Leaving Certificate English - Higher Level

Exam Model Answers

Section I - Comprehending

Text 1 2004 The Importance of Play

Question A (i)
What impression of the teacher, Vivian Paley, do you get from the passage ? Support your answer by reference to the text. (15 Marks) Possible Points to Include: The teacher is dedicated, caring, thoughtful, observant, insightful and fair. She understands children. She realises the importance of story telling and play. She can tune into the childrens world because she remembers her own childhood play.

Text 1 2004 The Importance of Play

Question A (ii) From your reading of the passage, what did you learn about the two children, Clara and Lisa ? (15 Marks) Possible Points to Include: Clara is shy, isolated, the victim, tries hard to join in, is willing to compromise. Lisa is assertive , aggressive, controlling, extrovert, likes to set the pace and make the rules.

Text 1 2004 The Importance of Play

Question A (iii)
Would you agree or disagree with the view that the writer has made a convincing case for the deep importance of shared play in the lives of the children ? Support your answer with reference to the text. (20 Marks) Please Note: The question is not asking if you agree or disagree with the authors argument; rather youre asked whether or not she has made a convincing case. You can agree or disagree, so long as you support your answer.

Text 1 2004 The Importance of Play

Question A (iii) The Points you make should begin with phrases such as: She convinces us / does not convince us because The author shows us how Miss Paley illustrates the way that I could / could not relate to the anecdote She includes the reader by

Text 1 2004 The Importance of Play

Exam Question B (50 Marks)

Then along comes school.

You have been asked to give a short talk to a group of students who are about to start first year in your school. Write out the text of the talk you would give.

Text 1 2004 The Importance of Play

Question B (50 Marks) Key Points: This task is worth 50 marks so you should aim to write at least a page. Your talk can give information and or you can use anecdotes; if possible you should try to include some humour. Get the register right. Show that you are aware of your audience.

Text 1 2004 The Importance of Play

Question B (50 Marks) Exam Model Answer: Meet and Greet. Introduce yourself. Ask a few rhetorical questions. Show you understand the student audience Add a bit of humour Relate to the new first years by remembering your own first day. Give a few words of advice in a positive (upbeat) way.

Part 2 - Paper One Higher Level 2004

Exam Question: Text 3: Question A (i) What in your view is the most important point the writer of the above extract makes about the group of people whose work is the play, the recreation of others? Can you identify the most-important phrase? It is a good idea to start your answer by using the words of the question. You should have read the text at least twice.

Question A (ii)
What impact does the visual text make on you? Support your answer by reference to the images. (15 marks) This requires a personal response to the pictures. You will be assessed on your ability to relate to the images and to express your reaction in an articulate manner.

Some possible points:

Extraordinary variety of jobs. They are all jobs which require talent and dedication. They are not the proverbial 9 -5 jobs. The nurse and farmer appear content; the film director and company executive look stressed out while the pilot and lion tamer are concentrating closely on their tasks. Some of the occupations are traditionally regarded as being gender-specific. Thoughts about the leisure pursuits / home lives of these workers. Comment on whether or not you would like to do any of these jobs. Why or why not?

Question A (iii)
Do you think that the written and the visual elements of the text go well together ? Illustrate your answer by reference to the text as a whole. (20 marks) This final question, worth 20 marks, requires you to combine both elements and comment on how well they complement (or do not complement each other). There is no right or wrong answer here. The examiner will respect either point of view. Marks will be awarded for a well-written, intelligent response which is backed up with plenty of supporting material from both texts.

Question B
My Kind of Work Write a letter to ONE of the people from the collection of visual images in this text indicating what appeals and/or does not appeal to you about the work which that person does. (50) Note that the required form is a letter. Your answer must sound like a letter. You can adopt a formal or informal tone and can be serious or humorous in your approach. Your answer must show a clear appreciation of the task and clearly state why the job appeals and/or does not appeal to you.

END OF LECTURE