101/2 · ENGLISH · Paper 2 (Comprehension, Literary Appreciation and Grammar) · Nov. 2024 · 2½ hours
Instructions: Answer all the questions. Question 1: 20 marks; question 2: 25 marks; question 3: 20 marks; question 4: 15 marks.
1. Comprehension (20 marks)
Read the passage below and then answer the questions that follow.
Somebody once said that one is never lonely when one is alone. Most people, however, are terrified of leaving home. They are used to living with others — children with parents, roommates with roommates, friends with friends and husbands with wives. When, therefore, they are thrust into a situation where they have to live alone, they feel like a fish out of water.
Chances are high that most adult men and women will need to know how to live alone at some point in their lives. For some, it will be for a short period but for others it will be for much longer.
But what kind of circumstances lead to this situation, which to most people is undesirable? Take college students for example. There are many who are day scholars and it may not always be easy for them to find a compatible roommate. Also, when most young people begin working, they find it necessary, or are gently nudged by parents, to leave the nest. We must also not forget the unfortunate scenario where married couples are separated by death, divorce or even by the demands of their jobs.
One recommended way to prepare for living alone is to learn how to take care of practical matters. For example, some students, especially some males, cannot fix a meal for themselves. Similarly, there are married people who have always relied on their spouses to make major decisions like buying a vehicle or land. It is only after such people accept that they are now on their own and life must go on that they discover they are not helpless. Some realise that they can do far better than the people they previously relied on.
Finding yourself alone can also give you the opportunity to form new friendships. But this can only happen if you feel self-reliant. No doubt you know students who are in the habit of always going to class with a friend. When they break this dependency, they are pleasantly surprised to find that they are able to concentrate better and also to make new friends.
Probably the most difficult problem for people living alone is dealing with feelings of loneliness. First, they have to understand the feeling. Some people confuse being alone with being lonely. They need to remember that it is possible to feel lonely in a room crowded with friends. Second, those living alone must fight any tendencies to get depressed. Depression can lead to a lot of unhappiness. Third, people living alone should get involved in useful and pleasurable activities such as helping others.
Whoever you are, ask yourself, "If I had to live alone starting tomorrow morning, would I know how?" If the answer is "No", you need to become conscious of what living alone calls for.
— Adapted from Handbook for Writers by Lynn Quitman Troyka (Prentice-Hall International, 1987)
(a) In the first paragraph, why do you think roommates are mentioned separately from friends? (2 marks)
(b) Explain why leaving home is referred to as leaving the nest. (3 marks)
(c) Make notes on why people find themselves living alone. (4 marks)
(d) From the passage, give two advantages of finding yourself alone. (2 marks)
(e) Explain how it is possible to be lonely in the midst of friends. (2 marks)
(f) Depression can lead to a lot of unhappiness. (Rewrite the sentence to begin: A lot of unhappiness …) (1 mark)
(g) What is the author's main argument in the passage? (3 marks)
(h) Explain the meaning of each of the following as used in the passage: (i) "a fish out of water"; (ii) "compatible"; (iii) "nudged". (3 marks)
2. Paul B. Vitta, Fathers of Nations (25 marks)
Read the excerpt below and then answer the questions that follow.
"I'm glad you liked it, Mr Longway," Dr Afolabi said. His voice had become warm. "You were there, then, Mr Longway?"
"Yes, but back in the last row. As a mere spectator, I did not want to be obtrusive. Anyway, you were superb, Dr Afolabi. If you don't mind my adding this, I was more impressed by the points that the audience raised afterwards, during the question-and-answer period."
Dr Afolabi felt the praise he had just heard turn into reproach. "So what were those points, Mr Longway?" he asked. His voice was less warm.
"Remember the guy from Grassroots International: short fellow, round of body and outspoken of manner? What was his name? It's on the tip of my tongue."
"You must mean the fire-eater who kept accusing me of looking for answers where I shouldn't even look," Dr Afolabi said.
"Exactly, that's our man. Yes, I thought he was right on point, Dr Afolabi. He too was unhappy with the present state."
"Wait, the present state of what?"
"Africa."
"I don't understand."
"No problem: I'll spell it out for you. You see, Dr Afolabi, Africa, in its present state, has two new arrivals: corruption and impunity. The first is a crime the second protects from punishment, the second is another crime the first rewards with kickbacks. That is Africa in its present state. Now can it change?"
"Tell me. Can it?"
"Well, let's ask the Law of Will."
"What?"
"'Unless there is will to change, there will be no change.' That is the Law of Will. Dr Afolabi, I was wondering whether you might be interested in an adventure that is being sponsored by AGDA. Oh, I am sorry: make that the Agency for Governance and Development in Africa. Its underlying idea is to mobilise our discontent with Africa, in its present state, into will to change it."
(a) Where does this conversation take place and what happens before it? (3 marks)
(b) In your own words, explain how corruption and impunity are related and how this affects Africa. (2 marks)
(c) Explain the theme of change as brought out in this excerpt. (4 marks)
(d) Describe the character of Mr Longway as portrayed in the excerpt. (4 marks)
(e) From your knowledge of the story, describe exactly what Mr Longway wants Dr Afolabi to do. (2 marks)
(f) Explain the effect of any two stylistic features used in the excerpt. (6 marks)
(g) Rewrite the sentence as instructed: "So what were those points, Mr Longway?" he asked. (Begin: He asked Mr Longway …) (1 mark)
(h) Explain the meaning of the following expressions as used in the excerpt: (i) "obtrusive"; (ii) "turn into reproach"; (iii) "mobilise our discontent". (3 marks)
3. Poetry (20 marks)
Read the poem below and then answer the questions that follow.
When death comes to fetch you
She comes unannounced,
She comes suddenly
Like the vomit of dogs,
And when she comes
The wind keeps blowing
The birds go on singing
And the flowers
Do not hang their heads.When Mother Death comes
She whispers
Come,
And you stand-up
And follow
You get up immediately,
And you start walking
Without brushing the dust
On your buttocks.You may be the fastest runner,
A long distance runner,
But when death comes
To fetch you
You do no resist,
You must not resist,
You cannot resist!Mother Death
She says to her little ones,
Come!Her little ones are good children,
Obedient,
Loyal,
And when Mother Death calls
Her little ones jump,
They jump gladly
For she calls
And offers simsim paste
Mixed with honey!
She says
My only child
Come,
Come, let us go,
Let us go
And eat white-ants' paste
Mixed with shea-butter!
And who can resist that?— From Song of Lawino by Okot p'Bitek
(a) Briefly explain what the poem is about. (3 marks)
(b) In what ways are people helpless when death comes calling? (3 marks)
(c) Identify and explain the irony in the poem. (4 marks)
(d) Other than irony, identify and illustrate three other stylistic devices that the poet has used to enhance the message of the poem. (6 marks)
(e) What is suggested about the after-life in this poem? (2 marks)
(f) What can we conclude about life from the last four lines of the first stanza? (2 marks)
4. Grammar (15 marks)
(a) Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Do not change the meaning. (4 marks)
(i) You should not feed wild animals at the game park. (Rewrite beginning: Under …)
(ii) If they had not paid my school fees, I would have gone home yesterday. (Rewrite beginning: If my school fees …)
(iii) "We cannot wait any longer because the patient needs immediate treatment," the doctor said. (Rewrite in reported speech)
(iv) The topic on verbs follows the one on nouns. (Begin: After …)
(b) Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate linking words from those provided below. Use each word only once. (4 marks)
immediately, finally, further, at first, meanwhile, secondly
We sat in the sitting room waiting. We were (i) ______ scared because we did not know what kind of person our mother's friend would be. (ii) ______ we looked at the beautiful photographs on the wall without saying a word to each other. (iii) ______ she arrived and her warm motherly smile (iv) ______ dissipated our fears.
(c) Fill in the blanks with the correct word to complete the sentences below. (2 marks)
(i) Neither the children nor their mother ______ at the wedding ceremony. (was, were)
(ii) Of the two brands of perfume on offer, this one smells ______. (better, best)
(d) Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the word in brackets. (3 marks)
(i) The ______ (spectacles) man looked very disturbed.
(ii) Pouring water on steel nails is likely to ______ (active) rusting.
(iii) Your ______ (hostile) will take you nowhere.
(e) Punctuate the following sentences. (2 marks)
(i) Only one problem was yet to be solved transport to the stadium
(ii) His brother John was finally going to graduate that week