Comprehension IGCSE (First Language) Practice 2

 

IGCSE/ First Language English/ Paper11 / November 2018

Read Passage A carefully, and then answer Questions 1
Passage A: Machu Picchu: the Inca Trail on horseback
In this passage the writer describes the experience of visiting the ruins of Machu Picchu, in
Peru.
When I first visited the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, in the 1970s, travellers took the train and
walked up the hill to the ruins. As a backpacking student, I slept alone and without charge in an
open-sided hut with a thatched roof. It was not waterproof, as I realised when the storm hit at
3 a.m., but witnessing the Inca emperor’s great summer retreat blasted by thunder and forked	5
lightning more than compensated for a soaked sleeping bag.
If you believe travel experts, Machu Picchu reached its peak of popularity 40 years ago. The
21st-century adventure vibe, however, has created rewarding approaches that compensate for
the rampant commercialism of the site. The most popular is the Classic Inca Trail, a five-day
hike during which you spend the nights under canvas. Up to 500 people start daily on an	10
undulating route with three dramatic passes and the prospect of sleeping out in temperatures
below freezing. The trail I took, known as Salkantay, is more attractive for the lack of crowds, the
astounding scenery and the luxurious lodges along the route. Plus you can do it on horseback.
No contest, really.
At first sight, Cesar, my horse, looked woefully unenthusiastic, but the horse would do the job,	15
my guide Pedro assured me, and he was right. All the horses had comfortable touring saddles
with high pommels properly secured with breast-plates. That was reassuring when it became
clear that Pedro, relentlessly enthusiastic, had a passion for galloping on rocky dirt roads, often
downhill. After a picnic lunch, we set off towards the first mountain lodge, built to last from stone,
timber and mud at 3800 metres, overlooking the Soraypampa grasslands and the Humantay	20
Glacier.
My first impression of the lodge was of eerie grandeur: such a tantalising, no-expense-spared
structure in such a bleak spot could only be an illusion. But it wasn’t. Large doors opened and
we entered, gratefully embracing hot flannels and steaming mugs of tea as we removed our
boots. With 12 double rooms, it is twice the size of the other three mountain lodges on the	25
Salkantay trail. Guests, whether on foot or horseback, can stay for two nights to acclimatise
before the climb.
During our stopover there, we rode up a steep z-bend trail to a glacial lake, glittering turquoise
under sun-filtered clouds. Twenty condors, wings spread to their full three metres, circled
speculatively, then spiralled around us menacingly. Back at the ranch, we felt we’d earned a	30
large and exotic meal of local delicacies followed by an early night and uninterrupted sleep.
In Peru the band of smaller trees between the bare fields and the giant trees of the Amazon is
known as ceja de selva, the eyebrow of the jungle. On a route that included exciting white-water
river crossings and rickety bridges, farmers greeted us cheerfully. Initially, the simple stone
villages were built among maize and vegetable plots, replaced at lower altitudes by orchids,	35
passion fruit and bananas, often with hummingbirds and flocks of parrots in raucous attendance.
In the evenings, we enjoyed the familiar Peruvian hospitality, first at Wayna, its hot tub built
in the central courtyard for protection against a fiercely windswept location, then at Colpa, on
an expansive plateau overlooking a meeting place for three rivers. After a final day and night
in the fourth mountain lodge among avocado groves and coffee plantations, we took the train	40
to Aguas Calientes and rejoined the real world. No one should miss out on Machu Picchu and

travelling on horseback in the mist at such altitudes is something I’ll never forget.

Answer all questions using your own words as far as possible. Question 1

(a)   Give one detail  that  the  writer  enjoyed,  despite  the  bad  weather  (paragraph  1,  ‘When  I  first visited … ’ ).

......................................................................................................................[1]

(b)   Give two reasons why the writer chose the Salkantay trail rather than the Classic Inca Trail

(paragraph 2, ‘If you believe … ’).

•  ....................................................................................

•  ....................................................................................                                                  [2]

 

 

(c)   When  the  writer  first  sees  his  horse  he  describes  it  as  ‘woefully  unenthusiastic’.  What  does this suggest about the horse’s suitability for the journey (line 14)?

 

..................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................[2]

 

(d)   Using  your  own  words,   explain   what   features   of   Pedro’s   behaviour   show   that   he   is

‘relentlessly enthusiastic’ (line 17).

..................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................[2]

 

(e)   (i)    Re-read  lines  9–11  (‘Up  to  500  people  …  below  freezing’)  and  lines  21–22  (‘My  first impression … But it wasn’t.’). Using your own words, explain what the writer means by the words underlined in each of these phrases:

 

(1) ‘ … an undulating route with three dramatic passes … ’ (lines 9–10)

 

(2) ‘My first impression of the lodge was of eerie grandeur … ’ (line 21)

 

(3) ‘ … such a tantalising, no-expense-spared structure in such a bleak spot could only

be an illusion.’ (lines 21–22)

 

Word underlined : ............................................................................................................... Meaning of the word underlined :

............................................................................................................[1]

Word underlined : ............................................................................................................... Meaning of the word underlined :

.................................................................................................................[1] Word underlined : ............................................................................................................... Meaning of the word underlined :

................................................................................................................[1]

 

(ii)    Explain  how  the  language  in  each  of  these  quotations  in  1(e)(i)  helps  to  suggest the impressive nature of the surroundings through which the writer is travelling. In your answer you should refer to the whole quotation, not just the underlined words.

                        Explanation:

.........................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................. [2]

 Explanation:

.........................................................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................[2]

Explanation:

                        ..........................................................................................................................

                        ......................................................................................................................[2]

(f)    Give  two  details   that   the   writer   found   memorable   about   his   ride   on   the   z-bend   trail. (lines 27–29)

 

•  ....................................................................................

 

•  ....................................................................................                                                        [2]

 

(g)   Re-read  lines  33–35.  Using your own words, explain the difference in the environment as the writer comes down the mountain.

Higher altitudes: ........................................................................................................................ Lower altitudes:  ........................................................................................................................

[2]

 

Answers:

1(a). Seeing the emperor’s summer retreat / citadel

(dramatic) stormy weather (even though it contradicts the question)

Note: don’t credit ‘bad weather’ which is in the question.

1(b)    fewer people / astounding scenery

   better accommodation / luxurious lodges

   travelling on horseback (rather than by foot)

1 mark for each point to a maximum of 2

1(c)

Answer: any acceptable rendition of ‘woefully unenthusiastic’ in own words.

partial own words explanation of unenthusiastic (not enthusiastic, etc.) –

1 mark

full own words explanation (uninterested / indifferent / not keen / lazy, etc.) –

2 marks

Note: Do not credit ‘not capable of doing it’ or ‘looks tired’. The focus is on

‘attitude’ not ‘ability’.

1(d) he enjoys riding very fast / downhill

despite the rough / rocky

ground

Note: ‘he had a passion for galloping on rocky dirt roads’ is a lift – award 1

mark only.

For one lift and one own words – award 2 marks..

1(e)i (1) winding / bending / wavy / curving / dipping / meandering /

curving

(2) strange / unsettling / mysterious / supernatural / weird

(3) barren / bare / exposed / desolate / empty / isolated

1 mark for each explanation, up to a maximum of 3.

Note: the definitions above contain the essence of an answer.

No marks for a word actually used in the quoted phrase.

1(e) ii

Explanation:                eye-catching / spectacular (views scenes); 

                                    difficult (passes) / challenging (ways through) is dangerous

Explanation:                the writer’s feelings / response to the lodge

          the magnificence / impressiveness of the lodge

          the haunting / mysterious nature of the lodge

          (but do not reward direct repetition of response in 1(e)(i)

 

           

                                    tempting / inviting

luxury / wealth

the barren, desolate location, (but do not reward direct repetition of response in 1(e)(i)

is unreal or like a mirage / dream.

 

Award 1 mark for a partial explanation of each phrase.

 

Award 2 marks for an explanation of each phrase which shows clear appreciation of the effect of the writer’s use of language.

 

Paraphrase of chosen phrase = 0 for explanation. Explanation must also be predominantly in candidate’s own words.

Part (ii) requires a comment on the effectiveness of the writer's use of language for a particular purpose in the whole phrase quoted and not just the italicised word(s).

 

Credit should be given to responses that attempt to explain how the writer's choice of words / images, etc. produces the intended response in the reader's mind.

 

1(f)     

   glittering / turquoise (glacial) lake

   (twenty) condors (flying)

   sun-filtered clouds

Note: Do not reward ‘the colour of the lake’ or ‘it was sunny’.

 

1 (g) Answer:
Higher altitudes: plain (stone) buildings / crops growing / rivers / bridges
Lower altitudes: (exotic) flowers / fruits growing / (the sight and sound of
wild) birds Materials produced by Cambridge Assessment International Education UCLES