COMPREHENSION

SECTION A

1. Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.

The Dogs and the Hunter

Another African how-and why story. This is the end of a long folk – story, in which a hunter

has a lot of adventures, and finally succeeds in killing a large number of animals. But how was

he to carry all that meant home by himself, before night-fall? He was alone, with huntingdogs.

Then, much to the hunter’s surprise, the oldest dog spoke, ‘You sons of men are difficult tohelp,’ said the dog. ‘Said the dog, ‘We would easily help you solve your problem.’‘If there is any way in which you can help me, I promise that you will not regret it, “ said the hunter, ‘You know you can trust me. But I don’t see you can help. ’Well, if you promise to keep it a secret, we can change into human shapes and helpyou carry the meat as far as the town gates. Then you can fetch your wives to carry it homefrom there before dark, “The hunter promised, and the dogs took human shapes and helped him with the meat.Now, you all know how curious women are? They very first thing the hunter’s wiveswanted to know was how he alone had managed to get all that meat from the forest to the towngates. He refused to tell them, and of course that made them more interested than ever. Theycontinued to ask him and the more he refused, the more curious they became, until they couldhardly eat or sleep.So the youngest wife thought of a plan. One day she made a very tasty meal of poundedyam for the hunter, and gave him strong fresh palm-wine with it. She went on pouring himmore and more palm-wine until he became rather drunk and sleepy. Just as he was fallingasleep, she tapped him gently on the shoulder, and asked how he had got all that meat to thegates. And the drunken and sleepy hunter told her.

Later the same evening, when she was sweeping, she came to where the eldest dog waslying. She hit him with the broom. ‘Lazy animals!’ she said angrily. ‘They only sleep and eatand lie around all day, whereas if they wished they could take a better shape and help us withour housework! Get out of my way!The dog immediately knew what had happened. He called the other two, and they wentfrom the hunter’s house. And although dogs have remained in men’s houses toll today, theyhave decided never again to change their shape to help any human being.

Questions

1. What was the hunter’s problem?

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2. a) Had the dogs ever spoken to the hunter before?

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a) How do you know?

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b) What did the hunter promise to do before the dogs agreed to help him?

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c) Why were the hunter’s wives puzzled?

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d) How did the youngest wife succeed in learning the hunter’s secret?

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e) Why was she angry with the dogs

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3. a) The hunter had a. only one wife b. only two wives c. atleast three wives circle the correct alternative

b) Give reasons why you feel it’s the correct answers

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8. a) What shape did the dog have when the wife was sweeping, dog shape or human shape?

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b) How do you know?

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9. How many dogs were they altogether?

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10. Why did the dogs go away from the hunters’ house?

A. because the hunter had broken his promise

B. because the wife hit one dog with her broom

C. because the wife abused them.

D. because the hunter did not thank them