1. Turn straight
to the questions
and look at
question 1.
2. Look at line
references and
mark out on text.
Unit 1 - Reading
3. Read the
question carefully
and highlight key
words.
4. Note the
number of
marks available.
Just use these
lines.
Question A1.
Read lines 1-34.
He is your focus.
A1. What do you learn about Justo in these
lines?
Write about:
• facts and details about him;
• the kind of person he is.
Note the bullet points – the first
one wants simple search and find
points, the second needs to show
more understanding of character.
You need to do both things.
[10]
Read the context
information.
Suggests he is well known.
Sense of
arrogance?
Is he humble or is this false modesty?
Track through
the whole
extract,
selecting
‘what’ and
‘what it tells
us’.
Key to colour codes on sample
openings:
• Blue text – these highlight the temporal markers
that show the examiner that you are tracking
the extract logically
• Green text – these are direct quotations or
pieces of information taken from the text
• Red text – this is evidence of inference and
understanding, showing that you have engaged
with the question and the text
• Purple text – summative statement/overview
(not always needed)
This is the beginning of an answer to A1:
At first, the writer tells us that Justo has a
“reputation” across the villages, which suggests that
he is well known in the area. He is said to be a “wit”,
hinting at a sense of humour. We are also told that he
is a “defender of causes”, suggesting that he sticks up
for others. At the end of the first paragraph, he is
described as “one to watch” in the strength events,
showing that he has great physical power. Next, ...
•You now have 10 minutes to track through the rest of the
extract, identify as many points as you can and complete the
answer.
•Follow the pattern seen in the response above.
The examiners use ‘bandings’ to
mark your answer:
Give 1 mark to those who make unsupported assertions or simple
comments with occasional reference to the text, or copy unselectively.
These answers will struggle to engage with the text and/or question.
Give 2-4 marks, according to quality, to those who make simple
comments based on surface features of the text. These answers may tend to
be thin/unselective in their choice of textual material or limited in
inference.
Give 5-7 marks, according to quality, to those who select appropriate
detail from the text to show understanding of the character. These answers
should show cohesion and be making valid inferences.
Give 8-10 marks, according to quality, to those who explore
appropriate detail from the text with depth and insight. These answers
should be thorough as well as perceptive, covering a range of points
accurately and with an assured grasp of character. Inferences should be
thoughtful and assured.
How did you do? – Remember, just finding
facts is not enough...
Some points showing evidence of understanding
selecting:
•
his ‘reputation’ has spread to other villages
•
people say he is ‘a defender of causes’ (he can
stick up for himself, or others)
•
he is also ‘a wit’
•
perhaps ‘too eager’ to create his own
‘mythology’
•
he is ‘one to watch’ in the strength events
•
he is clearly very strong (whether or not the ox
story is true)
•
he jokes about the ‘ox story’
•
he is the largest man in the competition
•
he goes barefoot in the wood chopping because
he only has one pair of boots
•
he has lost a toe
•
he can’t afford new boots
•
he is much better than anyone else at the woodchopping
•
he is less impressive at wine drinking
•
he is formidably strong in the ‘farmer’s walk’
•
he plays out a ‘false drama’ for the crowd
•
he acknowledges his admirers
•
he jokes with the children
Overview:
• well known
• he is immensely strong
• he has a sense of humour/a practical joker
• humble / modest (false?)
• he is perhaps rather proud of himself/likes
to be the centre of attention
• a bit of a ‘show-off’
• he is not wealthy
• fearless
• relates well to people
Look at HT Unit 1 sample answer 1 - :
In lines 1-34 we learn that Justo was a ‘defender of causes’ and ‘a wit’ as this is what
it said Maria heard about him. In lines 1-34, we also learn that some people though
and said that he was ‘too eager to create his own mythology’.
In lines 1-34 we learn that Justo was ‘one to watch during the strength events on
feast days’. Also that he ‘carried an ox into town across his shoulders’ and then also
celebrated the feast by ‘throwing the beast across the river’.
In lines 1-34 we learn that Justo is a very modest person because he says ‘but it was
only a small ox and downhill most of the way into town’. Even though he did do this
he is trying to make it sound less impressive.
In lines 1-34 we also learn that Justo was the ‘largest man standing beside a log at the
start of the wood chopping event’.
In lines 1-34 we also learn that Justo only has nine toes because he says ‘after all
these years of competition, I still have nine toes’.
In lines 1-34 we also learn that Justo is not a wealthy man because he says, ‘but this
is my only pair of boots, I can’t afford to damage them’.
In lines 1-34 we also learn that Justo was ‘less impressive’ in the wine drinking event
but in the ‘farmers walk’ contest he was ‘unmatched’.
Look at HT Unit 1 sample answer 2:
At the beginning of the extract we learn that Justo has a high reputation in the village of
Lumo. He is said to be a ‘defender of causes’, however, some say that he is ‘eager to
create his own mythology’ – in other words, he is perhaps prone to making up false
stories about himself. It seems that other people may be jealous of him. Justo is a
strong man as he is ‘one to watch during strength events’. It is claimed that he carried
an ox into town and threw it across a river. However, he is a modest man and claims it
was only a ‘small ox’. Justo is the ‘largest man’ in his competition . We learn that he is
an entertaining and happy character as he ‘joked’ with the crowd. We learn that he may
be a little ‘foolhardy’ as he goes barefoot in the axe competition. Justo says that he is
proud that he still has ‘nine toes’ and seems a brave and also comical character. We
learn that he is poor because he only has the one pair of boots. Justo splits the log
before any of the other competitors so we learn he is the strongest man. At the wine
drinking event however, he is ‘less impressive’. However, at the farmer’s walk contest he
is ‘unmatched, so we learn that he possesses great strength and endurance. He creates
‘false drama’ when first lifting the weights, so we learn that he has a showman-like
personality. Justo nods to the little ones, so we learn that he is a caring kind of person.
He also shows a child an illusion in which his arms appear to grow in length, so we learn
he is a joking and fun type of person.
Again, mark out
the lines.
Question A2.
Read lines 35-64.
Who is your
focus this time?
What is the topic
of her thoughts
and feelings?
Look at both what
she says/does and
what it suggests
about her
thoughts/feelings.
A2. What does Maria think and feel about Justo in
these lines? How does the writer show her thoughts
and feelings?
Two part question – every time
you identify something she
thinks/feels – try to say HOW
that is conveyed/shown.
[10]
Writer hinting at her interest in him
Angered by
his lack of
interest but
makes her
all the
more
determined
Creating situations to bump into him
Using all her feminine charms
and awareness of her physicality
This is the beginning of an answer to A2:
Begins with a summative
statement as overview .
The writer makes it clear that Maria is attracted to Justo and
keen to get him to notice her. At first, Maria feels that she has
to engineer situations to meet him, ‘she discovered the need’
to visit friends. The writer uses superlatives to show that she
is using her feminine charms to engage Justo, as she
‘unleashed her most feminine laugh’ and her ‘broadest smile’,
showing she feels confident of her attractiveness. Then, when
Justo seems to ignore her, she thinks that he must be
‘arrogant’ but it only makes her more determined to succeed.
• You now have 10 minutes to track through the rest of the
extract, identify as many points as you can and complete the
answer.
• Use this opening as a model.
Remember the bandings:
•
•
•
•
Give 1 mark to those who make simple comments with occasional reference to the
text, or copy unselectively. These answers will struggle to engage with the text
and/or the question.
Give 2-4 marks, according to quality, to those who make simple comments based
on surface features of the text, and/or show limited development. These answers
may be thin or tending to be unselective in their choice of textual material, or use
unsupported/inappropriate spotting of devices. Better answers will make at least
some attempt to address the issue of ‘how’.
Give 5-7 marks, according to quality, to those who make valid comments based on
an appropriate selection of textual material. These answers will probably rely on
spotting factual content. Better answers may show some awareness of the issue of
‘how’, even if they do rely on some narrative or spotting of key quotations.
Give 8-10 marks, according to quality, to those who select and explore
appropriate material from the text, showing insight into the author’s method and
use of language. These answers should have clarity and coherence and should
show insight.
How did you do? Remember the ‘writer’s
technique’ bit...
Some points candidates may explore:
•
she is interested in/attracted to him
•
she ‘engineers’ several situations to meet him/she
uses her ‘feminine tricks’ to attract his attention
•
she ‘discovers’ a need to visit friends near the
finishing line
•
she unleashes her most feminine laughter just as he
walks past
•
she smiles her broadest smile just as he looks her
way
•
when he almost ignores her, she thinks Justo is ‘the
most arrogant man in Guernica’
•
she feels even more determined to attract his
attention
•
she works behind the scenes to present the prize to
him
•
she ‘moves in’ for a ceremonial kiss
•
she deliberately skirts the crowd so that he will have
to pass her again
•
she asks him to dance (she takes the initiative)
•
she agrees he is not handsome
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
she thinks he is ‘frighteningly powerful’
she thinks he is boastful but ‘without
confidence’ with girls
she is still interested in him
she defends him against the criticisms of her
sisters (he has character)
she is thoughtful when her mother observes
that Justo has his own farm
the writer points out that she has incentives to
marry (she is the eldest of six girls/her father is
‘fixed to his wooden chair’ by an injury)
she is silent as her sisters discuss Justo’s many
‘inadequacies’
the writer uses Maria’s actions
and her thoughts and dialogue
there is interaction with Justo
but also with her sisters and mother
ironic, knowing tone (it so happened/who
could have imagined)
language choices (moved in/unleashed)
Look at HT Unit 1 sample answer 3:
During these lines, it is shown that Maria has a crush on Justo. This is shown in the line ‘ Maria
discovered the need to visit friends near the finishing line’. This shows that Maria has discovered
the thrill of meeting Justo at the finishing line and has realised that her affection is growing
stronger for him.
But this then switches to Maria believing that Justo is ‘arrogant’ due to the fact that ‘Justo just
glanced at her and walked on’. This offends Maria as it makes her feel that Justo doesn’t have the
same feelings as her. It is then shown that her affection for him is still strong as she ‘moved in for
the ceremonial kiss on the cheek’. And as Justo says ‘thank you’, it confirms her affection for him
and shows their mutual feelings.
Maria then presents a flirtatious manner towards Justo as she ‘skirted the gathering so that he
would have to pass her again’ and asks him ‘to dance’. This shows that her affection is strong and
she would like to spend time with Justo. Instead of dancing Maria and Justo ‘sat and talked’,
portraying that they both have affection for each other and have lots to talk about. It is also a
more effective way of getting to know each other than dancing.
Boling presents that Maria does not think highly of Justo’s appearance but finds his personality
appealing. This is shown in the quotation of ‘she agreed he was no the most handsome man...he
had been without confidence when they were alone’. This shows that Maria’s feelings towards
Justo are strong. When discussing Justo with her sisters, Maria defends him. This is shown in the
quotation, ‘he is homely...he has character’. This shows that Maria has a strong affection for Justo
and thinks highly of him. It also shows her opinions of him cannot be changed.
Look at HT Unit 1 sample answer 4:
The writer starts off showing that Maria thinks Justo is
‘the most arrogant man in Guernica’ after he glances
and walks away from her. But after she ‘asks him to
dance’ she talks to him and thinks he isn’t arrogant,
cocky or a show off. She even defends him when her
sisters are saying negatives about him. This shows she
likes him and feels that he is just boasting in front of
the crowd and is actually less confident when alone
just talking to her. Maria thinks that he is frightfully
strong and he is not the most handsome man but she
still really likes him.
Look at HT Unit 1 sample answer 5:
Maria clearly likes and fancies Justo in these lines. The writer shows that when Maria ‘felt
the need’ to go to the finishing line as Justo ‘completed his walk’. She also ‘unleashed her
most feminine laugh’ and gave her’ broadest smile’ as he passed which showed how she
was impressed by his displays of strength in the competition. It may also show she was
feeling nervous around him as she was trying to be seductive while acting naturally.
She thinks that he must be the ‘most arrogant man in Guernica’ when he does not react,
so the writer shows how she is upset that he does not seem to like her back. She keeps
using excuses to get close to him, showing that she still likes him, such as handing him the
lam. The writer shows that she feels attracted to him because she arranged things so she
could ‘kiss (him) on his cheek’. She also walked ‘so that he would have to pass her again’,
again implying that she likes him a lot and wants to talk to him.
The writer shows that she feels attracted to him when she asks,’ Would you like to dance?’
showing how she thinks that she likes him. When they ‘sat and talked’ the writer shows
how Maria felt close to him and allowed them to get close to each other and get on well.
She thinks he was ‘not the most handsome man’ and he was ‘frighteningly powerful’. She
also thinks that her first impressions that he was arrogant were wrong as he was ‘without
confidence’ when they were alone. The writer also shows how she thinks he is nice when
she ‘argued’ with her sisters to defend him. She clearly likes his personality as she says ‘he
has character’. She is clearly thinking about whether to see him again as she returned
home in silence.
Mark out your final
section.
Question A3.
Read lines 65-87.
Two part question again – you
are looking at the events that
take place and then making a
personal comment about what
that suggests to you.
A3. What happens in these lines? How do you
react to what happens?
[10]
Interlink the two points
and don’t just retell the
story.
Brings no presents – seems
unromantic
Awkward – we think he
hasn’t made an effort
Slightly comical greeting
His offer of help with the work is
welcomed immediately and shows he
is thoughtful and quite clever
This is the beginning of an answer to A3:
At the beginning of this extract, Justo visits Maria at home. He
‘arrived empty-handed’ and ‘wearing his work clothes’ which
makes me feel as if he is rather unromantic and awkward and
does not know how to impress her. Justo greets Maria’s mother
with a ‘vigorous handshake’ and her father with a ‘pat’ which I
feel is rather clumsy and comical. However, he then offers to
help with the ‘hardest work’ and the women are ‘instantly won
over’ suggesting that...
•You now have 10 minutes to track through the rest of the
extract, identify as many points as you can and complete the
answer.
•Use this opening as a model.
Remember the bandings:
• Give 1 mark to those who make simple comments with occasional
reference to the text, or copy unselectively.
• Give 2-4 marks, according to quality, to those who make simple comments
based on surface features of the text, and/or just tell the story, with
varying degrees of detail and accuracy.
• Give 5-7 marks, according to quality, to those who select and begin to
comment on appropriate material from the text. These answers should
show clear understanding of ‘what happens’ and at least begin to engage
with the issue of personal response.
• Give 8-10 marks, according to quality, to those who show clear, detailed
understanding of the text. They should also make a well-considered
personal response.
How did you do? Remember your reactions
as well as events...
What happens?
•
Justo visits Maria’s home
•
he brings no presents but he is wearing his work
clothes
•
he greets the parents (perhaps rather comically?)
•
he asks what he can do to help (which instantly wins
over Mrs Onati and the sisters)
•
he offers to do work they find hard
•
he is very formal and polite
•
he tells Maria to help (he doesn’t ask her!)
•
they eat a relaxed meal after work and Justo is now
part of the family
•
the sisters have changed their mind about him
•
a month later Maria is in the front row at another fair
watching Justo
•
he leaves the contest and walks over to Maria
•
he holds both weights in one hand and takes a gold
ring from his pocket
•
he asks the ‘stunned’ Maria to marry him
•
she accepts and they kiss
•
he goes back to the contest but is disqualified
•
he shows he could win anyway
•
he apologises to Maria for not winning another lamb.
Personal Response?
•
at first he seems unromantic and awkward
•
his offer to do the hardest work is likely to win
approval/respect
•
he takes Maria’s help for granted/tells her what
to do
•
the way the sisters change their tune is amusing
but also fair enough
•
it is perhaps a surprise when he leaves the
‘farmer’s walk’ to propose
•
he is rather blunt
•
his disqualification is an outrage
•
it is good when he shows that he could have
won
•
it is quite charming when he apologises
•
he is a big, rough lad but quite sensitive in his
way
Look at HT Unit 1 sample answer 6:
In the lines 65-87 Justo arrives at Maria’s house for the first time empty handed and
with his work clothes on. We know this as it says ‘Justo arrived empty handed but
with his work clothes on’. This doesn’t give a very good first impression to the family
and Maria although he must be intending to do work as it says ‘but wearing his work
clothes’.
In lines 65-87 Justo gave the mother a ‘vigorous handshake’ and ‘patted the father
on the shoulder’. This shows how unaffectionate Justo is but also it doesn’t give the
best impression of him.
In lines 65-87 Justo after introducing himself asks the question to the family ‘What
can I do to help?’ as he know the father is incapable of doing any work. This gives off
a very good impression and shows how helpful to the family Justo could be. This also
shows that they shouldn’t have judged him by how he looks.
In lines 65-87 everyone sat down together for a relaxed meal and it says ‘everyone
was feeling as if Justo was already part of the family’. I react to this by thinking that
by helping out the family he has made them think differently.
In lines 65-87 Justo whilst in the ‘farmers walk’ contest goes off the path and
‘retrieved a gold ring from his trouser pocket’ and then asked her to marry him. I
react to this by thinking that Justo will now help Maria’s family to live and that Justo
will live happily with Maria’s family.
Look at HT Unit 1 sample answer 7:
Justo appears at the home of Maria ‘empty-handed’ but wearing ‘work clothes’ so I feel he
isn't very romantic. He gives the mother a ‘vigorous handshake’ and the father ‘a pat’ and
this affectionate behaviour makes me think he is a nice man and also confident and
assured. The sisters and mother who previously disliked Justo are ‘instantly won over’ and
this makes me feel happy as Justo has previously been portrayed as a very nice man who
has been subject to rather unfair judgement by Maria’s family. He asks what he can do to
help which makes me feel as if he is kind and caring. He offers to do the hardest things like
‘woodcutting’ which makes me think he is selfless.
As the family eat dinner, he is described as ‘already part of the family’ and the sisters also
approve of him and think he is a ‘good catch’. I feel relieved that Justo has finally won over
the family and think it is deserved as he has shown himself as a kind and selfless person. A
month later, Justo proposes to Maria during his farmers’ walk. This romantic gesture in
front of the spectators redeems him in my eyes for his earlier unromantic behaviour. I feel
a sense of surprise as this proposal is rather sudden, however I also feel happy as the two
‘kissed’ after she accepts his proposal. This is obviously a joyous event and they are both
very likeable. When the judge disqualifies Justo for walking outside the lines I feel annoyed
because this is mean and unnecessary. However, Justo isn’t fazed and walks ‘past the
mark of the winner’. He ends by apologising for not adding ‘another lamb to the flock’ and
this final demonstration of his kind, modest and caring nature makes me feel content as it
is a happy ending.
You have 5 minutes to come up with
key ‘top tips’ for the comprehension
Pop your tips on a
‘post-it’ and stick
them on the board
– think of as many
as you can and try
to be logical.
Top Tips – how many did you get?
• Section
off the text using line numbers
• Decide what the question wants you to look for
• Be aware of number of marks available
• Use any bullet points given in question
• Track the relevant section thoroughly
• Highlight/underline key words/phrases
• Mix it up – pick the obvious but also show clear
understanding and inference
• Don’t feature spot for how questions – can you say so
what?
• Use temporal markers in your answer to show the
examiner that you are tracking
• Label your answers – A1, A2, A3. Section B.