Insert
The source that follows is:
- Source A: 20th-century prose fiction
- An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser
An extract from a work first published in 1925.
This extract is from Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy, where young Clyde Griffiths, dazzled by a busy luxury hotel, asks the captain of the bellhops, Mr Squires, for a bell-boy job, revealing his eagerness and social ambition to enter a more glamorous world.
Source A
1 There were others who disappeared and returned, carrying drinks on trays or some package or other, which they were taking to one of the rooms above. Plainly this was the work that he should be called upon to do, assuming that he would be so fortunate as to connect himself with such an institution as this.
6 And it was all so brisk and enlivening that he wished that he might be so fortunate as to secure a position here. But would he be? And where was Mr. Squires? He approached the youth at the small desk: "Do you know where I will find Mr. Squires?" he asked.
11 "Here he comes now," replied the youth, looking up and examining Clyde with keen, gray eyes. Clyde gazed in the direction indicated, and saw approaching a brisk and dapper
16 and decidedly sophisticated-looking person of perhaps twenty-nine or thirty years of age. He was so very slender, keen, hatchet-faced and well-dressed that Clyde was not only impressed but overawed at once--a very shrewd and cunning-looking person. His nose was so long and thin, his eyes so sharp, his lips thin, and chin pointed.
21 "Did you see that tall, gray-haired man with the Scotch plaid shawl who went through here just now?" he paused to say to his assistant at the desk. The assistant nodded. "Well, they tell me that's the Earl of Landreil. He just came in this morning with fourteen trunks and four servants. Can you beat it!
26 He's somebody in Scotland. That isn't the name he travels under, though, I hear. He's registered as Mr. Blunt. Can you beat that English stuff? They can certainly lay on the class, eh?" "You said it!" replied his assistant deferentially.
31 He turned for the first time, glimpsing Clyde, but paying no attention to him. His assistant came to Clyde's aid. "That young fella there is waiting to see you," he explained.
36 "You want to see me?" queried the captain of the bell-hops, turning to Clyde, and observing his none-too-good clothes, at the same time making a comprehensive study of him.
41 "The gentleman in the drug store," began Clyde, who did not quite like the looks of the man before him, but was determined to present himself as agreeably as possible, "was saying--that is, he said that I might ask you if there was any chance here for me as a bell-boy. I'm working now at Klinkle's drug-store at 7th and Brooklyn, as a helper, but I'd like to get out of that
46 and he said you might--that is--he thought you had a place open now." Clyde was so flustered and disturbed by the cool, examining eyes of the man before him that he could scarcely get his breath properly, and swallowed hard. For the first time in his life, it occurred to him that if he wanted to get on
51 he ought to insinuate himself into the good graces of people--do or say something that would make them like him. So now he contrived an eager, ingratiating smile, which he bestowed on Mr. Squires, and added: "If you'd like to give me a chance, I'd try very hard and I'd be very willing."
56 The man before him merely looked at him coldly, but being the soul of craft and self-acquisitiveness in a petty way, and rather liking anybody who had the skill and the will to be diplomatic, he now put aside an impulse to shake his head negatively, and observed: "But you haven't had any training in this work."
61 "No, sir, but couldn't I pick it up pretty quick if I tried hard?" "Well, let me see," observed the head of the bell-hops, scratching his head dubiously. "I haven't any time to talk to you now. Come around Monday
66 afternoon. I'll see you then." He turned on his heel and walked away. Clyde, left alone in this fashion, and not knowing just what it meant, stared, wondering. Was it really true that he had been invited to come back on Monday? Could it be possible that----He turned and hurried out, thrilling from head to
71 toe. The idea! He had asked this man for a place in the very finest hotel in Kansas City and he had asked him to come back and see him on Monday. Gee! what would that mean? Could it be possible that he would be admitted to such a grand world as this--and that so speedily? Could it really be?
Questions
Instructions
- Answer all questions.
- Use black ink or black ball point pen.
- Fill in the boxes on this page.
- You must answer the questions in the spaces provided.
- Do not write outside the box around each page or on blank pages.
- Do all rough work in this book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked.
- You must refer to the insert booklet provided.
- You must not use a dictionary.
Information
- The marks for questions are shown in brackets.
- Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
- The maximum mark for this paper is 80.
- There are 40 marks for Section A and 40 marks for Section B.
- You are reminded of the need for good English and clear presentation in your answers.
- You will be assessed on the quality of your reading in Section A.
- You will be assessed on the quality of your writing in Section B.
Advice
- You are advised to spend about 15 minutes reading through the source and all five questions you have to answer.
- You should make sure you leave sufficient time to check your answers.
Section A: Reading
Answer all questions in this section. You are advised to spend about 45 minutes on this section.
Question 1
Read again the first part of the source, from lines 1 to 5.
Answer all parts of this question.
Choose one answer for each question.
1.1 According to the narrator, what specific work does Clyde expect to be called upon to do at this institution?
- Carry drinks on trays or packages to rooms upstairs
- Bring down trays or packages from the rooms to the lobby
- Take bookings at the desk and direct guests to rooms
[1 mark]
1.2 Where were the items being taken?
- to one of the rooms above
- to one of the rooms below
- to one of the rooms nearby
[1 mark]
1.3 According to the narrator, what work should be done?
- carrying drinks on trays or packages to rooms above
- greeting arriving guests at the main entrance of the building
- organising paperwork for a small office near the entrance
[1 mark]
1.4 What does the narrator call the place?
- such an institution as this
- a large establishment like this
- an impressive institution nearby
[1 mark]
Question 2
Look in detail at this extract, from lines 6 to 15 of the source:
6 And it was all so brisk and enlivening that he wished that he might be so fortunate as to secure a position here. But would he be? And where was Mr. Squires? He approached the youth at the small desk: "Do you know where I will find Mr. Squires?" he asked.
11 "Here he comes now," replied the youth, looking up and examining Clyde with keen, gray eyes. Clyde gazed in the direction indicated, and saw approaching a brisk and dapper
How does the writer use language here to show Clyde’s excitement and nerves in the hotel lobby? You could include the writer’s choice of:
- words and phrases
- language features and techniques
- sentence forms.
[8 marks]
Question 3
You now need to think about the structure of the source as a whole. This text is from the start of a novel.
How has the writer structured the text to create a sense of anticipation?
You could write about:
- how anticipation builds throughout the source
- how the writer uses structure to create an effect
- the writer's use of any other structural features, such as changes in mood, tone or perspective.
[8 marks]
Question 4
For this question focus on the second part of the source, from line 16 to the end.
In this part of the source, the detailed description of Mr. Squires’s sharp features and smart clothes makes him seem very powerful. The writer suggests how intimidated and out of place Clyde feels in a world where appearance is so important.
To what extent do you agree and/or disagree with this statement?
In your response, you could:
- consider your impressions of how the hyena behaves
- comment on the methods the writer uses to portray Mr Squires's sophisticated and shrewd appearance
- support your response with references to the text.
[20 marks]
Question 5
Your town’s animal shelter is preparing a winter newsletter and has invited students to send in creative writing.
Choose one of the options below for your entry.
-
Option A: Describe a devoted pet from your imagination. You may choose to use the picture provided for ideas:
-
Option B: Write the opening of a story about earning an animal’s trust.
(24 marks for content and organisation, 16 marks for technical accuracy)
[40 marks]