Practice Paper 1A

Read Text C, The Martian, in the insert and then answer Questions 2(a)–(d) on this question paper. (a) Identify a word or phrase from the text which suggests the same as the words underlined:(i)  It was down to strange circumstances that Mark survived. (ii)  The spaceship can’t tolerate extreme weather indefinitely. (iii)  He got woken up by an incessant alarm. (iv)  Once he got inside, he took off his space suit.

(b) Using your own words, explain what the writer means by each of the words underlined:All the crew’s suits are networked so we can see each other’s status. The rest of the crew would have seen the pressure in my suit drop to nearly zero, followed immediately by my bio-signs going flat. Add to that watching me tumble down a hill with a spear through me in the middle of a sandstorm … yeah. They thought I was dead. How could they not?(i) crew(ii) immediately(iii) tumble

(c) Use one example from the text below to explain how the writer suggests Mark’s experiences and feelings at the point he got left behind.Use your own words in your explanation.I vaguely remember having the wind knocked out of me and my ears popping painfully as the pressure of my suit escaped. The last thing I remember was seeing Johanssen hopelessly reaching out toward me.

(d) Re-read paragraphs 13 and 15.

• Paragraph 13 begins ‘All the crew’s suits …’ and is about the moment the crew witnessed Mark getting left behind.
• Paragraph 15 begins ‘So that’s the situation …’ and gives Mark’s impression of his predicament.

Explain how the writer uses language to convey meaning and to create effect in these paragraphs. Choose three examples of words or phrases from each paragraph to support your answer. Your choices should include the use of imagery.

Write about 200 to 300 words.

Up to 15 marks are available for the content of your answer.

Re-read Text C, The Martian, in the insert and then answer Question 3 on this question paper.You are Johanssen, a member of the crew. On the way home, you write a journal entry about the day your crewmate Mark was left on Mars. You decide to write about:

• What you saw and felt during the evacuation from Mars
• What you remember about Mark’s last moments and your immediate reaction to seeing him fall
• What your reasons were for leaving Mark behind and what you think he thought in his final moments

Write the words of your journal entry.Base your journal entry on what you have read in Text C, but be careful to use your own words.Address each of the three bullet points.Begin your journal entry with the first point.Write about 250 to 350 words.Up to 15 marks are available for the content of your answer and up to 10 marks for the quality of your writing.