SECTION A: CONTENT-BASED QUESTIONS
1. Modal verbs are useful to listeners as they contribute to the creation of meaning. Give the
purpose of the underlined modal verb in paragraph 1.
The underlined modal verb "can" in paragraph 1 indicates possibility/ability. The sentence explains
that body language has the potential ("can make or break your presence") to significantly influence a
speaker's effectiveness.
2. Words can provide powerful clues that support listening when the rules of grammar are
applied correctly. Two similar words ‘would’ are underlined in paragraph 3. Explain the
grammatical differences between the two words.
The first "would" is used to describe a past habitual action (a regular occurrence in the past that no
longer happens). The speaker says, "I used to keep my hands glued to my sides...because I thought
moving them would be too distracting." This indicates a past belief about a repeated consequence.
The second "would" is used to describe a future-in-the-past (an action that was expected to happen
after a past moment). The speaker says, "I would gesture when emphasising a point..." This refers to
a future routine the speaker decided to adopt from the perspective of a past time.
3. Text A is a speech.
3.1 Read the whole speech and provide TWO features that indicate that this is a speech. Justify
your answers by referring to evidence from the text.
Use of first-person narrative and direct address: The speaker shares personal experiences using
"I" and "my," which creates a personal connection typical of spoken delivery. For example, the
speaker states, "I used to think..." (para. 1) and "I started making a conscious effort..." (para. 3).
Furthermore, the speaker directly addresses the audience using "you," as seen in the instruction,
"Think about it:" (para. 2) and "use it to warm up your audience..." (para. 7).
Use of short, direct sentences and rhetorical questions: The text uses sentence structures that
are more common in spoken language for effect. For instance, the speaker uses short, punchy
sentences: "They take up space" (para. 2) and "But do not force it" (para. 7). The text also
includes a rhetorical question to engage the listener's thoughts: "What they say is only part of
the equation" (para. 1) is a statement that implicitly asks the listener to reconsider a common
assumption.