Primary 6 PSLE English Practice Paper 2

TuitionGoWhere Practice Paper — Answer Key

Subject: English | Level: Primary 6 (PSLE) | Version: 2 of 5 Total Marks: 40

Section A: Grammar MCQ (10 marks)

1. (B) had had

• Explanation: Third conditional structure requires the past perfect ("had had") in the if-clause. "If I had had more time" correctly expresses an unreal past condition. "Have had" is present perfect and does not match the third conditional pattern. [1]

2. (B) had prepared

• Explanation: The past perfect tense is needed to show that the caterers finished preparing the food before the guests arrived (a past event). The sequence of past events requires past perfect for the earlier action. [1]

3. (B) are

• Explanation: With "neither…nor," the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. "Employees" is plural, so the plural verb "are" is correct. [1]

4. (B) was being reviewed

• Explanation: The past continuous passive ("was being reviewed") correctly describes an ongoing action (the reviewing) that was in progress at a specific time in the past (before the meeting was adjourned). Option D is active voice and would require the report to be the reviewer, which is illogical. [1]

5. (B) had been

• Explanation: In reported speech, the past perfect is used to report a past action. "Where had you been?" becomes "where I had been" when reported. [1]

6. (C) be

• Explanation: After verbs of demand or insistence ("insisted that"), the subjunctive mood is used. The subjunctive form of "to be" is "be" for all subjects. [1]

7. (B) did she pass

• Explanation: After "not only" at the beginning of a clause, subject-auxiliary inversion is required. "Did she pass" follows the correct inversion pattern. [1]

8. (C) to complete

• Explanation: After "made" in the causative passive ("were made"), the full infinitive "to complete" is required. In active voice we say "make someone do something" (bare infinitive), but in passive voice it becomes "be made to do something." [1]

9. (A) will freeze

• Explanation: This is a first conditional (real/possible future condition). The structure is "if + present simple, will + base verb." "Will freeze" correctly completes the result clause. [1]

10. (A) which

• Explanation: The clause is a non-restrictive (extra information) relative clause, set off by commas. "Which" is used for non-restrictive clauses referring to things. "That" is not used in non-restrictive clauses. [1]

Section B: Grammar Cloze (10 marks)

11. shone / swept / flashed

• Accept any suitable verb in the simple past tense describing light moving across the sea. "Shone" is the most natural collocation with a lighthouse beam. [1]

12. maintained / tended / operated / looked after / run

• Accept any suitable verb in the past perfect tense indicating long-term care or management of the lighthouse. "Maintained" or "looked after" are the most natural choices. [1]

13. made / produced / created

• Accept any suitable verb in the simple past tense describing the sound the wind produced. "Made" is the most common collocation. [1]

14. had broken / broke

• Accept past perfect ("had broke" is incorrect; "had broken" is correct) or simple past ("broke"). "Had broken" is preferred to show the generator failed before Mr Tan realised. [1]
• Common mistake: Students may write "had broke" — this is grammatically incorrect; the past participle of "break" is "broken."

15. was blowing / blew

• Accept past continuous ("was blowing") or simple past ("blew"). Past continuous emphasises the ongoing nature of the wind during the event. [1]

16. did not fix / didn't repair / could not fix / failed to fix

• Accept any suitable negative verb phrase in the simple past tense. The sentence requires a conditional result: if he did NOT fix the generator, ships would be in danger. [1]
• Common mistake: Students may write "would not fix" — this is incorrect because the if-clause in a first/mixed conditional does not use "would."

17. shone / flashed / beamed / spread / swept

• Accept any suitable verb in the simple past tense describing light projecting outward. [1]

18. would be / must have been / were

• Accept "would be" (conditional), "must have been" (deduction about the past), or "were" (simple past). "Would be" fits the narrative tone of speculation about the sailors' feelings. [1]

19. passed / subsided / ended / cleared / blown over

• Accept any suitable verb in the past perfect tense indicating the storm had finished. "Passed" or "subsided" are the most natural choices. [1]

20. had fulfilled / had done / had performed / had completed

• Accept any suitable verb in the past perfect tense meaning "carried out" or "accomplished." "Had fulfilled" is the most precise collocation with "duty." [1]
• Common mistake: Students may write "had fulfill" — the past participle of "fulfill" is "fulfilled."

Marking Notes

• Section A: 1 mark per correct answer. No partial credit.
• Section B: 1 mark per correct answer. Accept any grammatically correct and contextually appropriate word. Spelling must be correct for credit.
• Total: 20 questions, 40 marks (Section A: 10 marks + Section B: 10 marks = 20 marks).
• Note: This paper focuses on grammar only. A full PSLE English paper would include additional sections such as vocabulary, comprehension, and writing.