Anthology Texts

Question 1

Explorers or boys messing about?

Answer 1

• Irresponsible: almost led to tragedy – not the first time they hit the headlines for the wrong reason –wisdom of the team was later questioned
• Critical: “trusty helicopter” – claims to be flying since the age of 5 – ironically,
• Destructive: helicopter plunged into the sea – nine-hour rescue – taxpayer would pick up the bill.

Question 2

Young and dyslexic? You’ve got it going on.

Answer 2

• Ignorance: shut up stupid boy – no compassion, no understanding and no humanity – I thought I was going crazy
• Discrimination: he was stereotyping me – I should be in prison – if someone can’t understand dyslexia its their problem
• Intelligence: you may have a genius on your hands – us dyslexic people, we’ve got it going on – we are the architects, we are the designers.

Question 3

A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat

Answer 3

• Western v Asian: title – the ‘Wacky Races’ – Formula 1 without rules - rush hour gone anarchic
• Enthralling: the approaching race – horns tooting, bells ringing, special rattles – edge out of road, swerve in front of nearest car
• Chaotic: a near pile up – voices were raised, fists were out, temper was rising – swallowed up by the crowd

Question 4

H is for Hawk

Answer 4

• Suspense: we noted we stared – parcel-tape handles, doors of thin plywood, hinges of carefully tied string – sudden thump – whirring, chaotic clatter all at once
• Mystical: dark-tipped primaries cutting the air – a fallen angel, a griffon from illuminated bestiary –her wild eyes were the colour of sun on white paper
• Panic: Oh. – this isnt my hawk, but this isn’t my hawk – larger bird? isn’t she? could i? do you think?

Question 5

Chinese Cinderella

Answer 5

• Fearful: my heart was not in it – full of foreboding – timidly, – throbbed like a persistent toothache
• Misunderstood: your mother is out playing bridge – how come you won? – ‘writer!’ he scoffed - ‘may I go to university in England too, just like my brothers?’
• Severed relationship between Mah and father: wondering who had died this time – why we was being so nice, his part to trick me?, let my guard down? – is it possible? am I dreaming?