Education

Department: Education
PROVINCE OF KWAZULU-NATAL GET

TERM 4
ENGLISH – COMPREHENSION & LANGUAGE
FORMAL ASSESSMENT –NOVEMBER

GRADE 6

KWAMBONAMBI PRIMARY
SCHOOL
NAME: ______________________________________ GRADE: 6_______

MARKS: 35 TERM: 4 DATE: __________

EXAMINER: MISS. T. NAIDOO MODERATOR: DR E V MTHETHWA

Instructions
1. Read all questions carefully before answering
2. Answer all questions.
3. Use a blue ink pen to answer questions.

WHY DO HIPPOS LIVE IN WATER? -folktale

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 1. Once upon a time a very long time ago in the continent of Africa, the animals
lived together in the great forest of Indlu kaNkulunkulu The
Unkulunkulu lived in the forest with them. The weather was always hot and the
sun baked the earth every day.

2. All the animals had strong and tough skins that protected them against heat of
the sun. Some animals had fur, others had feathers or and some animals even
had scales. Hippo's skin was not that strong. As he grew bigger, his skin
became thinner and thinner. His skin became so thin that it was easily burned
by the sun. Every day Hippo suffered because his skin was burned badly by the
sun. His skin became dried and cracked, causing him a lot of pain and suffering.

3. One day when Hippo could not tolerate it anymore, he went to Unkulunkulu and
asked, "Please, may I live in the river?" Unkulunkulu looked with kindness at
Hippo and said, "Yes Ingane, you may, but as with all things, you must
first ask permission from the river animals if they will allow you to live with
them."
4. Hippo asked the river animals, Ukhozi, Ingwneya and Izimfudu , "Please may I
come and live in the river with you? Look at my thin skin! It is cracked and very
painful. The cool water will bring great relief to me."
5. The river animals were a bit selfish and also worried. After thinking about it for
a short time, they said to Hippo, “No, we cannot allow this! Look at you! You
are so big and will eat all the fish in the river. There will be no more food for
us."
6. Hippo said to the river animals, "You do not have to worry, as I do not eat fish. I
will only eat the grass and river plants. "The river animals were very
unsure and did not believe this, so Hippo told them, "I promise t o open my
mouth wide every day, so that you all can see there are no fish bones or scales
in my mouth.
7. I will spread my ‘ubulongwe’ with my tail, so that you can see there are no
bones. This river animals Ukhozi, Ingwneya and Izimfudu had a umbuthano and
decided to allow Hippo to live in the river . From that day, the river animals
allowed Hippo to live in the river, and Hippo would always open his mouth wide

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 and spread his dung (ubulongwe) with his tail.

[Adapted from: African Folktales and Legends by G Lee]

Section A – Question 1
1.1. Identify the main idea of the story.

a) The fish did not want the hippo to live with them

b) Many animals wanted to live in the river.

c) A hippo that wanted to live in the river.

d) The hippo wanted to swim in the river. (2)

1.2. According to the text, why did Hippo ask to live in the river?

a) Hippo had terrible problem with his skin, his skin had become thin.

b) It is always hot and Hippo wanted to say cool.

c) Hippo feels at home in the river.

d) Hippo loves water. (2)

1.3. When Hippo could not tolerate the pain who did he FIRST go to, to ask if he
could live in the river?

a) Unkulunkulu

b) Ignwenya

c) Ukhozi

d) Isimfudu (1)

1.4. What did Hippo say he will eat?

a) He would eat the fish in the river so that the river doesn’t become over
populated.

b) He would eat only grass and plants near the river.

c) That he would eat some fish in the river.

d) He would eat all the fish in the river. (1)

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1.5. Where does the story take place? (setting) (1)

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

1.6. List 3 things about Hippo’s skin that caused Hippo to suffer so much pain?
(3)

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________

1.7. Why did Unkulunkulu call Hippo Ingane? (2)

______________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

1.8. Name the 3 animals that lived in the river that Hippo talked to.
(3)

________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________

1.9. Why did the Ukhozi, Ingwneya and Izimfundu say no to Hippo when he first asked them if he
could live in the river. (3)

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

1.9. What type of story is “Why do hippos live in water?”. What evidence is there to
support this fact? .
(2)

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______________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

[20/________________]

Section B – Question 2

2.1. Fill in the correct adjective to complete the sentence. Select the correct adjective from the
table below. (1)

beautiful red long

The __________________ girl won the modelling contest.

2.2. Join the two sentences using the conjunction provided. (2)

John liked to play rugby. John liked to play soccer. (and)

Answer: _______________________________________________________________

2.3 Fill in the missing degrees of comparisons in the table below. Follow the example. (2)

No Adjective Comparative Superlative

e.g Big Bigger Biggest

2.3.1 Small ____________ Smallest

.

2.3.2 Pretty Prettier _____________

2.4. Punctuate the sentences below. Use the punctuation marks provided in the table below. (4)

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2.4.1. What is your name _____________

2.4.2. I hate you so much_____________

2.3.3. I like bananas, apples__________strawberries and grapes.

2.3.4. My favourite teacher is Dr.Mthethwa___________

2.5. Underline the adverb of time in the sentence below. (1)

Dad came home at 9am.

2.6. Underline the adverb of place in the sentence below. (1)

Mom cooked in the kitchen.

2.7. Provide a word from the story that has the same meaning of the word. You will
find your answer in paragraph 5. (1)

Huge -_______________

2.8. Provide a word from the story that has the opposite meaning of the word. You
will find your answer in paragraph 6. (1)

Close -______________

2.9. Draw a line that matches these 2 words with their contractions.
(2)

WORDS CONTRACTIONS

Do not Should’ve

Should have Don’t

[15/___________________]