NOUN

This part of speech refers to words that are used to name persons, things, animals,
places, ideas or events. Nouns are the simplest among the 8 parts of speech. A
noun functions as a subject or object of verb and can be modified by an adjective
Examples
*Maipelo is very versatile (the italicized word is a noun because it is a name of a
person)
*Cat can be extremely cute (cat is considered a noun because it’s a name of an
animal)
*It is your birthday (The word “birthday” is a noun because it refers to an event

There are different types of nouns namely

Proper nouns
Proper nouns always start with a capital letter and refers to specific names of
person(s), places or things
Examples in sentences
(Thabo) is a good boy
(Lerala) is a developing village
(Francistown) is the second city of Botswana
Common nouns
A common noun is the word used for a class of person or things. Examples include
car, pizza parlour, and TV series
Collective nouns
A collective noun is the word used for a group of persons, animals or things.
Example: faculty, class, herd, swarm, flock
Material noun
A material noun refers to a material or substance from which things are made such
as silver , gold, iron, cotton, diamond and plastic.
Examples
(Gold) is a precious metal
(Water) is a liquid
(Diamond) is used to make drill bits

Concrete noun
A concrete noun represents something that can be seen touched, tasted, heard or
smelled. In other words a concrete noun is something that you can perceive with
atleast one of your senses
Abstract noun
Abstract noun refers denoting an idea, quality or state rather than a concrete object

Countable noun
Countable nouns are for things we can count using numbers. They have singular
and plural form. The singular form can use a determiner ‘a’ or ‘an’. If you want to
ask about the quantity of a countable noun, you ask ‘How many?’ combined with
the plural countable noun.
Example; boy, pen book, crayon, stone, can, bottle
Uncountable noun
Anything that cannot be counted is an uncountable noun.
Example: There is no more water in the pond
*The soil got eroded last week
*The salt is too much

EXERCISE
FORM SENTENCES USING THE EIGHT DIFFERENT TYPES OF
NOUNS
 1. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
5. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
6. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
7. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
8. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

PRONOUNS
Pronouns are words that act as replacement for nouns. Every pronoun must have a
clear antecedent
Examples
I, it, he, she, mine, his, hers, we, they, theirs, and ours
Types of pronouns
Personal pronoun
Can be the subject of a clause or sentence
Examples: I, we, he, she, it, me, his, her
(We) know the matter very well
(He) came in the evening
(I) will beat you
(It) is under the cupboard
Demonstrative pronoun
Can be used for many persons or things
(This) is my pen
(These) are our goats
(That) is her bag
The weather in Gaborone is better than (that) in Francistown

Interrogative pronoun
Interrogative pronoun is used to ask questions. The interrogative pronouns are
who, what, which, whoever, whatever
(Who) took my cup?
(Which) bird is the largest?
(What) is your name?

Relative pronoun
Describes a noun which is mentioned before and more information is to be given
about it.
Whom, who, whose, which, that
It is the girl(who) got last position in class
The man(whom) I met yesterday is a nice person
The boy (who) is laughing is my brother
It is the boy(whose) father is a doctor
Indefinite pronoun
Pronoun that do not mention to any specific person or thing.
(One) should do one’s duty
 (Some) are born great
(Many) of my friends are talking
Reflexive pronoun
Reflexive pronouns describes noun when subject’s action affects the subject itself.
Example himself, yourself, herself, ourselves, themselves, itself
Reflexive pronouns always act as objects not subjects, and they require an
interaction between the subject and an object
I looked at (myself) in the mirror
You should think about (yourself)
They prepared (themselves) for completion
Distributive pronoun
A distributive pronoun considers members of a group separately rather than
collectively
(Each) of the boys gets a prize
(Everyone) has done the sum

EXERCISE
FORM SENTENCES WITH PRONOUNS DESCRIBED ABOVE
1. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
 5. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
6. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
7. _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________

ADJECTIVES
Adjective is a word that gives more information about a noun or pronoun. For
example, tall man, old woman, red car. The words “tall, old and red” are adjectives
which gives more information about nouns “man, woman and car” in these
examples. More than one adjective can be used for a single noun in a sentence.
The beautiful girl entered into the house
The tall beautiful girl entered into the house
An adjective gives information about the colour, size, characteristic, quality,
quantity or personal traits of a noun or pronoun
Descriptive adjective
Simply say something about quality or the kind of the noun or pronoun they are
referring to.
He is tired
Neo’s reflexes are amazing
Adjectives of number
The adjective answers the questions “How many, how much?”
Twenty students failed the exam
The plants need more water
Demonstrative adjectives
Demonstrative adjectives point out pronouns and nouns and always comes before
the words they are referring to.
He used to buy (this) kind of shirts
He used to live in (that) house
Please pass me (that) mop
Possessive adjectives
This kind of adjectives show ownership or possession. Possessive adjectives
always come before the noun
I can’t do my homework because I don’t have a calculator
Karen sold his dog
Interrogative adjectives
Interrogative adjectives ask questions and are always followed by a noun.
What movie are you watching?
Which plants should be placed over here?

EXERCISE
FORM SENTENCES WITH THE ABOVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF
ADJECTIVES
1. ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

VERBS
Verb is the most important part of a speech, for without a verb, a sentence would
not be possible. Simply put, this is a word that shows an action or state of being of
the subject in a sentence.
Am, is, was, are and were
I (like) meat
I (study) their charts and (play) their games
Verbs are action words
Read, run, beat, eat, kick, pull, push, stand
Principal or main verb
Verbs used independently without help of other verbs
He (is) a worker
She (does) her duties
Principal verbs are 2 types
Transitive verb
Is an action verb that requires one or more objects which receive the action of the
*He reads the book. (Verb with the object ‘the book”
Intransitive verb
An action verb that requires no direct object in the sentence
-He reads
-The sun set

EXERCISE
FORM DIFFERENT SENTENCES USING VERBS
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

ADVERBS
A word which modifies or qualifies the meaning of a verb, adjective, other adverb
or any other word or phrases in the sentence such as
quickly,firmly,lightly,carefully, extremely etc.
*The leopard runs (quickly)
*He works (extremely) hard
*She speaks (slowly)
ADVERB OF TIME
Indicate the time of an action and answer the question ‘when?’
*now, soon, still, then, today, yet, since, back, ago, already, before, after, recently,
today
*I have (already) finished my work
*They will do it (now)
ADVERBS OF MANNER
Express the manner of an action and answer the question ‘how?’
Such as happily, slowly, quickly, carefully, loudly, easily, fast, bravely, hard, well,
badly etc
*Joram is speaking quietly
*People still live (there)
ADVERBS OF PLACE
Indicate the place of an action and answer the question ‘where?’
Such as here, up, there, down, in, out, by, where, anywhere, somewhere,
everywhere, nowhere
*I love to be (here)
*People still live (there)
EXERCISE
FORM SENTENCES WITH THE GIVEN ADVERBS
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

CONJUNCTIONS
Used to join two clauses together. The conjunctions are and, but, or, for, nor, so,
yet, because, if, whether, lest, unless, as, since, how, when, where, while, why, till,
until, after, before, however, as soon as, though and than
*Neo (and) Pheto are siblings
*Piet (and) you have done this work
*A cat moves slowly (and) silently
*He is so weak (that) he cannot walk
*Such was her beauty (that) everybody loved her
*I trust him (because) he is honest
*I wish to know (whether) he will come or not
EXERCISE
1. What part of speech is expressed by the word in bold?
Thero was hit by a red car
A. Adverb
B. Verb
C. Adjective
D. Noun

2. “She read us an interesting story”. The adjective in this sentence is

A. Interesting
B. Story
C. Read
D. Us

In the questions below choose the best comparative or superlative to use

3. My dog runs _________________ than yours
A. Fast
B. Fastest
C. Faster
D. Slowly
4. Tebogo is the __________________girl in class.

A. Beautiful
B. More beautiful
C. Most beautiful
D. Too beautiful

5. She is the ____________netball player

A. Good
 B. Better
C. Best
D. Most better

6. Thato is ______________than Tiro

A. Taller
B. Tallest
C. Tall
D. Most tall

7. Today she came __________than all other days

A. Early
B. Earlier
C. Earliest
D. Much early

8. North Korea have ________________weapons than USA

A. More powerful
B. Most powerful
C. Powerful
D. Too powerful

9. Mars have ____________than Earth

A. More moons
B. Much moons
C. Moons
D. Many moons

10.Tiro is the _____________________boy in his team

A. Shortest
B. Short
C. Shorter
D. Most short
11.Platinum is the _______________mineral
A. Most expensive
B. More expensive
C. Expensive
D. Much expensive

12.Mount Everest is the ______________________ mountain

A. Highest
B. Most high
C. More high
D. High

13.Jupiter is the _____________________planet

A. Biggest
B. Most big
C. More big
D. Much big

Use articles a, an and the to answer questions that follow

1. This is _____________ apple
2. She is _______________ nurse
3. This is _________dog that bit him
4. We arrived here ______ hour ago
5. Bring those potatoes and ____ knife

CONJUNCTIONS
Use the following conjunctions for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
1. We will be cooking rice _________ stew.
2. She will be waiting _____ her aunt at the mall.
3. Maipelo doesn’t want to eat____bath.
4. Tshepho is still cooking ____ as soon as he is done we are leaving.
5. Should we go ____ wait for you?
 6. She is walking slowly _____ she has been the one complaining that we will
be late.
7. Justin ________Judith are twins.
8. Meagan was complaining about us coming late_________ she said we
should wait a bit.
9. Will you kill the goat_________ should I?
10. She was lagging behind in her project_______ we left her at the library
****************************************************************

EXERCISE
WHICH STATEMENTS ARE TRUE? (ONE OR MORE IN EACH CASE?)
1. If they had gone to the village, they would have met my uncle. The sentence
tells us
A. They did not go to the village
B. They went to the village in order to meet my uncle
C. They went to the village and they met my uncle
D. They went to the village but they did not meet my uncle
E. They should have gone to the village but they did not

2. If he had been warned about the crocodiles, he would have not went
swimming
A. He was warned about the crocodiles
B. He went swimming
C. He did not want to go swimming
D. He was attacked by crocodiles
E. He did not go swimming because he was warned about the crocodiles
3. If Mary gets married this year, she would be the first member of the family
to get married before the age of 16. This sentence tells us

A. Mary is already married

B. Mary will get married this year
C. Mary is not more than sixteen
D. Mary is the youngest member of the family
E. All the other members of the family are married

4. If any of the candidates cheated they would be disqualified

A. Some of the candidates cheated
B. Some of the candidates tried to cheat
C. None of the candidates cheated
D. Any candidates who cheated would be disqualified
E. Many candidate were disqualified for cheating

5. Francis would have saved more money if he knew he would not get the
scholarship. The sentence tells us that

A. Francis saved more money

B. Francis did not know he would not get the scholarship
C. Francis got the scholarship
D. Francis had enough money even though he did not get enough scholarship
E. Francis wanted to save more money but he was unable to
6. John would not have read the book even if it had been available. This
sentence tells us that

A. The book was available

B. John did not read the book
C. The book was not available because John was reading it
D. The reason why John did not read the book was that it was not available
E. John wanted to read the book but it was not available

7. He would still be living in Canada if his father had not died. This sentence
tells us
A. He still lives in Canada
B. Both he and his father used to live in Canada
C. His father is dead
D. He wishes he were still living in Canada
E. He would leave Canada if his father died

8. If Jacob writes to his father about school fees, he will receive the money
next week. This sentence tells us

A. Jacob has written to his father about school fees

B. Jacob must pay his school fees next week
C. Jacob will write to his father about his school fees
D. Jacob could receive the money next week

9. If Jacob had written to his father about school fees he would have received
the money by now. This sentence implies
A. Jacob did not write to his father about the school fees
B. Jacob wrote to his father about school fees but without success
C. Jacob may yet receive money from his father
D. Jacob’s father refused to send him money

10. If it had rained, our crops would have survived. This statement tells us
A. It did not rain
B. The crops managed to survive
C. It rained but crops did not survive
D. It rained and crops survived
Read the passage below and answer questions that follow
MOLALE PROMISES THOROUGH INVESTIGATIONS
Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Eric Molale has
assured the parliament that investigations into the Matsha accident that left seven
students dead on Friday will leave no stone unturned. In his statement to the
parliament yesterday on the accident he said “the policy of the government is to
transport students in buses” adding “this investigation will include why a truck was
used in this instance. Mr Molale regretted that he could not provide more details of
the accident at this stage as investigations were still ongoing. He disclosed that the
government will cover funeral expenses and provide the necessary psycho-social
support to all the bereaved families of Matsha Senior Secondary School students
who were involved in the road accident
Mr Molale said on receipt of information on the accident, a multi-disciplinary team
was mobilized and dispatched to the scene and that response teams came in to
reinforce evacuation process. He assured family members and parents of
government support during these difficult times saying the government would
provide basic amenities to the affected students with further support coming from
the private sector and members of the public. In addition he said some parents
whose children have been affected have been given accommodation and transport
so that they can visit patients particularly those in Gaborone hospitals. A total of
109 students, as well as the driver and his assistant remain admitted at Scottish
Livingstone, Princess Marina, Bokamoso private hospital and Gaborone private
hospitals. He said three students were attended at Letlhakeng Clinic and discharged
while four had earlier disembarked at Tshwane before the accident occurred and
that a follow up of psycho-social support and rehabilitation has been put into place
for all the students.
Mr Molale acknowledged the national response to the tragedy, The Banking
Association of Botswana, he said, has opened an account at Stanbic bank for
contributions by members of the public. The association will contribute seed
money into the account. Members of the public who wish to make contributions to
the victims of Matsha College tragedy can contact the Disaster Management Office
at the Office of the President between 0730hrs and 1800hrs at the following toll
free number 0800 600 130. BOPA
Source: Daily News, November 17, 2015, No.216 page 3
Questions
1. Who is the minister of Presidential Affairs and Public Administration according
to the passage?
_______________________________________________________________
2. How many students perished in the accident?
______________________________________________________________
3. Why could Mr Molale not give out more details during the time of his report?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4. How were the parents of students who were involved in the accident helped?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
5. Name the health facilities that students were admitted at
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
6. According to the passage four students disembarked at Tshwane before the
accident occurred. What does this mean?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
7. Who can the members of the public contact if they want to make donations to
the affected students?
__________________________________________________________________
8. According to the passage, members of the public can contact a toll free number
for some contributions. What is a toll free number?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
9. In your words describe the words written in Bold
Read the passage below and answer questions that follow
KEY POPULATIONS NEED INTERVENTION
By Kedirebofe Pelontle
United States of America (USA) ambassador Mr. Earl Miller has underscored the
importance of intensified and targeted services for key populations. Speaking at the
New Directions in Global Health seminar in Maun, Ambassador Miller said
interventions on the key populations; same sex people and sex workers were
crucial since they have impact on HIV/AIDS infections and treatment. He noted
that statistics show that HIV prevalence in female sex workers was 6 % compared
to 20.8% of women in general. “In 2016, Botswana Incidence Pattern Model
reported that female sex workers contribute 8% of all new HIV/AIDS infections
while 13% of HIV positive men have begun antiretroviral therapy , compared with
65% treatment coverage for all HIV positive men.” He said. Ambassador Miller
therefore said a linkage to the key population groups was imperative to attain
UNAIDS global strategy to achieve HIV epidemic control known as 90-90-90 to
attain an HIV free generation.
“PEPFAR has been funding the Linkages project in Maun and catchment areas in
order to strengthen local capacity to deliver health services to female sex workers
and men who have sex with men.” He said. Ambassador Miller said the project
was also operating in Kasane, Selibe-Phikwe, Francistown and Gaborone. He
added that linkages was part of the regional network of PEPFAR partners serving
the key population in Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and others throughout
Southern and East Africa. In his remarks the North West assistant District
Commissioner, Mr Ramogaupi Gaborekwe encouraged the Ngami District Health
Management Team (DHMT) to engage the communities on isssues of sexuality,
gender and human rights.
“We are aware of issues of culture against bisexuals, transsexuals and other key
populations.” He said. Ngami DHMT head, Dr Malebogo Pusoentsi said the
wetlands terrain and language barrier negatively affected their service to key
population groups in some parts of the district. Dr Pusoentsi also said Ngami
District was a holiday resort therefore dynamics on HIV/AIDS were experienced
there.
1. Who is the USA ambassador in Botswana?
________________________________________________________
2. What is an ambassador?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. According to Mr Miller what is the main cause of increased HIV/AIDS
infections?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4. According to the passage what was the purpose of PEPFAR funding?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
5. State other areas where the project is operating
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
6. What factors limit the spreading of message to key populations in the Ngami
District?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
7. In your own words describe how new HIV/AIDS infections could be stopped
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Read the passage below and answer questions that follow
NORILSK SEEKS DAMAGES FROM BOTSWANA OVER FAILED
NKOMATI MINE DEAL
Norilsk Nickel, the Russian miner, has served notice that it intends to commence
legal proceedings against the Botswana government in respect of its involvement
in the “reckless” trading of BCL Limited and BCL Investments Proprietary
Limited.
The notice has been served under Section 4 of the State Proceedings (Civil Actions
by or against Government or Public Officers) Act and was served on the Attorney
General of Botswana, the Minister of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and
Energy Security, and the Minister of Finance.
Through the lawsuit, Norilsk says it is trying to recoup $271 million-plus damages
it says it is owed from the aborted sale of a 50 percent stake in the Nkomati Mine
in South Africa.
In October 2014, BCL Limited and Norilsk Nickel announced that they had
entered into definitive transaction agreements to sell Norilsk operations in Africa
to BCL, including a 50-percent participation interest in the Nkomati Nickel and
Chrome Mine, South Africa, and its 85 percent stake in Tati Nickel Mining
Company in Botswana.
The Nkomati deal, announced by BCL a few years ago as a strategic priority as
part of its high-profile “Polaris II” diversification and investment strategy, was
designed to guarantee the long-term future of BCL’s operations by securing the
supply of concentrate to its smelter in Selebi Phikwe.
The government was involved in or approved all material decisions relating to this
transaction.
Norilsk says it learned through the media in October 2016 that BCL had been
placed into provisional liquidation by the government in an apparent attempt to
avoid its obligations.
Norilsk says since October 2016, it has tried on numerous occasions, and through
numerous channels, to reach a satisfactory and amicable resolution, but none has
been forthcoming.
“Norilsk has therefore been left with little option but to pursue a resolution through
legal channels. In its claim against the government, Norilsk asserts that the
business of BCL has been carried about recklessly and that the government was
party to that recklessness through the actions of individual Cabinet Ministers,
MDCB and the government-appointed directors on BCL's board,” noted Norilsk
late Friday.
Norilsk Nickel Africa CEO, Michael Marriott, said: “The government has
displayed a complete disregard for the fair, frank and reasonable dealing with
outsiders which BCL’s insolvent circumstances demanded. It has failed to honour
the obligations under the sale agreement concluded with Norilsk in October 2014.
“Throughout the process Norilsk has acted in good faith, and given the government
and BCL repeated opportunities and offers of assistance to complete the
transaction, including concessions to significantly reduce the sale price.
“Botswana has a reputation as one of the safest and best places to invest in the
whole of Africa and it has earned the strongest credit rating on the continent on
that basis.
The way that the government of Botswana has acted over BCL brings the validity
of that reputation into question. The negative ramifications could be felt across the
economy of the whole country.
The Nkomati Mine, located 300km east of Johannesburg in Mpumalanga Province,
is the only primary nickel producer in South Africa. The deposit is represented by
disseminated sulphide copper-nickel ore and located within Bushveld complex.
Other by-product metals include copper, PGMs and chrome. In 2013, Nkomati
produced 23.8 thousand tonnes of nickel contained in nickel concentrate.
As of December 31, 2013, proved and probable ore reserves of the deposit
exceeded 113 million tonnes, average nickel content of 0.32 percent and copper
content of 0.13 percent.
Measured and indicated mineral resources amount 241 million tonnes with an
average nickel content of 0.35 percent and copper content of 0.14 percent.
By Victor Baatweng
Questions
1. Where does Norilsk Nickel originate?
_________________________________________________________________
2. State the three parties which were served with the notice under section 4 of state
proceedings
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. How did Norilsk Nickel find out about the provisional liquidation of the BCL
mine?
_______________________________________________________________
4. What is the viewpoint of Norilsk Nickel Africa CEO on the sale of BCL mine?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
5. Where is the Nkomati mine located in South Africa?
__________________________________________________________
6. What is the state of Botswana’s reputation with regard to investment?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
7. How much nickel did Nkomati mine produce in 2013?
_____________________________________________________________
DEBSWANA SPLASHES P2.1BN TO KEEP LETLHAKANE MINE GOING
Debswana Mining Company is set to commission the Letlhakane Mine tailings
project at the end of the second quarter of 2017, group Managing Director Balisi
Bonyongo has said.
This comes after the diamond pits at the mine reached depths that limit
conventional open pit mining, forcing management to initiate the tailings treatment
project in October 2011 as a way of alleviating job losses and ensuring future
sustainability.
Addressing key stakeholders in the capital Gaborone on Tuesday, Bonyongo said
that the construction of the P2.1-billion project was kick-started in 2015, a move
that could see the lifespan of the said mine extended by at least 20 more years.
According to Bonyongo, through the new technology that will be used at the mine,
Debswana will be able to produce at least 800 000 carats per annum.
Bonyongo further said that through the project, the company had been able to save
hundreds of jobs. Concerns of imminent job losses came to the fore when
information emerged that the lifespan of the Letlhakane Mine will be coming to
end an in 2016 - - putting the future of 386 employees in uncertainty.
On the company’s market outlook, Bonyongo said that macro-economic conditions
underpinning consumer demand for diamonds remain broadly stable.
“Midstream stocks returned to more typical levels in 2016. Rough diamond
demand is expected to normalise in 2017,” Bonyongo stated.
Meanwhile, Debswana says it continues to produce to demand by maximizing
production at its core assets and scaling down on its lower margin assets.
“For this reason Damtshaa Mine remains on Care and Maintenance,” Bonyongo
highlighted.
Damtshaa Mine is Debswana’s youngest diamond mine, opened in 2003. The mine
was put on Care and Maintenance beginning January 2016 because of deterioration
in the diamond markets as a result of unprecedented slow movement of diamond
inventory throughout the entire pipeline.
In 2014, just under two years before it was temporarily closed, Damtshaa Mine
extracted 3 800 849 tonnes of ore, treated 1 464 100 tonnes and recovered 303 219
carats
Since the second quarter of 2015, Debswana has been experiencing a significant
reduction in the sale of rough diamonds due to weak demand as a result of a global
macro- economic slowdown and the strengthening of the US Dollar which have
put liquidity pressures on cutting and polishing centres.
By Victor Baatweng
Questions
1. Who is the managing director of Debswana Mining Company?
____________________________________________________________
2. What was the purpose of the tailings treatment project?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. How many employees were to lose jobs if the Letlhakane mine could have been
closed?
_________________________________________________________________
4. “For this reason Damtshaa Mine remains on Care and Maintenance,”
Bonyongo highlighted. What does this statement imply about the Damtshaa
mine?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
5. How much ore did the Damtshaa mine produce before it was temporarily
closed?
_______________________________________________________________
6. Why has Debswana has been experiencing a significant reduction in the sale of
rough diamonds?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
TOURISM LEVY TO START AT ENTRY POINTS
Government has announced that it will start rolling out the Tourism Development
Levy (TDL) on June 1, 2017 which has been approved by Cabinet.
The levy paid will be US$30 (P300) for all non-citizens or non-residents of the
SADC region, and the will be charged at all points of entry (airports and border
gates).
Announcing the development recently at the annual HATAB conference in
Kasane, Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) Executive Manager Investment
and Product Development Tafa Tafa said the levy will be collected by unmanned
electronic kiosks. He added that the levy will be charged and paid before the visitor
passes through immigration at entry points or online prior to departure.
Tafa further stated that the levy will be collected by BTO, adding that the funds
will be submitted to Ministry of Finance and Economic Development on a
quarterly basis.
He said through the, Permanent Secretary (PS) at the Ministry of Environment,
Natural Resource Conservation and Tourism, BTO will request for release of funds
against approved budgets for operations.
“There will be annual audit of levy. Roll out for the machines will be done in three
stages starting from the busiest points of entry,” he said.
Explaining the payment facilitation, Tafa said it is through credit and debit card
(Visa/ MasterCard) adding that cash will be in US Dollars. He further stated that
LED messaging will indicate when a machine is out of order.
He said if no other machine is available, Immigration will be advised ref “No
Receipt” and payment of levy will be waived.
Tafa also stated that receipt will be valid for 30 days to service multi entry visitors
and that receipt will be unique to each passport. He added that online prepayment
for the TDL will be in service by July 1, 2017.
Minister Tshekedi Khama stated that tourism levy objectives are in line with the
objectives of BTO. He said projects supporting the aims of the TDL will be
presented by BTO for review by the Tourism Development Levy Management
Committee (TDLMC).
He further said that projects granted funding through the TDL will undergo formal
monitoring and evaluation throughout the funding period.
“An independent audit of the TDL will be undertaken annually by government,”
said Khama.
By Kabelo Seitshiro
Questions
1. Write down full names of the following abbreviated organizations
HATAB
___________________________________________________________
TDL
_________________________________________________________
BTO
__________________________________________________________________
2. How much would the levy be?
______________________________________________________
3. Who will the levy charges apply to and where would it be charged?
______________________________________________________________
4. How and when would the levy be collected?
______________________________________________________________
5. For how long wound the receipt be valid?
_______________________________________________________
PAC WILL BEGIN WORK ON UNVEILING CULPRITS
The Public Accounts Committee PAC) will resume business May 22 with the team
tasked with taking head-on matters surrounding financial expenditure of ministerial
departments.
For the past years PAC has been mandated to deal with both ministerial
departments and parastatals, only for the Committee to be relieved of the
responsibility with the latter following the introduction of Parliament Finance and
Estimates Committee responsible specifically for the fiscal prudence of the
parastatals.
“We had initially targeted May 15 for the session to resume but because of
documents from the audit committee that arrived late we rescheduled for a week
period,” indicated the Chairman of PAC Abram Kesupile.
“As you know the Committee was split into two … another one chaired by Guma
(Moyo) and we will this time around be dealing with Ministerial departments,”
Kesupile added referring to the different tasks currently mandated both PAC and
the Parliament Finance and Estimates Committee.
Both the Committees alternate - meaning the next session will be afforded the
Parliament Finance and Estimates Committee vice versa the following meeting.
A member of the Commonwealth, Botswana adopted the institution of PAC upon
attaining independence in September 1966 but was held in camera away from
prying ears of the public and media watch.
PAC oversees the financial activities of the Executive including poor management,
administration, and supervision let alone accounting systems of Ministries.
A slew of Government Ministries financial activities have been found wanting in a
string of sittings.
But none of the identified culprits have been hauled over hot coals as an example
for future perpetrators, prompting suggestions PAC is a toothless dog.
And as the PAC chairperson puts it, the session will appear to be business as usual.
“Ministries will be called upon to testify about their challenges, successes and
shortcomings whereupon their testimony will be brought under scrutiny by the
PAC,” revealed Kesupile.
By John Regonamanye
Questions
1. What is the mandate of PAC?
_________________________________________________________________
2. What has been the PAC team tasked with?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. Why was PAC relieved off responsibilities of dealing with both ministerial
departments and parastatals?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4. When did Botswana adopt the institution of PAC?
__________________________________________________________________
5. What does PAC oversee?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
6. Who is the chairman of the PAC?
__________________________________________________________________
OLDM TAKES PRIDE IN THE EARLY EXPLORATION OF DIAMONDS
Debswana’s Orapa Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines (OLDM) last week held a
two-day Diamond Exploration Conference which also coincided with their 50
years anniversary of diamond discovery.
OLDM also paid tribute to the pioneers who made it possible for Debswana
Mining Company to be where it is today. The conference which was organized by
Diamond Exploration Companies, University of Botswana and BIUST also had
students from these institutions who came to apprise themselves with diamond
exploration.
The objectives of the conference also sought to inspire young geology
undergraduates and professional to take exploration as a career and business
opportunity and to demonstrate past and present diamond exploration techniques.
The General Manager of OLDM, Bakani Motlhabani, showered accolades on
diamond exploration pioneers who made it possible for Debswana to be where it is
today. He took pride in the fact that the first diamond discoveries were made in the
Boteti Region.
“The first discoveries were made here in the Boteti Region with BK1, then AK1 in
1967, DK1 and 2 in 1968 and BK9 and 12 in 1970 with JWDK7 in 1972.
“Mining started in Orapa Mine in 1971, Letlhakane Mine in 1976, Jwaneng Mine
in 1982 and Damtshaa Mine in 2002. The lifespan of mining for Orapa Mine is
2053,” he said.
Motlhabani noted that diamonds played a pivotal role in the development of
Botswana and its people. He said Debswana continues to be the cornerstone of the
national economy of Botswana producing in excess of 70 percent of Botswana’s
export earnings, approximately 30 percent of Gross Domestic product (GDP) and
50 percent of government revenue.
“Diamond exploration has contributed greatly to the building of roads, clinics and
hospitals, schools and universities and general infrastructure in Botswana.
Our purpose is to turn diamond dreams into lasting reality, while caring about the
people whose life we touch because we mine diamonds to enrich the nation,”
added Motlhabani.
He also said that at the core of their business is the high regard for the safety and
wellbeing of their people, the environment, the community and the equipment they
use.
Sharing the history of Orapa diamond discovery one of the famous explorers and
pioneers, Manfred Marx, said it began on the morning of April 21, 1967.
Marx was with a team of 12 Batswana explorers and they stepped into a low
calcarete hill littered with Kimberlitic indicator minerals.
He said this was not entirely unexpected as some months earlier Dr Gavin Lamont
who was an exploration manager and senior geologist Jim Gibson had detected
such minerals during a road sampling survey into the isolated region south of the
Makgadikgadi Pans.
“However what was unexpected was the enormous size of this kimberlite pipe that
was destined to become the world class Orapa Mine.
Gavin and Jim arrived in my camp on April 25 where they examined the excavated
material and confirmed it to be a crater facies kimberlite like that at the Mwadui
Mine in Tanzania,” he said.
Marx said the field work that led to this discovery was very demanding as access
tracks had to be cut. He said hundreds of cuts had to be made and hundreds of
miles were walked at 11 miles traverse per day.
He also said heavy sample bags were carried often through thick thorn bush in the
hot sun and in risk of dangerous snakes. The exploration consisted of 40 Batswana
men.
“Little did we realise then that the Orapa discovery would not only be a company
maker but a nation maker. Surely God was smiling on Batswana for with
independence in September 1966, came the rains that ended the six years of
crippling drought, followed by the diamond discovery that was destined to secure
the country’s economic future and would positively impact on so many people. To
me this is surely the greatest legacy of the Orapa discovery,” Marx said.
He said before the Orapa discovery most of the Kimberlite mine discoveries were
made by prospectors such as Allister Fincham (Finchmine) and Williams (Mwadui
Mine).
He said after this period Orapa saw the discoveries by De Beers and other
companies of the Venetia Mine in South Africa and Argyle Mine in Australia. He
said with the Canadian mines came the entrepreneurial geologists such as Charles
Fibke and several others.
“The third person to see the large oval Orapa pipe feature on the aerial photograph
was Chris Jennings who was then the Deputy Director of the Geological Survey in
Lobatse,” said Marx
“However, the greatest leap forward was reserved for the people of Botswana. That
small step 50 years ago has ensured the future of many generations of Batswana,”
he added.
In conclusion Marx said Botswana mines stand as a beacon to the wise leadership
that the country has enjoyed over the years, led by the first president Sir Seretse
Khama.
He said Khama’s vision was that the wealth generated by the diamonds would be
shared by all of his people.

1. What was the objective of the conference?

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. When were the first diamond discoveries made?
__________________________________________________________________
3. What is the importance of diamonds?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4. Who was the third person to see the large oval Orapa pipe feature on the aerial
photograph?
_________________________________________________________________
5. What has inspired the progress of Botswana mines according to the passage?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
BELOW ARE SEVERAL MEANINGS OF THE WORD RUN.USE THEM TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT WOULD FOLLOW
1. A score in a baseball game made by a runner touching all the four bases safely
2. Travelling on foot at a fast pace
3. The act of testing something
4. The continuous period of time during which something operates or continues in
operation
5. Compete in a race
6. Cause an animal to move fast

1. Rangers Baseball Team beat Towers baseball team by 12 runs to 8. Which

definition of run fits the statement?
A. Definition 2
B. Definition 1
C. Definition 3
D. Definition 6
2. Tshepho and Naledi are about to run their softwares. Which definition fits the
statement?
A. Definition 3
B. Definition 2
C. Definition 6
D. Definition 1
3. He has been running the centre for 3 years now. Which definition fits the
statement?
A. Definition 5
B. Definition 6
C. Definition 4
D. Definition 1
4. When we were young we used to run our donkeys. What definition fits the
statement?
A. Definition 6
B. Definition 1
 C. Definition 3
D. Definition 4
CHANGE THE INFINITIVES IN BRACKETS TO EITHER PRESENT
SIMPLE OR PRESENT CONTINOUS TENSE
1. He (speak) five languages quite fluently
_________________________________________________________
2. He now (learn) Russian.
__________________________________________________________
3. The moon (go) round the earth
___________________________________________________________
4. He (listen) to the radio so don’t disturb him
__________________________________________________________
5. He always (complain) about his health
___________________________________________________________
6. My brother (write) a letter and I (read) a book
____________________________________________________________
7. He usually (drive) very carefully but today he (drive) recklessly
___________________________________________________________
8. We (be used) to living on a small income
____________________________________________________________
9. The term always (end) on Friday
_____________________________________________________________
10. The AU usually (meet) in Addis Ababa
_____________________________________________________________
CHANGE THE INFINITIVES IN BRACKETS TO EITHER THE PRESENT
PERFECT OR THE PAST SIMPLE TENSE AND REWRITE THE
SENTENCE
1. During this year we (see) many advances in technology
_____________________________________________________________
2. He (stop) digging when he was told the treasure has already been found
____________________________________________________________
3. He (run) away to sea when he was a boy and he is still a sailor
________________________________________________________________
4. Up to now he (be rejected) by every employer he has applied to
_________________________________________________________________
5. Europeans (live) in Australia since the eighteenth century
_________________________________________________________________
5. Since 1900 Science (progress) rapidly
__________________________________________________________________
6. I just (join) the library so that I can spend every evening studying there.
__________________________________________________________________
7. Last year John (win) a prize for composition. He (win) several prizes since he
(come) to our school.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
8. My father (work) as a carpenter since the day he (leave) school and isn’t a rich
man.
__________________________________________________________________
9. His sister (get) married in 1978 and (have) three children so far.
_________________________________________________________________
10.Ten years ago I (go) to New York but I not (go) there since.
__________________________________________________________________

CHANGE THE INFINITIVES IN BRACKETS TO EITHER PRESENT

PERFECT SIMPLE OR PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOS
1. Now that I (finish) Oliver Twist I shall read A Tale of Two Cities.
_________________________________________________________________
2. Out teacher (talk) about tenses for over an hour and we wish he would stop
_________________________________________________________________
3. Usman (fast) since sunrise and he is not allowed to eat until dinner
__________________________________________________________________
4. We (be) students in this school for the last five years
_________________________________________________________________
5. He (talk) for three hours and soon he will have to stop
_________________________________________________________
6. The workmen (build) our new classrooms since May.
_________________________________________________________________
7. My teacher (correct) our books for two hours and (not finish) yet
_______________________________________________________________
8. The prime minister just (announce) that the treaty(be signed)
______________________________________________________________
9. He (not visit) us since 1981
_________________________________________________________
10.His father (smoke) cigarettes for 20 years and now (be advised) by his doctor to
stop.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
CHANGE THE INFINITIVES IN BRACKETS TO EITHER THE PAST
SIMPLE OR THE PAST CONTINOUS TENSE
1. He (spend) three years in France when he (be) a young man.
__________________________________________________________________
2. We (do) a lot of oral work in form two.
__________________________________________________________________
3. She (live) with her parents when the war(break) out
__________________________________________________________________
4. Our school football team (win) the championship last year
__________________________________________________________________
5. He (read) the newspaper when I (see) him
__________________________________________________________________
6. His great grandfather (be born) hundreds of years ago
_________________________________________________________________
7. My sister (cook) a meal for ten of our guests all the afternoon
________________________________________________________________
8. He (walk) down to the beach, (take off) his clothes, (put on) swimming trunks
and (spend) an hour in water.
__________________________________________________________________
9. All last week he (paint) his house
______________________________________________________________
10.He (read) a lot of poetry when he (be) a student.
__________________________________________________________________
CHANGE THE INFINITIVES IN BRACKETS TO EITHER THE PAST
PERFECT, PAST SIMPLE OR THE PAST CONTINOUS TENSE
1. He (forget) my name, so I reminded him.
_____________________________________________________________
2. I (discuss) the matter wish my headmaster before I (write) to my father.
_________________________________________________________________
3. After he (finish) his studies he (live) Europe for two years.
________________________________________________________________
4. By 1000hrs the band (play) for three hours
_________________________________________________________________
5. Although I (ask) her to lend me the book , she (leave) it at home
________________________________________________________________
6. He (say) that the window (be broken) while he was on holiday
________________________________________________________________
7. My English teacher (give) me a good report last year
________________________________________________________________
8. The fire already (destroy) most of the building when the firemen (arrive)
____________________________________________________________
9. He (tell) me he (read) the history notes dictated by the teacher.
________________________________________________________________
10.She (study) French for two years when she (go) to Paris.
__________________________________________________________________
COMPLETE THE SENTENCES BELOW USING GOING TO, WILL AND
SHALL WHERE APPLICABLE
1. It is very cloudy and I am sure it ________________ rain
2. He __________ leave for Gaborone on Thursday
3. I __________stay in this town for a month
4. This train _____________ take you to Lagos
5. He __________ give you change if you ask him
6. I ___________ read a book tonight
7. He ____________ to clean his bicycle this evening
8. The sun ___________rise at 0530hrs tomorrow morning
9. The headmaster ___________ punish boys who stole from other students
10.His wife____________have a baby next month

FUTURE CONTINOUS TENSE

This tense is used for an activity or a state which begins before and continues after
a point of future time.
Examples
1. We shall be playing football at half past four tomorrow
2. When he arrives, they will be waiting at the railway station for him
3. Next Tuesday we shall be taking our final examinations
The Future Continuous can also be used to indicate that an activity or state will be
going on over a period of future time
1. I shall be working in the library all tomorrow morning
2. My brother will be studying at the University next year
3. Our teacher will be correcting examinations papers all next week

TASK
Write five sentences using the Future Continuous tense to indicate an activity
or state beginning before and continuing after a point of future time
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Write five sentences using the Future Continuous tense to indicate that an
event has been definitely planned for the future
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
 CONTINUOUS WRITING
(A) REPORT WRITING
A report is a presentation of facts. It comes in different shapes depending on the topic, and
requirements of the question. As a writer there are requirements that are needed to be followed
for a successful report. In real life writing a report involves finding out the facts, and this will
help the writer to write a comprehensive report. When writing a report one needs to think about
its purpose and who is going to read it. Then you should decide what to write in it, and how to
best present your ideas and facts. The purpose is the reason why you are writing the report. This
determines the kind of report you write.
HOW TO WRITE A REPORT
Title: this is the title of your report. Under the title there is usually the name of the writer.
Introduction: it usually states the objective of the report. It should be as short as possible
Body of the report: This contains the detailed facts and findings
Conclusion: Here, one should draw out the main points of the report

SAMPLE OF A NEWS PAPER REPORT

Seeing Gabs Through the eyes of a tourist > Title
By Wananai Modongo> Name of the writer

Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) in collaboration with Botswana

Society on Friday gave members of the media an opportunity to see the city of Gaborone through
the eyes of a tourist. The event dubbed the Gaborone Cultural Heritage City Tour, afforded the
‘tourists’ with a chance to experience the beauty of the city and the history behind some of its
heritage sites. The Botswana Society is a non- profit organization that has been promoting
Botswana’s heritage for more than forty years through its books, journals and public events. In
their efforts and dedication to re-tell Botswana’s heritage they conceptualized the Gaborone
Cultural Heritage Tour as a way of promoting cultural heritage. An interesting development
about this tour is the fact that some of us all take for granted the history and are rather not
interested or too lazy to take time and learn about places that are in our own backyards. Instead,
we usually tend to spend money travelling to foreign countries and investing time in knowing
about these places. The packed itinerary started off at the National Museum where tour guide
Benson Dingalo took the media through some of the old forms of transport that include the
sleigh, ox wagon as well as donkey carts and one of the first trains, Rhodesia train. However the
fact that the museum is closed deprived them the opportunity to know about some of history of
Botswana and her journey. Prior to picking Gaborone as the capital city, there were other areas
that include Shashe, Lobatse, Serowe and Palapye that were on the table but the final selection
was Gaborone due to its proximity as well as location on the Cape to Cairo route and the
Gaborone Dam that had been established in 1963. In the beginning due to the then lifestyle of
Batswana it was anticipated that 20 000 residents would reside in the city. Next upon the tour
was a short drive to the national museum. The drive afforded us a chance to learn about a
monument for The Pioneers. The Pioneers were Batswana who participated in the Second World
War (1939- 1945) and were on the side of the British (our colonisers). The men who eventually
left for war were picked by their chiefs. In total, ten thousand men left for war and two hundred
and ten died while six hundred and thirty seven were injured. Dingalo explained that because
most of the men were not experienced in using weapons, most of the men took posts such as
digging holes for the soldiers as well as cooking.
“You can imagine that sending ten thousand men from a population of 300 000 people, at the
time the number was big” he said

Second up was driving to the University of Botswana (UB) and learning along the way that at the
time of independence in 1966 only what is known today as the Grand Stand existed at the
national stadium. Prior to the establishment of the University of Botswana, the governments of
Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland had BOLESWA that was based in Lesotho until around 1975.
Following this development, Botswana and Swaziland partnered. The UB became a stand along
University in 1982. The tourists learnt about one of the important rooms in the compound of UB
that is the old library. Back then students either had to stand or borrow books to use them outside
the small library. Other places that they visited include Gaberones Camp where colonial masters
of the time were housed. The place that today is called Village has a gravesite for the victims of
Anglo Boer war. Unfortunately the graves all look abandoned with tall grass covering them. The
old prison was next on the list and most importantly was learning about the BHC trial houses that
are located at the Village. The houses made with asbestos were later abandoned. For this reporter
this was one of the highlights from this tour. For years we have passed by these houses and have
always longed to know the story behind them. Eventually I had thought that expatriates who
have gone back and left them in that state owned them.

Old Naledi was another highlight from the half day itinerary. The history of the township can be
traced to around 1970 when the city was established. There was no residential plan for the people
who came to Gaborone seeking employment. It is on this backdrop that a squatter settlement was
established at Old Naledi and later the government declared the residents of this settlement legal.
“Pieces of land were allocated on a first come first serve basis and the land came with a drop
toilet.” Dingalo said. Other places on tour included the three chiefs’ monument as well as
Bonnington.
Adapted from Botswana Guardian Newspaper
Write a composition on the following topic

THE MOST INTERESTING CULTURAL EVENT THAT I HAVE ATTENDED

Use the following guidelines and add your own points to make your composition more interesting

What event was it?

Where and when it was held
Who else attended
What major activities took place
What was exciting and enjoyable about it
Describe your general feeling about it

Your composition should be 300- 500 words

Question 2: letter writing

Imagine that you visited a place outside Botswana during school holidays. Write a letter to your
friend telling him or her about your visit.

Use the following points, adding yours to make it more interesting

When and where did you first visit?
What was the purpose of the visit
What you did
What you saw
Who were you with
What you liked most about the place
Your letter should be between 150- 200 words
THE MOST INTERESTING CULTURAL EVENT THAT I HAVE ATTENDED
Cultural events are events that are normally held to celebrate our culture and meet as
people of different ethnic groups and tribes to learn cultures of each other. They are
usually characterized by cooking traditional food, rocking traditional attire and playing
traditional games.

On the 4th of March 2017, I attended Son of the Soil cultural festival held at Serokolwane Lawns
just outside Gaborone with my family and friends. As we walked through the entrance my
dimensions of pleasure were filled to the bream as my eyes caught a glimpse of several famous
people like Nunu Ramogotsi, the jazz legend, Tlhalehang Charles, the famous photographer of
Mmegi newspaper and Professor Otlogetswe of Setswana linguistics at the University of
Botswana.

The venue was adorned with several cultural ornaments such as mortar and pestles, grain
gourds that were used in the past to store grain. On the other side of the venue a breath taking
aroma of Seswaa cuisine strangled our smell buds and led us to impatience as to when we would
be served. Older men were sitting a stone throw away from the fire enjoying traditional brew
while others were busy preparing beef biltong. Women on the other hand; with blue shawls over
their shoulders were singing traditional songs, middle aged women playing koi and morabaraba.
As the day went by and as were interacted with a lot of people I met my primary school teacher
and we were both happy to bump into each other at an event like that one. Traditional music
artists like Ditiro, Gongmaster and Mophato Dance Theatre took turns to set the stage ablaze
with our motherland music as we sat on our wooden chairs enjoying our traditional food.

As the sun went to sleep the event was also heading towards its last minutes and everyone was
left begging for more. The elders were however advantaged as they had the opportunity to go
and lengthen their day with jazz galore at Botswana Craft where jazz legends like Ndingo Johwa
popularly known as ‘Satjilombe’ were outdoing themselves.

It was really a great day and I was so exhausted from moving from one place to another at the
event but it was worth it because it was so out of this world. It was my first time to attend such a
properly planned event and I would never miss it as long as I still walk on this earth.

____________________________________________________________________________
The bold paragraph is the introduction and it should be captivating
The italised one is the body which covers the development and everything that happened
at the event should be seen here
The last normal one is the conclusion which summarizes everything that happened and
should not include any new information
SECTION A

Read the poem below and answer questions that follow

A SUDDEN STORM
PIUS OLEGHE
The wind howls, the trees sway
The loose house tops clatter and clang,
The open window shuts with a bang,
And the sky makes night of the day,

Helter-skelter the parents run,

Pressed with thousand minor cares,
“Hey you there! Pack the housewares!”
And “Where on earth’s my son?”
Home skip the little children:
“Where have you been, you naughty boy?”
The child can feel nothing but joy,
For he loves the approach of the rain

The streets clear, the houses fill,

The noise gathers as children shout,
To rival the raging wind without,
And nought that can move is still

A bright flash! - a lighted plain

Then, from the once- blue heavens
Accompanied by noise that deafens
Steadily pours the rain
QUESTION 1
a. i. Identify two examples of onomatopoeia from the first stanza
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
ii. Why does the poet use onomatopoeia?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
b. Explain the following image: And the sky makes night of the day
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
c. Give three examples of rhyme from the poem
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
d. What evidence is there in the poem that the storm brings joy to the children but worry to
their parents?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
e. Explain the last stanza in your words
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
f. Authors/ poets link words through sounds in a technique called alliteration to create an
aural effect. Identify two examples of alliteration from the poem.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
g. State one theme from the poem and explain it with one example
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
h. Comment on the structure of the poem
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
i. Analyze the diction of the poem
Education: The Key To Life:

Education
the light of our life
A gift of academic rife

Education
the key to a bright and rewarding future
A glue that joins our dreams like a suture

Education
A path to divine success
A smooth drive to our greatness

Education
gives our thinking a different appearance
And helps drive away all our ignorance

Education
It leads us to the path of prosperity
And gives our tomorrow a sounding security

Education
the process of teaching and learning
Which will help us in our future earning

Education
shaping our true character is the motto
Leading to a successful life it is the major factor

Education
The progressive discovery of our true self
And exploitation of the potentials of oneself

Education
a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army
A life boat that see us through our days of stormy

Education
A torch of academic brilliance
And backbone of inner resilience
Education
the key to unlock the golden door of freedom
And stage our rise to stardom

Education
A life sustaining material
Without it we can’t lead a life which is congenial

Education
not all about bookish knowledge
But it is also about practical knowledge

Education
makes a person stand up on his on toes
And helps a person to fight with all his foes

Education
A fundamental foundation
For any country state or nation

Education
A thick line between right and wrong
A ladder that takes us to the height where we belong

Education
Mother of all profession
That helps acquires all our possession

Education Is our right

For in it our future is bright.

By Stanley Oguh

1. Who is the poet?

______________________________________________________________________
2. Describe the structure of the poem
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. Identify pairs of rhyming words from stanza 2 and stanza 9
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. What does the poet mean when he says that education is ‘the key to unlock the golden door of
freedom’ in stanza 11?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
5. Explain in your own words why education is referred to as ‘mother of all professions’ in
stanza 17.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
6. What does the poet suggest when he refers to education as ‘a smooth drive to greatness’ in
stanza 3?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
7. Explain in your own words how education makes our future bright as suggested by the poet in
the last stanza

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

Read the passage below and answer questions that follow

Seeing Gabs Through the eyes of a tourist

Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) in collaboration with Botswana

Society on Friday gave members of the media an opportunity to see the city of Gaborone through
the eyes of a tourist. The event dubbed the Gaborone Cultural Heritage City Tour, afforded the
‘tourists’ with a chance to experience the beauty of the city and the history behind some of its
heritage sites. The Botswana Society is a non- profit organization that has been promoting
Botswana’s heritage for more than forty years through its books, journals and public events. In
their efforts and dedication to re-tell Botswana’s heritage they conceptualized the Gaborone
Cultural Heritage Tour as a way of promoting cultural heritage. An interesting development
about this tour is the fact that some of us all take for granted the history and are rather not
interested or too lazy to take time and learn about places that are in our own backyards. Instead,
we usually tend to spend money travelling to foreign countries and investing time in knowing
about these places. The packed itinerary started off at the National Museum where tour guide
Benson Dingalo took the media through some of the old forms of transport that include the
sleigh, ox wagon as well as donkey carts and one of the first trains, Rhodesia train. However the
fact that the museum is closed deprived them the opportunity to know about some of history of
Botswana and her journey. Prior to picking Gaborone as the capital city, there were other areas
that include Shashe, Lobatse, Serowe and Palapye that were on the table but the final selection
was Gaborone due to its proximity as well as location on the Cape to Cairo route and the
Gaborone Dam that had been established in 1963. In the beginning due to the then lifestyle of
Batswana it was anticipated that 20 000 residents would reside in the city. Next upon the tour
was a short drive to the national museum. The drive afforded us a chance to learn about a
monument for The Pioneers. The Pioneers were Batswana who participated in the Second World
War (1939- 1945) and were on the side of the British (our colonisers). The men who eventually
left for war were picked by their chiefs. In total, ten thousand men left for war and two hundred
and ten died while six hundred and thirty seven were injured. Dingalo explained that because
most of the men were not experienced in using weapons, most of the men took posts such as
digging holes for the soldiers as well as cooking.
“You can imagine that sending ten thousand men from a population of 300 000 people, at the
time the number was big” he said

Second up was driving to the University of Botswana (UB) and learning along the way that at the
time of independence in 1966 only what is known today as the Grand Stand existed at the
national stadium. Prior to the establishment of the University of Botswana, the governments of
Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland had BOLESWA that was based in Lesotho until around 1975.
Following this development, Botswana and Swaziland partnered. The UB became a stand along
University in 1982. The tourists learnt about one of the important rooms in the compound of UB
that is the old library. Back then students either had to stand or borrow books to use them outside
the small library. Other places that they visited include Gaberones Camp where colonial masters
of the time were housed. The place that today is called Village has a gravesite for the victims of
Anglo Boer war. Unfortunately the graves all look abandoned with tall grass covering them. The
old prison was next on the list and most importantly was learning about the BHC trial houses that
are located at the Village. The houses made with asbestos were later abandoned. For this reporter
this was one of the highlights from this tour. For years we have passed by these houses and have
always longed to know the story behind them. Eventually I had thought that expatriates who
have gone back and left them in that state owned them.

Old Naledi was another highlight from the half day itinerary. The history of the township can be
traced to around 1970 when the city was established. There was no residential plan for the people
who came to Gaborone seeking employment. It is on this backdrop that a squatter settlement was
established at Old Naledi and later the government declared the residents of this settlement legal.
“Pieces of land were allocated on a first come first serve basis and the land came with a drop
toilet.” Dingalo said. Other places on tour included the three chiefs’ monument as well as
Bonnington.

Adapted from Botswana Guardian Newspaper

Questions

1. What does HATAB stand for?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. What was the name of the event?
______________________________________________________________________________
3. Botswana Society is referred to here in the passage as a non-profit organization. What is a
non-profit organization?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. Explain what the word itinerary means as used in the passage

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
5. Why was Gaborone chosen as a capital city?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
6. How many men were injured at the Second World War?

___________________________________________________________________________
7. How long was the Second World War?

________________________________________________________________
8. Where is the gravesite of victims of Anglo Boer war located?
____________________________________________________________________
9. Old Naledi is said to have been a squatter settlement in the beginning. What is a squatter
settlement as used in the passage?

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
SECTION A – POETRY

FEAR IN MY COUNTRY

By Alaa M. Shehata

I was living peacefully with my family, in my country with no fear

I was only a child, full of innocence and tears

I cry every time I see my family dying in front of me

I didn’t decide my fate, I didn’t know who to love or hate

I didn’t know that some people have no heart

They killed my family and tore my country apart

They burned my home and conquered my world

They threw me on the streets with their own hand

I starved to the point that I couldn’t stand

I wanted to get up and fight for my family and my motherland

But I couldn’t I was too weak

I wanted to be strong to take revenge and speak

All this happened because we have different beliefs

You started a bloody war injustice is what you achieved

You stabbed me in the heart with a sharp knife

Now that I am dead I can live a better life

With no fear or tear, I ‘m sure God will protect my country

and give its people a new peaceful year

1. What is the above poem about?

____________________________________________________________________________________
2. State the mood of the poem

_____________________________________________________________________________________

3. What makes the poet cry almost every day?

4. Explain the meaning of ‘ I didn’t know some people have no hearts’

_____________________________________________________________________________________

5. Give the structure of the poem

-_________________________________________________________________________________
6. Who is the persona in the poem?

__________________________________________________________________________________
7. What word from the poem shows that the poet loves his country as much as his family?

_________________________________________________________________________
8. The word but in line 11 suggests that there has been a change in the poet’s life or circumstance.
Explain what this change is

_____________________________________________________________________________________
9. Why couldn’t the poet fight back?

___________________________________________________________________________________
10. According to the poet what caused the conflict?

__________________________________________________________________________________
11. Give one pair of rhyming words from stanza 4

_____________________________________________________________________
12. Sadness is a theme from the poem, what evidence is there in the poem to suggest that

________________________________________________________________________________
 ROAD ACCIDENTS IN BOTSWANA

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow

Oabile was the life and soul of every party in Gaborone. He had to be; after all he had all the Cs:
car, cash, and cellphone. Money wasn’t a problem; he could get any job he wanted with his kind
of education. He was in demand as he had degree in mining engineering and engineering
accounts.

At school Oabile was known as Oxford, after the oxford dictionary because he had all the
answers in class. He was a super genius. He had no problem with getting a scholarship to study
engineering in United States of America. When he came back all mining companies were
waiting anxiously for him with a job offer. He got a job immediately at one of the world’s
biggest mining companies and his employers did not complain about his productivity and
creativity. He was one of the few Batswana with degree and his employers had no problem with
paying his hefty salary; he was a scarce skill and an asset indeed.

When month end came he got his salary and the world belonged to him. He was known for his
ability to handle a car no matter how drunk he was. After getting drunk he would go to spin city
to spin his ‘gusheshe’. He drove the latest model of flashy BMW. He ruled spin city. He lived in
Selibe Phikwe and it took him only 2 1⁄2 hours to travel 570km distance to visit his girlfriend
Tumo in Gaborone.

He was driving “Lord of the road”. The parties were waiting for him as he needed to take time
from his busy week days. He often left Gaborone in the evenings on Sunday to go back to Selibe
Phikwe. The fun at the parties didn’t end until the end of evenings. The Gaborone- Francistown
road commonly known as A1 that he used had a lot of cattle and traffic on it. The road itself was
too narrow and often overtaking another car was a challenge as there was no space. With a fast
carlike his, he believed he could quickly overtake and join his lane.

However this one Sunday luck wasn’t on his side. After an eventful evening in Gaborone it was
time to go back to Selibe Phikwe. He had a cooler box full of beer for the road with him. There
was traffic just after Mahalapye but he was impatient because he had to get back home and
prepare for Monday. He tried to overtake 4 cars at once. There was on-coming traffic, but
because he was drunk and too tired from partying, and it was late at night, he misjudged the
distance and speed of the on- coming traffic. He couldn’t get back to his lane on time and there
was a cow crossing the road.

Unfortunately this resulted in a major accident involving seven vehicles and a cow. The accident
resulted in fatality of 10 people including him. This was sad indeed in the lives of everyone. He
was the only educated child at his home and a bread winner. One of the cars involved was
carrying a family of 4 and a 2 year old toddler was the only survivor. It took police officers more
than 10 hours to retrieve the trapped bodies from the wreckage and help those trapped in the cars.
The road was temporarily closed for 10 hours

Questions

1. How has drinking and driving ruined Oabile’s life?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. Give the maximum speed limit permitted in Botswana
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. State two reasons why over speeding is not safe
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. How has Oabile’s death affected his family?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
5. Why do the youth engage in drinking?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
6. How did the 10 hour closure of the road affect the economy of the country?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
7. State Oabile’s qualifications
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
8. Why do young men and women come to the city during the weekend and at month end?
 ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
9. What does the phrase scarce skill mean?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
10. In your opinion how many cars should a driver overtake at a time?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Question 3
Discuss other causes of road accidents in Botswana not mentioned in the passage
______________________________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________________________
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Read the passage below and answer the questions
THE HUMAN MACHINE
Some people compare the human body with a machine. The body is very complicated but there
is a reason for every part, even the smallest. Different parts are dependent on others for proper
successful working. And also like a machine, the whole body is oiled and smooth.
If the body is a machine then the brain is the computer which gives instructions to the machine.
All machines need fuel for power. The heart is a pump that drives fuel, in form of blood, to all
parts of the machine. It carries oxygen and food, without which the machine would stop, and it
takes away waste gases such as carbon dioxide.
Interdependence in the human machine can be seen in millions of ways but one example is
enough. The heart cannot pump unless it has instructions from the brain telling it to pump fast or
slow. The brain, on the other hand, needs blood in order to work properly. Thus the brain and the
heart work together, usually in a smooth and efficient way, and depend on each other.
Machines need protection. What protects the human machine? Two things, the skeleton, made up
of 200 bones, and the skin covers the body. Bones protects the vital parts of machine such as the
heart, the lungs and the kidneys. The skin keeps out rain water and also excessive heat and cold.
It also protects against the bacteria that are in the air all around us.
Bones are also important in movement. This is a machine that can move in many ways. Along
with muscles, bones forms joints which allows movements of arms and legs. These joints such as
the shoulder, elbow, wrist and in the lower part, the hip, knee and ankle- are lubricated by an oil
called synovial fluid.
How does the brain, the controlling computer, get its messages to all parts of the machine? The
answer is that there are pathways of nerves, like wires in a radio or television set. The nerves
carry messages from the brain in the form of electrical charges. Such messages are very fast.
There are also messages in the form of hormones. These work more slowly and the message is
chemical and electrical.
The computer and the machine need to know what is happening round them. There are five
senses that deal with this. They are sight, smell, taste, touch and hearing. They supply the
machine with important information and also warn against danger.
Because of the five senses, the machine is able to talk and communicate with other machines.
This is not all, by any means. The machine need gases in order to work properly. The most
important gas is oxygen. This enters the machine through nose and mouth and is carried to the
lungs where it passes to the bloodstream. At the same time, carbon dioxide, a waste and
poisonous gas, leaves the blood and is taken to the mouth where it is released into the air.
It is also the mouth that digestion begins. The action of the tongue, teeth and saliva break food
down into smaller pieces. It then passes down to the stomach, where muscles and stomach juices
work on it and break it down still further. Other parts of the machine contain their juices which
also work on food until it is fully broken down or digested. What is useful is taken into the blood
and waste is passed out.
Many people today, especially scientists and some doctors, think the body is only a machine and
the brain only a computer. Wonderful, complicated but still only a mechanical thing. Some other
people do not like comparison with machine and computer however. Such people ask about the
spirit and the mind. They say that human beings have both but machines neither. We are not just
machines because we think of ourselves. We have learnt to read, write and to make music,
produce books and paintings and do mathematics. Most important of all, we can think about the
purpose of our lives. Which machine ever looks for an answer to the meaning of life? Which
machine ever holds out its hands in prayer to God? These things come from the spirit and mind
of the man. You can destroy all parts of a machine. You can destroy the body but you cannot,
people argue, destroy the human spirit or soul.
Very briefly those are mechanical and religious views of man.
Extracted from Junior English Comprehension by R. S Byram
1. Like a machine the human body is

A. Very small
B. Dependent
C. Proper and successful
D. Smooth and well oiled

2. Which organ is said to give instructions?

A. Brain
B. Heart
C. Lungs
D. Kidney

3. The heart cannot work properly

A. Unless it is properly lubricated
B. With instructions from the brain
C. Unless it sends blood to all parts of the body
D. Without waste gases
4. The word interdependence means
A. Depend on each other
B. Being together
C. Of the same group
D. Pulling together
5. Why is the skeleton important?
A. Protects the body
B. Covers the skin
 C. Protects against bacteria
D. Protects against heat and cold
6. The following is false except
A. Bones don’t need synovial fluid to function
B. The brain doesn’t need blood to work properly
C. The skin protects against bacteria
D. Protects against heat and cold
7. State the role of joints to the body
A. For lubrication
B. For running
C. For control
D. For movement
8. How are nerves different from hormones?
A. Nerves are messages and hormones are like radio set
B. Nerves are electrical and hormones are chemical
C. Nerves are pathways and hormones are fast
D. Nerves are wires and hormones are chemicals
9. The following are five senses except
A. Site
B. Touch
C. Smelling
D. Hearing
10. Which list best shows the right order of how oxygen travels in the body?
A. Mouth, nose, lungs, bloodstream
B. Nose, lungs, mouth, bloodstream
C. Nose, mouth, lungs, bloodstream
D. Nose, mouth, bloodstream, lungs
11. Muscles and stomach juices major roles are to_________________________________
A. Push food to the stomach
B. Break food into smaller pieces
C. Work on the food
D. Transfer food to the blood
12. Differentiate between the human body and machine
A. Humans have spirit and cannot think
B. Humans have spirit like machines
C. Human have spirit and are not complicated
D. Humans have spirit and mind
13. Between humans and machines, who can think of life’s purpose
A. God
B. Humans
C. Soul
D. Spirit
14. The following is true except
 A. The body is a machine
B. The brain is a computer
C. The body is neither a machine nor a computer
D. The body is a mechanical thing
15. ‘Writing, reading, painting and mathematics’ these are the things done by
A. God
B. Humans
C. Spirit
D. Machines

Complete each of the blanks in the passage below using words given in questions 16 to 23
When he was 13 Edward was kidnapped by Ugandan rebels and 16_ to become a soldier in
Lord’s Resistance Army. He ___17____ the longest- running guerilla war in modern history by
being a trusted friend of Joseph Kony, the chief architect of the brutal insurgency. Fourteen years
later, with Kony 18__ the run, Edward is returning to his childhood village, nervous about the
reception he will receive after his role in __19___ his own people. For more than two decades,
about 30, 000 children were abducted __20___ northern Uganda provided the fuel for Kony’s
cult-like LRA. A self- styled mystic who claimed to channel a host of spirits, his hazy aims of
seizing power and ruling Uganda. 21__ to the reports Kony’s regime collapsed after his forces
were chased across the Nile and out of the country in 2006. 22__ then he has roamed east central
Africa’s forests with a band of a few hundred children 23___ from neighbouring countries
Adapted from BBC WORLD 2007
16. A. Forces B. forcing C. forced D. force
17. A. Surviving B. survives C. survive D. survived
18. A. in B. on C. by D. for
19. A. terrorizes B. terrorized C. terrorize D. terrorizing
20. A. by B. for C. from D. on
21. A. according by B. according C. according to D. accordingly
22. A. before B. since C. by D. for
23. A. kidnapped B. kidnapping C. kidnaps D. kidnapping

Fill in blank spaces with an appropriate article in questions(s) 24-25

24. _________________ horrific car accident happened this morning
A. An
B. Some
C. A
D. Any

25. __________clerk wrote ten letters a day

 A. Any
B. The
C. A
D. An
Fill in the blank spaces with an appropriate adjective in question(s) 26-28
26. Owen is the ________________ of them all
A. Smart
B. More smart
C. Less smart
D. Smartest
27. The ____________________ candidate won the modelling competition
A. Worse
B. Worst
C. More worse
D. Less worse
28. Her composition is the _____________ of them all
A. Long
B. Longest
C. Too long
D. Very long
Fill in the blank spaces with an appropriate phrasal verb in question(s) 29- 32
29. The plane landed on the __________________
A. runway
B. run off
C. run in
D. run on
30. The idea ____________ my mind
A. blew off
B. blew away
C. blew in
D. blew on
For question(s) 30 – 33 use the appropriate subject-verb agreement
31. Neither Tom nor Jerry _________ eaten anything
A. Had
B. Has
C. Have
D. Is

32. Karabo ___________ food

A. Had loves
 B. Love
C. Loves
D. Had love
33. Either he or she __________ telling lies
A. Is
B. Was
C. Are
D. Were

Study the following meanings of word way and choose the correct meaning of the word
as used in the question 34 to question 38

Way
1. A method for doing something
2. The manner/ style in which something happened or is done
3. A particular road/ path/ track that you use in order to go from one place to the other
4. The direction/ position where something is/ the direction in which something is standing/
moving
5. Distance from one place to another

34. Their way of preparing papa is different from ours

A. Definition 1
B. Definition 2
C. Definition 3
D. Definition 4
35. Mr Selalane lost his way and had to ask for directions from a passer-by
A. Definition 3
B. Definition 4
C. Definition 5
D. Definition 1
36. I like the way Chanda walks, she is a real diva
A. Definition 2
B. Definition 4
C. Definition 5
D. Definition 1
37. Students in Bora have a way of communicating using sign language
A. Definition 3
B. Definition 2
C. Definition 3
D. Definition 5
38. The nearest hotel is quite a long way from where we are
 A. Definition 1
B. Definition 2
C. Definition 3
D. Definition 5
Fill in the blank spaces with the correct question tag in question 39 to 40
39. Vincent did not go to school, ___________________
A. did he?
B. didn’t he?
C. don’t he?
D. does he?
40. She doesn’t do her work every day, _________________
A. doesn’t she?
B. didn’t she?
C. don’t she?
D. does she?
Reincarnation
By Wallace McCrae

“What does Reincarnation mean?”

A cowpoke asked his friend.
His pal replied, “It happens when
Your life has reached its end.
They comb your hair, and wash your neck,
And clean your fingernails,
And lay you in a padded box
Away from life’s travails.”

“The box and you goes in a hole,

That’s been dug into the ground.
Reincarnation starts in when
You’re planted beneath a mound.
Those clods melt down, just like your box,
And you who is inside.
And then you’re just beginning’ on
Your transformation ride.”

“In a while, the grass will grow

Upon your rendered mound.
Till some day on your moldered grave
A lonely flower is found.
And say a hose should wander by
And graze upon this flower
That once was you, but now’s become
Your vegetative bower.”

“The posy that the hose done ate

Up, with his other feed,
Makes bone, and fat, and muscle
Essential to the steed,
But some is left that he can’t use
And so it passes through,
And finally lays upon the ground
This thing, that once was you.”

“Then say, by chance, I wanders by

And sees this upon the ground,
And I ponders, and I wonders at,
This object that I found.
I thinks of reincarnation,
Of life and death, and such,
And come away concluding’: ‘Slim,
You aren’t changed, all that much.'”
Questions

1. State the structure of the poem

_________________________________________________________________
2. Explain what this poem is about
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. Explain what the word travails from stanza 1 mean
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4. What kind of imagery is evoked in stanza 1? Give example to illustrate that
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
5. Identify two rhyming words from the last stanza
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Read the passage below and answer questions that follow

Love on the rocks

By Andrew Sesinyi

Streaks of sunlight filtered through the opening between the curtains as Pule pulled himself out
of the ruffled bed. He yawned and stretched, feeling blissful contentment moving through his
limbs. The clock on the bedside table told him it was 10a.m. Saturday. Pule smiled to himself at
this realization and once again stretched his naked limbs. As always his mind rushed through his
Saturday programme, while he stared unseeingly at the wall opposite him.

Years had flown like doves. From library messenger had ascended to the glorious heights of
being a library assistant after excelling in his Junior Certificate Examinations. Two years later
Pule turned another stone of success with a distinction in Cambridge School Certificate. From
being a bush-boy Pule now was a first year student as a university undergraduate, reading for
B.A degree in Arts and specializing in English Language and History. Pule thought about his
achievement with pride tinged with modesty and a feeling of inadequacy. He could still do more.
He had not yet acquired his degree. He did not want his successes to make him proud or
overbearing. He wanted to learn as much as he could while he still had chance. He soon found
out that it was archaic to try to moralize on issues of dress and sex. In any case an atmosphere
could be studios as well as boisterous. It was politics which interested Pule most. Discussions at
student body meetings, at the student tuck-shops, outside the library, in the rooms and in the
grounds were anything from lukewarm on local issues to militant on international issues. Pule
found out that students read more about politics, about foreign ideologies and events in racist
countries than they read the books relevant to their courses. He had been at university for only
two months when a strike erupted, disrupting the life of the academic years for two weeks. Pule
began to think of the university as a madhouse. But he loved the contrast between this and the
cemetery silence of the examinations times. Students would then pick quietly at their meals,
reading the very devil out of their books.

The winter sun was golden and warm as Pule stepped out of the main gate of the college, feeling
content after a couple of fried eggs, soft porridge and a glass of milk. He was off to town. It was
Saturday, and Saturday was Saturday. One does not waste a winter Saturday morning which is
glowing in the warm sunshine! He was soon in the town centre. It was as usual bustling with
activity. People were doing their shopping, drinking their beer at president hotel or just there to
see who they might meet. As he sauntered along he caught sight of a girl whom he had noticed
before. She was very beautiful and Pule had often wondered if he dared to speak to her. Today
she was looking particularly lovely in a yellow blouse and a red skirt that was split to just above
her knees. She appeared to be totally unaware of her effect on Pule as she walked close by him,
head down in contemplation, her small round behind swaying provocatively. Pule made up his
mind suddenly. His heart hammering, he made a 180 degree turn and followed the girl. Who was
this girl that she had such an effect on him? He had flirted with one or two girls but had never
felt seriously about them. But as he looked at this stranger he found that his throat went dry, his
heartbeat became rapid and he was filled with physical desire for her. He followed her across the
street into a quieter area then, quickening his step, he came abreast of her and coughed
nervously.
‘Hello. Dumela mma,’ he stammered
‘Dumela Rra,’ the girl replied in a surprised tone. She looked at him with an expression that said
she knew what was coming and could almost say it for him.
‘What is your name Mma? Where do you stay?’ A few minutes later ‘I love you’ thought
Moradi. And then there would be attempt to hold her hand…disgusting
But Pule did not say or do any of these things. He kept walking beside her.

After about 5 minutes of silence, she raised her eyes and found herself looking straight into
Pule’s eyes. Pule was not smiling. He just stared back and then said, almost in a whisper, ‘My
God!’ You are even more beautiful than I thought…’
The girl was thrown off balance. She lowered her eyes quickly on a sulky look. Pule kept on
staring in silence. She raised her eyes again; again they met Pule’s. She looked away, as if with
annoyance. As she turned to go into a house, Pule stopped and, with a confidence he did not feel
said ‘My name is Pule Nkgogang from Kgomokasitwa. I don’t want to be a nuisance but I was
attracted by your looks.’ As the girl paused to study him from shoes to his hair, Pule slowly
turned and saying ‘Goodbye’ he strode away. The girl stood still for a moment, unable to explain
her feelings. She felt annoyed by this overly confident young man and surprised by the intensity
of his stare and the seriousness of his voice. He had turned away of his own accord and had not
become a nuisance. He had not asked her any questions. How very strange it was. Shrugging her
elegant shoulders, the girl went into her house.

Pule did not know whether his Saturday was spoiled or blessed. He wondered at his courage…
his daring approach. What a nerve he had! Had he done anything he should not have done? Pule
walked back to the shopping centre, preoccupied with the memory of her brown eyes, her firm
breasts, and her voice as she replied to his greeting! He found some of his classmates loitering in
the town and he fell into a step with them, still dreaming. The young men were in the middle of a
heated discussion on the South African and Rhodesian political situations with constant reference
to the writings of Marx, Lenin and Engels. Pule fell in love with them and returned with them to
the campus. A long, hot argument followed which went on till the early hours. A great deal of
the beer helped to wash the discussion down, so that when he awoke late on Sunday morning
Pule had a slight headache and a disgusting taste in his mouth. His annoyance with himself drove
him to a quick decision. He felt that his hesitant behavior of the day before was a sign of
inadequacy on his part. Courage, he thought, that’s what I must have. He took a sudden decision.

Questions

1. What is the time and place setting of the story?

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________________________________________________________________
2. What was interesting Pule the most?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. What did Pule realize about most students?
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4. What is the theme of the story? Explain your answer?
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__________________________________________________________________
5. What impression did the girl that Pule followed have about Pule?
__________________________________________________________________
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6. What impression did Pule have about himself after what he did on Saturday?
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__________________________________________________________________
 POETRY
Study the poem below and answer questions that follow

Unto us a child
Barolong Seboni
Behold the child
Round bellied
In a potbellied society
A running nose that hardly knows
The Sunday smell of chicken roast

Behold this child

With envy in his eye
At the sight of privileged playmates
Cycling boastfully by

Watch this boy

A neglected bundle of reluctant joy
Whose companion is soundless sorrow

Watch him and wonder

About the birth of tomorrow
For the child
Gentle resignation or fury wild
Will father the man

Look to the child

Questions

1. Describe the structure of the poem

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______________________________________________________________________________
2. The child’s roundbelly is compared to the society’s potbelly. What does this tell us about
the child?
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______________________________________________________________________________
3. In stanza 3 explain why the child is envious
______________________________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________________________
4. Discuss the word ‘boastfully’ to explain the behavior of the boy’s playmates
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______________________________________________________________________________
5. What is the mood of the poem above? Support your answer

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______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
6. Identify the following poetic devices in the poem

Rhyme
_______________________________________________________________
Symbolism
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Metaphor
___________________________________________________________________
7. Identify and discuss one theme from the poem above using a relevant example to support
your answer
 ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
8. Who is the poet?
___________________________________________________________________

READ THE PASSAGE BELOW AND ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT FOLLOW

Sleep, baby, sleep

The world slumbered as Didimalang slid her legs off her bed. She slipped her feet into her slippers
and opened her bedroom door. Tiptoeing down the passage to the kitchen, she unlocked the door
that led to the outside and stepped into the night. She had only taken a few steps when the pain
came again. It pushed her back and squeezed a groan from her. ‘Ijoo’ She rubbed her stomach to
soften the pain and stumbled forward.
Tiger bounded out of the shadows, barking as if it had seen a thief.
‘Shhhhh, Tiger! It’s me,’ she whispered. ‘Go away’
“Who’s there?’ a voice called out from the house
Didimalang flattened her body against the wall. Tiger liked the game. He wagged his tail against
her leg. Thump. Thump. Thump. She heard mattress springs creaking, then footsteps coming
closer.
‘Who’s there?’ her father asked
She was caught. ‘It’s me papa. I am going to the toilet. My stomach….’ Her voice faded as the
pain struck again.
‘Ao? Ngwanake, your stomach is still sore? Let me wake your mother. We must take you to the
clinic.’ ‘No, Papa. Don’t wake her. I will be fine. I am getting better.’
Didimalang followed the path to the toilet, but instead of going inside she continued. She waded
through dry grass that scratched her knees till she reached the disused toilet in the neighbor’s yard.
Tiger scampered beside her, happy for the unexpected company. She reached the toilet, unhooked
the latch and went inside. She leaned against the door as Tiger stood sentry outside. Pain sliced
across her stomach again, cutting her into two, over and over again. When she thought she would
pass out, the pain finally stopped. It was over, it was a boy.
Untying the cloth from around her waist she wrapped the baby in it. She was about to throw the
bundle into the toilet when he began to cry. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t throw the baby away.
She clutched him to her heart and came to a decision. She would keep him. Her parents would
understand when she told them she made a mistake. She would beg for their forgiveness. Then she
pictured her mother’s disappointment and she felt her father’s rage. She looked around the toilet,
sank to her knees and laid her baby in a corner. She opened the door and walked outside. She
wiped away the tears that streamed down her face. Her legs trembled as she walked. Finally she
was home. She cleaned herself and then she curled her body into a ball in her bed. She closed her
eyes but sleep ran from her, teasing her like they were playing a game of black mampatile. She
slept at last, but she dreamt of babies, crying for their mothers. In her dreams she cradled a tiny
baby and she sang to him, softly till he closed his eyes.
Nnana robala
Robala nnana wame
Sleep baby,
Sleep my baby, sleep
When Didimalang woke up she found her mother studying her with a look of worry creasing her
face.
‘You were crying in your sleep, Didi, what’s wrong?’
Didimalang shook her head and said nothing. ‘I am your mother, Didi. You know you can talk to
me about anything. You know that, don’t you?’
‘Yes mama I just had a bad dream.’ She turned her head away from her mother so that she couldn’t
see her tears. She remembered how she had tried to tell her mother about Mothusi.
Mothusi. He was the one the girls whispered about. His skin was the colour of coffee and his eyes
were a crazy kind of brown with long eyelashes. ‘So cute,’ they all said. He wore his school trouser
low and he walked with a bounce. ‘So cool,’ they all said. He’d become her friend in form 1 and
they started sitting next to each other. He was fun. He made her laugh. Sometimes she felt a little
shy around him, like when he told her she was beautiful before. Didimalang had felt her cheeks go
warm. Later at home she stood in front of the mirror and studied her face. Her hair was short and
black with tight curls. She wished it was long and straight. Her skin was as dark as the wood of
the coffee tables and her nose was flat and wide. She pressed her nostrils together. If only her nose
was smaller and pointed. Her teeth were white, but with a gap between the front two and her lips
were too thick. Then she remembered that Mothusi had called her a beautiful African princess.
Didimalang smiled and twirled in front of the mirror. Yes she was beautiful – as beautiful as an
African princess.
Her mother found her dancing in front of the mirror. Didimalang smiled at her mother. ‘Am I
beautiful, Mama?’
‘Didi, a girl must be beautiful here, inside. That is what counts.’ Her mother patted her breast as
she spoke. Didimalang looked back at the mirror and stopped dancing. Her mother did not
understand. Since they started attending evening studies, Didimalang and Mothusi had been
walking home together. Mothusi never did more than hold her hand. On the day they walked home
from their last exam, things changed. Maybe it was a relief of finishing exams, but whatever it was
Mothusi kissed her. It was a real kiss, the one she’d seen on TV, the kind that made her mother
purse her lips and change to God channel. Then Mothusi held her close and whispered in her ear,
‘I love you, D’. He kissed her again and again. Finally Didimalang pulled away. I must go. It’s
late Mothusi.
She found her mother already back from work. ‘Why are you home so late, Didimalang?’
I was with my friends. ‘Then she’d decided to tell her mother the truth. ‘With Mothusi’
‘Who?’
‘Mothusi. He is my best friend.’
Didimalang remembered her mother’s words. ‘You are too, too young for those things,
Didimalang. Concentrate on your books and stay away from boys. Boys are trouble’
Didimalang found a poem in her desk the next morning. She hid it between the pages of her book
and stuffed it deep into her school bag where no one would find it. When she was alone she took
it out of the book and read it aloud, then she held it to her heart. She smiled and felt warm inside.
My love for you is like summer rain
Soft drops
Tapping gently on your heart
The day Mothusi said she should prove that she loved him; she wasn’t sure what to do. They were
walking home from school dance. He said his parents were away at a funeral.
‘Come on D ….Nothing will happen…I thought you said you love me. Show me you love me for
real D…I love you, D.’
‘I love you Mothusi but I don’t want a baby. I want to finish school first, Mothusi. I want to…..’
When Mothusi took her by the hand, she had let him. When he opened the door to his parents’
home, she’d followed him inside. She had no idea that that night she took her dream of becoming
an engineer, crumpled it up and threw it to the night. She had no idea then of the nightmare that
would follow.

Questions

1. (i) Determine the time setting of the extract above

___________________________________________________________________________
(ii) Give one setting indicator for the answer in (i)
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______________________________________________________________________________
2. With a relevant example from the story above, give one character trait of the below mentioned
characters and discuss them in relation to the story

Didi
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
 Mothusi
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. Identify and explain the major theme from the story above with a relevant example from the
story
______________________________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________________________
4. Trace the events that led to the delivery of Didimalang’s baby
______________________________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________________________
5. What is the moral lesson of the story?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________________________
Many young girls like Didimalang are faced with challenges in their day to day lives. Citing
examples from the story, as well as those from real life situations, discuss some of these challenges.

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*The end*
The Handwriting On The Wall
Mother Theresa

A weary mother returned from the store,

Lugging groceries through the kitchen door.
Awaiting her arrival was her 8 year old son,
Anxious to relate what his younger brother had done.

“While I was out playing and Dad was on a call,

T.J. took his crayons and wrote on the wall!
It’s on the new paper you just hung in the den.
I told him you’d be mad at having to do it again.”

She let out a moan and furrowed her brow,

“Where is your little brother right now?”
She emptied her arms and with a purposeful stride,
She marched to his closet where he had gone to hide.

She called his full name as she entered his room.

He trembled with fear–he knew that meant doom!
For the next ten minutes, she ranted and raved
About the expensive wallpaper and how she had saved.

Lamenting all the work it would take to repair,

She condemned his actions and total lack of care.
The more she scolded, the madder she got,
Then stomped from his room, totally distraught!

She headed for the den to confirm her fears.

When she saw the wall, her eyes flooded with tears.
The message she read pierced her soul with a dart.
It said, “I love Mommy”, surrounded by a heart.

Well, the wallpaper remained, just as she found it,

With an empty picture frame hung to surround it.
A reminder to her, and indeed to all,
Take time to read the handwriting on the wall.
1. Who is the poet?
_______________________________________________________
2. Describe the structure of the poem
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. Describe the mood of the poem from stanza three to the last stanza
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4. In line it is stated that ‘She marched to his closet where he had gone to hide’.
What does this imply about the way the mother walked?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

5. Why did the mother’s eyes flood with tears in stanza 6?

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
6. Use your own words to describe what lugging from line 2 means as used in the
poem

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__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
7. How did the young boy feel after writing on the wall? Use evidence from the
poem to support your answer

_____________________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________________
8. Give two pairs of rhyming words from stanza 4

__________________________________________________________________
Read the prose below and answer questions that follow

Ambivalence

Ben Greenman

When a girl is skinny, and calls you late at night, and you glance at the calendar, and
it is four days before you are scheduled to get married, and the girl you are marrying
is not the skinny girl but another girl, a girl who has already departed for the city
where your wedding is to be held, it is your job, most probably, to hang up the phone.
When you do not hang up the phone, you have not done your job.
When you invite that skinny girl to your apartment, and then you jump into the
shower so that you will be clean, taking special trouble to wash the parts that matter,
and then you mess up your hair so that you will look as though you haven’t gone to
any special trouble, then you are doing another job entirely.
She was a painter. Panos met her through a mutual friend. She had a boyfriend, who
was twenty-two years older than she, and when Panos first spoke to her, he said that
he thought that the age difference was an atrocity. “Like bombing Cambodia,” he
said, convinced that this was a joke that she would not understand. She surprised
him with a knowing laugh. They talked about his impending marriage and about the
week of freedom he had but doubted he’d use. She took out a Paper-Mate blue pen
and used it to write his phone number on her hand. She wrote it strangely: not with
numerals, but with letters “O” for 1, “T” for 2, “TH” for 3, “F,” “FI,” and so on.
“So that makes your number ‘Efstooth,’” she said.
2 Ben Greenman
“Hey,” Panos said. “That’s my street: Efstooth Avenue.”
“For that joke I award you this pen,” she said, handing it over ceremonially. “I’ll get
it later.” When she arrived at Panos’s apartment, “Efstooth” was still inked on her
hand, but that was not the first thing he noticed. The first thing he noticed was that
she was carrying a suitcase. It was small enough that she held it rather than setting
it down, but large enough that it seemed to have winded her slightly on the way up
to the third floor.
“Are you moving in?” he said. “I don’t know how my wife will feel about this.” She
set the suitcase down on the floor, unzipped it, and flipped back the top. There were
white packages there, white sheets, and when she unwrapped them they were her
paintings. She spread them out on the floor of his apartment. There were ten of them,
each one a small landscape with a single bird flying over a marsh and a single human
figure in the foreground. They were slightly different shades, one reddish, one
greenish, one dunnish, and so on, across a muted spectrum.
Panos looked at the paintings and asked polite questions about them that she
answered smoothly. “I like to tell people that he’s trying to capture the bird,” she
said. “I always feel hilarious saying that. But the bird’s not an unwitting victim. He
sees the man. You can be sure about that.” When he asked if they were all pictures
of the same scene, she said that she saw how he’d think so but that no, three of them
were painted from actual photographs of her father hunting and the other seven were
created from imagination. “My father left when I was a little girl,” she said. “I
remember that he yelled a lot, and that he was mean to my mother, and that she was
happier without him. But recently I have been looking for pictures of him. I found
three and made up seven more. No one should have fewer than ten photographs of
her father.”
They turned the TV on but turned the volume all the way down.
They ordered pizza. She sat in a chair across the room from him, and announced that
she hadn’t showered that morning, because the water in her apartment was too cold.
Panos told her she was welcome to take a shower if she wanted. “We’ll see,” she
said, and went around the apartment ticking her finger across the spine of books.
“Lots of history books,” she said.
“Not mine,” Panos said.
“Oh,” she said. “Too bad. I love history books.” She was wearing tight stretch pants
and a tight white shirt. It was obvious to Panos that she was the skinniest girl who
had ever been in his apartment.
She was not wearing a bra, which put her in the company of at least two other girls
who had been in the apartment, neither of whom was the girl who was, in four days’
time, going to be his wife. His wife always wore a bra, and even three years into
their relationship, she gave a little involuntary gasp of pleasure whenever he
unclasped it. He figured that it was, at best, a reflex. The history books were hers.
The skinny girl came and stood right next to Panos. She planted her feet to make it
clear that she was ready to address the issue.
“Well,” Panos said. “Here we are.”
“We are here,” she said. “No doubt about that.”
“It’s all in the way you say it,” he said.
“‘Here we are’ is more loaded than ‘we are here.’”
“Is that what we are? Loaded?” she said. “Speaking of which, I’ll have more wine.”
She shook her glass and sloshed out a few drops onto her shirt. “Shit,” she said.
“I have extra T-shirts,” Panos said.
“I’ll just take this off,” she said, and did.
“Come here,” Panos said.
She sat on the couch and pushed up alongside him. They watched the TV, which
was showing a strongman competition.

Questions

1. What is the relationship between the painter and Panos?

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_________________________________________________________________
2. What is the name of Panos’s street?

________________________________________________________
3. What is the meaning of the word unwitting as portrayed in the context?

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__________________________________________________________________

4. According to the passage what kind of person is Panos?

__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
5. How did the skinny painter and Panos meet?
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________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Read the poem below and answer all the questions that follow in the spaces provided
Ambling through the Meadow
Edward Ibeh
I’ve been here once upon….
A moon ago. Once again I arrive
To bask and marvel. The soft cool winds
Oh so inviting. They whisper
Unfathomable secrets into my ears
The morning mists suspends in air within
Striking distance, a thing of wonder….
Like a light passing through a prism

Here’s a spot, like a forsaken garden

Punctuated with colourful weeds. A sight
For sore eyes! Sunflowers and dandelions
They glow, as bright as fireflies
The earth and the moon, smiling in unison
As they blow kisses
Beauty all around
As I amble through the meadow

Wind- blown blades of grass behave

Like ripples on a stream. Dance they do
With devil-may-care abandon. The soft cool wind
Oh so inviting. And carefree….
Like the thread dangling from my sleeve

At the moment, creatures of nature

Stay mostly out of view. Somewhere
A butterfly blithely floats
A grasshopper leaps to and fro
A bumble bee buzzes
A humming bird levitates
While pollinating flowers in bloom

But birds in the trees I see and hear them

Sing happy hosannas. All in all,
A lovely day! A time well spent!
Satisfied I am, happily whistling……
As I head back home
Questions
1. Who is the persona?
__________________________________________________________________
2. Give one character trait of the persona and explain your answer
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____________________________________
3. What kind of imagery is evoked in stanza 2? Give an example to illustrate
that
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4. Quote a line in stanza 1 that shows that the place is relaxing
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5. Explain what this poem is about
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6. Identify a word or a phrase from stanza 2 that expresses personification
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 7. Identify two poetic devices expressed in stanza 4 line 5
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8. A paradox is a statement or an idea that contradicts itself. Identify a paradox
that is evident in stanza 2
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9. What does the expression devil-may-care abandon in stanza 3 suggest?
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Read the story below carefully and answer the questions in the spaces provided

Snapshots of a wedding
Weddings always start at the haunting, magical hour of dawn when there was only a pale crack
of light on the horizon. For those who were awake, it took the earth hours to adjust to daylight. In
the dim light, four men, the relatives of the bridegroom, Kegoletile, slowly herded an ox before
them towards the yard of MmaKhudu’s, where the bride Neo lived. People were already astir in
MmaKhudu’s yard, yet for a while they all came and peered closely at the distorted fluid forms
that approached, to ascertain if it were indeed the relatives of the bridegroom. Then the ox, who
was a rather stupid fellow and unaware of his sudden and impending end as meat for the
wedding feast, bellowed casually his early morning yawn. At this, the beautiful ululating of
women rose and swelled over the air like water bubbling rapidly and melodiously over the stones
of a clear sparkling stream. One of the bridegrooms joked
“This is going to be a modern wedding” he meant that a lot of traditional courtesies had been left
out of the planning for the wedding day. No one had been awake all night preparing the
traditional wedding breakfast of pounded meat and samp; the bridegroom said he had no church
and did not care about such things; the bride was six months pregnant and showing it, so there
was just going to be a quick marriage ceremony at the police camp.
“Oh we all have our own ways,” one of the bride’s relatives joked back. “If the times are
changing we keep up with them” and she weaved away ululating joyously.
Whenever there was a wedding the talk and gossip that preceded it were appalling, except that
this time the relatives of the bride, Neo, kept their talk a strict secret among themselves. They
were anxious to be rid of her; she was an impossible girl with haughty, arrogant ways. Of all her
family and relatives, she was the only one who had completed ‘O’ levels and she never failed to
rub in this fact. She walked around with her nose in the air; illiterate relatives were beneath her
greeting. Outside her home nasty remarks were passed. People bitterly disliked conceit and pride.
“That girl has no manners!” the relatives would remark. “What’s the good of education if it goes
to someone’s head so badly they have no respect for the people?” Then they would nod their
heads in a fatal way, with predictions that one day life would bring her down. Actually, life had
rather treated Neo nicely. Two months after she completed her ‘O’ levels she became pregnant
by Kegoletile with their first child. It soon became known that another girl, Mathata was also
pregnant by Kegoletile. The difference between the two girls was that Mathata was completely
uneducated; the only work she could do was that of a housemaid, while Neo had endless
opportunities before her – typist, bookkeeper or secretary. So Neo merely smiled; Mathata was
no rival. It was as though the decision had been worked out the circumstances because when the
families converged on Kegoletile at the birth of children. He was rich in cattle so they wanted to
see what they could get- he of course immediately proposed marriage to Neo; and for Mathata,
he agreed to a court order to pay maintenance of P100.00 a month until the child was twenty
years old. Mathata merely smiled too. Girls like her offered no resistance to the approaches of
men; when they lost them, they just let things ride.
Educated as he was, Kegoletile seemed to go through a secret conflict during that year he
prepared a yard for his future married life with Neo. He spent most of his time in Mathata’s yard.
His behavior there wasn’t too alarming but he showered her with all kinds of gifts – food, fancy
dresses, shoes and underwear. Mathata was a very pretty girl with black eyes like stars; she was
always smiling and happy; immediately and always her natural self. She would burst out
laughing and comment ‘Oh Kegoletile, how can I wear all these dresses? It’s just a waste of
money! Besides I manage with the P100.00 you give me every month for the child….’
He know what he was marrying- something quite the opposite, a new kind of girl with false
postures acquired, grand madame ways. And yet it didn’t pay a man these days to look closely
into his heart. They all wanted as wives, women who were big money earners and they were so
ruthless about it!
Relatives on both sides watched the division of interest between the two yards and one day when
Neo walked patronizingly into the yard of an aunt, the aunt decided to frighten her a little.
“You may not know it, my girl, but you are hated by everyone here. The debate we are having is
whether a nice young man like Kegoletile should marry bad-mannered rubbish like you. He
would be far off better if he married a girl like Mathata, who though uneducated still treats
people with respect.”
She then developed an anxiety to greet people and also an anxiety to secure Kegoletile as a
husband. That was why she became pregnant six months before the marriage could take place. In
spite of all of this her relatives still disliked her and right up to the day of the wedding they were
still debating whether Neo was a suitable wife for any man. No one would have guessed it
though with all the dancing, ululating and happiness expressed in the yard and streams of guests
gaily ululated themselves along the pathways with wedding gifts precariously balanced on their
heads. Neo’s maternal aunts all in their shawls, sat in a select group by themselves in a corner of
the yard. Their task was to formally hand over Neo to Kegoletile’s aunts. After all formalities a
feast followed. Later Neo was taken to a traditionally decorated yard and made to sit on a
Tswana mat. A shawl was the ceremoniously wrapped around her shoulders; a kerchief tied
around her head- the symbols that she was now a married woman.
Guests quietly moved forward to greet her. Then two girls started to dance and ululate in front of
the bride. As they both turned and bent over to shake their buttocks in the air, they bumped into
each other and toppled over.

1. State the time setting of the story. Give one indicator that support your answer
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2. Who is the main character in the story? Justify your answer
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3. Identify any type of conflict in the story and give an example
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4. Explain how the time setting influences Kegoletile’s decision to marry Neo
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5. Identify the climax in the story
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 6. State the theme of the story and give an example
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7. Discuss how illiteracy disadvantages Mathata as far as Kegoletile’s choice of wife is
concerned.
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ESSAY

Discuss with examples from the story Neo and Mathata’s character traits. Explain which of the
two characters you like

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Study the poem below and answer questions that follow

Let Me Die a Youngman's Death Roger McGough

Let me die a youngman's death

not a clean and in-between
the sheets holy water death
not a famous-last-words
peaceful out of breath death

When I'm 73
and in constant good tumour
may I be mown down at dawn
by a bright red sports car
on my way home
from an all-night party

Or when I'm 91
with silver hair
and sitting in a barber's chair
may rival gangsters
with ham-fisted tommyguns burst in
and give me a short back and insides

Or when I'm 104

and banned from the Cavern
may my mistress
catching me in bed with her daughter
and fearing for her son
cut me up into little pieces
and throw away every piece but one

Let me die a youngman's death

not a free from sin tiptoe in
candle wax and waning death
not a curtains drawn by angels borne
'What a nice way to go' death

1. Who is the poet?

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2. Who is the persona?

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3. State the mood of the poem

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4. Give the structure of the poem

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5. As portrayed in the poem what does the old man feel about dying a youngman’s
death?
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6. Give a pair of rhyming words from stanza 3

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7. What kind of death does the old man doesn’t want. Use your own words to
describe
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