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European Baccalaureate Language 1 Advanced study materials
European Baccalaureate Language 1 Advanced study resources

European Baccalaureate Language 1 Advanced practice questions

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Question 1Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

In the European Baccalaureate L1 written examination, candidates are typically required to produce which of the following?

  1. A summary of a film in bullet points
  2. A commentary on an unseen literary or non-literary text plus an argumentative essay Correct answer.
  3. A translation into Latin
  4. A multiple-choice grammar test only

Explanation

The L1 written paper assesses advanced reading and production skills, so candidates analyse an unseen text and write a structured argumentative piece. It is a language-and-literature examination, not a discrete grammar or translation test.

Question 2Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

When a candidate in the L1 written examination is asked to write an 'argumentative essay', the essential requirement is to:

  1. Describe personal feelings without supporting evidence
  2. Retell the plot of the source text in chronological order
  3. Take a clear position and defend it with reasoned evidence from the text or wider knowledge Correct answer.
  4. List as many quotations as possible without connecting them

Explanation

An argumentative essay must establish a thesis and sustain it through logical reasoning and textual evidence. Personal feeling or plot summary alone does not constitute argumentation.

Question 3Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

In a literary commentary task within the L1 paper, the strongest opening move is to:

  1. State the text's central tension or governing idea and how form shapes it Correct answer.
  2. Begin with a long quotation and no commentary
  3. Summarise the author's biography
  4. Announce that the text is boring

Explanation

A commentary should introduce an interpretive thesis linking content and form, giving the reader a clear analytical direction. Biography and uncommented quotation do not establish that direction.

Question 4Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

Which sentence uses the semicolon correctly in a formal L1 essay?

  1. The argument is persuasive; drawing on primary sources.
  2. The argument is persuasive; and draws on primary sources.
  3. The argument is persuasive; because it draws on primary sources.
  4. The argument is persuasive; it draws on primary sources. Correct answer.

Explanation

A semicolon joins two independent clauses that are closely related, and 'it draws on primary sources' is a complete clause. The other options attach fragments or subordinate structures that cannot stand alone after a semicolon.

Question 5Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

In the L1 written examination, a candidate quoting a line of poetry inside a sentence should:

  1. Insert the quotation without any punctuation to preserve flow
  2. Always put the quotation on a separate line without quotation marks
  3. Paraphrase the quotation and never cite the source
  4. Integrate the quotation grammatically and enclose it in quotation marks with line references Correct answer.

Explanation

Short quotations are woven into the candidate's own syntax and marked with quotation marks plus a precise reference. This demonstrates control of both source and argument.

Question 6Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

Which feature most clearly distinguishes an analytical register from a merely descriptive one in an L1 essay?

  1. Long lists of adjectives
  2. Causal connectives such as 'therefore', 'consequently' and 'this suggests' Correct answer.
  3. Frequent rhetorical questions
  4. Use of first-person anecdotes

Explanation

Analytical writing foregrounds reasoning through causal and inferential connectives that link evidence to interpretation. Descriptive writing tends merely to report features without drawing conclusions.

Question 7Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

A candidate writing an argumentative essay in the L1 paper is advised to address counterarguments because:

  1. It fills space when the candidate lacks ideas
  2. It allows the candidate to avoid taking a position
  3. Examiners require a fixed number of paragraphs
  4. It demonstrates critical thinking and strengthens the credibility of the thesis Correct answer.

Explanation

Engaging with opposing views shows that the candidate has weighed evidence, which strengthens the argument's persuasiveness. It is a mark of critical maturity, not a space-filling device.

Question 8Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

In a formal L1 essay, which sentence avoids a comma splice?

  1. The novel explores exile, it also examines memory.
  2. The novel explores exile, also examining memory, it does so subtly.
  3. The novel explores exile it also examines memory.
  4. The novel explores exile, and it also examines memory. Correct answer.

Explanation

A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined by a comma alone. Adding the coordinating conjunction 'and' before the second clause creates a grammatically correct compound sentence.

Question 9Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

When the L1 paper asks candidates to compare two texts, the most effective organising principle is to:

  1. Discuss only similarities and ignore differences
  2. Summarise text A fully, then text B fully, with no cross-reference
  3. Organise by points of comparison, discussing both texts under each point Correct answer.
  4. Quote only from the longer text

Explanation

Point-by-point organisation keeps both texts in dialogue and shows genuine comparative analysis. Sequential summaries tend to produce two separate descriptions rather than a comparison.

Question 10Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

Which sentence correctly uses the subjunctive in a formal written register?

  1. If the narrator is being reliable, the ending would be clearer.
  2. If the narrator was reliable, the ending would be clearer.
  3. If the narrator be reliable, the ending would be clearer.
  4. If the narrator were reliable, the ending would be clearer. Correct answer.

Explanation

In a hypothetical contrary-to-fact condition, formal English uses 'were' for all persons. The indicative 'was' is common in speech but less appropriate in a formal essay.

Question 11Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

In the L1 written examination, the term 'unseen text' means that candidates:

  1. May choose any text from the syllabus
  2. Are given the text one week in advance
  3. Encounter the text for the first time in the examination and analyse it on the spot Correct answer.
  4. Have studied the text in class beforehand

Explanation

An unseen text is one the candidate has not previously studied, testing independent reading and analytical skill under examination conditions. Prior study would defeat the purpose of the task.

Question 12Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

A candidate's commentary states: 'The short sentences create tension.' Which revision best improves the analysis?

  1. The clipped syntax accelerates the pace and leaves the reader braced for the revelation in the final line. Correct answer.
  2. The short sentences create tension, which is good.
  3. The short sentences create tension and are short.
  4. Short sentences are used by many writers to create tension.

Explanation

Strong analysis links a specific stylistic feature to a precise effect on the reader, rather than asserting a general claim. The revision names the feature and traces its function in the passage.

Question 13Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

Which option correctly identifies the rhetorical device in 'the wind whispered through the empty corridors'?

  1. Oxymoron
  2. Personification Correct answer.
  3. Hyperbole
  4. Onomatopoeia

Explanation

Personification attributes human action, here whispering, to a non-human entity. Hyperbole is exaggeration, oxymoron combines contradictory terms, and onomatopoeia imitates sound.

Question 14Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

In the L1 paper, an essay introduction that opens with a broad generalisation such as 'Since the dawn of time, humanity has told stories' is generally considered weak because:

  1. It uses the present perfect tense
  2. It is too short
  3. It delays the specific thesis and offers no analytical purchase on the question Correct answer.
  4. It contains a metaphor

Explanation

Examiners reward introductions that engage directly with the question and state a focused thesis. Grand generalisations postpone the argument and signal a lack of precision.

Question 15Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly in a formal essay?

  1. The character's motivations are ambiguous and the characters' are too.
  2. The characters' motivations are ambiguous. Correct answer.
  3. The characters's motivations are ambiguous.
  4. The characters motivations are ambiguous.

Explanation

A plural noun ending in -s forms the possessive with an apostrophe after the s, giving 'characters'. This marks the motivations belonging to multiple characters.

Question 16Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

When analysing a non-literary text such as a political speech in the L1 paper, the concept of 'pathos' refers to:

  1. Appeal to the audience's emotions Correct answer.
  2. Appeal to logical reasoning
  3. Use of statistical data
  4. Appeal to the speaker's authority

Explanation

In the classical triad, pathos is the emotional appeal, ethos is the appeal to credibility, and logos is the logical appeal. Recognising which appeal a passage uses sharpens rhetorical analysis.

Question 17Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

A candidate writes: 'The author uses imagery to make the reader feel something.' The main weakness of this commentary sentence is that it:

  1. Uses the passive voice
  2. Is too long
  3. Names a device without specifying its effect Correct answer.
  4. Quotes the text directly

Explanation

Effective commentary must identify the specific image and explain the precise effect it produces. Vague statements about 'feeling something' show recognition of technique without analysis.

Question 18Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

In the L1 examination, which skill is most directly assessed by asking candidates to 'evaluate' a text's argument?

  1. Counting the number of paragraphs
  2. Judging the strength of evidence and reasoning and reaching a supported verdict Correct answer.
  3. Memorisation of the author's dates
  4. Copying key sentences verbatim

Explanation

Evaluation requires weighing evidence and reasoning against the claim and arriving at a justified judgement. It goes beyond recall or description to critical appraisal.

Question 19Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

Which sentence maintains consistent formal register appropriate to an L1 essay?

  1. The protagonist is super conflicted, you know?
  2. The protagonist's inner conflict drives the narrative forward. Correct answer.
  3. The protagonist is, like, totally conflicted.
  4. The protagonist is conflicted and stuff.

Explanation

Formal academic register avoids slang, filler and vague tags. The chosen sentence uses precise vocabulary and a clear causal claim suited to analytical writing.

Question 20Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

When structuring a comparative commentary on a poem and a newspaper editorial, the strongest analytical link is to:

  1. Compare how each text constructs authority through its chosen form and diction Correct answer.
  2. State that one text is longer than the other
  3. Observe that both were written in the same century
  4. Note that both use words

Explanation

A meaningful comparison identifies a shared analytical category, such as the construction of authority, and shows how each text realises it differently. Superficial similarities yield little credit.

Question 21Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

A candidate is asked to 'comment on the tone' of a passage. Which response best demonstrates the required skill?

  1. The tone shifts from ironic detachment to earnest appeal, signalled by the move from clipped clauses to long, exclamatory sentences. Correct answer.
  2. The tone is created by the author.
  3. The tone is sad.
  4. The tone is difficult to describe.

Explanation

Commenting on tone requires naming the quality and showing the textual features that produce it. The chosen answer traces a shift and links it to specific syntactic evidence.

Question 22Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

In the L1 written paper, plagiarism is best avoided by:

  1. Acknowledging sources and integrating quotations with commentary Correct answer.
  2. Paraphrasing without citation
  3. Never quoting any source
  4. Using only the candidate's own opinions

Explanation

Academic integrity requires that borrowed words and ideas be attributed, and integrated quotations with commentary show the candidate's own analysis. Suppressing sources or uncited paraphrase constitutes plagiarism.

Question 23Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

Which sentence best exemplifies an effective analytical topic sentence in a body paragraph?

  1. This paragraph will discuss imagery.
  2. Water is mentioned several times.
  3. Imagery is important in literature.
  4. The recurring water imagery gradually erodes the speaker's certainty, preparing the final admission of doubt. Correct answer.

Explanation

A strong topic sentence makes a specific claim that the paragraph will then support with evidence. It advances an argument rather than announcing a topic or stating a truism.

Question 24Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

In a passage where an author uses irony, the reader's interpretation depends most on:

  1. Counting the number of adjectives
  2. Identifying the publication date
  3. Recognising a gap between stated meaning and intended meaning Correct answer.
  4. Measuring sentence length

Explanation

Irony operates through a discrepancy between what is said and what is meant, often signalled by context or tone. Interpretation therefore hinges on detecting that gap.

Question 25Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

When a candidate must produce a 'directed writing' task in the L1 paper, the primary consideration is to:

  1. Ignore the prompt's audience specification
  2. Write as informally as possible
  3. Follow the stipulated genre, audience and purpose while sustaining formal accuracy Correct answer.
  4. Use as many literary quotations as possible

Explanation

Directed writing assesses the candidate's ability to adapt register and structure to a specified genre, audience and purpose. Accuracy and appropriateness are central to the mark scheme.

Question 26Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

In the L1 written examination, the 'directed writing' task differs from the free essay chiefly because it requires candidates to:

  1. adopt a specified role, audience and purpose rather than choosing their own Correct answer.
  2. summarise a source text without adding interpretation
  3. compose a poem in a fixed metrical form
  4. translate a passage into the L2

Explanation

Directed writing supplies a scenario (role, readership, format and purpose) that constrains register, structure and content, whereas the free essay leaves those choices to the candidate. Recognising the constraints is the first step to scoring well.

Question 27Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

A candidate's commentary reads: 'The writer repeats the word "never" three times.' Which continuation turns this observation into genuine stylistic analysis?

  1. Repetition of 'never' appears in paragraph two of the passage.
  2. The repetition of 'never' is a stylistic device used by the writer.
  3. The triple anaphora of 'never' hardens the refusal into a vow, closing off negotiation with the reader. Correct answer.
  4. The writer repeats 'never' three times, which is a lot of repetition.

Explanation

Analysis moves from naming a feature to explaining its rhetorical effect on meaning and reader. Only the third option links the device (anaphora) to an interpretive consequence.

Question 28Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

In the L1 paper, a candidate is asked to write a 'commentary' on an unseen passage. The commentary should above all:

  1. list every rhetorical device that can be found
  2. retell the passage's plot in the candidate's own words
  3. build an argued interpretation supported by close reference to language Correct answer.
  4. compare the passage with the candidate's set literary texts

Explanation

A commentary is an argued reading: it advances an interpretation and substantiates it with precise textual evidence and analysis of language. Description, cataloguing or unrelated comparison does not fulfil the task.

Question 29Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

Which sentence uses the semicolon in a way that is fully acceptable in a formal L1 essay?

  1. The argument is persuasive; however, its conclusion overreaches the evidence. Correct answer.
  2. The argument is persuasive; because it cites primary sources.
  3. The argument is persuasive; and it cites primary sources.
  4. The argument; is persuasive because it cites primary sources.

Explanation

A semicolon may join two independent clauses, especially when a conjunctive adverb such as 'however' marks the relation between them. The other options place the semicolon before a fragment, before a coordinating conjunction, or inside a single clause.

Question 30Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

A candidate must write an essay evaluating a newspaper editorial's argument. Which approach best demonstrates the required evaluative skill?

  1. Summarising the editorial's main claims in the candidate's own words
  2. Identifying the editorial's thesis and listing its supporting points
  3. Describing the editorial's tone as 'angry' and 'persuasive'
  4. Assessing the strength of the evidence and exposing unstated assumptions Correct answer.

Explanation

Evaluation requires judging how well an argument is supported and what it leaves unexamined, not merely reporting its content. Weighing evidence and surfacing assumptions is the core evaluative move.

Question 31Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

In an L1 essay on a literary text, which sentence best functions as an analytical topic sentence for a body paragraph?

  1. Many critics have written about this novel over the years.
  2. The opening chapter establishes the narrator's unreliability through deliberate contradictions in what he reports. Correct answer.
  3. The novel was published in the nineteenth century and was well received.
  4. This paragraph will discuss the opening chapter of the novel.

Explanation

An analytical topic sentence makes a specific, arguable claim that the paragraph will then support with evidence. Announcing the paragraph's subject or supplying background does not state an argument.

Question 32Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

A candidate quotes a single distinctive phrase from a secondary source inside a longer original sentence. Which practice best meets academic conventions in the L1 paper?

  1. Integrating the phrase in quotation marks with an in-text citation and a full reference Correct answer.
  2. Presenting the phrase without quotation marks because it is short
  3. Citing the source only in a bibliography at the end, without an in-text marker
  4. Paraphrasing the phrase slightly and omitting any citation

Explanation

Borrowed wording must be visibly marked with quotation marks, attributed at the point of use and fully referenced. Shortness or minor rewording does not remove the obligation to attribute.

Question 33Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

In an L1 essay analysing a political speech, the candidate argues that the speaker builds 'ethos'. This appeal refers to:

  1. the emotional responses stirred in the audience
  2. the rhythm and sound patterning of the sentences
  3. the logical arrangement of the argument's premises
  4. the speaker's projected credibility and character Correct answer.

Explanation

Ethos is the appeal grounded in the speaker's perceived authority, trustworthiness and moral character. It is distinct from emotional appeal (pathos) and logical appeal (logos).

Question 34Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

A candidate writes: 'The poem's irregular line lengths show that the poet is being creative.' Which criticism of this commentary is most accurate?

  1. It relies too heavily on direct quotation from the poem.
  2. It uses informal vocabulary that is inappropriate for an essay.
  3. It fails to identify the poem's rhyme scheme.
  4. It confuses the poem's form with its theme and offers no interpretive payoff. Correct answer.

Explanation

The comment names a formal feature but attaches a vague, non-interpretive conclusion. Strong analysis explains what the irregularity does to meaning, pace or emphasis rather than asserting mere creativity.

Question 35Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

Which sentence maintains a consistently formal academic register throughout?

  1. The narrator's evasions seldom deceive the reader, and this is precisely the effect the novel seeks. Correct answer.
  2. The narrator keeps dodging stuff, which is pretty telling.
  3. The narrator's evasions don't really fool anyone, and that's kind of the point.
  4. The narrator's evasions don't deceive the reader, and this is exactly what the novel is going for.

Explanation

Formal academic prose avoids contractions and colloquial idioms while keeping its diction precise. Only this option sustains that register from start to finish.

Question 36Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

When the L1 paper asks candidates to compare two texts, which sentence uses an accurate comparative structure?

  1. Text A is the most effective of Text B.
  2. Text A is more effective than Text B is more effective.
  3. Text A is more effective than Text B is effective.
  4. Text A is more effective than Text B. Correct answer.

Explanation

The comparative 'more ... than' takes the two compared entities directly, without repeating the adjective or adding a second predicate. The other options are grammatically malformed comparisons.

Question 37Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

A candidate is analysing a passage in which a character says the opposite of what is meant, and the reader knows more than the character does. This situation is best described as:

  1. personification combined with paradox
  2. metonymy combined with understatement
  3. verbal irony combined with dramatic irony Correct answer.
  4. situational irony combined with hyperbole

Explanation

Saying the opposite of what is meant is verbal irony, and a reader's superior knowledge relative to a character is dramatic irony. The two commonly operate together in narrative.

Question 38Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

In the L1 written examination, candidates are typically asked to write in response to an unseen text. 'Unseen' indicates that:

  1. the text has been studied in class but not revised
  2. the text is printed in a language other than the candidate's L1
  3. the text is presented in the examination and has not been studied beforehand Correct answer.
  4. the text has been abridged for the examination

Explanation

An unseen text is supplied in the paper and analysed without prior study, testing transferable reading skills rather than memorised knowledge. Abridgement or language of delivery is not what the term denotes.

Question 39Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly for a formal essay?

  1. The critics objections were dismissed by the authors defenders.
  2. The critics' objections were dismissed by the author's defenders. Correct answer.
  3. The critic's objections were dismissed by the authors' defenders.
  4. The critics' objections were dismissed by the authors defenders.

Explanation

Plural possessives place the apostrophe after the final s ('critics'', 'defenders'), while singular possessives place it before ('author's'). This option applies both rules correctly and consistently.

Question 40Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

A candidate wishes to integrate a short quotation smoothly into an analytical sentence. Which version achieves the most effective syntactic integration?

  1. The narrator's admission that he 'was afraid' undercuts his earlier bravado. Correct answer.
  2. 'I was afraid' is what the narrator says, and it is important.
  3. The narrator admits 'I was afraid' which shows his fear.
  4. The narrator says 'I was afraid'. This shows he is afraid.

Explanation

Effective integration embeds the quotation within the candidate's own syntax so the sentence reads as a single analytical claim. The other versions bolt the quotation on and then append a flat comment.

Question 41Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

An L1 essay opens: 'Throughout history, literature has always reflected society.' Which revision best replaces this generalisation with a focused thesis?

  1. Society and literature are connected in ways that this essay will explore.
  2. Literature has reflected society in many different periods and places.
  3. Many writers have said that literature reflects the society in which it is written.
  4. In this novel, the recurring image of the flooded town registers the narrator's grief for a community that has lost its livelihood. Correct answer.

Explanation

A thesis should make a specific, arguable claim about the text under discussion. The other revisions restate the generalisation or merely announce an intention to explore.

Question 42Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

A candidate is asked to comment on how a passage's syntax contributes to its meaning. Which observation is the most analytically precise?

  1. The writer uses many clauses throughout the passage.
  2. The passage contains several long sentences and some short ones.
  3. The passage's syntax is varied and therefore interesting.
  4. The single-clause sentences that close each paragraph slow the pace and give the narrator's conclusions a finality. Correct answer.

Explanation

Precise syntactic analysis names a specific pattern and explains its effect on pace, emphasis or meaning. Merely counting or describing sentence length does not interpret.

Question 43Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

In the L1 written paper, which feature most reliably signals that a candidate is analysing a text rather than merely describing it?

  1. Explanations of how specific language choices produce particular effects Correct answer.
  2. Accurate summary of the passage's sequence of events
  3. Frequent direct quotations from the passage
  4. Use of technical vocabulary such as 'metaphor' and 'imagery'

Explanation

Analysis explains how language produces meaning and effect; description reports what happens or what devices appear. Quotation and terminology only support analysis when they are tied to explained effects.

Question 44Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

A candidate must write a formal letter to a newspaper editor responding to an article. Which opening best suits the required register and purpose?

  1. Hey, so I read your article and I've got a few things to say.
  2. Your article of 12 May makes a forceful case, but its central claim rests on a misleading statistic. Correct answer.
  3. Articles like yours are always wrong, and here is why.
  4. I am writing this letter because I have to write a letter for my exam.

Explanation

A formal letter to an editor should be courteous, identify the article and advance a reasoned position immediately. This option does all three in an appropriate register.

Question 45Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

A candidate argues that a poem's final stanza 'undercuts' the consolation offered earlier. Which use of evidence would most strengthen this claim?

  1. Stating that many readers feel the ending is sad
  2. Quoting a phrase from the earlier stanza and one from the final stanza, then explaining the shift in diction between them Correct answer.
  3. Quoting the final stanza in full without comment
  4. Noting that the poem has five stanzas of equal length

Explanation

A claim of reversal is best supported by juxtaposing the relevant language from both points and explaining the change. This makes the interpretive movement visible to the reader.

Question 46Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

Which sentence uses a colon correctly in a formal L1 essay?

  1. The poem: explores three themes of loss, memory and exile.
  2. The poem explores: loss, memory and exile.
  3. The poem explores three themes, loss: memory and exile.
  4. The poem explores three themes: loss, memory and exile. Correct answer.

Explanation

A colon introduces an explanation, list or amplification after a complete main clause. Here the clause is complete and the colon properly introduces the list.

Question 47Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

In an L1 essay, a candidate writes: 'If the author had not used the frame narrative, the reader would have trusted the narrator completely.' What does this sentence do analytically?

  1. It describes the narrative structure without evaluating it.
  2. It summarises the plot of the frame narrative.
  3. It uses a counterfactual to argue for the frame narrative's effect on the reader's trust. Correct answer.
  4. It speculates about the author's biography.

Explanation

A past counterfactual ('had not used ... would have') isolates a single device and reasons about the effect its absence would have had, which is a recognised analytical strategy. It is not summary or biography.

Question 48Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

A candidate's essay repeatedly uses 'the reader' as though all readers respond identically. Which revision most improves the analytical precision?

  1. Remove all references to readers from the essay.
  2. Replace 'the reader' with 'society' throughout.
  3. Specify the response being invited and the textual cue that invites it, rather than assuming a uniform reader. Correct answer.
  4. Replace 'the reader' with 'people' throughout.

Explanation

Vague appeals to 'the reader' assume a single response; precision comes from naming the response the text invites and the language that invites it. This keeps claims tied to evidence.

Question 49Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

In the L1 written examination, which task most directly assesses a candidate's ability to adapt writing to a specified audience?

  1. Writing a summary of a passage for the candidate's own notes
  2. Writing a literary commentary on an unseen poem
  3. Producing a speech to be delivered to fellow students on a given issue Correct answer.
  4. Answering short comprehension questions on a passage

Explanation

A speech addressed to a named audience requires deliberate choices of tone, vocabulary and rhetorical strategy suited to those listeners, which is precisely audience adaptation.

Question 50Written examinations (five; L1, L2 and Mathematics compulsory)

Which sentence avoids a dangling modifier in a formal essay?

  1. Having read the novel twice, the ending still surprised the candidate.
  2. Having read the novel twice, it was still surprising to the candidate.
  3. Having read the novel twice, the ending was still surprising.
  4. Having read the novel twice, the candidate was still surprised by the ending. Correct answer.

Explanation

A participial phrase must attach to the subject of the main clause. Here the candidate, not the ending, did the reading, so only this version keeps the modifier properly attached.