Question 6
IGCSE_MODEL_QUESTIONS_VOL1
•
2023
•
ENGLISH_LANGUAGE
•
objective
Write a 180‑200 word narrative from the point of view of a teenage volunteer who discovers a hidden garden in the school grounds. The story must begin with the line "I never believed the old oak could keep secrets" and must end with the volunteer deciding to keep the garden a secret. Include a vivid description of one plant and show a change in the narrator's attitude.
Answer Options
A.
I never believed the old oak could keep secrets. While cleaning the school grounds I brushed past the twisted roots, thinking they were just old debris. One rainy afternoon I slipped behind a wall of vines and stumbled into a small clearing. The space was dim, and a lone brown‑stemmed plant with dull leaves stood in the center, its petals drooping. The air was stale, and I felt uneasy rather than calm. My skepticism grew stronger, and I decided to tell the teachers about the hidden spot so they could turn it into a school project.
Correct Answer
B.
I never believed the old oak could keep secrets. When I was assigned to tidy the school grounds, I brushed aside the gnarled roots as just another obstacle. But one afternoon, while clearing fallen leaves, I slipped behind a tangled thicket and found a narrow doorway framed by moss‑covered stones. Inside, a hidden garden unfolded, bathed in dappled sunlight. A lone silver‑leafed fern curled its fronds like delicate fingers, each leaf shimmering with a faint, metallic sheen that seemed to pulse with quiet life. The air smelled of earth and wild lavender, and for the first time I felt a calm I had never known in the bustling corridors of the school. My earlier scepticism melted away; the garden felt like a secret refuge, a place where nature whispered its own stories. I promised myself that this hidden haven would remain just between me and the old oak, a secret I would protect forever.
C.
I never believed the old oak could keep secrets. Assigned to tidy the courtyard, I ignored the tangled roots until a gust of wind pushed me toward a hidden gate. Inside, the garden was overgrown, with a single wilted rose bush that smelled faintly of decay. The atmosphere was heavy, and I felt a lingering dread. My earlier curiosity faded, and I resolved to avoid the place altogether, leaving it untouched and unspoken.
D.
I never believed the old oak could keep secrets. During my volunteer shift I brushed aside the gnarly roots and discovered a narrow passage leading to a quiet courtyard. A lone golden‑leafed lily floated on a small pond, its petals glistening in the sun. The scent was sweet, and a sense of peace washed over me, but my attitude remained unchanged; I felt the garden was just another part of the school grounds and thought nothing of it.
Correct Answer
B
Correct Option:
I never believed the old oak could keep secrets. When I was assigned to tidy the school grounds, I brushed aside the gnarled roots as just another obstacle. But one afternoon, while clearing fallen leaves, I slipped behind a tangled thicket and found a narrow doorway framed by moss‑covered stones. Inside, a hidden garden unfolded, bathed in dappled sunlight. A lone silver‑leafed fern curled its fronds like delicate fingers, each leaf shimmering with a faint, metallic sheen that seemed to pulse with quiet life. The air smelled of earth and wild lavender, and for the first time I felt a calm I had never known in the bustling corridors of the school. My earlier scepticism melted away; the garden felt like a secret refuge, a place where nature whispered its own stories. I promised myself that this hidden haven would remain just between me and the old oak, a secret I would protect forever.
About This Question
This is
Igcse Model Questions Vol1
2023
English Language
Question 6.
It is one of the
objective
questions from the
2023
Igcse Model Questions Vol1
English Language
examination.
Difficulty level:
Hard
.