national assessment program year

5
literacy and numeracy

LANGUAGE
CONVENTIONS 2011

SESSION 1
Use 2B or HB

0:40 Time available for students to

complete test: 40 minutes
pencil only

© Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2011

 YEAR 5 LANGUAGE CONVENTIONS
PRACTICE QUESTIONS

The spelling mistake in this sentence has been circled.

P1
Write the correct spelling of the circled word in the box.

P1
We went to scool in a bus.

This sentence has one word that is incorrect.

P2
Write the correct spelling of the word in the box.

P2
The boy put on his red shert.

Which word correctly completes this sentence? Shade one

P3 bubble.
The children played with toy car.

a
if
he
they

Which word needs a capital letter in this sentence?

P4

My brother john went to the park.

© ACARA 2011

2
 YEAR 5 LANGUAGE CONVENTIONS

The spelling mistakes in these sentences have been circled.

Write the correct spelling of each circled word in the box.

We sat with our friends wile we 1

1
ate lunch.

2
2 One scent coins are no longer made.

3
3 The workers are bilding a tower.

The children ignord the rain and 4

4
finished their game.

The class had a choise of hockey 5

5
or tee-ball.

The costume for the king had a sord 6

6
and a crown.

The brave surf-lifesaver received a medal for 7

7
his curage .

Be shaw to look both ways when crossing 8

8
the road.

The reporter admited that his facts 9

9
were wrong.

© ACARA 2011

3
 YEAR 5 LANGUAGE CONVENTIONS

The spelling mistakes in these sentences have been circled.

Write the correct spelling of each circled word in the box.

10
10 A fingerprint identifys a person.

11
11 Car fumes polloot the air.

12
12 It is unusul for it to rain in the desert.

13
13 Paul was sinceerly sorry for being late.

Each sentence has one word that is incorrect.

Write the correct spelling of the word in the box.

The latest football scores were very 14

14
pleesing.

15
15 It is polite to talk nicley to your friends.

The astronomer used a telascope to observe 16

16
parts of our solar system.

The explorers were hopefull as they began their 17

17
quest.

© ACARA 2011

4
 YEAR 5 LANGUAGE CONVENTIONS

Each sentence has one word that is incorrect.

Write the correct spelling of the word in the box.

The students were drarfting an article about their 18

18
excursion to go in the newsletter.

The parents eagerly decorated the nursry 19

19
for the baby.

The tourist guide was ment to provide 20

20
clear directions.

The player bruised his right nuckle as he 21

21
attempted to catch the spinning ball.

Be careful not to skwash the banana in 22

22
your backpack.

The netball team paid attenshon to 23

23
the umpire.

The bushwalkers hiked through two beautiful 24

24
vallees on the weekend.

25
25 A balanced diet includes proteen.

© ACARA 2011

5
 YEAR 5 LANGUAGE CONVENTIONS

Shade one
Which word in this sentence is the name of a place? bubble.
26
Mountains and lakes surround the town of Jindabyne.

Mountains
lakes
town
Jindabyne

Which word correctly completes this sentence?

27
The car was very after it was polished.

shine
shiny
shinier
shiniest

Which word correctly completes this sentence?

28
Tim had books on his desk.

one
lots
twice
seven

Which sentence has the apostrophe ( ’ ) in the correct place?

29
They didn’t need anything at the shops.
The school has four team’s in the finals.
We can see the tree’s from the windows.
There are’nt many pandas in Australian zoos.

© ACARA 2011

6
 YEAR 5 LANGUAGE CONVENTIONS

Shade one
Brackets ( ) are needed in this sentence. Which part of the sentence bubble.
30
needs brackets?

Sir Donald George Bradman 1908–2001 was a famous Australian cricketer.

Sir
George
1908–2001
Australian

Which word is not needed in this sentence?

31
The space shuttle descended down to Earth on schedule.

descended down Earth schedule

Which words correctly complete this sentence?

32
Belinda likes gold bangles, are expensive, she has to
save for them.

which so
what why
which because
what whether

© ACARA 2011

7
 YEAR 5 LANGUAGE CONVENTIONS

Shade one
Which words correctly complete the second sentence? bubble.
33
The children went to the pool yesterday. Some of them again
today but it was closed.

was planning to go
were planning to go
is planning on going
are planning on going

Each of these sentences has the final punctuation missing. In which sentence
34
is a question mark ( ? ) needed?

Doesn’t our class have music today

I’ll ask which class has music today
She asked if our class had music today
She will tell us if our class has music today

Which word or words correctly complete this sentence?

35
The boys close to missing the train yesterday.

came
come
coming
had came

Which word is not needed in this sentence?

36
Teresa picked tomatoes from the bush that I planted.

Teresa
from
that
I

© ACARA 2011

8
 YEAR 5 LANGUAGE CONVENTIONS

Shade one
Which word or words correctly complete this sentence? bubble.
37
Some people sick if they eat too quickly.

became
become
would become
would have become

An apostrophe ( ’ ) has been left out of this sentence. Where does

38
the missing apostrophe go?

Their mothers car takes several minutes to start most days.

Erin did not expect her friends to come over.

39
Which punctuation shows this?

“What a surprise to see you?”

“What a surprise to see you.”
“What a surprise to see you …”
“What a surprise to see you!”

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

40
“Hello,” said Mr Grant, I am your new teacher.”
Hello, said Mr Grant, “I am your new teacher.”
“Hello,” said Mr Grant, “I am your new teacher.”
“Hello, said Mr Grant”, I am your new teacher.

© ACARA 2011

9
 YEAR 5 LANGUAGE CONVENTIONS

Shade one
Which sentence is correct? bubble.
41
The reason why the car stopped because it had run out of petrol.
Because it had run out of petrol, was the reason the car stopped.
Why the car stopped was because it had run out of petrol.
The car stopped because it had run out of petrol.

Which sentence tells the reader that something was found?

42
Penny came around to the idea.
Penny came forward with the information.
Penny came down with the flu last weekend.
Penny came across the old photos on the desk.

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

43
The final destination on our holiday is Queenstown New Zealand.
The final destination on our holiday, is Queenstown New Zealand.
The final destination on our holiday is Queenstown, New Zealand.
The final destination, on our holiday is Queenstown, New Zealand.

Which word correctly completes this sentence?

44
Mr Chan, car was parked beside ours, had arrived early.

his who who’s whose

© ACARA 2011

10
 YEAR 5 LANGUAGE CONVENTIONS

Shade one
Which sentence is punctuated correctly? bubble.
45
The boy spoke slowly, clearly and intelligently during the debate.
The boy spoke slowly clearly and intelligently during the debate.
The boy, spoke slowly, clearly and intelligently during the debate.
The boy spoke, slowly, clearly and intelligently, during the debate.

Which words correctly complete this sentence?

46
They to the party if they had been asked.

will go
would go
will have gone
would have gone

Which word or words correctly complete this sentence?

47
John never visited Hobart he lived in Tasmania for two years.

despite
even if
although
in spite of

Which sentence has correct use of capital letters?

48
Timothy asked, “When is my next appointment, Dr westwood?”
Timothy asked, “When is my next appointment, Dr Westwood?”
Timothy asked, “when is my next appointment, Dr Westwood?”
Timothy asked, “When is my next appointment, dr Westwood?”

© ACARA 2011

11
 YEAR 5 LANGUAGE CONVENTIONS

Shade one
Which word or words does it refer to in this sentence? bubble.
49
His car may look brand new, but James bought it second-hand from
the car yard.

his car
brand new
James
the car yard

Which sentence has the comma ( , ) in the correct place?

50
Outside, the yard was covered in golden leaves.
Outside the yard, was covered in golden leaves.
Outside the yard was covered in golden, leaves.
Outside the yard was covered, in golden leaves.

STOP – END OF TEST

© ACARA 2011

12
Reading Magazine
2011

Year 5
© Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2011.
From pop band
to movie star
Johnny Depp is the actor who plays Willy Wonka in the
movie, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. With his good
looks and unusual sense of humour, Johnny has become
one of the biggest names at the box office, but did you
know that he started his career in a pop band?
Johnny taught himself to play guitar when he was twelve
years old. Soon afterwards he formed a band called Flame.
The band wrote their own music and practised in a garage.
Johnny designed the band’s costumes – many were made
from old clothes found in his mother’s wardrobe.
By the time Johnny was sixteen, Flame had changed its
name to The Kids and the band was playing gigs
around America. The Kids worked
hard for six years but they did not
hit the big time.
It was only after meeting the
actor Nicolas Cage that
Johnny decided to try acting.
The rest, as they say, is history.
But Johnny still finds time for
music – he has recently
played guitar on the album
of his musician girlfriend,
Vanessa Paradis.

Johnny Depp in
Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory

2
 How to play SPUD
What you need Setting up a playing area Aim of the game
• five or more players Choose trees, fences, To be the last player in
• a soft rubber ball footpaths or buildings the game. (You are out
• a clear space outside to mark the edges of a as soon as you spell the
playing area. word SPUD.)

Rules of the game

1. Pick a player to start with the ball. The
player with the ball is called It.
2. It stands in the middle of the playing area
with the ball. All the other players gather
around.
3. It tosses the ball into the air, and calls
another player’s name. This player is now It
and has to get the ball. Everyone else runs
away.
4. It yells ‘SPUD!’ as soon as It gets the ball.
Everyone else has to freeze.
5. Then It takes three giant steps towards
another player, and throws the ball at that
player’s feet. The other player must not
move, even if there’s a chance of being hit
by the ball.
6. If It hits the other player, or if that player
moves, then the player gets a letter (S first),
and becomes It.
If It misses, then It gets a letter and
stays It.
7. The first letter for a player who is hit is
S, the second letter is P, and so on. Any
player who has spelled S-P-U-D is out.
The winner is the last player in the game.

3
Young adventurer

2009
Riders at the Naadam festival horseraces.
Angus is the rider in green.

Thirteen-year-old Angus Paradice lives on a farm in New South

Wales. In 2008, he travelled with his family on holiday to Asia.
In Mongolia, he saw the famous Naadam festival horseraces.
All of the jockeys were children. Angus wanted to race too, so he
decided to enter the 2009 competition.

After he returned to Australia, Angus trained for the long distance

competition by riding 22 kilometres after school each day and by
running and doing sit-ups.

In 2009, Angus returned to Mongolia. Some of his Mongolian

friends arranged for him to ride in a 10 kilometre race for
two-year-old horses, and a 15 kilometre race for five-year-old
horses. Although he had a bad fall before the races, Angus
finished in the top 10 in both events.

His efforts won him the 2009 Young Adventurer of the Year Award.

4
The diver
I put on my aqua-lung and plunge,
Exploring, like a ship with a glass keel,
The secrets of the deep. Along my lazy road
On and on I steal –
Over waving bushes which at a touch explode
Into shrimps, then closing, rock to the tune of the tide;
Over crabs that vanish in puffs of sand.
Look, a string of pearls bubbling at my side
Breaks in my hand –
Those pearls were my breath! ... Does that hollow hide
Some old Armada wreck in seaweed furled,
Crusted with barnacles, her cannon rusted,
The great San Philip? What bullion in her hold?
Pieces of eight, silver crowns, and bars of solid gold?

I shall never know. Too soon the clasping cold

Fastens on flesh and limb
And pulls me to the surface. Shivering, back I swim
To the beach, the noisy crowds, the ordinary world.

Ian Serraillier

5
The outsider
On an Arctic island long ago, a stranger is approaching
a village.

“Papa,” I yell. “Someone is coming.”

Papa gathers Uncle and the other men. They come
to stand beside Finn, Tuaq and me in a show of
communal strength.
“He must be from one of the groups that have
already arrived at the coast,” Uncle suggests.
Papa nods. He doesn’t take his eyes off the
approaching figure.
“Get Nana,” he tells Miki.
If the man wants to stay, Nana will decide. She’s
already walking towards us, wearing her priestess
cape trimmed with raven feathers and arctic fox fur.
“Hullo-o-o,” the man calls into the wind.
Papa waits until he can see the stranger’s eyes.
The man is not from any villages we join with on the
coast.
“Good morning,” Papa says cautiously.
“I am Hulag,” the man responds.
Papa doesn’t say his name. Instead he nods in
Nana’s direction. “This is Ananaksaq.” Nana is famous
throughout the icelands and Papa is reminding Hulag
how powerful our village is.
“It’s an honour to meet you.” Hulag’s eyes
measure Nana up and down. He doesn’t look
impressed. His grin says he thinks it will be easy to
charm this old woman with an oil-stained parka and
dirty face.
Papa leads, but Nana decides, and she has made
her first decision. This man must wait out in the cold.

6
I’m a walking advertisement
For a school assignment, Sally wrote this argument about advertising.

When I look at myself, what do I see? Most of my clothing these days carries a
company logo. There’s my T-shirt with its brightly coloured stamp, my sunglasses,
my cap, my jeans and my shoes, all carrying an identifying mark. There’s even
advertising on my underwear.
The worst thing is that every logo is immediately recognisable as the sign of the
clothing company. Each one is a promotion. Sometimes it’s only a small and barely
noticeable icon, a well-designed little shape on the front of a shirt. But it still lets
everyone know who made it – and how much it cost. More often, though, that new
‘must-have’ shirt carries a whole chestful of the company’s mark. The ad is so large
it can’t be missed. It’s a huge statement that these clothes are admirable so the
wearer must be admirable too.
So why do we do it? How have we been tricked into providing millions of dollars
of free advertising to already wealthy companies? Surely we’ve seen so many
advertisements that the last thing we really need to do is to wear them. It just shows
how clever the advertisers are. They know that seeing advertisements results in
brand recognition and brand loyalty. Companies know that placing products in
films and music videos is a clever trick to promote sales. So for them, the next step
in product placement is to have the proud owners of products actually wearing
the advertising. Putting ads on clothing follows naturally from putting products
in favourite TV shows or films – and it’s just as sneaky. In fact, you could call it
‘advertising by stealth’.
But we are now seeing a change: many people are experiencing ‘logo-backlash’.
They have seen too many advertisements and they are rejecting the product
placement trend. I’m going to join them. I have already paid the companies for my
clothes and that is all they are getting out of me. I’m not going to be a free walking
billboard for any company!

7
 On the bush track

Riko and Sam were walking along a bush track. Sam stopped
beside a tall tree.
‘I am tired and want to go back to the camp,’ he said.
‘Wait,’ said Riko. ‘Look up in the tree. I can see something
good.’
Sam looked up and smiled.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Cover
Cover image © Tatiana Grozetskaya, 2011. Used under licence from Shutterstock.com
From pop band to movie star
Image reproduced with permission of The Picture Desk/Warner Bros./The Kobal Collection/Peter Mountain.
How to play SPUD
Images and adapted extract from Run. Jump. Hide. Slide. Splash. The 200 Best Outdoor Games Ever © 2004 by Joe Rhatigan & Rain Newcomb. Used with permission
from Lark Books, a division of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
Young adventurer 2009
Image reproduced with permission of Claire and David Paradice.
The diver
Poem ‘The Diver’ by Ian Serraillier © Estate of Ian Serraillier. (Originally published in Happily Ever After, Oxford University Press, in 1963). Reproduced with permission of
the Estate of Ian Serraillier. Adapted illustration © Jupiterimages Corporation, 2011.
The outsider
Extract from Polar Boy by Sandy Fussell. Text © 2008 Sandy Fussell. Reproduced with permission of Walker Books Australia. Image © Albert Lozano, 2011. Used under
licence from Shutterstock.com
On the bush track
Image © Susan Flashman, 2011. Used under licence from Shutterstock.com

8
national assessment program year

5
literacy and numeracy

READING 2011

Use 2B or HB

0:50 Time available for students to

complete test: 50 minutes
pencil only

© Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2011

 YEAR 5 READING

Read From pop band to movie star on page 2 of the magazine and answer
questions 1 to 6.

How old was Johnny when he started playing the guitar? Shade one
1 bubble.
six
eight
twelve
sixteen

The text describes how Johnny’s career began.

2
The question at the end of the first paragraph suggests readers will think this
information is

amusing.
upsetting.
surprising.
disappointing.

Which of these is a fact about The Kids?

3
The band did not become famous.
The band reached the top of the music charts.
The band did not write any music for six years.
The band made lots of money from playing gigs.

Why is Nicolas Cage mentioned in this text?

4
He played with The Kids.
He offered Johnny an acting role.
He inspired Johnny to become an actor.
He introduced Johnny to Vanessa Paradis.

© ACARA 2011

2
 YEAR 5 READING

What does the text suggest is Johnny’s current attitude to making music?
5
He prefers to listen to his girlfriend make music. Shade one
bubble.
He would rather play a different instrument.
He thinks he is too old to be in a band.
He still enjoys playing his guitar.

Johnny designed the band’s costumes – many were made from old clothes found in his
6
mother’s wardrobe.

What does the dash ( – ) show about the two ideas in this sentence?

The first idea is the opposite of the second idea.

The first idea is more important than the second idea.
The second idea happened just after the first idea.
The second idea helps to expand on the first idea.

Read How to play SPUD on page 3 of the magazine and answer

questions 7 to 12.

The text says a game of SPUD needs at least

7
four players.
five players.
six players.
seven players.

The winner is the player who

8
catches the ball first.
does not spell SPUD.
is the first to spell SPUD.
throws the ball the furthest.

© ACARA 2011

3
 YEAR 5 READING

When the player who is It calls your name, what must you do first? Shade one
9 bubble.
take three steps
throw the ball
get the ball
run away

Which of these changes would make the game last longer?

10
spelling a word with more letters
making the playing area smaller
playing with fewer people
having more than one It

Which picture best matches Rule 5?

11

You could even play SPUD on a netball court.

12
Where would this information belong in this text?

What you need

Setting up a playing area
Aim of the game
Rules of the game

© ACARA 2011 Images from Run. Jump. Hide. Slide. Splash. The 200 Best Outdoor Games Ever © 2004 by Joe Rhatigan & Rain Newcomb.
Used with permission from Lark Books, a division of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.

4
 YEAR 5 READING

Read Young adventurer 2009 on page 4 of the magazine and answer

questions 13 to 19.

When he first saw the Naadam festival horseraces, Angus felt Shade one
13 bubble.
disappointed that the jockeys were children.
bored because the races took so long.
inspired to take part in the races.
nervous about the races.

After he returned to Australia, …

14
The second paragraph is about Angus’s

home town.
exercise routine.
racing experience.
family background.

Angus’s Mongolian friends helped him to

15
take part in the Mongolian races.
find his way around Mongolia.
train for the Mongolian races.
plan his trip to Mongolia.

The way this text is written leads the reader to

16
feel jealous of Angus.
feel sorry for Angus.
be amused by Angus.
admire Angus.

© ACARA 2011

5
 YEAR 5 READING

Write the numbers 1 to 5 in the boxes to show Write one number

17 in each box.
the order of events in the text. The first one ( 1 )
has been done for you.

Angus decided to compete in the Naadam festival.

1 Angus travelled to Mongolia with his family for a holiday.

Angus won the Young Adventurer of the Year Award.

Angus trained after school.

Angus competed in two horseraces in Mongolia.

Which idea best matches this text? Shade one

18 bubble.
There is no place like home.
Fight for what you believe in.
Good things come to those who wait.
Dreams can come true if you work hard.

Why did Angus receive the Young Adventurer of the Year Award?
19
He won a competition.
He made a tough decision.
He achieved a difficult goal.
He did something to help others.

© ACARA 2011

6
 YEAR 5 READING

Read The diver on page 5 of the magazine and answer

questions 20 to 24.

In the first stanza (verse), the diver mainly feels Shade one
20 bubble.
scared by possible dangers.
wonder at the marine environment.
proud of knowing so much about the sea.
confused about the objects found underwater.

The description of the bushes is made more vivid by

21
relating them to the deep ocean.
the description of nearby jewels.
suggesting the sounds they make.
the sudden contrast of movement.

What bullion in her hold?

22
In this line, her refers to

a ship.
a cannon.
the diver.
a sea animal.

How does the diver feel about going back to the beach?
23
curious
nervous
relieved
reluctant

© ACARA 2011

7
 YEAR 5 READING

What does the sea most strongly represent for the diver? Shade one
24 bubble.
an escape from everyday life
the possibility of danger
childhood memories
the hope of wealth

Read The outsider on page 6 of the magazine and answer

questions 25 to 29.

Papa’s attitude towards Hulag is

25
timid but kind.
wary but polite.
confused and fearful.
aggressive and disrespectful.

Hulag’s behaviour when he arrives can best be described as

26
quiet.
confident.
unfriendly.
aggressive.

He doesn’t take his eyes off the approaching figure.

27
“Get Nana,” he tells Miki.

These sentences help to

create tension.
provide clarity.
indicate surprise.
resolve a conflict.

© ACARA 2011

8
 YEAR 5 READING

Hulag thinks that Nana Shade one

28 bubble.
is unfriendly.
can be argued with.
can be manipulated.
is strong and decisive.

In the last sentence, Hulag is referred to as This man.

29
The main purpose of this is to show that

he is different from Papa.

the villagers have not heard his name.
he has gained the respect of the villagers.
he is being kept at a distance by the villagers.

Read I’m a walking advertisement on page 7 of the magazine and answer

questions 30 to 36.

What does Sally mainly object to?

30
fashion trends
unattractive logos
sly business practices
billboard advertisements

There’s even advertising on my underwear.

31
What point is Sally making here?

Advertising is ineffective.
Advertising has no boundaries.
Advertisers have a sense of humour.
Advertisers are running out of ideas.

© ACARA 2011

9
 YEAR 5 READING

Sally often uses the word we. Shade one

32 bubble.
The purpose of the word we in the text is to

show that Sally is writing to her friends.

make the reader feel involved in the issue.
emphasise that the issue doesn’t affect all people.
disguise Sally’s individual involvement in the issue.

Sally uses quotation marks (‘ ’) around ‘must-have’ (paragraph 2) to show she

33
is avoiding the use of precise language.
doesn’t believe the description is true.
is admiring the wearers of such shirts.
doesn’t understand other people’s choices.

What does Sally suggest about advertising in films and on clothing?

34
The success of logos on clothing led to product placement in films.
Product placement in films is more effective than logos on clothing.
Logos on clothing and product placement in films have the same aim.
Logos on clothing are more effective than product placement in films.

Sally’s attitude to logos on clothes is best described as

35
amused.
doubtful.
indignant.
embarrassed.

© ACARA 2011

10
 YEAR 5 READING

How does Sally’s final message relate to the rest of the text? Shade one
36 bubble.
It presents a new argument.
It returns to a personal focus.
It adopts a more general focus.
It answers Sally’s first question.

STOP – end of test

© ACARA 2011

11
 YEAR 5 READING
PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Read On the bush track on page 8 of the magazine and answer

questions P1 and P2.

Where are Riko and Sam? Shade one

P1 bubble.
in a camp
on a track
by a bush
up a tree

Write the numbers 1 to 4 in the boxes to show the

P2 Write one number
order of what happened in the text. The first one ( 1 ) in each box.
has been done for you.

Sam stopped.

Sam smiled.

1 Riko and Sam walked along a bush track.

Riko saw something up in a tree.

© ACARA 2011

12