IGCSEEnglish LanguageCambridge (CIE)Exam QuestionsPaper 1: ReadingPaper 1: Reading

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

Exam code: 0500 & 0990

11 hours32 questions

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Paper 1: Reading

1a1 mark

Read Text A, Why dance?, (as found in the November 2022 (0500/12) insert).

Give two pieces of evidence that humans possess an urge to dance, according to the text.

How did you do?

1b2 marks

Read Text A, Why dance?, (as found in the November 2022 (0500/12) insert).

Using your own words, explain what the text means by:

(i) ‘uncomplicated happiness’ (line 6)

How did you do?

1c2 marks

Read Text A, Why dance?, (as found in the November 2022 (0500/12) insert).

Using your own words, explain what the text means by:

(ii) ‘pent-up emotions’ (line 7)

How did you do?

1d2 marks

Read Text A, Why dance?, (as found in the November 2022 (500/12) insert).

Re-read paragraph 4 (‘Experiments have proved ... went up.’).

Give two reasons why dancing is better for you than sitting quietly or cycling on an exercise bike.

How did you do?

1e2 marks

Read Text A, Why dance?, (as found in the November 2022 (500/12) insert).

(i) Re-read paragraphs 5 and 6 (‘Another big draw ... those who don’t.’).

Identify two reasons why people are drawn to dancing.

How did you do?

1f3 marks

Read Text A, Why dance?, (as found in the November 2022 (500/12) insert).

(ii) Re-read paragraphs 5 and 6 (‘Another big draw ... those who don’t.’).

Explain why even an untrained dancer might be persuaded to dance.

How did you do?

1g3 marks

Re-read paragraph 7 (‘These factors compensate...unnecessarily early.’).

Using your own words, explain why some people might not want to take up dancing as a career.

How did you do?

215 marks

Read Text B, Advice to dance teachers, (as found in the November 2022 (0500/12) insert).

According to Text B, what prevents students from wanting to attend dance classes?

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.

How did you do?

3a1 mark

Read Text C, The dancer, (as found in the November 2022 (0500/12) insert).

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

(i) Grandma thinks that she shouldn’t cause trouble between her son and daughter-in-law.

How did you do?

3b1 mark

Read Text C, The dancer, (as found in the November 2022 (0500/12) insert).

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

(ii) Veda’s mother starts to talk seriously.

How did you do?

3c1 mark

Read Text C, The dancer, (as found in the November 2022 (0500/12) insert).

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

(iii) Veda’s plans for a future career are not ones that her mother considers worthy.

How did you do?

3d1 mark

Read Text C, The dancer, (as found in the November 2022 (0500/12) insert).

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

(iv) At school Veda used to try very hard but found it difficult.

How did you do?

3e1 mark

Read Text C, The dancer, (as found in the November 2022 (0500/12) insert).

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

All my life Ma’s dreamt I’ll do well at science and mathematics so that I could end up being what she wanted to be: an engineer. All my life I’ve been waiting for her to appreciate my compulsion to do the one thing I excel at: dance.

(i) dreamt

How did you do?

3f1 mark

Read Text C, The dancer, (as found in the November 2022 (0500/12) insert).

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

All my life Ma’s dreamt I’ll do well at science and mathematics so that I could end up being what she wanted to be: an engineer. All my life I’ve been waiting for her to appreciate my compulsion to do the one thing I excel at: dance.

(ii) compulsion

How did you do?

3g1 mark

Read Text C, The dancer, (as found in the November 2022 (0500/12) insert).

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

All my life Ma’s dreamt I’ll do well at science and mathematics so that I could end up being what she wanted to be: an engineer. All my life I’ve been waiting for her to appreciate my compulsion to do the one thing I excel at: dance.

(iii) excel

How did you do?

3h3 marks

Read Text C, The dancer, (as found in the November 2022 (0500/12) insert).

Use one example from the text below to explain how the writer suggests the dance teacher’s happiness at Veda’s performance.

Use your own words in your explanation. 

My dance teacher’s stick clatters heavily to the floor. He claps spontaneously. ‘Perform like that and you’re sure to win.’ I can see tears brimming like dew-drops in his eyes.

How did you do?

3i15 marks

Read Text C, The dancer, (as found in the November 2022 (0500/12) insert).

Re-read paragraphs 9 and 12.

  • Paragraph 9 begins ‘I think back ... ’ and is about Veda’s memories of what her grandmother said about the early evidence of her dancing ability.

  • Paragraph 12 begins ‘I leap and land ... ’ and is about Veda practising for her dance competition while her teacher taps the beat.

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.

How did you do?

425 marks

Re-read Text C, The dancer, (as found in the November 2022 (0500/12) insert)  and then answer Question 3.

You are Veda. It is a few months later and you have started studying at your new dance school. You write a letter home to your parents, reflecting on your past experiences.

In your letter you should explain:

  • why dancing has always been so important in your life

  • how the adults in your life felt about your dancing and how this made you feel

  • your thoughts now about the conversation you had with your parents after you won the competition.

Write the words of the letter.

Base your letter 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.

How did you do?