Explorers or boys messing about? Either way, taxpayer gets the rescue bill

Question 1

Notes on the headline

Answer 1

Informal and with a sarcastic tone

Question 2

Notes on first paragraph

Answer 2

Unconventional, doesn’t start with who/what/when/where + most important info but instead intends to prejudice the reader against the men. No names used which shows that the writer is not taking the men seriously and implies they are not professional

Question 3

‘Farce’

Answer 3

Negative attitude, scathing

Question 4

‘Nine-hour rescue’, ‘involved Royal Navy, RAF and British coastguards’

Answer 4

Used to evidence and emphasise how the rescue has wasted a lot of time for a lot of people (which is the focus of that paragraph)

Question 5

‘Last night there was resentment’, ‘there was also confusion’

Answer 5

Passive sentences, increase credibility and imply universal effects

Question 6

‘Resentment’

Answer 6

Strong word, aims to turn reader against the men

Question 7

‘Tens of thousands of pounds’

Answer 7

Emphasises cost, ties in with headline and evidences bias against the men

Question 8

‘Experts questioned’

Answer 8

Persuades reader, experts are credible + believable sources of information, also emphasises the level of the men’s irresponsibility and stupidity

Question 9

’ “Trusty helicopter” ‘

Answer 9

Implies the opposite, mocks the men

Question 10

’ “Boys messing about with a helicopter” ‘

Answer 10

Direct quotation, shows that she thinks they’re immature and intends to persuade the reader that their expedition wasn’t serious.

Question 11

‘The drama began…’

Answer 11

Emphasises how it was unnecessary and further turns the reader against them.

Question 12

‘Also known as Q’

Answer 12

Ironic and juvenile, in the film Q was clever, but the mention of it in the article intends to ridicule his stupidity

Question 13

Notes on the newspaper it was published in

Answer 13

The Guardian, primary purpose is to inform but its secondary purpose is to persuade. It is also left wing so has an interest in attacking these men because they have cost the tax payer money as it is anti upper-middle class. This explains the bias in the article and attempts to prejudice the reader.

Question 14

’ “He said they were both in the liferaft but were okay and could I call the emergency people?” ‘

Answer 14

Makes him look childish and dependent on his wife

Question 15

‘Falmouth coastguard and passed on to… RAF Kinloss in Scotalnd’

Answer 15

Shows how they have burdened lots of organisations and have involved them without necessarily needing to

Question 16

‘The Royal Navy’s ice patrol ship… was… surveying uncharted waters’

Answer 16

The men’s unnecessary issues have distracted the Navy from an important job in favour of one the writer believes shouldn’t’ve been needed

Question 17

‘One Antarctic explorer told…’

Answer 17

Expert in the field, credible source

Question 18

‘Property developer’

Answer 18

Implies more money than sense, hapless and gets himself in trouble anywhere

Question 19

‘He is also a qualified mechanical engineer and pilot’

Answer 19

Makes article look less biased by presenting his successes, however, it makes the reader wonder why they have made that decision and implies that they are irresponsible

Question 20

‘Claims’

Answer 20

Used to encourage scepticism

Question 21

‘The wisdom… was question by, among others, Gunter Endres’

Answer 21

Bringing in more experts as an appeal to expertise, this one is named and so it more credible

Question 22

‘The flying conditions had been “excellent”’

Answer 22

Fault with the men

Question 23

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

Answer 23

Informal direct speech, almost comical note to end the piece on. Agrees with the ‘boys messing about section of the headline’ and infantilises them. Selectively quoted to make them look worse