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Read viking Armour and weapons and answer questions 1 to 6.

VTKIITGffi
AID u/EAPoqs
Most Vil<ings probably wore little armour and just went into battle in
their ordinary clothes. They wore a l<nee-length tunic with trousers or
hose, a type of long thicl< leggings. On their feet were stout shoes or
boots. A thicl< cloal< held by a pin or brooch protected them from the
cold. If awarrior wore body armour, it was because he was rich. Those
who could not afford mail probably used reindeer sl<ins or cowhide. But r;!j.;:
rich or poor, awarrior's lower arms and legs had little protection from s-
r' 17
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his enemies' slashing swords.

ARIIE Arp ARttlOVR

Mail armour

ARIIIOVR
Before battle, a wealthy warrior put on his coat of mail which was made
from thousands of interlinl<ed iron rings. The coat reached to his hips
or l<nees and had sleeves ciown to the elbows. A round or conical helmet
completed his armour.

t,r I IHPO I-1 N

Vil<ing warriors valued their st';ords nloi'a iha'- 2t .t )1' ?' ,":a':- : ,' -':: -'
used by the bravest f ighters rrao alnost 2Q=':e'.' '=. '-=-' -
-: ';:
also fought with axes, but these \vere ne!'e' as '.r'l' t i-' tri as : :'l:'
"'
Throwing or thrusting spears and a knife in a ea-,he'sl'eait .cn'rl eiec a
Vil<ing warrior's weapons. Archers fought v,rith wooden bor,,ls r,vhich u,lere
two metres high.
I ;ffi\"
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/'-
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ilt 1il_i.i] 8PL;,rti.

Vil<ings made their shields from
wooden boards covered with leather'
Some had a leather or iron rim.
The metal boss on the front
protected the warrior's hand as he
held the shield's grip at the bacl<.
The two-handed axe was first used
about 1000 AD. With a sPeciallY
hardened cutting edge welded onto
the blade, ah axe lil<e this could
easily smash through helmets.
Most Vil<ings carried a sPear into
battle. It was the main weaPon for
poor warriors. Vil<ings used two
l<inds of spear: light javelins were
for throwing, and thrusting sPears
with heavier heads were for close
combat. Some spear-heads were
beautrf ul ly deco rated.

2008 lcAS English Paper E @ EM

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I
I
1. What did Viking warriors wear to protect themselves from the cold?
F
(A) boots
(B) a tunic
(c) a cloak
(D) armour
I
I
I
2. Why did poor warriors use reindeer skins or cowhide?
(A) to make themselves look bigger and stronger
I (B) to protect themselves from changes in the weather
t (c) to imitate the dress code of those who were wealthy
il (D) to provide extra protection against their enemies'weapons
I{

I Why did some swords gain 'almost legendary reputations'?

(A) They were awarded qs pnzes in battles,
li (B) They were the sharpest swords ever made,
(c) They were used by extrernely brave warrlors.
(D) They were created by famous sword makers.

Which letter shows the metal boss on the shield?

(A)

(B)

(c)

(D)

A thrusting spear was used

(A) when warriors were flghting ore cn one.
(B) whenever the warrior was on horseback
(c) whenever the warrior had a taller opponent,
(D) when poor wari'iors had to fight in format on

6. What technique is used in the text to help the reader imagine a Viking warrior?
(A) It is written in simple sentences.
(B) lllustrations and labels are included.
(c) A detailed list of equipment is provided,
(u) Viking language is used in the$escription.

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 Read The Visitor and answer questions 7 to 12.

#"#s ffesc*#v"
I The frog moved in over a year ago, during the big rains o{'February. I r,r,as
I ar,r'akenecl at three in the morning by a loud ripping noise on the far side of the
\ l.rouse, assr-rmed itrt,as some kind of cicacla, rolled or,er:rnd lr,-ent back to sleep.
\
t Afew nights later, I heard the noise again, arnplified this time as if through a metal
I tube. Then, a loud crashing souncl. Some cicadzrl
I
I
I slipped out of bed u,ithout waking my rvife and sofi-fboted it to the bathroom. The
I
first thing I saw, sprawled in the tub, nas the little'ivooden ligure of a cat that usually
,
sat on the ledge up above. The second thing I sarv, perched on the ledge, was the {iog.
I
I I got a jar and managed to trap it and
I take it to the garden, where I set it fr-ee.

I A week later the frog was back in the iub, though how it got there I haven't a clue.
I Itvvas f-ar tno large to squeeze through the grates, but there itwas. At the sight of the
I jar its croak sounded dorvnright cranky.
I
t Winter set in early, and there \,vas not a peep out of the frog. I assumecl it h:rd qone
\ into hibernation somer,vhere in the garden.
I
, On the first warm night of spring, I hearcl the familiar reverberations fi-om the r-icinirr
I of the tub. This time my wife heard it too. She'rvent to investigate, pointed a torch
I dou,n the drain hole and sarv the frog staring up at her-.
I
She plugged the hole and a few days later the frog moved into the downpipe just
outside the bathroom l,l'inclow. Ftrr weeks the frog sang its heart out for rain, but the
sky didn't seem to be listening.

Then, in Februarl, \ve got a clrenching. One night, rr'her-r rve tere standins outside
listening to the rain, rr'e hearcl tl-re frog. tl'ris time li-rlm uncler the zrpple tree.
It lr,'as singing a different tunr. :1 nror ing-crut song. Since then rr'e irar.en'r
hearcl a croak, ancl I'd like tri
think the fiog knou,s it's safe
to st:1y out there, somer,r.here
beyond the apple tree.
H-:1=::.r
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1

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2:":3 ICAS Eng sh Paper E O EAA

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 7. The writer uses the words 'Some cicada!' to show that he
(A) knew where the noise was coming from.
(B) realised his assumption was wrong.
(c) was frightened by what he had discovered.
(D) was annoyed to have been woken.

B. What does the word 'soft-footed' suggest about the writer?

(A) He moved quickly.
(B) He walked quietly.
(C) He had sore feet.
(D) He was half asleep.

L When the writer states that the frog 'sounded downright cranky', he suggests that the frog
(A) had wanted to attract his attention.
(B) was missing the company of other frogs.
(C) had resented being moved to the garden.
(D) disliked squeezing through the grates.

10 Which of the following words from the passage does NOT describe a sound?
(A) 'ripping'
(B) 'crashing'
(C) 'drenching'
(D) 'croak'

11. According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE?

(A) The frog moved into the downpipe during the rains in February. ;

(B) The writer's wife blocked the drain hole at the start of winter.
(C) The writer trapped the frog in a jar on the first night of spring.
(D) The frog knocked over a wooden ornament one night in February.
!
I
E

12. Which of the following is suggested at the end of the passage? E

(A) The writer is content now that the frog is outside. I

(B) The writer had always had frogs in his garden. I

(c) The writer hopes that the frog will return to the house.
(D) The writer misses the sound of the frog in the bathroom. I
t

,E

t
i

5 2008 ICAS English Paper E @ EAA

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 Read Dear Editor and answer questions 13 to 18.

Du,t, Ed,ttm
Despite calls for consumers to reject plastic bags when shopping, the
amount of plastic flnding its way into landflll continues to rise. Between
2001 and 2007 the amount of plastic thrown out with the weekly rubbish
trebled.

Every year volunteers for Clean Up Australia report that discarded plastic
bags make up the greatest percentage of items they collect. Workers have
retrieved plastic bags from treetops where they were trapped after flood
waters or high tides receded.

How much more evidence do we need before we accept that current

measures to get people to voluntarily reduce their use of plastic bags are
failing?

Some supermarkets claim that the bags they use to pack your groceries
are made of biodegradable materials and are therefore 'safe'. This is not
so" The realiff is that even these bags take many years to break down. In
the meantime they cause an unsightly mess in parks, waterways, oceans
and aiong our highways. Not only do they look untidy, they are also
dangerous to land and sea animals.

Clearly the onl.v solutiot't to this probiern is to ban the use of plastic bags
altogether. This ban should begil rvith supermarkets because they are
the biggest users. customers should be asked to pack their groceries
into boxes or to bring their own bags with them. Using boxes would
beneflt the environment because most products are transported to the
supermarket in cardboard boxes. The boxes are unpacked and then
thrown out. Isn't it more sensible to re-use the boxes?

Once piastic bags are eliminated from supermarkets, the ban should
be extended to all stores. Most store bags are just another form of
advertising anlnvayl You, the customer, are paying for the privilege
of carrying around a slogan for that shop. But who really pays? The
environment, of course.

Concerned citizen

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 13. which'stateffent best caprures:the meaning of the first sentence?
(A) ,
,' Ther:e is more plastic found in landfill whenever there are more plastic bags
'
:.:,.. 'ugqd:byeonsumer,$ . .
(B) There is an'increa*ing'amount of ptastic in landfill althoughreonsumers have
been asked to use fewer plastic bags.
(c) The area of'landfill used for plastic has increased at the sarne rate as,the ,,

number of:Blastic bags used by consumers.

(D) The amount of plastic found in landfill has increased while the nurnber of ptastii
,bags used by consumers has decreased.

14. The word 'trebled' indicates that the.quantity of plastic bags thrown out has
risen by
(A) two times.
{8,} "'three'times.
(C} ' four times.,
(D), ' fivetimes.

15 What is the purpose of the question in the third paragraph?

$) ,:, to query the reasons for not obtaining more evldence
(B-) ,,, to show that it is obvious that more eiridence is not required
{c}-' ', to highlight the need for the evidence to be eonsidered more carefully
(D)., ':' fo,emphasise that more questions about the evidence should be asked

16 ln lhe sea-lence.r:This ig,fiof so'. what.de6s'This' refer to?

.

tA), the fact thatlsupermar:kets make their own.bags

tB) the suitability of the bags for holding heavy groceries
(c) the biodegradabte material that the-bag. u.J made of I
tD) the claim made by supermarkets that their bags are safe :l

il

I
17 Why does the writer suggest that customers should pack their groceries into
boxes?
(A) Boxes can hold more groceries than bags.
{B) ,',. Boxes:are rnucti:stroagrer ttran plastie bigs,, . , ,

rvyonlg4ssist
{C)' :,: Lt in tfre:rdoycling of cardboard.
(D) lt would save the consumer tLme and money.

'18.
what mr;'s,t,@.aoded:to make,'The environment, of course.'a comprete se_ntence?
iAI ,:.A,i'l .l.itt,r,..:: ;l;
(B} €tfiOilti,,. '1,.:,1
(c) :ah. je-.c,*r/B.;:

tD) -a,preFssfti$B

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 For questions 1g to 22 choose the word CLOSEST lN MEANING to the underlined word.

The Greater Glider

The greater glider is ,A.ustralia's biggest gliding possum. It measul'es up to
approximately one metre in length. Greater gliders are solitary animals whose diet
consists (fg) pfimafff+ of eucal1,pt leaves. The gliders are nocturnal and during
the day they rest in hollows in tall trees. They have a membrane of skin between
their limbs which, when it is (20) outstretched, (21) enables them to glide fbr up to
100 metres. Possurns are marsupial rnammals. The volrng are (22) reared in the
mother's pouch.

19 (A) mainly (A) extended

(B) finally (B) activated
(C) normallY (C) separated
(D) completely (D) removed

21. (A) reminds 22. (A) born

(B) encourages (B) protected
(C) allows (C) raised
(D) forces (D) hidden

i 2008 ICAS English Paper E O EM B

I
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 For questions 23 to 26 choose the correct connective to complete the passage.

Trf trr MUtrH trHEItrE?

Flave we got to a point where there is just too much choice available?

(23) people say that variety is the spice of life, has variety become
bewildering? (,24) , studies have shown that people give up buying an irem
at the supermarket because the number of varieties available and the amount
of information they encounter are overwhelming. I confess that I too arrr one
of these overwhelmed customers who sometimes leave the supermarket more
stressed than when we enter. Therefore, I've made myself a five-second rule:
(25\ I can't find what I want in five seconds, I move on. This has
certainly made my life, if not the retailer's, happier. (26) , we continue
to be bombarded by advertisements for new products which are little different
from the old ones.

23. (A) As
(B) Until
(C) Because
(D) Although

24. (A) lnstead

(B) Accordingly -:T
(c) For example 1S
ll
'ti
(D) As a consequence I
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25. (A) after ta5 4* s
f
(B) since I{l fr
(C) unless
'i*
s m
.:l
(D) whenever
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+=
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f,= *te
26. (A) Accordingly
,q

ft
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(B) Alternatively 1

I ffi
(C) Furthermore I .:. n

lt
(D)
'i3

Nevertheless :.
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I 2008 ICAS English Paper E O EAA

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 ffi
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":*'*E
Ben was nervous, shifting his weight
from one leg to the other in anticipation
of the jump.
t
: {
ill
* He bent his legs, daring himself, and
bringing quick response from that
a completely alone on this sheer cliffface
soothing voice. 'Careful, nor,v. Remember
everl,thing we've said.'
Ben held the man's gaze for u *o*.rrt
o,
two, remembering, as the voice had toid
him.
He stepped offthe cliff.
He dropped a metre before the rope took
the full weight of his body. Looking up,
Ben could see the instructor watching his
movements critically from the cliffs edge
where he had stood just a few seconds
before. The instructor said nothing,
leaving Ben to follorv procedure,
unwilling to interfere unless the bo1'
faltered or worse, panicked. Somehon'he
knew this one wouldn't iose his nerve.
Ben was braced comfortably-rope,
legs, cliffface forming a triangle. He
was becoming confident now after
weeks of practice on the training
walls and at least a dozen descents
like this one. He almost laughed as he
lEfits:, i:#::,.
2008 ICAS English Paper E O EAA
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F'
bounced his way downwards, easing s-=
out the rope, enjoying the precision and -Pr-::<
concentration. At the halfway point he
stopped. This was against instructions
but he didn't care. The sense of being
was overwhelming. He felt smail, no
more than a fly ciinging to a massive I
I
wall of rusty red and ochre. He found
a moment's solitude amidst the frenzy
of city life. Twisting in the harness, he
took in the view. Behind him flowed
the Brisbane River and on the opposite
bank, beyond the lush green ofthe
Botanical Gardens lay the city itself.
Yachts were moored in rows along the
northern bank as he let his eye drift
along Petrie Bight towards the massive
bridge on the tip of Kangaroo Point.
This u-as an uniikell'spot to find peace,
he thought. smiling. It couidn't last and
it didn't.
'Fielding, are you okay?'shouted the
instructor. 'Do you need any help?'
Ben responded by bounding and free-
falling quickly to the ground, exhilarated
as much by his brief pause on the cliff
face as by the successful descent itself.
i6;r
 27. The word closest in meaning to 'soothing', as it is used in the
text. is ::. ":1-::
(A) catming. .:i"" : #

(B) sensitive. ;'-,#

,affi
(C) supportive. a
(D) encouraging. .
"r.,,&*

#
28. why is the sentence 'He stepped off ihe cliff written as a separate
paragraph?
(A) to emphasise the drama of the moment ,.,.4
(B) to remind the reader of the setting for the action
(c) to indicate that the words were spoken by the instructor
(D) to prepare the reader for the long paragraphs that follow i
*
29. which of the following best describes Ben's rerationship with his
instructor?
(A) He is dismissive of his instructor,s advice.
(B) He rebels against his instructor,s authority.
(c) He relies completely on his instructor,s help.
(D) He implicitly trusts his instructor,s judgement.

30. which of the following statements is written in the passive voice?

'as the voice had told him'
ffi
Fffi
(A)
(B)
(c)
'This was against instructions,
'Yachts were moored in rows,
ffi
(D) 'Behind him flowed the Brisbane River,

31. Ben stopped during his descent because

(A) he was proud of his achievement.
(B) he wanted to appreciate the moment.
(c) he was carefully following instructions.
(D) he felt frightened by the height of the ctiff.

d-_-

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2008 ICAS Enol;sh E@EAA

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 -J'''

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32 to 37. ,,
sfick and t
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TO STItrK
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la
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Whilemotionisessenflaltolife,somethings-tivingorotherwise-justhang
surfaces to bind together'
I
.t around. Adhesives Oo tne iob by forcing
)
.fl
Li-t'..| *i some natural bonding agents-sealing
wax, pine tars, flours and gluey proteins
used for centuries. ln the past
such as albumin ano"caJein-have been
lil
t!
tt
60years,however,scientistshavedevisedasplendidvariety.ofepoxiesand
other synthetic adrres]Ve., .o*" of which
join'
and more resilient
are far stronger
Ti
It
than the materials theY
rl
Adhesivesworkfortworeasons.First,inthecourseofhardening'theyform
i . *b'i" physicalbridgesoetweenhighandlowirregularttiesonthe.surfacesinvolved,
them actually
sirch that separating
These mechanical attachme-nts often are
\l requires you to |.ip ,Ctt tn" materials
they're holding together' That's why
it
I
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i*it nobody opens
"nu"tLp"t
by separating the glued flaps lt s far easier
to lus:
a 1.. tear the PaPer
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-ra
;a
SeCOnd. adheSiveS re ..
'.': --- 'e- =-: 'Z '.'.'=-''="--: S -'='=" ' : :"
C'
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' i,. ln fact. if you took two pieces of p-re cctpa'irai "'e';
!=-;:: ' s-:'i- a'f,
t rlr
completelycleanandbroughtthemtogetherlnaVaCUUTntiey,*oulcnislde
,li ,lr
, surlace would bOnd
atoms of one
t over each other at all. lnstead, the copper
I immediatelytotrroseoftheother,andthetwopiecesofmetalwouldsimply
'.f -" -:t' t-.. merge into a single, solid chunk'

t 'ir'{
t
i

tifi
I StickY, but not to me
I of proteins that, strand for strand, is
t spiderweb sitx conslts ol a combination insects'
sitt< wiyr sticky droplets to catch
iI stronger than steet]|piO"t. coat their !,,
Experts disagree: some belreve the
t Why don't ttrey get st';ck themselves? ,,'.
Iii
:

others ciaim they coat their feet with f .'.

web-weavers Step between droplets, while
l
l t'
t
lr$f 1r+t!r' r|"i an oilY liquid'
.I
ii eggs naturally stick to frying
I, To the annoyance of dishwashers everywhere,
I
!.ti I pans.Eggwhiteisfu,g"fywaterandawater-solubleproteincalledalbumin'
tb :.r and assorted goo. Heat drives off
tr along with some protelnr."offi thickeners
popping sound of frying attests-and
,
t
'
\i. the water as steam_as the familiar
provokes the proteins to coagulate. ns they
minute crevices in the metal pan. where
way into
oo, they often work their
thly expand and get stuck' Precoating
thepanwithfatoroit,no*tver'fillsnthosespacesandthusreduces
stickiness.

..n.tq:.t,rn*"
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,r a...- ;' .t- -.r""-\
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2008 iCAS English PaPer E @ EAA

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tl 32. One reason why adhesrves work is that

tiI
(A) they are natural bonding agents.
,
,a (B) they become coarse when they set.
, (c) they form connectrons between surfaces. i
,,t (D) they contarn prote ns that are stronger than steel "t'l
,
t a

a
:.
33. Accord ng to the tex: nc5o.\, o3ens enve opes by separating the glued flaps I p|
because ,r*l
(A) the albumin and casetn harden very qulckly.
(B) the adhesive in the glue s sironger than the paper.
,,
(c) the ripping action causes the glue to ciing more tightly.
(D) the irregularities on the envelope make t difficuit to open

34. Why does coating the surface of a frying pan with oil prevent an egg from
*
sticking when it is being cooked? r !j''

;1ii * (A) Heat interacts with the oil and proteins to form a protective barrier .l
.t
between the egg and the pan. ).
.a
(B) Water and proteins in the egg combine with the oil so the egg cannoi L

adhere to the pan's surface.

t (C) The oil prevents the water in the egg from becoming steam, thereby
-*
a
t keeping the surface of the pan moist.
t (D) The oil fills in any irregularities on the pan's surface so that the proteins
t
a in the egg cannot enter and adhere to them.
rt

35. The word closest in meaning to 'coagulate', as it is used in the text, is

.9. t* rr;.' (A) unify.

I (B) blend.
a
a (c) congea l.
a
(D) synchron se

36. Based on information in the text, r,vhich conciLts on s CORRECT?

(A) Scientists prefer albumin as a bond ng agent
(B) Surfaces which are textured will adhere best. a
(C) Gluey proteins form the basis of the most effective adhesives
(D) Natural adhesives are physically stronger than all other materials
I
I
What is the main purpose of this text?
(A) to explain how adhesives work
(B) to describe the many uses of adhesives
(C) to describe the composition of adhesives
(D) to explain the differences between types of adhesives

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 :;.,:41,.''

r;'a: a):;,r,..

Looking back on those days I see myself as
a kind of centaur, half-boy, half-bike, forever
wheeling down suburban streets uncler the
poincianas, on my wa;z to football practice or
the library or to a meeting of the little group
of us, Lroys and girls, that carne together on
someone's verandah in the evenings after tea'
I might come across the Professor then on
his after-dinner stroil; and as often as not
he wouid be accompanied by my father, who
would stop me and demand (partly, I thought,
to impress the Professor) where I was off to or
where I had kreen; insisting, with more than
his usual force, that I come home right away,
with no argument.
ihe nights quivering with expectanclz but also
uneventful, heavy with the scent of jasmine
and honeysuckle and lighted by enormous
stars" But what I arn describing, of course,
is neither a iime nor a place but the mood
of m-v own bored, expectant, uneventful
adolescence. I was always abroad and rvaiting
for something significant tc occur. for life
somehow to declare itself aird catch me up'
I rocle my bike in slow crrcles or figures-of-
eight, took it for sprints across the gravel of
the park, or simply hung motionless in the
saddle, balanced and waiting'
?l !::j1:,t::'il
-I,:-:'.ii -.ii: i:l
..
;.:-.

On other occasions. pedaliing past his house

among the trees. I rvould catch a glimpse of
him with his telescope on the lool He mrght
raise a hand and war-e rf he recogrised me:
and sprinting ar,l'ay, clouched }olv over the
handlebars, I would fee1, or imagine I felt,
that the telescope had been lowered and was
following me to the end of the street, losing
me for a time, then picking me up again two
streets further on as I flashed away under the
bunchy leaves.

I spent long hours cyciing back and forth

between our house and rny girlfriend Helen's
or to Ross McDorvell or.Iimmy Larwood's, my
friends from schooi, and the Professol''s house
was always on the roube.

I think of those days now as being all alike,

and the nights also: the days warmish,
stiil, endiessly without event, and

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38,

39. Which of the father's actions demonstrates that he was trying to gain the
Professor's approval?
(A) He would make a display of his parental skills.
(B) He followed the Professor on his evening walks.
(c) He pretended to be interested in observing the stars.
(D) He boasted to the Professor about his son's riding skills.

40. The writer chose summer as the settinq for these events in order to
(A) locate the action during the school holidays.
(B) highlight the sense of community felt by being outdoors.
(c) draw a parallel between the weather and the boy's feelings.
(D) include descriptions of the flowering plants in the suburban gardens

41. ln the fifth paragraph the expression 'the nights quivering with expectancy' is an
example of
(A) a simile.
(B) a paradox.
(C) exaggeration.
(D) personification.

42 The boy's constant bike riding represents his

(A) longing for a simpler way of life.
(B) yearning for something exciting to occur
(C) desire tc escape from his father s rnfluence,
(D) 1oy in being young and without responsibilrties.

43. Thrs text is wntten from the point of view of

(A) an adult reflecting on his boyhood.
(B) a boy recounting his summer holiday.
(c) an outsider observing life in the suburbs
(D) an adolescent describing his community

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 Read New Delhi's chariots of fire and answer quLitions
'i.Y**
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It's a typicalTuesday morning in suburban New Delhi
and two pasty-skinned bacl<packers feeling the full
force of the overnight flight from London topple
into the arms of a waiting'auto-rickshaw'. A cross
between a classic Harley motorcycle and a shopping
trol ley, these th ree-wh eel ed contraptions are the
vehicle of choice for most lndian taxi drivers, who
will happily take customers on the type of ride that
must never be disclosed to travel insurers.
Our plight is simple: short trip to crisp sheets and
a
air-conditioning at a hotel in the heart of the ciry.
But we soon discover things will never be the same.
Rickshaw drivers are something else.The streets
here are a very different beast to the comfortable
highways of theWest and it takes a special talent
to navigate them.Traffic swarms and heaves, and
those with the greatest physical presence win.
Sinewy pedal-rickshaw drivers (aged between 7 and
75) grind their wheels in searing heat,transporting
everything from horizontally challenged tourists
to a recent harvest and all for the price of a
cheeseburger. Rickety buses scream past with trooPs
of locals perched on their roofs, hanging on for d.ear
life to the luggage racks.
Without warning, our driverAmar enters us into the
ftay, accelerating from a side road onto a
2008 ICAS English Paper E O EAA
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ftre
three-lane highway crammed with moving metal.
No indicators, no give way, just pedal to the metal
and'she'll be right, mate!' as we Pass within a
whisker's breadth of the side doors of blurry traffic.
Road users dodge and weave in a complex taPestry
that lacks order but is curiously well understood by
all. Our breakfasts lurch as we go head to head with
the approaching lanes of traffic, the front grill of an
enormous lorry approaching at speed. horns and
lights blazing.
Now if there ever was a time we'd appreciate our
driver's full attention on the bitumen ahead, it is now
lnstead, however, (and just as our mortality comes
into view)Amar turns his head 180 degrees to face
us in the back seat.With a glint in his eye he asks
where we have come from. Our answer is swift and
to the point.
ln a nation of more than I billion people. you'd be
forgiven for thinking that road rage is common. But
during our three weeks of travels around the capital
and the nearby state of Raiasthan we saw none co
speak of. lt was as if there was a sixth driving sense,
whichWesterners are oblivious to, Protecting local
road hogs from colliding by some sort of divine
intervention.
16
 .,{*1

sf* tJ*-r'' u ""1( U

ln the first paragraph the writer expresses his reservations about
(A) the effects of jet lag.
(B) the honesty of the drivers.
(c) the quality of his insurance.
(D) the safety of 'auto-rickshaws'.

45. Based on the information in the second paragraph, an

advertisement promoting the pedal-rickshaw service could suggest
the drivers will transport
(A) tourists at set rates.
(B) all things at a cheap price.
(c) everything extremely quickly.
(D) anything across state borders.

46. By using the word 'fray', the writer likens the traffic to
(A) a battle.
(B) a highway.
(c) the bustle of daily life.
(D) the sound of grinding metal.

47. Which of the following is an example of a metaphor?

(A) 'these three-wheeled contraptions are the vehicle of chorce'
(B) 'hanging on for dear life to the luggage racks'
(c) 'we pass within a whisker's breadth' i
(D) 'Road users dodge and weave in a complex tapestry'

48. Which words best describe the writer's impression of the traffic in
New Delhi and Rajasthan?
(A) national icon
(B) rage-inducing
(C) vehicle-friendly
(D) controlled chaos

49. The writer's tone could best be described as

(A) ironic.
(B) critical.
(c) sarcastic.
(D) humorous.

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 ffi
nrtnt,rt

One sailr-,r siicii: a .r-itt\ in hi-s beak.

-{nother limlr ti-) l:.-,.\ rhe rird :iat ieri'l

The Poct's iii't tht- lt.-,It::r-.,:. - i::,€ .-i',*;..

\\hr-,hau:t-ilrtisl:.;..' '-.'-i ' :- j-. -.-..:
Eriled on earth amrd the sholri.r< .: '' -'.,
He cannot u'alk, for: he has giani s \\ rlE>

2008 ICAS Eogiish Paper E O EAA 1B

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 I i

,{
.:' 50. The words 'the bitter gulfs'tell the reader that
=:iirl:.'.

(A) the water is frequently cold.

(B) the journeys are long and perilous.
(c) many sailors are sick for long periods.
(D) disputes often occur among the sailors.

ffi 51. What'do the sailors do to the albatrosses they have caught?
{A)
{B)
(c)
(D)
They taurrtthem.
They free them again.
They keep them as trophies.
They use them as bait to catch others.

ffi=,, ,,,, 52. ' ln the first two stanzas the poet draws a contrast between

ffi, (A) the sadness of the birds and the liveliness of the sailors.
ffi,, (B) the smoothness of the water and the roughness of the deck.
ffi: _ (C) the graceful curve of the birds' wings and the blunt shapes of the ship.
(D) the agility of the birds in flight and their cumbersome movements in captivity.
ffi.1

ffil-+:r 53, Whicfi word in the poem indicates the importance of a Poet?

ffia-'.., ' tnl

(e)
'monarch'
ffi:r, (e)
'haunts'
'tempesf
{D), 'scoms'

Which oJtie following is an example of alliteration?

19 2008 ICAS English Paper E@ EAA . .'

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