📝 Unit 2: Facing Challenges
Modals revisited · pronoun reference · linkers · "The Challenge" poem · narrative writing
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.