ZIMSEC O Level English Language Paper 2 June 1997

Read the following

Shooting the Elephant

The passage describes an incident in Burna during which the author, George Orwell, find himself as the centre of attraction.

1. One day something happened which was enlightening. It was a tiny incident in itself, but it gave me a better in sight than I had before of how human beings behave. I was told that an elephant was ravaging the market and was asked to come and do something about it. I did not know what I could do, but I wanted to see what was happening.

2. As I started out, I took my old rifle, which was much too small to kill an elephant, but I thought the noise might help scare it off. Several Burmans stopped me on the way and told me about the elephant's deeds. It was not a wild elephant, but a tame one which had suddenly been seized by a fit of frenzy. This is not uncommon, even among tame elephants, and they are chained up when a fit appears imminent. However, this elephant had broken its chain and escaped. Its 'mahout' (trainer and keeper), the only person who could manage it when it was in that state, had set out in pursuit, but had taken the wrong direction.

3. Now the elephant was in the village. The local people had no weapons and were quite helpless against it. It had already destroyed a bamboo hut, killed a cow, turned the municipal van over and inflicted severe damage on it. The village where the elephant had been seen was a very poor one, a labyrinth of squalid bamboo huts, thatched with palm leaf, winding all over a steep hillside. Here, together with the local police officer, we began questioning the people as to the whereabouts of the elephant. However, we failed to get any definite information. That is invariably the case everywhere. A story always sounds clear enough at a distance but the nearer you get to the scene of events the more vague it becomes. I had almost made up my mind that the whole story was untrue when something caught my attention. I heard loud cries of indignation and clicking of tongues a little distance away. Evidently there was something of interest there. I went round a corner and saw a man's dead body sprawling in the mud. I was told that the elephant had come suddenly upon him and caught him with its trunk before he could run away. As soon as I saw the dead man I sent for an elephant rifle.

4. Meanwhile, I gathered that the elephant was in the paddy fields just below. As I started forward, the village population flocked out of their huts and followed me. They had seen the rifle and were all shouting excitedly that I was going to shoot the elephant. They had not shown much interests in the interest in the elephant when he was merely ravaging their homes, but it was different now he was to be shot. It was a bit of fun to them, as it would be to a crowd anywhere, besides, they wanted the meat.

5. The whole atmosphere made me vaguely uneasy. I had no intention of shooting the elephant and had merely sent for the rifle to defend myself if necessary. In any case, it is always unnerving to have a large crowd following you. I marched down the hill, looking and feeling a fool, with the rifle over my shoulder and an ever growing army of people jostling at my heels. The elephant was standing sixty metres from the road, his left side towards. He took not the slightest notice of the crowd's approach. He was tearing up bunches of grass, beating them against his knees and stuffing them into his mouth.

6. As soon as I saw the elephant, I knew with perfect certainty that I should not shoot him. It is a serious matter to shoot a working elephant. Such an action is comparable to destroying a huge and costly piece of machinery, and obviously one should not do it if it can possibly be avoided. And at that distance, peacefully eating, the elephant looked no more dangerous than a cow. I also thought that his fit of frenzy was already subsiding; in which case he would just wander harmlessly about until his 'mahout' caught him. I decided that I would watch him for a little while to make sure that he did not turn savage again, and then go home.

7. But at that moment I glanced round at the crowd, blocking the road for a long distance on either side. I looked at the sea of faces, all certain that the elephant was to be shot. They were watching me as they would watch a conjuror about to perform a trick. Suddenly I realized that I had to shoot the elephant after all. The people expected it of me and I had to do it. I could feel their two thousand wills pressing me forward irresistibly. I perceived at that moment that I was not free to do as I pleased; I was a puppet pushed to and fro by the will of those faces behind me. It dawned on men that I had committed myself to shooting the elephant when I sent for the rifle. I could not now sink feebly away having done nothing. The crowd would laugh at me.

8. In spite of all this pressure I was still very reluctant to shoot the elephant. I watched him beating his bunch of grass against his knees with that preoccupied grandmotherly air that elephants have. It seemed to me it would be murder to shoot an elephant and never wanted to. Besides, there was this beast's owner to be considered. The elephant was worth much more alive than dead. I had to quickly and resolutely. I turned to some experienced looking Burmans who had been there when I arrived and asked how the elephant had been behaving. They all said he took no notice of anyone if left alone but might charge if one got too close to him.

9. I decided to walk up to within about ten metres of the elephant and test his behaviour. If he charged I could shoot, if he took no notice I would leave him alone. But I was a poor shot with a rifle and the ground was soft mud into which I would sink at every step. If the elephant charged and I missed him, I would have as much chance of escape as a toad under a steam- roller.

10. The sole thought in my mind now was that if anything went wrong, the crowd would see me pursued, caught, trampled on and reduced to a corpse. If that happened, it was quite probable that some of them would laugh. That would never do. There was only alternative, I lay down on the road to get a better aim. The crowd grew very still, they were going to have their bit of fun after all. When I pulled the trigger I did not hear the bang but heard rather the roar of delight that went up from the crowd.

Adapted from Shooting the Elephant by George Orwell.

Question 101

[1 marks]Comprehension

From paragraph 1

What was the author's main aim in going to the market?

ATo take charge of the crowd and keep the people away from it
BTo see for himself what was actually going on in the market
CTo help the mahout to find the elephant and chain it up again
DTo shoot the elephant before it could do any more damage there

Question 102

[1 marks]Comprehension

From paragraph 1

'ravaging the market' What was the elephant doing?

AFrightening the traders off without touching their goods
BChasing its mahout up and down between the stalls
CWrecking the stalls and doing great damage there
DWandering among the stalls in search of food

Question 103

[1 marks]Comprehension

From paragraph 2

What precisely did the author hope to do with his 'old rifle'?

AFrighten the animal away with the noise of a shot
BKill the animal with one shot from a safe distance
CDefend the villagers if the animal charged at them
DShow the crowd that he had come to deal with it

Question 104

[1 marks]Comprehension

From paragraph 3

Which one word from this paragraph shows that the huts were uncared for?

Athatched
Bwinding
Clabyrinth
Dsqualid

Question 105

[1 marks]Comprehension

From paragraph 3

From the evidence of the paragraph, state the main reason why the author had difficulty in locating the elephant.

AThe mahout had set out after the animal in the wrong direction
BThe villagers he questioned could give him no definite information
CThe elephant had already moved down into the paddy fields below
DThe huts were built in a maze winding all over a steep hillside

Question 106

[1 marks]Comprehension

From paragraph 3

At first the author thought the story about the elephant was untrue. What happened in the paragraph which made him change his mind.

AHe saw the municipal van lying overturned and badly damaged
BHe heard the mahout calling for help from the paddy fields
CHe came upon the body of a man lying dead in the mud
DHe met the police officer who had seen the animal himself

Question 107

[1 marks]Comprehension

From paragraph 3

What reason does the author give later on in the passage for sending for the elephant rifle?

AHe wanted it to defend himself with, should that become necessary
BHe wanted to please the crowd that had gathered behind him
CHe wanted to kill the animal before it wrecked any more huts
DHe wanted to fire it in the air and drive the animal away

Question 108

[1 marks]Comprehension

From paragraph 4

'…the village population flocked out of their huts' What scene does the author create by using the word 'flocked'?

APeople pushing one another aside to reach the front of the road
BA few curious people coming out one at a time to look
CGreat numbers pouring out together and moving as one crowd
DPeople running away from their homes in fear of the animal

Question 109

[2 marks]Comprehension

From paragraph 4

Why were the people interested in the shooting of the elephant?

AIt would prove that the officer could be trusted to protect them
BIt would settle who was to pay the owner for the loss of the beast
CIt promised them some fun to watch, and it would give them meat
DIt would end the damage to their homes and clear the mahout of blame

Question 201

[2 marks]Comprehension

From paragraph 6

From the evidence of the paragraph, give two reasons why the author was reluctant to shoot the elephant.

AA working elephant is valuable, like a costly piece of machinery, and the animal was now feeding quietly and looked harmless
BThe owner had not yet given his permission, and the mahout was already on his way to collect the animal
CHe was a poor shot with a rifle, and the soft mud underfoot would have made it hard for him to get out of the animal's way
DThe crowd behind him stood too close for a safe shot, and his old rifle was much too small for the animal

Question 202

Comprehension

From paragraph 7

'It was an immense crowd'. Write down three consecutive words used later in the paragraph which emphasise the size of the crowd.

Aabout to perform
Btwo thousand wills
Ccommitted myself to
Dglanced round at

Question 203

[1 marks]Comprehension

From paragraph 9

The author would have no chance of escape if the elephant charged him. What was the reason?

AThe elephant stood only ten metres from the spot where he was lying
BHis elephant rifle held a single shot and could not be loaded again
CHe was a poor shot and the soft mud would make him sink at every step
DThe crowd blocked the road behind him for a long distance on either side

Question 204

[1 marks]Comprehension

From paragraph 10

What finally drove the author to shoot the elephant?

AThe fear of being laughed at by the crowd if anything went wrong
BThe certainty that the elephant would charge him where he lay
CThe knowledge that the villagers were badly in need of the meat
DThe order given to him by the local police officer at his side

Question 205

[5 marks]Vocabulary in context

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

1. insight
2. imminent
3. inflicted
4. invariably
5. gathered
6. In any case
7. perfect
8. probable

Ainsight: understanding; imminent: important; inflicted: threatened; invariably: rarely; perfect: complete
Binsight: understanding; imminent: unavoidable; inflicted: caused; invariably: usually; perfect: complete
Cinsight: eyesight; imminent: about to happen; inflicted: repaired; invariably: always; perfect: faultless
Dinsight: understanding; imminent: about to happen; inflicted: caused; invariably: always; perfect: complete

Question 301

[20 marks]Summary

Part of the passage describes what went on in the author's mind before he decided to shoot the elephant. Write a summary of what he felt, the decisions he took and the reasons for such decisions.

Use only the material from line 36 to 81 of the passage.
Your summary, which should not be in continuous writing, must not be more than 160words, including 10 words given below.

Begin your summary as follows:

As he approached the elephant, the crowd made him feel……..

Auneasy and foolish; seeing the elephant feeding quietly he was sure he should not shoot an animal worth as much as costly machinery and already calming, and meant only to watch it, but the faces expecting a shot made a puppet of him who would be laughed at for doing nothing, so he lay down and fired
Bconfident and important; he judged the animal still dangerous and its fit far from over, sent the crowd back to their huts for safety, waited a while for the mahout to arrive and fired only when the elephant turned and charged him across the paddy field, as the older Burmans had warned him it would
Csorry for the villagers; he thought first of the owner's loss and of the cost of the animal, then of the meat the crowd wanted, and decided in the end that shooting was the kindest thing he could do for a sick beast whose keeper was most unlikely ever to find it again
Dangry at being followed; he settled at once that the beast must die because it had killed a man, went forward with the crowd cheering him, put aside the advice of the older Burmans, walked within ten metres to be sure of his aim and shot standing up so that everybody could see him

Question 401

[2 marks]Situational language

A friend of yours borrows your English textbook but does not return it on the day he promised to. You desperately need the book and when you ask him about it he says:

(i) "Look, I have not yet finished with it."
(ii) "I am sorry, let me go and fetch it now."

Which pair describes your friend's attitude in each reply?

A(i) He is embarrassed and playing for a little more time; (ii) he is annoyed but gives in to keep the peace
B(i) He is asking politely for a few more days with it; (ii) he is surprised that you doubted his word
C(i) He is accusing you of being impatient with him; (ii) he is offering to buy you another copy
D(i) He is offhand and unconcerned about your need; (ii) he is sorry and ready to put it right

Question 402

[2 marks]Situational language

You have taken your clothes to the dry cleaner's. When you go to collect them you find that your school blazer is missing. You say;

(i) "Don't give me that! You people have been stealing customer's clothes for a long time."
(ii) "I shall come back tomorrow and check again."

Which pair describes what each statement reveals about your attitude towards your loss?

A(i) You are asking them to look for the blazer once more; (ii) you have decided to report them to the police
B(i) You are upset but keep your suspicions to yourself; (ii) you are indifferent about losing the blazer
C(i) You are joking in order to hide how worried you are; (ii) you are afraid to complain to them at all
D(i) You are angry and openly accuse them of stealing; (ii) you are calm and prepared to give them time

Question 403

[2 marks]Situational language

You are studying for an examination while your elder sister is listening to the radio. She tells you to go the market to buy her some fruit. You say:

(i) "You can see I'm busy. Can't you go yourself?"
(ii) OK...but just let me finish this page."

Which pair says how your sister will interpret each reply?

A(i) She will take it as a joke between the two of you; (ii) she will take it as a complaint about her radio
B(i) She will find it rude and disrespectful of her; (ii) she will find it willing and polite
C(i) She will conclude that you are frightened of failing; (ii) she will conclude that you have finished studying
D(i) She will think that you did not hear her properly; (ii) she will think that you are refusing outright

Question 404

[2 marks]Situational language

You have just finished writing the O' Level examination. One Friday evening you ask your mother to allow you to attend a party for young people which ends late at night.

Your mother says:
'I don't like the idea. Just because you have completed your O' Levels doesn't mean you can stay out late at night. "

Which pair gives two different reasons why your mother should say this?

AShe has no money to spare for the party, and she wants you to start looking for work as soon as the results have come out
BShe wants you to keep studying for the results, and she has already promised that evening to a relative
CShe dislikes the friends who invited you, and she has heard that the party has been called off anyway
DShe fears for your safety so late at night, and she does not accept that finishing an examination makes you an adult

Question 405

[2 marks]Situational language

You want to ask for permission to go home before the end of the school day. The following is what you say to the class teacher:

(i) "I need to go home early, please."
(ii) "May I be allowed to leave early today?"
(iii) "Could I leave early today?"
(iv) "I would like to leave early today."

Which of the statements or questions is the most appropriate way of making your request? Write down the statement in full and give a reason for the answer.

A(iii) 'Could I leave early today?', because it is the shortest of the four and takes up least of a busy teacher's time
B(ii) 'May I be allowed to leave early today?', because it asks a person in authority for permission in the politest form
C(iv) 'I would like to leave early today.', because it tells the teacher exactly what has been decided
D(i) 'I need to go home early, please.', because it states the need plainly and ends with the word please

English Language Paper 2 June 1997

Sit this paper online

The questions

Question 101

Question 102

Question 103

Question 104

Question 105

Question 106

Question 107

Question 108

Question 109

Question 201

Question 202

Question 203

Question 204

Question 205

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

Sit this paper online