PRELIMINARYEXAMINATIONII
ENGLISHLANGUAGE
PAPER2COMPREHENSION
QUESTIONBOOKLETIIIANSWERS
1128/02
20August2014
1hour50minutes
AdditionalMaterials: Insert,QuestionBookletsI&II
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2
Section C [25 marks]
Refer to Text 3 on pages 5 and 6 of the Insert for Questions 15 - 21.
15
What evidence is there in paragraph 1 to show that desert conditions do not deter birds
from living there?
[1]
Birds are abundant in arid lands.
16
What advantage that reptiles and mammals have over birds in the desert is mentioned
in paragraph 2?
.
. [1]
They are able to burrow into the ground to escape the heat while birds are not
designed to do so.
17
18
Quote a word from paragraph 4 that shows that reproduction is not easy for desert
birds.
..[1]
strain
19
In most of the world the timing mechanism that initiates sexual development in birds is
related to the changing length of the nights (lines 35-36).
In your own words, explain how shorter nights affect reproduction in birds.
.[2]
From text : physiologically stimulated
When nights are shorter, the birds physical functions / bodily functions (physiologically)
(1)
are activated to begin the reproductive process (stimulated). (1)
20
Here is a part of a conversation between two students, Alice and James, who have
read the article.
Alice
I disagree I think
Nature will equip them
with whatever is
necessary to ensure
their survival.
James
(i) Explain with reference to two factors from paragraph 4 why Alice thinks survival of
the bird species is a challenge.
..
...[2]
Reproduction can succeed only when there is sufficient food (insects) but food is limited
in the desert. (1)
Nesting must be undertaken at precisely the right moment (timing is critical) and the
window period for this is also limited.(1)
(ii) With reference to paragraph 6, explain how James would justify his view.
..
.
. [2]
Despite the unfavourable conditions, when the rains come(1), naturally (somehow) the
females quickly develop eggs so that incubation can start (1).
21 Using your own words as far as possible, summarise the challenges birds face in the
desert and how they have adapted to living in the desert.
Use only information from paragraphs 2 and 3.
Your summary must be in continuous writing (not note form). It must not be longer than
4
80 words (not counting the words given to help you begin).
The main problem that birds face in the desert is .....................................
[15]
No Point
1
Heat problem
2
few, like the burrowing owl, do use the
burrows of animals
3
Many species simply avoid the problem
by migrating; they use the desert as a
breeding ground when it is most
hospitable, and abandon it in seasons
of drought or cold
4
feed when the heat is least severe
morning and evening for diurnal
species, and night-time for the owls
and other nocturnal ones
5
and to retire to the shade in the middle
of the day
6
Even in the shade the air temperature
often exceeds the highest temperature
birds can tolerate (about 45 degrees
Centigrade),
7
they must expend water to cool
themselves. Having no sweat glands,
they evaporate water from the lungs by
panting, and this effectively cools them.
8
water must be replenished daily. This
is no problem for the insect feeders
and raptorial birds, since the flesh they
eat is made up mostly of water. But the
seed eaters must have real drinking
water,
9
they congregate near springs
10 Doves and some of the finches may fly
miles to drink, and can forage over a
much larger area around a water-hole
11 some birds can survive on water found
in succulent vegetation
Paraphrase
the extreme heat.
Some birds occupy animal burrows to
escape the heat
while others handle it by migrating
during hotter seasons.
The main problem that birds face in the desert is the extreme heat. Some birds occupy
animal burrows to escape the heat while others handle it by migrating during hotter
seasons. Birds have learned to feed at the coolest times of the day and to seek shelter
away from strong sunlight in the afternoons. Despite this, the temperature can still be
intolerable so they reduce their body temperature by panting. When water is hard to
find, birds gather around springs, further their search or draw water from juicy desert
plants. (80 words)
7m
5-6m
3-4m
1-2m
0m
No of Points
reworded
(Maximum of 8
points)
Marks awarded
for Style
1-2m
2-3m
3-4m
4-5m
7
4
5-6m
5 and above
5-7m
*Students may be penalised if there are grammatical errors in the answer and obtain
the lower mark in the mark range.
*If there are attempts to substitute other words/structures other than those
underlined in the answer, credit may be given.