English Language Comprehension Flashcards
6 cards from real GCSE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 English Language Comprehension flashcards as text
Which of the following correctly defines 'pathetic fallacy'?
Answer: Using weather or atmosphere to reflect a character's emotions
Pathetic fallacy is a specific type of personification where weather, nature, or the environment mirrors a character's emotional state. For example, a storm during an argument or sunshine during a happy scene.
A student writes: 'The government should invest more in schools. Education is the foundation of society.' What structural technique is being used by placing these sentences at the start of a paragraph?
Answer: Topic sentence followed by supporting statement
The first sentence is a topic sentence that introduces the paragraph's main argument. The second sentence supports and reinforces this point. This structure helps the reader follow the argument clearly.
What does it mean to 'infer' information from a text?
Answer: To work out something that is implied but not directly stated
Inference means reading between the lines — understanding what a writer suggests or implies without stating it directly. For GCSE English, this is a crucial skill tested across all reading questions.
In the extract 'He crept through the shadows, his breath shallow, every creak of the floorboard a thunderclap', which technique is used to describe the creaking?
Answer: Hyperbole
Calling a creak a 'thunderclap' is hyperbole — deliberate exaggeration. It emphasises how loud and alarming even small sounds feel to the character, building tension and revealing his fear.
When evaluating a text in GCSE English Language, which approach is most effective?
Answer: Giving a personal opinion supported by evidence from the text
Effective evaluation requires a personal critical response supported by textual evidence. Students should select relevant quotations and explain how and why the writer's choices create specific effects, linking to their own judgement.
What is the function of a discourse marker such as 'However' or 'Furthermore' in an essay?
Answer: To signal the relationship between ideas and guide the reader through the argument
Discourse markers (connectives) signal how ideas relate to each other — whether the next point contrasts, adds to, or develops the previous one. They create cohesion and help the reader follow the writer's argument logically.