CANDIDATE NAME: _________________________________________________FORM 4

2022 NENO DISTRICT MOCK EXAMINATION

MALAWI SCHOOL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION

ENGLISH
PAPER III
(70 marks)

26th May, 2022 SUBJECT NUMBER: M052/ III

Time Allowed: 2 hours

Instructions Question Tick against Do not write

number question if in these
1. This paper contains 10 printed pages.
answered columns
Please check.
2. This paper has two sections. 1
a. Section A contains two compulsory
2
contextual questions. Therefore,
you are required to answer both 3
questions in the spaces provided.
4
b. Section B comprises essay
questions. Answer one question on
each book on the lined answer
sheets on pages 8 to 10
3. You should spend the first 10 minutes
reading all the questions and planning
your answer to the questions you
choose.

4. Write your name on top of each page in

the spaces provided
© 2022 NDMEB Turn over
 Section A (15 marks)
1. Read the following poem and answer the questions that follow.

DOWN THE TOWN

Jostling, here and there
There and here
Shouting, screaming and weeping
All wrapped in one
Beating and whipping
Spiced with torments
Black heavy boots pounding masked heads
Bathed in blood as chips in sauce

Storm of stones pelting in torrents

Baptizing the uniforms
Breaking and wrecking
Silver chains abandoned
Dutiful armoured carriages
Betrayed to hungry flames

Locked and doubled locked my soul

My life, my heart, oh! My treasure
Years of saving by starving
Smashed and looted in a blink
Poverty again!

Lightning then thunder

Flavoured with sacred smoke of tears
The holy incense
To calm the anger of the gods of terror
Only to fuel the terror
Breaking and wrecking
Looting and killing!

Questions
1. Who is the persona in the poem? Justify your answer.
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(2 marks)
2. Discuss the tone of the poem.
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3. Who are the ‘gods of terror' in the last stanza? Justify your answer.
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(2 marks)
4. Describe the theme of disillusionment as portrayed in the poem.
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(2 marks)
5. What does the persona infer to by saying years of saving by starving?
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(1 mark)
6. Pick out the following figures of speech from the poem. (5 Marks)
a. Assonance
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b. Personification
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c. Synecdoche
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d. Simile
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e. Rhyme
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7. What could be a possible solution to the chaos in the poem?

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(1 mark)
2. SHORT STORY
Read the following short story and answer the questions that follow.

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 NAJERE

Usually the bus arrived at Ndirandire bus stop around five o’clock in the morning but on this particular day it
was different. Mlelemba could not wait for the bus any longer. Anything that could transport his aging body
from Ndirandire was worthy embarking. He had salivated his legs, arms and half of his face to look smart and
fresh. The dirty bush he spent his previous night was dusty, he was afraid people in the bus would deny carrying
him thinking he was mad.

Each passing minute was like a decade to him. He was afraid people would see him once the sun had risen. He
cursed almost all companies manning vehicles and inwardly assassinated all drivers with anger. He put on his
straw hat and clad in a black sweater which he carried in his plastic bag. Then he was ready to start running and
he was good at that. He had always done some athletics with Mr. Malumbo’s dogs during rainy season when
stealing his green maize which he had always won. He began.

“Hey sir, same direction?”

“Yes! Yes! Yes! My good friend, pack me anywhere. I just want to move to afar place…”
“Cool sir, no problem, anything the matter?”
“Yes, but no...Did I say far place? No I meant I am going to the third stage from here, I will pay any amount”
“Get behind the van, no paying just take care of the maize pesticides bottles,” said the driver while engaging the
first gear.

The van driver was of a good character. A mere person of his caliber could not have stopped with such good
manners and carry him for free. The driver seemed an old timer and probably a grandfather. His face was rough,
maybe depicting calamities it had seen since birth. As early in the day as it was, he was smoking and he
wondered how he would drive with his sleepy eyes as if he had not slept for years. He did not dare ask where
the chemicals were going and let alone the driver did not inquire much of him. All he knew was by the third
stage where he was to disembark he would be done with himself or search for a silent forest to write the last
chapter of his life.

The driver was driving very fast, contrary to what he had expected. He could not stand thinking about the
funeral at home. Even if hell was flamed a million measures he would not attend it. He could not afford to look
at the remains of Najere, his own rib. How could he bow so low and be the architect of his own fate. He was so
insane and silly.

“Mafulufute party has one pillar, Mr. Songole, he is the monster behind our disturbed rallies”
“Yes Sir, even the rally at Masanja Sir, he sent men to torment us”
“It’s good you know, now do something, eliminate him and I’m glad you know where he resides”
He only set his feet into the first three rooms of primary school classrooms. His father had enough farm animals
so he did not worry. He had never dreamt of joining politics but when half of his farm animals got swallowed in
dowry to Najere, he had to find a source of relish. He joined Mafuno party. The shadow Member of Parliament
he was serving appointed him as campaign director. He became so swallowed up into politics that he breathed
politics.

That Saturday morning Najere had gone to her home village. She had explained of her sister’s sickness that she
had to attend. That was an excuse worthy it and he could not deny her that. By the way, Najere was his
happiness. It was because of her beauty that he had lost almost all his cattle in dowry. And the following night
was of dirtiest business, a night of eliminating that political enemy, so he did not need disturbance.

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“Yes, she has to go”. He said inwardly.
He had few litres of petrol in the bucket, but petrol is petrol, it always plays the magic. The shadow Member of
Parliament had promised good devalued papers after the mission, he was happy. He had to eliminate him at all
cost to swim in money. Songole’s house was far from his village. He lived in the neighbouring village, Tilimbe.
He had to start off at dusk with his blunt machete, petrol and matches sleeping in his black plastic bag. He had
always had dirty missions since he joined politics but that one was advanced. He had to burn his house when all
was well and cool. Surely nobody would know he did it. All that people would know after the mission would be
that he had become very rich and Mr. Songole had died in his own house. He also knew that people are quick in
suggesting death involving fire. They would blame Songole for not putting off lamps or candles when asleep or
they would sympathise with his smoking escapades.

“All we know is that she was found in Songole’s house Sir, do you know that Songole’s house is burnt?”
“Yes… But no, you see Najere went home so how…”
When people had begun knocking at his door at exactly two o’clock at dawn, barely two hours after his mission,
he knew something was amiss. The corpse they had wrapped in the white cloth was oozing fresh blood. His
heart missed some beats. The mission was very clean and nobody might have seen him. And if the senseless
Songole had ceased they could not bring his bloody corpse to his home, for what? By the way they were no
blood ties of friendship between. They were enemies in all spheres of life.

“Sir, it is Najere in the white cloth, she was found dead in Songole’s house”
“But… I didn’t…”
“Sorry sir, it’s painful but that’s the news”
“Where is his corpse?”
“Whose corpse sir?”
“Songole’s”
“Sorry Sir, he went out this very same night, he said he had a political meeting with his superiors”
“But sir, do you know that the house of your master is burnt?”
“Whaaaaaaaaat?” Mlelemba stammered in disbelief.
They reached third stage. The sign post named it Tilora. The driver was calling but no response. The van driver
went behind the vehicle and found him lying flat, five bottles of the pesticides were empty laying beside him.
The van driver sympathized and called passersby to help carry him. The driver saw a note in his clenched fist. A
message poorly written in vernacular scribbled “NAPHA NINE NUJERE.”

Questions
a. In what point of view is the story told?
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(1 mark)
b. What is the geographical setting of the story? Justify your answer.
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(2 marks)
c. Describe one character of Mlelemba.
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(2 marks)
d. Discuss any one theme from this short story.
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(2 marks)
e. Why do you think Najere went to Songole’s house?
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(2 marks)
f. What is the atmosphere of the story? Justify.
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(2 marks)
g. “The evil that people do lives after them”. How does this proverb relate to the short story?
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(2 marks)
h. Explain any one external conflict that Mlelemba faces in the story.
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(2 marks)
SECTION B (40 marks)
Answer both questions in this section on the spaces provided, choose either questions a or b in each case
and not both.

3. THE PEARL by John Steinbeck

Either
a. With eight relevant examples, justify that the Pearl is a source of misfortunes in Kino's life.
(20 marks)
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 Or
b. With four examples on each individual from novella, The Pearl, discuss how the following individuals
help Kino to achieve his goal.
i. Kino himself (4 points)
ii. Juan Tomas ( 4 points)
(20 marks)
4. MACBETH by William Shakespeare
Either
a. Using eight points from the play, Macbeth, show how Shakespeare employed dramatic
irony in the development of the plot for the play.
(20 marks)
Or
b. Discuss with four examples on each, how the following themes are portrayed in the play
Macbeth.
i. Masculinity and power ( 4 points)
ii. Patriotism ( 4 points)

(20 marks)

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END OF QUESTION PAPER

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