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A-LevelEnglish LanguageReading: text analysis and comparison9093/12 · May/June 2023 · Q225 Marks

Read the following text, which is an extract from a travelogue describing the filming of a travel documentary called Around the World in Eighty Days. Day 22: Crossing the Arabian Sea The boat really comes to life at first light which, as we are moving east and have not yet adjusted our watches, comes a little earlier each day. I'm awake today at 5. The wind has dropped and the sea is flat and calm. Over the reassuring rumble of the engine I can hear the soft sound of singing. Pull myself up on an elbow and look towards the bows¹. There is Kasim, standing motionless and in perfect silhouette, looking out to sea and chanting. Beside him two or three others are gathering in the small foresail. 'ello Mi-kel!' 'Mi-kel, Mik-el Jack-son!' As soon as they see we're awake someone is taken off foresail lashing and sent to arrange some tea for us. One of the things this traveller has learnt is that those who have least are prepared to give most. This crew has given up a lot for us sleeping space, living space and precious fresh water – without ever making us feel obligated or tolerated. Their life is communal, they depend on each other rather than machines, and maybe because of this their attitude to us materially overstocked and somewhat stand-offish Westerners has been unfailingly generous and helpful. The captain takes a look at the sea and removes his cap, scratches his head and shakes it respectfully. 'We are lucky men,' he says. He's rarely seen it quite as calm, and he knows the power of the sea, for in a storm last year, his brother's ship was sunk and eighteen drowned. The captain and his navigator sleep in the back of the wheelhouse. A new music centre and a pair of speakers are the only luxury. The only printed books appear to be navigational charts and almanacs. The front of the wheelhouse contains, apart from the wheel, a compass, a clock that's stopped, a throttle control and a bell that's rung every time the fish-line is sprung. There is also a panel of dials indicating engine RPM², water temperature and oil pressure. None of these is working. Under the wheelhouse is a fetid, windowless airless cabin which I hope we never have to make use of. The temperature in there hovers constantly at 100 degrees, and Julian and Ron, who have to go in to load film and change stock, emerge pounds lighter. The corresponding aft³ cabin is full of the crew's trunks. They are allowed one each in which they can import certain items free of duty. A perk of the job. Captain Suleyman says the Indian customs are very strict. No gold or guns. 'Is there much smuggling?' I ask him. 'Oh, plenty smuggling ... in clothes, ... wrist-watches ... but,' he reassures me, 'we are not smugglers,' and laughs uproariously. *** Midday: 92°F under the awning. We're due south of Karachi. Looking at my map I observe that it has taken us a day to travel between the 'A' and the 'R' of 'Arabian Sea'. Sunday afternoon on the Al Sharma. Suddenly there is some sea-borne entertainment. Dahwood, at the wheel, has spotted dolphins approaching the boat. They gather ahead of us, lazily and luxuriously rolling around in the bow wave, weaving in and out, diving, backtracking, returning and always keeping just ahead of the boat. The crew encourage them with drumbeats and whistles. As soon as they know there's an audience the dolphins show off shamelessly. For a magical few minutes they stay and play. The sea is so blue and clear it is one of the most remarkable and beautiful sights of the journey so far, rivalled a little later by the raising of the huge sail. ¹bow: the front of a ship ²RPM: revolutions per minute ³aft: the back of a ship

  1. Analyse the text, focusing on form, structure and language.[25]

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

  1. [Marks vary by level] (Form) the typical text conventions used in travel writing
  2. [Marks vary by level] (Form) the ways in which the purpose affects the content and style of the text
  3. [Marks vary by level] (Form) the ways in which the extract appeals to its intended audience, e.g. through the tone and register used in the text
  4. [Marks vary by level] (Form) any other relevant aspect of the form
  5. [Marks vary by level] (Structure) the ways in which short/long paragraphs and dialogue are used in the text
  6. [Marks vary by level] (Structure) the way in which the extract is structured to reflect time passing for the narrator
  7. [Marks vary by level] (Structure) the way in which references to dates and times are used in the text, e.g. the title Day 22
  8. [Marks vary by level] (Structure) any other relevant structural features in the text
  9. [Marks vary by level] (Language) the way in which the writer uses lists and adjectives to describe variety in the setting e.g. the wind has dropped and the sea is flat and calm; A new music centre and a pair of speakers are the only luxury. The only printed books appear to be navigational charts and almanacs; a foetid, windowless airless cabin; weaving in and out, diving, backtracking, returning and always keeping just ahead of the boat; The sea is so blue and clear it is one of the most remarkable and beautiful sights of the journey so far
  10. [Marks vary by level] (Language) the way in which sensory details, such as sounds and vivid sights or smells, are used in the text to immerse the reader in the travelling narrator's experience e.g. Over the reassuring rumble of the engine, I can hear the soft sound of singing; There is Kasim, standing motionless and in perfect silhouette, looking out to sea and chanting; a foetid, windowless airless cabin which I hope we never have to make use of; The crew encourage them with drumbeats and whistles
  11. [Marks vary by level] (Language) use of a lexical field related to boats and the sea e.g. reassuring rumble of the engine; look towards the bows; the small foresail; This crew; The captain and his navigator; navigational charts; the bow wave; the raising of the huge sail
  12. [Marks vary by level] (Language) the use of verbs in the text, and their effect on the reader e.g. gather, rolling, weaving in and out, diving, backtracking, returning, show off, stay and play for example are all used to describe the way in which the dolphins provide welcome entertainment for the humans on board
  13. [Marks vary by level] (Language) vocabulary used to create a sense of calm and stillness e.g. Midday: 92 degrees F. under the awning, Sunday afternoon on the Al Sharma, a magical few minutes
  14. [Marks vary by level] (Language) the use of dialogue to indicate the connection and a lively communication between speakers of different languages e.g. 'ello Mi-kel!' 'Mi-kel, Mik-el Jack-son!' and to help relate the narrative e.g. 'Oh, plenty smuggling_in clothes_ wrist watches_ but,' he reassures me, 'we are not smugglers,'
  15. [Marks vary by level] (Language) the depiction of the crew as unfailingly kind and generous despite their limited possessions, space and, presumably, wealth e.g. those who have least are prepared to give most; This crew has given up a lot for us – sleeping space, living space and precious fresh water; sent to arrange some tea for us; unfailingly generous and helpful.
  16. [Marks vary by level] (Language) any other relevant language features in the text

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About this question

Topic
Reading: text analysis and comparison, A-Level English Language (syllabus 9093). Structured question, 25 marks.
Source
A-Level English Language, May/June 2023 Paper 1 Variant 2, question 2.

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