Cycle Test - Term 1

ENGLISH

GRADE 12

TOTAL MARKS: 35

60 minutes
LEARNING OUTCOMES

● Recall language structures and conventions

● Identify an effective answering technique
● Analyse a text to find bias and meaning

INSTRUCTIONS
1. This test consists of FOUR questions:
Question 1: Comprehension (15)
Question 2: Summary (10)
Question 3: Analysing Cartoons (5)
Question 4: Language in Context (5)
2. Read ALL the instructions carefully.
3. Answer ALL the questions.
4. Number the answers correctly according to the numbering system used in this
question paper.
5. Pay special attention to spelling and sentence construction.
6. Write neatly and legibly.
7. The maximum possible mark for this test is 35.
8. You will have 60 minutes to complete this test.

WHAT IS PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is when you use someone else’s work without giving them credit. Please
ensure that you do not copy the answers from the online campus or from any other
sources. All work in this test must be completed by you in your own words.

DECLARATION CYCLE TEST

I declare that all work in this cycle test is my own. I have not committed plagiarism as
defined by the plagiarism policy and I have not accessed any resources of the online
campus to help me complete this cycle test. I will not use text-to-speech software (such
as Natural Readers) or any other type of concession unless I have been approved for a
concession in writing by Academic Support within the Student Well-Being Department
or SACAI in the form of a concession letter. I will ensure that this cycle test is completed
in my own handwriting and that I have not used any stylus to assist in writing this paper.

Type your name here

_________________________
Student signature

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 SECTION A: COMPREHENSION

QUESTION 1: READING FOR MEANING AND UNDERSTANDING

Read TEXT A and TEXT B below and answer the questions set.

TEXT A

DYSTOPIA CORE: WHAT IS THE NEW PANDEMIC-ERA PUNK LOOK?

Continuing the grunge and goth revival, the look takes inspiration from sci-fi
fantasies such as Dune.

1 Sick of sweatpants? A new fashion trend that swaps elasticated waistbands for harder, 1
more utilitarian clothing could be right up your street. Dystopia, meaning a
post-apocalyptic state, is now being used in the context of fashion. Taking inspiration
from dark cinematic fantasies such as The Matrix Resurrections and Dune,
“dystopia-core” comes as we approach the third year of pandemic living. 5

2 Dystopia-core, which is in direct opposition to “dopamine dressing” – wearing overtly fun

clothes to help lift your mood – can be seen as the next step of the grunge and goth
revivals. Dystopia-core is based on the idea that celebration, in such trying times, is not
appropriate. “Fashion statements often have an element of defiance. In this particular
case the defiance is the darkness and dystopian aspect,” says the trend forecaster 10
Geraldine Wharry. “The idea that optimism is not cool and doesn’t reflect our current
times, similar to what punks stood for during the 70’s.”

3 The two style items that have come to define the trend – long leather jackets and cargo
trousers – have both had bumps in popularity. Online searches for the former have
risen by 117% between the third and fourth quarter of last year while searches for cargo 15
pants have increased, year on year, by 45%. “You can be happy and cheerful even in
black and you can have fun with the silhouettes and styling to give it a hip approach,"
says Reshma of the designer duo Bharat and Reshma Grover.

4 Dystopia-core can also be seen on TikTok, where the DIY trend of draping thinly
textured clothes over one another to create an angular, futuristic look has been gaining 20
popularity. Nicknamed “avant apocalypse”, the hashtag has more than 265,000 views on
the social media app. The “avant apocalypse” aesthetic is a slightly garish look
characterised by “neutral maximalism, a lot of deconstructed pieces and asymmetry,
wearing clothes the ’wrong’ way, and knits in neutral tones.” The styling does not even
have to make sense. Innovation is the name of the game and layering is unique 25
and unformulaic.

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5 “People have stopped the rather passive onesie/pyjama stay-at-home,
work-from-home-in-your-comfort-clothes trend and realise that they need to be more
active and get out – and to do that, you need to be wearing something more functional,
more resilient – and more classy,” says Nick Groom, the author of The Vampire: A New 30
History. It is, says the fashion professor Zara Anishanslin, a reaction to the current
post-apocalyptic atmosphere.

6 “The experience of living through a pandemic is somewhat like that of living through a
war: both are traumatising collective experiences, both have people battling on the
‘frontlines’, both result in a distressingly large number of deaths,” she says. “Given these 35
similarities it makes sense that fashion originally popularised by military use would see
a resurgence.”

7 Francesca Granata from Parsons School of Design sees these clothes as a kind of
armour against the hostile outside world. “In the last two years we have been constantly
thinking about protecting ourselves from outside pathogens so it is not hard to see how 40
clothes can function, at least symbolically, as an extension of this shield that we have
been creating around us,” she says.

8 “One response to the pandemic is to try to develop a durable, self-contained,

sustainable image,” says Groom, “not blur it with fringes and scarfs and tassels, but by
making the human form sleek and sharply defined.” The largely black and ominous 45
clothes worn by the new couple Kanye West and Julia Fox – all made by Balenciaga –
speak to this look. As well as Balenciaga, fashion labels such as Khaite and A-Cold-Wall
are articulating these emotional states.

9 “The idea of protection is a bit more universal across luxury, contemporary and
streetwear now, for sure,” says A-Cold-Wall’s Samuel Ross, who tackles dystopia-core in 50
his autumn/winter 2022 collection in Milan this week. “We’ve played with that a bit more
in terms of length I’d say and overall volume,” he says. “We’ve always had a utilitarian
angle but this season we wanted to bring in a more ‘on the nose aspect’ so we used
mottled, hand-painted and fired canvases and twills to convey a sensitivity
to that.” 55

Sourced and adapted from:

Elan, P. 2022. Dystopia-core: what is the new pandemic-era punk look?, 17 January 2022. [Online].
[Accessed 15 January 2024].

AND

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 TEXT B

Sourced and adapted from:

Luisoura, R. 2020. Fashion Week 2020: COVID-19 Edition. [Online]. [Accessed 15
January 2024].

QUESTIONS: TEXT A

1.1 Refer to the title.

In your own words, describe “dystopia-core”. (2)

1.2 Identify the main event which led to “dystopia-core”. (1)

1.3 Refer to paragraph 2.

List the differences between “dystopia-core” and “dopamine dressing”. (2)

1.4 Discuss the effect of the simile in paragraph 6. (3)

1.5 State why Francesca Grenata has been quoted in this text. (1)

1.6 Discuss the effect of using the word “universal” in paragraph 9. (2)

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QUESTION: TEXTS A AND B

1.7 Mention one similarity between TEXT A and TEXT B. (1)

1.8 In your view, which text, TEXT A or TEXT B, is the best example of satire?
Justify your response. (3)

[15]

SECTION B: SUMMARY

QUESTION 2: SUMMARISING IN YOUR OWN WORDS

TEXT C provides insight into the negative effects of fashion. Summarise the negative

effects of fashion, in your own words.

NOTE:

1. Your summary should include SEVEN points and NOT exceed 90 words.

2. You must write one fluent paragraph.

3. You are NOT required to include a title for the summary.

4. Indicate your word count at the end of your summary.

TEXT C

THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF FASHION

The fashion industry is an exquisite and compelling world of self-expression and style. Little do
we know, the industry of glam and fashion can have a negative effect on children.

Every year, the age children start wearing makeup gets younger and younger. The fashion
industry is showing that you need makeup to be pretty and children are latching on to this idea.
Children are learning that looks are more important than character traits or social skills.

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Author Marie Nilsen stated that, “statistics show that teens are engaging in sexual activities
much earlier than the previous generation which may be attributed to the fashion industry’s
effect.” Children are also beginning to dress more mature than their age which can lead to
people believing they are older which can ultimately put them in dangerous situations.

Cosmetic products have toxic ingredients in them and are putting children at a greater risk for
cancer. The industry shields us from seeing the danger in their products. Society is causing kids
at a young age to feel pressured into using these products and dressing a certain way.

Models have intense diets and follow strict rules to maintain the “perfect” model body. When
children see these models, they are likely to feel more insecure about themselves and want to
look the same. This causes them to have a lower ego and even put them at risk for having
serious eating disorders.

Another negative factor of fashion is the amount of time kids put into fashion. They are so
consumed in the world of fashion and looking perfect that it takes up a lot of their time when
they can be doing other things such as going outside and enjoying nature. Author Rima Hameed
stated, “Unlike earlier times, now the teenagers do not go out with their parents on weekends,
rather they plan their outings with their friends. For most of them the prime zones for outings
have now become malls because they can do a lot of shopping there in addition to having fun.”

Sourced and adapted from:

Ambrosio,V. 2018. The Negative effects the fashion industry has on youth, March 16 2018. [Online].
[Accessed 16 January 2024].

[10]

(CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE)

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 SECTION C: LANGUAGE STRUCTURES AND CONVENTIONS

QUESTION 3: ANALYSING CARTOONS

Study TEXT D and answer the questions that follow.

TEXT D

Speech bubbles read:

Frame 1 - Why are you throwing out these clothes?
Frame 2 - They don’t fit anymore.
Frame 3 - I bought this shirt last week.
It was on sale, mom.
Frame 4 - So?
It was on the cusp of fashion life.

Sourced and adapted from:

Bell, Lundy, S. 2012. Between Friends. [Online]. [Accessed 16 January 2024].

QUESTIONS: TEXT D

3.1 Discuss how the mother’s body language and facial expression conveys (3)
her attitude to her daughter’s actions.

3.2 Critically comment on the use of humour in this cartoon. (2)

[5]

(CONTINUES ON NEXT PAGE)

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 QUESTION 4: USING LANGUAGE CORRECTLY
Read TEXT E, which might contain deliberate errors, and answer the set questions.

TEXT E

2022’S TREND FORECAST

1 The passed year has changed fashion forever; on one hand, there’s never been more 1
dedication to following trends, but on the other, there’s been an undeniable rebellion
against trends by some major tastemakers in favour of personal style. So, what can
we expect for 2022?

2 In our digital-first world, trends are peaking more quickly than ever. A tie-dye 5
sweatsuit? Quilted accessories? We’ve all seen it time and time again, especially with
social media being our main form of self-expression and connection over the last year.
But too much of a good thing couldn’t ring truer—when we see trends things
everywhere online, our minds start to associate them with the notion that they’re
overdone, so the sense of excitement we felt when we first laid eyes on them fades 10
faster.

3 One trend on the rise, though, is shopping smart and small. Seeking sustainable
options, putting our dollars towards independent small businesses and taking an
interest in resale is more popular than ever before. The driver of this? Well, being a
better person and doing right by the world (as we should), but also satisfying our deep 15
desires to be original and express ourselves through fashion in a way that feels truly
organic.

Sourced and adapted from:

Becker, K. 2022. 2022’s Trend Forecast is All About Big Sartorial Statements, 4 January 2022.
[Online]. [Accessed 16 January 2024].

QUESTIONS: TEXT E

4.1 Correct the spelling error in paragraph 1. (1)

4.2 Comment on the use of the hyphen in line 7. (1)

4.3 Provide a synonym for “notion” (line 10). (1)

4.4 Quote ONE gerund from paragraph 3 and say why this word is a gerund. (2)

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 [5]

GRAND TOTAL: 35

CYCLE TEST END

References

1. Ambrosio,V. 2018. The Negative effects the fashion industry has on youth, March
16 2018. [Online]. [Accessed 16 January 2024].

2. Becker, K. 2022. 2022’s Trend Forecast is All About Big Sartorial Statements, 4
January 2022. [Online]. [Accessed 16 January 2024].

3. Bell, Lundy, S. 2012. Between Friends. [Online]. Available at: [Accessed 16

January 2024].

4. Elan, P. 2022. Dystopia-core: what is the new pandemic-era punk look?, 17 January
2022. [Online]. [Accessed 15 January 2024].

5. Luisoura, R. 2020. Fashion Week 2020: COVID-19 Edition. [Online]. [Accessed 15

January 2024].

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