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SACE Stage 2 Tamil (continuers) study materials
SACE Stage 2 Tamil (continuers) study resources

SACE Stage 2 Tamil (continuers) practice questions

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Question 1Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which Tamil letter is a pure vowel (uyir) rather than a consonant (mey)?

  1. ங்
  2. ண்
  3. க்
  4. அ Correct answer.

Explanation

Tamil script separates uyir (vowels) from mey (consonants). அ is the first uyir letter, pronounced short 'a'. The other choices all carry the pulli dot, which marks a consonant with no inherent vowel.

Question 2Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which of these is the correct Tamil word for 'water'?

  1. நெருப்பு
  2. நீர் Correct answer.
  3. காற்று
  4. மண்

Explanation

நீர் is the standard Tamil noun meaning water, used in formal and literary registers. The other three words name fire, air and earth respectively, so they belong to different natural elements.

Question 3Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

A verb ending in -கிறான் indicates which person, number and gender?

  1. first person singular
  2. third person singular feminine
  3. second person plural
  4. third person singular masculine Correct answer.

Explanation

The ending -கிறான் marks present tense with a third person singular masculine subject, as in அவன் வருகிறான். Feminine singular uses -கிறாள் and plural or polite forms use -கிறார்கள்.

Question 4Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Choose the option that correctly completes the sentence: நான் நேற்று பள்ளிக்கு ____.

  1. போனேன் Correct answer.
  2. போகிறேன்
  3. போவேன்
  4. போகிறான்

Explanation

The time word நேற்று (yesterday) requires past tense, and the subject நான் (I) requires the first person singular ending -ஏன். போனேன் is the correct past form meaning 'I went'.

Question 5Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which numeral word in Tamil corresponds to the number 7?

  1. ஒன்பது
  2. ஏழு Correct answer.
  3. எட்டு
  4. ஆறு

Explanation

The Tamil cardinal numbers run ஐந்து (5), ஆறு (6), ஏழு (7), எட்டு (8), ஒன்பது (9). ஏழு therefore represents seven.

Question 6Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

What is the standard Tamil greeting used when meeting someone respectfully?

  1. நன்றி
  2. மன்னிக்கவும்
  3. போய் வருகிறேன்
  4. வணக்கம் Correct answer.

Explanation

வணக்கம் is the common respectful greeting in Tamil, used for both hello and goodbye in formal contexts. The other expressions serve different social functions such as thanking, taking leave or apologising.

Question 7Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

In the sentence மாணவன் புத்தகத்தைப் படித்தான், what is the grammatical role of புத்தகத்தை?

  1. verb
  2. direct object Correct answer.
  3. subject
  4. adverb of place

Explanation

The suffix -ஐ marks the accusative case, which identifies the direct object of a transitive verb. Here புத்தகத்தை (the book) is what was read, so it is the object, while மாணவன் is the subject.

Question 8Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which word is the correct Tamil term for 'school'?

  1. நூலகம்
  2. பள்ளி Correct answer.
  3. மருத்துவமனை
  4. சந்தை

Explanation

பள்ளி is the ordinary Tamil noun for school. The other options name a hospital, a market and a library, which are distinct public places.

Question 9Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which sentence uses the correct plural form of the noun?

  1. மரங்கள் உயரமாக உள்ளது.
  2. மரம் உயரமாக உள்ளன.
  3. மரம் உயரமாக உள்ளார்.
  4. மரங்கள் உயரமாக உள்ளன. Correct answer.

Explanation

Tamil neuter plural nouns take the ending -கள் and agree with the plural verb ending -உள்ளன. மரங்கள் உள்ளன therefore matches in both noun and verb number, while the other options mix singular and plural.

Question 10Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

What does the idiom கை நீட்டுதல் most commonly mean?

  1. to ask for help or money Correct answer.
  2. to point at something
  3. to stretch after waking
  4. to refuse an offer

Explanation

The literal sense is 'to extend the hand', but idiomatically it means to approach someone for assistance or financial help. Tamil idioms often carry meanings that cannot be derived word by word.

Question 11Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option correctly rewrites வந்தான் in the polite honorific form used for a respected elder?

  1. வந்தாய்
  2. வந்தது
  3. வந்தாள்
  4. வந்தார்கள் Correct answer.

Explanation

Tamil uses the third person plural ending -ஆர்கள் as an honorific for respected individuals, even a single person. வந்தார்கள் is therefore the polite form, while the others are ordinary feminine, neuter and second person forms.

Question 12Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Identify the correct passive-style construction meaning 'The letter was written by her'.

  1. அவள் கடிதம் எழுதுகிறாள்.
  2. அவள் கடிதத்தை எழுதினாள்.
  3. கடிதம் எழுத வேண்டும்.
  4. கடிதம் அவளால் எழுதப்பட்டது. Correct answer.

Explanation

Tamil expresses passive meaning with the instrumental case -ஆல் on the agent plus the past participle எழுதப்பட்டு with a finite auxiliary. கடிதம் அவளால் எழுதப்பட்டது follows this pattern exactly.

Question 13Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which pair of words are antonyms in Tamil?

  1. வீடு - இல்லம்
  2. அழகு - அழகான
  3. பெரிய - சிறிய Correct answer.
  4. நண்பன் - தோழன்

Explanation

பெரிய means big and சிறிய means small, so they are opposites. The other pairs are either synonyms or a noun with its derived adjective, so none of them expresses contrast.

Question 14Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

In the compound word மருத்துவமனை, how is the meaning built?

  1. மருத்து + வமனை, meaning medicine shop
  2. மருத்துவம் + அனை, meaning healing place
  3. மரு + த்துவமனை, meaning tree garden
  4. மருத்துவ + மனை, meaning doctor's house Correct answer.

Explanation

Tamil compounds join two stems whose meanings combine into a new whole. மருத்துவ (medical) plus மனை (house) yields hospital, and the compound is written as one word.

Question 15Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which sentence uses the conditional form correctly?

  1. மழை பெய்து நான் வரமாட்டேன்.
  2. மழை பெய்தால் நான் வரமாட்டேன். Correct answer.
  3. மழை பெய்தேன் நான் வரமாட்டேன்.
  4. மழை பெய்கிறது நான் வரமாட்டேன்.

Explanation

The conditional suffix -ஆல் attaches to the past stem of the verb, giving பெய்தால் meaning 'if it rains'. This clause then pairs with a main clause such as நான் வரமாட்டேன்.

Question 16Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

What is the correct Tamil word for 'library'?

  1. நூலகம் Correct answer.
  2. ஆசிரியர்
  3. மாணவர்
  4. வகுப்பு

Explanation

நூலகம் combines நூல் (book) with a suffix meaning place, giving library. The other options name a teacher, a student and a class.

Question 17Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option correctly completes: அவன் தினமும் பள்ளிக்குச் சென்று ____?

  1. படிக்கிறது
  2. படிக்கிறான் Correct answer.
  3. படிக்கிறார்கள்
  4. படிக்கிறாள்

Explanation

The subject அவன் is third person singular masculine, so the verb must end in -கிறான். The habitual word தினமும் does not change the agreement.

Question 18Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which sentence contains a correctly used relative participle?

  1. நேற்று வருகிறான் என் சகோதரன்.
  2. நேற்று வந்தவன் என் சகோதரன். Correct answer.
  3. நேற்று வருவான் என் சகோதரன்.
  4. நேற்று வந்தான் என் சகோதரன்.

Explanation

The relative participle வந்த modifies the following noun, and the person-marking suffix -அவன் makes வந்தவன் mean 'the one who came'. The other options use finite verbs, which cannot directly qualify a noun in this way.

Question 19Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which Tamil proverb advises that one should not give up effort even when results are slow?

  1. கண்ணுக்குத் தெரியாதது கடவுள்
  2. வேலிக்கு முன் விளக்கெண்ணெய்
  3. முயற்சி திருவினையாக்கும் Correct answer.
  4. அடி மேல் அடி வைத்தால் அம்மி மாறும்

Explanation

முயற்சி திருவினையாக்கும் states that effort itself brings prosperity, encouraging persistence. It is a well-known Tamil maxim about diligence, while the other sayings address different ideas.

Question 20Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option correctly places the negative verb in the sentence 'I do not know Tamil'?

  1. எனக்குத் தமிழ் தெரியாது. Correct answer.
  2. நான் தமிழ் தெரிகிறது.
  3. எனக்குத் தமிழ் தெரியவில்லை என்று.
  4. எனக்குத் தமிழ் தெரிகிறேன்.

Explanation

The dative construction எனக்குத் தமிழ் தெரியாது is the standard way to say one does not know a language. The negative verb தெரியாது takes the neuter singular form because the subject is the language, not the speaker.

Question 21Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

In the sentence அவன் வீட்டிற்கு வந்தபோது, நான் சாப்பிட்டுக்கொண்டிருந்தேன், what does the verb சாப்பிட்டுக்கொண்டிருந்தேன் express?

  1. a habitual present action
  2. a completed past action
  3. a future intention
  4. an ongoing past action interrupted by another Correct answer.

Explanation

The pattern past participle plus கொண்டிரு plus past tense marks progressive aspect in the past. It shows an action in progress when another event occurred, matching the வந்தபோது clause.

Question 22Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option best explains the difference between the case markers -ஐ and -க்கு?

  1. Both mark the subject of a sentence.
  2. -ஐ marks the direct object, while -க்கு marks the indirect object or goal. Correct answer.
  3. Both mark possession like -இன்.
  4. -ஐ marks place, while -க்கு marks time.

Explanation

Tamil distinguishes accusative -ஐ for the thing directly acted upon from dative -க்கு for the recipient or destination. For example, புத்தகத்தைக் கொடு versus அவனுக்குக் கொடு shows the contrast clearly.

Question 23Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which sentence uses the causative form correctly?

  1. மாணவன் பாடத்தைப் படிக்கிறான்.
  2. ஆசிரியர் மாணவனைப் பாடத்தைப் படிக்கச் செய்தார். Correct answer.
  3. அவன் பாடத்தைப் படித்தான்.
  4. பாடம் படிக்கப்பட்டது.

Explanation

Causation in Tamil is often expressed with the infinitive plus செய், meaning 'cause to do'. Here the teacher causes the student to read the lesson, which is the causative meaning.

Question 24Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

A formal letter in Tamil should open with which salutation when addressing an unknown official?

  1. அன்புள்ள நண்பரே,
  2. வணக்கம் டேவிட்,
  3. ஹாய்!
  4. மதிப்பிற்குரிய ஐயா/அம்மா, Correct answer.

Explanation

Formal Tamil correspondence uses respectful titles such as மதிப்பிற்குரிய ஐயா or அம்மா before the recipient's designation. Casual greetings and first names belong to informal letters or messages.

Question 25Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option correctly identifies the sandhi change in the phrase மரம் + வேர்?

  1. மரவேர் with both words unchanged
  2. மரம்வேர் with an added vowel
  3. மரம்வேர் with no change
  4. மரவேர் with the final -ம் dropped Correct answer.

Explanation

When a word ending in -ம் is followed by a consonant-initial word in a compound, the final -ம் often drops. மரம் plus வேர் therefore becomes மரவேர், a common Tamil sandhi pattern.

Question 26Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which Tamil pronoun is the respectful second-person singular form used when addressing an elder or a stranger?

  1. நீங்கள் Correct answer.
  2. நீ
  3. அவள்
  4. நான்

Explanation

Tamil distinguishes levels of politeness in the second person. நீங்கள் is the honorific form used for elders, superiors and unfamiliar people, and it also serves as the plural form. The plain நீ is restricted to close equals, children and intimates, so it would be impolite in a formal setting.

Question 27Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option gives the correct Tamil numeral word for 'one hundred'?

  1. பத்து
  2. இருபது
  3. ஆயிரம்
  4. நூறு Correct answer.

Explanation

Tamil number words follow a fixed set that learners must memorise. பத்து means ten, நூறு means one hundred, ஆயிரம் means one thousand and இருபது means twenty. The word for one hundred is therefore நூறு.

Question 28Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which Tamil word correctly names the day of the week that follows Monday?

  1. வெள்ளி
  2. செவ்வாய் Correct answer.
  3. ஞாயிறு
  4. திங்கள்

Explanation

The Tamil week begins with ஞாயிறு (Sunday) and continues with திங்கள் (Monday), செவ்வாய் (Tuesday), புதன் (Wednesday), வியாழன் (Thursday), வெள்ளி (Friday) and சனி (Saturday). The day directly after Monday is therefore செவ்வாய். The other options name Sunday, Monday and Friday respectively.

Question 29Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

In the sentence குழந்தை பால் குடித்தது, which word functions as the subject?

  1. குழந்தை Correct answer.
  2. பால்
  3. none of these words
  4. குடித்தது

Explanation

Tamil is a subject-object-verb language, so the subject normally comes first and carries no case marker when it is the agent. Here குழந்தை 'the child' is unmarked and performs the action, while பால் is the object and குடித்தது is the finite verb. The subject is therefore குழந்தை.

Question 30Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option is the correct Tamil word for 'teacher'?

  1. மருத்துவர்
  2. ஆசிரியர் Correct answer.
  3. மாணவன்
  4. விவசாயி

Explanation

Occupational nouns in Tamil are distinct lexical items. ஆசிரியர் means 'teacher' and is used respectfully for both men and women. The distractors name a student, a doctor and a farmer, so only ஆசிரியர் matches the required meaning.

Question 31Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which sentence correctly uses the dative case to say 'She gave the book to the boy'?

  1. அவள் புத்தகத்தைப் பையனோடு கொடுத்தாள்.
  2. அவள் புத்தகத்தைப் பையனில் கொடுத்தாள்.
  3. அவள் புத்தகத்தைப் பையனுக்குக் கொடுத்தாள். Correct answer.
  4. அவள் புத்தகத்தைப் பையனைக் கொடுத்தாள்.

Explanation

The dative case marker -க்கு marks the recipient of an act of giving, so பையனுக்கு means 'to the boy'. The accusative -ஐ would wrongly make the boy the thing given, -இல் is locative 'in', and -ஓடு is sociative 'with'. Only the first sentence expresses the intended beneficiary correctly.

Question 32Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option correctly forms the past tense of the verb படி ('to study') in the third person singular masculine?

  1. படிபவன்
  2. படிக்கிறான்
  3. படிப்பான்
  4. படித்தான் Correct answer.

Explanation

Tamil verbs build tense from a tense marker plus a person ending. The past marker here is -த்த-, giving படித்தான் 'he studied'. The present is படிக்கிறான், the future is படிப்பான், and படிபவன் is a participial noun meaning 'one who studies'.

Question 33Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option correctly joins the two clauses into one sentence using a participle: 'He came home and ate'?

  1. அவன் வீட்டிற்கு வந்து சாப்பிட்டான். Correct answer.
  2. அவன் வீட்டிற்கு வரும்போது சாப்பிட்டான்.
  3. அவன் வீட்டிற்கு வந்தால் சாப்பிட்டான்.
  4. அவன் வீட்டிற்கு வந்தான் சாப்பிட்டான்.

Explanation

The verbal participle ending -து (here வந்து) links a preceding action to the following one performed by the same subject, giving a natural 'came and ate' sequence. Two finite verbs placed side by side without a linker are ungrammatical, and the conditional -ஆல் and the temporal வரும்போது change the meaning to 'if' and 'when'.

Question 34Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option is the correct Tamil word for the season of heavy rain, the monsoon?

  1. பருவமழை Correct answer.
  2. இலையுதிர்
  3. பனி
  4. கோடை

Explanation

Tamil names the seasons with distinct vocabulary. பருவமழை refers to the seasonal monsoon rains, while கோடை is summer, பனி is cold or frost and இலையுதிர் refers to autumn leaf-fall. Only பருவமழை denotes the rainy monsoon period.

Question 35Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which sentence uses the correct Tamil word for 'because' to express a reason?

  1. மழை பெய்தாலும் நாங்கள் வெளியே செல்லவில்லை.
  2. மழை பெய்து நாங்கள் வெளியே செல்லவில்லை.
  3. மழை பெய்ததால் நாங்கள் வெளியே செல்லவில்லை. Correct answer.
  4. மழை பெய்யும்போது நாங்கள் வெளியே செல்லவில்லை.

Explanation

The suffix -ஆல் attached to a past participle expresses cause, so பெய்ததால் means 'because it rained'. The concessive -ஆலும் means 'even though', the plain participle பெய்து merely sequences actions, and பெய்யும்போது means 'when it rains'. Only the first option presents the rain as the reason for staying in.

Question 36Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option correctly reports the speech in அவன், 'நான் நாளை வருவேன்' என்றான்?

  1. நாளை வரமாட்டான் என்று அவன் சொன்னான்.
  2. நேற்று வந்தான் என்று அவன் சொன்னான்.
  3. நாளை வருவதாக அவன் சொன்னான். Correct answer.
  4. நாளை வருகிறான் என்று அவன் சொன்னான்.

Explanation

In Tamil indirect speech the quoted clause is nominalised with -ஆக or - என்று and the tense is shifted appropriately. வருவதாக conveys 'that he would come', preserving the future reference of நாளை. The other options either change the tense, the time word or the polarity of the original statement.

Question 37Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option best explains the function of the particle -உம் in அப்பாவும் அம்மாவும் வந்தார்கள்?

  1. It marks the first noun as the object of the verb.
  2. It marks the nouns as plural only.
  3. It marks the two nouns as coordinated, meaning 'both father and mother'. Correct answer.
  4. It turns the nouns into a question.

Explanation

The clitic -உம் is an additive particle meaning 'also' or 'and' and, when repeated on two nouns, coordinates them into a single compound subject. Because the coordinated subject is plural, the verb takes the plural ending வந்தார்கள். The particle does not mark case, number or interrogation on its own.

Question 38Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option is the correct Tamil word for 'hospital' as used in everyday speech?

  1. சந்தை
  2. மருந்தகம்
  3. பள்ளி
  4. மருத்துவமனை Correct answer.

Explanation

மருத்துவமனை is the standard word for a hospital, built from மருத்துவம் 'medicine' plus மனை 'house'. மருந்தகம் is a pharmacy where medicines are sold, பள்ளி is a school and சந்தை is a market. Only மருத்துவமனை denotes a hospital.

Question 39Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which sentence uses the imperative form correctly when politely asking someone to sit down?

  1. உட்கார்ந்தார்.
  2. உட்காரவில்லை.
  3. உட்காருகிறார்.
  4. உட்காருங்கள். Correct answer.

Explanation

The polite imperative in Tamil is formed with the ending -உங்கள், giving உட்காருங்கள் 'please sit'. The other forms are finite statements: past third person, present third person and a negative. Only the imperative form issues a request to the listener.

Question 40Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option correctly expresses 'I have been living in Chennai for five years' using the Tamil present perfect progressive?

  1. நான் சென்னையில் ஐந்து ஆண்டுகள் வாழ்ந்தேன்.
  2. நான் சென்னையில் ஐந்து ஆண்டுகள் வாழவில்லை.
  3. நான் சென்னையில் ஐந்து ஆண்டுகள் வாழ்வேன்.
  4. நான் சென்னையில் ஐந்து ஆண்டுகளாக வாழ்ந்து வருகிறேன். Correct answer.

Explanation

Tamil marks an action continuing from the past into the present with the participle வாழ்ந்து plus வருகிறேன், and the duration is expressed with -ஆக. This gives the present perfect progressive sense. The simple past, future and negative forms do not convey an ongoing situation.

Question 41Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option gives the correct Tamil idiom meaning 'to be very close to someone, like a right hand'?

  1. வலக்கை போல இருத்தல் Correct answer.
  2. கை நண்பன்
  3. கை கழுவுதல்
  4. கை வலிக்கிறது

Explanation

Tamil uses body-part imagery in idioms, and வலக்கை போல இருத்தல் 'to be like the right hand' describes an indispensable, trusted helper. The other phrases are either literal descriptions of the hand or invented combinations that carry no idiomatic meaning.

Question 42Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option correctly identifies the function of the suffix -காரன் in the word விவசாயக்காரன்?

  1. It changes the word into an adjective.
  2. It forms an agent noun meaning 'the person who does'. Correct answer.
  3. It marks the plural of the noun.
  4. It forms a diminutive meaning 'little'.

Explanation

The suffix -காரன் (with its feminine counterpart -காரி) derives agent nouns denoting a person associated with an occupation or place, as in விவசாயக்காரன் 'farmer'. It does not express smallness, plurality or adjectival modification. Recognising this pattern helps learners interpret many occupational words.

Question 43Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option is the correct Tamil word for 'freedom' as used in political discourse?

  1. சுதந்திரம் Correct answer.
  2. சுகம்
  3. சூழல்
  4. சேவை

Explanation

சுதந்திரம் is the established Tamil term for freedom or independence, widely used in political and historical writing. சுகம் means comfort or health, சூழல் means environment or circumstance, and சேவை means service. Only சுதந்திரம் carries the required political meaning.

Question 44Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option correctly forms the comparative statement 'This book is better than that book'?

  1. இந்தப் புத்தகம் அந்தப் புத்தகமாக நல்லது.
  2. இந்தப் புத்தகம் அந்தப் புத்தகத்தை விட நல்லது. Correct answer.
  3. இந்தப் புத்தகம் அந்தப் புத்தகத்தைப் போல நல்லது.
  4. இந்தப் புத்தகம் அந்தப் புத்தகம் மிக நல்லது.

Explanation

Tamil expresses comparison with the pattern X-ஐ விட Y, literally 'leaving aside X, Y', where the standard of comparison takes the accusative plus விட. The second option simply juxtaposes two nouns, the third uses போல 'like' for similarity, and the fourth uses -ஆக 'as', none of which expresses 'better than'.

Question 45Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option correctly uses a Tamil reflexive pronoun to mean 'She saw herself in the mirror'?

  1. அவள் கண்ணாடியில் தன்னைப் பார்த்தாள். Correct answer.
  2. அவள் கண்ணாடியில் உன்னைப் பார்த்தாள்.
  3. அவள் கண்ணாடியில் அவளைப் பார்த்தாள்.
  4. அவள் கண்ணாடியில் என்னைப் பார்த்தாள்.

Explanation

Tamil uses the reflexive தான், with its accusative form தன்னை, when the object refers back to the subject of the same clause. Using அவளை would suggest a different female person, while என்னை and உன்னை refer to the speaker and the listener respectively. Only தன்னைப் பார்த்தாள் expresses 'saw herself'.

Question 46Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option best explains why the word பசி takes the form பசிக்கிறது in the sentence எனக்குப் பசிக்கிறது?

  1. The speaker is the grammatical subject and the verb agrees with him.
  2. The verb is in the imperative and commands hunger.
  3. The noun பசி has become plural.
  4. The experiencer takes the dative and the feeling is expressed as an impersonal verb agreeing with the neuter. Correct answer.

Explanation

Tamil expresses physical and emotional states with dative experiencer constructions: the person affected appears in the dative (எனக்கு) and the feeling is a verb in the neuter singular, here பசிக்கிறது 'hunger is occurring'. The experiencer is not the grammatical subject, so the verb does not agree with the person. This pattern applies to thirst, fear and similar sensations.

Question 47Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option correctly uses the Tamil quotative marker to report a question: 'He asked whether I would come'?

  1. நான் வருவேன் என்று அவன் கேட்டான்.
  2. நான் வருகிறேன் என்று அவன் கேட்டான்.
  3. நான் வருவேனா என்று அவன் கேட்டான். Correct answer.
  4. நான் வந்தேன் என்று அவன் கேட்டான்.

Explanation

Tamil marks embedded questions with the interrogative clitic -ஆ attached to the verb, followed by என்று, giving வருவேனா என்று 'whether I would come'. Without the clitic the clause becomes a plain statement, and changing the tense would misreport what was asked. Only the first option encodes a question inside the report.

Question 48Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option gives the correct Tamil word for 'environment' as used in discussions of nature and ecology?

  1. சுற்றுலா
  2. சமூகம்
  3. சூழல் Correct answer.
  4. சட்டம்

Explanation

சூழல் means 'environment' or 'surroundings' and is the standard term in ecological discussion, as in சுற்றுச்சூழல் 'the natural environment'. சுற்றுலா means tourism, சட்டம் means law and சமூகம் means society. Only சூழல் matches the required meaning.

Question 49Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which sentence correctly uses the Tamil negative verb to say 'He does not come every day'?

  1. அவன் தினமும் வருவான்.
  2. அவன் தினமும் வந்தான்.
  3. அவன் தினமும் வருகிறான்.
  4. அவன் தினமும் வரவில்லை. Correct answer.

Explanation

The negative in Tamil is expressed by a separate negative verb form, here வரவில்லை 'does not come', rather than by adding a negative word to a positive verb. The other options are positive present, positive future and positive past statements. Only the second option carries the intended negative meaning.

Question 50Tamil (continuers) - school assessment (assessment types and weightings not specified in source)

Which option correctly identifies the two components of the Tamil compound நூலகம் ('library')?

  1. நூல் 'book' + கமல் 'lotus'
  2. நூல் 'book' + அகம் 'house/place' Correct answer.
  3. நூறு 'hundred' + அகம் 'house'
  4. நூல் 'thread' + கம் 'work'

Explanation

Tamil builds many institutional nouns by compounding. நூலகம் combines நூல் 'book' with அகம் 'house, place', yielding 'place of books', that is, a library. The other analyses either misidentify the first element or invent a second element that does not occur in the word.