2
Winter Wonderland
It feels like we have landed on another planet as we drive past volcanic moss-tipped mounds.
Tiny cracks of light peep through the sky between the moody charcoal grey clouds amid the
misty mountainscape. After jetting in to Akureyri airport, we take a car and drive for an hour and
a half, following white wintry wildlands to Deplar Farm, which appears out of nowhere – all 5
wooden lodge chic, bathed in blankets of snow and home to just 12 beautiful bedrooms.
The snow is so fresh and untouched, like freshly ironed white linen sheets stretched across a
mattress of land. And as we check in, my insides are dancing in a nervous frenzy. I’ve always
wanted to go to Iceland. It’s such an intriguing country. So cool and unique. I’m only here for a
couple of days, but all that’s on the agenda is fun. Behaving like kids in a snowy white 10
playground and hopefully – hopefully – catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights1.
I’m here with my friend, James. He’s much more of a snow lover than me. But I’m suited and
booted and ready for action. Everyone who stays here is assigned a guide. Senya, who is our
dedicated guide for the next two days, takes us out on a snowshoe hike. Everything is white,
and I’m awash with a sense of calm that only nature can provide. We walk and walk for what 15
feels like many kilometres, a lot of it in silence as we absorb the sheer beauty surrounding us.
I’m taking in everything when Senya senses an ominous change in the weather, and we head
back to the warmth of Deplar.
The building itself is over 100 years old, though it’s been adapted over the years. It feels very
much like a home from home. Comfy seats are nestled around chunky Icelandic rugs, while 20
coffee tables with tops made of tree trunks are dotted here and there. Telescopes sit patiently
by giant glass windows, waiting for stars to shoot or the Northern Lights to show. Meals are
served next to an enormous crackling fire in the dining room. One long table seats all the
guests, who swap stories of their heroic skiing activities of the day.
The next morning we wake to discover the skies have been hard at work overnight. Snow hangs 25
off the roof like dangerous dollops of icing from a birthday cake, and some doors are almost
entirely snowed shut. We get in the car and drive back towards Akureyri airport, keeping our
fingers crossed that we’re able to take a teeny tiny plane on an air tour of the famous Diamond
Circle. We sit, we wait, we listen to hushed conversations, and try to convince ourselves we
won’t be too disappointed if we can’t go. 30
Then we get the go-ahead to take off. Everything that happens next feels like a dream. We
head east over Godafoss Waterfall, which gushes with a tirade of frothy white waters carving a
circular puzzle piece out of the snow. The snowy mountain tops look like rippled ice cream as
we fly over the beautiful islets of Myvatn. Finally, the magnificent Troll Peninsula mountain
range comes in to view in the west as we head to Eyjafjordur, Iceland’s longest fjord2. And when 35
we finally touch down, I realise I’ve barely taken a breath in the last 45 minutes. The whole thing
is an experience I’ll never forget.
As we’re nibbling on nuts, getting ready for dinner, cocooned in the comfort of our bedroom,
suddenly there’s a frantic knock on the door. ‘The Northern Lights are happening right now,’
says Ivan the dinner waiter, out of breath as he sprints to other bedrooms to let everyone know. 40
‘They never come this early in the year!’ he bellows in disbelief. We park ourselves on the
snow-covered wooden furniture outside, desperately trying to take pictures that will do justice to
the sky we see above us. Streaks of green dance across the darkness. Purple swirls wheel over
the top of the building. We dart around, trying to catch every single light as the display lasts long
into the night. 45
Back inside, we gather in the warm lounge and before we know it Brandon – one of the guests
from America – is standing on the stage in front of us as music starts up. This is karaoke like
© UCLES 2024 E/S7/INSERT/01
3
you’ve never experienced it before. There is a full range of instruments should you wish to live
out your wildest rockstar dreams (which I do). We sing and dance until the small hours, laughing
with our new-found best friends, and promising to meet up again once we return to our normal 50
lives.
It’s quite a journey to Deplar, both in distance and mind. But nature will repay you with sights
that will stay in your memory forever.
Glossary
1
the Northern Lights: a natural display of light in the night sky, seen only near the Arctic
2
fjord: a long, narrow inlet of sea, between mountains
© UCLES 2024 E/S7/INSERT/01
2
Section A: Reading
Spend 35 minutes on this section.
Read the text, from a travel writer’s review of her trip to Iceland, in the insert, and then answer
Questions 1–11.
1 Look at the first paragraph (lines 2–6).
(a) What does the scenery remind the writer of?
[1]
(b) Look at the second sentence (lines 3–4).
What literary technique does the writer use in this sentence? Tick () one box.
oxymoron
assonance
personification
onomatopoeia
[1]
(c) Give one word that tells the reader that there is a view of many high peaks.
[1]
2 Explain how the imagery of snow at the end of the first paragraph is continued in the second
paragraph (lines 7–11).
[2]
3 Look at the third paragraph (lines 12–18).
Give one phrase that shows the writer’s enthusiasm to go on a snow adventure.
[1]
4 Look at the fourth paragraph (lines 19–24).
Why are the sentences in the fourth paragraph mostly complex sentences?
[1]
© UCLES 2024 E/S7/01
3
5 Look at the fifth paragraph (lines 25–30).
The writer uses a simile to make a contrast between two ideas. Explain what the two ideas are.
[2]
6 Look at the sixth paragraph (lines 31–37). The writer takes a short flight.
Why does the flight feel like a dream?
[1]
7 Look at the seventh paragraph (lines 38–45).
What effect does the writer create by beginning the paragraph with subordinate clauses?
[1]
8 Look at lines 46–51.
Explain why brackets ( ( ) ) and dashes ( – ) are used and what the difference is between them in
this paragraph.
[2]
© UCLES 2024 E/S7/01 [Turn over
4
9 The structure of the text reflects the different stages of the writer’s holiday and how she felt at
each stage. Complete the flow chart by choosing a word from the box describing how the writer
felt in the relevant paragraphs.
First paragraph Travel: amazed
Second paragraph Arrival: excited
Third paragraph Snowshoe hike:
Fourth paragraph Inside Deplar: relaxed
Fifth paragraph Preparations:
Sixth paragraph Plane tour:
Seventh paragraph Northern Lights: enchanted
Eighth paragraph Party night:
elated hopeful peaceful sociable
[3]
© UCLES 2024 E/S7/01
5
10 Choose the opinion you agree with most. Tick () one box.
Opinion 1: I think Deplar Farm sounds cosy and friendly.
Opinion 2: I think Deplar Farm sounds expensive and exclusive.
Explain why you agree with the opinion. Give two reasons and support each reason with a
quotation from the text.
First reason:
Quotation:
Second reason:
Quotation:
[4]
© UCLES 2024 E/S7/01 [Turn over
6
11 Look at the whole text.
(a) Complete the table below with the activities and entertainment for visitors at Deplar Farm.
• Possibility of seeing the Northern Lights
[3]
(b) Using the information in the table, write a summary describing the activities and
entertainment for visitors at Deplar Farm. Write up to 50 words. Use your own words as
much as possible.
At Deplar Farm you can
[2]
© UCLES 2024 E/S7/01
7
Section B: Writing
Spend 35 minutes on this section.
12 You won a writing competition in your favourite magazine. The prize was a three-day luxury
camping trip for you and a friend somewhere warm and sunny. Now you are back from your trip.
Write a review of the camping trip for the magazine.
You should think about:
• where you went
• what made it luxurious
• what you did during the day and in the evenings.
Space for your plan:
Write your review on the next page. [25 marks]
© UCLES 2024 E/S7/01 [Turn over
