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Read the following passage below and answer the questions that follow.

Read the following passage below and answer the questions that follow.

As amatter of courtesy, we had decided we would not eat until he arrived. Although he was expected at six o’clock in the evening, it was not until two hours later that he showed up. Not only had we grown impatient andirritated, but our attitude towards
him was also becoming hostile. We had looked forward to his coming because those among us who knew him had spoken highly of him.but doubtful thoughts now crept into our minds and we resented his apparent lack of consideration. The aroma of freshly cooked dishes gradually disappeared as our keen appetites intensified our restlessness.
A screech of brakes, a sudden buzz of activity and a group of solemn looking officials walking briskly into the hall announced his arrival. He was dressed in full uniform which was awe-inspiring, with his tall, well-proportioned figure, he was quite imposing. We immediately settled down to the now cold meal which we ate sparingly and in silence. Then the ceremony began.
The chairman made a brief introductory speech and then invited the guest speaker to address us. We clapped politely. He stood up, looked around the room and before he began to speak, glanced and smiled at each person in turn. His warm and sincere manner disarmed us and dissolved our hostility. The reasons for his lateness were so genuine that we felt ashamed of our ill- feelings towards him. We accepted his apology gladly.

No sooner had he begun his address than we realized that we had an interesting and thought -provoking evening ahead of us. Instead of the usual state pronouncements of administrators like himself, he spoke about real issues that face our generation and which few people have the courage or the conviction to discuss. But he warned that we should not be completely satisfied because there were areas where we had done very little. He said that we needed a sense of discipline in our national affairs. His talk was illustrated with descriptions of our disregard for traffic regulations. My colleagues nodded in agreement.
My mind began wandering. I thought of many drunken drivers I had seen and the numerous grisly accidents I had witnessed. The speaker was right. I remembered the scenes at bus stations and ‘matatu’
stands at peak hours and at the end of the month. I recalled the pushing, jostling and scrambling crowds
struggling for a place .It then dawned on me that we often thought only of our comfort and convenience. We ignored the
desperate, beseeching eyes of the children, the weak and the handicapped.
I woke from my day dream. The speaker was now expressing his concern about poor use of leisure time. After work, bars were full to overflowing while in homes wives remained without husbands and children without fathers. Free time was used unproductively. In conclusion he stressed the dangers of behaving irresponsibly and deplored the bad use of public facilities. He cited the examples of careless garbage disposal and thoughtless use of public toilets. Wasn’t it ironical to hear people complaining when the outcome of their own misdeeds inconvenienced them or posed danger to their health? He sat amidst hearty applause. We scrambled to shake his hands and assured him that his talk had inspired and encouraged us to exercise discipline in our own lives.

i) Why were the people disappointed and angry?

ii) Why do you think the food was eaten sparingly and in silence?

iii) Explain the reason for the change of attitude towards the guest speaker.

iv) On what lines did the narrator’s mind wander in the course of the speech?

v) What factors was the speaker highlighting when the narrator came out of his reverie?

vi) According to the passage, lack of discipline in different areas leads to undesirable results. What are the results of the following?

i) Disregard for traffic regulations.

ii) Concern only for personal convenience.

iii) Poor use of leisure time.

vii) Explain the meaning of the following words and phrases as used in the passage.

i) had spoken highly of him

ii)disarmed

iii)beseeching.

iv) dawned on me.

Answers

a)
-They were disappointed and angry because
-The speaker had shown little concern of the people/he had arrived two hours late.
-Those who knew him had spoken highly of him which seemed contrary to what was happening.

b) To show their disapproval /displeasure

c) - He had a warm and sincere manner – he smiled at each person in turn.v1
- He apologized for lateness
- His reasons for lateness were quite genuine.

d) - He was thinking of the many drunken drivers/the grisly accidents caused.
- The pushing and jostling at matatu stations.

e) - poor use of leisure time

f) i) grisly accidents

ii) Ignoring children’s desperate, beseeching eyes, the weak and the handcapped.

iii) Bars are full to overflowing while are home wives remain without husbands and children without fathers

g) i) Had praised him.

ii) Took away our hostility

iii) Imploring /urging/begging

iv) became clear to me

marto answered the question on August 16, 2019 at 12:57

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