HS 2021 MYE EL P2 Anskey

ANSWERS (Edited) SEMESTRAL EXAMINATIONS 1 (2021) Secondary Four Express/Five Academic 1128/2 English Language Paper 2 Comprehension 30 April 2021 I hour 50 minutes Candidates answer in the Question Booklet Additional Materials: Insert 0800 – 0950 READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST Write in dark blue or black pen. Answer ALL questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided in the Question Booklet. The Insert contains the texts for all the sections. The number of marks is given in the brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question. This document consists of 8 printed pages, including the cover page.

Section A [5 marks] Text 1 Refer to the webpage (Text 1) on page 2 of the Insert for Questions 1 – 3. 1 Look at the photograph in the website banner. How does the photograph support the slogan EVERY STEP YOU TAKE IS ONE SHE WON’T HAVE TO? The photograph shows a girl walking with a big bucket of water, thus supporting the text in the slogan that participation in the event will help save children from the struggle of walking to collect water. [1] [1] 2 (i) Look at the section under Reflection. What effect is the information presented in this section intended to have on the reader? After reading the reflection on how some people have to walk 6K to get clean water, readers will empathise with them/ sympathise/ feel sorry [1] and want to participate in the walk to help them.[1] Or: The reflection is included to highlight to prospective participants that the event has the ability to enable them to gain new perspectives [1], thus encouraging them to take part in the run. [1] (Rejected: To show readers how fortunate they are . /To tell readers not to take water for granted.) (ii) With reference to the section Registration, write in what other way does the webpage encourage participation from the reader? The text in this section informs participants that they will receive a unique race bib with the picture of a child receiving clean water from World Vision’s water projects, a T -shirt, and a medal./ …receive gifts [2] [1] 3 Which sentence gives the main purpose of the webpage? “Join the world’s largest 6K for water – from wherever you are!” (Rejected: “Join the world’s largest 6K for water – from wherever you are! Family fun. Global impact.” - This is not one sentence.) [1]

Section B [20 marks] Text 2 Refer to Text 2 on pages 3 and 4 of the Insert for Questions 4 – 13 4 Which word from Paragraph 1 indicates that the teacher was skeptical about ancient people’s understanding of earthquakes? ‘fanciful’ Reject: ‘maybe’ –refers to ‘you’ not ‘ancient people’ Maybe you wouldn’t, but your ancestors did. Ancient people had many fanciful explanations for earthquakes…’ [1] 5 Which two actions from Paragraphs 2 and 3 show that Rena was eager for the lesson to end? (i) Rena ‘looked longingly out of the classroom’. (ii) She ‘impatiently watched the second hand on the clock tick-tock its way towards the final bell of the day’. (must include the underlined parts to show ‘eager’) [2] 6 According to Paragraph 4, which sign of the earthquake first startled Rena? The sound of dishes rattling loudly in the kitchen first startled her. [1] 7 Why might Rena’s mother’s smiling expression in the photograph be described as ‘inappropriate’? It is inappropriate as a disaster /an earthquake is happening. [1] 8 In Paragraph 5, Rena is caught in an earthquake. Explain how the language used in this paragraph emphasises the violence of the earthquake. Support your ideas with three details from the text. The “cups, plates and glasses trembled as they inched forward” suggests atmosphere of fear as crockery fell off shelves and broke because of the force of the earthquake. The chest of drawers also “shot out like bullets” suggests the strength of the earthquake that pushed out chest of drawers with the potential to harm/ cause injury. Other pieces of furniture “seemed to also have come alive as the house became a rattlebox for a giant”. This shows that the strong force of the earthquake was shaking all the furniture at home. Must quote the details, and explain one detail at a time. Must have the underlined parts to get one mark. Some students gave a general explanation for the three details X [3] 9 (a) From paragraph 7, In which two ways does the writer show that the ‘feigned calmness’ of Rena’s mother’s instructions were not effective in hiding her anxiety? (i) The use of the exclamation marks shows that she was in a state of panic.

(ii) The direct command show that she has realised the urgency for them to act quickly. (iii) The use of the word ‘Quickly’ indicates urgency. (b) Suggest why Rena’s mother feigned calmness? She didn’t want to alarm/scare Rena. She did not want Rena to panic. [2] [1] 10 Apart from the fact that the queues were very long, what else made the task of filling the barrel ‘time-consuming’ (line 37)? A lot of water was needed for the large barrel but Rena could only collect a little each time[1] with the small containers so she had to make multiple trips.[1] [2] 11 In Paragraph 10, what is the difference between Rena’s reactions to the sirens in normal times and during the earthquake? Answer in your own words. Rena’s reaction to sirens and fire engines: (i) Normal times anxious/ fearful/ worried/ l [1] TABOO “shivers of apprehension ” ( rejected: frightened, scared, afraid, relieved, uneasy) (ii) During the earthquake Reassured/ safe/ sense of security [1] TABOO “comfort” (rejected: calm, relaxed, peaceful) [2] 12 With reference to Paragraph 11, explain what Rena learnt from her experience. Man is vulnerable/frail when faced with the destructive forces of nature. / Man is weaker than the power of nature. Answer must relate to her experience with the earthquake. reject: learn to listen to her teachers; take her geography lessons more seriously Answer must compare the weakness of Man and power of nature. (Rena went back to school more willing to listen to her teachers, particularly in geography lessons showing the contrast between the power of nature and the frailty of Man.) [1] 13 The structure of the text reflects Rena’s responses to her situation at different stages of the narrative. Complete the flow chart by choosing one word/phrase from the box to summarise the stage in each part of the text. There are some extra words in the box you do not need to use. Rena’s responses changed perspectives curiosity acceptance

awestruck frightful realisation confusion growing fear Paragraph 1-3 : disinterest Paragraph 4 : confusion Paragraph 5 : growing fear ( the intensity of the earthquake seemed to grow- sound of broken crockery- chest of drawers shooting out like bullets- whole house like a rattlebox with furniture being shaken) Paragraph 6-8 : frightful realisation (…she realised that this was the earthquake of her geography lessons Paragraph 9 : misplaced optimism Paragraph 10-11 : changed perspectives [4]

Section C [25 marks] Refer to Text 3 on pages 3 and 4 of the Insert for Questions 14 – 21. 14 Which one word in Paragraph 1 tells us that a generous portion of chilli oil has been served? ‘swimming’. [1] 15 Explain what the writer means when he describes Chengdu as the ‘cradle’ of the region’s famously fiery cuisine? It means that Chengdu is the place where it originated / where this fiery cuisine was created/started. [1] 16 What does ‘curious’ mean in the phrase ‘curious effect’