2016 HSC Paper 1 Section 1 PDF

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2016 Paper 1: Section I: Short answers – sample responses Responses by: Amy Hughes

(a)

How is the pleasure of discovery revealed in the feature article? 2 marks

Two examples from the text are provided The composer lists the benefits of walking as a for two marks. mode of urban discovery, ‘Walking is free, it feels Two good, it helps me think and it lets me see the city in techniques a way that just isn’t possible otherwise.’ This (listing and illustrates how gratifying it is to explore and admire imagery), two the city on foot. The pleasure of discovering the quotes and discussion of minutiae of city life is revealed in the visual imagery ideas of the people he encounters while walking, strengthen including ‘Strongman’, ‘Beanie Man’, ‘the dog this response walkers’, ‘the weary mothers in pyjama pants’, and

‘the tai chi ladies’. (b) The function of contrast in this text is clearly explained and three examples from the text are provided with explanation to support ideas Polysyndeton: means many conjunctions (use of repeated and)

A contrast in mood in this text captures the child’s emotional journey from confusion to wonder whilst in the museum. The use of polysyndeton creates an initial sense of annoyance and confusion, ‘all lines and boxes and no pictures, trying to make sense of it’ as the child begins his path of discovery in the museum. Once the protagonist discovers the whale skeleton, his confusion shifts to palpable awe, conveyed in the first person language, ‘I think of myself out in the deep water with the whale swimming under me and all my breath rushes out.’ Awe then shifts to scintillating joy as the protagonist’s dreamscape is captured in vivid imagery, ‘From the ocean floor I shoot up, rushing through bubbles’, highlighting how the discovery of the skeleton became an immersive experience for the child despite initial confusion and uncertainty. (c)

Four examples of imagery are analysed,

Explain how contrast is used in the text to highlight the child’s discoveries in the museum. 3 marks

Explore how imagery is used in the poem to convey the wonder of discovery. 4 marks

Imagery is used in this poem to portray a mother’s perspective on her son’s wonder as he discovers outer space through a telescope. The visual imagery,

supported by references to the text and evaluation of the way imagery conveys the wonder of discovery

‘Shadowy Neanderthal, his silhouette/ straightens to shake a fist/ at the prowling clouds’ conveys the mother’s wonder at the transformative effect of her son’s exploration of the sky. The hyperbolic imagery, ‘The warm room of the family/ is galaxies away’ illustrates the boy’s total absorption in this activity: he has transported himself to the stars. As the boy marvels at ‘the distance and the dark’, his passion is captured in the tactile imagery, ‘burning with a cool celestial fire.’ The auditory imagery ‘checking the finder, muttering to himself’ reinforces the boy’s fervour as he is swept up in the process of discovery made possible by his telescope. (d)

Identify the texts as illustrating a common thesis about discovery

Compare the ways unique personal insights into discovery are revealed in Text 4 and ONE other text from Texts 1, 2 or 3. 6 marks

Text 4 and Text 1 both illustrate how discoveries in the natural world can be a deeply immersive experience leading to unique insights and joyous, imaginative journeys.

In text 4, Kingsolver develops her protagonist’s personal insight into discovery through a scenario of optical illusion. Initially, the protagonist discovers ‘little darts in the trail… scattered around like glitter.’ The visual imagery reveals the protagonist’s unique point of view as she mistakes the butterflies for ‘golden darts’. Her moment of realisation is captured in the truncated sentence ‘Wings.’ This provokes awareness of her own state of mind, portrayed in the scornful tone, ‘She felt stupid, or blind, in a way that went beyond needing glasses.’ All evidence supports ideas This articulates the protagonist’s altered perception about unique of her discovery of the butterflies and her personal personal insight into her own naïveté. Her discovery then insight into becomes an immersive, sensory experience evident discovery in the metaphor, ‘plunged into a deep pond among bright fishes.’ This expresses her new understanding of the unique beauty of butterflies and how nature can inspire rapturous awe. Evidence from the text analysed in sequence – working methodically through the text

Comparison – similar euphoria experienced by both protagonists

A similar euphoric insight is depicted in Text 2 where the protagonist also revels in the immense power of the natural world. Through the discovery of a whale skeleton in a museum, the protagonist gains personal insight into the world of the whale

Textual evidence evaluated with reference to unique personal insight

Brief conclusion ties the two texts together to the question

and empathises with it, ‘I can see how helpless a whale would feel’. The emotive language demonstrates the protagonist’s understanding of the whale and the challenges it would face as a result of its size. Similarly to Text 4, the discovery inspires an immersive, aquatic experience for the protagonist, ‘I think of myself out in the deep water with the whale swimming under me’. The imagery reveals how the protagonist has been inspired to see the world from the unique perspective of the whale. The tranquil tone in ‘It feels soothing to be pressed by a weight so much greater than my own; peaceful’ expresses the protagonist’s personal affinity with the whale and the emotional significance of this discovery. Thus, both Text 4 and Text 2 reveal how discoveries regarding the natural world can inspire people to gain a deeper appreciation of nature and unique insight into its beauty....