Unit 1 exam: Exploring modern textsSection A: Modern prose or drama

PRACTICE QUESTIONSYou are advised to spend 45 minutes

on questions in this section.

DNA

Up here is the name of the text from Section A – check that it is the one that you have studied!

Foundation

HigherKindertransport

An Inspector Calls

Possible question

Past question

Up in the top right corner is whether the question is from a Higher or Foundation paper – make sure you practice with

questions from the paper you are entered for.

Down here tells you whether the question comes from a past paper

or whether it is a speculative question that COULD come up in

January.

How does Priestley present Eric in An Inspector Calls.

You should write about:• what Eric says and does• how other characters respond to him• the methods Priestley uses to present Eric.

Foundation

Past question

An Inspector Calls

Write about the differences between Sheila and Sybil Birling

in the play An Inspector Calls.

You should write about:• what they say and do• their different attitudes• the methods Priestley uses to present Sheila and Sybil Birling.

Foundation

Past question

An Inspector Calls

How does Priestley present Gerald in An Inspector Calls?

Write about:• what Gerald says and does• how other characters respond to him• the methods Priestley uses to present Gerald.

Foundation

Past question

An Inspector Calls

What do you think Priestley is trying to tell us about

responsibility in the play An Inspector Calls?

Write about:• what some of the characters say and do• the methods Priestley uses to present his ideas on

responsibility.

Foundation

Past question

An Inspector Calls

How does Priestley present the Inspector in An Inspector Calls?

Write about:• what the Inspector says and does• the methods Priestley uses to present the Inspector.

Foundation

Past question

An Inspector Calls

Write about the differences between Arthur Birling and Eric Birling in the play An Inspector

Calls.You should write about:• what Arthur and Eric Birling are like• their different attitudes• the methods Priestley uses to present Arthur and Eric Birling.

Foundation

Past question

An Inspector Calls

How does Priestley present Arthur Birling in An Inspector

Calls?

You should write about:• what Arthur Birling says and does• the methods Priestley uses to present him.

Foundation

Past question

An Inspector Calls

In An Inspector Calls Eric and Sheila Birling are brother and sister. How are they alike and

how are they different?You should write about:• what Eric and Sheila say and do• similarities and differences between them• the methods Priestley uses to present Eric and Sheila.

Foundation

Past question

An Inspector Calls

How does Priestley present Sybil Birling in An Inspector Calls?

You should write about:• what Sybil Birling says and does• the methods Priestley uses to present her.

Foundation

Possible question

An Inspector Calls

How does Priestley present Sheila Birling in An Inspector

Calls?

You should write about:• what Sheila Birling says and does• the methods Priestley uses to present her.

Foundation

Possible question

An Inspector Calls

How does Priestley show that tension is at the heart of the

Birling family?

Higher

Past question

An Inspector Calls

Priestley criticises the selfishness of people like the Birlings. What methods does he use to present

this selfishness?

Higher

Past question

An Inspector Calls

An Inspector Calls has been called ‘a play of contrasts’.

Write about how Priestley presents some of the contrasts in

the play.

Higher

Past question

An Inspector Calls

How does Priestley present the change in Sheila during the

course of the play An Inspector Calls? How do you think this

change reflects some of Priestley’s ideas?

Higher

Past question

An Inspector Calls

Arthur Birling says, ‘If we were all responsible for everything that

happened to everybody we’d had anything to do with, it would be very

awkward, wouldn’t it?’

How does Priestley present ideas about responsibility in An Inspector Calls?

Higher

Past question

An Inspector Calls

How do you respond to Gerald in An Inspector Calls? How does Priestley make you respond as you do by the ways he writes?

Higher

Past question

An Inspector Calls

What do you think is the importance of Inspector Goole and how does Priestley present

him?

Higher

Past question

An Inspector Calls

Remind yourself of the stage directions from the start of Act 1, from ‘The dining-room…’ up to ‘…

pleased with themselves’.

In the rest of the play, how does Priestley present and develop

some of the ideas shown here?

Higher

Past question

An Inspector Calls

How does the writer present Helga in Kindertransport?

Write about:• what Helga does and what happens to her• the methods the writer uses to present Helga.

Foundation

Past question

Kindertransport

How does the writer present relationships between mothers

and daughters in Kindertransport?

Write about:• what the relationships between mothers and daughters are like

in the play• the methods the writer uses to present these relationships.

Foundation

Past question

Kindertransport

How does the writer present Evelyn in Kindertransport?

Write about:• what Evelyn says and does• the methods the writer uses to present Evelyn.

Foundation

Past question

Kindertransport

The play Kindertransport has been described as moving. How

do you respond to the play?

Write about:• what is in the play that makes you feel as you do• the methods the writer uses to make you feel as you do.

Foundation

Past question

Kindertransport

How does Samuels present the character of Lil in Kindertransport?

Write about:• what Lil does and what happens to her• the methods the writer uses to present Lil.

Foundation

Past question

Kindertransport

How does Samuels present memories in the play

Kindertransport?

Write about:• the characters and their memories• the methods the writer uses to present memories.

Foundation

Past question

Kindertransport

How does Samuels present Faith in Kindertransport?

Write about:• what Faith says and does• what happens to her• the methods Samuels uses to show what Faith is like.

Foundation

Past question

Kindertransport

How does Samuels present Helga and Lil as ‘mothers’ to Eva in

Kindertransport?

Write about:• what Helga and Lil say and do• How their actions affect Eva’s life• the methods Samuels uses to present Helga and Lil as mothers.

Foundation

Past question

Kindertransport

Remind yourself of the final section of the play, from the

stage direction ‘Helga embraces Eva who stands stock still’.

How effective do you think this is as an ending to the play?

Higher

Past question

Kindertransport

How does the writer present ideas about identity in

Kindertransport?

Higher

Past question

Kindertransport

How does Samuels present relationships between mothers

and daughters in Kindertransport?

Higher

Past question

Kindertransport

How does Samuels use children’s books and toys in Kindertransport?

Higher

Past question

Kindertransport

How does the writer present and explore family relationships in

Kindertransport?

Higher

Past question

Kindertransport

How does Samuels present at least two of the following

characters in Kindertransport and what do you think is their importance to the play?

The Nazi Border Official – The English Organiser – The Postman – The Station Guard

Higher

Past question

Kindertransport

Remind yourself again of the end of Act 1, from the stage direction ‘EVELYN tries to leave again’.

How does Samuels shape the ending to Act 1 and how effective do you find

this ending?

Higher

Past question

Kindertransport

How does Samuels use the settings of the play to convey her

ideas?

Higher

Past question

Kindertransport

How does the writer present the character of Leah in DNA?

Write about:• what Leah says and does• the methods the writer uses to present Leah.

Foundation

Past question

DNA

How do you respond to the final scene, between Richard and Phil,

in DNA?

Write about:• what you think about what happens in this scene• the dramatic techniques the writer uses in this scene.

Foundation

Past question

DNA

How does Kelly present violence in DNA?

Write about:• violent actions and events in the play• the methods Kelly uses to present violent actions and events.

Foundation

Past question

DNA

How does the writer present Cathy in DNA?

Write about:• what Cathy says and does• the methods the writer uses to present Cathy.

Foundation

Past question

DNA

How do you respond to the characters of Jan and Mark in

DNA?

Write about:• what Jan and Mark say and do• the methods the writer uses to present Jan and Mark.

Foundation

Past question

DNA

In DNA the female characters are presented as being much stronger than

the male characters.”Do you agree with this view of the

characters in the play?Write about:• what the characters say and do• the differences between the female and male characters• the methods the writer uses to present the female and male characters.

Foundation

Past question

DNA

‘The girls in the play are more evil than the boys.’ How do you respond to this statement about

the play DNA?Write about:• what the girls and the boys in the play say and dothat makes

you respond as you do• the methods Kelly uses to show what the girls and boys are like.

Foundation

Past question

DNA

Choose a scene or a short section from DNA which you think is important to the whole play.

Explain why this part is important.Write about:• why you think this part is important to the play• the methods Kelly uses to create this scene or short section.

Foundation

Past question

DNA

Phil and Leah are both involved in violent and unpleasant actions

which change them.

How does the writer present the changes?

Higher

Past question

DNA

Many of the important events in DNA are not shown on stage but are revealed to the audience through conversations

of the characters.

What does the writer achieve by choosing to convey important events to

the audience in this way?

Higher

Past question

DNA

How does Kelly use the settings in DNA to convey his ideas to the

audience and to contribute to the effectiveness of the drama?

Higher

Past question

DNA

What is the importance of Cathy in the play DNA and how does

Kelly present her?

Higher

Past question

DNA

“In many ways it is the absent Adam who is the central character in DNA.”

How far do you agree with this opinion about the play and how does Kelly make you respond as you do by

the ways he writes?

Higher

Past question

DNA

What do you think is the significance of the title of the

play, DNA? How does Kelly present his ideas in the play through this choice of title?

Higher

Past question

DNA

How are ideas about law and justice presented in DNA?

Higher

Past question

DNA

How does Kelly present the relationship between Phil and

Leah?

Higher

Past question

DNA