Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint



ENGLISH 0861/02
Paper 2 Fiction April 2023
1 hour 10 minutes

You must answer on the question paper.

You will need: Insert (enclosed)

INSTRUCTIONS
• Answer all questions.
• Use a black or dark blue pen.
• Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
• Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
• Do not write on any bar codes.

INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 50.
• The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].
• The insert contains the reading passage.

This document has 8 pages.

05_0861_02/4RP
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Section A: Reading

Spend 30 minutes on this section.

Read the Text in the insert and then answer Questions 1–10.

1 The writer uses a literary technique to describe David Baptiste’s appearance.

(a) What literary technique does the writer use? Tick () one box.

hyperbole

sibilance

metaphor

simile

[1]

(b) How does the language help the reader’s understanding of Baptiste’s appearance?

[1]

2 Look at lines 11–16.

(a) David Baptiste often went out as early as possible ... (lines 11–12).
Find two more quotations from the text that tell the reader that it is still early morning when
Baptiste goes fishing.
•

[2]

(b) Find a word that shows that the sun is ‘all powerful’.

[1]

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3 Look at lines 11–22. The writer uses sentence length to show a change of pace of the narrative.
Give two ways the writer does this and explain how each way reflects what is happening in the
text.

First way:

First explanation:

Second way:

Second explanation:
[4]

4 The writer tells the reader that Baptiste sees a merwoman.

Find one other detail about her appearance that tells the reader she is a creature that lives in
water.

[1]

5 Baptiste sits for a long time in anticipation.

How does the writer structure the text to show the passing of time? Give two ways.
•

[2]

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6 Look at lines 35–40.

(a) The writer compares the poui trees to bombs of sulphur.

What effect does this have? Give two ideas.
•

[2]

(b) Which adverbial phrase marks the beginning of Baptiste’s fascination with the mermaid?

[1]

(c) Which two literary techniques does the writer use to emphasise the wide range of emotions
Baptiste is feeling? Tick () two boxes.

pun

assonance

paradox

oxymoron

personification

[2]

7 Why do you think Baptiste chooses not to tell his aunt what he has seen? Explain your answer
and support your answer with evidence from the text.

Explanation:

Evidence:
[2]

8 The mermaid eventually comes back to Baptiste.

Explain what is different about the way they react to each other in the second encounter. Give
two ideas.
•

[2]

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9 The writer uses non-standard grammar in the last paragraph.

Explain what is non-standard about the grammar and give one example from the text to support
your answer.

Explanation:

Example:
[2]

10 Baptiste is obviously fascinated by the mermaid.

Do you think the mermaid feels the same way about Baptiste? Give two pieces of evidence from
the text to support your answer.

Yes

No

First piece of evidence:

Second piece of evidence:

[2]

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Section B: Writing

Spend 30 minutes on this section.

11 You are on holiday when you meet someone you have not seen for a long time. Write an email to
your best friend at home describing the meeting.

Think about:

• why you know the person

• how you felt when you saw the person
• what happened next.

Space for your plan:

Write your email on the next page. [25 marks]

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Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge
Assessment International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download
at www.cambridgeinternational.org after the live examination series.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge
Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is a department of the University of Cambridge.

© UCLES 2023 0861/02/A/M/23