ICAS 2018 - EN - Intro Paper - PP-PDFs-2

INTRODUCTORY
PAPER
2018
Read the instructions on the ANSWER SHEET and fill in your
NAME, SCHOOL and OTHER INFORMATION.
Use a pencil. Do NOT use a coloured pencil or a pen.
Rub out any mistakes completely.
ENGLISH You MUST record your answers on the ANSWER SHEET.
Mark only ONE answer for each question.

Your score will be the number of correct answers.
DO NOT OPEN THIS BOOKLET Marks are NOT deducted for incorrect answers.
UNTIL INSTRUCTED.
There are 36 MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS (1–36).
36 QUESTIONS
Use the information provided to choose the BEST answer from
TIME ALLOWED: 40 MINUTES the four possible options.
On your ANSWER SHEET fill in the oval that matches
your answer.
STUDENT’S NAME:
Questions may sometimes be placed next to each other.
Make sure you read ACROSS the page and answer the
questions in the correct order.
You are NOT allowed to use a dictionary or an electronic

translator.
This ICAS Assessment was purchased by Meili Wang on August 15, 2023 and is for personal use only. Do not copy
Read the text and answer the questions that follow.
Who dropped the cakes?

Rosa and Jack are buying some cakes for morning tea.
Tim
Jane
2018 ICAS English Intro Paper © Janison Solutions Pty Ltd 2
1. Which arrow points to the title?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
2. Who dropped the cakes?

(A) (B) (C) (D)
the baker Tim Rosa Jack
3. What is Jane doing?

(A) holding the mop
(B) catching the cakes
(C) helping Jack
(D) pointing at the mess
3 2018 ICAS English Intro Paper © Janison Solutions Pty Ltd
Superhero Eggs
Eggs really are a superhero snack. They are super cheap, easy to cook and
full of nutrients! Hard-boiled eggs can be kept in the fridge for one week if
left in the shell. Read on to find out some super facts about eating eggs.
Healthy brain
Eggs have lots of choline (a nutrient).
Your brain uses this nutrient to help you to
remember things.
Healthy eyes
The pigments (colours) that make egg yolks
yellow are the same pigments that may
help to protect your eyes from the Sun.
Healthy bones
Eggs are high in vitamin D. This helps the
body to absorb calcium. Calcium is needed
for strong bones.
So what are you waiting for? Enjoy an egg or two today!
4. What is a reason for calling eggs a ‘superhero snack’?
(A) They taste good on toast.
(B) Even kids can cook them.
(C) They are good for your health.
(D) You can take them to school for lunch.
5. Choline helps you to

(A) see better.
(B) remember things.
(C) use nutrients.
(D) absorb calcium.
6. What makes an egg yolk yellow?

(A) calcium
(B) the Sun
(C) pigments
(D) vitamin D
7. Which word from the text means ‘take care of’?

(A) ‘cook’
(B) ‘find’
(C) ‘make’
(D) ‘protect’
For each question, choose the option that best completes the sentence.
Can you guess?

8. What ________ with t, ends with t and has t in it?
A teapot
(A) begun
(B) begins
(C) began
(D) beginning
9. What’s orange and sounds like a parrot?

A carrot
‘What’s’ can be replaced by
(A) What is.
(B) What was.
(C) What has.
(D) What does.
The Great Mouse Hunt

It had been a normal breakfast until we saw the streak of white flash across the
floor. My sister squealed ‘Mouse!’ and jumped up onto her chair, dropping a box
of cereal everywhere. The mouse darted through the spilt cereal and took cover
behind a bookcase in the living room.
‘It’s just a little mouse,’ I said.
Mum and Dad whirled into action. In their frenzy, the dishes clattered, the
spoons clinked and the milk slopped onto the floor. Mum grabbed the broom and
waved it wildly, shouting, ‘I’ll get you, mouse!’
‘It’s just a little mouse,’ I said smiling.
Dad ignored me and squatted down beside the bookcase. Mum then used the
broom to thump the spot where the mouse had gone. Suddenly, the furry streak
bolted out from behind the bookcase towards Dad. Dad crash-tackled the air
where the mouse had been. He landed on his back like an upturned cockroach.
Did he really think he could catch it?
Mum whacked at the tiny creature with the broom, frantically chasing it as it
weaved between our toys on the floor. Finally, it disappeared under a cabinet.
‘It’s just a little mouse,’ I said through fits of laughter.
Mum heard me this time. She snapped her head towards me, her eyes wide. ‘No,
it’s not just a little mouse, Ben. It shows there is too much stuff for the mouse to
hide behind. It’s time to get rid of some of it. It’s time to get rid of the toys!’
Oh dear. This mouse problem was bigger than I’d thought.
10. Who spilt the milk and why?
(A) Ben’s sister when she jumped onto her chair
(B) the mouse when it ran through the cereal
(C) Mum when she grabbed the broom
(D) Mum and Dad when they rushed to get the mouse
11. Which word from the text describes a sound?

(A) ‘darted’
(B) ‘whirled’
(C) ‘clattered’
(D) ‘bolted’
12. Which underlined word in this quotation is an adjective?

‘Mum whacked at the tiny creature with the broom’
(A) (B) (C) (D)
13. When beginning sounds are repeated in a group of words, it is called

alliteration. For example, ‘dogs dig during the day’.
Which of these is another example of alliteration?
(A) ‘took cover’
(B) ‘slopped onto the floor’
(C) ‘waved it wildly’
(D) ‘weaved between’
14. At the end of the text, what did Mum decide needed to be done?
(A) They had to move the furniture.
(B) They had to throw away some toys.
(C) They had to clean up the food.
(D) They had to sweep the floor.
Maratus jactatus Maratus sceletus
Weird and wacky spiders

Some Australian spiders have terrifying names. Funnel-web and redback are
names that scream danger. Even the helpful huntsman spider sounds like it
could be out to get you. But not all spiders have scary names. How would
you feel about meeting a spider called sparklemuffin?
‘Sparklemuffin is a beautiful peacock spider, Maratus jactatus, with a lovely
blue and orange body,’ says spider expert Robert Whyte. And it’s not the
only spider with a funny name. ‘Another peacock spider was nicknamed
skeletorus, and it actually looks like a skeleton costume.’
These strange names might seem silly, but they can actually be useful. ‘Odd
names help you remember spiders,’ says Robert. ‘The dewdrop spider,
which lives in the webs of golden orb-weavers and steals their food, actually
looks like a dew drop sparkling in the sunshine.’
These fun common names are only half of the spider story. Known spiders,
just like all other described species, also have a scientific name. For
example, the name Maratus jactatus, is the scientific name for sparklemuffin.
Though scientific names might be more serious than common names, that
doesn’t stop scientists from having a little fun now and then.
‘A lot of spiders are named after people,’ says Robert. Someone named a
jumping spider after Robert, Cytaea whytei. Sadly for him, it was found to
be an already-named spider Cytaea haematica, so scientists use the older
name instead. As a consolation, Robert still has the species Maddisonia
whytei named in his honour.
If you’ve discovered a new species of spider, what naming advice does
Robert have? ‘There are rules about naming, which stop you using offensive
names, but you can use cute names like abracadabrella, which is a type of
jumping spider. These species mimic a fly with two large blobs like fly eyes
on their rear end.’ The scientist who named the spider, Marek Zabka, must
have thought this was pretty magical. Naming is a science with a dash of art
and imagination!
15. In the first paragraph, why does the writer use the word ‘scream’?
(A) to add emphasis
(B) to create confusion
(C) to give a warning
(D) to make a threat
16. How does the writer get readers’ attention in the first paragraph?
(A) by providing a story about spiders to make a personal connection
(B) by contrasting frightening spider names with amusing ones
(C) by testing readers’ knowledge of both familiar and lesser known spiders
(D) by telling readers how they should feel about spiders
17. According to the text, scientific names are

(A) more serious than common names.
(B) much longer than common names.
(C) named after where the spider was discovered.
(D) artistic and imaginative.
18. Which word from the text describes the same feeling as ‘terrifying’?
(A) ‘danger’
(B) ‘scary’
(C) ‘strange’
(D) ‘offensive’
19. Cytaea whytei was not accepted as a name because

(A) the name was too hard to say.
(B) the species only had a common name.
(C) the species already had a scientific name.
(D) the scientist already had a species named after him.
20. What does the word ‘consolation’ mean?

(A) favour
(B) relief
(C) surprise
(D) comfort
21. Which of these words underlined in the last paragraph is used as a verb?
(A) ‘naming’
(B) ‘jumping’
(C) ‘mimic’
(D) ‘dash’
The Earl of Sandwich

The Earl of Sandwich looked at his cards
and frowned. His stomach rumbled but
he didn’t want to stop playing. The Earl
clicked his fingers. The smell of peas,
celery and onion came wafting in. His
servant appeared carrying pea soup. He
slurped the soup while holding his cards.
The soup sloshed onto the cards. The Earl
frowned and clicked his fingers.
The smell of roasted meat rushed into the

room. His servant appeared carrying cut
up chicken. The Earl nibbled the meat
whilst holding his cards. The meat left
a greasy smear on the cards. The Earl
frowned and clicked his fingers.
The smell of warm toast filled the room.

His servant appeared carrying salted meat
between two slices of toasted bread. The
Earl crunched into the toast and meat.
He looked at his cards and nodded, then
beamed. His playing partner laughed and
said, ‘I’ll have what Sandwich is having.’
And so the sandwich was born.
22. How did the Earl of Sandwich know that it was time to eat?
(A) His playing partner said so.
(B) He looked at the clock on the wall.
(C) His stomach started to rumble.
(D) His servant entered the room with food.
23. When the Earl of Sandwich clicked his fingers, it was a signal that
(A) he would like his food taken away.
(B) his servant should bring him some food.
(C) a new card game was about to begin.
(D) his servant should bring a new set of cards.
24. Why was the Earl of Sandwich unhappy with the first two food choices?
(A) They were messy.
(B) They smelled bad.
(C) They were cold.
(D) They tasted bad.
25. In the third paragraph when the Earl of Sandwich ‘beamed’, what was he doing?
(A) winning (B) agreeing (C) nodding (D) smiling
26. In the text, when ‘Sandwich’ is written with a capital letter it shows that
(A) it is a joke.
(B) it is the name of a person.
(C) it is the start of a sentence.
(D) it is a type of food.
27. ‘And so the sandwich was born.’ (paragraph 3)

Which word would best replace ‘born’ in the sentence?
(A) found (B) saved (C) invented (D) eaten
28. Which problem did the Earl of Sandwich find a solution for?
(A) how to decide what type of food to serve
(B) how to eat with one hand while keeping clean
(C) how to be successful at card games
(D) how to feed his guests quickly
To ... Mr Phillips
Send Subject Chopsticks
Dear Mr Phillips,
I am writing to let you know how much I love the changes to the
school canteen’s menu. So many more students eat school lunches
now, especially on the days that the new choices are available.
EVERYBODY loves the sushi, and the stir-fried chicken with noodles
is very popular too.
But while it is great that so many students are enjoying the new
meals, the changes have caused some problems. Many students
spend the afternoon with sauce on their clothes because the noodles
are very messy to eat. Others are running around the playground
eating their sushi with dirty hands. This is not very hygienic and
could lead to them becoming sick.
I think that one simple solution could solve both of these

problems: chopsticks!
Both sushi and noodles originated in countries where chopsticks

are used instead of forks and spoons. This is because they are the
best tools for the job. If you think about it, chopsticks are a bit like
tweezers. They let you pick up bite-sized pieces of food, like sushi,
and pop them straight into your mouth. You don’t need to touch the
food at all.
They are also handy for getting clumps of noodles all the way to your
mouth with one hand. This means the other hand is free to hold the
noodle bowl close to your mouth so that the sauce doesn’t drip down
your front. It is a much more efficient way of eating.
Learning how to use chopsticks might be messy at first, but I think

with a bit of practice we would all get the hang of it. With chopsticks
we have to sit down and eat carefully too. We really can’t rush
about! This should make the canteen supervisor happy as he is
always telling us to slow down and let our food digest properly before
running off to play.
I hope you have found my suggestion useful and will agree to buy
some chopsticks for the canteen.
Yours faithfully,
Jane Morris (4M)
29. What does Jane use to emphasise the popularity of the sushi?
(A) italics
(B) bold
(C) capitals
(D) text size
30. What does the word ‘hygienic’ mean?

(A) clean
(B) good
(C) helpful
(D) tidy
31. ‘Both sushi and noodles originated in countries where chopsticks are used
instead of forks and spoons.’
Which of the following could best replace the word ‘originated’, as it is used
in the sentence?
(A) were first created
(B) were first enjoyed
(C) were first valued
(D) were first sold
32. Look at the paragraph beginning ‘Learning how to use chopsticks ...’. In this
paragraph, who does ‘we’ refer to?
(A) Jane
(B) all students
(C) Jane and the principal
(D) all teachers
33. How does Jane present her ideas?

(A) She complains about a situation then pleads for it to be changed.
(B) She offers her opinion then criticises other opinions.
(C) She identifies a problem then suggests a solution.
(D) She objects to the introduced changes then proposes an alternative.
34. Which new point could Jane have used to best strengthen her argument?
(A) Forks and spoons are not as useful as chopsticks.
(B) Students do not need to wash their hands before eating if they
use chopsticks.
(C) Introducing chopsticks will encourage students to sit and eat their lunch.
(D) Children can learn about other cultures by using chopsticks.
35. Jane wrote this in a _________ tone of voice.

(A) demanding
(B) critical
(C) lighthearted
(D) sincere
© 2018 COPYRIGHT
Copyright in this publication is owned by Janison Solutions Pty Ltd, unless otherwise indicated or licensed from a third party.
This publication and associated testing materials and products may not be reproduced, published or sold, in whole or part, in
any medium, without the permission of Janison Solutions Pty Ltd or relevant copyright owner.
SOURCES
Page 10 “Weird and wacky spiders” by Double Helix www.doublehelix.csiro.au.
Maratus jactatus and Maratus sceletus photography by Jurgen Otto.
THE FOLLOWING YEAR LEVELS INTRODUCTORY

SHOULD SIT THIS PAPER:
Australia
Brunei
Year 2
Primary 2
PAPER
Egypt Year 2
Hong Kong Primary 2
Indian Subcontinent1 Class 2
Indonesia Year 3
Malaysia Standard 2
Middle East 2
Class 2
New Zealand/Pacific 3
Year 3
Singapore Primary 1
Southern Africa4 Grade 2
1 Indian Subcontinent Region: India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
2 Middle East Region: United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Turkey,
Lebanon, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, Algeria, Jordan and Pakistan.
3 Pacific Region: Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Fiji.
4 Southern Africa Region: South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
ICAS ENGLISH 2018 PAST PAPER KEYS
Question
Category Answer Descriptor
Number
1 Writer’s craft B Identify the title of a narrative
2 Text comprehension C Recognise a character’s actions in a narrative
3 Text comprehension D Retrieve information from an illustration and text in a narrative
4 Text comprehension C Locate a reason in a factual text
5 Text comprehension B Locate specific information in a factual text
6 Text comprehension C Locate specific information in a factual text

Identify the meaning of a colloquial phrase in a factual text: take
7 Vocabulary D
care of
8 Syntax B Identify the correct verb form in a sentence
9 Syntax A Identify the second word in a contraction
10 Text comprehension D Identify a character’s actions in a narrative
11 Writer’s craft C Identify a word that describes a sound in a narrative
12 Syntax B Identify an adjective in a sentence from a narrative
13 Writer’s craft C Identify alliteration in a narrative
14 Text comprehension B Explain a character’s dialogue in a narrative
15 Writer’s craft A Explain a writer’s word choice in an information text
16 Writer’s craft B Identify the main idea in the first paragraph of an information text
17 Text comprehension A Locate specific information in an information text
18 Vocabulary B Interpret the meaning of a word in an information text: terrifying
19 Text comprehension C Interpret information in an information text
20 Vocabulary D Interpret the meaning of a word in an information text: consolation
21 Syntax C Identify a verb in an information text
22 Text comprehension C Locate information in a narrative
23 Text comprehension B Interpret a character’s actions in a narrative
24 Text comprehension A Infer a character’s feelings throughout a narrative
25 Vocabulary D Interpret the meaning of a word in a narrative: beamed
ICAS ENGLISH 2018 PAST PAPER KEYS
Question
Category Answer Descriptor
Number
26 Syntax B Recognise the purpose of capital letters in a narrative
27 Vocabulary C Identify a synonym for a word in a narrative: born
28 Text comprehension B Analyse a narrative to draw a conclusion about the events
29 Writer’s craft C Identify the use of capital letters in a persuasive text
30 Vocabulary A Understand the meaning of a word in a persuasive text: hygienic
31 Vocabulary A Identify the meaning of a word in a persuasive text: originated
32 Syntax B Understand a pronoun reference in a persuasive text
33 Text comprehension C Analyse a character’s actions in a persuasive text
34 Text comprehension D Analyse a persuasive text for supporting detail in an argument
35 Writer’s craft D Evaluate a persuasive text to determine its tone
ICAS Assessments is a wholly owned enterprise of Janison Solutions Pty Limited and
is a provider of educational assessments and competitions for schools, including ICAS.

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INTRODUCTORY

ENGLISH You MUST record your answers on the ANSWER SHEET.

Mark only ONE answer for each question.

You are NOT allowed to use a dictionary or an electronic

Who dropped the cakes?

2018 ICAS English Intro Paper © Janison Solutions Pty Ltd 2

2. Who dropped the cakes?

the baker Tim Rosa Jack

3. What is Jane doing?

3 2018 ICAS English Intro Paper © Janison Solutions Pty Ltd

So what are you waiting for? Enjoy an egg or two today!

2018 ICAS English Intro Paper © Janison Solutions Pty Ltd 4

5. Choline helps you to

6. What makes an egg yolk yellow?

7. Which word from the text means ‘take care of’?

5 2018 ICAS English Intro Paper © Janison Solutions Pty Ltd

Can you guess?

9. What’s orange and sounds like a parrot?

2018 ICAS English Intro Paper © Janison Solutions Pty Ltd 6

The Great Mouse Hunt

2018 ICAS English Intro Paper © Janison Solutions Pty Ltd 8

11. Which word from the text describes a sound?

12. Which underlined word in this quotation is an adjective?

13. When beginning sounds are repeated in a group of words, it is called

9 2018 ICAS English Intro Paper © Janison Solutions Pty Ltd

Maratus jactatus Maratus sceletus

Weird and wacky spiders

2018 ICAS English Intro Paper © Janison Solutions Pty Ltd 10

17. According to the text, scientific names are

19. Cytaea whytei was not accepted as a name because

20. What does the word ‘consolation’ mean?

11 2018 ICAS English Intro Paper © Janison Solutions Pty Ltd

The Earl of Sandwich

The smell of roasted meat rushed into the

The smell of warm toast filled the room.

2018 ICAS English Intro Paper © Janison Solutions Pty Ltd 12

27. ‘And so the sandwich was born.’ (paragraph 3)

13 2018 ICAS English Intro Paper © Janison Solutions Pty Ltd

Send Subject Chopsticks

I think that one simple solution could solve both of these

Both sushi and noodles originated in countries where chopsticks

Learning how to use chopsticks might be messy at first, but I think

Jane Morris (4M)

2018 ICAS English Intro Paper © Janison Solutions Pty Ltd 14

30. What does the word ‘hygienic’ mean?

33. How does Jane present her ideas?

35. Jane wrote this in a _________ tone of voice.

15 2018 ICAS English Intro Paper © Janison Solutions Pty Ltd

THE FOLLOWING YEAR LEVELS INTRODUCTORY

2 Text comprehension C Recognise a character’s actions in a narrative

3 Text comprehension D Retrieve information from an illustration and text in a narrative

4 Text comprehension C Locate a reason in a factual text

5 Text comprehension B Locate specific information in a factual text

6 Text comprehension C Locate specific information in a factual text

9 Syntax A Identify the second word in a contraction

10 Text comprehension D Identify a character’s actions in a narrative

11 Writer’s craft C Identify a word that describes a sound in a narrative

12 Syntax B Identify an adjective in a sentence from a narrative

13 Writer’s craft C Identify alliteration in a narrative