F.

6
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
REVIEW

12/4/13

13/4/13

2-15/5/13

Papers 1 & 2

Paper 3

Paper 4

Dates of Exam

PAPER 1 (1.5 HOURS 20%)

Full Mark

Mean Score (%)

Part A

47

55.4

Part B1

45

40.9

Part B2

46

60.6

Reading Skills
To locate specific information quickly, you should
scan the reading passage.
Learn to recognize paragraphing in order to find
information in a reading passage that has the same
meaning as the information you need, but is
expressed in different words.

1. True / False / Not given questions

e.g. DSE-B1 Text 2 Q34
Statement

True

Jacob and Patrick are classmates.

Each participant could express their

personality through the pledge patches.

NG

Only children stitched the quilt.

Rachel and Jacob are related.

False

2. Ticking options
e.g. DSE-B1 Text 2 Q24
When the Chubins first opened Crafeteria, they
wanted a store where people could ____________.
Put a tick () next to each statement that applies.
- sew a huge quilt

- learn how to quilt and embroider

- buy yarn, sewing machines, and all kinds of fabrics

- meet other customers

- repair their sewing machines

3. Table Completion

4. Dictionary entry
e.g. DSE-B1 Text 2 Q25
Which of the following is closest in meaning to
intrigued (line 28)?

A.fascinated
B.confused
C.surprised
D.delighted

5. Table completion of reference

5. words

6. Short response questions on

6. reference words
e.g. DSE-PP-B1 Text 2 Q32
What does it (line 31) refer to?
walking cane

7. Cloze summary completion

e.g. DSE-PP-B1 Text 4 Q48
Complete the following sentence.
Tip 4 recommends using paper packaging instead
uses less
less space when
of
styrofoam
because itituses
when
throwninin the rubbish
thethe
volume
of of
thrown
rubbish////it itreduces
reduces
volume
rubbish(being)
(being)produce..
produced.
rubbish

7. Cloze summary completion

e.g. DSE-B1 Text 2 Q40
Complete the summary of the text by writing ONE
word to fill in each blank. You should make sure your
answers are grammatically correct, paying attention to
tenses, plurals, etc.

7. Cloze summary completion

e.g. DSE-B1 Text 2 Q40
The Climate Quilt Campaign is an international
international
initiative involving young people. In Pennsylvania, the
Crafeteria
owners of
invited members of their
community to take part in this campaign. Children
// clothing
were given a scrap of recycled fabric
fabric
// clothing
which they used to make pledge patches .

7. Cloze summary completion

e.g. DSE-B1 Text 3 Q40
ages , so the
Children taking part were of all
sophistication of the pledges and the squares varied. I
water // food // leftovers
pledge to save water
leftovers was one
example of a pledge.

8. Multiple choice questions

9. Matching titles to texts

e.g. DSE-B1 Text 2 Q39
Which of the following is the best alternative title for
this text?

A.Campaign Needs Volunteers

B.Climate Change around the World
C.Climate Quilt in Action
D.Recycling Old Clothes

10. Matching subheadings to

10. paragraphs
e.g. DSE-B1 Text 2 Q37
Which subheading below fits each section in Text 2?
Write the letter (A, B, C, D, E) of each section next to
the correct subheading. One has been done as an
example. One subheading is NOT used and should be
left blank.

10. Matching subheadings to

10. paragraphs
e.g. DSE-B1 Text 2 Q37
Which subheading below fits each section in Text 2?
Subheadings

Sections

A love of quilting

_______

Locals get involved

C
_______

Volunteers share their experience

D
_______

The campaign continues

E
_______

A campaign for all children

A
_______

Craferteria

iiiiiiBiiiiii

11. Filling in the blanks

e.g. DSE-PP-B1 Text 3 Q44
This text was written for people working in the
i restaurant
restaurant //
// food
food //
// catering
catering business.
e.g. DSE-Part B1 Text 2 Q26
Quilting is a form of recycling because you can make
something new out of old fabrics
fabrics that are sewn
sewn
together .
together

12. Guessing the meaning of difficult

12. words
e.g. DSE-PP-Part A Q14
In line 73, what does thrashed about mean?
A.to play with

B.to fight with

C.to swim very quickly
D.to move about violently

13. Pronoun reference

e.g. DSE-PP-Part A Q2
According to line 9, who are these people?
visitors to zoos / aquariums

5 million people who visit Ocean Park

e.g. DSE-PP-Part A Q10

What does their in line 48 refer to?

guests / guests

14. Attitude
e.g. DSE-Part B1 Text 2 Q28
How did Kemmerer feel when she said, We couldnt
have finished the job without the help of the local
community (lines 55-56)?
A.critical
B.grateful

C.confident
D.frustrated

15. Main idea questions

e.g. DSE-PP-Part A Q1
What is the main idea of paragraph 1?
Zoos, aquariums and marine parks

A.are funded by governments.

B.are well supported by the general public.
C.are attracting increasing numbers of visitors each
year.
D.are centres
entertainment.

of

education,

conservation

and

16. Vocabulary questions: synonyms

16. and antonyms
e.g. DSE-PP-Part A Q15
Find TWO phrases in paragraph 7 that mean the same
as being kept as prisoner.

a)

(being) held captive

b)

in (close) confinement

17. Sequencing questions

e.g. DSE-B1 Q38
The flowchart below shows the sequence of events in
order to make a pledge patch for the Climate Quilt
Campaign. Complete the statement by writing the
correct letter inside the box. Use each letter once only.

17. Sequencing questions

e.g. DSE-B1 Q38
STATEMENTS
A.patch in a creative way.

B.patch to the campaign offices.

C.patch with your pledge to help the environment.
D.fabric from old clothes, bed sheets, or table cloths
E.patch to the Campaigns website.
F.patch approximately 16 cm X 16 cm and make
iiisure the sides are straight.

17. Sequencing questions

e.g. DSE-B1 Q38
How to make a pledge patch
Step 1

FIND SOME

D
_______

Step 2

CUT A

F
_______

Step 3

PERSONALISE YOUR

C
_______

Step 4

DECORATE YOUR

A
_______

Step 5

SEND YOUR

B
_______

18. Identifying speakers and

18. distinguishing opinions
e.g. DSE-PP-Part A Q23
The text presents two opposing views of educating
children about animals. Discuss which view you find
most convincing and why.
The first writer (Suzanne Gendren) because the
courses and the interaction with animals are
educational and can help us learn about animals. OR
The second writer (Peter Singer) because animals are
forced to live in small spaces // animals are forced to
perform tricks.

PAPER 2 (2 HOURS 25%)

Compulsory 200 words; 10%

Part A
Text types: feature article, letter, suggestion form,

blog, leaflet, email

Select a question from the 8 Elective questions 400
words; 15%
Part B
Text types: article, advice letter, speech, 1sided & 2sided essays, story, blog, email, proposal, report

Writing tips and strategies

(2012 HKDSE Paper 2, Question1)
The best part of my job
Note the text type
Be concise

Think of one to two content points for this part

Include your feeling

Writing tips and strategies

(2012 HKDSE Paper 2, Question1)
The biggest challenge I have ever faced in my job
Think of some challenges a news reporter might face
Add a sentence to talk about your personal feeling

Writing tips and strategies

(2012 HKDSE Paper 2, Question1)
My school days
Think of some experiences that are linked to your
career

Mark Scheme for Paper 2

Content
address the requirements of the question
relevant
ideas developed in detail
able to maintain the readers interest
show your awareness of the audience

Language
a range of accurate sentence structures
grammatical sentences
a wide range of vocabulary
accurate spelling and punctuation
appropriate register, tone and style

Organisation
introduction - body conclusion
connectives
appropriate text type

Common Mistakes
answers

Word choice

1. hobbies
2. pocket
3. access
4. unite
5. ask
6. prevent
7. useless
8. choice
9. healthy
10. traditional

Word choice

11. complaint
12. successful
13. nature
14. break
15. In
16. yesterday
17. specially
18. aloud
19. regrettable
20. notify
21. difficult
22. which

Pronouns and articles

23. My friend and I

24. them
25. she
26. a

Formulaic expressions

27. Delete either In my opinion or I think

28. From
29. delete am
30. summary
31. respect
32. As far as I know
33. do

Sentence patterns

34. delete but

35. much
36. are
37. It

Verbs and tenses

38. delete to
39. hold
40. adopting
41. not to write
42. listening to music
43. be
44. been
45. Did
46. Delete was
47. would appreciate it if

Verbs and tenses

48. develop
49. I had visited
50. is located
51. tried
52. will be held
53. delete to
54. tell

Subject verb agreement

55. doesnt
56. forms
57. questions

Prepositions

58. delete about

59. with
60. at
61. of
62. on
63. on
64. at
65. delete in
66. on
67. in

Prepositions

68. to
69. delete from
70. to
71. on
72. delete on
73. inform you of the result
74. help you with
75. delete on

Adjectives and adverbs

76. boring
77. safe
78. delete more
79. easily
80. interested
81. independently

Articles

82. delete the

83. the English Society
84. delete the
85. All of the students
86. delete of

Common mistakes in Writing

Part A:
Volunteering for an environmental
protection organisation

Articles
the
1. Protecting environment is our
responsibility.

the
2.
Environment Club
3. to protect the nature

An
4. A environmental group

Prepositions
in
1.

the past

with
2. share sth sb
for
3. work on your organisation

for
4. apply a job

Prepositions
to
5. to adapt the environment
from
6. learn sth to doing sth

infinitives
hold
1. We should held many
bring
2. to brought our classmates
do
3. can doing meaningful activities

word usage
environmental
1. environment awareness
environment
2. to protect the environmental
advance
3. in adverse

tenses
was
1. When I was young, I am curious
have joined
2. I join many volunteer activities

since
was
3. I am in primary school.

Spelling
1. destroy

2. situation
3. influence
4. future
5. strive
6. documentaries

Spelling
7. global warming

8. latest
9. breathe
10. performance
11. sense
12. Form One

Spelling
13. ignore

14. environment
15. encourage
16. in addition
17. activities
18. solve

Spelling
19. planning

20. serving
21. nowadays
22. experience
23. benefit
24. Wu Kai Sha

Spelling
25. knowledge

26. beautiful
27. wish
28. definitely
29. simple

Hot topic watch for Paper 2

Below is a list of topics that are likely to appear in the
coming HKDSE English exam.

Hot topic watch for Paper 2

Part A
When you were riding a cable car in Ocean Park or
Ngong Ping 360, it suddenly stopped functioning.
Describe how you felt and what happened next.
A girl said in her blog that she was considering
suicide. Describe what you did in order to save her
life in your blog.

Hot topic watch for Paper 2

Part A
Your school library is organizing a Reading Week. You
are asked to write a promotional leaflet to
encourage schoolmate to take part in this event.

Hot topic watch for Paper 2

Part B
Learning English through Short Stories
Write a blog entry describing your experience of
interviewing a famous storywriter.
You went to the Hong Kong Book Fair and bought
some English books. Write a diary entry describing
what you saw there and in what way the books you
bought interested you.

Hot topic watch for Paper 2

Part B
Learning English through Sports Communication
Write an article in your school newspaper inviting
classmates to join a new sports club.
Write a letter to parents persuading them to donate
money for improving the schools sports facilities.

Hot topic watch for Paper 2

Part B
Learning English through Debating
Write a debate speech arguing whether traditional
paper-print textbooks should be replaced by
electronic books.

Hot topic watch for Paper 2

Part B
Learning English through Workplace Communication
Write a blog entry describing the experience of
selling goods with classmates at a Lunar New Year
Flower Fair.
Write an email to your friend describing your
summer job experience as an office assistant.

Hot topic watch for Paper 2

Part B
Learning English through Social Issues
Write an article about privacy on social networking
sites.
Write an article discussing how reducing food
wastage can contribute to environmental protection.

PAPER 3 (2 HOURS 30%)

Part A
Filling in missing information e.g. proper names,
objectives, flow charts, qualities, effects, attitudes,
response

PAPER 3 (2 HOURS 30%)

Part B
Long tasks: article, letter, speech, report, proposal
e.g. DES-PP-Part B1 Tasks 5-7

Mark scheme: @ task

Task fulfillment (9 marks)
Language (5 marks)
Coherence & Organisation (2 marks)
Appropriacy (2 marks)

Total mark: 18