Writer's Craft

‘Joseph!’ his mother exclaimed, bustling impatiently into the room. ‘It’s time to go into town to buy you new clothes for starting school. Are you pleased?’ Without waiting for an answer, she hurriedly pushed him out of the front door in the direction of the bus stop. Reluctantly, Joseph trailed along behind her. He was the pirate king. He had a mission: adventures to complete and enemies to confront.

What is the meaning of the underlined words as they appear in the paragraph?

• Joseph walked behind his mother hesitantly.

• Joseph lagged behind his mother unwillingly.

• Joseph prodded behind his mother excitedly.

• Joseph dragged himself behind his mother monotonously.

‘Joseph!’ his mother exclaimed, bustling impatiently into the room. ‘It’s time to go into town to buy you new clothes for starting school. Are you pleased?’ Without waiting for an answer, she hurriedly pushed him out of the front door in the direction of the bus stop. Reluctantly, Joseph trailed along behind her. He was the pirate king. He had a mission: adventures to complete and enemies to confront.

What is the effect of the underlined words as they appear in the paragraph?

• To show his annoyance at tagging along with his mother.

• To highlight his keenness in accompanying his mother.

• To portray Joseph's disinterest in the journey.

• To bring out Joseph's boredom with his mother.

He brightened a little as the bus came bumping and rattling over the hill, because this was his pirate ship dipping and rising with the turbulence of the ocean. His mother clasped his hand tightly and directed him to a seat. On the journey she counted the contents of her purse, anxious in case her own mission might not be successful. When the bus reached the shopping centre, Joseph found himself propelled onto the pavement and led into a store.

What is the meaning of the underlined words as they appear in the paragraph?

• Joseph was ushered into the store.

• Joseph was invited into the store.

• Joseph was forced into the store.

• Joseph was pushed towards and taken into the store.

He brightened a little as the bus came bumping and rattling over the hill, because this was his pirate ship dipping and rising with the turbulence of the ocean. His mother clasped his hand tightly and directed him to a seat. On the journey she counted the contents of her purse, anxious in case her own mission might not be successful. When the bus reached the shopping centre, Joseph found himself propelled onto the pavement and led into a store.

What is the effect of the underlined words as they appear in the paragraph?

• To highlight how forceful and controlling the mother can be.

• To show the mother's annoyance at Joseph.

• To show how protective the mother is of Joseph.

• To show how naughty Joseph had been on the bus.

With a practised eye, Joseph’s mother scanned the rails of children’s clothes, checking sizes and prices, and picked out trousers, shirts and a jacket. Hiding her irritation at his indifference to the shopping trip, she coaxed him to co-operate with her by promising a reward at the end of it – a small toy, perhaps, or some fruit. ‘Please be a good boy, Joseph. I don’t know what’s got into you today!’ she complained, as her son’s aggressive face stared back at her from the mirror in the changing room. Joseph’s young conscience was stirred by this, and he decided to try looking on the bright side.

What is the meaning of the underlined words as they appear in the paragraph?

• Joseph was determined to be naughtier.

• Joseph felt bad about his lack of interest.

• Joseph's emotions got all mixed up.

• Joseph didn't know how to think or feel.

With a practised eye, Joseph’s mother scanned the rails of children’s clothes, checking sizes and prices, and picked out trousers, shirts and a jacket. Hiding her irritation at his indifference to the shopping trip, she coaxed him to co-operate with her by promising a reward at the end of it – a small toy, perhaps, or some fruit. ‘Please be a good boy, Joseph. I don’t know what’s got into you today!’ she complained, as her son’s aggressive face stared back at her from the mirror in the changing room. Joseph’s young conscience was stirred by this, and he decided to try looking on the bright side.

What is the effect of the underlined words as they appear in the passage?

• To highlight what a confused child Joseph was.

• To show how dutiful Joseph is.

• To show how ignorant Joseph can be.

• To emphasize his affection towards his mother.

‘Kim! It’s so long since I saw you! How are you?’ Joseph recognised the former neighbour who greeted his mother at the store counter. He shuffled from foot to foot as the two women gave their respective accounts of the past two years, until suddenly his attention was seized by a picture which he had until now failed to notice on the wall of the children’s section of the store. He could hardly believe his eyes – there, complete with mast and white sails, was the pirate ship of his story book.

What is the meaning of the underlined words as they appear in the passage?

• He couldn't stand still.

• He was stationary.

• He jumped up and down.

• He was prancing up and down the store.

‘Kim! It’s so long since I saw you! How are you?’ Joseph recognised the former neighbour who greeted his mother at the store counter. He shuffled from foot to foot as the two women gave their respective accounts of the past two years, until suddenly his attention was seized by a picture which he had until now failed to notice on the wall of the children’s section of the store. He could hardly believe his eyes – there, complete with mast and white sails, was the pirate ship of his story book.

What is the effect of the underlined words as they appear in the passage?

• To highlight his boredom.

• To highlight his anger.

• To highlight his nervousness.

• To highlight his excitement.

As if under a magnetic force, he slipped his hand free of his mother’s and moved towards the picture. He stared at it, wondering whether the pirate king was in his cabin or had gone ashore. He wandered through into the next section of the store and discovered that this was the toy department. He gazed at furry bears, model cars and plastic dinosaurs piled up in a delightful display; best of all, on a huge table two miniature trains ran round on a track, passing under bridges and past toy stations.

What is the meaning of the underlined words as they appear in the paragraph?

• He was tempted by the picture.

• He was repelled by the picture.

• He was drawn towards the picture.

• He wanted to be in the picture.

As if under a magnetic force, he slipped his hand free of his mother’s and moved towards the picture. He stared at it, wondering whether the pirate king was in his cabin or had gone ashore. He wandered through into the next section of the store and discovered that this was the toy department. He gazed at furry bears, model cars and plastic dinosaurs piled up in a delightful display; best of all, on a huge table two miniature trains ran round on a track, passing under bridges and past toy stations.

What is the effect created by the underlined words?

• To show how curious he was.

• To bring out his fascination of pirates.

• To show how much he loves wall paintings.

• To show how disobedient he was.