2 Study Passage 2 in the Insert to answer the following questions (a)–(d).
Note: When a question asks for an answer IN YOUR OWN WORDS, you must select the
appropriate material from the passage for your answer, but you must still use your own words
to express it. Little credit can be given to answers which only copy words or phrases from the
passage.
(a) Explain what the following expressions mean in about 10 of your own words for each:
‘A rollercoaster of a read’
Something that alternates with many good times and many difficult times emotionally.
‘A guaranteed tear-jerker’
A book that will certainly make one cry.
‘A thought-provoking tome’
Something that causes one to seriously think about a particular thing.
‘side-splitting moments’
Something that is extremely funny.
‘A page-turner of a novel’
A very exciting and thrilling novel.
[5]
(b) (i) Explain the meaning of the four following words as they are used in the passage. You
may write the answer in one word or a short phrase:
myriad (line 6)
many
inevitable (line 13)
bound to happen
hapless (line 18)
unfortunate
hair-raising (line 21)
frightening
[4]
(ii) Use these words in four separate sentences to illustrate their meanings as used in the
passage. Your sentences should not deal with the subject matter of the passage.
Myriad: I received a myriad of gifts for my birthday.
Inevitable: Since he was a reckless driver, his accident was inevitable.
Hapless: Killing hapless little birds for fun is very inhumane.
Hair-Raising: Returning from the jungle during the night was even more hair-raising than going there.[4]
2(c) From the transcript of a part of a conversation, explain what you learn about the character of
each of the three judges.
Your answer must only refer to the material in brackets ( ).
(i) Benji
Benji is a straightforward, honest and a genuine person. He seems to be very happy meeting his
friends/acquaintances. He is a very considerate person as he empathizes Tula and waits for her reviews.
He aspires to be as good as Tula but doesn’t seem to envy her success and recognition. [4]
(ii) Tula
Tula is a very boastful and an ostentatious person as she is obsessed with her success. She is insensitive
about her surrounding and is not very tactful when dealing with people as she is rude because she turns
her back on Benji when Ove butts into their conversation. She was also not paying attention to Benji from
the beginning as she was glancing over his shoulders to (most probably) find someone she considers worth
her time. [4]
(iii) Ove
Ove seems to be a bold and charming person as he confidently barges into the conversation and has a
booming voice. However, he is a very down to earth as he is very modest to talk about his success. He is a
tactful person as he tries to include Benji in the conversation even though Tula frequently blocks him. [4]
(d) In your opinion:
(i) explain why Benji might vote for Yolo Okoneda
Being a poet himself, Benji might vote for Yolo Okoneda as it would make the genre of poetry more famous
around the world (if Yolo Okoneda wins) and it could also result in Benji’s poems coming to the limelight
giving him the success he wishes to have. [2]
(ii) explain why Tula might not vote for Van Turner
Being obsessed with her fame and success and also a writer on the comedic genre, Tula might not vote for
Van Turner as she wouldn’t want another comedian to get a public recognition. [2]
(iii) explain why Ove might vote for Yolo Okoneda
As Yolo Okoneda’ s writing is inspiring and helps dealing with good and bad times on life, Ove might vote
for Yolo Okoneda as he himself was having some issues.[2]
(iv) explain why Ove described the voting process as having to make a ‘tricky decision’
Ove described the voting process as having to make a ‘tricky decision’ as it is very difficult to judge books
that are of different genres and personal preferences on a particular genre could heavily influence the
outcome of the voting process. [2]
(v) which other genre could be included for The Pinker Prize? Justify your response.
A historical genre could be included for the Pinker Prize as it would widen the set of genres and people
could capture the details of a particular timeline including the traditions and the social values of that time
period. [2]
[Total: 35]