THE CHALLENGER SERIES VOL O1 2024

TERM 1
ENGLISH OPENER
FORM THREE
TERM 1, 2024
Name_________________________________________ ADM NO___________ CLASS_____

1. FATHER’S OF THE NATION (15MKS)

Cute as a button and sharp as a needle, he thought. Her eyes were wide and white like a pair of moons. She
continued. “My natural parents were Gambian, but I will never see them. They are dead. Oh, well.” She wriggled in
her chair. “Goodness me, what am I doing? Dictating my autobiography?” She waved that idea away. “Let’s talk
business now, shall we?” She pulled out of her handbag a small device then switched it on. Mind if I start
recording?”
“You’re a reporter?” He had not thought she was.
“Yes, for the Gambian News.”
“I see. Now, how can I help you, Ms. McKenzie?”
“I’d like to ask you a few questions, if I may.”
“Yes, you may. In fact, why don’t I start you off? My name is Abiola Afolabi, which you seem to know already.
But you can just call me Abiola, my first name. Take it from there.”
“I will. You studied at Harvard University in the USA. Now you teach at the University of Ibadan, in Nigeria. “She
smiled, “I got that from the cover of your book: Failure of States.”
He averted his eyes to enjoy this fame in the correct manner – with humility he hoped she would easily see through.
This black Scotswoman surely knew her trade, he thought.
“When I heard you were here at The Seamount Hotel, Dr Afolabi, I decided to come and see you. So here I am. This
is all so funny.”
“Funny.”
“Yes. I expected to see an academic scarecrow dressed in jeans. Instead, I see a well-dressed man who might well be
a businessperson.”
QUESTIONS
1. Identify and illustrate two stylistic devices in this passage. (4mks)
Dialogue- There is a dialogue between Ms. Fiona and Dr. Afolabi/ The journalist interviews
Dr Afolabi about the summit through a dialogue between the two.

Metaphor - Cute as a button

sharp as a needle

2. Discuss one-character traits of Ms. Fiona in the passage. (2mks)

Humorous- She jokingly tells Dr. Afolabi that she expected to see an education scarecrow
dressed in jeans but saw a well-dressed man who might well be a business man.

3. Discuss one main issue brought out by the writer in this passage. (2mks)
Education. Ms. Fiona reveals that Dr. Afolabi is educated when she gives an insight to his
autobiography. He studied in Harvard University in the USA and is currently teaching in
the University of Ibadan in Nigeria.
4. Later on, Ms. Fiona left the Gambian News. Why? (2mks)
She went on a two-years loan leave agreement at the VOA as a reporter.

5. Clearly explain who Dr. Afolabi is from your understanding of the novel. (2mks)
Dr. Afolabi is the advisor of the African heads of state during the summit. He also accepts
the role of the guide to the four observers during the summit in Banjul.

6. Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the passage. (3mks)
i. Averted- turn away one’s eyes or thoughts
ii. Autobiography – an account of person life
iii. Menacingly - dangerously

2. ORAL POETRY (15MKS)

Read the oral poem below and answer the questions that follow.
One hand cannot manage work
A threshing stick cannot thresh millet with one hand
Some hands breed hatred at the eating time
Nobody hates being assisted

Let the millet be threshed

Let it be threshed, let it be threshed
Cut a threshing stick for me
A lazy wife
Is taken back to her parents
When the rain fails
It blames the wind
And a lazy woman
Blames the threshing stick

Cut the threshing stick for Me-ii

My co-wife, cut me a threshing stick
You woman, owner of this occasion
Remember that work is the stomach
Take care not to starve us
The threshing sticks are sounding
Let the miller leave the threshing ground

a. Explain briefly what the above oral poem is about. (4mks)

The poet explains how the community values work/The poet explains the importance of
work in this community. A lazy wife is taken to her parents.

b. What evidence is there to show that this is an oral poem? (6mks)

Repetition - Let it be threshed, let it be threshed
Direct Address- You woman, owner of this occasion
Direct translation – Cut a threshing stick for me/Work is the stomach
Alliteration – My co-wife, cut…

c. Identify and illustrate any main issue brought out in this oral song? (2mks)
Hard work /industriousness – Work is stomach
Unity/cooperation – One hand cannot manage work
Friendship – some hands breed hatred at eating time
(Any other relevant one that is well illustrated)

d. What do the following expression mean in this oral song. (2mks)

Remember that work is the stomach – The workers should be well fed in order to work
effectively.

e. If you were asked to group this poem, where would you classify it. (1mk)
Work poem. Remember work is stomach…

3. GRAMMAR (20mks)
a) Complete the following sentences with the correct form of the word in brackets. (4mks)
1. The man was caught selling confidential information. (confident)
2. The police said it was a strange occurrence. (occur)
3. The state will undertake the maintenance of the road. (maintain)
4. Peter sang yesterday melodiously. (melody)
b) Rewrite the following sentences remove gender bias. (2mks)
1. The airhostess is in the restaurant. Flight attendant.
2. Mrs. Mambo is the new chairlady of Jamii Bora Bank. chair/chairperson
c) Rewrite the following sentences in the reported speech. (2mks)
1. “I have done my assignment,” the girl said. The girl said that she had done her assignment.
2. She told him, “Don’t drive so fast.” She told him not to drive so fast.
e) Choose the correct words in the brackets to fill in the blanks below. (2mks)
1.The prophecy was misleading to his audience. (prophesy/prophecy)
2. Mwita hung the chart on the wall. (hanged/hung)
f) Supply a suitable question tag (2mks)
1. Let us go away, shall we?
2. He bought a new house last month, didn’t he?
g) Supply the correct preposition to complete the sentences given. (2mks)
1. The three boys shared the bread among themselves.
2. Ibrahim confessed to the crime a year later.
h) Fill the blank spaces with the correct article. (2mks)
1. The students said they wanted a union.
2. What is a ewe?
i) Fill in the gaps using the simple present form of the verbs in the brackets. (2mks)
1. I visit many places. (visit)
2. My wife joins me in most of these trips. (join)
j) Change the following sentences into passive. (2mks)
1. She bought the beautiful house on the hill. The beautiful house on the hill was bought.
2. The police are seeking the criminals. The criminals are being sought by the police.