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UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS

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International General Certificate of Secondary Education

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MARK SCHEME for the October/November 2010 question paper
for the guidance of teachers

0500 FIRST LANGUAGE ENGLISH

0500/21 Paper 2 (Reading passages – Extended),
maximum raw mark 50

This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of
the examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not
indicate the details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began,
which would have considered the acceptability of alternative answers.

Mark schemes must be read in conjunction with the question papers and the report on the
examination.

• CIE will not enter into discussions or correspondence in connection with these mark schemes.

CIE is publishing the mark schemes for the October/November 2010 question papers for most IGCSE,
GCE Advanced Level and Advanced Subsidiary Level syllabuses and some Ordinary Level
syllabuses.
 Page 2 Mark Scheme: Teachers’ version Syllabus Paper
IGCSE – October/November 2010 0500 21

Note: All Examiners are instructed that alternative correct answers and unexpected approaches in
candidates’ scripts must be given marks that fairly reflect the relevant knowledge and skills
demonstrated.

Question 1

Imagine that shortly after the marriage service, Mrs Ferris-Grebe and Mrs Kougar have their
first conversation together. Write the conversation that would take place.

In the conversation you should explore: their views on the wedding ceremony, their feelings
about the suitability of the marriage and the differences between the two women and their
families.

Base the conversation on what you have read in Passage A and be careful to use your own
words.

Write between 1½ and 2 sides, allowing for the size of your handwriting.

Up to fifteen marks will be available for the content of your answer, and up to five marks for
the quality of your writing. [20]

This question tests Reading Objectives R1–R3 (15 marks):

• Understand and collate explicit meanings

• Understand, explain and collate implicit meanings and attitudes
• Select, analyse and evaluate what is relevant to specific purposes

AND Writing Objectives W1–W5 (5 marks):

• Articulate experience and express what is thought, felt and imagined

• Order and present facts, ideas and opinions
• Understand and use a range of appropriate vocabulary
• Use language and register appropriate to audience and context
• Make accurate and effective use of paragraphs, grammatical structures, sentences, punctuation
and spelling.

General notes on likely content

A basic answer will give information, perhaps in the form of an undeveloped list, about the wedding
ceremony and the suitability of the marriage. The more the material is adapted to the question, the
higher the reading mark. The best answers will bring out the characters of the two women.

For writing, remember to reward varied and appropriate language for the two characters.

The final mark is based on the quality of the answer.

© UCLES 2010
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IGCSE – October/November 2010 0500 21

Candidates may use the following ideas:

A Views on the wedding ceremony

Mrs Kougar is not used to such ceremonies in church but knows a good celebration when she
sees one. She may ask questions about aspects of the ceremony and may hint that it was not
much fun. Mrs Ferris-Grebe will need to justify herself on the choice of church, the wedding dress
and the organist. Comments about the different dress styles of the two families are relevant.
Good answers may widen this section to discuss such things as standards and traditions. There
will be matters such as the rude comment heard during the service, the behaviour of the children
and the fumbling over the ring. Mrs Kougar might have comments about the sermon and she
may have noticed Mrs Ferris-Grebe’s breakdown at the end. Mrs Kougar will have enjoyed the
service more. Reward barbed comments and point scoring.

B Suitability of the marriage

There is a good opportunity for original thought here. Basically Mrs Ferris-Grebe will think that
Cecilia is marrying beneath her. Mrs Kougar might think Cecilia to be posh, but University was a
leg-up for the family and could be seen as the great leveller. The important point is that they love
each other. There is a lot to be cleared up as to what they do with their degrees. Both mothers
are blinkered. Mrs Kougar will be quite happy to welcome Cecilia to her big family and if she
becomes a grandparent there will be little gap in ages (see the twins).

C Differences between the two women and their families

Responses should develop Mrs Ferris-Grebe’s stiffness and formality and her wish to be in
control (plenty of details in the passage). Mrs Kougar lets ‘everything hang out’, except when she
gets annoyed or has an opinion. She can make herself very plain, at great length and she is
voluble. Any response which can manage this is likely to be rewarded high marks. The size of the
Kougar family is a point in itself and the amount of discipline administered in each family is clearly
different. Note that Mrs Ferris-Grebe’s attempts to control Cecilia meet with limited success.

© UCLES 2010
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IGCSE – October/November 2010 0500 21

Marking Criteria for Question 1

A CONTENT (EXTENDED TIER)

Use the following table to give a mark out of 15.

Band 1: The answer reveals a thorough reading of the passage. A good range of well-
13–15 developed and equally weighted ideas is applied to all parts of the question. There
is an appropriate amount of supporting detail, which is well integrated with the
conversation, contributing to a consistently strong sense of purpose and approach.
Characters are clearly indicated.
Band 2: There is evidence of a competent reading of the passage and evidence of
10–12 adaption of some of the text to the question. Some ideas are developed, but the
ability to sustain content may not be consistent. All parts of the question may not be
equally weighted. There is some supporting detail throughout. There is some
attempt to convey differing characters.
Band 3: The passage has been read reasonably well, but the answer may not reflect the
7–9 range and detail of the original. There may be some evidence of a mechanical use
of the passage. There is focus on the task and satisfactory reference, but
opportunities for development are not always taken. Some supporting detail is
used, but not consistently. Hints at characterisation are few and may not be clearly
presented.
Band 4: Some reference to the passage is made without much inference or more than brief,
4–6 factual development. Answers may be thin, lack original thought, or in places lack
focus on the text, but there is some evidence of general understanding of the most
important details of the passage.
Band 5: Answers are either very general with little specific reference to the passage or a
1–3 reproduction of sections of the original. Content is insubstantial and there is little
realisation of the need to modify material from the passage.
Band 6: There is little or no relevance to the question or to the passage.
0

© UCLES 2010
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IGCSE – October/November 2010 0500 21

B QUALITY OF WRITING: STRUCTURE AND ORDER, STYLE OF LANGUAGE (EXTENDED

TIER)

Use the following table to give a mark out of 5.

Band 1: The language of the conversation has character and is consistently appropriate to
5 the two speakers. Ideas are very clearly expressed and developed in a wide range
of effective and/or interesting language. The conversation has an effective overall
structure and may have an interesting ending.
Band 2: Language is mostly fluent and there is clarity of expression. There is a sufficient
4 range of vocabulary to express some ideas strongly and develop them with some
subtlety. The candidate attempts to write appropriately for the two speakers. The
conversation is mainly well structured.
Band 3: Language is clear and appropriate, but comparatively plain, and rarely strong or
3 subtle. Individual points are rarely extended, but explanations are adequate,
although they do not give evidence of a wide range of language. There may be
little shape to the conversation as a whole.
Band 4: There may be some awkwardness of expression and some inconsistency of
2 appropriate style. Language is too limited to express shades of meaning or
differences of outlook. There is structural weakness in the presentation of material.
There may be some lifting.
Band 5: There are difficulties with expression and structure. Language is weak and
1 undeveloped. There is little attempt to explain ideas. Language communicates
general meaning, but is only adequate. There may be frequent copying from the
original.
Band 6: Sentence structures and language are unclear and the work is difficult to follow.
0

© UCLES 2010
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IGCSE – October/November 2010 0500 21

Question 2

Re-read the descriptions of:

(a) the church in paragraph 4;

(b) Mr Kougar in paragraph 6.

Select words and phrases from these descriptions, and explain how the writer has created
effects by using this language. [10]

This question tests Reading Objective R4 (10 marks):

• Understand how writers achieve effects.

General notes on likely content

This question is marked for the candidate's ability to select effective or unusual words and for an
understanding of ways in which the language is effective. Expect responses to provide words that
carry specific meaning, including implications, additional to general and to ordinary vocabulary.
Alternative acceptable explanations should be credited. Mark for the overall quality of the answer, not
for the number of words chosen.

The following notes are a guide to what good responses might say about the words they have
chosen. They can make any sensible comment, but only credit comments that are relevant to the
correct meanings of the words and that have some validity.

Responses could score full marks for excellent comments on comparatively few words from each
part of the question. Do not take marks off for inaccurate statements. It is the quality of the analysis
that attracts marks.

(a) The church in paragraph 4

Responses may give a simple but appropriate overview that the church was old and ill-kept,
perhaps with an air of mystery about it, certainly not an appropriate place for a wedding. There
are two images, which should be explained properly by responses achieving the top mark band.

Barn is the first image. Responses should relate it to a farmyard and then draw the comparison
of size and emptiness, possibly of lack of comfort. It certainly has gloomy, eerie corners that
suggest a lack of light leading to a sense of the mysterious, even of fear of the livestock. This is
a conveniently wide term to cover anything from flies to bats or worse; it suggests that the church
was poorly looked after and that parts of the building were a sort of ‘no go’ area. Reward
responses which demonstrate knowledge of what intermittent dripping means. The ill-fitting
jigsaw needs explaining as an image. With time the pieces of a jigsaw become worn and holes
at the corners appear; similarly the church has many small holes although the pieces may still be
there. Clamminess suggests a kind of atmosphere and links well with gloomy.

© UCLES 2010
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IGCSE – October/November 2010 0500 21

(b) Mr Kougar in paragraph 6

Responses may explain that overall, Mr Kougar has no dress sense, but brings a welcome colour
to the proceedings. He is also inappropriately dressed for a church wedding, but he makes a
welcome contrast to the sober grey of the Ferris-Grebe party. Reward attempts to explain this
overview. This selection of language describes something so unusual that responses might think
it is exaggerated.

Good responses will start with the image a rainbow of a man and relate it to the selection of
colours that Mr Kougar was apparently wearing. It is effective since the writer is not obliged to list
colours. In fact only bright purple is mentioned (for the trousers), and answers may say that this
is a hideous (or even bright and beautiful) colour for that garment. They may mention the contrast
with the grey of the Ferris-Grebe party. They should explore garishly striped in terms of colour
and design. Reward candidates who know what garish means. Sagged a little at the waist is a
rather unkindly humorous effect, but candidates should suggest that strutted like a peacock,
which is an image that shows how he stood, as well as another mixture of colours, indicates that
he was totally unaware of the effect that he was creating. Beaming and seemed to shine are
additional relevant choices.

Marking Criteria for Question 2

READING

Use the following table to give a mark out of 10.

Band 1: Wide ranging discussion of language with some high quality comments that add
9–10 meaning and associations to words in both parts of the question, and demonstrate the
writer's reasons for using them. May group examples to demonstrate overview of
meaning/inference/attitude. Tackles images with some precision and imagination.
There is clear understanding of how language works.
Band 2: Reference is made to a number of words and phrases, and some explanations are
7–8 given and effects identified in both parts of the question. Images are recognised as
such and the response goes some way to justify them. There is some understanding
of how language works.
Band 3: A satisfactory attempt is made to identify appropriate words and phrases. Responses
5–6 mostly give meanings of words and any attempt to suggest and explain effects is
weak. One half of the question may be better answered than the other. Responses
may identify linguistic devices but not explain why they are used. Explanations are
basic or in very general terms (or may be virtually ignored).
Band 4: Responses provide a mixture of appropriate words and words that communicate less
3–4 well. Explanations are only partially effective and occasionally repeat the language of
the original, or comments are very general and do not refer to specific words.
Band 5: The choice of words is partly relevant, sparse or sometimes unrelated to the passage.
1–2 While the question has been understood, the response does little more than offer a
few words and make very slight, generalised comments. The answer is very thin.
Band 6: Answers do not fit the question. Inappropriate words and phrases are chosen.
0

© UCLES 2010
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IGCSE – October/November 2010 0500 21

Question 3

Summarise:

(a) the traditions that Chinese families often follow, as described in Passage B and

(b) the things that went wrong at the wedding ceremony described in Passage A.

Use your own words as far as possible.

You should write about 1 side in total, allowing for the size of your handwriting.

Up to fifteen marks will be available for the content of your answer, and up to five marks for
the quality of your writing. [20]

This question tests Reading Objectives R1–R3 (15 marks):

• Understand and collate explicit meanings

• Understand, explain and collate implicit meanings and attitudes
• Select, analyse and evaluate what is relevant to specific purposes

AND Writing Objectives W1–W5 (5 marks):

• Articulate experience and express what is thought, felt and imagined

• Order and present facts, ideas and opinions
• Understand and use a range of appropriate vocabulary
• Use language and register appropriate to audience and context
• Make accurate and effective use of paragraphs, grammatical structures, sentences, punctuation
and spelling.

A CONTENT

Give one mark per point up to a maximum of 15.

(a) The traditions that Chinese families often follow (Passage B)

Give one mark for a point about:

1 the series of (three) letters/one with gifts

2 the groom/groom’s family pays for/organises everything
3 before the wedding the bride is isolated/symbolically mourns the loss of her family
4 her ritual bath/cleansed from bad influences
5 the couple chooses a lucky date (not just lunar)
6 wedding takes place on the half-hour – upward movement is deemed symbolically
lucky
7 red is used as a lucky colour
8 the groom takes possession of a new bed
9 the nephew who jumps on the bed (to encourage an heir)
10 the couple serve tea to parents and friends
11 they receive jewellery and/or money
12 on the wedding day the bride wears three different dresses
13 there is a wedding banquet
14 on the day after the wedding the bride honours her ancestors/is introduced to the
groom’s family

© UCLES 2010
 Page 9 Mark Scheme: Teachers’ version Syllabus Paper
IGCSE – October/November 2010 0500 21

(b) The things that went wrong at the wedding ceremony (Passage A)

Give one mark for a point about:

15 misbehaviour of the twins/fighting/running around

16 heavy rain/leaking roof/spoiled photographs
17 the church was dark and clammy
18 Cecilia was late
19 the Kougars were inappropriately dressed
20 Mrs Ferris-Grebe thought someone was making rude remarks about her
21 the vicar’s homily was far too long/people started to fidget/forgot what he was saying
22 the best man forgot where the ring was
23 the Wedding March was badly played
24 Mrs Ferris-Grebe was reduced to tears

Marking Criteria for Question 3

B QUALITY OF WRITING (CONCISION, FOCUS AND WRITING IN OWN WORDS)

Use the following table to give a mark out of 5.

Band 1: All points are made clearly, concisely, and fluently, in the candidate's own words
5 (where appropriate). The answer is strongly focused on the passages and on the
question.
Band 2: Both parts of the answer are concise and well focused even if there is an
4 inappropriate introduction or ending. Own words are used consistently (where
appropriate).
Band 3: There are some areas of concision. There may be occasional loss of focus. Own
3 words (where appropriate) are used for most of the answer. The summary may
include some quotations in lieu of explanation. Answers may be list-like, not well
sequenced.
Band 4: The answer is mostly focused, but there may be examples of comment, repetition
2 or unnecessarily long explanation, or the answer may exceed the permitted
length. There may be occasional lifting of phrases and sentences.
Band 5: The answer frequently loses focus and is wordy, or is over long. It may be
1 answered in the wrong form (e.g. a narrative or a commentary). There may be
frequent lifting of phrases and sentences.
Band 6: Over-reliance on lifting; insufficient focus for Band 5. Grossly long.
0

Note: A few candidates will copy the text word for word or almost so. These candidates will be
penalised.

© UCLES 2010