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BWAILA CLUSTER MOCK EXAMINATIONS

2022 MALAWI SCHOOL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION

ENGLISH
Subject Number: M052/III

Thursday, 26th May, 2022 Time Allowed: 2 hours

2:00 – 4:00 pm

PAPER III
(70 marks)

Instructions
1. This paper contains 11 printed pages. Question Tick if Do not write in Marker’s
Number answered these columns Name
Please check.
1-30
2. This paper has two sections: A and B.
a. Section A contains two compulsory
contextual questions. Therefore,
you are required to answer both 31
questions in this section in the
spaces provided.
b. Section B comprises essay 32
questions. Answer one question on
each book on the lined answer
sheets on pages 7 to 10.
3. Write your name on all pages.

4. In the table provided on this page, tick

against the question number(s) you
have answered.

5. At the end of the examination, hand in Turn over

your paper to the invigilator
NAME__________________________________________________________________

1. POEM

THE LAZY MAN

When the cock crows

The lazy man smacks his lips and says:
“So it is daylight again, is it?”
And before he turns over heavily,
Before he even stretches himself,
Before he even yawns,
The farmer has reached the farm,
The water carriers arrive at the river,
The spinners are spinning their cotton,
The weaver works on his cloth,
And the fire blazes in the blacksmith’s hut.

The lazy man knows where the soup is sweet;

He goes from house to house.
If there is no sacrifice today,
His breastbone will stick out!
But when he sees free yam,
He starts to unbutton his shirt
He moves close to the celebrants.

Yet his troubles are not few.

When his wives reach puberty,
Rich men will help him to marry them.

Yoruba
(Adapted from Poems Aplenty: an Anthology of Poems for Secondary Schools by Julie
Newman and Eunice Kilimaliro)

Questions

a. Identify the following in the poem:

(i). The persona

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(1 mark)

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(ii). A pair of alliteration in stanza 1

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(1 mark)
b. Why does the lazy man unbutton his shirt when he sees a free yam?
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(2 marks)
c. Explain the geographical setting of the poem.
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(2 marks)
d. Explain any two characters of the man in the poem.
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(4 marks)
e. Discuss two themes portrayed in the poem.
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(4 marks)
f. Why will the man’s breastbone stick out when there is no sacrifice?
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(2 marks)

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Page 4 of 11

2. SHORT STORY
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

THE ELEPHANT HUNT

It was still dark when the hunting party set off. Soon they reached the thick bush that Great
Simba, the leader of the party had mentioned earlier. It was difficult finding paths through it.
Where there were small clearings, they sometimes disturbed a few Impalas. The rams snorted
and stamped their feet and antelopes disappeared in the darkness. There were also wild beasts
and some kudu and once the boys saw three Zebras in the early morning light.

At last they reached the area where the elephant herd was. They could hear the snap of branches
as the elephants browsed contentedly on the rich green foliage of the trees.

The leader of the hunting party made a sign to the boys. It meant they were to remain where
they were for a while, to form part of the wide half circle made up of the rest of the hunters.
This half circle would then move slowly northwards around the few stragglers which always
fed on the edge of the herd. It was most likely that the old one would be among the outsiders.

The leader and others disappeared into the bush. The boys felt a shiver of fear run up each of
their spines. They watched Great Simba melt away like a shadow. After a while they began to
move northwards. They knew that the others would be fanning out behind them.

They had only walked a short distance when Chenjerani suddenly became aware of something
moving on his right. He looked across at the moving shape and saw a huge tusker, broken
shafts of spears sticking out from the animal’s side. This must be the old one. He must be the
wounded animal that Great Simba had been talking about

As Chenjerani stopped and looked, Rufaro looked across in the direction of the bull too. He
stopped immediately.

Luckily, he giant beast did not seem to be aware of their presence. Its huge ears flapped
continuously in an effort to drive off the crowds of insects that were feeding off its wounds
and sores. The elephant began to rub its wounded side against the trunk of a tree. It grunted
with pain as it tried to dislodge the spear tips from inside.

The two boys began to move quietly and slowly from the bull. Suddenly, the bull stopped
rubbing itself. It lifted its scarred trunk and walked slowly forward towards the boys. It stared
across to where the boys were hidden by the bush. It moved forward again. The two boys’
hearts stopped beating.
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It walked further forward into the early morning sunlight. The bull’s tusks were huge and
yellow and curved, tipped with mud and dust. The elephant seemed to be listening for
something.

Questions
a. In what point of view is the story? Justify your answer.
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(2 marks)
b. Explain the characters of the following:
(i). Great Simba
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(2 marks)
(ii). Chenjerani
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(2 marks)
c. In what mood is the story? Give a reason for your answer.
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(2 marks)
d. Why did the hearts of the two boys stop beating?
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(2marks)
e. Explain the geographical setting of the story.
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(2 marks)
f. In what figure of speech is the word ‘beast?’
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(1 mark)
g. How has the theme of courage been portrayed 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 and
not both.

3. THE PEARL by John Steinbeck

EITHER

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

(i). Hypocrisy
(ii). Fate
(20 marks)
OR

b. Desire without limits can be a source of agony and pain to both ourselves and family
members. Using illustrations from ‘The Pearl,’ write an essay in support of this
statement.
(20 marks)

4. MACBETH by William Shakespeare

EITHER
a. With examples from the play Macbeth, describe the characters of the following characters:
(i). Malcolm
(ii). Lady Macduff
(20 marks)

OR

b. Discuss how the character of Macbeth changes throughout the play.

(20 marks)
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END OF QUESTION PAPER

NB: This paper contains 11 printed pages