📝 Unit 12: Success
Reported speech revisited · biography writing · success essays
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.