The abandoned orchard
Grass reached the lowest branches of the apple trees. Some fruit lay split beneath them, sweetening the air with a smell that was almost sour. The old ladder leaned into a crown of leaves, its bottom rung swallowed by nettles. Beyond the wall, the new supermarket sign flashed red and white. Here the apples ripened without announcements. June lifted one from the grass and rubbed its unbroken side against her sleeve. A wasp emerged from the other half. She set it down gently and reached instead for a small green apple still holding to the branch.
Analyse how the writer uses contrasting details to present the orchard. Support your answer with evidence.
40 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE English Language 3.1 Critical reading and comprehension, covering 3.1.1 Identify and interpret themes, ideas and information, 3.1.2 Read in different ways for different purposes, 3.1.3 Draw inferences and justify with evidence, 3.1.4 Support a point of view using textual evidence, 3.1.5 Identify bias and misuse of evidence, 3.1.6 Reflect critically and evaluatively using context, 3.1.7 Recognise different responses to a text, 3.1.8 Identify the main theme or themes, 3.1.9 Summarise ideas and information from a single text, 3.1.10 Synthesise from more than one text, 3.1.11 Explain how vocabulary and grammar create impact, 3.1.12 Analyse and evaluate form and structure, and 3.1.13 Compare texts critically. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.