In this passage, the writer describes a remote mountain lake in Ireland and tells what happened on a family trip to fish for brown trout.
1 There is a lake, halfway up a mountain, where my family and I spend a day or two fishing each year. The climb, over waterloggedSaturated with water; very wet and soggy ground, drains the energy from our legs and makes us pause every now and then to catch our breath. During these short breaks we turn our backs on the mountain, and face, instead, the open country beneath us. There is plenty to see. The flat green country is divided by the River Shannon. There are lakes everywhere. Some of the larger ones we can name, but the small ones are too many to count; each one a jewelSomething precious or valuable, here referring to the beautiful appearance of the lakes nestled into a fold in the velvetSmooth and soft, referring to the texture and appearance of the landscape landscape. All around us the air carries the sound of the tiny streams which gather the water from the mountain and begin to steer it, well beyond our vision, towards the ocean.
2 The mountain lake is not easy to find. It seems unusual to locate a lake by climbing upward and, in many ways, we were lucky to find it at all on our first trip. It is very small and seemingly invisible until you arrive at a ridge and discover it, quite suddenly, at your feet. Sometimes it is not there at all. The dark clouds that grazeTo touch or scrape lightly in passing; here meaning the clouds pass very close to the mountaintops the mountaintops here may decide to throw a protective fog around it, and steal it back. On such days we are forced to turn away and leave the local fish, the brown trout, to cruiseTo move smoothly through water at a moderate speed the dark waters undisturbed.
3 This isolated lake is fed only by a stream which gathers rainfall from the mountain ridge above. How did the trout get here? They are not big fish: the heaviest we have caught is probably just under half a kilo. With their black backs, copper sides and two rows of red spots, they are all very similar in appearance. It seems to me that their strict conformityCompliance with standards or rules; uniformity in appearance to a shared dress code might say something about their history. Scientists suggest that fewer physical differences are to be expected in a small population long isolated from others. In my imagination, they are the descendants of ancestors which colonisedEstablished a population in a new area these waters in prehistoric times; ancestors which swam through channels long since vanished in a landscape of ice and glaciers and a wilderness unseen by human eyes.
4 I had taken my son, Leo, on a short fishing trip and had decided to go to the mountain lake as its eager fish might offer him the greatest hope of an early catch. Here the brown trout always rise freelyCome willingly to the water's surface (fishing terminology), as though to reward us for the effort we have made to reach them. Would these bold trout obligeTo do as requested; to accommodate or help someone us by rising to the water's surface as we had hoped? I need not have worried. Sure enough, within ten minutes or so of our arrival, a swirlA circular movement of water forming a small whirlpool distorted the mirror of the mountain lake's surface. A few moments later, we were admiring the varnishedHaving a glossy, shiny appearance, like a surface coated with varnish scales of Leo's first trout before he gently lowered it into the lake once more and let the black water reclaim it.
In this passage the writer describes the solitary life of John Treagood, a former teacher who decided to change his lifestyle.
1 John Treagood used to work as a teacher. One day he made a life-changing decision. He decided to go for a walk and hasn't stopped travelling since. He trekkedTo make a long journey, typically on foot all the way from the north to the south west of England, bought a horse and then built a caravan, based on a traditional design. That was 40 years ago. Nowadays, John can regularly be seen travelling around roads and lanes, in that same handbuilt caravan, pulled by his even-temperedHaving a calm, steady character; not easily upset or angered horse, Misty. For him, home is now his one-room caravan, parked on a piece of wastelandUnused or neglected land that is not cultivated or built upon, and his chief companion is his horse.
2 Despite often facing sub-zeroBelow zero degrees Celsius; freezing temperatures temperatures, John, 76, believes that life gets better every year. He says he doesn't feel the cold, adding that winters in the south west of England are mild, one of the reasons why he chose it as his destination all those years ago.
3 John does not claim a government pension, even though he is entitled to receive it. He makes money from odd jobsCasual, occasional work of various types such as pruning hedges; he collects water from streams and food from the land. In total, John collects about 70 litres of water each day. He drinks approximately 2 litres of water a day while his horse drinks about 50 litres.
4 Although he occasionally supplementsAdds something extra to complete or enhance something else his diet with fish from the nearby river, he generally eats any berries and vegetables he might discover along the way, always taking care to cut up carrots and apples for his horse. John is rarely ill. One particularly frosty morning, however, he slipped and fell, breaking his arm. He didn't seek help until three days later, having walked nearly 7 kilometres to a friend's house.
5 His only items from modern life are a radio to listen to music and a mobile phone. He explains, 'A friend said l'd need one for emergenciesSerious, unexpected situations requiring immediate action, but I haven't switched it on for six months.'
State two features of the walk which made it difficult for the narrator to reach the mountain lake. [Para. 1]
Correct Answers: The waterlogged ground drained their energy; They needed to pause to catch their breath
Explanation: According to paragraph 1, "The climb, over waterlogged ground, drains the energy from our legs and makes us pause every now and then to catch our breath." These are the two features that made the walk difficult.
Incorrect. Check paragraph 1 which specifically mentions "The climb, over waterlogged ground, drains the energy from our legs and makes us pause every now and then to catch our breath." The passage doesn't mention hot weather or dense forest.
Using your own words, explain what the narrator can see as he faces the open country. [Para. 1]
Correct Answer: Flat green country divided by the River Shannon with numerous lakes
Explanation: The passage states: "The flat green country is divided by the River Shannon. There are lakes everywhere. Some of the larger ones we can name, but the small ones are too many to count..."
Incorrect. Paragraph 1 clearly describes what the narrator sees: "The flat green country is divided by the River Shannon. There are lakes everywhere." There is no mention of mountains (apart from the one they're climbing), deserts, highways, the ocean, or villages.
Which four-word phrase in paragraph 1 suggests that the water in the tiny streams cannot be seen by the narrator? [Para. 1]
Correct Answer: "well beyond our vision"
Explanation: In paragraph 1, the narrator states that the tiny streams "begin to steer it, well beyond our vision, towards the ocean." This directly indicates that the water in the streams cannot be seen by the narrator.
Incorrect. The phrase "well beyond our vision" from paragraph 1 directly states that the narrator cannot see where the streams go. The other phrases don't convey this meaning.
Using your own words, give two reasons why the narrator says the mountain lake is difficult to find. [Para. 2]
Correct Answers: It's very small and nearly invisible until you're right upon it; Sometimes fog completely hides it from view
Explanation: In paragraph 2, the narrator states that the lake "is very small and seemingly invisible until you arrive at a ridge and discover it" and that "Sometimes it is not there at all. The dark clouds that graze the mountaintops here may decide to throw a protective fog around it, and steal it back."
Incorrect. The passage specifically mentions in paragraph 2 that the lake is difficult to find because it is "very small and seemingly invisible until you arrive at a ridge" and that sometimes "dark clouds...throw a protective fog around it." There is no mention of dense forest, wildlife, dangerous areas, or steep cliffs.
The brown trout are similar in appearance. Using your own words, explain what reasons scientists give for this similarity. [Para. 3]
Correct Answer: Fewer physical differences occur in small, isolated populations
Explanation: The passage states: "Scientists suggest that fewer physical differences are to be expected in a small population long isolated from others." This directly explains why the trout look similar.
Incorrect. Paragraph 3 specifically mentions that "Scientists suggest that fewer physical differences are to be expected in a small population long isolated from others." The passage doesn't mention genetic modification, natural identical appearance, or water quality affecting their appearance.
Explain what the writer means by the word "cruise" in "to cruise the dark waters undisturbed." [Para. 2]
Correct Answer: To swim slowly and leisurely
Explanation: "Cruise" in this context suggests the fish moving through the water in a relaxed, unhurried manner, undisturbed by human presence. This matches the overall tone of peaceful isolation in the passage.
Incorrect. The word "cruise" implies smooth, leisurely movement, not quick, purposeful movement, hiding, or aggressive hunting. The context suggests the trout are swimming undisturbed in their natural environment.
Explain what the writer means by the phrase "rise freely" in "the brown trout always rise freely, as though to reward us for the effort" [Para. 4]
Correct Answer: Come easily to the surface of the water
Explanation: In fishing terminology, when fish "rise" they come to the surface, often to take bait or flies. The word "freely" suggests they do this willingly and abundantly, making them easier to catch. This is confirmed later in the passage when a fish creates a "swirl" on the "surface" of the lake.
Incorrect. In fishing terminology, fish "rising" means they come to the surface of the water, usually to take bait. Later in paragraph 4, this is confirmed when "a swirl distorted the mirror of the mountain lake's surface" as the fish rose. The phrase doesn't refer to jumping out of water, growing, or swimming against currents.
Explain what the writer means by the word "varnished" in "admiring the varnished scales of Leo's first trout" [Para. 4]
Correct Answer: Shiny and glossy
Explanation: "Varnished" refers to the glossy, shiny appearance of the fish scales, similar to how varnish gives wood a shiny finish. This suggests the fresh, lustrous appearance of the fish just pulled from the water.
Incorrect. "Varnished" refers to something that has a glossy, shiny coating or appearance. Varnish is a clear, protective finish that makes surfaces shiny. The fish scales naturally have this shiny, glossy appearance - they're not artificially colored, rough, or damaged.
Explain how the language in "to cruise the dark waters undisturbed" helps to suggest the appearance and behavior of the brown trout. [Para. 2]
Correct Answer: It portrays the trout as peacefully moving through their natural environment without human interference
Explanation: The phrase "cruise the dark waters undisturbed" creates an image of fish swimming freely in their natural habitat without the intrusion of fishermen. "Cruise" suggests leisurely, unbothered movement, while "undisturbed" reinforces the sense of peace and natural behavior.
Incorrect. The phrase "cruise the dark waters undisturbed" suggests peaceful, untroubled movement. "Cruise" implies smooth, leisurely movement, not aggression or hiding. "Undisturbed" clearly indicates they're at peace without human interference. Nothing in the phrase suggests unhappiness or searching for food.
What are John Treagood's essential daily needs and the difficulties he faces in maintaining his lifestyle?
Check the items that correctly identify John's needs and difficulties according to the passage:
Summary of John Treagood's essential daily needs and the difficulties he faces:
Select the correctly paraphrased points that should be included in a summary: