Form 5 Literature Exercises

FORM 5 LITERATURE EXERCISES = POEMS, SHORT STORES, NOVEL AND

DRAMA

www.leelachakrabarty.wordpress.com/2011/03/01/form-five-literature-exercises-

poems-short-story-novel-and-drama/

POEMS

Practice 1

IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIP

At dawn they returned home

their soaky clothes torn

and approached the stove

their limbs marked by scratches

their legs full of wounds

but on their brows

there was not a sign of despair

The whole day and night just passed

they had to brave the horrendous flood

in the water all the time

between bloated carcasses

and tiny chips of tree barks

desperately looking for their son’s

albino buffalo that was never found

There were born amidst hardship

and grew up without a sigh or a complaint

now they are in the kitchen, making

jokes while rolling their cigarette leaves

By Latiff Mohidin Translated by Salleh Ben Joned

a. Why were their clothes ‘soaky’?

…………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………….

b. Write down the line in the poem which reveals that this incident took place in

a village?

……………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………

c. What does the phrase “bloated carcasses” refer to?

……………………………………………………………………………………

d. In your opinion, what kind of attitude do the last two lines imply? Explain.

……………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………

Practice 2:

IN THE MIDST OF HARDSHIP (stanzas 1 and 2)






but on their brows

there was not a sign of despair

The whole day and night just passed

they had to brave the horrendous flood

in the water all the time

between bloated carcasses

and tiny chips of tree barks

desperately looking for their son’s


By Latiff Mohidin Translated by Salleh Ben Joned

a. Write down the line which shows that they have been out for long hours?

………………………………………………………………………………….

b. The theme may not be exactly about hardship as implied by the title. What is

the theme related to?

………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………

c. What does the phrase ‘albino buffalo’ reveal?

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

d. What moral value did you learn from the poem? Explain.

…………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………

Practice 3:

He Had Such Quiet Eyes (Stanzas 1 and 2)

He had such quiet eyes

She did not realise

They were two pools of lies

Layered with thinnest ice

To her, those quiet eyes

Were breathing desolate sighs

Imploring her to be nice

And to render him paradise

If only she’d been wise

And had listened to the advice

Never to compromise

With pleasure-seeking guys

She’d be free from “the hows and whys”

Bibsy Soenharjo-1968

a. What does the phrase ‘two pools of lies’ refer to?

………………………………………………………………………….

b. Which lines show that the man is saying “I love you, and if you love me, prove

it!”

………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………….

c. Which stanza shows that there is a sense of regret?

…………………………………………………………………………

d. What do you understand by the phrase “the hows and whys”?

………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………….

Practice 4:

He Had Such Quiet Eyes

He had such quiet eyes

She did not realise

They were two pools of lies

Layered with thinnest ice

To her, those quiet eyes



And to render him paradise

If only she’d been wise

And had listened to the advice

Never to compromise

With pleasure-seeking guys

She’d be free from “the hows and whys”

Now here’s a bit of advice

Be sure that nice really means nice

Then you’ll never be losing at dice

Though you may lose your heart once or twice

Bibsy Soenharjo-1968

a. What does the phrase ‘thinnest ice’ imply?

…………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………….

b. In this poem, the poet talks about the betrayal of a young girl’s feelings for a

man. She believes in his sincerity to her as he had pleaded to her to surrender to

him. Write the two lines depicting this.

…………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………….

c. What is the main theme in this poem?

………………………………………………………………………………

d. What did you learn from this poem? Explain.

………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………

Practice 5:

Are You Still Playing Your Flute?

Are you still playing your flute?

When there is hardly time for our love

I am feeling guilty

To be longing for your song

The melody concealed in the slim hollow of the bamboo

Uncovered by the breath of an artist

Composed by his fingers

Blown by the wind

To the depth of my heart.


In the village so quiet and deserted

Amidst the sick rice fields

While here it has become a luxury

To spend time watching the rain

Gazing at the evening rays

Collecting dew drops

Or enjoying the fragrance of flowers.


The more it disturbs my conscience

to be thinking of you

in the hazard of you

my younger brothers unemployed and desperate

my people disunited by politics

my friend slaughtered mercilessly

this world is too old and bleeding.

By Zurinah Hassan

a. Who is the persona in the poem?

………………………………………………………………………….

b. Write one line from the poem that depicts that people are jobless.

………………………………………………………………………….

c. Provide three phrases that depict the message of cruel realities of a nation in

uncertainty of its future.

……………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………….

d. In your own words describe why the poet used the word “sick” to describe the

rice fields.

………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………….

Practice 6:

Are You Still Playing Your Flute? (Stanzas 1 and 2)


When there is hardly time for our love

I am feeling guilty

To be longing for your song

The melody concealed in the slim hollow of the bamboo

Uncovered by the breath of an artist

Composed by his fingers

Blown by the wind

To the depth of my heart.


In the village so quiet and deserted

Amidst the sick rice fields

While here it has become a luxury

To spend time watching the rain

Gazing at the evening rays

Collecting dew drops

Or enjoying the fragrance of flowers.

By Zurinah Hassan

a. What did the persona mean when she said ‘deserted’?

………………………………………………………………………….

b. Why is the persona feeling guilty?

…………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………

c. Why is the question “Are you still playing your flute’ repeated as the starting

line of all the stanzas?

…………………………………………………………………………

d. In your opinion, is this a romantic poem? Provide reasons for your answer.

…………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………

Practice 7:

Nature by H.D Carberry

We have neither Summer nor Winter

Neither Autumn nor Spring.

We have instead the days

When the gold sun shines on the lush green canefields-

Magnificently.

The days when the rain beats like bullet on the roofs

And there is no sound but thee swish of water in the gullies

And trees struggling in the high Jamaica winds.

Also there are the days when leaves fade from off guango trees’

And the reaped canefields lie bare and fallow to the sun.

But best of all there are the days when the mango and the logwood blossom

When bushes are full of the sound of bees and the scent of honey,

When the tall grass sways and shivers to the slightest breath of air,

When the buttercups have paved the earth with yellow stars

And beauty comes suddenly and the rains have gone.

a. In your words describe the weather as depicted in the poem.

…………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………….

b. State one moral value that you have learnt from the poem.

……………………………………………………………………………..

c. Note that the poem ends with the line “and beauty comes suddenly and the

rains have gone”. Describe how this bears a resemblance in our life.

………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………

d. In the opening lines of the poem, the poet describes the things that are absent.

In your opinion, what is the poet trying to convey?

………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………….

Practice 8:






Magnificently.











a. Why do you think H.D.Carberry wrote the poem?

……………………………………………………………………………………

b. List three words related to nature.

……………………………………………………………………………………

c. Which line in the poem ‘Nature’ suggests the sense of smell?

……………………………………………………………………………………

d. Based on your knowledge of the poem ‘Nature’, describe a theme in the poem.

……………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………

SHORT STORIES

FRUITCAKE SPECIAL (4 practices)

PRACTICE 1

Read the extract from the short story “FRUITCAKE SPECIAL” below and answer

the questions that follow.

‘I dreamt that I was being awful to you, treating you as if you were just someone

who worked for me. The truth is that you mean so much more than that to me …’I

wondered what he meant. Was he going to raise my pay? He went on. ‘You must

realise that I’m crazy about you, darling.’ He was calling me darling again. He

was being serious. I have to say that at this point I was feeling very confused.

Five minutes ago my boss didn’t want to be seen with me. Now he was saying he

was crazy about me! What could be making him behave like this? Then, all at

once, I realised it was the fruitcake special! Intrigue might smell great, but it

didn’t make a girl attractive to men. But my fruitcake perfume did.

a. What does the word ‘crazy’ imply?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

b. Why was the writer confused?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……..

c. What is “Intrigue’ in the context of the story?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

d. Describe the behaviour of the writer’s boss and why he behaved in such a way.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

PRACTICE 2



Momma and Aunt Mini were very pleased, of course. They went off together to

plan the wedding and left me to get ready for the man they hoped would be my

future husband. I was beginning to wish I hadn’t told them. After all, I had no

idea why my boss had behaved towards me in that way. He had never even

noticed me before now. However, he had noticed the perfume I had been

wearing. Lately I had been wearing a perfume called intrigue. It was made by

another company and I actually preferred it to the perfumes we made. Mr. Amos

did have a very good nose for perfumes. Perhaps Intrigue was so good he just

couldn’t stop himself. Who knows? Anyway, I had to get ready for my evening

out. Although I couldn’t explain why Mr. Amos had suddenly found me attractive,

I really wanted to find out. In my own way I’m as bad as my Aunt Mimi, I guess.

a. Whose wedding is being planned? Name the bride and groom to be.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

b. Why did the writer say “wish I hadn’t told them”?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……..

c. Why was the writer’s plan for the night?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

d. Do you think the boss was attracted to the writer because of the perfume?

Give a reason for your answer.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

PRACTICE 3

Read the extract from the short story “FRUITCAKE SPEACIAL” below and

answer the questions that follow.

Momma seemed satisfied with my explanation that things had just not worked

out between me and Mr. Amos, although she thought it a wasted opportunity she

wanted me to have a rich husband. Still, happiness is what really counts, she

said, with a note of sadness in her voice. When I finally got back to the factory

there was a message left on my desk – could I see Mr. Amos as soon as I got in.

As I walked towards David Amos’s office I felt like a schoolgirl who had to go to

see the head teacher. I was sure that the fruitcake special would not still be

working by now – after all, he had not seen me for a few days. I knocked on his

door. Mr. Amos was sitting behind his big desk with a large black eye.

a. Describe the ‘opportunity’ as in the context of the story?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

b. Why was the ‘opportunity’ considered as wasted?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……..

c. Why did the writer feel ‘like a schoolgirl who had to go to see the head

teacher’?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

d. Do you think Mr. Amos was angry at the writer? Give a reason

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

PRACTICE 4



‘Momma,’ I said, ‘if it’s Aunt Mimi with news of another “perfect boy” for me, tell

her I’m not interested.’ ‘It’s not Aunt Mimi, dear,’ said Momma.

‘Who is it?’ I asked. ‘I think you’d better come see for yourself ’ Momma said.

I went to the front door. It was Armstrong, the pizza delivery man. He was

holding up a pizza box which had ‘Armstrong’s Peachy Pizzas’ in big letters on

the front.

Armstrong now owned the pizza company. He explained that he’d fallen in love

with me when he first delivered pizza to us, but he wanted to be a success before

asking me out. He said I deserved no less. Then he gave me some flowers. I never

really noticed before, but Armstrong is quite good looking: a bit short maybe, a

little thin on top –but nobody’s perfect.

a. State one characteristic of a ‘perfect boy” in Aunt Mimi’s opinion.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

b. What is the name of Armstrong’s company?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……..

c. What does Armstrong mean when he said “ … deserved no less’?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

d. Would you marry someone like Armstrong? Give a reason

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

QWERTYUIOP (4 practices)

PRACTICE 1

Read the extract from the short story QWERTYUIOP below and answer the

questions that follow.

She stared at it in horrified bewilderment. What had happened? What had she

done? Not even on her first day at the Belmont Secretarial College had she made

such ridiculous mistakes. Such strange mistakes – QWERTYUIOP, the top line of

letters on a typewriter, repeated over and over again! Thank God there had been

no one to notice. They’d think she had gone mad.

She must be more careful. Keep her mind on the job, not allow it to wander out of

the window into the sunny shopping street below. Putting fresh paper into the

typewriter, she began again.

She was tempted to look at the keyboard . . . “Don’t look at the keys! Keep your

eyes away!” Mrs Price was always saying. “No peeing. You’ll never make a good

typist if you can’t do it by touch. Rhythm, it’s all rhythm. Play it to music in your

head.”

a. What is QWERTYUIOP?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

b. Why must she be careful?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……..

c. What did she decide to do after making the repeated mistakes?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

d. Do you think you would make such mistakes. Give a reason for your answer.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

PRACTICE 2



For an hour, she battled with the machine. As fast as QWERTYUIOPs and

unwanted capitals appeared, she attacked with a loaded brush. The white fluid

ran down the typing paper like melting ice-cream, and dripped thickly into the

depths of the typewriter.

YOU’RE DROWNING ME, it complained pathetically, and she swiped at the

words with her brush.

HELP!

Another swipe.

PLEASE!

But Lucy showed no mercy. The large bottle was half-empty when she reached

the end of the letter in triumph.

Yours faithfully,

George Ross,

She typed, and sat back with a sigh of relief.

The machine began to rattle. Too late, Lucy snatched the completed letter out of

the typewriter. Across the bottom of the otherwise faultless page, it now said in

large, red capitals:

I HATE YOU!

Furiously she painted the words out.

a. What is the white fluid?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………

b. Why is Lucy battling with the machine?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………

c. Why is the large bottle half empty?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………..

d. What quality did Lucy display? Provide a reason for your answer.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………

PRACTICE 3



Lucy typed quickly:

Are you from outer space?

The typewriter rocked, as if with laughter, its keys clicking like badly fitting false

teeth.

IDIOT, it wrote.

Who are you? Lucy typed.

Miss Broome, it answered.

Lucy hesitated. She did not know quite how to reply to this. In the end she typed:

How do you do? I am Miss Beck.

GO AWAY, MISS BECK

Why should I?

I AM SECRETARY HERE, it sated, this time in red letters.

No, you’re not! I am! Lucy typed angrily.

The machine went mad. Q U E R T Y U I O P “ / @ Q U E R T Y U I O P £ –

&()*QWERTYUIOP+1, it screamed, shaking and snapping its keys like castanets.

a. What does the word ‘rocked’ mean?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

b. What is Lucy’s occupation?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

c. Why did Lucy hesitate?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

d. If you were Lucy do you think you would reply to Miss Broome? Give a reason

for your answer.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

PRACTICE 4



Lucy Beck was young and small and mouse-coloured, easily overlooked. She had

a lonely ‘O’ level and a typing speed that would make a tortoise laugh.

“Whoever will want to employ me?” she had asked Mrs. Price once, and Mrs.

Price had been at a loss to answer.

Lucy wanted a job. More than anyone, more than anything, she wanted a job. She

was tired of being poor. She was fed up with macaroni cheese and baked beans.

She was sick of second-hand clothes.

“We are jumble sailors on the rough sea of life,” her mother would say. Lucy

loved her mother, but could not help wishing she would sometimes lose her

temper. Shout. Scream. Throw saucepans at the spinning, grinning head of Uncle

Bert.

a. Why is Lucy described as ‘easily overlooked’?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

b. Why is finding a job so important to Lucy?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

c. What was Mrs. Price’s answer to Lucy when she asked whether she would ever

find a job?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

d. Describe Lucy’s feelings towards Uncle Bert. Provide reasons for your answer.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

DRAMA (4 practices)

PRACTICE 1

Read the extract from the drama Gulp and Gasp below and answer the


LORD SEPTIC: It’s just like that night many years ago. I stood right here as my

father tied Lady Gatsby to the same track. She was the richest widow in town. He

tricked her to meet him on this station one dark night.

CROUCH: Killer trains must run in your family, sir!

LORD SEPTIC: Lady Gatsby came here with her baby in one arm and the Gatsby

Gold in the other. But somehow she hid it before we got our hands on it.

CROUCH: You wanted to get the baby?

LORD SEPTIC: No, the gold, you fool. It’s worth a fortune. We tied her to this

track to make her tell us where she’d hidden it.

a. Why was Lady Gatsby at the station?

………………………………………………………………………………………………

b. What did Lady Gatsby do before her death?

………………………………………………………………………………………………

b. Why was the Gatsby Gold not found?

………………………………………………………………………………………………

d. Explain in your own words what is meant by crouch when he said ‘killer

trains’.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Practice 2



RO S E: Not since the fire at the match factory.

PERCY: Lord Septic’s match factory?

ROSE: Yes. I used to pack the match boxes. Big match boxes. Full of big matches.

PERCY: Wasn’t there a big strike at the match factory?

ROSE: Yes. Lord Septic didn’t pay us. He didn’t keep the matches safe because it

would cost him money. There was a fire and many workers were killed. I was

lucky. But the flames hurt my eyes. I can’t see any more.

PERCY: What a rotter that man is! They’ve just gone on strike at another one of

his factories. They all want a shorter working wick.

ROSE: [Laughing] I think you mean WEEK. They want a shorter working WEEK.

PERCY: No – it’s a candle factory. I say, you look so pretty when you smile.

What’s your name?

a. Why was Rose at the match factory?

………………………………………………………………………………………………

b. In what way was Lord Septic responsible for the fire?

………………………………………………………………………………………………

c. Why is there a strike at one of Lord Septic’s factories?

………………………………………………………………………………………………

d. What would be an important value portrayed in the drama? Provide a reason

for your answer.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Practice 3



CROUCH: And you always want what you get, sir.

LORD SEPTIC: No, Crouch. I always get what I want. At last, I own this station.

Soon I will own all the stations from here to King’s Cross. And when I do … do

you know what I’ll be?

CROUCH: Even more greedy, sir?

LORD SEPTIC: I’ll be the richest man in the land. And do you know why?

CROUCH: Because you’ll own the biggest train set ever.

LORD SEPTIC: Because I will find the Gatsby Gold. It’s hidden somewhere along

this line. I’ll dig up the track. I’ll look under every sleeper. I’ll search every

station. One day, it will be mine. All mine. At last . . . And nothing will get in my

way. [He trips over Crouch] Get out of my way, you fool.

CROUCH: Most sorry, sir. Very sorry, sir. Really sorry,

sir.

LORD SEPTIC: I’ll now go up to my office to plot more plans. I will get more

ideas on being rich. Filthy rich. Thick, black and oily. That’s how rich! I’m going

upstairs.

a. What is a sleeper?

………………………………………………………………………………………………

b. What does Lord Septic hope to find under the sleepers?

………………………………………………………………………………………………

c. What are Lord Septic’s plans?

………………………………………………………………………………………………

d. What is your impression of Crouch? Explain.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Practice 4



LORD SEPTIC : Yes, Clora – my wife. Clora Septic. She nags for a living. I only

married her for her arms.

CROUCH : Are they nice to hug?

LORD SEPTIC : Not those arms. She owns a gun factory. We make weapons. We

make bombs. One day we will arm the world. We want a good war. She’s just

made a tank that can kill from a mile in one burst. Just like her! It’s called the

Septic Tank.

CROUCH : I bet that’ll cause a bit of a stink, sir!

LORD SEPTIC : Crouch, I don’t know why I keep you as my porter. You are dim,

daft, dopey, dozey and dippy. What’s more you annoy me. I’m not nice when I’m

cross.

CROUCH : No, sir.

a. What is the meaning of the word ‘arms’?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………

b. Why did Lord Septic marry Clora?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………

c. What is the name of the tank that Clora has made?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………

d. Explain why Lord Septic called Crouch ‘dim, daft, dopey, dozey and dippy’

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………

Novels (6 Practices)

PRACTICE SECTION

The following are the novels studied in the literature component in English

Language

1. The Curse by Lee Su Ann

2. Step by Wicked Step by Ann Fine.

3. Catch Us If You Can by Catherine McPhail

Based on one novel above, write about the following.

Provide evidence from the text to support your answer.

Your response should be:

• Not less than 50 words

• In continuous writing (not in note form)

Practice 1

Based on one novel above, discuss one of the themes in the story. Provide

evidence from the text to support your answer

Practice 2

Write about a character that you find most interesting.

Support your answer with evidence from the novel.

Practice 3

Write about a moral value you have learnt in the story.

Support your answer with evidence from the novel

Practice 4

Based on one novel above, write about an episode that is memorable in the story.


Practice 5

Based on the novel of your choice, discuss the problems faced by a character.

How does he/she overcome the problems?

Practice 6

Compare two characters in the novel you have studied. How are they similar?

TEST 1

Form 4 Poem

In the Midst of Hardship

Read the following stanza of In the Midst of Hardship and answer the questions

that follow.






but on their brows there was not a sign of despair

Latiff Mohidin

a. What does the word dawn mean?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

b. Write down two phrases from the poem that indicates injury.

i. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

ii. ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

c. Describe their feelings when they reached home. Provide a reason to support

your answer.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………

Form 4 Short Story

QWERTYUIOP


questions that follow

She was early. She smoothed down her windy hair, and waited.

At five past nine, an elderly man, with small dark eyes like currants and a thick

icing of white hair, came hobbling up the stairs. He was jingling a bunch of keys.

“Ah,” he said, noticing Mary. “Punctuality is the courtesy of kings – but a hard

necessity for new brooms, eh? You are the new broom, I suppose? Not an

impatient customer waiting to see our new range of Sunburst cushions, by any

chance?”

a. What does the phrase ‘new broom’ imply?

…………………………………………………………………………………

b. Describe the man who opened the door for Lucy.

…………………………………………………………………………………..

c. What is the meaning of ‘hobbling’?

…………………………………………………………………………………..

d. In your opinion, why did Lucy arrive early that Monday morning?

………………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………….

Novel


Language




Based on the novel that you have studied, choose a character and discuss how

good values are being demonstrated through the character you have chosen.





TEST 2

(Form 5 poem)






Magnificently.











a. “What seasons did the poet say that they did not have?”

__________________________________________________________________

b. List out the verbs found in the poem ‘Nature’.

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

c. List words that describe the following in the poem.

i) sunny days

____________________________________________________________

ii) rainy days

____________________________________________________________

d. Do you agree that the sunny days are “the best days” as compared to rainy

days? Explain why or why not?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Form 4 drama/short story

LORD SEPTIC: The night, you fool. It’s a foul and filthy night.

CROUCH: Very nasty, Lord Septic.

LORD SEPTIC: Angry.

CROUCH: Mmm.

LORD SEPTIC: Very angry.

CROUCH: Mmm. Mmmm.

LORD SEPTIC: And do you know why I’m angry, Crouch? I hate nights like this.

CROUCH: Indeed, sir.

LORD SEPTIC: This fog is so thick. I can’t see a thing out there. It’s as thick as…

CROUCH: Pea soup, sir. Very thick pea soup.

LORD SEPTIC: And there’s nothing worse than pea soup is there, Crouch?

CROUCH: Not really, sir. Apart from sprouts. I would think a mushy sprout soup

is pretty foul. Worse than a pea in this fog.

LORDSEPTIC: I can’t even see the railway track.

CROUCH: Don’t get too near the edge of the platform, sir.

LORD SEPTIC: If this train doesn’t come soon, I’ll sack the driver. I’ll sack

everyone. After all, next week I’ll own this railway line.

CROUCH: Indeed, sir. Most true, your ever-so big lordship, sir.

a. Why is Lord Septic very angry?

…………………………………………………………………………………..

b. What does the word ‘sack’ mean?

…………………………………………………………………………………..

c. Describe the condition at the station.

…………………………………………………………………………………..

d. How would you describe Lord Septic? Provide a reason for your answer.

…………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………..

Novel question


Language




Based on the novel that you have studied, describe two different settings or

situations.





ANSWERS.

Poem

In The Midst Of Hardship

Practice 1

a. They were wet

b. desperately looking for their son’s


c. animals killed as they drowned in the flood water.

d. Optimistic,- they were making jokes not crying or show signs of despair.

Practice 2

a. The whole day and night just passed

b. Facing hardship with optimism

c. They are in the village as people in the town will not rear buffaloes.

d. Despite the hardship, we must remain resilient and strong. Often, the difficult

time is not a permanent one.

He Had Such Quiet Eyes

Practice 3

a. The eyes are compared to deceit.

b. Imploring her to be nice

And to render him paradise.

c. Stanza 2

d. The hows and whys is compared to a situation where one gets hurt emotionally

and tries to solve the problem.

Practice 4

a. dangerous

b. To her, those quiet eyes



c. Deceit

d. We sometimes encounter people who have ill intentions towards us. We should

take precaution against them.

Are You Still Playing Your Flute?

Practice 5

a. a very perceptive and reflective woman.

b. my younger brothers unemployed and desperate

c. my people disunited by politics

my friend slaughtered mercilessly

this world is too old and bleeding.

d. Perhaps the yield is not rewarding/ the harvest is destroyed due to bad

weather.

Practice 6

a. the villagers have left/migrated.

b. Feeling guilty as she is enjoying the music when the nation is plagued with

problems

c. This is to stress on the activity as something that should not be done when the

nation is facing so much trouble.

d. No, it is not a romantic poem. It is poem that shows the irony between a

leisure activity and problems faced by the nation at the same time.

Nature

Practice 7

a. The poem highlights the appealing climate conditions on the island of Jamaica.

b. We must appreciate the beauty of nature.

c. This is a big resemblance to our life, as it has been our experience that after

bad times, good times will follow and sometimes ever so abruptly.

d. It is to highlight the pleasant climate on the island. It has no extreme weather

conditions.

Practice 8

a. He wants to celebrate the richness of the land’s produce and how alive and

plentiful Nature is.

b. gold sun, rain, trees.

c. The line, “When the bushes are full of the sound of bees and the scent of

honey”

d. Appreciating one’s country-Life in one’s country has its share of ups and

downs but one must always look at the brighter side of life. In this poem, the poet

stresses on his country’s weather being sunny, rainy and windy. The poet states

that we must appreciate what we have.

SHORT STORIES

FRUITCAKE SPECIAL

Practice 1

a. not normal

b. confused at how the feelings of her boss towards her changes abruptly.

c. Name of the perfume.

d. The boss took a liking of her when he was not interested at all a little while

ago. Perhaps it is the work of the perfume.

Practice 2

a. Mr Amos and Anna

b. She is actually not interested in Mr Amos.

c. She wants to find out why Mr Amos was attracted to her.

d. Any logical answer.

Practice 3

a. an opportunity to marry a rich man

b. the marriage did not take place.

c. She did not know how to answer or react to Mr Amos who is her boss.

d. No, he was not. He was not aware of what had actually happened.

Practice 4

a. wealthy

b. ‘Armstrong’s Peachy Pizzas’

c. She is a fine person and she should get someone who is capable of looking

after her and care for her financially.


QWERTYUIOP

Practice 1

a. The top line of letters on a typewriter or keypad.

b. She must not let people know that she is making mistakes.

c. She decided to try again and this time she will focus on the rhythm.


Practice 2

a. correction liquid/liquid paper

b. the words QWERTYUIOP keep appearing.

c. She used it to correct a lot of mistakes.

d. Lucy shows determination in what she does. She refuses to simply give up and

leave and finds a way to deal with the spirit.

Practice 3

a. movement.

b. Secretary

c. She did not how to react to the typewriter or what to ask next.


Practice 4

a. she was small in size

b. she wanted to move away from her mother.

c. Mrs Price could not give an answer

d. She hated him. She wished that her mother would lose her temper and throw

things at him.

Drama

Gulp and Gasp

Practice 1

a. She came to meet Lord Septic as he tricked her to meet him.

b. She had hidden the gold.

c. No one knew where she had hidden it.

d. The two trains have something in common- use to kill; Lady Gatsby and now,

Percy and Rose

Practice 2

a. she was working there packing matches.

b. he did not keep the matches in a safe place and there was a fire

c. the workers wanted to work for a shorter number of days in a week.

d. Good always triumphs over evil. The two villains, Lord Septic and Crouch, are

duly punished in the end.

Practice 3

a. closely spaced transverse beams, usually of wood, for holding the rails forming

a track at the proper distance from each other.

b. Gold

c. Get ideas to become rich

d. He is rather foolish, he often makes silly remarks and does not respect his own

identity.

Practice 4

a. weapons/firearms

b. for her wealth/ factory

c. Septic Tank

d. He made a silly remark- he thought the Septic tank will have smell when it is a

weapon

NOVELS

Practice 1

Through the novel – The Curse, gender stereotyping is portrayed through how

females should behave. This can be seen especially through Azreen. For example,

Azreen’s school friends start to cast suspicious eyes towards her when she

behaves unlady-like. She plays hockey with the boys and even “laughs like a

bunch of hyenas” with them. To them, as a woman, Azreen is not expected to be

tomboyish and hangs too closely with boys.

Practice 2

An interesting character in the novel- The Curse is the old lady. She is an

educated woman as she has knowledge of herbal medicine to treat illnesses. Her

house is always neat and situated by the hillside. She is a caring and concerned

woman as she takes Azreen in and gives her food and shelter whenever she has

fights and problems. She is also a resourceful person and she is a good cook and

her recipes and secret ingredients are very much sought after.

Practice 3

The value in life that I have learnt in the novel- Catch us if you can is “The

Importance of Family”. Sacrifices for family are honoured and explored, as are

the family bonds that survive adversity. Family responsibility in the novel is best

displayed by Rory’s constant care of his grandfather. Very early in age, Rory has

realised that ‘there was only Granda and me’ to make up a family. Rory does not

know any other family love. His father had left them when he was very young.

Granda had taken care of him all his life and now, as Granda is getting old and

forgetful, and is never quite well, it is his turn to look after him.

Practice 4

The incident which is memorable in – Catch us if you can is when Granda is sent

to Rachnadar, Rory knows that he has to get him away from that place. Though

torn with desperation at times ( Granda’s carelessness with the chip pan had

landed him in hospital and Rory at Castle Street), Rory plans the Great Escape

and gets him away from the hospital where they put old people in.

Practice 5

In the novel Step by Wicked Step, Richard reveals the pain of the knowledge of

his dying father and the intrusion of Mr. Coldstone into the family. Then

Richard’s father dies. Mr Coldstone is very harsh towards Richard. Richard feels

that his own happiness is not counted for. He wishes for his father to wake up

from the grave and tell him that all things in the house have gone wrong since

the father’s death. Richard had practically become a stranger in his own house.

His house was like a tomb. Richard leaves the house. He feels that his presence

is not wanted by his mother.

Practice 6

Claudia are the two characters I have chosen to compare and contrast. Although

they are two differing characters, they also have some similarities. Both Colin

and Claudia come from broken or separated families. They both have step

parents. Colin’s mother has left his biological father and `took up’ with Jack. Jack

is the only ‘father’ figure Colin ever know. However, Colin’s mum leaves Jack

after a while. This causes him to miss Jack so badly that it hurts. On the other

hand, Claudia’s father has left her mother for another woman, Stella. She feels

disloyal to her mum whenever she has a good time with her father and Stella.

Both Colin and Claudia really want their parents to reconcile as they pine for how

it used to be when they were happy.

Documents

Form 5 Literature Exercises