™

Cambridge IGCSE

FIRST LANGUAGE ENGLISH 0500/12

*9911806247*

Paper 1 Reading February/March 2024

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 16 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

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Read Text A, Could a wolf ever adopt a human?, and then answer Questions 1(a)–(e) on this question
paper.

Question 1
(a) What inspired the story of Mowgli according to the text?

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

(i) ‘animal inhabitants’ (line 2) ....................................................................................

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(ii) ‘fantastic take’ (line 4) ............................................................................................

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(c) Re-read paragraph 2 (‘The movie’s story  such tales?’).

Give two examples of myths of children being raised by animals.

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[2]

(d) Re-read paragraphs 3 and 4 (‘Of other similar  in the wild.’).

(i) Identify two facts that are known about the boy named Ramu.

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[2]

(ii) Explain why some people might think that chimpanzees could adopt a human child.

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(e) Re-read paragraphs 5 and 6 (‘And there are  just yet.’).

Using your own words, explain why most people are unlikely to believe that tales of animals
adopting humans are true.

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Read Text B, How is the wolf perceived?, in the insert and then answer Question 1(f) on this question
paper.

(f) According to Text B, why is the wolf not well understood by some people?

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.

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Read Text C, In the company of wolves, 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) When the writer first arrives at Aurora Park, he waits outside a small wooden building
which has no lights on.

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(ii) Before numbers started to increase again, wolves were almost non-existent.

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(iii) Aurora Park’s wolves are used to interacting with humans.

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(iv) A stay at Wolf Lodge in Aurora Park comes at a particularly high price.

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

I extinguish the car lights and step out into the freezing air just as a snowplough comes up the
road, driven by my ‘devoted host’ and ‘wildlife expert’, Head Keeper, Stig Hansen.

‘Follow me in your car,’ Stig says softly. ‘At the top, when we get out, don’t make sudden
movements or noises.’

(i) extinguish .............................................................................................................. [1]

(ii) host ........................................................................................................................ [1]

(iii) softly ...................................................................................................................... [1]

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(c) Use one example from the text below to explain how the website makes Aurora Park sound
appealing.

Use your own words in your explanation.

I check the park’s website on my phone: ‘Experience Arctic nature up close. Live amongst our
rare semi-wild wolves at the ultra-exclusive Wolf Lodge. Revel in the unique feeling of being
watched by curious amber eyes; be part of a new story for these marvellous, mythical,
misunderstood creatures ’

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(d) Re-read paragraphs 9 and 10.

• Paragraph 9 begins ‘From inside ’ and is about the first evening in the lodge.
• Paragraph 10 begins ‘Next morning ’ and is about meeting the wolves.

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.

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Re-read Text C, In the company of wolves, in the insert and then answer Question 3 on this question
paper.

Question 3

You are Stig Hansen. You have been invited to give a talk about Aurora Park and your work there.

In your talk you should explain:

• what your job involves and the skills and qualities you feel you need to do the job well
• what visitors enjoy about Aurora Park and the security measures you have in place
• why the work you and your team are doing at Aurora Park is important for both wolves and
humans.

Write the words of the talk.

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

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.

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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)
must be clearly shown.

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