Cambridge International Examinations

Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education

* 1 3 5 1 0 8 0 0 4 9 *

FIRST LANGUAGE ENGLISH 0500/12

Paper 1 Reading Passages (Core) February/March 2017
1 hour 45 minutes
Candidates answer on the Question Paper.
No Additional Materials are required.

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write your Centre number, candidate number and name in the spaces provided.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
Do not use staples, paper clips, glue or correction fluid.
DO NOT WRITE IN ANY BARCODES.

Answer all questions in the space provided. If additional space is required, you should use the lined pages at
the end of this booklet. The question number(s) must be clearly shown.

Dictionaries are not permitted.

The Reading Booklet Insert contains the reading passages for use with all questions on this Question Paper.
The Reading Booklet Insert is not assessed by the Examiner.

The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.

This document consists of 11 printed pages, 1 blank page and 1 Reading Booklet Insert.

DC (RW) 126488/3
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Read carefully Passage A, A Moorland Lesson, in the Reading Booklet Insert and then answer
Questions 1 and 2 on this Question Paper.

Answer all questions using your own words as far as possible.

Question 1

(a) State two features of city life that the narrator’s brother and sister enjoy, in preference to
living on the moor (paragraph 1, ‘Although I have lived happily…’).

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(b) In paragraph 2 (‘We were emerging…from my passengers.’), the narrator explains that the
weather had recently improved. Which two-word phrase in paragraph 2 tells you that the
atmosphere was cheerful?

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(c) Using your own words, describe the behaviour of the narrator’s brother and sister and
their feelings as they prepare to go to the party (paragraph 2, ‘We were emerging…from my
passengers.’).

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(d) Using your own words, explain what the narrator’s feelings are on seeing the diversion
sign and why the narrator reacts in this way (paragraph 3, ‘The skies promised…become my
priority.’).

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(e) Re-read the following sentence:

‘Peering nervously at the fuel gauge, I realised with horror that finding a petrol station had
become my priority.’

Using your own words, explain why the narrator is concerned and how the narrator reacts
to this concern (lines 26–27).

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(f) Explain why the narrator is ‘a little warmer and definitely much wiser ’ at the end of the
passage (lines 38–39).

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(g) Complete parts (i) and (ii) to answer Question 1(g).

(i) Re-read the passage. Using your own words, explain what the writer means by the
words in italics in the following phrases:

a. ‘the whirling wind that makes your skin tingle’ (line 4)

b. ‘With a spluttering cough, my car shuddered’ (lines 30–31)

c. ‘lace-like labyrinth of moorland roads’ (line 33).

a. ....................................

Meaning of the word in italics: ...........................................................................................

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b. ....................................

Meaning of the word in italics: ...........................................................................................

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c. ....................................

Meaning of the word in italics: ...........................................................................................

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(ii) Explain how the language in each of the phrases in (g)(i) helps to suggest the narrator’s
thoughts about the sights and sounds on the moor.

a. ....................................

Explanation:

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b. ....................................

Explanation:

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c. ....................................

Explanation:

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[Total: 20]

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Question 2

Imagine that you are either the brother or the sister of the narrator in Passage A. You have been asked
to write an article for a magazine, describing your experience on the moor. Write your magazine
article.

In your magazine article you should:

• describe the sights and sounds of the moor and your responses to them
• explain what happened when you travelled to the party and your reactions to this
• explain what you have learned from the experience and what advice you would offer to
anyone as a result.

Base your magazine article on what you have read in Passage A, but do not copy from it. Be careful to
use your own words. Address each of the three bullet points.

Begin your magazine article: ‘It felt strange seeing the moor again…’.

Write about 200 to 300 words.

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

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Read carefully Passage B, Avocados in Andalusia, in the Reading Booklet Insert and then answer
Question 3(a) and (b) on this Question Paper.

Question 3

Answer the questions in the order set.

(a) Notes

What facts do you learn about avocados and the farming methods involved in growing them,
according to Passage B?

Write your answers using short notes. Write one point per line.

You do not need to use your own words.

Up to 10 marks are available for the content of your answer.

Facts about avocados and the farming methods involved in growing them.

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(b) Summary

Now use your notes to write a summary of what Passage B tells you about avocados and the
farming methods involved in growing them.

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

Your summary should include all 10 of your points in Question 3(a) and must be 100 to 150
words.

Up to 5 marks are available for the quality of your writing.

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Additional Page

If you use the following lined page to complete the answer(s) to any question(s), the question number(s)
must be clearly shown.

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Additional Page

If you use the following lined page to complete the answer(s) to any question(s), the question number(s)
must be clearly shown.

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BLANK PAGE

Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge International
Examinations Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download at www.cie.org.uk after
the live examination series.

Cambridge International Examinations is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of University of Cambridge Local
Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is itself a department of the University of Cambridge.

© UCLES 2017 0500/12/F/M/17