Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
Reading: Making Connections
Reading Passages……………..…………………..……………………...…. 1
Question and Possible Answers……………….…………………........6
Training Papers…………………………………………………….….. .........7 Rationales for Training Papers……………………………….….........27
Writing
Writing Prompt………………………………………….…………….. .........30
Training Papers………………………………………………….…….. .........33 Rationales for Training Papers……………………..……….…….........49
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 1
This article shows how one person was able to finance his education through the unexpected gift of a stranger. The graph below the article gives information about how other students finance their education.
The Gift: How One Act of Kindness Changed a Life by Monty Hall as told to Robert Kiener
Although I haven’t appeared on television as host of “Let’s Make a Deal” since 1991, not a day goes by that someone doesn’t recognize me. “Hey, Monty!” a stranger will invariably yell at me. “What’s behind Door Number One?” While I appreciate the recognition, I sometimes wish that I were known more for what I do today—charity work.
I make more than 50 charity appearances a year and must have raised nearly a billion dollars for worthwhile causes. In 1988 I received the Order of Canada for my humanitarian work.
Countless times I have seen that if you cast your bread upon the waters, it will come back a hundredfold. But there is one story in particular that, for me, illustrates the point. To this day it can still move me to tears.
On a crisp spring day in 1942, Max Freed, the owner of a Winnipeg shirt-making company, Hercules Manufacturing, was returning to his factory with a bundle of orders tucked neatly beneath his arm. Business was good and Max, although only 30, was carving out a niche as a successful businessman.
5 As he walked to his office, he noticed a young man across the street, on his hands and knees, scrubbing the front steps of Churchill’s, a clothing wholesaler. The young man looked familiar. Freed crossed the street and asked him, “What are you doing here?”
The 20-year-old answered: “I work for Churchill’s. My boss told me to scrub these steps.”
“What’s your name?” asked Freed. The young man told him.
“Is your father my butcher?” “Yes,” the youth replied.
Freed went to his office and phoned the butcher. “I just saw your son washing the
steps at the company across the street from mine. He seems like an intelligent young man—is that the kind of work he’s chosen to do?”
10 “He wants to go back to college,” the soft-spoken butcher told Freed, “but I can’t afford to send him.” He explained that his son had worked for two years after graduating from high school, saving for college. But after a year and a half at the University of Manitoba, his money had run out. Business was poor, and even though the butcher’s wife worked two jobs, the family barely scraped by. The young man’s weekly salary of nine dollars helped out tremendously.
“Tell your son to come see me tomorrow,” Freed told the butcher.
The next night, after finishing his work as a delivery boy and cleaner at Churchill’s, the wiry 20-year-old met with Freed in his factory office.
“Do you want to go back to college?” Freed asked.
“More than anything!” the young man replied.
15 Freed looked him straight in the eye. “I’ll put you through college. Write down how much money you need and bring it back to me—tuition, books, everything.”
A smile broadened across the youth’s face; he could not believe this was happening. Where had this guardian angel come from?
The next day when the young man showed Freed his figures, the shirt-maker looked them over and said: “Don’t you want something for yourself? Don’t you eat lunch or get the occasional haircut? You’ll also need some new clothes. Add all that in.”
Before handing over a cheque, Freed told the young man, “There are several conditions I
Page 2 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
insist upon.” The youth sat silently, eyes wide with expectation.
20 “First, you must tell no one where this money
came from.” The young man nodded. “Second, you must maintain top grades; I’m not sending you to college to be a playboy.”
“Third, this is a loan. You have to pay me back every penny when you can afford to. And lastly, you must promise to do this for someone else in your lifetime.”
“Thank you, Mr. Freed,” the 20-year-old replied. “I won’t disappoint you.”
Each month he visited Freed to report on his progress. At the University of Manitoba, he earned high grades, was near the top of his class and was elected president of the student body.
Over three years, Max Freed lent the butcher’s son $990. The young graduate began repaying the debt as soon as he landed his first job after college. He sent Freed $100 the first year, $100 the next and the rest the third year after he graduated.
25 Throughout his life, he never forgot the day he’d been given the opportunity he needed to succeed. He also remembered the vow he’d made to do the same for someone else and has since helped several young people through college.
There was one promise the young man made to Max Freed that he couldn’t keep. For nearly 30 years, he told no one the identity of his mysterious benefactor. But he finally decided to tell his story because he felt it would inspire others to help someone, and because he felt that Max Freed deserved the recognition despite wanting to be anonymous.
I often tell this story. It reminds me that no matter what we do in life, no matter how high we climb the ladder of success, we will ultimately be remembered for how we helped others less fortunate than ourselves.
There’s another reason I love telling this story: I am the butcher’s son.
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 3
A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Johnny Bower, was a National Hockey League (NHL) goaltender from 1958 to 1970. In this passage, the speaker remembers his surprise when he meets Johnny Bower.
The Game by Rick Book
Fresh asphalt and pine were my two favourite smells in the world. It meant we were almost at Waskesiu. “Whiskey Slough,” Prince Albert National Park, a five-hour drive from our farm into the lakes and rocks and trees of the Canadian Shield. Every summer, we became refugees from the heat that seared our dryland farm. We’d come up in July, when the fields were still lush with promise, and we’d often return two weeks later to find the crops burnt to a crisp, hope shriveled, and dreams put off for another year. Waskesiu was our green oasis.
Our car was loaded and so was the white speedboat on the trailer behind—tents, sleeping bags, cooking gear, water skis and fishing rods. My sisters and I’d strain to be the first to spot the park gate, the lake, the golf course and then the town itself. It was like rolling into a prairie Disneyland with its painted cabins, the brown log museum with the stuffed buffalo inside, the velvet lawn bowling greens, tennis players in their whites. And Johnny’s Café.
Dad pointed it out as we drove by. “There it is.” I had expected it to be all lit up with flashing lights and big signs. But it was a simple little building with clapboard siding, yellow with white trim, just like Grandma’s house. A faded wooden screen door with a Coca Cola handle. And the sign, Johnny’s Café. Through the window, a glimpse of people at the counter.
“Why don’t you go in later and get his autograph?” said Mom as we drove on to our campsite. “After we get the tents set up.”
5 Forty-five minutes later I pushed through the door. Palms sweaty, stomach tight, mouth dry as August. I walked to the shiny old cash register at the end of the counter. A skinny blonde girl with a very dark tan and very red lips was smoking a cigarette and fiddling with the radio dial. She turned when she saw me, took another drag.
“Hiya.” She didn’t inhale. “What can I do for you?” She smiled, friendly, not much older than me but miles ahead.
“Is J-J-Johnny Bower here? I’d like to…ah…like to get his autograph.” Stupid farm kid. That was probably what she was thinking.
“Sure thing,” she said. “Just a sec.” She wheeled around and walked to the back, through swinging doors with round steamy windows.
The Toronto Maple Leaf goalie was wearing a white T-shirt, whitish pants and a dirty apron that he wiped his hands on as he walked alongside the counter toward me.
10 “Hi, kid, how are ya?” said Johnny Bower, the guy I’d watched for years on TV, mostly on a snowy black-and-white TV.
He’s shorter than Dad, I thought. And almost bald.
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“Hi, Mister Bower.” Swallow. “I wonder…could I have your autograph?” I couldn’t take my eyes off his face. It was like it had been made out of rubber and left out in the sun too long. And while it was melting someone had come along with a sharp stick and drawn all these lines on it. I could even see little dots where some of the stitches had been.
“Sure…got an autograph book?” I shook my head. “No problem.” He bent down under the counter and pulled out a paper place mat with flowers on one corner. “This do?” he asked. I nodded.
Johnny reached down into the pocket of his apron for a ballpoint pen next to the yellow receipt pad. “What’s your name, kid?”
15 “Er…Er…ic.” Johnny put the place mat on the counter, leaned over, pen hovering. “You play hockey?”
“Yup.” A gulp. A swallow. A nod of the head. “Right wing. For Lashburg.”
Johnny nodded. His pen swirled over the paper like a skater. Miss Lipstick was back, adjusting her hair in the mirror behind the milk-shake glasses.
There was a sign on the counter: Today’s Special—Hot Turkey Sandwich. And then panic! What if he asks me my favourite team?
“There you go, Eric.” He looked up. “So, who’s your favourite team?”
20 A slap shot to the gut.
“Uhhh, Canadiens.”
Johnny’s head jerked; he straightened up. “Canadiens!” he said. Three men at the far end of the counter turned. Miss Lipstick gave me a scornful look. And then Johnny Bower threw back his head and laughed. A big deep laugh. “So, I suppose you like that Jacques Plante guy, eh?” I cracked a smile, nodded, picked up the place mat in case he changed his mind.
“Thank you very much,” I said. “I think you’re great, too.” I wanted to make a run for the door.
He laughed some more, winked at Miss Lipstick, then reached out and swallowed my hand in his. “No problem. Come back for breakfast anytime, kid.” He turned and headed back to the kitchen. I ran to the door. I took about a week to recover, and then I went back, once, ate bacon and eggs and toast real slowly, but the NHL’s second greatest goaltender wasn’t there.
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 5
30. Compare and contrast the role surprise plays in both “The Gift: How One Act of Kindness Changed a Life” and “The Game.”
• Support your response with specific reference to both passages. • Your response should be approximately one page in length. • Plan your ideas in the space provided below. • Write your response in the Written-Response Booklet using blue or black ink.
Planning
Use this space to plan your ideas before writing in the Written-Response Booklet.
Page 6 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
List of Possible Responses 30. Compare and contrast the role surprise plays in both “The Gift: How One Act of Kindness
Changed a Life” and “The Game.” (12 marks)
Both Eric and the young man learn a surprising lesson about people. Eric learns that the famous celebrity Johnny Bower has an unexpected appearance and is the owner of a “greasy spoon” café. The young man (Monty Hall) learns that complete strangers can be unexpectedly generous. Furthermore, Johnny Bower does not belittle Eric’s admiration of the Canadiens’ goalie. Similarly, Max Freed has no expectation of recognition for his unexpectedly generous gift to the young man.
Students may make direct or indirect reference to these points for textual support.
The Gift: How One Act of Kindness Changed a Life The Game
• A stranger offers to finance the young man’s education.
• The ending of the passage is surprising to the reader (Monty Hall is the butcher’s son).
• The surprise is life-changing.
• Eric is surprised by the simplicity of Johnny’s café.
• Eric is surprised by Johnny Bower’s height and age.
• Eric is amazed by Johnny Bower’s appearance.
• Eric does not expect Johnny Bower to laugh when he reveals his favourite team.
• The surprises are not necessarily life-changing.
Note: Other answers are possible.
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 7
Reading: Making Connections — Training Paper #1 30. Compare and contrast the role surprise plays in both “The Gift: How One Act of Kindness
Changed a Life” and “The Game.”
The life is very importion for your, because when you finish jouner
hight school, you need all ready plan your life for when you finish
the all school. Because when you finish the shool you neet to think
what job you will to be and have anything you can to be, if you didn’t
plan your life that will be very bad, because you don’t know what job
you can to do and have any work you can go to be, so life is very
importion for you. But some people maybe they have bad life, but if
you want you can change new life for yourself.
You life is like a game, if you have plan your life you will like
win the game. If you didn’t plan your life that will like you loess
the game. But you want win the game is not easy, because you need have
some good idea, and have a good learn then you can win the game.
Page 8 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
Reading: Making Connections — Training Paper #2 30. Compare and contrast the role surprise plays in both “The Gift: How One Act of Kindness Changed
a Life” and “The Game.”
The two stories had some similarity and difference.
The both has two people who gets something and two people who give
something.
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 9
Reading: Making Connections — Training Paper #3 30. Compare and contrast the role surprise plays in both “The Gift: How One Act of Kindness
Changed a Life” and “The Game.”
In the story of “One Act of kindness Changed aLife” you could seen
the success of the people who had been help from Other. Sometimes you
can’t do any thing alone, but you have the others people to help you
out. If you have a power you could help others person out and one act
of your help could be there successs. People who have a chance have no
talent, but people who don’t they have a talent. Therefore when you
success you could help the failier. When you help them he/she will
never forget your kindness. The fortunate will ultimately remember
for how you helped others less fortunate than yourself. Any one could
be success, if they have a willing to continue there future.
Page 10 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
Reading: Making Connections — Training Paper #4 30. Compare and contrast the role surprise plays in both “The Gift: How One Act of Kindness
Changed a Life” and “The Game.”
There are many comparisons and contrasts in, “The Gift: How One act
of kindness changed a Life”, and, “The Game”.
Some are about the people, some are about the setting, and some
are about the meaning. First off, both of the authors wrote about
themselves and told their life story about when they were young. They
both talked about life changing experiances. The motivators in both
stories, are both independant and wealthy. Both authors in the story
needed motivation and help.
The differences are, “The Gift”, took place in a big city, while,
“The Game”, takes place in a small city. One man changed Montey Halls
life, and Hockey changed Erics life.
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 11
Reading: Making Connections — Training Paper #5
30. Compare and contrast the role surprise plays in both “The Gift: How One Act of Kindness
Changed a Life” and “The Game.”
The similarities of “The Gift: how one act of kindness changed a
life” & “the game” are that Johnny Bower & Max Freed are very modest
men, they take critism as constructive critism. Everything’s all
gray. They are both proud successful business men. max with his
winnipeg shirt making company, Hercules manufacturing. & Johnny with
Johnny’s cafe & his hockey career as a goalie. They are both helping
out with people. max with his money & business helping out ones in
need for a good education. Johnny with his inspiration of being a
goalie, to the youngins that play in leagues. His cafe I guess helps
the people that are hungry for a small price, you get food on your
plate. You could say that they both help out people in their own
unique ways.
Page 12 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
Reading: Making Connections — Training Paper #6 30. Compare and contrast the role surprise plays in both “The Gift: How One Act of Kindness
Changed a Life” and “The Game.”
In the story “The Gift” and “The Game” both character were
surprise of what happen. In “The Gift” the butcher’s son wouldn’t be
anywhere if that man didn’t lent him the loan. In the other story
Johnny Bowwer was surprised when the boy told him his favourite
team.
Both of these character had different feeling. In “The Gift” the
butcher’s son felt happy that he was going to be successful. In “the
Game” the boy was surprise how Johnny Bowwer looked liked.
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 13
Reading: Making Connections — Training Paper #7 30. Compare and contrast the role surprise plays in both “The Gift: How One Act of Kindness
Changed a Life” and “The Game.”
In “The Gift” it talks about a young man that needs money to go to
college and Max Freed which is his father, lend him money and he had
to do two things, first he can’t tell anybody where the money came
from, second he have to get top grades. Then every month he visited
Freed to report on his progress, he earned high grade and got elected
president of the student body. Three years later, the young graduate
began repaying the debt, he got his first job and sent back a bit of
money back then the rest after the third year he graduated. This story
is talking about how we helped other people less fortunate to
ourselves.
In “The Game” it talks about a family going to a vocation to Prince
Albert National Park, and then there was this café called Johnny’s
Café and inside there is a retired hockey player called Johnny Bower
and Eric Which was the son of the family wanted to get a autograph.
After autograph he hoped that he won’t ask his favourite team, but
then he asked him, and Eric said Canadiens which is not Johnny’s
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hockey team so he laughed, after a week he is gone. Johnny was
laughing Eric’s honesty at the end he was gone I think he died because
he was too old, that’s why he retired and it wasn’t Eric favorite team
because it was a old hockey team.
This two story both have a mysterious thing talking about in “The
Gift” he didn’t say that the young boy was butcher’s son and in “The
Game” he was gone in the end nobody knew what happened. Both story
have a person helping, in “The Gift” the butcher which is his dad,
helped him with money to go to college and in “The Game” the old
hockey player Johnny Bower gave the kid a autograph and this two story
have good meaning. In “The Gift” the story is about helping other
people than themself and in “The Game” is about telling your honest.
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 15
Reading: Making Connections — Training Paper #8 30. Compare and contrast the role surprise plays in both “The Gift: How One Act of Kindness
Changed a Life” and “The Game.”
In these two plays “The Gift: How one Act of kindness changed a
life” and “The Game” had suprises through out them. The Gift started
out with a man set for the future and a boy scrubbing steps, the
suprise was when the man gave the boy the money for his college. The
man also gave him money for clothing, books and all the essentials.
The boy had to do the same to others which he did. In The Game it was
a man and his son meeting an ex- profesionl hockey goaltender. The
suprises in this story were the goalie was very short, he was bald and
had a dirty apron on, not very apealing. The man was asked who his
favorte team was and it wasn’t even the goalies. There was suprises
throghout both these storys.
Page 16 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
Reading: Making Connections — Training Paper #9 30. Compare and contrast the role surprise plays in both “The Gift: How One Act of Kindness
Changed a Life” and “The Game.”
Surprise plays a fairly important role in both “The Gift: How one
act of kindness changed a life”, and “The Game” in the sense that both
main charactors get to meet an influencial person in their life. In
“The Game” the young boy, Eric gets to meet a famous ex Toronto Maple
leafs goalie, and even though he is not Eric’s favorite player he is
very surprised with not only his apperance but his personality and way
of life. Johnny Bower (the ex goalie) is surprised when Eric admits
that the Canadiens are his favorite team and not the Maple leafs.
Surprise played an important role in “The Game”. “The Gift: How one
act of kindness changed a life” also had surprise from one influencial
person to a young man. But in a different way, Max freed a succesful
business man sends a poor young man to university as long as the man
follows certain expectations. The two stories are similar but
different at the same time. A reader could take different views on the
stories but they both rely on the role of surprise to add excitment
and interest to the stories. “The Gift” and “the Game” both take place
in the past and rely on the element of surprise.
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 17
Reading: Making Connections — Training Paper #10 30. Compare and contrast the role surprise plays in both “The Gift: How One Act of Kindness
Changed a Life” and “The Game.
I will now explain the differences between both passages “The Gift”
and “The Game”. These stories are both about inspiration and helping
others, although the main difference is that in “The Gift” The more
fortunate man helps and guides the less fortunate boy. In the story
“The Game” the boy seeks inspiration from a fortunate man. They are
also both set in the past. In “The gift” Max freed spots a young
man (Monty Hall) who is cleaning the steps to a clothing store and
thinks he deserves better. – Paragraph 5. He later gives money to
Monty to get him through college. Paragraph 15.
Eric and his family drove to Waskasiu (Whiskey Slough) as a safe
haven or “green oasis” as is referrred to in the story. After setting
up camp, Eric goes to Johnny Bowers (famous hockey player) cafe
seeking inspiration in for the form of an autograph. – Paragraph 5.
Johnny gladly signs the autograph and apprecates Eric’s honesty about
which Hockey team he truly liked the best. Paragraph 20.
Page 18 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
Reading: Making Connections — Training Paper #11 30. Compare and contrast the role surprise plays in both “The Gift: How One Act of Kindness
Changed a Life” and “The Game.”
The compareson of the role suprise’s in How One Act of Kindness
Changed a Life and The Game, There were many simalar things in these
two storys they both had a good ending showing that you should do and
go for what you belive in. There were lots of thing that the
characters in the story did not expect to happen like in How One Act
of Kindness Changed a Life. The butcher’s boy did not expect someone
to let him borrow the money to goto collage he expected to be working
for the next few years to come up with that money. And in the Game the
little boy did not expect one of the best goalies in his time to be a
short man shorter then his dad And also bald to be him. The comparason
in these storys isen’t to much the characters are both happy in the
end with there results and thats all that matters.
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 19
Reading: Making Connections — Training Paper #12 30. Compare and contrast the role surprise plays in both “The Gift: How One Act of Kindness
Changed a Life” and “The Game.”
Surprise is a conspicuous them in both “The Gift: How One Act of
Kindness Changed a Life” and “The Game.”
In the story, “The Gift: How One Act of Kindness Changed a Life”
by Monty Hall, Robert Kiener narrated how he was able to finance his
education through the unexpected gift of Max Freed, an owner of a
successful shirt-making company. We always think that businessmen are
mean and stingy. However, Max Freed surprises the reader when he
decided to put Robert, a complete stranger, back into college and pay
for his tuition, books and everything. The businessman surprised the
reader more when he told Robert to get something for himself with the
money. Another surprise awaits the reader is Robert breaking his
promise to Max Freed of “telling no one where this money came from”
because he has already told us, the readers, through out the article.
With all the information above, we can see that surprise play an
important role througout the story.
In the other article, “the Game”, surprise is also a conspicuous
theme. The story was about a young boy’s encounter with a former
Page 20 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
famous hockey goaltender, Johnny Bower. First of all, the appearance
of the hockey player surprised Eric, the young boy. Johnny Bower was
short and bald as opposed to the glamorous appearance of other famous
celebrarities. Secondly, Eric also surprised the readers when he told
Johnny Bower that his favorite team and hockey player was not Johnny.
The readers are even more surprised that Johnny Bower was impressed
instead of angered by Eric’s honesty.
Both of the stories were based on surprises. I think both of the
stories are fascinating.
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 21
Reading: Making Connections — Training Paper #13 30. Compare and contrast the role surprise plays in both “The Gift: How One Act of Kindness
Changed a Life” and “The Game.”
There are many surprises that occur between the two short stories,
“The Gift” and “The Game”. Written on page one. I can clearly see the
connection from the stories and the stated theme. “People and Events
can sometimes surprise us” and surely they do. This theme was evident
in “The Gift” in one obvios reason; Monty was astonished and very much
surprised by Mr. Freed’s offer to put him back to college. After the
low waged, weekly salary from Churchill’s, Mr. Freed’s offer just
seemed too good to pass. Supporting evidence of “The Gift” is on page
6 line 19-21. The unexpected kindness from Mr. Freed changed another
man’s outlook on everyday life, changing his ways and making a
difference to the upcoming generations of youth. As for “The Game,”
the story interpret itself to be quite humorous in some ways. This
story also has great connection to the stated theme on page one on
“The Gift”. Eric had assumed that Johnny Bower was an icon, great and
mighty. Johnny Bower, an NHL goalie also known to be a celebrity,
creats an unexpected trait in his personality. Eric assumed that
Page 22 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
Johnny Bower was a man that would be idolized because he idolized
Johnny himself. (Shown through his exitment on meeting Bower”). After
meeting Bower, Eric sees that Bower is an ordinary man just like
everyone else. Bower is shorter than his dad, bald and had a scarred
face. Bower portrayed himself as an equal and was very modest in his
own ways. These two short stories showed a definite resemblance and
connection to the theme written on page one.
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 23
Reading: Making Connections — Training Paper #14 30. Compare and contrast the role surprise plays in both “The Gift: How One Act of Kindness
Changed a Life” and “The Game.”
In both “The Game” and “The Gift”, surprise plays an important
role. Surprise registers when the characters’ expectations are
betrayed by reality, whether good or bad.
In “The Gift”, both Max Freed and the butcher’s son are surprised
at different points. Freed is upset and surprised to discover an
“intelligent young man” scrubbing the steps of a clothing store. This
unhappy surprise is the catalyst for his offering to finance the
youth’s education, which in turn stuns the narrator – he did not
realize he had a “guardian angel.” The final twist of the story
serves to surprise the reader. It is touching to know that all along,
the butcher’s son was the celebrity and charity worker Monty Hall.
In “The Game”, Eric’s expectations of the “guy [he’d] watched for
years on TV” are crushed when he finally meets Johnny Bower himself in
real life. Eric is stunned that the “NHL’s second-greatest goal
tender” could be so unabashedly lacking in glamour. Why, he’s even
shorter than Eric’s dad! Eric’s anxiety while waiting to meet Johnny
is matched by his disillusionment upon seeing that his hero is just an
ordinary, balding, middle-aged guy.
Page 24 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
People can surprise us, usually because they operate outside our
expectations for them. Ambitious young business men are not
spontaneous philanthropists, intelligent men don’t scrub stairs for
a living, and famous athletes have an impenetrable aura of glamour.
Clearly, these statements aren’t always true, and this is emphasized
through the role of surprise in these two stories.
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 25
Reading: Making Connections — Training Paper #15 30. Compare and contrast the role surprise plays in both “The Gift: How One Act of Kindness
Changed a Life” and “The Game.”
In the short stories “The Gift” and “The Game”, surprise is a
major influence to the reader’s evaluation of the story, and also the
kinds of emotions recieved from the story. The two stories share the
common use of surprise but are unique from each other in the emotions
felt by the main characters after the initial shock.
“The Gift: How One Act of Kindness Changed a Life” first uses
surprise when the young Monty Hall is perplexed and thankful for the
offer made by Max Freed, as it gives Monty a chance to alter his life
for the better. Another main point in which the reader of the passage
is caught off gaurd is when the narrator, Monty Hall, lets the reader
know that it was he who recieved the kind offer from Max Freed so many
years ago. Both of these revelations are pleasent to Monty and to the
reader as they give Monty Hall the assistance needed to achieve his
goal.
In “The Game” Eric, the young boy experiences a type of shock
linked with a hint of disapointment. Firstly Eric is taken back by how
plain and unexceptional “Johnny’s Cafe” appears to be. There is no
doubt that Eric expected a restaurant owned by the “NHL’s second
greatest goaltender” to be grandeur. The second shock experienced by
Eric is when he finally gets the chance to see Johnny Bower in person.
Page 26 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
Eric anticipates someone with more relation to a god than to a real
person, and is almost saddened as he views the reality, “I couldn’t
take my eyes off his face. It was like made of rubber and left out in
the sun too long”. Unlike the suprise in the story “The Gift”, the
surprise experienced by Eric in “The Game” borders very closely on
disapointment. This is the main contrast between the two literary
works. The first story leaves the reader with a feeling of awe and
pleasure while the second leaves the reader feeling sorry for Eric.
The two passages vividly express how surprise can be used to produce
contrasting effects.
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 27
Rationales for Reading: Making Connections Training Papers Training Paper #1 — Mark: 0
• Makes no attempt to address the topic Training Paper #2 — Mark: 1
• Too short to meet the requirements • No evidence of support • An attempt to connect
Training Paper #3 — Mark: 1
• Response is irrelevant • Significant misunderstanding • No evidence of support or connections between ideas
Training Paper #4 — Mark: 2
• Support is absent • Restatement of text • Response is incomplete • Little evidence of connections about surprise • Examples do not show a literal understanding of texts
Training Paper #5 — Mark: 2
• Support for the task is flawed • Misreading of texts • Misunderstanding of texts • Little evidence of connections • Length and evidence make this a 2, not a 1
Training Paper #6 — Mark: 3
• Some understanding at a literal level • Response is incomplete and lacks detail • Addresses central idea and makes connections
Page 28 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
Training Paper #7 — Mark: 3
• Some understanding at a literal level • Response is unclear • Ideas are listed • Support consists of long references to the texts which are not clearly connected to the
central idea • Mysterious is implicit surprise
Training Paper #8 — Mark: 3
• Some understanding of the texts at a literal level • Despite adequate content, there is no interpretation
Training Paper #9 — Mark: 4
• Some understanding at an interpretive level • Response is organized and straightforward • Supported by relevant details
Training Paper #10 — Mark: 4
• Some understanding at an interpretive level • Response is organized and straightforward • Supported by relevant details
Training Paper #11 — Mark: 4
• Some understanding at an interpretive level • Response is organized and straightforward • Misses ideas • Support is relevant • Support is limited • Low 4
Training Paper #12 — Mark: 5
• Clear understanding of texts at an interpretive level • Support is convincing and relevant
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 29
Training Paper #13 — Mark: 5
• Clear understanding of texts at an interpretive level • Support is convincing and relevant • Writing conventions are to be considered only to the extent that they impede meaning
Training Paper #14 — Mark: 6
• Insightful understanding at an interpretive level • Makes inferences • Shows understanding of literary techniques • Support is explicit and implicit, thoughtful and well integrated • Powerful conclusion
Training Paper #15 — Mark: 6
• An insightful understanding at an interpretive level • Makes inferences • Support is thoughtful • Support is both implicit and explicit
Page 30 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
PART C
Writing
Value: 24 marks Suggested Time: 50 minutes • Write a composition on the topic below. • You may agree or disagree with the topic. • You may include persuasion, narration and/or description in your writing. • You may use ideas based on your own experience, the experience of others, your reading,
your imagination, or from any aspect of your life. • Plan your ideas in the space provided on the following page. • Your response should be approximately three to five paragraphs in length. • Write your response in the Written-Response Booklet using blue or black ink.
Getting Ready to Write
Surprises can come in many forms. These surprises may be pleasant or they may be disappointing.
Topic
31. People and events can sometimes surprise us.
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 31
Topic: People and events can sometimes surprise us.
Planning
Use this space to plan your ideas before writing in the Written-Response Booklet. Organize your ideas using a web, a list or an outline.
Acknowledgments
Page 32 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
“Recipe for a Sidewalk,” by Kate Braid. Covering Rough Ground. Polestar, an imprint of Raincoast Books. ©1991.
“The Gift: How One Act of Kindness Changed a Life,” by Monty Hall as told to Robert Kiener. Passages 12: Literature and Language. Gage Learning. ©2002. pp. 117–119.
Graph “How Canadian students aged 18–24 pay for college or university.” Adapted from “How Students Aged 18–24 Pay for School.” Access, Persistence and Financing: First results from the Postsecondary Education Participation Survey (PEPS). ©2002. Catalogue no. 81–595–MIE2003007.
“The Game.” Excerpted from Necking with Louise, by Rick Book. Red Deer Press. ©1999.
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 33
Writing ‐ Training Paper #1 31. People and events can sometimes surprise us.
Yes, I agree just like how I failed english but really I passe I
was pretty happy when I passed. Tmr there’s a science exam Should I go
or not. Not sure yet. Haha I’m sorry for wasting your time who ever is
reading this. But I came since I already got a spot here.
Page 34 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
Writing ‐ Training Paper #2 31. People and events can sometimes surprise us.
I agree that people and events can sometimes surprise us. because
people use to full of idea on their head. For example, people can make
up stories to surprise us. or using events.
Mostly people love surprise and they love giving people surprise.
There are some good surprise that people use, just like a surprise
party. At the beginning they lied on you but actually they just want
to give you a surprise. More than that, there are also one kind of
surprise that people heat. the most is sadl hurting surprise, but
mostly people don’t know.
In addition, sometimes people and events can really surprise us.
If that is a friendly surpris that will be great. If not don’t hurt
people too much when you are playing it. So that you can have more
friends or you will never get pay back.
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 35
Writing ‐ Training Paper #3 31. People and events can sometimes surprise us.
People and events can surpise us in a good way or in a bad way. You
may one day find an old friend who you use to like which comes to you
as a good surpise but then again you may not like him so it comes as a
bad surpise. So some surpise are good and surpise are bad.
Many surpise are good. Sometimes you may have to pay a bill but you
don’t have engough money then you meet an old friend he gave you some
money so you can pay off the bills. Or mabey one day you’re bored then
a parade comes thats a pleasent surpise. Mabey one day you forgot to
study for a test but when you come in its a subsiteacher so you don’t
have to write the test. So in life there are many pleasent surpises.
There are also many bad surpise. One day you go to your class room
and the teacher gives you a pop quiz. Or one day our exicted about the
parade but you find out its cancelled. Your going on a feild trip but
then it starts raining so you have to go back to school. So there are
also many bad surpise.
So surpise can come in a good way or in a bad way. People and
events can surpise us in many different ways such as a parade you
didn’t know about can surpise you in a good way since you can see the
parade or in a bad way since you didn’t know about you didn’t see it.
Page 36 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
Writing ‐ Training Paper #4 31. People and events can sometimes surprise us.
There are many different types of surprises in this world, Winning the
lottery, losing a relative, or receiving an perfect birthday present.
Sometimes surprises make us just plain surprised without being
positive or negative. sometimes these surprises are not correctly
identified as being good or bad until later when we can really see how
it has impacted our lives and lives of the people around us. Sometimes
we have to work hard in molding the surprises into something we can
work with, or something (if bad) to make us stronger and more
resistant. Surprises whether positive or negative really depend on how
you look at it. If we can think positively we can make every bad
surprise into something life-changing and useful.
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 37
Writing ‐ Training Paper #5 31. People and events can sometimes surprise us.
The phrase, “People and Events can sometimes surprise us,” can
mean many things. It can be refered to what the peron or event looks
like, acts like, sounds like.
I agree with this statement. Why? alot of the reason I believe
this is because I have been suprised by so many people and things.
Right when you don’t think they can change or it can change, or it can
get worse, it happens. It seems to happen when you least expect it.
It can also be good too, when you least expect anything to get
better, it does. A man or women can give you something you never asked
for, and then maybe you find money on the ground, then you win
something, then you think, wow this a great day. It was a great day
because the people and events surprise you.
You should agree with this statment, its not a very strong
statement, but it is true. Everyone and Everything is different from
the rest, and if one of didnt surprise you then something would be
very wrong.
People and Events always have different ways of surprising you.
They can surprise you in a good way, even a neatral way. Since all
people think differently then every person can surprise you in a
different way. Really, to sum it up, Life is surprising.
Page 38 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
Writing ‐ Training Paper #6 31. People and events can sometimes surprise us.
There are many people who wake up each morning and believe
they’ll live through another normal day. Dispite this thought people
and events can sometimes surprise us. In my opinion I would agree to
this topic as these things occur from time to time. As a result, many
surprises can appear to us, as that is what makes life interesting.
Every now and then something or someone will catch someone’s
attention. While it maybe a pleasant one it can also be dissapointing.
A few may include birthday surprises or a new pet, ofcourse it could
be the low grades on a test or the lost of a loved one. Therefore
unexpecting events can enter one’s life and catch them off guard,
showing that surprises do occur.
Surprises come in many different forms and people. One can rarely
expect it to happen until it presents itself. Some think they’d know
what that unexpecting thing might be, yet they’re only fooling
themselves. People won’t know if a hundred year old tree would fall
when they go visit it, nor do they know if a lost uncle thought to be
dead, would show up at their house. In addition, the surprises that
occur can happen anytime, anywhere, and be anything and can only be
discovered when confronted.
The purpose of a surprise is to surprise people, otherwise that word
would lose all meaning. Even though some may have a clue to what it
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 39
may be, the truth would still shock them in the end. Surprises are
unpredictable, positive or negetive, happening whenever they want.
Thus, a surprise is just a surprise waiting to be discovered.
Surprises are a part of life. They can take on any form, weather it
be man or event. It can occur at any given moment to prove it’s
exsistance. It can either be pleasent or unwanted to happen. In the
end surprises are everywhere, one just have to wait and find out what
surprises may be held in stores for them.
Page 40 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
Writing ‐ Training Paper #7 31. People and events can sometimes surprise us.
Surprises can come in all forms and sizes. Some may say that since
people and the world is contantly evolving, there is nothing to be
surprised about. However, most of us are faced with surprises on a
daily basis.
Surprises can be happy or tragic, caused by people or caused
naturally by the earth. Depending on how or where you were raised, you
could be surprised more easily than others. Few people can truthfully
say they have never been surprised by one thing (or person) or
another.
A surprise could be simple and non-threatening, such as forgetting
to bring a toothbrush to a sleepover, or it could be huge and tragic,
such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Since most of us just interact
with other people, most surprises and events are caused by people.
Personal beliefs can also have a huge impact on what surprises us,
or how easily we are surprised. These beliefs can come from religon,
family, friends, or society in general. Fear can also have a large
impact.
In closing, most of us are surprised or faced with unexpected
events or reactions almost, if not every day. It’s best to just take
it in stride.
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 41
Writing ‐ Training Paper #8 31. People and events can sometimes surprise us.
Jan and Mark went to the same school, but they both lead very
differant lives, the odd time meeting in conflict. Things were about
to change. Jan was a very smart lonley girl, who spent most of her
time being picked on by others, and reading alone. She had few close
friends to call her own that she could share with. Mark on the other
hand was very popular, every one knew who he was but he wasnt that
smart. He disliked “nerds” and “geeks” and spent counless hours
bulling them in the hallway. One of these “geeks” was Jan.
Mark and Jan shared one class together, that was science. Mark was
getting the lowest mark in the class, where as Jan, she recived the
highest. When it came time to enter th science fair, th science
teacher set up groups of two, putting Mark and Jan together. This was
in hopes that Mark could possibly pass the cours. After manny failed
attempts at working together, Mark and Jan both decided to put aside
their differances and work co-operativly in order to get done. They
spent countless hours working hard side by side in order to finish
their project. They was all way tension in th air, a “geek” and a
“jock” working together, it was unheard of.
One day while at Jans house Mark came to th realisation that he
was begining to like Jan, as a friend. He took notice of what she
Page 42 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
liked and didn’t like so much. He took time to notice that she was
lonley, but had such a humorous personality and wondered why she
didn’t have more friends. He began to feel sad for her and decided
that he was going to envolve her in his life, somehow.
After th project was done and the science day was long forgotten
Mark asked Jan to come over and hang out. Jan was surprised by this
offer of kindness, and a tad suspicious. But after she and Mark talked
she realized that this “olive branch” of friendship that Mark was
offering her was real, she started to cry. It turns out that Mark was
the first person to truly take an intrest in her.
When Jan arrived at Marks house to hangout she was shocked. Mark
had gathered manny of th things she liked, even her favorit movie,
Snow White. After a long night of waching movies and deep convesation
Jan left. One her way home Jan realized something that she never
thought could be possible. That if you take time out of life to get to
know someone, that thy can sometimes surprise you and affect your life
forever.
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 43
Writing ‐ Training Paper #9 31. People and events can sometimes surprise us.
Surprises can come in many forms, physical or mental. There can be
small ones or big ones. Some surprises make us want to keep them close
to our hearts; other surprises make us want to forget them etirely.
People and the environment around us always give us some surprises
daily. For example, the sunset was especially beautiful or lunch was
forgotten. However, these are only relatively small surprises with
little or no effect on our personal lives. The surprises I find that
are the most important are the unpleasant ones, the kind where you
meet a true friend and ones that can change your life.
Though surprises are usually used in a positive way, it can be used
negatively as well. Unpleasant surprises usually teach people to be
more wary, of themselves or the environment. Examples of an unpleasant
surprise might be ones where the car is stolen, a robbery occured in
the house or near-death experiences. More often than not these severe
cases of bad surprises are ususally caused by carelessness. Though
these are upleasant to the unfortunate victim, they also serve as an
important lesson to him or her. Such surprises are hard to forget. All
surprises have a lesson to teach, some people just learnt it the hard
way.
Friends are one of the most important factor of almost anyone’s
life. They are the one who we can laugh or joke with or even cry with.
Page 44 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
Friends are our supporting pillars through good times and bad. True
friends are hard to find as relationships build overtime. Meeting and
making a true friend always comes as an after surprise. At first, we
don’t know if the newfound friend will stay or go. However, if they do
stay, we are almost always surprised that we actually found the
friend. It is sometimes hard to remember that they can come from any
place and time in our life. We never expect certain people to become
our friends, but when they do, we are always happy to have them as a
friend.
Surprises can sometimes, as indicated in “The Gift: How one’s act
of kindness Changed a Life” can change a person’s life. I have had
such an experience. Thankfully, it is a rather positive one. In Grade
5, I had the option of advancing into the 6th Grade in French Immersion
or to continue in 6th Grade in the regular English Program. I surprised
myself by choosing to attend the Late French Immersion Program since I
had always been quite unwilling to shift to unfamiliar grounds. By
joining this program, I have undoubtely changed my future. Changes
that occured were immediately evident as soon as I started Grade 6. I
had to change schools and I had to immerse myself in a completey
French environment. Though it was a bit difficult at first, I
gradually adapted and liked the changes. I know that this twist in the
road that I have taken in life will branch me off into more, and
possibly better, options in my future.
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 45
Surprises have been and will always be a part of our life. They
make our lives more exciting and eventful. Surprises can sometimes be
the annoying alarm clock that wakes us up in the morning and drags us
away from our rest. Those are the kinds that are unpleasant. They seem
to yell at us to be more careful and wary of our sometimes mindless
actions. Nevertheless, there are still pleasant ones like finding and
meeting a true friend. Finding a friend adds mostly to our personal
comfort and social luxury. Surprises like a friend almost garuntee a
positive outlook on life. Surprises that can change a life are neutral
as they can be both good and bad; it is not definite. It is rather
encouraging to know that I had the luck of experiencing a positive
surprise that changed my life. French Immersion had really enable me
to select more options that were closed to me in the past. We all have
to take surprises as they come in life as there are no other ways to
receive them. They happen without our consent. I personally like
surprises since they make my life more interesting, and as a result,
make life more worth living for.
Page 46 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
Writing ‐ Training Paper #10 31. People and events can sometimes surprise us.
It was back in grade six when this event occured. I lived a happy
life at the time. I had what any kid could wish for – a loving family,
supportive friends, and fairly good grades in school. Everything was
going expectantly well, and I think it was my greatest mistake
believing that.
My best friends in school were two girls named Virginia and
Michelle. They appeared to be lovely people at first. They would let
me come to their house, let me join their group during group projects,
and the best thing of all – hang out with them during recess and
lunch. I cherished their friendship, not knowing until much later that
they were only friends with me for my homework to copy, and my help on
schoolwork.
Being ignorant of all this led me to a happy life. In a way,
perhaps it was better to have surrounded myself in those blissful
lies, rather than to have uncovered the truth. Either way, I did not
have the chance to chose what was in store for me.
The beginning of the revelation started near the end of May. We
were playing in the playground like every other children. The game was
cops and Robbers, and I was the cop. The objective of the game was for
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 47
the “cop” to put the “Robbers” in jail until all the “Robbers” were
caught. Unfortunately, this was impossible, as a “Robber” could easily
escape if aided by another “Robber”.
On these playdays, I would seldomly get to be a Robber. This often
led to the fact that I would always be isolated and alone. I didn’t
mind it at first, since I was happy enough to even be part of the
game. Later, it became a problem, when I would always find myself
alone during the breaks, running after something that would never be
there.
Eventually, I got annoyed enough to be able to inform my friends
of what I thought. I had expected them to empathize with me, but
again, I was wrong. Those darling friends of mine did nothing but
laugh. Even as I write this today, I could feel tears of abandonment
and bitterness rushing to my eyes.
These friends were people I trusted. They were supposed to be
people that I could rely my fears and pains on. Instead, they made me
feel like I was an inanimate object, something they could use.
Something that was meant to be trampled upon.
At the time, I questioned myself upon the fact of whether they
truly were my friends. I wondered whether they were with me only for
my answers, or whether they truly liked me as a person.
I got my answer a few weeks later when they stopped talking to me
completely. I had never felt so alone. A part of me recognized the
loneliness, as they pratically were not my friends to begin with. Yet
Page 48 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
another part was filled with shock and betrayal. No matter what, I did
consider them to be my friends. This surprise numbed and saddened me
to the depths.
I did learn a lesson from all this: everyone can be decieving.
We all have another face hidden within ourselves – whether good or
bad. It is utmostly our inner character that defines us. There are a
lot of shocking events that could occur in one’s lifetime. The only
solution would be to accept them, for all in all, life is unexpected.
Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005 Page 49
Rationales for Writing Training Papers Training Paper #1 — Mark: 1 • Ideas are not developed • No discernible purpose • Too brief to accomplish the task • Lacks structure • It does implicitly address the task Training Paper #2 — Mark: 2 • Broad generalizations with little support • Structure seems illogical • Weak sentence structure • Little understanding of language conventions • Frequent noticeable errors interfere with meaning Training Paper #3 — Mark: 3 • Ideas are listed with some support • Limited vocabulary and sentence variety • Structure is weak • Errors distract • Awkward flow Training Paper #4 — Mark: 3 • Ideas are often listed • Little support and sense of purpose • Weak structure • Underdeveloped Training Paper #5 — Mark: 4 • Ideas are clear with some support and sense of purpose • Formulaic • Does not engage the audience • Cliché, repetitive, basic
Page 50 Grade 10 English Training Papers August 2005
Training Paper #6 — Mark: 4 • Ideas are straightforward and clear • Basic vocabulary and sentence variety • Attempts to engage • Structure formulaic • Pedantic Training Paper #7 — Mark: 4 • Ideas are generally straightforward • Basic vocabulary and sentence variety • Attempt to engage audience • Formulaic with support • Some depth of thought Training Paper #8 — Mark: 5 • Ideas are well developed • Clear sense of purpose • Appropriate word choice • Engages audience • Writing demonstrates control • Purpose lacks originality, individuality or maturity • Appropriate versus effective word choice Training Paper #9 — Mark: 5 • Ideas are well developed • Clear sense of purpose • Appropriate word choice • Generally engages • Structure is logical • Does not engage throughout Training Paper #10 — Mark: 6 • Ideas are developed and supported with individuality • Effective word choice • Engaging throughout