The Princess The Trolls Comprehension

Robert’s 11 Plus Lifeline 1
Not to be Copied or Distributed
The Princess & The Trolls – Challenging Comprehension

Optional time limit: 50 minutes
This paper tests your ability to explain ideas carefully and in depth. Unless you’re close to your
exams and need to practise under pressure, I recommend completing it without a time limit.
A lot of answer space has been provided for some questions. You do not always need to fill this
space, but if you are a long way short, you might like to consider whether you have explained
your points clearly enough. On the other hand, if your answers don’t fit, you need to think
about how you could express yourself more directly.
In the morning Hori discovered that his military survey map had somehow been
mistaken for a sheet of wrapping paper the day before. The torn-off section had served
to carry rice cakes in my pocket. The tearing had strangely traversed mountains,
valleys, and rivers along almost the line we planned to follow. As Hori was still
5 convinced that not to know where one is is to be lost, he was rather in a maze for the
next few days, as we continually wandered off the edge of the map into unknown
regions.
The valley of the Kiso earnestly seeks to support the theory that the inhabitants of
localities with a similar climate and landscape tend to have similar ideas, especially in
10 working out ways of doing the same
thing. The wide sweeping view with the
snow-topped mountains on the horizon
might have been Switzerland. The
cottages of the peasants had the
15 overhanging roofs of Swiss chalets, with
the same slope and the same arrangement
of rows of boulders on them.
It is a province, also, of trousered women.

We came upon a wistful-eyed, pink-
20 cheeked, timid fairy of the mountains. She
was carrying on her back a huge, barrel-
shaped basket and she bent forward as she
slowly walked along, her eyes fixed on a
handful of wild flowers in her fingers.
25 Even our modest knowledge of the
folklore of the land told us that she must
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be a princess who had been captured by ugly trolls. They had set her to impossible
labour as their revenge against her beauty.
A young man whose niche in the world was beyond our determining – although we
30 thought he might be a student on a vacation walking trip – had caught up with us a
half-hour before and had been measuring his step with ours. When he discovered that
I wished to take a picture of the princess he assisted with such effective flattery that
she halted for an instant. When I asked whether I might also photograph him, he
laughed and vaulted up among the rocks and disappeared.
Adapted from Samurai Trails: A Chronicle of Wanderings on the Japanese High Road
by Lucian Swift Kirtland
1. (a) Why has Hori’s map been ripped? Explain in your own words. (2)
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(b) What is strange about the way it has been torn? Explain why this leads Hori
and the author to “continually wander off the edge of the map”. (3)
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(c) “Hori was still convinced that not to know where one is is to be lost”.
Clearly explain Hori’s point of view. Why do you think the author might
disagree? (4)
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2. Using your own words, explain which “theory” is referred to in the second
paragraph. How, in the author’s view, does the Kiso valley provide evidence
to support it? (5)
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3. How does the author use adjectives effectively in lines 19 to 24? (6)
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4. (a) What is meant by the word “folklore” (line 26)? (1)
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(b) Which three of the following statements are supported by lines 25 to 28?
Circle the relevant letters. (3)
A The author knows some things about the local culture, but is too
humble to boast about it.
B The other people in the area were like ugly trolls.
C The girl seemed very modest.
D It was not possible to do the girl’s job.
E The author’s knowledge of Japanese customs is limited.
F The girl’s work appeared to be very difficult.
G The author wondered whether the girl had royal ancestors.
H The girl seemed like a character from a fairytale.
I The narrator is an expert on Japanese traditions.
5. (a) Using your own words, explain what the author means when he refers to
the young man as somebody “whose niche in the world was beyond our
determining”. (2)
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(b) Why is it surprising that the young man ran away? (3)
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6. Look again at your answer to Question 2. Do you agree with the “theory”
mentioned here? Explain your arguments, referring to the text and/or to
your own general knowledge. You do not need to present both sides of the
debate. (8)
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TOTAL 37 MARKS
Solutions
1. (a) Why has Hori’s map been ripped? Explain in your own words. (2)
Not realising what it was, somebody had used part of it to wrap up the author’s food.
The first sentence says that it had been “mistaken for a sheet of wrapping paper”, but
this doesn’t mean that it was used to wrap presents. You need to mention that it was
used to pack up the author’s food (or breakfast/lunch/dinner).
As always with an ‘own words’ questions, aim to convey all the relevant ideas in the
passage, as though you are explaining them to a friend, from scratch. Avoid re-using
key words from the text (as far as possible), and don’t just translate the relevant part
of the passage word by word: focus on conveying its ideas in a new, simple way.
Marking: Any clear answer, consistently in the student’s own words, which explains
that the map was used to wrap food. [2 marks]
(b) What is strange about the way it has been torn? Explain why this leads
Hori and the author to “continually wander off the edge of the map”. (3)
The rip almost exactly follows the path that they plan to take. This means that as they
travel, their route repeatedly weaves off and back onto the remaining section of the
map.
There’s 1 mark available for the first part of the example, and 2 for the information in
the rest.
You don’t need to use your own words throughout your answer. You do need to show
clear understanding and avoid irrelevant information (such as Hori’s views about
getting lost).
Marking: As discussed. Deduct marks for lack of clarity or completeness. [3 marks]
(c) “Hori was still convinced that not to know where one is is to be lost”.
Clearly explain Hori’s point of view. Why do you think the author might
disagree? (4)
Hori feels confused as soon as he can’t locate his position on a map, and wants to
return to familiar territory. The author probably feels that the most interesting things
happen when the world is unpredictable, and that anyway, it’s usually possible to
work out a reasonable route without knowing exactly where you are.
Make sure that you’ve covered both parts of the question.
“Why do you think?” is an invitation to go beyond the information in the text, and
make a reasonable guess about why the author might hold this point of view.
His reasons for not feeling lost, even when he can’t locate himself, are likely to be
partly practical (it’s still usually possible to find a functional route) and partly
emotional (the excitement of unfamiliar, unexpected things).
Marking: As long as both parts of the question have been answered, the number of
marks depends on the number of points made / ideas developed, and the quality of
the discussion. One well-developed idea for each person’s point of view may well be
adequate for 4 marks. [4 marks]
2. Using your own words, explain which “theory” is referred to in the second
paragraph. How, in the author’s view, does the Kiso valley provide evidence
to support it? (5)
The theory is that people who are from different countries, but who live in similar
environments with similar weather, think similarly and solve life’s problems in
similar ways. This landscape looks like Switzerland, and the author notices that the
local inhabitants build houses with the same “overhanging roofs” as in the Alps, with
the same “slope” and the same way of laying out heavy stones on top.
This question is in two sections. Notice that the first part requires you to use your own
words, but the second does not. When talking about the Kiso valley, you are free to
quote or not, as you prefer – as long as your answer refers to some of the same details
that the author does.
When I explain the theory in my own words, I still use the word “similar” from the
text. There aren’t any alternatives which work as well (“comparable” or “analogous”
might just about do the job, but they’re clumsy), and it’s obvious from what I’ve
written that I understand the meaning.
Marking: 2 to 3 marks for each section of the answer. Be reasonably relaxed about use
of own words in this case, as long as the “theory” is clearly understood and explained
– not just repeated from the text. References to Kiso must have obvious relevance to
the “theory” – making clear that its house-building customs are like those in
Switzerland, which also has a similar landscape. [5 marks]
3. How does the author use adjectives effectively in lines 19 to 24? (6)
The author uses adjectives to emphasise how delicate and vulnerable the girl appears
to be. She has “pink” cheeks and is “timid”. These words make her seem very like a
stereotypical “fairy” from a children’s story – beautiful but also fragile. This
impression makes the other group of adjectives, which emphasise how hard her work
is, more powerful: her basket is “huge” and “barrel-shaped”, the opposite of her
appearance, suggesting that it is heavy and awkward for her to carry. Her flowers are
“wild”. By contast, she seems trapped by her work, apparently “wistful” as she thinks
of how much better her life could be.
I need to say straight away that this example contains considerably more ideas than
would be necessary for 6 marks. I’ve written a comprehensive discussion of the
adjectives in lines 19 to 24 so that you can see which kinds of idea are possible and
how you might link them together.
In practice, two or three well-made points with examples are likely to be sufficient. (If
only two, the discussions need to be thorough enough for 2 marks each.)
However, you need to notice that there is a contrast between the fragility of the girl
and the awkwardness of the barrel. Without in some way touching on this idea, you
are unlikely to get beyond 4 marks.
Marking: See discussion above. [6 marks]
4. (a) What is meant by the word “folklore” (line 26)? (1)
It means legends or myths or tradtional stories or fairy tales [or similar].
Although you may not know this word, it should be possible the work it out from
what follows in the text.
Marking: Any answer which conveys a similar idea. [1 mark]
(b) Which three of the following statements are supported by lines 25 to 28?
Circle the relevant letters. (3)
A The author knows some things about the local culture, but is too
humble to boast about it.
B The other people in the area were like ugly trolls.
C The girl seemed very modest.
D It was not possible to do the girl’s job.
E The author’s knowledge of Japanese customs is limited.
F The girl’s work appeared to be very difficult.
G The author wondered whether the girl had royal ancestors.
H The girl seemed like a character from a fairytale.
I The narrator is an expert on Japanese traditions.
B, C, G and I are not relevant to these lines: “trolls” refers to a legend, as does
“princess”; “modest” relates to the author’s knowledge, not to the girl, and also shows
us that the author is no “expert”.
A may in some ways be true, but these lines emphasise the limits of the author’s
knowledge, not its extent; and he is happy to share what he knows. You’d only be
likely to circle A if you misunderstood the meaning of “modest” in this context.
D is very close to being right, because the trolls in the legend “had set her to impossible
labour”. However, the girl is able to carry her barrel. The word “impossible” is an
exaggeration which only makes sense in the imaginary world of the legend. It
shouldn’t be taken literally.
E, F and H, meanwhile, are all reasonable responses to these lines.
Marking: 1 mark for each correct answer. 0 marks if more than three circled. [3 marks]
5. (a) Using your own words, explain what the author means when he refers to
the young man as somebody “whose niche in the world was beyond our
determining”. (2)
He could not work out what the young man’s job or occupation might be.
There’s 1 mark for explaining “niche in the world” and another for “beyond our
determining”.
Marking: As above. Deduct 1 mark if the answer is unclear or not consistently using
the student’s own words. [2 marks]
(b) Why is it surprising that the young man ran away? (3)
The young man “assisted” the author by persuading the girl to be photographed,
suggesting that he is keen to help and comfortable with the idea of photography.
Therefore, it’s strange that the idea of being photographed himself makes him run
away.
You could also mention the fact that the young man has been friendly enough to walk
with the author and Hori for “a half-hour”.
However, the main thing is to explain the contrast between his keenness to help
photograph the girl, and his fear of being photographed himself. You need to make
clear why this is “surprising”, ideally by referring to details from the text.
Marking: Needs to clearly show how the young man’s behaviour is inconsistent, and
explain how this is a surprise. Deduct marks for lack of clarity or missing elements.
[3 marks]
6. Look again at your answer to Question 2. Do you agree with the “theory”
mentioned here? Explain your arguments, referring to the text and/or to
your own general knowledge. You do not need to present both sides of the
debate. (8)
I agree with the theory which suggests that people living in similar environments
develop similar ways of living. The houses described in the passage probably have
“overhanging roofs” so that water falls well away from the house when the snow
melts, and “boulders” to prevent the roof blowing away or snow falling off in large
slabs. This is a sensible system to adopt anywhere where there is extreme winter
weather, whether in Japan or Switzerland. In the same way, people in areas where
there is frequent flooding often build houses on stilts, and people in very dry areas
often move their animals from place to place, looking for fresh grass.
OR
I disagree with the view that people living in similar environments have “similar
ideas”. Of course, it’s sensible to put “boulders” on the roof of a house if there is likely
to be strong wind and snow, but this doesn’t mean that all the people living in such
houses have similar customs or similar views of the world. It’s the same with clothes:
many people in London wear business suits to work, and so do many people in
Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea; but North Korea is a dictatorship with little
freedom, where most people know hardly anything about the rest of the world,
whereas people in London have a lot of personal freedom, as well as being able to
travel and to read about almost anything they want to. External things such as how
people dress or build their houses don’t tell us much about their ideas.
This is a challenging question, but it gives you the freedom to answer in almost any
way you like – referring to the text, or to your own general knowledge, or to both.
However, you must introduce evidence/examples of some kind.
• If you refer to the passage, be very careful not just to repeat the same evidence,
then say that you agree/disagree with it. The first example discusses the same
ideas, but adds extra explanations and develops them into a clear point.
You may notice that I break my own advice from my recent Persuasive Writing pack
by giving my opinion at the beginning of each answer. This is because the question is
asking for a relatively short response, which does not need to “present both sides” of
the argument. Therefore, it’s simplest to give a clear point of view and then make
points to support it. This way the examiner will find it easy to give you full marks if
your ideas are clear and well supported.
As you can see from the examples above, it’s equally acceptable to discuss either point
of view. It’s also fine to focus more on the text, or more on your general knowledge –
as you prefer. When you give your own examples, try to be as specific as possible (for
instance, the reference to North Korea) – but more general evidence, such as the
examples in the last sentence of the first answer, are also acceptable if used
appropriately.
Marking: For 8 marks, an answer needs to: clearly answer the question
(agree/disagree/somewhere in between); show a good understanding of the “theory”
and remain focused on it; include relevant examples which are well explained so that
they support the student’s point of view; be well written with few mistakes. Honest
general knowledge mistakes should not be penalised unless the result is total
nonsense which undermines the answer. Deduct marks for missing elements, lack of
clarity, or for an extremely short response. [8 marks]
END

The Princess The Trolls Comprehension

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Robert’s 11 Plus Lifeline 1

Not to be Copied or Distributed

The Princess & The Trolls – Challenging Comprehension

It is a province, also, of trousered women.

4. (a) What is meant by the word “folklore” (line 26)? (1)

Marking: As discussed. Deduct marks for lack of clarity or completeness. [3 marks]

Make sure that you’ve covered both parts of the question.

Marking: See discussion above. [6 marks]

4. (a) What is meant by the word “folklore” (line 26)? (1)

It means legends or myths or tradtional stories or fairy tales [or similar].

Marking: Any answer which conveys a similar idea. [1 mark]

E, F and H, meanwhile, are all reasonable responses to these lines.

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