Homework answers / question archive /  Read the passage below and then answer the questions that follow

 Read the passage below and then answer the questions that follow

English

Share With

---

 Read the passage below and then answer the questions that follow. Knowing that Mrs. Kalani was afflicted with a heart disease, great care was taken to  break to her the news of her husband's death as gently as possible. It was Josephine, her 

sister, who told her in broken sentences and veiled hunts. Also present was Nemi, a 

family friend. It was he who had been in the newspaper office when information about 

the railway disaster was received, with Jane's Kalani's name leading the list of the 

"killed". After verifying the information, he had hastened to the Kalani residence in 

order to forestall only less careful, less tender friend from bearing the sad message.

She did not receive the news as many women would. The significance of what had 

happened sank in immediately and she wept with sudden wild abandonment. When the 

storm of grief had spent itself she went to her room and would have no one follow her. 

Pressed down by a physical exclusion that haunted her body and soul, she sank into a 

bed-side chair.

She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all 

pregnant with newly life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was advertising his wares. The notes of a distant song which someone was 

singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves.

She sat quite motionless except when a sob came up into her throat and shook her, as a 

child who has cried itself to sleep continues to sob in its dreams.

She was young, with fair calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain 

strength. But now there was a dull stare in her eyes. There was something coming to 

her and she was waiting for it, fearfully. What was it? She did not know, it was too 

subtle and elusive to name. But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her 

through the sounds and the scents that filled the air.

Now her bosom rose and fell tumultuously. She was beginning to recognize this thing 

that was approaching to possess her. She was striving to beat it back but she was 

powerless. When she abandoned herself, a little whispered word escaped from her 

parted lips: "Free, free, free! "The vacant stare was gone and in its place came a bright 

keen look. Her pulses beat just and her body relaxed. She did not stop to ask if it were 

not a monstrous joy that held her. She knew that she would weep again when she saw 

the kind, tender hands folded in death. But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long 

procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she opened and 

spread her arms out to them in welcome. There would be no one to live for during those 

coming years; she would live herself. She breathed a quick prayer that life might be 

long.

Josephine was imploring for admission. "Louis-open the door! I beg you, for heaven's 

sake open the door."

She arose at length and opened the door. There was a feverish triumph in her eyes, and 

she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of victory. She and her sister went into 

the sitting room where Nemi still was.

Someone was opening the front door. It was Mr. Kalani who entered, a little travel stained but otherwise composed. He had been far from the scene of the accident, and 

was even oblivious of any such happening. He stood amazed at Josephine's piercing 

cry; at Nemi's quick motion to screen him from the view of his wife.

But Nemi was too late. When the doctor came, he said she had died of heart disease of 

joy that kills. 

 

 

i) How do other women's reaction to news of death of spouse differ from 

Mrs. Kalani's? (2 mks)

 

ii) What evidence is given to show that life continues even in face of death? 

(2 mks) 

 

iii) Why was Mrs. Kalani feeling victorious? (2 mks) 

 

iv) How would you describe Mrs. Kalani's character? (4 mks) 

 

v) What do you find ironical in this story? (2 mks) 

 

vi) What was the cause of Mrs. Kalani's death? (2 mks)

 

vii) Explain the meaning of the following expressions as they are used in the 

passage. (4 mks)

a) Forestall_____________________

b) Repression __________________

c) Abandoned herself_____________

d) Obvious____________________

 

10. Read the poem below and then answer the questions that follow:

"Sympathy"

I know what the caged bird feels, alas! 

When the sun is bright on the upland slopes; 

When the wind stirs soft through the springing grass

And the river flows like a stream of glass; 

When the first bird sings and the first bud opens, 

And the faint perfume from its petals steals I know what the caged bird feels!

I know why the caged bird beats his wing

Till its blood is red on the cruel bars;

For he must fly back to his perch and cling

When he rather would be on the branch a swing;

And a pain still throbs in the old, old scars

And they pulse again with a keener stingI know why he beats his wing!

I know why the caged bird sings, ah me,

When his wing is bruised and his blossom sore; 

When he beats his bars and would be free; 

It is not a song of joy or glee, 

But a prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core,

But a plea, that upward to heaven he flings -

I know why the caged bird sings! 

 

 

(a). Explain briefly what the poem is about (3 mks)

 

(b). What does the poet focus on in each of the three stanzas? Give your 

answer in note form. (6 mks)

 

(c). How would you describe the persona's feelings towards the caged bird? 

(4 mks)

 

(d). What can we infer about the persona's own experiences? (3 mks)

 

(e). Identify a simile in the first stanza and explain why it is used. (2mks)

 

(f). Explain the meaning of the following lines

(i). And the faint perfume from its petals steals. (1mk)

(ii). And they pulse again with a keener sting. (1mk)