Cambridge IGCSE®

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FIRST LANGUAGE ENGLISH 0500/01

Paper 1 Reading For examination from 2020
SPECIMEN PAPER 2 hours

You must answer on the question paper.

You will need: Insert (enclosed)

INSTRUCTIONS
● Answer all questions.
● Use a black or dark blue pen.
● Write your name, centre number and candidate number in the boxes at the top of the page.
● Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
● Do not use an erasable pen or correction fluid.
● Do not write on any bar codes.
● If additional space is needed, you should use the lined pages at the end of this booklet; the question
number or numbers must be clearly shown.
● Dictionaries are not allowed.

INFORMATION
● The total mark for this paper is 80.
● The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].
● The insert contains the reading texts.

This document has 14 pages. Blank pages are indicated.

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

Question 1

(a) Give two examples of extinct species (other than the mammoth) according to the text.
Passenger Pidgeon
• ................................................................................................................................................
Dodo
• ........................................................................................................................................... [1]

(b) Using your own words, explain what the text means by:

(i) Subjects for the process of reviving

‘candidates for “de-extinction”’ (line 2): .............................................................................
a species
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Possible to achieve, In reach of completing
(ii) ‘not just distant dreams.’ (line 5): .......................................................................................

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(c) Re-read paragraph 3, (‘Scientists working on such projects … climate change.’).

Give two reasons why scientists might be excited by the possible birth of a woolly mammoth.
Chance of slowing or even reversing climate change
• ................................................................................................................................................
Birth of the once extinct wooly mammoth
• ........................................................................................................................................... [2]

(d) Re-read paragraphs 4 and 5, (‘The basic idea … Siberia’s permafrost.’).

(i) Identify two main tasks that scientists will need to complete in order to breed the hybrid.
Extract DNA of the wooly mammoths that survived in the Arctic Tundra
• .........................................................................................................................................
Alter the DNA of the modern Asian elephant
• .................................................................................................................................... [2]

(ii) Explain why Asian elephants were chosen for Project Mammoth.
Asian elephants are so closely related to the now extinct wooly
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mammoths, that they could interbreed to birth a fertile offspring. Moreover

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these genetically modified elephants could inhabit the tundra and [3]
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coniferous forests in North America and Eurasia, similar to the wooly

mammoths

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(e) Re-read paragraphs 6 and 7, (‘The project is not without ... chance of survival.’).

Using your own words, explain why some people disagree with Project Mammoth.
Many people have brought up concerns regarding how practical or impactful
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this initiative would bring. Moreover, they thought that this project would be
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a mere distraction to scientist, and a waste of time, when life threatening

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problems still trouble the common man.

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Read Text B, Waking the Baby Mammoth, in the insert and then answer Question 1(f) on this
question paper.

Question 1

(f) According to Text B, what made Lyuba such a remarkable and precious scientific specimen
and what did scientists hope to discover by studying her?

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.
Lyuba was a mammoth that was genetically revived through the remnants
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a month-old mammoth calf from over 40 000 years. She was an unblemished
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fossil that was a gem in the eyes of scientist and biologists. This was a rare
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find, since most people who stumble onto such remains tend to exploit them
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for personal benefit

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Scientists are hopeful of discovering facts about the ancient mammoths, and
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learning about the life and adaptations of the extinct mammals. Moreover
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the prospect that some genetic findings could be unveiled by conducting
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various examinations on the fossil specimen. Lyuba was a source of
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prehistoric secrets that was known to none, and scientists desired to learn
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secrets of the Ice Age using this.
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[Total: 30]
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Read Text C, The Gift, 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) Natalia was expecting the quietness of their walk to be broken suddenly.
Shattered
...................................................................................................................................... [1]

(ii) Natalia slowed herself down and made herself as tall as possible before refusing to go
any further.
Drew herself up, and stopped
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(iii) Her grandfather spoke to her in a low, angry voice.

Hissed
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(iv) The homeless person was fast asleep.

Sleeping soundly
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(b) Using your own words, explain what the writer means by each of the words underlined:

I peered out into the street. On the other side, there was a street lamp with a dying bulb.
I was opening my mouth to say ‘What?’ and then I saw it. Half a block from us, an enormous
shadow was moving along the street.

(i) peep into

peered .......................................................................................................................... [1]
Flickering
(ii) dying ............................................................................................................................ [1]

Massive, majestic
(iii) enormous ..................................................................................................................... [1]

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(c) Use one example from the text below to explain how the writer suggests Natalia’s experiences
and feelings that night.

Use your own words in your explanation.

I peered out into the street. On the other side, there was a street lamp with a dying bulb.
I was opening my mouth to say ‘What?’ and then I saw it. Half a block from us, an enormous
shadow was moving along the street.
"I peered out into the street". This implied the apprehension and
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anticipation of Natalie. This also reinforced the inquisitiveness and excitement

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she had for the surprise her grandfather had in store for her.
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The word peer is used to depict how she had a childish curiosity, and also
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display how she could not wait.

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(d) Re-read paragraphs 9 and 12.

• Paragraph 9 begins ‘At first I thought it was a tram …’ and is about the elephant and how
it was moving when Natalia first saw it.
• Paragraph 12 begins ‘Its ears were folded back …’ and gives Natalia’s impression of the
elephant as she watches it come towards her.

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 effect of these two paragraphs is that of the majestic elephant
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and its large silhouette. The eerie atmosphere of the location, paired with
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element of the unknown makes the reader anticipate the future of the
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elephant and Natalie.

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The phrase "Making almost no noise" displayed the grace, and care in which
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the creature moved in.

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The writer also made use of similes and personification through the phrase
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'like a tide'. Moreover, 'soft dragging sound on the rails' depicts the stance
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and movement of the elephant. 'Dragging' makes the reader believe that
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although the elephant is moving, it is trying to keep its limbs together, and
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hints at how the elephant might be injured.

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'The thing sucked in air and let out a deep groan is another phrase the
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writer used. 'sucked in air' was a reference to how the elephant seemed
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like a vacuum cleaner, and helped the writer visualize the sheer size of
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it. 'deep groan' implied the fatigue and dormancy of the elephant, and how
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it was in deep pain.

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The writer uses the phrase "dome bouldered head" to help the read visualize the absurd
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shape of the elephants crown. Moreover, the word "dome" implies the unblemished,
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spherical structure of the head.

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"The arched roll of the spine fell away into the hips" is another line that aids the reader in
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completing the shape of the elephant. 'arched' is a word the writer used to compare the
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elephant to an agitated cat, due to the dilemma it was in.

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Finally, 'It dragged its curled trunk like a fist along the ground.' is another phrase
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the writer makes use of. 'like a fist' is a metaphor for the appearance of the trunk.
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In addition to this, this also gives the elephant the charisma of an upset toddler,
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balling up its fists to protest.

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[Total: 25]
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Re-read Text C, The Gift, in the insert and then answer Question 3 on this question paper.

Question 3

You are the grandfather. Some years later you are interviewed about your memories of that night
for a radio programme about local history. The interviewer asks you the following three questions
only:

• What did you see and feel during your journeys through the city that night?
• What do you remember of your granddaughter’s behaviour and reactions that night?
• What were your reasons for taking your granddaughter out that night and what do you think
she gained from the experience?

Write the words of the interview.

Base your interview on what you have read in Text C, but be careful to use your own words.
Address each of the three bullet points.

Begin your interview with the first question.

Write about 250 to 350 words.

Up to 15 marks are available for the content of your answer and up to 10 marks for the
quality of your writing.
Well, that night was on Natalie's birthday, The atmosphere was dingy, and the buildings
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on the road sides gave me sinister stares. The silence was deafening. But I knew where
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to go. Natalie trailed sheepishly behind me, protesting ever so often on the distance of
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the walk. A feeling of nostalgia engulfed me, as this was the route I took every day to
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the railway station, yet, the modifications and upgrades felt alien to me. The elephant
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was there, like it was the afternoon I had spotted it. But something was different, the
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proud stance it had, had vanished, and was replaced by a feeling of helplessness, as
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who i assumed to be its owner rounded it up.
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My granddaughter was shocked. I still remember the stark expression on her face! Due to
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school, and city life, she rarely ever got to see such animals. The feeling of awe and
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surprise was evidently etched on her face. After a few silent seconds, she whispered with
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excitement "That's an elephant!". Her previous feelings of reluctancy was replaced with
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a dumfounded joy at spotting such a creature.

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I took her out for showing the elephant to her, and it seemed like a nice birthday
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surprise I could give her. Moreover, the chance to see such animals are less nowadays
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and I felt it would give her an insight that she might not get later on in life.
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I feel she gained a massive respect for animals that are in pain, and how even though
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they are just animals, a feeling of love, and empathy can still be shown.
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[Total: 25]

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Additional Page

If you use the following lined page to complete the answer(s) to any question(s), the question number(s)
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Additional Page

If you use the following lined page to complete the answer(s) to any question(s), the question number(s)
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BLANK PAGE

Copyright Acknowledgements:

Question 1a–e © Lila Shapiro; We May Resurrect The Mammoth Sooner Than You Think; Huffington Post; 18 December 2015.
Question 1f © Waking The Baby Mammoth; National Geographic; 12 April 2009.
© Biochemical Soul; http://biochemicalsoul.com/tag/waking-the-baby-mammoth/
Questions 2 & 3 © Téa Obreht; The Tigers Wife; Weidenfeld & Nicolson; 2011.

Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of University of
Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which itself is a department of the University of Cambridge.

© UCLES 2017 0500/01/SP/20