Reading Insert: The Abandoned Station
It was midnight when Arthur stepped off the last train. The small platform was
deserted, submerged in a thick, eerie fog that swallowed the weak glow of the
overhead lamps. He pulled his collar up against the biting chill and walked towards
the station exit.
Every shadow seemed to stretch and twist as he hurried past. He knew he was
clutching at straws, hoping to find a warm, bustling town on the other side, but the
quiet was absolute. Suddenly, the short sentence Safer, anyway. echoed in his mind.
He reached the heavy iron gates of the station. The feeling of embarrassment that
he had been so jumpy vanished, instantly replaced by a deep, cold dread. The lock
on the gate was brand new and gleaming, a harsh contrast to the crumbling, ivy-
covered brickwork around it. Beyond the gate, a steep flight of stone stairs
descended into absolute darkness, and from the depths of the shadows, a faint,
rhythmic tapping sound began to rise.
Section A: Reading
1. Look at the first paragraph (lines 1–2). What does the phrase "submerged in a thick,
eerie fog" tell you about the platform?
Tick the correct answer
It is a noisy and busy place.
It is hidden and creates a spooky atmosphere.
It is completely brightly lit.
It is a place that feels safe.
[1 mark]
2. Explain, using your own words, what Arthur is hoping to find when he thinks he is
"clutching at straws" (line 4).
3. Look at the short sentence "Safer, anyway." (lines 5–6).
(a) What does this short sentence reveal about Arthur's internal thoughts?
[1 mark]
(b) Why do writers often use short, simple sentences in suspense stories?
[1 mark]
2. Suggest two ways the writer uses language in the final paragraph to build tension.
Use quotations from the text to support your suggestions. [1]
Way
1: ...................................................................................................................................
...
Way
2: ...................................................................................................................................
...
[2 marks]
4. Look at the sentence opening "The feeling of embarrassment..." (lines 7–8). Find one word in this
sentence that means the same as disappeared.
[1 mark]
5. Look at the first paragraph.
Find and copy one word that describes a cold sensation that causes physical
discomfort. [1 mark]
6. Look at the phrase: "...a harsh contrast to the crumbling, ivy-covered
brickwork around it."
Give one word from this phrase that tells the reader the station walls are old
and falling apart. [1 mark]
7. Look at the phrase: "Every shadow seemed to stretch and twist as he
hurried past."
What technique is the writer using to make the shadows seem alive and
threatening? [1 mark]
8. Look at the last paragraph.
The writer uses the phrase "deep, cold dread" to describe Arthur's shift in
emotion. Explain how this choice of words affects the reader's understanding
of his fear compared to his previous "feeling of embarrassment". [2 marks]