Section A: Directed Writing (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE English Language): Exam Questions

Read Text A and Text B in the insert and then answer Section A, Question 1(a) and 1(b).

1(a) Reread this extract from Text B:

"Paolo says the summers are difficult for locals. The traffic is suffocating, and the pavements are crowded and hot. 'At least the city's facilities are open all year now. Everything used to close in the winter. Most of the cultural events and festivals are still organised around the visitors. We've spent decades "improving the visitor experience", as they say.' Paolo betrays only a hint of irony."

Use your own words to evaluate Paolo's attitude to tourism in his city. Give details from the text to justify your answer.

Read Text A and Text B in the insert and then answer Section A, Question 1(a) and 1(b).

1(a) Reread this extract from Text A:

"Yesterday, after complaints I'd made to an online retailer for their very poor customer service, I finally received an email in reply. 'At last,' I thought, 'an apology.' And indeed, it was an apology of sorts: a careful set of stock phrases which expressed some limited awareness of their shortcomings with a flourish at the end, hoping that I would 'return very soon to purchase from our unique range of bestselling rugs and soft furnishings.' Now, I know saying sorry is never easy, but I was left with the impression that this writer had been schooled in some business training session that taught employees how to turn an apology into a marketing tool!"

Use your own words to evaluate the writer's attitude to the retailer's apology. Give details from the text to justify your answer.

Read Text A and Text B in the insert and then answer Section A, Question 1(a) and 1(b).

1(a) Reread this extract from Text A:

"Budding footballer 10-year-old Ranit Myska, has already played in several international tournaments in Spain and Singapore, organised by his training academy in India. His father, a doctor, funds his training and his foreign travel, and believes that his son benefits hugely from such opportunities. 'I know some parents think I'm insane,' he says, 'and it costs a lot in my time and money but the relentless emphasis on academics when I was young wasn't healthy either.' Ranit's ambition is to join a major football team's programme when he's 15, so he's dedicated and committed to his rigorous training, but he's also doing well in school. 'The determination he's developing in his football has spilled over into his academic work,' says his father. 'There's no downside for him, despite the arduous training and the sacrifices we make as a family.'"

Use your own words to evaluate Ranit's father's attitude to his son's intensive sports training. Give details from the text to justify your answer.

Read Text A and Text B in the insert and then answer Section A, Question 1(a) and 1(b).

1(a) Reread this extract from Text A:

"Empty historic buildings that were once local landmarks now get in the way of new projects (such as repurposing of the land for parks, shops and recreational space) that might offer more benefit to the community. If a building looks old and abandoned and you can't find any good reason to keep it, then you should consider demolishing and replacing it. Buildings often outlive their original purposes. Even when still in use, the enormous cost of repairing some very old buildings can be prohibitive, so they become shabby and unsightly. Some older buildings may still look good on the outside, but have underlying problems such as poor ventilation, outdated wiring and problems with the plumbing. Old buildings also tend to develop weaker foundations, thanks to the materials used in their construction degrading to the point that the structure becomes unstable or unsafe."

Use your own words to evaluate the writer's attitude to old buildings. Give details from the text to justify your answer.

Read Text A and Text B in the insert and then answer Section A, Question 1(a) and 1(b).

1(a) Reread this extract from Text A:

"Podcasts have been around for years, but I have only recently discovered what a great use of time they are. Most of my work colleagues always seemed to have their earphones in, but what were they listening to? I had heard of podcasts. I knew they were a kind of audio programme you could subscribe to and listen to, for example on your smartphone, whenever you like. I had not realised how much I would enjoy them, especially when faced with administrative tasks in the office. I whizz through those boring tasks now."

Use your own words to evaluate the writer's attitude to podcasts. Give details from the text to justify your answer.

Read Text A and Text B in the insert and then answer Section A, Question 1(a) and 1(b).

1(a) Reread this extract from Text B:

"The first major side effect of excessive ambition is the tendency to focus too stubbornly on one particular vision or end goal. For example, if you set out to make your fortune by the time you're 30, everything that doesn't immediately appear to get you closer to that goal may seem useless to you and you miss out on the enjoyment of the 'journey'. Experts suggest that relationships are more important than ambition when determining a person's ability to succeed. Being ambitious often makes you inherently more selfish, driving you to pursue individual goals at the possible expense of your family, friends and community."

Use your own words to evaluate the writer's attitude to ambition. Give details from the text to justify your answer.