English B: Higher Level
Sharing the planet (HL) — Theme: Sharing the planet
- 1.
Read the text “The last glacier guide”. A feature article: [1] For thirty years, Lars Eriksen led tourists across the Breiflaten glacier. Now he leads them to the place where it used to be. [2] “People expect me to be angry,” he says, standing on bare grey rock that was buried under ice when he started. “Mostly I feel like a museum guard whose painting has been stolen.” [3] Eriksen’s tours have become a kind of pilgrimage. Visitors photograph the markers that show where the ice reached in 1990, 2005 and 2020; the gaps between them grow wider each decade. [4] Some scientists worry that “last-chance tourism” adds to the problem, since most visitors fly long distances. Eriksen accepts the contradiction. “If people never see what is lost,” he says, “they will never believe it was here.” (a) How has Eriksen’s job changed? (b) Explain the simile Eriksen uses in paragraph 2. (c) What do the markers show, and why are the gaps significant? (d) Explain the contradiction described in paragraph 4. (e) How does Eriksen justify his tours?
[5 marks] · no calculator - 2.
Marking analysis: A learner attempts the following task: “Read the text “The last glacier guide”. A feature article: [1] For thirty years, Lars Eriksen led tourists across the Breiflaten glacier. Now he leads them to the place where it used to be. [2] “People expect me to be angry,” he says, standing on bare grey rock that was buried under ice when he started. “Mostly I feel like a museum guard whose painting has been stolen.” [3] Eriksen’s tours have become a kind of pilgrimage. Visitors photograph the markers that show where the ice reached in 1990, 2005 and 2020; the gaps between them grow wider each decade. [4] Some scientists worry that “last-chance tourism” adds to the problem, since most visitors fly long distances. Eriksen accepts the contradiction. “If people never see what is lost,” he says, “they will never believe it was here.” (a) How has Eriksen’s job changed? (b) Explain the simile Eriksen uses in paragraph 2. (c) What do the markers show, and why are the gaps significant? (d) Explain the contradiction described in paragraph 4. (e) How does Eriksen justify his tours?” Their response addresses only this point: “(a) He used to guide tourists across the glacier; now he shows them where it used to be.” Evaluate the response against the complete 5-mark task. Identify what earns credit and state every additional requirement needed for full marks.
[5 marks] · no calculator - 3.
Read the text “Water”. An original poem: In my grandmother’s village / water was a walk: / two kilometres there, / a song to make it shorter, / a jar balanced like a question / on a girl’s head. / In my city / water is a tap I forget is a miracle. / I leave it running while I brush my teeth / and think about other things, / mostly myself. (a) What does “water was a walk” mean? (b) Explain the simile “a jar balanced like a question”. (c) How does the speaker present water in the city, in contrast? (d) What is the effect of the final line, “mostly myself”? (e) What message about sharing resources does the poem convey?
[5 marks] · no calculator - 4.
Marking analysis: A learner attempts the following task: “Read the text “Water”. An original poem: In my grandmother’s village / water was a walk: / two kilometres there, / a song to make it shorter, / a jar balanced like a question / on a girl’s head. / In my city / water is a tap I forget is a miracle. / I leave it running while I brush my teeth / and think about other things, / mostly myself. (a) What does “water was a walk” mean? (b) Explain the simile “a jar balanced like a question”. (c) How does the speaker present water in the city, in contrast? (d) What is the effect of the final line, “mostly myself”? (e) What message about sharing resources does the poem convey?” Their response addresses only this point: “(a) Getting water meant walking a long way; water took time and effort.” Evaluate the response against the complete 5-mark task. Identify what earns credit and state every additional requirement needed for full marks.
[5 marks] · no calculator - 5.
An international youth forum is collecting ideas on how globalization affects local cultures. Write a text that examines both the opportunities and the threats globalization brings to a community you know, and argues for a balanced response. Choose one of these text types: speech at the forum, report for the forum organisers, opinion article. Write 450–600 words.
[6 marks] · no calculator - 6.
Marking analysis: A learner attempts the following task: “An international youth forum is collecting ideas on how globalization affects local cultures. Write a text that examines both the opportunities and the threats globalization brings to a community you know, and argues for a balanced response. Choose one of these text types: speech at the forum, report for the forum organisers, opinion article. Write 450–600 words.” Their response addresses only this point: “Content (criterion B): examines specific opportunities and threats, grounded in a real or plausible local example.” Evaluate the response against the complete 6-mark task. Identify what earns credit and state every additional requirement needed for full marks.
[6 marks] · no calculator - 7.
Complete each sentence with the correct form of the word in capitals. (1) The ___ of the rainforest threatens thousands of species. (DESTROY) (2) Many fishing communities have become ___ on tourism. (DEPEND) (3) The report highlights the ___ between rich and poor regions. (EQUAL) (4) Plastic waste is ___ harming marine life. (INCREASE)
[4 marks] · no calculator - 8.
Marking analysis: A learner attempts the following task: “Complete each sentence with the correct form of the word in capitals. (1) The ___ of the rainforest threatens thousands of species. (DESTROY) (2) Many fishing communities have become ___ on tourism. (DEPEND) (3) The report highlights the ___ between rich and poor regions. (EQUAL) (4) Plastic waste is ___ harming marine life. (INCREASE)” Their response addresses only this point: “(1) destruction.” Evaluate the response against the complete 4-mark task. Identify what earns credit and state every additional requirement needed for full marks.
[4 marks] · no calculator - 9.
Read the short text “Charity appeal”. “Imagine walking six hours for water that might make your children ill. For Amina, that was every day. Today, thanks to supporters like you, her village has a clean well. But two hundred villages are still waiting. £20 can help fund a water filter for a family. Will you help the next Amina?” (a) Identify the text type and its purpose. (b) Identify two persuasive techniques and explain their effect. (c) Why does the final question use “the next Amina”?
[3 marks] · no calculator - 10.
Marking analysis: A learner attempts the following task: “Read the short text “Charity appeal”. “Imagine walking six hours for water that might make your children ill. For Amina, that was every day. Today, thanks to supporters like you, her village has a clean well. But two hundred villages are still waiting. £20 can help fund a water filter for a family. Will you help the next Amina?” (a) Identify the text type and its purpose. (b) Identify two persuasive techniques and explain their effect. (c) Why does the final question use “the next Amina”?” Their response addresses only this point: “(a) A charity appeal (advertisement / leaflet) intended to persuade readers to donate.” Evaluate the response against the complete 3-mark task. Identify what earns credit and state every additional requirement needed for full marks.
[3 marks] · no calculator