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Answer (a) OR (b). Use about 100 words.
(a) Write a letter to the librarian recommending three books the school
library should buy.
(b) Write a 100-word review of a book you have read recently.
(a) Write a letter to the librarian recommending three books the school
library should buy.
(b) Write a 100-word review of a book you have read recently.
(b) MODEL — Book review (108 words)
THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA — A SMALL BOOK, A BIG OCEAN
Ernest Hemingway's slim novella tells of Santiago, an old Cuban fisherman
who has not caught a fish in 84 days. On day 85 he hooks the biggest
marlin of his life — and the real battle begins.
My favourite scene is the second night at sea, when the old man speaks to
his own hand as if it were a stranger. Hemingway's short sentences carry
more weight than any thick novel I have read this year.
Any student tired of long, flowery English should start here.
10 marks.
THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA — A SMALL BOOK, A BIG OCEAN
Ernest Hemingway's slim novella tells of Santiago, an old Cuban fisherman
who has not caught a fish in 84 days. On day 85 he hooks the biggest
marlin of his life — and the real battle begins.
My favourite scene is the second night at sea, when the old man speaks to
his own hand as if it were a stranger. Hemingway's short sentences carry
more weight than any thick novel I have read this year.
Any student tired of long, flowery English should start here.
10 marks.
Task 9 — Article / speech (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) An article: 'Value of Reading'.
(b) A speech on 'Why every Sri Lankan student should read 24 books a year'.
(c) An essay on 'The smartphone is killing reading'.
(a) An article: 'Value of Reading'.
(b) A speech on 'Why every Sri Lankan student should read 24 books a year'.
(c) An essay on 'The smartphone is killing reading'.
(a) MODEL — Value of Reading (215 words)
'A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies,' wrote George R. R. Martin.
'The man who never reads lives only one.' For a Sri Lankan teenager today,
this is no longer a poetic line — it is a survival instruction.
Firstly, reading widens our vocabulary in a way no app can. A student who
reads 20 minutes a day picks up close to a million new words a year — far
beyond what a tuition class can deliver.
Secondly, reading slows us down. After three hours of swiping, the brain
is exhausted by 200 micro-decisions. Twenty minutes with a novel rests the
mind in a way sleep cannot.
Thirdly, reading teaches empathy. When I read Jane Eyre, I lived inside
the head of an orphan in 19th-century England. I came out of the book a
slightly kinder boy. That kind of education is not measured in any A or
B on an O/L paper.
Finally, reading is portable. A book costs less than a bowl of kottu and
lasts a hundred journeys longer.
Let us put the phone down tonight and pick up the book the postman left
three months ago. Our future selves will thank us.
15 marks.
'A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies,' wrote George R. R. Martin.
'The man who never reads lives only one.' For a Sri Lankan teenager today,
this is no longer a poetic line — it is a survival instruction.
Firstly, reading widens our vocabulary in a way no app can. A student who
reads 20 minutes a day picks up close to a million new words a year — far
beyond what a tuition class can deliver.
Secondly, reading slows us down. After three hours of swiping, the brain
is exhausted by 200 micro-decisions. Twenty minutes with a novel rests the
mind in a way sleep cannot.
Thirdly, reading teaches empathy. When I read Jane Eyre, I lived inside
the head of an orphan in 19th-century England. I came out of the book a
slightly kinder boy. That kind of education is not measured in any A or
B on an O/L paper.
Finally, reading is portable. A book costs less than a bowl of kottu and
lasts a hundred journeys longer.
Let us put the phone down tonight and pick up the book the postman left
three months ago. Our future selves will thank us.
15 marks.
Section 23 — Enigma
Task 1 — Irregular plurals (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Write the plural form.
(1) leaf → ...........
(2) child → ...........
(3) goose → ...........
(4) loaf → ...........
(5) shelf → ...........
(6) roof → ...........
(7) mouse → ...........
(8) sheep → ...........
(9) father-in-law → ...........
(10) phenomenon → ...........
(1) leaf → ...........
(2) child → ...........
(3) goose → ...........
(4) loaf → ...........
(5) shelf → ...........
(6) roof → ...........
(7) mouse → ...........
(8) sheep → ...........
(9) father-in-law → ...........
(10) phenomenon → ...........
(1) leaves
(2) children
(3) geese
(4) loaves
(5) shelves
(6) roofs
(7) mice
(8) sheep
(9) fathers-in-law
(10) phenomena
5 marks (½ × 10).
(2) children
(3) geese
(4) loaves
(5) shelves
(6) roofs
(7) mice
(8) sheep
(9) fathers-in-law
(10) phenomena
5 marks (½ × 10).
Task 2 — Homophones: choose the right word (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Underline the correct word in brackets.
(1) (Their / There / They're) coming to the temple tomorrow.
(2) Please tell me (weather / whether) the bus has left.
(3) The (principle / principal) of our school is Mr Perera.
(4) She bought new (stationery / stationary) for the new term.
(5) I love you (to / too / two)!
(1) (Their / There / They're) coming to the temple tomorrow.
(2) Please tell me (weather / whether) the bus has left.
(3) The (principle / principal) of our school is Mr Perera.
(4) She bought new (stationery / stationary) for the new term.
(5) I love you (to / too / two)!
(1) They're
(2) whether
(3) principal
(4) stationery
(5) too
5 marks.
(2) whether
(3) principal
(4) stationery
(5) too
5 marks.
Task 3 — Listening / data-sheet: missing flight (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Use the data sheet from page 106 of the textbook to complete the
report.
(1) Take-off time: ...........
(2) Date: ...........
(3) Location: ...........
(4) Flight leader: ...........
(5) Problem reported: ...........
report.
(1) Take-off time: ...........
(2) Date: ...........
(3) Location: ...........
(4) Flight leader: ...........
(5) Problem reported: ...........
(1) 2.10 p.m. (typical answer)
(2) 5 December 1945
(3) over the Atlantic Ocean / within the Bermuda Triangle
(4) Lieutenant Charles Taylor
(5) compasses had stopped working; the flight was lost; radio contact lost
5 marks — accept any details consistent with the famous Flight 19 incident.
(2) 5 December 1945
(3) over the Atlantic Ocean / within the Bermuda Triangle
(4) Lieutenant Charles Taylor
(5) compasses had stopped working; the flight was lost; radio contact lost
5 marks — accept any details consistent with the famous Flight 19 incident.
Task 4 — Spot the enigma: who is who? (5 marks)
(5 marks)
In the role-play of Activity 1 (above), each name is a homophone.
Write what the operator hears.
(1) Annie Wun → ...........
(2) Sam Wun → ...........
(3) Noe Wun → ...........
(4) Avery Wun → ...........
(5) Saw Ree → ...........
Write what the operator hears.
(1) Annie Wun → ...........
(2) Sam Wun → ...........
(3) Noe Wun → ...........
(4) Avery Wun → ...........
(5) Saw Ree → ...........
(1) anyone
(2) someone
(3) no one
(4) everyone
(5) sorry
5 marks.
(2) someone
(3) no one
(4) everyone
(5) sorry
5 marks.
Task 5 — Comprehension: the silent village (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the model story-opening (above) and answer the questions.
(1) At what time of day did they reach the village?
(2) Name THREE clues that the village had been deserted.
(3) Find a phrase that hints at very recent activity.
(4) What was hanging from the temple flagpole?
(5) Underline the correct answer. The story makes you feel ...........
(a) bored. (b) curious / uneasy. (c) happy.
(1) At what time of day did they reach the village?
(2) Name THREE clues that the village had been deserted.
(3) Find a phrase that hints at very recent activity.
(4) What was hanging from the temple flagpole?
(5) Underline the correct answer. The story makes you feel ...........
(a) bored. (b) curious / uneasy. (c) happy.
(1) Just before sunset.
(2) Boarded-up shops · full wells · no dogs · three goats in the middle of the road.
(3) "a kettle stood on the dead ashes of a fire, still warm to the touch."
(4) A single broken kite.
(5) (b) curious / uneasy.
5 marks.
(2) Boarded-up shops · full wells · no dogs · three goats in the middle of the road.
(3) "a kettle stood on the dead ashes of a fire, still warm to the touch."
(4) A single broken kite.
(5) (b) curious / uneasy.
5 marks.
Task 6 — Notice: a mystery-writing competition (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
Write a notice inviting students to enter a mystery-writing
competition organised by the English Literary Association. Use 40–50 words.
competition organised by the English Literary Association. Use 40–50 words.
ENGLISH LITERARY ASSOCIATION — MYSTERY-WRITING COMPETITION
Grade 9 to 11 students are invited to write a 500-word mystery story for
our annual competition. Stories must be hand-written and submitted to the
Class Teacher by Friday, 1st May 2027. The winning entry will be published
in the school magazine.
— Secretary.
47 words. 5 marks.
Grade 9 to 11 students are invited to write a 500-word mystery story for
our annual competition. Stories must be hand-written and submitted to the
Class Teacher by Friday, 1st May 2027. The winning entry will be published
in the school magazine.
— Secretary.
47 words. 5 marks.
Task 7 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) A strange thing that happened to me
(b) The mystery I want solved
(c) My favourite enigma story
(a) A strange thing that happened to me
(b) The mystery I want solved
(c) My favourite enigma story
MODEL — The mystery I want solved (60 words)
The mystery I most want solved is what really happened to Flight 19 in
1945. Five US Navy bombers vanished over the Bermuda Triangle on a clear
December afternoon. Their radios kept working for two hours and then went
silent — and not one wing was ever found. Until someone proves otherwise,
I will keep wondering.
5 marks.
The mystery I most want solved is what really happened to Flight 19 in
1945. Five US Navy bombers vanished over the Bermuda Triangle on a clear
December afternoon. Their radios kept working for two hours and then went
silent — and not one wing was ever found. Until someone proves otherwise,
I will keep wondering.
5 marks.
Task 8 — Mystery letter / data description (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Answer (a) OR (b). Use about 100 words.
(a) Write a letter to a friend describing a strange or unexplained
incident you witnessed.
(b) Write a 100-word description of the Bermuda Triangle.
(a) Write a letter to a friend describing a strange or unexplained
incident you witnessed.
(b) Write a 100-word description of the Bermuda Triangle.
(b) MODEL — The Bermuda Triangle (108 words)
The Bermuda Triangle is a roughly triangular stretch of the Atlantic Ocean
bordered by the islands of Bermuda, Puerto Rico and the southern tip of
Florida — an area of around half a million square miles. Over the past
century, several aeroplanes and ships have disappeared inside its
boundaries, the most famous being the 1945 disappearance of Flight 19.
Scientists offer explanations ranging from magnetic anomalies to methane
gas eruptions, but no single theory has been proven. Recent statistics
show the area is no more dangerous than any other busy shipping route.
Still, it remains one of the world's favourite enigmas.
10 marks.
The Bermuda Triangle is a roughly triangular stretch of the Atlantic Ocean
bordered by the islands of Bermuda, Puerto Rico and the southern tip of
Florida — an area of around half a million square miles. Over the past
century, several aeroplanes and ships have disappeared inside its
boundaries, the most famous being the 1945 disappearance of Flight 19.
Scientists offer explanations ranging from magnetic anomalies to methane
gas eruptions, but no single theory has been proven. Recent statistics
show the area is no more dangerous than any other busy shipping route.
Still, it remains one of the world's favourite enigmas.
10 marks.
Task 9 — Story / article (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) Write a story that begins: 'As I approached the deserted house at the
end of the road I saw...'
(b) An article: 'The greatest unsolved mystery in the world'.
(c) A speech on 'Why we love a good mystery'.
(a) Write a story that begins: 'As I approached the deserted house at the
end of the road I saw...'
(b) An article: 'The greatest unsolved mystery in the world'.
(c) A speech on 'Why we love a good mystery'.
(a) MODEL — Story (218 words)
As I approached the deserted house at the end of the road I saw a curtain
move on the upstairs window. There was no wind that night. I told myself
it was a stray cat, and I almost believed me.
The gate hung open. Tall, wet grass slapped my legs as I walked up the
path. The brass knocker was still warm under my fingertips, as though
someone had recently used it. I knocked. Nobody answered. I knocked again,
harder. The door swung inwards by itself.
A hall ran the length of the house, and at the far end a single oil lamp
stood on a dust-free table. Beside the lamp lay a child's drawing — a
family of stick figures under a kite, signed at the bottom in a careful
adult hand: 'For my son, on his sixth birthday, 13.04.1965.' Today's date.
The sixtieth anniversary, to the day.
I looked up. The curtain on the upstairs window was moving again, and now
I could hear something — soft, distant, unmistakably a child laughing.
I took a step back. I would tell my friends in the morning what I had
seen. But I knew, even then, that nobody who has heard that laugh ever
tells.
15 marks — strong hook, sensory detail, fresh clue (drawing dated to the
day), classic mystery close that hands the puzzle to the reader.
As I approached the deserted house at the end of the road I saw a curtain
move on the upstairs window. There was no wind that night. I told myself
it was a stray cat, and I almost believed me.
The gate hung open. Tall, wet grass slapped my legs as I walked up the
path. The brass knocker was still warm under my fingertips, as though
someone had recently used it. I knocked. Nobody answered. I knocked again,
harder. The door swung inwards by itself.
A hall ran the length of the house, and at the far end a single oil lamp
stood on a dust-free table. Beside the lamp lay a child's drawing — a
family of stick figures under a kite, signed at the bottom in a careful
adult hand: 'For my son, on his sixth birthday, 13.04.1965.' Today's date.
The sixtieth anniversary, to the day.
I looked up. The curtain on the upstairs window was moving again, and now
I could hear something — soft, distant, unmistakably a child laughing.
I took a step back. I would tell my friends in the morning what I had
seen. But I knew, even then, that nobody who has heard that laugh ever
tells.
15 marks — strong hook, sensory detail, fresh clue (drawing dated to the
day), classic mystery close that hands the puzzle to the reader.
Section 24 — Choices In Life
Task 1 — Conditional clauses fill-in (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Fill in the blanks in the following conditional clauses (first
conditional).
(1) If there are enough job opportunities, skilled workers ........... (stay)
in the country.
(2) If the governments take suitable actions, they ........... (reduce)
brain drain.
(3) If these actions ........... (not take) soon, the country will be
affected by brain drain.
(4) If the educated professionals ........... (leave) the country, they
will not be able to assist the future generation in their motherland.
(5) If we serve our own country after finishing our studies, we ...........
(develop) our motherland.
conditional).
(1) If there are enough job opportunities, skilled workers ........... (stay)
in the country.
(2) If the governments take suitable actions, they ........... (reduce)
brain drain.
(3) If these actions ........... (not take) soon, the country will be
affected by brain drain.
(4) If the educated professionals ........... (leave) the country, they
will not be able to assist the future generation in their motherland.
(5) If we serve our own country after finishing our studies, we ...........
(develop) our motherland.
(1) will stay
(2) will reduce
(3) are not taken (passive — better fit)
(4) leave
(5) will develop
5 marks.
(2) will reduce
(3) are not taken (passive — better fit)
(4) leave
(5) will develop
5 marks.
Task 2 — Complete the conditional clauses (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Complete each conditional clause. Pay attention to which type
each one is.
(1) If you devote some time for your studies daily, ...........
(2) If I were an educated professional in Sri Lanka, ...........
(3) If Nisali had run faster, ...........
(4) If Hasim had a bicycle, ...........
(5) If I saw a ghost, ...........
each one is.
(1) If you devote some time for your studies daily, ...........
(2) If I were an educated professional in Sri Lanka, ...........
(3) If Nisali had run faster, ...........
(4) If Hasim had a bicycle, ...........
(5) If I saw a ghost, ...........
(1) ... you will achieve good results. (Type 1)
(2) ... I would serve my motherland. (Type 2)
(3) ... she would have won the race. (Type 3)
(4) ... he would not have to walk five miles to school. (Type 2)
(5) ... I would scream and run away. (Type 2)
5 marks.
(2) ... I would serve my motherland. (Type 2)
(3) ... she would have won the race. (Type 3)
(4) ... he would not have to walk five miles to school. (Type 2)
(5) ... I would scream and run away. (Type 2)
5 marks.
Task 3 — Future tense (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Complete each sentence with simple future or future continuous.
(1) The school (reopen) ........... on September 2nd.
(2) We (answer) ........... our English paper at this time tomorrow.
(3) By Saturday, my brother (graduate) ........... from university.
(4) Don't call between 7 and 8 — I (have) ........... dinner.
(5) I (promise) ........... to write to you every week.
(1) The school (reopen) ........... on September 2nd.
(2) We (answer) ........... our English paper at this time tomorrow.
(3) By Saturday, my brother (graduate) ........... from university.
(4) Don't call between 7 and 8 — I (have) ........... dinner.
(5) I (promise) ........... to write to you every week.
(1) will reopen
(2) will be answering
(3) will have graduated (future perfect; acceptable simple future: will graduate)
(4) will be having
(5) promise / will promise
5 marks.
(2) will be answering
(3) will have graduated (future perfect; acceptable simple future: will graduate)
(4) will be having
(5) promise / will promise
5 marks.
Task 4 — Comprehension: Brain drain (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Read the brain-drain passage (above) and answer the questions.
(1) Define 'brain drain' in your own words.
(2) Name TWO causes of brain drain mentioned in the passage.
(3) Write the sentence that explains why developed countries do not feel
the loss much.
(4) Find ONE step the government can take to reduce brain drain.
(5) Underline the correct title for the passage:
(a) Why Sri Lanka is the best country in the world.
(b) Brain drain — its causes, effects and remedies.
(c) How to become a doctor abroad.
(1) Define 'brain drain' in your own words.
(2) Name TWO causes of brain drain mentioned in the passage.
(3) Write the sentence that explains why developed countries do not feel
the loss much.
(4) Find ONE step the government can take to reduce brain drain.
(5) Underline the correct title for the passage:
(a) Why Sri Lanka is the best country in the world.
(b) Brain drain — its causes, effects and remedies.
(c) How to become a doctor abroad.
(1) The emigration of well-educated and skilled professionals from their home country to another.
(2) Any TWO: better job opportunities, war / conflict, health risks, political instability, better salaries, more research opportunities.
(3) "The loss that occurs in more developed countries is not felt much because these countries generally see an emigration of those educated professionals with an immigration of other educated professionals."
(4) Increase job-advertisement and research opportunities at home; encourage highly-skilled workers to serve their own country.
(5) (b) Brain drain — its causes, effects and remedies.
5 marks.
(2) Any TWO: better job opportunities, war / conflict, health risks, political instability, better salaries, more research opportunities.
(3) "The loss that occurs in more developed countries is not felt much because these countries generally see an emigration of those educated professionals with an immigration of other educated professionals."
(4) Increase job-advertisement and research opportunities at home; encourage highly-skilled workers to serve their own country.
(5) (b) Brain drain — its causes, effects and remedies.
5 marks.
Task 5 — Match career to subject (5 marks)
(5 marks)
Match each career with the most suitable A-Level subject combination.
Careers: A — Doctor · B — Software engineer · C — Lawyer · D — Musician · E — Accountant · F — Architect
A-Level streams / subjects:
(1) Physical Science (Combined Maths + Physics + Chemistry) → ...
(2) Bio-Science (Biology + Chemistry + Physics) → ...
(3) Commerce (Accounting + Economics + Business Studies) → ...
(4) Arts (Music + Drama + a language) → ...
(5) Bio + Art (Biology + Art + Geography) → ...
(6) Arts (Languages + Logic + History) → ...
Careers: A — Doctor · B — Software engineer · C — Lawyer · D — Musician · E — Accountant · F — Architect
A-Level streams / subjects:
(1) Physical Science (Combined Maths + Physics + Chemistry) → ...
(2) Bio-Science (Biology + Chemistry + Physics) → ...
(3) Commerce (Accounting + Economics + Business Studies) → ...
(4) Arts (Music + Drama + a language) → ...
(5) Bio + Art (Biology + Art + Geography) → ...
(6) Arts (Languages + Logic + History) → ...
(1) B — Software engineer
(2) A — Doctor
(3) E — Accountant
(4) D — Musician
(5) F — Architect
(6) C — Lawyer
5 marks.
(2) A — Doctor
(3) E — Accountant
(4) D — Musician
(5) F — Architect
(6) C — Lawyer
5 marks.
Task 6 — Notice: career fair (40–50 words)
(5 marks)
Write a notice inviting Grade 11 students to an A-Level career
fair. Use 40–50 words.
fair. Use 40–50 words.
CAREER GUIDANCE SOCIETY — A-LEVEL CAREER FAIR
All Grade 11 students are invited to the annual A-Level career fair on
Saturday, 18th December 2026 from 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. in the school
auditorium. Representatives from 14 universities and 6 private institutes
will answer your questions. Register with Mr. Perera by 16th December.
— Secretary.
50 words. 5 marks.
All Grade 11 students are invited to the annual A-Level career fair on
Saturday, 18th December 2026 from 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. in the school
auditorium. Representatives from 14 universities and 6 private institutes
will answer your questions. Register with Mr. Perera by 16th December.
— Secretary.
50 words. 5 marks.
Task 7 — Short paragraph (50–60 words)
(5 marks)
Write a paragraph on ONE of the following. Use about 50–60 words.
(a) The biggest choice I am about to make
(b) Why I want to stay (or leave) Sri Lanka after my degree
(c) My A-Level stream
(a) The biggest choice I am about to make
(b) Why I want to stay (or leave) Sri Lanka after my degree
(c) My A-Level stream
MODEL — My A-Level stream (60 words)
After my O/Ls I will follow the Bio-Science stream. I love Biology and I
want to be a paediatrician. Chemistry will be difficult but my new tuition
class starts in January. The hardest part will be Physics: it is not my
favourite subject but it is compulsory. Three years of hard work — and a
lifetime of meaningful service.
5 marks.
After my O/Ls I will follow the Bio-Science stream. I love Biology and I
want to be a paediatrician. Chemistry will be difficult but my new tuition
class starts in January. The hardest part will be Physics: it is not my
favourite subject but it is compulsory. Three years of hard work — and a
lifetime of meaningful service.
5 marks.
Task 8 — Letter / debate speech (~100 words, 10 marks)
(10 marks)
Answer (a) OR (b). Use about 100 words.
(a) Write a letter to a friend about the A-Level stream you have chosen
and why.
(b) Write a 100-word speech in support of the motion 'Sri Lankan
graduates should serve their motherland first'.
(a) Write a letter to a friend about the A-Level stream you have chosen
and why.
(b) Write a 100-word speech in support of the motion 'Sri Lankan
graduates should serve their motherland first'.
(b) MODEL — Speech in support (105 words)
Good afternoon. We stand in support of the motion that 'Sri Lankan
graduates should serve their motherland first'. Three reasons drive our
argument.
Firstly, our universities are funded by Sri Lankan taxes. Every student who
leaves immediately is a taxpayer-funded gift to a foreign country.
Secondly, Sri Lanka faces a doctor-to-patient ratio of one to four thousand
in rural areas. We are needed here far more than in any developed country.
Thirdly, opportunities do exist — they need our hands to be created. We
thank you.
10 marks — three numbered reasons, statistics, formal close.
Good afternoon. We stand in support of the motion that 'Sri Lankan
graduates should serve their motherland first'. Three reasons drive our
argument.
Firstly, our universities are funded by Sri Lankan taxes. Every student who
leaves immediately is a taxpayer-funded gift to a foreign country.
Secondly, Sri Lanka faces a doctor-to-patient ratio of one to four thousand
in rural areas. We are needed here far more than in any developed country.
Thirdly, opportunities do exist — they need our hands to be created. We
thank you.
10 marks — three numbered reasons, statistics, formal close.
Task 9 — Article / essay (~200 words, 15 marks)
(15 marks)
Write on ONE of the following. Use about 200 words.
(a) An article: 'Choices in Life'.
(b) An essay on 'Advantages and disadvantages of studying in a foreign country'.
(c) A speech on 'Why I will stay (or leave) Sri Lanka after my degree'.
(a) An article: 'Choices in Life'.
(b) An essay on 'Advantages and disadvantages of studying in a foreign country'.
(c) A speech on 'Why I will stay (or leave) Sri Lanka after my degree'.
(b) MODEL — Studying in a foreign country (212 words)
More Sri Lankan students cross oceans for higher studies every year than
ever before. Going abroad to study sounds glamorous, but it comes with real
costs. Both sides deserve a fair look.
The advantages are real. Foreign universities often have better laboratories,
larger libraries and lecturers who are leaders in their field. Sitting in a
class with students from Korea, Kenya and Canada teaches you more about the
world than any geography textbook can. Living away from parents builds
independence — you learn to cook your own dinner, manage your own bills
and solve your own problems. Most degrees from reputable foreign
universities also open doors in the global job market.
The disadvantages, however, are also serious. The biggest is missing
family. A grandfather's seventy-fifth birthday or a younger sister's
wedding from 8,000 kilometres away leaves a wound that no scholarship can
heal. The climate can be cruel — Sri Lankan students in Canada speak of
suffering through their first –20°C winter. Costs are high, and a
part-time job often eats into study time. Finally, many bright graduates
never return, draining the country of the very talent it had invested in.
The best path, I believe, is to study abroad, gather knowledge — and bring
it home.
15 marks.
More Sri Lankan students cross oceans for higher studies every year than
ever before. Going abroad to study sounds glamorous, but it comes with real
costs. Both sides deserve a fair look.
The advantages are real. Foreign universities often have better laboratories,
larger libraries and lecturers who are leaders in their field. Sitting in a
class with students from Korea, Kenya and Canada teaches you more about the
world than any geography textbook can. Living away from parents builds
independence — you learn to cook your own dinner, manage your own bills
and solve your own problems. Most degrees from reputable foreign
universities also open doors in the global job market.
The disadvantages, however, are also serious. The biggest is missing
family. A grandfather's seventy-fifth birthday or a younger sister's
wedding from 8,000 kilometres away leaves a wound that no scholarship can
heal. The climate can be cruel — Sri Lankan students in Canada speak of
suffering through their first –20°C winter. Costs are high, and a
part-time job often eats into study time. Finally, many bright graduates
never return, draining the country of the very talent it had invested in.
The best path, I believe, is to study abroad, gather knowledge — and bring
it home.
15 marks.