Part 3 (40mins)

Write an answer to one of the questions 3 – 5 in this part. Write your answer in 200 – 250 words in an
appropriate style on this question paper. Put the question number in the ox at the top of the answer space.
Question 5
Your teacher has asked you to write a story for your school magazine. The story must have the title”
MY CAMPING EXPERIENCE
Your story should include:
 the description of the camp site
 the activities you had
 the challenges you faced
Write your story

Sample answer
MY CAMPING EXPERIENCE
Camping has always been one of my favourite activities and I have always enjoyed camping with my
family. There was one such experience that I will always remember because grandpa tagged along. Honestly,
how many people can say they have the experience of camping with grandpa? Well, I can and he was the hero
of that camping trip.
Grandpa may be a 70-year-old man but he was a former forest ranger and was very fit for his age. We
didn’t have too far to hike to our camp site at the edge of the forest once dad parked the car. Actually, it was
the place grandpa had taken dad on his first camping trip when dad was about my age. Our camp site was
about ten metres from a stream and we were near the hilly jungle area. The fact that trees fanned our camp
meant that we would be shaded from the scorching sun as well as heavy rain and wind. Without a doubt, it
was a good place to camp. We have arrived early and were soon ready to start our activities for the day.
Our first activity was a hike for what is camping without some hiking? No matter how time has
passed, I could tell that grandpa and dad remembered the trail well. The two of them guided us on an hour’s
hike to a natural pool where we could swim in. There was also a waterfall there which was absolutely
beautiful. Besides, swimming in the pool, dad fashioned us fishing rods from branches and vines while
grandpa looked on proudly at his son. Then we had a fishing competition. Honestly, I believed dad had it
planned for no one caught any fish except he. He caught four huge fish. Soon after, we returned to camp
where grandpa prepared and cooked the fish for lunch.
Our next activity scheduled after lunch was session on jungle survival. Grandpa shared with us his
knowledge of the jungle and we gathered roots, berries and shoots which we were to have for dinner. Some of
the roots and shoots were to be baked over the campfire while others were to be smoked in bamboos. As for
the berries, well, they were eaten almost as soon as they were picked so never made it for dinner. Amazingly,
though it was not food served by a gourmet chef, dinner was truly delicious. Once dinner was over, we had a
little sing a long and turned in for an early night.
One challenge I faced was an encounter with a snake. I had just crawled into the tent which I shared
with grandpa and was about to climb into my sleeping bag when grandpa grabbed my arm to stop me. He
pointed to a suspicious looking lump at the end of my sleeping bag and mentioned me out of the tent. I backed
out slowly while grandpa dealt with the sleeping bag. I held my breath as grandpa slowly tipped it over.
Needless to say, I was grateful for grandpa’s experience and alertness. Imagine my horror when I saw a lazy
python tumbling out of my sleeping bag. Granted that it was only a baby but it was enough to send a shiver
down my spine.
As the saying goes “it never rains but pours”. Well, that was how I felt during that camp. As if one
shook up wasn’t enough for me, we had to deal with another challenge. It had to be the wee hours of the
morning, when we were all jolted awake by a sound like a loud sudden roar of thunder or it would be more
accurately described as an explosive boom that went off in the distance. Almost immediately, grandpa shouted
“flash flood” and hurried all of us to higher ground. Soon enough, we could hear the sounds of a torrent of

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water rushing down towards our camp. We all gave a sigh of relief as we made it out of the way of the deluge
just in time. Helpless, we watched in horror as the stream near camp turned into raging river. Then there was a
collective gasp of horror our tents were swept away by the surge. There was no doubt after that how we were
to spend the rest of the night. It would be in a small clearing which we made in the jungle. Grandpa built us a
fire to keep us warm and animals away. Once he had done that, everyone found comfortable spots near the fire
to settle down for the rest of the night. Well, everyone that is except yours truly. Unsurprisingly, after the
incident with the snake and the flash flood scare, I was too frightened to go back to sleep. Or was my
sleeplessness an adrenaline overload? Regardless, I was awake the rest of the night, a self appointed sentry
and guardian to the family.
When day broke, we decided to head home. Truly, it was an experience I would never ever forget.
Frankly, I was very glad for my hero, grandpa, who prevented us from being swept away by the flash flood as
well as saving me from sharing a bed with a snake. In all honesty, it was an experience I never want a repeat
of no matter how interesting it had been.

C :5
CA :5
O :5
L :5

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