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Inter national Competitions

and Assessments for Schools

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Read Open to review and answer questions 1 to 7.

Open to review
Everyone is a criticmostly unpaid. I am paid. Reviewing is my career. My income is dependent upon the tools of my trade: words, wit and wisdom. Film reviews are my specialty, followed closely by biographies. I find my work immensely satisfying but feel reviewers, generally, are misunderstood maligned even. The very nature of our work is criticism, positive and negative. Often the negative criticisms are the ones by which a reviewer is mostly remembered! While seasoned reviewers tend to have a formula ensuring objectivity and impartiality, barbed commentsthose single, indulgent departures from the formula, enticing litigationsell. A few recent one-liners spring to mind (authors shall remain anonymous). The plot thickened; pity the characters werent there to see it happen. An unwelcome departure from the writers previous ventures into mediocrity. Shambolic is a word too infrequently applied to films of this style. This was Bensons debut as a playwright. Described in advertising as a satirical work, the tragedy unfolded scene by scene. At times like these I draw inspiration from my friends and family; the book provided none. It [the movie plot] lumbered along, collapsed, and writhed on the ground while the main characters watched. These are the comments which gain reviewers that barbarous reputation. Single lines embedded in lengthy well-constructed reviews. The tantalising snippets that are rememberedthat come back to bite! Spare a thought next time you ponder a review. The literary critic has performed a community service, providing a considered opinion about entertainment offerings (burnt or otherwise), possibly saving you time and money in the process. If occasionally you meet a razor sharp comment, enjoy it, but recognise it as a stylistic departure!

ICAS English Practice Questions Paper I EAA

1.

Open to review is a deliberate pun and refers to the idea that reviewers (A) (B) (C) (D) need to be balanced in their criticisms. pass judgement after attending opening nights. should not hide anonymously behind unfavourable comments. are judged for their own work as much as they judge the work of others.

2.

Which option best captures the ideas in paragraph two? (A) (B) (C) (D) Positive reviews are not very entertaining. Reviewers should be wary about their nasty remarks. Critics deliberately provoke circumstances which may lead to legal action. Readers tend to react more to the incisive negative comments in a review.

3.

The tone of the one-liners in paragraph three is (A) (B) (C) (D) acidic. tactful. tasteful. poignant.

4.

The statement An unwelcome departure from the writers previous ventures into mediocrity implies that (A) (B) (C) (D) the writers style lacks verve but a positive review could provide motivation to improve. the writers international experiences have had a positive influence on the latest work. the writers present offering is an innovative work that has produced a stunning result. the writers prior work was pedestrian and the change in approach is less than successful.

5.

What does the writer mean when she says that some comments may come back to bite? (A) (B) (C) (D) The authors of the texts are likely to be deeply hurt by the comments. The comments will cloud the judgement of the future audiences of the texts. The reviewers who made the comments could find themselves getting into trouble. The comments do not lose their power no matter how many times they are repeated.

6.

The writers use of the term community service is intended to be (A) (B) (C) (D) caustic. flippant. derisive. defamatory.

ICAS English Practice Questions Paper I EAA

7.

Which statement about reviewers comments would the writer most likely agree with? (A) (B) (C) (D) Comments that are highly scathing would be rejected by readers. Reviewers rely too much on sensationalism to attract their readers attention. Experience gives reviewers the confidence to be more colourful in their comments. Although reviewers strive to be objective, personal feelings sometimes get in the way.

For questions 8 to 10 choose the words which best fit the style and meaning of the passage.

Clarence House
The weather next morning was dull, but at least it was dry and warm, and Tranmeres narrow streets were packed with sauntering holidaymakers. Dylan set out again for Clarence House. This time, however, he found the enormous gates closed. (8) , but secured with lock and chain. Odd, he muttered to himself. Or was it? Perhaps the man he had seen yesterday had departed and this was great-uncle Marcuss guarantee (9) . The sound of an approaching car interrupted Dylans thoughtsand at the same time answered a few questions. (10) , he recognised it immediately as the one parked outside Clarence House yesterday. As it slowed and came to a halt, Dylan recognised the man at the wheel.

8.

(A) (B) (C) (D)

Once opened And not only closed He had not expected that Although it was not open to everyone

9.

(A) (B) (C) (D)

against further invasion of his privacy. to avoid further invasion of his privacy. prevention of further invasion of his privacy. protecting from further invasion of his privacy.

10.

(A) (B) (C) (D)

Meanwhile a car swept past him Since the car tore down the road Just then a car clearing the bend For as the car came round the corner

ICAS English Practice Questions Paper I EAA

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ICAS English Practice Questions Paper I EAA

Acknowledgment
Copyright in this booklet is owned by Educational Assessment Australia, UNSW Global Pty Limited, unless otherwise indicated. Every effort has been made to trace and acknowledge copyright. Educational Assessment Australia apologises for any accidental infringement and welcomes information to redress the situation.

Sources
Open to review text EAA 2006.

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Inter national Competitions

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I E

Inter national Competitions

and Assessments for Schools

QUESTION 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

KEY D D A D C B C B A D

DESCRIPTION OF SKILL Interpret a pun in the title of a persuasive text Synthesise a part of a persuasive text to identify the writers main argument Identify the tone of quotations used in a persuasive text Interpret a quotation used in a persuasive text Interpret an idiom used in a persuasive text Infer the writers intention in using a particular phrase in a persuasive text Synthesise a persuasive text for the writers opinion of the subject Identify the best option to complete a description with subject reference in previous sentence Identify the prepositional phrase to best complete a sentence Identify the correct clause to complete a sentence

AREA TD RF RF RF VOC RF RF SYN SYN SYN

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY Easy Medium Easy Medium Medium Medium/Hard Hard Medium/Hard Medium/Hard Medium/Hard

LEGEND Area refers to the particular curriculum area or strand assessed by the question. RL Reading Literary RF Reading Factual questions which require students to comprehend and interpret texts such as stories, poems, extracts from novels, reviews, plays questions which require students to understand and interpret information and argument texts, including texts which incorporate diagrams, tables and images from a range of curriculum areas, e.g. reports, editorials, advertisements, explanations questions which require students to recognise and to interpret textual devices which include figurative and rhetorical language (e.g. metaphor, rhetorical question, pun) and text conventions (e.g. use of different font sizes and types, captions) questions about accuracy and clarity within sentences or texts (e.g. pronoun reference, tense) and the recognition of grammatical terms (e.g. noun, main clause) questions about the meaning of words or phrases

TD Textual devices

SYN Syntax

VOC Vocabulary

ICAS English Practice Questions Paper I EAA

Level of difficulty refers to the expected level of difficulty for the question. Easy Medium Medium/Hard Hard more than 70% of candidates will choose the correct option about 5070% of candidates will choose the correct option about 3050% of candidates will choose the correct option less than 30% of candidates will choose the correct option

ICAS English Practice Questions Paper I EAA