Lonesome George

Lonesome George is the last known

individual of the Pinta Island

Tortoise (Geochelone nigra

abingdoni) which is one of eleven

subspecies of Galápagos tortoise,

all of which are native to the

Galápagos Islands. He has been

labelled the rarest creature in the

world, and is a potent symbol for

conservation efforts in the

Galápagos and internationally. It is

thought that he was named after a

character played by American actor

George Gobel.

The Demise of the Giant TortoiseGiant tortoises once occurred on all

continents, except Antarctica. However, the

evolution of humans and their rapid

colonization of the earth meant that the giant

tortoises, large, tasty, and easy to kill, were

quickly hunted to extinction in all but the most

inaccessible regions of the globe.

Lonely and Looking for Love?

Galapagos Tortoise

Tortoises on the Galápagos have been hunted for their

meat by sailors and fishermen to the point of

extinction. Charles Darwin, when he arrived in the

Galápagos in 1835, described how he and the crew of

the Beagle lived entirely on tortoise meat. Also, the

habitat of the tortoises has been eaten away by goats

introduced from the mainland.

George’s History to dateGeorge was first seen on the island of Pinta on 1 December 1971 by American snail biologist Joseph Vagvolgyi. The island's vegetation

had been decimated by introduced feral goats, and the indigenous G. n. abingdoni population had been reduced to a single individual.

Relocated for his safety to the Charles Darwin Research Station, George was penned with two females of a different subspecies,

but although eggs have been produced, none have hatched.

How is the page made clearer by placing the paragraphs into different text boxes?

What is the purpose of the subheadings?

What is the information in the brackets?

Some of the words on the page stand out because they are in bold print.Why have these words been put in bold?

Why are some words in italics in the yellow text box?

GIANT Tortoise Facts•Are the largest terrestrial reptiles on earth.•Weigh up to 300kg•May live for more than 150 years

•Colonized Galapagos from South America some 2-3 million years ago•Once occurred on 10 islands. Today, wild tortoises are restricted to just 6 islands

•May have comprised 15 sub-species, while today only 11 are recognized.

Lonesome George' at the breeding centre Fausto Llerena on the Galapagos' Santa Cruz Island.

Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Lonesome George Key Facts

Species: Geochelone abingdoni

Common name: Pinta giant tortoise,

“Lonesome George”

Size: 102cm across shell, 88kg in weight

Habitat: Charles Darwin Research Station

corral

Diet: herbivore

Range: None present on Pinta, “Lonesome

George” resides at Charles Darwin

Research Station

Status: Pinta species is nearing Extinction

Threatened by: introduced species, habitat

destruction, historical predation by humans

Further DetailsThere is a reward of $10,000 for the

discovery of a Pinta female There are other giant tortoises which are

located on other islands of the Galapagos Islands.

Why are the fact boxes an efficient way to give the reader information?

What do we call the text under a photograph?

There are two different functions of the caption?What are they?

If this was a web page how would the underlined / coloured words be useful?

21. Both Quiet Heroine (pages 6–7) and The Further Adventures ofSouperkid (pages 8–9) are stories.

Both stories include pictures but for different purposes.What is the purpose of the pictures:● in Quiet Heroine on pages 6 and 7?

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……………………………………………………………………………● in The Further Adventures of Souperkid on pages 8 and 9?

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27. Page 11 is clear to read because it is divided into questions and answers.How does this layout help the reader?

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The bear pictures are from a story called The Quiet Heroine

21. Both Quiet Heroine (pages 6–7) and The Further Adventures of

Souperkid (pages 8–9) are stories.

Both stories include pictures but for different purposes.

What is the purpose of the pictures:

Assessment focus 4: identify and comment on the structure and organisation of texts, including

grammatical and presentational features at text level.

●in Quiet Heroine on pages 6 and 7?

1 mark

Award 1 mark for reference to illustrations enhancing / helping understanding /

visualisation of the scene, eg:

●it helps you to picture it;

●it helps you understand it better;

●it illustrates / decorates.

Do not accept suggestions that the story is told through the pictures, eg:

●to show you what’s happening.

●in The Further Adventures of Souperkid on pages 8 and 9?

1 mark

Award 1 mark for reference to the fact that illustrations convey the story /

are crucial to understanding, eg:

●they tell the story;

●they are used instead of words;

●without the pictures you wouldn’t know what was happening.

Do not accept:

●because it’s a comic strip.

27. Page 11 is clear to read because it is divided into

questions and answers.

How does this layout help the reader?

1 mark

Assessment focus 4: identify and comment on the structure and organisation of texts, including

grammatical and presentational features at text level.

Award 1 mark for answers that identify their function in separating and signalling different parts

of the text, eg:

●the questions are like sub-headings / the answers are the paragraphs;

●you can go straight for the Q and A you are most interested in;

●the questions tell you about the topic of the next paragraph;

●the reader knows what he/she is about to read about.

Do not accept references to the text looking clearer / division into sections.

7. Give two ways the text on pages 4 and 5 is written like a diary.

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Some of the words on page 6 stand out because they are in bold print.Why have these words been put in bold?Give two reasons

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2………………………………………………………………………………………

7. Give two ways the text on pages 4 and 5 is written like a diary.

up to 2 marks

Assessment focus 4: identify and comment on the structure and organisation of texts, including grammatical and presentational features at text level.

Award 1 mark for each response in the following categories, to a maximum of 2 marks:

■has time/day and/or place of writing / is daily comments, eg: it shows the time / it splits it into

the days;

■written in note form / uses short sentences, eg: it’s not in full sentences;

■chronological order, eg: it’s in date order;

■uses informal language, eg: it’s as if she’s talking to another person;

■written in first person / uses ‘I’.

Do not accept references to diary-type content, eg: it’s a record of what Sharon did/felt or undeveloped

references to brevity, eg: they are short, or layout, eg: it’s set out like a diary.

14. Some of the words on page 6 stand out becausethey are in bold print.Why have these words been put in bold?Give two reasons.up to 2 marksAssessment focus 4: identify and comment on the structure and organisation of texts, including grammatical and presentational features at text level.

Award 1 mark for reference to any of the following, to a maximum of 2 marks:

■ names / roles / functions / jobs of the cowboys, eg: because that’s who they are / because it’sthe name of the person’s job;

■ the words are included on the diagram, eg: so you see them and look on the diagram / so youcan find them on the picture;

■ the words show the topic of the paragraph, eg: they are what the section is about / the thingthat it’s telling us about;

■ the words need to be explained, eg: because they’re words you probably don’t know / those arethe words they are explaining.

Do not accept references to important words / key words or subheadings.

27. The writer uses dots ... (ellipsis) twice on page 10, each time for a different purpose.Explain the two different purposes.

he brought in his first herd of mustangs …

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………………………………………………………………Early the next morning he had ridden out alone …

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He thought about the time when he brought in his first herd of mustangs …

One day several of the cowboys had gone out to capture a herd. Theranch had been short of horses and no one ever thought of buying horses when there were so many wild ones. He had wanted to tell them that he would bring in the horses, but they would have laughed at him. Who’d ever heard of one man bringing in a herd? So he had watched them ride out, saying nothing. A few days later they were back, tired and disgusted. They hadn’t even been able to get close to a herd.

That evening Bob had timidly suggested to Mr Hunter that he be allowed to try. Everyone laughed. Bob reminded them that no one on the ranch could handle a horse like he could, that the horses came to him more than anyone else. The cowboys had acknowledged that that was true, but it was impossible for one man to capture a herd. Bob had said nothing else. Early the next morning he had ridden out alone … Three weeks later the cowboys had been sitting outside the ranch one evening and looked up to see a herd of mustangs galloping towards them, led by Bob. Despite their amazement, they had moved quickly to open the gate and Bob had led the horses in.

16. What is the purpose of the sub-headings on pages 8 and

9?

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27. The writer uses dots … (ellipsis) twice on page 10,

each time for a different purpose.

Explain the two different purposes.

a) he brought in his first herd of mustangs …

1 mark

b) Early the next morning he had ridden out alone …

1 mark

Assessment focus 4: identify and comment on the structure and organisation of texts, including grammatical

and presentational features at text level.

a) Award 1 mark for recognition that the ellipsis introduces a flashback, eg:

●he’s going back and thinking about it;

●he is going to tell the story;

●‘read on and I’ll tell you about it.’

b) Award 1 mark for recognition that the ellipsis indicates the passage of time, eg:

●the writer’s showing that he has skipped the bit about how he captured the horses;

●three weeks had passed and he was in a different place.

16. What is the purpose of the sub-headings on pages 8 and 9?

1 mark

Assessment focus 4: identify and comment on the structure and organisation of texts, including

grammatical and presentational features at text level.

Award 1 mark for answers that refer either to organisation of text, eg:

●to indicate that you are moving on to a new section

●to divide up the text / separate the different information

●make it a bit more ordered.

or to conveying information / facts, eg:

●to tell you the name of the drum and / or where it is from

●to tell / show you which country they’re talking about

●to tell you what they’re talking about.

Do not accept over-general answers, eg: it tells you what the pages are about / to tell you what they are

talking about on those pages.

25. In Lara’s comments, the word ‘NOW’ is in capital letters.

Why?

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‘If you play percussion, you have the fun of playing all the “odds and ends” that everyone else is too grand to play. This can mean playing bass drum and cymbals with your feet, timpani with one hand, side drum with the other, trying to turn over a page of the music and wondering how on earth you are going to be able to reach the tubular bells which have to be played NOW.It’s great fun, though.’

Only answer 17b

25. In Lara’s comments, the word ‘NOW’ is in capital letters.Why?up to 2 marksAssessment focus 4: identify and comment on the structure and organisation of texts, includinggrammatical and presentational features at text level.Award 2 marks for explanations that the capitals convey the demand of the experience on Lara, eg:● to say that it all has to be done at the same time● to show that you have to have the right timing● it is showing how nervous she gets trying to get to the parts she has to play● to tell you how fast she has to be● because she’s trying to get across how much you’ve got to do and how little time you’ve got● it’s big because she can’t miss a thing.Award 1 mark for answers which refer only to aspects of the challenge, but not to Lara’s intention toconvey that challenge or answers which imply that the timing of the tubular bells and page turning isthe only difficulty involved, eg:● because she has a lot to do in one go● because it’s urgent● you have to hurry up and get on with it● she is trying to say how hard it is turning over one page and playing the bells.Also award 1 mark for answers which refer only to Lara’s expression, eg:● to show that she’s saying it louder / in a different tone.Do not accept general responses, eg: to grab your attention.

17. b) This table has no heading in the first column.

What would be a good heading for that column?

1 mark

Assessment focus 4: identify and comment on the structure and organisation of texts, including

grammatical and presentational features at text level.

Award 1 mark for:

■name of drum / instrument / type of drum / drum(s).

Volcanoes fall into three groups, depending on

how active they are. Volcanoes which are

erupting are called active. Volcanoes which

show no signs of eruption are known as

dormant or sleeping and, if they remain

dormant for tens of thousands of years, they

may be described as extinct.

When we hear of a volcano erupting, we think

of a tallcone-shaped mountain sending out

clouds of ash and liquid rock called lava.

27. Each section of the advertisement below tries to attract customers in a different way.

a) Label each arrow with the correct letter:

A invites the customer

B explains what is on offer

C gives added encouragement

b) What does section D do?

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24b) Find two ways this chart has been made easy to read.up to 2 marksAssessment focus 4: identify and comment on the structure and organisation of texts, includinggrammatical and presentational features at text level.Award 1 mark for each appropriate point made to a maximum of 2 marks:■ use of symbols / icons / pictures■ chronological order [not ‘time of day’]■ no difficult vocabulary / little written text■ use of columns / information spaced out / in sections■ use of colour.

29. In the fact boxes on page 10, some of the text stands out because it is in bold print.Why is it printed in bold?………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Braemar, Grampian, 10th January 1982, had the lowest ever recorded temperature in Britain: –27.2oC. In temperatures such as these, it is important to dress warmly, stay dry and try to keep moving to generate body heat. With an average annual temperature at 6.5oC, Braemar is the coldest overall low-level place in the UK.

Sprinkling Tarn, Cumbria, holds the record for the heaviest rainfall for a single year. Over the 12 months in 1954, 6528mm (over 6.5 metres) of rain fell in this spot

Walshaw Dean Lodge, West Yorkshire, holds therecord for the heaviest downpour. On 19th May 1989,193mm fell in just 2 hours. This is the amount of water collected by the weather station rain gauge. It is estimated, however, that 500 million litres of watercan fall from a single thunderstorm.

29. In the fact boxes on page 10, some of the text stands out

because it is in bold print.

Why is it printed in bold? 1 mark

Assessment focus 4: identify and comment on the structure and organisation of texts, including

grammatical and presentational features at text level.

Award 1 mark for answers that relate the bold print to the content of the emboldened text, eg:

●because it’s the name of the place

●because it’s where the record was set

●because that’s what that paragraph is about.

Also accept answers indicating that bold print is used to guide the reader through the text, eg:

●to show where to go in the text.

Do not accept answers that relate only to emphasis, eg:

●because they are important facts / words.

26. How does the plan of the Earthship help the reader to understand the text?

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26. How does the plan of the Earthship help the reader to understand

the text?

up to 2 marks

Assessment focus 4: identify and comment on the structure and organisation of texts, including

grammatical and presentational features at text level.

Award 2 marks for explaining the visual advantage of the diagram in understanding complex text, eg:

●the text is complicated / technical / unfamiliar so it shows you what it looks like

●if they can’t read it, it helps them to just look at it and see how good it is.

Award 1 mark for identifying the visual advantage of the diagram, eg:

●it shows you what it looks like / you can see what it looks like

●it helps you to imagine what it looks like

●it shows you where everything is

●it makes you see how it’s all laid out.

Do not accept overly specific advantages of the diagram, eg:

●so you see where the beds are.

Do not accept answers that are about the function of the captions (not the diagram), eg:

●it describes all the rooms

●it comes in small sections.