P5 Chinese word choice practice
Singapore Primary 5 Chinese, word choice (选词填空): choose the word that best fits a sentence, testing understanding of words and how they fit the sentence — the fine differences between near-synonyms are where it gets hard. Everything here follows the MOE syllabus. You can try one set free without signing up, and it is marked as you go — get one wrong and the same point comes back asked a different way, so your child can push towards the PSLE on using words. This page has 18 skill points and 122 questions.
What is tested in P5 word choice
In P5 and P6 this question carries the largest vocabulary load of any type, with words like 努力 appearing most often of all. The testing is on distinguishing near-synonyms, written-register collocation and tone of approval. Sentences are usually expository or argumentative, so there is no story to help — only the word itself.
Common traps
- All four options are near-synonyms and only one matches the fixed collocation around the blank.
- Written and spoken words mixed together, with the one your child says every day being the wrong answer.
- Degree: 很, 非常 and 极其 — how strongly the sentence is pitched decides which one.
How to practise
Work from frequency. Take the eighty commonest words in this question type across five years of data and record one correct collocation and one common wrong one for each. When answering, circle the words either side of the blank first, try each option in, and cross out anything that does not read smoothly.
P5 word choice · worked examples
弟弟不小心摔倒了，妈妈赶紧（ ）过去扶他起来。
- ✓ 跑
- ・逛
- ・退
- ・躲
Why: The answer is "跑" (run). Didi fell and Mum "赶紧" (hurriedly) went to help him up, so she had to move fast and ran. "逛" means strolling and looking around, which does not match hurrying. "退" means moving backwards, away from Didi, so she could not reach him. "躲" means hiding, the opposite of going over to help him up.
学校（ ）了一场露天电影，请全校同学一起观看。
- ・打败
- ✓ 举办
- ・装扮
- ・改编
Why: The answer is "举办" (to hold, to organise an event). We say 举办运动会 (hold a sports day) or 举办音乐会 (hold a concert). The school held an open-air film show and invited all the pupils to watch, so "举办" fits. "改编" (to adapt) means rewriting a story as a film or a play; the school did not rewrite any story, so we cannot say it "adapted" a film show. "装扮" (to dress up, to decorate) is used for people or places, not for holding an event. "打败" (to defeat) means beating the other side in a battle or a match, which has nothing to do with watching a film.
老师的话（ ）了全班同学的士气。
- ・鼓励
- ✓ 鼓舞
- ・煽动
- ・鼓动
Why: The answer is "鼓舞". "鼓舞" means to inspire confidence and courage, often used with "士气". "鼓励" is more about verbal encouragement, "鼓动" and "煽动" often have negative meanings.
Look at the words either side of the blank first, then judge how strongly the sentence is pitched.
Skill points on this page (18)
- 下L12·汉字王国 · 7 questions
- 下L15·世界那么大 · 8 questions
- 上L04·分享是快乐的 · 10 questions
- 上L01·到户外去 · 12 questions
- 上L07·和时间赛跑 · 10 questions
- 上L05·我的东西找到了 · 5 questions
- 下L11·新加坡，我为你骄傲 · 5 questions
- 上L02·身体会说话 · 5 questions
- 上L03·懂事的你 · 13 questions
- 上L06·一千桶水 · 5 questions
- 下L09·成长的烦恼 · 11 questions
- 下L10·同学之间 · 4 questions
- 下L13·老师，谢谢您 · 8 questions
- 下L14·想当一棵树 · 5 questions
- 上L02·给小主人的一封信 · 5 questions
- 下L10·打架 · 2 questions
- 上L08·很久很久以前 · 4 questions
- 选词·「鼓励／鼓舞」 · 3 questions
请你把这段英文______成中文。