Letters in the Sand
SECTION A: Reading
Answer All questions in this section.
You should spend 1 hour on this section.
AO1 (5 marks)
Read Text One, a newspaper report about a man who got into difficulties in a
remote area of Western Australia.
1. Explain how Howard became stranded. (1 mark)
His car become stuck in the deep sand , after he got lost on his way to a nature
reserve.
2. Describe what Howard did to attract the attention of passing aircraft. (2 marks)
Howard wrote a huge SOS message scrawled in the sand.
Now read Text Two, an extract from a novel in which Pi, a 16-year-old boy, is
the only
human survivor from a shipwreck.
4. In paragraph one, what does Pi mean when he says, “I awoke to the reality
of an unusual companion”?
“I awoke to the reality of unusual companion” meaning there was a tiger in the life
boat.
5. In paragraph five, what voice is referred to and its effect on Pi?
The voice is referred to his motivation and it make pi have a fierce will to live.
AO2
Question No.3:
How does the writer describe the thoughts and feelings of Howard Holdsworth when
he was stranded on a remote beach?
“Still found the experience frightening” meaning he was starting to lose
Confidence despite being a keen survivalist.
“It’s quite hard to think your way out of situations in this heat” indicating his internal
struggle.
“I must have shifted tons of sand absolutely tons” highlighting his frustration.
You should support your answer with close reference to the passage, including brief
quotations. (10)
Indicative contents
Feature
Evidence
Effect
Immediate
Tension
"For nearly three days a British tourist,
Howard Holdsworth, who was an
Captures the reader’s attention
experienced traveller, was stranded on by introducing a dramatic and
a remote Australian beach in scorching urgent situation.
heat."
Sense of Danger
"Scorching heat" and "dangerously
low"
Intriguing
Details/imagery
Sparks curiosity about how the
"A huge SOS message scrawled in the
situation will develop and
sand," "Howard had dug out the letters
whether Howard will be
with his feet"
rescued.
Emphasizes the lifethreatening nature of Howard's
predicament, creating a sense
of suspense and concern.
"I’ve got the knowledge, but it’s being
able to use it, because I was in extreme Provides insight into Howard’s
temperatures that I am not used to,"
internal struggle, making his
Direct Quotations
and "It’s quite hard to think your way experience more relatable and
out of situations in these kinds of
personal.
temperatures."
Descriptive
Language
Helps readers visualize the
harsh environment and
"Scorching heat," "dangerously low,"
empathize with Howard’s
"shifted tons of sand, absolutely tons"
physical and emotional
challenges.
Repetition for
Emphasis
"I must have shifted tons of sand,
absolutely tons."
Highlights the enormity of
Howard's efforts, emphasizing
Feature
Evidence
Effect
his determination and the
difficulty of his situation.
"He had good knowledge of bush
survival skills, but still found the
experience frightening."
Highlights the difference
between theoretical knowledge
and practical experience,
emphasizing Howard’s
vulnerability.
"Stranded," "scrawled," "bogged
down," "obliterated"
Conveys the dire nature of
Howard's situation, reflecting
his desperation and the
harshness of the environment.
Chronological
Structure
The narrative follows a sequence: car
getting stuck, survival efforts, rescue.
Allows readers to experience
the events as they unfolded,
creating a sense of immersion
and progression in the story.
Shifts in
Perspective
Alternates between recounting
Howard’s actions and quoting his
reflections.
Provides depth to the account
by showing both the external
events and Howard’s internal
thoughts and feelings.
Short Sentences
for Impact
"He was very lucky," and "He is only
the second person ever to be rescued
from that area."
Draws attention to key points,
adding tension and
emphasizing the gravity of the
situation.
Inclusion of
External
Perspectives
Quotes from Howard’s mother, such
as "Goodness knows what he will get
up to next!"
Evokes emotional response,
connecting the reader with
Howard on a personal level
and highlighting the impact on
those who care about him.
Relief and
Continuation of
Adventure
Provides a sense of closure
while also leaving the reader
"Goodness knows what he will get up curious about Howard’s future
to next!"
adventures, keeping them
engaged even after the story
ends.
Emotional
Connection
Humanizes the story, allowing
Howard’s mother expresses both relief readers to relate to the
and concern for her son.
emotional experiences of both
Howard and his family.
Open-Ended
Reflection
Leaves the reader with a sense
of curiosity and admiration,
encouraging them to ponder
what might happen next in
Howard’s life.
Contrast
Use of Strong
Verbs
Reflection on Howard's wanderlust
and adventurous spirit.
AO2
Question No. 6
Explain how the writer expresses the thoughts and feeling of Pi who finds himself
stranded on a lifeboat in the Pacific Ocean?
“tight with fear” meaning he was feeling tighten up due to his fear.
“Quivering lips” to highlight how scared and cold he waswa"I will not die I refuse it”
indicating his motivation to live.
You should support your answer with close reference to the passage, including brief
quotations. (10)
Indicative contents
Feature
unexpected twist
Evidence
Effect
“That tide of food,
water and rest that
flowed through my
weakened system,
bringing me a new
lease of life…”
hooks the reader, making them find
out how the narrator will deal with this
extraordinary challenge.
"There was a tiger in
the lifeboat!"
Evokes a intuitive response, making
Pi's fear palpable and deepening the
reader's emotional connection to him.
Descriptive
Language
"tight with fear,"
"quivering lips"
Simile and
Imagery
"He would come at me Creates a sense of imminent danger,
like a typical cat,"
heightening the reader’s sense of
Feature
Evidence
Effect
"lifeblood would flow
out of me"
dread and making the situation feel
more immediate and life-threatening.
"a voice hadn’t made
itself heard in my
heart"
Gives the voice of survival agency,
making the internal struggle more
dynamic and engaging, prompting the
reader to invest in Pi’s will to survive.
Internal Dialogue
"I will not die. I refuse
it."
Provides direct access to Pi’s
thoughts, creating intimacy and
making the reader feel part of his inner
world, intensifying their empathy for
him.
Repetition
Emphasizes Pi’s relentless
"We fight and fight and determination, instilling hope and
fight."
admiration for his resilience, and
reinforcing the theme of survival.
Hyperbole
Highlights the vastness of the ocean
"hundreds of miles
and Pi's isolation, amplifying the
from landfall, if not
reader’s perception of his desperation
over a thousand miles"
and the challenge of survival.
Contrast
Creates a dramatic shift that captures
"I’m going to die,"
the reader’s attention, inspiring them
versus "I will not die. I
by emphasizing the power of the
refuse it."
human spirit to overcome adversity.
First-Person
Narration
Entire passage
narrated from Pi’s
perspective
Immerses the reader in Pi’s
experience, fostering a strong
connection as they share in his
emotions and thoughts.
Short Sentences
and Fragments
"Quick, man, quick."
"Not a second to
waste."
Conveys urgency and panic,
quickening the narrative pace, and
making the reader feel the same haste
and anxiety as Pi.
Pacing
Shift from reflective to
urgent as Pi considers Reflects Pi’s evolving emotional state,
keeping the reader engaged by
his options
Personification
Feature
Evidence
Effect
mirroring his emotional rollercoaster
and heightening the narrative tension.
Stream of
Consciousness
Captures the chaos of Pi’s mind,
Pi’s thoughts flow
making the reader feel as though they
rapidly and somewhat are inside his head, deepening
disjointedly
understanding of his psychological
state.
Climactic Shift
Marks a turning point, providing hope
The moment Pi
and renewal, and leaving the reader
decides, "I will not die.
with a strong emotional impact and
I refuse it."
admiration for Pi’s courage.
AO3 (15 marks)
7. Refer to BOTH Text One AND Text Two to answer the following question.
Compare how the writers of Text One and Text Two convey their ideas and
experiences. Support your answer with examples from both texts.
Text One and text two is both based on a man being stranded somewhere. Both
texts use fear as a base to convey the characters’ experiences and emotions. Text
One uses the beach and the tide to highlight his struggle for survival, while Text Two
uses the vast ocean and the presence of a tiger to symbolize isolation and the fight
against fear. The writers effectively use descriptive language and imagery to make
the readers interested.