a game of headless polo

Question 1

We drove off to find the best viewing spot.

Answer 1

Opens in middle of action to show sense of spontaneity and suddenness that will be a theme for passage and create sense of confusion.

Question 2

Wacky Races.

Answer 2

Metaphor demonstrating craziness and desire to win and not care about rules.

Question 3

‘We’ll open the car boot, you climb inside and point your camera towards the race. As the donkeys overtake us, we’ll join the cars.’

Answer 3

Direct speech showing Desire and Lack of Anxiety and Risky nature/lack of health and safety.

Question 4

But will you try and get to the front?’

Answer 4

Question showing bravery/excitement/foolhardiness of writer.

Question 5

We waited for eternity on the brow of the hill.

Answer 5

Exaggeration to emphasise boredom.

Question 6

Nearly one hour later I was beginning to feel rather silly when the only action was a villager on a wobbly bicycle, who nearly fell off as he cycled past and gazed around at us.

Answer 6

Humorous image juxtaposes what was expected.

Question 7

I was beginning to lose faith in its happening, but the lads remained confident.

Answer 7

Contrast in perspective demonstrates laid back culture and not running to schedule

Question 8

‘Are they coming?’ we called out to them. ‘Coming, coming,’ came the reply.

Answer 8

Repetition creates sense of anticipation.

Question 9

The two donkeys were almost dwarfed by their entourage

Answer 9

alliteration and contrasting image used for comedic effect.

Question 10

the Kibla donkey is said to achieve speeds of up to 40 kph

Answer 10

fact to emphasise danger of speed.

Question 10

we spotted two approaching donkey-carts in front of a cloud of fumes and dust created by some fifty vehicles roaring up in their wake.

Answer 10

Sensory language helps reveal what race looked like/ hard to see. The personification suggests the race takes a mind of its own

Question 11

perched

Answer 11

Repetitive use of this word conveys precarious and dangerous situation/position people were in.

Question 12

energetically, although not cruelly.

Answer 12

Adverbs to illustrate the jockeys actions more vividly.

Question 12

The noise of the approaching vehicles grew; horns tooting, bells ringing, and the special rattles used just for this purpose (like maracas, a metal container filled with dried beans).

Answer 12

Listing of noises show how loud and crazy the atmosphere must have been with all this happening at once.

Question 13

Men standing on top of their cars and vans, hanging out of taxis and perched on lorries, all cheered and shouted, while the vehicles jostled to get to the front of the convoy

Answer 13

Imagery to portray the care-free attitude and danger, but excitement and joy of the race behind the race.

Question 14

swerve

Answer 14

Use of this word helps reveal danger as it has connotations of moving quickly and with a lack of complete control.

Question 15

Formula One without rules

Answer 15

Metaphor showing speed and danger

Question 16

a city-centre rush hour gone anarchic

Answer 16

Metaphor meaning very busy and so depicting the craziness of the situation.

Question 17

survival of the fittest

Answer 17

Metaphor comparing the race to the theory of evolution and how only the strong will be able to cope and stay alive.

Question 18

the ability to cut in front of a vehicle with a sharp flick of the steering wheel (no lane discipline here); quick reflexes to spot a gap in the traffic for a couple of seconds; nerves of steel, and an effective horn

Answer 18

Listing of required skills in order to reveal what is needed for the race and sensory language to convey the danger, but also humour of what driver’s had to do.

Question 19

oncoming traffic — for it was a main road — had to dive into the ditch and wait there until we had passed

Answer 19

Fact/anecdote in an aside to show how ridiculous and comical the event was for other people not involved, but also potentially dangerous.

Question 20

Yaqoob loved it.

Answer 20

short sentence to emphasise enjoyment of experience.

Question 21

his hand permanently on the horn and his language growing more colourful with every vehicle that tried to cut in front

Answer 21

sensory language to reveal comedy of situation and increasing anger of the driver

Question 22

just as they were reaching the finishing line, the hospital gate, there was a near pile-up

Answer 22

ironic use of somewhere that should be for the injured being use in something that could cause injury.

Question 23

The race was over. And then the trouble began.

Answer 23

short sentence to reveal how abruptly events happened and to change the tone and create a sense of tension and real danger.

Question 24

'officials' (who, it turned out, were actually monitoring the race)

Answer 24

inverted commas and parenthesis to mock the idea anybody was in control of proceedings.

Question 25

Voices were raised, fists were out and tempers rising

Answer 25

Tripartite list to emphasise the anger and frustration increasing leading to the potential for violence.

Question 26

race should be re-run

Answer 26

alliteration to suggest the ridiculousness that the event could have to be repeated when the first one so nearly ended in disaster and injury and emphasise the lack of ability to resolve an issue through applying the rules.

Question 27

volatile

Answer 27

word with connotations of danger and something is explosive and could erupt at any moment.

Question 28

swallowed up

Answer 28

personification that represents the vast number of people and suggests the crowd has taken on an individual mentality and is capable of devouring them if it chose to.

Question 29

'It's still not resolved,' said Iqbal, 'but it's starting to get nasty. I think we should leave.'

Answer 29

direct speech to show the volatile nature of society and potential for danger that surrounds them.

Question 30

"I don't even have my licence yet because I'm underage!'

Answer 30

direct speech to show the carefree attitude towards danger and thrill of excitement over-riding the idea we should conform to the rules.

Question 31

inexperienced, underage driver

Answer 31

adjectives listed next to each other for emphasis of ridiculousness that he felt he could do it.

Question 32

a massive pile-up in the middle of the high-stakes donkey race could have caused problems

Answer 32

understatement for comedic effect and to represent the lack of understanding or care of the dangerous situation that is prevalent throughout the passage.