Text A
Growing Green: Gardens in the City
Urban spaces, concrete and crowded, have always been transformed throughout history. Almost
every major city on earth has traditionally developed and nurtured community gardens. One
example of this is in ancient rooftop gardens discovered near Babylon, in Mesopotamia, dating
back 2,600 years which demonstrate early horticultural techniques for cultivating plants.
Where soil comes from
Organic matter needs moisture and time to decompose so that fertile soil will form. To establish
a thriving garden, composting occurs over several months, which is a process of breakdown that
gardeners value, and then blend into usable growing medium. The texture, fertility and
composition of soil are determined by the materials from which the compost has decomposed.
Vegetable-rich scraps, for example, give a nitrogen-dense soil; leaf deposits give a light, airy soil;
wood materials give soil a fibrous texture that is useful for certain plants. Dark soil usually has a
high organic content and often has excellent drainage when prepared; sandy soil has a more
delicate structure.
How gardens are maintained
Soil contains a wide range of nutrients. It also contains small amounts of other materials such as
minerals, microorganisms, moisture and trace elements. The temperature in a gardener's
compost bin, where organic matter decomposes, is usually about 60°C. This temperature, and
the controlled environment produced by gardeners monitoring the moisture levels, cause
biological changes to occur in the compost. When the composting process is complete at
around 3 months, the soil is abundant. Then, the gardeners allow the compost to cure slowly,
known as maturation, so the nutrients will not leach away. In this way, the gardeners create for
themselves a sustainable growing system. This achievement sustains their practice through
seasons when there is no harvest.
When produce is ready
Vegetables inside the mature garden are regarded by gardeners as ready for consumption or
distribution. Produce at this stage is fresh and nutritious: whether it is in a traditional ground-
level plot, a homemade raised bed or the most sophisticated vertical garden. The subsequent
harvesting and preparation of vegetables determine whether this quality is maintained. If the
gardeners are working with heirloom seeds and organic methods, they can command a
premium price for the produce because it can be certified as naturally-grown.
The community value of gardening
Urban gardening has expanded in popularity and impact in recent years for both amateurs and
experts. While fresh produce is the obvious benefit for gardeners, there are many other
advantages connected to urban gardening: hosting workshops to share the garden space;
donating surplus vegetables to local food banks; providing educational opportunities for schools
about sustainable agriculture and environmental awareness.
Text B
My journey with gardening
When we decided to start urban gardening, I jumped right in with both feet. I researched the
techniques. I hammered, drilled and assembled reclaimed pallets into sturdy raised beds. I
collected materials from the neighbourhood for posts to build a homemade trellis system and
constructed two complete planter boxes plus most of the supports for the other three, minus
the irrigation lines. You have to be really organised and hardworking.
Bear in mind that everything didn't come out perfectly. My beds were a little too deep and the
soil settled unevenly during watering. The mesh I used for pest protection was a little coarse, so
it didn't keep out insects as effectively as the expensive store-bought variety. That didn't matter.
What mattered was that I made them with my own hands, and they worked. At the end of the
season I harvested 50 pounds of vegetables from those raised beds! I will never forget it.
Section A: Reading
Read Text A in the Insert, and answer questions 1–9.
1. What literary technique is the title an example of?
Tick (✓) one box.
☐ onomatopoeia
☐ rhyme
☐ alliteration
☐ personification
[1]
2. Give one word from paragraph 1 that means 'changed'.
[1]
3. Look at paragraph 2.
(a) In the second sentence, the words, To establish a thriving garden... link the first and second
sentences.
What kind of connective is this?
Tick (✓) one box.
☐ a comparison
☐ an example
☐ an addition
☐ an explanation
[1]
(b) Why does the writer use semicolons ( ; )?
Tick (✓) one box.
☐ to introduce a list
☐ to separate items on a list
☐ to show emphasis
☐ to connect separate ideas
[1]
4. Look at paragraph 3.
(a) Give one example of scientific language.
[1]
(b) Give one example of a passive verb form.
[1]
(c) Give one word that means 'plentiful'.
[1]
5. What idea links the end of paragraph 3 and the beginning of paragraph 4?
[1]
6. Why do you think urban gardeners want to grow organic produce?
[1]
7. Give one word that means 'grown' (paragraph 5).
[1]
8. Urban gardeners harvest fresh vegetables.
What other ways can they benefit from urban gardening? Give one way.
[1]
9. Give two structural features of an information text that can be found in Text A.
[2]
Read Text B in the Insert, and answer questions 10–15.
10. What is the viewpoint in Text B?
[1]
11. How do you think the writer feels about urban gardening?
Tick (✓) one box.
☐ clumsy
☐ enthusiastic
☐ nervous
☐ overwhelmed
[1]
12. Do you think that making the garden setup perfect is important to the writer? Give two
reasons.
[2]
13. Why does the writer use an exclamation mark ( ! ) in paragraph 2?
[1]
14. Give two structural features of a persuasive text that can be found in Text B.
[2]
15. (a) Your friend wants to start urban gardening. Write a list of the advantages and
disadvantages of building your own garden containers.
Advantages
Example: Satisfaction of doing it yourself
Disadvantages
[3]
(b) Summarise the advantages and disadvantages of building garden containers for your friend.
Use up to 40 words.
[2]