STUDENT NAME: _________________________________________________________

CENTRAL EAST EDUCATION DIVISION (CEED)

2021 MALAWI SCHOOL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION MOCK EXAMINATION

ENGLISH
Subject Number: M052/III
Friday, 6 August 2021 Time Allowed: 2 hours
8:00 – 10:00am

PAPER III
(70 marks)
Instructions
1. This paper has 12 pages. Please check. Question Tick if Do not write in
2. This paper has two sections. number answered these columns
a. Section A has two compulsory contextual 1
questions. Therefore, you are required to
answer both questions in this section in the
2
spaces provided.

b. Section B comprises essay questions. 3

Answer only one question on each book on
the lined answer sheets on pages 9 to 12.
4
3. Write your name on top of each page.
4. Hand in your completed question paper
when time is called to stop writing
5. In the table provided on this page, tick
against the question number you have
answered.

©2021 CEED Turn over/…

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2021 M052/III

Section A (30 marks)

Answer both questions

1. POEM (15 marks)

NO TEARS by Sachi Mphadwe

I was watching you silently

You never spent time with us

We were fruits on a tree without roots

We have always been orphans

Even before you closed your eyes

Coming at cock crow

Staggering and smashing doors

Crashing plates and beating mom

Watching us forcing sad smiles

You celebrated our suffering

No, I will not miss you

My heart sings about unforgiveness

I won’t waste tears on a Judas

Dear death did well taking you

Have fun in the grave dad

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Questions

a. What is the character of the persona?

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(2 marks)

b. What shows that the addressee’s family feared the addressee?

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(2 marks)

c. State the figures of speech portrayed by the following expressions:

i. my heart sings about unforgiveness
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(1 mark)

ii. have fun in the grave

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(1 mark)

iii. sad smiles

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(1 mark)

d. What does the persona mean by stating that “we were fruits on a tree without roots”?
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(2 marks)

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e. Pick out the following figures of speech from the poem:

i. alliteration
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(1 mark)

ii. allusion
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(1 mark)

iii. paradox
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(1 mark)

f. How has apostrophe been created in the poem?

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(1 mark)

g. Explain any one theme from the poem.

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(2 marks)

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2. SHORT STORY

The lost keys

The morning was rather chilly. Everyone I saw put on warm clothes, people kept moving up and down. It
was business as usual. I had to skip past people to reach Bwana Montana’s office in time. His personal
secretary had informed me, the day before to meet him this time today.

I had worked for him as a garden boy for five years and he had always talked to me through his personal
secretary, and so I was a little perplexed at the prospect of meeting him personally.

Bwana Montana had always looked stern-faced but on this particular day, I found him rather strange. For
the first time in five years, he gave me a warm smile and strong handshake. “Well. Sit down Mr. Zondiwe”
he said, pointing at a chair. “Thank you for coming, Mr. Zondiwe. I am grateful to you for serving me well
all these years but I have bad news for you,” he said without looking at me.

“Business is rotten, I can’t afford to keep you here, and therefore I am relieving you of your duties.” He
pulled out a cheque worth 500,000 Rands from one of his drawers and put it on the table. “Here is your five
months pay in advance. Cash in at the bank tomorrow,” he said while scratching his bald head.

He searched his drawer again and pulled out a small rectangular wooden box. “Here is my special gift to
you,” his stiff face lightened again as he pushed the box towards me. “Get yourself prepared; I will see you
off at the border in two days’ time”

This was the most tragic news I had ever received. I remained rooted in the chair, head leaning on my hands
as tears gushed out of my eyes unsparingly. Going back to my country was something I never prepared to
do; not even in the distant future.

Life was still manageable under Montana as I was able to send a little money to my three wives and ten
children back home and the prospect of going home meant one thing; living in dire poverty again. As an

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illegal immigrant seeking justice would put me in more trouble with the authorities. I raised my head to look
at Bwana Montana. He was looking at me with a frowned face, the way you look at a dead, stinking dog. I
knew he would not reverse his decision.

I took the cheque and the small box and left his office. For two nights I neither slept nor had an appetite to
eat. Bwana Montana dropped me at the border just as he said. He bought me a bus ticket and then went his
way.

I boarded the bus and threw myself on the back seat just by the window. Right inside there, the atmosphere
was lively; people talking about their experiences in the rainbow nation. I was the only one with a sombre
face. Many of the passengers had big luggage; I only had a small suitcase and the wooden box that Bwana
Montana gave me. Just as the bus started off, I decided to open the little box and I found a bunch of keys. I
was so shocked that when I disembarked at a police check point near Zambezi River, I decided to do away
with the keys. I went to the bank of the river and threw them into the raging water waves.

From a distance, I could see four big mansions standing where my three wives huts were. They were
surrounded by a brick fence, which had an iron gate. I didn’t know what that meant. Scores of people had
gathered just outside the gate, including my wives and children. When they saw me coming from a distance,
they all burst into a wild cry of laughter and joy as they run along the path to meet me.

I didn’t understand anything until my elder wife, Nazimbiri, spoke. “I don’t know how to start” she said.
Well, a year after you left a white visitor came to our village. He introduced himself as Bwana Montana and
informed us that you work for him. He told us about the good service you offered to him and, so, thought of
building you this beautiful compound for us, as a token of appreciation.

The houses are self-contained and installed with water and electricity solar generators. He also told us that
the keys to the compound will be coming with you. “Please, open now, we can’t wait to get inside.” For the
first time in my life I felt that I was a fool. I fell down and wailed like a child; I lost the keys, I lost the keys,
I.....”
(Adapted from Malawi News – May 25 – 31, 2019)

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Questions
1. In what point of view is the story being told?
_________________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

2. Describe the geographical setting of the story.

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3. Explain why Zondiwe throws the key in the Zambezi River.

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________________________________________________________________________ (2 marks)
4. Describe one character portrayed by each of the following in the story.
i. Bwana Montana
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__________________________________________________________________ (2 marks)
ii. Zondiwe
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__________________________________________________________________( 2 marks)

5. Explain any one theme portrayed in the story.

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________________________________________________________________________ ( 2 marks)
6. Describe the mood of the story.
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7. Explain any one internal conflict that Zondiwe experiences in the story.
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_________________________________________________________________________(2 marks)

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SECTION B (40 marks)

Answer both questions in this section on the spaces provided. Choose either question a or b in each case
and not both.

THE PEARL by John Steinbeck

a. Using specific examples from the novel The Pearl, explain how extreme desire is portrayed as evil.
(20 marks)

OR

b. Discuss how the following themes are portrayed in The Pearl:

i. dishonesty
ii. love
(20 marks)

MACBETH by William Shakespeare

a. Describe the character of each of the following:

i. King Duncan
ii. Macbeth (20 marks)

OR

b. Explain how various challenges could easily be avoided in Macbeth.

(20 marks)

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END OF QUESTION PAPER

NB: This paper has 12 pages. Please check