Cambridge &amp; Pearson Edexcel Past Paper Questions

Read this extract, and then answer the question that follows it: 'Don't you cant, Nelly,' he said. 'Nonsense! We ran from the top of the Heights t...

A wilful child who never grows up. A passionate romantic lover. Which of these descriptions of Catherine Earnshaw/Linton is closer to your own vie...

You are Nellie Dean. Heathcliff has imprisoned you at Wuthering Heights and Catherine has been taken away from you. Write your thoughts.

Read this extract from Surface Textures, and then answer the question that follows it: The neighbours lost sight of Harish. Once some children rep...

In either Scholar and Gypsy or A Devoted Son explore the ways in which Desai vividly portrays how self-centred and selfish people can be. Support y...

You are Mr Bose at the beginning of Private Tuition by Mr Bose. You are awaiting the arrival of Pritam for his tutorial. Write your thoughts.

Read this extract, and then answer the question that follows it: 'I wish to be relieved of the administration of Golema Mmidi, said Matenge. Chief...

Explore one incident in the novel which makes you particularly admire the people of Golema Mmidi. Support your answer with details from Head's writ...

You are Mma-Millipede. Makhaya has just left your house after his first visit to you. Write your thoughts.

Read this extract, and then answer the question that follows it: We went upstairs, through period bedrooms swathed in rose and lavender silk and v...

What do you think it is about Daisy that makes Gatsby so attracted to her? Support your ideas with details from Fitzgerald's writing.

You are Jordan Baker at Gatsby's lavish party. The butler has summoned you to a meeting with Jay Gatsby. Write your thoughts.

Read this extract, and then answer the question that follows it: The querulous drone ceased as I entered Frome's kitchen, and of the two women sit...

Explore two episodes in the novel which for you most vividly convey the disappointments of Ethan Frome's life. Support your views with details from...

You are Zeena. You have been married a year. Write your thoughts.

Read this extract from Secrets (by Bernard MacLaverty) and then answer the question that follows it: His aunt had been small - her head on a level...

How does the writer of either How It Happened (by Arthur Conan Doyle) or There Will Come Soft Rains (by Ray Bradbury) make the story so effective e...

You are Mrs Croft in The Third and Final Continent. You have just met Mala for the first time. Write your thoughts.

Read this extract, and then answer the question that follows it: Ben: Yes, my dear. But I've only a few minutes – Willy: No! Boys! Boys! [Young Bi...

To what extent does Miller make you feel sympathy for Biff? Support your ideas with details from the play.

You are Bernard. You have just left your father and Willy to return to Washington to appear at the Supreme Court. Write your thoughts.

Read this extract, and then answer the question that follows it: Don Pedro See, see; here comes the man we went to seek. Enter Benedick. Claudio...

To what extent does Shakespeare make the ending of the play satisfying for you? Support your answer by close reference.

You are Don John. You have just arranged to meet Claudio the night before his wedding to show him that Hero is disloyal. Write your thoughts.

Read this extract, and then answer the question that follows it: Brutus: Another general shout! I do believe that these applauses are For some new...

'The noblest Roman of them all.' How far do you agree with this description of Shakespeare's portrayal of Brutus? Support your ideas by close refer...

You are Calphurnia. Caesar has just left for the Senate House on the morning of the Ides of March. Write your thoughts.

Read this extract, and then answer the question that follows it: Osborne: The colonel came here while you were asleep. Trotter: Oh? Osborne: We've...

In what ways does Sherriff make Osborne such an admirable character? Support your ideas with details from the writing. (Do not use the passage in Q...

You are Stanhope near the beginning of the play, on your way up to the front line to relieve Hardy. Write your thoughts.

Read this extract from Ulysses, and then answer the question that follows it: It little profits that an idle king, By this still hearth, among the...

In what ways does Tennyson movingly reveal his emotions to you on the death of his friend, Hallam? Support your ideas with details from the extract...

What does Tennyson make you feel about Lancelot in The Lady of Shalott? Refer to details in the poem in your answer.

Read this poem, and then answer the question that follows it: The Flower-Fed Buffaloes The flower-fed buffaloes of the spring In the days of long...

Explore how either Lament (by Gillian Clarke) or First Love (by John Clare) conveys the powerful feelings of the speaker.

How do the poets vividly convey their feelings about love in So, We'll Go No More A-Roving (by Lord Byron) and Sonnet 43 (by Elizabeth Barrett Brow...

Read this extract, and then answer the question that follows it: After behaving as badly as possible all day, she sometimes came fondling to make ...

Victim Monster Which of these views do you think more accurately describes Brontë's portrayal of Heathcliff? Support your ideas with details from t...

You are Edgar Linton. Isabella is dying and you are travelling to see her. Write your thoughts.

Read this extract, and then answer the question that follows it: Ammaji was stationed down below with a pile of stones and a slingshot made of a b...

How does Desai make Pinky such an amusing character? Support your ideas with details from the novel. (Do not use the passage printed in Question 22...

You are Mr Chawla. Sampath and the monkeys have gone for ever. Write your thoughts.

Read this extract, and then answer the question that follows it: Gatsby's house was still empty when I left – the grass on his lawn had grown as l...

Daisy has been described as 'selfish and shallow'. How far would you agree that this is how Fitzgerald portrays her? Refer to details in the novel ...

You are Jordan Baker. Nick has just left you, towards the end of the novel. Write your thoughts.

Read this extract, and then answer the question that follows it: Early the next morning, at the home of Mma-Millipede, bedlam reigned. The women o...

How does Head make Makhaya such a compelling central character in the novel? Support your answer by close reference.

You are Mma-Millipede. You have just been discussing the tobacco-growing project with Gilbert. Write your thoughts.

Read this extract, and then answer the question that follows it: Ethan was ashamed of the storm of jealousy in his breast. It seemed unworthy of t...