Section C Marking Scheme

Part 1 1. 2. 3. 4. Reading 5. 6. 7. 8. C(88) B(43) B(55) D(38) 9. 10. 11. 12. A (69) D(21) B(64) C(63) 13. 14. 15. 16. C(66) A (67) D(58) C(67)

A(61) A (25) B(47) D(45)

Part 2 17. 18. 19. 20. 21.

Language Systems 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. B(42) A (69) C(57) C(66) 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. A (59) B(19) B(14) D(33) C(19) 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. B(62) A (52) B(61) B(46) A (67) 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. C(48) C(49) B(74) D(56) D(44) 42. 43. 44. 45. C(41) A (34) D(33) A (20)

D(23) C(84) C(54) D(37) D(34)

* This item was deleted. Note: Figures in brackets indicate the percentages of candidates choosing the correct answers.

46. 47. 48. 49.

E H M I

50. 51. 52. 53.

L D G C

54. 55. 56. 57.

A J K B

58.

59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75.

a/the lack o f // an/the absence o f // a/the shortage o f // not having enough surroundings // environment negative experience II passive activity/experience prevent // stop ultimate test/way // best way /means entertain us growth // development // improvement distinguish // differentiate television/TV and/or computer // computer and/or television/TV // computer playing games former // first easily // frequently // often // constantly // much are young/little/small/teenagers/adolescent(s) // are growing/developing thinking // (day)dreaming // contemplating replacing // substituting u n w i l l i n g II reluctant // loathe to avoid/escape/evade solution // substitute

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76.

those w h o ^ left to

//

those

left to

77.

B u t with^K^ t w o - c a r e e r

households

has
78. w h o have the t i m e ?

79.

r e m e m b e r s o m e )J^ m a i n r u l e s

//

r e m e m b e r s o m e k e y n^X^n r u l e s

to
80. In a d d i t i o n ^ a l l i t s o t h e r benefits
t h e

the
81. probably ^ single most important w a y //

probably single most important way

82.

health a n d diet n u ^ t i o n

//

health and d ^ t nutrition

of
83. associate professor for paediatrics //

in
associate professor for paediatrics

and
84. S c h o o l b u t a u t h o r o f Ending the Food Fight

to
85. the f a m i l y m e a l i s n ' t e q u i v a l e n t ^ M u m

86.

a l l t h e k i d s ^>^e s i t t i n g i n t h e d i n i n g r o o m

87. 88. 89.

five nights

a week

research
S u r p r i s i n g new researches from the U n i v e r s i t y o f M i n n e s o t a

is
even i f their meal served

healthily
90. k i d s eat m o r e h e a l t h y t h a n w h e n t h e y e a t o n

do
91. a family d i d dine together

does
// a family d i d dine together // a f a m i l y dX^ dine togeth

what
92. n o m a t t e r w h a t e v e r y o u eat

extending
93. s l o w s d o w n the p r o c e s s , e x t e n d f a m i l y time

does
94. dinner just is. n o t w o r k // dinner just
//

working
is not w o r k // dinner just

will
is not work

95.

c r e a t e a r o u t i n e a n d s t i c k to t h e m up

start
where y o u left o f f // p i c k where y o u left o f f

96.

pick

information
97. t h e y ' l l share i n f o r m a t i o n s about their lives

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Section C Reading and Language Systems General comments This year's paper consisted o f 97 items divided into two parts. Part 1 Reading comprehension 1 reading passage Language systems: Multiple-choice cloze Theme cloze Matching exercise Summary cloze Proofreading exercise

16 multiple-choice questions

Part 2

17 12 13 17 22

multiple-choice questions (1 item deleted) multiple-choice questions matching statements open-ended questions open-ended questions

Each item was worth 1 mark. Items in Part 1 were worth 6% o f the subject mark and items in Part 2 were worth 12% o f the subject mark. Overall, candidates fared better on the multiple-choice questions (mean percentage correct 49%) than on the open-ended section (mean percentage correct 41%). One question (question 26) was deleted from the M C cloze because it was statistically unreliable. Part 1 - Reading comprehension, Questions 1 - 1 6 Candidates achieved a mean percentage correct o f 5 5 % in this part o f the paper. The text was about creativity and its influence on the economy. Candidates had relatively fewer problems when identifying the main idea in a paragraph or the overall theme o f a passage. When presented with a set o f statements which reflected ideas in a particular paragraph (see question 1) or passage (see question 16), more than 6 0 % o f candidates were able to identify which idea was the most prevalent. Q. 1 According to paragraph 1, creativity... *A. B. C. D. Q. 16 causes good economic things. is a result of good economic things. is more valuable than good economic things. has become as valued as a good economic thing. (61%) (11%) (8%) (21%)

Which of the following is the best summary of this text? A. B. *C. D. The creative ethos is the fundamental spirit and character of modern culture. The rise of creativity may well make some of our problems worse. Creativity is the basis for economic and social change but there are limits to what it can achieve. Creativity has come to be valued very highly by society and will probably continue to be so. (11%) (8%) (67%) (14%)

Candidates were also relatively better at identifying the meaning o f unfamiliar words. When given a choice o f alternative word replacements, candidates were able to identify which word was the closest in meaning. For example, in question 9, 6 8 % o f candidates were able to infer the meaning o f 'pervades' with the help o f the preand post-sentences w h i c h provided some clues to identifying its meaning. (Pre-sentence) Creativity involves distinct kinds of thinking and habits that must be cultivated both in the individual and in the surrounding society. (Post-sentence) Thus, the creative ethos pervades everything from our workplace culture to our values and communities, reshaping the way we see ourselves as economic and social actors - our very identities. ' (lines 47-50) Q.9 In line 47, the best meaning of'pervades" is... *A. B. C. D. affects. compares. encourages. supercedes. (68%) (3%) (13%) (14%)

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However, when asked to apply inference skills in the context of unfamiliar words, candidates' performance was noticeably worse. For example, in question 8, candidates either overlooked or did not understand the expression 'trotted out', which was essential in interpreting the question. Rather, 43% of candidates chose option C which does not convey the multifaceted or multidimensional quality suggested. 'Second, human creativity is multifaceted and multidimensional. It is not limited to technological innovation or new business models. It is not something that can be kept in a box and trotted out when one arrives at the office. Creativity involves distinct kinds of thinking and habits that must be cultivated both in the individual and in the surrounding society.' (lines 40-47) Q.8 In lines 42-44, 'It is not something that can be kept in a box and trotted out when one arrives at the office' suggests that creativity is something that you ... A. B. C. *D. can demonstrate. can teach someone. cannot teach someone. cannot switch on and off. (12%) (5%) (43%) (48%)

Candidates also had some difficulty identifying anaphoric reference points in the text. For example, to answer question 7, candidates had to w o r k out that 'technological innovation', in paragraph 4, had a similar meaning to 'creative inventions' i n paragraph 2, and then find an example o f a creative invention. Q.7 In lines 41-42, 'technological innovation' refers back to... A. *B. C. D. creative developments. inventions like the steam engine. growth in productivity and material wealth. structures for eliciting and applying creativity. (15%) (54%) (16%) (12%)

The item that proved most challenging in the reading comprehension was question 10. 6 3 % o f candidates made the same mistake o f tracing the two anaphoric references in the same sentence, 'It reflects' and ' i t plays' back to 'the creative ethos'. However, ' i t ' refers to the noun phrase 'creativity'. This can be confirmed in the postsentence, 'Furthermore, creativity requires...'. 'Thus, the creative ethos pervades everything from our workplace culture to our values and communities, reshaping the way we see ourselves as economic and social actors - our very identities. It reflects norms and values that both nurture creativity and reinforce the role that it plays. Furthermore, creativity requires a supportive environment... ' (lines 47-52) Q.10 In line 52,'it'refers to... A. B. C. *D. the way we see ourselves the surrounding society. the creative ethos. creativity. (8%) (6%) (63%) (21%)

Part 2 - Language Systems Multiple-choice cloze, Questions 1 7 - 3 3 Candidates achieved a mean percentage correct o f 4 5 % on this part o f the paper. The text is an article about Snopes.com, 'the definitive Internet reference source for urban legends, folklore, myths, rumors, and misinformation'. For question 17, candidates had few contextual cues with which to make an inference as to which option was correct. These cues, namely Barbara's age and details o f her profession, could be picked up i f candidates had read the passage i n its entirety before attempting to answer the question.

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Q.17

With her bemused tone and a habit of peering over her detective who has seen it all, and in a way, she has. A. B. C. *D. husband keyboard shoulders spectacles (18%) (41%) (16%) (22%)

(17)

, Barbara Mikkelson has the air of a night-shift

With regard to testing tense, some candidates had difficulty identifying the proper use o f the present perfect tense. 3 2 % o f the candidates chose the past perfect tense (option C ) rather than the present perfect tense. It is possible that these candidates did not acknowledge that, no matter how long ago the business started, it is a still on-going, and so should have this present meaning reflected in the choice o f tense. Q.22 What began in 1995 as a hobby for a pair of amateur folklorists authorities . . . A. *B. C. D. grows has grown had grown have grown (2%) (41%) (32%) (22%) (22) into one of the Internet's most trusted

Phrasal verbs (in this case in gerund form) are generally an area o f weakness for candidates. For question 28, more than double the number o f candidates chose option D 'hanging around' over the correct answer 'nosing around' (option A ) . This suggests candidates were more familiar with the idea o f 'hanging around', probably as it is a common school activity. However, it is disappointing that more candidates were not familiar with the idiomatic connection o f ' n o s i n g ' with detective work. Q.28 A passion for A. *B. C. D. going nosing mucking hanging (28) around is what brought the Mikkelsons together, and it's still their prime motivation. (22%) (18%) (13%) (44%)

For question 29, only 13% o f candidates were able to identify the correct answer while 5 1 % o f candidates chose option C , 'Enormous income'. Perhaps this seemed to make the most sense logically or was a direct translation from candidates' first language. Whichever, the reason that all o f the distracters are wrong is that they are all adjectives which contain within themselves a degree o f intensification. This in itself negates the use o f 'very', itself an intensifier. Q.29 The couple now earn a very A. *B. C. D. wonderful handsome enormous superb (29) (18%) (13%) (51%) (15%) income from advertising on the site.

Candidates had difficulty with question 31 which tested the use o f prepositions. The item was challenging because it was featured after a non-finite clause. The use o f dashes may also have confused some candidates. Q.31 ...they still prefer old-fashioned research - poring over vintage catalogues, thumbing (30) four newspapers a d a y (31) finding quick answers online. A. B. *C. D. by for over from (26%) (41%) (19%) (12%)

Theme cloze, Questions 34 - 45 This exercise is a discourse completion activity which tests candidates' skills in identifying a coherent flow o f ideas and their ability to recognize how writing conventions affect meaning and cohesiveness. The text was adapted from a writer's travel memoir to Italy which gives a brief history o f the origins o f the Italian language. Candidates achieved a mean percentage o f 4 8 % in this part o f the paper.

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For question 35, 4 6 % o f candidates were able to correctly link modern-day French with a medieval Parisian dialect, while 2 8 % o f candidates chose option A , likely because o f a hasty association between 'Paris' and Parisian'. Therefore, what Q.35 A. *B. C. D. is spoken in Paris we call French today people like to speak the most popular language is (28%) (46%) (17%) (7%)

is really a version of medieval Parisian. Question 43 was one o f the highest discriminating items. Top end candidates were able to recognize that 'Instead* was the appropriate adverbial to use in this context. Option B , which was 4 2 % o f candidates' choice o f answer, would not be correct because the act o f turning back to the streets occurs before the publication o f the book, not subsequent to it. The difficulty o f this item lies in the fact that the text does not present the events in an order that is clearly chronological. When Dante published his Divine Comedy in 1321, he shocked the literate world by not writing in Latin. Q.43 *A. B. C. D. Instead, As a result, In addition, On the other hand, (34%) (42%) (14%) (8%)

Dante turned back to the streets, picking up the real Florentine language spoken by the residents of his city... The most difficult question in the theme exercise was question 45. A r o u n d 4 5 % o f candidates choose option B because it was likely they thought that the 'others' was referring to ' B o c c a c c i o and Petrarch' whose names appear just before the gap. However, starting in paragraph 6, the discourse focuses on Dante's influence on the Italian language, and therefore, option A is the correct answer because it is consistent with the overarching ideas in the text. He wrote his masterpiece in what he called il dolce stil nuovo, the 'sweet new style' of the language, and he shaped that language even Q.45 *A. B. C. D. as he was writing it, more than others did. when he copied the style, while people were reading it, (20%) (45%) (13%) (19%)

affecting it as personally as Shakespeare would someday affect Elizabethan English. Matching exercise, Questions 4 6 - 5 8 Candidates achieved an average mean percentage correct o f 59% in this part o f the paper. A l l the matching statements dealt with music in one way or another. o f candidates were able to pair item 57, Q.57 Does music simply satisfy an urge? with the corresponding statement B , Or does it trigger sensory pleasure responses in the brain? only 2 2 % o f candidates were able to correctly match item 52, Q.52 What is music and where does it come from? For matching items 52 and 57, both items

consisted o f rhetorical questions and their corresponding statements were also rhetorical questions. While 72%

with the corresponding statement G ,

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G.

Why do some songs move us so and others leave us cold?

In item 57, the strong semantic association between 'urge' and 'sensory pleasure responses' helped candidates to pair the two statements. However, for item 52, the association between matching statements was a movement, albeit subtle, from general to slightly more specific observations on music, and the intention on the part o f the writer to engage the readers' personal interest. Candidates looking for a semantic connection frequently paired question 52 with F perhaps because they linked 'where does music come from' with 'the recorded past'. F. No known human culture now or anytime in the recorded past lacked music.

Summary cloze, Questions 59 - 75 The summary cloze tests candidate's ability to paraphrase. in this part o f the paper. Candidates achieved an average mean score o f 34%

The passage used for the summary cloze was about the psychological benefits and fears o f spending time alone. Question 60 can be found in the first paragraph o f Version 2. However, the answer to question 60, 'environment/surroundings' is located near the end o f the second paragraph o f Version 1. The change in the ordering o f information within the two texts may explain why 8 2 % o f candidates had difficulty answering this question. Possibly they narrowed their scope for finding answers to questions in paragraph 1 to the corresponding paragraph o f the original text. This is supported by the fact that incorrect responses commonly given by candidates include 'attention' or ' m i n d ' , words which appear in the first paragraph o f Version 1. For a healthy mind, we need constant stimulation and feedback from our (60) environment / surroundings .

For question 61, only 3 9 % o f candidates were able to correctly interpret the expression 'Far from being a positive experience', to mean a negative experience. M a n y candidates took 'positive experience' from the original text and directly transferred it to question 61. Even though watching T V can be a (61) negative experience for most viewers,

For question 64, candidates were expected to change 'to be entertained' to 'entertain us'. However, only 14% o f candidates were able paraphrase this correctly. relax with friends or to sit back and let others (64) entertain us .

For question 67, candidates often gave the correct answer but in its plural form, i.e. televisions or computers, hence they lost marks due to slips in grammatical accuracy or carelessness. is quite different from spending time in front of the (67) television and/or computer .

In items 72 - 74, less than 2 5 % o f candidates were able to score marks. M a n y candidates attempted the question by changing the structure o f words from the original text, but without success because their choice o f words was either grammatically inaccurate or did not accurately paraphrase the original meaning o f the text. Examples o f incorrect answers commonly given for question 72 include ' o c c u p y i n g ' , 'repelling'. they might try (72) replacing / substituting them with other things

Examples o f incorrect answers commonly given for question 73 include 'refusing', 'difficult'. Nevertheless, they are (73) unwilling / reluctant to study because

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Proofreading exercise, Questions 76 - 97 This article was taken from Readers' Digest about the importance o f family dinners. mean percentage correct o f 3 1 % for this part. Items for w h i c h less than 2 5 % o f the candidates scored marks are discussed b e l o w . For question 76, a large n u m b e r o f candidates were not able to identify the use o f relative pronouns and clauses by deleting ' w h o ' or inserting 'are'. Instead, many candidates were distracted by the expression 'do drugs' and made an unnecessary change by attempting to replace the verb ' d o ' w i t h 'take'. Q.76 do drugs or get into fights than those who left to Candidates achieved a

For question 77, candidates were not able to identify the superfluous article, 'the two-career households'. Instead, candidates attempted to change 'households' into the singular form but that w o u l d not be a possible option because o f the singular ' h o u s e h o l d ' w o u l d not match with plural 'schedules' in the subsequent line. Q.77 their own devices. But with the two-career households and demanding schedules, who have the time? Y o u do if you

For question 82, candidates d i d not recognize the superfluous w o r d 'diet' i n 'diet nutrition'. Candidates were expected to delete either ' d i e t ' or ' n u t r i t i o n ' . H o w e v e r , many focused on tense errors and changed 'says' to 'said'. Q. 82 health and diet nutrition,' says Dr David Ludwig, an

For question 88, some candidates w h o failed to correct 'researches' to 'research' attempted to correct ' s h o w s ' in question 89 to the plural ' s h o w ' so that it agreed with ' S c h o o l o f P u b l i c H e a l t h ' . Q.88 Q.89 Surprising new researches from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health shows that even if their meal served

For question 90, candidates d i d not change the adjective 'healthy' to the adverb, ' h e a l t h i l y ' . Some candidates gave the incorrect spelling, ' h e a l t h l y ' . Q.90 less formally, kids eat more healthy than when they eat on

For question 9 3 , candidates often changed the verb ' s l o w s ' to ' s l o w ' so that it matched 'extend' which was in fact the error, rather than v i c e versa. H o w e v e r , the change breaks up the cohesion o f the text and still fails to address the proper use o f gerunds. Q.93 slows down the process, extend family time,' says Dr Ludwig. i General comments and recommendations The items in the reading comprehension were aimed at testing candidates' ability to read accurately and efficiently, and to understand and interpret ideas in context. Candidates were generally proficient at reading for gist and w o r k i n g out the m e a n i n g o f unfamiliar words. H o w e v e r , more attention paid to the connection o f ideas w i t h i n a text w o u l d further develop candidates' interpretation skills and increase their understanding o f ideas that are conveyed i m p l i c i t l y . W i t h respect to language systems, candidates are recommended to expand their analysis o f grammatical structures beyond the sentence to the w i d e r context o f paragraph and indeed to the level o f the whole text. More exposure to a variety o f text-types and E n g l i s h language media w i l l help to improve candidates' knowledge o f collocations and h o w linguistic and structural devices are used to achieve certain effects. Incorporating proofreading as a regular part o f the language learning c u r r i c u l u m w i l l also increase candidates' exposure to a wider range o f errors and foster self-correcting skills.

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