The Oxford School

FINAL EXAMINATION JUNE 2022

(Practice Paper)
Section A
PART 1 NON-FICTION
Read Passage A carefully, and then answer Questions 1-15.

Using the stage name Charles Blondin, Jean-Francois Gravelet rightly earned the reputation as
the greatest ‘funambulist’ of his time. Upon first glance this term would seem to imply fun, but in
fact it indicates activities involving great personal risk. Funambulist means tightrope walker, and
Gravelet took that popular art form to previously unachieved heights.
The future tightrope walker and acrobat was born in France in 1824. At various times throughout
his storied career, Gravelet was billed as ‘The Great Blondin’, ‘The Daredevil Wire Walker’ and
‘The Prince of Manila’, names that are as evocative of a highly specialised skill as they are of an
era.
Gravelet became interested in high-wire acrobatics at a very early age. In 1829, a circus troupe
performed near his home, and Gravelet became enthralled by the tightrope walker. It was the first
time he had ever seen anyone attempting such stunts. As a result, he felt compelled to try to
achieve the same kind of deeds. Almost immediately after he returned home from the circus,
Gravelet erected a makeshift tightrope in his back yard, using two chairs as supporting structures,
and tried to learn the skill of rope-walking.
Instead of discouraging this rather risky pursuit, which may have been an understandable
Gravelet then toured America with an acrobat troupe that performed in New York City as part of
‘The Greatest Show on Earth’. During this period, Gravelet changed his name to Charles
Blondin, which he selected, in part, because of his blond hair.

In 1858, his itinerary took him to Niagara Falls, located near the border between the United
States and Canada. Seeing this enormous natural wonder for the first time, he became obsessed
with the idea of crossing the Falls on a tightrope.

reaction, Gravelet’s father supported his son’s ambitions. That same year, he enrolled his son in a
school focused on physical education. Gravelet proved to be quite adept, and after only six
months of training he made his amateur performance debut. Billed as ‘The Little Wonder’,
Gravelet became a popular attraction, as his performances demonstrated surprising skill and
originality.
When Blondin requested permission to cross the Falls, official roadblocks thwarted his ambition.
The surrounding community felt that the stunt would somehow reduce the Falls’ magnificent
splendour to lowbrow entertainment. In addition, local officials feared the attempt would result in
a horrifying accident. However, Blondin was eventually granted permission to string his rope across
the Falls, and on 30 June 1859, a crowd of 100 000 people witnessed Blondin’s historic triumph.

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Read Text A, a website article about a famous tightrope walker, in the Insert, and then answer
questions 1–11.

1 Which phrase in line 1 means alias?

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………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

2 Give one word from the first paragraph (lines 1–4) that is an example of irony.

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………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

3 Give one word from the first paragraph that is an example of a pun.

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Explain in your own words how this pun is effective.

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………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]

4 Give two words or phrases from the third paragraph (lines 9–14) that are examples of emotive
language.

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………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

5 What does the phrase ‘… which may have been an understandable reaction,…’ (lines 15–16)
suggest about Gravelet’s father? Tick ( ) one box. [1]

He tried to discourage his son.

He reacted in a predictable way.

He felt the danger was acceptable.

He was more ambitious than his son.

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6 Gravelet was given various names during his career.
Which was the first name he was given? Tick ( ) one box.

The Great Blondin

The Daredevil Wire Walker

The Prince of Manila

The Little Wonder

[1]

7 Give the one-word metaphor in the last paragraph (lines 27–32).

………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

8 Explain in your own words two reasons why local people objected to Blondin’s request to walk
across Niagara Falls.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]

9 Look at this phrase ‘… a crowd of 100 000 people witnessed Blondin’s historic triumph.’
(Lines 31–32)
What two things does the phrase above suggest about what people felt about Blondin’s stunt?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]

10 What does the word thundering (line 4) suggest about Niagara Falls?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

11 What effect does the writer achieve by using the sentence ‘The secret’s out!’? (Line 9)
Tick ( ) one box.

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 a sense of luxury

a sense of mystery

a sense of discovery

a sense of danger

[1]

12 (a) List the outdoor activities that you can do if you visit Niagara Falls and the region.

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(b) Write a summary of up to 50 words about the outdoor activities that you can do when visiting
the region of Niagara Falls. Write at least five points from your list.

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……………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]

[Total: 20]

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 Section A
PART II FICTION

Text for Section A, an extract from ‘Just in Case’ by Meg Rosoff .

The extract is about David Case and his one-year-old brother, Charlie.

David Case’s baby brother had recently learned to walk but he wasn’t what you would call an
expert. He toddled past his brother to the large open window of the older brother’s room. There,
with great effort, he pulled himself on to the window sill, scrunched up like a caterpillar, pushed
into a crouch and stood, teetering precariously, his gaze fixed solemnly on the church tower a
quarter-mile away.

He tipped forward slightly towards the void, just as a large black bird swooped past. It paused and
turned an intelligent red eye to meet the child’s.
‘Why not fly?’ suggested the bird, and the boy’s eyes widened in delight.

Seduced by the fact that a bird had spoken to him, the boy threw out his arms and thought, Yes!
Fly!
David did not hear his brother think ‘fly’. Something else made him look up. A voice. A finger on
his shoulder. The brush of lips against his ear.

In the instant of looking up, David took the measure of the situation, shouted ‘Charlie!’ and
lunged across the room. He grabbed the child by the cape of his Batman pyjamas, wrapped his
arms around him with enough force to flatten his ribs, and sank to the floor, squashing the boy’s
face into the safe hollow beneath his chin.

Charlie squeaked with outrage, but David barely heard. Panting, he unpinned him, gripping the
child at arm’s length.
‘What were you doing?’ He was shouting. ‘What on earth did you think you were doing?’

Well, said Charlie, I was bored just playing with my toys and you weren’t paying attention to me
so I thought I would get a better look at the world. I climbed up on the window which wasn’t
easy and once I managed to do that I felt strange and happy with nothing but sky all around me
and all of a sudden a bird flew past and looked at me and said I could fly and a bird hasn’t ever
talked to me before and I figured a bird would know what he was talking about when it came to
flying so I thought he must be right.

The little boy explained all this slowly and carefully, so as not to be misunderstood.

‘Bir-dee fly,’ were the words which came out of his mouth.

David turned away, heart pounding. It was useless trying to communicate with a one-year-old,
David thought. If I had been two seconds slower, he’d be dead. He pulled his brother close,
tucking him in against his body, pressed his lips to the child’s face.
What if …?

He became enmired in what if. The weight of it wrapped itself around his ankles and dragged him
under. .

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A year earlier, David’s father had woken him with a shout.

‘David, your mother’s home! Aren’t you interested in seeing the baby?’

Not really, David thought, burying his head in his pillow. I know what a baby looks like.

But then they were in his room, grinning and making inane noises in the direction of a small,
serene-looking creature with jet-black eyes. David sat up with a groan and peered at his new
brother. Ok, seen him, he thought.
David was about to go back to sleep when he noticed the new baby gazing at him with a peculiar
expression of calm authority.

I’m Charlie, said the new baby’s eyes, as clearly as if he had spoken the words out loud. Who are
you?
David stared.

His brother repeated the question slowly, politely. Who, exactly, are you?

David frowned.

The baby inclined his head. Such a simple question, he thought. But if his brother knew the
answer, he gave no sign.
This disturbed Charlie. Over the next few months, he tried approaching his parents for answers,
but his father was always at work and his mother seemed strangely ill-informed on the subject of
her older son. And when she caught Charlie staring at David, she merely thought, How sweet.
They’re bonding.
But they weren’t bonding. Charlie was comparing the David he knew with the Davids he saw
displayed around the house in family pictures. The younger Davids looked cheerful and serene;
they held books or bikes or ice creams and gazed at the camera with expressions of trust. The
younger Davids kicked balls, swung from trees, blew out candles on birthday cakes. They had
clear edges and cloudless eyes.

But the David that Charlie knew now was watery and fizzy with nerves.

Charlie had spent a good deal of his short life worrying about his older brother. Now he paused in
the middle of playing to gather his thoughts. He saw that his recent attempt to fly had been a
mistake. It seemed to have nudged his brother past some invisible tipping point, and this filled him
with remorse.

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Read the Text in the Insert and then answer questions 1–15.

1 Give one word from the first paragraph which shows that Charlie walks unsteadily.

……………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

2 What does the word void (line 6) suggest about Charlie’s situation? Tick ( ) one box.

He doesn’t know what is outside the room.

There is nothing to catch him if he falls.

The other buildings seem far away.

He wants to catch the black bird.

[1]

3 Explain in your own words two ways in which the black bird behaves like a person.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]

4 Look at lines 1–10.

Give two short quotations which show how Charlie’s way of looking at things indicates his
feelings.

1. ……………………………………………………………………………………………….

2. ………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]

5 Look at lines 11–12.

What effect is created by the writer in this paragraph?

Tick ( ) one box.

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 adventure

humour

amazement

mystery

[1]

6 Look at lines 13–16.

What two things does the writer’s use of language in this paragraph tell us about the way David
acts?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]

7 Look at lines 20–25.

What does the limited use of commas and full stops in this paragraph tell us about Charlie?
Tick ( ) two boxes.

He is trying to shout.

He seems very confused.

He is thinking very quickly.

He feels angry with his brother.

He is excited.

[2]
8 Look at the two sentences in lines 26–27.
Explain in your own words the contrast that the writer is trying to show in these two sentences.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]

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9 The writer uses irony by saying David thinks ‘it was useless trying to communicate with a
one-year-old …’ (line 28). Explain in your own words why this is ironic.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

10 Look at lines 31–33.

Explain in your own words how David feels at this point in the extract.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

11 The writer uses the technique of flashback to describe events that have previously happened
in the extract. Give one short quotation that shows this.

………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

12 Look at lines 34–39.

(a) Which of David’s actions suggest that he does not want to see his new brother?
Give two examples from the text.

1. ……………………………………………………………………………………………….

2. ………………………………………………………………………………………… [2]

(b) Give one short quotation from the text which suggests that David is
embarrassed by his parents.

………………………………………………………………………………………………… [1]

13 Look at this sentence: ‘This disturbed Charlie.’ (Line 49) What does this refer to?

Tick ( ) one box. [1]

David’s apparent tiredness

David’s lack of response

David’s facial expressions

David’s feelings of irritation

[Total: 20]

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 Section B
LITERATURE

Read the given questions and answer accordingly. [15]

Birling: I’m delighted about this engagement and I hope it won't be too long before you're
married. And I want to say this. There's a good deal of silly talk about these days – but – and I
speak as a hard-headed business man, who has to take risks and know what he's about – I say, you
can ignore all this silly pessimistic talk. When you marry, you'll be marrying at a very good time.
Yes, a very good time – and soon it'll be an even better time. Last month, just because the miners
came out on strike, there's a lot of wild talk about possible labour trouble in the near future. Don't
worry. We've passed the worst of it. We employers at last are coming together to see that our
interests – and the interests of capital – are properly protected. And we're in for a time of steadily
increasing prosperity.

Gerald: I believe you're right, sir.

Eric: What about war?

Birling: Glad you mentioned it, Eric. I'm coming to that. Just because the kaiser makes a
speech or two, or a few german officers have too much to drink and begin taking nonsense, you'll
hear some people say that war's inevitable. And to that I say – fiddlesticks! The germans don't
want war. Nobody wants war, except some half-civilized folks in the Balkans. And why? There's
too much at stake these days. Everything to lose and nothing to gain by war.

Eric: Yes, I know – but still -

Birling: Just let me finish, Eric. You've a lot to learn yet. And I’m taking as a hard headed,
practical man of business. And I say there isn't a chance of war. The world's developing so fast
that it'll make war impossible. Look at the progress we're making. In a year or two we'll have
aeroplanes that will be able to go anywhere. And look at the way the auto-mobile's making
headway – bigger and faster all the time. And then ships. Why, a friend of mine went over this
new liner last week – the titanic – she sails next week – forty-six thousand eight hundred tons –
new york in five days – and every luxury – and unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable. That's what
you've got to keep your eye on, facts like that, progress like that – and not a few german officers
taking nonsense and a few scaremongers here making a fuss about nothing. Now you three young
people, just listen to this – and remember what I’m telling you now. In twenty or thirty year's time
– let's say, in 1940 – you may be giving a little party like this – your son or daughter might be
getting engaged – and I tell you, by that time you'll be living in a world that'll have forgotten all
these capital versus labour agitations and all these silly little war scares. There'll be peace and
prosperity and rapid progress everywhere – except of course in russia, which will always be
behindhand naturally.

Mrs Birling: Arthur!

// has Mrs Birling shows signs of interrupting.//

Birling: Yes, my dear, I know – I’m talking too much. But you youngsters just remember
what I Said. We can't let these Bernard Shaws and H.G.Wellses do all the talking. We hard-

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headed practical business men must say something sometime. And we don't guess – we've had
experience - and we know.

Mrs Birling. (rising. The others rise) Yes, of course, dear. Well don't keep Gerald in here
too long. Eric – I want you a minute.

// she and Sheila and Eric go out. Birling and Gerald sit down again.//

Birling: Cigar?

Gerald: No, thanks. Can't really enjoy them.

Birling: (taking one himself) Ah, you don't know what you're missing. I like a good cigar.
(indicating decanter.) help yourself.

Gerald: Thank you.

1.Whom does the Inspector question last? [1]

 Gerald
 Arthur
 Sheila
 Eric

2. The Inspector’s political beliefs might be most nearly characterized as what? [1]

 Capitalist
 Fourierian
 Anarchist
 Socialist

3. Arthur hints that which ship is unsinkable? [1]

 The Lusitania
 The Britannia
 The USS Mighty
 The Titanic

4. The Inspector hints at which future conflict? [1]

 World War I
 World War II
 The Spanish Civil War
 The Crimean War

5. Where is the play set? [1]

 Murmlish
 Brumley
 Chidwick-on-Cranston
 Plomly

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6. What type of character is Inspector Goole according to you? Explain your answer in
about 100 words. [5]

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7. How J.B Priestly portrays historical importance in the play? Explain in about 100 words. [5]

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[Total: 15]

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 Section C
Writing

Select any one topic A or B. Write about 250- 300 words on the topic of your choice: [20]

A. Write a story entitled ‘The Last hope’.

OR

B. Write a persuasive essay on the topic, ‘Home works must or must not be given in

schools.’

Content [5] Text structure [5]

Vocabulary [4] Sentence structure [3] Punctuation [3]

Write your choice of question: A or B ………

Space for planning

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