How to answer Higher Close Reading Perfectly

1. How to answer Higher Close Reading Perfectly Using the 2006 Past Paper

2. Question 1A • Just put this briefly into your own words, e.g. • ‘The writer believes that sensible people used to worry about feeding the poor, who were very thin, while the rich were fat. Now they have to worry about poor people being obese, while rich people are now thin.

3. 1b • You can show how the sentence uses: • parallelism/balanced construction • Series of contrasts • Repetition of certain phrases • Two compound sentences which co-ordinate clauses in which the attributes are reversed.

4. Answer for 1b • The writer uses contrasts to show this change, e.g ‘rich were fat, the poor were thin.’ He then uses parallelism of structure to show how it’s now the opposite: ‘’Now…the rich are thin, the poor are fat.’

5. Question 2 • Follow the instruction to use your own words as far as possible. • Any two of the following ideas would do: • Acceptable gloss on ‘has designed mankind.’ • Humans have the ability to survive shortages by storing reserves • In a period of continuous prosperity people have become increasingly bigger.

6. Question 3C • As this is a combination of an Analysis and an Evaluation question. • To answer this question correctly, you must: • Follow the key instructions given: analyse imagery/state the line of thought/provide two examples to back these up.

7. So, first of all, for imagery… • Pick out the key images the writer has created. • Decide – are they speaking metaphorically? • Explain the connotations (added meanings) given

8. Imagery explained • E.g ‘biggest battle’ – connotations of fighting a very difficult situation, that it’s a struggle to win it. • ‘offspring’ – idea of a child simply being a product or end result – a continuation of the genetic line. • ‘silver lining’ – idea of shining/bright side, redeeming aspect of an otherwise unpleasant situation • ‘cloud’ – dull or dark spot, sense of threat • ‘plague’ = idea of deadly epidemic, potential devastation caused by problem • ‘host’ – idea of large number, threat, army (and possible link to ‘won’ – battle’.)

9. So I’ve analysed the imagery, what do I do for the Evaluation part? • For this bit, you need to explain why you think it’s effective. So for example: • ‘The goal for people to find food to survive as being ‘the biggest battle’ is effective as it connotes images of this being a very difficult struggle, one that isn’t easy to overcome. He then builds on this line of thought by describing how this lack of struggle for most people nowadays brings its own problems as a ‘plague’ which brings about images of widespread death and suffering, like those suffered in biblical times. This heightens the writer’s line of thought that the ease with which even poorer people can obtain food has problems that can still bring about death and suffering on a massive scale.

10. Question 4 • Again, follow the instructions given in the question! • Sentence Structure: standard statement or assertion (won’t put up with any argument.) • Single dash – used to explain/exemplify the opening statement by introducing the main risk • Semi-colons – used to separate items in a list which emphasises the serious/life-threatening consequences of obesity • Listing –emphasises the number and/or cumulative effect of health-related problems.

11. Question 4 (continued…) • Word Choice: • ‘no doubt’ – emphatic • ‘biggest’ – use of superlative • ‘main cause’ – idea of strength/power • ‘kills’ = idea of deadly threat • ‘principal risk factor’ = idea of statistical approach to danger • Heavily implicated = idea of blame • Labelled – idea of superficiality, pejorative tag • Epidemic – idea of disease out of control • ‘fearful consequences’ = idea of a frightening, menacing future • Thick and fast’ = idea that the extent/volume/speed of the reaction is almost out of control.

12. Question 4 (continued)- Tone • Either relentlessly serious. Slightly melodramatic, possibly ironic – support your belief on what the tone is by giving a brief quotation or reference and explanation.

13. Answer to Question 4 • The writer uses a series of statements – such as ‘obesity is the world’s biggest public health issue.’ This shows that he is certain about his beliefs and won’t welcome any arguments. He also describes the ‘fearful consequences’ which highlights his belief that the future is dark so this new trend in obesity has serious consequences. All this adds to the relentlessly serious tone of the article, especially with his use of the word ‘epidemic’ which connotes idea of this problem being completely out of control like a deadly disease.

14. Question 6B • Obviously, for six marks, you have to give around six points. Remember to choose your own words as far as possible.

15. Answer to question 6b • The key points of the one negative reason, are: • People should be encouraged by their governments to take responsibility for their own diets. • Our bodies are still programmed to believe that food should be stored away in case of a famine – hence our obesity problem. Therefore people should be helped to eat better, by their governments. • The writer doesn’t believe in this, as he thinks people should be responsible for their own actions, and not be controlled by a nanny state. • The positive reasons are: • Our diets are very difficult to change after childhood, which is why the government needs to help people change their diets from a much younger age • Also, it’s argued that thin people should not have to pay for the health problems of the overweight through paying for these to be fixed on the NHS. That is why junk food and other unhealthy snacks should be taxed higher to pay for these resulting problems.

16. Question 7 • ‘Particular features of language’ • This means: word choice, sentence structure, tone, contrast and sound amongst others (basically all the features you could possibly analyse in an Analysis question!) • You have to make around four points. They don’t necessarily need to cover all these areas, but you should choose to cover a couple of aspects…e.g:

17. Possible answer for Q7: • The use of sentence structure is used to show disapproval. For example, he begins a sentence with ‘It might’ which sounds blunt and therefore dismissive or skeptical of government intervention. He also uses words such as ‘constitute…instrusion on liberty’ which are very formal and therefore heighten the disapproving tone. Furthermore the contemptuous tone is emphasised with the vulgarity of the phrase ‘stick its nose’ which creates an unpleasant, uncomfortable image, which underlines his dismissive tone.

18. Question 8b • Again, you have to: • Explain what the children’s attitude is. • Identify the word choice • Decide what the connotations are • Explain how they highlight the children’s attitude to the school ban.

19. For example: • Word Choice: ‘away from teacher’s eyes’ suggests avoidance of authority of the all-seeing classroom eye. • ‘traded’ – suggests an illicit, appealing bargaining. • ‘marks of rebellion’ • Can you spot and explain other examples of word choice?

20. So your answer for Q8b might be: • The children’s attitude is a defiant, rebellious one. This is emphasized by the description of being “(away from the) teacher’s eyes.” This suggests avoidance of authority of the all-seeing classroom eye. Another choice of word – “traded” – suggests an illicit, appealing bargaining which goes on amongst the children with regard to unhealthy treats, thus underlining their defiant attitude.

21. Question 10 • Sentence structure questions normally concern repetition, antithesis of balance, types of question (e.g: statement/question/command etc.) • They also relate to punctuation e.g commas or semi-colons used to create lists, short or incomplete sentences, etc.

22. Question 10 • So, here you have to: • Explain the writer’s view about the obesity debate • Explain the sentence structure used • Explain its effect in highlighting the writer’s point of view.

23. Answer for Question 10 • She starts this section with a statement, followed up by a command that ‘We need to contest that.’ This shows her emphatic attitude to changing this belief. By also using pronouns such as ‘we’, she is reaching out to the reader in order to show how we all need to participate and therefore her message is made even more emphatic.

24. Question 11 • ‘demonisation of fat’ this creates an image of fat being turned into an evil entity, and this idea is built upon by choosing to describe this as being a form of ‘hysteria’ which connotes over-exaggerated mass panic where rational thought is not being used to analyse and keep obesity in perspective.

25. Question 12 • Repetition of ‘we need’ emphasizes her belief that everyone must get involved in sorting out this problem. It creates a hectoring tone. • ‘There is a lot to be done’ – a short sentence which sets up her uncompromising belief about the seriousness of this issue. • ‘cynically promote’ – shows her lack of faith in the medical companies as they’re depicted as simply out for profit, in this description.

26. Questions on both passages • 13a: It’s crucial that you can tell the similarities and the differences between the point of view of each of these articles. • 13b:This is another A/E question – but you have been given clear instructions on how to answer the task, so follow these in order to get full marks.

27. So for 13a… • Your answer should be along the lines of how: • Passage One warns that obesity is a great, serious danger whilst Passage Two suggests that it is not so serious as being suggested, and/or people are making money from exaggerating the problem.

28. 13 • 13. Consider the attitude displayed by each writer to obesity • Referring to important ideas in the passages, identify the key areas on which they disagree. • You may answer this question in continuous prose or in a series of developed bullet points. • 5 U/E

29. 13 • Marking Instructions: • The mark for this question should reflect the quality of response in two areas: • identification of the essential areas of disagreement in attitude/ideas • reference to/treatment of the ideas which inform the writers’ attitudes • A response which clearly identifies at least three essential areas of disagreement in attitude and at least some supporting evidence will score a minimum of 3 marks.

30. 13 idea 1 – people are getting fatter – area of disagreement – who is to blame? Passage 1 states that it is evolution because we are designed to cope with less not more. When there always more, people will store the extra - ``When bad times never come, they are stuck with that energy.`` Passage 2 believes that big businesses are to blame for making people believe they are fat so that billions can be spent on slimming products – ``part of a strategy to turn obesity into a disease which can be treated by the pharmaceutical, diet and medical industries.`` Idea 2 – something needs to be done Area of disagreement – what is to be done?

31. 13b – Here are some features you might want to comment on for the second passage: • The nature of the introductory anecdote/human interest story. • Word choice such as ‘food plus attitude,’ swamping’, ‘trumpet’, ‘serious money.’ • Exaggeration such as ‘endless’, ‘destabalise’,’swamping’, ‘millions.’ • Language of business/money such as ‘commercial’, ‘industry’ ‘market’ etc. • Sentence structure of lines 45-51.