2020 SASS EL TYS P2 Ans

(Comments from Cambridge Marker’s Report are inserted in blue) 2020 O Level English Paper 2 1. It promises to help students develop skills that will be useful in their future career. The majority of candidates responded correctly to Question 1, which asked about the wording of the heading and how the text supported the claim it made to provide ‘a brighter future’. 2. The photograph illustrates the skill of looking after livestock. Question 2 required candidates to link one of the photographs with a specific skill listed in the text; it was also usually identified correctly. 3. (i) reference from their school or college (ii) a letter of consent from their parents or guardians Almost all candidates also recognised for Question 3 the items which applicants had to bring with them to the interview. 4. The phrase is ‘practical experience’ The response to Question 4, which asked about potential applicants’ likely reaction to a participant feedback comment, was less certain. The most common wrong answer was my tutor was impressed. 5. -The adjective ‘fierce’ used on its own, suggests an intense and fiery quality. Hence the day which was described as ‘the fiercest day’ uses the superlative ‘fiercest’ which emphasizes how hot the weather was. -The sky was described as ‘ironed flat’. Irons are hot appliances and the idea of the sky being ironed gives readers a vivid visual image of the heat emitted from it. -The clause ‘the clouds had fallen from the edges in the faultless blue above our heads’ emphasises that there were no clouds in the sky blocking the people below from the heat from the sun. The text begins with a description of the walk to the library. The first question in this section, Question 5, focused on how hot the weather was that day, and in particular, the way in which the language is used to emphasise it. A substantial number of candidates focused instead on the people’s behaviour in the heat and therefore did not identify successfully three details describing the weather. Those who identified the correct phrases were usually able to go on to comment on their use. 6. ‘faded’ Question 6 asked candidates to give the one word which indicates that the change from shops to offices was gradual, and was answered correctly by almost all candidates. 7. (i) Grace found comfort in the library (sanctuary: protection, safe place) (ii) Grace felt a sense of excitement at the thought of all the books she has not yet read. (The word ‘adventures’ is a strong hint that Grace feels excited about reading) The text now moves on to their arrival at the library, and the next three questions were about Grace’s feelings towards the library, and the adults’ interactions with her. Question 7 focused on Grace’s attitude to the library and the books in it, and candidates were asked what two given phrases suggested. Stronger candidates recognised the comfort she finds there, and her excitement at the thought of all the books she has not yet read. The vocabulary, especially in Question 7(i), seemed to be a difficulty for weaker candidates.

8a. The tone is sarcastic. (The librarian seemed to be praising Grace for returning the books on time, but it is clear she meant to criticize Grace when she added ‘That must be a first’.) 8b. The librarian snapped shut the front cover of each book Grace had returned in a manner that was hard enough to send ‘little gusts of air’ across the counter. She also frowned when she handed over the tickets to Grace. Question 8 turned to considering the librarian and asked first for the tone of her comment and then for the two other things she does to show her dislike of Grace. The majority of candidates answered these straightforward questions correctly. 9a. Mrs Morten thinks that Grace is still a child and expects her to stay in the children’s room. (Ans inferred from what Mrs Morten says, ‘But there are some very appropriate books in there for young ladies of ten.’) 9b. She wants to read a variety/wide range of books, not just children’s books. (broaden- to increase the range of something) Question 9(a) then considered Mrs Morton’s reaction to Grace’s behaviour and asked why she thinks Grace is going into the wrong part of the library. Here, the response was more uneven, and a substantial number of candidates merely re-stated where Grace is going, rather than offering the reason why Mrs Morton thinks it is wrong. Her reason is easily deducible from what she says. Question 9(b) asked what Grace means by her reply to Mrs Morton. The majority of candidates answered correctly, though again, vocabulary seemed to pose difficulty for weaker candidates. 10. The strange aura/awe of being in a room with books of serious/deep learning. (clue: ‘It was unfamiliar: the ripe solid smell of learning’ – The word ‘unfamiliar’ suggest that it is her first time. The colon is used to introduce an explanation of what is ‘unfamiliar’) In the text at this point, Grace moves away from Mrs Morton and the librarian and goes on to narrate her exploration of the non-fiction section of the library. Question 10 asked what she experiences for the first time there. To answer correctly, the candidates needed to understand that it is the first time that Grace has been in the room with books of learning, and the stronger candidates were able to do so. 11. What Grace hears Words or phrases from passage (i) Grace hears people talking ‘a conversation drifted across’ (ii) There was a gap in what Grace could hear ‘for a moment I lost reception’ (iii) Grace could no longer hear anything ‘disappeared somewhere’ There is now a distraction, as Grace overhears part of a conversation between the librarian and another person and stops to listen to it. In Question 11, candidates were asked to find the three words or phrases from the paragraph that match three given sentences describing what she hears. The majority of candidates were able to follow the sequence and identify the phrases; a number offered them in the wrong order and others included too much detail, showing that they had not isolated the exact phrase required.

12. (a) The atmosphere inside the library was cold compared to that outside in the street which was very hot. (clues: ‘Gosh,’ said Tilly, and I held on to her books while she took off her jumper.’) In the last paragraph, Mrs Morton and the two girls leave the library. Question 12(a) asked about the contrast between the atmosphere inside the library and outside in the street. The candidates were directed to the paragraph, which again emphasises the heat outside, making the contrast by describing the sister’s actions and words. A majority of candidates recognised this; a substantial number instead went back to the description of the people at the beginning of the narrative to try to make a contrast which was not there in the text. Question 12(b) asked for the phrase that suggests Mrs Morton is a fearless person, and was answered correctly by almost all candidates. (b) The phrase is ‘an intrepid sub-Saharan explorer’. (‘intrepid’ means fearless. Note that the question requires a phrase instead of a single word.) 13. (i) a familiar journey (clue: ‘my mother usually took me to the library’) (ii) managing adults (behaviour and speech that show Grace was managing the adults to get her way: ‘Despite her obvious dislike of me, I gave her my biggest smile and she handed over the tickets and frowned’ and ‘Mrs Morten. I’m ten now.’) (iii) strong curiosity (‘I walked through the romances, beyond the detective novels and past the side room full of old newspapers and posters… I reached the non-fiction room.. I had just reached the travel section’ – Grace explores many sections of the library, hence showing her strong curiosity) (iv)a satisfying outcome (When Mrs Morten asked her whether Grace has chosen the books, she gave a confident and emphatic reply, ’I have’ e