MT 73-DSE

ENG LANG

PAPER 1
PART A
HONG KONG DIPLOMA OF SECONDARY EDUCATION EXAMINATION
A
COMPULSORY
MOCK TEST 73
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PAPER 1
PART A
Reading Passages
1 hour 30 minutes
(for both Parts A and B)

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
(1) There are two parts (A and B) in this paper. All candidates should attempt Part A. In Part B, you
should attempt either Part B1 (easier section) OR Part B2 (more difficult section). Candidates
attempting Parts A and B2 will be able to attain the full range of levels, while Level 4 will be the
highest level attainable for candidates attempting Parts A and B1.
(2) After the announcement of the start of the examination, you should write your Candidate Number
on the appropriate pages of the Part A Question-Answer Book and the Part B Question-Answer
Book which you are going to attempt.
(3) Write your answers in the spaces provided in the Question-Answer Books. Answers written in the
margins will not be marked.
(4) For multiple-choice questions, you are advised to blacken the appropriate circle with a pencil so
that wrong marks can be completely erased with a clean rubber. Mark only ONE answer to each
question. Two or more answers will score NO MARKS.
(5) Supplementary answer sheets will be supplied on request. Write your Candidate Number and mark
the question number box on each sheet.
(6) No extra time will be given to candidates for filling in the question number boxes after the ‘Time is
up’ announcement.
(7) The two Question-Answer Books you have attempted (one for Part A and one for Part B) will be
collected together at the end of the examination.
(8) The unused Question-Answer Book for Part B will be collected separately at the end of the
examination. This will not be marked. Do not write any answers in it.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PART A
(1) The Question-Answer Book for Part A is inserted after this Reading Passages booklet.
(2) Attempt ALL questions in Part A. Each question carries ONE mark unless otherwise stated.

Not to be taken away before the

end of the examination session

(S4) MT 73-DSE-ENG LANG 1-A-RP–1 1 © Oxford University Press

Written by Jo Kent (4.2/2023-24) Images provided by Dreamstime.com
This mock test may be adapted by teachers. OUP accepts no responsibility for changes made to original materials.
PART A

Read Text 1 and answer questions 1–16 in the Question-Answer Book for Part A.

Text 1
The illustrator who touches people’s hearts

1 [1] How would you feel if you had a shot at winning an Oscar? For Charlie Mackesey, the award-winning
author and illustrator, the emotion could be summed up as terror. So much so that 15 minutes before the Q2i
result was due to be announced, he freely admits that he was hiding in a toilet. ‘I didn’t think I could even Q2iii
go on stage. I was quite daunted by it,’ he told the BBC afterwards. Q1, Q2ii

5 [2] Mackesey won the illustrious award for best animated short film with The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and Q3
the Horse, which is based on his hugely successful illustrated book of the same name. And it is perhaps his Q4
ability to acknowledge and confront challenging emotions—such as terror at an international award Q5
ceremony—that has enabled him to write a book that resonates with so many people.

[3] Mackesey was born in Northumberland in the UK in 1962. He dropped out of university twice (both Q6iv
10 times lasting no more than a week), then moved to the USA, where he served an apprenticeship to a portrait Q9i
painter. Other than this short vocational post, he is completely self-taught. Mackesey then started work as Q6i, v, 9ii
a cartoonist, before becoming a book illustrator for Oxford University Press. Later, he embraced digital Q6ii
technology and began posting photos of the images he drew on Instagram. Q9iii, 6iii

[4] An editor chanced upon his Instagram account and saw potential in the drawings, and the seeds of a Q16iii
15 publishing phenomenon were sown. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, published in October 2019, Q8i, Q9iv
was a smash hit, reaching number one in the New York Times Bestseller List and Sunday Times Non-fiction Q8ii
Chart. It has been translated into 40 languages and has sold more than eight million copies. Q8iii, v

[5] The story may be simple, telling the story of a band of four friends who go on a journey looking for a Q11D
home for the boy; but the illustrations and words have touched people’s hearts in a profound and unique
20 way. As the characters share their vulnerabilities, their friends rally round to offer support, exploring Q11A, C
themes of kindness, love and friendship. During the pandemic, Mackesey’s drawings became a beacon of
hope. As his images went viral, people all over the world began sending him messages about how much Q10
his work meant to them.

[6] ‘I was overwhelmed,’ said Mackesey. ‘I would get letters from schoolchildren, from prisons and from
25 doctors and nurses who are just so brave and they said the book was helping them through the pandemic. I
keep them all in a file. I still look at them at night. Book sales are not important to me, but these letters
mean everything.’

[7] Mackesey also receives grateful emails about the film, which involved 150 animators, each frame being Q16ii
hand-drawn. ‘On a daily basis, someone makes me weep. That is the greatest award for me. They might Q16ii
30 have watched the film over a cup of tea with their mum or there’s a father and son who had a hug after
watching it. The small things in life are the big things.’

[8] Mackesey lives in Suffolk with his dog Barney.

(S4) MT 73-DSE-ENG LANG 1-A-RP–2 2 © Oxford University Press

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Comments from readers
Kevin Lowe

35 [9] I have suffered from anxiety my whole life. My mum gave me a copy of the book and it just blew me Q14i
away. There’s one page that has really stuck with me: ‘“We have such a long way to go,” sighed the Boy.
“Yes, but look how far we’ve come,” said the Horse.’ When I first read this, it was like something unlocked
in my brain, like someone had given me the compass I need to navigate life. Now, when I’m feeling Q16i
overwhelmed, I try to focus on everything I have achieved, and the small steps I can take to keep moving Q15i
40 forwards.

Suzan Lopez

[10] In November 2020, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and endured 16 gruelling rounds of Q14ii
chemotherapy. A friend gave me a copy of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse just before my first
treatment. I was finding it hard to focus or concentrate on anything, but I remember the story was so pure Q15ii
45 and uncomplicated that it really spoke to me. It gave me hope at a time when I really needed it. I have
finished treatment now, but I still pick up the book when I’m having a dark day.

END OF READING PASSAGE

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Candidate Number Please stick the barcode label here.

MOCK TEST 73
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
PAPER 1 PART A
QUESTION-ANSWER BOOK
A
COMPULSORY

Write your Candidate Number in the space provided on this page.

Read Text 1 and answer questions 1–16. (30 marks)

Text 1

1 What does ‘it’ (line 4) refer to?

going on stage (at the Oscars awards ceremony)

2 Complete the summary of paragraph 1 by selecting the best option from the choices below. (3 marks)

Charlie Mackesey was nominated for an Oscar, but waiting for the result to be announced was __(i)__
for him. In fact, he was so __(ii)__ about it that just before the announcement, he locked himself in a
toilet so that he could __(iii)__.
Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(i) A an exciting time

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

B not a pleasant experience
C time-consuming and boring A B C D
D a very proud moment    
(ii) A unprepared
B amused
C anxious A B C D
D enthusiastic    
(iii) A get support
B call a friend
C change his clothes A B C D
D be alone    

3 Find a word in paragraph 2 which has a similar meaning to ‘highly respected and admired’.

illustrious

4 What word in paragraph 2 is used to indicate that the writer is not completely sure of his/her opinion?

perhaps

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(S4) MT 73-DSE-ENG LANG 1-A–1 5 © Oxford University Press

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5 According to paragraph 2, why do you think Mackesey’s book has become ‘hugely successful’
(line 6)?

(because) the book acknowledges and confronts challenging emotions //

the book resonates with many people

6 Complete the notes below about paragraph 3 by writing ONE word taken from the paragraph in each
blank below. (5 marks)

Charlie Mackesey’s early life

Charlie Mackesey’s route to success was not straightforward.

Work Education

• At the beginning of his career, he briefly • Academic life did not suit him: he started
(iv) university two times and
Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

worked as an apprentice to an American
(i) painter of portraits. quickly left both times.

• Then, he became a (ii) cartoonist • For the most part, Mackesey is a

and illustrated books. (v) self-taught artist.

• Mackesey found success after his artwork

was shared on (iii) Instagram .

7 What does ‘chanced upon’ (line 14) mean?

found something by accident / unexpectedly

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(S4) MT 73-DSE-ENG LANG 1-A–2 6 © Oxford University Press

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8 Below is a summary of paragraph 4. In four of the lines there is ONE mistake. If you find a mistake,
underline it and replace the word with one that expresses the correct idea. Write the word in the box
on the right. Both grammar and spelling must be correct. In one of the lines there is no mistake; put a
tick (✓) in the corresponding box. The first has been done for you as an example. (5 marks)

Summary Correction

e.g. When a publishing professional saw Mackesey’s writing online, drawings

(i) it sparked an idea for publishing a magazine, which was launched book

(ii) in 2019. It was an instant success, reaching the bottom of the bestseller top

(iii) lists on both sides of the Atlantic. There are translators of The Boy, translations

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(iv) the Mole, the Fox and the Horse in 40 languages and currently, ✓

(v) book adaptation amount to over eight million copies. sales

9 Below is a timeline of some of the events in Charlie Mackesey’s life. Look at paragraphs 1–4 and
write the letter of the correct option in the boxes given below. Use each letter ONCE only. Two options
are NOT used.

A Mackesey posted his drawings on social media.

B Mackesey wrote a book.
C Mackesey worked in the USA.
D Mackesey asked his best friend for help.
E Mackesey drew cartoons for a living.
F Mackesey set up a fan club.

Mackesey Mackesey Mackesey

was born. (i) C (ii) E (iii) A (iv) B made a won an
film. Oscar.

1962 today

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

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10 With reference to paragraph 5, complete the following sentence with a word.

People find hope reading Mackesey’s book when the world was facing one of the most
difficult times.

11 Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a feature of Charlie Mackesey’s book in paragraph 5?
A the characters’ weaknesses
B the characters are musicians
C encouragement between friends A B C D
D a straightforward plot    

12 Which is the best description for Mackesey’s mood in paragraph 6?

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

A hopeful
B thankful
C proud A B C D
D sad    

13 What is the writer’s purpose in writing this text?

A to motivate the reader to watch Mackesey’s film
B to review an award-winning film and book
C to encourage the reader to take up drawing A B C D
D to inform us about the life and work of an artist    

14 Find a word or phrase in paragraphs 9 or 10 which has a similar meaning to each phrase given below.
(2 marks)

(i) surprised and pleased me very much blew me away

(ii) extremely difficult and tiring gruelling

15 Complete the main points made by the people in the Comments section by writing a word or phrase
taken from paragraphs 9 and 10 in the blanks below. (2 marks)

Main Point
Kevin Lowe When I feel lost, the book reminds me to take (i) small steps in life.

Susan Lopez The simple story helps me (ii) focus and assures me that there is
hope.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

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16 Below are comments made by some of the people in the text. Match each person with ONE comment.
Each letter can be used ONCE only. One letter is NOT used. One has been done for you as an example.
(3 marks)

A Charlie Mackesey D Kevin Lowe

B An animator E Suzan Lopez
C Mackesey’s editor

Comments Letter

It’d been hard work drawing each frame by hand but I really enjoyed it. B (example)

Acknowledging the progress I’ve made helps me deal with life. (i) D

I get emotional when I read comments from people who loved the film. (ii) A

As soon as I saw them, I knew we could do something more with his (iii) C
Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

drawings.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

END OF PART A

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Do not write on this page.
Answers written on this page will not be marked.

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MT 73-DSE
ENG LANG

PAPER 1
PART B1
HONG KONG DIPLOMA OF SECONDARY EDUCATION EXAMINATION
B1
EASY SECTION
MOCK TEST 73
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PAPER 1
PART B1
Reading Passages
1 hour 30 minutes
(for both Parts A and B)

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
(1) Refer to the General Instructions on Page 1 of the Reading Passages booklet for Part A.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PART B1

(1) The Question-Answer Book for Part B1 is inserted after this Reading Passages booklet.
(2) Candidates who choose Part B1 should attempt all questions in this part. Each question carries
ONE mark unless otherwise stated.
(3) Hand in only ONE Question-Answer Book for Part B, either B1 or B2.

(S4) MT 73-DSE-ENG LANG 1-B1-RP–1 11 © Oxford University Press

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Part B1

Read Texts 2–3 and answer questions 17–33 in the Question-Answer Book for Part B1.

Text 2

Tackling Hong Kong’s stray cat problem

1 [1] Love them or hate them, almost every corner of Hong Kong is inhabited by cats. In Hong Kong’s Q17
earliest days as a trading port, rats would stow away on ships and then come on shore. Cats back then were
a useful way to keep their numbers in check.

[2] However, as Hong Kong’s human population has grown, the street cat population has grown alongside
5 it, and the city has become ever more crowded. Some find their presence a nuisance, even viewing them as Q18
vermin. This argument has some merit, as street cats are often noisy, especially when mating, and can Q19i, ii
create a lot of mess.

[3] Cats are clever and resourceful and have adapted well to life on Hong Kong’s streets. Indeed, there are
around 1,750 active cat colonies in the city. However, the street cat’s life is not an easy one. They suffer Q20
10 from diseases, fights over territory and hunger, and are even involved in traffic accidents. It is a struggle to
survive. It is clear, then, that if the street cat population were left unchecked, it would be bad news for the
street cats as well as the humans that live alongside them.

[4] One blunt method of tackling this issue would be euthanasia—the practice of ending an animal’s life Q22i
without pain—which for many years was the preferred method. However, in 2000, the SPCA launched a
15 more compassionate solution: the Cat Colony Car Programme (CCCP). This involves trapping street cats, Q21D
sterilizing them and releasing them back into the area where they were found. Cats have their ear clipped Q21C, A
to show they have been sterilized, so that volunteers do not try to trap them again unnecessarily.

[5] There are several advantages: the cats obviously can no longer have kittens, resulting in a decrease in Q22ii, Q23i
the street cat population over time; the cats are also given a health check and vaccinated against rabies,
20 resulting in a healthier cat population and less risk of diseases spreading. Q23ii

[6] Since it started, the CCCP has sterilized more than 80,000 street cats. The number of cats being sterilized Q25
has dropped by 90 per cent over the past 20 years, and the number of cats being euthanized has fallen by
the same amount in that period.

[7] So, if you see a cat with part of its ear missing, you know that it has been checked and neutered. The
25 hope is that over time, such cats will become a rarer and rarer sight, and one day all cats will have a safe
and loving home with their human guardians.

(S4) MT 73-DSE-ENG LANG 1-B1-RP–2 12 © Oxford University Press

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Text 3

Cat rescuers
1 Chow Sum-tim

[1] Chow Sum-tim runs a modest takeaway shop in Tai Kok Tsui called Spicy Fishballs Please. By day, Q29ii
she is a hard-working chef. By night, she is a cat rescuer, walking the local streets and looking for local
moggies in need of help. Some nights she only gets a few hours of sleep. Q27

5 [2] Her love of animals started young: she grew up with pet dogs, cats, turtles and chickens. The pivotal
moment in her childhood came when a neighbour was arrested and taken away, leaving his pet cat behind. Q33ii, Q29i
Chow’s grandfather brought it home to care for it, unknowingly sparking a passion in his granddaughter. Q28

[3] Chow uses the profits from her business to help stray animals and has so far helped over 100 cats. She Q29iii, Q33i
says her ultimate goal is to open a chicken pot restaurant, with a space for cats next door, so guests can
10 come and play with them.

Joanne Ng

[4] In Singapore, Joanne Ng is not only a high-flyer with a successful career as a multinational banker, but Q33iii, Q30i
she is also a devoted volunteer for the Cat Welfare Society. After a long day in the office, she often helps Q30ii
the charity with its trapping programme, which sterilizes cats to help control the stray cat population.
15 Sometimes trapping a cat can take all night.

[5] Ng grew up surrounded by dogs and rabbits. When she was 12, her pet rabbit was found dead, possibly Q32i
killed by a neighbour. This cruel act lit a fire in her, and she has been advocating for animals ever since. Q32ii, Q31

END OF READING PASSAGES

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MOCK TEST 73
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
PAPER 1 PART B1
QUESTION-ANSWER BOOK
B1
EASY SECTION

Write your Candidate Number in the space provided on this page.

Read Texts 2–3 and answer questions 17–33. (30 marks)

Text 2

17 According to paragraph 1, what was the benefit of stray cats in Hong Kong’s early days?

A They lived on trading ships.

B They provided companionship to sailors.

C They required little space to live. A B C D

D They hunted and killed rats.    

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

18 What is ‘This argument’ (line 6) that the writer refers to?

Some people view cats as vermin / a nuisance.

19 With reference to paragraph 2, find TWO pieces of evidence to support the idea that street cats are ‘a
nuisance’ (line 5). (2 marks)

(i) They are noisy (especially when mating).

(ii) They create a lot of mess.

20 According to paragraph 3, what difficulties do stray cats face? Put a tick (✓) next to each of the FOUR
statements that are correct. Tick FOUR boxes only.

a They are often cold ✓ b They are ✓ c They rarely have

in winter. sometimes hit by cars enough to eat.
or lorries.

✓ d They often get into e They are often f Female cats

conflicts with other ✓ sick. struggle to find safe
cats. places to give birth.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(S4) MT 73-DSE-ENG LANG 1-B1–1 15 © Oxford University Press

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21 Which ONE of the following actions (A–D) is NOT mentioned in paragraph 4?

A B C D
[a cat with one [a/w: a cat being [a/w: a cat being [a/w: a cat in a
of its ears groomed] vaccinated] humane trap]
tipped]
A B C D
ID 186719608 ID 83939931 ID 85858384 ID 6515473    

22 With reference to paragraphs 4 and 5, decide whether the following statements are True (T), False (F)
or Not Given (NG). (3 marks)
Statements T F NG
(i) Euthanasia is no longer the preferred method.   
(ii) Sterilized cats can still have babies.   
Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(iii) Sterilization is pain-free for the cats.   

23 Complete the following summary of paragraph 5 with a word taken from the paragraph. (2 marks)

CCCP action Consequence

Cats are sterilized. There is a gradual (i) decrease in the number
of stray cats.

Cats are vaccinated. The cats on the street are much (ii) healthier .

24 Look at the information in paragraphs 1–5 and match each paragraph to the statements below. Use
each paragraph number ONCE only. One statement does NOT refer to any of the paragraphs and you
should put a cross (X). The first one has been done as an example. (4 marks)

The paragraph … Paragraph Number

gives examples of complaints about stray cats. 2 (example)
(i) describes problems related to an uncontrolled stray cat 3
population.
(ii) explains the benefits of the trap–neuter–release 5
programme.
(iii) explains how cats became domesticated in Hong Kong. X
(iv) outlines ways of controlling the stray cat population. 4

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(S4) MT 73-DSE-ENG LANG 1-B1–2 16 © Oxford University Press

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25 What is the percentage decrease in the number of cats being euthanized in the last 20 years?

90 per cent / %

26 This text is …

A a review.
B a letter to the editor.
C an advertisement. A B C D
D a newspaper article.    

Text 3

27 Find a word or phrase in paragraph 1 that has the same meaning as ‘cats’.

moggies

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

28 With reference to paragraph 2, what can we infer about Chow’s grandfather?

A He was a criminal.
B He is compassionate.
C He is popular in the neighbourhood. A B C D
D He takes care of his family.    

29 Complete the following sequence of events from paragraphs 1–3 with ONE word taken from
paragraphs 1–3. (3 marks)

Chow Sum-tim’s neighbour was (i) arrested .

Chow’s grandfather brought home the neighbour’s (pet) cat to care for it.

Chow opened a store selling (ii) takeaway food.

Chow uses the (iii) profits she makes from her business to rescue cats.

30 With reference to paragraph 4, what TWO roles does Joanne Ng have? (2 marks)

(i) a (multinational) banker

(ii) a (devoted) volunteer (for the Cat Welfare Society)

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

(S4) MT 73-DSE-ENG LANG 1-B1–3 17 © Oxford University Press

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31 Find a word or phrase in paragraph 5 that has a similar meaning to ‘motivated someone to do
something’.

lit a fire (in her)

32 In paragraph 5, what are the reasons that motivate Joanne Ng to become a cat rescuer? Write ONE
word taken from the paragraph in each blank below. (2 marks)

• As a child, she was (i) surrounded by animals.

• A neighbour might have got her pet rabbit (ii) killed .

33 Below are comments made by some of the people in Text 3. Match each person with ONE comment
that best represents the people in Text 3. Each letter can be used ONCE only. One has been done for
you as an example. (3 marks)

People in Text 3 Letter

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

Chow Sum-tim (i) C
Chow’s grandfather D (example)
Chow’s neighbour (ii) B
Joanne Ng (iii) A

A ‘Despite the B ‘I’ll always be C ‘It has always D ‘I didn’t think

busyness at work grateful that my been my biggest about it, I just
during the day, I neighbour looked desire to expand picked it up. It
always love after her when I my business.’ was obvious the
spending time with couldn’t.’ creature needed
the feral cats.’ help.’

END OF PART B1

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MT 73-DSE
ENG LANG

PAPER 1
PART B2
HONG KONG DIPLOMA OF SECONDARY EDUCATION EXAMINATION
B2
DIFFICULT SECTION
MOCK TEST 73
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PAPER 1
PART B2
Reading Passages
1 hour 30 minutes
(for both Parts A and B)

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
(1) Refer to the General Instructions on Page 1 of the Reading Passages booklet for Part A.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PART B2

(1) The Question-Answer Book for Part B2 is inserted after this Reading Passages booklet.
(2) Candidates who choose Part B2 should attempt all questions in this part. Each question carries
ONE mark unless otherwise stated.
(3) Hand in only ONE Question-Answer Book for Part B, either B1 or B2.

(S4) MT 73-DSE-ENG LANG 1-B2-RP–1 19 © Oxford University Press

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Part B2

Read Text 4 and answer questions 34–48 in the Question-Answer Book for Part B2.

Text 4

Vaping: A forsaken generation

1 [1] Vaping and the use of e-cigarettes is a growing problem in the younger generation. In the UK, the
number of children who had tried vaping stood at 20.5 per cent in 2023, up from 13.9 per cent in 2020.
Such products have become more accessible to under-18s, with single-use cigarettes and e-cigarettes
becoming cheaper. In addition, some illegal e-cigarette manufacturers target the youth market by using Q47i
5 bright colours and cartoon characters, and some are even designed to look like stationery in a bid to pull Q34
the wool over the eyes of parents and teachers.

[2] Trying a vape ‘just once’ can develop into a lifelong habit, so the rising smoking rates are triggering Q35
alarm bells. For smokers, there is the risk of long-term health problems, many of which are not yet fully
understood, given that e-cigarettes and vaping are a relatively new phenomenon. Then there is the issue of
10 toxic chemicals in second-hand smoke or so-called ‘passive smoking’. Not to mention the litter and waste
created by e-cigarettes, and the related costs involved in rectifying this.

[3] According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nine out of ten smokers take up the habit before Q36i
the age of 18. It seems logical then to try to break the habit before it has even begun. ‘Whether sitting in
class, playing games outside or waiting at the school bus stop, we must protect young people from deadly Q47ii
15 second-hand smoke and toxic e-cigarette emissions as well as ads promoting these products,’ said Dr
Ruediger Krech. The WHO recommends a four-pronged attack to tackle the problem in the educational Q36iii
setting: The sale of nicotine and tobacco products should be restricted in the vicinity of schools, advertising
of such products near schools should be banned, schools and colleges should refuse all offers of support or
sponsorship from the tobacco and nicotine industries, and all nicotine and tobacco products should be
20 banned on school campuses.

[4] In New Zealand, politicians opted to take decisive action. In 2022, the government introduced Q37ii, Q39
legislation to phase out smoking for future generations, whereby the legal age at which it was possible to Q37i
buy cigarettes gradually increased over time. This meant that for anyone born after 2008, buying cigarettes Q39
legally would never be possible. The new laws also limited the sale of tobacco and nicotine products to Q38D
25 officially licensed stores, reduced the amount of nicotine that could legally be contained in a tobacco Q38A
product, and reduced the number of shops allowed to sell nicotine products down to 600 from 6,000. Q38B

[5] The long-term vision of such an intrepid step-change was that health services would save billions of
dollars, while the number of smoking-related deaths would fall dramatically. Professor Lisa Te Morenga, Q40i, Q47iii
chair of Health Coalition Aotearoa, a non-government group in New Zealand, claimed that the new laws
30 would save the health service $1.3 billion over the next 20 years and would cut mortality rates by 22 per Q40ii, i
cent for women and 9 per cent for men.

[6] The legislation was lauded as a brave and bold move, which put the health of the country’s young Q41
people ahead of economic concerns. New Zealand’s forward-thinking laws also inspired other countries to Q40iii
follow suit. In the UK, a new law is to be introduced which bans the sale of cigarettes and tobacco to anyone Q40iv
35 born on or after 1 January 2009. In Malaysia, new laws sought to ban anyone born on or after 1 January
2007 from ever buying vapes or tobacco products.

[7] Other countries have dragged their feet though, and critics of the generational laws in New Zealand, the
UK and Malaysia suggest that smoking should be allowed to simply die out naturally (in Singapore, the
incidence of smoking has dropped from 11.8 per cent in 2017 to 10.1 per cent in 2020, without any such
40 generational ban). Janet Wong, who runs a convenience store in Tanah Merah in the east of Singapore,
believes such a ban would simply lead to other problems. ‘Tobacco would go underground and would be
sold on the black market, like drugs,’ she argues. ‘It would be difficult and expensive to police, and the Q47iv
government would receive no income from tobacco sales—only the criminals would make money.’
(S4) MT 73-DSE-ENG LANG 1-B2-RP–2 20 © Oxford University Press
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[8] Money—or rather lack therefore—is blamed for New Zealand’s recent scrapping of the generational Q44
45 smoking ban, which would have resulted in a loss of government income from the nicotine and tobacco
industries. The dramatic U-turn will allow the coalition government to use revenue from these industries
to fund tax cuts for voters.

[9] There has been widespread shock and disappointment at the backtracking, with experts predicting it
could cost up to 5,000 lives a year. ‘This is major loss for public health,’ said Te Morenga. ‘And a huge
50 win for the tobacco industry, whose profits will be boosted at the expense of Kiwi lives.’

[10] In Malaysia, too, the generational smoking legislation has recently been watered down, with health Q45
experts accusing the government of bowing to pressure from the tobacco industry. Suhaini Kadiman, Q47v
president of Papisma, a non-governmental organization of medical experts, described the reversal as ‘the
worst public health setback in Malaysia’s history.’ Papisma described the ban as ‘critical’ in order to
55 safeguard the younger generation from the risks of smoking.

[11] Perhaps inevitably, the share price of British American Tobacco (BAT) Malaysia rose by almost five
per cent after news of the revised laws was announced.

END OF READING PASSAGE

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Candidate Number Please stick the barcode label here.

MOCK TEST 73
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
PAPER 1 PART B2
B2
DIFFICULT SECTION
QUESTION-ANSWER BOOK

Write your Candidate Number in the space provided on this page.

Read Text 4 and answer questions 34–48. (30 marks)

Text 4

34 Find an expression in paragraph 1 that means the same as ‘deceiving someone’.

pull the wool over the eyes (of parents and teachers)

35 Why is the phrase ‘just once’ (line 7) in quotation marks?

to emphasize that vaping ‘just once’ could lead to lifelong smoking habit / turn someone to become
an addict

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Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

36 According to paragraph 3, decide whether the following statements are True (T), False (F) or Not
Given. (3 marks)
Statements T F NG
(i) Most smokers try their first cigarette as an adult.   
(ii) The WHO is planning an anti-smoking advertising campaign.   
(iii) The WHO suggests using multiple methods to address youth smoking.   

37 Based on the information in paragraph 4, complete the following statement by using a word or phrase
taken from the paragraph for each gap. (2 marks)

When it was first announced in 2022, New Zealand’s legislation to gradually (i) phase out
smoking was considered (ii) decisive .

38 According to paragraph 4, which one of the following was NOT part of New Zealand’s proposed anti-
smoking campaign?

A Cigarettes would contain lower levels of nicotine.

B Fewer premises would be licensed to sell cigarettes.
C All cigarette advertisements would be banned. A B C D
D Cigarettes could only be bought in registered shops.    

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(S4) MT 73-DSE-ENG LANG 1-B2–1 23 © Oxford University Press

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39 What is the ‘intrepid step-change’ (line 27)?
phase out smoking for future generations // anyone born after 2008 would not be able to buy cigarettes
legally

40 Based on the information in paragraphs 5 and 6, complete the summary by writing ONE word in each
blank below. Your answers must be grammatically correct. (4 marks)

New Zealand’s new laws would have reduced (i) deaths // mortality in men by almost 10 per cent
and in women by over 20 per cent. It would also have resulted in cost (ii) savings of up
to $1.3 billion for the health service. The legislation (iii) inspired the government of
Malaysia to draft new anti-smoking laws and the UK government to introduce a (iv) ban
on tobacco sales to those born on or after 1 January 2009.

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Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

41 Find a word or phrase in paragraph 6 which can be replaced by ‘praised’.

lauded

42 What is Janet Wong’s attitude towards smoking ban?

A dismissive
B reluctant
C cooperative A B C D
D sarcastic    

43 Below are subheadings for paragraphs 1–7 of the text. Match the most appropriate subheading with
each paragraph by writing the letters (A–H) in the table below. Each letter can be used ONCE only.
One subheading is NOT used. One has been done for you as an example. (6 marks)

Subheadings
A Dramatic health effects D Ambitious plans down under G Comparing cigarettes with
B Counterclaims E Vaping’s youth appeal vape
C Focusing action on F Others take a similar path H Damage to health and the
schools environment

Paragraph Subheading Paragraph Subheading

1 (i) E 5 (iv) A
2 (ii) H 6 (v) F
3 (iii) C 7 (vi) B
4 D (example)

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(S4) MT 73-DSE-ENG LANG 1-B2–2 24 © Oxford University Press

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44 With reference to paragraph 8, what is the New Zealand government’s attitude towards youth health
initiatives? Give a reason for your answer.
The attitude is not committed / indecisive / half-hearted because the politicians have decided that
money is more important than youth health.

45 Find a word or phrase in paragraph 10 which has the opposite meaning to ‘strengthened’.
watered down

46 The sentence ‘Perhaps inevitably, the share price of British American Tobacco (BAT) Malaysia rose
by almost 5 per cent after news of the revised laws was announced’ (lines 56–57) suggests that the
writer feels …

A disappointed that the price of cigarettes was not increased.

B it is to be expected that new and groundbreaking laws are revised.
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Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

C it is predictable that money is seen as more important than health. A B C D
D unimpressed by the legal measures available to restrict tobacco sales.    

47 Below are comments made by some of the people in Text 4. Match each person with ONE comment
that best represents the people in Text 4. Each letter can be used ONCE only. One comment is NOT
used. (5 marks)
People in Text 4 Letter
Underage vaper (i) E
Dr Ruediger Krech (ii) D
Professor Lisa Te Morenga (iii) B
Janet Wong (iv) F
Suhaini Kadiman (v) C

A ‘The damage that

B ‘This will save
long-term smoking C ‘This is a
many lives as well
brings is not yet fully monumental mistake.’
as public money.’
known.’

D ‘Young people ‘Tobacco products

E ‘I was first attracted F
don’t need to be bring in a lot of income for
by their packaging. I
smokers themselves in the state. I don’t see why
bought one and haven’t
order to be harmed by we should give that up.’
stopped since.’
smoking.’

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(S4) MT 73-DSE-ENG LANG 1-B2–3 25 © Oxford University Press

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48 With reference to the title, why does the writer use the adjective ‘forsaken’?

The writer uses the adjective ‘forsaken’ to emphasize the fact that governments have abandoned
laws that would have protected the younger generation from many of the risks associated with
smoking (Accept any reasonable answer.)
.

END OF PART B2

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Answers written in the margins will not be marked.

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