OROMIA EDUCATION BUREAU

GRADE 10 ENGLISH LANGUAGE FINAL EXAM FOR BOARDING AND NON-

BOARDING (SPECIAL) SCHOOLS, JANUARY 2016/2024.

TIME ALLOWED: 80’

GENERAL DIRECTIONS

THIS BOOKLET CONTAINS ENGLISH LANGUAGE FIRST SEMESTER FINAL EXAM

FOR GRADE 10. IN THIS BOOKLET, THERE ARE TOTAL OF 60 MULTIPLE CHOICE
QUESTIONS.

THERE IS ONLY ONE BEST ANSWER FOR EACH QUESTION. CHOOSE THE BEST
ANSWER FROM THE GIVEN ALTERNATIVES AND WRITE THE LETTER OF YOUR
CHOICE ON THE ANSWER SHEET PROVIDED.

YOU ARE ALLOWED TO WORK ON THE EXAM QUESTIONS FOR 80 MINUTES

ONLY. WHEN TIME IS CALLED, YOU MUST IMMEDIATELY STOP WORKING ON
THE QUESTIONS. PUT YOUR PEN/PENCIL DOWN, AND WAIT FOR FURTHER
INSTRUCTIONS.

ANY FORM OF CHEATING OR AN ATTEMPT TO CHEAT IN THE EXAM WILL RESULT

IN AN AUTOMATIC DISMISSAL FROM THE EXAM HALL AND CANCELLATION OF
YOUR SCORE.

PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN ALL THE REQUIRED
INFORMATION ON THE ANSWER SHEET BEFORE YOU START TO WORK ON THE
EXAM.

DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO

Gr-10English Final Exam 0
 I. WRITING

SECTION ONE: Jumbled Words (1&2)

DIRECTION: The following words are not in the proper order. Choose the
correct sentence made out of the given jumbled words.
[Link] usually I late up weekends on.
A. I usually get up late on weekends.
B. I get up late on weekends usually.
C. Get up late on weekends I usually.
D. On weekends usually I get up late.
[Link] the spoke I with agent me whom was help to.
A. I spoke the agent with whom was able to help me.
B. With the agent whom I spoke was able to help me.
C. The agent with whom I spoke was able to help me.
D. The agent whom with I spoke was able to help me.

SECTIONTWO: Types of Writing (3&4)

Direction: Items 3 &4 are about different kinds of writing. Read each of them
carefully and choose the best answer from the given alternatives.
3. Which one of the following sentences is most likely taken from DESCRIPTIVE writing?
A. My mother started working in the company when I was10.
B. My mother has been working in the company for many years.
C. My mother is physically tall and her hair is black and straight.
D. Every morning, my mother wakes up earlier than other members in my family.
4. Which one of the following sentences is most likely taken from a NARRATIVE writing?
A. To me, the meeting was useless and waste of time.
B. Having spoken for five minutes, I saw my old friend sitting among the audience.
C. The meeting may help us to discuss how things are going on in the company.
D. A meeting is an assembly of people for a particular purpose, especially for formal discussion.

SECTION FOUR: Punctuation (5-7)

DIRECTION:Items 5-7 are about punctuation. Choose the correctly punctuated

sentence from the given alternatives.
5. A. The men's restroom is closed for repairs.
B. The mens restroom is closed for repairs.
C. The mens’ restroom is closed for repairs.
D. The men's restroom is closed for repairs.
6. A. Sena says, I have to study hard for the exam.
B. Sena says, “I have to study hard for the exam.”
C. Sena says; “I have to study hard for the exam.”
D. Sena says “I have to study hard for the exam.”

Gr-10English Final Exam 1

7. A. I need several things from the store: eggs, milk and bread.
B. I need several things from the store eggs, milk and bread.
C. I need several things from the store, eggs, milk, and bread.
D. I need several things from the store: eggs: milk and, bread.

SECTION FIVE: Types of sentences (8-10)

DIRECTION: Items 8-10 are about different kinds of sentences based on their
grammatical structure. Read each of them carefully and choose the best answer
from the given alternatives given.
8. Which one of the following sentences is a simple sentence?
A. Study hard, otherwise you will fail.
B. Tola and chaltu like to study in the morning.
C. Students stood up when the teacher entered the classroom.
D. They spoke to him in Spanish, but he responded in English.
9. Which one of the following sentences is a compound complex sentence?
A. The earth moves around the sun.
B. He worked hard, but failed the examination.
C. The book, which is out of print, is one of my favorites.
D. Autumn is ending, and winter is coming.

II. GRAMMAR (10-24)

DIRECTION: Questions 12-29 are incomplete sentences. Choose a word/phrase that

grammatically best completes the sentence to answer Questions 12-29.
10. Our car's gas tank is almost empty. We ______ fill it up with gas soon or we will run out of gas!
A. should B. had better C. mustn’t D. ought to
11. The waiter told me that the guest bedroom is_______ room in the house because it overlooks the garden.
A. the quietest B. the most quiet C. more quite D. quite
12. Dad _______ as a consultant for over 20 years, but now he has a plan to stop this job.
A. is working B. has worked C. was working D. worked
13. You _________ speak with your mouth full. It is offensive.
A. ought to not B. should C. had better D. ought not to
14. Language learners usually ______ grammar and spelling basics to improve their writing skills.
A. study B. studying C. has studied D. studied
15. These days, most people _______________ email instead of writing letters.
A. are using B. used C. have used D. using
16. Last night I had some spare time, so I______ to the cinema to see the latest Bond movie.
A. have gone B. went C. was going D. go
17. There is someone knocking at the door. I _______________ it.
A. am open B. will open C. open D. am going to opening
18. I'll introduce you to the man with ___________ I live in the same compound.
A. whom B. that C. who D. which

Gr-10English Final Exam 2

19. These books, ________ you can get at any bookshop, will give you all the information you need.
A. where B. whose C. which D. that
20. I don't have _________ to eat. I have to leave for shopping now.
A. anything B. something C. nothing D. one thing
21. Are you going by bicycle or __________ foot?
A. by B. with C. on D. in
22. There is a problem with the machine. _________ you start the engine, there’s a strange noise.
A. when B. while C. until D. ago
23. Oh no! Look at that child! He’s leaning right over the edge of the bridge’ ‘Oh dear! He
_______________ in to the river!
A. is going to fall B. will fall C. falls D. is falling
24. I think it was ____________ a beautiful day that we took a picnic to the park.
A. so B. such C. hence D. thus

III. VOCABULARY(25-33)

A. SUBSTITUTION

DIRECTIONS: Questions 25-29 each has an underlined word or phrase. Choose

a word/phrase that best substitutes the underlined word/phrase.
25. The salesman said the bag was made in Italy, but its label reads made in China. I was foolish
enough to fall for it.
A. accept B. refuse C. persuade D. realize
26. I believe the majority of European countries are overwhelmingly thankful for the presence
of Africans as they import a variety of raw materials from Africa.
A. warmly B. friendly C. extremely D. rapidly
27. Ethiopians are well known for their hospitality, as they often invite strangers into their home
and feed them well.
A. patience B. kindness C. honesty D. courage
28. Our students should be informed that the delay in preparation for the test exacerbated their
anxiety about the outcome.
A. improve B. accelerate C. prevent D. aggravate
29. Students should do something that needs to be done quickly; procrastination is disastrous today.
A. delay B. carelessness C. tiredness D. boredom

B. COMPLETION

DIRECTION: Questions 30-33 are incomplete sentences. Choose the word/phrase that best
completes each sentence.
30. _________________ information refers to information that is meant to be kept secret within
a certain circle of people and not intended to be made public.
A. Confidentially B. Confident C. Confidentiality D. Confidential
31. Farmers start working on the field during the_________ season because this season is
important for crops.
A. dry B. rainy C. windy D. cool

Gr-10English Final Exam 3

32. Despite being a successful professional, John occasionally displays ____behaviors, such as feeling
angry and becoming offensive when things don’t go his way.
A. adequately B. qualified C. pleasant D. childish
33. If you stay a night in an international hotel, in the morning, you can go to their beautiful
___________ room and eat your breakfast freely.
A. reading B. bed C. dining D. guest

IV. READING COMPREHENSION(34-48)

DIRECTION II: Read the following short passages carefully and answer questions 34-48
according to the information therein.

My grandfather Agbefia, was a wealthy fisherman. He owned four large drag-nets, a net thrown
through a river to trap fish, and three fishing boats. He did not employ people, but he was the
head of a fishing company. A group of men in the village where he lived helped him fishing, and
in return they received a proportion of the catch, which their wives sold in the market, but they
had no shares in the nets or boats.

Every morning, this old man would leave his house before dawn and walk on the sea-shore. He
watched `the changing colors of the sea and studied the movement of the clouds in the sky. From
these he foretold the fishing of that day. Many of his workers slept on to seashore, and when he
had his decision, he would wake them and give them their instruction before he turned to his
house.

He was also the chief’s linguist. He had to attend the chief on all important occasion and to speak
for him. My grandfather was outstanding and aw-inspiring figure as, dressed in his hand-woven
brightly colored Kente, the cultural closing, with his golden linguists’ staff in land, he conveyed
to the people the wish of their chief.

My grandmother, on the other hand, was not aw-inspiring at all. She was short and fat; her skin
was the color of bronze; she laughed easily, and she did her best to shield me, and all the
children of the house from the trouble that came our way. We called her “Mamadze” which
means “Red grandmother” because of her coloring.

During my childhood, my grandfather had four wives and between them they had twenty-five
children. He had had in all, eight wives, but the other four had proved disloyal, or in some other
way unsatisfactory, and he had sent them away.

My own grandmother, Yakuvi, was his favorite and the one who stayed with him to the
termination of his life. In middle age, my grandfather built a small, but strong and attractive
house, a few hundred yards away from the great family house and a compound, which was by
then teeming with his children and grandchildren. And he took only my grandmother Yakuvi
with him, and lived in peace there. During their last days, he married her for a second time in
Christian ceremony.

Gr-10English Final Exam 4

34. What is the best title for this extract?
A. My parents life C. The family business
B. My beginnings D. Life in my grandfather’s time
35. Why was the writer’s grandfather wealthy?
A. He was part of a group of fishermen. C. He was fisherman.
B. He employed a group of men. D. He owned the fishing business.
36. The word “foretold” (in paragraph 2) is closest in meaning to _________.
A. predicted B. reported C. recommended D. praised
37. What did his grandfather do in the morning?
A. He had to wake up the men in advance of undertaking anything.
B. He walks on the sea-shore and observes the situations.
C. He chooses the best place to fish.
D. He enjoys the view of the beach.
38. How many wives did the writer’s grandfather have?
A. Four B. Twenty-five C. Eight D. Twelve
39. What did the writer’s grandmother look like?
A. She had an impressive appearance. C. She was tall.
B. She was fat, but beautiful. D. She was ugly.
40. The word “aw-inspiring” (in paragraph 3) could best be replaced by________.
A. wonderful B. distressing C. encouraging D. aiding
41. What did his grandfather built in middle age?
A. a small house which is very away from the main house C. a great family house
B. a house to teem in with his children and grandchildren D. a compound
42. Who was Yakuvi?
A. Someone who stayed with the writer until the end of his life.
B. The writer’s grandmother’s preferred person.
C. The writer’s grandfather’s preferred wife.
D. A woman which the writer’s grandfather married in the middle age.
43. What does ‘her’ in the last paragraph refer to?
A. The writer’s favorite wife C. The writer’s grandfather’s first wife
B. The writer’s grandmother, Yakuvi D. The writer’s grandfather’s only wife
44. Which one of the following sentences is false about grandfather Agbefia?
A. He was a rich man. C. His wives sold fishes in the market.
B. He did not employ people. D. He married Yakuvi for a second time.
45. What does ‘they’ in the paragraph 1 refer to?
A. The group of men who helped Agbefia fishing C. Grandfather Agbefia’s wives
B. The wives of group of men in the village D. The owners of the fishing company
46. The word “shield ” (in paragraph 4) is closest in meaning to _________.
A. protect B. raise C. smile D. clean
47. What could be the purpose of the writer in this writing?
A. To describe his grandfather C. to explain the reason why his grandfather was rich
B. To narrate about the life of his grandfather D. to compare his life to his grandfather’s life
48. Which one of the following is TRUE according to paragraph 4?
A. Yakuvi was as outstanding as Agbefia. C. Yakuvi’s skin was red.
B. yakuvi was outstanding. D. Yakuvi was not as outstanding as Agbefia.

Gr-10English Final Exam 5

 V. Communicative Activities (49-60)

DIRECTION: Choose the most appropriate expression that completes each

dialogue to answer Questions 51-60.
49. You: Hello. How’re you doing?
Dagim: ______________________________
A. Hello. I’m reading a magazine.
B. Thanks. I’m feeling well.
C. Hello! I’m happy to see you.
D. Fine. Thanks. How’re you?
50. Question: How often does your father read a book?
Answer: _____________________________.
A. About two books a day
B. Nearly three times a day
C. In the morning and after lunch normally
D. He has been reading for more than ten years
51. Guest: How long does it take to Jimma?
You: ______________________________.
A. It depends on your driving
B. Not more than fifty birr
C. Jimma is very far
D. It is around 500 kilometers
52. Ababo: Do you mind if I use your computer?
You: ___________________
A. Of course, you can use it.
B. No matter, you can use it.
C. Do I have any computer?
D. Yes. Here you are.
53. Manager: Do you know what happened to that new machine?
Technician:__________________________________
A. Probably, they are not good machines.
B. Unfortunately they are too expensive.
C. I think, none of them are working.
D. Amazing. They are new and well designed.
54. In which one of the following words is the suffix “s” pronounced as “z”?
A. dogs B. books C. texts D. stops
55. You: How do you like my skirt?
Friend: _________________________
A. It’s a bit pricey.
B. It’s green in colour.
C. Did you buy it from the bazaar?
D. Very much. It suits you.

Gr-10English Final Exam 6

56. Soliyana: I don’t like watching horror movies. What about you?
Esmael: _____________________________.
A. So do I C. Neither do I
B. Nor I do D. So you are
57. JIRU: I am feeling dizzy this morning. What should I do?
ALI: __________________________
A. Some feelings are difficult to manage.
B. It may happen.
C. Definitely you will be right.
D. I think, you should see a doctor.
58. Fira: Hi, how are you? May I speak to Kiya?
Danu: _________________________
A. Why haven't you answered the phone?
B. I had things to do.
C. What was the reason for your call?
D. Speaking. What's up?
59. Student A: I use my mobile phone for education purposes.
Student B: _____________________________________
A. Neither I do C. So you are
B. So do I D. Neither do I
60. Teacher: How far is the school from your home?
Student:_________________________
A. 3kms C. I often arrive late
B. 2 hours D. I always travel by bus

THE END!!

Gr-10English Final Exam 7