📝 Unit 6: A Moment Of Fun
Three present tenses · noun endings (-sion/-tion/-cian) · telephone booking · dialogue
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.