YISHUN TOWN SECONDARY SCHOOL

LANGUAGE STUDIES PROGRAMME

1127/02

SECONDARY 2 EXPRESS
END-OF-YEAR EXAMINATION 2008
Paper 2 Comprehension

25 September 2008
1 hour 30 minutes

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write in dark blue or black pen on both sides of the Answer Paper.
Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid.
Write your name, class and index number on the Answer Paper.
Answer all questions.
Leave a space of one line between your answers to each part of a question, e.g. between
1(a) and 1(b).
Leave a space of at least three lines after your completed answer to each whole question.
Write your answers on the separate Answer Papers provided.
At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
Mistakes in spelling, punctuation and grammar may be penalised in any part of the paper.
Name of Setter: Mrs Cynthia Ong
Vetted by
: Ms Siti Zaleha Sharip
_____________________________________________________________
This question paper consists of 5 printed pages.

Read the passage carefully and answer the questions in the order set.
1

What we know about dancing through the ages is based on our knowledge of tribal
people living today, on ancient drawings and carvings, but mostly on what we know of
ourselves and our feelings. Most human feelings are instincts common both to
intelligent people and to the more simple-minded man today and to men living 20,000
years ago. We believe that dancing is an instinct. In other words, something within each 5
of us makes us want to dance. We dance with joy if anyone brings us good news, or
we dance with pain if we bang our thumb with a hammer. In a foreign country we
wave our hands and arms in an attempt to make people understand us. It is surprising
how many ideas can be expressed in this way.

Long before man appeared, many animals deliberately danced, as apes, birds and other 10
creatures still dance. Their dance was prompted by the rhythms of life that pulsed
through their bodies and through the universe. Mans first dances probably began in the
same way. Many dances of tribal societies today are said to be identical to those of
birds and apes. Human dancing, therefore, is as old as the first man who expressed his
feelings of joy or fear by repeated steps or leaps or gestures, perhaps 25,000 years ago. 15
Dancing may well be the oldest of all the arts, and it is an art that needs no instrument
other than the dancers body. Music came later. Originally, stamping feet and clapping
hands supplied all the music and rhythm needed for the dance.

Dancing is worldwide, but throughout the world dances differ. In one land only men
dance, in another, only women. Elsewhere, men and women dance together in couples. 20
The dance may be quick or slow, gay or solemn. The reason why so many dances have
grown up in different parts of the world, lies partly in the dancers environment; the
natural surroundings in which they live. Compare the life of a dweller in a mountain
village with the life of a farmer in the valley below. The mountain dweller lives
perhaps among hills too steep, too rugged, and too stony for crops to grow in, yet hills 25
that support sheep, goats, or cattle. To survive here, the hillman must be a hunter or
herdsman, walking many miles a day over the roughest country, his eyes raised to the
hill slopes ahead. He develops an alert, springing step and walks with his weight on his
toes.

The plainsman lives often on a flat expanse of rich soil where crops grow abundantly. 30
His whole life may be devoted to tending the same few fertile acres, his eyes cast down
to the earth beneath his feet as he ploughs, sows, harrows, or reaps. The plainsman
develops a slow yet heavy tread, walking with his weight on his whole foot.

Environment affects not only the way these people gain a living, but the very way they
walk. Their everyday movements are enough to suggest that hill dances would be 35
livelier than plains dancers. Natural environment makes them even more different: with
little level space to dance on, the hillman may develop only springing, leaping steps.
On the broad village greens of the valley below, plainsmen have space for running
dances, taking up a great deal of level ground.

Dancing may have begun as a rhythmic expression of happiness, but it was rapidly put 40
to practical use. If rains failed and animals fled to distant pastures, man, the hunter
might starve. If wild pigs broke into his grain fields and ate the unripe harvest, man, the
farmer might starve. Like his animal prey and pests, early man was at the mercy of
nature. Unlike the beasts, he knew it. What he could not make happen with his muscles
alone, he tried to achieve with his mind. He imitated in a dance what he wanted to 45
happen before a hunt, including the killing of his prey. Many early magical dances
probably began this way. The steps danced were important to man not because they
were beautiful but because they meant something. They had always to be repeated in
the same way for the spell to work.

However, with the worlds first civilizations, mans way of life changed. Better food 50
production, more specialized manufacturers and merchants supported a leisured class
of priests, nobles and king. With time, power and money at his disposal, the king
wanted entertainment. Dancing girls performed before him, inventing new, spectacular
dances, acrobatic leaps and handstands all to please their royal patron. The steps
they danced were important because they were more graceful or skillful than those that 55
ordinary people could perform.

Today, we still find magical dances in lands where man does not benefit from modern
discoveries in science and machinery, where he is unable to control natures pests and
plagues. We also find spectacular dancing in lands where mechanization has produced
a class of people with plenty of leisure time and money to spend on the enjoyment of 60
watching experts paid to dance.
(from The Wonderful World of Dance Arnold L. Haskell)
Answer all the questions.
Mistakes in spelling, punctuation and grammar may be penalised in any part of the paper.
Note: If a question asks you to answer in your own words, YOU MUST NOT COPY
THE WORDS IN THE PASSAGE IN YOUR ANSWER.
From Paragraph 1
1. Explain why dancing is important to man.

[2]

From Paragraph 2
2. Which two phrases in the paragraph tell you that dancing has a long
history?
[2]

From Paragraph 3
3. the hillman walking many miles a day over the roughest country
(lines 26-27)
What does this phrase tell you about the life of the hillman?
[1]
From Paragraph 5
4. Explain fully why natural environment (line 36) makes hill dances and plains
dances different.
[2]

From Paragraph 6
5. but it (dancing) was rapidly put to practical use (lines 40 41)
Give an example of how dancing was put to practical use.
6.

The writer refers to early man being at the mercy of nature. (lines 43-44)
Explain in your own words what at the mercy of nature means.

[1]

[2]

From Paragraph 7
7. The writer states that the priests, nobles and king belong to a leisured class
(line 51)
Explain the meaning of the word leisured.
[1]
8. What are the two features of the entertainment dance performed for the
king?
[2]
From Paragraph 8
9. What are the two situations where we can find magical and entertainment dances
today?
[2]

Vocabulary
10. For each of the five words below, explain its meaning with one word or short
phrase (of no more than seven words). The explanation must be in the context of
the passage read.
[5]
a. prompted (line 11)
b. identical (line 13)
c. rapidly (line 40)
d. disposal (line 52)
e. patron (line 54)
11. Summary

[20]

Summarise how and why dances differ throughout the world.

USE ONLY MATERIAL FROM PARAGRAPH 3 TO 7.
Your summary, which must be in continuous writing, not note form, must not be
more than 130 words (not counting the words given to help you begin).
Dances differ throughout the world
End of Paper

EL EOY 2008 P2 Sec 2 Exp : Answers and Marking Scheme [Updated on 26/9/08]

From Paragraph 1
1. Explain why dancing is important to man.

[2]

Dancing is important to man because it is a way to express mans feelings/ emotions

[1] and his ideas [1]./ Way to communicate with each other [1] (any 2)
From Paragraph 2
2. Which two phrases in the paragraph tell you that dancing has a long
history?
[2]
Human dancing, therefore, is as old as the first man [1]
Dancing may well be (the) oldest of all the arts [1]
From Paragraph 3
3. the hillman walking many miles a day over the roughest country (lines 26-27)
What does this phrase tell you about the life of the hillman?
[1]
The hillman led a hard/ difficult/ harsh life/ His life was not easy./ tough life/ tiring
life [1]
From Paragraph 5
4.
With little space to dance on, the Hillman may develop only springing, leaping steps
[1] while on the broad village greens of the valley below, plainsmen have space for
running dances [1] / plainsmen have space for running dances, taking up a great
deal of level ground. [1]
From Paragraph 6
5. Early man imitated in a dance what he wanted to happen before a hunt,
including the killing of his prey. (This made him more prepared during the
actual hunt.) [1]

6. The writer refers to early man being at the mercy of nature. (lines 43-44)
Explain in your own words what at the mercy of nature means.
[2]
It means early man had to depend completely/ totally [1] on the weather and
environment for his food. [1] /at the disposal of [1] the physical environment
[1]
From Paragraph 7
7. The writer states that the priests, nobles and king belong to a leisured class (line
51)
Explain the meaning of the word leisured.
[1]
It means having plenty of free time./ a lot of free time [1]
8. What are the two features of the entertainment dance perform for the
king?
[2]
It consists of acrobatic leaps and handstands. [1]
It is (more) graceful and skilful (than ordinary dance. )[1]
From Paragraph 8
9. What are the two situations where we can find magical and entertainment dances
today?
[2]
The situation where man does not benefit from modern discoveries in science and
machinery/ man does not benefit from scientific discovery / where he is unable to
control pests and plagues / where people have plenty of leisure time and money to
enjoy dances. [Any 2]
Vocabulary
10. For each of the five words below, explain its meaning with one word or short
phrase (of no more than seven words). The explanation must be in the context of
the passage read.
[5]
a.
prompted (line 11) encouraged/ spurred/brought about/ influenced/
inspired [not accepted: urged]
b identical (line 13) - alike / the same / similar [not accepted: same]
c. rapidly (line 40) quickly / swiftly
d. disposal (line 52) ability to use whenever one wants / under his control
[not accepted: usage / control]
e. patron (line 54) a person who supports and gives money

11. Summary

[20]

Summarise how and why dances differ throughout the

world.
USE ONLY MATERIAL FROM PARAGRAPH 3 TO 7.
Your summary, which must be in continuous writing, not note form, must not be more
than 130 words (not counting the words given to help you begin).
Dances differ throughout the world
Summary Points
: 12 marks for 12 points
Language and Own Words : 8 marks

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12
13.
14.
15.
16
17.
18

Words from Passage

Own Words

In some countries, only men dance

and in others, only women.
Elsewhere, men and women dance in
couples.
The dance may be quick or slow, gay or
solemn.
The dances environment/ natural
surroundings affect how they dance.
The mountain dweller lives among hills
too steep, too rugged and too stony (any
2) for crops to grow in.
He develops an alert, springing step and
walks with his weight on his toes.
The plainsman lives on a flat expanse of
rich soil
He develops a slow yet heavy tread,
walking with his weight on his whole
foot.
Hill dances would be livelier than plains
dances.
Dancing may have begun as a rhythmic
expression of happiness but it was
rapidly put to practical use.
Early man was at the mercy of nature
Many early magical dance steps were
important to man
With the worlds first civilizations,
mans way of life changed.
Dancing girls invented new, spectacular
dances, acrobatic leaps and handstands
to please their royal patron.
The steps they danced were important
because they were more graceful or
skillful (than those performed by

In some countries, only males dance

and in others, only females
Elsewhere, both sexes dance in couples.
These dances may be quick or slow,
happy or grave.
The dances environment/ natural
surroundings affect how they dance.
The mountain dweller lives and crosses
over the roughest country.
He develops an alert, springing step and
walks with his weight on his toes.
The plainsman lives on a large, flat and
fertile land.
He develops a slow yet heavy tread,
walking with his weight on his whole
foot.
Hill dances would be livelier than plains
dances.
Dancing may have begun as a rhythmic
expression of happiness but it was
rapidly put to practical use.
Early man was at natures mercy
Many early magical dance steps were
important to man
With the worlds first civilizations, mans
way of life changed.
Dancing girls invented new, spectacular
dances, acrobatic leaps and handstands
to please the king.
The steps they danced were important
because they were more graceful or
skillful (than those performed by
8

ordinary people.)

ordinary people.)

Comprehension Questions:
Qn Types
Qn Nos and Marks
Recall
1(1m), 3(2m), 6(1m), 10(2m)

Percentage of 15marks
40%

Inference (HOT Qns)

Vocabulary (HOT Qns)

9(1m), 12(1m)
13.3%
4(2m), 5(2m), 7(1m), 8(1m), 46.7%
11(1m)

10