CXC ENGLISH

Hello there! Today we go through a prose passage and show you how to get full marks on the questions. It’s from an English B exam, but it’s an exercise that will help English A candidates too. We also have a helpful exercise for you and some reminders about letter writing. Read on, and enjoy!

ENGLISH B—Unseen prose fiction passage. This prose passage came in the 2011 exam. Read the passage, and try to answer the questions. When you have done that, read the answers at the bottom of the page. Ask yourself why you lost marks. Did you need to say more than you did? Did you find the right word to say what needed to be said? If there were several marks to get, did you say enough to earn them?

We found Rygin with Mr Johnson, somewhere downstream where the river runs just behind the White Marl cemetery, where there was more grass than trees. And the banks were lined with water-lilies and tall water grass with large corn-like flowers blowing gently. There also, the river was wide as two main roads and shallow enough in some parts for its complexion to move from washed-out sand to the green of the leaves with a little sun in it. And in places, one could see the water slither across the bed of stones and schools of perch dart in and out of the reeds. And one could slide through the water-lilies and be in the water before you could say Red Head.

Mr Johnson was a large man of serious demeanour with tight, dark skin that gleamed in the sunlight—rich, my mother said, from eating so much fish. He lived three houses down the road from me. I had not expected to see him. He was my mother’s friend. His son Andrew, was mine. He wanted to know why were not in school. “We on half-day,” Spragga said. I kept very quiet. “Half-day no.” He was in the middle of the water. Rygin was at the bank closest to us. They were in the middle of a routine unfamiliar to me. Mr Johnson worked the net across the river in a straight line as Rygin twisted his hands expertly.

He paused at the half-day remark. “Andrew never tell me nothing ‘bout that this morning.” “Not Andrew class,” Patrick added quickly, “but our class.” “Then Wesley,” Mr Johnson said wisely, attending once more to his net, “you and Andrew not in the same class again?” “Yes, Mr Johnson.” “Is scull the bwai them scull school.” Rygin joined the conversation. “Nothing more than the boy them scull class.” “Sculling school not a good thing,” Mr Johnson said, looking at me. Adapted from Garfield Ellis, For Nothing at All Scull = to skip school a) (i) What mood is created by the description of the setting in para. 1 (1 mark)

(ii) How does the writer create the mood identified? (2 marks) b) How does the sentence, “I had not expected to see him” introduce a shift in the mood of the passage? (2 marks)

c) Identify ONE feature of the passage which suggests that it is set in the Caribbean (1 mark) d) Explain TWO ways that the writer builds tension in the passage. (4 marks) e) (i) Give one reason why the narrator’s response to Mr Johnson is different from that of his friend. (2 marks)

(ii) How does Mr Johnson’s behaviour make the passage humorous? (3 marks) Look at this example:

● Although it arrived late, the Jamaican flight was early enough for passengers to connect with the Delta flight to London.

● Despite arriving late, the Jamaican flight….

To remind you of the two constructions, rewrite the sentences below, beginning each with ‘Despite’.

1. Although he felt anxious about the trip, Granddad accompanied us to Bartica.

2. Although he had acquired fluency in Mandarin, he never really understood his Chinese hosts. 3. Although he was so poor, he always was clean and neat. 4. Although he suffered from asthma, he managed to keep up as we climbed the steep hill.

5. Although he displayed a professional attitude on the job, he was unmannerly at home.

6. Although he had become very frail, the elderly patient kept up a lively conversation.

7. Although he admitted that he was sceptical about the plan, he was willing to give us his support.

8. Although he had sustained serious injuries in a crash, he showed great love for adventure.

9. Although he conducted himself with bravery on the battle-field, he was very afraid of being seriously ill.

10. Although he dealt confidently with work situations, Sam was actually quite shy.

(i) The mood is carefree, peaceful, tranquil, restful. The mood suggests a delightful experience to come. (1 mark for any one of these.)

(ii) The mood is created by the description of nature’s beauty and by the use of phrases like ‘blowing gently’. (1 mark each for either of these). It is also created by the anticipation of getting into the cool water: “And one could slide through the water-lilies and be in the water…” (1 mark) OR Mention of the perch tells us the boys will enjoy catching fish. (1 mark)

The mood shifts to being anxious, troubled, tense, worried (ONE of these adjectives = 1 mark) because the boys should not have been there, but in school. (1 mark for this reason)

We know the incident happened in the Caribbean because the characters speak Creole: “Is scull the bwai them scull school.” (1 mark with any suitable quotation).

Ways the writer builds tension:

The narrator says he knew Mr Johnson He knew Mr Johnson was ‘very serious’ He kept very quiet when Spragga lied The lie would not work because Andrew and the narrator are in the same class Mr Johnson pauses a little after the lie Rygin’s accusation about sculling The fact that Mr Johnson looks at the narrator. (Any TWO of these plus a brief explanation will earn the four marks: e.g. He kept quiet when Spragga lied because he knows that Mr Johnson will not believe Patrick.)

(i) The narrator responds differently because he knows Mr Johnson, and Mr Johnson and his mother are friends, so he knows he is in trouble whereas Patrick thinks he can lie his way out.

(ii) Mr Johnson’s behaviour is humorous because i) he does not get angry but seems to play along with the lie, ii) he seems puzzled when he says that Andrew hadn’t mentioned the half-day to him, but actually he is just playing with the boys, iii) he appears to be giving more attention to his net than to the boys, iv) he teases Wesley with questions instead of accusing him outright v) his behaviour suggests that Mr Johnson finds their truancy amusing rather than naughty. (Any THREE of the above will earn you three marks.).

Construction Shifts 1 Despite feeling anxious about the trip, Granddad….; 2 Despite having acquired fluency in Mandarin, he….; 3 Despite being so poor, he….; 4 Despite suffering from asthma, he….; 5 Despite displaying a professional attitude on the job, he….; 6 Despite having become very frail, the elderly patient….; 7 Despite admitting that he was sceptical about the plan, he….; 8 Despite having sustained serious injuries in a crash, he….; 9 Despite conducting himself with bravery on the battle-field, he….; 10 Despite dealing confidently with work situations, Sam…