ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1123/2

Practice Paper 2 Reading 1 hour 45 minutes

Section 1: Reading for Ideas 25 marks

Passage 1: Travels in Spain
1 In 1964 I had occasion to spend a month in Spain, most of which was spent
in Andalusia. Even after five hundred years, the society there bears the mark
of Arab culture. In dance, music and every other aspect of life, the influence
of the Arabs is apparent. The present inhabitants of Andalusia mention the
Arab era with pride and deem it a golden age in their history. In many places 5
in Spain, and especially in Andalusia, ruins of bridges, forts, and fortifications
that were built by the Arabs can be found. Among famous examples of
architecture still left standing are the Alhambra of Granada and the mosque at
Cordova.
2 In the older part of Granada, within the citadel, the old neighbourhood of 10
Zako is worth seeing. Its houses are in the old Arab style, with fountains
playing in their courtyards, the men’s quarters in front, and the women’s
quarters next to the back garden. Though the streets are paved with stones,
they are too narrow for a motor car to drive through them. But they are dotted
with stalls where jalebis are deep fried or kebabs roasted. The church has 15
conceded to the extent that Muslims are allowed to say their prayers in a part
of the mosque at Cordova.
3 Granada is situated in the lap of mountains. The city itself is positioned
on one prominence, while the crumbling buildings of the Alhambra are
scattered on another. Between the two is a steep valley, through which flows 20
a river. Notable among the few remaining buildings from earlier times, is
the ‘Madrassa’, which I have seen being used as a police station, though now
I believe it has been handed over to the university. In the mountain caves
outside the town, live gypsies, said to be the descendants of Arabs who became
nomads in order to escape the oppression of the Christian church in the 25
fifteenth century. After the heat of the Inquisition cooled down, they stayed on
in the caves and made them their home. These caves now have electricity and
are visited by crowds of tourists attracted by the gypsy songs and dances.
4 When I spoke a few words in the gypsy language and told them that I
belonged to the subcontinent, the gypsies were delighted, and lavished 30
hospitality on me. Many researchers feel that these gypsies come from the
region that is now Pakistan. Their assumption is strengthened by the language
that these people speak. In the beginning of the Christian era, when warlike
tribes from central Asia began their invasions, the early inhabitants were forced
to flee to the south. It is very likely that many of these people mingled with 35
the invaders and travelled west, adopting a nomadic life. In Spain I heard
gypsies speak words like pani, and kala chiri, which have the same meaning in
their language that they do in Urdu, that is ‘water’ and ‘blackbird’.
5 The Alhambra evokes a romantic sense of the grandeur of bygone cultures. In
keeping with the architectural style prevalent in the Middle Ages, the Arab 40
elite of Granada kept erecting buildings inside the citadel until this ‘royal
space’ became entirely self sufficient. The court of the rulers there became
the hub for craftsmen and artists. However, the depredations of time have so
 changed this lively neighbourhood that now its fame is confined to the palace
known as the Alhambra. In the eyes of the experts this building is unrivalled 45
in its location and artistic qualities. The opposite side of the town is reserved
for the public audience hall and the king’s administrative centre.
6 There are numerous windows in its tall marble wall, through each of which
the city of Granada can be seen in its entirety as though set in a picture frame.
Embraced by fountains, a colourful path takes one to the women’s apartment 50
at the back, from every casement of which a panorama of snow-covered
mountain peaks is visible. The old Alhambra garden has retained its original
appearance, with seven hundred year old cedars imported from Lebanon still
standing there, engaged in a lamentation for the past. One of the buildings
within this crumbling enclosure has been turned into a hotel. I stayed there 55
for two days, and during this time I wandered the ruined courtyard, heard old
tunes on traditional instruments, and listened to the local people talking about
the Civil War which had ended twenty years before.

Read Passage 1 and then answer all the questions below.

1 (a) Notes
Identify and write down the Arab influences to be seen in Andalusia, and the
attractions of the area for the visitor as described in the passage.

USE ONLY THE MATERIAL FROM PARAGRAPHS 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6.

At this stage, you need NOT use your own words. To help you get started, the first
point in your column of notes is done for you. You will be awarded up to 15 marks
for content points.

MAIN POINTS
Arab influences
The society bears the mark of Arab culture

Attractions for the visitor

Andalusia has much to attract the visitor

[15]
1 (b) Summary
Now use your notes to write a summary, in which you explain the Arab influences to
be seen in Andalusia, and the attractions of the area for the visitor as described in the
passage.
This time, you will be awarded up to 5 marks for using your own words wherever
possible and for accurate use of language.
Your summary, which must be in continuous writing (not note form), should be around
160 words, including the 10 words given below. Begin your summary as follows:

Although Andalusia ceased to be Arab five hundred years ago ..............................................

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No. of words: [5}

 2) From Paragraph 4, select and write down one fact and one opinion.
One fact is
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One opinion is
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3) Which of the following statements is correct? Write down the

statement you haveselected.

The writer was happy to see the Arab influences

in Andalusia. The writer enjoyed the music and the

sight-seeing in Andalusia.

The writer was interested to hear the language of the cave-dwellers. [1]

4) ‘The old neighbourhood of Zako is worth seeing’ (Paragraph 2 line 1).

From your own knowledge or experience, suggest two examples of
places which have survivedfrom long ago which are worth seeing.
Include why the places are worth seeing.
Do not refer to specific examples from the passage in your answer.
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