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Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow: (20 marks)

      

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow: (20 marks)

It is a great fortune to belong to that generation that grew up feeding on tales of Kaka Sungura na wenzake instead of the cartoon network fare. I am sure, in many ways we are better people for it.

But the thing that used to get to me about Kaka Sungura was this; although he was brighter, spiffier, humorous and certainly more interesting than all the other animals he pitted himself against in all his food' hardy acts, he always lost the race, the woman, the maize con or even his life!

The great African moral of the story was that it didn't pay to be too smart for your boots, so while the tortoise won the race through perseverance and some measure of deceit, the cocksure rabbit slept against a tree and got to finish the line only to realize the joke was on him.

Yet we loved those stones even though we had heard them a million times before, even though we knew the outcome. For you Sere, in great tradition of oral folklore, the story teller always varied his rendition for each different audience. He or she also knew when to throw a song, dance or mime.

Their expressions animated, the story although with predictable endings (the rabbit always lost, duh!) never failed to come alive with new twists and turns each time. But the really interesting part came when we retold the Kaka Sungura stories to our peers. We added in characters - like superman and wonder-woman- you see that was way before the time of Batman.
Sometimes we even gave kaka Sungura Superpowers himself. And when we told the story out of the ear shot of the grownups, we occasionally allowed Kaka Sungura to win! So what if he was trickster and too cocksure, we liked the guy! If only we could conjure up that childlike imagination to change our real life situations as easily as that.

Too often we grow up believing that our dreams and desires will unfold for us. When that fails to happen, we may get bitter at worst or resign ourselves to the present drams as it unfolds at best. We may even rationalize that we are too old, too female, too poor and whatever else to significantly steer our lives in another direction.
But then again, why can't we? Why can't we add some drama every now and them to a story that is getting boring? Heck, while we are at it, why can't we just change the ending of the story? Today, during a conversation with a friend, we began to reminisce about our lives and the paths we had chosen at critical moments in life which had led us to our present situations. These included choice of a partner, friends an whether or not to have children. This also in part included choice of a partner, friends and whether or not the have children. This also in part includes choice of-type of education and whether to pursue it further. This even included choice of career and jobs.
The tragedy is that some of us then choose to stay in unpleasant situations because the naysayers insist that one must never change the ending. No matter what happens in between, the rabbit is always supposed to lose
Yet, as Oprah would say, I now know for sure that we can retell our life story. As a matter of fact, if we are very unhappy with our current state of affairs; we can rewrite the script. The courageous in our midst do it every day. It is the woman who at mid life opts for a career change that makes her wake up with a zing. It is the man who unhappy with his health decides to prepare for a marathon, climbs a mountain or changes his lifestyle. It is the woman who walks out of an abusive and demanding relationship. It is the man who changes his outlook and takes a kinder perspective toward life. Yet in all these scenarios, the critical question hinges on whether or not one is committed to remaining where they are and their old story or to moving to where they want to be and rewriting that story. It is certainly much easier than it sounds, and I am sure each of the courageous souls above will tell us that it took some gut, blood and tears. But the good new is that it is possible. Now that is what I call a happy ending to a hare story!
(Adopted from Daily Nation Sunday August 21, 2005)

a) Which aspects made Africa folklore a great narration? (2 marks)

b) Sometimes we even gave Kaka Sungura super powers himself, (write the above statement in the passive (1 mark)

c) What remedies does the writer suggest to reduce boredom of story telling?
(2 marks).

d) Identify parenthesis in the paragraph beginning; Their expression....
(1 mark)

e) Which factors in the passage made Kaka Sungura likeable? (3 marks)

f) State any four factors that can facilitate the destiny of a person in life
(4 marks)

g) Give another word with similar pronunciation as the following words.
(2 marks)

i) Won ________

ii) Too ________

h) Explain the meanings of the following words and expressions as used in the passage. (5 marks)

i) Pitted himself against

ii) We can rewrite the script

- Demeaning relationship

iv) Reminisce

v) Animated

  

Answers


Martin
a) Varying rendition for each audience.

The narrator knew when to throw a song dance or mime

b) Kaka Sungura was sometimes given super powers himself

c) Add some drama - Change the ending

d) (The rabbit always lost, duh!)

e) Kaka Sungura was;

-Brighter

-Humorous

-More interesting than all the other animals

f) -Choice of partner or friend

-Whether or not to have children

-Choice of type of education or whether to pursue it further

-Choice of career and jobs

g) i) One

ii) Two

h) i) Pitten himself against – interacted with/associated mingled

ii) We can re-write the script- change/vary the story

iii) Demeaning relationship – sour affair

iv) Reminisces-reflect/thick back

v) Animated-made it lively

marto answered the question on April 2, 2019 at 10:34


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  • Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.(Solved)

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    (c). Explain how free radicals contribute to the occurrence of high blood pressure and cancer. (2 mks)

    (d). In what two forms can antioxidants be consumed?

    (e). 'In fact nutritionists recommend that we eat five portions of fruit and vegetable a day' Rewrite the sentence above as a question without changing the meaning, beginning: Don't ...................... (1mk)

    (f). What is the attitude of the author towards calcium as a weight- cutting measure?

    (g). According to the passage, how can you use up excess fat?

    (h). Identify an instance of irony in the passage.

    (i). Explain the meaning of the following expressions as used in the passage.

    - daunting

    - baggage

    - down a mountain

    Date posted: April 2, 2019.  Answers (1)

  • Read the passage below and then answer the questions that follow(Solved)

    In the eighteenth century, the field of science was virtually closed to women. In France, the countess wrote a highly regarded book about Newtonian physics, but its very excellence spoke against her. The manuscript was so good that it was widely assumed that it had been written by the countess's tutor rather than by the countess herself. Sadly enough, the tutor Samuel Konig, did nothing to discourage the rumours about the books7 authorship. Instead, he took full credit for the countess's efforts. In England, the leading nation in science, the situation was worse. Women were strictly prohibited from admission to scientific societies. Indeed the English denied women access to all forms of scientific study.
    Italy, however, was something of an exception to the general European rule, and a number of provincial scientific societies did admit women. It is perhaps not surprising, then, that the one woman who crashed the barriers erected against her gender was an Italian, Laura Bassi (1711 -1778). Bassi actually became a respected scientific figure at a time when women were generally thought to be too intellectually limited for the rigors of scientific study. By all accounts, she thoroughly disproved the sexist notion that women and the sciences were opposed to one another.
    Bassi was one of the lucky women of her era. Her father was an enlightened lawyer in Bologna, Italy, who believed that women should be educated. Thus, young Laura was schooled by the family physician, Gaetano Tacconi. By the age of twenty she was familiar with scientific concepts of the times, particularly Newtonian physics. Because her father encouraged her to display her erudition at social gatherings, Bassi's reputation as a learned woman grew. Tested by a group of professors and scholars anxious to prove that a woman could not possibly be so clever, Bassi astonished the sceptics with her intelligence, learning, and eloquence. Local scholars were so impressed that in 1731 they invited her to join the Bologna Institute of Sciences and to study for a degree at the University of Bologna. On May 12, 1732, Bassi became only the second woman ever to gain an academic degree. A few months later, she became the world's first female professor
    But despite her breakthrough, those in charge of the University of Bologna had very rigid ideas about what Bassi could or could not do as a professor. For example, she had no say over her schedule. To the University's leaders, she was an intriguing oddity. They might trot her out for display to curious visiting scholars, but they would not let her lecture on a regular basis. Nor, for that matter, could she pursue her own studies or research. Still, Bassi was not an easy woman to control, and to a degree, she managed to go her own way.
    In 1 749, to escape university restrictions, Bassi began offering private lessons in experimental physics. She also began championing Newtonian physics at a time when it was relatively unknown in Italy, and she promoted Newton's findings about gravity even in the face of widespread intellectual resistance. In addition, Bassi corresponded with the leading physicists of the day Thus, she kept her country abreast of new scientific theories.
    In 1 776, when Bassi was sixty five, the university acknowledged her contributions to scientific thought by bestowing upon her an unheard of honour of a woman: She was appointed chair of experimental physics, and her husband, the father of her eight children, was appointed her assistant.
    Contrary to expectation, Bassi's achievement did not pave the way for other women. This is because many of her male colleagues had been disturbed by her extraordinary progress and were reluctant to let any other female follow her footsteps. After Bassi's death in 1778, it took more than a century, and the arrival of Marie Curie, for another woman to find herself at home in the male-dominated world of science.
    Adapted from Reading for Results by Laraine Fleming (2008) New York Houghton Mifflin

    (a) Why was it widely assumed that the countess's tutor had written the book on Newtonian physics? (2 marks)

    (b) In what way was France better than England in the treatment of women interested in the sciences? (3 marks)

    (c) Rewrite the following sentence using the word "surprisingly".
    (1 mark)

    It's perhaps not surprising, then that the one woman who crashed the barriers erected against her gender was an Italian, Laura Bassi.

    (d) According to the passage, what was a professor expected to do?
    (3 marks)

    (e) For what selfish purpose did the University of Bologna use Bassi?
    (2 marks)

    (f) What evidence is given to show that Bassi was difficult to control?
    (3 marks)

    (g) Why do you think the author mentions the fact that Bassi had eight children? (3 marks)

    (h) Explain the meaning of the following expressions as used in the passage.
    (3 marks)

    Erudition .............................................

    To a degree.........................................

    Find herself at home…………………

    Date posted: April 2, 2019.  Answers (1)

  • Read the following oral poem and answer the questions that follow(Solved)

    Read the following oral poem and answer the questions that follow:
    The poor man knows not how to eat with a rich man.
    When they eat fish, he eats the head.
    Invite a poor man and he rushes in
    Licking his lips and upsetting the plates.
    The poor man has no manners; he comes along with the blood of lice under his nails.
    The face of a poor man is lined
    From hunger that thirst in his belly.
    Poverty is no state for any mortal man.
    It makes him a best to be fed on grass.
    Poverty is unjust. If it befalls a man,
    Though he is nobly born, he has no power with God.
    (Anonymous from Swahili poetry by L. Harries)

    a) What evidence is there to show that this is an oral poem? Identify and illustrate any two such features. (4 marks)

    b) Describe a probable situation in which such a poem could be performed
    (3 marks)

    c) If you were to do a solo performance of this oral poem, what element would you emphasize? (6 marks)

    d) What does the phrase --- 'with the blood of lice under his nails' reveal about the poor man? (2 marks)

    e) Describe with illustrations the tone of this poem. (3 marks)

    f) Explain the meaning of the following

    i) He eats the head

    ii) He has no power with God

    Date posted: April 2, 2019.  Answers (1)

  • Read the following oral poem and answer the questions that follow:(Solved)

    Read the following oral poem and answer the questions that follow:
    One hand cannot manage work
    A threshing stick cannot thresh millet with one hand.
    Some hands breed hatred at the eating time
    Nobody hates being assisted.
    Let millet be threshed
    Let it be threshed, let it be threshed
    Cut a threshing stick for me
    A lazy wife
    Is taken back to her parents
    When the rain fails
    It blames the wind
    And a lazy woman
    Blames the threshing stick
    Cut a threshing stick for me -ii
    My co-wife cut me a threshing stick
    You woman, owner of this occasion
    Remember that work is the stomach
    Take care not to starve us
    The threshing sticks are sounding
    Let the millet leave the threshing ground.

    (Adapted from oral literature of the Embu and Mbeere by Ciarunji Chesaina)

    a) What kind of oral poem is this? (3 marks)

    b) Identify and illustrate the oral features of this poem. (6 marks)

    c) What does this poem tell us about the role and place of women in this society? (4 marks)

    d) According to this poem, which moral values were emphasized in this community? (3 marks)

    e) Explain the meaning of the following lines

    i) Some hands breed hatred at eating time.

    ii) Remember that work is the stomach (4 marks

    Date posted: April 2, 2019.  Answers (1)

  • Read the following poem and answer the questions that follow.(Solved)

    Read the following poem and answer the questions that follow.

    The owner of yam peels his yam in the house:
    A neighbour knocks at the door.
    The owner of yam throws his yam in the bedroom:
    The neighbour says, 'I just heard
    A sound, Kere Kere, that's why I came.
    'The owner of yam replies,
    'That was nothing, I was sharpening two knives.
    'The neighbour says again, 'I still heard
    Something like bi sound behind your door.
    The owner of yam says,
    'I merely tried my door with a mallet.
    'The neighbour says again,
    'What about this huge fire burning on your hearth?'
    The fellow replies,
    'I am merely warming water for my bath.
    'The neighbour persists,
    'Why is your skin all white, when this is not the Harmattan season?
    The fellow is ready with his reply,
    "I was rolling on the floor when I heard of the Agadapidi."
    The owner of yam starts to shout,
    There cannot be peace.
    Unless the owner of food is allowed to eat his food!'

    (Yoruba, Nigerian. Translated by ULLI BEIER) From Sunburst. Edited by lan Gordon)

    a) What is this poem about? (2 marks)

    b) How do we know that the neighbor is not convinced by the owner of yam's explanations? (3 marks)

    c) Which character traits are revealed about the owner of yam? (4 marks)

    d) Identify the features of this poem that indicate that it is an oral poem
    (4 marks)

    e) Why do you think the owner of yam begins to shout? (3 marks)

    f) What features of oral performance would you emphasis in delivering the last speech of the owner of yam? (4 marks

    Date posted: April 2, 2019.  Answers (1)

  • (a) What is a riddle? (3 marks) (b) i) State one riddle in mother tongue or Kiswahili and provide the English translation. (2 marks) Explain the imagery in...(Solved)

    (a) What is a riddle? (3 marks)

    (b) i) State one riddle in mother tongue or Kiswahili and provide the
    English translation. (2 marks)

    Explain the imagery in the solution to your riddle (2 marks)

    c) Describe the stages in a riddling session (5 marks)

    d) Who is the audience in a riddling session? (2 marks)

    e) State any four functions of fiddles (2 marks)

    f) Distinguish between a riddle and a puzzle (2 marks)

    Date posted: April 2, 2019.  Answers (1)

  • Read the oral narrative below and then answer the questions that follow.(Solved)

    Read the oral narrative below and then answer the questions that follow.

    Nyasaye (God) wanted to put a stop to the rampages of death-death which claims the lives of everyone
    Young and old
    Boys and girls
    Men and women
    Strangers and kinsmen;
    Death which kills
    The innocent and the guilty
    Chiefs and their subjects
    The healthy and the sick
    The wise and the foolish.
    So one day he sent a servant to earth with a message for all his people. 'send me an offering of fresh, untainted fat,' he ordered. 'It should be as clean and sparkling as the moon.'Hearing this, the people slaughtered a goat, removed its pure white fat, and placed it in a clay dish overspread with fine fresh leaves.
    Now they summoned Ngo’ngruok, also known as Haniafu the Chameleon, and ordered him to take their offering to Nyasaye. They also fashioned a long pole that reached up to heaven where Nyasaye dwells in his glory. This was the path Ng’ongruok would follow when carrying their offering.
    But Ng’onguruok accidentally soiled the fat with his clumsy feet, and on his arrival before Nyasaye, presented a dirty and unsightly offering. Nyasaye was furious and rejected it, shouting: 'tell the people of earth that because of this insult they must continue to die, just as their ancestors have done!'
    Ng’ongruok descended from heaven delivered Nyasaye’s message, and returned the offering to the people. Ever since then, alas death has continued to ravage human beings. For his clumsiness, Ngo’ngruok was cursed by the people. Hence, he must always walk on all fours, and his steps must be hesitant and slow. That is why you will always see him carrying one leg raised from the ground as he tries to decide exactly where to tread.
    (Adapted from: keep my words by B. Onyange-gutu and A.A Roscoe)

    i) What would you do in order to capture the audience’s attention before you begin to tell this story? (2mks)
    …………………………………………………………ii) Explain two ways in which you would make the narration of lines 20 to 23 of the story effective (4mks)
    ……………………………………………………………………

    iii) Mention two ways in which you would know that you audience in this story is fully participating in the performance. (4mks)
    ……………………………………………

    b) For each of the words below write another word that is pronounced in the same way.
    Heir…………………………………………………
    Weather…………………………………………….
    Base………………………………………………..
    Mourning………………………………………….

    Date posted: April 2, 2019.  Answers (1)

  • Read the story below and answer the questions that follow(Solved)

    Read the story below and answer the questions that follow

    Once upon a time, there lived a young woman who ran away from home to secretly marry her warrior lover out in the wilderness. The warrior directed the young woman to a place in the forest where he would meet her. He said to her, 'When you get to a fork along the path take the right path.' Then the warrior went ahead to await her arrival in the forest.
    The young woman took off, and when she got to the fork that the warrior had mentioned, she followed the left path, forgetting which path the warrior had instructed her to follow.
    As the girl walked on, she came upon an ogre who said to her, 'hey, young woman where are going? Do you have anything to say now that I’m going to eat you?' the girl answered in song
    Not here my dear
    Let us go to the water hole
    Where you can eat me
    And have a drink
    Oh my dear warrior, where was it?
    And so it happened that this was very bushy country. The ogre led the young woman on, and when they got to another spot, he said to her, ' I am now going to eat you here.' The girl broke into song, urging him not to eat her.
    They went further, and the young woman kept hoping that the warrior would hear her voice. As they walked on, the ogre asked the young girl: ' shall I eat you hear'The girl sang again
    Not here my dear
    Let us go to the water hole
    Where you can eat me
    And have a drink
    Oh dear warrior, where was it?
    But the warrior had still not heard her. When they got to a cave by a river, the ogre collected branches and leaves on which to place the young woman’s flesh after he had slaughtered her. When he brought one type of leaf, the girl objected to having her flesh laid on ordinary leaves preferring the sweet- scented leaves of the Matasia plant. The ogre brought another kind of leaf nut the girl also rejected it, until eventually the sweet- smelling leaves of Matassia plant were brought. When the ogre asked the girl whether those were the right type of leaves, she said: Yes, these are the ones.' The ogre then laid the leaves down on the ground and lit a big fire. All this while, the girl was continuously singing the same song.
    Just when the ogre was about to jump on the young woman, the warrior suddenly emerged from the bush. The young woman said to the ogre, 'It is now your skinny flesh that will be laid on those leaves.' The warrior killed the ogre and placed him on the bed of leaves and took the girl away. And that is the end of the story.
    (Adopted from 'a young woman and an ogre' in Oral Literature of the Maasai, by
    Naomi Kipury. Nairobi: EAEP 1983)

    i. If you were performing this story, how would you say the words of the warrior? ( 1 mark)

    ii. What could the warrior lover have done to improve on his giving of directions ( 1 mark)

    iii. How would you deliver the first speech of the ogre?( 2 mks)

    iv. The song is sung for both the ogre and the warrior lover. How would you perform it to show this? ( 2 mks)

    v. As the story teller, how would you say the sentence: ' just when the ogre was about to jump on the young woman, the warrior suddenly emerged from the bush.' ( 2 mks)

    vi. How do you think the audience would react when the warrior lover rivers? ( 1 mark)

    Date posted: April 2, 2019.  Answers (1)

  • The following is a conversation between a father and his daughter. Identify eight shortcomings in the father’s listening skills(Solved)

    DAUGHTER: (shortly having arrived home from school) Good afternoon,
    Daddy
    FATHER: (Sitting complacently in the sofa, reading a newspaper. Looking up…..) Good afternoon (Resumes reading)
    DAUGHTER: (Holding out her school report form) Daddy, I’m excited. My teacher said I was the best improved. I was………..
    FATHER: Oh, you were? Me, I used to be number one. I was absolutely unbeatable.
    DAUGHTER: Chemistry has been a particular headache ( now looking at the report form which she thought her father would want to see), but this time…….
    FATHER: (Stretching his arms, looking preoccupied)
    Chemistry for me was particular easy.
    I never scored anything less than 90%
    DAUGHTER: Dad, I was going to tell you that this time…….






    FATHER: (Absent minded) by the way, where is your mum?

    DAUGHTER: Mum is in the garden picking vegetables. But dad, you’re not listening to my story. I was telling you about Chemistry

    FATHER: You mean you have a story about chemistry? Chemistry is not about stories. It is hard science.

    DAUGHTER: It’s about my improvement……..

    FATHER: (laughing) me, it wasn’t matter of improvement. I was always at the top of the class

    DAUGHTER: Daddy, I give up. You’re not listening

    FATHER: (looking surprised) Listening? I heard you: you were talking about improvement in chemistry, weren’t you?

    DAUGHTER: anyway, Dad. Thank you for paying attention. Enjoy your newspaper.

    FATHER: Oh yes, I’m reading an interesting story about politics

    Date posted: April 2, 2019.  Answers (1)

  • Suppose you were asked to make a speech at a friend’s graduation party. What would you do to capture the audience attention?(Solved)

    Suppose you were asked to make a speech at a friend’s graduation party. What would you do to capture the audience attention?

    Date posted: April 2, 2019.  Answers (1)

  • In the words given below, underline the part that should be stressed i. Suc.cess ii. ad.vice iii. Chal.lenge iv. ob.serve(Solved)

    In the words given below, underline the part that should be stressed

    i. Suc.cess
    ii. ad.vice
    iii. Chal.lenge
    iv. ob.serve

    Date posted: April 2, 2019.  Answers (1)

  • Identify and number any five pairs of words that are pronounced the same Plane Mad Plain ...(Solved)

    Identify and number any five pairs of words that are pronounced the same

    Plane Mad Plain Mourn
    Burrow cat Berry Mud
    Bury You Bred cut
    Pull Father Pool Ewe
    Bread Moan Fool Farther
    Further See Full Sea

    Date posted: April 2, 2019.  Answers (1)

  • Read the following oral chant and then answer the questions that follow.(Solved)


    Read the following oral chant and then answer the questions that follow.

    Rain Making Litany

    (Reciter) (Respondent)
    We overcame this wind We overcome
    We desire the rain to fall, that it may be poured in
    showers quickly Be poured
    Ah! True rain, I adjure thee fall, if thou rainest, it is well It is well
    A drizzling confusion Confusion
    If it rains and our food ripens, it is well It is well
    If the children rejoice, it is well It is well
    If the children rejoice, it is well It is well
    If it rains, it is well. If our women rejoice, it is well It is well
    If the young mending, it is well It is well
    A drizzling confusion
    Confusion
    If our grain ripens it is well It is well
    If our women rejoice, It is well
    If the children rejoice It is well
    If the young men sing It is well
    If the aged rejoice It is well
    An overflowing in the granary Overflowing
    May our grain fill the granaries May it fill
    A torrent in flow A torrent
    If the wind veers to the south, it is well It is well
    If the rain veers to the south, it is well It is well.

    a) (i) Identify three aspects of oral performance that make this chant
    easy to remember. (3 marks)

    (ii) In what ways would this chant be made interesting to listen to? (3 marks)

    (iii) What preparations do you think a narrator would make to ensure that the audience listens to and participates in the performance of the chant?
    (4 marks)

    (b) You are going to take part in a debate. Explain how you would deal with fear and anxiety associated with public speaking of this kind. (6 marks)

    (c) Classify the words below according to the sound of the underlined 'ch' letters. represented has been given.
    (3 marks)

    bench
    chore
    chandelier
    charisma
    parachute
    trachoma
    chauvinism
    choral

    church
    Champagne Charm
    Chrysalis
    Church champagne
    trachoma
    (d) The underlining indicates the stressed word in the sentences below. Briefly explain what each sentence means. (3 marks)
    (i) I wrote the love poem for you.
    (ii) I wrote the love poem for you.
    (iii) I wrote the love poem for you.

    (e) Shouting and screaming from your class disrupted the other students during study time. As the class monitor, you have been called by the teacher on duty to her office to give an explanation. Complete the conversation below by filling in the blank spaces.

    Teacher: You are the class monitor of Form Two East, aren't you?
    You: …………………………………………… (1 mark)
    Teacher: Why was your class shouting and screaming?
    You: I am not sure, madam. The noise started at the back of the
    classroom.
    Teacher: ……………………..................................... (1 mark)
    You: You see madam, I sit at the front of the classroom and by the time I turned to look, the boys at the back were already on top of the desks and some were trying to jump out of the window.
    Teacher: ……………………..................................... (1 mark)
    You: I ran out, madam!
    Teacher: ……………………..................................... (1 mark)
    You: I am sorry madam, but it seemed like there was great danger in the middle of the class. I had to run for my life.
    Teacher: When the noise subsided, what did you find out?
    You: …………………………………………… (1 mark

    Teacher: A snake?
    You: …………………………………………… (1 mark)
    Teacher: Whose toy snake was it?
    You: …………………………………………… (1 mark)
    Teacher: You can go now, but I will need to know whose toy snake it was.
    You: …………………………………………… (1 mark

    Date posted: April 2, 2019.  Answers (1)