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English Hl Grade 8 Paper 2 NSC June 2017 Question Paper (English)
Grade 8 English Hl Paper 2 question paper from the NSC June Exam 2017 (English), 9 pages. Read online or get the free PDF download, memo linked when available.
English Hl · Grade 8 · NSC June Exam · 2017 · English. Question paper, 9 pages. Read online or download the PDF.
- Subject
- English Hl
- Grade
- Grade 8
- Language
- English
- Document type
- Question paper
- Year
- 2017
- Exam period
- NSC June Exam
- Paper
- 2
- Curriculum
- CAPS
- Pages
- 9
- File size
- 415.4 KB
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JUNE EXAMINATIONS 2017
GRADE 8
ENGLISH HOME LANGUAGE Paper 2 (Language)
Time: 1 ½ hours
Total marks: 60
This paper consists of 8 pages.
INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION
1. This question paper consists of TWO sections, namely:
SECTION A: COMPREHENSION (25)
SECTION B: LANGUAGE STUDY (35)
2. Start each section on a NEW page and rule off on completion of EACH
section.
3. Leave a line open after each answer.
4. Draw a margin down the right hand side of EVERY page.
5. Number the questions correctly according to the numbering system used
in this question paper.
6. Pay special attention to spelling and sentence construction.
SECTION A: COMPREHENSION
QUESTION 1: READING FOR MEANING AND UNDERSTANDING
Read TEXT A. Answer the questions in FULL SENTENCES unless otherwise specified.
TEXT A
Paragraph 1
Albert Einstein was one of the greatest minds in world
history. Einstein is known as a brilliant physicist who
contributed more to the scientific world than any other
person. His ideas about relativity are the basis for how
science now understands time, space, energy, and gravity.
Paragraph 2
Einstein was brilliant in his thinking and far in front of
anyone living at his time. Einstein, like most brilliant minds, was also a very strange and
different kind of person. He often liked to work away from people and family but he also
spoke in public about issues that he believed in. He was a person who cared about other
human beings but his work also led to one of the most destructive forces ever known to
man, the atomic bomb.
Paragraph 3
Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879 in Germany. His parents were Pauline and
Hermann Einstein. In his early years, was a very shy but curious child who did not seem to
be good at anything. In primary school, Albert was such an under-achiever in all subjects
other than Maths and Science that his parents suspected that he might be mentally
handicapped. One teacher even told him that he would never amount to anything. As it
turned out, Albert preferred to learn on his own and had taught himself advanced
Mathematics and Science by the time he was a teenager.
Paragraph 4
He dropped out of high school and tried to get into the Swiss Polytechnic University in 1895.
However, he was made to finish high school, which he did. He finished high school at the
age of 17.
Paragraph 5
It was only in his adult life that he achieved greatness and fame. Einstein’s work was
interrupted by World War I. A lifelong pacifist, he opposed Germany’s entry into war. He
would write, “At such a time as this, one realizes what a sorry species of animal we are.”
Paragraph 6
During World War 2, a Nazi organization published a magazine with Einstein’s picture and
the words “Not Yet Hanged” on the cover. There was even a price on his head. The threat
was so great that Einstein split with his pacifist friends. He said that it was justified to defend
yourself with weapons against Nazi aggression. To Einstein, peace was not an absolute
concept but one that had to be re-examined depending on the size of the threat.
Paragraph 7
Up to his final days, this genius continued his search for laws that would explain more of the
universe. To this day, his ideas and theories are still treated with respect. It is important for
all young people to know about Einstein: he did not achieve while he was at school, and
people thought he was stupid and useless, but he was a great man. All young people need
to realise that they can achieve in their lives; they simply might not achieve greatness early.
If they do not achieve at school, they will find what they are really interested in and become
successful later in their lives.
WRITE IN FULL SENTENCES. Marks will not be awarded for fragments of
one-word answers.
USE YOUR OWN WORDS. Marks will not be awarded for passages taken
directly out the text.
QUESTIONS ON TEXT A
Refer to paragraph 1
1.1 What field of work was Einstein famous for? [1]
1.2 How does the writer prove that Einstein was a genius? Provide two
statements. [2]
Refer to paragraph 2
1.3 Why is it unexpected that Einstein should have done work that led
to the development of the atomic bomb? [2]
1.4 Einstein is described as being a “very strange and different kind of
person.” Do you think this statement is fair? Justify (prove/support)
your answer by referring to the text. [2]
Refer to paragraph 3
Page 2 of 8
G8 English Home Language P2 June 2017
1.5 Describe Einstein’s character as a child. [2]
1.6 Both Einstein’s parents and his teacher had opinions about
Einstein. Compare their attitude towards him. Justify
(prove/support) your answer. [2]
1.7 What do you think Einstein’s teacher should have told him? [1]
1.8 How did Einstein learn maths and Science? [1]
Refer to paragraph 4
1.9 At what age did Einstein finish school? [1]
Refer to paragraph 5
1.1 Refer to the statement Einstein wrote: “At such a time as this, one
0 realizes what a sorry species of animal we are.”
1.10 Identify the figure of speech used in the underlined section.
.1 [1]
1.10 What is being compared to what in this figure of speech?
.2 [2]
1.10 Do you think this figure of speech is effective? Give a reason
.3 for your answer. [1]
Refer to paragraph 6
1.1 Do you think Einstein was justified (right) to be worried about the
1 Nazi magazine? Give two (2) reasons for your answer. [2]
1.1 Einstein said that it was justified to defend yourself with weapons
2 against Nazi aggression. Do you agree with this sentiment (idea)?
Give a reason for your answer. [1]
General
1.1 Which wars did Einstein live through?
3 [2]
1.1 For whom do you think this article was written? Give a reason for
4 your answer. [2]
TOTAL SECTION A: [25
]
Page 3 of 8
G8 English Home Language P2 June 2017
SECTION B: LANGUAGE STUDY
Question 2: VOCABULARY
Match the words in COLUMN A with the correct synonyms in COLUMN B. Write
down only the question number and the letter of the correct answer.
You will find the words in column A highlighted in bold in Text A (the
comprehension). Refer to the words in the comprehension to assist you.
COLUMN A COLUMN B
2.1 Brilliant (para. 1) A devastating [1]
2.2 Contributed (para. 1) B peace lover [1]
2.3 Strange (para. 2) C exceptionally talented [1]
2.4 Destructive (para. 2) D unusual [1]
2.5 Pacifist (para. 5 & 6) E gave [1]
[5]
Page 4 of 8
G8 English Home Language P2 June 2017
Question 3: ADVERTISING
Study the advertisements below and then answer the questions that follow.
TEXT B
TEXT: FLEXIBILITY WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST
At Rentguard we understand one approach doesn’t always fit all, that’s why we provide
flexible solutions and bespoke policies to meet your demands.
Underwritten by leading UK insurers, our exceptional range of products allow you to fully
cover your customers, whilst still retaining your own brand identity.
QUESTIONS ON TEXT B
3.1 Which company is being advertised here? [1]
3.2 Rewrite “one approach doesn’t always fit all” in more formal
language. [1]
3.3 Does the image support the headline, “Flexibility when you need it
most”? Explain your answer. [2]
/4/
TEXT C
Page 5 of 8
G8 English Home Language P2 June 2017
TEXT: Tabard. Stops insects bugging people.
QUESTIONS ON TEXT C
3.4 Why is the slogan “stops insects bugging people’’ an effective
one? [2]
3.5 Identify the following parts of speech as used in the wording
‘’mosquito and insect repellent’’.
3.5.1 repellent [1]
3.5.2 insect [1]
3.6 How does the image (picture) in the advertisement support the
product being sold? [1]
3.7 The text ’mosquito and insect repellent’’ is not written on a
straight line. Suggest a reason why the advertisers chose to do
this. [1]
/6/
[10]
Question 4: VISUAL LITERACY
Read the cartoons below and then answer the questions that follow.
TEXT D
QUESTIONS ON TEXT D
4.1 Explain why the boy offers the teacher his cell phone. [2]
4.2 Identify the teacher’s tone of voice and say how you know this. [2]
/4/
TEXT E
Page 6 of 8
G8 English Home Language P2 June 2017
Frame 1 Frame 2 Frame 3 Frame 4
Calvin is the little boy. Hobbes is the tiger.
QUESTIONS ON TEXT E
4.3 How is the word “Go” said in Frame 1? How do you know this? [2]
4.4 Refer to the illustration in frame 2. How do you know that the
characters aren’t moving quickly? [2]
4.5 Refer to Frame 4. Write Calvin says (That’s cheating!) in INDIRECT
speech. [1]
4.6 What makes this cartoon humorous? [1]
/6/
[10]
Page 7 of 8
G8 English Home Language P2 June 2017
Question 5: LANGUAGE IN CONTEXT
Read the text that follows and then answer the questions below.
TEXT F
Dr. Congo-man
by Inessa Rajah
1 I don’t know the car guard’s name. All I know is the bright smiling face, the 1
strong hands that help my mother with her shopping bags and the kind 2
manner in which he bends to greet Bobby. I do not know his name because I 3
have never asked what it is. Bobby has, but the man did not understand. 4
2 He always accept the change my mother hands him with a sincere “Merci”. 5
3 Once, my cousin, who speaks French, had a conversation with him. I asked 6
her about it. He was a doctor in his country. His country is in turmoil, he was 7
forced to flee his home, and he is a qualified doctor working as a car guard. 8
Bobby started calling him Dr. Congo-man. 9
4 Turning on the television is depressing, watching streets lined with violence 10
and rage. “Foreigners are stealing our jobs,” a young man shouts. Refugees 11
are shot in the streets. They escaped to our country to run from chaos and 12
pain, but instead found themselves running in a circle, directly back to 13
injustice. 14
5 I am suddenly aware of the stillness beside me. “Bobby?” I whirl my head 15
from side to side. “Bobby?” I’m on the verge of screaming for help, when I see 16
him sitting on the ledge of the car park, his smile so big it slides off the sides 17
of his face. The kind, Congolese man is standing beside him. 18
6 I catch sight of the laceration on the man’s arm. The wound looks like a burn. I 19
look into his eyes and see the eyes of a man cheated by life, more times than 20
fate should allow. 21
QUESTIONS ON TEXT F
5.1 What is the function of the comma in line 1? [1]
5.2 Correct the error of concord in paragraph 2. You need only write
the corrected word. [1]
5.3 Why is the word ‘Merci’ (line 5) written in italics? [1]
5.4 Refer to paragraph 3. Rewrite the underlined sentence in DIRECT
speech.
Begin your answer with: She said [1]
5.5 Refer to paragraph 3. Is Dr. punctuated correctly? Give a reason for
your answer. [1]
5.6 Refer to paragraph 4. Write the underlined speech in INDIRECT /
REPORTED speech. [2]
5.7 Refer to paragraph 4. Rewrite the sentence in bold (line 11-12) in
the Active Voice.
Begin your answer with: They [1]
5.8 Refer to the underlined sentence in paragraph 5. Identify the finite
verb in the underlined sentence. You need only write the word(s). [1]
5.9 Give a reason for the use of the apostrophe in paragraph 6. [1]
[10]
Page 8 of 8
G8 English Home Language P2 June 2017
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