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Cambridge IGCSE®
     FiErsnt lagnlgiusaghe
               Fourth edition
This page intentionally left blank
Cambridge IGCSE®
     FiErstnlagnlgiusaghe
               Fourth edition
                 John Reynolds
                                                                        iii
IGCSE® is a registered trademark.
Every effort have been made to trace all copyright holders, but if any have been inadvertently overlooked the publishers
will be pleased to make the necessary arrangements at the first opportunity.
Please note: the example responses and teacher commentaries contained in this book are written by the author.
In examinations, the way marks are awarded may be different.
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www.hoddereducation.com
© John Reynolds 2018
First published in 2001
Second edition published in 2005
Third edition published in 2013
This edition published in 2018 by
Hodder Education
An Hachette UK Company
Carmelite House, 50 Victoria Embankment, London EC4Y 0DZ
This fourth edition published 2018
Impression number	 5 4 3 2 1
Year	                 2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
All rights reserved. Apart from any use permitted under UK copyright law, no part of this publication may be reproduced
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or held
within any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher or under licence
from the Copyright Licensing Agency Limited. Further details of such licences (for reprographic reproduction) may be
obtained from the Copyright Licensing Agency Limited, www.cla.co.uk.
Cover photo by Shutterstock/Ziablik
Fourth edition typeset in ITC Officina by Ian Foulis Design
Printed and bound in Slovenia
A catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library
ISBN: 978 1 5104 2131 8
Contents
              Introduction vi
              How to use this book                                                         vii
	 CHAPTER 1	 Travel and exploration	                                                       1
                            Unit 1	 Active reading	                                         2
                            Unit 2	 Reading comprehension: short-answer questions	         16
                            Unit 3	 Summary questions	                                     33
                            Unit 4	 Becoming a better writer	                              46
	 CHAPTER 2	 Environment 	                                                                 65
                            Unit 5	 More complex questions/how writers achieve effects 	    66
                            Unit 6	 More complex summary questions	                         75
                            Unit 7	 Directed writing	                                       81
	 CHAPTER 3	 People and community	                                                         99
                            Unit 8	 Further summary practice	                              100
                            Unit 9	 Improving your writing	                                114
                            Unit 10	 Directed writing	                                     128
	 CHAPTER 4	  Writing compositions	                                                        148
              Unit 11	 Practical guidelines	                                                 149
              Unit 12	 Written coursework	                                                   165
	 CHAPTER 5	 Speaking and listening skills	                                                188
                            Unit 13	 Speaking and listening skills	                          189
              Key terms	                                                                   201
              Index 204
              Acknowledgements 207
                                                                                                  v
INTRODUCTION
Introduction
                   For the teacher
                          This book is intended for use by students studying the Cambridge IGCSE First
                          Language English 0500 course.
                             The aim of the book is to present comprehensive coverage of the syllabus in
                          a readable and interesting style that will appeal to the full range of abilities. It
                          provides advice and practice exercises to help students develop skills in:
                          •	 Reading
                          •	 Writing
                          •	 Coursework
                          •	 Speaking and Listening.
                          While the book’s overall focus is on the Cambridge IGCSE First Language English
                          course, it also aims to provide comprehensive coverage in key aspects of reading and
                          writing English for all students at this level.
                             So, although this book contains many exercises which will allow students to
                          practise the types of questions that they are likely to meet in a Cambridge IGCSE
                          First Language English examination, it also contains other material which is
                          intended to develop their close reading skills to the full. For example, some reading
                          passages in this book are longer than those that are likely to be used as stimulus
                          material in an examination paper and, similarly, some are taken from texts written
                          in a period of time earlier than that from which examination reading passages are
                          likely to be taken. It is hoped that this will allow teachers to help their students
                          to develop their skills in English language fully, as well as help to prepare them for
                          examination success through close consideration of the content of the passages and
                          the precise requirements of a full answer to the questions.
                             Teachers are encouraged to engage with their students through discussing the
                          requirements of all questions and giving guidance as to how to approach them in
                          the classroom before asking the students to write their own answers.
                             Teachers are also reminded that they are at liberty to amend and modify the
                          material in this book to best suit the ability and aptitude of their students and also
                          to produce their own specimen answers for the tasks in order to ensure that the
                          questions are best suited to the focus of specific lessons.
                   Format and content of the examination
                          Cambridge IGCSE First Language English 0500 is an untiered examination available
                          to students throughout the world. The examination comprises the following
                          components: Paper 1 which tests Reading (an externally marked examination, 2 hour
                          duration) and Paper 2 which tests Writing (an externally marked examination, 2 hour
                          duration). There is the option for centres to enter their students for Component 3,
                          Coursework, as an alternative to Paper 2. This is internally assessed and externally
                          moderated by Cambridge Assessment International Education. There is also the
                          option for students to take Component 4, the Speaking and Listening Test. This is
                          also internally assessed and externally moderated. It is separately endorsed and does
                          not contribute to a student’s final grade for Cambridge IGCSE First Language English.
  vi
How to use this book
How to use this book
To make your study of English as rewarding and successful as possible, this
Cambridge endorsed textbook offers the following important features:
Learning objectives
Each chapter starts with an outline of the subject material to be covered and ends
with a checklist to confirm what you should have learned and understood.
Organisation
Content is broken down into reading, writing and speaking and listening skills,
and is explored through the themes of travel and exploration, the environment and
people and community.
Approach
The subject material is written in an informative yet lively way that allows for
complete understanding of each skill.
For the student
Each chapter includes a variety of exercises aimed at reinforcing and testing your
learning and, in particular, your ability to read for understanding in written English.
Your teachers may specify which elements they want you to do, but you may also
want to tackle others as additional practice.
Please note: the example responses and teacher commentaries contained in this
book are written by the author.
                      vii
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
Study tips                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Exercises                                                                                                                                                       Definitions to learn
Tips to help you make key points                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Exercises throughout each chapter                                                                                                                               Definitions of the key words you
when answering questions.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    provide the opportunity to practice                                                                                                                             need to know are given, with terms
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             the skills you’ve learned                                                                                                                                       highlighted in the text.
                                                                                                                                                                                                  4.5 Planning your writing                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              3 Summary queStionS
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Key terms
                                                                                                           TTTphhhaeeereranedigduncarepaauraateprmiotahnaybbinoeon1grruu1pttm3hasberpetaprsocouofebifnjaeetcpxtsptospoaitlwnsrooeattrugasgadrriyteaavimbope2aonhdtuheiitsnepmpyeroorausbnoranwocbhaorlydlymdeltogiprhfw;oioeneigesnh(siaalgttciviineodhtyktno?one.dkbu7eemebpbdyeibsrceluadserwpdepelneodiwdhdnoihiann.neyvg'sttsewlte)latiiwekm.ospeteiibnbelewlget?ciptibmaoh1eul2eiptseeeaowp1el1e                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       4.2 Writing to argue or persuade
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Exe3r.c5isSet5yle mattersfmaodsiauonrReopainmftdnapscIeeyaponemwlifpoeiOrgeaaaemlabuuocp‘sbecnuhiinolsnEbprleCtsnottsaolaojdeeslirbcohhegjeecxiaocmotfipbrnekryenaainohneojrehopaouacrnhTtnggoWoueeaciclnngc,aifrsptnrrwrottaghiicacsulcttrloiemthniiaelcrv:oruwtrgvyiasniuisoyntrnefadeeveaolesfssoenTeioieeesisgnlaoitvglensaxshlbinrfrsfaahauntseebmeoletreetftiiufin:eleseyercileodesownxcmleylten’eom:–sAudiinfcdnenhtnepceywgnm.–l:nrfieeHutasniaiooetdnorreaignternirdtairleanithuawrvvakvsle.xgbaismtwaesoseseble.ropihstysrllolye.arnrvy.ropayenidlneeontovdyaisdssetoiennnysofgd3otin2so,u1tlCnbyohC»oo:sIe»foeoM»fudmih»mtmtanmNea»tfwhinahpAicwchgmnkLiopfunavtcmoheatIcOloieeitcehtaeCpoetatsnnpeferiTinraeaIelsncetrueaolfmxnpoholyteernuiuuyhdmtewrmnpsntyotrreotachmmnnieithautwrihcgreatbsouftmsgeadnneadhfbieameri,hmxneeraointoesnsdeet(asltnharnweytyttlesmhaitoremcdioramtlhaaoeotseciloyoreecrsosrconaaahlvstenaydnsiprt;s.wuhrctounfrdqegserdtcasilhymwoe–aihpoiimemugvgioeoiydaeonuencfmnooixdhouisfnvmroovgocmcngonnawgypuitaiestmieareeeronctpadalinaeeglurrhetpd.nxnhnwohfdtrlyeseev,rgnhemepyosgeefiyirfnoeswhbtyaot,inybrosir)tmus.mrtrtqhnaeoytatthntogehrsdshiseuewoessGtulmaoeuu.pioyisemiexssocrweoosrusrhrc.oobndaitfyhensifedaohiysqroiruedit.ldtnnidhatkslobnuocaleoietoyiaaaediinoohhuytnetnnwtqnfinnsiwe.dnuiaunosdpstuegnctntt‘ntwsvlirntItBxhhheedcif,imsshtretskoaratytweraouioahoiui–heaansimbanlntudsnmyosladsrwssekkte.oiuoneitrpeteeneeeiwinardohtcfdsntlmsftnigtytodelsnthohuitaesthmiht.osodosepsueelymirahhiwaluFlrsrtiraonryironsoetyatelmttspehtrgoisiwftohvdehtgforafoyepaabftreeaoeieraahwntonobrahrkeiotntyddnvsyatubetrmhjchainttt’ea?welesheattiveoi(cfgnctcnphdepuhaetoigtayhhrtcnomhefenivashraocaoriroaeyrereegetuavepotauaitstrsuegyetcsmechdroynconwswpktfid,axoonwyero4cnralsisiitorhiyoipudltsft0laergu.mew–inhabmyile,fifmrbanthb’taiuenertsptepfntreooayymiglaetulyhveanlgiettvmyhlniyonretehrascngeset;nhswunctsohrethbtqhoyaeleeraitnaohhueynewiuhegvcnrwnfrisrdewacaeeeoecirattigategtldimlsrhrynhnylpuetierhyaisi.tldeelatxandadracanehytyeebetnseraohrtdasarkstdyegiytdolnehduvshaishsoit.fsdtooetafigestheoofamorhoyewntetreruibsrmotoeesphediansuhtegisrurlwoteyenlsem)ee;tishsiriannrohvninwnbonetwimmnwoaateathtemoaiielntssadtrpeptntyieeratrhrlgtrsygiblyevoiieteionneavavscuuigliet.estolse,aieTwoadbahsn.lsiesof
                         »                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   The two preceding      forests regularly endure the destructive effect of      The impact of tourism on the environment is             In conclusion the                             T3he.6folloPwirngaecxetrciissees caynobue ursedstko iplralcstise your summary writing skills.
                         »                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   paragraphs widen       tourism as deforestation is created by land clearing    attributed to thoughtless visitors who blatantly        writer sums up his
                          »                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  the scope of the       as well as by wood being required for fuel.             ignore environmental rules. And closing down            overall argument;                     42
Study tip                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    argument but also                                                              islands is the first step in ensuring that the world’s  referring back to a
1 Adctoronths’tissbtsehtiaangfgresa,iodutto.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 introduce more         One of the most essential natural resources is water.   environment is not damaged beyond repair.               point he made at
 2 Iocfscflhyooyoomsouueubllfrdyiinnilpdedinretotkahhbeseaadmtab,rtly.weyoou                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 facts and examples     It is very evident that the tourism industry overuses                                                           the very beginning
   3 Ricfto–omeaaifrmssntatwheshndeeaweooemrpfteadnborpjrueeoeigunsednrutttdt.esmtiahntsbeoagiedntbietneg                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    to emphasise the       water resources for the development of golf courses,    With climate change still posing great damage           is a very effective
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             writer’s viewpoint.    swimming pools, hotels, and even the personal           to natural resources around the world, proactive        way of ensuring
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    use of water by some tourists which results in the      approaches like what Thailand did, despite its huge     that the readers
                                                                                                             ddoonin’tgwtahnintgtsowdeo 6     AdlootinogIfsuotsuherilselisftesruitseh?sinpgesn.t  watching television 10                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            degradation of water supplies and water shortages.      blow on their tourism and economy, might be the         think carefully
                                                                                                           beianrgoausnkdetdhteohdoousjoebs8     looking smart 9                                  lleaawterenihinnagovuehrochwaelctauodlascatwolchruse-n4                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           It is important that we all conserve water both in our  best way to protect the Earth.                          about what he has
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    own homes and when we are on holiday as water                                                                   said.
                                                                                                                     learning history 3                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             scarcity is major issue in some parts of the world       Source: www.triplepundit.com/podium/negative-impact-
                                                                                                                                              spa–cweheoxpclaorreast?ion        taking exams 5                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      now.                                                     tourism-environment
                                                                                                           Stage 3        the  composition    now  looks                  like  this:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Exercise 4
                                                                                                           The order
                                                                                                                      of                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1 From paragraphs 1 and 2, using your own words, give one example of the ways
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        tourism can benefit a country and one way that it can harm the environment.
APPPPaPaPaarPalrParWaoraaraaraatr1ar2ha345aoa67fGt8HbWGBimooeWowsWnWteeuCwhhaienieeynoemrhedhrdenvwrgayreadloepcalattirntpoolocltfsourew’–aceetsslttslhxneaaettsoilaiaeatn’ouiowtrsretmktnkeetbmnealdse.sjmeiinseoevnnTt(pitcmmwntoteoiphLtaIeWsnsles»ttrnid»kesntaiiiWtrsiotoiisfhosaoatrhwetonetnthedteaomtDbrhaDn?cdeeptseyboowwdopaotiisawWautoogssithnlishnnodhuunrhcocisthe’ereion’huityartetvtoinenstwtanomrmlcelrodbfsadaantonmougrtweuoupwto/aaptioaimtiitimeaebtroshdntkeoaveueossrtjrpowenefe.eugpstchpbotmsrocswayatsaminoalettt)esdotaannnhi.isdiihildeydecthbnmstce(’,teitiwoerytieeot1ncshotticuupto.h3twadtooosisgnaouohd(’nlifio)smusr.lpbac7ircyytygmtenhesgiihhwo)aidhcmegktreacwanuaieuDeahhotwrapnnrrhtmpcoodmieited?ogetnafiipogoan,clsergoftkhenliathsifoganoyw–aaon’tryn.aottnmnhvntjaoaycsbouaIeewto.aswbsubeotbit(tlasahmoitrfoolveco1mtoneniuae.ruufyah).noditsrt(olplylfr(ioagdeao1sout9pwsutnrttpr1oo)iellnotedh)raomkotlidaresddnrdaofsndofceeeuv!nok.ety.oacatneh(ir(oe(reoins4e6e’y?2?nusstgdfoha))i)er(u.mhtouor5cWpe.leaurol)pro(yvsnmtol1hieeyhdnaw0yswtettt)ontsooelhtbW.ewfdhpaoepaoeclresuuanosntgstnwt:’nphte?hthtcetwhtiehnoYssinia.elmodtnetnocugretkatlysiicsnmstt?oldothdeu.eo(era3l(iopwwddg8i)uniena)gttWaighhiBhnsn?eh.petbn(ieyaHhneo1geopf2lgioolws)leriteeos.vtnyeaort,nuo6d3
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2 Why do you think that the writer believes that ‘It will never be a great idea to
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        exceed limits when it comes to tourism’? (paragraph 3)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    3 Give three ways in which tourists can damage coral reefs.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    4 In what ways does tourism increase air pollution? What are some countries
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        doing to reduce this?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    5 Explain, using your own words, what the writer means by ‘The expanded
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        construction of recreational facilities’. (paragraph 9)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    6 What are the two main reasons for the cutting down of forests mentioned by
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        the writer in paragraph 9?
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    7 Explain fully, using your own words, why the writer considers the action of
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Thailand’s government is ‘proactive’. (paragraph 12)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    8 Identify a word or phrase from paragraphs 10–11 (‘One of the most essential
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        … damaged beyond repair.’) which suggests the same idea as the words
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        underlined:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        (a) The stonework of the old castle showed increasing signs of deterioration as
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             the centuries passed.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        (b) We had to make a long journey across the desert, so it was necessary to
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             safeguard our supply of bottled water.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        (c) Despite being seen by several witnesses, the suspect shamelessly denied
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             that he has been involved in the crime.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    9 Using your own words, explain what the writer means by each of the words
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       underlined:
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    One of the most essential natural resources is water. It is very evident that the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    tourism industry overuses water resources for the development of golf courses,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    swimming pools, hotels, and even the personal use of water by some tourists which
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    results in the degradation of water supplies and water shortages. It is important
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    that we all conserve water both in our own homes and when we are on holiday as
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    water scarcity is major issue in some parts of the world now.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    53
                                    13 Speaking and liStening SkillS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         12.10 Writing checklist
       The 10 Lesson»»»»»I»pfCnPEePtoeyGMiioMoDicnteorcspahkoaTsdukpo»nloeihku»eldom»ytrwoe»aep,»euo»HcuenyweIotaratWsietsoHhrpwfsnoaWoiwysetWlwhekmrtoyttrybioheuhhheh,isyttwhovuioybtphteeaoerelyyeuioseduaanaltortmcooesupsorperitdsumarfuewletdrluiodpipnsia,ycsaIadaiaicnnmisllekcgodnanlaqhsaehpgvgellIhuyincgucfnyol.Igssmettttaeedsseo.juthhhhiYsnos,ttsosmbhullToaetitathtydstneertathhvuyreiamhtIophogtreeeiofbtlfettgaldsnaimuoute?a?mIlhpfevytoschulsorcoaloootokcacpioyevflkhIicsuuuiyaebloonoeswenoernlnslrhrhdtuedmtirewitptemr.tno;tnhato?eaeirdobhtgbayonyanydbnoiseekboptu?dgtutodqheyulgtncatyutuaolp?aeoth’obiwotectbmolikanlkuoesibeietaylcatt,nniodyomhahhikytht.wo.ubeeaoshiyonmhYnhrovaw/abmosaihtiueevne:ctbeuvhotiehxtrvyegtaebeeamtoihtlnbwhsrsibmlrseti.ityheaegottisi?mvheteehnnhutheledngietlponaldl.irlpndtttfkemtoohi:oidtioanreetpnigbrwtatiliehsanpsiiaid?enkctenbseretoootioelssnpeymudrua:lettuceethcsyhchtahtaoieheinetanupitrndgyli/hwamgitoese.cwauaxcyeyBatauyohoyym–stuh.apshwivatiiAenaochevantge?neeyjrah.to?ihbaonyeetf,ereapedynnro.edauprfeainradtion,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         4 Becoming a Better writer                                                                                                                                      12.10 Writing checklistWpwwohhiielenlnntbsyeyowomuiulrolcwrahelrelistcbuiknecgcatenaisdsksefcrnuehlve!iincskteoedycoobunyrsawidoteerrkaactbihoeenfro.roIerfsryueoabudmaibtlystointhtgaeykaeouutdrhieepnmocrteifn,ottloihoec,ofyonolsuliodrwewrinaritgtiionng
s to Learn From Travelling192 –ealvdBin1ferweyeiin)unvsitninshtTnelwuetyalvgisIfhpownmaltfaa’CeevAeemWgirmatoBeaopybimprine–scrnnilefyladleeqhoahegtiaicfcnaurocruCtrllayaefermeihieaonowctor,avt,azcoeddaryunoviyaunolntataae.r.ittlnasnhlhoaetwrTatpddbbgoaeganecril,phttyepmoeydlaeo.raxpepfoeRenFpsesTfbpoesun,rdaoussieeoptoortggrsraltrhhlpoamaourgceuiimeelareoreeoerlrwrinmabieaslm’oWnensisct,nehsrebt,aiftdttllotdn;oibejih,roegoeggrsoeAmeliffbotisrcnis,nu1n,roezaisluteet0mnodsoinryytttsaakrniov,ohenIolvWnfert’in.oowevnoeteho,W.arletmslertwoiaoTlhn:tuolartafhlrneeglnneaiNifadieoatlssdtvf“’cinrsathntmimretea-ncosehmgirpTlnenheesnoiseanfdtigaeitstloblpcrragesnieoaeeraatnaeshi–aodcrcDdscv,aplkmahheybtywaaro,eoyicYrotiuwoukinroarui,lgindnlbuPlg”2.e,aech)PUpoaiitrTappnmlrbcwntcrlidoteuiupeimaehiaan,mswicvtdnetytdliactaiomiteeochoassvshskpnhenrettaegaewiidwrealsae’zltroaoitvoin’iesetmsatttttsuetiecwrehnsisyttcoguntsei,oerteosrouhjsusayyommtosouemtsthonlmoamnfyyxtiaemtaudcdsfgopIuocnottyako,oertghehotrwrbhaott,vsaerawttorevbeariiahitnvaacter.eyuabybadleovtnnbYoylg,luceniecedc,ulyonttemaolaertpioistufggghlavmnohaaduerlaveibfdreantt’tsvefnoeriieimdtaemle,eewycldhicrdingnwsohyonaeservbtthuoator–guhm,meautwo’runasizrniciacc,oguete’sgnhokltchkwersnlheduiopetttn’tliawnIherrtsne.aninaemprefeaacics.sibpttlstwrkneealIthheoenafaei,anmoeendmngtklbnctrulghrsaaoriaeseellinaiikdutdiolntrstlsgml’ehesanxepntgw,taichd’uoystntheayvekherrogabevcoiatilelunoeptcx,eeutihgruohy.rciirtatsyToaeush’tpsuru.enhlpiostokesekeunagsyh                                                                                                                                                                    12I»»s»3Dy4»5»t»ooi»e»henIeubnIasenHtss»use»tuer»emcjoigecstoirsttaqiwteeorsiaehygcnupntwpsnkaaueraa:eutnraeeatebclieinnceiaslnmnrhllgnlacltcaenctiigiyigemcenunnt?etsslcu:grtgvgteafteauraeeaeoruxtrtarceapcitopetoatthesfpnieunper,srdairp?oeuietpa?rdnphsdospeerce?spraieeoarosIwsiptsfaasearrntmisiinetatfdpideotneetneerolgoatxltv?ispphanoyoirHuegnbcetd,oijasopoeiwbspeuncfuunwrtosglpincalhvoolecreoaotsyswtauednafioiaosdtsifnrotctdthcnohhoodneeanuo:tntgepeidhxinsettugci,otrefau?memslotmwvaaernirtds?ieningms,aibpglriyonvefirdnogmthat
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             The passage begins     The eastward cliff was at first merely a starless selvedge to the starry dome. No rosy flush,                   The sudden arrival                UIAn••n•s•t••si•hd•dt•aiAsiesg•eas•nos•uus•emnu•mrmarupussltmsagoelouipineouayermcmgarcnseoinstksugannttriserneaseeclamemiyattra,tktsuanrogranrafteee1aeleiuaraiecndrasvs:tnogatcaagrteaetheeumtiuneceneylssxasuacurdurgtepveoaun2nteaneaexsheftrddrtidappetreeonavrereanipseeftofeuurtapretodrrvecvsnsrcsnoiprioaxteuu3tectedmpraucbatnesc:wornoarnduteacipaefedubaedletronadsiirutviioniaenefrddpaeltngynagseethltieoerddpoalafoeoxylopeesnftiecfpfrnoaladefooxarilgasnsmixenclpnnsc,lpdposartodepgtpeeesnlnswsnl,iuocxstic,dewtpciientpsiienfnitudoxihcitngwcntmnetptaemcuiaphcoitoneneatsubeanicuaitsstajroseaienatopnntinrctsifshnoinsuoidtntoostigrrcafvhgnueouotsnedsoupsgrcadseurihatnd.nleuggtnidei,bsrhrodlefeagtniae,bsarmrsplfaetata,eptmtrmaiuplerattnopsuamteapdierrdnf.noarefiegiepdmrsaf.craftiaietmepagcpttaiteorngoetcipondorencidaotetnextet xt
  Tasks                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      with a detailed        no creeping pallor, announced the commencing day. Only the Corona, the Zodiacal light,                          of the lunar day is
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             imaginative            a huge cone-shaped, luminous haze, pointing up towards the splendour of the morning                             reinforced by this
  Numerous tasks support your                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                description of a new   star, warned us of the imminent nearness of the sun.                                                            short, sharp one-
  learning and check your progress                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           day dawning on                                                                                                                         sentence paragraph.
  at each important stage of every                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           the moon. The          Whatever light was about us was reflected by the westward cliffs. It showed a huge
  chapter.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   description            undulating plain, cold and grey, a grey that deepened eastward into the absolute raven                          As the day becomes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             emphasises both        darkness of the cliff shadow. Innumerable rounded grey summits, ghostly hummocks,                               clearer, the writer’s
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             the silent emptiness   billows of snowy substance, stretching crest beyond crest into the remote obscurity, gave                       language becomes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             of the scenery         us our first inkling of the distance of the crater wall. These hummocks looked like snow.                       more animated,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             and the clarity of     At the time I thought they were snow. But they were not – they were mounds and masses                           particularly through
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             the atmosphere.        of frozen air.                                                                                                  the choice of verbs
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             The writer skilfully                                                                                                                   – ‘quiet’ words like
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             presents the coming    So it was at first; and then, sudden, swift, and amazing, came the lunar day.                                   ‘crept’ and ‘touched’
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             of day, showing each                                                                                                                   give way to ‘striding’,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             different detail as    The sunlight had crept down the cliff, it touched the drifted masses at its base and came                       ‘quiver’, ‘steaming’.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             it is brought to our   striding with seven-leagued boots towards us. The distant cliff seemed to shift and quiver,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             eyes as the sun picks  and at the touch of the dawn a reek of grey vapour poured upward from the crater floor,
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             it out.                whirls and puffs and drifting wraiths of grey, thicker and broader and denser, until at last
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    the whole westward plain was steaming like a wet handkerchief held before the fire, and
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Notice how the         the westward cliffs were no more than refracted glare beyond.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             skilfully controlled
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             use of direct speech,  ‘It is air,’ said Cavor. ‘It must be air – or it would not rise like this – at the mere touch of a
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             following on from      sun-beam. And at this pace …’
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             a lengthy passage
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             of description, adds   He peered upwards. ‘Look!’ he said.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             immediacy to the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             story and engages      ‘What?’ I asked.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             the reader.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ‘In the sky. Already. On the blackness – a little touch of blue. See! The stars seem larger.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    And the little ones we saw in empty space – they are hidden!’                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         187
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Swiftly, steadily, the day approached us. Grey summit after grey summit was overtaken
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    by the blaze, and turned to a smoking white intensity. At last there was nothing to the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    west of us but a bank of surging fog, the tumultuous advance and ascent of cloudy haze.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    The distant cliff had receded farther and farther, had loomed and changed through the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    whirl, and foundered and vanished at last in its confusion.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Nearer came that steaming advance, nearer and nearer, coming as fast as the shadow of a
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    cloud before the south-west wind. About us rose a thin anticipatory haze.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Cavor gripped my arm. ‘What?’ I said.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    ‘Look! The sunrise! The sun!’
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    He turned me about and pointed to the brow of the eastward cliff, looming above the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    haze about us, scarce lighter than the darkness of the sky. But now its line was marked
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    by strange reddish shapes, tongues of vermilion flame that writhed and danced. I saw a
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    crown of fire about the sun that is forever hidden from earthly eyes by our atmospheric
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    veil.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    And then – the sun!
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Steadily, inevitably came a brilliant line, came a thin edge of intolerable effulgence that
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    took a circular shape, became a bow, became a blazing sceptre, and hurled a shaft of heat
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    at us as though it was a spear.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    It seemed to stab my eyes! I cried aloud and turned about blinded, groping for my blanket
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    beneath the bale.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    And with that incandescence came a sound, the first sound that had reached us from
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    without since we left the earth, a hissing and rustling, the stormy trailing of the aerial
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             56
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Extracts                                                                                                                                                        Revision checklist
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Extracts from a range of sources are                                                                                                                            This checklist lists the key concepts
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viii
CHAPTER 1
Travel and
exploration
Units
1	 Active reading
2	 Reading comprehension: short-answer questions
3	 Summary questions
4	 Becoming a better writer
                                                                                                                                                                                   1
1	  Active reading
      In this unit you will:
      H	 demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings
      H	 demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings and attitudes
      H	 select and use information for specific purposes
      H	 organise and structure ideas and opinions for deliberate effect
      H	 use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures appropriate to context
      H	 make accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar.
      This unit will focus on the following skills:
      Reading
      H	 demonstrate understanding of written texts, and of the words and phrases
         within them
      H	 summarise and use material for a specific context
      H	 select appropriate information for specific purposes.
      Writing
      H	 organise and convey facts, ideas and opinions effectively
      H	 demonstrate a varied vocabulary appropriate to the context
      H	 demonstrate accuracy in spelling, punctuation and grammar.
2
1.1  Whydoyouread?
1.1  Why do you read?
The written word is all around us. It is almost impossible to spend a day without
reading something. Here are a few examples:
»	 If you catch a train, you will probably read the timetable to make sure you know
   when your train arrives/departs.
»	 If you’re planning to see the latest block-buster movie, then you will need to read
   details of performance times in a newspaper or on a website.
»	 Whenever you use a computer,
   you need to read the different
   messages that appear on the
   screen.
»	 When you settle down to
   relax after a hard day’s study,
   you might decide to watch
   television. How do you find
   out which programmes are on?
   Most probably you will look at
   a television guide. How do you
   know when the programme you
   intend to watch is about to
   start? Almost certainly because
   you will read the title as it
   flashes up on the screen in front
   of you.
Of course, you may decide that the
most enjoyable way to relax is not
by watching television at all, but
by reading. But what will you read?
Will you choose your favourite
sports magazine or will you return
to the novel that you left by your
bed last night?
                                      3
1	 Active reading
Key terms             1.2	 Passive and active reading
Passive reading:      So, reading is something we spend our lives doing, often without being conscious
The process by        of the fact that we are doing it. In fact, you might think that the printed word is so
which we register     much a part of our lives that we take very little notice of it; it is just there.
what we read on
road signs, etc.        We take the printed word for granted and, as a result, we frequently recognise
without consciously   familiar (and less familiar) words without really thinking about what they mean – we
having to think       just accept what we see. This is what we mean by passive reading – the words are
about the meaning     like wallpaper; we see them but don’t really bother to think about them!
of the words used.
Active reading: The     Reading, however, is also an active process, in which you really think about
process involved in   what you are reading and try to get as much out of the text as you can. On many
making sense of       occasions (such as reading a legal document before you sign it or making sure that
more complicated      you understand fully the information contained in a school textbook) you need
pieces of writing,    to concentrate carefully on the sense of the words that you are reading. This is
in which we have to   called active reading and it is important that you develop this skill of reading for
engage more closely   understanding.
with what is written
and think carefully     An English Language course is unlike most other subjects in that there are very
about the meaning     few facts and details which you need to learn. However, it is still important to
of the words used by  spend time developing the skills you need. For Cambridge IGCSE® First Language
the writers.          English you need to be able to:
                      »	 demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings
Key terms             »	 demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings and attitudes
                      »	 analyse, evaluate and develop facts, ideas and opinions, using appropriate
Non-fiction: A
piece of writing in      support from the text
which the content     »	 demonstrate understanding of how writers achieve effects and influence readers
is factual and not    »	 select and use information for specific purposes.
imaginative.          If you improve your skills in active reading, this will help you in many other school
Convey:               subjects as well, such as history or economics.
Communicate;
writers convey          While studying English Language, you will need to read different types of
meaning when they     materials. You might be presented with:
make their ideas      »	 a piece of non-fiction (possibly taken from a newspaper)
understandable for    »	 an extract from a novel or short story
their readers.        »	 a piece of personal writing such as an autobiography, to give just three examples.
                      Remember that words alone are not the only way by which writers convey meaning:
                      pictures, diagrams, sub-headings (which draw a reader’s attention to a specific point
                      in an article), changes of font and typeface (such as the use of italics or bold print)
                      are all means by which writers will try to influence your responses as a reader.
                      1.3  How do you develop the skill of active
                           reading?
                      Throughout your course, it is a good idea to practise active reading, as this will help
                      you fully understand the texts you are reading. Here are some suggestions of ways in
                      which you can do this:
                      »	 Read a wide range of texts, not just novels and magazines but also newspaper
                         articles, in particular editorials and opinion columns, and any leaflets or
                         pamphlets you can find.
4
1.3  How do you develop the skill of active reading?
»	 Remember, work in other subjects, such as history or sociology, also requires
   you to read non-fiction books which contain complicated and well-structured
   arguments. Other types of non-fiction writing include journals, travel books,
   blueprints, diagrams, letters and web and magazine articles.
»	 With everything that you read make sure that you think carefully about what the
   words, sentences and paragraphs actually mean. It may help to:
   »	 ask yourself questions as you go along, or think of comprehension questions
      that might be set to test understanding of what you are reading
   »	 imagine what you would ask someone else if they had read the article and you
      hadn’t.
»	 It is a good idea to have a pencil and notepad close to hand whenever you are
   reading in order to underline or highlight key words and phrases as you read.
»	 Make annotations in the margin to summarise points.
»	 Read critically by asking yourself questions as you read the text. Who wrote it?
   When? Who is the intended audience?
»	 Look for ‘signposts’ that help you understand the text – phrases like most
   importantly, in contrast, on the other hand.
When you are working on comprehension passages in class, it is almost certain that
your teacher will keep asking you questions. This is to help you gain a complete
understanding of what you have read, and you should ensure that your answers are
as precise and specific as possible.
  So, when you are reading on your own, try to think about what questions your
teacher would ask if he/she were there with you. This should help to ensure that
you have thought about the main concerns of the passages and understood them to
the best of your ability.
  Once you have mastered this approach, you will find that you are reading with a
much clearer and more focused understanding – this will allow you to maximise the
use of your skills in any situation and when answering a comprehension question.
Test your active reading skills
Exercise 1
•	 Read through the following paragraphs, in which the writer describes a journey
   on the luxurious Simplon-Orient-Express train.
•	 As you read, make notes of any words or phrases about whose meaning you are
   not clear and then check their meaning by using a dictionary.
•	 Write down a one-sentence summary of each paragraph.
•	 Make up five questions (with answers) to test your understanding of the passage
   and then give them to a partner to answer.
                                                                                                                                                 5
1	 Active reading
   Aboard the Orient Express
   Appropriately enough for a train steeped in         Passengers slumber through eastern France
   romance, the principal routes of the Venice         and northern Switzerland, usually waking
   Simplon-Orient-Express link three of Europe’s       somewhere east of Zürich. Raising the blind to
   most beguiling cities, London, Paris and            reveal the waters of Zürichsee or the majestic
   Venice. The chocolate-and-cream British             peaks lining the northern shore of Walensee
   Pullman train departs from London Victoria and      is part of the pleasure of overnight train travel
   glides through Kent on the way to the Channel.      – that sense of being somewhere so different
   In France the royal-blue train with brass           from the landscapes and architecture of the
   insignia, lined by uniformed and white-gloved       previous evening.
   attendants, is waiting to take you to the capital,
   while a four-course dinner is served. The           The snow-capped peaks of tiny Liechtenstein
   dinner is made unforgettable by the sumptuous       are a prelude to the Austrian Alps, as a
   surroundings of the Lalique glass and wood-         continental breakfast is delivered to your
   panelled dining cars as well as the quality of      compartment. A pause at the Tyrolean capital
   the food, a miracle of skill conjured up in the     of Innsbruck is an opportunity to stretch one’s
   tiny galley kitchen.                                legs before the train reverses to head south
                                                       through the Brenner Pass, its crags periodically
   In Paris the train uses the same station, Gare      topped by stone fortresses controlling valleys
   de l’Est, from which the first Orient Express       through the Dolomites. Lunch is served as
   departed on October 4 1883. The sense of            the train drops down from the summit on the
   dinner-jacketed style is enhanced by the            border with Italy, conifer-clad slopes giving way
   contrast with passengers milling about on the       to huddled villages surrounded by vineyards
   platforms, the bar car’s piano and period tunes     and orchards.
   a world away from the iPods of today’s Parisian
   commuters.                                          The architectural style of the pale stone castle
                                                       and palaces forming Buonconsiglio Castle in
   It is likely to be dark by the time the train       Trento emphasises the transition from central
   weaves through the hills growing the grapes         European to Mediterranean culture. With the
   that produce the Champagne served on board.         Adige River for company, the train makes for
                                                       Verona, forever associated with the doomed
                                                       love of Romeo and Juliet.
                                                       Afternoon tea is served as the train crosses
                                                       the fertile landscape of the countryside around
                                                       Vicenza. The last major city before journey’s
                                                       end is Padua, where Galileo once taught
                                                       mathematics at the university, founded in 1222.
                                                       The causeway linking Venice Mestre and the
                                                       island is the perfect approach to the city and its
                                                       towers and domes rising above the tiled roofs.
                                                       Then, when the train arrives and you walk out
                                                       of Santa Lucia terminus, you find yourself on
                                                       the bank of the Grand Canal.
                                                       Source: Adapted from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/
                                                        rail-journeys/The-Orient-Express-Great-Train-Journeys/
6
1.4  Skimming and scanning – getting the gist
Key terms               1.4  Skimming and scanning – getting
                             the gist
Skimming: Reading
quickly through         Sometimes you need to be able to read as much as you can and understand it as
a passage or            fully as you can, in a limited period of time. This is why developing your active
article in order        reading skills is so important. You must read through the whole question paper
to gain an overall      carefully, but if you are skilled at reading actively, then you can save some time by
understanding           employing the techniques known as skimming and scanning.
of its content,         »	 Skimming means reading quickly through a passage in order to gain a clear,
in particular by
using clues from           overall view of what it is about. This is what we mean by ‘getting the gist’.
headlines, sub-         »	 Scanning is a refinement of this approach, as it means you are reading in order to
headings, etc.
Scanning: Reading          extract specific details which are relevant to the questions that you are required
sections of the            to answer. Before we look a little more closely at how to apply these techniques,
passage or article         there is one other very important point to consider, and it is also one that is easy
more closely               to overlook.
once you have
established the         Identifying key words in a question
overall meaning
by skimming, in         At the beginning of this section we mentioned the importance of reading through
order to ensure         the whole question paper. This means, of course, not only reading through the
understanding of        passages but also reading through the questions on those passages.
the most important
points relating to        A clear understanding of exactly what the question requires will help you to focus
the overall meaning.    on those parts of the passage in which the relevant points can be found.
Gist: The substance
or general meaning        When you are reading a question, you may find it useful to underline the key
of a piece of writing.  words. For example, look at this summary question based on the passage ‘A Whale of
Key words: These        a Time in Oz!’ (page 9).
are words in a
question that             Read carefully the passage ‘A Whale of a Time in Oz!’ and then summarise what it
either give clear       tells us about the behaviour of Southern Right Whales and why they were considered
instructions as to      to be so suitable for hunting.
what you should
do to answer the          From your skimming of this question, you will pick up that the passage is about
question (e.g.          Southern Right Whales. The key words to underline as part of your scanning process
explain, describe)      are the instruction summarise and then the specific details on which you are to
or which make           focus: behaviour and why they were so suitable for hunting.
clear what should
be the focus of           Read carefully the passage ‘A Whale of a Time in Oz!’ and then summarise what it
your answer (e.g.       tells us about the behaviour of Southern Right Whales and why they were considered
a character’s           to be so suitable for hunting.
behaviour, details of
a place, etc.).         Exercise 2
                        Here are the stems of instructions to a typical question you might be asked. Some
                        key words have been underlined for you.
                        a)	From paragraphs 1 and 2, give two facts that the writer gives …
                        b)	What made …
                        c)	By referring closely to paragraph 9, explain, using your own words, …
                        d)	Using your own words, explain what you learn about …
                        e)	Which word in paragraph 11 tells you …
                        f)	By referring to paragraphs 3 and 11 explain, using your own words …
                        7
1	 Active reading
                           g)	Re-read the passage and then, referring closely to the words and phrases used
                              by …
                           h)	Explain how the writer conveys to the reader …
                           i)	 Remember to use quotations from the passage in your answer.
                           j)	 Select four powerful words or phrases from each paragraph. Your choices should
                              include imagery. Explain how each word or phrase selected is used effectively in
                              the context.
                           1	 With a partner, discuss whether there are any other words that should also be
                              considered as key words, either in the list above or in any other questions that
                              you have seen.
                           2	 Once you have decided on the key words, try to decide exactly what they mean
                              and why they are important to answering the questions correctly.
                   Skim, scan and select
                          Now we can look at how the process of skimming and scanning works when reading
                          the passage ‘A Whale of a Time in Oz!’
                             Here is the question again, with the key words underlined:
                             Read carefully the passage ‘A Whale of a Time in Oz!’ and then summarise what it
                          tells us about the behaviour of Southern Right Whales and why they were considered
                          to be so suitable for hunting.
                          1 Skim the text.
                          You will notice that there is a title, followed by a smaller title (sub-heading). There
                          is also a photograph with a caption, and an extracted quote two-thirds of the way
                          through the article.
                             These all contain details which can be easily taken in when you first skim/scan
                          the page. They give you a quick, overall view of the subject of the text and the
                          writer’s attitude towards the subject. It is important that you make use of clues of
                          this sort when you set out to read the passage.
                          2 Scan the text.
                          Pick out details relevant to the question which you now have firmly fixed in your
                          mind.
                          3 Select the points you intend to use.
                          By scanning, you weed out those details which are not relevant to your purpose.
                          For this question you are being asked to identify facts about the whales and about
                          why they were hunted. It is important that you understand the distinction between
                          facts and opinions.
                          »	 Facts are objective details which can be supported by evidence.
                          »	 Opinions are subjective views held by the writer and cannot, therefore, be proved
                             as being either right or wrong.
                          Sometimes you may need to separate facts from opinions to show that you can
                          distinguish between them. Or you may simply have to identify one or the other.
                          Look again at the question. It asks only for factual details. You should, therefore,
                          include only those in your answer. Having a clear understanding of this difference
                          will make it easier to eliminate irrelevant opinions from your summary.
                             With these guidelines in mind, we will now look at the passage.
  8
1.4  Skimming and scanning – getting the gist
                      A Whale of a Time in Oz!
As you read             In search of the Southern Right Whale ‘down under’                                           The first few paragraphs
through the                                                                                                          set the scene. Although
third and fourth                                    Helen Highwater                                                  you will be taking the
paragraphs, it is                                                                                                    details in as useful
likely that you will  Southern Right Whale,                                                                          background information,
be asking yourself    Nullarbor Plain South                                                                          you will also be aware
questions such as     Australia                                                                                      that the Southern Right
‘What do these                                                                                                       Whale does not receive
details tell us       Getting there wasn’t easy. First                                                               a mention until the third
about the whales’     there was a 500 kilometre                                                                      paragraph. If you are
behaviour?’, ‘What    flight from Adelaide on a tiny                                                                 reading actively, you will
was it about their    plane shaped like a toothpaste                                                                 immediately notice this
behaviour which       tube. Then once we’d landed                                                                    and be alert for further
made them so easy     we met up with Gary White,                                                                     information which is
to hunt?’, and so     our expedition leader, and his                                                                 going to follow.
on.                   jeep. 200 kilometres along the
                      Eyre Highway we entered the treeless Nullarbor Plain, a semi-desert populated mainly by        As you move on through
                      Aboriginal people.                                                                             the passage, you will
                                                                                                                     find that it alternates
                      Our destination was the head of the Great Australian Bight, where we were to spend two         between giving facts
                      days watching whales. On the way Gary told us what we wanted to know:                          about the whales’
                                                                                                                     behaviour and details
                      ‘Sadly, over 25 000 whales had been killed before whaling ceased in 1930. By this time         about the scenery, and
                      Southern Right Whales were virtually extinct. They were known as “Right” whales because        the writer’s personal
                      they were right for hunting in small land-based boats. They came close inshore, floated        response to seeing the
                      when killed, and had thick blubber, which produced the valuable whale oil when it was          whales as they frolic in
                      boiled down. This meant that the poor whales were hunted down in vast numbers by               the water. The details
                      money-making shipowners.’                                                                      of the scenery and
                                                                                                                     the writer’s opinions
                      ‘Right Whales feed on small creatures at or near the surface, gently swimming along with       may make the passage
                      their mouths half open, allowing the sea water to flow in. The water is pushed back out        interesting but you
                      with their tongues, leaving the food behind. Thankfully, they are now a protected species      should be skimming
                      and numbers have risen to nearly 800.’                                                         over them as they are
                                                                                                                     not details specifically
                      This was a dismal tale but it had a happy ending – the whales were now safe from               connected to the
                      murderous whale hunters.                                                                       questions which you are
                                                                                                                     asking yourself.
                      Two hours before sunset we arrived at our destination. The crumbling limestone cliffs
                      dropped sheer into the deep blue of the bay. It was August, the height of the whales’
                      breeding season. Every three years the whales come from their home waters in the Antarctic
                      to their Australian breeding grounds. Mature females weigh 80 tonnes. The females do not
                      eat at all until they return to the Antarctic. By this time they will have lost 20 tonnes in
                      weight.
                      As the sun began to set behind us we looked out, but saw . . . nothing. Then boom! Right in
                      front of us the sea erupted as a huge whale burst from the surface, thrusting its body out of
                      the water and smashing down with a noise like a cannon firing. Again and again it surged
                      from the sea, a majestic and thrilling sight.
                      After a meal under the stars we talked some more. Gary told us that large numbers of
                      female whales and their calves had been in the bay the previous week. The calves are six
                      metres long at birth and they grow to three times that length.
                                                                                                                     9
1	 Active reading
                       ‘This was Nature at its finest, awesome and strangely moving.’
                       Our final day began early. We packed up our camp, walked to the cliff edge and were
                       amazed! I counted 24 whales. Swimming parallel to the shore, very close in, was a long
                       procession of mothers and their calves. They floated past on the surface. Some swam side
                       by side, others lazily rolled over each other as they moved slowly along. They were
                       enormous. As they expelled the air from their blow-holes, great spouts of misty waters shot
                       upwards. This was Nature at its finest, awesome and strangely moving. We were silent
                       watchers of a primeval, wonderful sight. How can people hunt such beautiful and truly
                       amazing creatures?
                       All too soon we had to go. In October the whales would return home too, home to the
                       Antarctic. We said little. We’d been stunned by the size of Australia, climbed Ayers Rock
                       and followed the tourist trail. These would become distant memories, but our two days
                       whale-watching would remain alive in our hearts for ever.
                      In general, the language in which the passage is written is not difficult to understand and can be read quite easily by
                      an average student. The vocabulary, for the most part, does not consist of long and complicated words. However, in
                      the last-but-one paragraph the writer uses some more complicated sentences.
                      Here, both the sentence structures and the vocabulary are more complicated. It is a good idea to slow down your
                      skim reading at this point and stop to consider exactly what the words mean. Do these sentences contain information
                      relevant to the question? If they do, then you need to think about how best to put the information into your own
                      words to show a reader that you have understood. (Lifting the sentences as they stand and transferring them directly
                      into your answer will be a sure sign that you do not understand them!)
                      Even if your understanding of the vocabulary used in these sentences is not entirely secure, your awareness of what
                      the question is actually requiring you to look for should convince you that these are references to the writer’s feelings
                      or opinions. They do not have a great deal to do with the whales themselves, apart from telling us how impressive
                      they are, which is a point made elsewhere in the passage anyway. You can safely pass over them and continue to read
                      the passage. It will not then take you long to finish, as the remaining sentences may be of general interest in helping
                      us to understand the writer’s feelings but are not relevant to the material for which you are searching.
                      Exercise 3
                      1	 Once you have read through the passage carefully, make numbered notes under
                         the following headings: ‘The behaviour of Southern Right Whales’ and ‘Why
                         Southern Right Whales were suitable for hunting’. Try to use your own words as
                         much as possible.
                      2	 Now make a further list of points under the heading of ‘What the writer felt
                         about her experience of visiting Australia and of watching the whales’.
Key term              As you can see from this example, selection of relevant details in your reading of a
                      passage is vitally important to working under examination conditions. You must
Distractors:          have a clear idea of what you are looking for and then focus on finding it and
Information           ignoring irrelevant comment or detail (which teachers refer to as distractors).
and details in a
comprehension           The more swiftly you can select the facts and opinions that you actually need to
passage which,        answer the questions, the more time you will have for expressing your understanding
although interesting  of them as clearly as you can. Writing your answer will be dealt with in more detail
in themselves,        in Units 2 and 3.
are not relevant
to answering any        The reading you will be required to do in an examination will not always consist
of the questions      of non-fiction, factual material. Sometimes it will involve an extract from a short
and should not be     story or novel.
included in your
answers.
10
1.5  Practise your active reading skills
                       Remember
                       Concentration and alertness help to make you a good reader. The more you practise your reading
                       skills, the better your understanding of the passages is likely to be.
Key terms              1.5  Practise your active reading skills
Informative writing:   Here are two examples of the different types of reading passages you may be given
A type of non-fiction  in an examination. Practise reading through them and see how easily you can grasp
writing that gives     their meaning.
factual information
about something.       Informative writing
Examples of
informational          The extract on page 12 is a straightforward piece of informative writing.
writing can be found
in newspapers and      »	 Its intention is to explain something to you, and when you are reading it you are
reference books.          likely to be scanning it for useful facts and details.
Topic sentence:
The sentence           »	 Unlike the passage about spotting whales in Australia, it does not contain any
in a paragraph            photographs or sub-headings which may help to convey the writer’s meaning. You
that sums up the          will, therefore, need to think carefully about the meaning as you read through it.
main idea of the          Try to identify the main points of the writer’s argument and separate them from
paragraph. It is          the examples he gives to illustrate them.
often, but not
always, the opening     Study tip
sentence of that        A useful tip when reading this type of writing is to assume that each new paragraph deals with an
paragraph.              important new point. If you can identify the topic sentence in each paragraph, you will have found
                        a good ‘hook’ on which to hang your understanding.
Remember                For example, in the third paragraph of this passage the opening sentence is clearly the topic
                        sentence as it states the main point of the paragraph, and then the following sentences develop
When skimming           this point. Spotting the topic sentences helps you to keep a tight control of your understanding of
and scanning the        a writer’s argument.
passages, try to
identify the main      Points to consider:
points of their
content and to         »	 Skim through the passage and make a note of the opening words of each
keep these clearly        paragraph – do these give a clear pointer to what each paragraph is about? Is the
in mind when              opening sentence of a paragraph in this article always the topic sentence?
answering the
questions.             »	 Have you noticed any words that the writer uses whose meaning you are not sure
                          of? Make a note of these words, but don’t worry about them.
                       »	 Now look at the closing sentences of paragraphs 2, 3 and 4; in what way do these
                          relate to and clarify the introductory point being made in the first paragraph?
                       »	 Now that you’ve thought about the overall structure of the writer’s argument, read
                          through the whole passage carefully and, while doing so, try to make sense of any
                          words whose meaning you are not sure of by using clues from their context.
                       11
1	 Active reading
 Voice Across the Sea
    Man is, pre-eminently,
    the animal who
    communicates, but
    until little more than a
 5 hundred years ago his
    thoughts could travel
    abroad no more swiftly
    than the sailing ship or
    the running horse.
 10 The great change
    began when lightning
    itself became a
    messenger for
    mankind. At first, the
 15 electric telegraph was
    regarded as a
    superfluous novelty, but within a single lifetime engineers had spun a cocoon of copper
    wires around the world. In 1886 was laid the first successful Atlantic cable. From that
    moment, Europe and America were only seconds, and no longer days, apart. However, even
 20 when the telephone was invented in 1876 it was not possible to speak across the Atlantic;
    the early submarine cables could carry only telegraph messages. They were too sluggish to
    respond to the hundredfold-more-rapid vibrations of the human voice. Although a
    transatlantic telephone service was opened in 1927, it depended entirely on radio, which
    meant that even at the best of times conversations were liable to fadings and cracklings, and
 25 to eerie, Outer Space whistles and wails.
    The first transatlantic telephone cable went into service in 1956. As a result of the vastly
    improved service, there was an immediate jump in the number of calls between Europe and
    America. More cables had to be laid – first across the Atlantic and later across the still wider
    expanses of the Pacific.
 30 By the dawn of the Space Age, therefore, the problem of inter-continental telephone calls
    had been solved – but it had been solved so successfully that it had raised yet more
    problems. The cables could carry only a limited number of conversations, and it seemed
    unlikely that they could keep up with the rising demand. Moreover, just as the Victorian
    cables could not cope with the telephone, so the submarine cables of the 1950s were
 35 unable to deal with the latest miracle, television – and for very similar reasons. The electric
    signals involved in the transmission of TV pictures were a thousand times too complex to be
    handled by a cable. A new breakthrough was needed and the satellites provided it in the nick
    of time.
                                                                           Source: from Voice Across the Sea by Arthur C. Clarke, Harper and Row, 1958
 12
1.5  Practise your active reading skills
                       Exercise 4
                       1	 Using your own words, explain what the text means by:
                          •	 ‘Man is, pre-eminently, the animal who communicates’ (lines 1–3)
                          •	 ‘the electric telegraph was regarded as a superfluous novelty’ (lines 15–17)
                          •	 ‘a cocoon of copper wires around the world’ (lines 17–18)
                       2	 From paragraph 2, using your own words explain why it was not possible to use
                          the early ‘submarine cables’ for telephone calls across the Atlantic.
                       3	 Using your own words explain what the ‘yet more problems’ mentioned in
                          paragraph 4 were and say what solved them.
Key terms              Newspaper article
Graphics/graphical     The passage below is taken from a newspaper article. It contains some graphical
features: Graphics     and layout features which are typical of this type of writing. When you practise
are diagrams and       reading this article, focus on trying to get a clear picture of what actually happened
other visual images    to Tony Bullimore. In order to make the article more immediate and dramatic, the
which help to clarify  writer has not described the events in a strictly logical sequence.
the meaning of what
has been written in    Exercise 5
an article.
Layout: The layout     1	 Look at the article ‘Thank God … it’s a miracle’. What can you infer from the
of an article means       headline, the sub-headings and the graphics?
the way writing and/
or pictures are set    2	 Now skim each section of the article and its sub-heading: what do you learn
out on a page.            about what happened to Tony Bullimore and about the man himself?
                       Before you start to read the passage carefully, think about any details which seem
                       to be unclear and try to make sense of these as you read in order to understand the
                       sequence of events as well as you can.
‘THANK GOD … IT’S A MIRACLE’
 The thud of a fist and Briton is saved from cruel seas
  Report by Ian Burrell
             The rescue
   It was the thud of a fist on
   the hull of Tony Bullimore’s
   overturned yacht that told him he
   was not going to die.
5 The British yachtsman had
   spent four days and four nights in
   an air-pocket inside his capsized
   yacht, praying that he would be
   saved. ‘I started shouting, “I’m
10 coming, I’m coming”,’ he said. ‘It
   took a few seconds to get from
                                                         13
1	 Active reading
one end of the boat to the other.         ‘Two-thirds of the hull filled 80 ‘This chap is not an ordinary
Then I took a few deep breaths            with water. There was a hole in      person, like you or me,’ said
and I dived out.’                         the bottom of the hull, in fact      a clinical psychologist, Eileen
15 It was the culmination of one 50 really at the top, where one of            Kennedy.
of the most dramatic sea rescues the windows had come out. This                ‘The kind of person who
of all time. Mr Bullimore had             caused water to be sucked in and 85 takes part in a solo yacht race
been stranded more than 2,400             out at a colossal rate, causing a    welcomes challenge and risk.’
km from the Australian coast              kind of Niagara Falls, but upside    The survivor
20 and 1,500 km from Antarctica. 55 down.
The key to Tony Bullimore’s                  ‘This chap is not an              The yachtsman said that
incredible feat of endurance              ordinary person like you             during the ‘horrific, traumatic
was an ability to remain calm                                                  experience’ he was ‘hanging on
and methodical in his thinking             or me.’                             90 in there and believing something
25 despite the most appalling         60     ‘I had to find myself a spot as      would happen and just fighting.’
  circumstances.                      65  high up as possible and put nets           Through four days of darkness
                                      70  around it so that I could crawl in
             The ordeal               75  there and lash myself in to get out     and solitude, he depended on
                                          of the water and to get away from       ‘sheer determination, a little
  Trapped in darkness, with               everything.’                         95 water, a little chocolate’ to
  freezing waters lapping at his                                                  sustain him.
  feet and buffeted by 20m waves,            Dr Howard Oakley, of the
30 he will have known only too well       Institute of Naval Medicine, said                ‘It was just
  that he was more than 1,600 km          keeping a clear head and a sense          determination, a little
  from the nearest land.                  of order were vital. Once he had         water, a little chocolate
                                          decided to stay with the yacht,          … hanging on in there.’
      Faced with the danger of being      Mr Bullimore’s priorities were
  dragged down with the boat,             to activate the distress beacon            But even Mr Bullimore was at
35 most people would have been            transmitter and to ensure he            his endurance limit.
  tempted to try and jump clear.          was getting enough air. Perched
                                          in a makeshift hammock, Mr                 ‘I only just made it. Because
      Mr Bullimore’s sense of calm,       Bullimore was alone with his         100 of weather conditions, I was
  developed from years of solo            thoughts, with nothing visible
  yachting, taught him otherwise.         to focus on. This is the kind           deteriorating at a reasonable
40 He stayed with the yacht and           of situation that makes people          rate,’ he said. ‘When I knew that
  quickly took stock of the few           motion sick.                            the rescue was actually going to
  straws available for him to cling                                               happen, I felt ecstatic.’
  on to.                                     Yet the discomfort of sea-
                                          sickness could not break Mr                                      Source: adapted from 
      Yesterday he described the          Bullimore’s remarkable spirit.                                 The Independent, 1998 
45 horrific conditions that he had
  endured.
14
1.5  Practise your active reading skills
Exercise 6
Answer the following questions about the text:
1	Give two facts about the ordeal undergone by Tony Bullimore.
2	 Using your own words, explain what the text means by:
   a)	‘the culmination of one of the most dramatic sea rescues of all time’ (lines
      15–17)
   b)	‘incredible feat of endurance’ (line 22)
   c)	’quickly took stock of the few straws available for him to cling on to’ (lines
      41–43)
3	 Re-read lines 56–79 (‘I had to find … remarkable spirit.’). State three things
   Tony Bullimore did to keep himself alive.
4	 Re-read the section with the sub-heading ‘The survivor’. Identify two phrases
   that indicate Tony Bullimore’s state of mind at the end of his ordeal.
5	 Using your own words, explain how the article shows that Tony Bullimore was
   ‘not an ordinary person like you or me’.
Unit summary
In this unit you have reviewed the objectives:
•	 demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings
•	 demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings and attitudes
•	 select and use information for specific purposes.
•	 organise and structure ideas and opinions for deliberate effect
•	 use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures appropriate to context
•	 make accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar.
                                                                                                                                               15
2	  Reading comprehension:
     short-answer questions
      In this unit you will: 
      H	 demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings
      H	 demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings and attitudes
      H	 select and use information for specific purposes
      H	 organise and structure ideas and opinions for deliberate effect
      H	 use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures appropriate to context
      H	 make accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar.
      This unit will focus on the following skills:
      Reading
      H	 demonstrate understanding of written texts, and of the words and phrases
         within them
      H	 summarise and use material for a specific context
      H	 select appropriate information for specific purposes.
      Writing
      H	 organise and convey facts, ideas and opinions effectively
      H	 demonstrate a varied vocabulary appropriate to the context
      H	 demonstrate accuracy in spelling, punctuation and grammar.
16
Introduction
                      Introduction
                      What are short-answer questions?
                      Short-answer questions are straightforward and test your understanding of a passage
                      that you have read. They require brief, factual answers to show that you have
                      understood a particular piece of information in the text. You should try to express
                      your answers in your own words.
Remember              2.1	 Applying your skills
You may have to       You might be asked to show an understanding of the passages printed for you to
refer to more than    read. Although different papers use different types of questions to do this, success
one part of the       depends very much on the care and concentration with which you read.
passage to provide a
complete answer.        It is a good idea to keep the following points in mind when you set about
                      preparing to answer questions:
                      »	 You have plenty of time to read the passages carefully; don’t rush into writing
                         your answers until you have gained a clear understanding of what you have been
                         asked to read.
                      »	 Remember that a clear understanding of the questions is as important as reading
                         the passages. This will help to ensure that you are in the best position to select
                         the details that are relevant to the question you are answering.
                      »	 Read each passage through carefully from beginning to end in order to gain
                         a general, overall understanding of it: it is important that you gain a sound
                         overview of what it is about.
                      »	 Once you have achieved both an overview of the passage and a clear
                         understanding of what the questions require, then look closely at the relevant
                         sections of the passage on which the questions are based. It may help to
                         underline or highlight key points in the text so that you can easily find them
                         when writing your answers.
                      »	 The next step is to produce your written answers to the questions. Remember: it
                         is important that what you write makes clear that you have understood exactly
                         what the question requires. A reader can judge your understanding only by what
                         you have written: don’t leave out points which may seem obvious if they are
                         relevant; if you don’t include a point, you cannot be given credit for knowing it.
                      »	 Make sure that the details you include in your answers are relevant to the
                         question.
                      »	 Write your answers clearly, without irrelevant comments.
                      »	 Use your own words as far as possible to demonstrate your understanding. If you
                         are asked to explain the meaning of a word such as exciting remember that an
                         answer which says ‘something that makes you feel excited’ will not be sufficient,
                         as you need to use a word such as thrilling to show your understanding.
                      The paragraphs above give advice on how to approach answering comprehension
                      questions. In order to gain a further understanding of this process, here is a practice
                      task that you should do with a partner.
                        In pairs, read the passage on page 18 about the Batu Caves in Malaysia. When you
                      have done this, follow the instructions that are printed at the end of the passage.
                                    17
2	 Reading comprehension: short-answer questions
    The Batu Caves in Malaysia
    A Beautiful Attraction Just Minutes from Kuala Lumpur
    By Gregory Rodgers
    The Batu Caves in Malaysia are one of the most
    important Hindu religious sites outside of India
    and are a must-see once you tire of shopping and
    wandering round Kuala Lumpur.
    Just 13 short kilometres north of the city, the Batu
    Caves are just one of the many interesting things to
    do around Kuala Lumpur. The caves attract around
    5000 visitors a day who come to climb the gruelling
    272 steps up to the caverns. The Batu Caves are a
    focal point for Hindu Malaysians: they house a
    113-year-old temple, along with an interesting
    array of Hindu artwork and shrines.
    Every year during the Hindu festival of Thaipusam,        Just across an attractive set of bridges, the Art Gallery
    the Batu Caves attract more than a million devotees       cave contains Hindu carvings and wall paintings
    and spectators. The eight-hour procession of music        that depict tales of Lord Murugan and other Hindu
    and ceremony leaves offerings before a giant statue       legends; expect to pay a small fee to enter.
    of Lord Murugan, the Hindu God of War.
                                                              While most tourists come to visit only the caves, the
    Approaching the caves, the first thing you notice is      limestone hills and crags in the surrounding area
    a towering golden statue of Lord Murugan. Erected         offer some of the best rock climbing in Southeast
    in 2006, this statue is the largest in the world          Asia. Around 170 bolted routes present great climbing
    dedicated to the deity and stands guard to the 272        challenges for sport climbers. The routes, rated from
    leg-burning steps that lead up to the cave entrances.     5A to 8A+, have something to offer for climbers of
    As you make your way up the steps, you will               all skill levels. For less technical climbers, there are
    undoubtedly be entertained by a tribe of monkeys          many opportunities for hiking, scrambling, and
    that feed off the steady stream of tourists. You may      bouldering in the area.
    take pictures, but pay attention to your belongings!
                                                              Expect to be entertained and possibly even harassed
    Resting points along the stairs provide nice views of     by a horde of Macaque monkeys that call the area
    the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur.                              home. The monkeys make great subjects for photos,
                                                              but inevitably end up stealing from and even biting
    Batu Caves’ jagged limestone hillside is home to          the occasional tourist. Monkey bites can be serious;
    three main caverns. The largest and most popular          immediately drop anything that they grab on to such
    is known as Temple Cave, which has a ceiling over         as a backpack or water bottle. The monkeys consider
    90 m high. Inside the lit cave you will find various      tug-of-war to be a challenge and may bite your hand
    Hindu shrines and ornate depictions bringing              before they let go!
    legends to life.
                                                              The Batu Caves are located in the Gombak district, a
    The entrance below Temple Cave is known as Dark           northern suburb of Kuala Lumpur just 13 km from
    Cave; this is the wildest of the three caves. The         the city centre.
    2000 m underground stretch harbours brilliant
    limestone formations and is home to many species                     Source: www.tripsavvy.com/the-batu-caves-in-malaysia-1629532
    of cave animals including the endangered Trapdoor
    Spider.
    The Dark Cave can only be explored by booking a
    special caving tour in advance. The tours require a fair
    level of physical fitness as some crawling is required;
    it is advisable to bring a change of clothes.
18
2.3  How to approach short-answer comprehension questions
Key term             Exercise 1
Interpret: This      1	 With a partner, divide the passage into two sections (for example, paragraphs
means to look           1–6 and 7–12).
beyond the literal
meaning of a word    2	 One member of the pair should then write five or six comprehension questions
or phrase and           on the first section while the other writes a similar number of questions on the
attempt to explain      second section. Do not discuss your questions while you are writing them.
what the writer is
implying by the use  3	 When both sets of questions are written, swap them with each other and write
of these words.         answers to the questions you have been given.
   Note              4	 When you have finished writing your answers, hand them to your partner for
                        marking.
You should
become familiar      5	 Once the answers have been marked, discuss why they are right, wrong or not
with responding         decided. When doing this, it is important not only to discuss the answers but
to a range of           also the wording of the questions; in particular you should consider how clearly
questions of this       the way the questions were phrased led to the answers that the question setter
type.                   was hoping to be given.
                     2.2  Types of questions
                     Texts which might be used to test your comprehension skills will be:
                     »	 factual (an article giving information, such as the one about the Batu Caves above)
                     »	 narrative (a passage telling a story or part of a story – this could be a true
                        account such as an account of a visit to somewhere taken from a travel book)
                     »	 descriptive (a piece of writing describing a person, place or object which may
                        include the writer’s feelings about what (s)he is describing)
                     »	 argumentative writing (an article in which the writer puts forward a point of view
                        or belief in an attempt to provoke her/his readers to agree – or disagree).
                     The types of questions you could be asked are likely to vary, depending on the type
                     of passage.
                       More straightforward questions often require only short, one- or two-sentence
                     answers. It is likely that the questions will follow the order of the original passage
                     – that is, the answers to the earlier questions will be found in the first part of the
                     passage, and so on.
                       You might also be required to find factual details from the passage. More
                     demanding questions may ask you to interpret some of the points included in the
                     passage to arrive at your answer.
                       Comprehension of a text often doesn’t have a right or wrong answer; what is
                     important is that you give evidence that you have understood the details of the
                     passage and can apply this to produce a consistent interpretation of the question.
                     This is particularly important if you are asked to write in character for a directed
                     writing response.
                     2.3  How to approach short-answer
                          comprehension questions
                     In this section we are going to look at some techniques that are specific to short-
                     answer comprehension questions.
                       The example that follows consists of a reading passage and a series of short-
                     answer questions to test your understanding of it.
                                                                                                                                                                     19
2	 Reading comprehension: short-answer questions
Remember                Short-answer questions require brief, factual answers to show that you have
                      understood a particular piece of information in the text. You should try to express
Reading tasks         your answers in your own words.
require a careful
reading of the          The way in which a question is worded will give you some indication of the
questions as well as  approach you should take in your answer. For example:
of the passage.       »	 Questions which contain instructions such as Give two reasons require
                         straightforward retrieval of details from the passage. Remember that you should
                         provide two distinct reasons and not just two aspects of the same reason!
                      »	 Questions which ask you to Explain something, such as the writer’s opinions,
                         require you not only to say what the opinions are, but also to make some
                         comment about them in your own words.
                      »	 Questions which begin Why do you think the writer uses certain words or
                         expressions (for example), require you to interpret and explain the writer’s
                         intentions in choosing these words. There are no specific right or wrong answers
                         to these questions – remember to justify your opinion.
                      »	 Questions which contain an instruction to use your own words require you not to
                         copy words or phrases directly from the original passage in your answer, but to
                         substitute other words to make clear that you have understood the words the
                         writer has used. It is particularly important if the question asks you to give the
                         meaning of words used in the original passage that you don’t use the same word
                         (or a derivative of it) in your definition!
                      Example – answering short-answer comprehension
                      questions
                      Look at the questions below before reading the text. The questions should help you
                      to understand the passage better when you read it more carefully.
                      Exercise 2
                      Remember that reading tasks require a careful reading of the questions as well as
                      of the passage. For example:
                      1	 Scan the passage: where do you learn in what country the episode being
                         described takes place?
                      2	 Why is the writer there and what activity is he engaged in? Where is he staying?
                      3	 Are there any words, especially names of animals, with which you are unfamiliar?
                         Make a mental note of these but don’t worry about them. How do the
                         accompanying pictures help you to understand the passage more clearly?
                      4	 Skim read the questions – make a mental note of those that require
                         straightforward retrieval of facts from the passage. Which questions carry more
                         than 1 mark? Which questions tell you to use your own words?
                      Read the passage, ‘The Lost Lagoon’, which is an account of a visit to the Esteros
                      del Iberá in the north-east of Argentina, and then answer the questions that follow.
20
2.3  How to approach short-answer comprehension questions
The Lost Lagoon Philip Smith
Yellow and black, it was hiding among the        bright red head feathers, as if it had been      Due to their relatively small size, the
sun-bleached branches at the water’s edge.       dunked headfirst in a pot of Day-Glo paint.      yacaré are generally not considered to
Our boat nudged closer to the island. I lifted   The birds barely noticed us; it was hard not     be fatally dangerous to humans.
my camera and pulled the creature’s beady        to trip over them as we rolled our luggage
eyes into focus. Then, in a quarter of a         through the freshly cut grass. Later, at         then there were the birds. Almost 400
second, measured by the camera’s rapid           breakfast, I turned to see a pair of             species call these marshes home. Some are
frame-burst, the anaconda snapped open its       hummingbirds on the veranda. They would          difficult to miss, such as the chaja, that
jaws, sprang forward, and hissed in my           return every morning.                            resembles an ugly turkey and emits a
face. In the Esteros del Iberá, I learned, it’s                                                   gurgling scream. Others take a little
hard to avoid getting up close and personal      We were staying in the small town of             searching out: kingfishers, heron, ibis and
with nature.                                     Colonia Carlos Pellegrini, an ideal base for     eagles.
                                                 exploring the Esteros. The posada was built
Our guide, Maximo, was smiling. There            in 1997, and in recent years a number of         The lagoon system is so vast we rarely saw
was no danger, he told me. Anacondas             other lodges that share its emphasis on          another boat. The wildlife here works in
aren’t poisonous – they squeeze their            conservation and tradition have opened           shifts, so when the daytime gang clocks off,
victims to death. I can’t have looked            nearby. But none has such a privileged           many rarer creatures show their faces. Back
convinced because he quickly edged the           position, right on the water.                    among the water lilies where we had spent
boat away from the bank, and soon we were                                                         our first afternoon, we continued our search
threading our way through the streams and        Walking to the small jetty, it was difficult to  for the elusive marsh deer. Here the islands
inlets that weave an unknowable pattern          see where the posada’s four acres of             had rearranged themselves so extravagantly
through the embalsados – hundreds of             gardens ended and the water began, so            that, for the first time, even Maximo looked
floating islands which bump and skitter          dense was the covering of aguape and             a little confused. As dusk turned to night
across the surface of this vast lagoon           irupé: water hyacinths and lilies. As            and the darkness became inky black, he
system, in a kind of slow-motion game of         Maximo readied the boat, he told us that         flicked on a powerful torch.
dodgems.                                         these plants spread so quickly he has to
                                                 clear a new path through the water each          There was a movement in the reeds. We
The Esteros del Iberá is the least known of      morning.                                         edged closer. The torch picked out a pair of
Argentina’s natural wonders. Its 63 lagoons                                                       eyes. And then, finally, there it was. A
are spread across an area the size of Wales      We pushed away from the jetty, thrilled by a     marsh deer standing glorious in the
and mark the former course of the Paraná         glimpse of a basking yacaré. Soon,               landscape, the furry tufts of its ears lit up
River. In these vast wetlands an improbably      sightings of this South American alligator       by the tungsten glow of the torch. It turned
rich ecosystem thrives, but until recently it    would prompt little more than a nod of           its gaze towards us for a moment and then,
received only a passing mention in many          recognition. It seemed that every few            with a twitch of the nose, disappeared into
guidebooks. Only now, with a flurry of           metres you could spot a leathery snout and       the darkness. It had been worth the wait.
low-rise, eco-friendly development, is the       pair of prehistoric yellow eyes poking
Esteros finally opening up to tourism.           through the water.                               Source: adapted from the Guardian,
                                                                                                  29 November 2008
To reach the Esteros from Buenos Aires we        The yacaré feast on the local fish. Fat and
took an overnight coach to the dusty town        happy, they pose little threat to humans.
of Mercedes. After a further hour’s journey      And some say it’s OK to swim, as long as
in a 4×4 truck down the dirt track otherwise     you don’t mind the odd nibble from the
known as ‘provincial route 40’ and as a red      palometas, a type of piranha found in these
sun crawled over the horizon, we                 parts. I decided that any swimming would
approached the makeshift bridge which            be confined strictly to the hotel pool.
serves as a gateway to the Laguna Iberá.
Iberá means ‘bright water’ in Guarani, and       When the Esteros became a natural reserve
as we rattled over the bridge, the               in 1983, hunting was banned and
surroundings fell away as if we were driving     indigenous Guaranis like Maximo retrained
across a gleaming ocean.                         as guides. Each day we explored a secluded
                                                 new site offering an uncanny array of river
The sweeping lawns of the Posada de la           otters, bizarre spiders, carpinchos, yacarés,
Laguna were dotted with a selection of           snakes, butterflies and howler monkeys. We
multicoloured birds. One had a shock of          would hear rumours of a beautiful rare deer
                                                 that constantly seemed to elude us. And
                                                                                                  21
2	 Reading comprehension: short-answer questions
                          Now answer the questions below using your own words wherever possible. Once
                          you have written your answers and not before, read through the commentary that
                          follows and which contains guidance as to what your answers should be.
               Exercise 3
                           1	 From paragraphs 1 and 2, give two facts that the writer gives about the
                              anaconda.
                           2	 What made the lodge in Colonia Carlos Pellegrini, in which the writer stayed,
                              different from other lodges in the region?
                           3	 By referring closely to paragraph 9, explain, using your own words, what the
                              writer says about swimming in the Esteros.
                           4	 Using your own words, explain what you learn about the life of Maximo from
                              paragraph 10.
                           5	 Which word in paragraph 11 tells you that the marsh deer was difficult to find?
                           6	 By referring to paragraphs 3 and 11:
                              (a)	 Give two reasons why the writer says that the Esteros del Iberá is ‘the least
                                    known of Agentina’s natural wonders’.
                              (b)	 Explain, using your own words, what the Esteros del Iberá is and how it
                                    was formed.
                              (c)	 Why do you think Maximo looked confused while searching for the marsh
                                    deer?
                           7	 Explain, using your own words, what the writer means by the words in
                              underlined in three of the following phrases:
                              (a)	 ‘hundreds of floating islands which bump and skitter across the surface’
                              (b)	 ‘One had a shock of bright red head feathers, as if it had been dunked
                                    headfirst in a pot of Day-Glo paint.’
                              (c)	 ‘a secluded new site offering an uncanny array of river otters, bizarre
                                    spiders, carpinchos, yacarés, snakes, butterflies and howler monkeys’
                              (d)	 ‘The wildlife here works in shifts, so when the daytime gang clocks off,
                                    many rarer creatures show their faces.’
                           8	 Explain how the words and language used by the writer in each of the phrases
                              you have chosen help to suggest the particular fascination of the Esteros region
                              and the creatures that live there.
                   Exercise 3: Guidance on the questions
                          1	 This is a question requiring straightforward interpretation and you are told exactly
                             where to find the answer so you won’t need to include information from anywhere
                             else. A correct answer would be something similar to: ‘Anacondas have “beady
                             eyes”; they are not poisonous; they squeeze their victims to death’. Note: Saying
                             that anacondas are snakes would not be correct as this fact is not mentioned in
                             the first two paragraphs. As is often the case in a structured question paper, this
                             first question is a ‘settling in’ question.
                          2	 Again, this is a straightforward question; the answer is that the lodge is the only
                             one in the region that is on the water’s edge.
                          3	 This question requires simple interpretation, although you need to reword the
                             original statement to demonstrate your understanding. A good answer would
                             contain the following details:
                             •	 The writer is not fully convinced that the creatures living in the water would
                                not do him any harm.
 22
2.3  How to approach short-answer comprehension questions
   •	 He would much prefer to swim in the safety of the lodge’s swimming pool.
4	 Notice that this question is clearly focused on the life of Maximo and is,
   therefore, testing specifically your understanding of not just what he does,
   but also what the word ‘indigenous’ tells you about him. A good answer would
   contain the following points:
   •	 He is a native/original inhabitant of the area.
   •	 After the Esteros became a natural reserve in the 1980s, he trained as a guide
      for visitors.
5	 This is a straightforward question requiring you to identify the single word
   ‘elusive’. It is important that you quote only the actual word and not the whole
   sentence which contains it (unless you make it clear by underlining which word
   you have chosen).
6	 This is a straightforward question requiring you to explain some details from the
   passage in your own words.
   (a)	The Esteros consists of 63 lagoons. It covers a very large area of land.
   (b)	 It was originally part of the Paraná River, which has now changed its course
       but has left the lagoons behind.
   (c)	 The islands in the Esteros are floating vegetation and are in continual
       movement which makes navigation difficult.
7	 This question requires some response to the language the writer uses. It is likely
   that marks will be awarded both for your explanation of the meaning of the
   underlined words and also for an explanation of how the writer’s choice of words/
   imagery in the whole phrase helps to convey the fascination of the region and the
   creatures that inhabit it. For example:
   (a)	 The word skitter means to skim or glide across a surface (in this case, water).
       The choice of the verbs bump and skitter, with their associations with
       fairground rides, suggests the unpredictability and frequency with which the
       islands are changing shape and position.
   (b)	 The word dunked means to dip something into a liquid (such as a biscuit
       into a cup of tea). The choice of the word dunked suggests something done
       without a great deal of care and effectively conveys the almost haphazard
       arrangement of the brightly coloured feathers in the bird’s crest. The reference
       to Day-Glo paint also suggests a cartoon-like quality of the brightly coloured
       bird.
   (c)	 The word bizarre means unusual, freakish and incongruous. The choice of the
       words uncanny and bizarre suggests that the creatures living in the region
       are unlike anything found anywhere else on Earth, and that they are highly
       unusual and unexpected. Also, these creatures are found in a secluded area
       which their appearance contrasts with and so emphasises their unusual
       appearance. The use of the word array suggests that they are deliberately
       putting themselves on show for the visitors.
   (d)	 The phrase in shifts means that each member of the wildlife in the region
       has its own scheduled period when it performs in front of the visitors. The
       comparison of the wildlife to the workforce in a factory gives the creatures
       human characteristics. It suggests that their lives are organised into a
       carefully planned pattern of appearances so that the most persistent of
       visitors are rewarded with an entertaining variety show.
                                                                                                                                                23
2	 Reading comprehension: short-answer questions
              2.4  Practise answering reading
                   comprehension questions
                        In this section you will practise your comprehension skills by looking at one of each
                        of these text types:
                        »	factual
                        »	narrative
                        »	 descriptive or
                        »	 argumentative writing.
                 Factual text
                        You will probably find the following extract easier to understand than some of the
                        more informative writing you have already looked at. Be careful, therefore, that you
                        do not fall into the trap of reading it passively. It is important that you continue to
                        concentrate on extracting the meaning as fully as possible.
                           With this type of writing you are looking to:
                        »	 identify relevant facts
                        »	 indicate an understanding of the motives and personalities of the characters
                           described.
                        Think about this as you answer the questions which follow the passage.
                           The passage that follows gives information about an exotic bird, the cock-of-the-
                        rock, that is native to Peru.
                           Before reading the passage carefully in order to answer the questions that follow
                        it, scan the passage and make notes of the facts the writer gives about the birds
                        themselves and what he says about his feelings about his experience.
                           The numbers in the text give some indication of where the answers can be found.
Cock-of-the-rock
Stephen Moss                            Cocks-of-the-rock (note the pedantic   scientific research and runs wildlife
                                        plural) (2) are very striking birds    tours in Manu. Having driven across
Our guide unlocked the wooden           indeed. About the size of a collared   the Andes from Cuzco just the day
door. “Here” he announced to his        dove, though much plumper, they        before, this was our first experience
still sleepy audience “are the keys to  sport a prominent crest, which they    of this incredible place.
paradise.” (1) José Antonio has         use to intimidate their fellow males,
probably used this line before, but     and attract females, in the avian      We were just in time: even as our
none of us was complaining. For as      equivalent of the red deer rut.        eyes became accustomed to the
dawn broke over the Manu cloud                                                 darkness (4) we could hear a series of
forest, in the heart of Peru, we were   But their most obvious feature is      harsh squeals and grunts echoing
assembling on a wooden platform         their incredible colour: luminous      from the foliage. Moments later, the
perched on the edge of the              orange on the head and body, with      first cock (these were all male birds)
mountainside. We had come to see        black wings and a pearl-grey back,     melted out of the gloom, as if
one of the greatest bird spectacles in  making them look like a tricolored     someone had switched on a very
the world: the courtship display of     rugby ball (3).                        bright light.
the Andean cock-of-the-rock
(Rupicola peruvianus).                  I was in Peru with the Crees           Within seconds, a second and a third
                                        Foundation, which carries out          appeared; then more, until by the
24
2.4  Practise answering reading comprehension questions
time the display was over, some         wrapped in feathers it appeared       language of neighbouring Brazil,
twenty minutes later, at least          virtually non-existent. (6)           and they certainly got that right. José
half-a-dozen birds were snorting,                                             Antonio told us that the cock-of-the-
squeaking, and showing off their        Cocks-of-the-rock (there are two      rock is Peru’s national bird; not just
wares to the females, somewhere out     species, the other living further     thanks to that amazing display, but
of sight.                               north) are members of a diverse       also because its deep orange-red
                                        Neotropical family known as the       plumage matches the nation’s flag. (7)
Unseen they may be, but the females     cotingas. The name means “bright      Just before light finally filled the
are far from bit-players in this        forest bird” in the now extinct Tupi  forest, we watched two males having
extraordinary event. For as usually                                           a standoff: flicking their wings, and
happens in nature, they will do the                                           turning up the volume and intensity
choosing, picking out the lucky male                                          of their calls. Then, in unison, they
as their partner in this winner-takes-                                        paused and turned, as if admiring
all contest. For now, though, the                                             each other’s performance.
males were alone: sidling up and                                              With the morning sunlight filtering
down the branches like tiny orange                                            down through the canopy, the show
monkeys, emitting those strange,                                              was over. And, as with all great
gurgling calls. (5)                                                           theatrical events, (8) we were left
                                                                              wanting just a little bit more.
As the light improved, I got a better
view of a splendid male perched                                                Source: www.theguardian.com/
against a dark backdrop of leaves,                                             environment/2017/may/21/cock-of-the-
making jerky, almost mechanical                                                rock-peru-manu-cloud-forest-birdwatch
movements. The small, beady eye
was odd enough for a bird that lives
in this sylvan darkness, but even
more peculiar was the tiny bill: so
The following questions are not intended to reflect those that will be asked in an
examination, but to help you to read the passage carefully so that you gain a full
understanding of it.
  Before you start the questions, take note of the following point. When actively
reading a comprehension passage, it is important that you try as hard as you can
to ensure that you have a clear understanding of what the words used by the writer
mean in the context in which they are used. Some words and phrases in the passage
have been underlined – as you read through the article, stop and think about
exactly what is meant by these underlined words and phrases.
Exercise 4
1	 Why do you think José Antonio uses these words to the writer and his
   companions? How does it influence your thoughts about the passage that you
   have just started to read?
2	 What does the writer mean by this – in what way is he being pedantic?
3	 How does this description help you to understand the appearance of the bird?
4	 At what time of the day does this event take place? Are there any other clues in
   the passage?
5	 What does this paragraph tell you about the different behaviour of the male and
   female birds?
6	 Why does the writer think that the bird’s ‘beady eye’ and beak are odd?
7	 What more information do you learn about the cock-of-the-rock from this paragraph?
8	 Why does the writer describe this experience as a ‘theatrical event’?
                                                                                                                                                25
2	 Reading comprehension: short-answer questions
    Narrative text
    Exercise 5
    Before reading the whole passage carefully, ask yourself the following questions:
    1	 This is an extract from a longer story; what important information can I learn
       about what has happened before the extract begins?
    2	 When and where do the events in the extract take place? Do I know anything
       about the geography and history that may help my understanding? Does it
       matter if I don’t?
    3	 How do the pictures accompanying the text help me to understand it more fully?
    4	 The story is written as a first person narrative from the viewpoint of a child.
       What do I learn about the thoughts and feelings of other characters who feature
       in the extract?
    5	 Do I gain any further understanding of the overall account by knowing that the
       narrator is actually describing his experience as a child from an adult viewpoint?
                         Now read the extract. The writer describes the effect of severe weather conditions
                         on her father’s farm in Australia.
The Road from Coorain:
An Australian Memoir
   After the great rain of 1939, the rainfall      conversations he would be                          Suddenly I noticed that there were no birds to
declined noticeably in each successive year. In    silent. As we looked at sheep,                     be seen or heard. All had taken shelter. I called
1940, the slight fall was of no consequence        or tried to assess the pasture                     my mother. We watched helplessly. Always one
because our major worry was that the               left in a particular paddock,                      for action, she turned swiftly, went indoors
accumulation of growth on the land would           he would swear softly,                             and began to close windows. Outside I
produce serious bushfires. These did occur on      looking over the fence to a                        collected the buckets, rakes, shovels and other
land quite close to us, but my father’s foresight  neighbour’s property, already                      implements that could blow away or smash a
in getting cattle to eat down the high grass       eaten out and beginning to                         window if hurled against one by the boiling
preserved Coorain from that danger.                blow sand.                                         wind. Within the hour, my father arrived home.
                                                                                                      He and my mother sat on the back step not in
   In 1941, the only rain of the year was a           Each time he said, ‘If it                       their usual restful contemplation, but silenced
damp cold rain with high wind which came           doesn’t rain, it will bury this feed in a few      instead by dread.
during the lambing season in May and June          weeks.’ It was true and I could think of nothing
and carried off many ewes and their newborn        consoling to say.                                     A dust storm usually lasts days, blotting out
lambs. After that there were no significant                                                           the sun, launching banshee winds day and
rainfalls for five years. The unfolding of a          His usual high spirits declined with the state  night. It is dangerous to stray far from shelter,
drought of these dimensions has a slow and         of the land, until the terrible day when many of   because the sand and grit lodge in one’s eyes,
inexorable quality. The weather perpetually        our own sheep were lost because of a sudden        and a visibility often reduced to a few feet can
holds out hope. Storm clouds gather. Thunder       cold rain and wind when they had too little        make one completely disorientated. Animals
rolls by. But nothing happens. Each year as the    food in their stomachs. By 1942 it was             which become exhausted and lie down are
season for rain approaches, people begin to        apparent that the drought could be serious.        often sanded over and smothered. There is
look hopefully up at the sky. It mocks them
with a few showers, barely enough to lay the          Shortly afterwards, the first terrible dust
dust. That is all.                                 storm arrived boiling out of the central
                                                   Australian desert. One sweltering late
   It takes a long time for a carefully managed    afternoon in March, I walked out to collect
grazing property to decline, but three years       wood for the stove. Glancing towards the
without rain will do it. Once the disaster         west, I saw a terrifying sight. A vast boiling
begins, it unfolds swiftly. So it was with us.     cloud was mounting in the sky, black and
                                                   sulphurous yellow at the heart, varying shades
   My father and I would set out to work on        of ochre red at the edges. Where I stood, the
horseback as usual, but instead of our             air was utterly still, but the writhing cloud was
customary cheerful and wide-ranging                approaching silently and with great speed.
26
2.4  Practise answering reading comprehension questions
nothing anyone can do but stay inside, waiting         against our roof and the sharp roar as a nearly  question that there were also many more bare
for the calm after the storm. Inside, it is stifling.  empty rainwater tank blew off its stand and      patches where the remains of dry grass and
Every window must be closed against the dust,          rolled away, triggered my father’s recurring     herbage had lifted and blown away.
which seeps relentlessly through the slightest         nightmares of France during World War I, so
crack. Meals are gritty and sleep elusive. Rising      that when he did fall into a fitful slumber it      It was always a miracle to me that animals
in the morning, one sees a perfect outline of          would be to awake screaming. It was usually I    could endure so much. As we checked the
one’s body, an after image of white where the          who woke him from his nightmares. I, the child   property, there were dead sheep in every
dust has not collected on the sheets.                  in the family, would waken and attempt to        paddock to be sure, but fewer than I’d feared.
                                                       soothe a frantic adult.                          My spirits began to rise and I kept telling my
   As the winds seared our land, they took                                                              father the damage was not too bad. ‘That was
away the dry herbage, piled it against the                When we emerged, there were several feet      only the first storm,’ he said bleakly. He had
fences, and then slowly began to silt over the         of sand piled up against the windbreak to my     seen it all before and knew what was to come.
debris. It was three days before we could              mother’s garden; the contours of new sandhills
venture out, days of almost unendurable                were beginning to form in places where the         Source The Road from Coorain: An Australian
tension. The crashing of the boughs of trees           dust eddied and collected. There was no            Memoir by Jill Ker Conway, Vintage, 1992
Exercise 6                                                      increase in the dirty clothes at the bottom
                                                                of her suitcase.
1		 What do we learn about the rainfalls in this          	 (b)	 The teacher’s requirement that the
    part of Australia in the years 1939, 1940 and               coursework had to be completed by Monday
    1941?                                                       was inescapable.
                                                          	(c)	 The snake’s movements were sinuous and
2		 Which one word does the writer use in                       convoluted.
    paragraph 6 to describe the results of the lack       	 (d)	 The sense of the politician’s reply to my
    of rain?                                                    question was difficult to pin down.
                                                       11	U  sing your own words, explain what the writer
3		 Explain, using your own words, why the writer’s        means by each of the words underlined:
    father was worried about the lack of rain          	 ‘It was three days before we could venture
    (paragraphs 5–6).                                      out, days of almost unendurable tension. The
                                                           crashing of the boughs of trees against our roof
4		 What two things led to the deaths of many              and the sharp roar as a nearly empty rainwater
    sheep on ‘the terrible day’?                           tank blew off its stand and rolled away, triggered
                                                           my father’s recurring nightmares of France during
5		 Re-read paragraph 7 (‘Shortly afterwards …‘            World War I, so that when he did fall into a fitful
    to ‘We watched helplessly.’) and explain, using        slumber it would be to awake screaming.’
    your own words, what were the main signs of           	(a)	unendurable
    the approaching dust storm.                           	 (b)	triggered
                                                          	 (c)	slumber
6		 Re-read paragraphs 7–9 (‘Always one for action     12	U  sing your own words, explain how the
    …‘ to ‘to awake screaming.’) and give five             phrases underlined are used by the writer to
    dangers or problems caused by a dust storm.            suggest her and her father’s feelings at this
                                                           point in the story.
7		 Re-read the end of paragraph 9 (‘The crashing …’   	 ‘It was three days before we could venture out,
    to ‘a frantic adult.’) and explain what you think      days of almost unendurable tension. The crashing
    the writer means by this section of the passage.       of the boughs of trees against our roof and the
                                                           sharp roar as a nearly empty rainwater tank blew
8		 In the second to last line of the passage, why         off its stand and rolled away, triggered my father’s
    do you think the writer uses the word ‘bleakly’        recurring nightmares of France during World War
    to describe how her father spoke?                      I, so that when he did fall into a fitful slumber
                                                           it would be to awake screaming.’
9		 Re-read paragraphs 4–7. Give three words or
    phrases which describe the father’s thoughts,
    and explain what each of them tells you about
    his state of mind during this period.
10	 Identify a word or phrase from paragraphs
    1–8 (‘After the great rain … on the sheets.’)
    which suggests the same idea as the words
    underlined:
   	 (a)	 When she returned from her holiday, Maria
         realised that there had been a considerable
                                                                                                        27
2	 Reading comprehension: short-answer questions
                   Descriptive text
               Exercise 7
                           1	 Remember that you should read not just the passage but also the introductory
                              paragraphs and the questions. What details contained in the two introductory
                              paragraphs help you to prepare for reading the passage itself?
                           2	 As you skim the passage, look at the opening sentences of each paragraph. Does
                              this help you to break the passage down into different segments when reading
                              it? How might this help you to gain a detailed understanding of what the writer
                              is describing?
                           3	 In what ways do the length and structure of the sentences help to suggest to
                              you the experience of riding on the trams?
    Tickets, Please 
    The passage that follows is the opening paragraphs of a    the terminus, the last little ugly place of industry, the
    short story, ‘Tickets, Please’ written in 1919 by D.H.     cold little town that shivers on the edge of the wild,
    Lawrence. The story is set in a town in the industrial     gloomy country beyond. There the green and creamy
    Midlands of England during the First World War and         coloured tram-car seems to pause and purr with
    focuses on the lives of the girls who sold tickets on the  curious satisfaction. But in a few minutes — the clock
    town’s tram system. The opening provides an account        on the turret of the Co-operative Wholesale Society’s
    of the excitement and dangers of travelling on a tram in   Shops gives the time — away it starts once more on the
    the days before health and safety laws were introduced.    adventure. Again there are the reckless swoops
                                                               downhill, bouncing the loops: again the chilly wait in
    This extract is vividly descriptive, not just of the tram  the hill-top market-place: again the breathless slithering
    ride itself, but also of the night-time townscape through  round the precipitous drop under the church: again the
    which the tram travels and of the characters and
    attitudes of both the passengers and those who work on
    the trams. Before answering the questions that follow
    the passage, read through it carefully and write down
    words and phrases which you think bring alive to the
    reader the experience of travelling on the tram and the
    characters of the people who work on it.
    There is in the Midlands a single-line tramway system
    which boldly leaves the county town and plunges off
    into the black, industrial countryside, up hill and down
    dale, through the long ugly villages of workmen’s
    houses, over canals and railways, past churches
    perched high and nobly over the smoke and shadows,
    through stark, grimy cold little market-places, tilting
    away in a rush past cinemas and shops down to the
    hollow where the collieries are, then up again, past a
    little rural church, under the ash trees, on in a rush to
28
2.4  Practise answering reading comprehension questions
patient halts at the loops, waiting for the outcoming         nights are howlingly cold, black, and windswept, and a
car: so on and on, for two long hours, till at last the city  car is a haven of refuge. From village to village the
looms beyond the fat gas-works, the narrow factories          miners travel, for a change of cinema, of girl, of pub.
draw near, we are in the sordid streets of the great          The trams are desperately packed. Who is going to risk
town, once more we sidle to a standstill at our               himself in the black gulf outside, to wait perhaps an
terminus, abashed by the great crimson and cream-             hour for another tram, then to see the forlorn notice
coloured city cars, but still perky, jaunty, somewhat         ‘Depot Only’, because there is something wrong! Or to
dare-devil, green as a jaunty sprig of parsley out of a       greet a unit of three bright cars all so tight with people
black colliery garden.                                        that they sail past with a howl of derision. Trams that
                                                              pass in the night.
To ride on these cars is always an adventure. Since we
are in war-time, the drivers are men unfit for active         This, the most dangerous tram-service in England, as
service: many disabled or physically infirm. So they          the authorities themselves declare, with pride, is
have the spirit of the devil in them. The ride becomes a      entirely conducted by girls, and driven by rash young
steeple-chase. Hurray! we have leapt in a clear jump          men, a little crippled, or by delicate young men, who
over the canal bridges — now for the four-lane corner.        creep forward in terror. The girls are fearless young
With a shriek and a trail of sparks we are clear again.       hussies. In their ugly blue uniform, skirts up to their
To be sure, a tram often leaps the rails — but what           knees, shapeless old peaked caps on their heads, they
matter! It sits in a ditch till other trams come to haul it   have all the sang-froid of an old non-commissioned
out. It is quite common for a car, packed with one solid      officer. With a tram packed with howling colliers,
mass of living people, to come to a dead halt in the          roaring hymns downstairs and a sort of antiphony of
midst of unbroken blackness, the heart of nowhere on a        obscenities upstairs, the lasses are perfectly at their
dark night, and for the driver and the girl conductor to      ease. They pounce on the youths who try to evade their
call, ‘All get off — car’s on fire!’ Instead, however, of     ticket-machine. They push off the men at the end of
rushing out in a panic, the passengers stolidly reply:        their distance. They are not going to be done in the eye
‘Get on – get on! We’re not coming out. We’re stopping        — not they. They fear nobody — and everybody fears
where we are. Push on, George.’ So till flames actually       them.
appear.
                                                                Source: ‘Tickets, Please’, D.H. Lawrence
The reason for this reluctance to dismount is that the         https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/l/lawrence/dh/l41en/chapter2.html
Exercise 8
1	Explain, using your own words, why the tram ‘halts at the loops’. Which phrase
   used earlier in the same paragraph gives you the reason?
2	 Using your own words, explain what the text means by:
   (a)	 ‘we sidle to a standstill at our terminus’
   (b)	 ‘abashed by the great crimson and cream-coloured city cars’
3	 Re-read paragraph 2 (‘To ride on these cars … flames actually appear.’). Using
   your own words, explain how the passengers behave when there is a problem
   with the tram.
4	 Re-read paragraphs 3 and 4 (‘The reason for … everybody fears them.’).
   (a)	Identify two reasons why the passengers behave in the way they do.
   (b)	 Explain why, according to the passage, everybody fears the girl conductors.
5	 By referring to the final paragraph of the passage, state, using your own words,
   what the writer says about the girls who work on the trams.
                                                                                                                                               29
2	 Reading comprehension: short-answer questions
                           6	 Using your own words, explain what makes riding on the tram at night such an
                              exciting and dangerous experience.
                           7	 Identify a word or phrase from the text which suggests the same idea as the
                              words underlined.
                              (a)	 As Lee looked over the edge of the cliff, his stomach churned at the sight
                                    of the steep and dangerous drop below him.
                              (b)	 My grandfather’s straw hat and bow tie gave him a perky and carefree
                                    appearance.
                              (c)	 Vashti showed great unwillingness to take on the role of Form Captain.
                              (d)	 The referee’s decision to award a penalty was greeted with contempt and
                                    mockery by many of the crowd.
                           8	 Using your own words, explain what the writer means by each of the words
                              underlined:
                           Again there are the reckless swoops downhill, bouncing the loops: again the
                           chilly wait in the hill-top market-place: again the breathless slithering round the
                           precipitous drop under the church: again the patient halts at the loops, waiting
                           for the outcoming car: so on and on, for two long hours, till at last the city looms
                           beyond the fat gas-works, the narrow factories draw near, we are in the sordid
                           streets of the great town.
                           9	 Using your own words, explain how the phrases underlined are used by the
                              writer to suggest the experience of riding on the tram and the impressions of
                              the town it travels through.
                           Again there are the reckless swoops downhill, bouncing the loops: again the
                           chilly wait in the hill-top market-place: again the breathless slithering round the
                           precipitous drop under the church: again the patient halts at the loops, waiting
                           for the outcoming car: so on and on, for two long hours, till at last the city looms
                           beyond the fat gas-works, the narrow factories draw near, we are in the sordid
                           streets of the great town.
                   Argumentative text
                          In this argumentative essay, the writer is putting forward points for both sides of
                          the argument.
               Exercise 9
                           1	 How do the opening words of many of the paragraphs signal to the reader that
                              the writer is changing the direction of the argument?
                           2	 Does the writer use both fact and opinion in this essay? Identify at least two of
                              each.
                           3	 How effective is the writer’s use of examples in supporting the points made?
 30
2.4  Practise answering reading comprehension questions
STAYCATIONS V VACATIONS
At a recent family gathering, your aunt mentioned to you that she and her family
couldn’t make up their minds whether to spend their next holiday in their own
country or to travel abroad. You are studying Travel and Tourism and said that
you would write down some ideas for her to consider.
Staycations v Vacations
There are many things to consider        when it does look as if it’s going to    much more in the UK than overseas.
when deciding where to take your         be sunny, competition for rooms          When we’re abroad most of us
holiday as it often doesn’t just depend  is high, especially in the more          tend to spend more on eating out,
on where you go, but when you go.        popular holiday areas such as the        unless you are in half- or full-board
Whether you stay or go, with your        West Country where the weather is        accommodation which is likely to
family of two quite young children,      warmer.                                  save money. Holidaying in the UK is
school holidays are always likely to                                              likely to be closer to normal life, with
be more expensive. Costs vary from       Another factor to consider is the cost   supermarkets, familiar restaurants
country to country, and the pound        and convenience of travel. Although      and the odd hotel breakfast.
doesn’t go as far as it did a year       many flights abroad can look really
ago. Popular western Mediterranean       cheap, there are often hidden costs      These are the main points to consider
islands like Mallorca and Ibiza are      that you won’t find if you decide to     when deciding whether to spend your
also becoming premium destinations       stay at home and not fly anywhere;       holiday abroad or at home and I’m not
now, with good hotel rooms hard to       for example, extra charges for           intending to make your decision for
come by, as security fears make many     baggage, preferred seat, cancellation    you; however, I hope that by thinking
holidaymakers avoid certain hotspots     and priority boarding. If you choose     about my comments, you will be able
that are now considered to be danger     a more leisurely trip by land or sea,    to come to a conclusion that suits the
zones. Also, if you are travelling to    however, you can usually take much       whole family.
a tourist resort in a country where      more luggage for no added cost.
sunshine is pretty much guaranteed,      Again, if you’re travelling by car       It’s also worth bearing in mind that
don’t forget that there could be the     with children it’s a lot easier to load  for some people there is some value
cost of daily use of private beaches,    everything that you might need and       in going abroad that can’t always
parasols, sunbeds, endless cold drinks   not worry about baggage allowances.      have a cost put on it – travelling to
and so on to take into account.                                                   somewhere different can be ‘good for
                                         Remember that, if you are staying in     the soul’, and sometimes it’s good to
On the other hand, you’ll always be      the UK and you don’t want to drive,      go somewhere that is different from
taking a chance with weather in the      travelling by train can be really        your usual life. However, it’s also true
UK but the traditional British holiday   expensive too. However, if you get       that there are plenty of places in the
resort has had a makeover in recent      advance ‘exact train’ tickets (just      UK that can provide that experience
years, and a recent survey found         as you would with a plane) – and,        as well – especially if you spend your
that more than half of all Britons are   even better, get them with railcards     daily life in a city and don’t get to see
planning a seaside break this summer.    if you’re travelling with family or      the countryside or the coast as much
If the weather holds, the British        friends – it can save you a lot of       as you would like.
countryside and coastline can be         money.
beautiful – and if you’re familiar with                                           Source: adapted from www.experitan.co.uk/
how to get around, you’re arguably       Another cost factor to consider          blogs/consumer-advice/staycation-going-
less likely to spend too much.           relates to the cost of food and drink.   abroad
                                         The average price of a meal for two
Hotel prices at home are often higher    in England is £50, which is almost
than for comparable hotels abroad –      double that in Spain (£26) and higher
there are fewer of them, plus there’s    than France and Italy (£41). It’s also
competition from overseas visitors       fair to assume that eating out and
and people on business. In addition,     experiencing the food could be a
good weather is unpredictable so         major part of the attraction of being
                                         abroad. Most drinks generally cost
                                                                                  31
2	 Reading comprehension: short-answer questions
Exercise 10
1	 By referring to paragraph 1, using your own words, state three points made by the writer about the
   cost considerations of taking a holiday with a family.
2	 What does the writer mean by ‘Popular western Mediterranean islands like Mallorca and Ibiza are also
   becoming premium destinations now’?
3	 From paragraph 2, explain, using your own words, why the writer says that you are ‘arguably less likely
   to spend too much’ if you holiday at home.
4	 According to the writer, what are the advantages of travelling by land or sea? (paragraph 4)
5	 What suggestion does the writer make for saving money if you take your holiday in the UK? (paragraph 5)
6	 Re-read the final paragraph and explain, using your own words, the ways in which travelling both
   abroad and at home can be ‘good for the soul’.
7	 Identify a word or phrase from the text which suggests the same idea as the words underlined:
   (a)	 The miser decided that to ensure the safety of his money, he would hide it under his mattress.
   (b)	 After lunch, we took a comfortably relaxed stroll around the lake.
   (c)	 The needs of my infirm grandmother were given precedence over those of other travellers.
   (d)	 The main consideration in making my decision was how much the holiday would cost.
8	 Using your own words, explain what the writer means by each of the words underlined:
The average price of a meal for two in England costs £50, which is almost double that in Spain (£26) and
higher than France and Italy (£41). It’s also fair to assume that eating out and experiencing the food could
be a major part of the attraction of being abroad. Most drinks generally cost much more in the UK than
overseas. When we’re abroad most of us tend to spend more on eating out, unless you are in half- or full-
board accommodation which is likely to save money. Holidaying in the UK is likely to be closer to normal life,
with supermarkets, familiar restaurants and the odd hotel breakfast.
9	 Using your own words, explain how the phrases underlined are used by the writer to help to persuade
   readers to agree with his arguments.
The average price of a meal for two in England costs £50, which is almost double that in Spain (£26) and
higher than France and Italy (£41). It’s also fair to assume that eating out and experiencing the food
could be a major part of the attraction of being abroad. Most drinks generally cost much more in the UK
than overseas. When we’re abroad most of us tend to spend more on eating out, unless you are in half- or
full-board accommodation which is likely to save money. Holidaying in the UK is likely to be closer to
normal life, with supermarkets, familiar restaurants and the odd hotel breakfast.
                       Unit summary
                             In this unit you have reviewed the objectives:
                             •	 demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings
                             •	 demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings and attitudes
                             •	 select and use information for specific purposes
                             •	 organise and structure ideas and opinions for deliberate effect
                             •	 use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures appropriate to context
                             •	 make accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar.
 32
3	  Summary questions
      In this unit you will:
      H	 demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings
      H	 demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings and attitudes
      H	 select and use information for specific purposes
      H	 organise and structure ideas and opinions for deliberate effect
      H	 use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures appropriate to context
      H	 make accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar.
      This unit will focus on the following skills:
      Reading
      H	 demonstrate understanding of written texts, and of the words and phrases
         within them
      H	 summarise and use material for a specific context
      H	 select appropriate information for specific purposes.
      Writing
      H	 organise and convey facts, ideas and opinions effectively
      H	 demonstrate a varied vocabulary appropriate to the context
      H	 demonstrate an effective use of sentence structures
      H	 demonstrate accuracy in spelling, punctuation and grammar.
     33
3	 Summary questions
Key terms             Introduction
Summary writing:      Summary writing is useful to make sure you have understood the passage you
A summary is a        have just read, and to help explain what the passage is about to someone else.
restatement of        Summaries should be a piece of continuous writing and no more than 250 words in
the main points of    length.
a passage using
your own and fewer    3.1  Summary writing
words than the
original.             Summary writing tests both your Reading and Writing skills. You will be assessed
Explicit meaning:     on how well your answers demonstrate the following skills and you will also be
This is the obvious   assessed on how well your answers meet the following Assessment Objectives:
(or surface)
meaning of a word       Reading
or phrase.            »	 demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings
Implicit meaning:     »	 demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings and attitudes
This is the meaning   »	 select for specific purposes.
of a word or phrase
that is suggested       Writing
but not stated        »	 organise facts, ideas and opinions
openly.               »	 use a range of appropriate vocabulary
                      »	 make accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Remember
                      Although the task involves writing, it is your reading skills that will really determine
You will never be     your success in a summary question. It is also important that you keep a clear head
asked to summarise    when attempting the task.
a passage unless it
is possible to do so    Summaries come in different forms. You may have to:
using fewer words
than were in the      »	 read one lengthy passage and summarise only the points contained in one or two
original!                paragraphs of it
                      »	 read one lengthy passage and summarise points related to a particular aspect or
                         aspects of it which occur throughout the passage
                      »	 read two lengthy passages and summarise all the points relating to a particular
                         aspect or aspects of them.
                      No matter what form the question takes, the basic principles of summary writing
                      remain the same. What is important is that you show evidence that you:
                      »	 have understood what you have read
                      »	 can select relevant information
                      »	 can show your understanding of what you have read through using your own
                         words where possible and in a shorter form than in the original.
                      3.2  Some practical guidelines
                      Your summary writing can be improved if you keep the following points clearly in
                      your mind:
                      1	 Summary writing needs good planning and cannot be rushed.
                      2	 Most examination questions will give a clear indication of the number of words
                         that you should aim to write; for example, ‘You should write between 200 and 250
                         words’, although sometimes this might be expressed as something like ‘about one
                         side of the answer booklet’.
34
3.2  Some practical guidelines
Key term            3	 As you can see, the writing itself will not take very long; the most important part
                       of the process is deciding what to include and what should not be included –
Note-making:           that’s why your active reading skills are essential.
Writing down very
brief summaries     4	 It is important to organise your time efficiently when answering a summary task
of key points in a     and, as part of your preparation for an examination, you should look closely at
passage relating       past papers and decide how long you have available to answer the question.
to the summary         Remember that this time allowance includes:
question.              »	 reading the original passage(s)
                       »	 making notes of the relevant points
                       »	 planning your answer.
                    Make sure that you spend most of the time available on these aspects of answering
                    the question: if you have a clear understanding of what you are going to write for
                    your final version, the actual writing of it will not take very long at all.
                      Once you have this basic approach clearly in mind, you can begin the task with
                    confidence.
                      Don’t panic: Remember, all the information you need to include will be in the
                    original passage(s), so all you have to do is identify the really important points.
                        Note
                     Note-making is particularly important. It may also help in your planning if you give
                     your summary a title – it is not necessary to include this title as a heading for your
                     final written summary but it’s a good way to help you keep focused on relevant details
                     when making your preliminary notes. In the examination some questions require you to
                     write a list of the main points, which will be marked along with your final version of the
                     summary.
                    Exercise 1
                    Read the following passage and then note down 10 points that it tells you about
                    the appearance and behaviour of unicorns and of the qualities they possessed.
                    (N.B. The key words in the question have been highlighted.)
Unicorns
One of the oldest mythical creatures is the Unicorn. It has been in Chinese
folk lore for thousands of years. Its most familiar form is a beast with the
body of a deer, tail of an ox, horses’ hooves, and a single horn growing
from the centre of its forehead. To the Chinese the Unicorn was
a symbol of good, but to the Japanese it was fear. It was said
that the Unicorn could recognize guilt, and would carry out the
execution by spearing the guilty party with its horn. Kardadann, an
Arabian Unicorn, supposedly had magical qualities. Its horn was a
good-luck charm against scorpions, and demons could be got rid of
by eating its meat.
Ctesias, a Greek physician and historian, gave an account of stories from India about a
creature the size of a horse with a white body, red head, blue eyes, and a horn on its forehead
                                                                                                 35
3	 Summary questions
  45 cm long. Ctesias portrayed the Unicorn as very swift, untameable and almost impossible to capture. Leonardo da
  Vinci wrote that the Unicorn’s lack of self-control, and its love for beautiful young women, caused it to forget its fear of
  humans. It would go up to a seated girl, go to sleep in her lap, and then it could be captured.
  This beast was said to have special attributes. Ground Unicorn horn was claimed to cure fever, plague, epilepsy, rabies,
  gout, and many other ailments. Unicorn leather made into shoes would assure healthy feet and legs, and as a belt warded
  off plague and fever. Jewellery made from the horn would protect the wearer from evil. Belief in the Unicorn’s power was
  widely accepted in England until the mid-1700s.
  The Unicorn’s horn was so expensive that only royalty or the very rich could afford it. Needless to say, many such horns
  were actually made from bull, goat, or exotic animal horns. Complete Unicorn horns often turned out to be the long,
  spirally twisted tusks of the male narwhal (a large marine animal). The only known land animal to have a single horn is the
  rhinoceros, so some presume that the legend comes from European explorers of the African continent. Another theory
  is that the oryx, an antelope with two long thin horns on its forehead, when seen from the side appears to have only one
  horn.
                                                            Source: https://unsolvedmysteries.wikispaces.com/Jersey+Devils+%26amp%3B+other+monsters 
               Exercise 2
                           1	 The 10 points listed below comprise an answer made by a student in response
                              to Exercise 1, which the teacher has given 6 marks for making six correct points.
                              With a partner, mark this answer yourself and discuss which points should be
                              credited and which are not correct, and decide why marks should be awarded or
                              why they should not.
                                        Remember
                                        It is important that you have a very clear understanding of the precise requirements of the
                                        question (contained in the key words) before you start to mark, as this will help you in your
                                        discussion.
                              1	 The Chinese saw it as a symbol of good.
                              2	 To the Japanese it represented fear.
                              3	 Its horn was a good luck charm against scorpions.
                              4	 It had a single horn growing from the centre of its forehead.
                              5	 The horn was claimed to cure many ailments and protect from evil.
                              6	 Very swift, untameable and almost impossible to capture.
                              7	 Its love for beautiful women caused it to forget its natural fear of humans.
                              8	 Its leather can be made into belts to prevent plague and fever.
                              9	 Jewellery made from the horn protected the wearer from evil.
                              10	 Explorers of the African Continent may have mistaken an oryx for a
                                   unicorn.
                           2	 Now make your own notes under the headings ‘Appearance and Behaviour’ and
                              ‘Qualities’. When you have finished compare your notes with your partner’s and
                              discuss your answers. (N.B. There are nine points that can be made under the
                              ‘Appearance and Behaviour’ heading and six points that can be made about
                              ‘Qualities’.)
 36
3.3  A guide to writing a successful summary
Key terms            3.3  A guide to writing a successful summary
Paraphrase:          For your future reference, here is a step-by-step guide to writing a successful
Rewording a piece    summary.
of writing with the
intention of making  Step 1: Read the question carefully
the meaning more
clear.               This is very important, as it is unlikely that you will be required to summarise
Synonym: A word      the whole of the original passage(s). The wording of the question will direct you
with a similar       towards the points you should include. For example, the whole passage may be
meaning to another   about everyday life in Japan, but you may be asked to summarise only what it tells
word, e.g. sad,      you about going to school in that country.
gloomy.
                       You must, therefore, keep the wording of the question clearly in mind when
                     reading the passage(s).
                     Step 2: Read right through the passage(s) once
                     This will allow you to gain a good, overall understanding of what the material is
                     about.
                       Remember that it is important that your summary shows you have a clear
                     overview of your subject matter.
                     Step 3: Identify the information that is relevant
                     Refresh your memory of what the question asks you to do and then read through the
                     passage(s) again very carefully.
                       At this stage you should underline or highlight on the question paper all the
                     information that is relevant to the question. You must be ruthless. Ignore anything
                     that is not relevant, no matter how interesting you may find it.
                     Step 4: Make notes in your own words
                     Now is the time to put pen to paper. You should make rough notes of the points you
                     have identified, using your own words as far as possible.
                       Remember, the use of your own words is important, as this is a way of showing
                     that you have understood the passage(s). Try to:
                     »	 paraphrase (rephrase) parts of the text to which you refer
                     »	use synonyms – words with the same meaning – instead of the exact words from
                        the text.
                     This will make it very clear that you understand what you have read.
                     Step 5: Count the main points
                     Once you have noted all the main points, count how many you have identified.
                       If you have identified 15 points and you are aiming to write a summary of about
                     150 words, then, as a rough guide, try to write about ten words for each point.
                     Step 6: Write the summary
                     Once you have written rough notes in your own words, you should write them up as
                     a piece of continuous prose, trying to keep your expression as concise as possible. If
                     your notes are sufficiently detailed, this may only be a fine-tuning job.
                     37
3	 Summary questions
                   Step 7: Final check
                          Once you have written your summary, read it through to check that it makes sense.
                          You may not have to count the number of words you wrote. If, for example, you
                          know that you usually write about eight words per line, then a quick count up of
                          the number of lines you have filled will give some indication of how many words you
                          have written in total.
               Exercise 3
                           Using the final notes that you made on the passage about unicorns earlier, write
                           a summary of the appearance and behaviour of unicorns and of the qualities they
                           possessed.
                           You should follow the advice in steps 5–7 and try to use your own words as far as
                           possible. Write two paragraphs (one for each heading) and use between 150 and
                           180 words.
               3.4  Example of a summary question
                          Here is an example of a typical summary question to use for practice.
               Exercise 4
                           Read the passage ‘Balloon Flight’ carefully and then write a summary of what
                           the writer saw from his balloon flight and his thoughts and feelings about the
                           experience.
                           You must use continuous writing (not note form) and use your own words as far as
                           possible. Your summary should not be more than 180 words.
                           Up to 10 marks are available for the content of your answer and up to 5 marks for
                           the quality of your writing.
                                   Teacher tip
                                   Read the question carefully and identify the focus of your summary. There are two key pieces of
                                   information required: what the writer saw and what he thought and felt during his flight.
                                   In preparation for writing your summary you should make notes of the relevant points under each
                                   heading.
                                   The key points have been highlighted (what was seen in yellow and thoughts and feelings
                                   in pink).
                          In the following passage the writer describes his experience of a hot-air balloon
                          flight over southern Turkey.
 38
3.4  Example of a summary question
Balloon
Flight
The pilot of my balloon is a Swede
called Lars and his co-pilot is his
English wife Kali. They have flown
all over the world but are almost as
excited about today’s flight as we are.
The air will be both clear and cool. Visibility
should be near-perfect.
We’re up in the sky about the same
time as the sun, and for a while it is
uncomfortably cold. The ride, though,
is magnificent. The strange and unique
landscape all begins to make sense as
we rise above it. The eastern horizon is
broken by the 4000 metre peak of Erciyes
Dagi, its summit partly ripped away by the
eruption that helped shape everything we
can see. Long, flat tables of rock mark
the height of the plateau created by the
vast lake of lava, most of it now cracked,
fissured and fashioned into the bluffs,
cones and tall pillars that cover the
ground like sentinels of some petrified army.
With the hard, bright sun at a low angle and a fresh-fallen blanket of snow on the ground, it’s not only the rocks that stand
out. We can see the fine detail of fields and orchards and vineyards. Though the volcanic rock makes for fertile soil, the climate
has changed over the last few years and, according to Kali, the combination of warmer winters and late frosts has ruined
harvests. Vines and apricot trees have been worst affected and certainly the apricot orchards look especially vulnerable
under the snow. Many farmers are turning to tourism instead, or leaving the area altogether.
Lars seems less interested in what’s happening on the ground than what’s happening in the air. He reads the air currents with
obsessive delight, alert to all the subtle shifts and patterns, such as the emptying of the cold air from the valleys as the land
warms up. He takes us up to 2,400 metres. From here the detail is less distinct. The rock forests of Cappadocia have given way
to a wider view. From the Taurus Mountains in the south and to the rising Anatolian plateau to the east.
 Source: http://palinstravels.co.uk/book-4253
                                                                                                                                                                             39
3	 Summary questions
Remember               Now that you’ve read the passage you should have a good idea of the main points
                       that you need to make for your summary. Before starting to write anything, however,
Although the           read through the following study tips and think if any of these can help you focus
instruction is to      more clearly on the topic.
write a summary,
reading the             Study tips
passage and the
question are equally    1	 Some points in the passage may be harder to find than others – this may be because they are
important.                 implied by the writer, rather than being explicitly stated. Your final summary will be more
                           successful if you are able to identify and include these implied points. This may apply especially
Key terms                  to understanding the writer’s feelings. You can safely ignore: illustrations such as similes,
                           quotations, long descriptions and strings of adjectives.
Simile: A descriptive
comparison              2	 Check that you have made each point only once: it’s an easy mistake to include three examples
introduced by like         of the same point. The writer of the original passage is allowed to repeat ideas; you don’t have
or as, in which one        the space to do so. For example, how many details of the rock formations should be included?
thing is compared
directly to another.    3	 One of the main mistakes in summary writing is to use up too many words writing the early
Quotation: A group         points, so the summary becomes top-heavy and unbalanced. Remember that all points should
of words taken from        be given equal weighting. There are at least two relevant points in the final paragraph of the
a text or speech           passage – they should be given as much importance as the points that occur earlier.
and repeated in an
answer to support a     4	 An important word of warning – do not include:
point being made.
Adjective: A word           •	 personal opinions
used to describe a
noun, e.g. the angry        •	 any introduction such as ‘In this passage the writer says…’
teacher.
Equal weighting:            •	 extra information or explanations
Of the same
importance.                 •	 your own comments or opinions on the points made in the original text(s)
                            •	 lengthy quotations from the original passage(s).
                        	 The readers of your summary do not want to know your personal opinions about the topic;
                           instead, they want to know how well you have understood the original writer’s viewpoint.
                       Example response: Notes
                       What the writer saw:
                       1	The mountain/peak of Erciyes Dagi
                       2	(Long,) flat tables of rock
                       3	Bluffs, cones and tall pillars (Note: You should not include the simile used to
                         describe this feature)
                       4	Bright sun
                       5	(Blanket of) snow
                       6	Fields and orchards
                       7	Less distinct details/wider view when higher up
                       8	 Taurus Mountains/Anatolian Plateau
                       The writer’s thoughts and feelings about the experience:
                       1	 He was excited.
                       2	He was initially feeling cold.
                       3	He found the ride magnificent.
                       4	He began to understand the landscape.
                       5	He thought the apricot orchards were under threat from the change in climate.
40
