Paper 1: Reading (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE English Language): Exam Questions

Read Text B, The decorative artist, (as found in the November 2021 (0500/13) insert (opens in a new tab)).

According to Text B, what particular factors were important to the writer in becoming a successful ‘decorative’ artist and what does she find rewarding about this work?

You must use continuous writing (not note form) and use your own words as far as possible. 

Your summary should not be more than 120 words. 

Up to 10 marks are available for the content of your answer and up to 5 marks for the quality of your writing.

Read Text C, Night-time photography, (as found in the November 2021 (0500/13) insert (opens in a new tab)).

Identify a word or phrase from the text which suggests the same idea as the words underlined. 

(i) The narrator decided on a very straightforward decision.

Read Text C, Night-time photography, (as found in the November 2021 (0500/13) insert (opens in a new tab)).

Identify a word or phrase from the text which suggests the same idea as the words underlined. 

[1 mark]

(ii) The narrator was taking greater interest in the surrounding area because it was night-time.

Read Text C, Night-time photography, (as found in the November 2021 (0500/13) insert (opens in a new tab)).

Identify a word or phrase from the text which suggests the same idea as the words underlined. 

[1 mark]

(iii) The moon ascended slowly and quietly.

Read Text C, Night-time photography, (as found in the November 2021 (0500/13) insert (opens in a new tab)).

Identify a word or phrase from the text which suggests the same idea as the words underlined. 

(iv) The narrator felt heat coming from a car.

Read Text C, Night-time photography, (as found in the November 2021 (0500/13) insert (opens in a new tab)).

Using your own words, explain what the writer means by each of the words underlined:

I turned into a quiet and deserted residential street, from which I could hear the low hum of the distant main road. A train rushed past. I stopped to listen to its receding sound, and then followed along in its wake, feeling energised.

(i) deserted

Read Text C, Night-time photography, (as found in the November 2021 (0500/13) insert (opens in a new tab)).

Using your own words, explain what the writer means by each of the words underlined:

I turned into a quiet and deserted residential street, from which I could hear the low hum of the distant main road. A train rushed past. I stopped to listen to its receding sound, and then followed along in its wake, feeling energised.

(ii) receding

Read Text C, Night-time photography, (as found in the November 2021 (0500/13) insert (opens in a new tab)).

Using your own words, explain what the writer means by each of the words underlined:

I turned into a quiet and deserted residential street, from which I could hear the low hum of the distant main road. A train rushed past. I stopped to listen to its receding sound, and then followed along in its wake, feeling energised.

(iii) energised

Read Text C, Night-time photography, (as found in the November 2021 (0500/13) insert (opens in a new tab)).

Use one example from the text below to explain how the writer suggests the feelings of the other photographer.

Use your own words in your explanation. 

A fellow enthusiast hurried past. He nodded quickly and smiled: ‘Just over there. Amazing colours behind the trees. I think you’ll catch them.’ He scurried ahead. I could see he too was following the train-line. He seemed preoccupied. I hoped I would catch up with him later.

Read Text C, Night-time photography, (as found in the November 2021 (0500/13) insert (opens in a new tab)).

Re-read paragraphs 1 and 7.

• Paragraph 1 begins ‘My plan...’ and is about the appearance and movements of the harvest moon.

• Paragraph 7 begins ‘The darkness at...’ and is about the countryside at night.

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, Night-time photography, (as found in the November 2021 (0500/13) insert (opens in a new tab)).

You are Alastair, the photographer. You give a speech to a group of local photography students encouraging them to take up night-time photography. In your speech you should:

• explain why the photographs you take at night-time can be better than the ones you take in the day

• describe how to prepare for going out to do night-time photography

• suggest why going out to take night-time photographs can be such a special experience.

Write the words of the speech.

Base your speech on what you have read in Text C but be careful to use your own words.

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.