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BBA PRACTICE EXAMINATION

2012
ENGLISH
Level Three
QUESTION AND ANSWER BOOKLET
(PAPER SAVE VERSION)
90722
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STUDENTS NAME

BBA Educational Resources 2012

NOT ACHIEVED ACHIEVED ACHIEVED WITH MERIT ACHIEVED WITH EXCELLENCE
Develop a critical
response to specied
aspect(s) of a
Shakespearean drama
using supporting
evidence.
Develop a convincing
critical response to
specied aspect(s) of a
Shakespearean drama
using supporting evidence.
Develop an integrated
and perceptive
critical response to
specied aspect(s) of a
Shakespearean drama
using supporting
evidence.
ASSESSORS USE ONLY
Overall Level of Performance
Achievement Criteria
Respond critically to Shakespearean drama studied.
Credits: Three
Suggested time: 45 minutes
Answer ONE of the questions in this booklet.
HAND THIS BOOKLET TO THE SUPERVISOR AT THE END OF THE ASSESSMENT.
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You are advised to spend 45 minutes answering ONE question in this booklet.
Write an essay about ONE Shakespearean play you have studied in class.
You may write about:
EITHER:
Henry V
OR King Lear
OR Much Ado About Nothing
OR Othello
OR The Merchant of Venice
At the beginning of your answer on page 8:
circle the studied Shakespearean play you are discussing
write the number of the question
write the letter of the option you have chosen
Choose ONE question for your chosen Shakespearean play.
Write AT LEAST 400 words for your essay.
Your essay should develop a critical response based on close analysis of appropriate
text(s).
You should support your ideas with relevant evidence.
You will be rewarded for perceptive understanding and sustained insight.
Your essay should include:
an introduction stating clearly the focus and scope of the argument
a range of appropriate points supported by accurate and relevant evidence
a reasoned conclusion
Your essay should show accurate use and control of writing conventions.
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QUESTION ONE: HENRY V
Either:
1. Use the following two passages as a starting point for a discussion of the causes of changes
in the character of Henry.
Your discussion should involve comparison of the passages AND some consideration of the play
as a whole.
ACT ONE, SCENE TWO
EXETER
This was a merry message.
KING HENRY V
We hope to make the sender blush at it:
Therefore, my lords, omit no happy hour
That may give furthrance to our expedition,
For we have now no thought in us but France,
Save those to God, that run before our business.
Therefore let our proportions for these wars
Be soon collected and all things thought upon
That may with reasonable swiftness add
More feathers to our wings, for, God before,
Well chide this dauphin at his fathers door.
Therefore let every man now task his thought,
That this fair action may on foot be brought. Flourish.
Exeunt
ACT FIVE, SCENE TWO
KING HENRY V
No, faith, ist not, Kate. But thy speaking of my
tongue, and I thine, most truly-falsely, must needs
be granted to be much at one. But, Kate, dost thou
understand thus much English, canst thou love me?
KATHERINE
I cannot tell.
KING HENRY V
Can any of your neighbours tell, Kate? Ill ask them.
Come, I know thou lovest me. And at night, when you
come into your closet, youll question this gentlewoman
about me; and I know, Kate, you will to her dispraise
those parts in me that you love with your heart, but,
good Kate, mock me mercifully, the rather, gentle
princess, because I love thee cruelly. If ever thou beest
mine, Kate, as I have a saving faith within me tells me
thou shalt, I get thee with scambling, and thou must
therefore needs prove a good soldier-breeder. Shall
not thou and I, between Saint Denis and Saint George,
compound a boy, half French, half English, that shall go
to Constantinople and take the Turk by the beard? Shall
we not? What sayst thou, my fair ower-de-luce?
Or:
2. To what extent is the concept of patriotism central to Henry V as a whole?
Or:
3. Shakespeares major dramatic focus is on the consequences of deep conicts.
Use Henry V to focus a discussion on the extent to which this is true.
You may conne your discussion to Henry V or include other Shakespearean plays you have
studied.
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QUESTION TWO: KING LEAR
Either:
1. Use the following two passages as a starting point for a discussion of the causes of changes in
the character of Lear.
Your discussion should involve comparison of the passages AND some consideration of the play
as a whole.
ACT ONE, SCENE FOUR
ALBANY
My lord, I am guiltless as I am ignorant
Of what hath moved you.
LEAR
It may be so, my lord.
Hear, nature, hear, dear goddess, hear!
Suspend thy purpose if thou didst intend
To make this creature fruitful:
Into her womb convey sterility,
Dry up in her the organs of increase,
And from her derogate body never spring
A babe to honour her: if she must teem,
Create her child of spleen, that it may live
And be a thwart disnatured torment to her:
Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth,
With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks,
Turn all her mothers pains and benets
To laughter and contempt, that she may feel
How sharper than a serpents tooth it is
To have a thankless child! Away, away!
ACT FOUR, SCENE SIX
CORDELIA
O, look upon me, sir, Kneels
And hold your hand in benediction oer me:
You must not kneel. Stops him from kneeling
LEAR
Pray, do not mock me:
I am a very foolish fond old man,
Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less,
And to deal plainly,
I fear I am not in my perfect mind.
Methinks I should know you and know this man,
Yet I am doubtful, for I am mainly ignorant
What place this is, and all the skill I have
Remembers not these garments, nor I know not
Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me,
For, as I am a man, I think this lady
To be my child Cordelia.
CORDELIA
And so I am, I am.
Or:
2. To what extent is the concept of revenge central to King Lear as a whole?
Or:
3. Shakespeares major dramatic focus is on the consequences of deep conicts.
Use King Lear to focus a discussion on the extent to which this is true.
You may conne your discussion to King Lear or include other Shakespearean plays you have
studied.
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QUESTION THREE: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Either:
1. Use the following two passages as a starting point for a discussion of the causes of changes in
the character of Benedick.
Your discussion should involve comparison of the passages AND some consideration of the play as
a whole.
ACT ONE, SCENE ONE
BENEDICK
Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain I am
loved of all ladies, only you excepted: and I would I
could nd in my heart that I had not a hard heart, for
truly I love none.
BEATRICE
A dear happiness to women: they would else have
been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God
and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that. I
had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man
swear he loves me.
BENEDICK
God keep your ladyship still in that mind, so some
gentleman or other shall scape a predestinate
scratched face.
BEATRICE
Scratching could not make it worse an twere such a
face as yours were.
ACT FIVE, SCENE FOUR
DON PEDRO
How dost thou, Benedick, the married man?
BENEDICK
Ill tell thee what, prince: a college of wit-crackers
cannot out me out of my humour. Dost thou think I
care for a satire or an epigram? No. If a man will be
beaten with brains, a shall wear nothing handsome
about him. In brief, since I do purpose to marry, I will
think nothing to any purpose that the world can say
against it, and therefore never out at me for what I
have said against it, for man is a giddy thing, and this is
my conclusion. For thy part, Claudio, I did think to have
beaten thee, but in that thou art like to be my kinsman,
live unbruised and love my cousin.
Or:
2. To what extent is the concept of honour central to Much Ado About Nothing as a whole?
Or:
3. Shakespeares major dramatic focus is on the consequences of deep conicts.
Use Much Ado About Nothing to focus a discussion on the extent to which this is true.
You may conne your discussion to Much Ado About Nothing or include other Shakespearean
plays you have studied.
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QUESTION FOUR: OTHELLO
Either:
1. Use the following two passages as a starting point for a discussion of the causes of changes in
the character of Othello.
Your discussion should involve comparison of the passages AND some consideration of the play
as a whole.
ACT TWO, SCENE ONE
OTHELLO
O my fair warrior!
DESDEMONA
My dear Othello!
OTHELLO
It gives me wonder great as my content
To see you here before me. O my souls joy!
If after every tempest come such calms,
May the winds blow till they have wakened death!
And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas
Olympus-high and duck again as low
As hells from heaven! If it were now to die,
Twere now to be most happy, for I fear
My soul hath her content so absolute
That not another comfort like to this
Succeeds in unknown fate.
DESDEMONA
The heavens forbid
But that our loves and comforts should increase,
Even as our days do grow!
ACT FIVE, SCENE TWO
Enter Othello and Desdemona in her bed Othello with a light
OTHELLO
It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul:
Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars:
It is the cause. Yet Ill not shed her blood,
Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow,
And smooth as monumental alabaster:
Yet she must die, else shell betray more men.
Put out the light, and then put out the light.
If I quench thee, thou faming minister,
I can again thy former light restore,
Should I repent me: but once put out thy light,
Thou cunningst pattern of excelling nature,
I know not where is that Promethean heat
That can thy light relume. When I have plucked thy rose,
I cannot give it vital growth again:
It needs must wither. Ill smell thee on the tree. Kisses her
O balmy breath, that dost almost persuade
Justice to break her sword! One more, one more.
Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee
And love thee after. One more, and thats the last. Kisses her
So sweet was neer so fatal. I must weep,
But they are cruel tears: this sorrows heavenly,
It strikes where it doth love. She wakes.
Or:
2. To what extent is the concept of revenge central to Othello as a whole?
Or:
3. Shakespeares major dramatic focus is on the consequences of deep conicts.
Use Othello to focus a discussion on the extent to which this is true.
You may conne your discussion to Othello or include other Shakespearean plays you have studied.
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QUESTION FIVE: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
Either:
1. Use the following two passages as a starting point for a discussion of the causes of changes in
the character of Shylock.
Your discussion should involve comparison of the passages AND some consideration of the play
as a whole.
ACT ONE, SCENE THREE
SHYLOCK
Why, look you how you storm!
I would be friends with you and have your love,
Forget the shames that you have stained me with,
Supply your present wants and take no doit
Of usance for my moneys, and youll not hear me:
This is kind I offer.
BASSANIO
This were kindness.
SHYLOCK
This kindness will I show:
Go with me to a notary, seal me there
Your single bond, and in a merry sport
If you repay me not on such a day,
In such a place, such sum or sums as are
Expressed in the condition, let the forfeit
Be nominated in the condition, let the forfeit
Be nominated for an equal pound
Of your fair esh, to be cut off and taken
In what part of your body it pleaseth me.
ANTONIO
Content, in faith, Ill seal to such a bond
And say there is much kindness in the Jew.
ACT FOUR, SCENE ONE
PORTIA
Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture.
SHYLOCK
Give me my principal, and let me go.
BASSANIO
I have it ready for thee, here it is.
PORTIA
He hath refused it in the open court.
He shall have merely justice and his bond.
GRATIANO
A Daniel, still say I, a second Daniel!
I thank thee, Jew, for teaching me that word.
SHYLOCK
Shall I not have barely my principal?
PORTIA
Thou shall have nothing but the forfeiture,
To be taken so at thy peril, Jew.
SHYLOCK
Why, then the devil give him good of it!
Ill stay no longer question.
Or:
2. To what extent is the concept of revenge central to The Merchant of Venice as a whole?
Or:
3. Shakespeares major dramatic focus is on the consequences of deep conicts.
Use The Merchant of Venice to focus a discussion on the extent to which this is true.
You may conne your discussion to The Merchant of Venice or include other Shakespearean
plays you have studied.
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BBA Educational Resources 2012

Continue your answer on the rell provided. Write your name and the topic/question number
clearly at the top of EACH PAGE you complete. Hand in ALL rell sheets WITH THIS BOOKLET
at the end of the examination to your supervisor.
Begin your answer here:
Teachers
use only
Planning. (This planning section will NOT be assessed).
Use the box below to map or plan your ideas.
Question number: ____________
Option: _____________________
Henry V King Lear Othello
Text type (circle the title of the play you have chosen to answer on):
Much Ado About
Nothing
The Merchant
of Venice