GCSE English Language Paper 1 Question 4: A Scaffolded Approach

GCSE English Language Paper 1, Question 4 (AQA board) presents several challenges for students – to say the least.  For a number of mine it means cognitive overload on the question even before they get to any kind of attempt to answer it. Of course, it is the only question that explicitly assesses Assessment Objective 4 (AO4: Evaluate texts critically and support this with appropriate textual references) and so has to tick all the right  boxes in terms of the skills that the markers need to see the students using.  This set of scaffolded resources covers the skills needed for this question.

Why develop a scaffolded resource? The question itself contains a sometimes overwhelming number of instructions, a quotation reflecting a “student’s” opinion, and a specific placement within the exam that can be daunting.  By the latter, I mean that it’s almost perfectly positioned for short answers to be offered by learners as it is the fourth and last of the reading questions.  However I advise, whatever I say, there are still kids in my cohort who will spend twenty minutes on the more approachable Question 2 instead (but which is only worth 8 marks).  There’s a research paper crying out to be done on that particular, peculiar psychology…

The scaffold asks students some multiple choice questions and then goes on to give them some options to consider when writing their own paragraph.

Who Are The Fastest Racehorses of All Time?

Horse racing is often considered to be a sport where you can miss out on the action if you blink.

That is none more so the case than when it comes to considering the fastest racehorses that have appeared on the track. Superstar performances are what fans of the sport crave, as they love to have the opportunity to say that they saw something breath-taking.

Fortunately, there have been no shortage of legendary stars that have graced the dirt and turf throughout their careers, giving fans of racing something to remember in the process. But, which racehorses rank among the fastest of all-time?

Winning Brew

When it comes to ranking the fastest racehorses of all-time, it is hard to overlook the record-breaking Winning Brew.

The runner set the Guinness World Record for the fastest speed ever recorded by a racehorse after hitting a staggering 43.97 mph in 2008. The mare was trained by Francis Vitale, and was a prominent performer in her home state of Florida.

She may have achieved a Guinness World Record during her career, but that wasn’t reflected by her results on track, as she failed to make an impression in stakes company in the U.S. when finishing fifth in the G1 Spinaway and seventh in the G1 Frizette.

Secretariat

Secretariat is regarded by many as one of the greatest racehorses of all-time, with only Man o’ War ranked higher in the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20^th Century by Blood-Horse magazine.

The superstar was the Triple Crown winner in 1973, and set speed records in each of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. His record in the Derby remains to this day, while no horse has every came close to matching his time at Churchill Downs. However, it was his run in the Belmont Stakes, which clocked a speed of 2.24, which is most fondly remembered.

The time remains the quickest that any horse has completed the Classic trip on the dirt, and it smashed the time of 2:26 that was set 16 years earlier by Gallant Man. Such was its impression; it would have earned a world-record high Beyer Speed rating of 139 had the calculation being developed during that time.

You can check here how he ranks among the Kentucky Derby winners: https://www.twinspires.com/kentuckyderby/winners/

The Green Monkey

The Green Monkey was a record-breaker before even stepping foot onto the racetrack after he cost a staggering $16 million at auction. That price was the highest ever paid at an auction for a thoroughbred.

The Todd Pletcher runner showcased his talent during workouts, clocking a staggering speed of 55 mph when running over an eighth of a mile. Hopes were high after that staggering turn of foot was evident as a two-year-old, but it always appeared as though he needed to be a level above that to ensure that he returned the staggering investment made.

However, hopes that he would become the next superstar faded after finishing only third on his debut over six furlongs at Belmont Park. Two further poor efforts followed before he was retired in early 2008 after failing to break his maiden. Despite costing a staggering $16 million, he won just $10,000 in earnings.

Black Caviar

Black Caviar was one of the most talented thoroughbreds to ever compete in Australia.

On track, she was unbeaten in 25 starts, and won a staggering 15 Group Ones, which remains an Australian record. Black Caviar’s speed ensured that she was able to land top level victories across the world, which included a memorable success in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

However, the vast majority of her success would be achieved in Australia. On home turf, she won the Lighting Stakes on three occasions, and recorded two wins in each of the T J Smith Stakes, Australia Stakes, and Schweppes Stakes. Such was her dominance on track, Black Caviar was named World Champion Sprinter on four occasions, and the European Champion Sprinter once.

The horse passed away in 2024.

Frankel

When it comes to turf horses, few were as talented as Frankel. The runner trained by Sir Henry Cecil won on all 14 of his starts under rules, and retired from the sport as the highest-rated racehorse in the world. Frankel’s first notable win came after dismantling a field of subsequent Group One winners in the Royal Lodge Stakes.

He would later dominate a Classic field in Britain to win the 2,000 Guineas by a staggering six lengths. Frankel’s dominance would continue over a number of difference distances, winning the Sussex Stakes on two occasions, the Queen Anne Stakes, and the International Stakes.

He was named the European Horse of the Year on two occasions, and was inducted into the British Champions Series Hall of Fame in 2021. Frankel’s legacy continues in retirement after producing notable winners, including Derby victory Adayar, and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Alpinista.

The World's Tallest Statue - The Statue of Unity

 
Some statues are big but The Statue of Unity in India is breath-takingly huge.  In fact, it is the world’s tallest statue, looming over the town of Ekta Nagar (previously known as Kevadia) at 182 metres (597 feet). What makes this different from the rest of the world's tallest statues is the fact that it represents a person rather than a symbol of religion or culture.  This is the monument to the life and works of Sardar Patel.  With the best will in the world, if you live outside of India you might just shrug and ask “Who?”.

Image Credit

Sardar Patel (1875-1950) was the first deputy prime minister of the newly independent India, coming to power in 1947. Although he dies just a few years later, his role in the independence movement and that of one of Gandhi’s earliest political lieutenants together with his commitment to national integration earned him the title “The Iron Man of India”.  Without irony, the statue is made of steel framing, reinforced by concrete and brass coating, with bronze cladding.

I Met the Walrus

John Lennon's death in 1980 remains for many a pivotal moment in their lives. For a certain generation they remember where they were when he was shot rather than, say, the JFK memories of an older generation.

Jerry Levitan was 14 in 1969 and somewhat braver than your average teenager. He managed to sneak in to the hotel in which Lennon was staying armed with his tape recorder (remember those big heavy almost suitcase sized ones?). This is the film of that moment in time - with the interview illuminated by a visual narrative, produced by the grown up Levitan in 2007. We think that Lennon would have approved.

At the time Lennon was working through his notorious 'bed in' stage where he and Yoko Ono took to their bed and maintained they would stay there until world peace had broken out. He was also having continuous trouble with US immigration policy and this is refleced in the film, directed by Josh Raskin.

The message is both caught in time and timeless - the marriage of the wonderful pen work of James Braithwaite with the digital illustrations of Alex Kurina come together in a magical way. Even if you are not a huge fan of Lennon you may want to watch this to the end just to see how many ways in which his words can be ingeniously animated. 

The movie was nominated for Best Animated Short Film in 2008 and while it didn't bag the Oscar it did receive many other prizes - which is not surprising.

They Grow Up

Did you ever have an imaginary friend? Can you remember the time that they disappeared, were no longer necessary as you started the process of entering the adult world? They Grow Up centers on such an occasion when childhood innocence comes to an end. It stars Christa B Allen, best known for her role as Charlotte Grayson on the ABC drama series Revenge and was directed by Emma Holly Jones.

Mobile: Multi Award-Winning Animated Short you will Love

I think the moral of this particular animated short could be love will find a way or, at the risk of getting all Shakespearean on you, Love's Labour's Won.

Originally, I thought that I had stumbled upon a new Pixar short when I first started watching it, such is its quality, but soon realised that it was created by a group of students at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg.  It was written and directed by the very gifted Verena Fels, aided and abetted by a host of young talent (please go to the Facebook page for full credits).

The strapline for the short is at the edge of society, a cow tips the balance of destiny with quite some impact... and as you watch you will see just how true this is.  This is one of those rare animated films that three year olds will enjoy but grown-ups will adore.  Technically highly accomplished and with very clever action (it must have taken a math degree to figure out the weights and balances!), this animated short has a beating heart full of joie de vivre. Needless to say Mobile has won a raft of awards at film festivals across the world.

Helping to End Oppressive Child Labor in the US – The Photography of Lewis Hine

The 1900 United States Census showed the population of America growing by over 20% since the previous census ten years before. Good news for a still expanding, young country. Yet there was another astonishing figure which appalled many. One in six children aged between five and ten were recorded as being in gainful employment.

May 1910: Bundle boy. St. Louis, Missouri.

Yet there was worse. This number, shocking in itself, represented a massive increase of 50% over a twenty year period in the number of children in this age group who worked, often in appalling conditions. America’s children were working in greater numbers than ever before - 1,752,187 of them all told between the ages of five and ten. With the country seemingly going backwards in its treatment of its children from poorer backgrounds, a group of people decided that something had to be done.

What Might Happen When an Alien Discovers Voyager?

Have you ever wondered what might happen when aliens discover Voyager?  Well, we have already seen one version in the Star Trek universe, so here is another.  Voyager 1 and II were probes launched in 1977 by NASA.  They contained two golden records, carrying sounds and images of our planet – not to mention our brainwaves.  This beautiful short - Scavenger - by Raphael & Kristin Rogers explores the possibility that one day, one of the probes will be discovered and that the impact it will have is life-changing.  A movie in three minutes. Lovely.

Our favourite new online games to try today

Let’s be honest – most game developers nowadays (at the behest of their publishers) are trying to shove multiplayer into their games. A lot of the time, this just doesn’t work. For example, the team behind Doom is ditching multiplayer for their next iteration as it just didn’t hit right for Doom Eternal, and they want to get the single-player option working properly. We wish that other companies learned from this, but that’s a story for another day.

The story for today is introducing you to some awesome new online games that you can check out. These are games that we have personally played, and we know that they are amazing. You may have heard of some of them (actually, you’ve probably heard of all of them), but all are great fun. We’ve also given you a nice little mix of them, so you can have some great choices no matter which way your gaming preference goes.

Flight Simulator 2024

We are going to kick off this list of online games to try today with a game that we know most people may not want to play, because it isn’t your typical game. Flight Simulator has been kicking around for decades and it is an actual flight simulator – one that you can use to simulate flying some of the best aircraft in the world, and barring a few changes for gameplay purposes, it is very accurate. You control the planes just like you would in the cockpit, although you can make a lot more mistakes than you would if you were in an actual plane, where you’re pretty much limited to just one.

Flight Simulator 2024 requires a persistent internet connection to allow you to experience quality graphics (it uses real map data) and real-time weather. If you connect to a multiplayer server, then you can fly alongside other players and even deal with air traffic control. This is the type of game most non-gamers dedicate their life to, just because they want the experience of actually flying an aircraft.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is the latest in a long line of Call of Duty games, with many heralding it as one of the best iterations in recent years, both on the multiplayer and the single-player front. You probably don’t need us to tell you what BO6 brings to the table, right? The Call of Duty franchise is massive, so you probably already know it is an online shooter. Don’t worry if you’ve never played a Call of Duty game before, either. We rarely do, but the matchmaking in BO6 is so good that you’ll often be matched with people of a similar skill, so you can get a few kills here and there.

One of the best parts about this game is the fact that it is available on Xbox Game Pass. So, if you’re on PC or Xbox, you can pay a small fee each month to have access to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and hundreds of other games, including all of the latest releases from Xbox, and since Xbox has always done some great multiplayer releases, we can promise you that there be a load of awesome games that you can jump into.

Marvel Rivals

Marvel Rivals is the first hero shooter since Overwatch to gain any traction. Although, we suppose it really helps that Marvel Rivals has the power of the Marvel franchise behind it. This means that it has hundreds of characters (and costumes) that it can release over the next few years. It also helps that the game plays incredibly well.

Marvel Rivals will have you using the superpowers of your selected hero to DPS, tank, or heal your way to victory through a variety of objectives. Of course, the opposing team is there to stop you.

At the moment, the player base for Marvel Rivals is incredibly healthy, and it is gaining players. Some may even say that it has more players than Overwatch right now, but that is tough to determine. There are a few balancing issues with Marvel Rivals at the moment, but the hope is that they will be fixed in the future. The team behind the game certainly has a viable plan for the coming months and years. The only downside is that it is Marvel, and Disney likes their money, so expect a lot of incoming monetization of the game.

New online slot machines

We always like to check out the sweepstakes casinos at CasinoMeister to take a look at the latest slots doing the rounds, just for those who want to play something a little bit different online. As with every year, hundreds of new slots are launched, and the same goes for 2025. While we can’t profess to have played every single one of them, we can tell you that we have played the following, and they are awesome for those who are looking for a new online game to play:

• Midnight Gold: Offering 10 pay lines across a 5x3 grid, Midnight Gold will transport you back to medieval England, with a variety of features that can deliver some wins. This includes a potential top payout of 20,000 for your initial bet.
• Aztec Smash: Aztec Smash is a typical 7x7 grid game from Pragmatic Play. The game pays on clusters of symbols, with a unique tumble mechanic that can deliver some rewarding play. You can win up to 150x your stake if the stars align.
•  Cygnus 5: Elk Studios has released a few games in this series. The fifth version of the game offers up to 262,144 ways to win. Lots of features in this Egypt-themed slot too!

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2 is the sequel to the wildly popular Path of Exile. It is still in early access, but what we have seen of the game so far seems very promising. Path of Exile 2 is the perfect ARPG for those who want something similar to Diablo but with a bit more complexity. We are telling you now, though – if you want to get the most from Path of Exile 2, then you’re never going to be able to play any other game.

Monster Hunter Wilds

Monster Hunter Wilds has yet to be released, but since every Monster Hunter has had a good online experience, we doubt this one will be any different. Why not go and hunt monsters with your friends when this game launches?

Civilization VII

Finally, we’ve got Civilization VII. This game is perfect for the more strategy-minded among you. Build up civilizations and destroy your opponents. People can get very good at this game (as they have been refining their strategies for decades), but the latest release of Civilization also means that you stand a decent chance of finding newbies you can go up against.

There are more multiplayer games than these. However, we wanted to give you a broad selection of games so you can find something that suits your taste. We hope we have done that. Go and have a ton of fun playing some of these games. Whether you’re into a simulator, a shooting game or something that requires a bit more brainwork, there is something there for you!

 

The Easter Bilby – Australia’s Alternative Take on a Tradition

A chocolate what?  If you live outside of Australia the chances are you have never heard a child – your own or one belonging to others - plead (in that excruciating tone they most often use to maximise the efficiency of their demand) “Mum! Muuuuum! I want an Easter Bilby. Give me an Easter Bilby!”.

Image Credit

Why the usurpation of the rabbit as the predominant paschal proxy?  Are they out of favor in Australia? There is more to this story than a new(ish) nation putting its own cultural stamp on an old tradition.  The bunny is not native to Australia – in fact, it’s something of a nuisance to say the least.  Introduced by European settlers, the rabbit quickly went feral and reproduced in numbers that even Moses would have to grudglingly acknowledge as positively Biblical. This population explosion put a lot of local fauna in jeopardy.

If You Have Never Wanted to Visit Armenia, You Will After You Watch This

Did you know that the name Armenia is derived from Aram, who in the Old Testament of the Bible is the son of Shem, himself the son on Noah? Yes, that Noah. 

You won’t be surprised to discover, then, that the country itself is literally dripping with history.  Some of the old churches – in various states – are simply awesome to ponder in terms of their sheer solidity. These places of worship were meant to last and must have been staggering features of engineering and architecture at the time they were built as they still have the ability to stagger even now. 

In this wonderful video, there are glimpses of the people and the capital city of Yerevan.  The country looks unspoiled by tourism – and perhaps that is the way that the Armenians would prefer it to stay.  I think this might go on my bucket list and an unobtrusive visit worked out!  In Armenia is a film by Silvio Sbrana.

Mice, a small story

Deep underground in a dark subway tunnel live a group of mice.  They find a gold ring, and this seems to have a strange effect on one of their fellowship, I mean, group.  Meanwhile, a short distance away and own and his servile rats are watching and waiting.  The owl send his minions to take possession of the object.  Wait! Is this Lord of the Rings with mice? You be the judge but I found this animated short by Isart Digital students hugely entertaining. Of course, one must realise that in the end the world of men can intrude at any given point – and quite abruptly too for that matter. There may not be a sequel planned to this one, boys and girls!

The glorious 3D animation is provided by: Jade Baillargeault, Nazli Doale, Dimitri James, Quang Daniel La, Morgane Lau, Mélanie Pango and Manon Pringault.  The equally fabulous music and sound design: Thomas Tillard, Alexandre Tron and Maxime Vatopoulos.  Just love this!

A Rather Lovely Thing

The title of this animated short by Cesar Martinez could well be the name of a Stephen Fry novel (does he still write them?) – it has that ring to it. And for some reason I thought “I bet Stephen Fry would like this” as I was watching it.   An American might say ‘go figure’ to that and I might reply ‘go watch’.  It’s all about experiences and how – whether they are good or bad – they can lead to inspiration.  This animated short, all said, is a rather lovely thing.

The Giant Ichneumon Wasp – Stump Stabber Extraordinaire

What is the fastest, tallest, heaviest, lightest? We love to compare members of the animal kingdom in these terms.  One word you may hear too is longest but when it appears in a question it is normally asked in terms of total length.  In that case, the Giant Ichnuemon Wasp, found in the USA, is nothing much to write home about being just two inches long.  However, if the question was “which insect has the longest ovipositor known to science?” then the female of this species would be the answer. And holy egg laying organs, it’s some length.  Our sibling site, the Ark in Space, has the story.

Image Credit

Famine

It has to be said that you don’t get many science fiction dystopias like this one for your money. Instead of humans or robots (or both) this particular city is inhabited by bugs – and we get the feeling straight away that this is not going to be much like anything that Disney or Pixar might produce (parental guidance is probably advised). It tells the story of a time of dearth in the city – food is massively scarce and the city is on its last legs, proverbially speaking.  One small bug is, through circumstance, accused of cannibalism and he must clear his name, while at the same time revealing the real cannibal killer to the city’s population.

With lots of nods to cinematic genres, including the noir of the thirties (and I found this reminding me of M in some ways too) this is a roller coaster ride from start to finish.  Famine was created by Red Kite Animation and GMAC (Cineworks 2005) in association with Scottish Screen and BBC Scotland.

Behind Minnehaha’s Frozen Falls

Minnehaha Creek in Minnesota would be just another creek, really, if it was not for the beautiful fifty foot waterfall that just happened to form there when the last glacial period ended about 10,000 years ago. In the winter the falls can freeze up completely, creating a magical motionless image of once liquid water frustrated by the elements. Yet there is more to it than meets the eye...

Image Credit Flickr User akahadog

GCSE English Language Paper 2 Question 4 Scaffolded Exercises

 

GCSE English Paper 2, Question 4 presents several challenges for students. Firstly, it is the only instance where Assessment Objective 3 is explicitly taught (comparing writers’ ideas and perspectives, and how these are conveyed, across two or more texts). Additionally, the question can be overwhelming due to the large volume of instructions, not to mention its placement within the exam. There are more details about this resource here.

I have carefully considered how best to engage students with this question and how to structure their responses. These scaffolds are particularly useful for lower ability sets, though they can be effective for any level. They serve as an excellent starting point for tackling the question. When I initially created this resource, I essentially started from scratch, resetting my approach to the question. The results have been very positive, with noticeable improvements in the marks my students achieve on this particular question in the exams.

The Tufa Towers of Mono Lake

Mono Lake in California is a strange place to say the least. However, unlike many bizarre places in the world this strange environment is caused by us.

Image Credit Flickr User Clinton Steeds

In the early nineteen forties the city of Los Angeles was growing quickly. The Second World War was in full flow and when it came to the environment it was felt that some things could be neglected. The LA Department of Water and Power began diverting the lakes streams three hundred and fifty miles to the south. The damage to the environment would be untold. Paradoxically it would leave the area eerily beautiful – like some alien backdrop from an episode of Star Trek.  At some points in the year a soap-like layer forms on the top of the lake.

Superman Awakens

Superman: Awakens is a non-profit, fan-created film crafted with heartfelt dedication to the iconic character and made freely available for everyone to enjoy.  Yet it is also the film that we’ve been waiting for, for so long!  Never mind, we might have to do with this, but it’s five minutes of the Superman we all know and love.

Created with Unreal Engine 5 and powered by the advanced Lumen technology, this project demonstrates impressive speed and capabilities that will leave you gobsmacked. It's evident that the entire team had a fantastic time bringing this vision to life. The story and direction were masterfully handled by Antonis Fylladitis, while Stavros Fylladitis contributed exceptional design, assets, and coordination to the project.

SWIPE - a Five Minute Movie

When a group of delinquent teens are pulling straws, you know that the kid with the short one is in for a whole heap of trouble.  As such, SWIPE relies on a familiar trope – as one of our young friends has to go into a store and steal to impress his friends.  However, he is about to learn an unexpected lesson.  This short film was written, directed and edited by Anthony Sneed.  It stars Nick G Hunter, Lorenzo Rogriguez and Alina Phelan.

Nick G Hunter in SWIPE

Nick G. Hunter is an American actor recognized for his performances in various television shows and films. His notable credits include Danger Force (2022), Diary of a Future President (2020), This Is Us (2019), Invite Only (2019), How Does It Start? (2019), Top Chef Jr. (2018), and Disney's Be Your Best Snackdown (2017).

If the actor playing the mother is familiar, her name is Alina Phelan, an accomplished actress known for her appearances in popular television series such as Grey's Anatomy (2005), How to Get Away with Murder (2014), and Lucifer (2016).

The City with the Largest Population in the World: Welcome to Chongqing

Chongqing: if you are not from Asia or a geography enthusiast, the name may not mean a great deal to you.  However, this city in southwestern China now boasts the largest urban population in the world – and it has an infrastructure and architecture that clearly demonstrate that… an awful lot of people live there.  In fact, the figure currently stands at 32,054,159. (picture credit)

That is quite a number.

Watch the Big Bang but Don’t Know the Theory? Take a Look at This…

…because it may just clear up a few things for you about the original Big Bang Theory.  Where Sheldon might blind you with science, this animation, designed by Mike Luzzi and directed by Dan and Jason at Hornet Inc will make it simple. Well, simpler because even at its most basic it is quite a lot to take in – at least in one viewing.  However, as Einstein said: If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.

Out of a Forest

At certain times of the year families get together, sit around a table and eat and talk. Such is the case with this extended family of rabbits but there is danger lurking in the background…

This is Tobias Gundorff Boesen’s Bachelor film from The Animation Workshop. It is set to the song "Slow Show" by The National, who were kind enough to allow him to use their music (well it makes for a very memorable promo after all!). It is a non-commercial short film, intended for festivals – and it has won many!.

It was shot in the forests surrounding Viborg, Denmark. Boesen’s main inspiration was Victorian literature, and "Boxer" by The National. It was painful to finish, as shooting stop motion in the forest at night for longer periods turned out to offer a lot of problems. I think (or hope!) that you will agree that is was worth all the effort.  Plus I love the surprise ending!

The Voice in the Hollow

The Voice in the Hollow is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant short film by Miguel Ortega and Tran Ma. Rendered in Unreal Engine 5, it is set in an African-inspired fantasy world, the story centres on two sisters navigating a complex relationship marked by little love but quite a deal of mutual envy. Their bond is tested to the breaking point when one of them encounters an ancient and malevolent force in the heart of a mysterious jungle which offers her everything she ever wanted...

The film showcases some incredibly atmospheric storytelling, combining rich visuals with haunting sound design to immerse us in its eerie and enchanting world. The themes of sisterhood and jealousy are explored with depth, making the characters' emotional journeys compelling and relatable. The animation and production design, reminiscent of handcrafted artwork, add a layer of authenticity and beauty to this dark fable.  I though that the makers had used a real African language but it turns out that it is (a very authentic sounding) conlang – akin to, say, Elvish in Lord of the Rings.

While brief, the film leaves a lasting impression with its blend of myth, emotion, and suspense. If you are a fan of folklore-inspired narratives and evocative short films then press the play button – you won’t  be disappointed…