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GRAMMAR

a). Fill in the blank with the appropriate complex preposition. (1mk)

Aoro was suspended ------------------------------- indiscipline.

b). Using a participle, combine each of the following into one sentence. (2mks)

i) The parents talked to the students. They discovered that the students were focused on their studies.

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ii) The students were tired after the match. They went straight to the dormitory.

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c). Rewrite the sentences below replacing the underlined word with a phrasal verb. (4mks)

i) The government has abolished certain taxes.

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ii) He stole the money from the till.

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iii) Kwame was eagerly awaiting his holiday to the Bahamas.

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iv) We cannot solve problems by avoiding them.

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d) . Fill the blanks in the following sentences with the missing part of the idiom whose meaning is given in brackets. (2mks)

a) This dress cost me an arm and a ---------------------------------------. (expensive)

b) She was considered a gold -------------------------------------------- when she married the president’s son. (opportunist)

e). Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. (3mks)

i) We shall never again fall for their lies. (Begin: Never ---------------------- )

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ii) It is late but you must leave. (Begin: Late ------------------------------------------ )

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iii) The old man was so sick that he could not walk. (Begin: So ---------------------------- )

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f). Explain the difference in meaning between the following sentences. (2mks)

i) My brother who lives in Sidney came to see me last month.

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ii) My brother, who lives in Sidney, came to see me last month.

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POETRY

THE TEARS OF A SLAVE

Adieu, to my native shore,

To toss on the boisterous wave;

To enjoy my kindred no more,

But to weep – the tears of a SLAVE!

By the sons of freemen I’m borne,

To the land of the free and the brave;

From my wife and children I’m torn,

To weep – the tears of a SLAVE!

When, I think on mother and friends,

And the joy their countenance gave;

Ah! How my sad bosom it rends,

While weeping – the tears of a SLAVE!

Ah! Now, I must labour for gold,

To pamper the pride of the knave;

Ah! Now, I am shackled and sold

To weep – the tears of a SLAVE!

Keen sorrow so presses my heart,

That often I sigh for my grave;

While feeling the lash-cruel smart!

And weeping – the tears of a SLAVE!

Ye sons, of the free and wise,

Your tender compassion I crave;

Alas! can your bosoms despise

The pitiful tears of a SLAVE!

Can a land of Christians so pure!

Let demons of slavery rave!

Can the angel of mercy endure,

The pitiless – tears of a SLAVE!

Just heaven, to thee I appeal;

Hast thou not the power to save?

In mercy the power reveal,

And dry – the sad tears of a SLAVE.

By Africus-Freedom Journal.

a) Who is the persona in the poem? (2mks)

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b) What is happening to the persona in the first stanza? (3 marks)

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c) Identify the dominant two styles used in the poem and state their effectiveness? (4mks)

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d) What is the tone of the poem? (2mks)

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e) Who do you think is described as ‘knave’ in the fourth stanza? Give a reason for your answer. (2mks)

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f) In what way does the persona question religion? (2mks)

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g) What solution does the poet offer that will end slavery? (2mks)

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h) Explain the meaning of the following lines as used in the poem. (3mks)

i)From my wife and children I’m torn.

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ii) Keen sorrow so presses my heart.

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iii) Your tender compassion I crave.

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COMPREHENSION

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.

We are moving inexorably into the age of automation. Our aim is not to devise a mechanism which can perform a thousand different actions of any individual man but, on the contrary which could by a single action replace a thousand men.

Industrial automation has moved along three lines. First there is the conveyor belt system of continuous production whereby separate operations are linked into a single sequence. The goods produced by this well-established method are untouched by the worker, and the machine replaces both unskilled and semi-skilled. Secondly, there is automation with feedback control of the quality of the product; here mechanisms are built into the system which can compare the output with a norm, that is, the actual product with what it is supposed to be, and then correct any shortcomings. The entire cycle of operations dispenses with human control except in so far as monitors are concerned. One or two examples of this type of automation will illustrate its immense possibilities. There is a factory in the USA which makes 1,000 million electric light bulbs a year, and the factory employs three hundred people. If the pre-automation techniques were to be employed, the labour force required would leap to 25, 000. A motor manufacturing company with 45,000 spare parts regulates their entire supply entirely by computer. Computers can be entrusted with most of the supervision of industrial installations, such as chemical plants or oil refineries. Thirdly, there is computer automation, for banks, accounting departments, insurance companies and the like. Here the essential features are the recording, storing, sorting and retrieval of information.

The principal merit of modern computing machines is the achievement of their vastly greater speed of operation by comparison with unaided human effort; a task which otherwise might take years, if attempted at all, now takes days or hours.

One of the most urgent problems of industrial societies rapidly introducing automation is how to fill the time that will be made free by machines which will take over the tasks of the workers. The question is not simply of filling empty time but also of utilizing the surplus human energy that will be released. We are already seeing straws in the wind: destructive outbursts on the part of youth whose work no longer demands muscular strength. While automation will undoubtedly do away with a large number of tedious jobs, are we sure that it will not put others which are equally tedious in their place? For an enormous amount of sheer monitoring will be required. A man in an automated plant may have to sit for hours on end watching dials and taking decisive action when some signal informs him that all is not well. What meaning will his occupation bear for the worker? How will he devote his free time after a four or five hour stint of labour? Moreover, what, indeed, will be the significance for him of his leisure? If industry of the future could be purged of its monotony and meaninglessness, man would then be better equipped to use his leisure time constructively.

a) What is the main purpose of automation, according to the passage? (1mk)

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b) Explain why less men are required for the first type of industrial automation than in a manual system?

(2mks)

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c) What is more sophisticated about the second industrial automation system than the first? (2mks)

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d) What is the main benefit of computing machines? (1 mark)

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e) Comment on the biggest drawbacks of automation in industrial societies. (2mks)

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f) How would the sense be changed if the phrase “a single action” (lines 2-3) were replaced by “a thousand actions”? (2mks)

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g) What does the phrase “if attempted at all” refer to? (1mk)

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h) What does the author consider as important as “filling empty time”? (1mk)

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i) State the three lines of industrial automation referred to by the author. Give your answer in note form. (3mks)

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j) In a paragraph of not more than 100 words, describe the benefits and problems of increasing industrial automation. (5mks)

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Read the excerpt below and then answer the questions that follows.

Mossi : (Turning to Bembe) Oh , yes. And remember to get your undercover officers to shoot in the air now and then. You know…they must know that I leave thunder and smoke in my wake!

Bembe: Consider that done. But the land? Are you sure about it?

Mossi: Consider it done too. (After some interval of silence) So those are two problems solved; your hotel and tomorrow’s vote of no confidence meeting. But we still need to figure out how to deal with the Samaritan.

Mossi: I liked the idea of talking to that teacher at Segrada Secondary school.

Harvester: Yes, it would be good if we secured an understanding that she will edit or filter some information coming out about us.

Mossi: That would solve the whole problem! Very well, I will go there first thing tomorrow morning and talk to her.

Harvester: You never know, she might oblige.

Mossi: But I seriously doubt she will. She struck me as a very difficult person, an enemy of progress of our municipality.

Bembe: Let’s just try. If she doesn’t yield, I will visit her. I have a way of making people switch allegiances.

Mossi: I doubt it is advisable for you to go there. You might make things worse. You know sometimes when I think about your approach to problems, I am reminded of what they cal the law of the instrument.

Bembe: What is it about?

Mossi: That if all you have is the hammer, you tend to think of every problem as a nail.

Bembe: In times such as these, every instrument must be put to good use. In fact, I have been thinking that we should accuse her of some crime,like stealing school furniture or let’s say, a computer, or even a generator and then pin it on her! Then we can tell the judge to put her in!

Harvester: I don’t think that will work. Certainly, the judge will not oblige.

Mossi: I think so too. (There is silence. Mossi scratches his head thoughtfully) I think our next step will be to talk to the judge. If he can imprison Ramdaye and his team, we will have killed two birds with one stone: we will have aborted the no confidence vote and we will have responded to the people’s demand for imprisonment of corrupt leaders!I will talk to him.

QUESTIONS

(a) Place this excerpt in its immediate context. (4mks)

(b) What two-character traits of Inspector Bembe and one of Mayor Mossi come out in the excerpt? (6mks)

(c)

i) Certainly, the judge will not oblige. (Rewrite adding a question tag) (1mk)

ii) Yes, in fact, we will get someone to steal the school generator and then pin it on her. (Rewrite in reported speech) (1mk)

iii) But we still need to figure out how to deal with The Samaritan. (Rewrite replacing phrasal verb in bold with one word) (1mk)

iv) If she doesn’t yield, I will visit her. (Rewrite replacing “if” with “unless”) (1mk)

(d) Identify two features of style used in the excerpt. (4mks)

(e) Discuss two themes raised in the excerpt. (4mks)

(f) Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the excerpt. (4mks)

i) Filter

ii) Allegiances

iii) Oblige

iv) Aborted

GRAMMAR

A. Rewrite the following sentences as instructed.

(i)

(a) The photographs will be taken at the venue of the wedding. The photographs will be taken in a reputable studio.

(Combine into once sentence using ‘either …..or,,,,’) (1 mark)

(b) Neither the children nor the peasant ………allowed to go to the hall yesterday.

(Rewrite filling the blank with an appropriate auxiliary verb). (1 mark)

(ii)

(a) The principal noticed serious laxity among the students. He warned them against such behaviour.

(Combine the sentence using present participle. ) (1 mark)

(b) The farmer‘s cow gives twenty-five kilos of milk everyday. He feeds and waters it very well.

(Combine using the present participle). (1 mark)

(iii) Underline the gerund in the following sentence.

Kibet is studying but swimming is his hobby. (1 mark)

(iv) Replace the underlined word with a phrasal verb.

(a) It is not good to despise other people. (1 mark)

(b) I am currently living with my brother in Karen. (1 mark)

(c) The principal was annoyed with the three boys. (1 mark)

B. Rewrite the following sentences correcting the errors.

(i) There are situations of which you need to act with speed or else the consequences will catch up with you. (1 mark)

(ii) She likes football as it is more superior than hockey. (1 mark)

C. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate prepositions.

(i) He was charged ……………….forging property inheritance document. (1 mark)

(ii) Kamau deals ………………………..groceries. (1 mark)

D. Give two meanings from the sentence below.

“Did you see the girls with a telescope?” (1 mark)

E. Use the correct form of the words in the brackets to fill in the blanks.

(i) The couple has applied for a divorce over ………………..……differences. (reconcile). (1 mark)

(ii) That matter is highly …………………….…..(contest) in a court of law. (1 mark)

COMPREHENSION

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

Unscrupulous as he was, Kwame Asante had a qualm as he looked at the woman sitting on the African stool near the bed. He had called her and yet when she came he did not quite know how to begin the conversation.

“Akosua, how would you like fifty pounds to start a small business of your own – selling cloths or perfume and powder?” The woman smiled nervously. Ten years of married life had made her wary of her husband‘s fits of generosity.

She was as black as ebony, with the fine features peculiar to the girls of the Akwapim hills; graceful in her brown and red design cloth and the lovely silk head-tie wrapped round her head. Her feet were shod in ‘spitfire’ sandals and on her tiny ears she had the popular golden ear-rings named ‘Abongo’.

The slender woman on the stool was the mother of three children though she still looked a girl. Married under the native customary law, she had served her lord and master with zeal and zest. It is a law which as some other law in the Gold Coast, needs disinfecting for though it aids the man to gain his desire when it is at its fiercest, it in no way safeguards the position of the woman when the man‘s passion abates.

“Would you like fifty pounds?” asked Kwame again. “Could make it a hundred. You have been a very good wife to me, Akosua.” Did the truth begin to dawn on the woman‘s consciousness? No. She thrust the thought away from her. ‘He could not do it’.

Kwame cleared his throat – after all he might as well get it off his chest: hadn‘t she noticed that the whole relationship had become impossible? A cloth woman was all right when one was young and struggling. She could be so useful – a general servant, and yet a wife. Akosua was so gentle, and even quite refined, but a man needs a change. He had just completed his two-storied building and he had been made a committee member of an important club. The other day his academy had conferred on him an associateship and his university had given him a coveted degree. He had at last achieved his ambition and had become an important man in the community. He was thinking seriously of entering the town council.

Fancy being addressed councilor Kwame Asante, O.B.A…. A.S.S. He smiled inanely to himself. Akosua looked at him in wonder.

“Er….. er…. Akosua…., I want to tell you I am going to marry a lady; you will be paid off with a hundred pounds. A…. frock….. lady….um…..er …. of course you can read and write Ga and Twi but my friends will call you an illiterate woman.”

“Did you consult your friends before you married me ten years ago?” The voice was cold and calm, yet the words cut like a whip.

“If you are going to be impertinent, I shall not discuss the matter further.” He got up and walked up and down the room. “How many men in the Gold Coast will pay a woman off with one hundred pounds? You are only entitled to twenty-five pounds and here I am out of kindness offering you a hundred. Show some gratitude, Akosua.” Akosua looked at him. Stark misery was in her eyes.

“I shall send the children to Achimota College.” There was a whining note in his voice. “I am only doing this because of my position in society. You see I may be called to Government House and other important places……. say something Akosua”.

“I say you can keep your twenty five pounds, fifty pounds or a hundred pounds. I will have nothing to do with it. I will not be paid off.”

“What! What! Come! Come! Don‘t do anything rush!”

“If you dare touch me I shall strike your face.”

“Strike your master, your husband! Are you mad?”

“I shall leave this house.”

“If you dare to disgrace me by leaving the house before I am ready for you to go, there will be trouble. I do not intend to put up with a willful woman. What is my sin after all? I only want to become a decent and respectable member of society. If you leave this house without my knowledge and permission, I shall claim every penny I have spent on you since I married and lived with you these ten years; and not only that but I shall claim all the presents I have given to your parents and other relatives. You know our native customary law.”

“Yes, I know your native customary law. It is a grave to bury women alive whilst you men dance to the tom-tom on top of the mound of earth.”

Questions

i) Why does Akosua smile nervously when Kwame offers her fifty pounds to start a small business of her own? (2marks)

ii) Explain the effect of Akosua‘s silence on Kwame? (2marks)

iii) In not more than 60 words, summarize the reasons for Kwame‘s intention to marry another wife. (4marks)

v) Identify a statement from the passage which proves that Kwame was ashamed of the action he was about to take. (1mark)

vi) What is Kwame Asante‘s burning ambition? (1marks)

vii) Rewrite the following sentence in reported speech (1 marks)

‘Did you consult your friends before you married me ten years ago?’ Akosua asked Kwame.

viii) Give an instance of irony in the passage. (2marks)

ix) ‘It is a grave to bury women alive whilst you men dance to the tom-tom on top of the grave.’

Explain the meaning of this statement. (2 marks)

x) What is Kwame‘s attitude towards women? (2marks)

xi) Explain the meaning of the following words and phrases as used in the passage. (3 marks)

a) Disinfecting …………………………………………………………………………………..

b) The words cut like a whip ………………………………………………................................

c) Impertinent …………………………………………………………………………………...

ORAL SKILLS (30MKS)

a) Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow (10 marks)

The Paradox

In the high blaze of noon my heart grew sick.

To hear the tapping of the blind man‘s stick:

Where the gold gorse beggars its treasury,

To pass and never see!

To walk and never look upon his way

For him there is no day.

But in a moonless darkness muffled deep

With frog, his tapping signaled through my sleep;

I heard him pass, secure as would have done

A seeing man in sun

Treading erectly down a road of light…

For him there is no night.

(Audrey Alexandra Brown)

i) Describe the rhyme scheme of the poem above (2marks)

ii) Give two examples of alliteration from the poem (2marks)

iii) How would you say the last line and why (2marks)

iv) A part from rhyme which other sound pattern is evident in this poem? (2marks)

v) What is the effect of the rhyme scheme in the poem (2marks)

b) For each of the words below, provide another word that is pronounced the same way (5marks)

i) Seed …………………………………………………..

ii) birth …………………………………………………..

iii) Climb …………………………………………………..

iv) Metal …………………………………………………..

v) All …………………………………………………..

c) Mention any three things you would do just before you would attend an interview (3marks)

d) Mention any three things one should avoid when being interviewed (3marks)

e) Construct a sentence to bring out two different meanings of the following words (4 marks)

(i) Wound

(ii) Pitch

(e) You are known to be one of the most disciplined student in your class. One day however, your teacher finds you among students standing and shouting as you attempt to quell the situation.

Complete the following conversation between the teacher and you, as you try to explain what had happened (5 marks)

TEACHER: My! So I have been wrong all along. You have been a green snake in the grass?