Vocabulary
What does “flickered” mean in this context?
Gave off unsteady flashes of light.
Why might Elina pull her coat tighter?
She feels cold or uneasy
Identify the simile in the text.
“Hummed like a giant beehive.”
Where does the focus of the text shift?
From the busy station to the calm interior of the train.
What gets wetter the more it dries?
A towel.
Gave off unsteady flashes of light.
Screeched / screamed loudly.
What can we infer about the time of day?
It is night-time or late evening.
Why is this simile effective? → "Hummed like a beehive."
It compares the station to a busy, noisy beehive to emphasise constant activity.
Why is the last sentence important?
It shows the journey has started and signals a new stage.
I'm tall when I'm young and short when I'm old. What am I?
A candle
What part of speech is “misting”?
Present participle (verb).
Why does the author mention “empty tracks”?
To highlight the contrast between the quiet tracks and busy platform.
What is the effect of the onomatopoeia “shrieked”?
Creates a sharp, sudden sound that grabs attention.
How does the paragraph length contribute to the mood?
Short final sentence creates impact and a sense of departure.
Which month has 28 days.
All of them!
Which word shows the night is cool?
Cool
What might Elina be feeling as the train departs?
A mixture of excitement and nervousness.
Which phrase appeals to sight and sound together?
“Whistle shrieked and a gust of cool night air swept along the platform”
What is the effect of starting with sound imagery?
It immerses the reader immediately and sets a lively tone.
What has keys but can't open any doors?
A piano.
Find a word that appeals to the sense of smell.
Scent
What does the whispering of travellers suggest?
A calm, respectful or tense atmosphere.
How does the writer create atmosphere with lighting?
By describing lamps flickering and carriages glowing with soft yellow light.
Why is Elina’s perspective used instead of a narrator outside the story?
To make the reader experience the scene personally.
If there are six apples and you take away four, how many do you have?
Four (the ones you took away_