COMPREHENSION ( 20 MARKS)
Read the following passage and then answer the questions that follow.
At the head of the Court is a high seat where the judge sits. Down below it is a table for officers of the court, and to the left and to the right of the table are other seats. Some of these seats form a block that is enclosed, and they are for the jury if there is a jury. In front of the table are other seats, arranged in arcs of circles, with curved tables in front of the seats, and it is there that the lawyers sit. And behind them is the dock, with a passage leading to some place that is underground, and from this place that is underground will be brought the men that are to be judged. At the back of the court there are seats rising in tiers, those on the right for Europeans, those on the left for non Europeans, according to the custom.
You may not smoke in this court, you may not whisper or speak or laugh. You must dress decently, and if you are a man, you may not wear your hat unless such is your religion. This is in honour of the judge and in honour of the King whose officer he is; and in honour of the law behind the judge, and in honour of the King whose officer he is; and in honour of the law behind the judge, and in honour of the people behind the law. When the judge enters you will stand, and you not sit till he is seated. When the judge leaves you will stand, and you will not move till he has left you. This is in honour of the judge, and of the things behind the judge.
For to the judge is entrusted a great duty, to judge and pronounce sentence even sentence of death. Because of their high office, judges are called Honourable, and precede most other men on great occasions. And they are held in great honor by men both white and black. Because the land is a land of fear, a judge must be without fear, so that justice may be done according to the law; therefore a judge must be incorruptible.
The judge does not make the law. It is the people that make the law. Therefore, if a law is unjust, and if the judge judges according to the law, that is justice, even if it is not just.
It is the duty of a judge to do justice, but it is only that the people that can be just. Therefore, if justice be not just, that is not to be laid at the door of the judge, but at the door of the people, which means at the door of the white people, for it is the white people that make the law.
In South Africa men are proud of their judges, because they are incorruptible. Even the black men are proud of their judges, because they believe they are incorruptible. Even the black men have faith in them, though they do not always have faith in the law. In a land of fear this incorruptibility is like a lamp set upon a stand, giving light to that are in the house.
(Adapted from Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Patron)
- What factors determine where you may sit near the front of the court? ( 2 marks)
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- What does the seating arrangement at the back of the court reveal about the society?
( 2 marks)
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- Certain rules must be strictly observed inside the court. What would non – observance of the rules imply? (2 marks)
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- Why must a judge be fearless? ( 2 marks)
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- How have judges in South Africa earned respect and admiration? (2 marks)
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- Although the judge has great responsibilities and power, he has limitations. What are his limitations? ( 4 marks)
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- What does the second last paragraph reveal about the status of the black people?
( 2 marks)
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- Explain the meaning of each of the following expressions as used in the passage
i) Unless such is your religion ( 1 mark)
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ii) and precede most other men. ( 1 mark)
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iii) Laid at the door of the judge. ( 1 mark)
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iv) a lamp set upon a stand ( 1 mark)
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2. BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH ( 25 MARKS)
Read the following Excerpt and answer the questions that follow.
“ O God of all creation!” Resian cried out bitterly and audibly as soon as the cruel ugly old woman left her. “What unending woes these are! Taba!Kilome sogo! What have I done to the gods to deserve this kind of punishment?”
Then she re called the teaching of the Bible, and especially where it narrated the woes of those who went through similar or even worse tribulations, but triumphed at the end. She particularly remembered the wailing lamentations of Job and his railing against injustice, and she thought her problems were nothing compared to those he had suffered. He triumphed because he was stoic, focused and was able to persevere. Olarinkoi and his demonic mother may physically take her to Tanzania, Olarinkoi may physically take her as his wife, they may even physically circumcise her, but mentally she was going to resist. She was going to refuse to be subdued. Where she could, she was going to physically resist. She solved to remain focused and she prayed for strength and endurance to be able to bear all those misfortunes.
She had wondered where Olarinkoi was, but she had now learnt from his mother that he was some place, planning more evil. She had also learnt that Oloisuduri, the monster, was looking for her. She did not know what to think about her father. He was like the proverbial pig that was fried using its own lard. She thought he was suffering double tragedy: the loss of his daughter and the loss of his shop and home if they were financed by Oloisudori.
- Oh God of all creation! What has elicited this reaction? ( 4 marks)
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- In note form bring out Resian’s tribulations and woes since running away do not repeat the answers given in question (a) above ( 4 mks)
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- Comment on the different moods in paragraph one and two of this excerpt. ( 3mks)
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- Does the old woman qualify to be described as cruel, demonic and ugly? ( 4 marks)
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- Basing your illustrations on this excerpt, describe any two character traits of Resian
( 4 marks)
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- Identify and explain any two aspects of style used in this excerpt. ( 4 marks)
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- Give the meaning of the following phrase as used in the excerpt ( 2 marks)
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3. POETRY (20 MARKS)
Read the following poem and answer the questions that follow.
WHEN I WAS ONE – AND – TWENTY
When I was one – and- twenty
I heard a wise man say,
“Give crowns and pounds and guineas
But not your heart away;
Give pearls away and rubies
But keep your fancy free”
But I was one – and- twenty,
No use to talk to me
When I was one- and- twenty
I heard him say again’
“The heart out of the bossom
Was never given in vain;
“Tis paid with sighs a – plenty
And sold for endless rue.”
And I am two – and – twenty,
And oh, ‘tis true, tis true.
(A.E Housman)
a) Who is the speaker in this poem? ( 3 marks)
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b) What advise does the wise man give to the speaker? Does the speaker follow the advice? Explain. ( 3 marks)
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c) How much time has passed between the first and second stanza? Explain
( 2 marks)
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d) Identify and illustrate the features of style used in the poem. What does the poet?
achieve by using them? ( 6 marks)
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e) Explain the meaning of the following lines. ( 2 marks)
But I was one and twenty
No use to talk to me
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f) Describe the tone of the poem. ( 2 marks)
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g) Rewrite the following lines in your own words: ( 2 marks)
Tis paid with sings a – plenty
And sold for endless rue
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4. GRAMMAR ( 20 MARKS)
A] Change the following sentences into direct speech. ( 2 marks)
i) He said that when he saw them they were playing squash.
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ii) The Pupils said that they wished they did not have to take exams.
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B] Fill in the black space with the appropriate prepositions. ( 3 marks)
i) Cat jumped ____________the mantel piece
ii) The cook dipped the cup____________ the porridge.
iii) Some students were sent home for going __________the perimeter wall.
C] Write the following sentences according to instructions given. ( 5 marks)
i) The Child would have drowned were it not for the quick action taken by the
life saver. (Begin: But…)
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ii) Someone is watching us (Rewrite in the passive)
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iii) As soon as you see him inform the police (Rewrite using no sooner)
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iv) Moses set out for Canaan. His brother accompanied him (Begin: setting.)
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v) If he comes, he will not be punished.
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D) Explain the meaning of the underlined expressions. ( 2 marks)
i) Abdi will tidy up the room when pigs begin to fly
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ii) My mother has green fingers.
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E] Complete the underlined verb to make the appropriate phrasal verb.(3 marks)
i) The immigrant complained about being discriminated because of his race. ___________________________________________________________
ii) I boarded the car and was dropped at the mall.
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iii) As she was cleaning her gun, it went and killed her. ____________________________
