These are original Marlbridge practice questions, not past exam questions. Unless a source is credited, every passage was written by Marlbridge for this page. The rubrics are a suggested Marlbridge rubric to help you check your work; they are not an official scoring guideline. No calculator is needed.
Question 1 (multiple choice · foundation)
Which statement best describes the relationship between a writer’s diction and syntax and the audience’s response?
- (A) They have no effect on whether an audience accepts an argument.
- (B) They influence how the writer is perceived and may influence how far the audience accepts the argument.
- (C) They only affect the length of the text.
- (D) They matter only in poetry.
Answer and explanation
Answer: (B). Word choice and sentence structure shape the audience’s impression of the writer, which affects trust.
- (A) denies any effect, which is the reverse of the principle.
- (C) confuses style with length.
- (D) These choices matter in all argument, not just poetry.
Question 2 (multiple choice · core)
A report on a strike describes “greedy union bosses holding the town to ransom.” What does the diction most clearly suggest about the writer?
- (A) The writer is neutral.
- (B) The writer is hostile to the union and judges before presenting evidence.
- (C) The writer is quoting a legal document.
- (D) The writer is sympathetic to the union.
Answer and explanation
Answer: (B). “Greedy”, “bosses” and “holding the town to ransom” are loaded and negative, which reveals bias against the union.
- (A) Neutral wording would avoid such judgements.
- (C) Nothing indicates a legal document.
- (D) The connotations are hostile, not sympathetic.
Question 3 (multiple choice · core)
Which pair of words has similar denotation but opposite connotation?
- (A) “house” and “building”
- (B) “determined” and “stubborn”
- (C) “run” and “jog”
- (D) “red” and “crimson”
Answer and explanation
Answer: (B). Both describe a person who does not give up easily, but “determined” is approving and “stubborn” is disapproving.
- (A) differ in specificity, not attitude.
- (C) differ in speed, not attitude.
- (D) differ in shade, not attitude.
Question 4 (multiple choice · core)
A writer addressing sceptical scientists uses highly emotional language and no data. The most likely effect is that
- (A) the audience will trust the writer more because of the passion.
- (B) the audience will doubt the writer’s reliability because the language is not backed by evidence.
- (C) the audience will not notice the language.
- (D) the audience will agree because emotion is always persuasive.
Answer and explanation
Answer: (B). An audience that values evidence is likely to read emotional language without data as a sign of weak reasoning.
- (A) and (D) overgeneralise: passion works only for audiences that welcome it and when it is supported.
- (C) Readers usually notice register, especially when it departs from what they expect.
Question 5 (multiple choice · stretch)
“I came. I saw. I stayed.” Which description of the syntax is most accurate?
- (A) Three short, parallel sentences that create a brisk, deliberate rhythm
- (B) A single long complex sentence
- (C) A periodic sentence with a delayed main clause
- (D) A series of dependent clauses
Answer and explanation
Answer: (A). Each sentence is short and has the same shape (pronoun plus verb), which gives a brisk, confident pace.
- (B) There are three separate sentences.
- (C) There is no delayed main clause.
- (D) Each is an independent clause.
Question 6 (constructed response · core)
Read the passage below, written by Marlbridge, from a letter to a neutral local newspaper.
“The mayor’s so-called ‘plan’ is a disgraceful farce. Only a fool would fall for it. Everyone knows the real reason: the mayor’s friends will line their pockets.”
Explain how the diction and syntax affect the writer’s credibility with undecided readers. (5 marks)
Sample answer and suggested rubric
Sample. The diction is loaded and insulting: “disgraceful farce”, “only a fool”, and the scare quotes around “plan” signal contempt. “Everyone knows” and “the real reason” claim certainty without evidence, and the accusation about the mayor’s friends is stated as fact. The syntax is made of short, blunt declarations that sound final and leave no room for a reply. For undecided readers, who look for fairness and reasons, these choices are likely to suggest a biased writer who has not made a case, so credibility is damaged. Readers who already dislike the mayor may enjoy the passage, but they too would have no evidence to rely on.
| Mark | What earns it |
|---|---|
| 1 | Identifies loaded diction with an example |
| 1 | Explains what it reveals (bias, hostility) |
| 1 | Identifies an absolute or unsupported claim (“Everyone knows”) |
| 1 | Comments on the short declarative syntax |
| 1 | Links the effect to the credibility with undecided readers |
Question 7 (constructed response · core)
Revise the passage in Question 6 so that it keeps the writer’s criticism but would be credible to undecided readers. Write three to four sentences and explain two changes. (6 marks)
Sample answer and suggested rubric
Sample. “The mayor’s plan would spend £2 million on a new car park, but the council’s own report gives no evidence that parking limits trade in the town centre. Residents who pay for the scheme through their taxes should ask why it was chosen over repairs to the market hall. The council has not said whether any of the contracts were put out to tender, and it should.” Changes: (1) the insults are replaced with a precise figure and a direct, checkable statement, which builds trust; (2) the accusation is reframed as a question the council can answer, which sounds fair while still criticising.
| Mark | What earns it |
|---|---|
| 1 | Keeps a critical position |
| 1 | Removes loaded insults |
| 1 | Adds precise, checkable detail |
| 1 | Uses calmer syntax (fuller sentences, questions or modals) |
| 1 | Explains one change and its effect on credibility |
| 1 | Explains a second change and its effect |
Question 8 (constructed response · stretch)
Frederick Douglass said in 1852 (public domain): “This Fourth [of] July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.”
Explain how the diction and syntax shape the audience’s view of the speaker and the argument. (6 marks)
Sample answer and suggested rubric
Sample. The syntax is built from short, balanced sentences in which each half mirrors the other (“yours, not mine”; “You may rejoice, I must mourn”). The mirrored shapes make the contrast clear and give the speaker the calm authority of someone stating a fact. The pronouns “yours” and “mine”, “you” and “I”, divide the room, and the modal verbs “may” and “must” contrast what is permitted to the audience with what is forced on the speaker. The diction is plain and emotionally exact: “rejoice” and “mourn” are opposite responses to the same day. Because Douglass states the contrast without insult, he appears controlled and fair-minded, which makes it harder for the audience to dismiss the accusation as anger.
| Mark | What earns it |
|---|---|
| 1 | Identifies the short, balanced syntax |
| 1 | Explains the effect of the mirrored structure |
| 1 | Comments on the pronouns “you” and “I” |
| 1 | Comments on “may” and “must” |
| 1 | Comments on the diction (“rejoice”, “mourn”) |
| 1 | Links the choices to the speaker’s perceived character and the audience’s acceptance |
How did you do? If you missed Questions 1 to 5, reread “Diction: what to look at” and “Syntax: what to look at”. If you lost marks in 6 to 8, check that you linked each choice to the impression of the writer and the audience’s trust.