How to Get Full Marks on the RUAE Questions (SQA National 5 English): Revision Note

Lines 1–8

In 2005, when I was 16, I worked in a busy local café. I churned out hot beverages at high speed, while constantly restocking my cup and saucer area. I found the work hard and boring, which was strange given that at the end of every shift I’d rush home to play Diner Dash, a video game in which you become a waitress in a busy restaurant, taking orders, serving customers, clearing away their cups and plates. In the great gallery of video games, Diner Dash was not among the most realistic, but I enjoyed its simplicity and I was enthralled by the thrill that came with pleasing customers and advancing levels. How many levels were available was never made clear. The game seemed infinite. I’d play for hours.

1. Look at lines 1–8. 

Using your own words as far as possible, explain why it was strange that the writer liked to play Diner Dash. 

You should make two key points in your answer.

[2 marks]

“I churned out hot beverages at high speed / I found the work hard”

Her job was demanding or difficult, so it’s surprising she enjoyed a game about it [1]

“Constantly restocking my cup and saucer area / I found the work…boring”

Her job was repetitive and dull; she did not enjoy it [1]

“Waitress in a busy restaurant, taking orders, serving customers”

The game involved doing similar unpleasant chores [1]

“Dinner Dash was not among the most realistic”

The game was not authentic or believable [1]

“It’s simplicity” 

The game was very basic [1]

“I was enthralled by the thrill that came with pleasing customers”

She was excited by ordinary tasks only when playing the game [1]

“How many levels were available was never made”

The game’s structure or end point was uncertain [1]

“The game seemed infinite” 

The game went on endlessly and was repetitive [1]

It was strange because the writer disliked her real cafe job which she found repetitive, tiring and boring, yet she enjoyed playing Dinner Dash, a game that involved doing almost exactly the same tasks such as serving customers and clearing tables. Although her real job felt dull and demanding, she found the game version simple, exciting and rewarding. 

[2 marks]

Lines 15-25

The Sims, in which you design and build homes in a blank slate of a neighbourhood, and set about creating ‘Sims’ to live inside them, was released in 2000, and is the bestselling video game of all time. As a teenager, The Sims was my thing. Back then I averaged two or three hours every weekday, and I’d put in a proper sesh at the weekend. It felt wonderful to return home from the incomprehensibly dull monotony of school to a digital world I’d created — a kind of haven of order and control. 

My interminable adolescent thirst to be someone else was quenched. I could throw teachers I disliked into swimming pools. I could invent a handsome Sim and command him to kiss an incredibly cool, elegant Sim who, coincidentally, shared my name. I could make a Sim of a pretty, popular girl in my school, and prevent her from falling in love. It was a kind of escapism. Beautiful. Addictive. A little devilish.

3. Look at lines 15–25. 

Using your own words as far as possible, explain why The Sims is such a popular game. 

You should make five key points in your answer.

[5 marks]

“You design and build homes” / “(digital) world I’d created”

Players enjoy creating their own worlds and using their imagination

“Creating ‘Sims’ to live inside them”

It allows players to invent and control characters

“Addictive” / “A proper sesh at the weekend”

It is engaging and habit-forming

“It felt wonderful to return home…to a digital world I’d created”

It provides excitement and relief from boredom

“A kind of haven”

The game offers a sense of safety or comfort

“It was a kind of escapism”

It allows players to leave their real-life problems behind

“Order” / “Control”

It enables players to feel powerful

The Sims is popular because it allows players to design and build their own worlds exactly as they wish, using their own imagination. It also lets them create characters and control every part of their lives, offering a feeling of power. The game provides order and control, helping players to feel powerful in a world they create. It also provides escapism by giving players a safe, enjoyable way to forget real-life problems. Finally, since the game never truly ends, it remains endlessly enjoyable and addictive.

Lines 9–14

In 2017, I lost my job — my dream job — and slipped into the uncertain world of freelance work, a transition that led to a period of acute anxiety. I began to spend most of my working week at home, alone, making lists, staring out of the window at the pigeons. Sometimes I read Amazon reviews of household items, which was exciting. I tried exercising. I tried structure. But nothing seemed to ease my niggling, hollow feeling of worry. Then I downloaded a new-ish version of The Sims, the popular simulation game. Bingo. It was like putting Vaseline on chapped lips.

Look at lines 9–14. 

By referring to two examples of language, explain how the writer highlights the negative effects of losing her job.

[4 marks]

“— my dream job —” [1]

parenthesis

Emphasises that it was not just any job, but one that meant a great deal to her [1]

“Slipped ”[1]

verb / word choice

Suggests she feels as though she has lost control or that her life has gone off track [1]

“Which was exciting” [1]

tone / sarcasm

Suggests she is mocking herself, showing how dull her life has become [1]

“I tried exercising. I tried structure.” [1]

short sentences / repetition

Emphasises the number and brevity of her unsuccessful attempts to improve her situation [1]

“Acute anxiety” [1]

alliteration 

Emphasises the strength and resilience of her distress [1]

“Staring out of the window (at the pigeons)” [1]

imagery

Evokes boredom and aimlessness [1]

“But” [1]

contrast / conjunction

Marks a turning point, showing that none of her efforts worked [1]

The phrase “— my dream job —” uses parenthesis to emphasise how important the job was to the writer, showing that its loss was deeply personal and upsetting rather than simply just a change in employment. The repetition and short sentences in “I tried exercising. I tried structure” highlight her repeated but unsuccessful attempts to regain control and purpose. This conveys her frustration and hopelessness. Both of these language examples show that losing her job had a serious emotional impact on the speaker.