Read Text A, Kayaking, in the insert and then answer Questions 1(a)–1(e) on the question

paper. Text A: Kayaking

Kayaking is a fun activity that involves moving through water using a double-bladed paddle in a
small buoyant vessel, a kayak. The paddler sits face-forward in a cockpit with the legs extended
beneath a closed deck, propelling ahead with alternating side-to-side paddle strokes.

The kayak has been around for centuries. It was first used by people living in the Arctic 5
regions for navigating waterways. It offered a pragmatic way to hunt, fish, and transport

passengers across water.

Nowadays kayaking is also a great activity for enthusiasts of all levels – one reason for

its popularity. It can be a wonderful way to discover quiet, shallow waters at the edge

of a lake, or an exciting high-energy sport racing along fast-moving rivers and rapids. 10

Open to everyone, basic kayaking requires no previous experience other than a passion

for exploring open waters.

Kayaking can be combined with other outdoor activities like camping and fishing, adding

another layer of challenge to your trip. If you plan on ski-touring or rock-climbing in

areas that require water travel, a kayak can be an excellent tool for accessing the remote 15
beauty of a region.

Kayaks come in two basic styles: sit-on-top and sit-inside. Sit-on-tops are increasingly

popular as they’re the most stable, easy to get in to and out of, so a great choice for

new, or nervous paddlers, for warm environments and for paddling with kids who love

to swim. Sit-insides shelter your lower body from the wind, which makes them much 20 warmer.
They’re great for paddlers on cooler water who want to stay dry while paddling,

and who consider the kayak more a vehicle for travel than a toy.

Sleek and noiseless, kayaks have few limits – though high-traffic waterways are best

avoided to prevent accidents. Faster vessels, emitting pollutants, can seriously harm

populations of water-dwelling species who cannot move quickly enough to avoid a 25 speedy
oncoming boat. Kayaking is an environmentally friendly alternative to boating. Responsible
kayakers always drain their boat before leaving a paddle-site to avoid

transporting water, which may contain some form of living creature or plant material,

from one water course to another.

Read Text A, Kayaking, in the insert and then answer Questions 1(a)–(e) on this question
paper. Question 1

(a) What piece of equipment is used to move a kayak through the water according to the
text? . [1]
-Double bladed paddle

(b) Using your own words, explain what the text means by:
(i) ‘buoyant vessel’ (line 2): [2]
Buoyant - floating
Vessel - slim, hollow craft

(ii) ‘pragmatic way’ (line 6): [2]

Pragmatic - easy and useful

Way - alternative method

(c) Re-read paragraph 3 (‘Nowadays 􏰀 waters.’).

Give the two examples of ‘open water’ that can be explored in a kayak according to the
text. [2]
1.Discovering shallow waters at the edge of the lake.
2. Racing along fast-moving rivers.

(d) Re-read paragraphs 4 and 5 (‘Kayaking can be 􏰀 toy.’).

(i)Identify two reasons why combining kayaking with other outdoor activities might appeal to
some people.

1. Can be an extra challenge.

2. Can access the beauty of the region

(ii) Explain why sit-on-top kayaks may not be suitable for some paddlers according to the text.

Sit on top kayaks are more suitable with kids than the adult paddlers and will not be
comfortable for paddlers who want to kayak in the cold environment.

(e) Re-read paragraph 6 (‘Sleek and noiseless ... another.’).

Using your own words, explain why some people might think that kayaking is better for the
environment than other forms of water-based transport. [3]

The slow speed of kayaks is safer for the aquatic animals than the fast speed boats.It is
environmentally friendly since it emits zero waste and pollution.
Read Text B, and then answer Question 1(f) on the question paper. Text B: Kayaking is
good for your health

Some plunge down waterfalls, others fish from their vessels, but all kayakers have one thing in
common: they all know a thing or two about leading a healthy lifestyle.

Bobbing around in a kayak offers far more than a relaxing way to spend a sunny afternoon.
Kayakers can teach the rest of us lots about leading happier, healthier lives, and luckily it’s
easier to start kayaking than you think.

All of that paddling (and water resistance!) lendsf to a serious workout. Just one

hour of kayaking can burn over 350 calories, depending on how hard you paddle, and 5 builds
muscle strength in more areas than. ‘You can enjoy the benefits

of a full workout far from the confines of a sweaty gym,’ says outdoor-sports expert

Brad Bostrom.

But pick the right vessel. Brad recommends going for a wide boat that you sit on top

of. ‘These boats are much easier to get back in if you flip them over,’ he says. Along 10 with
your boat, Brad advises investing in a high-quality, lightweight paddle, which will

make for more efficient movement.

Apparently, the consistent motion of kayaking is a great way to get your heart beating too
(easier on the knees than pounding pavements) and research shows that elite

kayakers actually breathe more efficiently. 15

And there are just as many mental benefits. Whether battling white water rapids or

drifting along with the help of ocean waves, kayaking is a way to de-stress. Exercise

decreases stress by increasing endorphins, bringing athletes to the present moment

and actually lifting moods. A new book, Blue Mind, by Wallace J. Nichols, Ph.D., shows

that adding water to the equation brings a whole new level of stress-busting. 20

‘Though remember that even the best swimmers can tire quickly in rough or cold water.
Kayakers of all levels should always wear a personal flotation device,’ Brad advises. ‘Paddle in
a group too – join a club – it’s safer and a great way to make new friends.’

Time spent outdoors comes with a slew of bonuses, including vitamin D intake from

‘sensible sun exposure’ time. But watch the weather. Finding yourself stranded in a 25 storm
isn’t fun. Lightning loves to strike water and wind can create dangerous waves.

It’s always good to check the forecast before heading out.

Overcoming extreme challenges like white-water rapids, or even paddling a longer

distance than you did last time, helps build confidence and positive self-image. ‘There’s

nothing like floating quietly through a forest and surprising a sun-bathing alligator,’ says 30
Brad. ‘I see and learn new things every day’.

Read Text B, Kayaking is good for your health, in the insert and then answer Question 1(f)
on

this question paper.

(f) According to Text B, what are the benefits of taking up kayaking as a hobby?

You must use continuous writing (not note form) and use your own words as far as possible.

Your summary should not be more than 120 words.

Up to 10 marks are available for the content of your answer and up to 5 marks for the
quality of your writing.

a healthy lifestyle.
leading happier, healthier lives,
serious workout
burn over 350 calories
muscle strength in more areas
Faster heart beating
Kayakers breathe more efficiently
De stress
Increase endorphins
Bringing athletes to present moment
Lifting moods
Great way to make new friends
Getting contact with sun - free vitamin D intake
Build confidence and positive self image
Learning new things

Kayaking is proven to increase both mental and physical health.

It can make our moods better by releasing endorphins.
Read Text C, and then answer Questions 2(a)–(d) and Question 3 on the question paper.
Text C: Paddling Alaska

The writer, Audrey Sutherland, worked for years as a careers adviser for high school students
before setting off on her first solo kayaking trip through Alaska. Since that first trip she has
paddled more than 13 000 solo Alaskan kilometres.

I first saw southern Alaska from the air, looking down on islands with secluded beaches and
hidden inlets, huge trees and a point for watching sunrise and sunset.

Fifteen kilometres from any town was wilderness; towns were dotted far apart. That left

lots of space to paddle, explore and camp. Since 1967, whenever I could squeeze in

on vacation, I’d been voyaging in inflatable kayaks. I’d written a fairly successful book 5 about
my trips around the Hawaiian islands. Paddling through Alaska was top of my 25-morale-
building-things-to-do list. My publisher was also keen.

Looking at the map, my choice was clear: I could paddle direct along established routes

for fishing boats, or go ‘gunkholing’, as boaters say, prowling in and out of tiny coves

and meandering south. Connecting a roundabout route of hot springs, old cabins, the 10
smallest islets and resupply towns, I could trace excerpts of historic voyages, forage

natural delicacies and communicate with such endearing animals as whales and otters.

I wasn’t yet factoring in grizzly bears.

This second route would be over 800 miles and involve crossing open sea and

dangerous straits. Obviously, I’d go gunkholing. 15

My inflatable kayak would be the smallest boat to attempt this distance, an impertinent toy
compared to the crafted cedar-log-dugout canoes paddled for centuries along these misty
shores, or sturdy modern fibreglass canoes.

‘You’re seriously paddling 800 miles in Alaska in that?’ said a man on a beach one day.

‘Where’s the unicorn head and mermaid flippers to go with it?’ 20

He sneered at the limp, shapeless roll of plastic on the sand. I attached the hose of the

air pump to a valve in the newly patched intrepid vessel and the plastic kayak squirmed

slowly and reluctantly out of its wrinkles into a tube shape. I kept pumping. The second

side and the hull gradually assumed a wonky banana shape, a bit like a boat-shaped

doughnut, bright yellow with ridiculously optimistic red-and-white ‘racing stripes’ down 25 the
sides.

Why use this boat? Well, I already owned it. It would roll up in a small bag that I could take on
the plane. I’d paddled enough rough seas in it to know it was seaworthy. Above all, it was light
enough to carry by myself up the beach above high tide each night.

My yellow colour scheme was reinforced when my order of foul-weather gear arrived. 30 I tried
it on, laughing at my incongruous image in the mirror. ‘Getting older aren’t you?’

I’d asked for two months off work to complete the trip. I wanted to be lean, hard and

kind. Instead I felt soft, fat and mean. Years of a desk job can do that. After decadesU

spent helping others decide what to do with their lives, I wondered whether I knew what

to do with mine. 35

Read Text C, Paddling Alaska, in the insert and then answer Questions 2(a)–(d) on this
question paper.

Question 2

(a) Identify a word or phrase from the text which suggests the same idea as the words
underlined:
(i) The bear’s mouth and nose were huge. [1]
Enormous muzzle

(ii) The towns in southern Alaska were spread out at different points a long way
away from each other. [1]
Dotted far apart
 (iii) Audrey would go on paddling trips when she could manage to find any time for a
holiday.[1]
Squeeze in a vacation

(iv) She knew before setting off that her kayak was in a good enough condition to
sail on the sea.[1]
Seaworthy

(b) Using your own words, explain what the writer means by each of the words
underlined:
My yellow colour scheme was reinforced when my order of foul-weather gear arrived. I
tried it on, laughing at my incongruous image in the mirror. ‘Getting older aren’t you?’

(i) reinforced - strengthened

(ii) arrived - showed up

(iii) incongruous - weird

(c) Use one example from the text below to explain how the writer suggests that other boats
mightbe better suited to the planned journey.

Use your own words in your explanation.

My inflatable kayak would be the smallest boat to attempt this distance, an impertinent toy
compared to the crafted cedar-log-dugout canoes paddled for centuries along these misty
shores, or sturdy modern fiberglass canoes.

Smallest boat to attempt - The phrase highlights the diminutiveness of the kayak
compared to the other boats that can travel easily along the river. This vividly shows that
it is an extreme challenge for her to make through the journey. The word “attempt”also
foreshadows the failure of the journey.

(d) Re-read paragraphs 4 and 8.

● Paragraph 4 begins ‘Looking at 􏰀’ and is about the choice of route for the journey.
● Paragraph 8 begins ‘He sneered 􏰀’ and gives a description of the kayak.
Explain how the writer uses language to convey meaning and to create effect in
these paragraphs. Choose three examples of words or phrases from each
paragraph to support your answer. Your choices should include the use of
imagery.
Write about 200 to 300 words.
Up to 15 marks are available for the content of your answer.

The overall general effect of the paragraph 4 describes the