NATIONAL 5
CLOSE READING
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
THE BASICS
 You
should answer using bullet points
 You
must read the question carefully
 Unless
told to answer in your own words
you should always quote
IN YOUR OWN WORDS
 One
bullet point per mark
 Use
your own words as far as your
possibly can
 Quoting
will get you ZERO marks
QUESTION 1
 It
is only teenagers that do it
 It
damages linguistic skills
QUESTION 2
 It
is too interested in looking after its
own interests
 It
is more concerned with quantity of
viewers than quality of programmes
 It
is spending money it doesn’t have
QUESTION 3
 Both
“endured” cold living conditions
 Both
were on their own/single
 Both
were poor
 Both
had their lives altered for the better
 Both
found husbands
(any 4 of the above)
CONTEXT
 ‘___________’
 The
means ____________
word/words ‘_______________’ helped
me understand this because it/they
suggest(s) _____________________
QUESTION 4
 ‘Vacillated’
 The
means that he was indecisive
word ‘hesitation’ helped me
understand this because it suggests that
he swithered between two different
positions
QUESTION 5
 ‘Monstrous
verbosity’ means to use
unnecessarily complex language
 The
words ‘a primitive earth-breaking
implement’ helped me understand this
because they suggest that they wouldn’t just
use a single simple word to describe
something
LINKING
 The
word(s) ‘_______________’ link back to
what was discussed in the previous
paragraph, which was __________________.
 The
word(s) ‘_______________’ link to what
is coming up in the next paragraph,
which is _______________________________.
QUESTION 6
 The
words ‘his work’ link back to what
was discussed in the previous paragraph,
which was his plays, characters and
poetry.
 The
words ‘the man himself’ link to what
is coming up in the next paragraph,
which is information about his life and
personality.
QUESTION 7
 The
word ‘appearance’ links back to what
was discussed in the previous paragraph,
which was her ‘beauty’.
 The
words ‘the character’ link to what is
coming up in the next paragraph, which
is that she was an inspiring person.
QUESTION 8
 The
The other mark is for
actually recognising that
this is a linking
question!!!
words ‘the resource question’ link
back to what was discussed in the
previous paragraph, which was about
paying for healthcare for the elderly.
 The
words ‘only half the story’ link to
what is coming up in the next paragraph,
which focuses on bigger questions about
what it means to be “old”.
SENTENCE STRUCTURE
 Know
the different types
 Know
the punctuation
 Be
as clear as possible
QUESTION 9
 Several
 This
rhetorical questions
shows that even he doesn’t really
know why he does it
 Long,
 This
complex list
explores the range of reasons not to
enjoy hillwalking and reinforces the
point made by the questions
QUESTION 10
 Very
long, complex list is used
 This
is used to demonstrate the huge
range of ‘new ways of living’ (or ways in
which we are ‘separating ourselves from
our planet’)
WORD CHOICE
 QUOTE
 Think
AND EXPLAIN
about meanings AND connotations
QUESTION 11
 “web”
 This
suggests that Cowell sees us as his
prey OR that we are manipulated the way
a spider manipulates a fly in its web OR
that once drawn into reality TV it is
nearly impossible to escape
QUESTION 12
 “changed
 Suggests
the world”
that he had a huge influence
QUESTION 13
 “begging
letters” – implies
unpleasant/unwanted attention
 Journalists
“rifling” through her bins –
suggests invasion of
privacy/indiscriminate searching and/or
unpleasant/unwanted attention
TONE
 Understand
 Think
different types of tone
of how the words used – and the
way in which the sentences are written –
might create a specific mood (similar to
word choice questions)
QUESTION 14
 Sad
I
/ gloomy / pessimistic / concerned
would also accept dismissive
QUESTION 15
 The
word “may” is used twice
 This
makes clear that they are unsure of
the chances of being able to fully explore
the tomb
QUESTION 16
 Attitude
 The
is positive / admiring
word “reassure” confirms that the
writer believes her story to be positive
IMAGERY
 _________
 This
is being compared to __________
is effective because just as
‘__________’ suggests ____________________
 So
to ____________________________________
QUESTION 17
 Afrikaans
 It
is being compared to a drug
is effective because just as ‘drugs’
suggests something damaging and
destructive
 So
too ‘Afrikaans’ could potentially do
terrible damage to the educational
changes of Africans
QUESTION 18
 It
is effective because just as ‘hysteria’
suggests panic
 So
too the response to texting was
irrational and over-the-top
QUESTION 19
 Fame
 This
is being compared to a photograph
is effective because just as a
photograph cannot be changed
 So
too being famous makes it incredibly
difficult for people like JK Rowling to
change their career path