The Ascent

Liam and Tasha stood at the foot of Titan, a monolithic sandstone tower rising like a silent
guardian over the undulating expanse of the desert. The air shimmered with heat, distorting the
distant horizon, and the golden hues of the rock face gleamed in the low light of the sinking sun.
Titan’s surface, smooth yet fissured with ancient cracks, told stories of time measured in
centuries, of storms and winds that had sculpted its formidable structure. Few had dared to climb
this titan, and fewer still had succeeded.

The duo remained silent for a moment, their gazes drawn upward to the summit that disappeared
into a haze of crimson clouds. The mountain was not just a challenge of endurance but a test of
spirit, each crevice a riddle, each ledge a promise of reprieve. Liam traced the faint outline of a
route that snaked upward like a vein of silver. Tasha, gripping her climbing gear, let out a breath
that hung in the air, weighted by a mix of determination and trepidation.

“Do you think we’ll make it?” she asked, her voice barely audible over the whisper of the wind.
Liam didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he studied the cliff with the meticulous eye of a chess
player contemplating his next move. “We’ll make it,” he said finally, his words carrying the
weight of certainty. “But only if we stay sharp. No mistakes.”

As they began their ascent, the first touch of the sandstone felt cool and grainy under their
fingers. The cracks and ledges were sparse, forcing them to place each step and grip with
precision. The higher they climbed, the more the wind howled, threading its way through the
rock like a haunting melody. At one point, a sudden gust sent a cascade of loose pebbles
tumbling past them, disappearing into the abyss below.

About halfway up, the route became more treacherous. The rock face jutted outward, forming an
overhang that loomed like an unspoken challenge. “It’s going to be tricky,” Liam murmured, his
voice strained but steady. He pressed his hands into the rough surface, testing the cracks for
strength. Tasha, hanging just below him, watched as he leveraged his body upward, muscles
straining against gravity’s pull.

When it was her turn, Tasha hesitated, her heart pounding against her ribs. The overhang seemed
to taunt her, its shadow stretching across her path. “I’m not sure I can—” she began, but Liam
cut her off with a sharp, reassuring tone. “You can. Just focus. Trust the rope. Trust yourself.”

Summoning her courage, Tasha gripped the rock and pulled herself upward. Her legs trembled as
she swung her body over the ledge, but when her hands finally found the solid grip of the ledge,
relief flooded through her. She exhaled shakily and looked up to find Liam already extending a
hand to help her the rest of the way.

As they sat on the ledge, the desert unfurled before them in an infinite palette of ochre and russet.
The horizon was ablaze with the last light of the day, and the sky above Titan was slowly
surrendering to twilight. The summit loomed above them, shrouded in shadows, but they felt its
pull like a distant beacon. “We’re not done yet,” Liam said, his voice laced with both exhaustion
and exhilaration.
Tasha nodded, wiping the sweat from her brow. “No,” she said, a determined smile tugging at
her lips. “We’re just getting started.”

Question 1

(a) In what way is the surface of Titan ‘notorious’ (line 2)?

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(b) Using your own words, explain what the text means by ‘a monolithic sandstone tower’ (line
1).
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................................................................................................................................................... [2]

(c) Give two features of the overhang on Titan that made it challenging for climbers to navigate
(lines 9–15).
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• ................................................................................................................................................[2]

(d) Give two details from the text that show the danger climbers face on Titan during the ascent
(lines 15–22).
• ................................................................................................................................................
• ................................................................................................................................................[2]

(e) Explain what Tasha is thinking when she hesitates before the overhang (lines 21–24).
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(f) (i) How does Liam feel about their chances of reaching the summit of Titan (lines 6–22)?
(ii) Give two details from the text to support your answer.
(i) ................................................................................................................................................
(ii) ................................................................................................................................................
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(g) (i) During the climb, Tasha faces a moment where she almost loses her grip. What caused her
slip?
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(ii) How does Liam help her recover?
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(h) Explain using your own words how the view from the ledge affects Liam and Tasha’s
feelings. Give three details from the text to support your answer.
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Question 2

(a) Read this extract from the text:

‘The wind grew stronger as they climbed, whistling through the rock face and tugging at their
ropes. Halfway up, Tasha slipped, but her safety line held firm, and Liam helped guide her back
to a secure position.’ (lines 12–14)
What does the writer want to suggest to us about the conditions and teamwork during the climb?
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(b) Explain why the writer uses the phrase ‘looming like an unspoken challenge’ (line 16) to
describe the overhang.
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(c) What two impressions does the writer want to convey to the reader in the sentence:
‘The horizon was ablaze with the last light of the day, and the sky above Titan was slowly
surrendering to twilight.’ (line 25)
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................................................................................................................................................... [2]

(d) Read this sentence from the text:

‘The higher they climbed, the more the wind howled, threading its way through the rock like a
haunting melody.’ (line 11)
What effect does the writer achieve by using the phrase ‘haunting melody’?
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................................................................................................................................................... [2]

(e) Identify one example from the text below of how the writer uses language effectively to
convey Liam’s focus during the climb:
‘Liam traced the faint outline of a route that snaked upward like a vein of silver. He pressed his
hands into the rough surface, testing the cracks for strength, and hoisted himself upward, inch by
inch.’ (lines 6–9)
Explain the impression the writer creates in the example you have identified.
example ....................................................................................................................................
explanation ...............................................................................................................................
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