Free CIE IGCSE English Language
Practice Paper

A student is analysing the following extract from a novel: 'She was ice. She was stone. She was every cold thing he had ever known, wrapped in the warmth of a smile that meant nothing.' Which term best describes the technique used in 'She was ice. She was stone.'?

1. Simile
2. Metaphor
3. Personification
4. Hyperbole

Read the following extract from a travel article: 'The market square erupted with colour—saffron silks, jade ceramics, ruby-red spices cascading from woven baskets. Vendors called out in a dozen dialects, their voices weaving into a tapestry of commerce and culture.' What is the main effect of the writer's use of colour imagery in this extract?

1. To criticise the commercialisation of traditional culture
2. To suggest the market is disorganised and chaotic
3. To create a vivid sensory impression of the scene's richness
4. To show that the narrator feels overwhelmed by the experience

A candidate receives the following composition task: 'Write a description of a place that holds special memories for you.' Which approach would be most appropriate for this task?

1. Writing an argumentative essay about why the place should be preserved
2. Listing factual information about the place's history and geography
3. Writing a story with a clear beginning, middle and end set in the place
4. Creating a detailed, atmospheric description that evokes the place through sensory details and personal reflection

A passage describes a proposal to build a new shopping centre in Nairobi. The directed writing task asks candidates to write a letter to a newspaper expressing their views. A candidate writes: 'The shopping centre will destroy local businesses. This is unacceptable. We must stop this development.' What improvement would gain higher marks for Writing?

1. Adding more exclamation marks to show strong feelings
2. Developing the argument with specific evidence and explanation
3. Using shorter sentences throughout for greater impact
4. Repeating the main point several times for emphasis

A directed writing task provides a passage about youth unemployment in South Africa and asks candidates to write a blog post encouraging young people to develop entrepreneurial skills. Which of the following sentences best demonstrates the appropriate register for this task?

1. The undersigned wishes to draw attention to the matter of youth unemployment.
2. It is incumbent upon the youth demographic to pursue entrepreneurial endeavours forthwith.
3. Youth unemployment is bad and people should do something about it.
4. Starting your own business might seem scary, but it could be the best decision you ever make.

Read the following extract from a speech by an environmental campaigner: 'We must act now. Not tomorrow. Not next year. Now. Because every day we delay, another species vanishes. Another forest falls. Another child inherits a broken world.' Which combination of techniques does the writer use to create urgency?

1. Formal register and complex sentence structures
2. Rhetorical questions and conditional clauses
3. Extended metaphor and passive voice
4. Repetition, short sentences, and the rule of three

An international survey revealed that 67% of young people in Brazil, India and South Africa believe that climate education should be compulsory in schools. A student uses this data in their argumentative essay. Which of the following best demonstrates effective integration of this evidence?

1. 67% of young people think climate education should be compulsory.
2. According to an international survey spanning Brazil, India and South Africa, over two-thirds of young people support mandatory climate education, demonstrating widespread demand for environmental literacy.
3. A survey showed some results about climate education in schools.
4. Young people in different countries have different opinions about climate change.

Read the following extract from an autobiography: 'I remember the summer of 1998. I remember the heat. I remember my grandmother's kitchen, the smell of cinnamon, the creak of the old wooden door. I remember feeling safe.' The repetition of 'I remember' is used by the writer to:

1. show that the narrator has difficulty recalling events
2. suggest the memories are unpleasant and intrusive
3. create a rhythmic, reflective tone that emphasises personal significance
4. indicate that the narrator is unreliable