ZIMSEC O Level English Language Paper 2 June 1996

Read the following

The Little Brown Men

The narrator was traveling as a doctor with Mzilikazi and his army from the South. They camped at the Okavango Swamps for sometime. In this passage he describes one of the incidents that spurred them to strike camp and move on.

1. The decision was made to move on and in fact our departure was hastened by an incident that occurred during a last minute hunting trip. Several men had gone out hunting for water buck, but one of them came back before the others, complaining of dizziness. He was advised to lie down and naturally I was summoned to attend to him.

2. When I asked him what had happened, he replied in a faint voice, 'while we were all stalking a herd of water buck, I felt a slight prick in my back. I looked round and saw a small brown figure disappear behind a rocky outcrop. I had never seen anyone like him before, although I assumed he was human, for he was carrying a bent stick as long as your forearm with a long thong between the two ends. I thought I would….' His voice trailed off as sweat began to pour profusely from his body. He became limp and started drooling. Before I could do anything to help, his whole body began to jerk violently. Suddenly he stopped breathing and in a few seconds he was dead. I was completely puzzled. On examining the man's body, I found a small scratch on his back with a little dried blood below it. The scratch could easily have been caused by stooping under or hurrying past a thorn bush. But this would not have made him turn round as he did. Then there was the mystery of the 'small brown man' disappearing behind a rock. I wondered what all this ended up to, for there was nothing in the hunter's story that implicated the 'brown man' in his sudden death.

3. Later in the day, when the other hunters returned, they were upset and utterly dismayed to find their companion dead. On enquiring from them what had happened, I discovered that they, too, had been surprised when he had suddenly decided to come back to camp. He had seemed all right for he started out as fit as any other and was keen to go. All he told them was that he had felt a small prick in his back. It had begun to itch, making him scratch, but none of them had thought anything of it. Further questioning revealed that they had not seen the light brown man that he had seen, and yet later, while carrying back the water buck they had killed, they saw a group of small men who vanished abruptly. On searching the area they found nothing except a few vague tracks but no further sign of these mysterious men.

4. I began to feel that the death of the hunter might be connected with this little brown man. No- one had reported seeing any of them before this, although we had all heard unusual sounds in the night on several occasions. They were unlike any animal sounds that I knew, but they had frightened some in the camp who thought they might be due to evil spirits wandering about the place. I did not agree with this explanation. Instead I now wondered if these noises might have been made by these little mysterious men. I wanted to find out. After a discussion with Mzilikazi, I set off using the route the hunters had followed. I carried some dried meat and ground mealie- meal. I walked for two days, conscious all the time that I was being watched and followed. I carried no spear or any other weapon in the hopes that whoever might follow me would be encouraged to make contact.

5. Since nothing happened during the two days. I decided to set up camp and wait. I built a huge fire as a means of attracting attention. This had the desired effect, for on waking up in the thin light of day, I noticed at the edge of the clearing a group of little brownish yellow men watching me. I rose slowly, pretending not to have seen anything. I stirred the glowing tinder of the fire and put some more wood on it, all the while keeping my back to the group. Then I turned in a gentle movement towards them, hoping they would not vanish. I held my hands out, palms upwards, in a sign of friendship. They did not move. After waiting for what seemed to be an age, I took one hesitant step towards them. At that, they vanished in an instant. Nevertheless, I felt sure they would return, so I decided to sit and wait. I must have dozed off, for when I came to with a start, I found myself surrounded by twelve very small yellow- brown men. Their wrinkled faces made them look older than their bodies. I sat quite still and uncertain of what to do next, I merely smiled at them. They were naked except for a small loincloth, the k'gu, and a bag at their hips slung from the shoulder. They carried some bows and a quiver of arrows with blunt ends and thin shafts. One of them, apparently their leader started speaking in a high pitched voice with many clicks, grunts, gurgles and snorts, none of which I could understand. All the same, I sensed an urgency in what he was saying. In as quite a voice as I could muster, for they were timid and shy like the duiker, I indicated speaking a little Zulu, that I had not understood what he had said. Now the Zulu language contains several clicks, but not as subtle as the variations as those in the language of the San people. Clearly, this was the tongue they were speaking, for they thought that with my clicks I was trying to imitate them and fell on the ground, roaring with laughter. At last, contact had been made.

6. In keeping with my own culture and as a gesture of a friendship, I heated up some mealie- meal I had cooked the night before and offered it to them. They did not know what to do with it, so I ate some myself to show them. Their leader followed my example. Their leader followed my example. Gingerly he rolled the mealie- meal in his mouth and then seemed to enjoy the taste, for he grunted and clicked in appreciation. The rest, as if on cue, joined in and wolfed down the food, smacking their distended bellies in satisfaction. I learnt later that they survived solely by hunting. They did not plant crops as we did, and so mealie- meal was new to them.

7. After the meal was over, I stood up and their leader, following my example, rose from his haunches, making everybody laugh again, for he only came up to my nipples in height. I surveyed the group and observed that he was taller than most of them. He caught hold of my hand and tugged. He seemed to want me o go somewhere. Even if I had serious misgivings about this, I could not afford to break the contact that I had established.

8. I, therefore, shook his hand in reply, indicating my willingness to go with him. Thus we sat out together with others following. Was I now going to find out what he really happened to the dead hunter on that ill- fated day?

Adapted from The Lost Bone by Robert W. Fynn.

Question 101

[1 marks]Comprehension

From Paragraph 1

Write down one word which shows that all the men had agreed to move on.

Adecision
Bhastened
Cdeparture
Dincident

Question 102

[1 marks]Comprehension

From Paragraph 1

Why was the author summoned to attend to the man who was 'complaining of dizziness?'

ABecause he was the doctor travelling with the army, so caring for the sick was his work
BBecause he had himself caught sight of one of the little brown men among the rocks
CBecause he had told the sick man to lie down and had promised to look at him later
DBecause he had led the hunting party that went out after the water buck that morning

Question 103

[1 marks]Comprehension

From Paragraph 2

The hunters were 'stalking' the water buck.

What advantage would 'stalking' give them?

AIt would let them keep together so that no hunter was left behind
BIt would let them drive the herd back towards the camp for killing
CIt would let them get close to the herd without being noticed
DIt would let them cover the ground faster than the buck could run

Question 104

[1 marks]Comprehension

From Paragraph 2

The 'brown figure' convinced the author that he was human because of his stick. Why should this fact have convinced him?

ABecause the figure held the stick in a hand instead of dragging it, which showed it had fingers
BBecause the hunter knew the stick as one of the spears his own party had lost that morning
CBecause a bent stick with a thong between its ends is a bow, and only human beings make weapons
DBecause the stick was cut to the length of a forearm, a measurement taken from the human body

Question 105

[2 marks]Comprehension

From Paragraph 2

Give two reasons why the author was 'completely puzzled' by the hunter's death.

AThe man's body jerked violently before he stopped breathing, which was a sight the author had seldom met in his years of medical practice
BThe only mark on the body was a scratch such as a thorn bush makes, and a thorn scratch would not have made a man turn round as he did
CThe dead man had complained of dizziness rather than of pain, and the hunters had noticed nothing wrong with him when he set out
DThe body carried no wound at all and no blood was found anywhere on it, yet the man had died in front of the author's own eyes

Question 106

[1 marks]Comprehension

From Paragraph 2

What other reason added to his bewilderment?

AThe camp had been hearing strange noises at night which nobody in the party could account for
BThe dried blood beneath the scratch showed that the wound had been there for several days
CThe other hunters brought back the water buck they had killed and had noticed nothing unusual along the path
DThe small brown man had vanished behind a rock, and nothing in the hunter's story tied him to the death

Question 107

[1 marks]Comprehension

From Paragraph 3

What was the reaction of the other hunters when their friend first complained of the scratch?

AThey took no notice of it, since a small itching prick seemed nothing to worry about
BThey were upset and dismayed by it, and told him to go straight back to the camp
CThey searched the ground about him for the small brown man who had pricked him
DThey warned him that the prick might be poisoned and told him to stop scratching it

Question 108

[2 marks]Comprehension

From Paragraph 3

In which two ways were the little brown men 'mysterious'?

AThey carried bows with blunt arrows, and their wrinkled faces made them look very old
BThey vanished abruptly from sight, and a search of the ground gave up only a few vague tracks
CThey trailed the hunters back to the camp, and they would not show themselves in daylight
DThey spoke a tongue full of clicks, and they stood far shorter than any of the hunters

Question 201

[2 marks]Comprehension

From Paragraph 4

In your own words give two reasons why the sounds in the night frightened some of the men in the camp.

AThe noises grew louder with every night that passed, and the men had already lost one of their hunters on that ground
BThe noises went on until morning and kept the camp awake, so the men were too tired to hunt the next day
CThe noises came from the swamps at night, and the men feared that an enemy army was moving nearby
DThe noises were like nothing any animal they knew makes, and the men took them for spirits of the dead wandering about

Question 202

[2 marks]Comprehension

From Paragraph 4

What evidence is the from the author's reactions to the sounds to suggest that he was not superstitious?

AHe begged Mzilikazi to move the whole camp away at once from the ground where the sounds had been heard
BHe treated the frightened men and assured them that the sounds came from a herd of water buck
CHe refused the talk of spirits and walked out alone to see whether the little men had made the sounds
DHe stayed awake in the camp at night to listen to the sounds and count how often they came

Question 203

[1 marks]Comprehension

Suggest a reason why the little brown men did not make contact with the author until after two days.

AThey had to travel a long way from their own hunting ground before they could reach his clearing
BThey had gone back to their own camp first to warn their leader that a stranger was walking on the hunters' path
CThey are timid and wary of strangers, so they watched him that long to satisfy themselves he meant no harm
DThey were waiting for the food he was cooking, whose smell had reached them from the bush

Question 204

[5 marks]Vocabulary in context

Which set gives the meaning that each of its words or phrases has in the passage?

1. hastened
2. trailed off
3. profusely
4. conscious
5. effect
6. except for
7. subtle
8. gingerly

Ahastened: brought forward; profusely: in great quantity; conscious: awake; subtle: cunning and crafty; gingerly: quickly
Bhastened: brought forward; profusely: in great quantity; conscious: aware; subtle: fine and slight; gingerly: cautiously
Chastened: brought forward; profusely: painfully; conscious: aware; subtle: fine and slight; gingerly: eagerly
Dhastened: put off; profusely: in great quantity; conscious: guilty; subtle: cunning; gingerly: cautiously

Question 301

[20 marks]Summary

The author set out to make contact with the 'mysterious little brown men.' Write a summary of what he did from the time he first saw them up to the time he went together with the group.

Use only material from paragraph 5 to the end of the passage.

Your account which should be in continuous writing must not be longer than 160 words, including the 10 words given below.

Begin your account as follows:

When he saw the group of little brown men, he……………..

Acalled out to them in Zulu, laid down his spear as a sign of peace and waited while their leader came forward alone; he shared his mealie meal with that one man, laughed at his clicks, slept until morning and set off with the whole band once the rest had gathered at the fire
Bkept still by the fire until they came close, greeted them in their own clicking tongue, cooked fresh mealie meal for them, gave the leader his dried meat, showed them how to plant crops and agreed at last to lead them back to Mzilikazi's camp
Cwalked straight across the clearing to greet them, offered them the dried meat he was carrying and followed them when they ran off, tracked them for two more days through the bush, built a second fire in the evening to draw them back, learned some of their clicks, ate with them at their own camp and was then led away by their leader
Drose slowly and pretended not to see them, fed the fire with his back turned, then turned gently with open palms; when one step forward emptied the clearing he waited, dozed, and woke among twelve of them, sat still and smiled, tried Zulu clicks that set them laughing, heated his mealie meal for them and took the leader's hand

Question 401

[2 marks]Situational language

You telephone a firm from which you ordered some goods which should have been delivered to your home. You tell the receptionist that you would like to speak to Mr Moyo. The receptionist says:

(i) "Look here, we have two Mr Moyos in this firm. I cannot help you if you do not know which one you want to speak to."

(ii) "Would you be wanting to speak to Mr Moyo, our sales manager?"

Which pair describes the receptionist's manner in each case?

A(i) She is apologetic about the late delivery; (ii) she is suspicious of what the caller really wants
B(i) She is rude and impatient and gives no help; (ii) she is polite and tries to be helpful
C(i) She is firm but correct and businesslike; (ii) she is unsure of herself and unwilling to commit herself
D(i) She is anxious not to lose a customer; (ii) she is bored and answering out of long habit

Question 402

Situational language

Your parents have promised to buy you a fashionable pair of shoes, but when they take you to the shops, they discover that they cannot afford it. Which of the statements most appropriately shows that you are:

a) angry
b) disappointed

Write down the words 'angry' and 'disappointed' on separate lines and against each write out the statement you have chosen.

(i) But you promised!
(ii) I really feel let down.
(iii) This is unfair.
(iv) You have cheated me!

Aangry: 'You have cheated me!'; disappointed: 'I really feel let down.'
Bangry: 'But you promised!'; disappointed: 'This is unfair.'
Cangry: 'I really feel let down.'; disappointed: 'You have cheated me!'
Dangry: 'This is unfair.'; disappointed: 'But you promised!'

Question 403

[2 marks]Situational language

A small boy walks up to two old men and asks: "Could I ask how old you are?"

(i) One of the old men says, "Oh boy, I was your age once, but a long time ago."

(ii) The other says: "Give me one reason why you should know?"

Which pair describes the attitude each old man shows to the little boy's question?

A(i) He is amused and tolerant and takes the question in good part; (ii) he is annoyed and treats it as impertinent
B(i) He is saddened by the memory of his own youth; (ii) he is willing to answer if given a good reason
C(i) He is embarrassed about his age and will not say it out loud; (ii) he is puzzled by the question and wants it repeated
D(i) He is boasting about how long he has lived; (ii) he is teasing the boy and inviting him to guess

Question 404

[2 marks]Situational language

You buy your sister an expensive red dress, when you give it to her she exclaims:

"Oh it's red!"

Which pair gives two different meanings that can be derived from her exclamation?

ADoubt about whether the colour will suit her, or a wish to be told which shop it came from
BPleasure that the dress is the colour she loves, or dismay that it is a colour she dislikes
CSurprise that the dress is in her favourite colour, or surprise that it cost so much money
DDelight at being given a present at all, or annoyance that the dress may not fit her

Question 405

[2 marks]Situational language

The head of your school has just received a message that your sister has died. Which of the statements listed below would be:

a) the most appropriate and
b) the least appropriate way of breaking the news.

(i) You have to go home immediately because your sister is dead.

(ii) You have to go home immediately because your sister is no more.

(iii) I am sorry to break some bad news to you, your sister has unfortunately passed away.

(iv) I an sorry to tell you that you have to go home immediately, something has happened there.

(v) You have to go home immediately. I have received some bad news about your sister.

(vi) Your sister is dead, but do not worry. All of us will die one day.

AMost appropriate (iii), which apologises before it breaks the news; least appropriate (ii), which hides the death behind 'no more'
BMost appropriate (ii), which softens the word death; least appropriate (iv), which says only that something has happened
CMost appropriate (v), which warns that bad news is coming before it is given; least appropriate (i), which gives the order and the death together in one breath
DMost appropriate (iii), which apologises before it breaks the news; least appropriate (vi), which states it bluntly and then makes light of it

English Language Paper 2 June 1996

Sit this paper online

The questions

Question 101

Question 102

Question 103

Question 104

Question 105

Question 106

Question 107

Question 108

Question 201

Question 202

Question 203

Question 204

Question 301

Question 401

Question 402

Question 403

Question 404

Question 405

More sittings of this paper

The answers, and why they are the answers

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