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    3126 02 INS RP AFP tcm142-665779

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    Menas Qader

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    3126 02 INS RP AFP tcm142-665779

    Uploaded by

    Menas Qader
    2K views4 pages

    Original Title

    3126_02_INS_RP_AFP_tcm142-665779

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    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    2K views4 pages

    3126 02 INS RP AFP tcm142-665779

    Uploaded by

    Menas Qader

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 4

    English

    Stage 6

    Paper 2 Fiction 2023


    Cambridge Primary Progression Test
    Insert

    3126_02_INS_RP
    © UCLES 2023
    2

    Text for Section A, an extract from The House of One Hundred Clocks by A. M.
    Howell

    Helena grasped the bars of the domed birdcage resting on her lap until her
    fingers ached. Mr Westcott was staring into the cage with an odd kind of intent
    that danced a shiver across the back of her neck. His rake-thin frame leaned 5
    forward across the desk, his eyes narrowing. ‘You omitted to say in your
    acceptance letter that you were bringing...a...bird,’ he said, his cheeks tightening
    as he glanced first at Helena’s father, and then at Helena.

    Mr Westcott’s sister stood beside him in a high-waisted silk dress the colour of
    peaches, her gloved hand resting on the back of his chair. They had the same 10
    small sapphire blue eyes. Miss Westcott’s eyes were crinkling into a smile as
    they looked at Helena. Mr Westcott’s were not.

    Helena’s skin bristled as she glanced at her father, who was sitting bolt upright in
    his chair, his shoulders taut.

    ‘Jack and Jill went up the hill. Pail of water. Snicker-squawk! ’ 15

    Mr Westcott’s forehead furrowed at the bird.

    ‘Shush,’ Helena murmured, reaching through the brass bars and running a finger
    down her parrot’s shimmery green-blue tail feathers. Mr Westcott had called her
    mother’s parrot ‘a bird’. Except he wasn’t just any old bird. Orbit was a Blue-
    fronted Amazon. It was important Mr Westcott knew that, but Helena sensed now 20
    was not quite the right time to give him a lesson on exotic creatures.

    Miss Westcott’s eyes twinkled. ‘What an amusing parrot,’ she said in a sing-song
    voice.

    ‘My sincere apologies, Mr Westcott. And to you too, Miss Westcott,’ Helena’s
    father said, throwing Helena a look which she interpreted to mean, Keep that 25
    parrot quiet or else. He pulled at his close-clipped beard. ‘There was so little
    time, and you made it clear in your correspondence that you were in urgent need
    of a timekeeper and clock conservator. Wherever my daughter Helena goes, her
    parrot goes too.’

    Mr Westcott stood up to turn and face a large window, which overlooked 30


    Trumpington Street and beyond, to a tapestry of colour blooming behind the
    railed gardens of a university college. He folded his arms and a small huff
    expelled from his mouth. Noises from outside carried through the glass. A horse
    and cart rumbling. The pounding of children’s footsteps and peals of laughter.
    Bicycle bells clamouring. Helena closed her eyes for little more than a blink – 35
    long enough to imagine herself outside in the fresh air and out of the oppressive
    wooden room, where everything seemed dull and dusty.

    © UCLES 2023 E/S6/INSERT/02


    3

    ‘Oh, brother dearest,’ Miss Westcott said lightly. ‘What harm will a parrot do?’

    Helena frowned. Mr Westcott did not seem too fond of birds, but at least his
    sister was a trifle more amenable. Memories of Orbit’s arrival four years ago 40
    sprang into her head. Father had gladly spent more than a month’s wages on the
    parrot as a birthday present for her mother. The shopkeeper had suggested a
    fancier (and more expensive) parrot with golden plumage, but Mother would not
    be dissuaded. ‘Thank you, sir, but I do not desire this parrot for his looks, it is his
    voice and personality that amuses me. I have a feeling he will be the perfect 45
    addition to our small family,’ her mother had said with a broad smile. And she
    had been right.

    © UCLES 2023 E/S6/INSERT/02


    4

    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
    Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced annually and is available to download at
    https://primary.cambridgeinternational.org/

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

    © UCLES 2023 E/S6/INSERT/02

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