Read Text C, and then answer Questions 2 (d) on the question paper.

Text C:
What it’s like to be married to a future Ironman
In this blog post the writer looks back on their husband’s preparations to
compete in an Ironman event.
I’m a little hesitant to publish this because there’s a risk that I’ll just be moaning
and I’ll come across as whiny, but it’s information I wish someone had given me
before we signed up for the whole Ironman thing.
My husband, Sam, started training in January for Ironman Canada at the end of
July.
He got himself an expert coach and monthly training plans. I felt reassured this
meant he might at least survive the 3.86 km swim, a 180.25 km bicycle ride and
a marathon (42.20 km) run, raced in that order.
His training ramped up as you’d expect. Initially, it didn’t really impact our lives
too much. If anything, it was a good thing. Now, we were both training for things
– it felt like a real partnership as we plotted our weekends to give us time to train
and time together as a family. It was fun. If we went away, we had to fit his bike
ride of 1–3 hours into the weekend but that was totally do-able. We’ve a pool
where we live which really helped – not having to drive to/from water at least
saved travelling time.
By May he was training early and most of both weekend mornings. Being honest,
I resented that. I agreed sullenly, yes, I still wanted him to do the Ironman, and
no, I didn’t expect him to drop out. I was just fed up with his absences.
June was all about Ironman. Endless weekends with Sam gone until 5pm each
day. After exercise he would need to sleep for an hour or so, thus he was
technically gone for longer. I was desperate for us to go away and have a break
from it.
I tried to book a weekend camping but abandoned it. We would have spent the
whole time fitting Sam’s training around what we were doing, and it wasn’t worth
it. That year the kids didn’t go camping at all.
My own freedom to run was curtailed. Saturdays became all about childcare. I
only managed one Saturday trail-run with the girls from April onwards and that
was thanks to wonderful friends who got up at 6.45 on a Saturday to watch my
son. I got fed up with not being able to say yes to invitations.
We didn’t do any family hiking for months. Sam justifiably didn’t want to hike
after exercising.
There was so much laundry (‘different road conditions’) so much extra food
(‘fuel’) and so much gear (multiple pairs of goggles with different tints ‘because
you never know ’)! Smiling understandingly, Sam assured me the next one will
be cheaper. Next one?
‘Because it’s there,’ I’d snarl to anyone who dared question why any sane mortal
would tackle an Ironman. I enjoyed mercilessly shaming his less-than-supportive
business partner into recognising the potentially boundless benefits of Sam’s
well-publicised adventure for their newly-established, fledgling travel company. A
flurry of online articles described me as ‘a runner married to a triathlete’ – it took
me a few moments to recognise our family and beam with immeasurable pride.
Our son missed having Dad around at the weekends, especially if he woke up
after Sam had left to train on a Saturday when sometimes there were tears. But
he got used to the different dynamic. He was given an ‘Ironman’ superhero toy
as a birthday gift by some relatives and immediately started making it swim,
bike and run! The poor child thinks that this is how normal families operate.
Having said all that, watching Sam emerge god-like from the water, power past
us on his bike and rocket down the finishing chute, head held high as our kids
cheered with the crowd – utterly incredible and intoxicating, one of life’s rare
pinnacles of perfection.
It had been an epic journey for all of us. I’m so glad we did it. And next year?
Well yes, it’s my turn.

Re-read paragraphs 10 and 12.

• Paragraph 10 begins ‘Because it’s there-’ and is about the writer’s reactions to
other people’s views.
• Paragraph 12 begins ‘Having said all that -’ and is about the writer’s feelings at
the end of the race.
Explain how the writer uses language to convey meaning and to create
effect in these paragraphs. Choose three examples of words or phrases
from each paragraph to support your answer. Your choices should include the
use of imagery.
Write about 200 to 300 words.
Up to 15 marks are available for the content of your answer.

Tips
Remember to read the question carefully and highlight:

* The instructions (what you have to do)

* The focus of the question (what you have to analyse in the text)

* Make sure that you are using the paragraphs indicated in the question

* Ensure you highlight three strong examples of words or phrases to

analyse:

* Do not highlight whole sentences

* Ensure you also include at least one use of imagery per paragraph

When writing your answer, ensure you put the quotation from the text in
context:

What is the quote about, or describing?

This helps your answer make sense overall

Question 2(d) model answer

Below is Question 2(d) from the June 2022 exam paper (you can find a
breakdown of this question here:

CIE IGCSE English Language Paper 1 Text C

Based on the above question, the following model answer demonstrates
an explanation of how the writer uses language to convey meaning and to
create effects. It is an example of a full-mark answer (15/15).

Worked Example
The writer uses language in paragraph 10 to show their reactions to other
people's views on her husband's choices. Firstly, the writer describes her
answer as a "snarl" to anyone who "dared question" her husband's
choices. To "snarl" is to answer back fiercely, reminiscent of a wild
animal's growl, and the baring of teeth when an animal is challenged or
threatened. This reaction suggests the writer is showing her protective
instincts towards her loved ones. This sense of protectiveness continues
when the writer reveals that she "enjoyed mercilessly shaming" her
husband's business partner, who hadn't been supportive. The writer
suggests that she took pleasure in making him feel bad about this, and the
use of the adverb "mercilessly" implies she felt no remorse in doing so.
Finally, the writer's feelings of pride towards her husband are shown by
the fact that she beamed "with immeasurable pride" implying her
satisfaction at being part of a family containing a triathlete. The adjective
"immeasurable" suggests these feelings have no end.

In paragraph 12, the writer uses language to show her feelings at the end
of the race, sharing in her husband's sense of power and achievement.
She begins by describing watching her husband "emerge god-like from the
water". This is a dramatic and powerful exit, suggesting the strength of a
conquering hero. The "god-like" image implies her husband has achieved
more than a mere mortal would and that he has been transformed into
something super-human. This imagery continues when she describes
watching him "power past us", which demonstrates that he was still full of
strength and energy even at the end of a gruelling race. Furthermore, the
metaphor "rocket down the finishing chute" with his "head held high"
suggests his incredible speed and energy at the end, as if he was
propelled by rocket fuel to a higher state of self-esteem.

Commentary
The response starts by focusing on the question, with no unnecessary
introduction
Three distinct examples of language are chosen to analyse for each
paragraph

The language analysis “zooms in” on particular words to consider why the
writer has chosen them

The response is structured logically

The response includes analysis of imagery

The response clearly separates the two paragraphs requiring analysis

Literary terminology is used accurately, appropriately and judiciously

The suggested word count for this question is advisory, and you are not
penalised for going either under or over 200-300 words. However, writing
too much or too little can be self-penalising, so it is a good idea to use the
suggested word count as a guide.