2023 English Literature

1984

By George Orwell

PART 1

Winston Smith is a low-ranking member of the ruling Party in London, in the nation of Oceania. Everywhere Winston goes, even his own home, the Party watches him through telescreens; everywhere he looks he sees the face of the Party’s seemingly omniscient leader, a figure known only as Big Brother. The Party controls everything in Oceania, even the people’s history and language. Currently, the Party is forcing the implementation of an invented language called Newspeak, which attempts to prevent political rebellion by eliminating all words related to it. Even thinking rebellious thoughts is illegal. Such thoughtcrime is, in fact, the worst of all crimes.

As the novel opens, Winston feels frustrated by the oppression and rigid control of the Party, which prohibits free thought, creativity, and any expression of individuality. Winston dislikes the party and has illegally purchased a diary in which to write his criminal thoughts. He has also become fixated on a powerful Party member named O’Brien, whom Winston believes is a secret member of the Brotherhood—the mysterious, legendary group that works to overthrow the Party.

Winston works in the Ministry of Truth, where he alters historical records to fit the needs of the Party. He notices a co-worker, a beautiful dark-haired girl, staring at him, and worries that she is an informant who will turn him in for his thoughtcrime. He is troubled by the Party’s control of history: the Party claims that Oceania has always been allied with Eastasia in a war against Eurasia, but Winston seems to recall a time when this was not true. The Party also claims that Emmanuel Goldstein, the alleged leader of the Brotherhood, is the most dangerous man alive, but this does not seem plausible to Winston. Winston spends his evenings wandering through the poorest neighborhoods in London, where the proletarians, or proles, live squalid lives, relatively free of Party monitoring.

Below are two reasons why Winston hates the Party.

• The Party restricted creativity.

• The Party prohibited any expression of individuality.

• The Party altered some part of the language.

• The Party openly opposed the Brotherhood.

• The Party changed historical records.

1984

By George Orwell

PART 1

Winston Smith is a low-ranking member of the ruling Party in London, in the nation of Oceania. Everywhere Winston goes, even his own home, the Party watches him through telescreens; everywhere he looks he sees the face of the Party’s seemingly omniscient leader, a figure known only as Big Brother. The Party controls everything in Oceania, even the people’s history and language. Currently, the Party is forcing the implementation of an invented language called Newspeak, which attempts to prevent political rebellion by eliminating all words related to it. Even thinking rebellious thoughts is illegal. Such thoughtcrime is, in fact, the worst of all crimes.

As the novel opens, Winston feels frustrated by the oppression and rigid control of the Party, which prohibits free thought, creativity, and any expression of individuality. Winston dislikes the party and has illegally purchased a diary in which to write his criminal thoughts. He has also become fixated on a powerful Party member named O’Brien, whom Winston believes is a secret member of the Brotherhood—the mysterious, legendary group that works to overthrow the Party.

Winston works in the Ministry of Truth, where he alters historical records to fit the needs of the Party. He notices a co-worker, a beautiful dark-haired girl, staring at him, and worries that she is an informant who will turn him in for his thoughtcrime. He is troubled by the Party’s control of history: the Party claims that Oceania has always been allied with Eastasia in a war against Eurasia, but Winston seems to recall a time when this was not true. The Party also claims that Emmanuel Goldstein, the alleged leader of the Brotherhood, is the most dangerous man alive, but this does not seem plausible to Winston. Winston spends his evenings wandering through the poorest neighborhoods in London, where the proletarians, or proles, live squalid lives, relatively free of Party monitoring.

Match these keywords with their synonym.

• • 
    fabricated

• rigid

• assumed

• ruling

• governing

• invented

• • 
    subvert

• alleged

• • 
    inflexible

• overthrow

1984

By George Orwell

PART 2

One day, Winston receives a note from the dark-haired girl that reads “I love you.” She tells him her name, Julia, and they begin a relationship. This lasts for some time. Winston is sure that they will be caught and punished sooner or later (the fatalistic Winston knows that he has been doomed since he wrote his first diary entry, while Julia is more pragmatic and optimistic. As Winston’s relationship with Julia progresses, his hatred for the Party grows more and more intense. At last, he receives the message that he has been waiting for: O’Brien wants to see him.

Winston and Julia travel to O’Brien’s luxurious apartment. As a member of the powerful Inner Party (Winston belongs to the Outer Party), O’Brien leads a life of luxury that Winston can only imagine. O’Brien confirms to Winston and Julia that, like them, he hates the Party, and says that he works against it as a member of the Brotherhood. He indoctrinates Winston and Julia into the Brotherhood, and gives Winston a copy of Emmanuel Goldstein’s book, the manifesto of the Brotherhood. Winston reads the book—an amalgam of several class-based twentieth-century social theory forms. Suddenly, soldiers barge in and seize Winston and Julia.

Torn away from Julia and taken to a place called the Ministry of Love, Winston finds that O’Brien, too, is a Party spy who simply pretended to be a member of the Brotherhood to trap Winston into committing an open act of rebellion against the Party. O’Brien spends months torturing and brainwashing Winston, who struggles to resist. At last, O’Brien sends him to the dreaded Room 101, the final destination for anyone who opposes the Party. Here, O’Brien tells Winston that he will be forced to confront his worst fear. Throughout the novel, Winston has had recurring nightmares about rats; O’Brien now straps a cage full of rats onto Winston’s head and prepares to allow the rats to eat his face. Winston snaps, pleading with O’Brien to do it to Julia, not to him.

Giving up Julia is what O’Brien wanted from Winston all along. After his spirit has broken, Winston is released to the outside world. He meets Julia but no longer feels anything for her. He has accepted the Party entirely and has learned to love Big Brother.

Two conclusions inferred from the passage are ....

• Julia and Winston were separated during questioning.

• Winston's worst feat is rat.

• Winston also loved Julia.

• O’Brien was a member of the Brotherhood.

• Julia was also tortured like Winston.

1984

By George Orwell

PART 2

One day, Winston receives a note from the dark-haired girl that reads “I love you.” She tells him her name, Julia, and they begin a relationship. This lasts for some time. Winston is sure that they will be caught and punished sooner or later (the fatalistic Winston knows that he has been doomed since he wrote his first diary entry, while Julia is more pragmatic and optimistic. As Winston’s relationship with Julia progresses, his hatred for the Party grows more and more intense. At last, he receives the message that he has been waiting for: O’Brien wants to see him.

Winston and Julia travel to O’Brien’s luxurious apartment. As a member of the powerful Inner Party (Winston belongs to the Outer Party), O’Brien leads a life of luxury that Winston can only imagine. O’Brien confirms to Winston and Julia that, like them, he hates the Party, and says that he works against it as a member of the Brotherhood. He indoctrinates Winston and Julia into the Brotherhood, and gives Winston a copy of Emmanuel Goldstein’s book, the manifesto of the Brotherhood. Winston reads the book—an amalgam of several forms of class-based twentieth-century social theory. Suddenly, soldiers barge in and seize Winston and Julia.

Torn away from Julia and taken to a place called the Ministry of Love, Winston finds that O’Brien, too, is a Party spy who simply pretended to be a member of the Brotherhood to trap Winston into committing an open act of rebellion against the Party. O’Brien spends months torturing and brainwashing Winston, who struggles to resist. At last, O’Brien sends him to the dreaded Room 101, the final destination for anyone who opposes the Party. Here, O’Brien tells Winston that he will be forced to confront his worst fear. Throughout the novel, Winston has had recurring nightmares about rats; O’Brien now straps a cage full of rats onto Winston’s head and prepares to allow the rats to eat his face. Winston snaps, pleading with O’Brien to do it to Julia, not to him.

Giving up Julia is what O’Brien wanted from Winston all along. After his spirit has broken, Winston is released to the outside world. He meets Julia but no longer feels anything for her. He has accepted the Party entirely and has learned to love Big Brother.

Room 101 is called the dreaded room because ....

• it was full of rats

• it brainwashed people

• it brought the worst fear.

• it made people surrender

• it killed people

FRANKENSTEIN

By Mary Shelley

PART 1

In a series of letters, Robert Walton, the captain of a ship bound for the North Pole, recounted to his sister back in England the progress of his dangerous mission. Successful early on, the mission was soon interrupted by seas full of impassable ice. Trapped, Walton encountered Victor Frankenstein, who had been travelling by dog-drawn sledge across the ice and was weakened by the cold. Walton took him aboard the ship, helped nurse him back to health, and heard the fantastic tale of the monster that Frankenstein had created.

Victor first described his early life in Geneva. At the end of a blissful childhood spent in the company of Elizabeth Lavenza, his cousin, and friend Henry Clerval, Victor entered the University of Ingolstadt to study natural philosophy and chemistry. There, he was consumed by the desire to discover the secret of life and, after several years of research, became convinced that he had found it.

Armed with the knowledge he had long been seeking, Victor spent months feverishly fashioning a creature out of old body parts. One climactic night, in the secrecy of his apartment, he brought his creation to life. When he looked at the monstrosity that he had created, however, the sight horrified him. After a fitful night of sleep, interrupted by the spectre of the monster looming over him, he ran into the streets, eventually wandering in remorse. Victor ran into Henry, who had come to study at the university, and he took his friend back to his apartment. Though the monster was gone, Victor fell into a feverish illness.

Put the story above in the right order.

• Frankenstein was horrified then ran away.

• The monster came to life.

• The monster was gone.

• Frankenstein created a monster out of old body parts.

• Frankenstein believed he found the secret of life.

FRANKENSTEIN

By Mary Shelley

PART 1

In a series of letters, Robert Walton, the captain of a ship bound for the North Pole, recounted to his sister back in England the progress of his dangerous mission. Successful early on, the mission was soon interrupted by seas full of impassable ice. Trapped, Walton encountered Victor Frankenstein, who had been travelling by dog-drawn sledge across the ice and was weakened by the cold. Walton took him aboard the ship, helped nurse him back to health, and heard the fantastic tale of the monster that Frankenstein had created.

Victor first described his early life in Geneva. At the end of a blissful childhood spent in the company of Elizabeth Lavenza, his cousin, and friend Henry Clerval, Victor entered the University of Ingolstadt to study natural philosophy and chemistry. There, he was consumed by the desire to discover the secret of life and, after several years of research, became convinced that he had found it.

Armed with the knowledge he had long been seeking, Victor spent months feverishly fashioning a creature out of old body parts. One climactic night, in the secrecy of his apartment, he brought his creation to life. When he looked at the monstrosity that he had created, however, the sight horrified him. After a fitful night of sleep, interrupted by the spectre of the monster looming over him, he ran into the streets, eventually wandering in remorse. Victor ran into Henry, who had come to study at the university, and he took his friend back to his apartment. Though the monster was gone, Victor fell into a feverish illness.

Match these keywords with their synonym.

• abomination

• monstrosity

• narrated

• consumed by

• met

• feverishly

• • 
    passionately

• encountered

• obsessed with

• recounted

FRANKENSTEIN

By Mary Shelley

PART 2

Sickened by his horrific deed, Victor prepared to return to Geneva, to his family, and to health. Just before departing Ingolstadt, however, he received a letter from his father informing him that his youngest brother, William, had been murdered. Grief-stricken, Victor hurried home. While passing through the woods where William was strangled, he caught sight of the monster and became convinced that the monster was his brother’s murderer. Arriving in Geneva, Victor found that Justine Moritz, a kind, gentle girl who had been adopted by the Frankenstein household, had been accused. She was tried, condemned, and executed, despite her assertions of innocence. Victor grew despondent, guilty with the knowledge that the monster he had created bore responsibility for the death of two innocent loved ones.

---

What can be inferred from the underlined sentence?

• Victor believed Justine Moritz was innocent but nobody believed him.

• Justine Moritz's lawyer said she was innocent but the judge didn't believe him.

• People said Justine Moritz was innocent but the judge didn't believe them.

• Justine Moritz said she was innocent but nobody believed her.

• It was believed that Justine Moritz was innocent but she was executed anyway.

FRANKENSTEIN

By Mary Shelley

PART 2

Sickened by his horrific deed, Victor prepared to return to Geneva, to his family, and to health. Just before departing Ingolstadt, however, he received a letter from his father informing him that his youngest brother, William, had been murdered. Grief-stricken, Victor hurried home. While passing through the woods where William was strangled, he caught sight of the monster and became convinced that the monster was his brother’s murderer. Arriving in Geneva, Victor found that Justine Moritz, a kind, gentle girl who had been adopted by the Frankenstein household, had been accused. She was tried, condemned, and executed, despite her assertions of innocence. Victor grew despondent, guilty with the knowledge that the monster he had created bore responsibility for the death of two innocent loved ones.

Hoping to ease his grief, Victor took a vacation to the mountains. While he was alone one day, crossing an enormous glacier, the monster approached him. The monster admitted to the murder of William but begged for understanding. Lonely, shunned, and forlorn, he said that he struck out at William in a desperate attempt to injure Victor, his cruel creator. The monster begged Victor to create a mate for him, a monster equally grotesque to serve as his sole companion.

Victor refused at first, horrified by the prospect of creating a second monster. The monster was eloquent and persuasive, however, and he eventually convinced Victor. After returning to Geneva, Victor headed for England, accompanied by Henry, to gather information for the creation of a female monster. Leaving Henry in Scotland, he secluded himself on a desolate island in the Orkneys and worked reluctantly at repeating his first success. One night, struck by doubts about the morality of his actions, Victor glanced out the window to see the monster glaring at him with a frightening grin. Horrified by the possible consequences of his work, Victor destroyed his new creation. The monster, enraged, vows revenge, swearing that he would be with Victor on Victor’s wedding night.

---

Below are two settings used in the part of the story above.

• Scotland. He created the second monster here.

• England. He made his second monster here.

• Geneva. Victor planned to rest here.

• The mountains. Victor planned his second monster here.

• Ingolstadt. Victor created his first monster here.

FRANKENSTEIN

By Mary Shelley

PART 3

Later that night, Victor took a boat out onto a lake and dumped the remains of the second creature in the water. The wind picked up and prevented him from returning to the island. In the morning, he found himself ashore near an unknown town. Upon landing, he was arrested and informed that he would be tried for a murder discovered the previous night. Victor denied any knowledge of the murder, but when shown the body, he was shocked to behold his friend Henry Clerval, with the mark of the monster’s fingers on his neck. Victor falls ill, raving and feverish, and was kept in prison until his recovery, after which he was acquitted of the crime.

Shortly after returning to Geneva with his father, Victor married Elizabeth. He feared the monster’s warning and suspects that he would be murdered on his wedding night. To be cautious, he sent Elizabeth away to wait for him. While he awaited the monster, he heard Elizabeth scream and realizes that the monster had been hinting at killing his new bride, not himself. Victor returned home to his father, who died of grief a short time later. Victor vowed to devote the rest of his life to finding the monster and exacting his revenge, and he soon departed to begin his quest.

Victor tracked the monster ever northward into the ice. In a dogsled chase, Victor almost caught up with the monster, but the sea beneath them swelled and the ice broke, leaving an unbridgeable gap between them. At this point, Walton encountered Victor, and the narrative caught up to the time of Walton’s fourth letter to his sister.

Walton told the remainder of the story in another series of letters to his sister. Victor, already ill when the two men met, worsened and died shortly thereafter. When Walton returned, several days later, to the room in which the body lay, he was startled to see the monster weeping over Victor. The monster told Walton of his immense solitude, suffering, hatred, and remorse. He asserted that now that his creator had died, he too could end his suffering. The monster then departed for the northernmost ice to die.

​ Five people died in the story. Put them in chronological order.

• Justine

• Elizabeth

• Victor's dad

• William

• Henry

FRANKENSTEIN

By Mary Shelley

PART 3

Later that night, Victor took a boat out onto a lake and dumped the remains of the second creature in the water. The wind picked up and prevented him from returning to the island. In the morning, he found himself ashore near an unknown town. Upon landing, he was arrested and informed that he would be tried for a murder discovered the previous night. Victor denied any knowledge of the murder, but when shown the body, he was shocked to behold his friend Henry Clerval, with the mark of the monster’s fingers on his neck. Victor fell ill, raving and feverish, and was kept in prison until his recovery, after which he was acquitted of the crime.

Shortly after returning to Geneva with his father, Victor married Elizabeth. He feared the monster’s warning and suspects that he would be murdered on his wedding night. To be cautious, he sent Elizabeth away to wait for him. While he awaited the monster, he heard Elizabeth scream and realised that the monster had been hinting at killing his new bride, not himself. Victor returned home to his father, who died of grief a short time later. Victor vowed to devote the rest of his life to finding the monster and exacting his revenge, and he soon departed to begin his quest.

Victor tracked the monster ever northward into the ice. In a dogsled chase, Victor almost caught up with the monster, but the sea beneath them swelled and the ice broke, leaving an unbridgeable gap between them. At this point, Walton encountered Victor, and the narrative caught up to the time of Walton’s fourth letter to his sister.

Walton told the remainder of the story in another series of letters to his sister. Victor, already ill when the two men met, worsened and died shortly thereafter. When Walton returned, several days later, to the room in which the body lay, he was startled to see the monster weeping over Victor. The monster told Walton of his immense solitude, suffering, hatred, and remorse. He asserted that now that his creator had died, he too can end his suffering. The monster then departed for the northernmost ice to die.

From this part of the story, how did Victor's emotions change from the beginning to the end?

• from fear to vengeance

• from happy to mad

• from sad to relief

• from vengeance to mad

• from happy to relief