Factual/ Quote
6a. Which phrase in Paragraph 2 suggests that Alice was trying to hide her feelings about forgetting the keys?
The phrase is ‘put on a show of amusement’.
8a. According to Paragraph 3, before they came what did Kasim do which surprised Alice?
Kasim agreed to travel with Alice for a short break.
6b. What two things made Alice think she was 'shrivelled' (line 12) in Kasim's opinion?
Kassim walked away from her.
Kassim did not say anything to her.
9. What does this tell us about the sort of person Harriet was?
Harriet was a neat/ organised person.
From Paragraph 6, what two things did Alice do which showed that she was happy to see her brother?
1. She smiled delightedly and greeted her brothers.
2. She linked her arm through his as they walked towards the house.
10. In Paragraph 5, why was Alice exasperated with Harriet?
Harriet had arrived and chosen to go off for a walk instead of opening the house and making it ready for the others.
Harriet could have opened the house and made it ready for the others before deciding to go for a walk.
11. What is the tone of the brother's comment about his sisters?
He used a playful tone when he made the comment. OR He was saying it in jest. OR He was teasing Alice when he made the comment.
Flow Chart
mixed emotions
hidden feelings
growing impatience
cheerful laughter
7b. Why was being 'in the middle of nowhere' difficult for Alice?
There was nowhere for Alice to bring Kasim to pass time while waiting for her siblings to arrive with the house keys which intensified her awkwardness /embarrassment of forgetting the keys.
8b. Give two reasons why Alice wished Kasim was not there with her. Answer in your own words.
(i) She would be relieved of organising/preparing the house for the others before they arrive.
(ii) She could have taken a short nap on the grass in the pleasant weather.
7a. What does the writer do to emphasise that they were 'in the middle of nowhere'?
He repeats the word, ‘no’ in the phrases ‘no way back’, ‘no through road’, ‘no café, pub or shop’ to emphasise inaccessibility/remoteness/isolation of the place.
5. At the beginning of the text, Alice arrives at her family's house in the countryside. Explain what the language tells the reader about each of the sounds she can hear. Support your ideas with three details from the text.
Firstly, ‘fading hum of the taxi’ suggests that the engine of the taxi purred/made a low sound as it drove off.
Secondly, ‘murmuring of the water in the stream’ suggests there was an indistinct soft sound of running water.
Thirdly, ‘a whisper of tiny movements (in the hedgerows and grasses)’ suggests that the small creatures going about their activities in the foliage was barely audible/discernible.