YISHUN TOWN SECONDARY SCHOOL

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

1127/02

SECONDARY 2 EXPRESS
MID-YEAR EXAMINATION 2010
Paper 2 Comprehension

29 April 2010
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: Ms Lynette Chen

Vetted by Ms Siti Zaleha Sharip
_____________________________________________________________
This question paper consists of 5 printed pages.

Read the passage carefully and answer the questions.

1

There are many beautiful things about being an American fan of mens World Cup
soccer - foremost among them is ignorance. The community in which you were raised
did not gather around the television set every four years for a solid, breathless month.
Your country has never won. You can pick whatever team you like and root for it
without shame or fear. You have not been indoctrinated into unwanted-yet-inescapable
tribal loyalties by your soccer-crazed countrymen. You are an amateur, in the purest
sense of the word.
Some say that the World Cup is the only truly international sporting event on the
planet. To these people, the Olympics, with their overwhelming clutter of boutique
athletics simply do not matter in the same way. The world of the World Cup is the one
many want to live in. One cannot resist the apolitical display of national characteristics,
the revelation of deep human flaws and unexpected greatness, or the fact that entire
nations walk off the job or wake up at 3 a.m. to watch men kick a ball.

10

There are countries that have truly multiracial squads France, England, and the
United States while other teams are entirely blond or Asian or Latin American. A 15
Slovakian tyre salesman, an Italian cop, or a German concert pianist having passed
the official fitness tests will moonlight as a referee. There are irritating fans. There
are children who hold hands with each player as he walks onto the field. National
anthems play. Men paint themselves their national colours. Not conforming to
stereotypes, they cry openly at defeat. An announcer shouts, Goooooooooolllllll! Gol, 20
Gol, Gol! on the Spanish language channel you are watching. There are two back-toback 45-minute segments without commercials. To quote a book, Soccer and its
Rules, it says: Are you ready? Ready to cheer the players to victory, marvel at their
fitness, speed, and skills, urging them to win every tackle for the ball, ready to explode
at a powerful shot? Are you ready for another moment in a fantasy world?
25

Soccers worldwide popularity isnt surprising when you look at what has always
motivated humanity: money and God. There is lots of money in soccer, or course. Club
soccer is basically the childish desire to make dreams come true, no matter what the
cost, realised by men with enough money to combine such commodities as the best
Brazilian attacker, Dutch midfielder, British defender, and German goalie and turn
them loose on whatever the other billionaires can put together an unfair situation
that describes much of the world these days.

What is soccer if not everything that religion should be? Universal yet particular, it is
also the source of an infinitely renewable supply of hope, occasionally miraculous, and
governed by simple rules that everyone can follow. Soccers laws are laws of equality,
non-violence and restraint. Also, they are free to be reinterpreted at the discretion of a
reasonable arbiter. What the referee says goes, no matter how blatantly in violation of
principles his decision may be. An official rule book, after presenting a detailed
explanation of soccers 17 laws, concludes that the referee can throw out any of them
in order to apply what it rather mystically calls the spirit of fair play.

30

35

40

The underlying religious quality or influence in soccer runs especially deep in World
Cup years. Teams from across the globe converge on the host nation in something of
an unarmed, athletic crusade. As in the Crusades, the host nation tends to repel them.
Theres a weird power in home-team advantage. Hosts find a level of success
disproportionate to their talents on paper, triumphing over stronger teams, as if
exerting a gravitational pull on the game, causing it to be played the way they want to
play, as if God were on their side.

45

It is well-known that soccer, like religion, can provoke violence hooligans and
trampling incidents at overcrowded stadiums are what many Americans assume about
the game. However, soccer has also proved unique in its ability to bridge differences 50
and overturn national prejudices. The fact that the World Cup could even take place in
South Korea and in Japan, as it did in 2002, was a victory for tolerance and
understanding. In less than half a century, South Korea had gone from not allowing the
Japanese national team to cross its borders for a World Cup qualifier, to co-hosting the
tournament with the former occupier. Give the world another fifty years and we might 55
see the Cup co-hosted by Israel and Palestine.

And why not? Soccers universality is its simplicity - the fact that the game can be
played anywhere with anything. Urban children kick a can on concrete and rural kids
kick a rag wrapped around a rag wrapped around a rag, barefoot, on dirt. What makes
the World Cup most beautiful is the world, all of us together. The joy of being one of
the billion or more people watching 32 countries abide by 17 rules fills one with the
conviction. This may be one of many ignorant convictions; however it is an
undisputed fact that soccer can unite us all.

60

Adapted from The Beautiful Game by Sean Wilsey

National Geographic Magazine
June 2006

Answer the questions that follow below.

You are recommended to answer the questions in the order set.
Mistakes in spelling, punctuation and grammar may be penalized in any part of the
paper.
Note: When 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. What do soccer fans do during the World Cup season?

[1]

2. Give an advantage of being a citizen of a country which does not have a strong
soccer team.
[1]
From paragraph 2
3. the Olympics, with their overwhelming clutter of boutique athletics simply do
not matter in the same way. (lines 9-10) Paying special attention to the words in
italics, explain why some people feel this way.
[2]
From paragraph 3
4. A Slovakian tyre salesman, an Italian cop, or a German concert pianist having
passed the official fitness tests will moonlight as a referee. (lines 15-17)
Explain the meaning of the word moonlight.
[1]
5. Not conforming to stereotypes, they cry openly at defeat. (lines 19-20) Explain
fully how these men are not conforming to stereotypes.
[2]
From paragraph 4
6. What is the unfair situation (line 31) presented in the world of club soccer?

[1]

From paragraph 5
7. Quote a word from the paragraph that means the same as control.

[1]

From paragraph 6
8. What is the strange phenomenon that occurs when a team plays in its own
country?
[2]

From paragraph 7
9.

Why do many people have a negative impression of the game of soccer?

[1]

10.

Give the world another fifty years and we might see the Cup co-hosted by
Israel and Palestine. (lines 55-56) Give one word to describe how the writer
may be feeling.
[1]

From paragraph 8
11. In your own words, explain the phrase Soccers universality is its simplicity.
(line 57)
[2]
From the whole passage
12. For each of the following words or phrases, give one word or short phrase (of
not more than seven words) which has the same meaning that the word or
phrase has in the passage.
[5]
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

revelation (line 12)

blatantly (line 37)
converge (line 42)
provoke (line 48)
undisputed (line 63)

13. Summary

[20]

Summarise the reasons why soccer is so popular worldwide.

USE ONLY MATERIAL FROM PARAGRAPHS 5 TO 8.
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).
Begin your summary as follows:
The game of soccer has such a popular appeal worldwide as

END OF PAPER

EL MYE 2010 Paper 2 Answers (UPDATED

4 May 2010)

From paragraph 1
1. What do soccer fans do during the World Cup season?

[1]

They gather around the television (to root for the team they are supporting)
for a solid, breathless month.
Or They follow the soccer games very closely for the entire season.
2. Give an advantage of being a citizen of a country which does not have a strong
soccer team?
[1]
(During the World Cup season), one can pick whatever team he likes and
root for it without shame or fear.
From paragraph 2
3. the Olympics, with their overwhelming clutter of boutique athletics simply do
not matter in the same way. (lines 9-10) Paying special attention to the words in
italics, explain why some people feel this way.
[2]
The Olympic Games consist of too many small/ separate sporting events
[1] that the Games seem messy/ too varied. [1]
From paragraph 3
4

A Slovakian tyre salesman, an Italian cop, or a German concert pianist having

passed the official fitness tests will moonlight as a referee. (lines 15-17)
Explain the meaning of the word moonlight.
[1]
To moonlight is to do a second job in addition to ones regular
employment. [1] / to hold two jobs at the same time/ to hold an extra parttime job even if the person already has a full-time job.
X Students should not include these in their answer- Do a second job secretly/
have a second job at night.

5 Not conforming to stereotypes, they cry openly at defeat. (lines 19-20) Explain
fully how these men are not conforming to stereotypes.
[2]
Stereotypically/ according to social norms, men are seen as emotionally
strong/ very masculine/do not show their feelings and do not show their

emotions [1], therefore by crying openly at soccer games, this does not
adhere to/ follow social conventions/stereotypes. [1]
First mark- notion/ explain stereotype of men (general notion)
Second mark- by crying openly at games, therefore this does not follow the social
conventions. (show opposite)
From paragraph 4
6

What is the unfair situation (line 31) presented in the world of club soccer?

[1]

Billionaires are using their wealth to form soccer clubs comprising of the
best players in order to compete with other wealthy people.
Or
Billionaires are using their wealth to combine such commodities as the
best (Brazilian) attacker, (Dutch) midfielder, British defender, and German
goalie and to turn them loose on whatever the other billionaires can put
together to (compete with each other.)
Idea of: 1. using wealth 2. buying the best players 3. competing with
4. other teams formed by other wealthy people.
From paragraph 5
7

Quote a word from the paragraph that means the same as control.

[1]

The word is restraint.

From paragraph 6
8 What is the strange phenomenon that occurs when a team plays in its own
country?
[2]
The home team /Teams that play in their own country/ Hosts find a level of
success disproportionate to their talents on paper, triumphing over
stronger teams, [1] as if exerting a gravitational pull on the game, causing it
to be played the way they want to play, as if God were on their side. [1]
*Either gravitational pull or God being on their side must be in answer for second
mark.
From paragraph 7
9

Why do many people have a negative impression of the game of soccer?

[1]

It is well-known that soccer can provoke violence [1]

10 Give the world another fifty years and we might see the Cup co-hosted by Israel
and Palestine. (lines 55-56) Give one word to describe how the writer may be
feeling.
[1]
Hopeful/ optimistic/ positive [1]
From paragraph 8
11

In your own words, explain the phrase Soccers universality is its simplicity.
(line 57)
[2]
The reason why soccer is popular worldwide/ played by people all over
the world [1] is because it can be easily played/ it is an uncomplicated
game/ it can be played at any place with improvised materials. [1]

12 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. revelation (line 12)- (surprising) disclosure/ the revealing of
something previously unknown/ divulgence/ the unveiling
of
something unknown/ discovery/ finding
b. blatantly (line 37)- flagrantly/ glaringly/ obviously/undisguisedly
c. converge (line 42)- come together (from different places)/ meet/
gather/ assemble
(X merge/ combine= 0m)
d. provoke (line 48)- stimulate/ incite/ arouse / produce/ cause/ spark off/
result in/ bring about/ trigger/ instigate/ lead to/ stir up
e. undisputed (line 63)- accepted/ not called in question/ undoubted/
unchallenged/ incontestable/ uncontested/ undeniable/ irrefutable/
acknowledged/ cannot be denied/ cannot be argued (with)/ not
argued/ not arguable
(X undebatable (no such word)/ X not to be argued with (0m)

13.

Summary

[20]

Summarise the reasons why soccer is so popular worldwide.

USE ONLY MATERIAL FROM PARAGRAPHS 5 TO 8.

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).
Begin your summary as follows:

The game of soccer has such a popular appeal worldwide as

Words from Passage
Own Words
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

to some, it is everything that religion

should be.
It is the source of an infinitely
renewable supply of hope,
(occasionally miraculous.)
It is governed by simple rules that
everyone can follow.

to some, it embodies/ represents what

religion should be.
It provides a limitless feeling of
expectation which is unable to be
depleted and sometimes inexplicable.
It has uncomplicated rules which are
easy to follow

Soccers laws are laws of equality, nonviolence and restraint.

Either/or. If a student has both, only
award 1 point.

and which promote

violence and control.

They are free to be reinterpreted at the

discretion of a reasonable arbiter/
or
What the referee says goes, no matter
how blatantly in violation of principles
his decision may be.
6.
There is an underlying religious quality
or influence in soccer.
7.
(In World Cup years), hosts find a level
of success disproportionate to their
talents on paper, (triumphing over
stronger teams, as if exerting a
gravitational pull on the game, causing
it to be played the way they want to
play, as if God were on their side.)
8.
Soccer is unique in its ability to bridge
differences
9.
and overturn national prejudices.
10a Soccers universality is its simplicity
10b the fact that the game can be played
anywhere with anything.
11. (In the World Cup), the joy of being one
of the billion or more people watching
(32 countries abide by 17 rules fills one
with the conviction.)
.12. Soccer can unite the world/ us all

fairness,

non-

A fair referee can construe the rules

according to his will.
The referee has the final say, even if his
decision is obviously untrue or unfair.
There is an intrinsic religious influence in
soccer.
(In World Cup years), host nations seem
to supernaturally play better than usual.

Soccers power to reconcile differences

and abolish intolerances between
nations is distinctive.
Soccer has a worldwide appeal because
it can easily be played anywhere.
Also, it is a pleasurable experience
watching World Cup matches with the
rest of the world
Soccer unifies the world.

Language 4-5 Marks