English 11+ Exam – Reading Section
You should spend 30 minutes on this section. Read the passage below
carefully and then answer the questions in the answer booklet.
In this story a cylindrical spaceship has landed in a small town in the 1890s. A crowd has gathered
to look at it in the crater it made when it landed. The narrator tells the story from when he
appears on the scene.
I saw a young man, a shop assistant in Woking I believe he was, standing on the cylinder and
trying to scramble out of the hole again. The crowd had pushed him in.
The end of the cylinder was being screwed out from within. Nearly two feet of shining screw
projected. Somebody blundered against me, and I narrowly missed being pitched onto the top
of the screw. I turned, and as I did so the screw must have come out, for the lid of the cylinder
fell upon the gravel with a ringing concussion. I stuck my elbow into the person behind me, and
turned my head towards the Thing again. For a moment that circular cavity seemed perfectly
black. I had the sunset in my eyes.
I think everyone expected to see a man emerge - possibly something a little unlike us terrestrial
men, but in all essentials a man. I know I did. But, looking, I presently saw something stirring
within the shadow: greyish billowy movements, one above another, and then two luminous
disks - like eyes. Then something resembling a little grey snake, about the thickness of a
walking stick, coiled up out of the writhing middle, and wriggled in the air towards me - and
then another.
A sudden chill came over me. There was a loud shriek from a woman behind. I half turned,
keeping my eyes fixed upon the cylinder still, from which other tentacles were now projecting,
and began pushing my way back from the edge of the pit. I saw astonishment giving place to
horror on the faces of the people about me. I heard inarticulate exclamations on all sides.
There was a general movement backwards. I saw the shopman struggling still on the edge of
the pit. I found myself alone, and saw the people on the other side of the pit running off, Stent
among them. I looked again at the cylinder, and ungovernable terror gripped me. I stood
petrified and staring.
5
10
15
20
A big greyish rounded bulk, the size, perhaps, of a bear, was rising slowly and painfully out of
the cylinder. As it bulged up and caught the light, it glistened like wet leather.
Two large dark-coloured eyes were regarding me steadfastly. The mass that framed them, the
head of the thing, was rounded, and had, one might say, a face. There was a mouth under the
eyes, the lipless brim of which quivered and panted, and dropped saliva. The whole creature
heaved and pulsated convulsively. A lank tentacular appendage gripped the edge of the
cylinder, another swayed in the air.
25
Those who have never seen a living Martian can scarcely imagine the strange horror of its
appearance. The peculiar V-shaped mouth with its pointed upper lip, the absence of brow
ridges, the absence of a chin beneath the wedgelike lower lip, the incessant quivering of this
mouth, the Gorgon groups of tentacles, the tumultuous breathing of the lungs in a strange
atmosphere, the evident heaviness and painfulness of movement due to the greater
30
Page 1 of 2
gravitational energy of the earth--above all, the extraordinary intensity of the immense eyes-were at once vital, intense, inhuman, crippled and monstrous. There was something fungoid in
the oily brown skin, something in the clumsy deliberation of the tedious movements
unspeakably nasty. Even at this first encounter, this first glimpse, I was overcome with disgust
and dread.
Glossary
Tentacular - like a tentacle
Incessant – constant
Tumultuous - unrestrained
Page 2 of 2
35
11+ Entrance Examination
January 2015
ENGLISH
Time allowed: 60 Minutes
Write your name in the box below:
Name: ………………………………………………………………….
Answer the following questions. Use full sentences when you are
asked to do so.
1. In your own words, describe the atmosphere in paragraph one. (2)
2. Find and write down TWO pieces of information that describe the
cylinder’s appearance. (2 marks)
1.
2.
3. In the first two paragraphs what does the writer suggest about the
crowd from the way that they are behaving? (2 marks)
4. In paragraph three, describe the writer’s emotions towards the creature
emerging from the cylinder. (2 marks)
5. “A sudden chill came over me.” What is the writer trying to highlight
here? (1 mark)
6. Explain what the writer means when he says that he heard “inarticulate
expressions on all sides”. (1 mark)
7. What is the effect of the short sentence at the end of paragraph four?
(2 marks)
8. In paragraph four, everyone runs away except for the narrator. Find two
pieces of evidence that show why he did not run away. (2 marks)
1.
2.
9. In paragraph five, the writer describes the alien. How does he try to
make us feel sorry for it? (3 marks)
By using the words…
10.The last two paragraphs focus on what the alien looks like. Choose three
examples and explain the effect of the writer’s words in each one. (6
marks)
Example
Effect
11.Imagine that you are a journalist. Write a headline and subheading for
your newspaper that captures these dramatic events. (2 marks)
Headline
Subheading
English 11+ Writing Section
You should spend 30 minutes on this section. Plan before you begin and
leave time to check your accuracy at the end. Use a wide vocabulary,
paragraph correctly and be descriptive.
Choose ONE of the tasks below and write your response on the pages that
follow:
1. Copy this sentence:
“Going to see the tigers was the moment I had been waiting for. Three
long years of planning had finally been worth it.”
Then, continue the story. You may leave the story on a cliffhanger if you
wish. You should focus on using close description, metaphors and
similes. Make sure that you show the emotions and personality of the
speaker in the story.
OR
2. Write a short story about a character who experiences a surprise.
You should focus on:
 Building tension towards a dramatic moment
 Describing a dramatic event and the emotions that the person
feels
 Using descriptive techniques to help the reader to picture the
scene in detail
 Using similes and metaphors that are appropriate to the story,
setting and character.
(25 marks)
PLANNING PAGE
Reading Section
You should spend 30 minutes on this section. Read the following passage carefully and then
answer the questions.
The Sea Crossing
Howling about the ship, the wind’s icy fangs bit into the Captain’s hands. She clutched the
binoculars tightly and refocused on the blurring coastline ahead. The storm had been raging all
night and this first sight of land in three weeks was welcome news indeed. Provisions had not
been planned well and the crew were on the brink of starvation; the rumblings amongst them
had not just been their stomachs. Sharp rain tore at the ship relentlessly, and waves hungrily
licked about the ship’s belly. As lightning ripped open the dark sky, the Captain could just see the
rocky outcrops and headland beyond them that promised home.
The Captain knew the crossing was treacherous, but even she had been surprised by how this
storm had arisen out of the blue; the barometer readings had dropped so swiftly. She thought
back to the Greeks and Egyptians who had sailed these waterways in the past. Trading luxury
goods, spices, gold, and precious stones, those people would have worried about returning to
their families too. Ships had sailed these waters for thousands of years, navigating around rocky
shallows that could shred a hull; sometimes they sank, but trade would not have flourished if the
waters had sunk too many. There was some comfort in that, she thought. But it wasn’t to be the
weather that took everything they had. She gazed into the deep waters beneath her. Below the
wind-whipped surface spume the sea grew cold and dark; sharks pursued prey, and on the seafloor crustaceans clawed paths through the remains of centuries. As the waters deepened, the
pressure grew ever stronger and the temperature fell. Light never reached the ocean floor and in
this perpetual darkness many treasures fallen from ships lay forgotten. For the rest of the night
the Captain kept watch and waited.
The sea began to bloom with roses as morning came. The waters smoothed themselves to glass;
cloudy brows lifted, dried their eyes, and revealed the coastline almost within reach. The Captain
breathed a soft sigh; she would be so happy to hold her children in her arms tonight, after such a
perilous voyage. Without warning, a sail began to crawl from behind a looming rocky cliff. The
Captain’s smile became a grimace. The sails were black as death; the mouths of its cannons
gaped; and a dirty, ragged crew leered from its deck brandishing cutlasses: pirates!
Glossary of new words
Provisions – food and drink stored to be consumed gradually during a long journey
Spume – frothy, sea-spray
Crustaceans – hard-shelled, living creatures, such as crabs, lobsters, and shrimp
1
5
10
15
20
25
11+ Entrance Examination
January 2014
ENGLISH
Time allowed: 1 hour
Write your name in the box below:
Name: ………………………………………………………………….
Answer the following questions in full sentences when asked to do so.
1. In your own words, give TWO reasons why the Captain is feeling worried at the beginning of the
passage.
(2 marks)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. Find and copy down THREE comparisons used to describe the weather in lines 1-7.
(3 marks)
1: ________________________________________________________________________________
2: ________________________________________________________________________________
3: ________________________________________________________________________________
3. “waves hungrily licked about the ship’s belly” Explain what the writer is suggesting about the sea here.
(1 mark)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
4. What does the writer suggest about the storm’s arrival by using the words “out of the blue” (line 5)?
(1 mark)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
5. Explain why you think the Captain stays on watch for the rest of the night.
(1 mark)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
6. Explain what is really happening when the sea began to “bloom with roses” in the morning. (1 mark)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
7. The ending of the story is dramatic and full of tension. Identify THREE different techniques that the
writer uses to create a sense of fear. You should think about the verbs, the use of imagery, and the
sentence structures.
(3 marks)
The writer uses verbs such as _______________ and ________________ which suggests tension by
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
The writer uses imagery such as _______________________________________________________
The image of ___________________________ suggests ____________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
The sentence structure creates tension because the writer…
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
8. Explain the structure of the story by summarising briefly what each paragraph is about:
(3 marks)
Paragraph 1 (lines 1-7) is about:
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2 (lines 8-20) is about:
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 3 (lines 21-26) is about:
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
10. Write down THREE of the most important pieces of advice suggested in the extract that you would tell
someone who intended to make this sea crossing with a crew.
(3 marks)
1: ________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2: ________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3: ________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
11. Explain how the Captain’s emotions change during the narrative. Use two different, short quotations
to prove what you say and refer to at least TWO different emotions that she feels.
(4 marks)
The writer suggest that the Captain feels ______________________________________
by using the words _________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
The writer suggest that the Captain also feels ______________________________________
by using the words _________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
12. Imagine that you are a journalist who hears of the Captain’s terrible journey and have been asked to
write a newspaper article about it. Write a suitable headline for your story – you should try to make your
headline sound as dramatic as possible and include exciting details of the story in a subheading.
(3 marks)
Headline:
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Subheading (adds detail):
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Writing Section
You should spend 30 minutes on this section. Use the box below to plan your story before you
begin and leave some time to check your accuracy at the end. Use a wide vocabulary, paragraph
correctly and be descriptive.
Choose ONE question from the following to answer:
1.
Copy the following sentence:
“Flung like rubbish into a small room, I heard the lock click. I had to steal back what had been taken
from me, but how?”
and then continue the story. You may leave the story on a cliffhanger if you wish. It should focus
on using close description, metaphors and similes, and show the emotions and personality of the
speaker of the story.
(25 marks)
OR
2. Write a short story about a dangerous moment during a journey.
You should focus on:
- building tension towards a dramatic moment
- describing a dramatic event and the range of emotions that the person feels
- using descriptive techniques to help the reader to picture the place in detail.
- using metaphors and similes that are appropriate to the story, setting, and the character
(25 marks)
PLANNING
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
11+ English
January 2013
1
Reading Section You should spend 30 minutes on this section. Read the following passage carefully and then answer the questions. Journey to Mars
A wilderness of sand dunes rose and fell; giant red waves crashed into deep, hungry valleys.
Towards the horizon the jagged teeth of a mountain range bit into the evening sky. Gazing down
on this barren landscape were the twin eyes of Deimos and Phobus, the two moons of Mars. For
thousands of years Mankind has stretched out a hand towards the Red Planet and yearned to learn
its secrets. They had conjectured what lay beneath the iron cold and rusted surface. Now, Captain
Fitzroy was to be the first and last person to see it all. He lay shivering slightly in the stasis pod
and imagined adventures on the Red Planet as the ship silently carried him through the velvet night
where stars swam away to infinity.
As Fitzroy drifted into sleep for the long journey, a computer relayed important information about
Mars. Mars is the fourth planet from our Sun, it intoned. It has half the diameter of Earth. The redorange appearance of the Martian surface is caused by iron oxide, more commonly known as
hematite, or rust. The extinct volcano, Olympus Mons, on Mars is the second highest known
mountain in the solar system; at 27km, it is over three times the height of Mount Everest. Like
Earth, Mars has seasons due to the similar tilts of the two planets. The Martian year is about two
Earth years long and with the planet being 1.52 times as far from the Sun as Earth there is just 43%
of the amount of sunlight. The surface temperature of Mars varies from a low of about −143 °C at
the polar caps to a rare high of up to 35 °C. Gravity on Mars is just a third that of Earth’s:
everything will weigh much less. Despite some evidence of the chemistry associated with life,
most scientists believe that Mars is now a dead planet:th biologically and geologically. The
computer’s display glowed blood red with the date, 7 January 2023, and then fell silent.
Fitzroy struggled in the thick red dust whipped up from the Martian terrain as he made his first
exploration of the area around his spaceship, The Darwin. He needed to get his bearings and so he
huddled down behind a ridge. Checking the readings on his spacesuit, he was suddenly distracted
by a dashed line of markings in front of him. Curved at one end and oddly dotted at the other,
Fitzroy cautiously investigated them more closely. He began to tremble. The markings were
undeniably the shape and size of a human foot. A terrific scream burst over the howl of the wind
and mingled with the sound of Fitzroy’s own last cry of fear.
1
5
10
15
20
25
2
Answer the following questions in full sentences when asked to do so. 1. In your own words, explain exactly what is most surprising about the story of Captain Fitzroy . (2 marks) __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Find and write down the THREE most important pieces of factual information in the extract about Mars that you would need to know if you were planning to climb the mountain, Olympus Mons. (3 marks) 1: ________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 2: ________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 3: ________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Find and write down THREE comparisons used to describe the surface of Mars in lines 1‐8. (3 marks) 1: ________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 2: ________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 3: ________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 4. What does the writer suggest about our knowledge of Mars by using the word “conjectured” (line 5)? (1 mark) __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 5. What mood or emotions does the writer want to suggest that Captain Fitzroy is feeling when they write that “he lay shivering slightly” (line 6)? (1 mark) 3
__________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 6. Explain why Captain Fitzroy would have to wear a heated spacesuit once he was on the surface. (1 mark) __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 7. Explain why a footprint must be very recent in the Martian environment that Fitzroy finds himself. (1 mark) __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 8. The ending of the narrative is dramatic and full of tension. Identify THREE different techniques that the writer uses to create a sense of panic. You should think about the vocabulary, the use of imagery, and sentence structures. (3 marks) __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 9. Explain the structure of the narrative by summarising briefly what each paragraph is about: (3 marks) Paragraph 1 (lines 1‐6) is about: __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 4
Paragraph 2 (lines 7‐20) is about: __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ Paragraph 3 (lines 21‐29) is about: __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 10. a. Re‐read lines 1‐2. What words does the writer use to suggest that Mars is dangerous? (1 mark) __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ b. Suggest TWO ways in which the beginning of the story is connected to the events in the rest of the narrative. Think about: ‐ what scientists believe about the planet ‐ what Fitzroy might have discovered after he hears the scream. (2 marks) __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 11. Explain how Fitzroy’s emotions change during the narrative. Use short quotations to prove what you say and refer to at least two different emotions that Fitzroy feels. (2 marks) __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 5
12. Imagine that you are a journalist who hears of Fitzroy’s adventure and have been asked to write a newspaper article about it. Write a suitable headline for your story – you should try to make your headline sound as dramatic as possible and include details of the story. (2 marks) __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 6
Writing Section You should spend 30 minutes on this section. Plan before you begin and leave some time to check your accuracy at the end. Use a wide vocabulary, paragraph correctly and be descriptive. Choose ONE question from the following to answer: 1. Copy the following sentence: “As I looked at the creature in front of me I was not afraid; I was just terribly sad as I knew things could never be the same again.” and then continue the story. You may leave the story on a cliffhanger if you wish. The story does not have to be on Mars and can be set anywhere. It should focus on close description and show the emotions and personality of the speaker of the story. (25 marks) OR 2. Write a short story about a new scientific discovery. You should focus on: ‐ building tension towards a dramatic moment ‐ describing a dramatic event and the range of emotions that the person feels ‐ using descriptive techniques to help the reader to picture the place in detail. ‐ using metaphors and similes that are appropriate to the story, setting, and the character (25 marks) PLANNING 7
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
8
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
9
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
10
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
11
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
12
11+ English
January 2012
13
11+ reading section
You should spend thirty minutes on this section. Read the following passage carefully and then
answer the questions.
Mount Etna
Everyone dreams of adventure. Perhaps they dream of a life on the space station looking for new
1
stars or maybe exploring the jungles of Peru. I was living my dream as I shuddered, dwarfed by
the vast rumbling belly of the fire giant rising up before me.
Yesterday morning, I had been cocooned under a warm duvet; a change was inevitable but my
spread wings would have engines attached. The telephone had buzzed and jolted me awake. It5
was my editor telling me to get on a plane to Sicily immediately: Mount Etna was erupting.
Under a blanket of steel clouds, I strained to hear our guide, an expert scientist, briefing the
journalists on the plane about our destination.
He said: “Mount Etna is a volcano on the east of Sicily, an island off the coast of Italy. It is the
largest volcano in Europe, currently standing about 3,350 m high, though this varies with summit
10
eruptions (the mountain is 21 m lower now than it was in 1865). Mount Etna is one of the most
active volcanoes in the world and is in an almost constant state of eruption. In 2003, the biggest
series of eruptions for many years threw up a huge column of ash that could easily be seen from
space and fell as far away as Libya, on the far side of the Mediterranean Sea. Although it can
occasionally be very destructive, it is not generally regarded as being dangerous; thousands of15
people live on its slopes and in the surrounding areas. The fertile volcanic soils support extensive
agriculture, with vineyards and orchards spread across the lower slopes of the mountain. At the
top of the mountain is a volcanic wasteland, dominated by old lava flows and volcanic ash. Few
plants grow there, as it is covered by snow for much of the year.
Now buckle up ladies and gentlemen, we’re beginning our descent.”
20
The terrain looked more like the surface of an asteroid hurtling through space than an Italian
mountain side. But only five minutes earlier we had been walking through a beautiful nature
reserve bursting with the fiery colours of flowers and insects. I hung back from the rest of the
journalists, taking my time to clamber over the sharp stones and volcanic rock that threatened to
rip me to shreds. The hot stench of lava and drifting steam was like hell on earth; I began to 25
worry that our scientific advisor had been too hasty in claiming that it was safe to ascend today.
A deep rumble beneath my feet was quickly followed by the other journalists running towards
me. My suspicions were right. It was too soon. I turned and fled down the mountain with the
others as Mount Etna roared out her titanic strength and rage.
30
14
Answer the following questions in full sentences when asked to do so.
1. In one sentence, explain exactly why the writer of the passage goes to Sicily.
(2 marks)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2. Find and write down the THREE most important pieces of factual information about Mount Etna that you
would choose to use first if you were introducing the mountain to people who had not heard of it before.
(3 marks)
1: ________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2: ________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3: ________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3. Find and write down THREE comparisons used to describe the volcano.
(3 marks)
1: ________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2: ________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
3: ________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
4. Why does the writer say that a change was “inevitable” (line 4)?
(1 mark)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
5. What mood or emotions does the writer want to suggest that they are feel when they write that “the
telephone had buzzed” (line 5)?
(1 mark)
__________________________________________________________________________________
15
__________________________________________________________________________________
6. Explain, in a sentence of your own words, why people have always lived around the bottom of Mount Etna
despite the threat of eruptions.
(1 mark)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
7. Explain why books with details of Mount Etna in them could be wrong.
(1 mark)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
8. The ending of the narrative is dramatic and full of tension. Identify THREE different techniques that the
writer uses to create a sense of panic. You should think about the vocabulary, the use of imagery, and
sentence structures.
(3 marks)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
9. Explain the structure of the narrative by summarising briefly what each paragraph is about:
(3 marks)
Paragraph 1 (lines 1-6) is about:
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2 (lines 7-20) is about:
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 3 (lines 21-29) is about:
16
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
10. a. Re-read lines 4-5. What comparison does the writer use to describe waking up?
(1 mark)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
b. Give TWO reasons how this comparison is connected to the events in the rest of the narrative.
(2 marks)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
11. Explain how the writer’s emotions change during the narrative. Use short quotations to prove what you say
and refer to at least two different emotions.
(2 marks)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
12. Imagine that you are the journalist who returns to write a front page newspaper article about your
experience. Write a suitable headline for your story – you should try to make your headline sound as
dramatic as possible and include details of the story.
(2 marks)
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
17
11+ writing section
You should spend 30 minutes on this section. Plan before you begin and leave some time to check
your accuracy at the end. Use a wide vocabulary, paragraph correctly and be descriptive.
Choose ONE question from the following to answer:
1. Study the picture carefully. Copy the quotation: “Two weeks passed and it happened again.” and
then continue the story. You may leave the story on a cliffhanger if you wish.
OR
2. Write a short story about a character who lives near a volcano.
You should focus on:
- building tension towards a dramatic moment
- describing a dramatic event and the range of emotions that the person feels
- using descriptive techniques to help the reader to picture the scene in detail.
- using metaphors and similes that are appropriate to the story, setting, and the character
18
(25 marks)
PLANNING
19
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
20
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
21
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
22
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
23
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
24