Insert
The source that follows is:
- Source A: 19th-century prose fiction
- Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
An extract from a work first published in 1853.
This extract is taken from Cranford, as the narrator contrasts Captain Brown’s cheerful poverty with Miss Jenkyns’s literary snobbery. It highlights Miss Jessie’s selfless care for her ill sister and Cranford’s small acts of kindness that sustain the Browns.
Source A
1 Captain Brown and Miss Jenkyns were not very cordial to each other. The literary dispute, of which I had seen the beginning, was a “raw,” the slightest touch on which made them wince. It was the only difference of opinion they had ever had; but that difference was enough. Miss Jenkyns could not refrain from talking at Captain Brown; and, though he did not reply, he
6 drummed with his fingers, which action she felt and resented as very disparaging to Dr Johnson. He was rather ostentatious in his preference of the writings of Mr Boz; would walk through the streets so absorbed in them that he all but ran against Miss Jenkyns; and though his apologies were earnest and sincere, and though he did not, in fact, do more than startle her
11 and himself, she owned to me she had rather he had knocked her down, if he had only been reading a higher style of literature. The poor, brave Captain! he looked older, and more worn, and his clothes were very threadbare. But he seemed as bright and cheerful as ever, unless he was asked about his daughter’s health.
16 “She suffers a great deal, and she must suffer more: we do what we can to alleviate her pain;—God’s will be done!” He took off his hat at these last words. I found, from Miss Matty, that everything had been done, in fact. A medical man, of high repute in that country neighbourhood, had been sent for,
21 and every injunction he had given was attended to, regardless of expense. Miss Matty was sure they denied themselves many things in order to make the invalid comfortable; but they never spoke about it; and as for Miss Jessie!—“I really think she’s an angel,” said poor Miss Matty, quite overcome. “To see her way of bearing with Miss Brown’s crossness, and the bright face she puts
26 on after she’s been sitting up a whole night and scolded above half of it, is quite beautiful. Yet she looks as neat and as ready to welcome the Captain at breakfast-time as if she had been asleep in the Queen’s bed all night. My dear! you could never laugh at her prim little curls or her pink bows again if you saw her as I have done.” I could only feel very penitent, and greet Miss
31 Jessie with double respect when I met her next. She looked faded and pinched; and her lips began to quiver, as if she was very weak, when she spoke of her sister. But she brightened, and sent back the tears that were glittering in her pretty eyes, as she said—
36 “But, to be sure, what a town Cranford is for kindness! I don’t suppose any one has a better dinner than usual cooked but the best part of all comes in a little covered basin for my sister. The poor people will leave their earliest vegetables at our door for her. They speak short and gruff, as if they were ashamed of it: but I am sure it often goes to my heart to see their
41 thoughtfulness.” The tears now came back and overflowed; but after a minute or two she began to scold herself, and ended by going away the same cheerful Miss Jessie as ever. “But why does not this Lord Mauleverer do something for the man who saved his
46 life?” said I. “Why, you see, unless Captain Brown has some reason for it, he never speaks about being poor; and he walked along by his lordship looking as happy and cheerful as a prince; and as they never called attention to their dinner by
51 apologies, and as Miss Brown was better that day, and all seemed bright, I daresay his lordship never knew how much care there was in the background. He did send game in the winter pretty often, but now he is gone abroad.” I had often occasion to notice the use that was made of fragments and small
56 opportunities in Cranford; the rose-leaves that were gathered ere they fell to make into a potpourri for someone who had no garden; the little bundles of lavender flowers sent to strew the drawers of some town-dweller, or to burn in the chamber of some invalid. Things that many would despise, and actions which it seemed scarcely worth while to perform, were all attended to in
61 Cranford. Miss Jenkyns stuck an apple full of cloves, to be heated and smell pleasantly in Miss Brown’s room; and as she put in each clove she uttered a Johnsonian sentence. Indeed, she never could think of the Browns without talking Johnson; and, as they were seldom absent from her thoughts just then, I heard many a rolling, three-piled sentence.
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 How cordial were Captain Brown and Miss Jenkyns to each other?
- Captain Brown and Miss Jenkyns were cordial to each other.
- Captain Brown and Miss Jenkyns were not very cordial to each other.
- Captain Brown and Miss Jenkyns were very cordial to each other.
[1 mark]
1.2 How many differences of opinion had Captain Brown and Miss Jenkyns ever had?
- Only one difference of opinion.
- More than one difference of opinion.
- No differences of opinion.
[1 mark]
1.3 Which statement best describes how often Captain Brown and Miss Jenkyns disagreed, according to the narrator?
- Captain Brown and Miss Jenkyns had only one disagreement
- Captain Brown and Miss Jenkyns disagreed frequently
- Captain Brown and Miss Jenkyns never disagreed
[1 mark]
1.4 What did Captain Brown do when Miss Jenkyns talked at Captain Brown?
- Captain Brown did not reply.
- Captain Brown replied sharply.
- Captain Brown changed the subject.
[1 mark]
Question 2
Look in detail at this extract, from lines 11 to 15 of the source:
11 and himself, she owned to me she had rather he had knocked her down, if he had only been reading a higher style of literature. The poor, brave Captain! he looked older, and more worn, and his clothes were very threadbare. But he seemed as bright and cheerful as ever, unless he was asked about his daughter’s health.
How does the writer use language here to present Captain Brown’s situation and beliefs? 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 empathy?
You could write about:
- how empathy deepens 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 argument about books makes Miss Jenkyns seem petty and unforgiving. The writer suggests that this is not what she is really like, as her secret kindness with the apple shows she is very caring.
To what extent do you agree and/or disagree with this statement?
In your response, you could:
- consider your impressions of Miss Jenkyns and her secret kindness
- comment on the methods the writer uses to suggest a different side to her character
- support your response with references to the text.
[20 marks]
Question 5
In tutor time next week, your class will share short creative pieces, and you want yours to stand out.
Choose one of the options below for your entry.
-
Option A: Write a description of an ancient amphitheatre from your imagination. You may choose to use the picture provided for ideas:
-
Option B: Write the opening of a story about a message that arrives out of the blue.
(24 marks for content and organisation, 16 marks for technical accuracy)
[40 marks]