Reading C1/C2 . Model 1: Multiple questions for a text.

🎬 C1

Text: Cervantes – The Writer Who Invented the Modern Novel

Miguel de Cervantes, the Spanish author of Don Quixote, is often described as the father of the modern novel. Published in the early seventeenth century, his masterpiece changed the way stories were told and how readers understood fiction itself.

Before Don Quixote, most European literature followed strict conventions — tales of knights, courtly love, or moral lessons. Cervantes broke those rules. Through his character of Don Quixote, a man who mistakes fantasy for reality, Cervantes created both a comedy and a tragedy. His book was not just entertaining; it asked readers to think about how imagination shapes our lives.

Cervantes’ own life was as eventful as his fiction. He fought in a famous naval battle, was captured by pirates, and spent years as a prisoner before returning to Spain. His struggles gave him a deep understanding of human nature — of courage, absurdity, and resilience. That realism made his writing unlike anything of his time.

Even today, Don Quixote remains one of the most widely read books in the world. Its influence can be seen everywhere — from modern novels and plays to films and philosophy. Cervantes taught us that storytelling is not just about describing life, but about questioning it.

Questions

Questions

1. What does the writer suggest about European literature before Don Quixote?

A) It focused mainly on historical events.

B) It followed predictable patterns and subjects.

C) It was mostly written in Latin.

D) It was popular only among the wealthy.

2. What made Cervantes’ work different from earlier stories?

A) It mixed comedy with deeper reflection.

B) It used more poetic language.

C) It was based entirely on real events.

D) It included many different authors’ voices.

3. What connection is made between Cervantes’ life and his writing?

A) His adventurous past helped him create believable characters.

B) His time as a soldier made him prefer heroic themes.

C) His prison years stopped him from writing.

D) His experiences inspired him to write about history.

4. What is implied about Don Quixote’s main theme?

A) It shows how dreams are more important than facts.

B) It explores how imagination and reality interact.

C) It criticises social classes and religion.

D) It supports the traditional values of its time.

5. What is the writer’s attitude toward Cervantes?

A) Respectful and admiring.

B) Critical but fair.

C) Distant and neutral.

D) Light-hearted and humorous.

6. Which sentence best summarises the text?

A) Don Quixote is only important because it was the first novel.

B) Cervantes’ originality transformed literature and still inspires readers.

C) Cervantes’ life was more exciting than his books.

D) Modern writers have surpassed Cervantes in creativity.

✅ Answer Key

1. B

2. A

3. A

4. B

5. A

6. B

   
   

🧭 C1 Strategy in Action

Step	What to Focus On	How to Apply It
Skim for main idea	Look for contrasts: “Before… Cervantes broke those rules.”	Identifies innovation.
Watch connectors	“Even today…” signals positive tone.	Confirms admiration.
Avoid word traps	“Father of the novel” ≠ “first to write a story.”	Think meaning, not keywords.
Tone detection	“Taught us,” “influence seen everywhere” → admiration.	Answer 5 = A.
Inference	“Mistakes fantasy for reality” → imagination vs. truth.	Answer 4 = B.

C2

Text: Cervantes – The Dreamer Who Saw Reality Too Clearly

Cervantes occupies a paradoxical place in world literature: both a realist and a dreamer, a writer who mocked illusions while believing deeply in their necessity. Don Quixote is not merely the tale of a deluded knight but a profound meditation on how human beings construct meaning through imagination.

At the dawn of the modern age, when faith in reason was replacing faith in myth, Cervantes captured the tension between the world as it is and the world as we wish it to be. Don Quixote’s madness becomes the reader’s mirror — a reflection of our endless need to believe in ideals even when reality disproves them.

Cervantes’ genius lay in his capacity to turn irony into empathy. He laughs at his hero, but never cruelly; he exposes illusion, yet treats it tenderly. That balance between satire and compassion is what makes Don Quixote both timeless and modern.

Centuries later, critics still debate whether the novel celebrates madness or condemns it. Perhaps Cervantes intended neither. Instead, he revealed that imagination itself — fragile, absurd, and heroic — is what defines humanity.

Questions

1. What is implied about Cervantes’ view of imagination?

A) It is dangerous because it distorts truth.

B) It is essential to how humans create meaning.

C) It is less important than logic and order.

D) It is a tool used mainly for humour.

2. The phrase “Don Quixote’s madness becomes the reader’s mirror” suggests that:

A) Readers share the same delusions as Don Quixote.

B) The novel helps readers examine their own need for ideals.

C) Don Quixote’s mental illness is a central psychological theme.

D) Cervantes invites the reader to reject fantasy.

3. What contrast is highlighted in the second paragraph?

A) Reason versus myth.

B) Religion versus art.

C) Hope versus despair.

D) Past versus future.

4. What quality does the writer most admire in Cervantes?

A) His ability to criticise others sharply.

B) His talent for combining irony and empathy.

C) His purely philosophical insights.

D) His rejection of traditional storytelling.

5. What can be inferred about the novel’s continuing power?

A) It remains relevant because its questions are universal.

B) It has survived mainly due to academic study.

C) It appeals mostly to readers interested in Spanish history.

D) It is admired more for style than substance.

6. Which best summarises the writer’s central idea?

A) Don Quixote is a warning against idealism.

B) Cervantes shows that imagination, though flawed, defines our humanity.

C) The novel is an early example of psychological realism.

D) Cervantes’ work reflects his own tragic experiences.

✅ Answer Key

1. B

2. B

3. A

4. B

5. A

6. B

   
   

🧠 C2 Strategy in Action

Step	What to Focus On	Application
Identify abstract ideas	“Realist and dreamer”, “faith in reason vs. myth” → duality	Read for contrast.
Interpret metaphors	“Reader’s mirror” = self-reflection.	Inference → 2B.
Tone analysis	“He laughs… but never cruelly” → balanced admiration.	4B.
Conceptual understanding	“Imagination defines humanity.” → main thesis.	6B.
Avoid literal reading	“Madness” is symbolic, not medical.	Don’t choose 2C.

🎓 C1 vs. C2 Cervantes Comparison

Feature	C1 Text	C2 Text
Focus	Biography & influence	Philosophy & meaning
Tone	Respectful and explanatory	Reflective, interpretive
Language	Concrete (facts, influence)	Abstract (imagination, duality)
Skills tested	Detail, inference, tone	Metaphor, implication, synthesis
Typical Question Type	“What did he do?”	“What does this imply about humanity?”

✅ Summary:

• At C1, Cervantes is a pioneer who changed storytelling.

• At C2, Cervantes is a philosopher of imagination, revealing truths about human nature.