- Read the excerpt below and answer questions that follow.(Solved)
Read the excerpt below and answer questions that follow.
'So it is you who chewed my son’s hand to near amputation?' the old woman asked in a low rumbling and frightening voice. She sneered at Resian contemptuously and spat on the ground. 'What were you guarding so tenaciously and valiantly when I am told you are not yet a woman? Are not ashamed to be among intoiye nemengalana at your age? Ptu!'
Resian was shocked by the words of the old woman and she stared at her frightfully, a new hopelessness and helplessness threatening to wreak more havoc to her already wrecked nerves. But the old woman was not finished with her yet.
'I hear your father is stinking rich,' She said mocking Resian derogatorily. Then roaring with a demonic derisive laughter, she said disdainfully, 'I am also told, you, being his favourite daughter, was always fed in bed with a silver spoon. This is what we have been trying to do to you in the last few days. I don’t know whether we have succeeded. We looked for a silver spoon in the whole neighbourhood but we could not find any. I hope the ordinary spoon we have used to feed you does not make you retch!” then she burst out and laughed uproariously.
Oh my God! What is this?” Resian cried out silently unable to bear any more the detestable, stressful, and disgusting verbiage from the old witch. She found it offensive, repugnant and downright obnoxious.
The much she could do was to listen to the old woman as she spewed out her loathsome nastiness and foul grossness.
'Listen to me you daughter of Olkarsis,' She growled like an irate bull, her irritating foul language grating on Resian’s nerves. “I hear your father and that Ol-ushuushi called Oloisudori to whom he had betrothed you and from whom my gallant and valorous Moran snatched you are combing every bush,every cave and every river bank looking for you, as if you are the only esiankiki in the whole world. Anyway let them try for I know they are not going to find you. I am not going to allow it.
Questions
a) Place this excerpt to its immediate context.
b) Who is the woman being referred to in the excerpt?
c) Identify and illustrate two character traits of the woman referred to in (b) above
d) Identify and illustrate two stylistic devices evident in this excerpt
e) Identify and illustrate the dominant theme in this excerpt.
f) From elsewhere in the novel who were the three blind mice who did not seem to know that the world was changing? Give the local names.
g) Rewrite in reported speech.
Are you not ashamed to be among intoiye nemengalana at your age?
h) Give the meaning of the following word as used in the excerpt.
Betrothed
Date posted: October 9, 2019.
- Fill in the blank spaces in the passage below with the most appropriate word.(Solved)
Fill in the blank spaces in the passage below with the most appropriate word.
One good reason to ........1...... Africa would be the big number of games parks there. They cover almost ......2........the different types of geographical terrain found in the continent. The geographical terrain found in the continent. The Abedare National Park is a mountain range that rises 13,120 feet, and is laced .....3 ..... waterfalls. Crowned with exotic alphine plants ...........4.........is even one that blooms only once every twenty years. There, .....5..... of elephants, rhinos and warthogs roam the forest. Samburu National Reserve is.......6......in an entirely different terrain. Lying on the edge of the great desert of Northern Kenya, it is a vast stretch of scrubland ....7..... by elephants and leopards. Mt.Kenya is also a good ....8..... to observe animals and plants. If one drives up the flank of the mountain, one would pass....9.... great bamboo jungles and mountain forest all the way up to the alphine zone with its giant plants ....10.... foliage, this is a place which botanist would love.
Date posted: October 9, 2019.
- Explain the difference in meaning between the pair of sentences.(Solved)
Explain the difference in meaning between the pair of sentences.
Juan wrote a letter to herself.
Juan herself wrote a letter.
Date posted: October 8, 2019.
- Choose the better alternative from the ones given in brackets to fill the blank.(Solved)
Choose the better alternative from the ones given in brackets to fill the blank.
i. Previously, the bus attendants used to issue passengers with ............ (tickets, receipts)
ii. She padded in ...................feet towards the door. (bare, bear)
iii. You have a ..............of sh. 500 because you paid sh.1000 for the bag that costs sh.500. (balance, change
Date posted: October 8, 2019.
- Fill in the more suitable pronoun from the alternatives given in bracket.(Solved)
Fill in the more suitable pronoun from the alternatives given in bracket.
i. Look at that young boy running away! He must have been ........who stole your bag. (he, him)
ii. Neither Helmer nor ............is selfless. (her, she)
iii. Always say ‘may I get in?’ around Mr. Nockrise and ..............if you don’t want your earlobe twisted. (they, them)
Date posted: October 8, 2019.
- Rewrite according to the instruction without changing the meaning of the sentence.(Solved)
Rewrite according to the instruction without changing the meaning of the sentence.
i. I will talk to Joseph. I will talk to Kennedy.
Combine using ‘both’
ii. My father is a watchman. My mother is a watchwoman.
Combine by removing gender-insensitive words
iii. The musician wore a new shirt. The musician moved to the stage.
Begin: Wearing.......
iv. Be mindfull of the people sitting there.
Correct the error
Date posted: October 8, 2019.
- Use the most appropriate form of the word in bracket to fill the blank.(Solved)
Use the most appropriate form of the word in bracket to fill the blank.
i. For a long time, she has hidden her true ................from him. (identify)
ii. ....................... of the book has finally been written. (analyze)
iii. ......................, a woman was considered inferior to man. (tradition)
Date posted: October 8, 2019.
- Read the excerpt below and then answer the questions that follow.(Solved)
Read the excerpt below and then answer the questions that follow.
Helmer. You can’t deny it, my dear little Nora. (Puts his arm round her waist.) It’s a sweet little spendthrift, but she uses up a deal of money. One would hardly believe how expensive such little persons are!
Nora. It’s a shame to say that. I do really save all I can.
Helmer (laughing). That’s very true,–all you can. But you can’t save anything!
Nora (smiling quietly and happily). You haven’t any idea how many expenses we skylarks and squirrels have, Torvald.
Helmer. You are an odd little soul. Very likeyour father. You always find some new way of wheedling money out of me, and, as soon as you have got it, it seems to melt in your hands. You never know where it has gone. Still, one must take you as you are. It is in the blood; for indeed it is true that you can inherit these things, Nora.
Nora. Ah, I wish I had inherited many of papa’s qualities.
Helmer. And I would not wish you to be anything but just what you are, my sweet little skylark. But, do you know, it strikes me that you are looking rather–what shall I say–rather uneasy today?
Nora. Do I?
Helmer. You do, really. Look straight at me.
Nora (looks at him). Well?
Helmer (wagging his finger at her). Hasn’t Miss Sweet Tooth been breaking rules in town today?
Nora. No; what makes you think that?
Helmer. Hasn’t she paid a visit to the confectioner’s?
Helmer. Not been nibbling sweets?
Nora. No, certainly not.
Helmer. Not even taken a bite at a macaroon ortwo?
Nora. No, Torvald, I assure you really–
Helmer. There, there, of course I was only joking.
Nora (going to the table on the right). I should notthink of going against your wishes.
Helmer. No, I am sure of that; besides, yougave me your word– (Going up to her.) Keepyour little Christmas secrets to yourself, mydarling. They will all be revealed tonight whenthe Christmas Tree is lit, no doubt.
Nora. Did you remember to invite Doctor Rank?
(a) 'You can’t deny it, my dear little Nora?' What is Nora denying?
(b) 'Helmer refers to Nora as a sweet little spendthrift who is expensive.' Agree with him by drawing your three supportive illustrations from what happens earlier and later in the play.
(a) '.......it strikes me that you are looking rather–what shall I say–rather uneasy today?' Why in Nora uneasy referring to what happens earlier in the play?
(b) 'Hasn’t Miss Sweet Tooth been breaking rules in town today?' What is Helmer’s attitude towards Nora when he says the words in boldface?
(c) Discuss two themes presented in the excerpt
(d) Describe two traits of Nora as portrayed in the excerpt
(e) 'Did you remember to invite Doctor Rank?' Paraphrase the statements made by Helmer on the topic of Doctor Rank and the event immediately after this excerpt.
f) Give an alternative word with the same meaning as each of the following words as used in the excerpt.
i. Wheedling
ii. Nibbling
Date posted: October 8, 2019.
- Read the passage below and then answer the questions that follow.(Solved)
Read the passage below and then answer the questions that follow.
Corruption has been spread like a disease all over the country as well as abroad. It has become one of the most speedily increasing social issues in the society we live in. It is generally initiated and promoted by the opportunistic leaders. They never think about the nation’s benefits and do lots of damage to the nation through their corruption even for their small advantage. They sell their country properties in the wrong hands and spread wrong beliefs about our country in the people’s mind living in other countries.
They are spoiling the old traditions and cultures of our country for their personal benefits. Now-a-days people who are working in right direction using right principles considered as foolish in the modern society and the people who are working wrong and making wrong promises are good for the society. However, in turn it is true that corrupted people cheating the simple, ordinary and innocent people. They are ruling the mind of innocent people.
Corruption increases in this country day by day because there is a strong connection between the officials, politicians and criminals who are making this country weak and so weak. Kenya got independence in 1963 and it was slowly becoming strong and developing but in the mid-way the disease of corruption started and stop our country to grow ahead. In Kenya, there has been a trend of give and take means give some money in order to get your work done whether in the government offices or private sectors offices. And now the condition is getting worse and worse, as earlier, the money was paid for getting wrong works done or only work to be done, but currently money is paid for getting works done in right ways and at right time. Even after paying complete money according to the demand, there is no full chance of getting things done at time and in right way.
Corruption is everywhere in every department whether it hospitals, education, job, government offices, nothing is left of corruption. Everything has become a business and the source of earning money in wrong way. Educational institutions are also involved in the corruption and they give seat to those students only who have paid for, whether they are good students with good marks or not. Very weak students are given admission in the top colleges and universities only on the basis of money paid for wrong admission and the topper student with good marks and lack of money gets back in the life or take admission in any simple college.
Now-a-days, private sectors companies are so good in comparison to the governmental jobs. Private companies are giving job on the basis of candidate’s skills, ability, technical knowledge, good percentage of marks and all the educational records. However, it has become tough to get job in the government offices as they need lots of bribe to give any type of job (high level or low level) like teaching, clerk, nurse, doctor, sweeper, etc. And the amount of bribe increases in the market as the level of job increase.
(a) How is corruption promoted by the opportunistic leaders according to the passage?
(b) Make notes on considerations for giving a job in a private sector.
(c) Why does the writer of the passage say that there is nothing left of corruption?
(d) They are spoiling the old traditions and cultures of our country for their personal benefits.
Supply a tag question
(e) Why has it become hard to get job in the government offices according to the passage?
(f) What is the writer’s attitude towards the opportunistic leaders?
(g) Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the passage.
i. Opportunistic
ii. Connection
iii. Trend
Date posted: October 8, 2019.
- Use the correct form of the word in brackets in the sentences that follow.(Solved)
Use the correct form of the word in brackets in the sentences that follow.
i. We................... help you in the garden whenever we were late for school. (can)
ii. Susan is .................of the four girls. (pretty)
iii. She owns a finer .................. of antiques. (collect)
Date posted: October 8, 2019.
- Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given without changing their meanings.(Solved)
Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given without changing their meanings.
i. The guests ate up all the fruits.
End: ......the guests
ii. I will send Paul to prison.
Begin: Paul ............
iii. I will answer the email tomorrow.
Begin: The email ..........
iv)My brother has just been beaten in the race by Kipkemoi.
Begin: Kipkemoi ...............
Date posted: October 8, 2019.
- Explain the differences in meanings between the sentences below.(Solved)
Explain the differences in meanings between the sentences below.
i. Have you seen Nancy Atieno Otieno?
ii. Have you seen Nancy Atieno, Otieno?
Date posted: October 8, 2019.
- Fill the blanks with the most suitable prepositions.
i. Students benefit .................. listening to news reports on the radio.
ii. I have to look(Solved)
Fill the blanks with the most suitable prepositions.
i. Students benefit .............listening to news reports on the radio.
ii. I have to look..................the meaning of this word.
iii. Take ............... your coat and sit down, please
Date posted: October 8, 2019.
- Choose, from the brackets, the more appropriate pronoun to fill the blank.(Solved)
Choose, from the brackets, the more appropriate pronoun to fill the blank.
i. I have forgotten my pen at home. Can I borrow one of...................., please? (yours, yourself)
ii. Finally, teachers have begun to appreciate the work .........................boys have been doing. (we, us)
iii. Why didn’t you want to help Jonathan and ......................? (me, I)
Date posted: October 8, 2019.
- Read the excerpt below and then answer questions that follow.(Solved)
Read the excerpt below and then answer questions that follow.
After a hurriedly prepared dinner, the girls retired to their bedroom to arrange and tidy it up. Cartons of their clothes, bedding, books and other personal effects were still piled up on their unmade bed. Curtains were yet to be hung as were their pictures and decorations.
Taiyo removed her cardigan and immediately swung into action. She loosened the ropes that tied cartons, emptied their contents onto the floor and sorted them. After some time, the large room that held their big bed was in shambles. Shoes lay strewn all over, books were stacked in heaps on the floor and clothes and bedding were scattered on the bed. Exhausted, she straightened up and stood, hands on her hips, eyeing in growing exasperation her sister who sat on a chair at one corner of the room reading a book.
"Surely, Resian," she complained to her sharply. "Is this the time to read a book with all this mess around
us?"
"Do your bit now and I will do mine tomorrow," Resian replied with a nonchalant carelessness. "I insist
that you get up right now and get to work" Taiyo raised her voice. "We need to arrange this room before we get to bed." Resian grunted. She reluctantly laid the book down and went to work.
They reviewed the events of the last two days as they tried to bring order to the room.
'There is such a contrast between Nakuru and this place," said Taiyo quietly. "It is so quiet and tranquil
here.'
'I don't know, but I feel an oppressive silence,' Resian said defiantly. 'A little noise is not all that 'Don't befuddle me with your weird kind of reasoning," said Taiyo getting impatient. "Do you prefer the Nakuru bus stage to this serene atmosphere?'
'No, not at all.' Resian said seriously. 'I would rather live in the most noisy place on earth, than live anywhere near a vagabond who would accost me in the most quiet and serene atmosphere with the intention of mutilating my sexuality!'
'Of course I also don't care whether I am counted among intoiye nemengalana,' an embarrassed Taiyo said
as she began to fold clothes, not looking at her sister.
'What I know is that my body belongs to me. I belong to myself." She picked a pillow, tossed it onto the bed, plumbed it up and looking around said fiercely, 'only when I am dead would anybody mutilate my body.'
'Don't you think they can force us to undergo the ritual?" Resian asked fearfully. 'What do you think will
happen to us if Papaai is forced by his clansmen to embrace the archaic culture that would require us to get
the cut?
"Resian-e-yeiyo, I hope nothing of that sort happens, for if it does ... ' she shrugged her shoulders
and pulled an expressive face. "I don't know what would happen to us.'
'That's why it's imperative that you persuade Papaai to allow us go back to Nakuru and enroll at the
university,' said Resian vehemently as she threw herself onto the bed, her arms behind her head. 'We must beat them to it. We must convince him to let us go before they prevail upon him to embrace outdated and archaic traditions.'
(a) '…..the girls retired to their bedroom to arrange and tidy it up.' Highlight the events that occur before this
(b) 'I don't know, but I feel an oppressive silence,' Why does Resian feel this kind of silence?
(c) Taiyo removed her cardigan and immediately swung into action.
Rewrite beginning with: Removing....................
(d) Describe two traits demonstrated byTaiyo in the excerpt
(e) Discuss two styles used by the author in the excerpt.
(f) Highlight two themes presented in the excerpt.
(g) What happens immediately after this excerpt?
h) Give the meaning of the following words as used in the excerpt.
i. Exasperation
ii. Befuddle
iii. Archaic
Date posted: October 8, 2019.
- Read the passage below and then answer questions that follow.(Solved)
Read the passage below and then answer questions that follow.
Drug addiction is not a hallmark of moral failure or lack of willpower—it’s a complex disease that deserves long-term, extensive treatment, just like any other chronic condition. People who have not struggled with substance abuse may find it difficult to understand why anyone would start using. Why would someone willingly put themselves in harm’s way by taking dangerous substances? There are, in fact, many reasons why some people turn to or start abusing drugs, and unfortunately the consequences can be life-shattering. While every case is unique, there are general patterns that indicate why some people use drugs, how addiction develops, and the consequences of drug abuse.
While specific incentives differ from person to person, generally speaking, people start using drugs to escape or mask pain.
In some individuals, the onset of drug use can be from untreated psychiatric issues including anxiety and depression. The rush of pleasure from using drugs can provide temporary solace from suffering, which can stem from many mental health or other issues including trauma or abuse, mental illness, low self-esteem, poverty, relationship problems, loss of a loved one, stress, and chronic pain or medical conditions. But whatever their reason for starting, once addiction sets in, the disease usually spirals more and more out of their control.
For most people, the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary. But as they are swept up into the cycle of addiction, the neural pathways in their brain change so they are less able to control their behavior and resist their intense impulses.
It works like this: the brain rewards pleasurable experiences (such as food, intimacy, and laughter) with surges of feel-good chemicals like dopamine. But using drugs triggers the release of much more dopamine than chocolate or cuddling does, and the rush of euphoria compels them to repeat the experience. The more someone uses drugs, the more they condition their brain to anticipate the same substance-fueled pleasant sensations.
That’s why it’s so difficult to stop. The brain becomes wired for addiction. Eventually, one’s tolerance may build so much that addictive behavior no longer provides any pleasure, and using drugs simply becomes a way to avoid withdrawal. They need drugs just to keep feeling normal.
Not everyone who experiments with drugs becomes an addict. There’s no single factor that can predict whether someone will become addicted, though there are general social, biological, and environmental factors that do increase the risk.
Genes, in combination with environmental factors, account for about half of a person’s addiction vulnerability. Being male, African American, or having a mental illness can also increase a person’s risk of progressing to addiction.Family, friends, and socioeconomic status have a significant impact on a person’s likelihood of developing an addiction. Physical and sexual abuse, peer pressure, stress, and parental guidance can greatly affect the occurrence of substance abuse. Although a person can become an addict at any age, the earlier substance use begins, the more likely it will escalate to serious addiction.
The sad truth is that more deaths, illnesses, and disabilities are caused by substance abuse than by any other preventable health condition. Prolonged drug dependence interferes with just about every organ in the human body, and different drugs have different damaging effects.
a) According to the passage, what is drug addiction?
b) Make notes on the causes of drug abuse.
c) How does addiction develop according to the passage?
d) List the environmental factors that predict whether someone will become addicted.
e) What are the effects of substance abuse according to the passage?
f) Explain the meaning following expressions as used in the passage.
i. Willpower
ii. Compels
iii. Escalate
Date posted: October 8, 2019.
- Explain the difference in meaning between the sentences that follow.
i) I bought three pens for thirty shillings.
ii) I bought three pens at thirty shillings.(Solved)
Explain the difference in meaning between the sentences that follow.
i) I bought three pens for thirty shillings.
ii) I bought three pens at thirty shillings.
Date posted: October 8, 2019.
- Rewrite the sentence according to the instruction given without changing its meaning.(Solved)
Rewrite the sentence according to the instruction given without changing its meaning.
(i) The girl said, 'I have done my homework.' Rewrite without using the speech marks('..')
(ii) She told him, 'Don't drive so fast!' Write in a reported speech
(iii) I think Muna is funnier than Amos. End: .....Muna
Date posted: October 8, 2019.
- Read the excerpt below and then answer the questions that follow.(Solved)
Read the excerpt below and then answer the questions that follow.
Nora. What right have you to question me, Mr.Krogstad?–You, one of my husband’s subordinates! But since you ask, you shall know. Yes, Mrs. Linde is to have an appointment. And it was I who pleaded her cause, Mr. Krogstad, let me tell you that.
Krogstad. I was right in what I thought, then.
Nora (walking up and down the stage). Sometimes one has a tiny little bit of influence, I should hope. Because one is a woman, it does not necessarily follow that–. When anyone is in a subordinate position, Mr. Krogstad, they should really be careful to avoid offending anyone who–who–
Krogstad. Who has influence?
Nora. Exactly.
Krogstad (changing his tone). Mrs. Helmer, you will be so good as to use your influence on my behalf.
Nora. What? What do you mean?
Krogstad. You will be so kind as to see that I am allowed to keep my subordinate position in the Bank.
Nora. What do you mean by that? Who proposes to take your post away from you?
Krogstad. Oh, there is no necessity to keep up the pretence of ignorance. I can quite understand that your friend is not very anxious to expose herself to the chance of rubbing shoulders with me; and I quite understand, too, whom I have to thank for being turned off.
Nora. But I assure you–
Krogstad. Very likely; but, to come to the point, the time has come when I should advise you to use your influence to prevent that.
Nora. But, Mr. Krogstad, I have no influence.
Krogstad. Haven’t you? I thought you said yourself just now–
Nora. Naturally I did not mean you to put that construction on it. I! What should make you think I have any influence of that kind with my husband?
Krogstad. Oh, I have known your husband from our student days. I don’t suppose he is any more unassailable than other husbands.
Nora. If you speak slightingly of my husband, I shall turn you out of the house.
Krogstad. You are bold, Mrs. Helmer.
Nora. I am not afraid of you any longer. As soon as the New Year comes, I shall in a very short time be free of the whole thing.
Krogstad (controlling himself ). Listen to me, Mrs.Helmer. If necessary, I am prepared to fight for my small post in the Bank as if I were fighting for my life.
Nora. So it seems.
Krogstad. It is not only for the sake of the money; indeed, that weighs least with me in the matter. There is another reason–well, I may as well tell you. My position is this. I daresay you know, like everybody else, that once, many years ago, I was guilty of an indiscretion.
Nora. I think I have heard something of the kind.
Krogstad. The matter never came into court; but every way seemed to be closed to me after that. So I took to the business that you know of. I had to do something; and, honestly, I don’t think I’ve been one of the worst. But now I must cut myself free from all that. My sons are growing up; for their sake I must try and win back as much respect as I can in the town. This post in the Bank was like the first step up for me–and now your husband is going to kick me downstairs again into the mud.
Nora. But you must believe me, Mr. Krogstad; it is not in my power to help you at all.
Krogstad. Then it is because you haven’t the will; but I have means to compel you.
(a) Krogstad asks four questions just before this excerpt. Which are they?
(b) For what reasons has Krogstad visited Nora? Refer to what happens in the excerpt and in the rest of the play.
(c) 'I was right in what I thought, then.' What do you think Krogstad thought?
(d) Describe two character traits of Nora as brought out in the excerpt.
(e) Rewrite the sentences according to the instructions given after each without changing their meanings.
i. If you speak slightingly of my husband, I shall turn you out of the house.
Use: Unless…
ii. So it seems.
supply a question tag
(f) Highlight two themes evident in this excerpt.
(g) Then it is because you haven’t the will; but I have means to compel you.” How does Krogstad plan to force Nora to talk to her husband?
(h) Write a word with the same meaning as each of the following words as used in the excerpt.
i. Necessity
ii. Pleaded
iii. Influence
Date posted: October 8, 2019.
- i) “Can I serve you with lemonade?”(Solved)
Change the following sentences into reported speech
i) “Can I serve you with lemonade?”
ii) “Why did the politician make such a statement in public?”
iii) “Go and collect all the used apparatus.”
Date posted: October 7, 2019.
- i) Yesterday I met a beautiful girl. I had never met her before.(Solved)
Join the following sentences using a relative pronoun:
i) Yesterday I met a beautiful girl. I had never met her before.
ii) Mrs. Hart left her baby with a neighbor. She could rely on the neighbor.
iii) Munyao started three projects last year. He has completed two of them
Date posted: October 7, 2019.
- Rewrite the following sentences according to instructions given after each. Do not change the meaning(Solved)
Rewrite the following sentences according to instructions given after each. Do not change the meaning
i) My grandmother could not cultivate her shamba anymore
She realized how old she had become. (Rewrite as one sentence beginning: Not…)
ii) Some pupils are not used to hardwork. (End with…hard).
iii) As Marion was walking to the bus stop, a thief snatched her handbag. (Begin: Walking…..)
Date posted: October 7, 2019.
- CORPORAL: Well, here she is. What did I tell you? What a nose I have! I smelt her. Lady, I have a question for you....(Solved)
Read the excerpt below and answer the questions that follow.
CORPORAL: Well, here she is. What did I tell you? What a nose I have! I smelt her. Lady, I have a question for you. Why did you run away? What did you think I would do to you? I’ll bet it was something unchaste. Confess!
GRUSHA (while the PEASANT WOMAN bows again and again.): I’d left some milk on the stove, and I suddenly remembered it.
CORPORAL: Or maybe you imagined I looked at you unchastely? Like there could be something between us? A carnal glance, know what I mean?
GRUSHA: I didn’t see it.
COPORAL: But it’s possible, huh? You admit that much. After all, I might be a pig. I’ll be frank with you: I could think of all sorts of things if we were alone. (To the PEASANT WOMAN:) Shouldn’t you be busy in the yard? Feeding the hens?
PEASANT WOMAN (falling suddenly to her knees): Soldier, I didn’t know a thing about it. Please don’t burn the roof over our heads.
CORPORAL: What are you talking about?
PEASANT WOMAN: I had nothing to do with it. She left it on my doorstep, I swear it!
CORPORAL (suddenly seeing the CHILD and whistling): Ah, so there’s a little something in the crib! Blockhead, I smell a thousand piasters. Take the old girl outside and hold on to her. It looks like I have a little cross-examining to do. (The PEASANT WOMAN lets herself be led out by the PRIVATE, without a word.) So, you’ve got the child I wanted from you! (He walks toward the crib).
GRUSHA: Officer, he’s mine. He’s not the one you’re after.
CORPORAL: I’ll just take a look. (He bends over the crib)
GRUSHA looks round in despair.
GRUSHA: He’s mine! He’s mine!
CORPORAL: Fine linen!
GRUSHA dashes at him to pull him away. He throws her off and again bends over the crib. Again looking round in despair, she sees a log of wood, seizes it, and hits the CORPORAL over the head from behind. The CORPORAL collapses. She quickly picks up the CHILD and rushes off.
SINGER:
And in her flight from the Ironshirts
After twenty-two days of journeying
At the foot of the Janga-Tau Glacier
Grusha Vashnazde decided to adopt the child.
CHORUS:
The helpless girl adopted the helpless child.
GRUSHA squats over a half-frozen stream to get the CHILD water in the hollow of her hand.
Questions
a) What happens immediately before this excerpt?
b) What does the corporal mean by… ‘I bet it was something unchaste...?’
c) ‘Fine linen!’ Explain the implication of this statement.
d) Explain two aspects of Grusha’s character that save the child.
e) Identify and explain the dominant stylistic device employed by the author in this extract.
f) How does the statement ‘The helpless girl adopted the helpless child’ highlight Grusha’s plight?
g) In what way does Grusha’s statement ‘He’s mine! He’s mine!’ foreshadow the events that occur later in the play?
h) ‘It looks as if I have a little cross-examining to do’ (Begin: From…)
i) Discuss one theme evident in this excerpt.
Date posted: October 7, 2019.
- The waste of time and resources would have been avoided if they had considered a career that did not require the ability to handle Mathematics...(Solved)
Re-write the following sentence according to the instructions given.
The waste of time and resources would have been avoided if they had considered a career that did not require the ability to handle Mathematics and Physics well (begin If…)
Date posted: October 7, 2019.
- The career market is full of opportunities. Gone are the days when we had ‘either… or’ career choices.(Solved)
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow
Choosing a career
The career market is full of opportunities. Gone are the days when we had ‘either… or’ career choices. The times when women, for example, chose between only nursing, teaching and secretarial work are long gone. The explosion in communication technology, and the liberalization and globalization of the world economy, has ensured that there is no longer a dearth of career choices. Today, colleges and Universities offer a wide range of training opportunities to high school graduates. This has made choosing a career an involving process. It has also given rise to the need for career counselling.
When choosing a career, whether you have the help of a career counselor or not, there are several factors that you should consider. These include your abilities or talents, your interests, your priorities and the available opportunities in the job market.
The skills required in a particular career and the ability to gain them through education must be considered when choosing careers. Becoming a doctor, for instance, requires extensive education and training, and many years of educational commitment. In addition to the compulsory subjects, the academic background required for this career is good grades in chemistry and biology at secondary school level. If your ability in these subjects is just average, you would be overstretching your luck to enroll for a Bachelor of Medicine degree course. In the past, students have chosen to pursue training in engineering, even when their ability to handle physics and mathematics was low. This, in many cases, has made them drop out of the class mid-course. The waste of time and resources would have been avoided if they had considered a career that did not require the ability to handle mathematics and physics well.
There are times when people have been driven to choose a particular career because of the salary and prestige associated with jobs in this field. At times, the desire to take certain courses comes from within the individual, but most times, individuals feel pressured by peers or family to take certain courses. Joining a career in which you have no interest in is a recipe for all dull life since you will spend more of your working hours doing something you do not like. Your career does not necessarily have to be your passion, but it should not bore you to death either. You can work out your interests by identifying the subjects you enjoy most at school, or the topics that are of interest to you and for which you take the initiative to read on your own.
It is true that many young people are attracted more by the social mobility that the job might provide than by their interest in the career. However, research has found that money does not play as big a role in job satisfaction as many people think. Of course we all have to make a living, but if you do not like your job, it does not matter how much you get paid to do it. What does matter is how well a career choice matches your values.
Questions
i) What has created the necessity for career counselling?
ii) Why is one’s ability an important factor in career choice?
iii) Why do you think the writer cites engineering in the passage?
iv) According to the passage which career should a person who values variety choose?
v) Make notes on the importance of knowing the availability of jobs in the career field one wants to join.
vi) What evidence is given in the passage to support the statement “Money does not play a big role in job satisfaction?”
vii) Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the passage.
a) Liberalization
b) Dearth
c) Social mobility
d) Collaboration
Date posted: October 7, 2019.
- Fill in the gap with an adjective formed from one of the words in the sentence.
At first we thought the car was………………………………………… but the mechanic...(Solved)
Fill in the gap with an adjective formed from one of the words in the sentence.
At first we thought the car was………………………………………… but the mechanic assured us that he could repair it.
Date posted: October 7, 2019.
- Rewrite the following sentences replacing the underlined words with one word.
i. Read each question with a lot of care.
ii. He looked towards the east and...(Solved)
Rewrite the following sentences replacing the underlined words with one word.
i. Read each question with a lot of care.
ii. He looked towards the east and saw the approaching car.
Date posted: October 7, 2019.
- Rewrite the following sentences placing the word in brackets after each in the most appropriate position.
i. Jane could tell the difference between Paul and Peter....(Solved)
Rewrite the following sentences placing the word in brackets after each in the most appropriate position.
i. Jane could tell the difference between Paul and Peter. (Hardly)
ii. Paul wanted to chat her up. (Merely)
Date posted: October 7, 2019.
- Complete each of the following sentences using the appropriate interrogative pronoun.i. ………………………………………..did you meet on your way?ii. . …………………………………………girl do you prefer,...(Solved)
Complete each of the following sentences using the appropriate interrogative pronoun.
i. ………………………………………..did you meet on your way?
ii. . …………………………………………girl do you prefer, Jane or Joyce?
Date posted: October 7, 2019.
- Correct the following sentences.
i. I know for who bought the book.
ii. The set of books which was donated prove invaluable.(Solved)
Correct the following sentences.
i. I know for who bought the book.
ii. The set of books which was donated prove invaluable.
Date posted: October 7, 2019.