📝 Unit 6: Information
Sources of information · dictionary use · note-making · present perfect (active + passive) · diary entry
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.