Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Section A: Reading
Text A
The text below is an extract from A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby, published in 1958.
Two men, Eric and his friend, Hugh, are climbing a mountain in Nepal in 1956.
***
We dug ourselves a hole in the snow and considered our position. The view was colossal.
Below us on every side mountains surged away, it seemed forever. We looked down on
glaciers and snow-covered peaks that perhaps no one had ever seen before, except from the
air. We could see a great sweep of mountains in every direction. Away to the east was the
great snow-covered mountain, Tirich Mir, the 25 000 foot giant on the Chitral border. 5
Our own immediate situation was no less impressive. A stone dropped from one hand would
have landed on one of the upper glaciers of the Chamar valley, while from the other it would
have landed on the east glacier. Hugh now gave a practical demonstration of this by dropping
the compass, which fell with only one bounce into the Chamar valley.
‘Oh well,’ said Hugh gloomily. ‘I don’t think it was much use anyway.’ Above us large black 10
birds circled uttering melancholy croaking noises. ‘We’ve got to make a decision about going
on,’ he said. ‘And we’ve got to be absolutely certain it’s the right one, because our lives are
going to depend on it.’
Anywhere else such a remark would have sounded over-dramatic. Here it seemed no more
than an accurate statement of fact. 15
‘That means 4.30 at the summit. Going down, four hours at least. It’ll be nine o’clock. Then
there’s the ice slope. Do you think we can manage to find the camp in the dark?’ 20
‘The only alternative is to sleep on the ridge. We haven’t got any sleeping bags. I’m afraid we
wouldn’t last out. We can try if you like.’
For a moment we were dotty enough to consider going on. It was a terrible temptation: we
were only 200 metres below the summit. Then we decided to give up. Both of us were nearly in
tears. Sadly we ate our nougat and drank our cold coffee. 25
The descent was terrible. With the stimulus of the summit gone, we suddenly realised how
tired we were. But, although our strength and morale were ebbing, we both agreed to take
every possible precaution. There was no mountain rescue service on this mountain. If anything
happened to one of us, it would be the end for both.
Text B
Cross-country skiing
On a beginner’s cross-country skiing course your instructor will choose the trails carefully;
however, you should expect to fall over. Most cross-country falls happen at slow speeds, and
cause no injury. Although it is very rare, some falls do lead to injury, in the worst cases this may 10
include broken bones. Overall cross-country skiing is a safe sport to take part in if you have
proper instruction.
Snowmobiling
As snowmobiles can reach high speeds, drivers must be responsible for safe driving, and must
follow the guide’s instructions to prevent injury and damage to the snowmobile. Snowmobiles 15
are not for everyone and can be difficult to master. However, accidents are very rare if drivers
are careful.
If the thought of such temperatures scares you, then think again. When dressed in Arctic
clothing, –20 °C can actually feel very pleasant. The Arctic cold is a dry cold, there is usually no
wind, and remember, we will keep you active.
Daylight hours 25
In mid-winter (December/January) the sun remains just below the horizon, but it is not dark, as
there is plenty of light reflected off the snow.
For
Section A: Reading Teacher’s
Use
1 What does ‘the view was colossal’ (line 1) suggest about Eric and Hugh’s position?
............................................................................................................................................ [1]
simile
onomatopoeia
metaphor
alliteration
[1]
(b) What effect does the writer create by using the word ‘surged’ (line 2)?
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
What does Eric imply is dangerous about the ridge they are on?
............................................................................................................................................ [1]
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
(b) Give one quotation from the text that helps create this atmosphere.
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
3
5 Give a phrase which shows the challenge the mountain will present on the downward For
Teacher’s
journey. Use
............................................................................................................................................ [1]
Why does Eric think they would not survive the night without sleeping bags?
............................................................................................................................................ [1]
7 Give one quotation from the text that explains why Eric and Hugh want to continue to the
summit.
............................................................................................................................................ [1]
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
(b) Give one quotation from the text that shows how the men feel about the turning point.
..................................................................................................................................... [1]
Write a summary in your own words of the actions of both Eric and Hugh.
Use up to 30 words.
.................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................ [4]
4
Read Text B, a web page, in the Insert. Then answer questions 10–14. For
Teacher’s
Use
10 What is the main purpose of Text
to advise
to inform
to entertain
to persuade
[1]
Example: .................................................................................................................................
Effect: ......................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................ [2]
12 Why does the writer suggest that snowmobiles will not suit some people?
............................................................................................................................................ [1]
13 What two measures does the writer say people should take to avoid getting hurt when
snowmobiling?
• ..............................................................................................................................................
• ......................................................................................................................................... [2]
14 Why does the writer suggest that the temperatures at Oulanka might scare people?
............................................................................................................................................ [1]
5
Complete the following table with your answers. See the example below.
Text A Text B
• Different length paragraphs • Paragraphs all of similar length
• •
• •
• •
[3]