From Taking On The World

Question 1

She is alone on Christmas Eve

Answer 1

Creates sympathy for her and “Christmas Eve” emphasises the loneliness

Question 2

“As if I was stepping on to the moon - a world over which I had no control”

Answer 2

Builds tension and shows how dangerous is was

Question 3

“Haylard” “sheet” “reef” “jumar” “spreader”

Answer 3

Lots of semantic field vocabulary shows how she is very capable and knows what she’s doing

Question 4

“There would be no second climb on this one”

Answer 4

Builds tension and anticipation

Question 5

“Mast slices erratically”

Answer 5

Dynamic verb –> descriptive and builds tension

Question 6

“Tugged and tugged”

Answer 6

Repetition for emphasis
Shows how desperate she is for this to work
Builds tension

Question 7

“Not far now, kiddo”

Answer 7

Trying to steady her nerves and encourage herself
Very normal behaviour in an extra ordinary situation -> this creates sympathy as the reader can relate to her
Talking down to herself
Sounds like a parent trying to motivate a child
Informal language

Question 8

“I had my heart in my mouth”

Answer 8

Metaphorical idiom shows to the audience the danger of the situation
Tension

Question 9

“It’s far from over …”

Answer 9

Ellipsis builds tension as the reader does not know what is going to happen next
Suspense

Question 10

“My head was spinning, but I felt like a million dollars”

Answer 10

Idiom “felt like a million dollars”

Shows how proud she is of herself

Question 11

“I would be wearing a helmet”

Answer 11

Remarkably sensible and takes the appropriate precautions

Question 12

“I had agonised for hours”

“Worked through the night preparing for it”

Answer 12

She is a perfectionist and has clearly thought long and hard about the climb. She really cares about what she’s doing

Question 13

“When it got light o decided that the time was right”

Answer 13

She is systematic and considers the need for maximum daylight

Question 14

“I couldn’t feel my fingers - I’d need gloves”

Answer 14

She is not perfect as she fails to fully appreciate the cold so has to start again

Question 15

“Clinging on”

Answer 15

Shows how dangerous it is

Shows she is physically strong as she is able to do this

Question 16

“Eyes closed and teeth gritted”

Answer 16

Shows determination and resilience but also how exhausted she is

Question 17

“Hanging on by just one arm”

Answer 17

The audience realise the real danger she is in at this moment and feel anticipation and tension
Fear

Question 18

It’s written in first person

Answer 18

Shows that it is a real account
More personal
Makes the audience care more about the protagonist

Question 19

“Helmet”

Answer 19

Dangerous situation but shows she is careful and is taking necessary precautions.

Question 20

Semantic field vocab

Answer 20

“Jumar”“sheets”“autopilot”“halyard”“reef” technical language shows that’s she’s an expert and is able to use the right terminology

Question 21

“Loss in dexterity”

Answer 21

Builds tension

Question 22

“It had to come”

Answer 22

Persuading herself, definite prediction, anticlimax, interspersing past tense through account with drift thought to make the reader empathise

Question 23

“Santa”

Answer 23

Emphasise loneliness and creates even more sympathy for her being alone in appalling conditions

Question 24

What is this piece?

Answer 24

Writing to inform, recount and autobiographical

Question 25

“Hardest climb to date”

Answer 25

Foregrounding, tense, dangerous gives text cohesion

Question 26

First paragraph

Answer 26

Long build up implies importance and that she’s medical and an expert

Question 27

“Agonised”

Answer 27

Suggests it’s more than just a worry as its stringer and more emotive

Question 28

“I was stepping on to the moon - a world over which I had no control”

Answer 28

Dangerous alien environment no one could control and could cause demise

Question 29

3rd paragraph

Answer 29

Some 2nd person

Question 30

“I climbed down”

Answer 30

Details on how she had to stop her first attempt shows how dangerous it is and builds suspense

Question 31

“I would not have the energy”

Answer 31

Narrating continuously, foregrounding how there could only be one attempt

Question 32

“Hardest thing”

Answer 32

Superlative

Question 33

“Physical drain”

Answer 33

Shows how difficult the task is

Question 34

“Slices”

Answer 34

Connotations of danger

Question 35

“I could feel us surf down”

Answer 35

Metaphor and she identifies with her boat as she’s on her own otherwise

Question 36

“I would wrap my arms”

Answer 36

Habitual thing and a frequentative aspect (links to the last line of the fourth paragraph)

Question 37

“Shuddering slowdown”

Answer 37

Personification

Question 38

“Wrists clenched together and hope”

Answer 38

Shows how physical the activity is and that she’s not in control of the situation

Question 39

“The halyard was heavier… More violent”

Answer 39

Telling the story and increasing the tension

Question 40

“Conjure up”

Answer 40

Metaphor, drawing on energy reserves that aren’t actually their

Question 41

“Kiddo”

Answer 41

Talking to herself in second person

Question 42

“By far the most dangerous part”

Answer 42

Superlative

Question 43

“I felt like a million dollars”

Answer 43

Simile

Question 44

“Fumbled”

Answer 44

Not in control