The bar chart illustrates the given by grade 11 students at Vidukirana Maha Vidyalaya for being late to school. The most common is rain in the morning and 26 students mentioned it. Many students said that a or stomachache caused their delay. The number of students was in total. More than a few reported that buses were in traffic. Some students, 8 in number, were late because a family member got . The least common reason, given by only 6 students, was forgetting to set the . Overall, issues appear to be the main cause of lateness.
I am so , but I have some news. It seems I have to cancel our lunch plans today. My cousin has unexpectedly , and I need to go to the hospital to be with my family.
I feel about this last-minute change. I was really looking forward to seeing you and catching up.
I would love to our lunch as soon as possible. How about next Saturday? Let me know if that works for you, or suggest another time.
Extract (i): When settlements were very small, leftovers were simply thrown outdoors, where they finally decayed. But as communities grew, pigs and other animals helped clear away the stuff eating them. The animals, in turn, recycled the waste and thus created an even less appealing waste problem.
Extract (ii): Many people are strangely passive when they visit a doctor. First of all, they often fail to provide the doctor with complete information about their medical problem. Secondly, many people fail to ask their doctor for a full and clear explanation of their condition.
Extract (iii): Swollen glands in the body can be uncomfortable, but they are a welcome sign that your body is working to defend itself. They are often associated with an illness such as mumps, German measles, a cold, or flu, but an insect bite or an infected cut can also result in swelling. Still if swollen glands last more than a few days, it can be a sign of a serious illness, such as Hodgkin’s disease.
Extract (iv): Here are some tips to discourage TV watching and encourage reading. For one thing, have only one television set, and place it in the family room. Then if your child wants privacy, he or she will have to go elsewhere away from the TV. Secondly, connect eating with reading. Put a bookcase rather than a TV in the kitchen.
Extract (v): Children in Finland are the highest-scoring young readers in the world, but they spend more time watching TV than reading. Finnish national research has pointed out a key relationship between reading and Finnish TV. Many programmes have captions and watching these programmes seems to motivate and enhance reading among young readers.
As Rajini walked into the classroom, she noticed her friend Jaleel sitting alone, looking upset. “Hi, Jaleel, what’s wrong?” Rajini asked.
Jaleel sighed and replied, “Well, yesterday my brother told me that
.”
“Oh no, I’m sorry to hear that,” Rajini said sympathetically and asked,
“He seemed really upset,” Jaleel reported. My brother also told me that he
there for five years and didn’t know what to do next.
“That must have been tough for him,” Rajini remarked. “Did he say anything else?”
“Yeah, he mentioned that
start looking for a new job right away,” Jaleel continued. “But he also said he’s worried about finding something as good as
.”
Puddles, know, form, ever, comes, that, to, it, disappear, rainwater, somewhere, the, sometimes, cannot, what
Rain is a very unpredictable natural process. Sometimes it rains. It rains and drains. The rain
down in heavy sheets.
it rains so hard
it makes it difficult
see. We all know
it is like when
rains. But have you
wondered where all the
goes? Does it just
? We all know that it
just disappear. As we
it has to go
. Raindrops fall to
ground, join together to
rain puddles. The rain puddles get bigger and bigger. Finally, they overflow. Like the rain drops, the rain puddles join. They form a stream. The stream carries the water down the hill. After a while the stream joins a river.
Read the letter and select the correct form of the verb from the dropdowns.
Dear Sarala,
Hope you are doing well. I would like to know how you are getting on. I am thinking about you and your well-being, especially during these difficult times. Write to me or call me whenever you need any help.
Also, it
a pleasure for me to hear how you are
in your studies. Are there any subjects or topics that you find particularly challenging?
it’s perfectly normal to encounter difficulties along the way, and I’m here to help you overcome any problems you are likely to
.
I would also like to discuss what you plan for your future. Have you thought about what you’d like to pursue after
the G.C.E. O/L examination?
In case you need any advice, feel free to contact me.
Read the passage and select the most suitable words from the dropdowns.
New technology often creates serious problems. Vehicles, for example, provide
benefits, but they also
the air and pose severe health risks to people and damage
.
It is difficult to imagine life
electricity and heat. Jet planes, while helping us in many ways, cause air pollution
hydrocarbons. The challenge, however, is to minimize the harmful effects of new technology on the environment.
To use a library effectively, one must first have a valid library
.
This card grants access to the physical collections and online
.
Upon entering, use the
system, usually a computer terminal, to locate specific items. Note down the call
and section. Once the item is found, proceed to the circulation
to check it out. Remember to return items by their due
to avoid fines and ensure others can use them.
Underline (select) the correct answer by choosing from the dropdowns.(English Past Paper)
Passage:
In a village far away from the city lived a young girl named Pinky. She was an adventurous girl, always seeking new experiences. One sunny day, Pinky found a mysterious map in her grandfather’s bookshelf. She, then, decided to go on a treasure hunt.
Following the clues of the map, Pinky journeyed through a forest crossing a bubbling stream. Along the way, she met many animals who supported her. A wise owl guided her through a dark forest, and a playful squirrel pointed towards a hidden cave.
As Pinky reached the cave, she found a glittering chest filled with gold. She was not interested in it. Excitement filled her heart as she realized the true wealth was the journey itself. She returned to the village with newfound friends and stories to share. Everyone in the village celebrated her adventurous spirit, and Pinky learned that sometimes the greatest treasures are the memories we create and the friends we make along the way.
Choose the correct answer:
(1) What made Pinky go on a treasure hunt was
(2) The animals that she met in the forest were
(3) The word that best explains the meaning of “glittering” can be
Firstly, this passage introduces rich words like adventurous, mysterious map, treasure hunt, and glittering chest ✨, helping students expand their descriptive vocabulary in storytelling contexts.
2. 👀 Visual Literacy
In addition, learners can imagine vivid scenes 🖼️ such as forests, bubbling streams, and hidden caves, which strengthen their ability to connect language with mental imagery.
3. 📘 Comprehension Skills
Moreover, the passage enhances comprehension 📖 by requiring students to follow a sequence of events — from finding the map to realizing the true treasure.
4. 📝 Exam Relevance
As a result, this type of narrative mirrors functional English tasks 🧠 often tested in the O/L exam, such as reading stories and identifying themes or morals.
5. 🧩 Guided Learning
Furthermore, the clear storyline ✅ supports learners by modeling how characters, settings, and events are woven together in narrative writing.
6. 🎯 Practical Application
Finally, the passage teaches a life lesson 🌍 — that real treasures are friendships and memories — reinforcing moral values alongside language learning.
Fill in the blanks by selecting the correct words from the dropdowns (English Past Paper).
Attention passengers: The Express Train to , scheduled to depart from No. at 9.30 a.m., will be by one hour. The new departure time is 10.30 a.m. The train is expected to arrive at Badulla Railway Station at 3.30 p.m. We apologize for the .
Firstly, this passage introduces everyday travel-related words like platform, departure, arrival, and delay 🚉, helping students expand their vocabulary in a practical transport context.
2. 👀 Visual Literacy
In addition, learners can imagine the train station setting 🖼️ and connect the announcement with real-world travel visuals, reinforcing how language is used in public spaces.
3. 📘 Comprehension Skills
Moreover, the passage strengthens reading comprehension 📖 by requiring students to understand time references, schedules, and the impact of a delay.
4. 📝 Exam Relevance
As a result, this type of announcement mirrors functional English tasks 🧠 often tested in the O/L exam, such as interpreting notices and instructions.
5. 🧩 Guided Learning
Furthermore, the clear structure of the announcement ✅ supports learners by modeling how information is presented formally and politely in public communication.
6. 🎯 Practical Application
Finally, the passage blends language with real-world travel situations 🌍, reinforcing functional English and logical reasoning — key goals of the GCE O/L syllabus.
