MGS prelim 2024 P2 answers

Page 1 of 11 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Methodist Girls’ School English Language Paper 2 Sec 4 Preliminary Examination 2024

Page 2 of 11 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Methodist Girls’ School English Language Paper 2 Sec 4 Preliminary Examination 2024 Name:_______________________________ ( ) Class: Sec 4___ SECTION A [5 marks] Refer to the online poster (Text 1) and the blog (Text 2) on page 2 of the Insert for Questions 1– 4. 1 Look at Text 1. Tick () the phrase that best describes the purpose of the poster. To raise commuters’ awareness of World Car-Free Day To educate commuters about air pollution that cars cause To encourage commuters to use public transport instead of driving a car [1] For Examiner’s Use 2 How does the image in Text 1 support the overall message of the poster? Answer must briefly describe or identify the images of at least 2 of the different modes of public transport + message of the poster to be awarded 1m. The image shows people walking, cycling as well as an eco bus and train [A T LEAST TWO MODES OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT] AND [MESSAGE] reinforces the message that these are eco friendly ways to move around / public transport helps reduce carbon footprints / public transport is more eco-friendly compared to private transport[1] X - answers that reflect purpose instead of message eg. These different / alternative modes of transport encourage us to take public transport instead of driving a car X – ‘more eco-friendly’ cannot be replaced by ‘better’ or ‘more convenient’ 3 Identify the expression in Text 2 which supports the idea in Text 1 that there is a ‘growing transport network’. The expression is ‘(provision of ) sustainable transport infrastructure’ [1] Excess denies: ‘cheap public transport is available’ (Reason: ‘cheap’ does not explain ‘growing’) 5 

Page 3 of 11 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Methodist Girls’ School English Language Paper 2 Sec 4 Preliminary Examination 2024 4 Look at Texts 1 and 2 and statements (a) and (b) below. Tick (  ) the correct answer for each statement. (a) One purpose for both texts about using public transport is … to encourage a change in behaviour (text 2 shares experiences – we cannot read into the purpose unless there are words to suggest the intent to encourage) to present an opposing idea to highlight the benefits (b) The tone is persuasive in achieving its goal in … Text 1 Text 2 Neither [2]  

Page 4 of 11 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Methodist Girls’ School English Language Paper 2 Sec 4 Preliminary Examination 2024 Name: ______________________________ ( ) Class: Sec 4___ SECTION B [20 marks] Refer to Text 3 on pages 3 & 4 of the Insert for Questions 5–13. 5 In Paragraph 1, the writer describes the waters the boy is swimming in as forbidding. Explain how the language used in this paragraph shows that the waters are dangerous. Support your ideas with two details from lines 3 – 5. [2] - ‘fanged and angry boulders’: the boulders are given animalistic traits. The adjective ‘fanged’ hints of the viciousness of an animal that has the capacity to tear one to bits / sharp-edged and can hurt - ‘ But the salt burnt his eyes so fiercely’: the salt water stung his eyes so painfully / immensely /excruciatingly (such that he was not able to open them and see where he was going) X – stinging sensation (too mild – you need to choose words that reflect intensity of the sting) For Examiner’s Use 6 “I want some swimming goggles,” he panted, defiant and beseeching’. (lines 8 - 9) What does the phrase ‘defiant and beseeching’ tell you about how the boy is feeling? [1] - (Very) anxious / desperate X – nervous, demanding (not a feeling), conflicted (he knows what he wants) , entitled, impatient, determined, exasperated, frustrated, agitated 7 From Paragraph 3, give one detail of the boy’s actions that show his eagerness for the goggles. [1] - ‘he grabbed them from her hand (as if she were going to claim them for herself)’ 8 In Paragraph 4, Jerry realises that ‘ he must swim from the surface of the water down to the base of the rock’ (lines 17-18). Explain in your own words why he needs to do that. [2] - ‘The impact of the water broke the rubber-enclosed vacuum’ - The force o f water on the goggles released the suction of the goggles on his face ‘and the goggles came loose’ For Examiner’s Use 20

Page 5 of 11 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Methodist Girls’ School English Language Paper 2 Sec 4 Preliminary Examination 2024 - And dislodged the goggles / shifted / knocked or moved out of place / off his face X – water would seep in, goggles fell out (wrong prep phrase), goggles came out 9 The writer says that the fish were behaving like they were in ‘a water dance’ (line 2 6). In what way was their movement like a dance. [1] ‘He saw them nose toward each other, poise motionless, swim forward, swerve off, and come around again.’ Answers need to consider features of a dance. - The two fish were partners that moved in tandem / in sync with each other - There appeared to be a choreography / sequence / pattern, routine of movement - The movements were graceful, moving to a rhythm X – just quoting the lines does not answer the question X – repetitive movement (not the same as a routine) 10 11 In Paragraph 5, Jerry has a fascinating underwater experience. a) Pick two distinct pieces of evidence from lines 26- 29 that explain Jerry’s fascination with the underwater world. Any two of the three: - ‘water sparkled as if sequins were dropping through it’ - ‘myriads of minute fish … were drifting in the water’ - ‘he could feel the innumerable tiny touches of them against his limbs’ [2] b) ‘It was like swimming in flaked silver.’ (lines 29 -30). In what way is the simile effective in describing Jerry’s underwater experience? [1] There are two parts to this answer. Unpack the simile and say what the effect on the reader is. The simile ‘flaked silver’ helps the reader to imagine the numerous fish shining / shimmering in the water which creates a magical / unreal / surreal / fantastical / enchanting or once in a lifetime experience X – silver is a rare metal and hence shares with us the valuable experience X – fascinating, captivating, engrossing do not reflect the magical nature of the experience The great rock the big boys had swum through rose sheer out of the white sand— black, tufted lightly with greenish w