You must show that you understand key words/ideas in the passage. Look out for words like 'explain' or 'main points' or 'line of thought' in the question.

You must show that you understand key words/ideas in the passage.

Look out for words like 'explain' or 'main points' or 'line of thought' in the question.

Remember YOU MUST ALWAYS USE YOUR OWN WORDS; do not simply repeat words from the passage. It is important to show that you comprehend the question by using other words with a similar meaning.

Be brief! Bullet points are recommended.

•

In this type of question you will be:In this type of question you will be:

Answering questions in your own words.Answering questions in your own words.Working out the meaning from context.Working out the meaning from context.

We will be looking at: We will be looking at: InferenceInferenceKey points.Key points.Supporting detail.Supporting detail.Linkage.Linkage.Topic sentencesTopic sentences Summarizing an argument or Summarizing an argument or following a line of thought.following a line of thought. 

You will be issued booklets that explain these different aspects of understanding questions and be able to view examples of these types of questions to attempt.

Each period we will attempt one question so that we familiarise ourselves with Close Reading skills.

Use the Code to show you Know

Really good answer. (Next Einstein)Straightforward/ acceptable answer. (On

the money) Weak/misguided answer. (Stop watching

so much TV and read more) Other possible points. (Damn! I knew I

could have had that) Similar questions already tackled. (Oh,

another one of those questions)

Use the Code to show you Know

New Year is supposed to be a time for looking both backwards and forward. But if it’s a good thing to acknowledge a quiet moment of transition between past ands future, it’s profoundly debilitating to find yourself permanently trapped between the two, and it often seems, at the turn of the year, as if that kind of limbo is where British society has found itself for the last 30 years or so, unable to move backwards, yet somehow reluctant to move on.

Q) Explain the situation in which, according to lines 1-6, “British society has found itself”. 2U

Task: Use the code issued to you and apply it to each answer. You should be able to justify why you have given each symbol to each answer.

Possible Answers

It is stuck between the past and the future. It knows it can’t go back the way, but is unwilling to accept the future.

It is unable to move backwards , yet somehow reluctant to move on.

British society is seriously weakened by being caught between two ideas: a fondness for a past it knows can’t be revisited and an unwillingness to embrace new ideas.

Why is the middle one incorrect?

No attempt to use own words!!!!

Peers Assess AnswersIt’s important because whether we like it or not, an unstoppable change is about to begin that will make all the previous technological advances seem piffling. Andi, the first genetically altered primate, is the tangible herald of something that has been forecast for decades. As everything from Leonardo da Vinci’s helicopter designs to Arthur C Clark’d bombs in space has proved, if we can dream it we can do it. We dream about designing, modifying, changing and improving ourselves, and now it seems we can make it happen.

What can you infer about Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘helicopter’ (line 25) or Arthur C Clarks’s bombs (Line 26) from the context of the sentence in which they appear?

2U

In groups try to answer the question and then peer assess other answers to give them a mark out of 2. Be prepared to explain your marking.

That they became successful inventions in the future after being dreamt up by their inventors.

That they were early proposals for something that eventually happened.The context talks about things being dreamt about and then happening, suggesting that the same process applied to da Vinci’s helicopter designs and Clarke’s space bombs.

Andi, is similar to Da vinci’s helicopter and Clarke’s space bombs as suggested by the context in the passage. He will also become a successful innovation of the future like the other designs mentioned.

Possible Answers

This means you have to examine This means you have to examine

howhow the writer has written the the writer has written the passage i.e. the style. Questions passage i.e. the style. Questions will focus on structure and will focus on structure and language and how the writer has language and how the writer has used these things to achieve a used these things to achieve a particular effect. particular effect.

Questions on structure might be on:Questions on structure might be on:

Sentence structure.Sentence structure.PunctuationPunctuationRepetition.Repetition.

Sentence length.Sentence length.Paragraphing.Paragraphing.

Ordering of material.Ordering of material.

Questions on language might be on:Questions on language might be on:

Word choice.Word choice.Choice of images.Choice of images.

Tone.Tone.

Word Choice • You are being asked to select a key word and show

how the connotations of the word are being exploited by the writer.

• You must focus on individual words.

• Do not simply quote the word or repeat the question.

• A useful strategy can sometimes be to compare the chosen word with a more neutral one.

Understanding Word Choice Put the words underlined into your own words. • He was spellbound by the performance. • We cultivated scruffiness. • The man was optimistic that he would achieve his goal. • There was a simultaneous display of luminous strobes and

noise. • He ran onto the pitch with an unmatched display of bravado. • He sat alone in tortured shyness, consumed by his own self-

loathing. • Frequenting the pub after work would have been more

congenial. • There was a web of deceit surrounding the enquiry.• She was glad to leave the narrow confines of her childhood

behind.

Now in groups I want you to create 5 similar examples of sentences involving effective word choice and pass them to another group that will have to explain their meaning.

How does the writer’s word choice in these lines help to convey his view of the importance of “physical libraries”.?

Refer to two examples in answer.

The internet search engine Google, with whom I spend more time than with my loved ones, is planning to put the contents of the world’s greatest university libraries online, including the Bodleian in Oxford and those of Harvard and Stansford on America. Part of me is ecstatic at the thought of all that information at my fingertips; another part of me is nostalgic, because I think of physical libraries, book-lined and cathedral-quiet , are a cherished part of civilisation we lose at our cultural peril.

• In groups define what “physical libraries” are and pick out as many ideas as possible that convey the importance of physical libraries to the writer and re-word.

Peer Assess Answers • In groups I want you to decide what you would

give this answer out of 2A and justify.

The writer uses “cherished”, illustrating his view of the importance

of “physical libraries” which along with the word “peril” suggests his belief that our libraries are an important part of our

heritage. “Cathedral-quiet” shows that he thinks they are always quiet and this is important to him.

“cathedral quiet” suggests a spiritual peace is provided by the library and “peril” suggests dramatic fall of literary background and shows that the writer feels strongly about this.

• “a cherished part of civilisation” implies that libraries are of great importance to society and that people hold them close in their hearts.

• “cultural peril” connotes that it will be societies fault if libraries fall out of use because of our ever-changing society.

“Cherished” – shows that they are deeply loved by everyone.

“peril” – connotations of danger (perhaps death) shows we would

be in great danger if we lost them.

Possible Correct Answers “book-lined” – large number of books implies the

impressive organised/ structured feel of place.

“cathedral-quiet” – suggests solitude, peace, reverence found within this space.

“cherished” – something loved and cared for dearly.

“civilisation” – the basis upon which society is formed. Connotations of that which marks us out from less sophisticated societies.

“lose” – sense of being deprived of something.

“cultural” – suggests tradition, civilised society.

“peril” – posed threat, danger to.

Use the Code to Show you Know

It’s not that nothing has changed in that time, of course. There has been turbo-

charged economic growth, wave upon wave of migration, a massive shift from an industrial to a service economy, and a generation of unprecedented change in sexual politics and family life.

Q) Show how the writer’s word choice these lines emphasises the extent of the changes she describes.

Task: In groups apply the code to the following answers and justify why.

She emphasises the extent of the changes she describes with very good word choice. She says “turbo-charged” and “massive” which give the reader a very clear picture of how big the changes have been.

She describes economic growth as “turbo-charged, which suggests an engine made for power and speed. She describes the shift from industry to the service economy as “massive”, which suggests a huge, unstoppable force.

“turbo-charged” suggests something specially designed for excessive, abnormal power and speed with a hint of something reckless and dangerous. “unprecedented” suggets it is completely new – unparalleled and hard to some to terms with.

Imagery • You must show that you understand the

literal ‘origin’ of the image. • You must show that you can see how the

writer is extending this metaphorically to make a point.

• Simply picking out the words which contain the image will get no marks.

• Adding lots of vague comments which are not tied to understanding and analysis of the image will also score no marks .

By referring to one example, show how the writer’s imagery in lines 18-23 conveys the importance of libraries.

I have spent a substantial portion of my life since in libraries, and I still enter them with a mixture of excitement and awe. I am not alone in this. Veneration for libraries is as old as writing itself, for a library is more to our culture than a collection of books: it is a temple, a symbol of power, the hushed core of civilisation, the citadel of memory, with its own mystique, social and sensual as well as intellectual.

In groups decide what type of question this is, pick out the literal root of the image and how the writer extends this.

Peer Assess ExamplesQ) What would you give these questions out of

2?

“it is a temple” – this shows importance of the library as, by

suing a metaphor to compare it to a temple, it portrays it to be special an full of history, a really important place which people respect.

“temple” implies it is a worshipping place, somewhere very important to society.

The metaphor “it is a temple” literally is a place of worship. This shows how he finds libraries to be sacred, a place where people go to worship books.

A “temple” is a place of worship, a place where people of a certain religion go to praise the highest power. The place where their God is – the source of all their beliefs. Comparing the library to a temple is therefore effective as libraries host such a vast and unimaginable amount of knowledge, it shows how important libraries are as it shows the library to be near holy.

Correct Answers

• “temple” – just as a temple is a place of worship and reverence, a library deserves our utmost respect (because of the accumulation of knowledge which it contains)

• “Core” – just as the core is the heart, the essential part, a library is central to out lives and society.

• “citadel” – just as a citadel is a fortress, a library provides a stronghold to safeguard all that we consider most precious.

Answer then Use the Code to Show You Know

Now, of course, it’s possible to debate at length whether or not, under current conditions, the extension of sex education in schools would make any decisive impact on that group of vulnerable British youngsters who, for a blizzard of social reasons, just can’t seem to associate what they told about sex at school and what happens in their own lives. It seems to me, though, that it’s not really the substance of the issue that’s in question here. In reason, we all know that five-year olds need to know a little bit about sex, even if it’s only why their own bodies are as they are. It’s just that we don’t like seeing that truth written down in so many words, and we don’t like the idea that we can’t rely on families alone to do the job.

Q)How effective do you find the image “a blizzard of social reasons” in conveying the writer’s point about the plight of some British youngsters.

If you are literally in a blizzard you can’t see because of the amount of snow. The writer is suggesting that young people tidy have to face so many problems that it is as they can’t see and are helpless.

In a blizzard there is lots of snow and you can’t see where you are going. It is very frightening so it is effective in conveying the writer’s point.

A “blizzard” is literally a snowstorm which overwhelms and makes vision almost impossible. The image effectively illustrates the writers point that there are so many social reasons (causing young people not to heed the advice they get on sex) coming from many different directions such that they are blinding the young people, making it impossible to distinguish one from the other, making them seem threatened and lost.

So what are we to do, stranded in this no-man’s land between an old

civilisation that’s no longer sustainable either practically or morally, and a new one that we still resist because it seems somehow alien.

Q)Show how the imagery in lines 41-43 conveys the writer’s view of the situation we find ourselves in. Peer assess the exemplar answers on the next page.

“no-man’s land”: literally the space between two warring enemies; suggests we are caught and trapped between two forces (the old and the new), uncertain about which way to go, committed to neither side.

No-man’s land is the area between two armies. The writer is suggesting that we don’t seem to belong to either side, in this case the past and the future, and we don’t know which “side” to be on.

The answer doesn’t have to see “no-man’s land” in terms of warfare as above answers do. It could have been an area where “no-man” actually goes or belongs, in which case the writer is suggesting that we are metaphorically in an unknown, slightly scary dilemma unsure of where safety lies.

Tone In this type of question you are

being asked to explain the feel or sense of atmosphere suggested in the passage through the words used by the writer.

In speech the sound of someone’s voice conveys tone quite clearly but its meaning is essentially the same whether the words are spoken or written.

What’s that Tone? Where have you been?

These words could be spoken in various situations: • By someone talking to a friend who has recently been on

holiday. • By someone talking to a friend who has not been seen for a

long time. • By a parent top a son or daughter arriving home at 4am.

Make up a similar sentence with a partner and think about what why you would say it in different circumstances.

Serious or Not? Thinking about this can help us decide what kind of tone the

writer is using: Humorous – author finds subject funny and hopes reader will too.Flippant – writer shows irreverent attitude to something normally taken

seriously .Informal/conversational – will use a chatty language as if the writer is

addressing/ confiding in a friend.Effusive – enthusiastic tone that could be used to persuade. Ironic – where the writer says the opposite of what they mean, could be for

humour but there is usually a serious purpose behind this. Tongue-in-cheek – a form of irony where the writer will sound serious but

there is a sense of ridicule behind this. Satirical – an extreme form of irony. The writer is funny in a more savage

way, holding a subject up in ridicule in order to attack it. Serious – when the writer is being solemn and uses formal language.

Peer Assess Answers

It was the first time he had travelled by air and he swore he

would never fly again. This was marginally inconvenient when he was one of the hottest hopes America had for Olympic boxing gold.Q) “This was marginally inconvenient… boxing gold” (lines 16-18). What tone is adopted by the writer in this sentence? Go on to briefly explain how effective you find the tone in this context (2 A/E)

Use the Code to Show you Know• A. The tone is humorous and it is effective as it stresses the

"inconvenience" of having this fear. The humour is in "marginally" as this is a huge understatement and it emphasises how disruptive this fear would be to his career.

• B. The tone is sarcastic. This is effective as it plays down how much he was relied on in sport. The words "marginally inconvenient" show this tone. It emphasises the point the writer is trying to make and adds humour for the reader. It is also an attention drawing statement which the reader notices as it stands out

• C. This is a serious angry tone. The content is effective at creating this tone because the author goes on to say Cassius was so popular worldwide he needed to go back on

a plane and it took a long while to persuade him to do so.

Correct Answers

• Ironic / tongue in cheek / sarcastic / dry / humorous tone (1A)

• Effective as highlights farcical nature of the situation i.e. it is not a small problem but actually a very large threat to the success of his career / how human this young hero was / how much emotion America had invested in him / (1E)

Sentence Structure This type of question in not just asking you to explain what a writer means but asking you to comment on HOW the sentence is put together and why.

In this type of question you should think about:

• The complexity of the sentence.

• The sentence length. • The Function. • Punctuation. • Whether there is

repetition? • Whether it is a

rhetorical question? • Whether the order

seems to be inverted?

In groups comment on the structure of the following sentences:

1) Blah Blah Blah!2) Blah Blah Blah blah: Blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah. 3) Blah blah blah blah blah: Blah blah blah blah blah. 4) Blah, blah blah, blah, blah, blah blah. 5) Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah

blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.

6)Blah blah blah blah blah (blah blah blah blah blah blah) blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.

7)Blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah.

Use the Code to Show you Know I have often wondered whether the world would

have heard of him had he dug his heels in on the day of departure. Probably not. In 1960, in racist,

reactionary, bigoted small town America, uppity young black men were lucky enough to get one break, let alone two.

Destiny determined otherwise. A legend was in the making. What overwhelms you about this man from such a violent trade are the goodness, sincerity, and generosity that have survived a lifetime of controversy, racial hatred, fundamental religious conversion, criminal financial exploitation, marital upheavals, revilement by many of his own nation, and eventually, the collapse of his own body.

Q) Show how the writer uses sentence structure in lines 21-35 to dramatise his view about destiny and Muhammed Ali (4 A)

The use of the short sentence in "probably not" shows clearly that the author is dramatising his view as it brings emphasis to the fact that Muhammed Ali would not have been famous if he had not got on the plane. The long complex sentences starting "In 1960" dramatises the author's view as it is listing the issues that Ali had to come up against. By the use of this long complex sentence it also gives a rambling nature and emphasises the magnitude of which Muhammed Ali had to overcome. The short sentence in "A legend was in the making" draws our attention to what is being said and is a good introduction to the next long complex sentence. The long sentence beginning with "What overwhelms" dramatises the view as again by the lists and the length it shows the huge volume of things Ali had to

overcome.

Sentence structure dramatises the writer's view about destiny and Muhammed Ali. By having a long sentence followed by a short one "probably not”. This short sentence shows his view on destiny as he is saying if Ali didn't go on the plane to Italy would he have become so famous. When he is talking about Ali getting a breakthrough the sentence is split up into commas this creates a climax of what it was like for black men in America. When talking about Muhammed Ali again the sentence is split up into commas this time it is creating a list about what Ali has been through in life creating a climax as well. This paragraph starts with a short sentence "destiny determined otherwise" This also creates a climax.

[Type a quote from the document or the summary of an interesting point. You can position the text box anywhere in the document. Use the Text Box Tools tab to change the formatting of the pull quote text box.]

It is not that fast-food culture is on the wane – far from it. In fact, the takeaway sector generally continues to grow. But as it expands, it is also diversifying. These days, in the clusters of fast-food outlets in major cities, we are starting to find, dotted along the big names in burgers, chicken and pizza, some genuine alternatives: the big name coffee shops of course, but also juice bars, sushi restaurants, fruit and nut stands, bagel bars, pastry parlours, soup and salad takeaways – and even the occasional burger joint. Taking the fast food sector as a whole, the possibility of an encounter with what we might call ‘real food’ is definitely on the up.

How does sentence structure in lines 11-24 emphasise the variety and quality of the takeaway sector.

How many marks do you think that this question is worth?

What do you need to do in order to gain the mark(s)?

Correct Answers Dash – far from it (line 11) – the brief monosyllabic phrase intensifies the

preceding statement.‘But as...diversifying’ (line 12) – balanced sentence introduces both elements

of his contention – the size and variety. The listing of ‘genuine alternatives’ after the colon in line 15 – the number of

outlets mentioned gives the impression of an endless stream of different kinds of attractive, healthy outlets.

The dash (line 17) and the following statement – saves the most promising (organic or unlikely) outlet to the last, thus creating an effective climax.

The use of inverted commas around ‘real food’ – serves to distinguish between the food he prefers and the food offered by the big chains which he implies is ‘not real food’.

‘Not only... But transparency...ingredients (lines23-24) – list of items after ‘not only...but’ lends importance to the final elements he sees as desirable in the new type of fast foods/ stresses the equally important factor of easily tracing the origin of food.

• When people speak of _________ ________ – a boy born with a superlative as a surname- the are forever lamenting the spectacular squandering of skill. He could have been bigger than Pele, they say regretfully; no other footballer was so naturally blessed with Best’s incandescent combination of deftness, delicacy and bravery. He could have wrung another ten years at the top of his game and been richly garlanded with sporting honours before cruising sleekly onto a comfortable circuit of endorsements, chat-show appearances, after-dinner speeches and testimonials; all steadily spreading the thick, creamy butter of money across a handsome range of financial investments. He could have sustained a satisfying family life instead of burning through a string of blondes and trailing acrimony in his wake. He could have rested healthy, prosperous and content, the envy of his peers.

• In groups annotate all points of interest in this extract in terms of language, imagery, sentence structure, tone etc. And be ready to feedback to the class.

• Also try to guess who the article is discussing?

TaskAnswer the past paper question below: Show how, in lines 8-17, the writer uses an important feature of sentence structure to emphasise the idea of “forever lamenting the spectacular squandering of his skill” (Line 9). 2A

• Firstly discuss what exactly is the question asking you to so and how do you know this? What do you need to demonstrate in your answer to this question?

• Once you have answered this make up at least two other questions that could have been asked about this extract and have clear and detailed accompanying answers

Possible Answers

Most important is the repetition of ‘He could have’ suggesting what he had the potential to be and demonstrate how many positive things he might have achieved, but expressed in the conditional to imply that he didn’t.

Where do the two marks come from within this answer?

These questions ask you to sum up how well the writer has achieved the purpose that he/she has intended. You are required to make a judgement and back up your judgement by close reference to the text. In answering these types of questions, you must build on the knowledge that you have acquired in the from other types of questions as these will highlight the significant points of the text and will therefore be important in any attempt at summing up.

In these questions you should:

Use language that shows you have made a judgement.

Comment on any aspect of the text that adds strength to the writer’s argument.

Comment on any weakness that you can see in the writer’s argument or style.

 In answering these questions, you should:

Use any suggestions that are given in the question to guide your answer.

Justify using a quotation or reference from text.

Use the Code to Show You Know

Bookish types have always feared change and technology, but the book, and even the library, have adapted and endured, retaining their essential magic. Even Hollywood understood. In the 1957 film Desk Set, Katherine Hepburn plays a librarian-researcher whose job is threatened by a computer expert (Spencer Tracy) introducing new technolgy. In the end, the computer turns out to be an asset, not a danger, Tracy and Hepburn end up smooching, and everyone reads happily ever after.

How effectively does the reference to the film Desk Set to conclude the passage in a pleasing way? Refer in your answer to the ideas and language of lines 55-62.

3E

The marriage of Google and Bodleian will surely be the same.

A)The writer’s use of the film “Desk Set” is effective as a conclusion as it shows the writers final thoughts to the passage. It demonstrates his beliefs that computers and the online libraries will be able to help libraries not threaten them as widely believed. The example of the film helps sum up the writer’s thoughts and emphasise his ideas. He uses a comparison in the example of the film that “in the end, the computer turns out to be an asset, not a danger” successfully concluding the passage.

B)The writer’s use of the comparison of the film “Desk

Set” is very effective in conveying a happy ending. The

personification of google and the Bodleian library getting

“married” is effective in showing a good partnership

between the two. As “married” suggests companionship

and trust, this conveys that the library and the internet

will hopefully work together.

C)The writer uses this anecdote to successfully end the passage in a pleasing way be making reference to one of the strongest human drives: love. “smooching” implies kissing and in this context is used to bring a childlike, non-serious feel to the end of the passage. The metaphor “marriage” implies two inanimate things will get married. However, in this context it suggests that the combination of the two will cause no problem. The image of marriage gives the impression of a peaceful, loving, pleasing event with hopes for lasting contentment.

D)The reference shows that despite all these fears of losing libraries, there is a chance that this new technology will marry together with the old libraries and they will help each other rather than work against one another. This is pleasant as it ends the passage on a positive note and leaves the reader feeling uplifted.

E) By likening the situation to “Desk Set” the writer adds a bit of humour to the situation. This humour makes the subjects a little more light-hearted by comparing topics discussed in the passage to a clichéd Hollywood love story. The language such as “smooching” makes the passage a little more informal and means the reader is more able to identify with it. By summing it up with a final sentence at the end, the writer gives impact to the point of his comparison and effectively convinces the reader of his point that the internet is nothing to be feared.

F) He shows how the librarian feared the idea of change and technology, just in the way that we fear changing libraries and books for the computer and the internet. It shows how rather than something to be feared the “computer turns out to be an asset”. Just as putting books onto computers will be beneficial to us in a number of ways. The word play in “everyone reads happily ever after” (as opposed to “lives”) creates a light-hearted and humorous effect and so connects the idea of reading to the of a love story that ends well.

Possible Answers from SQA

Ideas: 1. The film illustrates the conflict between libraries and new

technology – the two main characters represent the two sides.

2.The passage ends on a positive note – libraries and online catalogue can happily co-exist.

Language/Style 3. Literal and metaphorical marriage. 4. “smooching” – jocular, informal reference to easy,

affectionate, slightly old-fashioned relationship.5. Play on words – “everyone reads happily ever after”6. Single sentence final paragraph sums up the link between

the film and the co-existence of libraries and an online catalogue.

Example: Long-suffering Scottish football fans have, over many painful years, become accustomed to stomaching failure regularly and have, indeed, been forced to squeeze victory celebrations

out of such questionable “successes” as gallant defeats. However, even that hardened constitutions of such admirable individuals will surely struggle to cope with the current

unbroken diet of defeat after defeat after defeat.

Question Why does the author suggest that fans already “accustomed to stomaching failure regularly” might have difficulty coping with the team’s present form.

• What type of question is this? Understanding• What section of the extract would you find the

answer? After the link word ‘however’ which suggests that despite being able to cope with most defeat, the recent situation is a step too far.

Question: Explain how the author continues the image of “stomaching” (line 2) in the rest of the extract.

• What type of question is this? • What word gives this away? • What do you need to do to answer?

Sentence Structure

Spilt your page in half and write two separate headings: Punctuation

and why used.

In groups brainstorm all of the examples of punctuation you can think of and also why it would be used within a piece of writing.

For example: an exclamation mark could be used to indicate shock, someone shouting, a command etc.

• Be ready to feedback to the class

Increasingly , the predominant thing that you and I do is shop and plan our lives around things we have to pay for: clothes, jewellery, cars, houses, holidays, restaurants and gadgets that make us what we are. Once we were a society of producers, knowing ourselves and each other by what we did and what we made. Not any more. Today we understand ourselves and project the image we want others to see through what we buy.

Q) Show how the writer uses sentence structure in lines 4-9 to make clear the points he is making.

The writer uses a colon to introduce a list made up of many commas and he uses a minor sentence in among a lot of long sentences to make clear the point he is making.

The list of things we do as consumers shows just how many there are, emphasising just how big the consumer society has become. The short minor sentence “not any more” is a sudden and abrupt way to introduce the big change that has happened to our way of life.

The long list of typical consumer items (mostly luxury ones) emphasises the sheer extent of the spending opportunities open to us today in contrast to the simplicity of the past. The writer illustrates the sharpness of the contrast by his use of the short sentence “not any more” which sort of jolts the reader into a sense of the complete change in society’s attitude to an individual’s worth.

Reference could also have been made to the use of “time-markers” at the start of sentences (“once today”) to emphasise the contrast.

Note – a minor sentence is not necessarily the same as a short sentence. Not all short sentences are minor and some minor can be quite long.