Functional Skills
Level 1 Functional Skills English: Reading
Test Time:
1 hour
Test Equipment:
Dictionary (if required)
Blue or Black Pen (if test is printed out)
This question paper is the property of the Royal Air Force and must be
used solely for RAF exam preparation. It must not be copied in any way
for any other purposes.
Read the following notes before you begin this paper.
 You can choose from the following ways to do this exam:
1.
On Screen - download the paper onto your computer
and type your answers on the screen (remember to
save your answers as you go)
2.
Paper Based – print out the exam and
complete the exam on paper
 Attempt all questions. If you find a question difficult, leave it and
return to it later.
 Do not feel tempted to look at the answers until you have made
every effort to answer all the questions. If you get really stuck,
have a look at the worked examples in the Revision Guide.
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1
Picture the Scene:
You are a member of an organisation which gets young people interested in the
history of the RAF. You have been asked to:
1. Plan a trip to the RAF Museum London for a large group of young people.
2. Prepare a quiz for the young people to complete after they have visited the
museum.
You have been given the following documents to help you organise the trip and
prepare the quiz.
Instructions
Read documents 1, 2, 3 and 4 then complete the questions.
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2
Document 1
Groups
For group bookings (10 or more persons) or to book a Museum tour guide, please contact the
Group Visits Department via email: groups@rafmuseum.org or via telephone: 020 8358 4849
(9am to 3pm Monday to Friday). Group packages including Museum visit and lunch in our Wings
Restaurant can be arranged upon request.
Please note, from 1 April 2010, a small car parking charge will be payable by visitors to the
Royal Air Force Museum. The income generated will be used to assist in meeting the costs of
maintaining the Museum's national collection and of operating its sites.
Car Park fees are:

3 Hours - £2.50 per car

3-6 Hours - £3.50 per car

Blue Badge holders - charges apply as above

Mini Buses - charges apply as above

Coaches are free of charge
Tours
Our Society of Friends members offer free 30 minute guided tours of specific areas of the
Museum at various times throughout the day during peak seasons (subject to availability).
Specialised tours can be arranged on request (maximum 12 people per guide). Minimum of 10
days notice is required; a charge of £25 per guide applies. Please note, this service cannot be
guaranteed, as all our guides are volunteers. However, we endeavour to meet all requests for
tour guides.
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3
Document 2
Refuel at Wings Restaurant
As part of your visit why not book an Arrival Revival, Lunch, Afternoon Tea or the All Day
Meal Deal in the Museum’s Wings Restaurant? To make life simple choose from the menu
below before your visit. Lunch includes a glass of fresh juice and hot pudding. We will post
you vouchers which you present to our restaurant staff in lieu of payment. After the visit we
will send you an invoice. Tables will be reserved for your lunchtime meal except at weekends
and during school & bank holidays. This menu is for pre-booked groups of 20 or more people.
ALL PACKAGES AVAILABLE TO
GROUPS FROM
MONDAY –FRIDAY ONLY
Group
price per
person
Saving per
person on
standard
restaurant
price
£16.00
£1.70
£2.50
95p
£9.50
£1.25
Select
your
choice
No of
people
ALL DAY MEAL DEAL
1 A welcoming tea or coffee on arrival.
Plus a hearty cooked lunch with a freshly prepared
pudding and refreshing glass of juice.
A traditional afternoon cream tea consisting of a
homemade fruit scone complemented by cream, jam
and hot drink.
ARRIVAL REVIVAL
2 A refreshing tea or coffee, complemented with a
delicious Danish pastry.
LUNCH
3 A hearty cooked lunch with a freshly prepared
pudding and refreshing glass of juice.
Please choose 2 DISHES from the following
indicating quantity of each dish:
• Sausage, Mash & Onion Gravy Qty __
• Cottage Pie & Green Vegetables Qty __
• Fish Pie with Cheesy Mash & Vegetables Qty _
• VEGETARIAN OPTION – TO BE CHOSEN ON
THE DAY FROM THE HOT PLATE
Timed
vouchers
starting at
12.10 then
every 15
minutes
(10 people
per sitting)
AFTERNOON TEA
4 Cream Tea
£5.50
Must be
consumed
before
3.00pm
A traditional afternoon cream tea consisting of a
homemade fruit scone complemented by cream, jam
and hot drink.
CHOICE OF DISHES NEED TO BE SENT TO THE MUSEUM 10 DAYS BEFORE THE VISIT
• Menu prices are valid until 31 March 2011
• Menus are subject to seasonal change and are valid until 31 March 2011
• For any bookings after 31 March, please add a 5% surcharge
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4
Document 3
Aircraft Information
Aircraft Serial Number: X4590
Historical Period: World War Two
RAF Museum Collection Ref: 78/A/872
Location at RAF Museum: RAF Museum London, Battle of Britain Hall
Aircraft History
The Spitfire is the most famous British fighter aircraft in history. It became a symbol of
freedom during the summer months of 1940 by helping to defeat the German air attacks
during the Battle of Britain. It was the highest performing Allied aircraft in 1940.
The crowds at the 1936 RAF Display at Hendon had a first glimpse of the prototype Spitfire
in the New Types Park but it was not until August 1938 that production Spitfires began to
enter service. By the outbreak of war, a year later, nine squadrons were equipped. In spite of
vigorous demands from the French the Commander in Chief of Fighter Command refused to
send any Spitfires to France during the German Blitzkrieg of 1940. The wisdom of that
decision was clearly shown. By July 1940 RAF Fighter Command had nineteen Spitfire MkI
squadrons available.
Once the RAF modified their tactics to properly counter the Luftwaffe, the Spitfire MkI
proved to be the only British fighter capable of meeting the Messerschmitt Bf109E on equal
terms. Often the outcome of a combat depended more on the quality of the pilot than his
aircraft.
Further improvements in performance were made by fitting new type propellers, known as
constant speed units, and modifying the Merlin engine to run on 100 octane fuel.
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5
Document 4
Aircraft Information
Aircraft Serial Number: P2617
Historical Period: World War Two
RAF Museum Collection Ref: 72/A/1404
Location at RAF Museum: RAF Museum London, Battle of Britain Hall
Aircraft History
The Hurricane will always be remembered for the vital role it played, with its partner the
Spitfire, in hectic battles during the summer of 1940. Hurricanes destroyed more enemy
aircraft during the Battle of Britain than did all the other air and ground defences combined.
Designed by the Hawker Aircraft Company in 1934 it first entered service in 1937. It
provided the RAF with a fighter 160kph (100mph) faster than aircraft then in service; with
an increased fire power of eight machine guns.
When war was declared, on the 3 September 1939, about five-hundred Hurricanes were in
service and several squadrons were sent to France. During the 1940 German Blitzkrieg
through the Low Countries and France they fought a punishing rearguard action in which over
25% of all Fighter Command's aircraft were destroyed.
As the Battle of Britain raged in the skies overhead aircraft production increased so that by
September 1940 the number of Hurricane squadrons had risen from eighteen, a year earlier,
to thirty-two.
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It was in a Hurricane of No.249 Squadron that Flt Lt J.B. Nicholson was awarded Fighter
Command's only Victoria Cross.
Later in the War Hurricanes made a significant contribution to the defence of Malta, the
desert war in North Africa and war against the Japanese in the Far East.
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Reading Activity 1
You have been asked to organise a trip to the RAF Museum London for 15 young
adults.
Read document 1 and answer the following questions.
1a. What number would you have to call to book your group visit?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1 mark
2a. A car parking charge is now in operation. If you stay at the museum for 5 hours,
how much would you have to pay?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1 mark
3a. The money generated by the car parking fee is used by the museum in two ways.
What are they?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..2 marks
4a. What is the only method of transport which does not have to pay the car parking
fee?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1 mark
5a. Who offers free 30 minutes tours of specific areas of the museum?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1 mark
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6a. Would your group be entitled to a specialist tour and if so why?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..2 marks
7a. How many days notice would you have to give if you wanted a specialist tour?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1 mark
8a. How much does a specialist tour cost?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1 mark
Available Marks: 10
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9
Reading Activity 2
As part of your task of organising a group visit to the RAF Museum London, you have
been asked to research into the refreshment packages which the museum provides.
Refer to Document 2 to answer these questions.
1b. What is included in the lunch deal?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..2 marks
2b. What is the main condition if you want afternoon tea?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1 mark
3b. What do you have to do if you want the vegetarian option?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………2 marks
4b. If you are booking after the 31st March what do you have to add to the bill?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1 mark
5b. How much of a saving per person do you get if you book the All Day Meal Deal
package?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1 mark
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6b. What time do the timed vouchers start, what is the interval duration, and how
many people do they cater for?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3 marks
Available Marks: 10
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11
Reading Activity 3
You have now been tasked with conducting research in order to put together a quiz;
using Document 3, answer the following questions.
1c. When did the Spitfire enter service?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1 mark
2c. What did the Spitfire become a symbol for in the summer of 1940?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1 mark
3c. How many squadrons were equipped at the outbreak of the war?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1 mark
4c. What were the improvements made to the Spitfire which enhanced its
performance?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3 marks
5c. The outcome of an air combat depended more on the quality of what?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1 mark
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6c. Which German fighter was the Spitfire Mk1 able to meet on equal terms?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1 mark
Available Marks: 8
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13
Reading Activity 4
Refer to Document 4 to answer these questions.
1d. Who designed the Hurricane?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………1 mark
2d. What assets did the hurricane bring to the RAF in terms of speed and fire
power?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..2 marks
3d. In the latter stages of the War, what did the Hurricane contribute in terms of
defences?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3 marks
4d. What percentage of Fighter Command’s aircrafts were destroyed during the 1940
German Blitzkrieg?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..1 mark
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14
5d. In what year did the Hurricane enter service?
a. 1939
b. 1940
c. 1934
d. 1937
1 mark
6d. Who won Fighter Command’s only Victoria Cross and what squadron was he from?
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....2 marks
Available Marks: 10
Total Marks 38
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15
End of Assessment
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