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Living in Japan:
Sample reading and responding task answers
Task 1
| Marking Criteria | |
|---|---|
| Demonstrates a perceptive understanding of Mark’s homestay experience with detailed examples from the text | 4 marks |
| Demonstrates a good understanding of Mark’s homestay experience with relevant examples | 3 marks |
| Attempts to evaluate Mark’s homestay experience with some examples | 2 marks |
| Gives some information about Mark’s homestay | 1 mark |
Sample Answer: Mark feels that there are many positives in his homestay experience, such as the number of unusual and interesting things in a Japanese house. A particular example of this is the kotatsu (a heater attached to the table) which is really warm and relaxing. In fact, he wants to take one home with him to Sydney. The old style Japanese toilet is another point of fascination and he sends a photo of it for everyone to see.
However, he has made a lot of mistakes around the house too. He remembered to take off his shoes before entering the house and to wear slippers but he went onto the tatami floor with his slippers on. His host mother was not at all impressed with this and, even though he apologised, he obviously feels that this was a serious error.
Then he knocked the tokonoma scroll off the wall (he had wanted to touch it as it was so pretty) and was really embarrassed.
Despite this, in the last paragraph, he ends on a note of optimism by stating that he’ll be studying Japanese lifestyle a little at a time from now on. He acknowledges that there are many differences in Japanese and Australian houses and many things that he doesn’t know but he obviously has a desire to learn about them and accepts that he must be open-minded about differences in the two cultures.
Task 2
| Marking Criteria | |
|---|---|
| Comprehensively justifies who this restaurant would appeal to | 2 marks |
| Attempts to justify who this restaurant would appeal to | 1 mark |
Sample Answer:
- only Japanese food
- mostly meat and noodles, although sashimi teishoku (set meal) also available
- not open on Tuesdays
- have to give 2 days’ notice for groups
- cheap
Good for students who want a cheap, quick meal for lunch or dinner.
Please book 2 days ahead.
Task 3
| Marking Criteria | |
|---|---|
| Demonstrates an excellent understanding of the important points in case of earthquake | 3 marks |
| Demonstrates a good understanding of the important points in case of earthquake | 2 marks |
| Lists some points about earthquakes | 1 mark |
Sample Answer:
- beforehand: store some water, food, a radio and some medicine
- check cupboards and bookshelves so that they don’t fall over
- discuss with family and friends how to contact each other or where to meet in an emergency
- turn off the gas and the heater; open the windows and doors; wait under solid furniture e.g. desk
Task 4.1
| Marking Criteria | |
|---|---|
| Gives a comprehensive explanation of the correct procedure for praying | 2 marks |
| Gives some information about praying at a shrine | 1 mark |
Sample Answer: throw money into the box; clap your hands twice and pray
Task 4.2
| Marking Criteria | |
|---|---|
| Demonstrates a good understanding of how Shintoism is reflected in the architecture of Japanese shrines | 2 marks |
| Gives some information about Japanese shrines | 1 mark |
Sample Answer: In Shintoism, god is said to exist in stones and trees. Therefore, behind shrines, you usually find beautiful gardens.
Task 4.3
| Marking Criteria | |
|---|---|
| Demonstrates a good understanding of the effect that the Edomura village had on Fred with detailed supporting evidence | 3 marks |
| Demonstrates some understanding of the effect that the Edomura village had on Fred with some supporting evidence | 2 marks |
| States an opinion about the Edomura village | 1 mark |
Sample Answer:
- made him (and others) think about the lifestyle of the period
- made him want to study ninja technique after he saw the ninja show, which involved ninja jumping from high places etc.
Task 5
| Marking Criteria | |
|---|---|
| Demonstrates a perceptive understanding of the statement in relation to the text as a whole with detailed supporting evidence | 5 marks |
| Demonstrates an excellent understanding of the statement in relation to the text as a whole with supporting evidence | 4 marks |
| Demonstrates a good understanding of the statement in relation to the text as a whole with supporting examples | 3 marks |
| Attempts to evaluate the statement in relation to the text as a whole with some supporting examples | 2 marks |
| Lists some examples from the passage | 1 mark |
Sample Answer: Although the writer says that she is enjoying Japanese life in the last sentence, the majority of the passage does not appear to back up her statement.
She states that her host family is very kind and has taught her lots of things but goes on to say that she finds it really hard because there are so many new things to remember and learn and everything is so different to Australian ways of doing things e.g. taking off your shoes and wearing slippers and then changing into toilet slippers when you go in the bathroom.
Another negative point is the so-called “view” that she has when she looks out of her host family’s apartment window: she can only see the roofs of houses and apartments, whereas in Australia she could see lots of gum trees. Similarly, her room in her host family’s house is compared unfavourably with its Australian counterpart. Even though she thought that her Australian room was small when she was in Australia, her Japanese room is much smaller and so it’s always messy.
Even the furniture (or lack thereof) comes in for criticism, as she has to sit Japanese style on tatami mats and so her legs hurt a lot.
Thus, the ending where she says that there are lots of hard things is perfectly correct. She is, in fact, learning new things every day but the tone of the passage as a whole is not “enjoyable” but rather “a struggle”.
Japanese and Australian homes are quite different and there are many things that she doesn't understand yet.
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