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Pearson Edexcel
International GCSE

English as a Second Language

Paper 1: Reading and Writing

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• Use black ink or ball-point pen.
• centrethe
Fill in boxes at the top of this page with your name,
number and candidate number.
• Answer all questions.
• Answer the questions in the spaces provided
– there may be more space than you need.
• Dictionaries may not be used in this examination.
Information

• –Theusemarks for each question are shown in brackets

this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.

Advice
• Read each question carefully before you start to answer it.
• Try to answer every question.
• your answers if you have time at the end.
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P53369A
©2018 Pearson Education Ltd.

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 Part 3
Read the article on bikepacking and answer Questions 31 – 50.

Bikepacking: The Perfect Adventure

Bikepacking, an exciting, new fusion of minimalist wild camping and off-road cycling,
is fast becoming a popular way to explore the outdoors and get close to nature. The
physical effort of cycling and the simple pleasure of sleeping wild offer the perfect
answer to the stresses of modern life and the opportunity to rebalance the senses.
An off-road bike ride followed by a night among the trees seems to offer the perfect
escape.
I wake to the sun’s first rays and my senses are instantly aware of the sound of nearby
waves and the smell of salt and wood smoke. I work my way out of my sleeping bag,
scatter the stones of last night’s campfire and, after a stove-cooked breakfast, pack
my bivvy* away. Once the last of my bags is fixed back on to my bike, I get on and
spin away from this sandy bay I came across halfway through my ride. I reached this
remote stretch of headland entirely under my own steam, carrying everything on my
bike in special waterproof soft bags. It became my free room with a spectacular view
last night and my own private beach this morning. I would love to stay, but the trail
is calling to me.
Unlike regular cycle touring, for off-road bikepacking you do not need to follow the
main roads. Instead, you can go deep into the wild, along forest tracks or moorland
paths, climbing rugged mountain trails or dropping down steep, rocky routes to
valleys full of trees. Wild camping along the way allows you to strike out further along
ancient trackways and to turn each ride into an adventure.
A bike is a uniquely liberating machine and when coupled with a lightweight tent
opens up vast areas of our landscape, allowing you to cover much greater distances
than on foot. It is not always a blissful experience, mind you. People have been
known to fall over their handlebars while heading down steep slopes, have had
to walk for hours with a broken bike frame, and have been butted by ill-tempered
mountain goats. Bikepacking takes you out of your comfort zone and right into the
heart of the wonderfully unpredictable British wilderness and that’s exactly why it is
so enjoyable. Just remember your mobile phone and first aid kit, and let someone
know your whereabouts.
To enjoy a mountain bike trip, you do need to get minimalist. Not being weighed
down with heavy bags means your bike will handle more predictably and you will
have more control on different terrains. A micro-shelter brings you closer to the
elements than a traditional tent. You really do not have to have much equipment,
and what little you do need is inexpensive and can often be improvised.
Scotland and much of Dartmoor have no camping restrictions and mountain
camping is often allowed for one night in the high hills of Snowdonia and the Lake
District. You can also enjoy historic camping rights in some coastal areas and along
some waterways, though it is best to ask permission to camp, and to leave no trace
of your stay. Also given the countless camping barns, hostels and bothies scattered
across Britain, you can go as wild as you like.

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 Bothies in particular make for memorable mountain bike adventures as these shelters
are found in the most remote places. Although traditionally found in the Scottish
Highlands, there are a dozen of these simple huts in Wales and northern England
too. The Mountain Bothies Association has restored almost 100 and turned them into
destinations in their own right for those with an adventurous spirit. They have few or
no facilities; often just a fireplace and simple sleeping platforms. You are not able to
book them or make a financial contribution for using them either, so it is first come,
first served. It is in the nature of most bothy users to share happily, though. I have
never been left to camp outside a crowded one, and more often than not you will
find them empty.
Autumn is the perfect time to visit these once-derelict dwellings: not only is there
more chance of finding one unoccupied, but also you will enjoy a warm fire all the
more as the windows steam up from the chill evening air. In fact, it is a great time to
embark on any bikepacking adventure: cooler temperatures, quieter trails and the
end of midge season all help. When you set off early in the morning the tracks may
well be firmer after having been baked all summer, and you will have a quiet wild
landscape all to yourself, as well as the entire day to appreciate the colours of this
season.

(Source: adapted from https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/oct/03/bikepacking-

adventures-in-wild-britain-off-road-touring)

* bivvy an extremely small lightweight, waterproof shelter, and an alternative to

traditional tent systems

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Questions 31 – 35
Read the statements below. Decide whether they are TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN according to
the text.
Mark a cross for the correct answer. If you change your mind about an answer,
put a line through the box and then mark your new answer with a cross .

True False Not Given

31 The author woke up early in the
morning.
32 It is recommended not to
bikepack alone.
33 A lot of equipment is required to
bikepack successfully.
34 Repairs have been done on
accommodation used by bikepackers.
35 Bothies tend to get busy in autumn.

(Total for Questions 31–35 = 5 marks)

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Questions 36 – 45
Complete the following sentences using no more than TWO words taken from one
point in the text.

36 Bikepacking is a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . of two activities.

37 The author spent the night in an isolated .............................................................. he found whilst

cycling.

38 In contrast to regular cycling, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................................... can be avoided when

bikepacking.

39 Cyclists have been known to have accidents negotiating .............................................................. .

40 When bikepacking, be prepared to leave your .............................................................. as nothing is

certain.

41 To maximise your . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..... of your bike, carry as little as possible.

42 It is recommended that in certain locations you have .............................................................. to camp.

43 Most commonly associated with the . . . . . . ........................................................ , bothies also exist in

other places.

44 Bothies may be lacking in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................ beyond the basics.

45 The ground should be . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .................. and better for cycling after a hot
summer.

(Total for Questions 36–45 = 10 marks)

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Questions 46 -50
Complete this summary of the text using words from the box below. Each word
may be used once or not used at all.

Bikepacking is increasing in popularity with those wanting to get away from it all.
This hobby is best suited to those with a sense of adventure and those who

are not afraid of being in (46) . . . . . . . . . . . . .................................................. situations. The ability to carry

everything you need on your bike and to set up camp without any

(47) ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . allows you to explore truly wild areas. Bearing this in

mind, it is important to be as (48) . ............................................................. as possible for when things

don’t go to plan. As well as camping outdoors, there are many other equally remote
(49) ............ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . options available.
One further consideration is when to go bikepacking as conditions vary depending

on the (50) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

dangerous route prepared unfamiliar careful

accommodation equipment season hotel constraints

(Total for Questions 46–50 = 5 marks)

(Total for Part 3 = 20 marks)

TOTAL FOR READING = 50 MARKS

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