comprehension and language...educated at home, mostly by their mothers. all girls learned domestic...

English 1st Language Grade 7

1

Read the following extract and then answer the questions which follow:

Ancient Greek PE

If your favourite class is physical education, you would have been happy in

ancient Greece, especially if you were a boy. The ancient Greeks believed that

physical fitness was important and that a strong body was necessary for a strong

mind. Teachers taught boys gymnastics and other sports. Boys also learnt to

swim, wrestle, and throw a discus and spear.

From the time they were seven years old, boys went to school at a gymnasium,

where all of their education took place. On the other hand, young girls were

educated at home, mostly by their mothers. All girls learned domestic skills, but

wealthy girls learnt to read and write. While they did learn to dance, physical

education was not thought to be as important for girls.

Live music accompanied physical training, in the gymnasiums. Ancient Greeks

believed that music was important for the soul. As wealthy boys grew into young

men, they trained hard to take part in important competitions like the Olympic

Games. The best athletes competed for their regions. Although winners did not

receive prize money, they did win fame. Greeks believed the winners were

favoured by their gods. The physical training that boys received also helped turn

them into the strong and fit soldiers that they were expected to become.

Bonnie Brook Communications. 2010. Daily reading comprehension grade 6. Page: 45. Evan Moor

educational publishers.

Comprehension and Language


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Question 1: Comprehension questions

1. From what age did boys attend school? (1)

_________________________________________________________________

2. Where did boys and girls attend school? (2)

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

3. Compare the boys’ curriculum to the girls’ curriculum. (4)

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

4. In your opinion, is this difference between the boys’ and girls’ curriculum fair? Justify

your answer. (3)

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

5. How would you have felt if you were a girl in Ancient Greece? (2)

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________


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6. “Although winners did not receive prize money, they did win fame”.

Do you feel that today’s society, or ancient Greece’s society better celebrates the

achievements of athletes? Give reasons for your answer. (3)

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Question 2: Language in context

1. Using the table below identify the root word and suffix or prefix of the following

terms. (8 x ½ )

Term Root Word Prefix and/or Suffix

accompanied

Education

competitions

2. Provide a synonym or antonym for the following terms from the text. (6)

Synonym Antonym

regions ______________________ wealthy ______________________

best ______________________ young ______________________

fame ______________________ important ______________________

3. Identify the underlined parts of speech in the text. (8)

you

Greeks

a

time

domestic

accompanied

hard


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4. Specify the function of the comma in each of these examples: (3)

a) Boys also learned to swim, wrestle, and throw a discus and spear.

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

b) All girls learned domestic skills, but wealthy girls learned to read and write.

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

c) On the other hand, young girls were educated at home.

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

5. Identify the subject and predicate in each sentence: (4)

a) Ancient Greeks believed that music was important for the soul.

Subject - _______________________________________________________

Predicate - ______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

b) Greeks believed the winners were favoured by their gods.

Subject - _______________________________________________________

Predicate - ______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

6. Identify the underlined phrase in each: (2)

a) Live music accompanied physical training, in the gymnasiums.

_______________________________________________________________

b) From the time they were seven years old, boys went to school at a

gymnasium.

_______________________________________________________________

important

fame


5

MEMO:

Question 1: Comprehension

1. From what age did boys go to school? (1)

They attended school from the age of 7.

2. Where did boys and girls attend school? (2)

The boys attended school in the gymnasium, while the girls were educated at

home.

3. Compare the boys’ curriculum to the girls’ curriculum. (4)

The boys’ curriculum was based on sport and physical activity. They learnt to

swim, throw discus and spear, wrestle and do gymnastics. The girls’ curriculum

focused on learning domestic skills and wealthier girls learnt to read and write.

4. In your opinion, is this difference between the boys’ and girls’ curriculum fair?

Justify your answer. (3)

The difference in curriculum is not fair as not all boys want to do sport and not all

girls want to learn domestic skills. Girls should have an opportunity to do sport

and boys should be able to learn skills other than sport. The difference in

curriculum shows gender inequality.

5. How would you have felt if you were a girl in ancient Greece? (2)

Own answer, example given: I would have felt disadvantaged and upset that I had

no choice in what I wanted to learn or become one day.

6. “Although winners did not receive prize money, they did win fame”.

Do you feel that today’s society, or ancient Greece’s society better celebrates the

achievements of athletes? Give reasons for your answer. (3)

Own answer, example given: In our society today, professional sportsmen and

women are paid a lot of money for their achievements. Sport is their job and they

should be rewarded for it, just like any other person is paid a salary. Although

ancient Greeks were not paid for their achievements on the sports field, they still

received fame, but in my opinion, that is not enough to celebrate the hard work

required to succeed.


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Question 2: Language in context: 1. Using the table below identify the root word and suffix or prefix of the following

terms. (8 x ½ )

Term Root Word Prefix and/or Suffix

accompanied company ac, ed

education educate ion

competitions compete tions

2. Provide a synonym or antonym for the following terms from the text. (6)

Synonym Antonym

regions areas wealthy poor

best greatest young old

fame recognition important insignificant

3. Identify the underlined parts of speech in the text. (8)

4. Specify the function of the comma in each of these examples: (3)

a) Boys also learned to swim, wrestle, and throw a discus and spear.

The comma is used to separate items in a list.

b) All girls learned domestic skills, but wealthy girls learned to read and write.

The comma is used in a conjunction, separating two phrases.

you pronoun

Greeks proper noun

a indefinite article

time common noun

domestic descriptive adjective

accompanied verb

hard adverb of manner

important descriptive adjective

fame abstract noun


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d) On the other hand, young girls were educated at home.

The comma is used after an introductory phrase, separating it from the rest of

the sentence.

5. Identify the subject and predicate in each sentence: (4)

c) Ancient Greeks believed that music was important for the soul.

Subject – Ancient Greeks

Predicate – believed that music was important for the soul.

d) Greeks believed the winners were favoured by their gods.

Subject - Greeks

Predicate – believed that the winners were favoured by their gods.

6. Identify the underlined phrase in each: (2)

c) In the gymnasiums, live music accompanied physical training.

Adverbial phrase of place

d) From the time they were seven years old, boys went to school at a

gymnasium.

Adverbial phrase of time

comprehension and language...educated at home, mostly by their mothers. all girls learned domestic...

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