Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives

SOURCE TEXT: Source A: An extract from a fictional 19th-century memoir, 'Descent into the Void' by Joseph Simpson. The glacier stretched below us, a vast, frozen river descending into the cloud-choked valley. We had been on this unforgiving peak for what felt like an eternity, but was in fact our fifth day. The relief of finally heading down was tangible, a stark contrast to the despair that had gripped us on the ice cliff yesterday. Base camp was a daunting 3,500 feet below, a distance that seemed to mock our slow, painful progress. QUESTIONS: Read again the first part of Source A from lines 1 to 4. Choose four statements below which are true. A The climbers were sheltered from the wind. B The glacier was higher up the mountain. C They had been on the mountain for at least five days. D Base camp was more than 3000 feet below them. E Joe thought they would make it back to base camp quickly. F There were no more uphill sections to climb. G The climbers were feeling more positive now than they were before. H On the ice cliff, the climbers had felt overwhelmed by despair.

SOURCE TEXT: Source A: An extract from a fictional 19th-century memoir, 'Descent into the Void' by Joseph Simpson. The glacier stretched below us, a vast, frozen river descending into the cloud-choked valley. We had been on this unforgiving peak for what felt like an eternity, but was in fact our fifth day. The relief of finally heading down was tangible, a stark contrast to the despair that had gripped us on the ice cliff yesterday. Base camp was a daunting 3,500 feet below, a distance that seemed to mock our slow, painful progress. Simon moved ahead, his silhouette a dark, determined shape against the blinding white. He was a machine, methodical and silent, his focus absolute. He never spoke of the cold that gnawed at our bones, nor the exhaustion that screamed in every muscle. His silence was a fortress, one I could shelter behind but never truly enter. He would occasionally gesture with an ice-axe – a signal to shorten the rope, or a warning of a hidden crevasse. He was not a companion in the conventional sense; he was a lifeline, a grim guarantor of survival. Our communication was boiled down to the essential, the functional. Source B: An extract from a modern travel blog, 'Not Quite Conquering Snowdon, But The Pub Was Nice!' by Chloe Green. So, Marius, my ever-optimistic partner-in-crime, had declared that we were “conquering Snowdon.” I had visions of epic vistas and a triumphant selfie at the summit. The reality involved more rain than I thought was possible outside of a car wash. “Isn’t this amazing?” Marius yelled over the gale, his face beaming. He looked like a ridiculously happy Labrador that had just discovered mud. I, on the other hand, felt more like a grumpy cat. He bounded from rock to rock, pointing out things he’d read in the guidebook. His relentless cheerfulness was, I have to admit, infectious. While I was internally composing a strongly-worded letter to the Welsh tourist board, Marius was busy making friends with a flock of sheep. He’s less of a seasoned mountaineer and more of a travelling court jester. He’d packed three types of cheese but forgotten the map, a decision that perfectly encapsulates his approach to life. QUESTIONS: You need to refer to Source A and Source B for this question. Both writers are accompanied by another person on their adventure: Simon in Source A, and Marius in Source B. Use details from both sources to write a summary of what you understand about the differences between the two companions, Simon and Marius.

SOURCE TEXT: Source A: An extract from a fictional 19th-century memoir, 'Descent into the Void' by Joseph Simpson. (Lines 1-22 are not needed for this question) The pain in my leg was a dull, persistent fire. Each step sent a jolt of agony through me, a cruel reminder of my body’s betrayal. I bit down on my lip, tasting blood, determined not to slow us down. The world had shrunk to this: the crunch of my boots, the rhythmic swing of my axe, and the taut rope connecting me to Simon. It was a fragile thread in a world of ice and wind. (Lines 23-31) Suddenly, a wave of nausea washed over me. The white expanse spun, the jagged peaks tilting at an insane angle. My breath hitched, a pathetic gasp in the thin air. A blackness crept at the edge of my vision, a creeping void threatening to swallow me whole. I felt an overwhelming, primal urge to simply lie down, to let the snow take me, to surrender to the cold, peaceful oblivion. It was a siren’s call, seductive and deadly. My mind screamed, a silent, desperate rebellion against the weakness of my flesh. I was nothing but a fragile vessel of pain, and it was breaking. (The final paragraph is not needed for this question) QUESTIONS: You now need to refer only to Source A from lines 23 to 31. How does the writer use language to describe how he feels?

SOURCE TEXT: Source A: An extract from a fictional 19th-century memoir, 'Descent into the Void' by Joseph Simpson. The glacier stretched below us, a vast, frozen river descending into the cloud-choked valley. We had been on this unforgiving peak for what felt like an eternity, but was in fact our fifth day. The relief of finally heading down was tangible, a stark contrast to the despair that had gripped us on the ice cliff yesterday. Base camp was a daunting 3,500 feet below, a distance that seemed to mock our slow, painful progress. Simon moved ahead, his silhouette a dark, determined shape against the blinding white. He was a machine, methodical and silent, his focus absolute. He never spoke of the cold that gnawed at our bones, nor the exhaustion that screamed in every muscle. His silence was a fortress, one I could shelter behind but never truly enter. He was not a companion in the conventional sense; he was a lifeline, a grim guarantor of survival. Suddenly, a wave of nausea washed over me. The white expanse spun, the jagged peaks tilting at an insane angle. A blackness crept at the edge of my vision, a creeping void threatening to swallow me whole. I felt an overwhelming, primal urge to simply lie down, to surrender to the cold, peaceful oblivion. It was a siren’s call, seductive and deadly. Source B: An extract from a modern travel blog, 'Not Quite Conquering Snowdon, But The Pub Was Nice!' by Chloe Green. So, Marius, my ever-optimistic partner-in-crime, had declared that we were “conquering Snowdon.” I had visions of epic vistas and a triumphant selfie at the summit. The reality involved more rain than I thought was possible outside of a car wash, and a wind that seemed personally offended by my new waterproof jacket. “Isn’t this amazing?” Marius yelled over the gale, his face beaming. He looked like a ridiculously happy Labrador that had just discovered mud. I, on the other hand, felt more like a grumpy cat that had been unexpectedly dunked in a bath. He bounded from rock to rock, pointing out things he’d read in the guidebook. His relentless cheerfulness was, I have to admit, infectious. Later, huddled in a mountain café halfway up, nursing a hot chocolate that felt like the elixir of life, I had to laugh. My hair was a mess, my boots were squelching, and we were nowhere near the summit. But Marius was recounting his sheep-serenading adventure to a group of bemused German hikers, and his laughter echoed around the little room. It wasn’t the epic conquest I’d imagined, but it was our adventure. And honestly, it was better. QUESTIONS: For this question, you need to refer to the whole of Source A, together with the whole of Source B. Compare how the writers convey their different feelings and perspectives on their adventures in the mountains. In your answer, you could: • compare their different feelings and perspectives on their adventures • compare the methods the writers use to convey their feelings and perspectives • support your response with references to both texts.

'People have become obsessed with travelling ever further and faster. However, travel is expensive, dangerous, damaging and a foolish waste of time!' Write an article for a news website in which you argue your point of view on this statement. (24 marks for content and organisation 16 marks for technical accuracy)