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Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

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Page 2: Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

Section one: Vocabulary

To be completed by:

______________________________

What do I need to complete over the next two weeks?

Spelling list 1

Read notes on Dictionary Detective and Dictionary and thesaurus skills

Complete New words beginning with A and B

Complete Vocabulary Choices task

Read and complete Root words task

Read the extract The Pet

Answer the questions in full on The Pet

Self Assessment: What do I still need to practise from this section?

Page 3: Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

Dictionary and thesaurus skills

When using a dictionary and a thesaurus it is important to know how to use it properly otherwise your sentences won’t make any

sense!

1. The dictionary is in alphabetical order. 2. You may need to look for the root word . (See section on root words) 3. When you find your word it will look like this

abominable ► adjective 1 very unpleasant and causing disgust. 2 informal very bad.

The word you are looking for.

Which word class does your word fit into?

There may be several definitions for your word, each definition starts with a new number.

One definition may signify if it is a formal or informal expression.

Once you have checked the definition of your word check that it fits into your sentence properly, is this what you want to show your reader? Is it the right word class? If it is not, use the thesaurus to find one that says exactly and precisely what you want to.

1. The thesaurus works the same way as a dictionary, in alphabetical order. 2. There are two sections synonyms and antonyms 3. If you are using a combined dictionary and thesaurus the synonyms will

come under the dictionary definition.

SYNONYMS loathsome, detestable, hateful, obnoxious, despicable, contemptible, disgusting, revolting, repellent, repulsive, repugnant, abhorrent.

ANTONYMS good, admirable.

Synonym – a word with similar meaning.

Antonym – a word with the opposite meaning.

Remember, once you have found your new word look it up in the dictionary before you put it in your sentence to check that it really makes sense and conveys what you want to say.

Page 4: Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

Root words A root word is the base word to construct a longer word with a slightly different meaning.

Understanding how to structure words will help us when spelling and constructing longer words. It will also help when we read a text and don’t understand a word, we can deconstruct it to help us!

First, we need to understand what a prefix and a suffix is:

Prefix – letters placed before the root word.

Suffix – letters placed after the root word.

Example: Un employ ment

The prefix here is un – which means not / against / opposite

The suffix here is ment – which is a condition or state of being.

The root word is employ – give work to someone.

When you put your understanding of all these words together then you get the following meaning. A person who is in a state of not having a job or work.

Page 5: Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

Peter Johnson loved pets. He had done so ever since he was a child. He was always kind to animals. He put out milk for stray cats. He hung up seeds for birds. He went to the park each day to feed the ducks. But his pride and joy was his dog Rex. It was a German Shepherd. Rex was good at tricks. He did what Peter told him to do. He could shake paws and roll over and play dead. Peter even trained Rex to go to the shop each day to fetch him his newspaper. Rex sat outside the shop and barked until Mr Patel came out with the paper. Mr Patel gave it to Rex who trotted home with it in his mouth. It was always a bit soggy and wet but Peter didn’t mind. His dog was smart. Now Rex liked to fetch things for Peter. He would bring him his slippers. He would bring him toys and balls and sticks. In fact Rex was always looking out for things to bring Peter. This was because Peter gave Rex a sweet when he did. It was his reward. One day Peter was sitting in his garden when Rex came running up to him. Rex had a piece of dirty fur in his mouth. He dropped it in Peter’s lap. Then sat down and looked at Peter hopefully.‘What’s this then boy?’ said Peter. ‘’Some old toy you’ve found?’Peter picked up the lump of fur and looked at it. To his horror he saw it wasn’t an old toy at all. It was the dead body of the pet rabbit that belonged to the little girl next door.‘My goodness, Rex,’ said Peter. ‘This is Flopsy. You’ve killed her you bad dog!’ Rex hung his head in shame. He was sorry for the rabbit but even more sorry that Peter didn’t give him a sweet.Peter jumped up and ran into the house. He put the rabbit in the sink and wiped the dirt from its fur. He looked hard to see if Rex had left any tooth marks on Flopsy’s skin but he didn’t find any. ‘Perhaps Rex scared this poor little rabbit to death,’ said Peter to himself. ‘I feel so bad about this.’Then a dreadful thought popped into Peter’s head. Emma, the girl next door would be very upset indeed to find out that Rex had killed her pet. She would cry and weep and tell her Dad. Emma’s Dad was a very big man indeed. He would be so angry with Rex. Peter didn’t know what he could do to save his dog. But he had to do something. Then he had an idea.

Read the text carefully and answer the questions below in full sentences.

As you work your way through the booklet the texts in the comprehension section will become more challenging, building your vocabulary knowledge and inference skills throughout the year.

The Pet

Page 6: Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

He washed the rabbit with soap and shampoo. He plugged in his hair drier and dried Flopsy’s fur. Then he combed it and brushed it until her fur shone. When Flopsy was quite dry Peter hid her under his coat and crept out into the garden. He looked over the fence and made sure nobody was next door. Then Peter climbed over the fence and ran to Flopsy’s hutch. He opened the door and put the rabbit back inside. He tried to make her look as life-like as he could. Peter even put a carrot in her paws. Then he heard a car door slam out in the street. Emma and her Dad were coming home. Peter was so scared he jumped over the fence and dashed back into his own house. Rex hid under the table. He knew his master was upset with him but he didn’t know why.Peter waited in fear for Emma’s Dad to come knocking at the door. But he didn’t come that day or the next or the day after. In the end Peter could stand it no more and went out into his garden. He saw Emma’s Dad.‘Hello,’ said Emma’s Dad. ‘I haven’t seen you for a few days. Are you all right?’Peter gulped. Then he said,’ Yes I’m fine. How about you? Is everything OK?’Emma’s Dad scratched his head. He looked puzzled. ‘Well, not really,’ he said.‘Oh,’ said Peter. ‘What’s up?‘Well,’ said Emma’s Dad. ‘A strange thing happened a few days ago. Emma and I came home and we found her pet rabbit Flopsy dead in its hutch.’‘That’s awful,’ gasped Peter.‘That’s not the strange bit,’ said Emma’s Dad. ‘No, the weird thing is that the rabbit died that morning and I’d already buried it in the garden before we went out!’

1. Find 3 things we learn about Peter in the story: In the story we learn that Peter’s surname is Johnson. We know this because in the story it says “Peter Johnson”.

2. Why was Rex special? Give at least 3 examples from the text.3. What did Rex do wrong? How did this make him feel?4. Why is Peter worried?5. What did Peter do? Why?6. What do you think Peter should have done? Why?7. What was the effect of the twist? How did it make you feel?

Questions

Gold target: Highlight any ambitious words you can find in the text.

Highlight 8 relevant words in the text and, using a thesaurus, find more exciting words to replace them.

Page 7: Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

Simple Sentences

In a simple sentence you only need one main clause – a clause is a group of words that may be used as a whole sentence, or as part of a sentence.

You will need the following elements to make up the sentence:•A capital letter at the beginning•A full stop at the end•Must contain a subject (noun)•Must contain a verb

The prince smiled.

Capital letter

Subject (noun) Verb

Full stop.

Subject (noun)

Who or what the sentence is about.

Verb

A doing word or a being word.

Page 8: Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

A collective noun is the name of a group of people or things.

e.g. a collection of bananas.

A common noun is a general name of a person or object.

e.g. A boy went into the library to borrow a book.

What type of noun?

Common nouns Abstract nouns

Collective nouns Proper nouns

A proper noun is the particular / precise name for a person, place or thing.

e.g. Mrs Jones walked across Tower Bridge in London.

Abstract nouns are something you can’t see, feel, hear, smell or touch.

e.g. The misery of the withering armchair.

Page 9: Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

Verbs

There are three types of verb that we are going to be looking at, by using more than one in a sentence you will be able to extend

your writing and express your ideas more clearly.

Modal verb + Auxiliary + Main verb = verb phrase

The auxiliary verb helps the main verb out and always comes before.

The most common are Be, Do and Have.

We use a modal verb to show if we believe something is certain or possible.

We can also use them when asking permission or making offers / requests.

The main verb is often described as the ‘doing’ word.

The main verb can be present (are, like) or past tense (saw, laughed).

Examples

We are here. I like it. Everybody saw the accident.

We laughed. Everybody is watching.

Everybody has worked hard.

Everybody has been working hard.

They will come.

He might have arrived.

Page 10: Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

“Crack-crack…kowowww! Thunder, and then a shock of lightening etched its reflection upon the corrugated metal siding,” Rowan read aloud.

She worked to read clearly, with depth and emotion. Her eyes scanned the next paragraph. She took a breath to continue, but was interrupted by her younger brother Nolan, stretched out on the living room couch, flicking a pencil against his forehead.

“I was never a big fan of onomatopoeia,” Nolan said, in his usual, supercilious manner. “It is impossible to write words that truly sound like a thunderstorm, a jar opening, or a falling tree, yes? But please, do continue.”

Rowan sucked her teeth. “That’s why I can’t stand doing this in front of you, Nolli. You are no help at all. Haven’t you something better to do?”

“Ha! Better than to annoy you before your moment of reckoning? I don’t think so.” Nolan's enjoyment of getting under his big sister’s skin was fully conspicuous.

“Nolli, please keep quiet!” Mother Ann broke in. “This is important. Rowan presents in less than an hour. She needs to focus. Row, sweetheart, please continue.”

Mother Ann's comments seemed to assuage Rowan’s irritation. She cleared her throat and continued where she had left off. “Farmer John knew this was a storm of epic proportion. Even the cows retreated to their hutches. Not one person in the…”

“The cows retreated? The cows retreated?” Nolan chortled upon hearing the repetition of this line in his own voice. “That’s great. Even the stupid cows retreated! Oh, man. That must have been one heck of a storm-a-brewin’. Mama, I’m scared!” Nolan howled at the ceiling and curled up into a tight little ball of laughter.

Read the text carefully and answer the questions below in full sentences.

The Storm

Page 11: Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

“Nolli!” Mother Ann shouted suddenly, her thunderous voice tantamount to the rumbling storm Rowan was attempting to capture in her reading. Nolan gave a little start. "You have no idea how difficult it is to speak in front of a crowd. Your sister has been preparing for this presentation for weeks and I swear if you don't..."

Mother Ann continued to castigate Nolan most thoroughly, scolding him for his rudeness and lack of respect. Then, feeling as though she had achieved the intended effect, she sighed rather contentedly and reclined in her chair. Sometimes she reminded even herself the fury by which, if completely necessary, she could quell any quarrel.

Nolan had fallen silent and was now sitting upright, his hands folded before him.He actually appeared a bit remorseful.

“Oh, Mother,” Rowan sighed, crumpling to the floor, despondent . “It’s no use.

‘The Storm’ shall be the end of me.”

“Ahh, but Rowan, my dear,” Mother rejoined. “This is but a mere shower!”Questions:

Questions

1. As used in paragraph 3, what is the definition of onomatopoeia? 2. Find an example of onomatopoeia in the text. 3. Why does Rowan get upset with Nolan? 4. As used in paragraph 3, what is the definition of supercilious? 5. What does this tell us about the character of Nolan? 6. In the middle of the story, the author writes, "Mother Ann's

comments seemed to assuage Rowan’s irritation." How could you re-write this sentence keeping the same meaning?

7. Write a minimum of five sentences explaining what we know about the character Mother Ann and how we know this.

Gold target: Highlight 2 examples of each type of noun we have looked at in this section.

Choose one of your highlighted abstract nouns and explain why it makes the sentence more interesting.

Page 12: Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

Punctuation marks are the traffic signals of language: they tell us to slow down, notice this, take a detour, or stop.

Of all the punctuation marks, the comma is the most used and misused. Commas can create havoc when they are in the wrong spot, and the results can be hilarious. This little dot with a tail has the power to change the meaning of a sentence by connecting things that shouldn’t be connected or breaking apart things that should stay together.

How to use a comma correctly

1.A comma should never take the place of a full stop. 2.It should be used to separate a main clause from a subordinate clause. (See page on Simple sentences in section 2) 3.It should be used when listing items, for example, I would like sausage, two eggs, beans and toast. Please note that and is used to separate the final two items though.

Tip: Try to think how a passage may sound if you read it out loud – does it sound like the end of a sentence? Then you need a full stop not a comma.

Page 13: Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

Different types of sentence

There are three different types of sentence, we are going to look at the basic way to write these and when you learn more about punctuation you can extend these in different ways.

In section two we looked at how to structure a simple sentence using a main clause. We are now going to look at how to construct a complex sentence and a compound sentence.

The prince smiled. This is our main clause, to make it into a complex sentence you need to add a subordinate clause.

Subordinate clause

Part of a sentence that doesn’t make sense on it’s own.

The subordinate clause can go at the beginning, middle or end of the sentence.

The prince smiled, while skipping down the road.

While skipping down the road, the prince smiled.

The prince, while skipping down the road, smiled.

How to write a compound sentence – this one is much easier!

Exam

ple

s of

Com

ple

x s

ente

nce

s

A complex sentence is basically two main clauses stuck together with a connective – and, if, so, but, yet etc.

The prince smiled. He was happy.

The prince smiled because he was happy.

By adding one connective in the middle you have transformed your sentence.

Try to use a variety of connectives in your work.

Page 14: Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

Read the text carefully and answer the questions below in full sentences.

Chocolate –– there’s nothing quite like it, is there? Chocolate is simply delicious. What ischocolate? Where does it come from?Christopher Columbus was probably the first to take cacao beans from the New World to Europe in around 1502. But the history of chocolate goes back at least 4,000 years! The Aztecs, who lived in America, thought that their bitter cacao drink was a divine gift from heaven. In fact, the scientist Carolus Linnaeus named the plant Theobroma, which means “food of the gods.”

The Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez went to America in 1519. He visited the Mexican emperor Montezuma. He saw that Montezuma drank cacao mixed with vanilla and spices. Cortez took some cacao home as a gift to the Spanish King Charles. In Spain, people began to drink Cortez’s chocolate in a drink with chili peppers. However, the natural taste of caocao was too bitter for most people. To sweeten the drink, Europeans added sugar to the cacao drink. As a sweet drink, it became more popular. By the 17th century, rich people in Europe were drinking it.

Later, people started using chocolate in pasttriies, like pies and cakes. In 1828, Dutch chocolate makers started using a new process for removing the fat from cacao beans, and getting to the center of the cacao bean. The Dutch chocolate maker Conrad J. van Houten made a machine that pressed the fat from the bean. The resulting powder mixed better with water than cacao did. Now, some call van Houten’s chocolate “Dutch chocolate.”

It was easy to mix Dutch chocolate powder with sugar. So other chocolate makers started trying new reciipes that used powdered chocolate. People started mixing sweetened chocolate with cocoa butter to make solid chocolate bars. In 1849, an English chocolate maker made the first chocolate bar. In the19th century, the Swiss started making milk chocolate by mixing powdered milk with sweetened chocolate. Milk chocolate has not changed much since this process was invented.

Chocolate Non-fiction reading

Page 15: Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

Today, two countries - Brazil and Ivory Coast - account for almost half the world’s chocolate. The United States imports most of the chocolate in the world, but the Swiss eat the most chocolate per person. The most chocolate eaten today is sweet milk chocolate, but people also eat white chocolate and dark chocolate.

Cocoa and dark chocolate are believed to help preventt heart attacks, or help keep them fromhappening. They are supposed to be good for the circulatory system. On the other hand, the high fat content of chocolate can cause weight gain, which is not good for people’s health. Other health claims for chocolate have not been proven, but some research shows that chocolate could be good for the brain.

Chocolate is a popular holiday gift. A popular Valentine’s Day gift is a box of chocolate candies with a card and flowers. Chocolate is sometimes given for Christmas and birthdays. Chocolate eggs are sometimes given at Easter.Chocolate is ttoxiic to some animals. An ingredient in chocolate is poisonous to dogs, cats,parrots, small rodents, and some livestock. Their bodies cannot process some of the chemicals found in chocolate. Therefore, they should never be fed chocolate.

Questions

1. How did people first consume chocolate? 2. Why did Linnaeus name the plant Theobroma? 3. What is the definition of divine? 4. What is the impact of using this word in the text? 5. What is the definition of the word toxic? 6. Can you find three ambitious words to replace the word toxic? 7. Summary: Write 10 bullet points picking out the most

important parts of the article.

Gold target: Highlight 3 examples of omission using an apostrophe.

Highlight four simple sentences and extend two into complex sentences and two into complex sentences.

Page 16: Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

When writing it is very important to make sure we are using singular and plural nouns or our work won’t make sense!

Unfortunately the rules for making a singular word into a plural word is not as easy us just adding an ‘S’ to the end, there are a few rules to look out for.

Some rules for you

Just add an S!

1. The general rule is just add an S (but)

2. Sometimes you need to add an es

3. Change the y to an i and add es

4. Words that end in ey add an s

5. Change an F to a V and add an es

Cat › cats

Boss › bosses

Lorry › lorries

Monkey › monkeys

Leaf › leaves

There are, of course, exceptions to all these rules.

1 - 4 are called regular plurals 5 are called near-regular plurals

Page 17: Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

What are the exceptions to the rules?

What does that even mean?

For example, this pear is the exception to the rule, it is green and it is a fruit but it doesn’t come in the same shape – it abides by different rules to the apples.

Words are the same. Some just have different rules to our five basic ones when changing from singular to plural. These are called irregular plurals.

Page 18: Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens

Reading comprehension : Read the extract and answer the questions in as much detail as possible.

Old Wardle led the way to a pretty large sheet of ice; and the fat boy and Mr. Weller, having shovelled and swept away the snow which had fallen on it during the night, Mr. Bob Sawyer adjusted his skates with a dexterity which to Mr. Winkle was perfectly marvellous, and described circles with his left leg, and cut figures of eight, and inscribed upon the ice, without once stopping for breath, a great many other pleasant and astonishing devices, to the excessive satisfaction of Mr. Pickwick, Mr. Tupman, and the ladies; which reached a pitch of positive enthusiasm, when old Wardle and Benjamin Allen, assisted by the aforesaid Bob Sawyer, performed some mystic evolutions, which they called a reel.

All this time, Mr. Winkle, with his face and hands blue with the cold, had been forcing a gimlet into the sole of his feet, and putting his skates on, with the points behind, and getting the straps into a very complicated and entangled state, with the assistance of Mr. Snodgrass, who knew rather less about skates than a Hindoo. At length, however, with the assistance of Mr. Weller, the unfortunate skates were firmly screwed and buckled on, and Mr. Winkle was raised to his feet.

'Now, then, Sir,' said Sam, in an encouraging tone; 'off with you, and show 'em how to do it.'

'Stop, Sam, stop!' said Mr. Winkle, trembling violently, and clutching hold of Sam's arms with the grasp of a drowning man. 'How slippery it is, Sam!'

'Not an uncommon thing upon ice, Sir,' replied Mr. Weller. 'Hold up, Sir!'

This last observation of Mr. Weller's bore reference to a demonstration Mr. Winkle made at the instant, of a frantic desire to throw his feet in the air, and dash the back of his head on the ice.

'These--these--are very awkward skates; ain't they, Sam?' inquired Mr. Winkle, staggering.

'I'm afeerd there's a orkard gen'l'm'n in 'em, Sir,' replied Sam.

'Now, Winkle,' cried Mr. Pickwick, quite unconscious that there was anything the matter. 'Come; the ladies are all anxiety.'

Page 19: Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

'Yes, yes,' replied Mr. Winkle, with a ghastly smile. 'I'm coming.'

'Just a-goin' to begin,' said Sam, endeavouring to disengage himself.

'Now, Sir, start off!'

'Stop an instant, Sam,' gasped Mr. Winkle, clinging most affectionately to Mr. Weller. 'I find I've got a couple of coats at home that I don't want, Sam. You may have them, Sam.‘

‘Thank'ee, Sir,' replied Mr. Weller.

'Never mind touching your hat, Sam,' said Mr. Winkle hastily. 'You needn't take your hand away to do that. I meant to have given you five shillings this morning for a Christmas box, Sam. I'll give it you this afternoon, Sam.'

'You're wery good, sir,' replied Mr. Weller.

'Just hold me at first, Sam; will you?' said Mr. Winkle. 'There--that's right. I shall soon get in the way of it, Sam. Not too fast, Sam; not too fast.'

Mr. Winkle, stooping forward, with his body half doubled up, was being assisted over the ice by Mr. Weller, in a very singular and un-swan-like manner, when Mr. Pickwick most innocently shouted from the opposite bank—

'Sam!'

'Sir?'

'Here. I want you.'

'Let go, Sir,' said Sam. 'Don't you hear the governor a-callin'? Let go, sir.'

With a violent effort, Mr. Weller disengaged himself from the grasp of the agonised Pickwickian, and, in so doing, administered a considerable impetus to the unhappy Mr. Winkle. With an accuracy which no degree of dexterity or practice could have insured, that unfortunate gentleman bore swiftly down into the centre of the reel, at the very moment when Mr. Bob Sawyer was performing a flourish of unparalleled beauty. Mr. Winkle struck wildly against him, and with a loud crash they both fell heavily down. Mr. Pickwick ran to the spot. Bob Sawyer had risen to his feet, but Mr. Winkle was far too wise to do anything of the kind, in skates. He was seated on the ice, making spasmodic efforts to smile; but anguish was depicted on every lineament of his countenance.

'Are you hurt?' inquired Mr. Benjamin Allen, with great anxiety.

'Not much,' said Mr. Winkle, rubbing his back very hard.

Page 20: Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

1.What shows that Mr Sawyer was an experienced skater?

2. Write down five sentences that show Mr Winkle was new to skating.

3. Why does Dickens use the phrase ‘knew rather less about skates than a Hindoo’ to show Mr Snodgrass’ unfamiliarity with skating?

4. Why did Mr Winkle offer Sam two coats and five shillings?

5. Why did Mr Winkle not want Sam to touch his hat?

6. Write out in correct modern English the four phrases underlined.

7. Write in your words an account of what happened in the paragraph beginning: ‘With a violent effort’.

8. What is the meaning of these words?

9. Was Mr Winkle hurt by the fall? How do we know?

10.Describe Mr Winkle in your own words. What sort of a man do you think he was?

uestions

Page 21: Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

What is a homophone?

Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings. If we get these words wrong it can create a completely different meaning to our writing and understanding.

The basics and most frequent

There

• Use there when referring to a place, whether concrete ("over there by the building") or more abstract ("it must be difficult to live there"). •Also use there with the verb BE (is, am, are, was, were) to indicate the existence of something, or to mention something for the first time. If you wrote there, will the sentence still make sense if you replace it with here? If so, you're using it correctly.

They’re

A contraction of they and are where you simply add an apostrophe to omit (add in the place of a letter) the letter a in the are. If you used they're, will the sentence still make sense if you replace it with they are? If so, you're on the right track!

Their When you are talking bout something that someone owns. If you chose their, will the sentence still make sense if you replace it with our? If so, you've chosen the correct word.

Here

• Use here when referring to a place, whether concrete (“please come over here by the entrance") or more abstract ("it must be difficult to live here"). •Also use here with the verb BE (is, am, are, was, were) to indicate the existence of something, or to mention something for the first time. If you wrote here, will the sentence still make sense if you replace it with there? If so, you're using it correctly. (Did you notice – this was very similar to there?)

Hear One of your five senses. The noises that go into your ear. Is there reference to a sound or noise in the sentence, then you are using the right homophone!

Page 22: Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

Where• Where is one of our 5 Ws for asking questions. • Like there and here, it is also a place.

Wear Used when referring to an item that you, or somebody else, have on their body.

We’reThe same as you’re, a contraction for we and are. If you can replace it with we are then you have the right one!

Were The past tense of was.

To•Use to as a preposition before a noun or as an infinitive before a verb.

Too

•Use too as a synonym for also or to indicate excessiveness (a lot of something!)

Can you replace too with also, you are probably using the right one!

Two Simply the number after one.

Page 23: Literacy Homework Booklet Term 1 - 2014 Name:………………………………………………………………………….. Teacher:………………………………………………………………………

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Reading comprehension : Read the extract and answer the questions in as much detail as possible. Chapter 5

It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils. With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet. It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs.

How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form? His limbs were in proportion, and I had selected his features as beautiful. Beautiful! -- Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion and straight black lips.

The different accidents of life are not so changeable as the feelings of human nature. I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart. Unable to endure the aspect of the being I had created, I rushed out of the room, continued a long time traversing my bed chamber, unable to compose my mind to sleep. At length lassitude succeeded to the tumult I had before endured; and I threw myself on the bed in my clothes, endeavouring to seek a few moments of forgetfulness. But it was in vain: I slept, indeed, but I was disturbed by the wildest dreams. I thought I saw Elizabeth, in the bloom of health, walking in the streets of Ingolstadt. Delighted and surprised, I embraced her; but as I imprinted the first kiss on her lips, they became livid with the hue of death; her features appeared to change, and I thought that I held the corpse of my dead mother in my arms; a shroud enveloped her form, and I saw the grave-worms crawling in the folds of the flannel. I started from my sleep with horror; a cold dew covered my forehead, my teeth chattered, and every limb became convulsed: when, by the dim and yellow light of the moon, as it forced its way through the window shutters, I beheld the wretch -- the miserable monster whom I had created. He held up the curtain of the bed and his eyes, if eyes they may be called, were fixed on me.

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His jaws opened, and he muttered some inarticulate sounds, while a grin wrinkled his cheeks. He might have spoken, but I did not hear; one hand was stretched out, seemingly to detain me, but I escaped, and rushed down stairs. I took refuge in the courtyard belonging to the house which I inhabited; where I remained during the rest of the night, walking up and down in the greatest agitation, listening attentively, catching and fearing each sound as if it were to announce the approach of the demoniacal corpse to which I had so miserably given life.

Oh! no mortal could support the horror of that countenance. A mummy again endued with animation could not be so hideous as that wretch. I had gazed on him while unfinished he was ugly then; but when those muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion, it became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived.

I passed the night wretchedly. Sometimes my pulse beat so quickly and hardly that I felt the palpitation of every artery; at others, I nearly sank to the ground through languor and extreme weakness. Mingled with this horror, I felt the bitterness of disappointment; dreams that had been my food and pleasant rest for so long a space were now become a hell to me; and the change was so rapid, the overthrow so complete!

uestions

1. Summarise in 50 – 100 words what has happened in the passage you have read.

2. How does Dr Frankenstein feel about the monster he has created? How do you know this?

3. How does the author describe the monster? What effect does this create?

4. Find 3 quotes that tell you Dr Frankenstein is afraid.

Extended writing

Create a diary entry as if you are Dr Frankenstein and you have just created your monster. Include thoughts and feelings. Also, include lots of description so that the reader can imagine what you are seeing and doing.

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Past tense

We use the past tense to talk

about things that have already happened.

Present tense

We use the present tense to talk about things

that are happening now.

Future tense

We use the future tense to talk

about things that are going to

happen.

What are the rules?These are the basic ones, but like with all rules, there are exceptions.

Present to past When changing a verb (a doing word) into the past tense you need to add an –ed on the end.

Want + ed = wanted

Key: Past tense Present tense Future tense

Present with subjects

In the present tense verbs can also change with different subjects (the person or thing in the sentence).

We add an s to the word when the subject is he, she or it or a single noun (person, place or thing).

For example; I love chocolate. We love chocolate. They love chocolate but, Sara loves chocolate.

Exceptions, or more formally – irregular verbs

Is Are

Eat Ate

Do Did

Go Went

Have had

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Mo Farah an interview

Reading comprehension : Read the extract and answer the questions in as much detail as possible.

The Weather

“There was still so much I had to get used to when it came to life in Britain. Like the weather, for example. I’d never seen snow before. That first winter it snowed so heavily I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The whole town was blanketed in thick white. Then there was the cold. Djibouti stayed hot all year round. In December and January the temperature might drop to around 29˚C. That’s about as cold as it ever got. My first winter in England, I remember my fingers and toes turning numb from the freezing cold. I wore gloves but I could never warm up my hands. I’m fine with the rain , but I can’t be dealing with the cold. I’ll probably never get used to it.

1. What happened Mo’s first winter in England?2. Had he ever seen snow before?3. What was the weather like in his home town?4. What does he think about the cold now?5. What do you think about the weather in this country?

English

“My biggest struggle in those days was with my English. I could speak a few words but I couldn’t read or write, and sometimes I had to communicate with people using hand gestures because I didn’t know the word for certain things. To help improve my English, the school placed in an English as an Additional Language (EAL) group. I still struggled............ Instead, I found myself sitting in this EAL class and finding it difficult to concentrate. There was a Ukrainian kid in the group called Sergiy. We used to fight all the time. It was like Frazier-Ali between Sergiy and me. I learnt more about fighting than I did about English in that class.

1. What problems did Mo have with English?2. How did he communicate when he didn’t know a word?3. What did the school do to help him?4. Why do you think he found it difficult to concentrate?5. Why do you think he got involved in teaching?

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Being Different

“I got into a fair few fights in my early days at Feltham. It was never anything serious, just the odd scrap here and there. Because I usually have a smile on my face and try to be nice to people my kindness often gets mistaken for weakness. I suppose I stood out at school. I was slightly different from the other kids. I came from another continent, I was a Muslim, I spoke another language. Some kids probably looked at me and thought, ‘Yeah, here’s someone we can push around.’ They didn’t know me. I’ve never been afraid to stick up for myself. I’d had a tough childhood- a lot tougher than a lot of kids. From a young age I had to learn to be a fighter. I never backed down from a fight”

1. Why did people think Mo was weak?2. Was Mo afraid of other people?3. What did he mean when he said “I’d had a tough childhood”?4. What did he learn from a young age?

Extended writing task:

1.Compare your thoughts on British weather with Mo’s2.How do people in this country/ class/ college treat you? Explain why you think that is so