Cambridge Past Paper Questions

JOHN KNOWLES: A Separate Peace Remember to support your ideas with details from the writing. Either 17 Read this extract, and then answer the ques...

ALAN PATON: Cry, the Beloved Country Remember to support your ideas with details from the writing. Either 19 Read this extract, and then answer th...

from Stories of Ourselves Remember to support your ideas with details from the writing. Either 21 Read this extract from The Lemon Orchard (by Ale...

Read this passage carefully, and then answer the question that follows it: Walter [to RUTH]: Well, they look crazy as hell-white shoes, cold as i...

Explore the ways in which Hansberry makes the generation gap between Mama and her children such a powerful part of the play.

Read this passage carefully, and then answer the question that follows it: Beatrice [never losing her aroused alarm]: Sit down, honey, I want to ...

How does Miller make betrayal such a powerful part of the play?

Read this passage carefully, and then answer the question that follows it: John: What about the way your father looks at me! Tell me, are all you...

How does Rattigan make the Winslow family's employment of Sir Robert Morton a striking part of the play?

Read this passage carefully, and then answer the question that follows it: Lady Macbeth: Nought's had, all's spent, Where our desire is got wit...

At the end of the play Malcolm describes Macbeth as a 'butcher'. To what extent does Shakespeare's portrayal of Macbeth make you agree with this de...

Read this passage carefully, and then answer the question that follows it: Juliet: Now, good sweet nurse O Lord, why look'st thou sad? Though n...

In what ways does Shakespeare make Mercutio such a compelling character?

Either 1 Read this poem, and then answer the question that follows it: She Dwelt Among the Untrodden Ways She dwelt among the untrodden ways Beside...

Or 2 In what ways does Dobson make The Three Fates such an intriguing poem? The Three Fates At the instant of drowning he invoked the three sisters...

Either 3 Read this poem, and then answer the question that follows it: Ode on Melancholy No, no, go not to Lethe, neither twist Wolf's-bane, tight-...

Or 4 How does Collins strikingly depict the effect that the cows have on him in Afternoon with Irish Cows? Afternoon with Irish Cows There were a f...

Either 5 Read this poem, and then answer the question that follows it: Stealing The most unusual thing I ever stole? A snowman. Midnight. He looked...

Or 6 How does Duffy powerfully convey the difficulties of living in a strange country in Foreign? Foreign Imagine living in a strange, dark city fo...

Either 7 Read this passage, and then answer the question that follows it: No: stillness returned: each murmur and movement ceased gradually, and in...

Or 8 Explore the ways in which Brontë vividly depicts the harshness of Lowood School.

Either 9 Read this passage, and then answer the question that follows it: Nur reflected on that for a long time, his opaque eyes turned inwards as ...

Or 10 How does Desai's writing vividly depict life in Mirpore?

Either 11 Read this passage, and then answer the question that follows it: 'I speak to Mr Harthouse?' she said, when they were alone. 'To Mr Hartho...

Or 12 Explore the ways in which Dickens powerfully depicts the lives of factory workers in the novel.

Either 13 Read this passage, and then answer the question that follows it: So gradually, she pressed her teeth together and learned to hush. Conten...

Or 14 How does Hurston make the love story of Janie and Tea Cake so compelling?

Either 15 Read this passage, and then answer the question that follows it: I went into the First Building, walked up the stairs where Finny had fal...

Or 16 Explore the ways in which Knowles makes the games that the boys play such a memorable part of the novel.

Either 17 Read this passage, and then answer the question that follows it: Parsons was Winston's fellow-employee at the Ministry of Truth. He was a...

Or 18 Explore the ways in which Orwell makes O'Brien's treatment of Winston in the Ministry of Love so disturbing.

Either 19 Read this passage, and then answer the question that follows it: Have no doubt it is fear in the land. For what can men do when so many h...

Or 20 How does Paton make the relationship between Stephen Kumalo and his wife particularly moving for you?

Either 21 Read this passage from On Her Knees (by Tim Winton), and then answer the question that follows it: Honestly, Mum, why didn't we just give...

Or 22 Explore the ways in which Grace strikingly depicts the old man's journey in Journey.

LORRAINE HANSBERRY: A Raisin in the Sun Remember to support your ideas with details from the text. Read this passage, and then answer the question ...

Does Hansberry persuade you to feel both sorry for Walter and angry with him? Do not use the passage in Question 1 in answering this question.

ARTHUR MILLER: The Crucible Remember to support your ideas with details from the text. Read this passage, and then answer the question that follows...

How far does Miller's portrayal of Abigail Williams make it possible for you to have any sympathy for her?

TERENCE RATTIGAN: The Winslow Boy Remember to support your ideas with details from the text. Read this passage, and then answer the question that f...

How does Rattigan memorably contrast John Watherstone and Desmond Curry in the play?

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: Macbeth Remember to support your ideas with details from the text. Read this passage, and then answer the question that follow...

How far does Shakespeare make you feel sympathy for Macbeth? Do not use the passage printed in Question 7 in answering this question.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: Romeo and Juliet Remember to support your ideas with details from the text. Read this passage, and then answer the question th...