GCSE English Language 2.0 – Love and War – Paper 1
Section A – Reading
Read Text 1 below and then answer Questions 1–3.
This extract is adapted from the autobiography of Mary Seacole, a Jamaican-born nurse. Writing in 1857, she describes her determination to travel to the Crimean War to care for wounded British soldiers.
Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands
Need I be ashamed to confess that I shared in the general enthusiasm, and longed more than ever to carry my busy fingers where the sword or bullet had been busiest, and pestilence most rife. I had seen much of sorrow and death elsewhere, but they had never daunted me; and if I could feel happy binding up the wounds of quarrelsome Americans, what delight should I not experience if I could be useful to my own sons, suffering for a cause it was so glorious to fight and bleed for! I never stayed to discuss probabilities. I made up my mind that if the army wanted nurses, they would be glad of me, and with all the ardour of my nature, I decided that I would go to the Crimea; and go I did, as all the world knows.
Of course, had it not been for my strong-mindedness, I should have given up the scheme a score of times; so regularly did each day give birth to a fresh set of rebuffs and disappointments.
My first idea was to apply to the War Office for the post of hospital nurse. Among the diseases most prevalent in the Crimea were cholera and dysentery, with which my experience had made me tolerably familiar. I thought my knowledge of these ills would render my services as a nurse most valuable, and would enable me to be of use to the overworked doctors.
So I made long and unwearied application at the War Office. I have reason to believe that I considerably interfered with the repose of sundry messengers, and disturbed the official gravity of some nice gentlemanly young fellows. But my endeavours to gain an interview with the Secretary-at-War of course failed.
Read Text 2 below and then answer Questions 4–6.
In this extract adapted from an 1829 advice book, the writer William Cobbett offers his views on vanity, what women truly value in men and what matters most in attracting a good wife.
Advice to Young Men
Extravagance in dress is to be avoided, and in young men particularly. This sort of extravagance arises solely from vanity of the most contemptible sort. It arises from the notion that all the people in the street will be looking at you as soon as you walk out, and that they will think the better of you on account of your fine dress. Never was notion more false. All the sensible people that happen to see you will think nothing at all about you.
Men are estimated by other men according to their capacity and willingness to be useful; and though, with the foolish and vain part of women, fine clothes frequently do something, yet the greater part of the sex are much too penetrating to draw their conclusions solely from the outside show of a man. They look deeper, and find other criterions whereby to judge. And, after all, if the fine clothes obtain you a wife, will they bring you, in that wife, frugality, good sense, and that sort of attachment that is likely to be lasting?
Natural beauty of person is quite another thing. This always has, and always must have, some weight even with men, and great weight with women. But it does not want to be set off by expensive clothes. Female eyes are very sharp. They can discover beauty though half hidden by beard and even by dirt and surrounded by rags. Take this as a secret worth half a fortune to you, that women, however personally vain they may be themselves, despise personal vanity in men.
Let your dress be as cheap as may be without shabbiness; but never believe that any human being will love or respect you on account of your fine or costly clothes.
SECTION A – Reading
Read Text 1 and answer Questions 1–3.
Q1. Identify four points the writer makes about her efforts to join the army in the Crimea. (4 marks)
Q2. In lines paragraphs 1 and 2, the writer tries to convince the reader that she was the right person to nurse soldiers in the Crimea. Evaluate how successfully this is achieved. Give three reasons for your opinion and use examples from paragraphs 1 and 2. (6 marks)
Q3. How does the writer use language to interest and inform the reader? You should include:
- the writer’s use of language
- the effect on the reader.
Use examples from the whole text and relevant subject terminology. (8 marks)
Read Text 2 and answer Questions 4–6.
Q4(a). From lines 1–6, identify two reasons the writer gives for why young men should not dress expensively. (2 marks)
Q4(b). Read this extract.
Natural beauty of person is quite another thing. This always has, and always must have, some weight even with men, and great weight with women. But it does not want to be set off by expensive clothes. Female eyes are very sharp. They can discover beauty though half hidden by beard and even by dirt and surrounded by rags.
From the extract, identify two things the writer says about natural beauty. (2 marks)
Q5. Read this extract.
Men are estimated by other men according to their capacity and willingness to be useful; and though, with the foolish and vain part of women, fine clothes frequently do something, yet the greater part of the sex are much too penetrating to draw their conclusions solely from the outside show of a man. They look deeper, and find other criterions whereby to judge. And, after all, if the fine clothes obtain you a wife, will they bring you, in that wife, frugality, good sense, and that sort of attachment that is likely to be lasting?
In the extract, the writer tries to persuade the reader that appearance is not what truly matters when choosing a partner. Evaluate how successfully this is achieved. Give three reasons for your opinion and use examples from the extract. (6 marks)
Q6. For this question refer to the whole of Text 2.
‘In my view, this text shows that true love is based on character, not appearance.’
Based on your evaluation of the text, how far do you agree with this opinion? Use examples from the text to support your evaluation. (12 marks)
SECTION B – Writing
Answer ONE question. You should spend about 45 minutes on this section.
EITHER
Q7. Write an article for a magazine with the title ‘What Really Matters in a Relationship.’ A student has started a response to this task.
We are constantly told that first impressions count. From the clothes we wear to the way we style our hair, society seems obsessed with how we look on the outside. But when it comes to the people we choose to spend our lives with, is appearance really what matters most?
Continue this article using your own ideas.
*Your response will be marked for the accurate and appropriate use of vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar. (40 marks)
OR
Q8. Write a speech for a group of your peers with the title ‘Should We Celebrate Those Who Show Courage in Difficult Times?’ You should include:
- examples of people who have shown courage in challenging situations
- why it is important to recognise and remember acts of bravery
- how celebrating courage can inspire others.
*Your response will be marked for the accurate and appropriate use of vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar. (40 marks)
Sources:
Text One: Mary Seacole, Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands (1857). Public-domain text via Project Gutenberg. (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/23031)
Text Two: William Cobbett, Advice to Young Men (1829). Public-domain text via Project Gutenberg. (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/15510)