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

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

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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 herwary 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
nything 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? (2mks) ii) Explain the effect of Akosua's silence on Kwame? (2mks) iii) In not more than
, summarize the reasons for Kwame's intention to marry another wife. v) Identify a statement from the passage which proves that Kwame was ashamed of the action he was about to take. vi) What is Kwame Asante's burning ambition? vii) Rewrite the following sentence in reported speech 'Did you consult your friends before you married me ten years ago?' Akosua asked Kwame. viii) Give an instance of irony in the passage. 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. x) What is Kwame's attitude towards women? xi) Explain the meaning of the following words and phrases as used in the passage. a) Disinfecting ............................................................................................... b) The words cut like a whip ...................................................................................... c) Impertinent ................................................................................................ LITERARY APPRECIATION: The Caucasian Chalk Circle Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow. (1mk) (1mks) (1 mks) (2mks) (2 marks) (2mks) (3 mks) 101/1,101/2,101/3 English Grusha: Peasant Woman: Grusha: Peasant Woman: Grusha: Peasant Woman: Hide him. Quickly! The Ironshirts are coming! I laid him on your doorstep. But he isn't mine. He's from a good family. Who's coming! What Ironshirts? Don't ask questions. The Ironshirts that are looking for it. They've no business in my house. But I must have a little talk with your, it seems. Take off the fine linen. It'll give us away. Linen, my foot! In this house I make the decisions! "You can't vomit in my room!" Why did you abandon it? It's a sin. Grusha (looking out of the window): Look, they're coming out from behind those trees! I shouldn't have run away, it made them angry. Oh, what shall I do? Peasant Grusha: Peasant Grusha: Peasant Grusha: Peasant Grusha: Peasant Grusha: Peasant Grusha: Peasant Grusha: Peasant Grusha: Woman: Woman: Woman: Woman: Woman: Woman: Woman: Woman: (looking out of the window and suddenly starting with fear): Gracious! Ironshirts! They're after the baby. Suppose they come in! You mustn't give him to them. Say he's yours. Yes. They'll run him through if you hand him over. But suppose they ask for it? The silver for the harvest is in the house. If you let them have him, they'll run him through, right here in this room! You've got to say he's yours! Yes. But what if they don't believe me? You must be firm. They'll burn the roof over our heads. That's why you must say he's yours. His name's Michael. But I shouldn't have told you. (The Peasant Woman nods). Don't nod like that. And don't tremble - they'll notice. Yes. And stop staying yes, I can't stand it. (She shakes the Woman). Don't you have any children? (muttering): He's in the war. Then maybe he's an Ironshirt? Do you want him to run children through Peasant Woman: Grusha: Peasant Woman: Grusha: Corporal: Grusha: Corporal: Grusha: Corporal: 101/1,101/2,101/3 English with a lance? You'd baw him out. "No fooling with lances in my house!" you'd shout, "is that what I've reared you for? Wash your neck before you speak to your mother!" That's true, he couldn't get away with anything around here! So you'll say he's yours? Yes. Look! They're coming! There is a knocking at the door. The women don't answer. Enter Ironshirts. The Peasant Woman bows low. 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! (While the Peasant Woman bows again and again): I'd left some milk on the stove, and I suddenly remembered it. Or maybe you imagined I looked at you unchastely? Like there could be something between us? A carnal glace, know what I mean? I didn't see it. 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? (a) Give reasons that motivate Grusha to leave Michael at the peasant woman's doorstep. Answer in note form (4 mks) (b) Identify two aspects of style used in the excerpt. (4 mks) (c) Why does Grusha feel that she shouldn't have revealed the baby's name to the peasant woman? (2 mks) (d) "They're after the baby". Explain who are after the baby, under whose orders and for what reasons? (3 mks) (e) With illustrations give one character trait for each of the following characters. (i) Grusha.............................................................................................. (ii) Corporal ............................................................................................ (f) In reference to the rest of the text where else (a part from this scene) does Grusha encounter the same corporal. (g) You mustn't give him to them. Add a question tag. (h) What happens after this excerpt? (i) Explain the meaning of the following as used in the excerpt. (a) Bawl .......................................................................................... (b) Run him through ................................................................................. (c) Carnal glance ....................................................................................