NSC English HL Comprehension: QUESTION 1: READING FOR MEANING

Question

QUESTION 1: READING FOR MEANING AND UNDERSTANDING  
Read TEXTS A and B below and answer the questions set.  
TEXT A  
FROM THE PLAYGROUND TO THE BOARDROOM  
Until two decades ago, bullying was largely associated with children terrorising one another in school playgrounds. In South Africa, many companies still have that perception.  
This was clearly evident in a study I recently conducted, where respondents looked at me with utter surprise when I raised the subject of bullying at work.  
The typical response was: 'But this is not kindergartener', or something to that effect. Yet, the more we unpacked this phenomenon together, the more respondents began to realise the extent to which bullying exists within their organisations. This, in and of itself, points to the low levels of awareness of bullying in the South African workplace.  
So, what, exactly, is bullying?  
There is, in fact, a range of definitions and arguments about the scope and characteristics of workplace bullying; a fact which points to the infancy of the research. Notwithstanding countless, often country-specific definitions, workplace bullying is regarded as abusive conduct, and the mistreatment of others that can have significant harm.  
Additionally, the general consensus is that bullying is characterised by repetition or duration (an action occurring over a period of six months), as escalation usually accompanied by an increase in aggression. It is for this reason that, in spite of its many definitions, there remains little clarity on the subject.  
While bullying encompasses threatening, humiliating or intimidating actions, work is perceived as the playground in which harassment unfolds. Although others may be more familiar with the notion of harassment outside of the workplace, in a South African context, to understand workplace bullying, it is important to separate it from the crowd and acknowledge the particularities involved.  
While Collins Dictionary defines bullying as a person who hurts, persecutes or intimidates weaker ones, this definition remains too simplistic for understanding such a multifaceted phenomenon. In law, for instance, acts of bullying can often fall under the umbrella of assault, defamation or harassment, which emphasises the severity and implications of such actions.  
Finally, it is essential that leadership and organisational culture take ownership of this issue by adopting policies that will enable them to enforce policies and institute meaningful interventions as warranted.

QUESTION 1: READING FOR MEANING AND UNDERSTANDING Read TEXTS A and B below and answer the questions set - NSC English HL - Question 1 - 2017 - Paper 1

Worked Solution & Example Answer:QUESTION 1: READING FOR MEANING AND UNDERSTANDING Read TEXTS A and B below and answer the questions set - NSC English HL - Question 1 - 2017 - Paper 1

1.1 Bullying is mostly associated with children and it is not considered relevant by adults in the workplace.

1.2 'Terrorising' is a highly emotive word and it implies that bullying has a severe effect on victims.

1.3 The writer gives an anecdotal account of research that she has conducted.

1.4 Bullying encompasses a wide array of concepts which could easily be misunderstood or confused with harassment.

1.5 There are no laws against bullying as such.

1.6 The writer's readership is South African and can, therefore, relate to the context.

1.7 Is it understandable that the respondents use euphemistic terms to avoid the harsh reality of bullying?

1.8 The use of the personal pronouns, 'we' and 'I', is relatively informal.

1.9 Effective or Not Effective?

1.10 The title does not reflect the content of the text.

1.11 A pun and metaphor.

1.12 Paragraph 11 of TEXT A highlights the culture of fear that is entrenched in the South African workplace.

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