Questions 1-10

READing PASSAgE 3
Questions 27–40 
27  nO: Not ‘surprising’ because it was ‘a development 
that had been widely anticipated’.
28  YES: Franklin is cited as an example of those who 
think crime fiction ‘should not be held in such high 
regard’. He thinks crime novels ‘better resemble 
crossword puzzles than literature’, and other literary 
critics agree with him. 
29  nOT giVEn: Christie is compared to Cain, but there 
is no information regarding their opinions of each 
other’s writing.
30  YES: ‘the majority of the general public . . . are 
more familiar with Christie from the numerous 
adaptations of her work for films.’
31  YES: ‘The colourful locations around the 
world where Christie set many of her stories 
were . . .informed by her extensive travels . . .’.
32  nOT giVEn: She continued working despite her 
wealth and fame, but this might simply be because 
she had a strong work ethic. There is no information 
about whether she ‘enjoyed’ wealth and fame. 
33  D features = elements; typical = tend to be repeated
 
The features include: an aristocratic circle of people; 
a confined location; an unexplained crime.
 
A is wrong because, although the language used 
could appear negative (e.g. the claim that the books 
are repetitive), the writer is actually identifying 
a strength in Christie’s writing that has been 
influential. 
 
B is wrong because Sherlock Holmes was a 
character, not a writer, and there is no indication 
that Christie was influenced by him. In fact, the 
opposite is implied. 
 
C is wrong because Christie tended to use the same 
techniques.
34  A common criticism = a not infrequent complaint; 
reject = it is quite untrue
 
The criticism is that Christie’s characters lack depth. 
The writer argues that the opposite is the case: 
she was a ‘perceptive observer of human nature 
and psychology’ and ‘she wrote about human 
relationships in a way so many of us can relate to’.
 
B is wrong because, although two books are cited 
as evidence, to ‘compare’ them is not the writer’s 
purpose in referring to Utley. 
 
C is wrong because, although the conclusion of 
Murder on the Orient Express
 is referred to, it is not 
explained. 
 
D is wrong because the opposite is true: the writer 
is suggesting her books share a similarity – good 
characterisation.
35  C important evidence = vital clues, crucial 
information; very easy to miss = so simple to 
overlook, fail to see it
 
The writer is praising the fact that Christie’s books 
are so well constructed that it’s worth reading them 
twice to see how carefully she hides her clues. 
Thus, ‘easy to miss’, which might appear negative, is 
actually a compliment. 
 
A is wrong because although readers ‘fail to see’ the 
evidence at times, again this is complimentary in 
this context because it builds suspense. 
 
B is wrong because her books are ‘no less’ action-
packed than ‘today’s most popular thrillers’. 
 
D is wrong because the details add to the tension 
and keep readers turning the pages.  
36  B The writer concludes that her ‘legacy is more 
important now than at any time previously’.
 
A is wrong because of ‘at any time previously’. 
 
C is wrong because the writer implies that the same 
characteristics would be found in all Christie’s book, 
but that The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is just a good 
example. 
 
D is wrong because, although the writer lists five 
countries, he implies that there are many others 
and that her influence is ‘global’. 
37  E ‘. . . so is unique among Christie’s publications’ 
 
Distraction is provided by the reference to the 
Orient Express train and other locations. 
 
B might be tempting because of the references to 
‘fame and wealth’ but those resulted from all her 
writing and there is no suggestion that this book 
sold better than others by her. 
38  F The book ‘features the amateur detective Hercule 
Poirot’, who is one of Christie’s ‘best known and 
most frequently imitated characters’. It must 
‘introduce’ Poirot since it is her first book. 
 
A might be tempting as the book is discussed soon 
after reference to Utley’s criticism. However, there 
is no connection made between Utley and this book 
in particular.
 
B might be tempting because Poirot is so well 
known, but there is no information regarding sales 
of this book. 
39  C ‘The survey asked readers to identify the villain 
revealed in . . . Murder on the Orient Express. Most 
readers could not recall because . . .’ 
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A is tempting because this might appear to be a 
criticism of the book. However, the writer’s point is 
that readers are more interested in characterisation 
than outcome. 
40  D ‘Christie herself is believed to have ranked The 
Murder of Roger Ackroyd
 above all her other work.’
 
E might be tempting because this book is singled 
out. However, this is done to exemplify what is 
common to all her books.