Key English Skills Age 8–9 Answers

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Key English Skills Age 8–9 Answers12. gall/e/ry13. di/rec/tion14. com/pu/ter15. re/flec/tion16. ed/i/tor

B1. Electric2. General3. Ladybird4. Potato5. Rattlesnake6. Whispering7. Tropical8. Umbrella9. Stowaway10. Roundabout

C1. Example: Scope2. Example: Day3. Example: Lucky4. Example: Sudden5. Example: Rest6. Example: To7. Example: Wonder8. Example: Nut9. Example: Tramp10. Example: Ground

D1. Conifer2. Basketball3. Sandwiches4. Marmalade5. Hurricane

Page 7: Grammar – Capital Letters and Full StopsAI’ve written this message in the sand with a very long stick. You might wonder why I wrote with a long stick. You might also wonder why you’re sinking. Well I can tell you I wrote with a long stick because the sand you’re sinking in is actually quicksand. Thanks for reading my message. I hope you enjoyed it.

Page 5: ActivitiesA1. The Fox and the Woodcutter.2. Some huntsmen.3. Whether the fox had come that way.4. He pointed to where the fox was.5. The huntsmen did not take the hint about

where the fox was hiding.6. Through a crack in the cottage door.7. Because the woodcutter had given away his

hiding place.8. “If you had been as honest with your finger

as you were with your tongue, I should not have gone without bidding you goodbye!”

B Child’s own sentences.

C Child’s own version of the story.

D1. Goat2. Crab3. Eagle4. Bat5. Deer6. Hedgehog7. Jellyfish8. Stoat

E Child’s own sentences and drawing.

Page 6: Phonics – Three-syllable WordsA1. how/ev/er2. diff/i/cult3. diff/e/rent4. mem/o/ry5. hos/pi/tal6. ma/gic/ian7. lull/a/by8. lab/ra/dor9. mag/a/zine10. pro/fess/or11. mys/te/ry

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B1. My friend has a bow and arrow.2. We saw a cowboy film.3. The chief smoked a peace pipe.4. She lived with her husband in a large

wigwam.5. All the young braves danced around the

campfire.6. They traded their guns for buffalo hides.7. A pony galloped into the army fort.8. There was a young warrior behind the rock.

C1. Femi called with her friend Yasmin today.

I showed them my new pet rabbit.2. We had to stay inside all day. I was

delighted when the rain stopped.3. The outlaws stopped the coach and robbed

the passengers. Everybody was terrified.4. The wolf called the frog and the bear. They

promised to help him.5. The shepherd watched over his flock. The

wolf did not dare come near.6. The rocket lifted off. It was going on a long

voyage into outer space.7. She worked long hours on the farm. She

had the finest herd of cattle in the land.8. A huge pirate stood on the deck. His name

was Blackbeard.9. Snow fell during the night. When I awoke,

I wanted to make a snowman.10. The summer morning was bright and fine.

We set out for the seaside.

Page 8: Writing – Profile A Child’s own answers.


C Child’s own sentences.

Page 9: Language – Using WordsA1. Paws2. Roars3. Mane4. Elephant5. Cub6. Fly

7. Den8. Fur

BA horse has four hooves, a long tail and a mane growing on its neck. It has a coat of hair. A horse eats hay and lives in a stable. A young horse is called a foal. A female horse is called a mare and a male horse is called a stallion. A horse neighs to make itself heard.

C1. Feathers2. Wings3. Yellow4. Hisses5. Bird6. Neck7. Feet8. Talk

Page 11: ActivitiesA1. She talked too much.2. Echo was rude to Juno.3. Because she felt that she was now a sort

of parrot.4. Narcissus would hunt in the forest.5. Because he saw a stranger.6. Only her voice.7. Forests, near mountains, cliffs and caves.8. She always sounds sad and mournful.



DA. AlphaB. BravoC. CharlieD. DeltaE. EchoF. FoxtrotG. GolfH. HotelI. IndiaJ. JulietK. KiloL. Lima

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D1. Example: Concentrate2. Example: Tart3. Example: Diction4. Example: Tenth5. Example: Ration6. Example: Loaf7. Example: Dart8. Example: Lava9. Example: Sentiment10. Example: Cat

Page 13: Grammar – Capital LettersA1. At the end of every sentence there is a full

stop.2. My father spoke to Doctor Smith about my

sore throat.3. Meera Patel was absent from school

yesterday.4. I have a baby sister named Jane.5. Pears and apples are delicious fruit.6. Peter and I went to the pictures together.7. Larry Daly and Michael Rice are cousins.8. Erina and Hana were at the circus.9. Every day the teacher gives us homework.10. May I help you paint the picture?

B1. Last Tuesday the school team won the

football final.2. We have no school on Friday.3. People all over the world celebrate

Christmas Day.4. November comes between October and

December.5. Muriel’s mother made pancakes on Shrove

Tuesday.6. Peter’s best friend was born on New Year’s

Day.7. We went to the seaside for the Easter

weekend.8. In the United States of America, the fourth

of July is called Independence Day.9. April the first is called April Fool’s Day.10. The school holidays lasted from July to

September.

M. MikeN. NovemberO. OscarP. PapaQ. QuebecR. RomeoS. SierraT. TangoU. UniformV. VictorW. WhiskeyX. X-rayY. YankeeZ. Zulu

Page 12: Phonics – Four-syllable WordsA1. su/per/mar/ket a shape with two

halves that are exactly the same

2. symm/et/ric/al a food group containing plants such as carrots and potatoes

3. veg/e/tab/les large, green fruit4. wa/ter/mel/on a thousand years5. tel/e/vis/ion a large shop where

you pay for your goods as you leave

6. mill/enn/i/um equipment that shows moving pictures and sound

7. con/ver/sat/ion surroundings8. en/vi/ron/ment talking between two

or more people

B1. Invitation2. Discovery3. Impossible4. Information5. Ridiculous6. Unpopular

C1. Intelligent2. Gladiator3. Deciduous4. Congratulate5. Mathematics6. Calculator

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Page 14: Writing – Addressing an EnvelopeA1. Road2. Street3. Drive4. Avenue5. Square6. Terrace7. Park8. Gardens9. Grove10. Crescent

B Child’s own answer.

Page 15: Language — Using WordsA1. Screams swoops2. Hoots flits3. Gobbles struts4. Caws flaps its wings5. Coos flutters6. Quacks waddles7. Sings soars8. Cackles struts

B1. Neighs gallops2. Barks runs3. Howls lopes4. Brays trots5. Purrs slinks6. Roars prowls7. Chatters climbs8. Bleats frisks

C1. Beat2. Rumble3. Hoot4. Tick5. Screech6. Twang7. Crack8. Jingle

Page 17: ActivitiesA1. He was king of Egypt nearly four and a half

thousand years ago.2. His tomb was found.3. The entrance had been hidden.4. So that they could carry on using them in

the afterlife.5. People who believed in the curse said that

everyone who entered Tutankhamun’s tomb was doomed to an early death.

6. People who entered the tomb didn’t die any younger than those who didn’t.

7. They thought he might have been murdered.8. He died of an infection after breaking his leg.



D“Today is the day!” thought Diarmuid as he got ready for his entrance test to become a Fianna warrior. He felt a bit nervous as he did up his bootlaces. He ate some breakfast to give him strength and he flew out the door to the test. Diarmuid was tested on everything: he fought off nine warriors while standing in a hole; he wrote out all the ancient stories perfectly; he swam against a raging current; and he ran so fast and so deftly that not a leaf shook around him. When the bell rang at the end of the test, he was told that he had been accepted into the Fianna. He tore off his armour and sung and

danced all the way home.

E Child’s own sentences.

Page 18: Phonics – Word Endings: ‘ild’ and ‘ind’A1. child gentle and good-tempered 2. mild excited or out of control 3. wild a young boy or girl

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B1. We should always be kind to animals.2. Mansa helped the blind woman to find her

key.3. Millers grind wheat to make flour.4. I had to wind my baby sister.5. The doctor had to bind the cut with a

bandage.6. Abdul tried to wind the clockwork car.

C1. Blind2. Find3. Grind4. Kind5. Bind6. Wind

D“I have two guardian angels,” said the little child. “One is wildly wicked and the other’s meek and mild. And when I misbehave or when I am unkind, The mild one’s very sorry But the wild one’s hard to find!”

Page 19: Grammar – Capital LettersA1. My pen friend collects Irish stamps.2. Many Norwegian fishing trawlers fish off

the coasts of Canada and Greenland.3. The Italian singer sang at the music festival

in Cambridge.4. Frederic Chopin, a Polish composer, was

born near Warsaw.5. In the new supermarket you can buy

French wine and Dutch cheese.6. The Kenyan team will play South Africa in

Johannesburg on Saturday.7. Last February I received a letter from my

pen pal in India.8. Ben Lee bought a Swiss watch on Friday.

BEnglishAustralianGermanDutchIrishNamibianFrenchVietnamesePakistani

RussianIndianArgentinianSpanishSwedish

C Child’s own answers.

Page 20: WritingA One day the local giant decided to visit our school. We thought it was very friendly of him. It was a gorgeous day. We were so busy that we never even heard the poor giant knocking on our wooden door. Before we knew what had happened that enormous giant had lifted our thatched roof to see if we were inside.


C 1 and 2 Child’s own answers.

Page 21: Language – Using WordsA1. The pups have meat for dinner but the cat

has fish.2. We have to meet the lady who has the books.3. A whale has lungs but a fish has gills.4. The girls have measles and the boys have

the mumps.5. The soldiers have guns and their captains

have swords.6. Have you heard the orders he has given us?7. Has she seen the present you have bought?8. A weightlifter has to have very strong

arms.9. I have a funny joke to tell you!10. That joke has to be the worst I have ever

heard!

B1. Where did you leave your money?2. She did not know if he had done his

chores.3. Dad did the cooking while Mum did her

painting.4. What have you done with my pencil?5. I’ve done all I’m going to do.6. Alice did very well in her tests.

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7. Did it happen on Tuesday or Wednesday?8. I did my homework as soon as I got home

from school.9. Did a famous artist paint it or was it done

by an art student?10. I did not want to know how the magician

did the trick.

CI have just arrived home from school and I have loads of homework that has to be done before i can meet my friends. If I have my homework done before four o’clock, then I can have my friends over. They have loads of homework to do too unless they did it already.

Page 23: ActivitiesA1. It is one of the largest sharks in the world.2. Warm ocean waters close to the shore and

also in deeper water. 3. Good sense of smell OR Sharp eyesight OR

Ability to swim at speeds of up to 45 km per hour.

4. Camouflage.5. Sharks can mistake humans for seals.6. No – they tend to take a single bite and then

swim away.7. Because fishermen hunt them.8. Child’s own answer.



Page 24: Phonics – Fun TimeA1. Canada2. Cactus3. Caddy4. Carpet5. Calendar6. Canoe7. Curtains8. Captain9. Cell10. Cockpit11. Corn12. Canary13. Cardigan

14. Cinemas15. Cleopatra

B

S E P T E M B W L W

A S U N D A Y I I E

Y A E S A T N N M D

R T A P U L O T O N

A U A R T R V E N E

U R U I U E E R D S

R D G N M I M N A D

B A U G N D B B Y A

E Y S U M M E R E Y

F S T E G T R U A R

Page 25: Grammar – Revision AI was awake very early that morning. It was a Tuesday in early December. I was staying with my Uncle Tom at his villa in Greece. The first tremor came at about half past four. It was a very mild one and it barely woke me up. I was just nodding off again when the second one came. My whole bed shook. I could hear my cousin, Carlos, starting to shout. I jumped out of bed and ran to my balcony.I saw Doctor Mouscouri falling about like a puppet. Suddenly, my balcony startedto shake violently. The next thing I knew I was being flung forward. I clung to a piece of the railing but I couldn’t hold on. The last thing I remember was my Uncle Tom as he tried to grab my arm. I knew no more until I awoke in a hospital bed in Athens.

B1. James’ parents went to Warsaw.2. He won the superb bicycle racing.3. Three days ago I bought a new fishing rod.4. The old lady slipped on the icy road.5. He scored the winning goal in the football

game.6. Mary bought an exciting novel in the

bookshop.7. The small girl won the first prize.8. On the third lap the racing car overturned.

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Page 29: ActivitiesA1. North America, South America and Canada.2. 50-60 times a second.3. By weaving.4. By thrusting her bill down their throats

and regurgitating sweet nectar from her stomach.

5. It is the smallest bird in the world and it has the smallest birds’ eggs in the world.

6. For its array of colours.7. A cup shape.8. Nectar.9. It gets its name from the sound it makes

when flapping its wings.10. Child’s own answer.



D1. flitted2. crawled3. hovered4. leaped5. scurried6. wriggled7. prodded8. trapped9. glided10. pecked

9. The man read an interesting novel.10. We played cards until the early morning hours.

C1. Next Monday is Hallowe’en.2. Uncle Sean gave me a present last Tuesday.3. I saw the President of France while in Paris.4. Last June I visited my Aunt Halah.5. He travelled to Spain on New Year’s Eve.6. Mr Mandela was a famous President of

South Africa.7. Uncle Richard’s birthday is in May.8. The sixth month of the year is June.9. December is the last month of the year.

Page 26: WritingA Child’s own answers.

B Child’s own questions.


Page 27: Language – Using WordsAAcross 3. Snipe 7. Blackbird8. Corncrake13. Swallow14. Woodpecker16. Sparrow17. Pigeon

Down1. Magpie2. Robin3. Seagull4. Jackdaw5. Wren6. Thrush8. Crow9. Cuckoo10. Duck11. Swan12. Heron15. Owl

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8. Two worried women carefully examined the crystal glasses.

9. There were two smart chairs in the neglected garden.

10. A swarm of buzzing bees settled on the high branch.

Other answers are possible.

Page 32: WritingA Child’s own story.

B Child’s own story.

Page 33: Language – Using WordsA1. Jane found it too difficult to crawl between

two legs of the chair.2. She went to the bathroom, turned on the

two taps and flooded the place.3. I was too frightened to tell mum the story.4. When she broke the two cups, dad spoke

gently to her, but her mother was not too pleased.

5. There was too much jam on the slice of bread.

6. The doll was too expensive to buy.7. It was too early for the baby to go to bed.

B1. The swallows were there with their friends

the house martins.2. Some birds obtain their food by digging

with their bills.3. The penguins fluttered their wings and

waddled towards their pool.4. The killer whales seized their victims in

their jaws and disappeared.5. There is a kingfisher on that rock over there.6. There were hundreds of crows flying home

to their nests in the wood.7. The swallows built their nests there last year.

C1. Where did you go last night?2. Were there many elephants in the jungle?3. They were at a football match two days ago.4. We don’t know where the teachers were.5. We were standing where the river flowed

into the sea.6. The new houses are where the old markets

were held.

Page 30: Phonics – Word Endings: ‘ar’ and ‘er’A starfarmletterslippergardenscarfbuttercarpetlobsterhampersaucermarketdollarbutcherpillarcellarteacherhangar

B1. hangar2. cellar3. beggar4. beaver5. golfer6. bigger7. jumper8. player

Page 31: Grammar – AdjectivesAThe new girl came into the big school. She had silky black hair and dark eyes. She held her shiny blue bag tightly. In the noisy playground were strange, staring faces. Then a little girl came up and took her to a quiet room where she met her smiling, welcoming teacher.

B1. The caring nurse smiled at the weary

patient.2. The old dog barked at the silvery moon.3. The vicious shark gnawed at the wooden

boat.4. The new car roared along the winding road.5. The young tourist stayed in the

dilapidated hotel.6. The red bus reversed into the green van.7. We ate juicy strawberries and drank fizzy

lemonade.

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14. nine15. navy

Btrucktrainaeroplaneshipcanoebusautomobilemotorbikebicyclescooter

a l i b e t o k i r

m u b i c y c l e k

s u t k t a b n o n

c t r o w r a u q u

o o a e m l u r s t

o m i y p o u c i c

t p n o o a b p k a

e o r s d s h i p n

r e f g a e r o l o

a m o t o r b i k e

Page 37: Grammar – Singular and PluralA1. biscuits, trays2. trains, valleys3. keys, pockets4. ties, jumpers5. rays, windows6. roofs, chimneys7. boats, quays8. horses, jockeys

B1. The lady read the book on the train.2. The dentist checked the child’s tooth.3. The baby wore a nappy.4. The fox ate the salmon.5. The fish was swimming in the deep pool.6. The potato was served with fish.7. The shop sells a lawnmower.8. The farmer put the turkey in the shed.

7. Where in Europe were you going to go on your holidays?

Page 35: ActivitiesA1. The Match Girl.2. Winter.3. A little girl.4. She was dressed in rags.5. Boxes of matches.6. None.7. To keep warm.8. She saw the same room, but with a crowd of

happy children sitting around a dinner table.9. A star.10. Her grandmother.11. To Heaven.12. An old man.13. Because she saw her grandmother.14. Child’s own answer.



D1. another2. again3. nothing4. nobody5. away6. grandmother7. herself8. matchboxes

Page 36: PhonicsA1. nine2. November3. nib4. nettle5. nod6. nest7. net8. narrow9. nectar10. Neptune11. needle12. negatives13. Nile

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2. 214,000 litres.3. Up to 500.4. Height of 10,600 metres, speed of 912 kph

(560 mph).5. It met a thick, deadly cloud of dust and ash.6. Child’s own answer.7. The pilot put the jet into a glide and turned

back for the airport.



D

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Page 42: Phonics – Word Endings: ‘or’, ‘ur’ and ‘ir’Adoctortractorcalculatoralligatoractor

Bhorsestormtorchcornfork

C1. curl2. bird

C1. The boys put the cakes in the ovens.2. The farmers lifted the rocks from the fields.3. The cooks prepared the dishes in the ovens.4. The men put the boxes in the vans.5. Their uncles gave them the watches.6. The classes found the shells on the beaches.7. The birds flew from the bushes.8. The plumbers fixed the pipes in the cottages.

Page 38: WritingA Child’s own list.

B Child’s own list.

C Child’s own list.

Page 39: Language – Using WordsA1. The rabbit nibbled the lettuce leaf.2. The python swallowed the wild dog.3. The sheep chewed the green grass.4. The mouse munched the cheddar cheese.5. The turkey gobbled up the mashed potatoes.6. The hen pecked the seed.7. The small girl licked a lollipop.8. The lion devoured the young deer.9. The woman crunched the hard peanuts.10. The child consumed the stick of liquorice.Other answers are possible.

B1. The train thundered through the station.2. The snake slithered across the grass.3. The fox sneaked into the chicken coop.4. The worm wriggled along the ground.5. The horse trotted across the field.6. The duck waddled across the road.7. The pony cantered around the racetrack.8. The monkey swung from branch to branch.9. The rabbit scurried into its burrow.10. The soldier marched up the road.

Page 41: ActivitiesA1. 300 tonnes.

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kept losing count. He tried putting them all into one field and counting them as they jumped over the fence, but he only got to twenty-two and then he fell asleep.

BThe most common types of owls in Ireland are the barn-owl and the long-eared owl. The short-eared owl is a winter visitor, but also has been known to nest there. Owls are nocturnal. Their large eyes can see very well in the dark. Their eyes are at the front of their head, not at the side.

CSometime later, the King’s musician broke his harp. He searched everywhere for the wood of a willow tree to make a new harp. At last, he found a willow tree by a stream. He cut down the tree and made a beautiful harp from the soft wood.

That night, there was a big feast in King Larry’s palace. All the nobles and lords were in the Great Hall. The King ordered his harp player to play some music for his guests. But, when the harp player plucked the strings, the harp began to sing loudly, “King Larry has the ears of a horse, the ears of a horse.” There was silence in the Great Hall.

D Child’s own sentences.

Page 45: Language – Using WordsA1. troop2. swarm3. brood4. flock5. skulk6. herd7. gaggle8. shoal9. pride10. litter11. pack12. school13. hive14. team


3. hurt4. burn5. turf

D1. first2. bird3. girl4. birth5. Saturday6. Thursday7. visitor8. forget9. motor10. work11. shirt or short12. third13. blur14. curry

Page 43: Grammar – Masculine and FeminineA1. The king spoke to his son.2. The uncle spoke to his nephew.3. The bridegroom listened to his father.4. The husband praised the man.5. His grandson became a prince.6. The widower met his brother at the airport.7. The boy had no grandfather.8. The stepfather spoke to his son-in-law.

B1. The duck swam in the pond.2. The ewe was grazing in the field.3. The lioness was dozing in the shade.4. The peahen strutted on the lawn.5. The doe (or nanny goat) ate my hat.6. The vixen attacked the chickens.7. The goose made lots of noise.8. The filly stayed close to the fence.

CMasculine: ram, nephew, fox, uncle, prince, boy, coltFeminine: aunt, girl, vixen, niece, filly, princess, duck

Page 44: Writing – ProofreadingAOnce upon a time, there were sheep in a big field. There were so many sheep that the farmer

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Page 48: Phonics – G or J?Ajargeniejetjigsawgeneralgiraffejellyfishgerbilgymjug

B1. g2. j3. j4. g5. g, j6. j, g7. j8. j

C1. germ2. joke3. giraffe4. jam5. jelly6. gem7. geography8. judge

Page 49: Grammar – NounsA Child’s own answers.

B1. teacher2. igloo3. snake4. fireman5. circus6. lion7. clock8. astronaut

C1. Robin – it is a bird.2. Otter – it lives in the water.3. Potato – it is a vegetable.4. Octopus – it does not have a hard shell.

C1. trees2. fish3. mountains4. oceans5. countries6. cities7. boats8. instruments9. snakes10. planets

Page 47: ActivitiesA1. To see how well it was being run.2. So that no one would know who he was.3. He let a beggar ride on his horse.4. If he threw the beggar off the horse, the

beggar would make a fuss.5. If he gave the beggar money, he may get

his horse back, but the beggar may cheat someone else in the same way.

6. So that he could find out how well the Cadi did his job.

7. The horse neighed when his true owner walked past him.

8. Because the Cadi was a very wise man. (or child’s own answer).



D

m u s i c i a n d a n b s

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n o g h i j p h n o r k o

a b d o c t o r t r s s p

m b v m n o s e i t e s k

e l e q r h t m s m s e e

r e t u c v m r t g x r e

i r a a y z a a a n b t p

f e e c d e n f f g h c e

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5. They have special eyelids.6. They have padded feet.7. Seal flesh.8. The killer whale and the walrus.9. In a deep cave or snow tunnel.



D

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w k r a c l o r o u z v

v h s l r n e b y l v m

u j I n s b l u b b e r

f c n v e q e s w f k k

z e u c a p w a l r u s

d a i b l e l q r i q r

t h t n s c w n y k s f

Page 54: Phonics – Silent Letters: ‘g’ and ‘t’A

v s i g n h w f d

d b g n a w l t e

e h l o b u m n s

l t b m n n c p i

r q r e i g n t g

a r e s i g n a n

n j p x v l f n o

g n a s h i n g w

B1. castle2. thistle3. nestle4. whistle5. listen6. rustle7. bristles8. fasten

5. Kangaroo – all the others are derived from horses.

6. Lipstick – all the others are jewellery.

Page 50: WritingA Child’s own story.

Page 51: Language – Using WordsA1. many2. entrance3. sell4. everywhere5. safe6. sweet7. found8. down9. under10. poverty11. awake12. pull13. hate14. go15. dead16. rude

B1. red2. brown3. grey4. white5. golden6. blue7. purple8. evergreen9. tawny10. hazel11. silver-grey12. blue13. black14. green-eyed15. speckled16. pink

Page 53: ActivitiesA1. The Arctic.2. Because it has a white coat of fur and is a

good hunter.3. A single blow can break the neck of an ox.4. They have layers of fat.

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5. gold6. pancake7. ox8. owl9. hills10. bee

B1. morning, daisy2. bought, oak3. won, hare4. coal, snow5. beam, monkey6. ant, week7. competition, happy8. judge, owl9. road, flat10. ballerina, swan

C1. bat2. swan3. snail4. lamb5. ox6. fox7. wolf8. lion

Page 59: ActivitiesA1. They were watching the first Moon landing.2. To protect them from the heat.3. Air tanks.4. Neil Armstrong – “That’s one small step for

man – one giant leap for mankind.”5. Because the astronauts had to get used to

the weightlessness of being on the Moon.6. Because they did not have enough air.7. ‘Here, men from planet Earth set foot upon

the Moon, July 1969. We came in peace for all mankind.’

8. Child’s own answer.



9. wrestle10. gristle

Page 55: Grammar – NounsA Child’s own answers.

B1. Rabbits dig burrows in the ground.2. My dog lives in a kennel.3. The bullfrog leaped into the pond.4. There are many giraffes and lions in Africa.5. The eagle has a nest in the mountains.6. Honeybees make honey in hives.7. John Smith bought a donkey and a goat.8. The sheepdog buried a bone in the garden.9. The spider spun a web in the garage.10. The wasp stung Mina on the nose.

C1. donkey2. sky3. computer4. flag5. child6. seal7. cliff8. ship9. bleep10. saddle11. shell12. beach13. bucket14. book15. water16. letter17. seagull18. school

Page 56: WritingA Child’s own answers.


Page 57: Language – Using WordsA1. hatter2. snail3. ice4. fiddle

15

BThe Murray family rose early on the first morning of their holiday in Scotland. The weather was warm and sunny – a perfect day for a nice picnic at the seaside. The happy and excited children helped their parents prepare a big feast of tasty sandwiches and home-made cakes. After a quick breakfast, they set off on foot for a small, sandy beach about a mile from their thatched cottage. Already, the clear, blue sky was filled with the sweet, joyful song of tiny larks. As they strolled down the dusty road, their eager eyes gazed upon the broad, calm ocean.

C1. tired, vast2. simple, clever, wooden3. young, dusty, red4. long, red, rosy5. delicious, brilliant6. hungry, fat7. little, pet, cosy, new8. first, fast, comfortable9. thin, heavy10. silver, deep, dark

Page 62: Language – Using WordsA1. off, of2. off, of3. off, of4. off, off5. of, of6. off, off7. of, off8. of, off9. of, off10. of, off

B1. are, our2. are, our3. are4. are5. are, our6. are, our7. are8. our9. our, our10. are, our11. our, are12. are, our

D1. millions2. surface3. craters4. sound5. boiling6. freeze7. thousand8. orbit

Page 60: Phonics – Silent Letters: ‘b’ and ‘l’Acombthumbclimbcrumbplumbertomb

B1. plumber2. comb3. crumbs4. thumb5. climb6. lamb7. tombs8. numbed

Ccalf quiethalf used for writing on a chalkboard walk one of two equal parts palm inside part of the handcalm to speak to someoneyolk to move along on foottalk the yellow part of an egg chalk a young elephant

Page 61: Grammar – Adjectives AHe was an old man and he lived in the big house next to ours. He was very kind to the birds during the cold months of winter. Each morning he used to take them small morsels of soft bread. The feathery birds used to perch on his outstretched arm and eat the crumbs of bread. It was a very touching sight to see this generous man with his shivering friends around him.

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Page 63: Language – Using WordsA1. an, a2. an, an, a3. a, a4. a, a, a5. an, a6. an, an, a7. a, a8. an, a9. an, a10. an, a

B1. its2. it’s3. it’s4. its5. it’s, it’s6. it’s, it’s7. it’s8. its, it’s9. it’s, its10. its, it’s

Page 65: ActivitiesA1. Planet Problem!2. The names of all the planets.3. Chocolate – because astronomy terms

Galaxy, Milky Way and Mars are also names of chocolate bars.

4. Cian.5. Mnemonics.6. ‘Richard of York gave battle in vain’ for

the colours of the rainbow. OR Singing the alphabet to the tune of ‘Twinkle, twinkle, little star’.

7. My, Very, Easy, Method, Just, Sums, Up, Nine, Planets. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto!”




D1. red2. Mars3. yellow

4. Neptune5. Uranus6. green7. Saturn 8. indigo9. Jupiter10. violet11. Pluto12. Venus13. orange14. Mercury15. blue16. Earth

Page 66: Language – Fun TimeA1. fifty2. false3. fiddle4. foliage5. fifteen6. France7. foal8. feathers9. February10. foyer11. fidget12. freeze13. filly

BEarthSaturnJupiterMarsVenusPlutoMercuryNeptuneUranus

S E r t s N e p t u

n a P I M e r m y U

M r t J u p i t e r

a t a u o t M r E a

r h s t r u c a a n

d l u M s n u E r u

o l V u y e r P t s

P n n S a t y l l o

h e M e r c u r y u

V J u p V e n u l c

17

5. Run before the rhino charges.6. I shall feed the robins.7. A monkey chatters and an ape gibbers.8. At night the owl hoots in the forest.9. Tom will train the horse for the big race.10. The tiger chased the wild goat.

BChild’s own answers.

C1. hated2. bought3. disappeared4. open5. forget6. raised7. finished8. fixed

Page 71: ActivitiesA1. It was the largest meat-eating dinosaur and

the most fearsome hunter ever known on Earth.

2. Child’s own answer.3. Its mouth.4. 70 kilograms.5. Fossils show that they fought each other.6. Around 65 million years ago.7. One theory is that the weather changed (it

became cooler). Another theory is that a large meteor crashed into the Earth causing the weather to change suddenly.


BChild’s own sentences.


Page 72: Phonics – Three-letter BlendsA1. squirrel2. squash3. square4. squeeze5. squid6. squelch

Page 67: Grammar – Homonyms A1. It was eight o’clock before I ate a morsel of

food. (ate, eight)2. He hid the whole amount of his savings in

a deep hole. (hole, whole)3. When you bury that red berry it will grow

into a tree. (berry, bury)4. It was an hour later that our boat departed

from the quay. (our, hour)5. Everyone knew that he bought a new

bicycle. (new, knew)6. She read the title on the cover of the red

book. (red, read)7. The trainer knows that the player’s nose is

fractured. (nose, knows)8. The ram and the ewe stood near the yew

tree. (yew, ewe)9. Harry would like to go for a nature walk

through the wood. (would, wood)10. She threw the ball through the window.

(threw, through)

B1. grate2. team3. pear4. leek5. bough

CSeven days week Feeble weakSixty minutes hour Belonging to us ourExpensive dear An animal deer Shines in sky sun A male child son Pull (e.g. car) tow Of the foot toeTied to a mast sail Selling of goods saleA story tale Part of a dog tail Full of oneself vain Blood vessel veinSeaside beach Type of tree beech A small animal hare Of the head hair

Page 68: WritingA Information only.

Page 69: Grammar – Verbs A1. House spiders weave cobwebs.2. The squirrel built a drey.3. The otter caught a fat moorhen.4. The cat is purring near the fire.

18

7. squeak8. squirt

B1. squid2. squash3. squeeze4. squirrel5. squabble6. square7. squeal8. squiggle9. squeak10. squirt

Page 73: Grammar – Quotation MarksA1. ‘‘Paul has ruined my painting,’’ sobbed Lin.2. ‘‘Did you hear about the flood in Main

Street?’’ asked Neil.3. ‘‘I sentence you to one month in prison,’’

said the judge.4. ‘‘Once upon a time there was a small

cottage in the woods,’’ whispered the storyteller.

5. The huntsman roared, ‘‘The fox is making for the woods.’’

6. Khalia promised, ‘‘I will return your books on Friday.’’

7. Shin wished, ‘‘I hope Granny brings one of her chocolate cakes.’’

8. ‘‘I know nothing about the stolen watch, ’’ lied James.

9. ‘‘Do not stray from the forest path,’’ warned Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother.

10. The captain urged, ‘‘We must try harder in the second half.’’

BYesterday, Pedro and Isabella had great fun in the orange grove.

The day was sunny and warm, and suitable for orange picking. Isabella enjoyed picking the fruit. She wore gloves to save the skin of the oranges being spoilt. Her brother Pedro climbed the ladder and picked an orange from the top of the tree.

‘‘Just imagine, Isabella,’’ said Pedro, ‘‘this orange I’m picking may be eaten by an English boy. ’’

At noon their father arrived in a truck to collect the fruit. He was very pleased with their work. They quickly loaded the fruit on to the truck. Their father allowed them to travel with him to the market in Madrid. As they sped along the dusty road towards the big city, he turned to them and said, ‘‘Next Sunday I will take the pair of you to Valencia.’’

Page 74: Writing – Descriptive A Child’s own sentences.

B Child’s own story.Page 75: Language – Using Words ADown1. caterpillar2. beetle3. earthworm4. spider6. snail8. wasp10 bee

Across2. butterfly5. grasshopper7. ant9. ladybird11. centipede

1

32

4

5 6

7

8

019

11

b

e a

e g r

t

h

w

o

r

m

n t ic e

a s

n

a n

w

a d y b

e

e

il

s

p e d

t

i

l

s h o p

i

d

e

r

s

p e

r

p

i

l

l

a

r d

t

a

c

r

t

l

e

u t t e r f l y

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Page 77: ActivitiesA1. South America.2. The Xingus.3. The river gives them a regular supply of

fresh water and fish.4. His father and members of the tribe.5. The smoke helps keep beetles, flies and

mosquitoes away.6. Child’s own answer.7. Turtles, fish, berries, honey, bananas, mashed

cassava roots, small animals and birds.8. Blowpipes.



D1. bravely2. slowly3. carefully4. sweetly5. loudly6. easily7. sharply8. angrily

E Child’s own answer.

Page 78: Language – Fun TimeA1. acorn2. apple3. Andes4. Abbey5. accordion6. ace7. alligator8. Aesop9. atmosphere10. astronaut11. album12. anorak13. Amazon

Bumbrellaraincoat

glovesscarfanorakrainhatcapewellingtonscapmittensmuffbalaclava

w a b d e f g h s i j

d e b r m u f f c c k

u h l a a i n m a a l

m o g l l i t q r p s

b o l a i a n t f e u

r d o w l n c c e x y

e z v l c o g l o n m

l n e o a p s t a a s

l q s t p s t h o v t

a n o r a k u v e n a

w i r a i n h a t s s

Page 79: Grammar – SuffixesAcacklinggallopingcroakingsearchingblossomingscreamingshufflingquackingbubblinghowlinglappingcracklingclatteringbrayingsingingshiningwhistlingcreakingclankingrattlingneighing

B1. searching2. croaking

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3. whistling4. blossoming5. galloping6. bubbling7. shining8. crackling9. singing10. braying, neighing

Csuccessfulcolourfulhelpfulhandfuleventfulmasterfulharmfulcarefulpeacefulsinfultearfulmournfulsorrowfuljoyfulcheerfulrightfuldreadful

Page 80: WritingA Child’s own answer.

B Child’s own answer.

Page 81: Language – Using WordsA1. complained2. asked3. whispered4. begged5. shouted6. told7. advised8. ordered9. reported10. announced

BSomewhere in the hills, a tiny spring gushed out of the rock and trickled happily over smooth stones and shiny pebbles. Later on, it was a

dancing stream that rushed down the valley, past huge boulders and tall pine trees. Soon, it was joined by another stream and soon afterwards by another and another. Shortly afterwards it became a swift flowing river that roared onwards with great power and force. Next it passed a small village at the foot of the hills, where laughing children tossed bits of wood into its racing current. Almost immediately, it flowed under the arch of a sturdy stone bridge where a fisherman sat, his line dangling hopefully into the foaming waters. In a little while it reached the flat, level land of the plain and the river then slowed down, becoming silent, dark and deep. At last it was winding its way lazily through wide fields of rich green grass. After that it came upon a noisy city where huge buildings and tall smoky chimneys crowded the skyline. Finally it flowed out into the sea.Other answers are possible.

Page 83: ActivitiesA1. R.C. Scriven.2. Yes it does.3. Mars.4. No, they do not.5. Because he is right at the back of the class.6. Child’s own answer.7. 2.13 metres.8. Child’s own answer.

B Child’s own drawing.

C Child’s own answer.

D Child’s own story.

E1. globe2. bell3. teacher4. book5. rubber6. desk7. chair8. bags9. yard

21

10. clock11. ruler12. pencil

a b c d a r t k y e f g

h i c g l o b e a j k l

r m h n r u l e r o y p

e q a r p s t u d p e s

b v i w x e y z o p o l

b k r s k a n c m a k h

u s w g o b e l l k c u

r e s a l i c n e p o s

f d f b g b o o k v l s

t e a c h e r g b i c l

Page 84: Grammar – AdverbsA1. quickly2. bitterly3. brilliantly4. calmly, slowly5. superbly6. bravely7. quietly8. suspiciously9. patiently10. wisely

B1. lazily2. heavily3. busily4. noisily5. happily6. merrily7. warily8. angrily9. steadily10. hastily

Page 85: Writing – AdjectivesA Child’s own story.

B Child’s own story.

Page 86: Language – Using WordsAOnce upon a time a little girl called Goldilocks went for a walk in the wood. She did not know that there were dangerous animals in the wood.Suddenly she came upon a little house.“I wonder who lives here,” she thought.“There doesn’t seem to be anybody about.”She knocked on the door and walked in. In front of her were three bowls of steaming porridge.She tasted the first one and screamed, “This porridge is too hot to eat!”There were two bowls left so she tasted another one.“Yuk! This porridge is too sweet!” she shouted.There was one bowl left so she tasted that one.“Mmm! This porridge is just right!” she said.Goldilocks was so tired that she fell asleep in a small bed. She did not know that the Three Bears who lived there had returned from their walk in the woods.Father Bear shouted “Who is sleeping in Baby Bear’s bed?”Mother Bear shouted, “Who does she think she is?”Goldilocks jumped up and ran away.Baby Bear shouted after her, “Next time buy your own porridge!”Poor Goldilocks! She did not know what she had done wrong!

Page 87: Language – Fun TimeA1. Berlin2. beard3. buoy4. bungalow5. barge6. barometer7. barracks8. Brazil9. bridle10. bleats11. belt12. Brussels13. blade14. bat15. bee

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Bfootballformula onegolfathleticstennisplayerteamcompetechampiongoal

f g o l f q j i s h

c o p l a y e r s c

o a r a p v u c b h

m l w m r l i y m a

p f l p u t a a n m

e c e a e l e m k p

t h l l b t a n d i

e a h o g r t o t o

r t e n n i s w n n

a f o o t b a l l e

Page 89: ActivitiesA1. Border of Tibet and Nepal.2. 8848 metres.3. Four from: Air is very thin making it

difficult to breathe; very cold; extreme weather conditions; dangerous ice; chasms.

4. At least ten.5. To set up 8 camps along the way to the

summit.6. Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.7. Calm and sunny weather.8. Child’s own answer.



DThe climber slowly took off her backpack and carefully opened up the tent. She was incredibly tired and extremely cold. The wind howled wildly around her as she settled uncomfortably in her sleeping bag. Her legs were aching badly and she was breathing

deeply on her oxygen. Everyone thought that she would give up easily but she was utterly determined to reach the summit.

Page 90: Phonics – Three-letter Blends: ‘shr’ and ‘thr’Athronethroatthrowthread

Bshrimpshrinkshrewshrub

C1. shrub2. thread3. thrush4. shreds5. shrink6. thrill7. throne8. shrimp

D

l t h r o a t e t r

g h h e l t h r o b

n r u r t h r e a t

k e l a w h o s o n

o e e e s s n h i i

e i r m g h e r w i

a h f u o r u i s r

s o r o y i i n l e

s h r e d e o k h p

s d e p n k s t i e

Page 91: Grammar – Verbs A1. past2. past3. past4. passed5. passed6. passed7. past, passed8. past, passed

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9. passed10. passed, past

B1. flitted2. crawled3. hovered4. glided5. scurried6. wriggled7. prodded8. trapped9. leaped10. pecked

Page 92: Writing A Child’s own story.

B Child’s own list.

Page 93: Phonics – Revision AAcross2. jigsaw3. child5. bird8. throne9. burger13. shrew14. umbrella16. plumber17. farm18. alligator

Down1. bristles4. horse6. chalk7. lobster10. gnome11. pillar12. blind13. squirrel15. magician

16

17

1b

2

3 4

5 6 7

8

9 10 11

12

13 14 15

18

rijsc h i l dtlb i

nome w urhs

qu m b e rlpir mf arel

rsegrub r

od c l

o nbster e l

in

d

bl a

r

llip

magici g a t o ra l lan

b

h rtalk

es

g s a w

Page 94: Language – Revision A1. too, to2. too, to3. to, two4. two5. too, to6. two, to, to

B1. of, off2. off, of3. off, off4. of, of5. of, of6. off, of

C1. has2. has3. have, has4. has, have5. has6. have

D1. trundled2. skimmed3. slid4. scampered5. scurried6. trotted

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Page 95: ActivitiesA1. bee2. cockerel3. elephant4. donkey5. mouse6. frog7. horse8. robin9. snake10. monkey11. lion12. bear

B1. choir2. skulk3. hive4. bunch5. litter6. pack7. army8. fleet9. gaggle10. flock

C1. pillows2. always3. outside/exterior4. down5. senior6. rude

D1. bat2. swan3. owl4. dove5. ox6. fox7. wolf8. bear9. peacock10. monkey11. snail12. lion

Page 96: Grammar – Revision A1. bee 2. plaice 3. flower 4. tale5. herd 6. beech 7. hare 8. lair9. ewe10. coarse11. grate12. team 13. leek14. bough 15. heel16. pair17. seize18. cent 19. palette 20. sow21. isle22. rein 23. meat24. idol25. four26. their27. bean

Key English Skills Age 8–9 Answers

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