The opening ceremony
The ribbon across the playground gate shone in the morning sun. Behind it, the new climbing frame rose like a small silver castle. A photographer arranged the officials so that the muddy path lay outside the picture. At the back of the crowd, Ellie balanced her crutches while her father searched for a firm place to stand. The speech described a playground for everyone. Applause covered the sound of one crutch slipping. When the ribbon fell, children ran through the gate. Ellie waited for somebody to move the chair blocking the level entrance.
Analyse how the writer uses contrasting details to question the ceremony’s message. 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.