Practice Paper 2 (Cambridge International IGCSE English Language)

Read Text A, The early history of flying, (as found in the November 2023 (500/11) insert).

How have humans always felt about the ability to fly, according to paragraph 1?

Read Text A, The early history of flying, (as found in the November 2023 (500/11) insert).

Using your own words, explain what the text means by:

• ‘ancient cultures’ (line 2)

Read Text A, The early history of flying, (as found in the November 2023 (500/11) insert).

Using your own words, explain what the text means by:

• ‘range freely’ (line 2)

Read Text A, The early history of flying, (as found in the November 2023 (500/11) insert).

Reread paragraph 2 (‘In Greek mythology... minor injuries.’).

Give two reasons why some humans created wings for themselves.

Read Text A, The early history of flying, (as found in the November 2023 (500/11) insert).

Reread paragraphs 3 and 4 (‘Artist and inventor...trying this out.’).

(i) Identify the two ways in which da Vinci’s flying machines were designed to work.

Read Text A, The early history of flying, (as found in the November 2023 (500/11) insert).

(ii) Explain why da Vinci’s designs were unlikely to be a success in practice.

Read Text A, The early history of flying, (as found in the November 2023 (500/11) insert).

Re-read paragraph 5 (‘In the twenty-first century... speed and convenience.’).

Why might humans not want to fly on an aeroplane in the twenty-first century?

Question 5

Write about 350 to 450 words on the following question.

Narrative Writing

Write a story with the title, ‘The portrait’.

Up to 16 marks are available for the content and structure of your answer, and up to 24 marks for the style and accuracy of your writing.

Read Text C, The new job, (as found in the November 2023 (500/11) insert).

Identify a word or phrase from the text which suggests the same idea as the words underlined.

• Edgar took big, confident steps while escorting Jeswin to the place where they would be working together that day.

Read Text C, The new job, (as found in the November 2023 (500/11) insert).

Identify a word or phrase from the text which suggests the same idea as the words underlined.

• Jeswin realised at once that the members of the family approaching could be in need of help.

Read Text C, The new job, (as found in the November 2023 (500/11) insert).

Identify a word or phrase from the text which suggests the same idea as the words underlined.

• Jeswin felt happy that his job was mostly going well.

Read Text C, The new job, (as found in the November 2023 (500/11) insert).

Identify a word or phrase from the text which suggests the same idea as the words underlined.

• Jeswin believed that the older man was not guilty of trying to steal from the other man.

Read Text C, The new job, (as found in the November 2023 (500/11) insert).

Using your own words, explain what the writer means by each of the words underlined:

Jeswin wriggled to detach himself from Edgar’s large hand. He had been attached (in a more figurative sense) today to Edgar to learn his job: making sure that the passengers had the documents they needed to fly, showing them where to take their luggage and giving helpful and friendly advice.

• detach

Read Text C, The new job, (as found in the November 2023 (500/11) insert).

Using your own words, explain what the writer means by each of the words underlined:

Jeswin wriggled to detach himself from Edgar’s large hand. He had been attached (in a more figurative sense) today to Edgar to learn his job: making sure that the passengers had the documents they needed to fly, showing them where to take their luggage and giving helpful and friendly advice.

• documents

Read Text C, The new job, (as found in the November 2023 (500/11) insert).

Using your own words, explain what the writer means by each of the words underlined:

Jeswin wriggled to detach himself from Edgar’s large hand. He had been attached (in a more figurative sense) today to Edgar to learn his job: making sure that the passengers had the documents they needed to fly, showing them where to take their luggage and giving helpful and friendly advice.

• helpful

Read Text C, The new job, (as found in the November 2023 (500/11) insert).

Use one example from the text below to explain how the writer suggests Edgar’s thoughts and feelings at that time.

Use your own words in your explanation.

‘I’ve got a report to write for the boss tonight!’ huffed Edgar. ‘Apparently she doesn’t know what our job involves. Hah!’

He marched towards the group. ‘Good morning. Your documents, please, so I can make sure they are in order before you drop your luggage off.’ Edgar flipped through identity documents with the dexterity of a master player shuffling a deck of cards, before surveying the three suitcases. ‘Take it you packed those suitcases yourselves and they haven’t been out of sight since you got here? Go to the roped area over there. Shouldn’t be too long to wait.’

Read Text C, The new job, (as found in the November 2023 (500/11) insert).

Re-read paragraphs 2 and 4.

• Paragraph 2 begins ‘You’re going to be ’ and is about Jeswin’s and Edgar’s experiences at the beginning of this day.
• Paragraph 4 begins ‘Edgar’s expression began’ and is about the arrival of the first passengers of the day.

Explain how the writer uses language to convey meaning and to create effect in these paragraphs. Choose three examples of words or phrases from each paragraph to support your answer. Your choices should include the use of imagery.

Write about 200 to 300 words.

Up to 15 marks are available for the content of your answer.