ZIMBABWE REPUBLIC POLICE EDUCATION SECTION

GRADE SEVEN MID-YEAR EXAMINATION

ENGLISH PAPER 1 701/1

JULY 2022 Time: 1 hour 30

minutes

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

1. Read all the instructions carefully.

2. Do not open this booklet until you are told to do so by the

invigilator.

3. Use only an HB pencil for all entries on the answer sheet.

4. When you are told to start, choose one correct answer from the
suggested answers and shade it very dark as shown in the
examples at the top of the answer sheet.

5. If you wish to change your answer, erase it completely with a

pencil rubber and then shade the new choice.

6. If more than one lozenge is shaded for any one answer, that
answer will be regarded as wrong.

7. Answer all the questions on the separate answer sheet provided.

8. If you do not understand the instructions, ask the invigilator to

explain them to you before you start.

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

Each question carries one mark
_________________________________________________________
______
This question paper comprises 8 printed pages.
ZRP Schools Examinations Board. 2022 Mid-Year Examinations

2022 Grade 7 Mid-Year Exams: English Paper 1 Page 1

 READ THE COMPREHENSION AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT
FOLLOW.

Black Beauty and Ginger

My master and mistress made up their minds to pay a visit to some friends who lived
about sixty kilometres from our home. James was to drive them in the carriage, which
was to be drawn by Ginger and me.

The first day we travelled fifty kilometres. There were some long, steep hills, but James
drove so carefully that we were never tired or troubled. He never forgot to put on the
brakes as we went downhill, nor to take it off at the right place. He kept our feet on the
smoothest part of the road; and if the uphill was very long he set the wheels a little
across the road, so that the carriage should not run back, and gave us time to breathe.
All these little things, together with kind words, help a horse very much.

We stopped once or twice on the road; and just as the sun was going down, we reached
the town where we were to spend the night. We stopped at the biggest hotel, which was
in the Market Place. We drove under an archway into a long yard, at the end of which
were the stables where we were to rest.

Adapted from Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. Who was driving the carriage?

A. Beauty
B. Ginger
C. James
D. Master

2. What did Black Beauty’s master and mistress make up their minds to do?
A. to go for farming
B. to stay at home
C. to pay a visit to their friends
D. to go for a party

3. How far did they travel the first day?

A. seventy-three kilometers
B. fifty kilometers
C. forty kilometers
D. one hundred and twenty eight kilometers

4. Why were the horses never tired or troubled?

A. they were given enough food
B. they rested a lot

2022 Grade 7 Mid-Year Exams: English Paper 1 Page 2

 C. they drunk a lot of water
D. they were driven so carefully

5. What did James do as they went downhill?

A. he set the wheels a little across the road
B. he gave the horses time to breathe
C. he kept our feet on the smoothest part of the road
D. he put on the brake
6. At what time of day did they reach the town?
A. in the morning.
B. at lunch.
C. around sunset.
D. during the night.

7. Where did they stop?

A. at the hotel
B. downhill
C. in town
D. at home

LANGUAGE QUESTIONS

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING

SENTENCES.

8. The journey is very important, so we shall __________ attend.

A. probably
B. sometimes
C. often
D. definitely

9. That is the carriage ___________ which James was driving.

A. with
B. over
C. at
D. by

10. __________ of the horses is here today.

A. Everybody
B. Nobody
C. Somebody
D. None

11. Ginger woke up __________ the dog was barking.

A. after
B. when
2022 Grade 7 Mid-Year Exams: English Paper 1 Page 3
 C. once
D. by

12. The master and mistress made up their minds to visit their friends by________.
A. herself
B. himself
C. themselves
D. itself

13. What is the female word for nephew?

A. daughter
B. aunt
C. niece
D. wife
READ THE PASSAGE AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT FOLLOW.

Farming in conditions of low rainfall

Weather experts both regionally and nationally have made their predictions and we
should expect normal to below normal rain in the coming season. The consensus
forecast produced by Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF)
held in Lusaka, Zambia recently shows most of the 16 SADC countries are likely to
receive normal to below normal rainfall during the first period of October 2018 to
December 2018. The second half period from January to March 2019 is not showing
any improvement. Therefore, the question that follows is, how can a local farmer
prepare for such a season?

A below normal rainfall season means the total amount of rainfall is below what is
normally received in a ‘normal year’. However, in some situations, it also means the
spread of the season is not even; the first half might have enough rainfall whilst the
second half will be below normal. A season where we experience unusually long dry
spells is also not good for the crops and might negatively affect the plants. The best way
to prepare for a below normal season is for a farmer to be ready to plant early. We
expect our first effective rainfall around end of October to beginning of November.

A farmer is therefore well prepared, if he or she can plant with those first effective rains.
Firstly, farmers should be able to do land preparation in advance so that come that time,
they are able to move in and plant with minimum tillage operations. Agriculture
extension officers normally encourage farmers to practise ‘winter ploughing’.
Essentially, farmers are encouraged to deep plough their lands whilst they are still
moist, immediately after the end of the rains between May and July. Trying to plough
most lands especially the predominantly sandy soils, is difficult after August since they
will have formed a hard pan.

However, those with red clay soils can still be able to plough, although the results is
often many big clods that will need to be broken further with a roller. It is also essential
that farmers buy seeds, fertilisers and chemicals in advance and stock them in
2022 Grade 7 Mid-Year Exams: English Paper 1 Page 4
 preparation for the summer season. Last minute rushes to purchase inputs are not very
wise as some inputs might be in short supply then. The lessons from last season where
fertilisers were in short supply between November and January should remind farmers
of the need to secure inputs early.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

14. What predictions have been made by regional and national weather expects?
A. we should expect normal rain.
B. we should expect normal to below normal rain
C. we should expect above normal rain.
D. we should expect no rain.

15. How many SADC countries were likely to receive normal to below normal rainfall
during the first half period of October 2018 to December 2018?
A. 18
B. 16
C. 14
D. 19

16. In which city was the Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum was held?
A. Zambia.
B. Lusaka.
C. SADC.
D. Harare.

17. How can a farmer overcome the problems of below normal rainfall?
A. farmers are encouraged to plough during rain season.
B. farmers are encouraged not to plough when there is little rainfall.
C. farmers are encouraged to work hard.
D. farmers are encouraged to be ready to plant early.

18. Who normally encourage farmers to practise ‘winter ploughing’?

A. Agriculture extension officers.
B. Weather expects.
C. SADC countries.
D. Writers.

19. Why did farmers need a roller?

A. to buy chemicals.
B. to plough most lands.
C. to break big clods.
D. to make rain.

20. Give one word which has the same meaning with the word essential.
A. important
2022 Grade 7 Mid-Year Exams: English Paper 1 Page 5
 B. predictions
C. predominantly
D. difficulty

LANGUAGE QUESTIONS

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING

SENTENCES.

21. Agriculture extension officers from Masvingo asked the villagers_________ they
knew who had started farming.
A. weather
B. wither
C. wether
D. whether

22. The destruction caused by the cyclone was _______ severe that there were no
pastures for animals.
A. so
B. too
C. much
D. to

23. Either the women __________ the state will take care of the farmers.
A. both
B. or
C. nor
D. neither

24. The Agriculture extension officer was employed by the Government, so he

was___________.
A. a worker
B. a civil servant
C. an officer
D. a clerk

25. Framers must be rewarded _________ they do well in their job.

A. besides
B. although
C. whenever
D. whatever

26. The extension officer slammed the door ________ and ran out into the yard.
A. furiously
B. perfectly
C. gradually
2022 Grade 7 Mid-Year Exams: English Paper 1 Page 6
 D. magically

27. Many commercial farmers preferred inorganic fertilisers _________organic

fertilisers.
A. than
B. to
C. rather
D. For

READ THE PASSAGE AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT FOLLOW.

The burglar catcher

Professor Tsuro lived with his housekeeper, Mrs Havazvidi , in his beautiful mansion in
Morningside, Zvishavane. One day they went to do some grocery shopping and some
thieves broke into the house. They stole the professor’s new television and a silver
teapot.

The professor fetched a police officer from the Central Police Station. Professor Tsuro
was so angry that he decided to invent a burglar catcher. He worked on it day and night.
It took so long to complete and when at last it was done, he felt very tired and wanted to
relax.

Professor Tsuro did not return home. The worried housekeeper decided to report the
matter to the police. She was closing the door after coming back from the police station,
when the alarm for the burglar catcher went off. She ran to check and found a burglar
entangled in the burglar catcher. Mrs Havazvidi ran back to the police station to fetch a
police officer. The police officer took the burglar away in a wheelbarrow to the station,
not before he had given the burglar a good beating on the head. The professor did not
come still. The police officer continued to hunt for Professor Tsuro. Meanwhile, the
police had caught the other burglars by now and got all the professor’s things back.

The judge said it was time to try the new burglar who had been caught at the professor’s
place. The prisoner could not speak for he was too tied up to do more than wriggle.
Then the police officer undid the ropes and unwound the straps. It was the professor.
“Goodness gracious me!” cried Mrs Havazvidi.

“I left keys and got in through the window,” said the professor, “forgetting about the
burglar catcher.”

Adapted from Burglars, Ducks and Kissing Frogs by N Hunter,

J Strong, L Cooper, Pearson Longman,
2003

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

28. Professor Tsuro and his housekeeper lived in which city?

2022 Grade 7 Mid-Year Exams: English Paper 1 Page 7

 A. Mansion
B. Zvishavane
C. Morning Side
D. Central Police Station

29. They experienced a ________ at their house when they went out shopping.
A. beating
B. film
C. thief
D. burglary

30. According to the passage, Professor Tsuro_____________

A. continued to hunt for the burglars.
B. took the wheelbarrow to the police station.
C. caught the thief.
D. tasted his own medicine.

31. Who was the owner of the beautiful mansion in Zvishavane?

A. Professor Tsuro
B. The police officer
C. Mrs Havazvidi
D. The judge

32. What happened to the burglars who stole professor’s things?

A. They were arrested.
B. They were missed.
C. They were shot.
D. They were granted bail.

33. In the passage, the word “alarm” can be replaced by________

A. watch
B. siren
C. hooter
D. Noise

34. Which of the following best summarises the idea in paragraph 4?

A. The prisoner was sentenced.
B. The professor was the new burglar.
C. The judge could not speak.
D. The housekeeper cried.

LANGUAGE QUESTIONS

CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING

SENTENCES.

2022 Grade 7 Mid-Year Exams: English Paper 1 Page 8

 35. One of the burglars _________ into the house.
A. fell
B. falls
C. fall
D. fallen

36. The police officers were encouraged to hurry the thieves to the courts whenever
they were behind time. The underlined words mean the same as __________.
A. late.
B. away.
C. exactly.
D. early.

37. The judge was_______ by the police officer to release Professor Tsuro.
A. moved off
B. frightened
C. persuaded
D. driven away

38. Professor Tsuro added a ________ of salt to the bowl of soup.

A. slice
B. drop
C. grade
D. pinch

39. ________ visited one of the prisoners.

A. Her and me
B. She and me
A. She and I
B. Her and I

40.Choose a sentence that is written correctly.

A. Professor Tsuro got tired and, could not speak.
B. Professor Tsuro got tired, and could not, speak.
C. Professor Tsuro got tired and could not, speak.
D. Professor Tsuro got tired and could not speak.

2022 Grade 7 Mid-Year Exams: English Paper 1 Page 9