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Section A: Reading

Spend 20 minutes on this section.

Read the text and then answer the questions.

The Red Fox

The largest of all vulpine foxes, the red fox is the most successful, and certainly the
most recognisable. A doglike animal, its adult mass can vary between three and
fourteen kilograms. The males are, on average, ten to fifteen percent heavier than the
females, although the considerable size differences between individuals in this
species make it difficult to use this as a guideline.

Body length typically varies between 82 and 110 centimetres, of which a prominent
bushy tail accounts for about a third. The tail is useful as a counterbalance while
running and jumping. It also provides insulation and warmth in cold weather, and is
used to communicate with other foxes. Other characteristic features of the red fox are
its elongated muzzle, triangular ears, and luxurious coat of fur.

Foxes, like many other animals, employ digitigrade motion. That is, they walk and run
on their toes, with their heels positioned off the ground, high up on the leg. This
method of locomotion allows silent, swift, and agile movement, and can also be seen
in cats, dogs, and horses.

Several of the fox’s bones are narrower than those of other dogs, and the limb bones
are built much more lightly. The stomach of the fox is proportionately half as large as
those of other canines. This reduction of weight allows it to run extremely quickly
(trotting speed is between six and thirteen kilometres per hour, and speeds up to 72
kilometres per hour have been cited), and with great agility.

The fox pays a penalty for its smaller stomach in that it must eat more frequently.
When eating, it will use its 42 teeth. These include prominent canines which hold prey,
incisors for cutting and shearing meat, and molars for grinding up bones and
vegetable matter.

1 What type of fox is the red fox?

It is the largest vulpine fox and certainly the most recognisable.
[1]

2 Why is it difficult to use size to tell a male fox from a female fox?
Because the considerable size differences between individuals in this species make it difficult to use this as a
guideline. [1]

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3 Tick (
) two boxes to show why the fox can move so quickly.

Elongated muzzle

Low weight

Moves on its toes

Prominent bushy tail

Shape of ears [2]

4 Rewrite the final paragraph to include the main points, using about 30
words.

[2]

5 Tick (
) the best description of the text The Red Fox.

It contains mostly facts.

It contains mostly opinions.

It contains about half facts and half opinions. [1]

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6 Compare these texts.

Text 1 Text 2

The red fox is certainly a beautiful You’ll just love the red fox. For
creature to look at, with its large, starters, it’s got this great bushy tail
bushy tail and thick, shiny fur. It can and its fur is really thick and shiny. It
also move extremely quickly. In also can move really fast! Another
addition, it has 42 teeth, which is plus point is that it has the most
more than a human being has. incredible number of teeth – 42, 10
more than a human being. Can you
believe that?

The information in both texts is the same but the language used is different.
Tick (
) the text you prefer to read.

Text 1

Text 2

Explain why you chose that text.

because I felt pleasant when I read it.

[1]

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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.

7 (a) Give two places in Cotgrave Country Park where visitors might see fish.

1 Heron Lake

Nature Trail
2 [1]

(b) Cotgrave Country Park offers a range of activities for those visitors who
want to keep fit. Name two of these.
wheelchairs
1

2 walkers [1]

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8 Tick (
) two boxes to show which statements about Cotgrave Country Park
are FALSE.

The park has many paths and trails.

The park is open overnight.

Vehicles of any size can park.

Visitors can’t go indoors when it rains.

Visitor’s don’t have to pay to park. [2]

9 Explain why walkers might experience difficulty during bad weather.

because there are no shaders in the cotgrave country park.

Lower lying paths can get muddy or wet.

[1]

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10 (a) What is the purpose of the subheadings in the text Cotgrave Country
Park?
to let the readers to know where is here.
[1]

(b) In the text The Red Fox, paragraphs are used.

Draw lines to link each paragraph with its main topic described in the
boxes.

1st paragraph How the fox moves

2nd paragraph Variations in size of the fox

3rd paragraph How the fox uses one part of its body [1]

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Section C: Grammar, Punctuation and Vocabulary

Spend 15 minutes on this section.

12 Join the underlined word in each of these sentences to match the correct
word class.

The red fox can be found in most parts

preposition
of Britain.

The method of locomotion used by the

adjective
red fox enables it to run swiftly.

The red fox has a luxurious coat of fur. pronoun

It has a small stomach. adverb [2]

13 (a) Underline the main clause in this sentence.

When eating, it will use its 42 teeth. [1]

(b) Rewrite this sentence.

Cotgrave Country Park has many paths and trails.

Include this clause.

which is in Nottinghamshire

Remember to add punctuation. Do not add or change any words.

Cotgrave Country park has many paths and trails which is in Nottinghamshire.

[2]

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14 (a) Change this sentence from the past to the present.

The park was open all day and many people visited.
The park open all day many people are visiting.
[1]

(b) Complete the sentences by writing the passive forms of the verbs given
in brackets. The first one has been done for you.

Country parks (find) are found in many parts of the UK.

First, the visitors (drive) will drive to the park by coach.

They (drop) are dropped at the main coach park.

Each visitor (escort) escorted to the entrance of the park

by a guide. [2]

15 Correct two mistakes in this sentence. Do not change the meaning.

e
T h e w o m a n w a l k sv e r y s l o w a l o n g t h e e d g e o f
t h e p a r k. [1]

16 Choose the type from simple, compound or complex to describe these

sentences.

Sentence Type of sentence

The red fox is a successful animal. Simple

As red foxes are very successful, complex

their numbers are likely to increase. [1]

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17 Add two apostrophes to this sentence.

T h e p a r k ' s v i s i t o r s s h o u l d n' t b e e x p e c t e d t o p a y
f o r t i c k e t s. [1]

18 Add the missing punctuation to these sentences.

“Did you enjoy your visit to the nature reserve?" asked my

friend

“Yes " I replied . " there were lots of things to do.” [2]

19 Reread this extract from the text The Red Fox.

Body length typically varies between 82 and 110 centimetres, of which

a prominent bushy tail accounts for about a third.

Write other words or phrases that mean the same as the underlined words.
Your new words must keep the meaning and make sense in the sentence.
big
prominent

accounts for represents [2]

Copyright Acknowledgements:

Section A Reading © http://mynarskiforest.purrsia.com/ev3rdesc.htm.

© http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/home/leisure/countryparks/cotgravecp.htm.

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.

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

© UCLES 2014 0844/01/SP/14