IGCSE (First Language) Extended Response Practice 2, November 2018

 

 

Passage : Mikaela and Jane

 

In this passage, Mikaela waits for Jane who is shopping at the market.

 

Mikaela watched the world pass by the window. She nodded and smiled at each and every one of these liberated pedestrians, drawn into a current in the direction of the market. Their wheeled shopping bags bounced and bounded behind them in enthusiastic obedience. The road was a sea of movement, and no one looked up at the imprisoned figure in the window.

 

Mikaela sighed, allowing small breaths of warm air to escape and form cloudy shapes on the glass, into which she drew stick-people jumping, skipping and running. After a while, words replaced the sighs: ‘I hope she won’t take too long.’ Her chest felt a little tight again and she screwed up her face. She knew she just had to be patient. She pressed the control under her right hand. It whirred a little, but nothing moved.

 

***

 

Jane consulted her list: quite a lot of groceries this week, but she knew where she would find them. She enjoyed shopping in the large market, the buzz, the colour, the unpredictability. She held her purse closely inside her pocket. You did have to be careful in these places. There were desperate people everywhere. She thought about Mikaela. Yes, she would be quick. No loitering around those soap stalls, where pink, amber and fiery red, pebble-shaped bars lured and distracted you with scents of unexpected and delicious promise.

 

Ahead, the market was beginning to wake up. Jane enjoyed watching it at this time of the day. It was like a large beast, groaning in dismay at being prodded into life, its elongated body undulating and rippling, as the stall-holders pinned and adjusted fluttering awnings and canvas covers to their correct positions. Metal trolleys squealed in angry protest as their wheels careered crazily over the tarmac to be eventually butted up against the stalls. Here they disgorged their contents, their items of sale, slipping and sliding across shiny surfaces.

 

Jane consulted her list again. She moved quickly through the sea of busy vendors, avoiding stacked boxes of cheerful nick-nacks and rails of colourful clothing, until she came to the back of the market. She avoided looking at the soap stall nearby, trying not to sniff its heavenly aromas, and waited patiently for Niki, the fruit and vegetable vendor.

 

Niki was busy at his stall. Labels needed fastening to large crates of white cabbage and sweet potatoes. Jane quickly helped him to pile up stacks of melons and mangoes. ‘Yesterday’s stock on the counter, please, Jane. We have to sell that first. Today’s underneath. There.’ Niki pointed under a flapping red cover.

 

‘How is Mikaela?’ Niki now stood with his hands on his hips, surveying Jane. He smiled.

 

He has such a kind smile, Jane thought. He has always been a good friend. ‘She is still weak. She has this cough. We hoped the doctor would come today, but it will be tomorrow now. One of the wheels on her chair jammed this morning. I can move it if I tilt the chair slightly onto its back wheels, but she can’t move it herself.’

 

Niki looked concerned. ‘That’s no good. It’s too heavy for you. I will pop by tonight, and fix it. Here – let’s see that list. Just the freshest ingredients for Mikaela.’ He lifted the red cover and began to move boxes around.

 

Soon a heap of the freshest fruit and vegetables filled Jane’s basket. ‘Thank you, Niki.’ Jane paid the vendor and began to walk quickly away. Niki watched the urgency with which she weaved her way through crowds. His eye fell on the small, brightly coloured piles of soap on the stall next door. She deserved a bit of a treat, too, he thought.

 

***

 

Jane let herself into the house. ‘Grandma, I will make the potato and onion soup now. Do you want to come and watch?’ She grabbed the handles, carefully tilted the wheelchair backwards and slowly edged it into the small kitchen.

 

Mikaela sighed happily. ‘You are such a good girl. I was worried you might take a long time. I know a lot of those stalls are so tempting. After this, we can play cards and you can tell me about the market this morning. How is Niki?’

 

 

 

 

Question

 

You are Mikaela from Passage A.

 

Write your diary entry for the day’s events.

 

In your diary entry you should include your thoughts and feelings about:

•        what you and Jane did during the morning

 

•        what happened after Jane returned and later that evening

•        your relationship with Jane and Niki.

 

Base your diary entry on what you have read in Passage A, but be careful to use your own words.

 

Address each of the three bullet points.

 

Begin your diary entry, ‘Dear Diary,

 

Today has been quite eventful … ’

 

Write about 250 to 350 words.

Suggested plans for your diary writing:

 

A1: what you and Jane did during the morning
Answers	Supporting Details	Development
Mikaela waited	stayed in the house	seemed to be waiting a long time, over-joyed when she returned
Mikaela watched people	drawing stick-people on the window	bored, wishes she could socialise, envies their freedom
problem operating wheelchair	control not working on chair, just whirred	frustrated
Jane went to the market	buying groceries, enjoyed shopping	might be distracted by other stalls, hurried back
Jane helped Niki on stall	busy setting up	liked him
expected visit from doctor	cough, tight chest, weak; doctor coming tomorrow	recovery

 

 

A2: what happened after Jane returned
Answers	Supporting Details	Development
Jane offered to cook	potato and onion soup	enjoys watching her
moved into kitchen	chair tilted on back wheels	felt involved
played cards	after eating	regular pastime
chatted about morning at market	soap stalls, colourful clothing	assault on the senses, possible threat
Niki’s visit	that evening)	often pops in, pleased to see him, brought gift for Jane

 

 

 

A3: your relationship with Jane and Niki
Answers	Supporting Details	Development
Jane
family	Granddaughter	appreciates her help, considerate
companionship	does not take long at the market	worries how relationship might change, feels guilty about taking her time
practical help	shops each week, doctor’s appointment	hard work, depends on her
Nikki
friend	asks how she is, sends freshest ingredients	concerned about her health
does odd jobs	tried/offered to repair wheelchair	grateful
emotional support for Jane	kind smile	hopes for their future, potential romance