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People and places:

listening and responding answers

Task 1

Marking Criteria
Demonstrates an excellent understanding of the significance of Lena's Confirmation with relevant, detailed information	3 marks
Demonstrates a good understanding of the significance of Lena's Confirmation	2 marks
Demonstrates some understanding of the significance of Lena's Confirmation	1 mark

Sample answer:
Anna's family is Christian and the Confirmation is an important celebration for them. The family will spend the whole day celebrating with the extended family, who are coming from all over Germany and whom they don't often see. They'll celebrate in a restaurant after the church ceremony.

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Task 2

Marking Criteria
Demonstrates an excellent understanding of how she is atypical, with most details	3 marks
Demonstrates a good understanding of how she is atypical, with some details	2 marks
Demonstrates some understanding how she is atypical	1 mark

Sample answer:
She has already read over two hundred books. She prefers books to lollies or toys. She learnt the alphabet in less than two months at age three. She borrowed books from the Bern National Library at age four.

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Task 3

Marking Criteria
Demonstrates an excellent understanding of the issue with most details	3 marks
Demonstrates a good understanding of the issue with some details	2 marks
Demonstrates some understanding of the issue	1 mark

Sample answer:
The plight of the disabled people in train stations. A man's wooden leg got stuck between the platform and train and he couldn't get it out. There should be special facilities or assistance available for people who could have difficulties getting on and off trains.

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Task 4

Marking Criteria a)
Answer is D: Tommys Kleider haben immer dieselben drei Farben.	1 mark

Marking Criteria b)
Demonstrates an excellent understanding of whether or not Tommy has been spoiled by success.	3 marks
Demonstrates a good understanding of whether or not Tommy has been spoiled by success.	2 marks
Demonstrates some understanding of whether or not Tommy has been spoiled by success.	1 mark

Sample answer:
I don’t think Tommy has been spoiled by success. He says himself he still has both feet on the ground. He obviously values family, as he catches up with relatives in Germany no matter how hectic his life is. He clearly enjoys the fact that he can afford anything, but says that money doesn’t bring happiness. The most important thing to him is doing a job he likes.

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Task 5

Marking Criteria
Provides an excellent understanding of how the speaker justifies her cause, with detailed reference to the text	5 marks
Provides a good understanding of how the speaker justifies her cause, with reference to the text	3 or 4 marks
Provides some understanding of how the speaker justifies her cause	1 or 2 marks

Sample answer:
She introduces the issue with a fact – the year’s first cold weather record has been set. She then speaks directly to her audience, asking how they spent the time during this weather – in front of the fire or walking in a warm jacket. By then shifting to the plight of the homeless during the cold weather, the contrast is much stronger and she encourages her audience to put themselves in the shoes of the homeless.

Even though there are shelters for the homeless, she clearly explains why these aren’t always the answer – people have to leave early in the morning, going straight back out into the cold. Also, for alcoholics it can be hard to go without a drink and they’d prefer to stay outside. Some people are also afraid of feeling locked in. By providing such clear examples, the audience sympathises with the situation faced by many homeless people.

She then goes on to say that it’s easy to blame them for their situation, especially when we’re not the ones freezing or hungry. But then she poses a question directly: Would we like living that way? The unspoken answer is 'no'.

Finally, she provides a practical tip for giving to the cause – just do without your hamburger or trip to the movies on the weekend, and give the money to the poor instead. This way, she makes donating money achievable for school students.

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