MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SINGAPORE

in collaboration with
CAMBRIDGE ASSESSMENT INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level

ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1184/02

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Paper 2 Comprehension For examination from 2023

SPECIMEN PAPER
 1 hour 50 minutes
Candidates answer on the Question Paper.
Additional Materials: Insert

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST

Write your Centre number, index number and name in the spaces at the top of this page.
Write in dark blue or black ballpoint pen.
Do not use staples, paper clips, glue, correction fluid/tape or highlighters.
DO NOT WRITE ON ANY BARCODES.

Answer all questions.

Write your answers in the spaces provided on the Question Paper.
The Insert contains the texts for all the sections.

The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.

This document consists of 8 printed pages and 1 Insert.

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Section A [5 marks]

Refer to the online advertisement (Text 1) and the social media post (Text 2) on page 3 of the Insert for
Questions 1– 4.

1 Look at Text 1. Tick () the most effective title for the image in this advertisement.

Lending a hand to the world

Hold on tightly to our world

Their world in your hands

[1]

2 The advertisement states that ‘We still have a chance to make a big difference’.

What does the word ‘still’ suggest?

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3 Identify the phrase in Text 2 which reflects the aim in Text 1 of achieving ‘a big difference’.

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4 Look at Texts 1 and 2 and statements (a) and (b) below.

Decide whether the statements refer to Tex1, Text 2, both texts, or neither text.

Circle the answer you have chosen for each statement.

(a) Readers are asked to join the writer in taking action.

Text 1 / Text 2 / Both / Neither

(b) The tone suggests the writer and reader are of the same status.

Text 1 / Text 2 / Both / Neither

 [2]

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Section B [20 marks]

Refer to Text 3 on pages 4 and 5 of the Insert for Questions 5–14.

5 In Paragraph 1, (a) why do you think the 8-year-olds wanted to get out of the pool?
(b) Give one detail from the paragraph to support your answer.

(a) ....................................................................................................................................................

(b) ....................................................................................................................................................
 [2]

6 When Coach was challenged, ‘Anger flashed in his icy blue eyes’ (line 5).
From Paragraph 1, give two other examples of physical evidence of his anger.

...........................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................... [1]

7 In Paragraph 2, the writer’s ‘teammates leaped out of the pool, scurried across the deck, grabbed
towels’ (lines 8–9). What does this description suggest about how the teammates felt in this
moment?

...........................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................... [1]

8 Referring to Paragraph 3, explain in your own words what the writer thinks is unfair about the
way Coach organises calisthenics.

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...................................................................................................................................................... [2]

9 (a) Identify one word in Paragraph 4 which suggests that Coach is surprised that the writer wants
to continue swimming.

............................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Give one piece of evidence from Paragraph 4 which suggests that the writer was a slow
swimmer.

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............................................................................................................................................... [1]

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10 In Paragraph 5, the writer is swimming during a storm. Explain how the language used in this
paragraph makes the storm seem like an aggressive person. Support your answer with two details
from Paragraph 5.

...........................................................................................................................................................

...........................................................................................................................................................

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...................................................................................................................................................... [2]

11 The writer ‘wondered briefly’ (line 26) if she should get out of the water. Find two pieces of
evidence in Paragraph 5 which explain why she stayed in the water.

...........................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................... [2]

12 In Paragraph 5, the writer uses the simile ‘the pool was like a giant bowl of icy porridge’ (lines
32–33). What does the simile suggest about the writer’s ability to move?

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...................................................................................................................................................... [1]

13 The writer claimed that she had had ‘the best workout ever’ (line 41). Explain how this claim is
supported with reference to three pieces of evidence from Paragraph 6.

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...................................................................................................................................................... [3]

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14 The structure of the text reflects the writer’s role in events at different stages during the training
session. Complete the flow chart by choosing one phrase from the box to summarise her role at
each stage during the training session. There are some extra phrases in the box you do not need
to use.

The writer’s role in events

embracing a physical challenge

questioning authority
being an observer of events
considering an independent course of action
gaining a vision of new possibilities
negotiating a satisfactory compromise
offering words of encouragement

Paragraphs 1–2 (i) ..............................................................................................................

Paragraphs 3–4 (ii) ..............................................................................................................

Paragraph 5 (iii) ..............................................................................................................

Paragraph 6 (iv) ..............................................................................................................

[4]

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Section C [25 marks]

Refer to Text 4 on pages 6 and 7 of the Insert for Questions 15–20.

15 The writer says that the dinosaurs featured in the film, Jurassic Park, ‘are far from scientifically
accurate’ (line 2). With reference to Paragraph 1, how could the filmmakers justify this?

...........................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................... [1]

16 (a) From Paragraph 2, give two features of the real Dilophosaurus which were incorrect in the
films.

....................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................... [2]

(b) Paragraph 2 says T. rex ‘had at least one leg on the ground’ (line 15). According to the writer,
which detail from the film is incorrect based on this characteristic of T. rex?

....................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................... [1]

17 Paragraph 3 says that the dinosaurs were depicted in the films with an ‘absence of feathers’
(line 23). What was the reason for this decision?

...........................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................... [1]

18 In Paragraph 6, the dinosaur Indominus rex is described as ‘the most accurate of them all’ (line 50).

(a) Why could the portrayal of Indominus rex not be ‘interrogated by scientists’?

....................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) What is the writer’s tone when he makes this comment?

....................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................... [1]

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19 Here is a part of a conversation between two students, Tian Yun and John, who have read the
article.

I don’t think it matters The filmmakers

that the films aren’t deliberately chose not
factually accurate. to tell the truth about
dinosaurs.

Tian Yun John

(a) Give two pieces of evidence from Paragraph 6 to support Tian Yun’s view.

(i) ............................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) ............................................................................................................................................

....................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Give one piece of evidence from Paragraph 2 to support John’s view.

....................................................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................................... [1]

20 Using your own words as far as possible, summarise the sources of knowledge scientists have
about dinosaurs, and the things they still do not know about dinosaurs, as outlined in the text.

Use only information from Paragraphs 4 to 5 of Text 4.

Your summary must be in continuous writing (not note form). It must not be longer than 80 words
(not including the words given to help you begin).

One of the sources scientists use to gather information is ...............................................................

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.......................................................................................................... No. of words: [15]

Copyright Acknowledgements:

Section A Text 1 © Ref: 842163028; Ekaterina_Simonova; The man gives planet Earth to baby - stock photo; www.gettyimages.co.uk
Section B Text 3 Adapted; Excerpt(s) from SWIMMING TO ANTARCTICA: TALES OF A LONG-DISTANCE SWIMMER by Lynne Cox, copyright ©
2004 by Lynne Cox. Used by permission of Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, a division of
Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved.
Section B Text 3 © Adapted; Lynne Cox; Swimming to Antarctica: Tales of a Long-distance Swimmer; Martha Kaplan Agency; 2004

Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge
Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is a department of the University of Cambridge.

© UCLES & MOE 2021 1184/02/SP/23