Weekly Assessment T 2 U5 EN – Y9 2024-25

Name……………………………………………………………………………………… Stream…. Teacher: Mr. Anu

General Instructions:
1. Read all instructions carefully. There are 16 [sixteen] questions in this weekly assessment.
2. All questions must be answered. A few questions may have internal choices; you need to
choose one option from the given choices.
3. Write your answers clearly in blue or black ink. Ensure that your handwriting is legible.
Sufficient space is provided to respond.
4. Marks for each question are indicated next to the question number. Answer each question
according to the marks it carries.
5. Use only the writing materials provided. No borrowing.
6. Do not seek help from others during the assessment.
7. Write neatly and legibly. Avoid overwriting.
8. Review your answers to correct any mistakes or add details.
Reading Sec on: Fic on (Contemporary Prose Fic on)

Text: An excerpt from The Art of Silence by Emma Blake

Nina had always been the quiet one in the family. As a child, she would sit for hours in the corner of the living room,
her nose buried in books while her siblings laughed and argued around her. But as she grew older, Nina’s silence
began to weigh heavily on her, like a cloak she couldn’t shake off. It was as if her quietness had become a wall,
something that isolated her from everyone else.

One a ernoon, while her family was gathered for a birthday celebra on, Nina’s older brother James made a joke at
her expense. The room erupted in laughter, but Nina felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. She hated the
a en on, but more than that, she hated how easily James could make her the target of his humour. For a brief
moment, she considered speaking up, but the words never came. It was easier to stay silent.

That evening, as Nina sat alone on the back porch, watching the sunset, she thought about her life. She had always
believed silence was a safe space, a way to avoid conflict and keep her feelings tucked away. But now, it felt more like
a prison. It was a strange kind of loneliness—one that was both self-imposed and forced upon her by those around
her.

Just as she was lost in thought, her mother appeared at the door. "James didn’t mean anything by it," she said so ly,
si ng down next to Nina. "You know how he is. But you’re not invisible, Nina. You don’t have to stay in the
shadows."

Nina’s eyes welled up with tears, but she didn’t respond. The words were there, but once again, they wouldn’t come.
Her mother didn’t need an answer, though; she simply sat beside Nina, offering the quiet support that Nina had
come to rely on.

It wasn’t un l much later that evening, when the house was quiet and the family was se ling down, that Nina finally
found her voice. It was only a small thing, a quiet request for her favourite blanket, but it felt like a victory. In that
moment, Nina knew that silence didn’t have to be her only choice. She could speak, and maybe, just maybe, her
words would carry the weight of everything she had kept inside for so long.
 Reading Ques ons (10 Marks)

Comprehension (5 Marks):

1. How does Nina feel about her silence as she grows older? (1 Mark)

2. What happens when James makes a joke at Nina’s expense? (1 Mark)

3. How does Nina react to her mother’s comment about James? (1 Mark)

4. What is the significance of Nina asking for her favourite blanket at the end of the story? (1 Mark)

5. How does Nina view her silence by the end of the story? (1 Mark)

Understanding Skills (2 Marks):

6. Why does Nina find it difficult to speak up, even when she wants to? (1 Mark)

7. How does the author use Nina’s rela onship with her mother to highlight her internal conflict? (1 Mark)

Analysing (2 Marks):

8. How does the author use imagery to show Nina’s emo onal state throughout the story? (1 Mark)

9. How does the se ng of the back porch contribute to the theme of isola on? (1 Mark)

Evalua ng (1 Mark):

10. Do you think Nina’s silence is a form of self-protec on? Jus fy your answer. (1 Mark)

Language Focus (5 Marks)

Focus: Asides and Drama c Irony; Layers of Meaning in Figura ve Language

Instruc ons:
Read the following extract and answer the ques ons that follow. Focus on the use of asides and drama c irony, as
well as the layers of meaning in the figura ve language.

Text:

Nina’s mother whispered as she sat down beside her, "James didn’t mean anything by it, darling, but you know, that
boy never thinks before he speaks." Nina nodded, but her mother didn’t know that every word James said cut deeper
than a knife.

11. What is the effect of the aside in Nina’s mother’s words? (1 Mark)

12. How does the author use drama c irony in the conversa on between Nina and her mother? (1 Mark)

13. What is the figura ve meaning of the phrase “cut deeper than a knife”? (1 Mark)

14. How does the aside reveal Nina’s internal struggle? (1 Mark)

15. How do the layers of meaning in the figura ve language contribute to the story’s overall theme? (1 Mark)

Wri ng Sec on: 10 Marks

Task:
16. Choose one of the following wri ng tasks. Write your response in 200-250 words, following the steps for each
op on provided below.
1. Analysing Drama c Structure (10 Marks)

 Step 1: Iden fy the key moments of tension or conflict in the given scene or play (e.g., the climax, turning
point).

 Step 2: Discuss how the structure of the scene contributes to the emo onal impact on the audience.

 Step 3: Explain how the pacing and arrangement of events create suspense or resolu on.

 Step 4: Consider how the characters’ ac ons and dialogue align with the drama c structure.

 Step 5: Write a detailed analysis, using examples from the scene to support your points.

2. Exploring Contrast (10 Marks)

 Step 1: Choose two characters or se ngs from the text that are in stark contrast to each other.

 Step 2: Highlight their differences in terms of personality, behaviour, or a tudes.

 Step 3: Discuss the role that these contrasts play in advancing the plot or developing the theme.

 Step 4: Provide examples from the text that show how the contras ng elements are portrayed.

 Step 5: Write a structured response that explains the significance of the contrast.

3. Wri ng a Comedy Scene (10 Marks)

 Step 1: Create a scenario in which two characters interact in a humorous way (e.g., a misunderstanding,
exaggerated reac ons).

 Step 2: Develop the dialogue and include physical ac ons or gestures that add to the humour.

 Step 3: Use wordplay, ming, and irony to enhance the comedic effect.

 Step 4: Ensure that the scene is engaging and makes the reader laugh.

 Step 5: Write the scene, paying a en on to character development and pacing.

4. Summarising Structural Pa erns (10 Marks)

 Step 1: Iden fy the main structural pa ern of the text (e.g., chronological, flashbacks, alterna ng
viewpoints).

 Step 2: Break down the structure into key sec ons and explain the func on of each part.

 Step 3: Discuss how the structure supports the theme or message of the text.

 Step 4: Provide examples of how the structure is used to create tension, suspense, or clarity.

 Step 5: Write a summary that explains the overall structure and its impact.

5. Imagina ve Wri ng (10 Marks)

 Step 1: Choose a prompt or se ng (e.g., a mysterious forest, a distant planet, an abandoned house).

 Step 2: Build a vivid scene that engages the reader’s senses and emo ons.

 Step 3: Create characters that are unique and contribute to the narra ve.
  Step 4: Develop a plot that involves conflict, tension, or a surprising twist.

 Step 5: Write a crea ve and engaging narra ve, using descrip ve language and vivid details.

6. Note-Taking (10 Marks)

 Step 1: Read a short passage or listen to a speaker.

 Step 2: Iden fy the main points or ideas.

 Step 3: Organize your notes in a clear and concise manner (e.g., bullet points, headings).

 Step 4: Summarise key details without wri ng full sentences.

 Step 5: Present your notes in an easy-to-read format, ensuring clarity and relevance.

7. Personal Response (10 Marks)

 Step 1: Reflect on a key moment or theme from the text.

 Step 2: Discuss how the text made you feel and why.

 Step 3: Relate the text to your own experiences, values, or beliefs.

 Step 4: Provide evidence from the text to support your personal response.

 Step 5: Write a structured and though ul response, using examples and personal insights.

8. Wri ng a Discursive Response (10 Marks)

 Step 1: Choose a debatable topic (e.g., "Is silence always a sign of strength?").

 Step 2: Present both sides of the argument fairly and without bias.

 Step 3: Provide evidence or examples to support each side.

 Step 4: Conclude by sta ng your own viewpoint, based on the arguments presented.

 Step 5: Write a balanced and though ul response, ensuring clarity and coherence.