UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF THE CARIBBEAN

Incorporating Institute Of Management Sciences & Institute Of Management & Production A Member of the Commonwealth & OAS Consortia of Universities

FOUNDATION ENGLISH
CENTRE: W.A.C, OCHI, DOMINICA, MAY PEN, MVILLE, ST. VINCENT & MOBAY CAMPUSES DATE : AUGUST 16, 2011 TIME : 10:00 AM DURATION: 2 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Please read all instructions carefully before attempting any question. 2. This paper consists of twelve (12) printed pages and three (3) sections [A, B & C] 3. Sections [A&B] are compulsory. 4. Candidates are also required to answer any one (1) question from section [C].

ALL QUESTIONS MUST BE ANSWERED IN THE ANSWER BOOKLET PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU NUMBER YOUR QUESTIONS CORRECTLY. CLEARLY WRITE THE NUMBER OF THE QUESTION ON EACH OF THE RELEVANT PAGES. WHERE QUESTIONS HAVE MULTIPLE PARTS, ALL PARTS MUST BE ANSWERED. START THE RESPONSE TO EACH QUESTION ON A NEW PAGE.

DO NOT OPEN YOUR QUESTION PAPER OR BEGIN WRITING UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO

SECTION A MULTIPLE CHOICE

GRAMMAR, USAGE, & MECHANICS
INSTRUCTIONS: ATTEMPT ALL OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS, SELECTING THE MOST APPROPRIATE ANSWER. SELECT THE LETTER THAT CORRESPONDS WITH YOUR CHOICE. SOME OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES ARE UNACCEPTABLE BECAUSE OF INAPPROPRIATE GRAMMAR, IDIOM, VOCABULARY, OR SPELLING. SOME SENTENCES ARE ACCEPTABLE AS THEY STAND. NO SENTENCE CONTAINS MORE THAN ONE ERROR. SELECT THE ONE UNDERLINED WORD OR PHRASE THAT YOU FEEL IS INAPPROPRIATE AND CHOOSE THE CORRESPONDING LETTER. IF THE SENTENCE IS ACCEPTABLE, CHOOSE D. 1. He is one of the few person in this class who I really like because he listens when I talk to A B C him. No error. D 2. The teacher reprimanded Johnny and I for not completing our assignments in Geography. A B C No error D 3. The maid took the boxes that were scattered about on the floor and placed them altogether A B C in a corner of the room. No error D 4. The group of singers were recommended highly for its remarkable performance at A B C International shows. No errors D 5. The committee has arranged a first class luncheon for its members at a prestigous hotel. A B C No error. D EACH ONE OF THE SENTENCES IS UNACCEPTABLE BECAUSE IT CONTAINS ONE OF THE FOLLOWING KINDS OF ERRORS. CHOOSE THE OPTION WHICH BEST DESCRIBES EACH AS FOLLOWS: A. THE SENTENCE IS TOO WORDY OR IS AMBIGUOUS OR CONTAINS REDUNDANCY B. THE SENTENCE CONTAINS CLICHES OR MISUSED METAPHORS C. THE SENTENCE IS GRAMMATICALLY INCORRECT OR FAULTY IN DICTION D. THE SENTENCE IS CORRECT AS IT STANDS. 2

6. The group left without Sandra being that she couldnt make up her mind. 7. The leader told the men they should act immediately because it is better to strike the iron while it is hot. 8. The campers packed their clothes in their nap sacks, loaded their luggage in the van and ride along the narrow path towards their destination. 9. Going around the bending corner, a visual view of the countryside scene met our eyes. 10. A group of boys in the area are willing to undertake the building of the community hall.

FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES, CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD OR PHRASE TO FILL THE BLANK. 11. The prices of the furniture were so _______________ that consumers requested a reduction. A. INCREDIBLE B. ALARMING C. EXORBITANT D. UNCONTROLLED 12. There was no method of ascertaining the exact number of people at the fair but I _________ more than two hundred were there. A. CONCLUDE B. ESTIMATE C. RECKON D. TRUST 13. The spy _____________the secrets of his country to the enemy, in the hope of obtaining his freedom. A. ENSURED B. DIVULGED C. DEMANDED D. BARGAINED 14. The hero was _________for his bravery when he plunged into the swimming pool and rescued the drowning infant. A. ELEVATED B. MALIGNED C. LAUDED D. FAMOUS

15. The price of land rose to alarming heights within recent times, but it is likely to _______this year. A. STABALISE B. DEGENERATE C. PILLORY D. INCREASE

16. There was a scarcity of mangoes in the market yesterday, but there seemed to be an _________ of bananas. A. accumulation B. increased C. permanent D. necessary 17. Help for old and infirm people should be voluntary and not________________. A. mandatory B. subsidized C. permanent D. necessary 18. While a good salary is strong incentive, poor office conditions are an equally strong___________. A. difficulty B. deterrent C. dilemma D. reason ANTONYMS: IN EACH OF THE SENTENCES GIVEN, THERE IS ONE WORD UNDERLINED. SELECT THE OPTION WHICH IS MOST NEARLY OPPOSITE IN MEANING TO THE UNDERLINED WORD IN THE SENTENCE. 19. I deplore you deriding me when I speak to the public on their attitude towards free education. A. attack B. applaud C. correct D. spurn

20. Many persons are misinterpreted when they make candid comments on issues affecting them. A. bold B. frank C. dishonest D. original 21. The couple who unfortunately missed their plane were unruffled when they reached the airport. A. calm B. fatigued C. desperate D. perturbed 22. Students have been asked to refrain from expressing themselves in extravagant language, at all times. A. pompous B. obscure C. simple D. wasteful 23. The human rights advocate is relentless in his demand for justice to the underprivileged people of the world. A. determined B. relaxed C. untiring D. merciless

CONSTRUCTION SHIFT: Revise each of the following sentences according to the directions that follow it. Do not change the meaning of the original sentences. Look at the choice A to D for the word or phrase that should be included in your revised sentences and select the correct response. 24. In debating, one should be able to express oneself, fluently and forcefully. Begin with one should be able a. when debating b. while he debates c. for debating d. on debating 25. The president had been summoned to the emergency meeting but was unable to attend. Begin with He was unable to attend a. when b. for which c. since d. to which 26. The teachers duty included supervising extra curricular activities in the school. Begin with One of his duties as a. was to supervise b. has to supervise c. had to supervise d. includes supervising 27. Mother had been away from home for one year and was greatly missed in the family. Begin with The family a. having been b. who had been c. being d. since that

28. A student who was ill at examination time complained to the school medical officer and was admitted to hospital. Begin with Having been a. a student complained b. a student who complained c. a student complains d. a student having complained MECHANICS OF WRITING: For each of the following sentences, choose any underlined portion which contains an error in punctuation or capitalization. If there is no error, choose option D. 29. In your answer to the question, show the difficulties experienced by the boys in setting A up their tent? C D-NO ERROR B

30. Where are you going? asked Laura, shouting at the top of her voice. A B C 31. The snake trailed its long, slack body into the fissure in the earth. A B C

D- NO ERROR

D- NO ERROR

32. You have not done sufficient work, said the principal, to the students who wrote the A B examination? C D- NO ERROR

33. Where did you go on Sunday, the pastor asked my friend, Charlie, who was at home A studying for his examination. D- NO ERROR B C

SECTION B READING COMPREHENSION (20 MARKS)

INSTRUCTIONS: READ THE LETTER TO THE EDITOR BELOW AND ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS WHICH FOLLOW.
In recent years the mass media have unloosed a gaggle of commentators and columnists whose shallow and frequently illiterate outpourings ought to be confined to their friends, not inflicted on the paying public. Indeed, opinion in the local media has broken out like measles. Everyone insists on the right to speak his mind without the least hesitation as to whether there is a mind to speak of. Even some radio announcers, with not the slightest embarrassment, flood us with fatuous opinions on life, love, religion, and women at the flip of a dub disc. This is not an attack on the domestic virtues of people in the media. In some instances I admire their spirit. But spiritedness is insufficient qualification for pontificating on every subject. Too often, even when one agrees with the opinion, one must regret the quality of the advocacy. Why should the public who buy newspapers, radios, and television sets have so much ignorance and vanity shoveled down their throats? The people of this country are in desperate need of real information and ideas. As a corollary, I am convinced that to build a civilized and prosperous democracy we need journalists and commentators who are among our ablest citizens, people armed with skepticism, scholarship, knowledge of their subject, and a capacity to think clearly and use language well whether the subject be hemlines or netball, the hit parade or the balance of payments. This is not an argument for the abstruse or the exclusively highbrow. I am asking for competence, the same competence we require of doctors, lawyers, engineers, or chemists.
Hu Gentles, in a letter to the Editor of The Gleaner, 9 Dec., 1981

41. The first paragraph A. satirizes those expressing opinions in the media. B. attacks the personal life of media personnel. C. ridicules popular opinion D. encourages free speech in the media. 42. Which of the following statements accurately represents a view expressed in the second paragraph? A. The intention is not to criticize well-meaning public servants. B. Being outspoken does not make a person an expert on everything. C. If one agrees with an opinion one ought not to criticize its presentation. D. It is a pity that the public wishes to swallow so much conceited nonsense. 43. The third paragraph does NOT end A. with an effective metaphor. B. with a rhetorical question. C. in a sarcastic manner. D. on an indignant note. 8

44. The writer refers to hemlines, netball, the hit parade, and the balance of payments (final paragraph) to show his concern for A. women, youth, and economists. B. a good coverage of all subjects. C. civilization, prosperity, and democracy. D. a wider range of language than is usual. 45. Doctors, lawyers, engineers, and chemists are mentioned (last sentence) to show that journalists and commentators A. are also professionals. B. must have wide interests. C. ought to be highly skilled. D. live in a competitive world. 46. In the passage as a whole, there is a change A. away from the use of figurative language. B. from destructive to constructive criticism. C. from annoyance to earnestness. D. in all of the above. INSTRUCTIONS: READ THE FOLLOWING ADVERTISEMENT, AND ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS BELOW.
Megan was ashamed of her hair until she used STRATE. As soon as she used STRATE, all the kinkiness went away and Megans hair became straight with all the natural waves of beautiful hair. STRATE contains all the vitamins your hair needs, plus Solium, a marvelous, exclusive, new discovery for healthy hair. More women use STRATE than any other hair conditioner. Ask a man who knows, and start using STRATE today!

47. The advertisement appeals to the idea that A. all hair conditioners are the same. B. straight hair is better than kinky hair. C. Solium is a vitamin. D. STRATE is recommended by doctors. 48. The advertisement is worded to appeal mainly to people who A. are currently using STRATE. B. know a lot about science. C. want to have healthy hair. D. want to be admired by others.

49. The advertisement claims that STRATE does all the following except A. contain vitamins. B. condition hair. C. improve health D. straighten hair. 50. The advertisement claims More women use STRATE than any other hair conditioner, so as to A. assure readers that a survey has been done. B. influence readers to join the bandwagon. C. give proof that STRATE is superior. D. explain the popularity of STRATE. 51. The last sentence in the advertisement implies that A. men are good judges of quality. B. men used STRATE before women did. C. STRATE increases a womans appeal to men. D. not all men can tell if a woman uses STRATE. INSTRUCTIONS: READ THE FOLLOWING EXTRACT FROM AN ARTICLE AND ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS BELOW.

There are increasing demands on managers to produce better results for their companies as markets become more and more competitive. Planning and executing the strategies of success can be demanding, involving much time and hard work. Often managers wish they could just find the time. If there were just more hours in the day. The astute manager will not find more time in the day, but he or she can begin tapping into what is usually an important, and often utilized resource the secretary. The fact is that managers, although they may not be consciously aware of it, sometimes need greater secretarial involvement, and secretaries want to contribute more. But there are a number of factors which inhibit the secretary/management relationship. The trick is to identify these and set them right. Most managers think secretaries are there to look after routine tasks in order to allow managers to get on with important things. But the secretarys role is always important. Whatever he or she does will inevitably affect management results and the more he or she does, and does well, the more the manager will be able to do his or her work. Sometimes what the secretary does may be called routine, and deemed dull and unchallenging; but think what you may, routine is often the path to results after a plan has been developed and the strategies defined. Routine is an orderly way of getting things done. Routines usually happen more than once in a given period of time. They can, therefore, usually be taught. Since they can be taught, they can be delegated. The more objectives managers can translate to routine, the more these managers will achieve.
Extract from Secretaries Week Feature

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52. According to the writer, todays managers find themselves in a predicament because A. there are considerable demands on them to be more effective. B. resources available to private companies are steadily decreasing. C. they cannot find the time to plan well enough to meet targets. D. they are not working hard enough and are therefore inefficient. 53. Managers wish that they had more time because A. they are not efficient enough in their operations. B. they need to spend more time with their families. C. planning strategies for success needs a great deal of time. D. they are unable to spend adequate time at the office. 54. Which of the following is closest in meaning to often utilized resource as used in paragraph 2? A. a frequent source of assistance B. a way of achieving success C. a way of becoming wealthy D. something valuable but under-used 55. The writer considers the secretarys role to be necessary because A. he/she helps the manager to be more effective in his/her approach. B. he/she can take over if the manager is not at work. C. he/she takes care of the routine tasks the manager does not think are important. D. he/she allows the manager to have more free time. 56. The writer uses the phrase translate to routine (paragraph 4) to mean A. change into standardized everyday activities B. change into a different computer language C. change from everyday activities into meaningful tasks D. delegate the tasks to somebody else 57. The passage suggests that relationships between secretaries and managers can be made more effective by A. giving the secretaries more freedom to do what they think is right. B. the secretary always allowing the manager to win any disagreements they might have C. delegating all routine tasks to the secretary D. getting rid of any obstacles in their relationship 58. Which of the following paragraphs could be given the title Achievement of Objectives? A. paragraph 1 B. paragraph 2 C. paragraph 3 D. paragraph 4

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59. The writer presents his point of view through A. comparison and contrast B. cause and effect C. fact and example D. analysis and description 60. Overall, the passage implies that the way to increased productivity is through A. hard work and planning B. putting more hours into the work day C. greater involvement of secretaries at the workplace D. creating more routine jobs at the workplace

SECTION C ESSAY WRITING (20 MARKS EACH)

INSTRUCTIONS: ANSWER ONE QUESTION FROM THIS SECTION. YOUR ANSWER MUST BE IN THE ESSAY FORMAT AND BE BETWEEN 350 400 WORDS IN LENGTH. YOU MUST WRITE IN STANDARD ENGLISH; DIALECT MAY ONLY BE USED IN CONVERSATION. N.B. A PLAN MUST BE SUBMITTED ALONG WITH THE ESSAY. 1. There was a fight at a football match, resulting in one on the players being killed. Write a REPORT for the newspaper as you were a spectator at the event. (20 MARKS) 2. Write a SHORT STORY ending with and I never saw him again. (20 MARKS)
3. DESCRIBE a neighbourhood where the sights, sounds and smells were unpleasant.

. (20 MARKS) 4. Discuss the issue of having sex before marriage. Write an ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY in response to this matter supporting your views. (20 MARKS)

END OF QUESTION PAPER

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