OSSLT Released Questions (2010-2011)

Teen’s Recycling Recipe Bags Award

1. Which paragraph describes the event that happened first?

   paragraph 2

   paragraph 3

   paragraph 4

   paragraph 5
2. What is the meaning of “hypothesis” as used in paragraph 5?

   a recipe

   a problem

   a prediction

   an experiment
3. What is responsible for the decomposition of plastic bags?

   bacteria

   polyethylene

   additional water

   large composters
4. What is the purpose of the information inside the parentheses in paragraph 6?

   It provides an explanation

   It refers to another experiment

   It presents a step in the experiment

   It emphasizes the importance of the problem
5. Why did Burd’s experiment win the top prize?

   It could solve a significant problem

   Burd plans to study science in university

   It encourages people to reduce their use of plastic bags

   Burd discovered the bacteria that break down plastic bags
6. Explain how Burd’s project demonstrates the work of a scientist. Use specific details from the selection and your own ideas to support your answer.

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Writing

1. Choose the option that best combines all the information in the following sentences.

   • I love basketball.
   • The Bears are my favourite team.
   • I hope they win the championship this year.

   I love basketball, and I hope the Bears win the championship this year.

   I love basketball and the Bears because I hope they win the championship this year.

   I love basketball and hope the Bears, my favourite team, win the championship this year.

   I love basketball, I love the Bears, my favourite team, I hope they win the championship this year.
2. Which option tells how to make the following sentence correct?

   John Reid, the mayor of Kapuskasing wondered how his city would survive the economic downturn.

   Capitalize the word “mayor”.

   Add a comma after “Kapuskasing”.

   Replace the period with a question mark.

   Use quotation marks around “how his city would survive the economic downturn”.
3. Choose the sentence that is written correctly.

   The students is going on the bus.

   Each of the students is going on the bus.

   Two students and their teacher is going on the bus.

   All of the students except for Jim is going on the bus.
4. Choose the sentence that does not belong in the following paragraph.

   (1) Eating a variety of nutritious foods is important for good health. (2) Fruits and vegetables provide daily vitamins. (3) Exercise is an important part of healthy living. (4) Protein from meat, dairy foods or legumes is needed for muscle growth. (5) Fat intake should be limited. (6) A proper diet is important.

   sentence 2

   sentence 3

   sentence 4

   sentence 5

Short Writing Task

1. What is the best advice you have ever given to someone? Use specific details to explain your answer.

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News Report

1. Write a news report based on the headline and picture provided in the booklet.

   • You will have to make up the facts and information, answering some or all of the following questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?
   • You must relate your newspaper report to both the headline and the picture.

   Storm Shuts Down Region

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Reading

1. In 1979 the method of naming hurricanes changed to respond to

   the need for more names

   requests for equal treatment

   confusion with repeated names

   a desire to use all letters in the alphabet
2. What factor determines when a hurricane’s name is retired?

   the location of its origin

   the time of year it struck

   the first letter of its name

   the degree of its destruction
3. The word “designated” as used in line 10 means

   assigned

   repeated

   demanded

   eliminated
4. Why are the letters q, u, x, y and z (line 11) shown in italics?

   to highlight their importance

   to indicate the naming pattern

   to distinguish letters from words

   to emphasize their unique sounds
5. The numbers in lines 15 and 16 emphasize

   the uncommon names

   pattern of unusual names

   intensity of severe storms

   increasing frequency of storms
6. What is the overall organizational structure of this selection?

   present to past

   general to specific

   problem to solution

   least to most important
7. State a main idea of this selection and provide one specific detail from the selection that supports it.

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Writing a Series of Paragraphs

1. Write a minimum of three paragraphs expressing an opinion on the topic below. Develop your main idea with supporting details (proof, facts, examples, etc.).

   Is participation in extracurricular activities an important part of secondary school life?

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Writing

1. What should the writer of the following paragraph do to improve its organization?

   (1) The Comfort Maple tree stands in a field near Welland, Ontario. (2) It is over 30 metres high and eight metres around the trunk. (3) Today it is a local attraction. (4) The tree was already 300 years old when the Comfort family settled the land in 1816. (5) Few trees like it survive.

   Break sentence 2 into two sentences.

   Switch the order of sentences 3 and 4.

   Insert “Since” at the start of sentence 4.

   Move sentence 5 to the start of the paragraph.
2. Which sentence is written correctly?

   I travelled along the trans-Canada highway near North Bay.

   I then continued toward Sudbury, passing the village of wahnapitei.

   Once I got to Sudbury, I went to the lake laurentian conservation area.

   Mayor Fortin greeted me at the park gate before my tour of the wetland.
3. Choose the best closing sentence for the following paragraph.

   Travel guides are exciting to read.

   Summertime is a popular time to travel.

   Updating travel documents might be necessary.

   Planning will make your vacation enjoyable.
4. Choose the sentence that is written correctly.

   The flagpole stands on it’s own.

   The cat licked its wounded paw.

   Because of the storm, it’s roof caved in.

   The game is cancelled because its raining.

A Labour of Love Sparks a Career

1. Why did Terasa create her own cookies?

   to be able to work from home

   to compete on a television show

   to find a way to bond with Sierra

   to provide a healthy diet for Sierra
2. What is emphasized by the use of the word “plied” (paragraph 4)?

   Terasa’s trust

   Terasa’s fussiness

   Terasa’s frustration

   Terasa’s determination
3. When were Barnies available in 144 stores across Canada?

   after Terasa appeared on TV

   after Terasa recovered from her illness

   while Terasa’s friends and family ran the business

   while Terasa was making them in her own kitchen
4. Between which paragraphs does the focus shift from Sierra to Terasa’s business?

   paragraphs 2 and 3

   paragraphs 4 and 5

   paragraphs 5 and 6

   paragraphs 6 and 7
5. Why was it important for Terasa to deliver “her sales pitch persuasively” (paragraph 11)?

   She hoped to impress the judges

   Sierra’s health depended on her success

   Her daughters had written encouraging notes

   Four thousand applicants were auditioning for the show
6. What did Terasa have to give up to attain greater success?

   Sierra

   her health

   a part of her earnings

   time with her friends
7. Which of the following was most likely spoken?

   “Barnies” (paragraph 5)

   “We believe in you!” (paragraph 10)

   “straight from the horse’s mouth” (paragraph 11)

   “Dream big, work hard…” (paragraph 12)
8. Why is paragraph 13 an effective conclusion?

   It provides surprising information.

   It returns to the topic of the opening paragraph.

   It continues the focus of the paragraph before it.

   It builds suspense by asking an unanswered question.
9. Which phrase indicates the popularity of Barnies?

   “Terasa took up this challenge”

   “Terasa found a national distributor”

   “Terasa plied Sierra with many treats”

   “Terasa delivered her product sales pitch”

Reading

1. Why does Joe ask Amy to use “everyday language” (paragraph 3)?

   Joe is testing Amy’s understanding.

   The lunchroom is too noisy to hear her.

   The brochure uses complicated language.

   Amy is speaking too fast for him to understand.
2. What is the relationship between the information in paragraphs 2 and 4?

   two contrasting ideas

   a question and its answer

   an opinion and supporting details

   a general idea and a specific example
3. Why does Joe collapse into the chair?

   Working has tired him out.

   He doesn’t know what to do next.

   He feels sick from breathing fumes.

   Amy’s words help him feel relaxed.
4. Which phrase is quoted from the Occupational Health and Safety Act?

   “any worker can say no to work” (paragraph 2)

   “is likely to endanger him or her” (paragraph 2)

   “any worker has the right to refuse unsafe work” (paragraph 4)

   “workplace safety is essential for everyone” (paragraph 7)
5. What does this selection indicate about Joe’s and Amy’s workplace?

   Some employees lack safety training.

   Only men are in supervisory positions.

   New employees feel secure in their jobs.

   All storage areas are adequately ventilated.
6. What is one character trait that describes Amy? Use specific details from this selection to support your answer.

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7. Why should everyone learn about workplace safety? Use specific details from this selection and your own ideas to support your answer.

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Short Writing Task

1. Identify the ideal destination for a high school field trip. Explain your choice with specific details.

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Canada’s Recreational Fish Tale

1. What does the increasing use of barbless hooks suggest about anglers?

   They want to help maintain fish populations.

   They want to retain as many fish as possible.

   They want to make a lot of money selling fish.

   They want to make sure the fish are securely hooked.
2. If the trends shown in the graphs continue, what is a logical prediction?

   The number of fish caught decreases.

   The number of anglers rises to 1985 levels.

   In 2005, anglers spend less than one billion dollars on fishing.

   In 2005, the number of retained fish reaches 150 million.
3. What is the purpose of the asterisk (*) beside “direct fishing-related expenditures”?

   to direct the reader to the graph

   to indicate the importance of the section

   to connect the heading to other information

   to emphasize the amount of fishing-related expenditures
4. Which part of the selection relates most closely to the final paragraph?

   the introductory paragraph

   the “Total number of anglers” graph

   the “Total fish caught and retained” graph

   the “Direct fishing-related expenditures” graph
5. What is the meaning of “adopted” as used in the final paragraph?

   used

   noticed

   suggested

   abandoned
6. Which part of the selection shows that the recreational fishing industry contributes to the economy?

   the picture of the angler

   the “Total number of anglers” graph

   the “Total fish caught and retained” graph

   the “Direct fishing-related expenditures” graph