IGCSE English Language

Revision Guide
1)

Dear Brother,

How are you? I hope you are doing well in france. But the situation here is not so good. The
city is in the grip of a deadly plague that has claimed countless lives already. The streets are
empty, and the air is filled with the stench of death and despair.

Our family has not been spared from the impact of this dreadful disease. Our neighbours
and friends are falling ill one by one, and many have already died. We are doing all we can
to stay healthy and safe, but fear and uncertainty are taking the toll on us.

Food and supplies are becoming scarce, and prices are skyrocketing. The markets are no
longer bustling with people, and many shops and businesses have closed their doors. We
have had to take extreme measures to protect ourselves, such as avoiding public places and
staying indoors as much as possible.

As a mother, I’m fearing for the safety and well-being of my children. I pray every day that
they will be spared from this terrible plague and that we will all emerge from this ordeal
unharmed. I also worry about the long-term consequences of the plague on our city and its
people. Will we ever fully recover from this catastrophe?

Despite the darkness and despair that surrounds us, I hold on to the hope that we will
eventually overcome this crisis. I have faith in the resilience and strength of our community,
and I believe that we will emerge from this experience stronger and more united than ever
before.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers during these trying times.

With love and hope,

Judy

2) a)
● "frantically scurried" - This phrase effectively portrays the frenzied and
panicked movements of rats as they rushed through the mounds of waste in
search of food, which created an image of chaos and desperation among the
rats.
● "oily bodies" - This phrase conjures an unpleasant image of the rats' greasy and
grimy fur, making it easier for readers to imagine the pests and their unhygienic
nature.
 ● "invisible assassins" - This phrase highlights the deadly nature of the fleas and how
they spread the disease without being noticed, thereby creating a sense of caution
and danger.

● "implementing a horrific master plan" - This phrase suggests that the outbreak was a
pre-planned and cruel act, creating an image of a diabolical force behind the
disease's spread.

b)
● "angry red, circular blotches" - This phrase vividly describes the appearance of the
red marks on the skin, creating an image of frustration and anger.

● "large pus-filled sacs" - This phrase creates a nauseating image of the painful and
pus-filled sores that accompanied the disease, evoking a sense of disgust and
horror.

● "putrefying breath" - This phrase conjures a disturbing image of the victim's decaying
breath, creating a sense of disgustion and petrified faces of the people who
witnessed it.

● "mindless delirium" - This phrase portrays the final stages of the disease, where the
victim loses control over their mind and body, creating an image of helplessness and
despair.

Overall, these powerful words and phrases are used effectively in the context to create a
vivid picture of the horrors of the plague. They help to convey the suffering of the people
affected by the disease and the desperate measures taken to control it. By using such
imagery, the writer emphasises the severity of the outbreak and how it impacted the people
of London.

3) a)
● Pepys was woken up by a maid who saw a fire in the city at 3 am
● He went to her window and saw the fire on the back side of Mark Lane
● He went back to sleep but was woken up again by Jane, who told him that over 300
houses had been burned down and the fire was now burning down Fish Street
● Pepys made himself ready and went to the Tower where he saw the houses at the
end of the bridge all on fire
● He talked to the Lieutenant of the Tower who told him that the fire began in the King's
baker's house in Pudding Lane
● Pepys rode down to the waterside and saw people trying to remove their goods and
pigeons loath to leave their houses
● He saw the fire raging and nobody trying to quench it
● Pepys went to Whitehall and told the King and Duke of York what he saw and the
King commanded him to go to the Lord Mayor and command him to spare no houses
● Pepys walked along Watling Street and saw people carrying goods and sick people
being carried away in beds
 ● He met the Lord Mayor in Cannon Street who said that people were not obeying him
and the fire was overtaking them faster than they could pull down houses
● Pepys saw people all distracted and no manner of means used to quench the fire
● The houses were very thick in that area and full of matter for burning such as pitch,
tar, oil, wines, and brandy.

b)
In the early hours of September 2, 1666, Samuel Pepys was woken up by one of his maids
who reportedly saw a fire in the City of London. Pepys initially thought it was far away, but
soon learned that the fire had already burned down over 300 houses and was spreading
quickly. He went to the Tower of London to get a better view and saw that the fire was
burning on both sides of the bridge. Pepys learned that the fire had started in the King's
baker's house in Pudding Lane and had already consumed St. Magnus's Church and most
of Fish Street.

Pepys witnessed the devastation caused by the fire firsthand as he made his way to the
waterfront, where people were desperately trying to save their belongings and flee the
flames. Some stayed in their homes until the fire reached them, while others jumped into
boats or climbed down stairs along the waterfront. Pepys also noticed the unfortunate fate of
pigeons, who refused to leave their homes and ended up burning their wings and falling.

After witnessing the destruction for an hour and seeing that no one was making an effort to
put out the fire, Pepys went to Whitehall to inform the King and Duke of York. They were
troubled by his report and commanded him to deliver a message to the Lord Mayor to spare
no houses in order to stop the fire. Pepys met the Lord Mayor, who was exhausted from
trying to pull down buildings to stop the fire but was unable to keep up with the flames.
Pepys left him and walked home, witnessing the chaos and destruction caused by the fire.