Question 1 (AQA GCSE English Language): Exam Questions

Read again the first part of Source A from lines 1 to 13 (as found on the June 2018 exam paper insert). 

Choose four statements below which are true.

Choose a maximum of four statements. 

[4 marks] 

A. The first time Mike Doyle saw anyone surfing was in 1953.

B. Mike Doyle spent very little time at the beach as a child. 

C. In the 1950s there were very few surfers in California.

D. Most surfers like to surf in the early morning.

E. Surfers often stayed later in the day to entertain the crowds. 

F. Mike Doyle took the train to the beach.

G. The first time he saw them, Mike Doyle was unimpressed by the surfers. 

H. The surfers looked fit and suntanned.

Read again the first part of Source A from lines 1 to 10 (as found on the November 2018 exam paper insert). 

Choose four statements below which are true.

• Choose a maximum of four statements. 

  [4 marks] 

A. Most people in Britain ride a bike regularly.

B. Most UK cyclists are pleased about the number of dangerous incidents on the roads. 

C. The writer has never had a dangerous incident whilst cycling. 

D. The writer lives in south-east London.

E. As the car passed, the writer did not swerve.

F. The writer soon caught up with the driver.

G. The writer thought the driver’s actions had been pointless.

H. It is rare to meet dangerous drivers whilst cycling.

Read again the first part of Source A from lines 1 to 12 (as found on the June 2019 exam paper insert). 

Choose four statements below which are true.

• Choose a maximum of four statements. 

  [4 marks] 

A. It would be dark for another three hours.  

B. Ben usually rowed the sunrise shift.

C. The waves were starting to calm down. 

D. It was the first time during the race that Ben felt he was at risk. 

E. If it were light, Ben thought he would be able to judge the danger.

F. Ben felt homesick.

G. Ben was enjoying this early morning shift.

H. There was no sign of daybreak.

Read again the first part of Source A from lines 1 to 4 (as found on the June 2020 exam paper insert). 

Choose four statements below which are true.

• Choose a maximum of four statements. 

[4 marks]

A The climbers were sheltered from the wind. 

B The glacier was higher up the mountain. 

C They had been on the mountain for at least five days.

D Base camp was more than 3000 feet below them. 

E Joe thought they would make it back to base camp quickly. 

F There were no more uphill sections to climb.

G The climbers were feeling more positive now than they were before.

H On the ice cliff, the climbers had felt overwhelmed by despair.

Read again the first part of Source A from lines 1 to 10 (as found on the June 2021 exam paper insert). 

Choose four statements below which are true.

• Choose a maximum of four statements. 

[4 marks] 

A. The cinema programme was every Saturday morning. 

B. The cinema programme was short. 

C. The children all came from the same street. 

D. The children formed a large group as they moved through the streets.

E. The Odeon was in Rockdale.

F. The children wore shoes. 

G. The children went to the cinema on foot.

H. The children had really tough feet.

Read again the first part of Source A from lines 1 to 9 (as found on the June 2022 exam paper insert). 

Choose four statements below which are true.

• Choose a maximum of four statements. 

[4 marks] 

A. The writer’s mother was happy to be going on holiday.

B. This is the first time the writer has been to France.

C. The writer thinks evil powers ruin holidays.

D. The writer thinks holidays are mental and physical challenges.

E. The writer is a teenager at the time of the holiday. 

F. The family are travelling through a city.

G. The fields on either side of the road are full of wheat. 

H. The writer admits that holidays can look attractive but she thinks this is a trick.

Read again the first part of Source A from lines 1 to 6 (as found on the November 2022 exam paper insert). 

Choose four statements below which are true.

[4 marks] 

A. The writer was confident from the start that she would beat her insomnia. 

B. The writer is surprised that she has a good night’s sleep.

C. It is the first time that the writer has slept well for weeks. 

D. The writer’s mind is very active when she first gets into bed.

E. The writer sleeps lying on her side. 

F. The writer has used the script before.

G. The writer has black velvet sheets on her bed. 

H. The writer has suffered from insomnia since she was a child.

Read again the first part of Source A from lines 1 to 7 (as found on the June 2023 exam paper insert). 

Choose four statements below which are true. 

[4 marks] 

A. The writer is at the start of his train journey.

B. The writer is looking forward to leaving the train.

C. The writer will be on the train for three more days. 

D. The train has a carriage where meals are served.

E. The writer thinks the bread has been delicious.

F. The writer feels that he has been cut off from society while on the train.

G. The writer has had many activities to keep him busy on the train.

H. The writer does not have any plans for when he leaves the train.

Read again the first part of Source A (as found in the Paper 2A insert):

Choose four statements below which are true:

A) Paul Vallely can’t hide his look of horror upon sight of the Edwardian house where the prison is located.

B) He is surprised at the sight of period features.

C) He thinks that the prison, from the outside, looks like a spa.

D) From its appearance, he wouldn’t pay much to stay here.

E) The car ignores the new-built brick extension and sweeps onto the front door.

F) The reflective windows live up to his expectations.

G) Two staff survey a bank of CCTV.

H) The car doors open only when the shutter is closed.

[4 marks]

Read again the first part of Source A (as found in the Paper 2B insert):

Choose four statements below which are true:

A) Her mother was wearing a skirt.

B) They lived in a wigwam.

C) Her mother always did her beadwork after breakfast.

D) Her mother cut the leather into shape.

E) It was a cold morning.

F) They lived on a prairie.

G) Her mother was a painter.

H) Her mother made shoes.

[4 marks]

Read again the first part of Source A (as found in the Paper 2C insert):

Choose four statements below which are true:

A) They had breakfast around 9:30am.

B) Agnes went to church twice.

C) Stella had breakfast in bed.

D) They met Katie on the way home from church.

E) Norman went for a walk.

F) Mrs Quare came for lunch.

G) The early service was busy.

H) The writer enjoyed the morning service.

[4 marks]

Read again the first part of Source A (as found in the Paper 2D insert):

Choose four statements below which are true:

A) He used to be a magician.

B) He was in the army.

C) He travelled by ship.

D) He played the banjo.

E) He enjoys telling stories.

F) He didn’t like singing.

G) He played the guitar.

H) He was a ship welder.

[4 marks]

Read again the first part of Source B (as found in the Paper 2E insert):

Choose four statements below which are true:

A) Oil and food scraps are finding their way into pipes and drains.

B) The majority of eateries have no grease traps.

C) The vast majority of London restaurants and takeaways are not responsible for feeding the fatbergs that are choking the capital’s sewers.

D) Ninety per cent of eateries in London are contributing to the problem by failing to install grease traps.

E) Grease, oil and food scraps from broken bins are finding their way into pipes and drains.

F) A 130-tonne fatberg was found under Whitechapel Road in east London.

G) The River Thames had not been recently purified.

H) Ninety per cent of eateries in London are contributing to the problem by failing to install grease converters.

[4 marks]