NATIONAL 5 CLOSE READING or How I Learned

NATIONAL 5 CLOSE READING or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love ‘Reading for Understanding, Analysis & Evaluation’

THE BASICS You should answer using bullet points You must read the question carefully Unless told to quote you should always answer in your own words

IN YOUR OWN WORDS One of the most common close reading questions asks you to explain a point made in the passage in your own words. Half the marks in the National 5 example paper are for this kind of question.

IN YOUR OWN WORDS One bullet point per mark Use your own words as far as you possibly can Quoting will get you ZERO marks

Example This may be an urban myth. It matters not. A fairy tale’s power lies in its ability to express authentic fears – and this one reveals the paranoia that now prevails where bringing up children is concerned. Question: “It matters not” (line 32) Explain in your own words why the writer believes it is not important whether this story is true or not. 2 Answer: 2 Marks for: - the impact of such a story comes from the way it can express real worries. - this story exposes the ridiculous fears about raising kids. An answer which copies from the passage would score 0.

Using Your Own Words questions - Strategy 1 Identify the relevant part of the passage. 2 Translate each part in your own words. 3 Write your answer. You are going to complete some sample in your own words questions

Now answer the following questions: 1 Before falling asleep she asked – even implored – me not to say a word to anyone, even her mother, about her sleep-walking adventure. I hesitated at first to promise; but on thinking on the state of her mother’s health and how the knowledge of such a thing would fret her, and thinking, too of how such a story might become distorted – nay infallibly would – in case it should leak out I thought it wiser to do so. I hope I did right. Dracula In your own words, explain why the narrator agreed not to tell anyone about her “sleep-walking adventure”.

Now answer the following questions: 1 Before falling asleep she asked – even implored – me not to say a word to anyone, even her mother, about her sleep-walking adventure. I hesitated at first to promise; but on thinking on the state of her mother’s health and how the knowledge of such a thing would fret her, and thinking, too of how such a story might become distorted – nay infallibly would – in case it should leak out I thought it wiser to do so. I hope I did right. Dracula In your own words, explain why the narrator agreed not to tell anyone about her “sleep-walking adventure”. ‘state of her mother’s health’ Her mother had been ill ‘the knowledge of such a thing She would worry about it if she knew would fret her’ ‘how such a story might become distorted’ The facts might become twisted / inaccurate

2 The manager came forward, eyeing the travellers with a mixture of fear and curiosity. Explain, in your own words, how the manager reacted to the travellers.

2 The manager came forward, eyeing the travellers with a mixture of fear and curiosity. Explain, in your own words, how the manager reacted to the travellers. ‘eyeing the travellers with a mixture of fear and curiosity. ’ He was partly scared of them and partly nosy about them

3 He beamed on us with his beautiful smile; he held out a hand to my aunt; and a hand to me. I was too deeply affected by his noble conduct to speak. The Moonstone In your own words, explain what the narrator thought of the gentleman’s “conduct”.

3 He beamed on us with his beautiful smile; he held out a hand to my aunt; and a hand to me. I was too deeply affected by his noble conduct to speak. The Moonstone In your own words, explain what the narrator thought of the gentleman’s “conduct”. ‘his noble conduct’ His behaviour was courteous / gracious / gentlemanly

Now complete the practice ‘in your own words’ questions in your booklet.

QUESTION 1 People think that the written language seen on mobile phone screens is new and alien, but all the popular beliefs about texting are wrong. Its distinctiveness is not a new phenomenon, nor is its use restricted to the young. There is increasing evidence that it helps rather than hinders literacy. Texting has added a new dimension to language use, but its long-term impact is negligible. It is not a disaster. Question The writer tells us that “all the popular beliefs about texting are wrong”. Look at the remainder of the paragraph, and then explain in your own words what two of these popular beliefs are. 2 § § § Its uniqueness is a new occurrence It is only teenagers that do it It damages linguistic skills

QUESTION 2 The BBC is a massive sponsor, uniquely independent through its licence fee – and the guardian of public service broadcasting. But, as the fight for the control of communications hots up, friends of the BBC – both inside and out – are alarmed that all this is in jeopardy: the BBC has become too much of a self-seeking institution, too preoccupied with its ratings at the expense of good broadcasting, and unwisely over-extended financially. Question What are three reasons for causing alarm to friends of the BBC? Use your own words as far as possible. 3 • • • It is too interested in looking after its own interests It is more concerned with quantity of viewers than quality of programmes It is spending money it doesn’t have

QUESTION 3 Rowling is loved for her stories, but also for her story. A contemporary Cinderella, she endured the cold flat and life on single-parent benefit. Then Harry happened and she went to the ball. Neil Murray, her husband, might be abashed to find himself cast as Prince Charming, but her life has changed as much as any scullery-maid turned princess. Question Look at lines 15– 18. In your own words, explain what comparisons the writer draws between JK Rowling and Cinderella. 4 § § § Both “endured” cold living conditions Both were on their own/single Both were poor Both found husbands Both had their lives altered for the better (any 4 of the above)

CONTEXT QUESTIONS Essentially these questions are intended simply to test your ability to work out what a word might mean from the context in which you find it. Use the following formula: ‘______’ means ______ The word/words ‘________’ helped me understand this because it / they suggest(s) ___________

Example It appears to me undeniable that a people has its individual character, its peculiar capacity for trust and suspicion, kindness or cruelty, energy or lassitude. Question How does the context in which it is used help you to understand the meaning of ‘lassitude’? 2 Answer ‘Lassitude’ means tiredness or exhaustion The words ‘trust and suspicion’ and ‘kindness or cruelty’ help me understand this because they are opposites, so lassitude must be the opposite of ‘energy’

Now complete the practice ‘context’ questions in your booklet.

QUESTION 4 For two days the general vacillated. Should he give the order to advance, or should he allow his men to cling to their sturdy line of defence? This hesitation was to prove fateful. Question Give the meaning of the term ‘vacillated’ and explain how the context helps the reader to arrive at the meaning. 2 ‘Vacillated’ means that he was indecisive The word ‘hesitation’ helped me understand this because it suggests that he swithered between two different positions

QUESTION 5 Recently I found myself unimpressed by some visiting American who stunned me with monstrous verbosity, determined to use five words where one would do, bent on calling a canteen an ‘in-plant feeding situation’ and a spade ‘a primitive earth-breaking implement. ’ Question Show the context of ‘monstrous verbosity’ helps you to arrive at its meaning. 2 ‘Monstrous verbosity’ means to use unnecessarily complex language The words ‘a primitive earth-breaking implement’ helped me understand this because they suggest that they wouldn’t just use a single simple word to describe something

SENTENCE STRUCTURE There is no ‘formula’ for this type of question, but you should: Know the different types Know the punctuation Be as clear as possible

PUNCTUATION Sym bol , : ; “”- Name Function comma These separate phrases and clauses within a sentence. A number of these may well indicate a list. colon These introduce a quotation or a list, an explanation or elaboration or a summing up. There will often be a balance between the two parts of the sentence it divides. semicolon These finish off one part of a sentence. It may be used instead of a conjunction to separate two clauses in a sentence. inverted commas dash These mark quotations, direct speech, foreign words or words used in an unusual way. These can function like a colon. Two of them can mark off a parenthesis.

SENTENCE STRUCTURE Basic punctuation and sentences Punctuation marks are the signposts in the structure of sentences. They guide you when looking at the way sentences are made up. You should be familiar with basic sentence construction, made up of a subject, object and verb, and understand the purpose of using basic punctuation such as commas and full stops.

Simple sentences In the simple sentence “He watches DVDs. " the subject ‘he’ carries out an action ‘watches’ and this is related to the object ‘DVDs’: object subject Who/ what ever is doing the action He watches DVDs. verb Has something done to it A doing or action word The sentence starts with a capitalised word and ends with a full stop.

Whenever this simple noun – verb – object pattern is added to, or is altered, the writer has chosen to create a different effect. Your task is to identify or speculate about the reasons why a sentence is made more complex or why it has been written in a certain way.

More complex sentences Sentences which have more than one clause may require commas to punctuate them. Other punctuation devices you may see in close reading include: • the colon : used to introduce an elaboration or explanation of the words that went before it • the semi-colon ; used to connect two sentences that are very close in content • the question mark ? used to indicate a question or doubt • the exclamation mark ! used to indicate surprise • brackets ( ) or dashes - contain words marked off from the rest of the sentence for emphasis or as an aside. Also known as parenthesis

VARIATIONS ON THE BASIC Example - Inversion "The dog bit the man" is very similar to "The man bit the dog”. In the above example only the order of words is changed but the meaning alters completely because the subject of the sentence has switched places with the object. This technique is known as inversion. Inversion is where the normal expected order of a sentence is turned round for some effect; in this case to create surprise or humour.

The establishing of subject and object in a sentence is one of the basic starting points of language. • The subject of the sentence is whoever or whatever is doing the verb. It could be a name, a pronoun (he, she, it, they etc) or a thing. • The object of the sentence has something done to it. Understanding the way a sentence has been constructed can help us describe more complex and sophisticated writing.

VERBS, SUBJECTS AND OBJECTS - PRACTICE Copy the following sentences using three different colours to underline the verb, subject and object in each one: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) Paul gave Suzie some chewing gum. Pete’s dog dug a deep hole in the garden. My dad baked a fantastic cake for my birthday. Andy watched tv all night. I failed to complete my homework on time again. Every July we go on holiday to Tenerife. My dad received an email from his long lost brother. Even though it was raining hard, he played football in the park. A huge bridge spanned the lake. The children picked strawberries.

EXAMPLE - PARENTHESIS A simple sentence such as “The man waited outside the bank. ” can be made more complex by adding a bit more information: “The man, who had done nothing to create suspicion, waited outside the bank”. The writer may give us the extra information to add to our understanding and expectation of what is to come but the additional words do not change the grammar of the sentence. Equally, being told something more about the man does not change the original meaning of the sentence.

This technique can be signalled using commas, brackets or dashes but in each case is called a parenthesis. A phrase in parenthesis is one that is flagged as giving extra information. Your job is to decide why it has been done.

Remember, NAMING the technique in structure questions will not be enough. In the Close Reading exercise you will often be asked why or 'to what extent' a technique is effective. These devices are all signals to what is happening in a sentence or a paragraph. With practice, you will learn to recognise them AND their significance.

SENTENCE STRUCTURE - TEST Read the following extracts and select the best answer to the questions:

SENTENCE STRUCTURE - TEST 1 “It has been said that two things are required for happiness: love and work. ” What is the reason for the colon in this sentence ? a) It breaks the sentence up and makes it more interesting. b) It replaces a full stop and saves having two sentences so that it looks more dramatic and assured. c) It introduces an explanation of what is required for happiness.

SENTENCE STRUCTURE - ANSWERS 1 “It has been said that two things are required for happiness: love and work. ” What is the reason for the colon in this sentence? a) It breaks the sentence up and makes it more interesting. This answer is just too vague. You should refer to features of sentence construction here. b) It replaces a full stop and saves having two sentences so that it looks more dramatic and assured. This answer is just not precise enough, and does not give a reason. c) It introduces an explanation of what is required for happiness. Well done! This is the most common use for a colon. ✗ ✗ ✔

SENTENCE STRUCTURE - TEST 2. “London. Michaelmas Term lately over, and the Lord Chancellor sitting in Lincoln's Inn Hall. Implacable November weather. ” Bleak House, Charles Dickens What features of sentence construction do you notice here? a) He is writing in note form. He has a one-word sentence at the start. It is like a diary entry, rather than continuous writing. He tells you where it happens. b) The first and third sentences have no verbs. The first consists of a single word and the third has three, presumably for dramatic effect. Word order makes you concentrate on the fierce weather because it is placed at the end of a dramatic sentence. c) He puts the name of the place first so we know where it is happening, its exact location. He ends with the time of year, November, because when it was set is just as important as where it is happening. Setting is about both time and place and we get a clear picture of bad, wintry weather.

SENTENCE STRUCTURE - ANSWERS 2 “London. Michaelmas Term lately over, and the Lord Chancellor sitting in Lincoln's Inn Hall. Implacable November weather. ” Bleak House, Charles Dickens What features of sentence construction do you notice here? a) He is writing in note form. He has a one-word sentence at the start. It is like a diary entry, rather than continuous writing. He tells you where it happens. This is almost true but misses out specific references to sentence construction. ✗

SENTENCE STRUCTURE - ANSWERS 2 “London. Michaelmas Term lately over, and the Lord Chancellor sitting in Lincoln's Inn Hall. Implacable November weather. ” Bleak House, Charles Dickens What features of sentence construction do you notice here? b) The first and third sentences have no verbs. The first consists of a single word and the third has three, presumably for dramatic effect. Word order makes you concentrate on the fierce weather because it is placed at the end of a dramatic sentence. Well done! This answer makes relevant points in a concise way. ✔

SENTENCE STRUCTURE - ANSWERS 2 “London. Michaelmas Term lately over, and the Lord Chancellor sitting in Lincoln's Inn Hall. Implacable November weather. ” Bleak House, Charles Dickens What features of sentence construction do you notice here? c) He puts the name of the place first so we know where it is happening, its exact location. He ends with the time of year, November, because when it was set is just as important as where it is happening. Setting is about both time and place and we get a clear picture of bad, wintry weather. This doesn't answer the question as it only deals with the content and meaning and not the way the sentence is made up. ✗

SENTENCE STRUCTURE - TEST 3 “Clearly, advancing in long rows at walking pace was suicidal, but that was the plan. ” (A description of soldiers attacking at the Somme in 1916) Which is the best description of the structure of this sentence? a) The word order is different. It starts with the adverb 'clearly' and has its main message at the end. b) Putting 'advancing. . . suicidal' in parenthesis, explains more about the plan. c) The word order is different. This is a periodic sentence with the main verb at the end; 'was the plan. ' The writer's opinion is given at the start. Using 'clearly' he expects you to agree with him.

SENTENCE STRUCTURE - ANSWERS 3 “Clearly, advancing in long rows at walking pace was suicidal, but that was the plan. ” (A description of soldiers attacking at the Somme in 1916) Which is the best description of the structure of this sentence? a) The word order is different. It starts with the adverb 'clearly' and has its main message at the end. This answer clearly deals with the sentence construction but does not have as much technical detail as the last answer. b) Putting 'advancing. . . suicidal' in parenthesis, explains more about the plan. Two commas can indicate a parenthesis, but not here. The phrase enclosed by commas is essential to the grammar of the sentence. ✗ ✗

SENTENCE STRUCTURE - ANSWERS 3 “Clearly, advancing in long rows at walking pace was suicidal, but that was the plan. ” (A description of soldiers attacking at the Somme in 1916) Which is the best description of the structure of this sentence? c) The word order is different. This is a periodic sentence with the main verb at the end; 'was the plan. ' The writer's opinion is given at the start. Using 'clearly' he expects you to agree with him. Well done! Perhaps the best answer as it has most technical detail. ✔

SENTENCE STRUCTURE - TEST 4 “Mornings, of course, always bring a sense of new hope and rejuvenation; aching and frozen though I was, I felt better for the thin air and the slow rising of the sun. ” Which features of sentence structure are most noticeable? a) Word order is most noticeable; morning is the subject of the writing so it is put at the start. b) The parenthesis 'of course' forces you to agree with what he is saying. It is like an aside remark to the reader. c) The semi-colon separates the two sentences and their related ideas. A general statement is made, then a specific one about that particular morning. d) All three of the above.

SENTENCE STRUCTURE - ANSWERS 4 “Mornings, of course, always bring a sense of new hope and rejuvenation; aching and frozen though I was, I felt better for the thin air and the slow rising of the sun. ” Which features of sentence structure are most noticeable? a) Word order is most noticeable; morning is the subject of the writing so it is put at the start. b) The parenthesis 'of course' forces you to agree with what he is saying. It is like an aside remark to the reader. c) The semi-colon separates the two sentences and their related ideas. A general statement is made, then a specific one about that particular morning. d)Well done! They all are equally important. ✔

SENTENCE STRUCTURE - TEST 5 “The Scottish race has been variously and plentifully accused of being dour, mean, venal, sly, narrow, slothful, sluttish, nasty, dirty, immoderately drunken, embarrassingly sentimental, masterfully hypocritical, and a blueprint for disaster when eleven of them are together on a football field. ” Show sentence structure helps the writer make the point effectively. a) There is one sentence with a long list of nasty things said about Scots people. b) There is a list of thirteen things said about Scots. It is built up to suggest excess. The writer doesn't like them. c) One sentence has a list of twelve critical things said about the Scots, ending with a joke about Scottish football as an anticlimax.

SENTENCE STRUCTURE - ANSWERS 5 “The Scottish race has been variously and plentifully accused of being dour, mean, venal, sly, narrow, slothful, sluttish, nasty, dirty, immoderately drunken, embarrassingly sentimental, masterfully hypocritical, and a blueprint for disaster when eleven of them are together on a football field. ” Show sentence structure helps the writer make the point effectively. a) There is one sentence with a long list of nasty things said about Scots people. Good choice but this answer is not as good as the final one. b) There is a list of thirteen things said about Scots. It is built up to suggest excess. The writer doesn't like them. The answer is incorrect at the end as the writer is simply reporting what is said, not agreeing with it! ✗ ✗

SENTENCE STRUCTURE - ANSWERS 5 “The Scottish race has been variously and plentifully accused of being dour, mean, venal, sly, narrow, slothful, sluttish, nasty, dirty, immoderately drunken, embarrassingly sentimental, masterfully hypocritical, and a blueprint for disaster when eleven of them are together on a football field. ” Show sentence structure helps the writer make the point effectively. c) One sentence has a list of twelve critical things said about the Scots, ending with a joke about Scottish football as an anticlimax. Well done! This has more to it than the other answers. ✔

You should learn the following aspects of sentence structure which are in your booklet.

Long and complex / short simple sentences Complex sentences may mimic complex ideas; short sentences have impact Repetition of words or phrases Repeated ideas will be emphasised or spotlighted List Provides detail, complexity, etc. Climax / anticlimax following a list Creates suspense/shows easing of tension Questions / exclamations / commands Achieve a particular tone, e. g. emotive (arousing strong feelings) Sentences without verbs (minor sentences) Create a colloquial (informal) style or build tension Unusual word order, e. g. inversion Alters emphasis; may build tension Sentences with symmetrical pattern of structure but with contrasting (opposite) ideas Provide contrast Parenthesis Adds extra information, comment or clarification

Punctuation is often a good signpost for sentence structure, so you should also remember the ‘jobs’ done by the following kinds of punctuation: Commas Separate items in a list or clauses in a sentence Pairs of brackets, dashes or commas Create parenthesis (see above) Colon (or dash) Introduces a list, example, explanation or quotation Semi-colon Separate complex items in a list (usually a very long list); separate two distinct, but connected, sentences Inverted commas Indicate quotation or speech; sometimes used to indicate irony

Example The only proviso (according to some devilishly complicated mathematics known as game theory) is this: your superstitions must not impose too much of a burden on those occasions when they are without foundation. Question Comment on an aspect of the writer’s use of sentence structure. 2 Answer The author uses a colon This introduces an explanation of the ‘proviso’ mentioned at the beginning of the sentence

Now answer the structure questions in the booklet.

Q 6 From whence comes this compulsion to climb mountains? Why do I have this compulsion to get to the top of every insignificant bump on the landscape? Why, no matter how breathless, bruised, battered and bedraggled I become while hillwalking, do I return with a grin on my face and a desire to go out and do it again? Question Here the author reflects on his need to climb mountains. Comment on how two aspects of sentence structure are used to explore his feelings. 4 Several rhetorical questions This shows that even he doesn’t really know why he does it Long, complex list This explores the range of reasons not to enjoy hillwalking and reinforces the point made by the questions Remember – don’t just spot the structure used You also need to comment on the effect which this structure has

Q But as that new way of living arrives—as we retreat from the wild 7 places, and the fences of national parks go up; as we cease the exploitation of animals, and the cow, the camel, the sheep, the chicken and the pig become items in modern exhibition farms, where schoolchildren see how mankind used to live; as our direct contact with our fellow creatures is restricted to zoos, pets and fish tanks; and as every area of natural beauty is set about with preservation orders and rules to keep human interference to a minimum—will we not be separating ourselves from our planet in order, as we suppose, to look after it better? Question Identify an aspect of sentence structure being used here and explain how it supports or clarifies the author’s argument. 2 Very long, complex list is used, with items separated by semi-colons This is used to demonstrate the huge range of ‘new ways of living’ (or ways in which we are ‘separating ourselves from our planet’)

WORD CHOICE When you are being asked about word choice you are simply being asked to look at the words and see why the writer has chosen those particular words to describe some thing or some feeling, rather than any similar words.

WORD CHOICE The sentences below contain vague, dull, and nondescriptive words and phrases. Rewrite each sentence with better word choice. Remove the vague vocabulary and replace it with words that are more precise and descriptive whilst keeping the meaning. The man went down the street. The teacher said something to the four boys. The dog barked at something. I was so happy. The cat made a noise.

Consider this A person who is under average weight for his or height could be described as, ‘Underweight’ ‘Skinny’ or ‘Slim’ What would be the effect if the writer chose the word ‘underweight’?

‘Underweight’ This could be saying that the person was being looked at in a clinical or medical way, and being seen as needing treatment. Perhaps the context of the passage would be a political one. ‘Skinny’ This person is being described as thin but in an unattractive way, perhaps suggesting something angular and bony. ‘Slim’ This person would be being described as thin but in an attractive way, it suggests a smooth, neat and elegant appearance.

‘Underweight’, ‘slim’ and ‘skinny’ all mean roughly the same, but the effect of choosing one of them instead of the other three is quite powerful. What makes the difference is the connotation of each word.

You should be aware of the difference between the denotation of a word and its connotation(s). • Denotation – the denotation of a word is its basic, plain meaning. • Connotation – something which contributes to the word’s impact or effect; the ideas associated with it.

WORD CHOICE You must always quote if you are asked to identify word choice (the only exception to this will be in the questions where the example of word choice is provided for you). You should then offer some sort of analysis either by thinking about the meaning of the words or the connotations.

WORD CHOICE QUESTIONS QUOTE Think AND EXPLAIN about meanings AND connotations

UNDERSTANDING WORD CHOICE Questions about word choice are very common in Close Reading papers. Often a question will ask you to deal specifically with word choice. Other questions might ask you to consider word choice among other techniques.

UNDERSTANDING WORD CHOICE Words used in different contexts can have different connotations, an idea or feeling which a word invokes for a person as well as its literal or primary meaning. When you answer a question about word choice you are not only being asked what that word means but to consider how that meaning is affected by the context of the passage. You will be able to infer a great deal about writers' opinions from the words they use.

UNDERSTANDING WORD CHOICE Word choice questions ask you to focus on the connotation rather than the denotation of a word. Considering word choice is all about thinking beyond the obvious meaning of a word in order to explore what it suggests. Often words meaning almost the same thing imply quite different things. You need to be alert to recognise these when they occur.

UNDERSTANDING WORD CHOICE Example 1 One question asks, Should parents be allowed to smack their children? and another asks, Should parents be allowed to strike their children? The questions are almost the same, but the word 'strike' suggests something more violent and aggressive than 'smack', which has connotations of a more gentle action, a slap rather than a blow. The first question seems, therefore, to be less opposed to smacking than the second.

UNDERSTANDING WORD CHOICE Example 2 Would you rather have a ‘crowd’ outside your house, or a ‘mob’? Probably a ‘crowd’, since ‘mob’ has connotations of an unruly, rather threatening group.

UNDERSTANDING WORD CHOICE Example 3 When a group of workers is looking for a pay-rise, newspapers who support them will usually write something like: Sheet metal workers are asking for a 20% increase while newspapers who are opposed to them will probably say they are demanding a 20% increase. Why? Because, although the figures are the same, ‘demanding’ suggests a more aggressive, unreasonable approach.

UNDERSTANDING WORD CHOICE Example 4 She looked at Sharon's new hairstyle, and sniggered. What does the choice of the word ‘sniggered’ here suggest about her attitude to Sharon? Friendly? Sympathetic? Respectful? Surely not. If the writer had wanted to suggest that, she'd have chosen a word like 'chuckle' or 'giggle' that suggest a more friendly, warm kind of laughter. ‘Sniggered’ suggests a bit of contempt, a bit of a sneer.

WORD CHOICE - TEST Read the following short text extracts with questions on word choice and then decide which one you think is the best answer.

WORD CHOICE - TEST 1) “A nine-year-old boy is attacked and killed while fleeing from dingoes on a beach at Fraser Island, in north-eastern Australia. The news, as rare as it is horrifying, elicits the predictably violent response. There have been calls for the wholesale destruction of the island's 160 protected dingoes. Past attacks are dredged up and enumerated in graphic detail. ” Which of these statements conveys the author's disapproval of the suggestion that all the dingoes should be killed: a) The writer does this using words like 'violent', 'destruction', 'dredged up', 'enumerated' and 'graphic' which all show strongly he feels.

WORD CHOICE - TEST 1) “A nine-year-old boy is attacked and killed while fleeing from dingoes on a beach at Fraser Island, in north-eastern Australia. The news, as rare as it is horrifying, elicits the predictably violent response. There have been calls for the wholesale destruction of the island's 160 protected dingoes. Past attacks are dredged up and enumerated in graphic detail. ” Which of these statements conveys the author's disapproval of the suggestion that all the dingoes should be killed: b) The word 'predictably' implies people are responding automatically, without thought and that they are unoriginal and dull; while 'dredged up' implies they are digging deep into the past to come up with any old excuse they can find.

WORD CHOICE - TEST 1) “A nine-year-old boy is attacked and killed while fleeing from dingoes on a beach at Fraser Island, in north-eastern Australia. The news, as rare as it is horrifying, elicits the predictably violent response. There have been calls for the wholesale destruction of the island's 160 protected dingoes. Past attacks are dredged up and enumerated in graphic detail. ” Which of these statements conveys the author's disapproval of the suggestion that all the dingoes should be killed: c) The words 'violent' and 'destruction' both suggest how aggressive the people's response is and the writer makes it clear he disapproves of this.

WORD CHOICE - TEST 1) “A nine-year-old boy is attacked and killed while fleeing from dingoes on a beach at Fraser Island, in north-eastern Australia. The news, as rare as it is horrifying, elicits the predictably violent response. There have been calls for the wholesale destruction of the island's 160 protected dingoes. Past attacks are dredged up and enumerated in graphic detail. ” Which of these statements conveys the author's disapproval of the suggestion that all the dingoes should be killed: d) The writer uses many words which show irresponsible, thoughtless and aggressive these people are being and so makes his disapproval quite clear.

WORD CHOICE - TEST Question 1 a) The writer does this using words like 'violent', 'destruction', 'dredged up', 'enumerated' and 'graphic' which all show strongly he feels. b) The word 'predictably' implies people are responding automatically, without thought and that they are unoriginal and dull; while 'dredged up' implies they are digging deep into the past to come up with any old excuse they can find. c) The words 'violent' and 'destruction' both suggest how aggressive the people's response is and the writer makes it clear he disapproves of this. d) The writer uses many words which show irresponsible, thoughtless and aggressive these people are being and so makes his disapproval quite clear.

WORD CHOICE - ANSWERS 1)a) The writer does this using words like 'violent', 'destruction', 'dredged up', 'enumerated' and 'graphic' which all show strongly he feels. This answer would get no marks because it only quotes words; marks are given only for appropriate comment. b) The word 'predictably' implies people are responding automatically, without thought and that they are unoriginal and dull; while 'dredged up' implies they are digging deep into the past to come up with any old excuse they can find. Well done! This answer shows how the author implies disapproval by commenting on the implications of specific word choices. c) The words 'violent' and 'destruction' both suggest how aggressive the people's response is and the writer makes it clear he disapproves of this. This answer makes a fairly general comment loosely connected to two words. d) The writer uses many words which show irresponsible, thoughtless and aggressive these people are being and so makes his disapproval quite clear. This answer does not refer to any specific words. It might get a half mark for the comment on 'aggression'.

WORD CHOICE - TEST 2) “Inevitably, there will be isolated casualties. I know of a mountain lion that killed a jogger in Denver, Colorado. A child died after it was mauled by an urban coyote in the States. And now the tragic case of the boy killed by a rogue dingo. But these cases make news precisely because of their extreme rarity. We must not be provoked into a frenzy of over-reactive culling as a result of this latest tragedy. The key to harmonious co-habitation is encapsulated in one word: respect. ” Show the word choice in the sentence 'We must not. . . latest tragedy' is important in emphasising the writer's point of view: a) 'culling' is an emotive word suggesting extensive, possibly unnecessary, killing.

WORD CHOICE - TEST 2) “Inevitably, there will be isolated casualties. I know of a mountain lion that killed a jogger in Denver, Colorado. A child died after it was mauled by an urban coyote in the States. And now the tragic case of the boy killed by a rogue dingo. But these cases make news precisely because of their extreme rarity. We must not be provoked into a frenzy of over-reactive culling as a result of this latest tragedy. The key to harmonious co-habitation is encapsulated in one word: respect. ” Show the word choice in the sentence 'We must not. . . latest tragedy' is important in emphasising the writer's point of view: b) 'frenzy' suggests they're mad.

WORD CHOICE - TEST 2) “Inevitably, there will be isolated casualties. I know of a mountain lion that killed a jogger in Denver, Colorado. A child died after it was mauled by an urban coyote in the States. And now the tragic case of the boy killed by a rogue dingo. But these cases make news precisely because of their extreme rarity. We must not be provoked into a frenzy of over-reactive culling as a result of this latest tragedy. The key to harmonious co-habitation is encapsulated in one word: respect. ” Show the word choice in the sentence 'We must not. . . latest tragedy' is important in emphasising the writer's point of view: c) It emphasises the writer's point of view by using the word 'provoked'. This means we must not be provoked into something we should not do and also 'over-reactive' which means people must not overreact to the situation.

WORD CHOICE - TEST 2) “Inevitably, there will be isolated casualties. I know of a mountain lion that killed a jogger in Denver, Colorado. A child died after it was mauled by an urban coyote in the States. And now the tragic case of the boy killed by a rogue dingo. But these cases make news precisely because of their extreme rarity. We must not be provoked into a frenzy of over-reactive culling as a result of this latest tragedy. The key to harmonious co-habitation is encapsulated in one word: respect. ” Show the word choice in the sentence 'We must not. . . latest tragedy' is important in emphasising the writer's point of view: d) 'provoked' means the other people are trying to make us do something against our will; 'must not’ is very strong and assertive.

WORD CHOICE - TEST Question 2 a) 'culling' is an emotive word suggesting extensive, possibly unnecessary, killing. b) 'frenzy' suggests they're mad. c) It emphasises the writer's point of view by using the word 'provoked'. This means we must not be provoked into something we should not do and also 'over-reactive' which means people must not overreact to the situation. d) 'provoked' means the other people are trying to make us do something against our will; 'must not' is very strong and assertive.

WORD CHOICE - ANSWERS 2)a) ‘Culling' is an emotive word suggesting extensive, possibly unnecessary, killing. Well done! This answer looks at the implications of the word 'culling'. b) 'frenzy' suggests they're mad. This answer makes a fair point, but it is not developed enough to score a good mark. c) It emphasises the writer's point of view by using the word 'provoked'. This means we must not be provoked into something we should not do and also 'over-reactive' which means people must not overreact to the situation. This answer might look good, but all it does is quote two words and then repeat them or their meanings. There is nothing about what they suggest. d) 'provoked' means the other people are trying to make us do something against our will; 'must not' is very strong and assertive. This answer is quite good but would not score full marks, because the comment on 'must not' is rather generalised, and what is said about 'provoked' is doing no more than stating the meaning of the word rather than commenting on its use in the sentence.

WORD CHOICE - TEST 3) “I'm not sure what to call them, since it is hard to describe these constructions, with their inanely grinning, appallinglypaid staff dressed like circus clowns dispensing lumps of fatty meat and slices of crumpled salad in soggy buns, accompanied by tubs of steaming hot French fries and teeth-rotting drinks, as 'restaurants'. True, they are 'places where food is bought and eaten', but it would be a sad world if these were really considered restaurants. ” Show the writer's word choice in this paragraph makes clear her contempt for fast food restaurants: a) She says they are 'inanely grinning, appallingly-paid staff dressed like circus clowns' and that they serve 'lumps of fatty meat and slices of crumpled salad in soggy buns' - she thinks it is all terrible.

WORD CHOICE - TEST 3) “I'm not sure what to call them, since it is hard to describe these constructions, with their inanely grinning, appallinglypaid staff dressed like circus clowns dispensing lumps of fatty meat and slices of crumpled salad in soggy buns, accompanied by tubs of steaming hot French fries and teeth-rotting drinks, as 'restaurants'. True, they are 'places where food is bought and eaten', but it would be a sad world if these were really considered restaurants. ” Show the writer's word choice in this paragraph makes clear her contempt for fast food restaurants: b) She says the food is unhealthy, the staff are badly paid and stupidly dressed. She calls them 'constructions' which sounds unfriendly.

WORD CHOICE - TEST 3) “I'm not sure what to call them, since it is hard to describe these constructions, with their inanely grinning, appallinglypaid staff dressed like circus clowns dispensing lumps of fatty meat and slices of crumpled salad in soggy buns, accompanied by tubs of steaming hot French fries and teeth-rotting drinks, as 'restaurants'. True, they are 'places where food is bought and eaten', but it would be a sad world if these were really considered restaurants. ” Show the writer's word choice in this paragraph makes clear her contempt for fast food restaurants: c) The use of 'circus' and 'clowns' makes them seem ridiculous, and 'lumps' does not sound very appealing or healthy.

WORD CHOICE - TEST 3) “I'm not sure what to call them, since it is hard to describe these constructions, with their inanely grinning, appallingly-paid staff dressed like circus clowns dispensing lumps of fatty meat and slices of crumpled salad in soggy buns, accompanied by tubs of steaming hot French fries and teeth-rotting drinks, as 'restaurants'. True, they are 'places where food is bought and eaten', but it would be a sad world if these were really considered restaurants. ” Show the writer's word choice in this paragraph makes clear her contempt for fast food restaurants: d) She is contemptuous of the staff ('inanely grinning’ suggests they look almost mad, and 'circus' makes the whole thing sound like an elaborate sideshow) and of the food (she uses 'lumps' rather than ’portions' to suggest something unappealing and inelegant, and describes the salad as 'crumpled' and 'soggy’ making it sound lifeless and weak).

WORD CHOICE - TEST Question 3 a) She says they are 'inanely grinning, appallingly-paid staff dressed like circus clowns' and that they serve 'lumps of fatty meat and slices of crumpled salad in soggy buns' - she thinks it is all terrible. b) She says the food is unhealthy, the staff are badly paid and stupidly dressed. She calls them 'constructions' which sounds unfriendly. c) The use of 'circus' and 'clowns' makes them seem ridiculous, and 'lumps' does not sound very appealing or healthy. d) She is contemptuous of the staff ('inanely grinning' suggests they look almost mad, and 'circus' makes the whole thing sound like an elaborate sideshow) and of the food (she uses 'lumps' rather than 'portions' to suggest something unappealing and inelegant, and describes the salad as 'crumpled' and 'soggy' making it sound lifeless and weak).

WORD CHOICE - ANSWERS 3)a) She says they are 'inanely grinning, appallingly-paid staff dressed like circus clowns' and that they serve 'lumps of fatty meat and slices of crumpled salad in soggy buns' - she thinks it is all terrible. This answer only quotes words; the question is asking for appropriate comment. b) She says the food is unhealthy, the staff are badly paid and stupidly dressed. She calls them 'constructions' which sounds unfriendly. This answer has some merit, but the first sentence does not comment on specific words. The second sentence has the beginnings of a good point but is not developed well. c) The use of 'circus' and 'clowns' makes them seem ridiculous, and 'lumps' does not sound very appealing or healthy. There are interesting comments but only on two of the words. d) She is contemptuous of the staff ('inanely grinning' suggests they look almost mad, and 'circus' makes the whole thing sound like an elaborate sideshow) and of the food (she uses 'lumps' rather than 'portions' to suggest something unappealing and inelegant, and describes the salad as 'crumpled' and 'soggy' making it sound lifeless and weak). Well done! This answer goes into detail and provides an excellent focus on the word choice.

WORD CHOICE - TEST 4) “Ever since I was a child, museums have fascinated me. I love them. Even the most dusty and drab have a magic for me. I was the despair of my mother when I was a child, for I was always bringing home fossils, bits of interesting rock, and such like, to add to the overburdened windowsill museum which I had. ” Show the word choice in this paragraph emphasises the writer's interest in museums: a) He tells us how much he likes museums and that he always has liked them. He likes every type of museum, no matter how old or drab.

WORD CHOICE - TEST 4) “Ever since I was a child, museums have fascinated me. I love them. Even the most dusty and drab have a magic for me. I was the despair of my mother when I was a child, for I was always bringing home fossils, bits of interesting rock, and such like, to add to the overburdened windowsill museum which I had. ” Show the word choice in this paragraph emphasises the writer's interest in museums: b) 'Magic' suggests enchantment and pleasure; 'fascinated' has connotations of being deeply and enjoyably absorbed.

WORD CHOICE - TEST 4) “Ever since I was a child, museums have fascinated me. I love them. Even the most dusty and drab have a magic for me. I was the despair of my mother when I was a child, for I was always bringing home fossils, bits of interesting rock, and such like, to add to the overburdened windowsill museum which I had. ” Show the word choice in this paragraph emphasises the writer's interest in museums: c) The writer emphasises his interest in museums by using the word 'magic' which suggests there is something special, almost mysteriously appealing about them.

WORD CHOICE - TEST 4) “Ever since I was a child, museums have fascinated me. I love them. Even the most dusty and drab have a magic for me. I was the despair of my mother when I was a child, for I was always bringing home fossils, bits of interesting rock, and such like, to add to the overburdened windowsill museum which I had. ” Show the word choice in this paragraph emphasises the writer's interest in museums: d) Words like 'magic' and 'fascinated' show the writer is attracted to museums.

WORD CHOICE - TEST a) He tells us how much he likes museums and that he always has liked them. He likes every type of museum, no matter how old or drab. b) 'Magic' suggests enchantment and pleasure; 'fascinated' has connotations of being deeply and enjoyably absorbed. c) The writer emphasises his interest in museums by using the word 'magic' which suggests there is something special, almost mysteriously appealing about them. d) Words like 'magic' and 'fascinated' show the writer is attracted to museums.

WORD CHOICE - ANSWERS 4)a) He tells us how much he likes museums and that he always has liked them. He likes every type of museum, no matter how old or drab. This answer does not refer to any specific words. b) 'Magic' suggests enchantment and pleasure; 'fascinated' has connotations of being deeply and enjoyably absorbed. Well done! This answer offers interesting observations on the use of 'magic' and 'fascinated'. c) The writer emphasises his interest in museums by using the word 'magic' which suggests there is something special, almost mysteriously appealing about them. This answer has a very strong comment on 'magic' but requires more depth. d) Words like 'magic' and 'fascinated' show the writer is attracted to museums. This answer merely quotes words and offers no comment.

WORD CHOICE - TEST 5) “Football today is being hijacked and often corrupted by commercial interests, the fans exploited, their loyalty taken for granted or abused. The men and women who have supported the game all their lives are treated as mere consumers of a product on which those who run the clubs have a monopoly of supply. The more cash they can screw out of the fans the better. And they call it sport. Welcome to the world of commercial football. ” Show the word choice in this paragraph makes clear the writer's feelings about football today: a) The writer's anger and despair are conveyed by words like 'hijacked' which suggests something being illegally, almost violently, changed from its true purpose; 'corrupted' which has connotations of immorality and deceit; and 'screw' which makes the football bosses sound like cheap fraudsters.

WORD CHOICE - TEST 5) “Football today is being hijacked and often corrupted by commercial interests, the fans exploited, their loyalty taken for granted or abused. The men and women who have supported the game all their lives are treated as mere consumers of a product on which those who run the clubs have a monopoly of supply. The more cash they can screw out of the fans the better. And they call it sport. Welcome to the world of commercial football. ” Show the word choice in this paragraph makes clear the writer's feelings about football today: b) He says the fans are being 'abused'. This suggests they are being treated in a harmful way.

WORD CHOICE - TEST 5) “Football today is being hijacked and often corrupted by commercial interests, the fans exploited, their loyalty taken for granted or abused. The men and women who have supported the game all their lives are treated as mere consumers of a product on which those who run the clubs have a monopoly of supply. The more cash they can screw out of the fans the better. And they call it sport. Welcome to the world of commercial football. ” Show the word choice in this paragraph makes clear the writer's feelings about football today: c) He uses words like: 'hijacked, corrupted, exploited, abused, mere, monopoly, screw'; all these words show he feels that the fans are being treated badly.

WORD CHOICE - TEST 5) “Football today is being hijacked and often corrupted by commercial interests, the fans exploited, their loyalty taken for granted or abused. The men and women who have supported the game all their lives are treated as mere consumers of a product on which those who run the clubs have a monopoly of supply. The more cash they can screw out of the fans the better. And they call it sport. Welcome to the world of commercial football. ” Show the word choice in this paragraph makes clear the writer's feelings about football today: d) A 'monopoly' is usually considered to be a bad thing because it means that only one person or group is in control, restricting the rights of others.

WORD CHOICE - TEST a) The writer's anger and despair are conveyed by words like 'hijacked' which suggests something being illegally, almost violently, changed from its true purpose; 'corrupted' which has connotations of immorality and deceit; and 'screw' which makes the football bosses sound like cheap fraudsters. b) He says the fans are being 'abused'. This suggests they are being treated in a harmful way. c) He uses words like: 'hijacked, corrupted, exploited, abused, mere, monopoly, screw'; all these words show he feels that the fans are being treated badly. d) A 'monopoly' is usually considered to be a bad thing because it means that only one person or group is in control, restricting the rights of others.

WORD CHOICE - ANSWERS 5)a) The writer's anger and despair are conveyed by words like 'hijacked' which suggests something being illegally, almost violently, changed from its true purpose; 'corrupted' which has connotations of immorality and deceit; and 'screw' which makes the football bosses sound like cheap fraudsters. Well done! The answer goes into considerable detail about several of the words used. b) He says the fans are being 'abused'. This suggests they are being treated in a harmful way. This answer makes only a weak comment about the word 'abused'. c) He uses words like: 'hijacked, corrupted, exploited, abused, mere, monopoly, screw'; all these words show he feels that the fans are being treated badly. All this answer does is list a number of words and then offer the comment about being 'treated badly'. d) A 'monopoly' is usually considered to be a bad thing because it means that only one person or group is in control, restricting the rights of others. The comment on 'monopoly' is useful but offers no observations on other words.

WORD CHOICE EXAMPLE At the beginning of this month I was in a hellish yet beautiful place. Question What is surprising about the author’s word choice in this line? 2 Answer • “hellish yet beautiful” • These words are contradictory, which makes the expression surprising

Now answer the word choice questions in the booklet.

Question 8 By now most of us know that the version of reality on offer is one shaped by a multimillion-pound business with slick production values, and yet we willingly suspend our disbelief week after week, month after month, in the name of entertainment. Is there something lacking in our daily lives that draws us so inexorably into Cowell’s web? Question Comment on the writer’s use of word choice in the final sentence of this paragraph. 2 • “web” • This suggests that Cowell sees us as his prey OR that we are manipulated the way a spider manipulates a fly in its web OR that once drawn into reality TV it is nearly impossible to escape

Question 9 I only began to grasp this a few months ago when I travelled to Xi’an to visit the First Emperor’s mind-boggling mausoleum, home to his Terracotta Army. “This is one of the people who changed the world, ” said Neil Mac. Gregor, director of the British Museum. “There are terribly few historical figures whose achievements lasted like that. This is really one of the great, great figures in human history. ” Question Show any one feature of Neil Mac. Gregor’s word choice makes it clear that he thinks of Qin as someone special. 2 • “changed the world” • Suggests that he had a huge influence

Question 10 The missing part of the Cinderella story is what happens when she puts on the glass slipper and disappears into the palace. Rowling filled in the blanks, describing to Jeremy Paxman how she has to cope with begging letters, journalists rifling through her bins, photographers lurking on the beach, and strangers accosting her in the supermarket. Question Explain how the writer’s word choice in lines 19– 22 helps to show the negative effects of fame. 4 • “begging letters” – implies unpleasant/unwanted attention • Journalists “rifling” through her bins – suggests invasion of privacy/indiscriminate searching and/or unpleasant/unwanted attention

TONE Tone questions are often seen as the most difficult to answer. A first step to being able to answer them is knowing what some of the common examples of tone in close reading papers are, such as humourous, ironic (sarcastic), disapproving, emotive, aggressive, compassionate, sympathetic etc. In (very) general terms, look for word choice and think of the connotations - this should help you to get an idea of how a tone is being created.

TONE Understand different types of tone (look at the list of tones and their meanings that you have been given) Think of how the words used – and the way in which the sentences are written – might create a specific mood (similar to word choice questions)

Example So why, after a decade of phone-in rows, voterigging accusations and celebrity-hungry wannabes with bloated egos, does the British public remain so in love with reality television? Question Explain fully why any two components of the expression “celebrity-hungry wannabes with bloated egos” (lines 17– 18) convey a tone of disapproval. 2 ‘celebrity-hungry’ suggests that the people are superficial ‘wannabes’ is clearly derogatory and dismissive

Now do the questions on tone in the booklet.

Question 11 Those who call themselves environmentalists celebrate this. “Leave nothing and take nothing away, ” read the signs at the gates of nature reserves. Practical advice, perhaps, but is there not something melancholy in what that says about modern man’s desired relationship with nature? Will we one day confine ourselves to watching large parts of our planet only from observation towers? Question What is the tone of the last two sentences above? 1 Sad / gloomy / pessimistic / concerned I would also accept dismissive

Question 12 The tomb itself may never be opened because of the sensitivities of disturbing the Emperor, although some archaeologists hope that improved technology may one day allow some form of exploration. Question Show fully how the writer introduces a doubtful tone when he writes about the prospects for opening the tomb. 2 The word “may” is used twice This makes clear that they are unsure of the chances of being able to fully explore the tomb

Question 13 In an age of appearances, her story should reassure us. JK Rowling found success and made millions through trusting her own invention. We will never know her, but we know Harry, and his magic is likely to last. Question Identify the writer’s attitude to JK Rowling in this paragraph and give evidence to support your answer. 2 Attitude is positive / admiring The word “reassure” confirms that the writer believes her story to be positive

IMAGERY Images and imagery have a purpose. Writers want you to share their thinking as fully as possible. In order to interpret images and explain how things work, and how well they do so, we have to be methodical. It can help to consider three things: 1) What is the image? 2) How does it work? 3) Why is it effective?

IMAGERY - SUMMARY 1. Identify or quote the image _____ is being compared to _____ 2. Show the literal and figurative come together to create an effect This is effective because just as ‘_____’ suggests _______. . . 3. Say what the effect is …so too _______________

Example It is only when a superstition begins to compromise our deeper goals and aspirations that we have moved along the spectrum of irrationality far enough to risk a diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder. Take Kolo Touré, the former Arsenal defender, who insists on being the last player to leave the dressing room after the half-time break. No real problem, you might think, except that when William Gallas, his team-mate, was injured and needed treatment at half-time during a match, Touré stayed in the dressing room until Gallas had been treated, forcing Arsenal to start the second half with only nine players. Question Explain how effective you find the word “spectrum” (line 71) as an image or metaphor to illustrate people’s “irrationality”. Answer: The variety of superstitions that exist is being compared to a spectrum This is effective because just as a ‘spectrum’ suggests a wide range of colours… …so too there a wide range of different severities of superstitious beliefs

Now do the practise imagery questions in the booklet.

Question 14 “Africans are not dustbins, ” declared some of the June 16 placards; and “Beware of Afrikaans, the most dangerous drug for our future. ” Question Look at the placard text “Beware of Afrikaans, the most dangerous drug for our future”. Explain the metaphor and analyse its effectiveness. 3 Afrikaans is being compared to a drug It is effective because just as ‘drugs’ suggests something damaging and destructive… …so too ‘Afrikaans’ could potentially do terrible damage to the educational chances of Africans

Question 15 Research has made it clear that the early media hysteria about the novelty (and thus the dangers) of text messaging was misplaced. Question How effective do you find the writer’s use of “hysteria” as an image or metaphor? 2 Answer It is effective because just as ‘hysteria’ suggests panic… …so too the response to texting was irrational and overthe-top

LINKING QUESTIONS Linking questions are very common in Close Reading papers and are, in almost every case, an easy way to gain two marks. Linking questions always work in the same way, and you can therefore use the following formula to ensure that you always get the marks available. Remember that you must quote when answering these questions; also, try to be specific when stating what each quote is linking to in either the previous or the upcoming paragraph.

LINKING QUESTIONS Use the following formula: The word(s) ‘____QUOTE______’ link back to what was discussed in the previous paragraph, which was REFER BACK______________. The word(s) ‘_____QUOTE_____’ link to what is coming up in the next paragraph, which is REFER FORWARD_________________.

LINKING QUESTIONS The process of answering linking questions is like completing a four part jigsaw puzzle 1 Quote which part refers back 4 Say what it refers forward to 2 Say what it refers back to 3 Quote which part refers forward

Example The 7. 15 dance class is full, as was the six o’clock, as is the 8. 30. In the reception area of Edinburgh Dancebase, learners, ranging from the middle-aged, fresh from work, to students, mill around waiting to dance. Unlikely as it may at first seem, this is occurring across the country. Against similar winter backdrops people are queuing up to learn to dance. National inhibition is being shed as salsa, meringue, and cumbia beats force hips to sway rhythmically and partners to twist complicatedly. French ceroc classes are filling up, street dancing to hip hop is being used as an exercise class. Even ballroom dancing is enjoying something of a renaissance. Question By referring to specific words or phrases, show the first sentence in the second paragraph performs a linking function in the line of thought. 2

Example The 7. 15 dance class is full, as was the six o’clock, as is the 8. 30. In the reception area of Edinburgh Dancebase, learners, ranging from the middle-aged, fresh from work, to students, mill around waiting to dance. Unlikely as it may at first seem, this is occurring across the country. Against similar winter backdrops people are queuing up to learn to dance. National inhibition is being shed as salsa, meringue, and cumbia beats force hips t sway rhythmically and partners to twist complicatedly. French ceroc classes are filling up, street dancing to hip hop is being used as an exercise class. Even ballroom dancing is enjoying something of a renaissance. Answer The word ‘this’ links back to what was discussed in the previous paragraph, which was the idea of the dance classes in Edinburgh being full. The words ‘is occurring across the country’ link to what is coming up in the next paragraph, which is the idea of different styles of dance becoming more popular throughout the nation.

Now complete the practice ‘linking’ questions in your booklet.

Q 16 William Shakespeare is easily the best-known of our English writers. Virtually every man in the street can name some of his plays and his characters, and many people can also recite lines of his poetry by heart. However, despite our familiarity with his work, we know relatively little of the man himself. We do not know when or why he became an actor, we know nothing of his life in London, and almost nothing of his personal concerns. Question By referring to specific words or phrases, show the third sentence acts as a link in the argument. 2 The words ‘his work’ link back to what was discussed in the previous paragraph, which was his plays, characters and poetry. • The words ‘the man himself’ link to what is coming up in the next paragraph, which is information about his life and personality. §

Q 17 Mary Stuart was certainly rated a beauty by the standards of her own time: even John Knox described her as ‘pleasing’. In her height, her small neat head, and her grace she resembled the contemporary ideal. It was the type of beauty which her contemporaries were already learning to admire in art, and could now appreciate in life, all the more satisfyingly because it was in the person of a princess. Not only the appearance, but also the character of Mary Stuart made her admirably suited to be a princess of France in the age in which she lived. Mary was exactly the sort of beautiful woman, not precisely brilliant, but well-educated and charming, who inspired and stimulated poets by her presence to feats of homage. Question Show the first sentence of the second paragraph acts as a link in the argument. 2 The word ‘appearance’ links back to what was discussed in the previous paragraph, which was her ‘beauty’. The words ‘the character’ link to what is coming up in the next paragraph, which is that she was an inspiring person.

Q 18 The problem here is political rather than financial capacity. The pinch will come in other resource areas, such as health spending. People over 65 consume three times as many prescription items as other age groups. Nearly half of those with some measure of disability are over 70. But the resource question, meeting the material needs of the old and elderly, is only half the story. The real problem lies elsewhere – in the imagination. What are the old for? Who are they, and do traditional divisions of human life into childhood, youth, middleage and old-age still fit our experience? Question What is the function of the first sentence in the second paragraph in this passage? By referring closely to specific words and phrases, show it fulfils this function. 3

8 Nearly half of those with some measure of disability are over 70. But the resource question, meeting the material needs of the old and elderly, is only half the story. The real problem lies elsewhere – in the imagination. What are the old for? Who are they, and do traditional divisions of human life into childhood, youth, middleage and old-age still fit our experience? Question What is the function of the first sentence in the second paragraph in this passage? By referring closely to specific words and phrases, show it fulfils this function. 3 The words ‘the resource question’ link back to what was discussed in the previous paragraph, which was about paying for healthcare for the elderly. The words ‘only half the story’ link to what is coming up in the next paragraph, which focuses on bigger questions about what it means to be “old”. The other mark is for actually recognising that this is a linking question!!!