‘In Your Own Words’

‘‘In Your Own Words’In Your Own Words’

In Your Own WordsIn Your Own Words

These are extremely common in close These are extremely common in close reading exams and an easy way to reading exams and an easy way to pick up marks. pick up marks.

These questions test your These questions test your understanding of the passage and understanding of the passage and also your vocabulary.also your vocabulary.

You must read the questions carefully You must read the questions carefully however, as if you DO NOT answer in however, as if you DO NOT answer in your own words then you will receive your own words then you will receive ZERO MARKS.ZERO MARKS.

In Your Own WordsIn Your Own Words

There are two steps to answering this There are two steps to answering this type of question:type of question:

Step OneStep One

Look in the text for the information Look in the text for the information which will answer the question.which will answer the question.

Step TwoStep Two

Express the information in your own Express the information in your own words in a simple sentence which fits words in a simple sentence which fits the way the question is worded.the way the question is worded.

ExampleExample

““I’m nocturnal, I love the moonlight, the I’m nocturnal, I love the moonlight, the shadows, the dark places, the shadows, the dark places, the dappled murk, I'm not being poetic. dappled murk, I'm not being poetic. I'm simply being true to my nature, I'm simply being true to my nature, my nocturnal nature. Like all my nocturnal nature. Like all tarantulas.”tarantulas.”

In your own words,In your own words, in what way is the in what way is the speaker ‘like all tarantulas’. (1) speaker ‘like all tarantulas’. (1)

AnswerAnswer

The speaker is active by night.The speaker is active by night.

Remember, if you were simply to Remember, if you were simply to say ‘The speaker is nocturnal’ or say ‘The speaker is nocturnal’ or ‘He is nocturnal’ you would get ‘He is nocturnal’ you would get no marks since you have failed no marks since you have failed to do step two, namely use your to do step two, namely use your own words. own words.

PracticePractice

Under other circumstances, I would Under other circumstances, I would have taken the subway. Even though have taken the subway. Even though everyone knows that the subway will everyone knows that the subway will be the first major target of terrorists, be the first major target of terrorists, it’s still safer than taking a cab. But it’s still safer than taking a cab. But I’d been shopping at Baldacci's, my I’d been shopping at Baldacci's, my favourite New York Deli, and was favourite New York Deli, and was loathe to manoeuvre my bags into loathe to manoeuvre my bags into the crowded, subterranean world the crowded, subterranean world where the sun never shone.”where the sun never shone.”

In your own words, explain the circumstances In your own words, explain the circumstances that prompted the writer to take a cab on that prompted the writer to take a cab on this occasion. (2)this occasion. (2)

AnswerAnswer

He had been shopping and had He had been shopping and had bags to carry (1); the subway bags to carry (1); the subway was always full of people which was always full of people which would have made managing his would have made managing his bags awkward (1).bags awkward (1).

QuestionsQuestions

The grim secret trade went largely The grim secret trade went largely undetected, but for its first decade undetected, but for its first decade the new fast route was a watery the new fast route was a watery highway of horror. Bodies snatched highway of horror. Bodies snatched from graveyards were smuggled from graveyards were smuggled away to the expanding medical away to the expanding medical schools in Edinburgh and Glasgow.schools in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

““A watery highway of horror”A watery highway of horror” Explain in Explain in your own words what the writer your own words what the writer means by this expression. (2)means by this expression. (2)

Question 2Question 2

The father of a friend once The father of a friend once said to me: ‘You can live too said to me: ‘You can live too long.’ He was 90 and lonely long.’ He was 90 and lonely as a unicorn, his friends as a unicorn, his friends were dead his family were dead his family scattered.scattered.

In your own words, give two In your own words, give two reasons why the old man reasons why the old man was so lonely. (2)was so lonely. (2)

Question 3Question 3

At least at the Eiffel tower, At least at the Eiffel tower, the other highlight of travel-the other highlight of travel-brochure Paris, you get the brochure Paris, you get the excitement of the lift and an excitement of the lift and an incredible view.incredible view.

In your own words, give two In your own words, give two reasons why the Eiffel Tower reasons why the Eiffel Tower was so popular. (2) was so popular. (2)

Question 4Question 4

When it debuted in an American When it debuted in an American newspaper in October 1950, the newspaper in October 1950, the four-frame strip of Peanuts four-frame strip of Peanuts introduced a cast of unusually introduced a cast of unusually mature kids – Charlie Brown, Lucy, mature kids – Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Peppermint Patty, Schroeder Linus, Peppermint Patty, Schroeder and an extraordinarily smart dog and an extraordinarily smart dog named Snoopy – who have since named Snoopy – who have since became cultural icons the world became cultural icons the world over. over.

In your own words, give two facts In your own words, give two facts about the Peanuts cartoons. (2)about the Peanuts cartoons. (2)