Practice Paper 2 (Cambridge International IGCSE English Language)

Read Text A, Working a winter season at a ski resort, in the insert and then answer Question 1(a-f).

1(a) Give one quality that is required to work a winter season at a ski resort, according to the text.

Read Text A, Working a winter season at a ski resort, in the insert and then answer Question 1(a-f).

1(b)(i) Use your own words to explain what the text means by:

“staff quit” (line 5)

Read Text A, Working a winter season at a ski resort, in the insert and then answer Question 1(a-f).

1(b)(ii) Use your own words to explain what the text means by:

“variety of positions” (line 7)

Read Text A, Working a winter season at a ski resort, in the insert and then answer Question 1(a-f).

Re-read paragraph 3 (“If you have … dates.”).

1(c) Give two reasons why it might be difficult to ensure that you put in your application in time.

Read Text A, Working a winter season at a ski resort, in the insert and then answer Question 1(a-f).

Re-read paragraphs 4 and 5 (“How long … snowflakes.”).

1(d) Identify the two main decisions you will need to make before applying for a job in a ski resort.

Read Text A, Working a winter season at a ski resort, in the insert and then answer Question 1(a-f).

Re-read paragraphs 4 and 5 (“How long … snowflakes.”).

1(e)(i) Explain the specific features of powder snow that make it the best snow to ride.

Read Text A, Working a winter season at a ski resort, in the insert and then answer Question 1(a-f).

Re-read paragraph 6 (“Online guides … flights.”).

1(e)(ii) Explain why some people might decide not to apply through a recruitment organisation.

Read Text A, Working a winter season at a ski resort, in the insert and then answer Question 1(a-f).

Re-read paragraphs 4 and 5 (“How long … snowflakes.”).

1(f)(i) Give two types of location that attract large numbers of foreign visitors.

Read Text A, Working a winter season at a ski resort, in the insert and then answer Question 1(a-f).

Re-read paragraph 6 (“Online guides … flights.”).

1(f)(ii) Give three things that a recruitment organisation will do for you in return for its fee.

Read Text B, Seasonal work, in the insert and then answer Questions 2(a) and 2(b).

2(a) According to Text B, what are the advantages and disadvantages of taking a seasonal job?

You must use continuous writing (not note form) and use your own words as far as possible.

Your summary should not be more than 120 words.

Up to 10 marks are available for the content of your answer and up to 5 marks for the quality of your writing.

Read Text A and Text B in the insert and then answer Section A, Question 1(a) and 1(b).

1(a) Reread this extract from Text B:

"Paolo says the summers are difficult for locals. The traffic is suffocating, and the pavements are crowded and hot. 'At least the city's facilities are open all year now. Everything used to close in the winter. Most of the cultural events and festivals are still organised around the visitors. We've spent decades "improving the visitor experience", as they say.' Paolo betrays only a hint of irony."

Use your own words to evaluate Paolo's attitude to tourism in his city. Give details from the text to justify your answer.

Read Text A, Ships, boats and yachts, in the insert and then answer Question 1(a-f).

1(a) Apart from pleasure and leisure, give one use of ships and boats mentioned in Text A.

Read Text A, Ships, boats and yachts, in the insert and then answer Question 1(a-f).

1(b)(i) From the passage, find one word or phrase from Text A that means the same as each of the words in bold:

“ships and boats are two of the first types of transportation”

Read Text A, Ships, boats and yachts, in the insert and then answer Question 1(a-f).

1(b)(ii) Use your own words to explain what the text means by:

“various watercraft” (line 6)

Read Text A, Ships, boats and yachts, in the insert and then answer Question 1(a-f).

1(c) Use your own words to explain two differences between ships and boats as described in Text A.

Read Text A, Ships, boats and yachts, in the insert and then answer Question 1(a-f).

1(d) Explain two things a vessel needs in order to be called a yacht.

Read Text A, Ships, boats and yachts, in the insert and then answer Question 1(a-f).

1(e)(i) Use your own words to explain three reasons why it is difficult to define what a yacht is.

Read Text A, Ships, boats and yachts, in the insert and then answer Question 1(a-f).

1(e)(ii) Use your own words to explain three reasons why boats are more expensive than cars.

Read Text A, Ships, boats and yachts, in the insert and then answer Question 1(a-f).

Re-read paragraph 5 (“Anyone with ambitions … cost justifiable?”).

1(f)(i) Give two reasons, according to Text A, why owning a boat or yacht is costly.

Read Text A, Ships, boats and yachts, in the insert and then answer Question 1(a-f).

Re-read paragraph 4 (“Yachts can get pretty big … called yachts.”).

1(f)(ii) Give three things Text A tells us about very large yachts.

Read Text B, How to travel the globe and still spare the world, in the insert and then answer Questions 2(a) and 2(b).

2(a) Text B discusses the problems caused by air travel and what can be done about them. Use your own words as far as possible to write a summary of the problems caused by air travel and what individuals and airlines can do to address them.

You must use continuous writing (not note form) and use your own words as far as possible.

Your summary should not be more than 120 words.

Up to 10 marks are available for the content of your answer and up to 5 marks for the quality of your writing.

Read Text C, Riding across America, in the insert and then answer Question 3(a-d).

3(a)(i) Identify a word or phrase from the text which suggests the same idea as the words in bold:

The two reporters did not ask what made Annie want to do the ride.

Read Text C, Riding across America, in the insert and then answer Question 3(a-d).

3(a)(ii) Identify a word or phrase from the text which suggests the same idea as the word in bold:

Annie knew she was lucky that people were curious about her and her journey.

Read Text C, Riding across America, in the insert and then answer Question 3(a-d).

3(b)(i) Use your own words to explain what the writer means by each of the words in bold:

"Annie figured Redding to LA would take another two months. She took Green’s details, promising to call when, if, she arrived in LA. Only small local newspapers had covered her exploits to date; she knew national media would take over now."

(i) figured

Read Text C, Riding across America, in the insert and then answer Question 3(a-d).

3(b)(ii) Use your own words to explain what the writer means by each of the words in bold:

"Annie figured Redding to LA would take another two months. She took Green’s details, promising to call when, if, she arrived in LA. Only small local newspapers had covered her exploits to date; she knew national media would take over now."

(ii) covered

Read Text C, Riding across America, in the insert and then answer Question 3(a-d).

3(b)(iii) Use your own words to explain what the writer means by each of the words in bold:

"Annie figured Redding to LA would take another two months. She took Green’s details, promising to call when, if, she arrived in LA. Only small local newspapers had covered her exploits to date; she knew national media would take over now."

(iii) exploits

Read Text C, Riding across America, in the insert and then answer Question 3(a-d).

3(c) Use one example from the text below to explain how the writer uses language to suggest the reactions of the people in Redding to Annie’s arrival.

Use your own words in your explanation.

"To her astonishment, jostling crowds lined the street. Had everyone really come out just to watch her ride by? She grinned and waved back, coming to a halt as yet more well-wishers swarmed and buzzed around her, demanding autographs."