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END OF SEMESTER 2

2018-2019

YEAR 5

Grammar & Reading

PRACTICE SHEETS

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Contents Page:

Page: Grammar

Use passive verbs 3 Use the perfect form of verbs of time and cause 5 Use relative clauses beginning with who, which, where, when,

whose, that 7

Use commas to clarify meaning or avoid ambiguity 8 Use hyphens to avoid ambiguity 9 Use semi-colons, colons or dashes 10 Use a colon to introduce a list. 13 Punctuating bullet points consistently 14 Subjunctive forms. 15 Use expanded noun phrases 18 Use modal verbs and adverbs 19 Use brackets, dashes or commas to indicate parenthesis 20

Comprehension Non- fiction 22 Fiction 31

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Brazil was beaten in the football finals.

[subject] [passive verb]

Spanish is spoken by more than 300 million

people worldwide.

[subject] [passive verb]

Objective: Use passive verbs Depending on the way in which you word a sentence, a verb can be either active or passive.

When the verb is passive, the subject undergoes

the action rather than doing it:

Q1. Decide whether the sentence is in active voice or passive voice.

a) 1) Maryam drives her new car. ______________________________

b) 2) The plants are watered by my grandma everyday. ___________________

c) 3) The students sang a happy song during the assembly. _________________

d) I made a card for my teacher on Teacher’s Day. _____________________

Q2 Rewrite the sentence below in its passive form.

a) The visitor gave a speech. __________________________________________________________

b) Haya is baking a chocolate cake.

___________________________________________________________

c) James and his brother watered the big plants.

___________________________________________________________

d) The teacher helped the student with her Math work.

___________________________________________________________

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Tick the sentences that are written in the passive voice

Lena organised the teams for the tournament.

Games have been organised for the party by him.

The presents were wrapped by Abdulla.

Children must report to Ms Farhana.

Eida drew a fantastic picture.

Trees had been knocked over by the wind.

The computer was broken by Ms Amal.

These are all written in active voice. Change each sentence into passive voice

The dog was chewing the shoe.

Noora won the prize.

Ameena told a joke.

A fire destroyed the factory.

These next sentences are all written in passive voice. Write each sentence in the active

voice underneath.

The naughty boy was kicked by the stallion.

The cup was left on the table by Mr Mark.

The milk had been knocked over by a cat.

The car had been driven recklessly into a rock by Mr Yusuf.

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Objective: Using the perfect form of verbs to mark relationships of time and cause.

The 'perfect' tenses (present perfect, past perfect and future perfect) are usually used to

talk about actions that are completed by the present or a particular point in the past or

future.

1.

2.

3.

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Using

Using the future Perfect Tense

Underline the future prefect verb form in the sentences below.

1. I will have finished my homework by dinner time.

2. How long will you have lived in this city next year?

3. By next summer, they will have built the bridge.

4. The plane will have taken off by two hours.

5. Mary will have gone on a holiday by this time next year.

6. I will have graduated from the university in two years.

7. She will have fallen asleep by the time we get home.

8. By June, I will have finished my work.

9. By the time I arrive to the school, math lesson will have started.

10. They will have written the reports by the time you find her

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Objective: Using relative clauses beginning with who, which, where, when, whose, that or with an implied (i.e. omitted)

relative pronoun. Relative clauses are clauses starting with the relative pronouns who*, that, which, whose,

where, when. They are used to give extra information about the noun. Here is an example:

The heavy rain, which was unusual for the time of year, flooded the roads

around Al Maha school.

Q1. Underline the relative clause in each sentence.

1. We visited the funfair that came to our town. 2. My uncle who lives in Australia has sent me a present. 3. My friend whose rabbit I look after is on holiday.

Q2. Which sentence contains a relative clause? Tick the correct answer

The boy who I met at the park is in my class.

The team is going to play a match tomorrow.

Sue said that she wanted to learn to play the drums.

Whenever they have time, they like to go cycling.

Q3. Label each of the clauses in the sentence below as either main (M) or subordinate (S).

When the bell rang, we dashed into the playground and we started a game of football.

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Objective: Use of commas to clarify meaning or avoid ambiguity

Commas can be used to clarify meaning.

Q1.Insert a comma to clarify the meaning of the sentence below.

a) Fatima likes baking cats and doing ballet.

b) He walked on his hands full of sweets.

c) Maha’s heroes are her parents Spiderman and Catwoman.

d) I love cooking my family and my pets.

Q2. Add two commas to the sentence below to make it clear that Haya has four favourite things.

Haya’s favourite things are camping holidays cycling and swimming.

Q3. Insert a pair of commas in the correct place in the sentence below.

Fatima a very gifted singer won the talent competition that was held in her local theatre.

Q3. Explain how the use of commas changes the meaning in the two sentences.

Mangoes, which are grown in hot countries, taste delicious.

Mangoes which are grown in hot countries taste delicious.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Objective: Using hyphens to avoid ambiguity A hyphen is useful to eliminate ambiguity (doubt).

1. Insert one hyphen and one comma in the correct places in the sentence below.

My sister is a ballroom dancing champion poet and singer.

2. Which sentence uses the hyphen correctly? Tick the correct answer.

There are thirty seven year-olds in Class 2.

There are thirty seven-year-olds in Class 2.

There are thirty-seven year olds in Class 2.

There are thirty-seven-year-olds in Class 2.

3. Which sentence uses the hyphen correctly? Tick the correct answer.

The sugar-free lollies are available in three flavours.

The sugar-free-lollies are available in three flavours.

The sugar-free lollies are available in three-flavours.

The sugar free-lollies are available in three flavours.

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Objective: Colon, Semi-Colon or Dash

An independent clause is a clause that can stand on its own.

An independent (or main) clause

always has a subject + a verb =

complete thought.

These are the punctuation marks we

are learning about:

Colons Semi-Colons

Can introduce a list

To make a cake, you will need: 2 eggs, etc.

Only use a colon if it follows a main clause.

Go before bullet points

Today’s meeting agenda:

• Volunteers for the fair

• Stall holders etc.

Introduce explanations:

Main Idea + More Detail

I’d like to buy an ice-cream: probably strawberry

flavour.

Break up lists (of longer phrases or clauses)

When I go camping we will be building a campfire;

putting up our tents in the dark; cooking yummy

marshmallows, and fishing by the lake.

Break up clauses

Sally was ready for bed; Aaron wanted to keep

playing. (Both sides are equally important)

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Dashes:

Q1. Tick one box to show where a dash should go in the sentence below.

African elephants are the largest animals in the world they can weigh up to 10 tonnes.

Q2. Which sentence is punctuated correctly? Tick one box.

The man grabbed his coat – it looked cold and windy outside.

The man grabbed his coat it looked cold – and windy outside.

The man grabbed his coat it looked cold and windy – outside.

The man grabbed his coat it looked – cold and windy outside.

Semi-Colons:

Q1. Insert a semi-colon in the correct place in the sentence below.

a) Come and see me tomorrow I will not have time to see you today.

b) There are Roman ruins near our village they are being excavated next week.

c) Whats App me this evening I have a secret to tell you.

d) Abdullah painted an oil painting it is stunning.

e) My grandfather is very good at telling us stories about his childhood I can listen for

hours.

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Colons:

Q1: Insert a colon in the correct place in the sentence below.

a) There are two places that I have always wanted to visit the Arctic and Antarctica.

b) I am feeling very sick today fever and a headache, c) I have to complete my homework Math and English d) He promised to be a good boy two days later he hit a boy in his class.

Q2. Which sentence uses the colon correctly?

I bought several beach toys a bucket: a spade a ball and a kite.

I bought several beach toys a: bucket, a spade, a ball and a kite.

I bought several beach toys: a bucket, a spade, a ball and a kite.

I bought several: beach toys, a bucket, a spade, a ball and a kite.

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Objective: Use colon to introduce a list

Insert a colon in the correct place in the sentences below.

Abdullah only missed one person his dad Khalid.

Tameem couldn’t decide where to have his birthday party at the bowling alley, the cinema or the swimming pool.

She saw three of her friends at Aspire Park Maryam, Lolwa and Maha

Fatima loved to add toppings to her waffle banana, chocolate chips, caramel and Twix.

Only one thing would make winter holiday in London more magical snow.

Muhammad has two favourite sports football and archery.

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Objective: Punctuating bullet points consistently

Q1. Put the following sentence into bullet points using the correct punctuation.

When visiting Europe in winter, you will need to wear a coat, hat, gloves, scarf, ear muffs

and thermal vests.

________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

Q2. Rewrite the information below adding the correct bullet points and punctuation.

in spring there are lots of changes such as trees blossoming birds feeding bulbs flowering

and baby animals being born

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Q3. True or false? The bullet point list is punctuated correctly.

Things you can do to feel better

go on a shopping trip

True or False

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Objective: Subjunctive Forms. The subjunctive form sounds scarier than it actually is. The subjunctive mood is all about how the verb (doing word) appears in a sentence. The subjunctive form is mostly used in formal language (if you were the queen for example). They can be used for:

showing conditions that are not true;

making a command more formal;

making a wish more formal;

making a request more formal.

Let’s look at some examples.

Advice Unreal situations

• Advise • Ask • Command • Demand • Insist • Propose • Recommend • Request

• Desire • Wish • Hope • Dream

For example: To advice

Noun/ Pronoun

Verb (can change for tense etc)

That Noun/Pronoun Infinitive verb (must always be in root form for the subjunctive to be grammatically correct)

I propose that dad listen

She demanded that he be

We command that she write

Sarah insist that John have

Mr Jones

ask that the school team

attend

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• Unreal situations:

If Noun/pronoun were situation

If I were rich

If I were famous

If he were to attend they party

If they were going to book the holiday

Now try to answer these question.

Q1. Which sentence is the most formal?

She suggested that her mother be present.

She really hopes to be ready on time.

Don’t forget to lock the door!

If Johnny’s late, we’ll start without him.

Q2. Which verb completes the sentence so that it uses the subjunctive form?

I wish I ___________ able to join you, but it will not be possible.

am

were

was

be

Q3. Complete the sentence below so that it uses the subjunctive form.

If I _________________ to have one wish, it would be for good health.

Q4

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Objective: Expanded Noun Phrase

Read the following sentences. Underline the expanded noun phrase in each sentence.

1. The brightly- colored parrot flew through the canopy.

2. After his lunch, Ahmed ate a sweet, delicious chocolate brownie.

3. Under the waves, the stripy fish swam quickly through the reef.

4. As Dana sat at the bus stop, she saw three large, black cars go past.

Which one of these sentences has the correct form of the expanded noun phrase?

1. The cat under the bush was drenched and shivering.

2. From the cave, a dragon with deadly claws came crashing out.

3. The wizard in the purple robe waved his magic wand and they all disappeared.

4. “Please pass me the keys from the top drawer,” Dad said to Farha.

Improve the following sentences by expanding the noun phrases.

a) The ____________ man enjoyed the ___________ barbecue.

b) There was a ____________ climbing up the ___________ wall.

c) At the __________ picnic the _____________ children ate the ___________

Expanded noun phrase gives more details or information about a noun in a simple noun phrase. This is done usually by adding adjectives to describe the noun phrase, for example:

She walked through the dark, mysterious forest.

Another way to create an expanded noun phrase is to add a prepositional phrase to add further information about the noun.

For example:

The man with the red hat sat on the bench.

wwww

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Objective: Using modal verbs or adverbs to indicate degrees of possibility

Modal verbs are can: could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, and would. They

are used to express tense and mood.

Q1. Identify the modal verb in each sentence below.

1. You ought to listen to your teacher

2. I must go to the dentist now; my teeth are really hurting me.

3. Farha may go to the party tomorrow.

4. Amna won’t be having chips tonight.

5. Ahmed will fetch the car.

6. The lions must find food, or they shall starve.

Q2. Choose one of the modal verbs from the boxes below to complete these sentences.

1. Khaled ___________________ try his best at school as he wants to get an A.

2. He is so tired, he __________________ keep his eyes open.

3. Muhammad is a great footballer. He ____________ even play in the goal!

4. If she keeps trying hard, she ______________ stand a chance of winning the competition.

5. He is still learning. He _______________ say the 8 times table as yet.

6. You ________________ steal or hurt other people’s feelings.

7. When you have finished eating, you ________________ wash your dishes.

When I am older I ___________________ be a businessman

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Objective: Using brackets, dashes or commas to indicate parenthesis

A parenthesis is a word or a phrase that is inserted into a sentence to add information or

explain something.

We generally put extra information inside commas.

Q1. Underline the sentence which correctly uses commas for parenthesis:

o Her mum, who was always well-dressed, drove her daughter to school.

o Her mum, who was always well-dressed drove her daughter to school.

o Her mum who was always well-dressed, drove her daughter to school.

Q2. Which two sentences use punctuation to show parenthesis? Tick the correct answer.

There are some books − including story books − in the cupboard.

To make space, we moved the chairs, tables and the boxes of games.

Our classroom, at the end of the corridor, has a red door.

On Tuesday, we will be selling cakes for charity.

Q3. Insert a pair of dashes in the correct place in the sentence below.

Some of the vegetables in the school garden especially the carrots and pumpkins had grown to an enormous size.

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Test your knowledge:

Q1. Which sentence has been punctuated correctly?

Tick one.

Immediately after, dinner we did the washing up.

Immediately after dinner we did, the washing up.

Immediately after dinner, we did the washing up.

Immediately, after dinner we did the washing up.

Q2. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

Tick one.

Lately, the days have been growing noticeably longer and, warmer.

Lately the days, have been growing noticeably longer and warmer.

Lately the days, have been growing noticeably longer, and warmer.

Lately, the days have been growing noticeably longer and warmer.

Q3. Insert one comma in the correct place in the sentence below.

Limping slightly the old man walked to the end of the road.

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Non-fiction

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MY RAMADAN DIARY

My name is Usman and I live in Manchester, UK. I am 14 years

old and I am a Muslim. Ramadan is the holiest time of the

Muslim year and is a time when Muslims do not eat or drink

during the hours of daylight. It is also a time of reflection

when Muslims try to become better people, giving up things

which take their thoughts away from Allah.

I have fasted for the first day, and it was difficult. At lunchtime I could smell the food

in the canteen and I was starving. The worst part is knowing that this is just the first

day. The school has given us a room to be apart if we want to use it, to pray, but we

don’t want to be too different from our friends. Tahir, Mohammed and me went for a

walk outside to get away from people eating. We try to pretend it is easy, but it’s not.

My Dad is diabetic which means he cannot go for long periods without food, so he

can’t fast, and my sister Rahina is too young, so I am doing this for myself and my

family. I have decided that I must try to stay away from Facebook during Ramadan,

that is the one thing that would distract me. Tahir says he will allow himself one hour

a day, but that is cheating I think.

Around 3 O’clock I became very thirsty, and I really needed a can of Coke. It doesn’t

help when you see others on the bus home from school drinking, and knowing that

even when you get home you cannot eat or drink. Day one is always the worst.

Muhammad cheated, I saw him, but he denied it. I saw him drinking from someone’s

can. He thought that no one had noticed, but I did. I know it’s hard but we cannot

give up, it is so important that we observe Ramadan so that other boys will know

how hard it is to be a Muslim and will respect us.

The sun goes down late in Manchester in June, it was 9.30 and my entire family

waited to start our Iftar meal. I stayed in my bedroom so that I couldn’t smell it, but

we all gathered at the table at 9 O’clock. After the meal we attended Mosque for

special Tarawih prayers. It is a difficult month, but exciting in a way, and I like the

This is the first day of my Ramadan diary.

Friday 18th June 2015

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feeling that I am respected as a man. This is my third fast, and I will support my

friends and the will support me, we will get through it together.

1. What is the name of the Muslim festival that Usman is celebrating? ________________________________________________________

2. List three facts about Usman _______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

3. What was the date of his diary entry?

____________________________________

4. Where does Usman live? Underline the correct answer.

i. Birmingham ii. India iii. Manchester iv. Qatar

5. Explain why Usman’s father and sister cannot fast during Ramadan

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

6. What else has Usman decided to give up during Ramadan? Why?

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

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7. What are the names of his two friends? _____________________ & ____________________

8. How did his friend Mohammed ‘cheat’?

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Day 2

The alarm goes at 04.00 and I hit it the snooze button, but Mum calls me for my

breakfast (Saheeh Al-Bukhari) and I know if I don’t get up I won’t last the day.

Muslims cannot eat or drink during the month long fast of Ramadan, so we have to

get up before sunrise to eat the iftar (breakfast) meal because we won’t be able to

eat or drink again until late tonight.

After my breakfast, I get my prayer mat and face East and perform the first of my five prayers (fajr) and then I go back to bed for until 07:00 when I have to get up for school. I’m fine at the start of the day and at the start of Ramadan it is exciting. It’s difficult to explain to non-Muslim why we look forward to Ramadan when it isn’t easy. We are all in it together, there is a feeling of camaraderie. As a teenager (I am 14), I feel more of a man during Ramadan than ever before and I can take part in my religion as a man, not a boy. I met Tahir on the bus and we Mohammed got on in Canal Street. They were excited but tried to hide it, laughing and joking on the bus, high fiving other Muslims as they get on. I kept quiet. Looking at my watch I realise I have maths at noon, which is when I have to pray again – this is called Dhuhr. We have been given a room to pray but I plant wait until lunchtime at 12.20. I suppose that I am embarrassed to walk out of the lesson to pray, non-Muslims probably wouldn’t understand and prayer is a private thing anyway. The day starts normally, first lesson is games and then science, my favourite subject, I want to be a dentist one day. Education is important to me and the Koran teaches that we should ‘seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave’. It’s a hot day today and I very got thirsty, especially after games, my mate Josh offered me his water bottle and couldn’t understand it when I refused.

“No on one will see you, and I won’t tell anyone that you had a drink” he said.

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But I knew that someone would see me and he was the most important person, and I would know. When the lunch time bell rang we went to the prayer room and turned it to face East and quietly said our noon prayer (dhuhr). It doesn’t last long and we then go outside to get away from the canteen smells and people eating. It’s fairly easy at the start of Ramadan, but the heat doesn’t help. At the end of the day we feel proud of ourselves, we have made a good start and we will stick together to support each other. Mohammed whispers to me that he had sipped some water and felt very guilty, I am glad it wasn’t me, but I encouraged him. He agreed to just stick at it. I went to my room a soon as I got home and change into my kameez, which is a loose cotton shirt and loose trousers, then I perform my third prayer (Asr) and join my family downstairs. My sister is very excited to see me and asks me about my Ramadan. She is too young to fast and has a small meal but will join us later when we break our fast. At that time Muslims remember God again as the day begins to come to a close. When Ramadan is in the Summer it is harder because the days are longer and the sun sets in Manchester around 09.30, but at that time we say our fourth prayer (Maghrib) and have our evening meal, which is a great relief. Mum has made a lovely meal and we have friends around to share it. Day two is almost over, almost! There is only one thing left to do – pray one final time, Isha (evening): Before retiring for the night to remember God's presence, guidance, mercy, and forgiveness.

9. How did his friend Mohammed ‘cheat’?

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

10. What time was it when Usman was able to eat?

_____________________________________________________________________

11. What was the reason that he was able to eat at that time?

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

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12. What did Usman have for his ‘Iftar’ meal?

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

13. Tick the foods that his family ate…..

Chips

Curry

ice cream

fruit

crisps

nuts

14. After the meal, what did Usman and family do?

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

15. What things would you find difficult to give up?

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

16. When can he not eat?

at night?

during the day?

on the weekends?

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Why Should We Recycle?

Every year throughout the whole country our ‘rubbish mountain’

grows. We throw our rubbish into our bins and forget all about it.

Where does it go?

It gets taken to the local ‘landfill’ site and is buried in the ground. We often call the

landfill, the rubbish tip.

What happens then?

As it rots it produces an explosive gas called methane and liquid filled with nasty

poisons sink into our water sources (rivers), polluting them. This becomes a threat to

fish, bird life and plants that grow near the rivers.

Much of the rubbish we throw away can be ‘recycled’ and used again.

paper

glass

metals

plastic

kitchen and garden waste can be turned into compost.

old furniture and clothes can be sent to be resold or re-used.

Mobile phones

Ink cartridges from printers. Each week in this country every household creates huge amounts of rubbish. It’s

thought that we throw away.

3 kg of paper

1.25 kg of glass

2 kg of cans and 1kg of plastic All this rubbish goes to a local ‘landfill site’.

Why throw it away when we can re-use?

Recycling is good for the environment because we don’t just keep taking raw

materials to make things but can make things from the rubbish. Also we aren’t

putting rubbish in the ground that turns into poisons. And, we aren’t taking up

precious land to bury our rubbish in.

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Read each questions carefully and answer the questions correctly. Remember to

read the passage twice before answering the questions. Search the passage for

answer and clues to answer the questions.

1. Why is recycling important?

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

2. What is a landfill site?

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

3. Why is the landfill site bad for the environment?

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

4. What does ‘recycle’ mean?

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

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5. Complete the table below. There is a column of types of materials that can be recycled, in the opposite column make a small list of the objects you know or can see that are made from that material. For example, paper is used for newspapers.

Materials What are they used for?

1. Paper

______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________

2. Glass

______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________

3. Metals

______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________

4. Plastics

______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________

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Fiction

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The Ramadan Lantern Story

Once upon a time there was a young prince who lived alone with his father, the

caliph, after his mother died. The caliph married again, but his new wife was often

unkind to the prince. The caliph didn’t care much and this made the young prince

very unhappy.

On the fifteenth day of the month of Sha’aban, the son said to his pet pigeon, ‘Let’s

not stay here anymore. Let’s run away because nobody here cares about us.’ So they

both ran away into the jungle.

After a long time, they came to a grand palace which belonged to a lonely ghoul.

‘This is the awful ghoul’s palace,’ said the prince, ‘but we are very hungry and cold

and he might be asleep. Let’s sneak in and rest till the morning.’ But the ghoul wasn’t

asleep. He was watching them.

The prince found a bed and fell asleep. When he woke up, he was surrounded by

golden prison bars: he was in a jail! The ghoul said, ‘I know all about your evil

stepmother. Your father doesn’t love you. I’m lonely, so I’ll keep you here as my pet!’

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The little prince pleaded with the ghoul to set him free. Finally, the ghoul growled,

‘I’ll send your pigeon home. If the caliph misses you, he’ll follow the pigeon back here

and save you. If not, you’ll spend the rest of your life here!’ The pigeon raced to the

caliph’s palace.

Since his son had run away, the caliph cried and prayed every night that he would see

him before the holy month of Ramadan. On the last night of Sha’aban, he felt that his

son was close. He opened the window and found the pigeon sitting on the ledge! He

knew that he had to follow the pigeon, but it was really dark.

A princess, the caliph’s sister, suggested that everyone in the palace held a candle

and lit the way for the grieving father. In minutes the news spread. Every man,

woman and child held a candle and followed the caliph.

On their way, the children sang songs to celebrate the beginning of the holy month

of Ramadan. The prince heard the songs and saw the light from his prison window.

He knew it was his father. The ghoul was touched by the whole scene. He whispered,

‘I was mistaken. Your father deserves a second chance. Go back home.’

The young prince was reunited with his father. They returned to the caliph’s palace

and fasted together on the first day of Ramadan. To reward his loyal subjects, the

caliph gave them gold lanterns to put outside their houses. Then he ordered his

ministers to light the streets and mosques with colourful lamps.

Since that day children have bought lanterns to mark the beginning of the holy

month of Ramadan.

Over the next few pages you will answer a range of comprehension questions.

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Have a go at all the questions. If you find a question really tricky then leave it BUT

once you have answered all the other questions return to the ones you left earlier.

1) Write a word to describe how the prince felt when his father’s new wife was unkind

to him.

_____________________________________________________________________

2) What animal was the prince’s pet?

a) cat

b) dog

c) pigeon

d) frog

3) Who did the grand palace belong to?

_____________________________________________________________________

4) Where was the prince when he woke up?

a) In a garden

b) In jail

c) In a cave

d) Back at his own house

5) Since his son had run away, what did the caliph do every night?

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

6) On the last night of Sha’aban what did the caliph feel?

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

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7) What did the caliph’s sister suggest that everyone in the palace should do?

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

8) What did the children do to celebrate the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan?

A Sing songs

B Eat lots of food

C wear nice clothes

D Dance

9) What did the caliph and the prince do on the first day of Ramadan?

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10) What did people put outside their houses, mosques and on the streets?

A Flower pots

B Food for the animals to eat

C Recycling boxes

D Gold lanterns

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Eid Al Fitr Story

Eid is always a time we looked forward to when we were children. It was a time when we'd have new clothes made for us and we'd get our hair cut so we'd look nice. It was also a time when we'd be given money.

One Ramadan, when I was maybe six or seven years old, I remember my mum telling me to remind my father to collect my new kandura from the tailor. We went to get it but it was always last minute and when we brought it home, the kandura was too short! This was a day or two before Eid.

My father went to get it fixed but there was no time. Then Eid came and I started crying, thinking my three sisters and four female cousins would make fun of me because I was a miskeen - a poor boy - in an old kandura and they were all in new dresses.

But even though it was last minute, my mother fixed it. She got an old-fashioned sewing machine out of storage. It was one that worked by hand - I didn't even know my mother was a good tailor.

She got my kandura and unpicked the hem at the bottom and made it longer so it fitted. Until then I hadn't realised why the hems are so long in kanduras.

Then I had a fresh idea and I thought to myself: "Maybe that means other people aren't making new kanduras."

My father said: "Who says that's a bad idea? If the people are poor and can't afford it, some will do that. It's why you have to say 'alhamdulillah' - 'thanks to God' - for having a new kandura." I also wondered why we don't give the old ones to the needy instead of throwing them away.

It was an amazing lesson, coming near the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

Just before Eid, it's traditional for everyone to get their hair cut so they look nice. One time, when I was 8 years old, my mother gave me five riyals and sent me to the barber, who was called Mukhtar. The whole neighbourhood in Ain Khaled used to see him and his two brothers, who also worked at the barbers.

Their shop in Ain Khaled was at the end of a row of shops and the first one I went past was one that sold sweets. I went in and bought an ice cream for half a riyal. So I now had four and a half riyals left but the haircut cost five riyals.

So what did I do? I went in and spent another half a riyal buying a type of biscuit that had a card in it featuring a photo of a Disney character, which the kids used to barter and swap.

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The neighbourhood kids used to play a game where we'd hold up a pair of cards - one mine, the other belonging to the other kid - and let them drop. The one whose card hit the ground first kept both cards.

I played with another boy so I could make up for only having four riyals left of the money my mother gave me. I was sure I'd make up for the money I'd spent before I reached the barber shop.

And I lost! And yes, it's almost like I was gambling and that was haram - forbidden - in Islam but, oh well, I was a child and I didn’t know any better.

So I bought another one - and lost that one too! Finally, I only had three riyals left. I was in big trouble but, fortunately, we lived in our neighbourhood like a family.

I went to the barber and inside there were 30 people waiting to get their hair cut by the three brothers. It must have been 9pm before my turn came around.

I had Mukhtar and I said to him: "Listen, Mukhtar, I only have three riyals. You tell my dad and he'll pay you the other two riyals." He looked at me and said: "No problem." He cut my hair for three riyals.

When I got home, I asked my father for two riyals and he gave them to me. I went back to Mukhtar and paid him.

We woke up early the next day for the Eid Al Fitr prayer. It's a special prayer at 6am that only happens once a year. Our mother made sure we were there right on time.

When we got back from prayer was the time we all waited for, as on Eid Al Fitr everyone gives children money. My father gave me and my sister money and my mother would, too. Usually it would be fifty riyals or more and when I was a child, to get 50QR or 100QR made us feel really rich. But even ten to thirty riyals made us happy.

The children used to go around the neighbourhood houses and be given money, then my father took us to visit his colleagues and some high official home majlises around the city in Doha. My father had five to seven main houses that he'd visit during Eid and share his greetings. But to me it was five to seven big opportunities to get more "eideyah" - the money children are given by the people at these homes.

How long did my money last? Are you kidding me? It was gone the same day.

Over the next few pages you will answer a range of comprehension questions.

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Have a go at all the questions. If you find a question really tricky then leave it BUT

once you have answered all the other questions return to the ones you left earlier.

1) Describe three things that the author did when it was Eid.

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2) What was the problem with the authors kandura?

A It was too long

B It was too short

C It was ripped

D The colour was not nice

3) What did the author’s mother do to the Kandura before Eid?

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4) What was the name of the barber?

A Khaled

B Nasser

C Abdullah

D Mukhtar

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5) What is the first thing that the author bought with his 5 riyals?

A Ice cream

B Chocolate cake

C Chips

D Bubble Gum

6) Describe the game that the neighbourhood kids used to play?

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7) At the barbers, how many people were waiting to get their hair cut?

a) 3

b) 33

c) 30

d) 13

8) What did the author say to Mukhtar before he had a haircut?

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9) What time did the author go for Eid Al Fitr prayer?

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10) Why do you think the authors Eid money that he collected was gone in one day?

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