Primary 6 PSLE English Vocabulary Quiz

Primary 6 PSLE English Quiz - Vocabulary

Answer Key

Section A: Vocabulary in Context (Questions 1–5)

1. Answer: (A) ushered in

• Marks: 1
• Explanation: "Ushered in" means to begin or introduce something new, which fits the context of a new era of discovery. "Broke down" means to fail or collapse. "Turned away" means to refuse entry. "Put off" means to postpone or discourage. Only (A) conveys the meaning of initiating a new period.

2. Answer: (C) mutual

• Marks: 1
• Explanation: "Mutual" means shared by both parties, which matches the context of an agreement that "satisfied both parties." "Unilateral" means one-sided. "Tentative" means uncertain or provisional. "Superficial" means surface-level or shallow.

3. Answer: (B) envisage

• Marks: 1
• Explanation: "Envisage" means to imagine or picture in the mind, which fits the context of visitors imagining daily life from centuries ago. "Fabricate" means to invent falsely. "Dismantle" means to take apart. "Scrutinise" means to examine closely — this is plausible but does not fit as well as "envisage" because the sentence is about imagining a past scene, not examining it.

4. Answer: (A) persevered

• Marks: 1
• Explanation: "Persevered" means to continue steadfastly despite difficulty, which matches the context of volunteers continuing despite heavy rain. "Relented" means to give in. "Digressed" means to stray from the topic. "Subsided" means to lessen or diminish.

5. Answer: (B) sardonic

• Marks: 1
• Explanation: "Sardonic" means grimly mocking or cynical, which fits the context of a speaker showing deep disappointment through tone. "Jovial" means cheerful — opposite of the intended meaning. "Indifferent" means lacking concern — does not match "deeply disappointed." "Eloquent" means fluent and persuasive — does not convey disappointment.

Section B: Synonyms and Antonyms (Questions 6–10)

6. Answer: (B) Generous

• Marks: 1
• Explanation: "Benevolent" means well-meaning and kindly, which is closest to "generous." "Malicious" means intending harm — opposite in meaning. "Reluctant" means unwilling. "Arrogant" means conceited.

7. Answer: (B) Evasive

• Marks: 1
• Explanation: "Elusive" means difficult to find, catch, or achieve, which is closest to "evasive" (difficult to pin down). "Tangible" means perceptible by touch — opposite. "Obvious" and "predictable" are also near-opposites.

8. Answer: (B) Barren

• Marks: 1
• Explanation: "Prolific" means producing abundant works or results. The opposite is "barren," meaning unproductive or unable to produce. "Productive," "abundant," and "fertile" are all synonyms or near-synonyms.

9. Answer: (B) Frank

• Marks: 1
• Explanation: "Candid" means truthful and straightforward, which is closest to "frank." "Deceptive" means misleading — opposite. "Reserved" means restrained. "Vague" means unclear.

10. Answer: (C) Improve

• Marks: 1
• Explanation: "Deteriorate" means to become worse. The opposite is "improve," meaning to become better. "Decline" and "worsen" are synonyms. "Collapse" is a more extreme form of deterioration.

Section C: Collocations and Word Partnerships (Questions 11–15)

11. Answer: (A) implement

• Marks: 1
• Explanation: The correct collocation is "implement a policy," meaning to put a policy into effect. "Compose" is used with music or writing. "Illustrate" means to explain with examples. "Contradict" means to oppose or deny.

12. Answer: (A) conduct

• Marks: 1
• Explanation: The correct collocation is "conduct an interview." "Manufacture," "assemble," and "construct" are used with physical products or buildings, not interviews.

13. Answer: (B) raised

• Marks: 1
• Explanation: The correct collocation is "raised doubts." While "aroused suspicion" is a valid collocation, "aroused doubts" is not idiomatic. "Rose" is intransitive and cannot take an object. "Lifted" does not collocate with "doubts."

14. Answer: (C) raise

• Marks: 1
• Explanation: The correct collocation is "raise awareness." "Elevate" is used with status or physical position. "Heighten" collocates with tension or senses. "Amplify" is used with sound or signals.

15. Answer: (A) adopt

• Marks: 1
• Explanation: The correct collocation is "adopt a stance," meaning to take on a particular position or attitude. "Adapt" means to modify. "Accept" means to receive willingly. "Adhere" is used with "to" (adhere to rules).

Section D: Vocabulary Cloze (Questions 16–20)

16. Answer: (B) pivotal

• Marks: 2
• Explanation: "Pivotal" means of crucial importance, which fits the context of the Amazon rainforest's essential role in climate regulation. "Trivial" means unimportant — opposite. "Peripheral" means of secondary importance. "Redundant" means no longer needed. The passage emphasises the rainforest's vital function, making "pivotal" the best choice.

17. Answer: (C) rampant

• Marks: 2
• Explanation: "Rampant" means flourishing uncontrollably or widespread, which describes deforestation that has continued unchecked for decades. "Sustainable" means able to be maintained — opposite in context. "Sporadic" means occurring occasionally — does not convey the severity implied. "Negligible" means insignificant — contradicts "threatened this vital ecosystem."

18. Answer: (A) devastated

• Marks: 2
• Explanation: "Devastated" means destroyed or severely damaged, which matches the context of large areas of forest being lost. "Cultivated" means prepared for crops — does not convey destruction. "Restored" and "conserved" imply protection — opposite of the intended meaning.

19. Answer: (A) implications

• Marks: 2
• Explanation: "Implications" means the possible consequences or effects, which fits the context of biodiversity loss having far-reaching consequences. "Compensations" means payments or offsets. "Distractions" means things that divert attention. "Simplifications" means making something simpler — none of these fit the context of consequences.

20. Answer: (B) undertake

• Marks: 2
• Explanation: "Undertake" means to commit to or begin a task, which fits the context of taking action. "Postpone" means to delay — opposite of "immediate." "Delegate" means to assign to someone else — does not convey personal commitment. "Contemplate" means to think about — insufficient for the urgency implied.

Marking Notes

• Questions 1–15: 1 mark each. Award the mark only for the correct option. No half marks.
• Questions 16–20: 2 marks each. Award 2 marks for the correct option. No half marks.
• Total: 5 × 1 + 5 × 1 + 5 × 1 + 5 × 2 = 30 marks.
• Spelling errors in written answers (if any) should be penalised.
• If a student writes more than one answer, mark it as wrong unless the question explicitly allows multiple answers.

Common Mistakes to Watch For

• Question 3: Students may choose "scrutinise" because it relates to looking at something, but the context requires imagining a past scene, not examining a present one.
• Question 13: Students may choose "aroused" because "arouse" collocates with "suspicion," but "raised doubts" is the standard collocation.
• Question 14: Students may choose "heighten" because it collocates with "awareness" in some contexts, but "raise awareness" is the standard and expected collocation at PSLE level.
• Question 17: Students may choose "sporadic" if they focus on "decades" without noticing the word "threatened," which implies severity rather than occasional occurrence.