O-LevelEnglish LanguageReading for Meaning1123/21 · Oct/Nov 2020 · Q85 Marks

From paragraph 6

(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'.[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]

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2020). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] (a) He was pretending / acting / faking / making out / bluffing // he was trying to show / seem / appear / look
[1] (a) ...but he wasn't / but it wasn't true / to be brave / bold / fearless / unafraid / strong / daring // to show guts / nerve / bravery / grit // he was not scared / afraid / a coward
[1] (b)(i) pigeons / birds were living in it // pigeons / birds flew away/off (when the writer entered)
[1] (b)(ii) (wild) plants grew through the (tiled) floor / tiles
[1] (c) manoeuvre

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