EXPLORERS OR BOYS MESSING ABOUT?

Question 1

What is the form?

Answer 1

Newspaper article however presented as factual but more a personal opinion piece

Question 2

Title: ‘Explorers or boys messing about? Either way, taxpayer gets rescue bill’

Answer 2

Rhetorical question
Judgemental language
‘boys’ childish connotations, judging

Question 3

‘facre’

Answer 3

Strong judgemental language
Ridiculous situation connotations
Strong criticism

Question 4

‘…as they tried to cross into Siberia’

Answer 4

Confusing - who is ‘they’?
In medias res

Question 5

Judgemental first paragraph

Answer 5

Structurally sets the mood
Starts with previous failure the current one

Question 6

‘…tragedy when their helicopter’

Answer 6

Dramatic language

Question 7

‘…there was resentment’

Answer 7

Passive tenses shows annoyance

Question 8

‘…the Royal Navy, the RAF and British coastguards’

Answer 8

Tricolon list
Emphasizes seriousness and massive inconvenience their rescue caused

Question 9

‘…the four-seater Robinson R44 has a single engine’

Answer 9

Factual language (newspaper)
Gives him authority

Question 10

‘…“trusty helicopter”’

Answer 10

Judging/sarcasm shown by inverted commas
Irony (was last seen plunging into the sea)

Question 11

‘…“boys messing about with a helicopter”’

Answer 11

Extreme childish negative connotations
Not viewed seriously
Quote - journalistic piece
Uses experts to voice his opinion for him

Question 12

‘drama’

Answer 12

Childish petty connotations
Shows his opinion of the situation

Question 13

‘…also known as Q’

Answer 13

Ironic link to James Bond the smart gadget guy ‘Q’
Nickname as well - suggest juvenile childish nature

Question 14

‘scrambled’

Answer 14

Shows how desperate and frantic they are with no planning

Question 15

‘…emergency watch’

Answer 15

Shows they do know what they are doing/have experience despite their failures

Question 16

‘…which was 180 miles away surveying uncharted waters’

Answer 16

Got called away from an important job/mission
Expensive as well
Factual language (journalism)

Question 17

‘poor visability’

Answer 17

Pilots putting themselves at risk and in danger to rescue them

Question 18

‘…both men are experienced adventurers’

Answer 18

Tone shift
Talking about positives
Balancing argument (journalism)

Question 19

‘…claims to have been flying since the age of five’

Answer 19

Sceptical and uncertain
Back to normal tone of voice

Question 20

‘…have hit the headlines’

Answer 20

Metaphor and alliteration
Negative and judgemental

Question 21

‘…I wouldn’t use a helicopter like that’

Answer 21

Expert opinion
Emphasizes how foolish and badly planned their expedition was

Question 22

‘…the taxpayer would pick up the bill’

Answer 22

Metaphor
Highlights his annoyance to have to pay

Question 23

‘…have their bottoms kicked’

Answer 23

Imagery
Childish/baby connotations
Punishment for doing something ‘naughty’
Infantilising language

Question 24

What is the effect of the structure?

Answer 24

Mix between factual reportage and opinion piece
Short paragraphs shows journalism

Question 25

What are the themes of this non-fiction text?

Answer 25

Consequences
Judgement
Responsibility
Annoyance
Foolishness

Question 26

‘…nothing short of a miracle’

Answer 26

Hyperbole
Shows how lucky they were to survive and the desperation of their situation