SECTION A :

GRAPHIC MATERIALS AND SHORT TEXTS

advertisements

short texts

graphs / charts & tables

idiomatic expressions & proverbs

Graphic Materials & Short Texts

signs & notices

comic strips instructions / manuals

diagrams/ pictorial guides/maps

TIPS : Identify keywords or phrases. Do not skim over a text. The answer options may enhance your understanding. Memorise common idioms or proverbs or phrasal verbs.

RATIONAL CLOZE

The main grammatical items to be tested are :

sentence connectors

parts of speech (nouns, adjectives, adverbs & verbs) infinitives gerunds prepositions

subject verb agreement participles pronouns tenses

articles determiners conjunctions

TIPS : Understanding the parts of speech. Pay attention to tenses in the passage. Study the sentence where the blank occurs and look at the words before and after the blank to understand the context of the sentence. Cross out the wrong options. If time permits, fill in your choice of answers in the passage. Reread to see if the passage makes sense.

SECTION B

INFORMATION TRANSFER

Consumer products

Shorts texts or extracts

Reviews/synops is of books/films

TV programmes

INFORMATION TRANSFER Brochures of places of interest

Events / notices

Advertisement

TIPS : Read the information thoroughly. Read the questions one by one. Write short answer

SECTION C

COMPREHENSION & SUMMARY

a) Comprehension

TIPS: i) when reading Read and understand the passage Underline keywords and phrases Quickly run through the questions and the summary question. Read the passage again. It could help you to better grasp its general meaning.

ii) when answering questions Refer to the context or relevant part of the passages where the question is based. Ensure that you answer what I asked. Give a brief and concise answer. Lifting is allowed. Lift words and phrases intelligently. Do not rephrase inaccurately. If the question asks for answers in own words, answer in your own words. Check for punctuation, spelling and tenses. Do not give unnecessary details. Write neatly and clearly.

b) Summary

TIPS : Underline the relevant points. Leave out examples, illustrations and details. Arrange your points in order. Link all the points with proper logical or sequence connectors. Replacing familiar words with other similar words. Paraphrase whenever possible. 130 words only. Begin with 10 words given. Pay attention to the tenses and the pronouns. Write in one paragraph.

SECTION D

POEM & NOVEL

a) Poem
He Had Such Quiet Eyes In The Midst Of Hardship Are You Still Playing Your Flute? Nature

Poetic Elements Persona Theme Moral Values Point of View Tone & Mood Language & Style i) Personification ii) Simile iii) Onomatopoeia iv) Alliteration v) Rhyme vi) Metaphor

Characteristic the speaker in the poem the main idea or subject of the poem the lessons that a reader can learn from the poem who is speaking in a poem The attitude of the persona , stated or implied The general meaning of the poem

the way the poet writes the poem human qualities given to abstract objects. e.g : trees struggling in the high Jamaica winds the use of an expression that compares 2 different things with like and as e.g : the rain beats like bullets words used on imitable sounds. e.g : swish of water , the buzzing of bee repetition of the same consonants sound usually placed at the beginning of words. e.g : sun shine , sways and shivers refer to line endings that consist of words with the same sound a comparison between two objects to give clear meaning

Novel : Catch Us If You Can

The Elements

place time social environment of the novel

sequence of actions & events in the novel

the people in the novel main & minor characters

Setting

Plot

Character

the main idea or subject of the novel

the way the writer present the story literary devices

the idea the writer wants to convey

Theme

Language & Style

the values the story teaches you more than one value

Message

the angle from which the story is told first person / third person

Moral Value

Point of View

STEP & STEP OUTLINE

a) Character Like / Dislike

Step 1

State your novel of choice

Catch us if you can

Step 2

State the character that you like

Granda

i) Loving Had taken care of Rory

ii) Determine Give at least 3 reasons/personalities why Step 3 you like the character. Elaborate on each reason and support it with evidence from text. To be free from the authorities Not to get help from his son, Jeff Cooperate with Rory in the great escape

iii) Gallant Holding the door open for a woman in clinic Paid kind compliments to Ruby & Norma

i) What personality traits do you like Step 4 Conclusion most about this character ? ii) Do you share any similar characteristic with this character?

b) Interesting Event

Step 1

State your novel of choice

Catch us if you can

Step 2

State interesting event

The great escape

i) plans to escape ii) stays in Darrens mums caravan iii) meets Tyrones family Step 3 Elaborate on each point and support it with evidence from text. iv) goes to Glosgow v) alight from the train vi) Rab offers help vii) to Liverpool viii) reunite with Jeff Rory is thankful that he has a family.

Step 4

Conclusion

Textual Evidence : There was only granda and me. I make sure Granda takes his medicine on time No, Granda, were a team. I squeezed his hand. We would either go back together or escape together Im getting you out of here Dont worry about that. Rory, Im your dad, Jeff

c) Moral Value / Lesson

Step 1

State your novel of choice

Catch us if you can

Step 2

State a moral value / lesson

The importance of family

i) Rory knows there is only granda & him in the family Step 3 Elaborate on each point and support it with evidence from text. ii) he takes on the responsibility of planning the great escape iii) Granda & Rory reunited with Jeff. Step 4 Conclusion Why the value/lesson is important? Relate to your daily life.

Textual Evidence : There was only granda and me. He can behave anyway he wants. Hes the best granda in the world I want us to stay together as long as we can said granda. Grandas memory and health had worsened ever since their escape but Rory was not worried. What was important was that they were together as a family. If I die tonight, I will die a happy man

d) Theme

Step 1

State your novel of choice

Catch us if you can

Step 2

State a theme

Growing up

i) a 12 year-old boy. Mature. ii) he takes care and protects granda Step 3 Elaborate on each point and support it with evidence from text. iii) he knows granda cannot live without him, so he plans a runaway iv) he acts as grandas carer at all times throughout their journey Step 4 Conclusion Do not too depend on others.

Textual Evidence : My granda had taken care of me since I was born. Now, he was getting old and forgetful, now it was my turn to look after him. Why couldnt people realize that I was all my granda had and granda was all I had too. Rory cant do everything. He does the shopping and the cooking. He learns the house. Hes only a boy, and Mr Mcintosh he needs help.

Suggested Answer a) What is one life lesson that you have learnt from the main character in the novel that you have studied? Support your answer with close reference to the text.

I have studied the novel 'Catch Us If You Can' by Catherine MacPhail. The story is narrated by Rory, a young boy who lived alone with his grandfather, Mr. McIntosh whom he lovingly calls 'Granda'. Rory's father had left him when he was still small and his mother had died of a broken heart.

One life lesson that I have learnt from Rory is that one should be a responsible family member. Rory was a very responsible boy even though he was still a young kid. He realised that Granda had looked after him all his life and now that Granda needed him, he would take care of him. He did the shopping and cooking. He cleaned the house.

Rory also gave up football for Granda. Mr Hood, his football coach had asked him to join the football team but he lied that he did not like football anymore. The truth was, he needed to look after Granda. Granda relied on him to get his lunch and he also had to make sure Granda took his pills. Sometimes, he rushed home during lunchtime to buy two hot pies for their lunch.

When Granda was hospitalised at Rachnadar, Rory realised that if he left Granda there, he would be very miserable and sick. He was very frightened when he visited Granda and he did not respond to him. He was afraid that he would 'be dead inside'. He decided to run away with Granda in order to save him. Darren's mother was concerned for Rory. She felt that Rory should not have to bear this kind of responsibility. However, Rory felt that it was his responsibility since there was nobody else. Finally, when he found out about his father, he felt that it was high time he lived up to his responsibility as a son and father.

b) Write about a sad event and its effect on the characters in the novel that you have read. Give evidence to support your answer.

The novel that I have studied is Catch Us If You Can by Catherine MacPhail. This novel is about a young boy named Rory who lived alone with his grandfather. When Rory and Granda were separated due to a fire, Rory made a decision to run away with Granda so that they could be together.

One of the sad event in this novel is when a fire broke out at the flats where Rory and Granda were staying. On that day, Rory was heading to the bakery as usual to get lunch, the baker told him that something was going on at his flats, the Fire Brigade had gone there and someone had been sent to the hospital. Rory rushed home immediately to find many people surrounding the building. He tried to get into the building. A policeman told him that Granda had been admitted to the hospital but he was going to be all right. Rory heard that Granda had probably left the chip pan on and forgot about it. Then, Rory was taken to the hospital to see Granda.

This event triggered a few other important events which changed their lives forever. As a result of the fire, Rory had to be sent to stay in Castle Street, the children's home and Granda was sent to Rachnadar Hospital. Rory hated Castle Street as he had to face the terrible Tess who bullied everyone around her. He ended up fighting with her. At the same time, Granda was suffering at Rachnadar Hospital. He blamed himself that Rory had ended up in Castle Street. Rory saw that he was retreating further and further into his shell and he did not want Granda to die 'inside'. So, he made a decision to run away.

During the Great Escape, Rory and Granda had to move from place to place. This affected Granda's health. First, they went to Darren's mum's caravan. When Rory received news from Darren that they were found out, they escaped again. This time they were rescued by Ruby and family. They went on an adventurous journey from place to place.

At one time, Granda even had to hit a boy who was threatening to catch Rory. Then, Granda hotwired a car and they escaped again. Their adventure ended when Granda fell unconscious at the bus shelter while they were on the run from the police. Finally, Rory had to ask for help and Granda was sent to the hospital. There, they were reunited with Jeff, Rory's father and his new family. Thus, we can see that the fire that caused Rory and Granda to be separated triggered other events which changed their lives forever. In the end, Rory's problems were solved when they could stay somewhere near his father and they also received home help for Granda and their meals are taken care of by 'meals on wheels'.