Cambridge O Level

* 3 8 9 2 1 8 7 0 3 1 *

ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1123/21

Paper 2 Reading October/November 2020

1 hour 45 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

You will need: Insert (enclosed)

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● Dictionaries are not allowed.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 50.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].
● The insert contains the reading passages.

This document has 8 pages. Blank pages are indicated.

DC (ST) 185782/2
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Section 2: Reading for Meaning

Read Passage 2, Michele, in the Insert and answer all the questions below.

From paragraph 1

3 (a) Why was the wheat ‘particularly high’ that year?

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) Why do you think the writer had ‘no idea how hot’ it was?

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

From paragraph 2

4 (a) What was the most surprising effect of the hot weather?

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

(b) Why was the countryside ‘deserted’?

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [1]

From paragraph 3

5 Give two reasons why the writer was ‘at a standstill’.

(i) ...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

(ii) ...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

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From paragraph 4

6 (a) The writer says his sister ‘exploded into a wail’. Explain in your own words what his sister
did.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) Give two reasons why the writer’s sister was unhappy.

(i) ...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

(ii) ...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

From paragraph 5

7 How did the writer know that he and his sister were approaching ‘the top of the hill’?

..........................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................... [1]

From paragraph 6

8 (a) The writer says ‘I was feigning a courage I did not feel’. Explain in your own words what he
was doing.

...................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) The writer climbed into the first room in the house. Give two pieces of evidence which show
that the house was ‘abandoned’.

(i) ...........................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................

(ii) ...........................................................................................................................................

..................................................................................................................................... [2]

(c) The writer says ‘I tried to work my way’ to the balcony. Give the single word used later in the
paragraph which conveys the same meaning.

............................................................................................................................................. [1]
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9 From the whole passage

For each of the words below, circle the letter (A, B, C or D) which has the same meaning that the
word has in the passage.

(a) densely (line 3)

A stupidly B quickly C heavily D thickly [1]

(b) fiery (line 11)

A burning B hot C angry D wild [1]

(c) ruse (line 25)

A game B trick C joke D plan [1]

(d) ramshackle (line 31)

A shaking B rough C broken D old [1]

(e) recalled (line 42)

A remembered B renamed C replaced D realised [1]

10 Re-read paragraphs 4 and 6, which contain sentences telling us about the writer.

Give:

• the meaning of each sentence as it is used in the passage

• the effect of each sentence as it is used in the passage.

(a) ‘And every time, who did my mother blame?’ (line 22)

Meaning: ...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

Effect: ........................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

(b) ‘I was paralysed in the doorway.’ (line 41)

Meaning: ...................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................

Effect: ........................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................. [2]

[Total: 25]

© UCLES 2020 1123/21/O/N/20

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© UCLES 2020 1123/21/O/N/20