Past Paper 2 Section A Exam Questions – Different Cultures and Traditions

Below are some past Paper 2 Section A questions. You will have a choice of two questions but because we have only studied Cluster 2 (other than ‘Island Man’ and ‘Blessing’) you will need to select the question that has a named poem from Cluster 2.

If you’d like to attempt some of these questions I’d be happy to mark your efforts. You might want to plan responses and/or write individual paragraphs rather than a whole essay. Your essay writing will improve with practice and feedback/guidance from me.

1. Compare how a person’s culture is shown to be important in ‘Hurricane Hits England’ (page 18) and in one other poem.
2. How does Sujata Bhatt show that identity is important in ‘from Search For My Tongue’ (page 12)? Compare the methods she uses with the methods another poet uses to show that identity is important in one other poem.
3. Compare the methods the poets use to get across their points of view in ‘Half-Caste’ (page 13) and in one other poem.
4. Compare how imagery is used to present ideas and feelings in ’This Room’ (page 14) and one other poem.
5. Compare the ways the poet presents a particular culture in Not my Business (page 15) with the ways a poet presents a culture or cultures in one other poem.
6. Compare the methods the poets use to explore the connection between people and the places in which they live in Hurricane Hits England (page 18) and one other poem.