An original Thinka practice paper modelled on the structure and difficulty of the Nov 2024 SL IB Diploma Programme Language ab initio paper. Not affiliated with or reproduced from IB.
Paper 1: Section A
Complete one task. Use an appropriate text type. Write 70 to 150 words.
1 Question · 15 marks
Question 1 · written-production
15 marks
You want to invite your friends to a dinner party at your home where you will cook traditional dishes from your country. Write an email to your friends. In your email, you must: 1. Invite them to the dinner, stating the date, time, and location. 2. Describe at least two traditional dishes you plan to prepare. 3. Ask them about any dietary requirements or food preferences. Write 70 to 150 words. Choose an appropriate text type from the options: Email, Poster, or Review.
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Worked solution
An excellent response will be written in the form of an informal email (including appropriate sender/recipient headers, a friendly greeting, and a closing). It will cover all three bullet points: 1. Invitation & Details: Clearly states the invitation, date (e.g., Saturday evening), time (e.g., 7:00 PM), and location (my house). 2. Dishes: Mentions and briefly describes at least two traditional dishes (e.g., roast beef with vegetables and a traditional apple pie). 3. Dietary requirements: Asks if any guests have food allergies or special dietary needs (e.g., vegetarian or gluten-free). Sample Response (110 words): Subject: Dinner party at my place next week! Hi everyone, I hope you are all doing well! I would love to invite you to a dinner party at my house next Saturday, November 18th, at 7:00 PM. I am planning to cook some traditional dishes from my home country. I will prepare a savory shepherd's pie with minced meat and mashed potatoes. For dessert, I will bake a classic apple crumble served with warm custard. Please let me know if you can make it by Wednesday. Also, please tell me if you have any food allergies or specific dietary requirements so I can plan accordingly. Hope to see you there! Best, Alex
Marking scheme
The task is assessed out of 15 marks using the IB Language ab initio Writing Assessment Criteria. Criterion A: Language (6 marks) - 5 to 6 marks: Command of the language is good with appropriate, varied vocabulary and correct grammatical structures. 3 to 4 marks: Command is effective with appropriate vocabulary and some correct basic structures. 1 to 2 marks: Command is limited with limited vocabulary and frequent errors. Criterion B: Message (6 marks) - 5 to 6 marks: All key ideas are communicated clearly and effectively. 3 to 4 marks: Most key ideas are communicated clearly. 1 to 2 marks: Some key ideas are communicated with limited clarity. Criterion C: Conceptual understanding (3 marks) - 3 marks: The choice of text type (email) is appropriate to the context, purpose, and audience, with consistent informal register and tone. 2 marks: Choice of text type is generally appropriate. 1 mark: Choice of text type is inappropriate.
Paper 1: Section B
Complete one task. Use an appropriate text type. Write 70 to 150 words.
1 Question · 15 marks
Question 1 · written
15 marks
You have recently started a new part-time job. Write a message to a friend to share your news. In your message, you should: - Describe your daily tasks and working hours. - Explain what you like or dislike about your new workplace. - Invite your friend to visit you at work. Choose the most appropriate text type from the three options: - Email - Official report - Advertisement. Write 70 to 150 words.
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Worked solution
To answer this task successfully, the student must select the 'Email' format as it is the only appropriate channel for sharing personal updates with a friend.
Key elements to include in the response: 1. Text Type Conventions (Email): - A subject line (e.g., Subject: My new part-time job!) - An informal greeting/salutation (e.g., Hi Alex, / Dear Alex,) - A friendly sign-off (e.g., Best, / See you soon, followed by a first name).
2. Content Requirements: - Daily tasks and working hours: The candidate must mention specific hours (e.g., Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM) and tasks (e.g., taking orders, making coffee). - Likes/dislikes: The candidate must express a personal opinion about the workplace (e.g., friendly coworkers but tiring physical work). - Invitation: A clear invite for the friend to visit the workplace.
3. Word Count: The response must remain strictly within the 70 to 150 words limit.
Marking scheme
The task is assessed out of 15 marks using the official IB DP Language ab initio Paper 1 criteria:
Criterion A: Language (6 marks) - 5–6 marks: Vocabulary is appropriate to the task and varied. Grammatical structures are basic but used correctly. Register and style are appropriate to the situation and relationship (informal tone for a friend). - 3–4 marks: Vocabulary is appropriate but limited. Basic grammatical structures are mostly correct, though errors may occur. Register is generally appropriate. - 1–2 marks: Vocabulary is very limited. Basic grammatical structures are mostly incorrect, hindering communication.
Criterion B: Message (6 marks) - 5–6 marks: All three key points of the prompt are fully developed and clearly communicated (tasks/hours, likes/dislikes, invitation). - 3–4 marks: Most key points are addressed, but some are only partially developed. - 1–2 marks: The message is poorly developed, or key points are omitted entirely.
Criterion C: Conceptual understanding / Text type (3 marks) - 3 marks: The text type chosen is correct (Email), and all its essential conventions are present (subject line, friendly opening and closing, informal register). - 2 marks: The correct text type is chosen, but some conventions are missing. - 1 mark: The wrong text type is selected (e.g., official report or advertisement), or conventions are completely ignored.
Paper 2: Text A
Answer questions based on the provided interview text.
13 Question · 13 marks
Question 1 · multiple_choice
1 marks
Based on the interview, what time does Mateo start his daily work shift at the bakery?
A.3:00 AM
B.5:00 AM
C.6:00 AM
D.8:00 AM
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Worked solution
Mateo explicitly mentions that his work day begins early in the morning at 3:00 AM to prepare the fresh dough for the day.
Marking scheme
1 mark for the correct option A. 0 marks for any other option.
Question 2 · multiple_choice
1 marks
Which traditional delicacy is highlighted in the interview as one of Mateo's main specialties?
A.Croissants
B.Fartons
C.Cupcakes
D.Apple pies
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Worked solution
The interview notes that Mateo specializes in making traditional fartons and buñuelos, which are local favorites.
Marking scheme
1 mark for the correct option B. 0 marks for any other option.
Question 3 · multiple_choice
1 marks
How does the Las Fallas festival affect Mateo's bakery business?
A.It forces him to close his shop due to local street closures.
B.It has no noticeable impact on his daily bakery sales.
C.It triples the demand for his traditional pastries.
D.It reduces his client base to foreign tourists only.
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Worked solution
Mateo explains that during the energetic Las Fallas festival, the local demand for his baked goods triples.
Marking scheme
1 mark for the correct option C. 0 marks for any other option.
Question 4 · multiple_choice
1 marks
What business measure does Mateo take to cope with the increased workload during the festival?
A.He works alone to keep his family recipes completely confidential.
B.He hires temporary workers to assist with production.
C.He shortens the bakery's opening hours to manage energy.
D.He purchases frozen, pre-made pastries from larger suppliers.
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Worked solution
Mateo mentions that managing the extra demand during Las Fallas requires him to hire temporary workers to support the kitchen.
Marking scheme
1 mark for the correct option B. 0 marks for any other option.
Question 5 · multiple_choice
1 marks
Which ingredient does Mateo prioritize using to maintain the high quality of his recipes?
A.Artificial sweeteners
B.Imported powdered sugar
C.Fresh local oranges
D.Synthetic food dyes
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Worked solution
Mateo states that he prioritizes using fresh, locally sourced oranges instead of industrial additives.
Marking scheme
1 mark for the correct option C. 0 marks for any other option.
Question 6 · multiple_choice
1 marks
What changing consumer trend does Mateo observe among his modern customers?
A.A growing preference for larger, cheaper portions
B.An increasing demand for healthier eating choices
C.A complete rejection of all sweet holiday recipes
D.A preference for ordering exclusively online
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Worked solution
Mateo explains that customers are increasingly demanding healthier options and natural ingredients, even during festival periods.
Marking scheme
1 mark for the correct option B. 0 marks for any other option.
Question 7 · multiple_choice
1 marks
Who originally established this traditional family bakery?
A.Mateo's grandfather
B.Mateo's father
C.Mateo himself
D.A neighborhood bakery collective
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Worked solution
The interview text details that Mateo's grandfather was the original founder who built the legacy of the bakery.
Marking scheme
1 mark for the correct option A. 0 marks for any other option.
Question 8 · multiple_choice
1 marks
For how many years has the bakery been operated by Mateo's family?
A.10 years
B.30 years
C.60 years
D.100 years
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Worked solution
Mateo proudly states in the interview that the bakery has been active in his family for 60 years.
Marking scheme
1 mark for the correct option C. 0 marks for any other option.
Question 9 · short_answer
1 marks
Based on the interview, at what time does Marc start his working day?
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Worked solution
According to the interview text, Marc begins his bakery shift early in the morning at 4:00 AM.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for '4:00 AM' (accept '4 AM' or '4 o'clock in the morning'). Reject '4:00 PM'.
Question 10 · short_answer
1 marks
According to the text, what specific almond-based filling is used for the Galette des Rois?
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Worked solution
The interview specifies that Marc fills the traditional cake with frangipane (almond cream).
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for 'frangipane' or 'almond cream'. Reject 'puff pastry' or 'cream' on its own.
Question 11 · short_answer
1 marks
What item does the person who finds the hidden ceramic charm get to wear?
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Worked solution
The finder of the hidden charm is crowned 'king' or 'queen' for the day and wears a paper crown.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for 'a paper crown' (or 'crown'). Reject 'ceramic charm' or 'hat'.
Question 12 · short_answer
1 marks
Which physical discomfort does Marc suffer from due to standing for long hours at work?
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Worked solution
Marc notes that working long shifts on his feet causes them to ache by the end of the day.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for 'aching feet' or 'sore feet'. Reject general 'body pain' or 'fatigue'.
Question 13 · short_answer
1 marks
In which country does Marc plan to open his own bakery next year?
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Worked solution
At the end of the interview, Marc shares his plan to relocate and open his own shop in Canada.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for 'Canada'. Reject any other country names.
Paper 2: Text B
Complete gap fills and True/False with justifications based on the food celebration text.
12 Question · 12 marks
Question 1 · gap_fill
1 marks
Text: Every year in October, the small town of San Miguel celebrates the annual Rice Harvest Festival. This traditional event honors the local farmers who work hard throughout the year. The central attraction of the festival is a giant community paella cooked in the main square. Visitors from all over the country arrive early in the morning to find a good viewing spot. Local musicians play traditional acoustic songs, creating a lively atmosphere. The day-long celebration ends with a spectacular fireworks display at midnight. Task: Based on the text, complete the gap [1] in the summary sentence below. Summary: The Rice Harvest Festival is celebrated annually in the month of [1].
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Worked solution
According to the first sentence of the text, 'Every year in October, the small town of San Miguel celebrates the annual Rice Harvest Festival.' Therefore, the correct word to fill the gap is 'October'.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for the correct word 'October'. Accept minor spelling variations that do not change the meaning of the word. Reject any other month or unrelated words.
Question 2 · gap_fill
1 marks
Text: Every year in October, the small town of San Miguel celebrates the annual Rice Harvest Festival. This traditional event honors the local farmers who work hard throughout the year. The central attraction of the festival is a giant community paella cooked in the main square. Visitors from all over the country arrive early in the morning to find a good viewing spot. Local musicians play traditional acoustic songs, creating a lively atmosphere. The day-long celebration ends with a spectacular fireworks display at midnight. Task: Based on the text, complete the gap [2] in the summary sentence below. Summary: This traditional event is held to honor the local [2] who work hard throughout the year.
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Worked solution
The text states: 'This traditional event honors the local farmers who work hard throughout the year.' Thus, 'farmers' is the correct term to complete the sentence.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for 'farmers'. Reject singular form 'farmer' if it does not match the grammatical context of the summary sentence, or other nouns.
Question 3 · gap_fill
1 marks
Text: Every year in October, the small town of San Miguel celebrates the annual Rice Harvest Festival. This traditional event honors the local farmers who work hard throughout the year. The central attraction of the festival is a giant community paella cooked in the main square. Visitors from all over the country arrive early in the morning to find a good viewing spot. Local musicians play traditional acoustic songs, creating a lively atmosphere. The day-long celebration ends with a spectacular fireworks display at midnight. Task: Based on the text, complete the gap [3] in the summary sentence below. Summary: The central attraction of the celebration is a giant community [3] cooked in the main square.
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Worked solution
The text states: 'The central attraction of the festival is a giant community paella cooked in the main square.' Therefore, the correct missing word is 'paella'.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for 'paella'. Reject spelling mistakes that significantly alter the word.
Question 4 · gap_fill
1 marks
Text: Every year in October, the small town of San Miguel celebrates the annual Rice Harvest Festival. This traditional event honors the local farmers who work hard throughout the year. The central attraction of the festival is a giant community paella cooked in the main square. Visitors from all over the country arrive early in the morning to find a good viewing spot. Local musicians play traditional acoustic songs, creating a lively atmosphere. The day-long celebration ends with a spectacular fireworks display at midnight. Task: Based on the text, complete the gap [4] in the summary sentence below. Summary: Acoustic music is performed by local musicians, which helps to create a [4] atmosphere.
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Worked solution
The text mentions: 'Local musicians play traditional acoustic songs, creating a lively atmosphere.' Therefore, 'lively' is the correct word.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for 'lively'. Reject other adjectives or words from the text.
Question 5 · gap_fill
1 marks
Text: Every year in October, the small town of San Miguel celebrates the annual Rice Harvest Festival. This traditional event honors the local farmers who work hard throughout the year. The central attraction of the festival is a giant community paella cooked in the main square. Visitors from all over the country arrive early in the morning to find a good viewing spot. Local musicians play traditional acoustic songs, creating a lively atmosphere. The day-long celebration ends with a spectacular fireworks display at midnight. Task: Based on the text, complete the gap [5] in the summary sentence below. Summary: The event concludes at midnight with a magnificent [5] display.
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Worked solution
The text notes that 'The day-long celebration ends with a spectacular fireworks display at midnight.' Thus, 'fireworks' is the correct answer.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for 'fireworks'. Reject singular 'firework' or other unrelated words.
Question 6 · True/False with Justification
1 marks
Text: The Lemon Festival is held every year in Menton, France, during February. It attracts over 200,000 visitors. For fifteen days, the town is decorated with giant structures made entirely of lemons and oranges. Surprisingly, the festival started in 1934 as a simple flower and citrus exhibition in the gardens of the Riviera Palace. Today, more than 140 tons of citrus fruit are used. Although it is a huge tourist attraction, local residents do not have to pay to enter the public streets where the daily parades take place, but they must buy tickets for the main exhibition gardens. After the festival, all the fruits that are still in good condition are sold at very low prices to the public to avoid food waste. Question: Based on the text, determine whether the following statement is True or False, and justify your answer using a word or phrase from the text: 'The Lemon Festival takes place during the winter months.'
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Worked solution
The statement is TRUE. The text explicitly states that the festival is held 'during February', which is in winter.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for TRUE accompanied by the correct justification 'during February' or 'held every year... during February'. Do not award the mark if the True/False option is incorrect or if the justification is incorrect or missing.
Question 7 · True/False with Justification
1 marks
Text: The Lemon Festival is held every year in Menton, France, during February. It attracts over 200,000 visitors. For fifteen days, the town is decorated with giant structures made entirely of lemons and oranges. Surprisingly, the festival started in 1934 as a simple flower and citrus exhibition in the gardens of the Riviera Palace. Today, more than 140 tons of citrus fruit are used. Although it is a huge tourist attraction, local residents do not have to pay to enter the public streets where the daily parades take place, but they must buy tickets for the main exhibition gardens. After the festival, all the fruits that are still in good condition are sold at very low prices to the public to avoid food waste. Question: Based on the text, determine whether the following statement is True or False, and justify your answer using a word or phrase from the text: 'The festival was originally designed to show off giant fruit structures.'
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Worked solution
The statement is FALSE. The text states that 'the festival started in 1934 as a simple flower and citrus exhibition'.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for FALSE accompanied by the correct justification 'the festival started in 1934 as a simple flower and citrus exhibition' or 'started in 1934 as a simple flower and citrus exhibition'. Do not award the mark if the True/False option is incorrect or if the justification is incorrect or missing.
Question 8 · True/False with Justification
1 marks
Text: The Lemon Festival is held every year in Menton, France, during February. It attracts over 200,000 visitors. For fifteen days, the town is decorated with giant structures made entirely of lemons and oranges. Surprisingly, the festival started in 1934 as a simple flower and citrus exhibition in the gardens of the Riviera Palace. Today, more than 140 tons of citrus fruit are used. Although it is a huge tourist attraction, local residents do not have to pay to enter the public streets where the daily parades take place, but they must buy tickets for the main exhibition gardens. After the festival, all the fruits that are still in good condition are sold at very low prices to the public to avoid food waste. Question: Based on the text, determine whether the following statement is True or False, and justify your answer using a word or phrase from the text: 'Local residents do not need tickets to enter the main exhibition gardens.'
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Worked solution
The statement is FALSE. The text explicitly mentions that 'they must buy tickets for the main exhibition gardens'.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for FALSE accompanied by the correct justification 'they must buy tickets for the main exhibition gardens' or 'but they must buy tickets for the main exhibition gardens'. Do not award the mark if the True/False option is incorrect or if the justification is incorrect or missing.
Question 9 · True/False with Justification
1 marks
Text: The Lemon Festival is held every year in Menton, France, during February. It attracts over 200,000 visitors. For fifteen days, the town is decorated with giant structures made entirely of lemons and oranges. Surprisingly, the festival started in 1934 as a simple flower and citrus exhibition in the gardens of the Riviera Palace. Today, more than 140 tons of citrus fruit are used. Although it is a huge tourist attraction, local residents do not have to pay to enter the public streets where the daily parades take place, but they must buy tickets for the main exhibition gardens. After the festival, all the fruits that are still in good condition are sold at very low prices to the public to avoid food waste. Question: Based on the text, determine whether the following statement is True or False, and justify your answer using a word or phrase from the text: 'Usable citrus fruits are sold cheaply after the festival to prevent wasting food.'
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Worked solution
The statement is TRUE. The text mentions that 'all the fruits that are still in good condition are sold at very low prices to the public to avoid food waste'.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for TRUE accompanied by the correct justification 'all the fruits that are still in good condition are sold at very low prices to the public to avoid food waste' or 'sold at very low prices to the public to avoid food waste'. Do not award the mark if the True/False option is incorrect or if the justification is incorrect or missing.
Question 10 · Vocabulary Matching
1 marks
Based on the Autumn Harvest Festival text, match the word 'gathering' with its correct definition from the list below:
Definitions: A. A large meal, typically a celebratory one. B. An assembly or coming together of people. C. Agricultural products, especially fresh fruits and vegetables.
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Worked solution
The word 'gathering' in the context of a festival refers to people coming together as a group. Thus, it matches definition B.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for the correct answer 'B'. No partial marks are awarded.
Question 11 · Vocabulary Matching
1 marks
Based on the Autumn Harvest Festival text, match the word 'produce' with its correct definition from the list below:
Definitions: A. A large meal, typically a celebratory one. B. An assembly or coming together of people. C. Agricultural products, especially fresh fruits and vegetables.
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Worked solution
In agricultural and food festival contexts, the noun 'produce' refers to harvested crops, fruits, and vegetables. Thus, it matches definition C.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for the correct answer 'C'. No partial marks are awarded.
Question 12 · Vocabulary Matching
1 marks
Based on the Autumn Harvest Festival text, match the word 'feast' with its correct definition from the list below:
Definitions: A. A large meal, typically a celebratory one. B. An assembly or coming together of people. C. Agricultural products, especially fresh fruits and vegetables.
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Worked solution
The word 'feast' represents a large, abundant meal shared by many people to mark a celebration. Thus, it matches definition A.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for the correct answer 'A'. No partial marks are awarded.
Paper 2: Text C
Complete matching exercises and synonym finding based on the Valentine's Day text.
13 Question · 13 marks
Question 1 · matching
1 marks
Based on the text below, match the sentence starter with the correct ending from the options list (A–F).
**Text:** Valentine's Day, celebrated on February 14th, is a special day for couples around the world. In many countries, people exchange chocolates and flowers to express their love. Recently, however, a new trend called 'Galentine's Day' has emerged, where female friends celebrate their friendship on February 13th. While traditionalists prefer romantic candlelit dinners at expensive restaurants, younger generations often choose to cook at home to save money and enjoy a more intimate setting. In Japan, the tradition is unique: women give chocolates to men on Valentine's Day, and men return the favor a month later on 'White Day'.
**Sentence Starter:** According to the text, traditional Valentine's Day...
**Options List:** A. are preferred by younger generations to save money and enjoy an intimate evening. B. involves women giving chocolates to men first. C. celebrate female friendships on February 13th. D. is traditionally characterized by couples exchanging flowers and chocolates to express love. E. is a holiday dedicated exclusively to outdoor sports events. F. is celebrated primarily by cooking expensive meals at restaurants.
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Worked solution
The text states: 'Valentine's Day, celebrated on February 14th, is a special day for couples around the world. In many countries, people exchange chocolates and flowers to express their love.' This matches option D.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for the correct option: D. Award 0 marks for any other choice.
Question 2 · matching
1 marks
Based on the text below, match the sentence starter with the correct ending from the options list (A–F).
**Text:** Valentine's Day, celebrated on February 14th, is a special day for couples around the world. In many countries, people exchange chocolates and flowers to express their love. Recently, however, a new trend called 'Galentine's Day' has emerged, where female friends celebrate their friendship on February 13th. While traditionalists prefer romantic candlelit dinners at expensive restaurants, younger generations often choose to cook at home to save money and enjoy a more intimate setting. In Japan, the tradition is unique: women give chocolates to men on Valentine's Day, and men return the favor a month later on 'White Day'.
**Sentence Starter:** The modern celebration of 'Galentine's Day' is designed to...
**Options List:** A. are preferred by younger generations to save money and enjoy an intimate evening. B. involves women giving chocolates to men first. C. celebrate female friendships on February 13th. D. is traditionally characterized by couples exchanging flowers and chocolates to express love. E. is a holiday dedicated exclusively to outdoor sports events. F. is celebrated primarily by cooking expensive meals at restaurants.
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Worked solution
The text states: 'Recently, however, a new trend called 'Galentine's Day' has emerged, where female friends celebrate their friendship on February 13th.' This matches option C.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for the correct option: C. Award 0 marks for any other choice.
Question 3 · matching
1 marks
Based on the text below, match the sentence starter with the correct ending from the options list (A–F).
**Text:** Valentine's Day, celebrated on February 14th, is a special day for couples around the world. In many countries, people exchange chocolates and flowers to express their love. Recently, however, a new trend called 'Galentine's Day' has emerged, where female friends celebrate their friendship on February 13th. While traditionalists prefer romantic candlelit dinners at expensive restaurants, younger generations often choose to cook at home to save money and enjoy a more intimate setting. In Japan, the tradition is unique: women give chocolates to men on Valentine's Day, and men return the favor a month later on 'White Day'.
**Sentence Starter:** Home-cooked dinners on Valentine's Day...
**Options List:** A. are preferred by younger generations to save money and enjoy an intimate evening. B. involves women giving chocolates to men first. C. celebrate female friendships on February 13th. D. is traditionally characterized by couples exchanging flowers and chocolates to express love. E. is a holiday dedicated exclusively to outdoor sports events. F. is celebrated primarily by cooking expensive meals at restaurants.
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Worked solution
The text states: 'While traditionalists prefer romantic candlelit dinners at expensive restaurants, younger generations often choose to cook at home to save money and enjoy a more intimate setting.' This matches option A.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for the correct option: A. Award 0 marks for any other choice.
Question 4 · matching
1 marks
Based on the text below, match the sentence starter with the correct ending from the options list (A–F).
**Text:** Valentine's Day, celebrated on February 14th, is a special day for couples around the world. In many countries, people exchange chocolates and flowers to express their love. Recently, however, a new trend called 'Galentine's Day' has emerged, where female friends celebrate their friendship on February 13th. While traditionalists prefer romantic candlelit dinners at expensive restaurants, younger generations often choose to cook at home to save money and enjoy a more intimate setting. In Japan, the tradition is unique: women give chocolates to men on Valentine's Day, and men return the favor a month later on 'White Day'.
**Sentence Starter:** The custom of Valentine's Day in Japan...
**Options List:** A. are preferred by younger generations to save money and enjoy an intimate evening. B. involves women giving chocolates to men first. C. celebrate female friendships on February 13th. D. is traditionally characterized by couples exchanging flowers and chocolates to express love. E. is a holiday dedicated exclusively to outdoor sports events. F. is celebrated primarily by cooking expensive meals at restaurants.
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Worked solution
The text states: 'In Japan, the tradition is unique: women give chocolates to men on Valentine's Day...' This matches option B.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for the correct option: B. Award 0 marks for any other choice.
Question 5 · synonym_extraction
1 marks
Read the text below and find a word that means 'yearly'.
Text: 'Valentine's Day is celebrated annually on February 14th. It is a special occasion where people express their deep affection for their partners. Couples exchange heartfelt gifts, such as red roses, chocolates, and handwritten cards. Many choose to dine at elegant restaurants, making reservations weeks in advance. For florists and card makers, this holiday is extremely profitable. However, some prefer a quiet evening at home, avoiding the commercial rush altogether.'
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Worked solution
The word 'annually' in the first sentence means once a year or yearly.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for the exact word: 'annually'. Do not accept spelling variations that change the meaning of the word.
Question 6 · synonym_extraction
1 marks
Read the text below and find a word that means 'warm liking or fondness'.
Text: 'Valentine's Day is celebrated annually on February 14th. It is a special occasion where people express their deep affection for their partners. Couples exchange heartfelt gifts, such as red roses, chocolates, and handwritten cards. Many choose to dine at elegant restaurants, making reservations weeks in advance. For florists and card makers, this holiday is extremely profitable. However, some prefer a quiet evening at home, avoiding the commercial rush altogether.'
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Worked solution
The word 'affection' in the second sentence is used to describe a deep feeling of liking, love, or fondness.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for the exact word: 'affection'. Do not accept plural or altered forms.
Question 7 · synonym_extraction
1 marks
Read the text below and find an adjective that means 'sincere and deeply felt'.
Text: 'Valentine's Day is celebrated annually on February 14th. It is a special occasion where people express their deep affection for their partners. Couples exchange heartfelt gifts, such as red roses, chocolates, and handwritten cards. Many choose to dine at elegant restaurants, making reservations weeks in advance. For florists and card makers, this holiday is extremely profitable. However, some prefer a quiet evening at home, avoiding the commercial rush altogether.'
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Worked solution
The adjective 'heartfelt' in the third sentence describes gifts or feelings that are sincere and deeply felt.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for the exact adjective: 'heartfelt'.
Question 8 · synonym_extraction
1 marks
Read the text below and find an adjective that means 'graceful and stylish in appearance or manner'.
Text: 'Valentine's Day is celebrated annually on February 14th. It is a special occasion where people express their deep affection for their partners. Couples exchange heartfelt gifts, such as red roses, chocolates, and handwritten cards. Many choose to dine at elegant restaurants, making reservations weeks in advance. For florists and card makers, this holiday is extremely profitable. However, some prefer a quiet evening at home, avoiding the commercial rush altogether.'
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Worked solution
The adjective 'elegant' in the fourth sentence describes high-class, stylish, and graceful establishments.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for the exact adjective: 'elegant'.
Question 9 · synonym_extraction
1 marks
Read the text below and find an adjective that means 'yielding financial gain or making money'.
Text: 'Valentine's Day is celebrated annually on February 14th. It is a special occasion where people express their deep affection for their partners. Couples exchange heartfelt gifts, such as red roses, chocolates, and handwritten cards. Many choose to dine at elegant restaurants, making reservations weeks in advance. For florists and card makers, this holiday is extremely profitable. However, some prefer a quiet evening at home, avoiding the commercial rush altogether.'
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Worked solution
The adjective 'profitable' in the fifth sentence describes a business or holiday that generates money or financial gain.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for the exact adjective: 'profitable'.
Question 10 · Vocabulary Cloze Test Gaps
1 marks
Read the following sentence from a text about Valentine's Day: 'People often exchange cards, chocolates, and flowers to express their affection.' Find the word in this sentence that is a synonym for 'fondness' or 'warm liking'.
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Worked solution
In the given sentence, 'affection' is used to represent a feeling of fondness or liking, which matches the definition.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for the correct word 'affection'. Do not accept any other word.
Question 11 · Vocabulary Cloze Test Gaps
1 marks
Read the following sentence from a text about Valentine's Day: 'Many couples enjoy a romantic dinner together, while others prefer to send anonymous gifts to their secret crush.' Find the word in this sentence that is a synonym for 'unidentified' or 'nameless'.
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Worked solution
In the given sentence, 'anonymous' refers to gifts sent without revealing the identity of the sender, meaning 'unidentified' or 'nameless'.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for the correct word 'anonymous'. Do not accept spelling variations that alter the meaning.
Question 12 · Vocabulary Cloze Test Gaps
1 marks
Read the following sentence from a text about Valentine's Day: 'This annual event has become a global phenomenon.' Find the word in this sentence that is a synonym for 'yearly'.
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Worked solution
In the given sentence, 'annual' describes an event that occurs once every year, which is a synonym for 'yearly'.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for the correct word 'annual'. Reject all other words.
Question 13 · Vocabulary Cloze Test Gaps
1 marks
Read the following sentence from a text about Valentine's Day: 'People often exchange cards, chocolates, and flowers to express their affection.' Find the word in this sentence that is a synonym for 'trade' or 'give and receive'.
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Worked solution
In the given sentence, 'exchange' means to give and receive items (cards, chocolates, flowers) reciprocally.
Marking scheme
Award 1 mark for the correct word 'exchange'. Reject noun or other forms if they do not match the verb context.
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