2021/2022 EDITION

NEW
SELECTIVE
TEST
Conquering Reading

O A

ALPHA ONE
coACHING COLLEGE
 Read the passages below then answer the questions

My Country
The love of field and coppice
Of green and shaded lanes,
Of ordered woods and gardens
ls running in your veins.
Strong love of grey-blue distance,
Brown streams and soft, dim skies
I know, but cannot share it,
My love is otherwise.

I love a sunburnt country,

A land of sweeping
plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror
The wide brown land for me!

The stark white ring-barked forests,

All tragic to the moon,
The sapphire-misted mountains,
The hot gold hush of noon,
Green tangle of the brushes
Where lithe lianas coil,
And orchids deck the tree-tops,
And ferns the warm dark soil.

Core of my heart, my country!

Her pitiless blue sky.
When, sick at heart, around us
We see the cattle die
But then the grey clouds
gather,
And we can bless again
The drumming of an
army,
The steady soaking rain.

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CHAPTER2. PAIRED TEXT
 Core of nmy heart, my
country 34
Land of the rainbow gold,
For flood and fire and famine
She pays us back threefold. 36
Over the thirsty paddocks,
Watch, after many days, 38
The filmy veil of greenness
That thickens as we gaze .. 40

An opal-hearted country,
Awilful, lavish land 42
All you who have not loved her,
You will not understand 44
though Earth holds many splendours,
Wherever I may die, 46
I know to what brown country
My homing thoughts will fy. 48
Dorothea Mackellar (1908 1926)

My Country
I love a sunburnt country,
A land of open drains 2

Mid-urban sprawl expanded

For cost-accounting gains;
Broad, busy bulldozed acres
Once wastes of fern and trees 6
Now rapidly enriching
Investors overseas. 8

A nature-loving country
Beneath whose golden wattles 10
The creek is fringed with newspapers
And lined with broken bottles. 12
Far in her distant outback
Still whose cities chafe 14
Ifind hidden pools where bathing
Is relatively safe. 16

A music-loving country
Where rings throughout the land 18
The jingle sweet enjoining
Devotion to the brand. 20

2.1. MY COUNTRY
 0, hark the glad transistors
Whence midnight, dawn and noon, 22
Cry forth her U.S. idols
A trifle out of tune.
24
Brave military pylons
That march o'er scenic hills, 26
Fair neon lights, extolling
Paint, puppy food and pills! 28
I love her massive
chimneys,
Production's, profit's pride, 30
Interminably pouring,
Pollution high and wide. 32
A democratic country!
Where, safe from fear's attacks 34
Earth's children all are equal
(Save yellows, browns and blacks). 36
Though Man in Space adventure,
Invade the planets nine, 38
What shall we find to equal
This sunburnt land of mine? 40
Oscar Krahnvohl

For questions 1-8, choose the option (A, B, C or D) which you think best answers the question.

1. The two poems are similar in

A. the number of rhyming words they use

B. the feelings of the speaker

C. the age and background of the speaker

D. the number of syllables in every second line

2. The two poems mainly differ in

A. how passionately they argue their case.

B. their feelings and attitudes towards the country

C. how formal their writing sounds.
D. the pattern of their rhyme.

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CHAPTER2. PAIRED TEXTS
 3. In the first poem, what does "her beauty and her terror" imply about Australia?

A. Australia has a varying set of natural features.

B. The speaker is beautiful, but she is also a frightening person.

C. Australia is a place with a lot of dangerous spiders and snakes.

D. The speaker likes adventure a lot more than beauty.

4. What is the purpose of the first stanza in the first

poem?
A. It establishes the persona's love for lush and temperate countries.

B. It describes the "typical" beautiful country.

C. It explains why the persona enjoys grassy countries.

D. It analyses why beautiful countries all have green trees.

5. What does the phrase, "an opal hearted country" suggest about the country?

A. The people living in the country wears opal on their chest.

B. There is a lot of opal ores that can be dug up in the country.

C. Opal is the most popular stone in the country.

D. The country's gemstones come in many different colours.

6. In which poem does the persona talk about their country negatively?

A. Poem 1

B. Poem 2

C. Both
D. Neither

7. The contents of the brackets in line 36 of Poem 2 hints at which of the following ideas?

A. No people with these skin colours really want to live in a very sunburnt country.
B. The people in the country are not truly treated equally
C. Earth's children should not be classified by different skin colours so these words
should not be used.
D. The country is openly judgemental to people with yellow, brown and black skin.

2.1. MYCOUNTRY 9
 8. The final two lines of the first poem suggest that

A. the poet will never leave her country to travel abroad.

B. only the poet truly understands and loves her country.

C.the poet will insist on being buried in her homeland.

D. the poet will always miss and think about her homeland.

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TEXTS
CHAPTER2. PAIRED
Read the passages below then the
answer questions

Perils at Sea
Extract A: Storm at Sea
His first storm at sea! He pulled the light cord but it was dead. Then a flash of lightning again
illuminated the cabin. The top of his bureau had been swept clear and the floor was covered
with broken glass. Hurriedly he put on his pants, shirt and slippers and started for the door,
then stopped. Back he went to the bed, fell on his knees and reached under. He withdrew a
lifebelt and strapped it around him. He hoped he would not need it.

e opened the door and made his way, staggering, to the deck. The fury of the storm drove
him back into the passageway where he clung onto a stair rail and stared into the black void.
He heard the shouts of Captain Watson and the crew faintly above the roar of the wind. Huge
waves swept from one end of the Drake to the other. Hysterical passengers crowded into the
corridor: Alec was genuinely scared now. Never had he seen a storm like this.

From the passageway, Alec saw one of the crew make his way along the deck in his direction,
desperately fighting to hold onto the rail. The Drake rolled sideways and a huge wave swept
over the boat. When it had passed the sailor was gone. The boy closed his eyes and prayed.

The stormbeganto subside a ittle and Alec felt new hope. Then suddenly a bolt of fire seemed
to descend from the heavens above them. A sharp crack and the boat shook. Alec was thrown
flat on his face, stunned. Slowly he regained consciousness. He was lying on his stomach and
his face felt hot and sticky. He raised his hand and withdrew it covered with blood. Then
he became conscious of feet stepping on him. The passengers, yelling and screaming, were
climbing and crawiling all over him. The engines of the Drake were silent.

Struggling, Alec pushed himself to his feet. His startled eyes took in the scene around him.
The Drake seemed almost cut in half! They were sinking! Strangely with the end so near he
felt quite calm. Lifeboats were being lowered into the water as the captain ran along the deck
screaming orders.

Extract B: Sea Storm

The Windsong flew over the foaming waves, propelled by the strong land breeze offthe south-
ern coast. Ella licked her salty lips as she hiked out from the 17-foot Nomad daysailer, her eyes
squeezed tight in fierce delight as the stinging spray whipped off the sea.

Ella was 14 years old, and still enough of a tomboy to relish the thrill of ocean sailing in a small
sailboat, even this late in the season, when the April sky was more often grey than blue.
Her long raven hair streamed behind her in a pony tail. She glanced across at her stepfather
Carl. He was nice enough, but he could never replace her father. Ella had adored her dad, and
spent countless sunny days crewing for him in a succession of yachts. Then, 2 years ago, he

2.2. PERILSATSEA 11
 died from a heart attack and her world had dropped out beneath her. His last boat was The
Windsong which Ella had begged her mother not to sell.
In what she assumed was an attempt to bond with her, Carl had offered to take Ella out sailino
this weekend. He had hairy armpits and sweated a lot, but he seemed to make Ella's mum
happy, and she knew she should make an effort to get along with Carl for her mum's sake.
However he clearly didn't know as much about sailing as he pretended, and she was surprised
they had come out today with the wind this strong.
Just as she thought this, it seemed to her that the wind freshened even more. The waves
were really
buffeting the little craft as it rocketed along.
She shouted above the wind. "It's getting a bit choppy and I reckon a storms coming in. We'd
better
come about and head home" Carl nodded and reached down to unlash
parently to try to turn the boat onto the other tack.
the tiller,
ap-

Ella saw what he was intending to do, and cried out, "No! Drop the spinnaker first!"
Her words were whipped away by the
howling wind, but Carl must have heard something of
the urgent tone in her voice, for he looked around at her, just as his hand reached out towards
the tangle of lines tied to the deck. Distracted, he untied the rope holding the main sail, which
came undone in a strong gust of wind. Ella watched in horror as the main
line zipped through
the steel D-ring and the boom swung through 180
degrees, hitting Carl in the back of the head,
pitching him forward into the bottom of the boat.
He lay, unconscious, with blood dripping down his forehead. Thunder
rumbled, and Ella re
alised with a stab of fear that their little boat was alone on the ocean, sailing out to sea under
full sail and being overtaken by a storm. With a flash of
realisation, Ella knew that their only
chance to achieve safety was if she could get them back to shore
single-handed.

For questions 9-16, choose the option (A, B, C or D) which you think best answers the ques-
tion.

9. Both extracts mention the

A. enthralling and joyful aspects of sailing.

B. difficulties faced in familial bonding.
C. panic that one feels in a storm at sea.
D. calmness of the sea even
during storms.

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CHAPTER 2. PAIRED TEXTS
 10. In which extract(s) does the main character become injured?
A. Extract A

B. ExtractB

C. Both

D. Neither

11. Which protagonist has had previous experience at sea?

A. Alec

B. Ella

C. Both
D. Neither

12. In Extract A, what safety measures did Alec take before leaving his cabin?

A. He dressed himself in protective gear.

B. He clung onto the rails as he moved around the cabin

C. He closed and locked the cabin door

D. He put on his life belt

13. In Extract A, what can be inferred from the statement, "Alec was genuinely scared now."?

A. Alec originally believed the ship would handle the storm.

B. Alec has been very aware of the dangers from the start of the storm.
C. Alec is interested in the storm because it's his first time experiencing it.

D. Alec is a naive person and does not understand how storms work.

14. In Extract A when "the sailor was gone", where did he most likely go0?

A. He had probably been washed overboard.

B. He had probably gone to get help.

C. He had probably gone into the passageway.
D. He had probably gone to pray

13
2.2. PERILS ATSEA
15. Based on Excerpt B, what does the term "freshening wind" most likely mean?

A. The wind was becoming easier to sail through.

B. A wind which made people more alert.

C. A wind which is becoming stronger and cooler.

D. The wind came from a different direction.

16. How does Ella regard Carl in Extract B?

A. With respect and interest.

B. With total loathing

C. With disdain, but tolerance.

D. With courtesy, but apathy.

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CHAPTER 2 PAIRED TEXTS
Read the passages below then answer the questions

A Prisoner of Few Words

Extract A: 1 June 2042
Saying that I don't want to be here is an understatement. I have been picked on, teased ana
bullied, but this - this is torture. They force me to speak their language, but I can't. They force

me to speak, but I can't.

They gave us these journals to write their language in. This I can do. In fact, I excel in Common
literature. I can't articulate my thoughts in
speech, so Iam used to writing down my thoughts.
Even if it is in a peeling leather-bound volume with so ancient that the
paper browning pulp
flakes away. It could've been around before government introduced Common.

I've been here for about 3 months now, though it has felt more like an eternity. Today was like
every day: get up, go to class, maybe even get beaten a few times. Dinner was the usual slop.
The monotony is deranging, so the punishments I get are quite refreshing.
But today is a new day- I keep telling myselfthat every day brings new possibilities. For some
time, I didn't believe that. But finally, there is something new to enjoy - this blasted diary. At
least Common isn't too hard to write, with all its straight edges and rough characters. And in
the candlelight, I write under the scratchy sack-blanket of my rusting bed.
The still of the nights comfort me, for I have grown accustomed to the darkness.

Extract B: 23 June 2042

I was in class most of the day. I was in the front row again, having to bear the front of Dr
Kaarling's barking. He teaches in sophisticated Common, even though he clearly knows that
no one understands. I mean, that's why we're here. What an imbecile.

Kaarling, or Dr Kilo as most know him, asked a question. No one dared speak, lest they risk
punishment for an incorrect answer. His jowls danced as his entire girth stomped over to my
desk. "You, stand up" Kilo snarled, his fleshy countenance folding up with his wrinkles. "Why
don't you answer me?"

The defiance on my face told it all.

Kilo eventually cut my rations, thank goodness. I was preparing for much worse. Anyone
could go without the slop for a while.
I miss home. I miss mum, dad and my older brother. I miss the time that we used to have
together, and the moments that we shared. I miss life before this place.
But with longing comes awful memories. I clearly recollect the day that they took me away. I
remember my mother and father standing in front of me, protecting me from them. I remem-

2.3. APRISONER OF FEW WORDS 15

 ber agents from the Institution of Common Education, jostling aside my parents. I rememhor

my parents begging for mercy on their poor, mute child. But they didn't care.
I wish thatI could go back home. But it's probably not going to happen soon.

I have resolved with fate, no matter which path it takes.

already

For questions 17-24, choose the option (A, B, C or D) which you think best answers the ques-
tion.

17. Both extracts mention

A. the protagonists' longing for home

B. the protagonists' dislike towards their daily routine.

C. an extreme boredom that is driving the protagonists crazy.

D. the protagonists' enjoyment of learning a new language.

18. In which extract(s) did the protagonist receive a punishment harsher than they expected?

A. Extract A

B. Extract B

C. Both

D. Neither

19. In which extract does the protagonist appear more optimistic about their current situa
tion?

A. Extract A

B. Extract B
C. The protagonist is pessimistic in both

D. The protagonist is just as optimistic in both texts

16
CHAPTER 2. PAIRED TEXTS
 20. In Extract A, which of the following quotes best reveals the narrator's attitude towards
his current punishment?

A. They force me to speak, but l can't"

B. "Dinner was the usual slop."
C. "scratchy sack-blanket of my rusting bed"
D. "This I can do."

21. In Extract A, what does the word "pulp" mean as it is used in the passage?

A. Popular writing that is considered as being of poor quality.

B. To crush, mash or shred so as to make unidentifiable.
C. A fibrous material derived from wood.

D. A special type of candle used in the past.

22. In Extract A, what is the significance of calling the punishments "refreshing'?

A. The punishments changed each time.

B. The protagonist thinks the punishments are a fun activity

C. The protagonist is desperate for any sort of change.
D. The punishments were too gentle for a prison.

23. In Extract B, what is the best way to describe Dr Kilo?

A. He is foolish and arrogant about his skills.
B. Someone who does not care about his students' education.

C. A man wise in the ways of literature and teaching it.

D. Someone who is unforgiving of mistakes.

24. In Extract B, what is foreshadowed, based on the final line?

A. The narrator will fight to make sure that he or she can return home
B. The narrator will continue to provoke the authorities

C. The narrator has accepted their fate in the prison

D. The narrator will contemplate the choices they can make while in prison

2.3. APRISONER OF FEW WORDS 17

 Read the passages below then answer the questions

The Attacks
Extract A: A Surprise Attack
19 February, 1942, the Bombing of Darwin commenced with hundreds, no thousands, of brave
though young men being sent off to defend the Japanese air raids against the small city of
Darwin

Suddenly the phone rang. Tom jumped out from behind the chair and ran to answer it. No
one was there. He put it down heaving heavily with disappointment and sat back in the great
armchair He waited for the next call...

Sirens sounded all across town as Tom sat trembling with fear, heart racing and head throb-
bing. He had been staying in his house for some time and had never experienced something
so frightening and yet so life threatening. Even the thought of it was daunting.

Tom's father was off fighting the Japanese raids while his mother was at the hospital, curing
the many wounds of the injured. Every phone call was vital, as it might just be a signal or sign
of hope that his father was alive and well. Fear slowly crept its way down his back, sending
shivers in all directions.

The bombing came to a halt and the sirens died down. Thoughts raced through Tom's mind,
causing more pain. What had happened? Had the Japanese given up? Was the town de-
stroyed? Had the Japanese resigned out of pity for us?
A blistering wind howled as the door opened with a sereeching of hinges. No sigh of relief
escaped his lips, only sorrow. The streets were deserted, bomb fragments resting against the
remains of houses.
He rushed to the hospital. It was still standing, but that was the least of his concerns. He
skidded round to face in the opposite direction, and headed towards the airport. Nothing
remained. Then he headed to the only other place his father would be; the harbour. But
that was also destroyed. All hope was lost. He turned to home, distressed, depressed and
devastated. He had survived, but many others were not so fortunate.

Extract B: Fight for Life

The wind moaned like a wounded beast in the southwest. Gathering speed, it ripped over the
heaving ocean, smashing the dark wave crests to boiling foam. Evening skies darkened as the
bruised, heavy underbellies of cloudbanks tumbled into a chaotic stampede of black and
leaden grey. Lightning scarred the skies. Thunder
boomed out, like the sound of
cracking from peak to base. On Green Isle, the still waters of loughs and streams weremountains
over their banks, flattening and saturating reed and sedge. Leaves showered widespread whippea
as
trees shook their heads, goaded
by the gale into an insane dance.

18
CHAPTER2. PAIRED TEXTS
 None of this concerned the big hawk as it fought for its life. The bird was cornered, even
though it had ripped through the catching net with fearsome talons. It choked and spat at the
remnants of the tidbit which it had lured into the snare. But there was something it could not
rid itself of: a star-shaped iron barb, which the bait had been wrapped around. It had pierced
the roof of the big bird's mouth; one of the tips protruded from under its beak. Blood bubbled
onto the hawk's throat feathers as it hissed defiance at two young feral cats. They circled their
quarry, yowling and spitting, looking for an opening to catch their fierce prey unaware.

Riggu Felis, Warlord of the Green lsle Cats, stood watching his two sons, scorning their efforts
to dispatch the wounded bird. The wildcat chieftain turned impatiently to the pin marten,
Atunra, his aide and constant companion.
"Gwurr! Is this a kill or a dance? Look ye, they fight like two frightened frogs!"

For questions 25-32, choose the option (A, B, Cor D) which you think best answers the ques
tion.

25. Both extracts deal with the theme of

A. Tyranny

B. Altruism

C. Charisma

D. Traumna

26. Which extract uses descriptions of the natural environment to reflect emotions?

A. ExtractA

B. Extract B

C. Both
D. Neither

27. In which extract does a character deal with emotional pain?

A. Extract A

B. ExtractB
C. Both

D. Neither

2.4. THE ATTACKS 19

 28. In Extract A, what does "distressed, depressed and devastated" suggest?
A. Tom feels tired because he has not looked after himself properly.

B. Tom doesn't know what he can do to start helping other people.

C. Tom did not want to keep looking for his family.

D. Tom felt hopeless about the fate of his family and country.

29. In Extract A, why did Tom check on the hospital?

A. He wondered where al the injured people would go if the hospital was de
stroyed.
B. His dad was in hospital for injuries from the war.

C. His mother worked in the hospital.

D. He wondered if the Japanese had destroyed all the major buildings.

30. In Extract B, what is the significance of the clouds' "bruised, heavy underbellies"?

A. It is likely to storm soon.

B. The day was becoming darker and more dangerous.

C. The text i plies it is accurate because birds see the world in black and white.
D. The eagle was going to become unsettled and anxious about the weather.

31. In Extract B, who "fights like two frightened frogs"?

A. The two young feral cats.

B. The birds in the sky.

C. Riggu Felis and Atunra.

D. The sky and the sea.

32. In Extract B, what does

"quarry" mean as it is used in the passage?
A. A place, typically a large, deep pit, from which stone or other materials are or
have been extracted.
B. A diamond-shaped
pane of glass as used in lattice windows
C. An animal pursued by a hunter, hound, predatory mammal, or bird of prey.
D. A type of hunting game which uses
hawks to catch their prey.

20
CHAPTER 2. PAIRED TEXTS
 Read the passages below then answer the
questions

Paintings
Extract A: A Beautiful Painting
Can you hear the soft strokes of the
paintbrush spin and glide across the white canvas? Can
you imagine the beautiful scene the brush is painting? Can you see the bright and dark colours
slashed across the page to create a stunning artwork?
You watch as
the artist carefully
dips the bronze tip of the brush into the depths of the peacock
blue paint before they skim the blank canvas to create a dramatic, dark sky. The artist selects
another brush which they dip into a lighter blue, and carefully streaks the dark sky with flecks
of cyan.

A new brush, the tip sleek and black, is dipped slowly into pure white paint and then is flicked
acrossthe canvas, dotting the beautiful sky with stars. Shamrock
green is patiently layered
to create a sloping, neat lawn below. Yellow and purple flowers are painted here and there,
brightening up the green grass.

Then the artist dips a cream and gold brush into a pot of shiny black paint. She squints as
she brushes the tip of the brush ever so lightly against where the blue and green meet on
the canvas. She paints the silhouette of a woman and man holding hands, gazing up at the
starlight. After some thought, she adds a sparkling moon in the top right corner, shining down
on the couple.

The artist pauses here, her brown eyes admiring her work as her lips curve into a smile. Her
shiny brunette hair catches the light as she turns to get new paint, her fingers searching for the
perfect colour. She's wearing a pale pink sweater and a pair of jeans splattered with different
colours of paint. Her head bops to music playing through her earphones, and when her face
turns slightly in your direction, you can see a smudge of blue paint on her nose.

She continues to paint with the black paint and carefully creates the small hands of the man
and woman, and the curly waves of the woman's hair. She paints the woman's hand, the one
that isn't holding the man's, so that she is pointing up at the twinkling stars. She adds small
effects to the bottom of the woman's dress, so that it looks like it is rippling in a light breeze.
The artwork looks complete. You can imagine it - a couple, a man and woman, holding hands

as they smile up at the stars, standing on a green meadow and staring up at the beautiful
night's sky.
The woman points up at the stars, probably to point out the one that sparkles the most, and
the man would smile.

The artist finally picks up her final brush. She dips it into turquoise paint and signs her sig-
nature in the bottom right corner of the painting. An intricate E within a V. She smiles at her

21
2.5. PAINTINGS
work and then calls for the painting to be collected. You watch as it is carefully packaged and
taken away.
A beautiful painting.

Extract B: A Painted Man

They stare at the ink.

They just stare; they say nothing. With their lifeless eyes, they trace the ink through its im-
possibly intricate curves; through its flicks and rigid lines. They stare with theirlifelesseyes
yet they refuse to look at mine. Don't catch his eye, for that may inspire him to catch you.
know with his hands, holding tight; he'll hurt you. He's dangerous.
You

Hang your head. Walk away. Dangerous.

I walk with my shoulders back because I'm
proud. I'm proud of the muscles I've
grown; I'm proud of the art upon my skin. >'m proud of the people who love me,tirelessly
and I'm
proud of my ability to love in return. I have so much to be proud of.
Yet, they stare. Their caution settles
upon their delicate shoulders and fear finds a home in
their eyes. Their pace
quickens as they pass- a run, at times. They don't know who I am.
Their behaviour is governed
by the preconceived notions of who I should be. They don't know
ifI fit the stereotype, but I guess it's
always better to be safe than sorry; they won't stick around
to find out.

Hang your head. Walk away. Dangerous.

One day, the child stopped in his tracks. He looked up at me and he spoke. His greeting was
soft, delicate; unburdened by the weight of growing old. In his eyes, I
innocence and
saw
curiosity. I greeted him in return. The boy proceeded to chat in weightless phrases, with
intervals in place to renew his breath. His unrestricted
curvature of his lips.
youth was reflected by the joyous

Then, he was gone. A woman ran over on fear-driven legs, a handbag clutched to her chest.
Hurriedly, she grasped the child's arm and pulled him away. She didn't
speak.
The child was gone, yet his
presence lingered. His skin, unscarred by the evils of the world;
his thoughts, undamaged by the human definition of
"normal". For that minute, somebody
saw me as a
person. Not as an ink-stained ghost. Not as some kind of villain.
If only grown humans could
regress to their childhood states.
They cannot. We know that they can't. They will continue to stare.
lifeless eyes, yet they refuse to look at mine. They stare with their
Hang your head. Walk away.
Dangerous.

22
CHAPTER2. PAIRED TEXTS
 For questions 33-40, choose the option (A, B, C or D) which you think best answers the ques
tion.
33. What underlying sentiment is shared between the two extracts?
A. Artwork is created with in mind.
positive emotions
B. Art has the power to evoke
powerful emotions.
C. Art can only be
powerful if it is enjoyed by the viewer
D. Self-expression is key to being accepted by society.

34. In which extract(s) is the artwork created on a unique medium?

A. Extract A

B. Extract B

C. Both

D. Neither

35. In which extract(s) are the protagonists proud of their "artwork"?

A. Extract A

B. Extract B

C. Both
D. Neither

36. In Extract A, what is the purpose of the first paragraph?

A. To question the reader's knowledge of art.

B. To introduce the main protagonist to the reader.

C. To draw the reader into the process of art making.

D. To introduce art related questions that will be answered later.

2.5. PAINTINGS 23
 37. In Extract A, which of the following did the painter paint first?

A. The sky

B. The moon

C. Her signature

D. The woman's hand

38. What is the significance of "They stare at the ink"?

A. The narrator is a powerful painter.

B. The narrator's identity means nothing under his tattoos.

C. The narrator is a painter who chooses to use interesting ink.

D. Onlookers are fascinated by public artworks.

39. What is the

significance of "weightless phrases" in Extract B?
A. The child is the
protagonist's best friend.
B. The child's voice was soft and kind.

C. The child words did not hold a lot of meaning.

D. The child's words were free of
judgement.
40. In extract B, how does the
protagonist feel about who he is?
A. Ashamed

B. Gratified

C. Frightened

D. Indifferent

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CHAPTER2. PAIRED TEXTS
 Read the passages below then answer the questions

War
Extract A: A Silent War
The blank feeling that comes with sadness is overwhelming, the darkness is sickening, loneli
ness surrounds me, pouring through the broken windows and crevices in the roof. The peel-
ing paint on the walls is just a reminder that everything has its limits, everything deteriorates,
everything falls apart, nothing survives abandonment.
Nights pass, so do the days but the days are just as dark as the nights, just as quiet, just as
lonely, just as painful
But there is a faint flicker of a candle, a beacon of hope, a sign of life. Staring out the broken
window, watching life pass by in blurs of colour, watching happiness slowly leech through the
surrounding walls, waiting, watching, wondering.
Some days I catch a glimpse of sun, the shadows creating stories on the walls, almost like
they are talking, sharing secrets that nobody else can see, but they leave just as quickly as
they come. The nights seem to drag out, the chill of the night reaching my bones, sometimes
catching a glimpse of the other side, just out of reach, there is something holding me back,
something keeping me here, something that gives me belief, belief that things can and will
change. I yearn for the touch of love, the longing for someone to hold me and be there to
comfort me, someone other than the cold of the floor and the howl of the wind.
I feel a storm brewing, my thoughts and feelings are clashing against each other, loud thun-
der can be heard, a blizzard is building, the ruckus it creates is torturous, screaming, crying,
begging to be set free.

Then it finally happens, everything that has been building up explodes, like fireworks on New
Year's, like a missile connecting with the surface, the walls are breaking under the pressure,
the flood of awareness pour out the windows. breaking whats left of the glass, the onset of
all my pent up anger, hatred and bitterness towards the world overflow, and the walls finally
come crashing down around me. As the Storm subsides, I'm left with the aftermath of a war
the war between my head and my heart, but the sun can finally reach the darkest of places
hidden beneath the surface, the light reflects my soul and soaks into my skin, happiness and
joy overpower all of my other sensations, the brightness is blinding. Pleasure and apprecia-
tion of the good things emerge from the shadows, bliss and delight break from their chains
and the feeling of love is reunited with my heart, the shrapnel of dejection are disiodged and
replaced withaplomb. And the rainbow that proceed a storm can finally be seen by all.

25
2.6. WAR
 Extract B: A Game of War
Two warring kingdoms had locked heads. The neighbouring castles of Harrington and Peter.
borough were trapped in a fierce battle, fuelled by the greed for power. The lands they de-
sired had begun to run red with the blood of men and darkened by swarms of arrows. Their
fores advanced on each other's territory, claiming enemy troops almost systematically. The
infantry on the front lines were in the centre of the massacre, armed with swords and wooden
shields and leaping on their targets when opportunity appeared. Each manfalling as a mere
pawn caught in the larger scale of the savage battle. To the sides, the cavalry galloped past
the struggle and each attempted to attack their enemies' rear. Sometimes succeeding, but of
ten forced to retreat. Clergymen were also trapped in the battle, attending to the wounded
and the terminal. They attempted to treat the knights' wounds with all their might, as well as
ward off the harshness of the Devil. From behind the colossal walls of each castle, the Queens
commanded and organised the troops below; whom were sacrificing their lives for the good
of their kingdom. The kings of both kingdoms were on the battlefield too, but under heavy
guard from the enemy's attempts to kill them. As the battle raged on, a potential victor began
to emerge. Peterborough's men were few in numbers, and the soldiers of Harrington marched
on to take the castle. The soldiers rushed back to protect their ruler, but the odds of victory
for Peterborough were running thin. The Queen of Harrington grinned as she commanded
the troops to prepare for a winning strike. The troops obeyed. The King of Peterborough was
running out of options, as the enemy troops had already begun to line up in a victorious for-
mation. If he did not act soon he would be captured for sure, but there was little he could do.
With his army overrun and no one left to protect him, the King of Peterborough accepted his
fate as the army of Harrington moved their last piece..

"Checkmate!" exclaimed Harry as he leaned back in his chair and looked at Peter's shocked
expressioon.

Peter learned forward and gazed atthe perfectly laid out Chessboard. After studying the board
closely, he lifted his head and smirked at Harry.

"You win.. You wrinkly, old bugger!"

The elderly pair then moved their pieces back to their original positions, ready to begin the
battle all over again.

For questions 41-48, choose the option (A, B, C or D) which you think best answers the ques
tion.

26
CHAPTER 2. PAIRED TEXTS
 41. In both extracts,
A. A war between two
kingdoms is occurring
B. A war resulted in the death of many soldiers
C. A war did not occur in
reality
D. War was used to describe a storm

42. In which extract(s) is there a heavier focus on the tactical elements of war.
A. Extract A

B. ExtractB

C. Both of them have a similar level of focus.

D. Neither of them focus on this element.

43. In which extract(s) does a character lose in the fight?

A. Extract A

B. Extract B

C. Both

D. Neither

44. In Extract A, what does "there is something holding me back" suggest?

A. The protagonist has a role in keeping themselves in a negative mental state
B. The protagonist does not like the sunlight and wants to stay in the room.

C. Something in the room was grabbing the protagonist and stopping them fronm
moving on.

D. The protagonist is trying to stay in their current mental state.

45. In Extract A, what does the word "aplomb" mean as it is used in the passage?

A. Thoughtfulness

B. Ecstasy
C. Excitement
D. Self-confidence

2.6. WAR
27
 46. In Extract A, why is the protagonist initially overwhelmed with sadness

A. The protagonist is grieving for losing someone in war.

B. The protagonist is struggling to cope after coming back from war.

C. The protagonist was rejected and abandoned.

D. The protagonist is poor and does not have home to shelter in

a
during a storm.

47. In Extract B, which of the

following quotes most captivates the violence of the "war"?
A. "run red with the blood of men"

B. "armed with swords and wooden shields"

C."thebattle raged on"

D. "the odds of
victory for Peterborough were running thin"
48. In Extract B, which of the
following events happened last?
A. Cavalry attempted to attack from the rear
B. Peterbourgh's men rushed back to protect their king
C. Clergymen attended to wounded soldiers
D. Queens organised the troops from the castle

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CHAPTER2. PAIRED TEXTS