Link Question – worth 2 marks

1. Link Question – worth 2 marks For National 5 you only have to show the effect of the link one way – either back or forwards To be awarded 2 marks:Quote part of sentence/words which links forward or back (1 mark) Explain how it acts as a link (1 mark)

2. You will be asked: to show be asked to show how a particular sentence acts as a link Or to show how a particular paragraph acts a link Often, but not always, it will be the first part of sentence/paragraph which will link back to the previous topic And another part of the sentence/paragraph which will link forward to new topic.

3. Example: William Shakespeare is easily the best-known of our English writers. Virtually every man in the street can name some of his plays and his characters, and many people can also recite lines of his poetry by heart. However, despite our familiarity with his work, we know relatively little of the man himself. We do not know when or why he became an actor, we know nothing of his life in London, and almost nothing of his personal concerns. Question: Show how the third sentence acts as a link in the argument – 2 marks. Answer: The phrase: “our familiarity with his work” looks back to the topic of how widely known Shakespeare’s work is. Or “The word “however”suggests a contrasting idea to follow going on to say that we don’t really know much about him. Or The phrase: “We know relatively little of the man himself” introduces the things that are not known about Shakespeare.

4. When the sun sank down it was luxury to sit in the perfumed air and forget that there was any world but these enchanted islands. It was such ecstasy to dream, and dream – till you got a bite. A scorpion bite. Then the first duty was to get up out of the grass and kill the scorpion; and the next to bathe the bitten place with alcohol and the next to resolve to keep out of the grass in future. Question: How does the underlined sentence act as a link?

5. Answer: “It was such ecstasy to dream, and dream” acts as a link back to the previous point about how heavenly the place was and the author’s sense of enjoyment. Or “till you got a bite” acts as a link forward to the more negative aspects of the place and refers to the dangers of scorpions. 

6. In Madras, as in other garrison towns in India, there were many orphan children of soldiers who had been killed, or died of disease, or had been unaware that they had a child. These children faced an unenviable future. In the Hindu community of their mothers they were unacceptable and in the European community they were equally unacceptable because of their native upbringing. Question:How does the underlined sentence act as a link?

7. Answer: “These children” acts as a link back to the topic of the orphan children of fighters from the military base in Madras. Or “Faced an unenviable future” acts as a link forward to the unfortunate and miserable life these children have and the fact that they have very little hope of being acknowledged in their society. 

8. When more coal was needed, men dug tunnels into the earth from the quarries. This was dangerous work, because the earth was always falling into the tunnel. Later they dug deeper and this brought greater difficulties and greater danger. Water seeped into the bottom of the pits, poisonous and explosive gases collected, and taking the coal to the surface was hard work. Slowly the dangers were overcome. Miners became more skilful at supporting the roofs of the tunnels, and engineers began to use steam engines to pump the water out. They lit fires at the bottom of pit shafts to drive out foul air; and Sir Humphrey Davy invented a lamp which would not set fire to explosive gases. Question: How does the underlined sentence act as a link?

9. Answer: “Slowly the dangers”  acts as a link back when the author lists the hazards the miners faces when carrying out their work. Or “were overcome” acts as a link forward when the author lists all the different types of measures which were put in place to make their working environment safer.

10. The earliest part of Madras College was opened in 1833. It was designed by William Burn, one of the leading architects of his time in Scotland. The cloistered quadrangle and the little bell tower suggest mediaeval church architecture. At first the quadrangle was unpaved and became a muddy mess in wet weather. In 1843 it was drained and the Caithness stone slabs which still remain were laid in a bed of lime. With one exception the school building as they were to remain for the next century were complete. The exception was the building at present used to house Commerce and History. It was erected in 1864 to meet a particular need. Although the school had been coeducational from the beginning, many parents of girls were not happy for their daughters to attend open classes. The trustees provided this building for the ‘sheltered schooling and teaching by selected masters to young ladies’. Question: How does the underlined sentence act as a link?

11. Answer: “The school buildings as they were” acts as link back to the description of the original building of Madras College. Or “With one exception” acts as a link forward to the addition and the purpose of the Commerce and History block which was added at a later date.

12. My mother was born near Gloucester, in the early 1880s. Through her father, John Light, she had some mysterious connection with the Castle, half forgotten, but implying a blood-link somewhere, indeed it was said that an ancestor led the murder of Edward II. But whatever the illicit grandeurs of her forebears, Mother was born to quite ordinary poverty. When she was about thirteen years old her mother was taken ill, so she had to leave school for good. She had her five young brothers ans her father to look after, and there was not one else to help. Question: Show how the first sentence in the second paragraph acts as a link in the argument.

13. Answer: “But whatever the illicit grandeurs of her forebears”links back to author’s point about his Mother having royal connections.  Or “mother was born to quite ordinary poverty”links forward to the author talking about how she faced many hardships during her life such as having to look after her siblings and father.

14. Mary Stuart was certainly rated a beauty by the standards of her own time: even John Knox described her as ‘pleasing’. In her height, her small neat head, and her grace she resembled the contemporary ideal. It was the type of beauty which her contemporaries were already learning to admire in art, and could now appreciate in life, all the more satisfyingly because it was in the person of a princess. Not only the appearance, but also the character of Mary Stuart made her admirably suited to be a princess of France in the age in which she lived. Mary was exactly the sort of beautiful woman, not precisely brilliant, but well-educated and charming who inspired and stimulated poets by her presence to feats of homage. Question: Show how the first sentence of the second paragraph acts as a link in the argument.

15. Answer: “Not only the appearance”links back to how many people viewed Mary Stuart as beautiful and makes references to her attractive looks and figure. Or “but also the character of Mary Stuart”links forward to speak about how intelligent and pleasant she was and that many found her an inspiration.

16. At school, Alastair had shown exceptional promise. He had excelled as a scholar, as a musician and on the games field; his popularity and talent had made him an obvious choice for head boy in his last year. His university career made a sad contrast to the years as a golden boy. A baffling lack of commitment saw him fail his first year exams, and after a nervous breakdown early in his second year, he dropped out altogether. Question: Show how the underlined sentence acts as a link

17. Answer: “His university career made a sad contrast” acts as a link forward to how he failed at all his studies which caused him to leave university. Or “his years as a golden boy” acts as a link back to how he succeeded at everything during his years at school.