Explorers or boys messing about?

Question 1

“Their last expedition ended in farce

Ironically, one of the aims of the expedition…was to demonstrate how good relations between east and west had become”

Answer 1

• reference to failed expedition used to add to the sense that brooks and smith are bungling fools rather than skilled explorers
• lexical choice “farce” suggests his against the men
• irony is emphasized by the foreground adverb “ironically”

Question 2

“Hunter Enders, editor of Janes Helicopter Markets, said: i’m surprised they used the R44,

Experts question the wisdom of taking a small helicopter “

Answer 2

• experts opinion casts doubt to the choice of helicopter

- crisis ing their level of preparation and expertise

Question 3

“one antarctic explorer told Mr Brooks the wife it was ‘nothing short of a miracle’ that they had survived”

Answer 3

• hyperbolic reference to a ‘miracle’ suggests the risk they were at
• inverted commas convey an ironic tone

Question 4

“A spokesman for the pair said it was not known what had gone wrong. the flying conditions had been ‘excellent’

Answer 4

• contrasts with the expertise of the other interviewees

- inverted commas conveys ironic tone

Question 5

“They’ll probably have their bottoms kicked and be sent home the long way”

Answer 5

• conveys negative attitude towards the pair

- colloquial lexis implies that the man are not skilled

Question 6

“The men’s adventure had cost the taxpayers of Britain and Chile tens of thousands of pounds”

Answer 6

• juxtaposition implies that hard working tax payers are having to fund their foolishness

Question 7

“the royal navy ice patrol ship, HMS endurance, which was 180 miles away surveying un chartered waters, began steaming towards the scene and dispatched the two Lynx helicopters”

Answer 7

• disruption

- poorly planned

Question 8

“He has trekked solo to Everest base camp and walked barefoot for three days in the himalayas…and survived a charge by a silver back gorilla in the congo”

Answer 8

• suggests experience

- ambiguous details

Question 9

Mr smith…claims to have been flying since the age of five. He has twice flown a helicopter around the globe and won the world freestyle helicopter flying championship”

Answer 9

• experience

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