Read this extract from ‘The Scarecrow and His Servant’ by Philip Pullman and then answer

the questions.

Mr Pandolfo put together a fine-looking scarecrow, dressed him in an old tweed suit, and
stuffed him with straw. The scarecrow stood in a field, where Mr Pandolfo could admire him,
and he stayed there.

But one night there was a thunderstorm. It was very violent, and everyone in the district
shivered and trembled as the thunder went off like cannon-fire and the lightning lashed down
like whips. The scarecrow stood there in the wind and rain, taking no notice.

And so he might have stayed; but there came one of those million-to-one chances that are
like winning the lottery. All his molecules and atoms and elementary particles and whatnot
were lined up in exactly the right way to switch on when the lightning struck him, which it did
at two in the morning, fizzing its way through his turnip and down his broomstick into the
mud.

On the same night, a small boy called Jack happened to be sheltering in a barn close by. By
the morning the storm had cleared away, and Jack woke up colder than ever.

Then he heard a voice calling from across the fields. Jack was curious, so, standing up he
shaded his eyes to look. The shouts came from a scarecrow who was waving his arms wildly,
yelling at the top of his voice and leaning over at a crazy angle.

‘Help!’ he was shouting. ‘Come and help me!’

‘I think I’m going mad,’ said Jack to himself. ‘Still, look at that poor old thing – I’ll go and
help him anyway. He looks madder than I feel.’

To tell the truth, Jack felt a little nervous. It isn’t every day you find a scarecrow talking to you.

‘Now tell me your name, young man,’ said the scarecrow, when Jack was close enough to
hear.

His voice was rich and sonorous. Mr Pandolfo would undoubtedly have been impressed. His
head was made of a great knobbly turnip, with a broad crack for a mouth, a long thin sprout
for a nose and two bright stones for eyes. He had a tattered straw hat, now badly singed, a
soggy woollen scarf and an old tweed jacket full of holes. His rake-handle arms had gloves
stuffed with straw on the end of them, one glove leather and the other wool. Jack scratched
his head and looked up.

‘Jack.’ he said.
‘Now, Jack, I want to move on,’ said the scarecrow, ‘but I need another leg. If you go and find
me a leg, I shall be very obliged. Just like this one, only the opposite,’ he added, and lifted his
trouser leg daintily to show a stout stick set firmly in the earth.
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The end of the stick that Jack brought was splintered and wasn’t easy to push up the soggy
trouser leg, but Jack finally got it all the way up, and then jumped as he felt it twitch in his
hand.

The scarecrow tried to move but the harder he struggled, the deeper he sank into the mud.
Finally, he stopped, and looked at Jack. It was astonishing how much expression he could
manage with his gash-mouth and stone-eyes.

Glossary

scarecrow – a model of a person put in a field to scare away birds

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Section A: Reading

Read the extract from The Scarecrow and His Servant by Philip Pullman and then answer
these questions.

1 Read these statements about the scarecrow. Tick (✓) two boxes that we know
are TRUE from the passage.

He had matching gloves on.

He spoke in a quiet voice.

He wore a tweed suit.

His hair was made of straw.

His mouth was wide.

[2]

2 Why were the people in the district afraid?

[1]

3 What change took place in the scarecrow when lightning struck him?

[1]

4 When Jack awoke, he stood up and looked around. Why?

[1]
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5 Did the scarecrow seem calm?

Tick (✓) one box.

Yes

No

Give a reason from the text to support your answer.

[1]

6 Although scarecrows don’t usually talk, Jack decided to go and help the
scarecrow.

What does this tell you about Jack?

[1]

7 Do you feel worried about Jack approaching the scarecrow?

Tick (✓) one box.

Yes

No

Explain your answer using words and phrases from the text.

Words and phrases to support your explanation

[2]

8 Why did Jack jump when the scarecrow’s leg twitched in his hand?

[1]
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Section 2: Poetry (10 marks)

Diary of a Sweatshirt: The Best Day Ever by Diana Murray

Today I felt a lovely breeze while playing in the leaves.

 I got a little dirty, though, especially my sleeves.
My pockets got filled up with rocks, which surely was no pleasure.
And yet, I must admit, it’s awfully fun to dig for treasure.

I snagged my fabric on a branch while climbing up a tree.

But, oh! What an amazing view. I’ve never felt so free!
I’m used to being in my drawer, all neatly tucked away.
I’m thankful I got worn for once, outside where I could play.

"Diary of a Sweatshirt: The Best Day Ever" Copyright (c) 2019 Diana Murray. Originally published in Thanku: Poems of Gratitude edited by
Miranda Paul and published by Lerner Publishing Group, Millbrook Press. Reprinted by permission of the author.

Directions: For the following questions, choose the best answer or respond in complete sentences.

1.             What is the theme of the poem? [1]

A.              Be careful what you wish for.

B.              Always be true to who you are.

C.             Spending time outside is unpleasant.

D.              Having new experiences can bring us joy.

2.             The poet most likely uses the word "diary" in the title of this poem because — [1]
A.              a diary is a place where you write your feelings about what happens each day.

B.              a diary is a book where authors tell stories that did not happen in real life.

C.             a diary is a special saying that helps you remember important events.

D.              a diary is an important piece of clothing that children like to wear.

  

3.             Which line from the poem gives a hint about the speaker's true self? [1]
A.              "Today I felt a lovely breeze while playing in the leaves." (Line 1)

B.              "And yet, I must admit, it's awfully fun to dig for treasure." (Line 4)

C.             "I snagged my fabric on a branch while climbing up a tree." (Line 5)

D.              "But, oh! What an amazing view. I've never felt so free!"(Line 6)

 
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4.             How do lines 7-8 add to the reader's understanding of the poem? [1]
A.              They show that the speaker is a tree branch.

B.              They show that the speaker is a collection of rocks.

C.             They show that the speaker is an empty dresser drawer.

D.              They show that the speaker is a sweatshirt that has never been worn.

5.             What makes this day the "best day ever" for the speaker of the poem? [2]

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

6. This poem exemplifies one particular poetic device or figurative language. What is it? [1]

______________________________________________________________________

7.  What is the rhyme scheme of this poem? [1]

______________________________________________________________________

8. Throughout the poem, the speaker gives the reader clues about their identity. Think about what
makes you special. What do you do or say to let others learn more about who you are? [2]

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________
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Section 3: Writing (25 marks)

Choose one topic to write a descriptive piece on. Remember to “show” more than “tell”.

Option 1: Describe an exciting race.

Think about:
 Setting and Atmosphere
 Participants
 Pre-Race Preparations
 The race itself
 Body language, facial expressions, gestures, thoughts and emotions of the participants or yourself
as a participant
 Including your senses.
 The end of the race

Option 2: Describe a walk through a festival or carnival.

Think about:
 Describing the sensory input (all your senses)
 The entrance
 People you’re with
 Activities or events or entertainment