3.1.3

Paper 1: Reading - Answering Question 2

Test yourself on Paper 1: Reading - Answering Question 2

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Section A: Creative Reading - Question 2

In Section A of Paper 1, you will be given a 40-50 line extract from a modern piece of fiction. Unless you are very lucky and have already read the text, this extract will be unseen.

Question 2

Question 2

  • Question 2 is worth eight marks. You should spend around two minutes reading and 8 minutes writing.
  • In this question, you will be asked to read a specific section of the text (e.g. lines 13 to 20) and explain how the writer uses language to describe a character, thing, place or event.
Use correct terminology

Use correct terminology

  • You need to show that you can identify the techniques used by the writer, such as:
    • Personification, simile, metaphor.
    • Irony, tone, emphasis, rhetorical question.
    • Hyperbole, repetition, alliteration.
    • Technical word classes (e.g. abstract noun, stative verb, noun phrase, semantic field).
Use varied information from the text

Use varied information from the text

  • You must carefully select quotations because they are important to the point you have made. They should prove your ideas really well.
  • It should be clear that your point and evidence work perfectly together. You should not just choose any quotation at random and try to make a point around it – you should choose an excellent quotation to match your point perfectly.
  • You should explain how your quotation links to your point.
Analyse language

Analyse language

  • You should explain how the language used helps to describe whatever character, thing, place or event the question asks about.
  • You must consider:
    • Connotations of words and alternative meanings of words.
    • The effect of the language technique you have highlighted – Do NOT just label the techniques but explain their effect.
Example exam technique

Example exam technique

  • Example question: How does the writer use language in this extract to create tension?
  • Example process:
    • Consider what the question means - what is tension?
    • Throughout your answer, stick to the question – you are looking at language which creates tension and nothing else.
    • Find three quotations which add tension.
    • Spend 30 seconds on each quotation, creating a brief mindmap of how the words create tension.
    • Select one of your quotations and write a paragraph to answer the question.

The PETER Structure - Section A: Question 2

You don't have to stick to this structure, exactly, but it helps you to remember including everything you need to get the most marks.

Point

Point

  • Write your idea or argument and link it to the question.
  • Here are some example sentence starters:
    • In the text, the writer uses language to ____.
    • The writer structures the text to ____.
    • Throughout the text, the writer ____.
Evidence

Evidence

  • Choose a quotation from the text which supports the point that you have made.
  • Here are some examples of using a quotation to support your point:
    • In paragraph three, the author says, “____”.
    • The author describes the sky as “____”.
    • The description “____” is stated at the start of the text.
Technique and explanation

Technique and explanation

  • Identify a language technique in the quotation. These techniques could be similes, metaphors, adverbs, rule of three or another technique.
  • Then explain what the technique means, referring to the quotation or words used.
  • Here are some example sentences:
    • Within the quote, the simile suggests that ____.
    • The adjective “____” indicates that ____.
    • The writer’s use of repetition here shows ____
    • The metaphor “____” could mean ____. Alternatively, it could mean ____.
Refer to the question and the writer's intention

Refer to the question and the writer's intention

  • Answer why you think the writer used this language?
  • What do you think the writer is trying to show?
  • What effect does the quote have and how does this relate to the question?
  • Some examples of this are:
    • In my opinion, the writer has done this to show ____.
    • Therefore, the language here suggests that ____.
    • Therefore, the author structured the extract in this way to highlight ____.
Jump to other topics
1

Key Terms

1.1

Key Terms

1.1.1Nouns1.1.2Verbs1.1.3Sentence Types1.1.4Words1.1.5Sound1.1.6Language1.1.7Images & Symbols1.1.8Phrases1.1.9Mood1.1.10Key Terms - Other Techniques1.1.11End of Topic Test - Key Terms
2

Language Techniques

2.1

Language Devices

2.1.1Metaphors2.1.2Similes2.1.3Metaphors & Similes HyperLearning2.1.4Personification2.1.5Pathetic Fallacy2.1.6Pun2.1.7Oxymoron2.1.8Hyperbole2.1.9Alliteration2.1.10Sibilance2.1.11Onomatopoeia2.1.12Emotive Language2.1.13All Language Devices2.1.14End of Topic Test - Language Devices
2.2

Writing Structure

2.2.1Narrators2.2.2Paragraphs2.2.3Present Tense2.2.4Past Tense2.2.5Future Tense2.2.6Present vs Past vs Future2.2.7Foreshadowing2.2.8Structure2.2.9End of Topic Test - Writing Structure
3

Paper 1: Reading

3.1

Paper 1: Reading - Section A

3.1.1Paper 1: Reading - Overview - Section A3.1.2Paper 1: Reading - Answering Question 13.1.3Paper 1: Reading - Answering Question 23.1.4Exam-Style Questions - Paper 1: Reading3.1.5Paper 1: Reading - Answering Question 33.1.6Paper 1: Reading - Answering Question 43.1.7End of Topic Test - Section A3.1.8Exam-Style Questions - Paper 1: Reading3.1.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q13.1.10Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q23.1.11Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q33.1.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q4 13.1.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q4 2
4

Paper 1: Writing

4.1

Paper 1: Writing - Structuring Your Answer

4.1.1Paper 1: Writing - Overview - Section B4.1.2Paper 1: Writing - Descriptive Writing4.1.3Paper 1: Writing - Narrative Writing4.1.4Paper 1: Writing - Answering Section B (option 1)4.1.5Paper 1: Writing - Answering Section B (option 2)4.1.6Paper 1: Writing - Answering Section B - Checklist4.1.7End of Topic Test - Writing Section4.1.8Exam-Style Questions - Paper 1: Writing4.1.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q5 14.1.10Diagnostic Misconceptions - P1 Q5 2
5

Paper 2: Reading

5.1

Paper 2: Reading - DAFORESTER

5.1.1Paper 2: Reading - Direct Address5.1.2Paper 2: Reading - Alliteration5.1.3Paper 2: Reading - Facts5.1.4Paper 2: Reading - Opinions5.1.5Paper 2: Reading - Repetition5.1.6Paper 2: Reading - Exaggeration (Hyperbole)5.1.7Paper 2: Reading - Statistics5.1.8Paper 2: Reading - Triples (Rule of 3)5.1.9Paper 2: Reading - Emotive Language5.1.10Paper 2: Reading - Rhetorical Questions5.1.11End of Topic Test - DAFORESTER
5.2

Paper 2: Reading - Structuring Your Answer

5.2.1Paper 2: Reading - Overview - Section A5.2.2Paper 2: Reading - Answering Question 15.2.3Paper 2: Reading - Answering Question 25.2.4Paper 2: Reading - Answering Question 35.2.5Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Reading5.2.6Paper 2: Reading - Answering Question 45.2.7End of Topic Test - Section A5.2.8Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Reading5.2.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - P2 Q15.2.10Diagnostic Misconceptions - P2 Q2 15.2.11Diagnostic Misconceptions - P2 Q2 25.2.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - P2 Q4
6

Paper 2: Writing

6.1

Paper 2: Writing - Structuring Your Answer

6.1.1Paper 2: Writing - Overview - Section B6.1.2Paper 2: Writing - Answering Section B6.1.3Diagnostic Misconceptions - P2 Q5 16.1.4Diagnostic Misconceptions - P2 Q5 26.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - P2 Q5 3
6.2

Types of Writing

6.2.1Paper 2: Writing - Article6.2.2Paper 2: Writing - Essay6.2.3Paper 2: Writing - Leaflet6.2.4Paper 2: Writing - Letter6.2.5Paper 2: Writing - Speech6.2.6Paper 2: Writing - Review6.2.7Paper 2: Writing - Travel Writing6.2.8Paper 2: Writing - Diaries & Journals6.2.9End of Topic Test - Types of Writing
6.3

Writing to...

6.3.1Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Inform6.3.2Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Inform - Example6.3.3Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Explain6.3.4Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Explain - Example6.3.5Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Persuade6.3.6Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Persuade - Example6.3.7Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Argue6.3.8Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Argue - Example6.3.9Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Persuade vs Writing6.3.10Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Advise6.3.11Paper 2: Writing - Writing to Advise - Example6.3.12End of Topic Test - Writing to...6.3.13Exam-Style Questions - Paper 2: Writing

Practice questions on Paper 1: Reading - Answering Question 2

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What do you need to do when answering Question 2?Fill in the list
  2. 2
    Features of Question 2 from Section A:True / false
  3. 3
    You are making the point that a character, James, is stubborn. Which quotation would back up your point best?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    What should you consider when you are answering Question 2 of the reading section (Section A)?Fill in the list
  5. 5
    How Does the Writer use Language in this Extract to Emphasise Romance?Put in order
Answer all questions on Paper 1: Reading - Answering Question 2

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium

Paper 1: Reading - Answering Question 1

Exam-Style Questions - Paper 1: Reading