Pearson Edexcel Level 1, Level 2 GCSE (9–1) English Language PAPER 2, Non-fiction and Transactional Writing Question Paper

Pearson Edexcel Level 1, Level 2 GCSE (9–1) English Language PAPER 2, Non-fiction and Transactional Writing Question Paper Extract from ‘Love Letters of the Great War’, an anthology of letters written to and from soldiers during the First World War. This edited letter was written by rifleman Bert Bailey to his wife Lucilla. Bert and Lucilla had married in June 1915, when he was last at home on leave. A few hours after writing this letter, Bert was killed. Wednesday, 27 October 1915 My Darling Wife, Another night has passed and another morning come and I am still in the trenches and in good health. Although all day and night on Monday it rained steadily yet Tuesday (yesterday) morning broke fair and fine and we had a nice day except that underneath everything was mud and slosh. We were employed all the morning and afternoon in putting down boards along the trenches and have greatly improved it for walking… Just a few words now about your last parcel. I don’t often mention everything, but I do appreciate the rag you sent me, it is so very useful. The piece this week is lovely and I make a very shrewd guess that, when I am using it as a tablecloth, it was not always used for that purpose but once formed part of my lady’s – ‘Oh dear, oh dear, what am I saying’ – nevertheless, it is grand to wrap my bread in and keep my food clean and nice. Cigarettes – don’t send any more until I ask you to. Toffee, condensed milk, candles, rice and potted meat: the toffee, milk, rice and one candle have all gone. Potted meat for tea today, candle tonight if necessary. The Oxo cubes will be very nice to augment* my soup with, no doubt. Don’t send me anymore Oxo or Bovril until I ask you to, Darling, will you? The little pat of butter is always welcome, and the bread I think is an improvement on buying expensive cakes. Of course a little home-made cake is nice, but I was never a lover of cake. Please discontinue sending tea, sugar and salt for a bit, Darling, as I have plenty. Don’t think I am trying to economise and stint myself because it is not that, and it all helps us, dear, doesn’t it? Now my little Darling, you must be patient with me won’t you and don’t get cross because I have been having a lot to say about the parcels. You are a pet to send them and you know you asked me to guide you as to what I most required, didn’t you? The pastry of your own make was absolutely A1, and a perfect success – and she’s the little girl who said, ‘Oh, I can only cook a plain dinner.’ One great thing is off my mind and that is that I need never fear for my life in the future when you send me or make me pastry! The weather has remained fine all the afternoon and let’s hope it will be fine tonight. A cold night’s bad, but a wet cold night is worse. You must not worry about me, Darling, because I am just as able to look after myself as the other chaps. So, dearest little one, just keep cheerful and enjoy yourself all you can, and wrap up now the cold is here. If you require new clothes in the way of an overcoat or mac or gloves or anything for the winter, don’t let yourself go short, will you? Just take it from the cash and note it in the book as I told you, so that we can see how the cash is made up for the sake of keeping proper accounts. I’m afraid I twaddle** a lot but never mind