Facts about Language Paper 1
How many questions are in Language Paper 1?
Five questions
The storm battered the jagged cliffs, waves crashing against the rocks with deafening roars. Lightning split the sky, illuminating the turbulent sea below. A lone figure stood at the edge of the cliff, her hair whipping wildly in the howling wind. She clutched her coat tightly, her breaths shallow and quick. In the distance, the faint outline of a boat rocked violently, struggling against the relentless waves.
Identify one detail about the weather in this extract.
"It was raining heavily.”
What technique is used in “The storm screamed”?
Personification.
The station was eerily quiet. Rows of empty benches stretched into the distance, and a single flickering light bulb cast long, distorted shadows on the tiled floor. Somewhere far off, the faint hum of a train echoed through the stillness, growing louder with every second. A young man sat at the edge of a bench, his hands fidgeting nervously with his coat buttons. His eyes darted toward the tracks as if expecting something—or someone—to emerge from the darkness. The train screeched to a halt, its doors sliding open with a hollow hiss. No one stepped out.
What structural technique is used in the opening line of the extract?
The writer creates tension by focusing on an eerie, quiet setting.
What is the total time allowed for Language Paper 1?
1 hour and 45 minutes
The storm battered the jagged cliffs, waves crashing against the rocks with deafening roars. Lightning split the sky, illuminating the turbulent sea below. A lone figure stood at the edge of the cliff, her hair whipping wildly in the howling wind. She clutched her coat tightly, her breaths shallow and quick. In the distance, the faint outline of a boat rocked violently, struggling against the relentless waves.
What do we learn about the main character’s appearance?
“She was wearing a red coat.”
What is the effect of the simile “Her heart pounded like a drum”?
It shows fear and anxiety.
The station was eerily quiet. Rows of empty benches stretched into the distance, and a single flickering light bulb cast long, distorted shadows on the tiled floor. Somewhere far off, the faint hum of a train echoed through the stillness, growing louder with every second. A young man sat at the edge of a bench, his hands fidgeting nervously with his coat buttons. His eyes darted toward the tracks as if expecting something—or someone—to emerge from the darkness. The train screeched to a halt, its doors sliding open with a hollow hiss. No one stepped out.
How does the writer use sound to develop the tension in the extract?
The faint hum of the train and the screech of its brakes contrast with the silence, emphasizing the unsettling atmosphere.
How many marks is Question 5 worth?
40 marks.
The storm battered the jagged cliffs, waves crashing against the rocks with deafening roars. Lightning split the sky, illuminating the turbulent sea below. A lone figure stood at the edge of the cliff, her hair whipping wildly in the howling wind. She clutched her coat tightly, her breaths shallow and quick. In the distance, the faint outline of a boat rocked violently, struggling against the relentless waves.
Find a phrase that suggests the character is nervous.
“Her hands trembled slightly.”
Identify and explain the effect of the adjective “looming” in “A looming shadow.”
It creates a sense of danger.
The station was eerily quiet. Rows of empty benches stretched into the distance, and a single flickering light bulb cast long, distorted shadows on the tiled floor. Somewhere far off, the faint hum of a train echoed through the stillness, growing louder with every second. A young man sat at the edge of a bench, his hands fidgeting nervously with his coat buttons. His eyes darted toward the tracks as if expecting something—or someone—to emerge from the darkness. The train screeched to a halt, its doors sliding open with a hollow hiss. No one stepped out.
What is the effect of ending the extract with “No one stepped out”?
It creates a sense of mystery and suspense, leaving the reader with unanswered questions about who or what the young man was expecting.
How many marks is Language Paper 1 worth in total?
The storm battered the jagged cliffs, waves crashing against the rocks with deafening roars. Lightning split the sky, illuminating the turbulent sea below. A lone figure stood at the edge of the cliff, her hair whipping wildly in the howling wind. She clutched her coat tightly, her breaths shallow and quick. In the distance, the faint outline of a boat rocked violently, struggling against the relentless waves.
Identify four words or phrases that describe the setting.
“Dark, gloomy, eerie, abandoned.”
How does alliteration create tension in “The darkness deepened dangerously”?
Repetition of ‘d’ emphasizes the threat.
The station was eerily quiet. Rows of empty benches stretched into the distance, and a single flickering light bulb cast long, distorted shadows on the tiled floor. Somewhere far off, the faint hum of a train echoed through the stillness, growing louder with every second. A young man sat at the edge of a bench, his hands fidgeting nervously with his coat buttons. His eyes darted toward the tracks as if expecting something—or someone—to emerge from the darkness. The train screeched to a halt, its doors sliding open with a hollow hiss. No one stepped out.
Why does the writer shift the focus from the empty station to the young man?
The shift personalizes the scene, making the reader curious about the man’s story and his nervous behaviour.
What type of text is used for the reading section in Language Paper 1?
A 20th- or 21st-century fiction extract.
The storm battered the jagged cliffs, waves crashing against the rocks with deafening roars. Lightning split the sky, illuminating the turbulent sea below. A lone figure stood at the edge of the cliff, her hair whipping wildly in the howling wind. She clutched her coat tightly, her breaths shallow and quick. In the distance, the faint outline of a boat rocked violently, struggling against the relentless waves.
What impression do we get of the main character? Support your answer with evidence.
“She appears brave, as shown by the line, ‘She stepped into the shadows without hesitation.’”
The mansion stood silent and abandoned, its once-pristine walls now cracked and weathered. Ivy crawled up the sides like creeping fingers, and shattered windows stared out like hollow eyes. Inside, the air was thick with the smell of mildew and decay. Floorboards groaned underfoot, and the distant sound of dripping water echoed in the silence. A faint whisper of wind stirred the curtains, making them billow like ghostly figures.
How does sensory language engage the reader in this extract?
Example: “Describing ‘shattered windows’ and ‘A faint whisper of wind stirred the curtains ’ appeals to the senses, making the scene vivid.”
The station was eerily quiet. Rows of empty benches stretched into the distance, and a single flickering light bulb cast long, distorted shadows on the tiled floor. Somewhere far off, the faint hum of a train echoed through the stillness, growing louder with every second. A young man sat at the edge of a bench, his hands fidgeting nervously with his coat buttons. His eyes darted toward the tracks as if expecting something—or someone—to emerge from the darkness. The train screeched to a halt, its doors sliding open with a hollow hiss. No one stepped out.
How does the writer build suspense throughout the extract?
The writer uses a slow build-up of sounds (the train hum, screech, and hiss) and contrasts it with the young man’s anxious actions, leading to an anticlimactic but suspenseful ending.