FOSTERING COMMUICATION STUDIES

C.A.P.E
3
SECTION A MODULE 1- GATHERING AND PROCESSING INFORMATION
1.
CAPE 2003 Read the extract below and answer the question that follows.
Trade winds kissed me as I stepped off the airplane in St Thomas. Like playful sprites,
they tugged my hair and caressed my skin. Welcome back, they seemed to sing in my ear. I
didnt feel at home, though, until my husband and I had boarded the ferry to St John, the
smallest of the U.S. Virgin Islands. It was our seventh visit, and with each trip, our passion for
St. John has deepened. St. John is among the most romantic spots in the world, an idyllic escape
from distracting hype. There are no mainstream tourist attractions. No casinos or nightclubs
bursting with co-eds. No marine parks where tourists swim with stingrays. There are, however,
unsullied beaches and forests lined with 20 miles (32 km) of hiking trails. There are brilliant
sunsets, mountaintop vistas and luxurious villas that allow clothingoptional sunbathing. Its an island getaway, even for islanders. St. John eschews the behemoth
hotels that crowd St. Thomas. There are two major hotels: the Westin Resort St. John and fivestar Caneel Bay Resort. Caneel boasts seven beaches, including the public Honeymoon Beach.
The 176 manicured acres, complete with exotic fauna on-site, is like golf course without holes.
Its worth a visit.
Caneel Bay was founded by Laurance Rockefeller, who stumbled on the island during a 1952
sailing ship. Back then 85 per cent of the island was jungle. Rockefeller purchased the property,
which in 1956 he gave to the Jackson Hole Preserve, a non- profit foundation. The unspoiled
island is a magnet for nature-lovers. For those so inclined, there are two
main campgrounds, the national parks operation in Cinnamon Bay and the Maho Bay Camps.
We, however, prefer the villas that dot St. Johns hillsides. Many sit 800 feet (240 m) above sea
level, offering the perfect vantage-point for breath-taking sunsets. Driving is an adventure, but
jeeps (US 390 weekly) are a great way to go. We stopped frequently for four-footed pedestrians.
Goats cluster on mountain roads, pausing to nibble fronds. A bull and his harem command the
right of way. At one point a wild donkey and an egret crossed one way, while a goat went
another. This is an island where beautiful beaches are strung out like pearls on a chain, one gem
after another. Among the most private locations is tiny Jumbie Beach. Jumbie, an African word
meaning supernatural being earned its name after the 1733 slave rebellion, when salves
committed suicide off its cliffs. At the end of a long day of touring, St. John offers a veritable
buffet of romantic dining spots.
Pam Carlson, Un spoiled St. John, I s l a n d L i f e M a g a z i n e , Issue #3, 2001, pp. 75-76
(a)State the writers main point in not more than 20 words.
Answer:

The writer highlights the unspoiled beauty of ST. John and everything that makes it a perfect
getaway even for the locals.
(b)Write an essay identifying the writers purpose and commenting on the strategies and
language techniques used.
Answer:
The writers purposes are:
To appeal to the nature lovers
-To highlight special features of the island of St. John
-It is informative as it provided background information on the islands history and culture
The use of s h o r t p a r a g r a p h s a n d s e n t e n c e s
: This is very effective as it evades confusion by making the extract very easy to read. This
strategy appeals to readers who normally find wordiness very tedious. : The writer uses a lot of
figurative languages. The use of the personificationin the first line, Trade winds kissed me as I
stepped, the similes, Like playful sprites, they tugged my hair and caressed my skin, and
This is an island where beautiful beaches are strung out like pearls on a chain, and Imageries.
This strategy is very much evident throughout the extract and it helps to carry out the writers
overall purposes. It creates vivid description which appeals to the readers. The is the use of
e m o t i v e w o r d s such as tugged, caressed, which appeals to the emotion of the readers The
use of a c o m b i n a t i o n o f d e s c r i p t i v e a n d e x p o s i t o r y w r i t i n g As
evident the writer gives a plethora of information about St. John which includes its cultures,
history and geography, but it also describes things to us as well such as its natural beauty.
The l a n g u a g e is very formal, that means that it can appeal to everyone, which is the overall
aim of the writer as he wants bout locals and tourists to visit ST. John. It is also important that
the way in which the language is executed makes it very simple yet persuasive.
The T o n e is very pleasant and calm as it encourages the readers to visit the island.
There is also the use of p u n c t u a t i o n m a r k s It is after all easy to remember that
punctuation is use for clarify. Commas, quotation marks, hyphens, and the correct use of full
stops are used to provide further explanation which makes reading clearer and more interesting.

2.

CAPE 2004 Read the excerpt below and answer the questions that follow:
The value of taking supplements, vitamins and minerals is often questioned by many. They often
ask: Do you really need to take supplements? If you are basically healthy, is there any advantage
to taking supplements on a regular basis? And, if you develop a disorder or ailment, can you
expect supplements to offer any help? The general consensus has long been that as long as
people who seem healthy eat well enough to avoid specific nutritional deficiencies, they dont
need to supplement their diet. The only thing they have to do is to consume a diet that meets the
Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) and other guidelines for vitamins and mineral intakers.
And therein lies the problem. Even if people accept the RDA standards do provide vitamins and
minerals in takers that are adequate for good health, the evidence is overwhelming that most
people dont even come close to meeting those basic nutritional requirements. Surveys show that
only nine percent of all people in industrialized countries eat five daily servings of fresh fruits
and vegetables, the amount recommended for obtaining the minimum level of nutrients believed
necessary to prevent illness. For example, average calcium consumption in the United States and
Canada is estimated to be about 60 per cent of the current suggested level of 1 000 mg for young
adults, and far below the 1 200 mg recommended for men and women ages 50 to 70. According
to a review of national data by experts at the University of California, Berkeleypeople often
make food choices that are nutritionally poor. For example, they are more likely to select French
fries that broccoli as a vegetable serving, and will generally select a soft drink rather than water,
fruit juice, or a glass of skim milk as a beverage. Not only may these and other foods contribute
too much fat and sugar to your diet, but they can also result in less than optimal in takers of
vitamins, amino acid, chelated minerals and disease fighting phytonutrients. Many diets, these
experts point out, contain half the recommended amounts of magnesium and folic acid. Vitamins
A, C and B6, as well as iron and zinc, are other nutrients that surveys show are at very low levels
in most peoples diets. Even with the best nutritional planning it is difficult to maintain a diet that
meets the RDAs for all nutrients. For example, vegetarians, who as a group are healthier than
meat eaters, still may be deficient in some nutrients, such as iron, calcium and Vitamin B12. And
most people who want to maintain a healthy low-fat diet will have a problem obtaining the
recommended amounts of Vitamin E from their food alone, because so many food sources for
vitamin E are high in fat. Another complication is that a balanced diet may not contain the more
specialized substances such as fish oils, soy is flavones, enzymes, or alpha-lipoic acid that
researchers think may promote health. For generally healthy people who cannot always eat a
well balanced diet every day, a supplement can fill in these nutritional gaps and/ or boost the
nutrients they consume from adequate to optimal. There are various other reasons why people
who maintain good eating habits might benefit from daily supplement. Nutritional
scientists now believe that exposure to environmental pollutants such as car
emissions and industrial chemicals and wastes can cause damage in many
ways inside the body at the cellular level, destroying tissues and depleting
the body of vital nutrients. Many supplements, particularly those that act as
antioxidants, can help control the cell and tissue damage that follows toxic

exposure. Recent evidence also indicates that certain medications, excess

alcohol, smoking, and stress may interfere with the absorption of certain key
nutrients. Even an excellent diet would be unable to make up for such a
shortfall. In conclusion, specific nutritional programme of vitamins, minerals,
and other supplements take into account these and other environmental and
lifestyle factors which affect nutrient levels in the human body. Therefore,
their use affords you an excellent opportunity to enhance your diet and, by
extension your life.
Value in Vitamins,
Better Health
,
May-June 2002, Nation Publishing Co. Limited, p.4. (a)

State the writers main purpose in no more than 30 words.

Answer:
The writer addresses the importance of taking supplements. People who eat well or even
vegetarians may have deficiencies and may need additional supplements. A balanced diet can
extend life
b)Write an essay of no more than 500 words in which you include reference to the following:
(i)The writers purpose
Answer:
The writers purposes are as follows:
-To outline the importance of nutrients our bodies need
-To state why our bodies need supplements even though we may try to eat healthy
-To point out that supplement ensures that our bodies get the nutrients we need whether we are
busy or generally eat unhealthy foods.
(ii)Strategies and language techniques used
There is the use of short sentences as well as short paragraphs

: As goods writers know the ways in which pieces of writings are presented suggest how a reader
looks at it. Just looking at the extract, readers are willing to read it because it is not look long and
rather than looking boring it seems interesting. As such making the paragraphs short and the
sentences as well brings interest to ones writing before it is even read. Furthermore, this
strategy helps to avoid tediousness as many writersunconsciously create in their writings. There
was the use of many persuasive techniques: One of the main one was the use of Rhetorical
questions These questions make the readers willing to read more, and add to the persuasive tone
throughout the overall extract. The writer wants you to start taking supplements, how is he going
to do that. Indeed he is going to inform you of its advantages but also persuade you as well. The
writers organization is well much evident of its persuasive outlook. His view is quickly evident
and he makes it clear in his conclusion. It provides facts to back up his claims such as data from
the University of California which suggest the use of authoritative sources. There is also the use
of statistics etc. One should also mention the fact that the writer gives constant examples to back
up his claims. There is the use of loaded and emotive words which appeals to the readers
emotion. The Use of Punctuation Markssuch as the commas, the question marks, and the correct
use of full stops which brings clarify throughout the entire extract. It adds to the evading of
tediousness. Appropriateness of the tone and register used.The writer uses a formal register
throughout the extract. And the tone is very conversational, which suggest that you can actually
think you are talking to a person who has this information. What does this suggest? Well, it
appeals to many readers as the language is formal and very simple, thus making it very easy to
read. Though this is true it adds to the seriousness of the passage.

CAPE 2006 Read the extract and answer the questions that follow.
Look at them behind their counters - young, neatly outfitted in their starched fast food uniforms
or their linen and polyester clerk suits. They quickly and effortlessly tap the keys on their cash
registers and computers, answer phones, and look quite efficient, dont they? They seem as if
they can think, dont they? Dont let the pressed clothes and technology fool you; many of them
cant. Let there be a glitch or a breakdown and then youll see what lies beneath the suits and
uniforms and beyond the counters operates of broken- down cash registers and computers who
will fumble to spell and calculate. And you, older than they, will wonder what they spent their
primary and secondary school years learning. You can spot them everyday, everywhere. Last
week, for example, I saw the brain of a young attendant at a fast food outlet shut down the
instant his computer crashed. Before the crash, he had appeared capable as he punched the
appropriate keys for orders. But when he was faced with having to write down what his
customers wanted, he could only operate in slow motion. I know because, to my misfortune, I
was about to order a tuna sandwich and a large orange juice when the system failed. After a
minute or two of trying to spell the two items, he scrunched up the piece of paper and started
writing afresh on a second sheet. I was not sure Id get the correct meal.
Two days after this calamity, I encountered one of Mr. Illiteracys pals, a Miss Innumeracy, in a
store downtown when I was trying to pay a bill of $26.05 with two twenty-dollar bills. Because
of a mix-up, the cash register was closed, and so the young girl had to calculate on paper how
much change to give me. After an eternity of scratching her head and calculating on a sheet of
paper, she handed me $14.05, but, thanks to my Standard Five teacher, I had already calculated
in my head that I should have received $13.95. When I told her so, she seemed mentally
paralysed. Luckily, another suited girl, who looked senior in age and rank, came to her rescue.
She whipped out a calculator, pressed a few keys, and presto, gave me the right to change,
scolding Miss Innumeracy for her bad math! I left, thinking sadly that there was nothing I could
do to help them make up for the years they had spent in their classrooms not bothering to learn
how to read, write, count or think.
Adapted from Suzanne Mills, Between the Lines

(a)State the writers main purpose in no more than 30 words.

Answer:
Using workers in a restaurant and how they work effectively, the writer intends to show how
people are becoming increasingly dependent on technology in the workplace suggesting their
incapability without it.
(b)Write an essay of no more than 500 words in which you include reference to the following:
i.The writers purpose, language techniques organational strategy etc

The writers purposes are as follow:

-To show dependent people are on technology
-To use that to express the importance of learning other ways to do things without it e.g.
checking without a cashing machine as use in the passage
-To bring attention to the irony of people effectiveness in the work place- their fancy suits means
nothing without the use of technology :
The use of short paragraphs and very short sentences which appeals the interest of the readers
even before they start to read. The writer is very informative and persuasive. The use of
illustrations mainly in the writers reflection on previous encounters. The use of Persuasive
Techniques especially rhetorical questions which wins over the readers interest in to anticipate
what is coming next on the page. The use of climax in the last lines which adds a dramatic effect
to the passage, to learn how to read, write, count or think. There was a plethora of literary
devices e.g. hyperboles are used as the writer exaggerates the time the cashier took to calculate
his changes, After an eternity of scratching her head, or After two days of this calamity. The
use of metaphors, Mr. Illiteracy etc, and also onomatopoeia, She whipped out a calculator.
There is also the use of the metonymy, mentally paralyzed which suggest being petrified. The
writers choices of words are very important as it adds to the way he exaggerates throughout the
extract. The way he uses his words evokes interest as the readers get a sense of how willing he is
to make his point. For example, look at these word suggestions, She whips out her calculator,
after an eternity of scratching her head, I saw the brain of a young. As such one can
understand that the way he puts his words on paper creates an overwhelming interest to prolong
reading.
Punctuation marks plays an important role in bring out clarify throughout the extract. The use of
expressive dashes helps to bring across the level of expressive writing in the extract. Commas,
exclamation marks, semi- colon, correct use of full stops and the appropriate capitals brings
across clarify in the way the readers read and help with the expression and effectiveness of the
words used. There is evidence of expressive writing The writer relies on his personal experiences
to make his points. Appropriateness of the tone and register used. Its easy to see that the tone is
very conversational and the writer uses a formal register. This is very appropriate as it appeals to
all readers and evokes interest. This suggests that as the readers goes deep down into what the
writer is saying they crave more of what he saying. Being conversational also creates a better
appreciation of the way in which the writer expresses his points. When people are in
conversations they exaggerate to bring out their points. As evident the writer exaggerates to
prove his points and this is seemed in his choices of words