2

Section A: Reading

Spend 30 minutes on this section.

Read the Text in the insert, and answer questions 1–16.

1 Look at the first line. Elliot feels less and less hopeful about the future.
Give one phrase that tells the reader this.

[1]

2 Look at lines 2–3. The writer emphasises how hard Elliot is trying to fit in with the other students.
Give one way the writer does this.

[1]

3 Look at lines 6–8. The writer uses italics (italics) in two different ways.
What are they? Tick () two boxes.

to create a dialogue

to add extra emphasis

to indicate a time shift

to describe the setting

to give Elliot’s thoughts

[2]

4 Look at lines 12–15. Why does Elliot touch his pen and then move his hand away?

[1]
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5 Look at lines 16–25.

(a) The writer uses ellipsis (…) in different ways.

Give two ways the writer uses ellipsis.
•

•
[2]

(b) The writer indicates an important turning point in the narrative.

Give one word that the writer uses to do this.

[1]

6 Look at line 28.

Explain why Elliot is feeling weak and sick. Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Explanation:

Evidence:

[2]

7 Look at lines 32–34. The writer lists the instructions, starting gun, dive, twenty lengths racing
crawl.
What does this tell the reader about Elliot’s feelings and thoughts in this moment?

[1]

8 Why does Elliot stop feeling sick and anxious?

[1]

9 Look at lines 42–48. The writer uses grammatical structures to show time passing quickly
during the race.
Give two grammatical structures the writer uses to do this.
•

•
[2]

[Turn over
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10 Look at lines 49–51. The writer uses one long, compound sentence in this paragraph to
contrast with the previous paragraph.
What effect does this have?

[1]

11 Look at line 54. Elliot had his fingers crushed by the team captain.
What does this tell the reader about the team captain’s attitude? Tick () one box.

He is hurt.

He is jealous.

He is pleased.

He is surprised.

[1]

12 Look at lines 55–61. After the race, Elliott has been accepted by the others.
Give two ways they show this.
•

•
[2]

13 The writer uses a literary technique in line 62 to show that Elliot is happy.
What literary technique does the writer use?

[1]

14 How does the last sentence refer to an earlier line in the text?

[1]
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15 Elliot tries to get noticed in the right way at school.

Which characteristic do you think helps him do this? Tick () one box.

self-awareness

determination

Explain your answer in two ways. Give one piece of evidence from the text to support each
explanation.

Reason 1:

Evidence 1:

Reason 2:

Evidence 2:

[4]

16 Which key feature of fiction is shown in the text? Tick () one box.

dialogue

flashback

chronological order

first person point of view

[1]

[Turn over
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Section B: Writing

Spend 30 minutes on this section.

17 Write a story in which a character faces a challenge.

You should consider:

• Characters – who the main character is

• Setting – where and when the story takes place
• What the challenge is, and how the character succeeds in overcoming it.

Space for your plan:

Write your story on the next page. [25 marks]