Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.
It was Mr. Ogun that wooed me for school. That was decades ago, I had resisted vehemently: I even ran away to hibernate with my maternal grandmother. I had told Granny that I wanted to spend a few days with her. By nightfall, my father, who suspected that I was hiding there, came to take me away. The following morning, he dragged me all the way to school where Mr. Ogun received all fresh students.
I swore secretly that I would abscond at the first opportunity. but throughout the day, Mr. Ogun kept a watchful eye on fresh pupils. He had a smiling face and looked very friendly. As soon as he had registered our names, he led us to the field to play. Of all the children, I was probably the only one who looked forward to an opportunity to abscond. Mr. Ogun seemed to have read my mind, he used my name in the songs he composed as we marched round the field. He once held me by the hand and marched along with me. As we went on. he announced, “What a smart fellow! Clap for him.”
In the classroom, Mr. Ogun told me to sit in front as he stated, “My Smartic will keep the pieces of chalk and the duster.” Gradually, I was mellowing in my plan to abscond. I began to think that I could give school a try. At the end of that day, my father was around to take me home. Perhaps he decided not to take chances.
During the first week, my father took me to school everyday. Somehow, my resistance was softening to his surprise. Every morning, as I produced the pieces of chalk from the cupboard. Mr. Ogun smiled broadly, nodding approvingly. Before we left the classroom for recess, for games or for home, I dutifully kept the materials safe, and as soon as we returned, I produced them. It took some time before I realized that my role was crucial since the pilfering of such materials was common in all the other classes.
My father soon stopped bothering about me as I would get up from bed, take my bath, and get into my uniform without any prodding. My love for school was deepening. especially when I discovered that I was among the few that always did well in most tests. And Mr. Ogun would praise me to the skies.
Towards the end of the school year, we learnt that Mr. Ogun was going on transfer to another school. How devastated I felt! Now, at last, was the time to abscond from school. But then. I simply could not take the crucial step because my bond with school had become very firm.
(a) What evidence is there in the passage that the writer’s experience took place long ago?
(b) Mention two things that Mr. Ogun did that won the writer for school.
(c) What was the benefit of the duty performed by the writer to his class?
(d) What do you think the writer implies when he states that he dressed up for school without any prodding?
(e) Why could he not carry out his plan to abscond when his mentor had left?
(f) …that my role was crucial.. (i) What is the grammatical name given to this expression as it is used in the passage? (ii) What is its function?
(g) “…my bond with school had become very firm” What figure of speech is used in this expression?
(h) For each of the following words. find another word or phrase which means the same and which can replace it as it is used in the passage: (i) vehemently — (ii) abscond (iii) probably (iv) gradually (v) prodding (vi) devastated
Explanation
(a)The writer stated that the experience took place many decades ago.
(b)(i) He praised the writer very much.
(ii) He used his name in the songs he composed.
(iii) He assigned him a responsibility./He placed him in charge of chalk and duster.
(c) The pieces of chalk and duster for his class were not stolen/pilfered.
(d) The writer implied that he was love for school was deepening.
(e) He could not carry out his plan to abscond then becoming interest in school./His because he had become attached to school./His bond with school had become very firm/strong.
(f)(i) Noun clause (ii) It is the object of the verb 'realized'
(g)(i) It is a metaphor.
(h)(i) vehemently — strongly, fiercely (ii) abscond — run away, steal away, sneak away
(iii) probably — almost certainly, most likely, perhaps, maybe
(iv) little by little, step by step
(v) prodding — prompting, persuasion, urging, coaxing
(vi) gradually — slowly, bit by bit, set, worried