HSC Comprehension Practice

Paper 1
Text 1 Poster:
a) Identify the main idea relating to discovery, and explain how this is represented
through a verbal and visual feature
The poster describes discovery as a process that only occurs when individuals remove the
impediment of expectation. This is represented through the verbal metaphor of anchor
that describes expectations as an impediment to discovery, and is visually represented
through the image of the astronaut, which symbolically embodies the freedom of
discovering, unbound by the constraints of expectation.

Text 2:
b) What did Frankl come to discover?
Frankl came to discover that people who found a sense of purpose in life were more
resilient to suffering than those who did not.
c) Identify two notable features of Smiths writing style that establishes the tone of
the extract.
Smith uses extracts from Frankls book to present Frankls experiences and discoveries
within the concentration camp, establishing a more authentic tone, the last of the human
freedoms to choose ones attitude in any set of circumstances. Smith also uses
quotations from Frankl to provide a first-person account of some circumstances, creating a
more emotional tone, Frankl writes, It was a question of getting them to realise that life
was still expecting something from them.

Text 3 Poem:
d) What discovery has the persona made, and through what process?
The persona has come to discover the unmatched beauty of his beloved, achieved through
his journey of exploring the many wonders of the world and comparing their beauties.
e) How does the poet use poetic devices to comment on his discovery?
The poet uses devices such as bucolic imagery, dawn and sunset on moors and windy hills,
personification, lady April bringing the daffodils and the metaphor song of the blossoms
and old chant of the sea in order to convey the many beauties of the world he has come to
discover, and how they compare to the beauty of his beloved. He further uses polysyndeton
within his description of his beloved to emphasise her beauty, her voice, and her hair, and
eyes, and the dear red curve of her lips.

Text 4 Narrative:
f) How does the author use textual form and features of language to challenge
assumptions and values relating to discovery?
Paley uses the first-person narration of her narrative to contrast the differing attitudes of
herself and her ex-husband to challenge the assumption that discoveries always have far-
reaching and transformative impacts upon individuals. She expresses how her values are
tainted by apathy, which in turn challenges the transformative impacts of discovery, when
a person or an event comes along to jolt or appraise me I can take some appropriate
action.
Two Texts:
g) Discuss how two texts effectively affirm or challenge widely-held beliefs about the
human experience of discovery.
Text 2 thematically affirms the widely-held belief that discoveries can have transformative
impacts on individuals by offering new perspectives. Stylistically, this is achieved through
Smiths allusion to the horrific circumstances of Frankl in the concentration camp and his
use of extracts and quotations to convey the ramifications of discovery. Smith describes
how Frankl comes to discovery that individuals with a sense of purpose are much more
resilient to suffering, as they understand what awaits them in life. Smith alludes to an
extract from Frankls book, when the impossibility of replacing a person is realised, it
allows the responsibility which a man has for his existence and its continuance to appear in
all its magnitude, affirming how a persons discovery of their purpose in life can provide a
renewed perspective of the world, thus evoking a transformation of character. Smith further
quotes Frankl to convey how Frankls discovery of the importance of finding meaning in life
also impacted him on an emotional level, Frankl writes, it was a question of getting them
to realise that life was still expecting something from them.

Text 4 thematically challenges the widely-held belief that all discoveries can have
transformative impacts. Stylistically, this is achieved through the confessional first-person
narration which conveys the contrast between Paley and her ex-husband. The use of
dialogue between Paley and her ex-husband demonstrates their differing viewpoints, Im
doing well this year and can look forward to better. But as for you, its too late. Youll always
want nothing, conveying how Paleys attitude is tainted by apathy, which eliminates any
transformative impacts of discoveries. Paleys final remark, when a person or an event
comes along to jolt or appraise me I can take some appropriate action, challenges the
widely-held belief that discoveries always have far-reaching impacts, instead portraying how
some individuals may disregard the implications of their discoveries and avoid
transformation.

Paper 2
Text 1:
a) How does this image express the confronting nature of discovery (1)?
The dark colour tones combined with the bleak nature of the surroundings and the withered
trees expresses the confronting nature of discoveries.
Text 2:
b) Explain how the tone of the poem conveys the main idea about the importance of
names (2)
The satirical and humorous tone of the poem conveys the writers belief that names have
too much of an impact upon an individuals identity, names decide your personality All
Brittanys are dumb, all Jameses are arrogant.
c) How has the poet used one language feature to share the impact of her discovery
about her own name (2)?
The poet uses alludes to famous individuals to convey the impact of her discovery upon the
importance of names. By comparing the individuals role in life to their name, the poet
shares how she comes to realise the importance her own name plays in shaping her
identity, Holly Golightly knew that when she refused to give her cat a name.
Text 3:
 d) How does the writer use the forms and features of an article to speculate about
the far-reaching effects of discovery (2)?
The writer uses subjective and informative language of the article in order to speculate
about the potentially far-reaching effects of technological discoveries, Maps in two
dimensions are a thing of the past or so say the engineers behind Vricon. The writer also
makes use of scientific jargon and includes quotations from individuals behind the
development process of Vricon in order to express the innovative new features offered by
Vricon and its potential to affect the way technology is used to map landscapes, the core of
our technology is stereophotogrammetry Manne Anliot, Vice president of global
marketing and sales at Vricon tells TIME.
Text 4:
e) How does the author use form to reflect the impact of a sudden and unexpected
discovery (3)?
The author uses the confessional nature of first-person narration to convey the emotional
impact of the personas sudden discovery. The personas rhetorical question, my parents,
no they were not my parents, or were they? conveys her conflicted emotions regarding her
parents as a result of her unexpected discovery. The writers use of caesura further conveys
the personas confused and flustered nature as a result of the emotional impact of her
sudden discovery, But look, as it turns out, theyve been keeping secrets all my life.
Texts 2 and 4:
f) How do these texts effectively explore the challenges of self-discovery (5)?
Text 2 thematically explores the challenge of overcoming certain confronting self-
discoveries. This is achieved stylistically through the personas satirical tone which criticises
the importance of names and the significant impact they have on identity, All Brittanys are
dumb. All Jameses are arrogant. The persona explores the challenge of overcoming the
confronting nature of certain self discoveries through alluding to the names of famous
individuals, identifying how their names shaped their identity, Holly Golightly knew that
when she refused to give her cat a name, and through her confession, I used to hate my
name but now I tolerate it, signifying her sufferance.
Text 4 thematically explores the challenge of overcoming the emotional consequences of
confronting self-discoveries. This is achieved stylistically through the authors use of first-
person narration and its confessional power, providing an insight into the emotional impacts
of the personas confronting self-discovery, they had lied to me I wasnt who I thought I
was. The author uses rhetorical questions to convey the personas sense of disbelief and
her conflicted outlook regarding her family as a result of her discovery, My parents, no
they were not my parents or were they? The use of caesura, But look, as it turns out,
theyve been keeping secrets all my life, further conveys the personas confused nature
and the challenge of accepting the confronting implications of self-discoveries.