Answer to Summary Writing Task

Answer

Despite the dry conditions in the deserts, some plants and animals still manage to survive there. One of them is the specialist annual plants. Their short life cycles allow them to germinate, grow and produce seeds during short rainy seasons. These seeds are drought-resistant and are able to wait for the next rainy season before starting their life cycles again. The Cacti adapts to the dry weather by having swollen stems for water storage and pine-like leaves to minimize water loss through respiration. Skinks generate water from stored fats in their tails and antelopes which requires very little water, survives in deserts by extracting water from food they eat. Finally, sandgrouse with no adaptive features turn to waterholes constantly for help.    ( 119 words )

Summary Writing Activity Task

Summarize in not more than 120 words, describing the life in deserts.

As what geographers have estimated, about twenty percent of the earth's surface is occupied by deserts. A majority of us view deserts as one unique kind of landscape -- areas with little or no rainfalls. In actual fact, there are differences between the deserts, though in varying degrees. While it is common for laymen like us to see deserts as rocky or covered with gravel or pebbles, there are some where large sand dunes inhabit. Despite the fact that rainfall is minimal, temperatures do change in deserts, ranging from seasonal ones to daily changes where extreme hotness and coldness are experienced in the day and night. Unfavorable conditions in the deserts, especially the lack of water, have discouraged many living things from inhabiting these landscapes. Nevertheless, there are exceptionally surviving ones which through their superb tactics, have managed to live through and are still going strong. One such kind is the specialist annual plants which overcome seasonal temperature changes with their extremely short, active life cycles. In events of sudden rain, the plant seeds pullulate and grow very quickly to make full use of the rain water. Their flowers bloom and set seeds that ripen quickly in the hot sun too. Once the water runs dry, the mother plant dies, leaving behind the drought-resistant seeds, waiting patiently for the next rainy season to arrive. The Cacti, a native in American deserts, adapts to the dry surroundings by having unique body structures. The plant has swollen stems to help store water that carries it through months. By having sharp pines instead of leaves, water loss through respiration is minimized. Besides, these pointed pines also help the plant ward off grazing animals, thus enhancing its survival period. Besides plants, there are also animals with distinct surviving tactics in deserts too. For instance, Skinks ( desert lizards ) metabolize stored fats in their bulbous tails, producing water to supplement their needs, just like what camels do with the stored food in their humps during long journeys through deserts. Antelopes like the addax, have very low water needs and hence are able to tolerate the conditions in deserts, extracting moisture from the food they eat. Finally, there are the sandgrouses ( desert birds ) which do not have special features to overcome the drought-like nature in deserts. Hence, to survive in these hot, dry deserts, they need to spend a large part of their time flying in search of waterholes.

gravel   Small pieces of rocks and stones       pullulate   to have just enough money to pay for the things that you need       bulbous   like a bulb

Persuasive Writing Essay Questions

CXC suggests spending no more than 30 minutes to answer the persuasive essay question on Paper 2 of the English A exam. They also suggest 250 - 300 words as the length of the persuasive essay.

 
1. Write an article to the local newspaper expressing your concern about the high rate of traffic accidents in your country. Suggest three measures which would help to reduce this high rate of accidents.
 
2.Write an article for your school magazine about three major problems in your school and state how you would solve
each one.

 
3. You are on a committee planning the celebrations to mark the anniversary of your school. You have heard that some of your classmates plan to boycott the celebrations, and you have neen asked to make a speech to persuade them to take part. Write out your speech.
 
4. Your school council has asked for nominations for the "Teacher of the Year award. Write a letter to the council in which you suggest someone from your school,
giving strong arguments to support your choice.

 
5. Write an article for a school magazine in which you present strong arguments either for or against the topic:
"School should be abolished."

SHORT STORY SAMPLE QUESTION

Here are CXC past paper type short story questions. These are the types of short story questions that have been on CXC English A past papers NB CXC suggests spending no more than 45 minutes to answer the short story question on Paper 2 of the English A exam. They also suggest 400 - 450 words as the short story length
1.	Write a story entitled,"The decision that saved my life."
2.	"Jamila turned and walked away. I knew then that I had lost a friend." Write a story in which this sentence plays an important part.
3.	Write either a story OR a description entitled, "The village where nobody lives anymore".
4.	Write a story which leads up to the following ending:  "To this day, people passing through Coconut Grove still stop to ask for Waspie."
5.	Write a story entitled: "The Dream That Came True."