Section A: Non-Fiction Reading Comprehension (20 marks)

Passage: The Melting Arctic – Nature’s Warning Bell

Read the passage carefully and answer all questions.

For decades, scientists have warned that the Arctic region is heating up at twice the rate of the
global average. What was once a remote, icy expanse is now the epicenter of a crisis that affects
the entire pet. Satellite images reveal that Arctic sea ice is shrinking at an alarming rate, and
glaciers that have stood firm for thousands of years are retreating rapidly.

The loss of Arctic ice is not just a concern for polar bears. It has a cascading effect on global
climate systems. Sea ice acts like a mirror, reflecting sunlight away from Earth. As it disappears,
the darker ocean absorbs more heat, further accelerating warming. This feedback loop has led to
warmer oceans, disrupted weather patterns, and more frequent extreme events like hurricanes,
droughts, and wildfires across the globe.

Scientists also warn of the dangerous potential for permafrost to thaw. Beneath these frozen soils
lie massive stores of methane—a potent greenhouse gas. If released, methane could drastically
increase global temperatures, making climate change even more difficult to control.

The stakes are high. Rising sea levels threaten to displace millions of people in coastal cities.
Indigenous communities in the Arctic, who rely on traditional hunting and fishing practices, are
witnessing their way of life vanish. Species such as the Arctic fox and walrus are struggling to
adapt to the changing environment.

Despite these warnings, global efforts to reduce carbon emissions have been slow and
fragmented. Scientists argue that we are approaching a tipping point—one that, if crossed, could
make it impossible to reverse the damage. The Arctic is more than just ice and snow; it is a
critical component of the Earth's climate engine.

The message is clear: what happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic. The world must act
now to limit warming and protect the planet for future generations.

Questions (20 marks)

1. What is the main purpose of this article? (2 marks)

To tell that artic ice are melting and water level is rising

2. Identify two negative consequences of melting sea ice. (2 marks)

Rising of water level

3. Explain what is meant by a “feedback loop” in this context. (2 marks)

It tells us that ice are destroying and many animals are trying to adapt it

4. According to the passage, what role does permafrost play in the climate crisis? (2 marks)

It make climate un control able and wrose to live

5. What evidence does the author use to show the global impact of Arctic changes? (3
marks)

6. Do you think the author is optimistic or pessimistic about future climate efforts? Explain
with evidence. (3 marks)
7. What is the effect of the sentence “what happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic”?
(2 marks)
8. Summarize the article in your own words in no more than 100 words. (4 marks)

Section B: Fiction Reading Comprehension (20 marks)

Passage: The Watchtower

Rain pelted the roof of the old watchtower as Jonah leaned over the cracked wooden ledge,
scanning the forest below. The valley was shrouded in fog, thick as smoke, curling between the
trees like silent whispers. He gripped the rusting binoculars tighter, breath held, heart hammering
—not from fear, but from anticipation.

Jonah had taken the watchtower job in solitude, eager to escape the bustle of the city and the
noise in his head. Out here, he thought he would find peace. But that was before the sightings
began—strange shadows that darted across the forest at dusk, flickers of light where none should
be. Whispers on the radio that cut out just as someone started to speak.

Tonight, something felt different. The air was still—too still. Even the birds had gone quiet.

A crackle erupted from the radio on his desk.

"Jonah… come in," a voice rasped. But it wasn’t the ranger from the base. The voice was
unfamiliar. Hollow. Distorted.

He froze.
"Jonah, do you see them?" it said.

He looked through the binoculars again, eyes darting between the trees. Then, he saw them—
figures, barely visible, moving slowly through the mist. Not animals. Not people either. They
had no clear shape, no distinct outline. They pulsed, as though made of smoke and starlight.

A sharp knock rang from the trapdoor below.

He turned.

It was locked.

Another knock. Louder. Then silence.

Jonah backed away from the door, every instinct screaming at him to run, but there was nowhere
to go. The watchtower stood alone. The stairs below were crumbling, too dangerous to descend
at night.

And then, the knock came again. Followed by a whisper, barely audible.

"Let us in…"

Questions (20 marks)

1. What mood is established at the beginning of the passage? Use two phrases to support
your answer. (3 marks)

Feel for Jonah because she lived alone (Evidence “not from fear, but from anticipation.”)

2. Why did Jonah choose to work in the watchtower? (2 marks)

to escape the bustle of the city and the noise in his head of city.

3. Describe how the figures in the forest are presented. (3 marks

The air was still—too still. Even the birds had gone quiet.

4. What do you think the figures want from Jonah? Use clues from the text. (2 marks)

instinct screaming at him to run

5. How does the author create suspense in the passage? Mention two techniques. (4 marks)

By leaving lines and making feeling

The last because Jonah want to run from the screaming voices

[Link] a phrase from the text that you find particularly effective and explain why. (2
marks)

He froze. This couldn’t be real

[Link] what might happen next in the story. (2 marks)

The Joahn would escape but die outside the tower

C: creative writing
1. Personal Account (Diary Entry) (10 marks)

Imagine you are Jonah. Write a diary entry reflecting on what you saw and heard during the
night. Describe your fear, thoughts, and what you think the figures might be.

2. Summary Writing (10 marks)

Write a 100-word summary of the non-fiction passage (The Melting Arctic), focusing on the
causes and effects of Arctic melting.

3. Newspaper Report (10 marks)

Write a newspaper report based on the events in The Watchtower. Include:

Section D: Creative Writing – Monologue (30 marks)

Task:

Write a dramatic monologue from the point of view of one of the mysterious figures in the forest.
Express your feelings about Jonah, your purpose for approaching the tower, and the world you
come from.

End of Exam