Post by kendall on Apr 20, 2012 9:17:50 GMT
TACKLING STANDARD GRADE READING QUESTIONS
ANSWER KEY TO PRACTICE QUESTIONS
All answers here are taken the SQA marking schemes, 2001 to 2003
Purpose B - to obtain particular information from a text
Q 3 “ . . . people will buy almost anything . . . ” The writer gives several examples to prove this statement. Choose any two (APART FROM GAMES AND VIDEOS').
In each case explain the writer thinks it is surprising that anyone should buy them.
Boxes – rickety or broken / baseball caps – free to start with / plastic dinosaurs – used or damaged / tattie-peeler – difficult to wash / plastic containers – ill-fitting lids / pancake mixer - splashes 1 mark for each named and explained item
Q 4 What did the man think “looked good” about his CV?
It was organised / business-like / word-processed 2 marks for any one, lifts acceptable
Q 5 Give two pieces of evidence which suggest that Bram Stoker wrote the novel Dracula more than one hundred years ago.
Reference to Victorian (novelist) (1)
Reference to carriage (1)
Q 6 In your own words explain fully why their father was sent down first.
To find out / see (1)
if it was too scary/ frightening/ suitable for the boys (1)
Q 7 Write down an expression which shows that Matthew did not complete the tour.
(One vampire hand was) “quite enough” (2)
Q 8 What was the real name of the original Dracula?
(Prince) Vlad Tepes (2)
Q 9 Explain in your own words how Romania benefits from "this confusion between fiction and history".
brings people (to Romania) (1)
in large numbers (1)
reference to economic benefits ( 1)
Any 2 of the above for 1 mark each to a maximum of 2
Q 12 According to the narrator, what were the two possible reasons for the relatives’ visit? Answer in your own words
They felt they had to visit / it was their duty (1)
because they were family / related (1)
They wanted to see (1)
what they were like (1)
Q 13 Quote the expression which best suggests why he followed her to the pay-point.
(There was something) in her movements that was very tense (2)
Q 14 In your own words, describe what the detective did to avoid being noticed at the pay-point.
He pretended to be (1) a (puzzled) man looking for his wife / a man who’d lost his wife (1)
Q 15 Which two words does the writer use to emphasise the strangeness of the dodo?
bizarre (1) enigma (1)
Q 16 What does the writer’s use of the expression “fateful encounter” tell you about the meeting?
Something awful / dramatic was going to happen / it was gong to have tragic consequences / it was going to result in death / lead to extinction / it was going to be unlucky
Any one of the above for 2 marks. Nothing for the idea of fate e.g. it was meant to happen – the underlying idea is that the meeting led to the dodo’s doom
Q 17 In your own words, what does the writer’s use of the expression “unfeasible-looking” tell you about the dodo’s bill?
It appeared / seemed / looked (1) as if it would not work / as if it would not be any use (1)
Purpose C - to grasp ideas or feelings implied in a text
Q 19 Why do you think one advert in the newspaper was “targeted in a ring of red felt-tip pen” ?
Because the man was interested / intended to apply / had been out of work for a year like the man in the advert / was attracted by the rewards 1 mark each for any two
Q 20 Explain why the man chose to post his letter in Victoria Road
It was a busy place / had a working atmosphere (1)
Which made it seem a better / luckier place to post it ( 1)
[Accept also a negative response based on the idea that the one in his street (1) was unlucky (1) ]
Q 21 Explain clearly why “his heart had sunk” when he handed over his letter.
There were so many (others) (1)
That his would be lost / had no hope (1)
Q 22 “My three brave boys” Explain fully why this expression might be considered to be surprising.
ironic (2)
comment e.g. they were afraid (1) + reference e.g. running away / went white (1)
Q 23 What does the expression “fiery concoction” tell you about the Dracula’s Kiss drink?
powerful / strong / burning sensation (1)
many up of many / various / mixture of ingredients (1)
Q 26 What does the last sentence tell us about Walter’s character?
He was inquisitive / nosey / taking everything in (2)
Q 27 Look at the last sentence. What does this suggest the mother thought of the aunt’s tales of travel?
They were exaggerated / boastful OR the aunt was showing off / trying to impress / trying to belittle the mother Any answer for 2 marks
Q 28 Explain what concerns the detective had about kids.
They wore clothing that was too big / loose (1)
and could (easily) hide things (1)
Q 29 Explain what concerns the detective had about well-dressed gentlemen.
Their overcoats / briefcases (1) were good for hiding things (1)
Q 30 In your own words give two pieces of evidence which suggest the detective felt some sympathy towards the woman.
He wondered if people would think ( 1) that they were a couple shopping (1)
He avoided going through the office area / went up the back stairs (1) so she would not be seen / not be embarrassed (1)
Purpose D- to evaluate the writer's attitudes, assumptions and argument
Q 32 In your own words, what is the writer’s opinion of the setting of the hotel?
Magnificent / thinks it is very beautiful / very attractive (2)
Idea of intensity of her opinion must be present
Q 33 How does the writer feel about the changes planned for the tourist industry in Romania?
concerned / worried / anxious / upset or explanation of similar feeling (2)
Q 34 Which one word sums up the writer’s sympathetic attitude to the dodo?
Misrepresented (2)
Purpose E- to appreciate the writer's craft.
Q 36 How does the structure of this sentence emphasise the man’s care in opening the envelope?
(The word) gingerly is placed (1) at the start (of the sentence) (1)
Q 37 How does the writer emphasise that the woman had bought “few things” through the use of sentence structure?
Each item (1) is given a sentence on its own (1)
No marks for saying that the sentences are short: short sentences do not imply a short list
Q 38 Why does the writer use ellipsis at the end of the final sentence?
To show that the list could continue / be endless OR that there could be more examples 2 marks for either
Q 39 Why does the writer use a colon? Is it to introduce a quotation, to elaborate on an idea, or to introduce and explanation?
To elaborate on an idea 2 marks
Q 40 Why does the writer use a colon? Is it to introduce a quotation, to elaborate on an idea, or to introduce and explanation?
To introduce an explanation 2 marks
Q 41 Explain how effective you find the simile in this extract.
Answers should deal with the idea that “sideline” = left out / excluded etc (1)
AND that “face in a crowd” = anonymity / one of many / lost / unimportant etc (1)
Q 42 In what two ways does the writer create a frightening atmosphere in this sentence?
reference to “creaked” / mention of word choice (1)
reference to short sentence / mention of sentence structure (1)
Q 43 Why does the writer use dashes in this paragraph?
To provide additional information / detail / parenthesis (2)
Q 44 Why does the writer put the word “castle” in inverted commas?
Being ironic / to show it is not really a castle / to show it is really a hotel (2)
Q 45 What is the function of the dashes?
Giving additional information / parenthesis (2)
Q 46 How does the writer emphasise that the woman had bought “few things” through the use of word choice?
Use of a / an / one / individual / solitary Any 2 for 1 mark each
Q 47 Quote a comparison from this section which shows how emotional or upset the woman was, and explain how effective you find it.
. . . “as if her head might explode”. / “It ripped out of her . . . prisoner for years.” Either of these for 1 mark + appropriate comment on the intensity of the image for 1 more mark
Q 48 “It was like nothing they had ever set eyes on.” Explain the function of this sentence.
It acts as an introduction to what follows (2) OR
It emphasises the strangeness of the bird (2)
Q 49 Explain the writer’s use of a question at the start of this paragraph.
Reference to involving the reader (1)
Allows him to explore / suggest / consider / offer / introduce (1)
possible explanations (1)
Maximum of 2 marks available
One other important question type
Q 51 Explain how the context helps you understand the meaning of the word “taxidermy” here.
Taxidermy means stuffing (1)
Reference to unsuccessful attempt to preserve the dodo (1)
And another important question type
Q 53 “All the junk in Scotland meets your befuddled gaze” How does the writer continue the idea of “junk”?
Reference to any TWO of – use of colon (to introduce) / (a list of) examples / unwanted gifts / wee something for Christmas / birthday gift not wanted / holiday souvenirs / stuff / (which) clutters our lives / recycled rubbish 1 mark for each
Q 54 The detective found the sight of his cubby-hole “depressing”. Explain how the writer continues this idea in the rest of the paragraph.
Reference to any TWO of: very small table / only one chair / which is an upright one / the window is barred (like a cell – possibly dark) / the only outlook is the fire escape / the wall-mounted phone 1 mark each Nothing for mentioning the smallness of the room
ANSWER KEY TO PRACTICE QUESTIONS
All answers here are taken the SQA marking schemes, 2001 to 2003
Purpose B - to obtain particular information from a text
Q 3 “ . . . people will buy almost anything . . . ” The writer gives several examples to prove this statement. Choose any two (APART FROM GAMES AND VIDEOS').
In each case explain the writer thinks it is surprising that anyone should buy them.
Boxes – rickety or broken / baseball caps – free to start with / plastic dinosaurs – used or damaged / tattie-peeler – difficult to wash / plastic containers – ill-fitting lids / pancake mixer - splashes 1 mark for each named and explained item
Q 4 What did the man think “looked good” about his CV?
It was organised / business-like / word-processed 2 marks for any one, lifts acceptable
Q 5 Give two pieces of evidence which suggest that Bram Stoker wrote the novel Dracula more than one hundred years ago.
Reference to Victorian (novelist) (1)
Reference to carriage (1)
Q 6 In your own words explain fully why their father was sent down first.
To find out / see (1)
if it was too scary/ frightening/ suitable for the boys (1)
Q 7 Write down an expression which shows that Matthew did not complete the tour.
(One vampire hand was) “quite enough” (2)
Q 8 What was the real name of the original Dracula?
(Prince) Vlad Tepes (2)
Q 9 Explain in your own words how Romania benefits from "this confusion between fiction and history".
brings people (to Romania) (1)
in large numbers (1)
reference to economic benefits ( 1)
Any 2 of the above for 1 mark each to a maximum of 2
Q 12 According to the narrator, what were the two possible reasons for the relatives’ visit? Answer in your own words
They felt they had to visit / it was their duty (1)
because they were family / related (1)
They wanted to see (1)
what they were like (1)
Q 13 Quote the expression which best suggests why he followed her to the pay-point.
(There was something) in her movements that was very tense (2)
Q 14 In your own words, describe what the detective did to avoid being noticed at the pay-point.
He pretended to be (1) a (puzzled) man looking for his wife / a man who’d lost his wife (1)
Q 15 Which two words does the writer use to emphasise the strangeness of the dodo?
bizarre (1) enigma (1)
Q 16 What does the writer’s use of the expression “fateful encounter” tell you about the meeting?
Something awful / dramatic was going to happen / it was gong to have tragic consequences / it was going to result in death / lead to extinction / it was going to be unlucky
Any one of the above for 2 marks. Nothing for the idea of fate e.g. it was meant to happen – the underlying idea is that the meeting led to the dodo’s doom
Q 17 In your own words, what does the writer’s use of the expression “unfeasible-looking” tell you about the dodo’s bill?
It appeared / seemed / looked (1) as if it would not work / as if it would not be any use (1)
Purpose C - to grasp ideas or feelings implied in a text
Q 19 Why do you think one advert in the newspaper was “targeted in a ring of red felt-tip pen” ?
Because the man was interested / intended to apply / had been out of work for a year like the man in the advert / was attracted by the rewards 1 mark each for any two
Q 20 Explain why the man chose to post his letter in Victoria Road
It was a busy place / had a working atmosphere (1)
Which made it seem a better / luckier place to post it ( 1)
[Accept also a negative response based on the idea that the one in his street (1) was unlucky (1) ]
Q 21 Explain clearly why “his heart had sunk” when he handed over his letter.
There were so many (others) (1)
That his would be lost / had no hope (1)
Q 22 “My three brave boys” Explain fully why this expression might be considered to be surprising.
ironic (2)
comment e.g. they were afraid (1) + reference e.g. running away / went white (1)
Q 23 What does the expression “fiery concoction” tell you about the Dracula’s Kiss drink?
powerful / strong / burning sensation (1)
many up of many / various / mixture of ingredients (1)
Q 26 What does the last sentence tell us about Walter’s character?
He was inquisitive / nosey / taking everything in (2)
Q 27 Look at the last sentence. What does this suggest the mother thought of the aunt’s tales of travel?
They were exaggerated / boastful OR the aunt was showing off / trying to impress / trying to belittle the mother Any answer for 2 marks
Q 28 Explain what concerns the detective had about kids.
They wore clothing that was too big / loose (1)
and could (easily) hide things (1)
Q 29 Explain what concerns the detective had about well-dressed gentlemen.
Their overcoats / briefcases (1) were good for hiding things (1)
Q 30 In your own words give two pieces of evidence which suggest the detective felt some sympathy towards the woman.
He wondered if people would think ( 1) that they were a couple shopping (1)
He avoided going through the office area / went up the back stairs (1) so she would not be seen / not be embarrassed (1)
Purpose D- to evaluate the writer's attitudes, assumptions and argument
Q 32 In your own words, what is the writer’s opinion of the setting of the hotel?
Magnificent / thinks it is very beautiful / very attractive (2)
Idea of intensity of her opinion must be present
Q 33 How does the writer feel about the changes planned for the tourist industry in Romania?
concerned / worried / anxious / upset or explanation of similar feeling (2)
Q 34 Which one word sums up the writer’s sympathetic attitude to the dodo?
Misrepresented (2)
Purpose E- to appreciate the writer's craft.
Q 36 How does the structure of this sentence emphasise the man’s care in opening the envelope?
(The word) gingerly is placed (1) at the start (of the sentence) (1)
Q 37 How does the writer emphasise that the woman had bought “few things” through the use of sentence structure?
Each item (1) is given a sentence on its own (1)
No marks for saying that the sentences are short: short sentences do not imply a short list
Q 38 Why does the writer use ellipsis at the end of the final sentence?
To show that the list could continue / be endless OR that there could be more examples 2 marks for either
Q 39 Why does the writer use a colon? Is it to introduce a quotation, to elaborate on an idea, or to introduce and explanation?
To elaborate on an idea 2 marks
Q 40 Why does the writer use a colon? Is it to introduce a quotation, to elaborate on an idea, or to introduce and explanation?
To introduce an explanation 2 marks
Q 41 Explain how effective you find the simile in this extract.
Answers should deal with the idea that “sideline” = left out / excluded etc (1)
AND that “face in a crowd” = anonymity / one of many / lost / unimportant etc (1)
Q 42 In what two ways does the writer create a frightening atmosphere in this sentence?
reference to “creaked” / mention of word choice (1)
reference to short sentence / mention of sentence structure (1)
Q 43 Why does the writer use dashes in this paragraph?
To provide additional information / detail / parenthesis (2)
Q 44 Why does the writer put the word “castle” in inverted commas?
Being ironic / to show it is not really a castle / to show it is really a hotel (2)
Q 45 What is the function of the dashes?
Giving additional information / parenthesis (2)
Q 46 How does the writer emphasise that the woman had bought “few things” through the use of word choice?
Use of a / an / one / individual / solitary Any 2 for 1 mark each
Q 47 Quote a comparison from this section which shows how emotional or upset the woman was, and explain how effective you find it.
. . . “as if her head might explode”. / “It ripped out of her . . . prisoner for years.” Either of these for 1 mark + appropriate comment on the intensity of the image for 1 more mark
Q 48 “It was like nothing they had ever set eyes on.” Explain the function of this sentence.
It acts as an introduction to what follows (2) OR
It emphasises the strangeness of the bird (2)
Q 49 Explain the writer’s use of a question at the start of this paragraph.
Reference to involving the reader (1)
Allows him to explore / suggest / consider / offer / introduce (1)
possible explanations (1)
Maximum of 2 marks available
One other important question type
Q 51 Explain how the context helps you understand the meaning of the word “taxidermy” here.
Taxidermy means stuffing (1)
Reference to unsuccessful attempt to preserve the dodo (1)
And another important question type
Q 53 “All the junk in Scotland meets your befuddled gaze” How does the writer continue the idea of “junk”?
Reference to any TWO of – use of colon (to introduce) / (a list of) examples / unwanted gifts / wee something for Christmas / birthday gift not wanted / holiday souvenirs / stuff / (which) clutters our lives / recycled rubbish 1 mark for each
Q 54 The detective found the sight of his cubby-hole “depressing”. Explain how the writer continues this idea in the rest of the paragraph.
Reference to any TWO of: very small table / only one chair / which is an upright one / the window is barred (like a cell – possibly dark) / the only outlook is the fire escape / the wall-mounted phone 1 mark each Nothing for mentioning the smallness of the room