11 Plus CSSE past paper

Sections 1 and 2

Here is another paper shared with me by a subscriber. You can download and attempt the paper first here.

Please note, I will share model solutions and guidance to the continuous writing section next week. Here’ the link if you would like to attempt it beforehand.

Colchester Royal Grammar. Facebook

Solutions

Section 1

1. D– lines 14–15 suggest the schoolmaster, Mr Squeers is whipping Smike. ‘Lash’ is a synonym for whip.

2. ’Driven’ emphasis is placed on this word and Mr Squeers repeats it to ridicule the notion that Smike acted out of compulsion. 

3. C– in line 9 Mr Squeers insults Smike while holding him in a headlock and smacking him after every ‘epithet’ (insult).
   Note an epithet is an adjective that is attached to a person’s name such as Richard the Lionheart or Bloody Mary. 

4. Mr Squeers intend to find out exactly why Smike decided to run away from the school and perhaps why he said he was ‘driven to do it’.

5. 1. Once. Mr Squeers raises his whip a second time but Nicholas Nickleby cries ‘Stop!’ Before he brings it down again.

   2. Pick three words which make the reader feel Smike’s suffering.

      1. ‘wincing’

      2. ‘scream’

      3. ‘pain’

   3. What two things does Nicholas do to interrupt the punishment?

      1. Nicholas suddenly approaches Mr Squeers as he’s lashing Smike.

      2. Nicholas cries ‘Stop!’ in a loud voice which echoes around the room.

6. B, C, D and E. The one word exclamation is ‘Stop!’. A to my mind is technically correct but isn’t the correct answer. Unfortunately, there are times like this when I think exam writers apply their own special logic. My advice when you get to a stupid question like this is to go with your instinct and move on swiftly. 

7. Synonyms

   1. spare

   2. imploring

   3. exertions

   4. starting

   5. aghast

   6. bereft

   7. aggravated

   8. wrath

   9. wrested

   10. ruffian

8. ‘This public interference’, ‘returned no answer’, ‘miserable lad’s behalf’ and ‘not I’.

9. Nicholas is angry because Squeers hasn’t replied to his letters, treated the boys at the school cruelly in general, lashed Smike and, further, refuses to stop.

10. B and D

11. C and G

12. A–The passage ends with Squeers cowering as he made Smike cower.

Section 2

1. o

2. l

3. g, h

4. l, m

5. Meats, tames, mates