1. Close Reading Practice: The last chance

2. Which is best? This isnt science: its rape 1.Comment on the writers word choice a)The writer uses rape to explain that it is a bad thing. This is very effective b)The writer is using a metaphor to compare the damage to the forest with forced sex. This suggests violent and unpleasant images and that the forest would not agree to being cut down.

3. Which is best? This isnt science: its rape 1.Comment on the writers word choice a)The writer uses rape to explain that it is a bad thing. This is very effective b)The writer is using a metaphor to compare the damage to the forest with forced sex. This suggests violent and unpleasant images and that the forest would not agree to being cut down.

4. Which is best? This isnt science; its rape 1.Comment on the writers punctuation and show how it enhances the effectiveness of the sentence: a)The author uses a semi colon to introduce a new idea b)The author uses apostrophes to abbreviate words, which creates a conversational tone. He also uses a semi-colon to contrast two ideas into a single sentence. This gives it a stronger impact

5. Which is best? This isnt science; its rape 1.Comment on the writers punctuation and show how it enhances the effectiveness of the sentence: a)The author uses a semi colon to introduce a new idea b)The author uses apostrophes to abbreviate words, which creates a conversational tone. He also uses a semi-colon to contrast two ideas into a single sentence. This gives it a stronger impact

6. Four years ago, ministers gave the go-ahead to a scheme whose scope was breathtakingly ambitious. They wanted to transform the NHS into a high-tech, computerized service, connecting more than 30,000 GPs to nearly 300 hospitals. A key part of it was the plan to put the medical records of 50 million patients on a single database. 1.What was the aim of ministers four years prior to the current situation 2(U) 2.What was the most important aspect of this plan? 1(U)

7. Which is best? However, the Simpsons isnt merely a sitcom in cartoon form. Its so much more 1.Explain how the sentence acts as a linking sentence a)Until this point, the writer has explained how the Simpsons is like a sitcom. The word merely means that this is not the only good thing about the show. The rest of the paragraph goes on to explain the other strengths b)The word however means that the writer is about to suggest an opposite viewpoint

8. Which is best? However, the Simpsons isnt merely a sitcom in cartoon form. Its so much more 1.Explain how the sentence acts as a linking sentence a)Until this point, the writer has explained how the Simpsons is like a sitcom. The word merely means that this is not the only good thing about the show. The rest of the paragraph goes on to explain the other strengths b)The word however means that the writer is about to suggest an opposite viewpoint

9. Fireworks. The worst thing since the invention of landmines? Dont let your children near them, they might have some fun. Rules, rules and more rules. Who needs them? So what if they involve a little bit of fire and an explosion? More people are killed by cars. We too often bow to the dictates of a nanny state and wrap our children up in (non-flammable) cotton wool. 1.How does the writer create a conversational tone? (U) 2.more people are killed by cars – how does this work as a linking sentence? (U) 3.Comment on the use of punctuation in the final sentence. (A) 4.How does the author feel about rules? (U)

10. My favourite place in Scotland is Rudh Dubh. It is a tiny cottage beside the sea. Beside the cottage is a turquoise bench. If you sit on the bench you can see hundreds of rocks as black as soot and the sea is crystal clear like a glass window. I can see grassy mountains. Mummy says they are islands – one of them is called Muck – and it looks like a nice place to visit. 1.How does the writer use sentence structure create the impression of a childs voice? (U) 2.the sea is crystal clear like a glass window – identify the technique and comment on how effective this is. 3.Comment on the use of punctuation and word choice in the final sentence. 4 (A)

11. Once wed played the way we did against Argentina there was always going to be a backlash. Some emotive things have been said, but not least by Rob Andrew and Will Carling. The latter apparently compared me to an old Morris Minor trying to get up a hill while the former has been extensively quoted on the subject of leadership. The media duly interpreted that England needed to find a World Cup captain as a direct swipe at me. And lets be clear about two things. Ive never backed away from a challenge before and Im certainly not going to start now. I also want to be world cup captain in france next year. No ifs, no buts. I love doing this job and I want to continue doing it. Im not looking to shirk responsibility. Theres a lot of anger about what happened and were resolute to put that right. 1.The writer is compared to an old morris minor trying to get up a hill 1.Who makes this comparison? 2.Identify and comment on the technique as a description of the writers rugby skills? 2.Quote two phrases from paragraph 2 which suggest the writer is determined to fix his mistake