Paper 2 · November 2025 · Comprehension
From Paragraph 1
Give evidence to show that the place had dry vegetation.
AThe red ants had built their fortress among the roots of a mopane tree on the hill
BThe grass blades were dry enough for the scouts to stand pensively on their tips
CThe battle was fought on bare ground within inches of the writer's own feet
DThe hillside was sun drenched and covered with twisted acacia shrubs and mopane bushes
Explanation
Paragraph 1 describes 'a sun-drenched hillside, a hillside covered with twisted acacia-shrubs and mopane bushes', and acacia and mopane growing twisted under a beating sun is dry country vegetation. The mopane tree at the roots of the nest is the near miss: it is the same kind of tree, but it comes in paragraph 3 and is given as a location, not as a description of the place.
ZIMSEC English Language 4005/2, November 2025, Q1(a)(i)