iGCSE The Reading Paper

Paper 2 - Extended 2 hours long 2 texts to read 3 questions to answer Worth 40%

Question 1 –Directed Writing Because this question is directed, you need to exactly follow the instructions. In the sample question you have been given, this means writing the words of an interview using three questions that you have been given. You base answers to those questions on what you have read but must write in your own words. This is worth 20 marks – 15 for reading and 5 for writing.

Question one – highlight the rubric Imagine that you are the reporter, Rob Buchanan. You interview Dean Potter after the climb and ask the following questions: Incredible! How did you manage to climb the face so quickly? How do you answer people who say that what you do is foolish? Can you tell us about your relationship with your climbing partner, O’Neill? Write the words of the interview. Base your interview on what you have read in Passage A and be careful to use your own words. Write between 1½ and 2 sides, allowing for the size of your handwriting.

Question one – highlight the rubric Imagine that you are the reporter, Rob Buchanan. You interview Dean Potter after the climb and ask the following questions: Incredible! How did you manage to climb the face so quickly? How do you answer people who say that what you do is foolish? Can you tell us about your relationship with your climbing partner, O’Neill? Write the words of the interview. Base your interview on what you have read in Passage A and be careful to use your own words. Write between 1½ and 2 sides, allowing for the size of your handwriting.

This is a question one exemplar answer A piece of information from passage A Interview with Rob Buchanan by Dean Potter “Dean Potter is a famous rock climber whose speciality is speed. He often refuses to use any climbing equipment, relying only on his agility and lack of fear.” Rob Buchanan: Incredible! How did you manage to climb the face so quickly? Dean Potter: Well speed is my thing! I always want to climb in fastest time possible. I don’t want to be weighed down by equipment so I take the very least I can. It risks a bit more than a bad sun burn but the extra time I get is worth it. I need to stretch and warm up as being agile is vital. I won’t fall… Rob Buchanan: Surely that is madness? Dean Potter: I don’t think it is mad to want to be the best I can at rock climbing.

See how I have used the information… A piece of information from passage A Interview with Rob Buchanan by Dean Potter “Dean Potter is a famous rock climber whose speciality is speed. He often refuses to use any climbing equipment, relying only on his agility and lack of fear.” Rob Buchanan: Incredible! How did you manage to climb the face so quickly? Dean Potter: Well speed is my thing! I always want to climb in fastest time possible. I don’t want to be weighed down by equipment so I take the very least I can. It risks a bit more than a bad sun burn but the extra time I get is worth it. I need to stretch and warm up as being agile is vital. I won’t fall… Rob Buchanan: Surely that is madness? Dean Potter: I don’t think it is mad to want to be the best I can at rock climbing.

See how I have used the information… A piece of information from passage A Interview with Rob Buchanan by Dean Potter “Dean Potter is a famous rock climber whose speciality is speed. He often refuses to use any climbing equipment, relying only on his agility and lack of fear.” Rob Buchanan: Incredible! How did you manage to climb the face so quickly? Dean Potter: Well speed is my thing! I always want to climb in fastest time possible. I don’t want to be weighed down by equipment so I take the very least I can. It risks a bit more than a bad sun burn but the extra time I get is worth it. I need to stretch and warm up as being agile is vital. I won’t fall… Rob Buchanan: Surely that is madness? Dean Potter: I don’t think it is mad to want to be the best I can at rock climbing.

See how I have used the information… A piece of information from passage A Interview with Rob Buchanan by Dean Potter “Dean Potter is a famous rock climber whose speciality is speed. He often refuses to use any climbing equipment, relying only on his agility and lack of fear.” Rob Buchanan: Incredible! How did you manage to climb the face so quickly? Dean Potter: Well speed is my thing! I always want to climb in fastest time possible. I don’t want to be weighed down by equipment so I take the very least I can. It risks a bit more than a bad sun burn but the extra time I get is worth it. I need to stretch and warm up as being agile is vital. I won’t fall… Rob Buchanan: Surely that is madness? Dean Potter: I don’t think it is mad to want to be the best I can at rock climbing.

See how I have used the information… A piece of information from passage A Interview with Rob Buchanan by Dean Potter “Dean Potter is a famous rock climber whose speciality is speed. He often refuses to use any climbing equipment, relying only on his agility and lack of fear.” Rob Buchanan: Incredible! How did you manage to climb the face so quickly? Dean Potter: Well speed is my thing! I always want to climb in fastest time possible. I don’t want to be weighed down by equipment so I take the very least I can. It risks a bit more than a bad sun burn but the extra time I get is worth it. I need to stretch and warm up as being agile is vital. I won’t fall… Rob Buchanan: Surely that is madness? Dean Potter: I don’t think it is mad to want to be the best I can at rock climbing.

See how I have used the information… A piece of information from passage A Interview with Rob Buchanan by Dean Potter “Dean Potter is a famous rock climber whose speciality is speed. He often refuses to use any climbing equipment, relying only on his agility and lack of fear.” Rob Buchanan: Incredible! How did you manage to climb the face so quickly? Dean Potter: Well speed is my thing! I always want to climb in fastest time possible. I don’t want to be weighed down by equipment so I take the very least I can. It risks a bit more than a bad sun burn but the extra time I get is worth it. I need to stretch and warm up as being agile is vital. I won’t fall… Rob Buchanan: Surely that is madness? Dean Potter: I don’t think it is mad to want to be the best I can at rock climbing.

Question 2 – Writer’s Effect Again you must follow the instructions exactly. Start by identifying precisely what bits of the text you are required to answer on. This is worth 10 marks, all for reading.

Re-read the descriptions of: (a) O’Neill’s fall in paragraph 3; (b) Dean Potter in paragraph 5. Select words and phrases from these descriptions, and explain how the writer has created effects by using this language.

Qu. 2 – writer’s effect an example Point Evidence (a quote) Explain 1. The writer creates the image that Dean Potter is like an animal. “With his wide-set brown eyes, prominent and slightly battered-looking nose, tumbling mane and barrel chest” The writer describes Dean Potter in a way which suggests he is like a lion, “tumbling mane.” This creates the image that Dean is the “king” of rock climbing much like a lion is the “king of the jungle.” Additionally Dean again like a lion is brave, physically strong, someone to be feared as well as admired. 2. The description of Dean Potter suggests that he is rather complex. An action man certainly but also slightly mysterious. “…an brooding inhabitant of the wild who is occasionally roused to fantastic bouts of action and daring stunts.” The writer deliberately selects emotive language to describe Dean’s actions such as “fantastic” and “daring” it is as though he has hero like qualities. This is contrasted by the word “brooding” which might suggest that he is at the same time slightly sullen and introspective. 3

Question 3 - Summarising This question will always ask you to deal with both texts by summarising them. It is the easiest question and is deliberately last. It is worth 20 marks of which 15 are for reading and 5 for writing. Therefore, if you write your answer as a bullet point list, it is easy to get 15 marks!

Use your highlighter again and write on the paper the ways in which paintballing is a safe sport, as described in Passage B; Write this on top of the passage B Read and highlight every time safety is mentioned Use the highlights to write a bullet point list of 7 to 8 different ideas (b) the reasons why climbing the Nose of El Capitan and the way Dean Potter makes this climb are dangerous, as described in Passage A. Write this on top of the passage A Read and highlight every time a reason is given for climbing and why it is dangerous

Qu. 3 – summarise You need a list like this Passage B – why paint balling is safe Passage A – why climbing is dangerous A medical form must be completed to prove the satisfactory health of the players Protective clothing must be worn An eye mask protects damage from eyes The paintballs, being made of gel and are therefore harmless Paintballs cannot be fired at speeds above a legal limit An instructor gives guidance on the strict rules and arranges a practice session Since the equipment is checked, accidents are very rare, and in fact other sports are more dangerous than paintballing. Paintballing is considered to be safe for families El Capitan famous rock for being difficult to climb El Capitan’s main feature is that it has a is a 2,000 foot vertical wall with an overhanging shelf The climber was under-equipped for his climb An added danger was reckless speed There was a dangerous rushed start The first climber did not wait until his partner had reached the first metal peg Being joined by a rope meant that a fall by one of the pair could pull the other partner down too.

Qu. 3 – summarise In the end this what the whole answer looks like! Passage B – why paint balling is safe Passage A – why climbing is dangerous A medical form must be completed to prove the satisfactory health of the players Protective clothing must be worn An eye mask protects damage from eyes The paintballs, being made of gel and are therefore harmless Paintballs cannot be fired at speeds above a legal limit An instructor gives guidance on the strict rules and arranges a practice session Since the equipment is checked, accidents are very rare, and in fact other sports are more dangerous than paintballing. Paintballing is considered to be safe for families El Capitan famous rock for being difficult to climb El Capitan’s main feature is that it has a is a 2,000 foot vertical wall with an overhanging shelf The climber was under-equipped for his climb An added danger was reckless speed There was a dangerous rushed start The first climber did not wait until his partner had reached the first metal peg Being joined by a rope meant that a fall by one of the pair could pull the other partner down too. Paintballing is safe enough for families and non-experienced people to participate in these pretend battles. A medical form must be completed to prove the satisfactory health of the players, who are then issued with protective clothing which includes an eye mask. The paintballs, being made of gel, are harmless, and they cannot be fired at speeds above the legal limit. An instructor gives guidance on the strict rules and arranges a practice session. Since the equipment is checked, accidents are very rare, and in fact other sports are more dangerous than paintballing. El Capitan is a notoriously difficult and much feared rock for climbers in the USA, because of its 2,000 foot vertical wall followed by an overhanging shelf, and its narrow handholds. Potter was under-equipped for his climb in various ways, including the fact that his harness was homemade and insubstantial. Added dangers were the necessity for reckless speed, which involved a rushed start rather than waiting until his partner had reached the first metal peg. Being joined by a rope meant that a fall by one of the pair could pull the other partner down too.

And that’s the reading paper! What a gift…