Sutton · FIRST-STAGE SET-STYLE
Sutton SET-style English Paper 2
A Morning at East Marsh · Original timed practice
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English · Inference
A moment at the harbour
The harbour clock had stopped at six. Below it, Priya tested the knot on the little boat twice, although the water was as still as glass. Grandad waited on the quay, holding the brass key to the clock tower.
“No hurry,” he said. “The clock can wait another minute.” Priya smiled, checked that the painter would not snag beneath the boat, and climbed the steps to join him.
Which quality does Priya show most clearly?
Choose one answer.
- AImpatience
- BCarefulness
- CJealousy
- DIndifference
- EPride
Show answer and explanation
B: Carefulness
Priya tests the knot twice and checks the rope before leaving. These actions show careful attention, even when the water is calm.
What this paper practises
Spelling: doubled consonantsSpelling: word endingsSpelling: unstressed syllablesSpelling: prefixes and endingsSpelling: unstressed vowelsSpelling: vowel orderSpelling: commonly confused patternsSpelling: unstressed vowels and consonantsRetrieval: narrator’s aimsRetrieval: methodRetrieval: instructionsLanguage: metaphorInference: questioningInference: physical reactionInference: correctionCause and effectEvidence and uncertaintyLanguage: personificationRetrieval: timingInference: dialogueRetrieval and inferenceNarrative viewpointSequence of eventsInference: characterisationCohesion: pronoun referenceVocabulary in contextInference: a changed headingSyntax: clauses and word classesLanguage: figurative boundaryWhole-text understandingPurpose and argumentComparison within a textInference: limits of evidenceRetrieval: comparable methodsVocabulary and meaningRetrieval: double-countingEvidence: appropriate conclusionsRetrieval and inference: useful recordsArgument: cautious languageComparison: common messageComparison: method and exampleComparison: evidence and identificationComparison: supporting detailsComparison: text formComparison: purposes of imageryComparison: tone and effectComparison: limits of conclusions
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Independent first-stage Sutton SET-style practice: 50 original questions in 50 minutes, with advisory 5/25/10/10-minute section pacing. This is an Exam Quay paper, not an official paper or a claim about official question counts. Every question is worth one mark; select exactly the stated number of answers. Exact-set scoring is used, with no partial credit or negative marking. Official SET multiple-answer scoring is not reproduced. This does not cover the separate written second stage.
Sutton SET format and official sources ↗These are original independent practice questions. The question count and 50-minute duration shown here are this paper’s practice specification. Read the collection guide for the official format and the differences. The schools may change their exam arrangements.
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