Practice Paper 1C

Read Text C, Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont, 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 idea as the words underlined:(i)  The car drove down the wet, quiet road.(ii)  She tried to dismiss the fear.(iii)  All appearing quite similar.(iv)  Excellent food.

(b) Using your own words, explain what the writer means by each of the words underlined:Followed by the driver and her luggage (for the hotel gave no sign of life), she battled with revolving doors and almost lurched into the hushed vestibule. The receptionist was coldly kind, as if she were working in a nursing-home, and one for deranged patients at that. ‘What a day!’ she said. The taxi-driver, lumbering in with the suitcases, seemed alien in this muffled place, and was at once taken over by the porter. Mrs Palfrey opened her handbag and carefully picked out coins. Everything she did was unhurried, almost authoritative.(i) luggage(ii) battled(iii) authoritative

(c) Use one example from the text below to explain how the writer suggests Mrs Palfrey’s initial thoughts and feelings about her new circumstances.Use your own words in your explanation.When the porter had put down her suitcases and gone, she thought that prisoners must feel as she did now, the first time they are left in their cell, first turning to the window, then facing about to stare at the closed door: after that, counting the paces from wall to wall. She envisaged this briskly.

(d) Re-read paragraphs 10 and 12.

• Paragraph 10 begins ‘From the window she could see …’ and gives a description of the view from Mrs Palfrey’s window.
• Paragraph 12 begins ‘The bed looked rather high …’ and gives a description of the hotel room.

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, Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont, in the insert and then answer Question 3 on this question paper.You are the taxi driver. Your employer asks you to write a report about your journey with Mrs Palfrey to the hotel. You decide to write about:

• What you saw and felt during your journey to the hotel.
• What you remember about Mrs Palfrey and her reactions to the hotel.
• What your reasons were for helping Mrs Palfrey with her luggage and what do you think she thought about your service.