Close Reading Workshop
Linking Questions
In these questions, you are being
asked to show how a certain sentence
acts as a link between two paragraphs
at a particular point in the passage.
Remember!
• Linking questions are usually
worth 2 marks.
Remember! Four-step-method:
• Step 1. Quote.
• Step 2. Link back.
• Step 3. Quote again.
• Step 4. Link forward.
Remember! Four-step-method:
Step 1:
• Quote from the linking sentence.
Step 2:
• Show how that quote makes a link back to earlier in
the passage, using your own words.
Step 3:
• Quote again from the linking sentence.
Step 4:
• Show how that second quotation makes a link forward
to what is to come in the passage, using your own
words.
Example question
Show how the underlined sentence acts as a link at
this point in the passage (2)
Her mother left her at the age of five. As a result, she
was forced to fend for and pay for herself: ensuring
she had enough to eat; clothes to wear and shelter
from the elements.
Despite her harsh childhood, Emma’s ancestry linked
her to wealth and social standing. Her grandmother
was Lady of the local clan, with a grand manse and
estate to her family name, which was renowned
throughout the country.
Model Answer:
‘Despite her harsh childhood,’ links back to the
previous paragraph where the author writes
about the poverty Emma experienced, as she was
responsible for herself and had to find her own
food and clothe herself.
‘Emma’s ancestry” links forward to where we are
told that her family were well-known and had
owned a large home with a great deal of land.
Show how the underlined sentence acts
as a link at this point in the passage (2)
William Shakespeare is easily the best known of our
English writers. Virtually every man in the street can
name some of his plays and his characters, and many
people can also recite lines of his poetry by heart.
However, despite our familiarity with his work, we
know relatively little of the man himself. We do not
know when or why he became an actor, we know
nothing of his life in London, and almost nothing of
his personal concerns.
Answer
“our familiarity with his work” (Step 1) links back
to the idea that Shakespeare's work is widely
known (Step 2).
“we know relatively little of the man himself”
(Step 3) links forward to the idea that many
things are not known about Shakespeare (Step
4).
It is extraordinarily rich in culture and history
too. Here was where Guy Fawkes plotted, Isaac
Newton did sums, The Beatles made records,
the anti-slavery lobby was founded, Oscar
Wilde partied…And there were bigger events:
Roman invasions, plagues, fires, air raids.
However, the culture and history don't stop at
the city gates. Dotted around London are
countless beautiful villages and exquisite
country houses. Like a well-aged face, Greater
London’s history shows in its lines. Some roads
are straight, echoing old Roman roads; others
follow the contour of the old city wall.
“culture and history” links back to
where we are told of the prominent
figures and important events in
London’s past.
“don’t stop at the city gates” links
forward to where we are told of how
outside London there is a lot of
evidence of culture and history too.
Raised with six siblings in a one-bedroom
apartment, he started getting good roles at age
eight and was a millionaire by 10, but his rapid
ascent seemed less adorable the more people
learned about his home life.
His father, Kit, ruled the family- “his kingdom”, says
Culkin- by humiliation and physical abuse,
eventually leaving the household. His mother
filed a custody suit for him, which began a bitter
public battle with Kit, and then Culkin had both
his parents legally blocked from controlling his
fortune.
“rapid ascent” links back to where we
are told of how Culkin was earning a
huge amount of money at a very
young age.
“home life” links forward to where we
are told of the conflict and problems
that were going on within his family.
P and N practice paper.
2013-2014
“Screening out the Downside to Technology”
Question 3
Explain how the one sentence paragraph in
lines 12-14 works well as a link at this point
in the passage (2)
“focused on the negatives” links back to where
we are told of how technology can have many
negative effects on our health and intelligence.
“genuine paradigm shift” links forward to where
we are told how using technology has changed
the way we communicate and that it has
improved things like spelling.
National 5 Exam
April 2014
“Hey parents, leave those kids alone.”
Question 2
Explain how the two sentence paragraph in
lines 12-14 works well as a link at this point
in the passage (2)