Sample English Exam Grade 10
TEXT A: THE ISLAND OF INVENTIONS Adapted from Pedro Pablo Sacristan
Adapted from Pedro Pablo Sacristán

The first time Luca heard talk of the Island Of Inventions, he was still very young, but the wonders he heard about sounded so incredible to him that they were forever engraved in his memory. Ever since he was a little boy, he never stopped searching for clues to investigate, clues which might lead him to that place of wonder. He read hundreds of adventure books, histories, volumes of physics and chemistry; even music.
Taking a little from here, a little from there, he arrived at quite a clear idea of what the Island Of Inventions was really like. He envisaged a secret place. In this place, all the great wise men of the world would meet to learn and invent together. Access to the island was totally restricted. Luca thought that you had to have created some great inventions for humanity by yourself as a condition to join the island. Only then could you receive the unique and special invitation - which came with instructions on how to get to the island.
To be in with a chance, Luca spent the years of his youth studying and inventing. Every new idea he got, he made it into an invention, and if there were ever anything he didn't understand, he would seek out someone who could help him. Soon he met other young people, brilliant inventors too, and he told them of the secrets and marvels of the Island Of Inventions. These fellow young inventors would likewise dream of being sent 'the letter', which is how the invitation was referred to.
As time passed, the disappointment of not being sent the letter gave rise to even greater collaboration and mutual help between the young inventors. They met in Luca's house, which ended up looking like a huge warehouse for machines and spare parts. Their inventions became known throughout the world, and managed to improve every aspect of life.
But even after all that, no invitation arrived.
They did not lose heart. They continued learning and inventing every day, trying to come up with creative and improved ideas. Fresh young talent was added to their group, as more and more inventors dreamed of getting to the island. Some time later, Luca, already very old, was speaking with a brilliant young man who had written to him to try to join the group. Luca told the young man the great secret of the Island Of Inventions, and of how he was sure that some day they would receive an invitation. Surprised, the young inventor interrupted Luca:
"What? You mean this isn't really the Island of Inventions? Isn't the letter you sent me the real invitation?"
And, as old as he was, Luca looked around him, and realized that his dream had become true in his very own house. He realised that no island could exist which would be better than where he was now. No place of invention would be better than what he and his friends had created. Luca felt happy to know that he had always been on the island, and that his life of invention and study had been a truly happy one.

A1. What did Luca think was the only way to get into the Island of Inventions? [1 mark]
By fixing broken inventions for humanity
By discovering inventions for humanity
By creating great inventions for humanity
By developing ready-made inventions for humanity

A2. How did Luca meet other brilliant inventors? [1 mark]
He met them on the island of inventions
He met them while seeking help for problems
He met them in an invention club
He met them in adventure books

A3. What did Luca and the other inventors name the invitation to the island? [1 mark]
The letter
The wonder
The dream
The secret

A4. What did Luca and his group do when the time passed without receiving the invitation to the Island of Inventions? [1 mark]
They started to lose heart
They kept collaborating with each other
They were disappointed and stopped
They stopped meeting new inventors

A5. Give an example of an adjective used in this sentence.“Soon he met other young people, brilliant inventors too, and he told them of the secrets and marvels of the Island of Inventions.” [1 mark]
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A6. What is meant by the sentence “They did not lose heart”? [1 mark]
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A7. What did Luca realize the Island of Inventions was, at the end of the text? [1 mark]
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A8. Why did Luca “realize that his dream had become true” after talking to the fresh young inventor who had recently joined the group? [3 marks]
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