CAMBRIDGE LOWER SECONDARY ENGLISH 9: END OF UNIT 4 TEST

Name Date
Read the extract from the novel Tanglewreck by Jeanette Winterson, then answer questions 1–7.

At 4:30 p.m. precisely, Abel Darkwater drove through the gates of the great house
called Tanglewreck.
Abel Darkwater was never late – unless he intended to be; and his watch was never
wrong – unless he wanted it to be.
5 Some people are always short of time, but Abel Darkwater had all the time in the world
– well, nearly all of it – and it was the nearly that was the problem, and the reason why
he had come to Tanglewreck.
He steered the big car up the long ragged driveway. He glanced at the round green dials
on the dashboard. The luminous clock assured him that he was punctual, and the Age-
10 Gauge steadied its hands at 1588, the year Tanglewreck had been built.
The Age-Gauge worked on echoes of time. Abel Darkwater knew that all time is always
present, but buried layer by layer under what people call Now. Today lies on top of
yesterday, and yesterday lies on top of the day before, and so on down the layers of
history, until the layers are so thick that the voices underneath are muffled to whispers.
15 Abel Darkwater listened to those whispers and he understood what they said.
Now he was at Tanglewreck, and the house was telling him the beginning of its own
past – the day when it was a young house new-made. When Now was Then and Then
was Now. He was curious to hear more, but he had come here today on business, and
he must not keep that business waiting.
20 He pulled up outside the house, and switched off the engine. He heaved himself slowly
out of his car, and consulted his heavy gold pocket watch: the hour hand marked four.
The minute hand thirty-five past the hour. The second hand moved swiftly from forty to
fifty. The fourth hand, in red, like a warning, pointed towards eleven o’clock. Abel
Darkwater looked up, following the direction of his watch. Sure enough, there was a
face at the window.

Cambridge Lower Secondary English 9 – Creamer, Clare & Rees-Bidder © Cambridge University Press 2021 1
 CAMBRIDGE LOWER SECONDARY ENGLISH 9: END OF UNIT 4 TEST

1 Give one word from lines 1–7 that means ‘exactly’.

Precisely [1]

2 Identify and explain two interesting features used by the writer in the second sentence,
beginning ‘Abel Darkwater was never late . . . ’.

• Contrast/Antithesis: The sentence contrasts two opposing ideas: "never late – unless
he intended to be" and "his watch was never wrong – unless he wanted it to be." This
• creates intrigue and emphasizes Abel Darkwater's control over time and punctuality.

• Dash for Emphasis: The dash in each phrase ("never late – unless he intended to be" and "never wrong –
unless he wanted it to be") adds a dramatic pause, drawing attention to the unexpected twist that follows. This
• technique makes the sentence more engaging and highlights Abel's mysterious and commanding character. [2]

3 What is implied by the name ‘Darkwater’?

The name ‘Darkwater’ implies mystery, danger, and secrecy. [1]

4 What does the word ‘ragged’ suggest about the driveway?

The word ‘ragged’ suggests that the driveway is uneven, poorly maintained, or overgrown. [1]

5 What is the main impression of Abel Darkwater created in lines 11–15?

Tick (✓) one box.

that he is interested in history

that he is searching for something

that he is able to travel through time

that he is finding it hard to hear [1]

6 Suggest alternative words that could replace ‘Then’ and ‘Now’ in the sentence ‘When Now
was Then and Then was Now’. Rewrite the sentence below using your new words.

When the Present was the Past and the Past was the Present.

[2]

Cambridge Lower Secondary English 9 – Creamer, Clare & Rees-Bidder © Cambridge University Press 2021 2
 CAMBRIDGE LOWER SECONDARY ENGLISH 9: END OF UNIT 4 TEST

7 Explain how two features of a mystery story are used in this extract.

• Mysterious Character: Abel Darkwater is portrayed as enigmatic and potentially supernatural. His
control over time ("his watch was never wrong – unless he wanted it to be") and ability to hear
• the whispers of history create a sense of intrigue and suspense around his identity and purpose.

• Setting with an Eerie Atmosphere: The description of Tanglewreck and its "ragged driveway" evokes
a sense of decay and secrecy. The house's ability to "tell" its past adds an unsettling, almost
• supernatural element typical of mystery stories, hinting at hidden layers of history and secrets. [2]

Cambridge Lower Secondary English 9 – Creamer, Clare & Rees-Bidder © Cambridge University Press 2021 3