Cambridge O Level

* 4 1 3 4 3 2 3 3 1 0 *

ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1123/11

Paper 1 Reading May/June 2024

2 hours

You must answer on the question paper.

You will need: Insert (enclosed)

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● Dictionaries are not allowed.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 50.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].
● The insert contains the reading passages.

This document has 8 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

DC (LK) 326408/4
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Read Text A, The north shore, in the insert and answer Question 1 and Question 2.

Question 1

(a) In paragraph 1, give one reason why it was difficult for the writer to paddle his canoe in the
icy water.

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

(b) Using your own words, explain what the text means by ‘faintly tracing’. (line 4)

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

(c) From paragraph 2, identify one feature of the north shore that made it difficult to find a place
to camp there.

Explain the reason why this feature made it difficult to camp.

feature ......................................................................................................................................

explanation ...............................................................................................................................

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[2]

(d) From paragraph 3, give two things that the writer did to guard against the effects of the wind.

• ...........................................................................................................................................

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

(e) Explain what the writer was thinking when he whispered, ‘Just a little longer my old friend’.
(line 13)

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

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(f) In paragraph 4, how did the writer feel about the weather conditions as he sat in his tent that
evening?

Give two details from the text to support your answer.

writer’s feeling ...........................................................................................................................

details .......................................................................................................................................

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

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

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[3]

(g) (i) During the night the writer realised that he might have a particular problem getting past
the ‘powerful river rapids’. (line 21)

What was the problem?

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

(ii) What did he want to do to avoid the problem?

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

(h) Explain using your own words the writer’s different feelings about the place where he
decided to make camp.

Give three details from anywhere in the text to support your answer.

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

[Total: 16]

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Question 2

(a) Read this extract from the text:

‘You could live a thousand lifetimes and not even begin to scratch the surface of paddling all
the possibilities.’ (lines 35–36)

What does the writer want to suggest to us about how he feels about paddling in Northern
Canada?

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

(b) Explain why the writer uses the phrase ‘most efficient’ rather than the word ‘efficient’ in the
expression ‘To devise the most efficient route I could’. (line 37)

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

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

(c) What two impressions does the writer want to convey to the reader in the sentence:

‘Looking at what at first glance appeared to be an incomprehensible labyrinth – a puzzle of

lakes and ponds – I realised it could be deliciously challenging not to confuse one bay or inlet
for any of the thousands of others.’ (lines 38–40)?

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

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

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

(d) Read this sentence from the text:

‘Roaring, swirling, foaming water pulling back and forth on my boots made holding on to the
canoe, while struggling to maintain my balance, almost impossible.’ (lines 45–46)

What effect does the writer want to suggest about the water by using the words ‘Roaring,
swirling, foaming’?

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

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

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

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(e) Identify one example of how the writer uses language effectively to convey his feelings as
the morning haze clears in this extract from the text:

‘The haze cleared to reveal a fairy-tale landscape: vivid green hills, jumbles of boulders
beyond counting scattered about, and little streams crashing a path down the craggy hillsides.
Behind me rose towering great grey cliffs of rock, old as time, the oldest rock on the planet,
so cracked with fault lines as to give the suggestion of ancient crumbling castle ruins. Drifting
into this timeless world, I could picture dinosaurs roaming about amid the rocks that were
eons older than even those giant reptiles. More and more, it seemed like a land time forgot.’
(lines 55–61)

Explain the impression the writer creates in the example you have identified.

example ....................................................................................................................................

explanation ...............................................................................................................................

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

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

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

[Total: 9]

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Read Text B, Plogging, in the insert and answer Question 3.

Question 3

(a) Summarise the benefits and attractions of ‘plogging’, according to Text B.

You must use continuous writing (not note form).

Use your own words as far as possible.

Avoid copying long sections of the text.

Your summary should be no more than 150 words.

Up to 10 marks are available for the content of your answer and up to 10 marks for the
quality of your writing.

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

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........................................................................................................................................... [20]

(b) Imagine you are environmental campaigner Anna Ruiz.

You are giving a talk to a local community group about how to deal with the problem of litter in
their area. Someone in the audience asks you a question.

Give your answer to their question, using information from the text.

Question from the audience: The best way to deal with the problem of litter in this area is to
encourage more people to go plogging.

What is your opinion and why?

Anna Ruiz’s answer:

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

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

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

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

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

............................................................................................................................................. [5]

[Total: 25]

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 Cambridge O Level

ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1123/11

Paper 1 Reading May/June 2024

INSERT 2 hours

INFORMATION
*4134323310-I*

● This insert contains the reading passages.

● You may annotate this insert and use the blank spaces for planning. Do not write your answers on the
insert.

This document has 8 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

DC (LK) 326407/2
© UCLES 2024 [Turn over
 2

Read Text A and answer Question 1 and Question 2 on the question paper.

Text A: The north shore

The writer is attempting to navigate his way alone in a canoe across Northern Canada’s mainland
Arctic. At this point in his story, he is travelling the length of a huge lake.

Despairingly, I swung my paddle again into the icy water, the fierce wind driving me towards
the land.

Content removed due to copyright restrictions.

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 3

Content removed due to copyright restrictions.

More and more, it seemed like

a land time forgot.

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 4

Read Text B and answer Question 3 on the question paper.

Text B: Plogging

Ever been on a run through the woods and noticed litter spoiling the otherwise natural scenery?

Content removed due to copyright restrictions.

‘It seemed such an effective fusion of exercise and environmental action

for our students.’

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