2024

Read the Text in the insert, and answer questions 1–16.

1 What phrase tells the reader that the children didn’t get the gifts well before time?

they had gone to buy some last-minute presents

[1]

2 Why does the writer use a colon ( : ) in line 5?

to explain the strange happening

[1]

3 What does the word cognizant (line 9) tell the reader about Will?

… Will was always aware / mindful that he was different

[1]

4 Look at lines 5–8. The writer describes the fields as surreal.

Explain in your own words two ways that show this.
 slowing down of time
 the snowflakes hanging motionless in the air
 the frozen trees and bushes
 the muffled sounds
[2]

5 A man appears in the fields dramatically. (lines 13 – 16)

Give two words / phrases that show this.
 suddenly
o sudden appearance of the figure creates a sense of surprise and
anticipation.
 figure
o lack of details about the figure, other than the fact that it is a man, adds to
the mystery and suspense
 loomed
o appear as a vague, shadowy or threatening form
 dressed in strange archaic clothes
 the fact that he is carrying a long, gnarled staff
o create a sense of otherworldliness and suggests that the man may be a
character from a different time or place.
[2]

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6 Look at lines 17–27.

Explain in your own words how the writer contrasts the actions of the man with those
of Will.

The writer contrasts the man's confidence and authority with Will's uncertainty
and lack of knowledge. This contrast also serves to highlight the importance of
the man's message and the potential impact it could have on Will's life.

(Accept any answer that expresses the same idea.)

Sample Answers

 The man is described as stopping in front of Will and James, indicating a sense of
purpose and control. In contrast, Will is taken aback and does not know how to
respond.
 The man looks down at Will and James with piercing blue eyes, which suggests
that he is in a position of power or authority. Will, on the other hand, is uncertain
and confused.
 The man addresses Will as "Old One" and speaks in a matter-of-fact tone,
suggesting that he is familiar with the situation and confident in his message. Will,
by contrast, is bewildered and asks for clarification.

Give two quotations from the text to support your answer.

the man:
 stopped in front of them
 looked down at Will and James with piercing blue eyes.
 "Greetings, Old One," he said, addressing Will
Will:
 Will was taken aback. "What do you mean, 'Old One'?" he asked.
 Will didn't know what to make of this.
 "I don't understand!" he said.
[2]

7 Look at lines 19–20.

Why does the writer separate the direct speech into two parts?

 It gives the second part, ("I have been sent to find you.") a strong impact.
 It makes the second part about the purpose of the man stand out.
 It adds emphasis to the second part.

[1]

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8 Look at line 22.

The man’s face softened. What is the man trying to do?
 He wanted to convey a sense of reassurance and comfort as Will was taken
aback.
 Softening of the man's facial expression was likely meant to put him at ease
and establish a sense of trust.
 By using a softer facial expression, the man was able to demonstrate
compassion which may have been intended to help Will accept the weight of
the responsibility being placed upon him.
[1]
(Accept any answer that expresses the same idea.)

9 Look at lines 36–47.

What two literary techniques are used? Tick (🗸) two boxes.

personification room swam

idiom heart of a lion

[2]

10 “It is a force of evil…” lines 28–29

What is the effect of this sentence on the reader?
Emotive vocabulary conveys a sense of urgency / danger / tension / suspense.

Explanation
The effect of this diction is to create tension and suspense, as the reader is left
wondering about the nature of the force of evil, and the abilities and role of the Old
One in stopping it. The emotive language also adds to the dramatic effect, creating a
sense of urgency and emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
[1]

(Accept any answer that expresses the same idea.)

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11 Look at line 31.

Why does the writer use the verb intrigued in this sentence: Will was frightened, but
he was also intrigued.
 To suggest that Will's fear is mixed with curiosity and interest.
 Although the situation is frightening, there is also something captivating and
compelling about it that draws Will in.
 The use of "intrigued" indicates that Will is not just scared, but he is also
curious and open to the possibilities that this new purpose may bring.
 The use of "intrigued" adds depth and complexity to Will's emotional state,
showing that he is not just a passive victim of fear, but also an active
participant in his own destiny.
[1]
(Accept any answer that expresses the same idea.)

12 Look at lines 31–34.

(a) Why does the writer use a single-lined paragraph? Line 34
 To create emphasis
o A single-lined paragraph can be used to draw attention to a single
word or phrase, emphasizing its importance. By isolating the text
from the surrounding paragraphs, the writer can make it stand
out and create a stronger impact on the reader.
 To indicate a shift in the action or dialogue
o from Will's internal thoughts and emotional state to Will
speaking out loud and making a decision
 Writer highlights the importance of Will's decision
o A visual break in the text draws the reader's attention to the
change in action.
o It also helps to create a sense of momentum and progression, as
the story moves forward with a clear sense of purpose.
[1]

(b) What does the writer’s use of an exclamation mark ( ! ) tell the reader about
Will? Line 34
 The use of an exclamation mark in this sentence helps to convey the
emotional intensity of Will's statement and highlights the importance
of his decision to take on this new purpose.
 It suggests that Will is speaking with excitement, enthusiasm and
strong emotion as he has taken the decision.
 It suggests that the speaker is feeling strongly about what they are
saying.
 The exclamation mark emphasizes the enthusiasm in Will's statement
and conveys a sense of determination and eagerness.
[1]
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13 Look at lines 35–37. The writer has capitalized the word Dark.
What impact does this have on the reader?
 Capitalization is commonly used to denote importance or distinction.
 Capitalization of the word suggests that it is a powerful and ominous force,
and the warning implies that it will pose a significant threat to the
protagonist's quest.
 It has an impact on the reader by adding to the overall atmosphere of the
story, making the Dark feel more significant and powerful, and creating a
sense of tension and anticipation for the reader as they wait to see how the
protagonist will confront this formidable enemy.
[1]
(Accept any answer that expresses the same idea.)

14 The man is mysterious. Give two ways that the reader knows this.
 dressed in strange, archaic clothes
 carried a long, gnarled staff
 piercing blue eyes
 the man's crooked teeth
 ominous warning given to Will
 the man vanished
[2]

15 What does “woke up to a new world” imply? Tick (🗸) one box.
transformed to face challenges
[1]

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16 How does the writer build a sense of menace in this extract? Complete the table to
give two explanations and two quotations.

Explanation Quotation

The writer has used time in the

extract to create a sense of
foreboding and build tension.
“Fighting the Dark for
centuries” implies that the
struggle has been long and
difficult and is likely to leave
the reader with a sense of the fighting the Dark for
gravity and difficulty of the centuries
Use of time
situation.
The writer uses time to suggest now the time has come
that something momentous is
about to happen. “Now the
time has come” implies that a
long period of waiting is over,
and that Will is now being
called upon to fulfill his
destiny.

The writer uses sound

effectively to create an
atmosphere of tension and to
world around them seemed
Use of sound draw the reader into the story.
to be muffled.
Additionally, the absence of
sound is used to create a
moment of suspense.

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To add to the magical and

mystical feel of the encounter,
the writer mentions that the
snowflakes hung motionless in
the air, the trees and bushes
were frozen in place, and even
the sounds of the world
around them seemed to be
muffled.
The weather enhances the
the snow had stopped falling
feeling of otherworldliness,
Use of weather which is appropriate given the
the sun was shining bright in
circumstances.
the sky
The writer also uses the
change in weather to mark a
shift in the story. At the end of
the extract, Will wakes up to a
new world where the snow has
stopped falling, and the sun is
shining bright in the sky. This
signals a new beginning for
Will and his journey as he is
transported to a new place.

Will had always been

cognizant that he was
Will has always been aware of different from other
being different from other children
children. He has a sense of
Will’s feelings foreboding about something he felt a sense of
that he can't explain. He foreboding that he couldn't
becomes frightened but also has explain
a sense of excitement.
Will was frightened, but he
was also intrigued

[4]

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17 Section B: Writing

Marks
Creation of texts (Wc) 5
Vocabulary and language (Wv) 3
Grammar and punctuation (Wg) 7
Structure of texts (Ws) 7
Word structure [spelling] (Ww) 3
[Total 25]

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