MURANG'A HIGH SCHOOL

ENGLISH FORM 3
AUGUST HOLIDAY ASSIGNMENT – 2024

FATHERS OF NATIONS – ESSAY

1. There are decisions one can make in life that can have adverse effects later. With
reference to various characters in Father of Nations by Paul B. Vitta, write an
essay to show the truth of this statement.
2. Some characters have undergone harrowing experiences that have brought
untold suffering to them. Using illustrations from Paul Vitta’s Fathers of Nations,
write an essay in support of this statement.
3. Tribalism and nepotism is rife in African leadership and politics. Write an essay
to justify this assertion based on the novel Fathers of Nations by Paul B. Vitta.

THE SAMARITAN EXCERPTS

Read the excerpts below and then answer the questions that follow:-

Excerpt 1

Mossi: Far from the truth! Take the issue of development, for example.
Everywhere in The Samaritan, I am being accused of inflating the cost
of projects and presiding over shoddy Municipal works. Am I indeed
responsible for that?

Nicole: Maybe it is because you are the overall leader. The buck stops with you,
as they say.

Mossi: Oh, yes, it’s easy to think so because I am the overall custodian of the
public good in our Municipality. But take any project, such as the
construction and maintenance of secondary roads in our town. Are any
roads ever constructed? I will tell you what happens. Only a few
kilometres of road are usually dug up and then levelled. Then the
contractor pours old black oil and claims the road is tarmacked. Today,
our secondary roads look like part of an abandoned battlefield where
bombs were detonated. Even tractors can get stuck in those roads! Yet,
the Council pays top dollar for these roads each year! Am I responsible?

Nicole: Tell me, Your Worship.

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Mossi: (Standing up and pacing about the boardroom) It is my Deputy! That
irredeemable gossip and broker! As you know, he doubles up as our
Municipal Secretary for the Department of Physical Infrastructure. He
uses this position to ensure only his companies or those of his relatives
win tenders for road construction in our Municipality. The same
happens with regard to tenders for the construction of bridges,
payments, drains and watercourses. Sadly, they don’t do any
meaningful work! They simply misappropriate the funds!

Nicole: So, what does that have to do with the people?

Mossi: Doesn’t it bother you that the people overwhelmingly voted for this kind
of a person knowing very well he has never accomplished anything in his
life other than swindle the people?

Nicole: Oh, did they know?

Mossi: Of course, they did! There’s hardly any person he has not conned in
this town! You always find him leaning on the street poles in our town’s
backstreets, gazing vacantly into empty spaces like an evil spirit
– waiting for fake title deeds to be printed. He prints ten title deeds for
the same plot, and then sells the same plot to ten different people.
Yet the people went ahead and voted for him! Why do the people glorify
evil and mediocrity, and then turn and whine when it hurts them? And
you know what?

Questions

1. What happens before this excerpt? (2 marks)

2. (i) Mayor Mossi claims that Hon Ramdaye has conned almost everyone in their
town. Mention one council leader who has been conned and explain how.
(3 marks)

(ii) Describe the leader’s reaction when he learns that he has been swindled?
(2 marks)

3. What is ironical about the people in relation to Ramdaye? (2 marks)

4. How does Ramdaye misuse his position? (2 marks)
5. Describe the character of Mayor Mossi and Hon Ramdaye in this excerpt.
(4 marks)
6. Apart from irony, identify and illustrate one stylistic device employed in this
excerpt. (2 marks)

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 7. (i) They simply misappropriate the funds. (Rewrite in the passive). (1 mark)

(ii) So what does that have to do with the people? Rewrite in indirect speech.
(1 mark)

8. (i) ``And you know what? What does Mossi tell Nicole about Ramdaye?
(2 marks)

(ii) What is his attitude towards Ramdaye? (2 marks)

9. Explain the meaning of the following expressions as used in the excerpt.

(2 marks)

(i) The buck stops with you.

(ii) Misappropriate.

EXCERPT 2

Bembe: You have a reputation for being too strong – willed to be suitable for
a school teacher. You’re as stubborn as a mule.

Nicole: What crime is that?

Bembe: Well, it is not a crime as such; but don’t you think it is a bad influence
to the students? (Bangs the table violently and shouts an order. Two
police officers enter.) Handcuff her! (There is a commotion as the officers
reach out to Nicole. She resists but is overpowered. There is an interval
of silence as Bembe begins to rummage through papers on Nicole’s table.
Nicole refuses to move and sits down on the floor. The officers drag her
on the floor) Stop. (The officers stop. There is silence. Then Bembe
moves behind Nicole’s table and starts pulling the drawers open, one
after the other, removing and throwing papers all over the floor.) Where
have you hidden it?

Nicole: Hidden what?

Bembe: The Samaritan! (Nicole is visibly surprised at the answer but remains
silent.) I will tell you this, whenever you see me personally involved in an
arrest, you must know it’s a serious matter, as serious as death. And
you should be afraid. Very afraid!

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Nicole: I am not guilty of anything, and I refuse to be intimidated!

Bembe: (Inspector Bembe bangs the table violently with his gun. Nicole recoils
with a start.) Woman! Show some seriousness! This is no laughing
matter. Are you willing to talk?

Nicole: About what? (There is silence as Inspector Bembe ears his beret and
places his scepter under his armpit.)

Bembe: About The Samaritan?

Nicole: What about The Samaritan?

Bembe: Where is it?

Nicole: I don’t understand you?

Bembe: Where is it? (He repeats angrily.)

Nicole: (Swinging her head in disbelief) I have no such thing in my possession,

but you can download it from the Internet.

Bembe: (Hitting Nicole on the face with a bunch of papers) Now you have to tell
those two students to shut that thing off. Alright?

Nicole: Why should I?

Bembe: Because it is the right thing to do!

Nicole: I have no right to dictate what they do with their App.

Bembe: Then you have to shut it down yourself! We believe The Samaritan is
your brainchild! The two students are just a cover-up! And the App is
a grave danger to society!

Nicole: Mr. Inspector, when The Samaritan helps us fight environmental

degradation by exposing the culprits, is that dangerous?

Bembe: Fighting environmental degradation is none of the school’s business!

We have competent agencies employed to do that! Teach the authorized
curriculum.

Nicole: When it helps us to know who supplies air to the Municipal Council
instead of goods and services, it that dangerous?
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Bembe: As I am saying that’s not the business of any monkey of a Samaritan!
My question is simple, are you stopping it or not?

Questions

1. Briefly outline the events preceding this excerpt. (2 marks)

2. In light of what has been happening in the text, why does inspector Bembe tell
Nicole that she has a reputation of being too strong-willed to be suitable for a
school teacher. (2 marks)
3. From elsewhere in the text, what other accusations does Bembe say have been
levelled against Nicole? (2 marks)
4. Nicole says, ``when it helps us to know who supplies air to the Municipal
Council - - - -

Mention two municipal leaders who have been accused of supplying air.
(1 mark)

5. From elsewhere in the play, explain why Nicole has no right to dictate what the
two students do with their app. (2 marks)
6. Identify and illustrate two styles used in this excerpt. (4 marks)
7. Explain two issues addressed in this excerpt. (4 marks)
8. Identify one character of inspector Bembe and Nicole in this excerpt. (4 marks)
9. ``My question is simple, are you stopping it or not?’’ What is Nicole’s response?
(1 mark)
10. You’re just confirming some of the other accusations that have been made
against you. Rewrite replacing the underlined word with a phrasal verb.
(1 mark)
11. Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the excerpt. (2 marks)

(i) Brain child

(ii) Authorized curriculum

GRAMMAR

1. Rewrite the following sentences using one word to replace the underlined words.
(2 marks)
(a) The man who fells trees was arrested as he did not have a permit.
(b) The dog barked without stopping.

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2. Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Do
not change the meaning. (2 marks)

(a) The employee received a show cause letter from the manager but he did not
write back. (Rewrite using reply)
(b) Mary and Princess have been friends for five years. (Begin: The friendship - - )

3. Change the following sentences into direct speech. (2 marks)

(a) The visitors said that they wanted to go home then.

(b) Martin said that that was his book.

4. Correct the errors in the following sentences. (2 marks)

(a) The students will return back the books to the library at the end of the year.
(b) Do you have any cash money?

5. Explain the meaning of the underlined expressions. (2 marks)

(i) The new cabinet secretaries are really on the ball.

(ii) His speech fanned the flames of tribalism

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