Section A

Question 1 (Fiction)
Read an extract from ‘The Boy Who Talked With Animals’ by Roald Dahl and
answer the questions that follow.

Standing on the balcony of my hotel room looking out at the dark expanse of sea,
I suddenly became aware of a great commotion on the beach. Glancing over, I saw a
sea of people clustering around something at the water’s edge. There was a canoe-
type fisherman’s boat on the sand nearby, and all I could think was that the
5fisherman’s had come in with lots of fish and that the crowd was looking at it.

But it wasn’t a haul of fish at all. It was a turtle, an upside-down turtle. But what
a turtle it was! I had not thought it possible for a turtle to be as enormous as this. If it
had been the right way up, I think s tall man could have sat on its back without his
feet touching the ground.

10The fisherman who had caught it had tipped the turtle onto its back to stop it from
getting away. There was also a thick rope tied around the middle of its shell, and one
proud fisherman stood holding the end of the rope tightly with both hands. Overturned
it lay, this magnificent creature, with its four thick flippers waving frantically in the
air; its long wrinkled neck stretching far out of its shell.

15The crowd was thrilled and delighted. They were discussing the capture and possible
destruction of a creature who seemed, even when overturned, to be extraordinarily
dignified. One thing was certain. He was senior to any of them. For probably one
hundred and fifty years he had been swimming in these green waters. And now here
he was; as scared as a child who was clearly alarmed by the noise and shouting
20around him.

Suddenly, I heard high-pitched screams. ‘No-o-o-o!’ screamed the scream. ‘No! No!
No!’ The crowd froze. Every single person present turned towards where the screams
were coming from. Half walking, half running down the beach were three people, a
man, a woman and a small boy who was pulling the man along. It was the boy who
25was screaming. ‘Don’t!’ he screamed. ‘Let him go! Please let him go! You’re horrible
and cruel! All of you!’ He threw the words high and shrill like a siren, at all those
adults standing there on the beach. ‘Why don’t you put him back in the sea?’ he
shouted. ‘He hasn’t done anything to you!’ He stood small and erect, facing the
crowd, his eyes shining like two stars. He was magnificent! The father was
30embarrassed by his son. ‘He’s crazy about animals,’ he said, addressing the crowd.
‘Back home he’s got every kind of animal under the sun. He talks with them.’

The boy suddenly let go of his father and ran towards the giant turtle. The huge
upside-down head turned to face him. The boy dropped to his knees in the sand and
flung his arms around the wrinkled old neck and whispered soft words that nobody
35else could hear. The turtle became absolutely still. Even his giant flippers stopped
moving in the air.
1
Question 2 (Non-fiction)

Read this text about Cotgrave Country Park, and then answer the questions.

Where is Cotgrave Country Park?

Cotgrave Country Park is located on the northern edge of the Nottinghamshire town
of Cotgrave, some eight miles (12 kms) by road from Nottingham city centre.

What can I see and do?

The site includes woodland, wetland, lakes and grassland, and part of Grantham Canal
runs through the park. With around five kilometres of paths and trails, there are plenty
of different routes for gentle or brisk walks, jogging or running. There is also an
extensive orienteering course, for which a free leaflet is available on request. Most
paths are stone surfaced and suitable for walkers, wheelchairs, prams and pushchairs,
but please be aware that some of the lower lying paths may get wet and muddy during
spells of bad weather. There’s a wide variety of natural habitats at Cotgrave Country
Park, including the lovely Heron Lake, conservation areas and a Nature Trail. There is
also a horse-riding trail around the edge of the site.

Parking and facilities

The park is open from dawn until dusk. Parking is free. There is a height barrier (2.15
metres) at the entrance to the car park. There is bench seating at various locations
around the park. At present there are no toilets or bad weather shelters at the park.

Question 3 (Poem)

Read the poem “Snow” and answer the questions that follow.

Poem - Snow

2
 Flakes of cold snow drift softly,
In sequence to make the ground,
Their permanent residence,
To blanket the earth.

Despite its acceptance,

Yet none of the weather,

- Amy Flanders -

5 3