New Curriculum Second Term Literature-in-English examination for SS 1

Class: SS 1
Term: Second Term
Subject: Literature in English
Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Marks: 70

SECTION A: OBJECTIVES (40 Marks)
Instruction: Answer all 40 questions. Each question carries 1 mark.

TEXT FOR CLOSE READING

Read these two original literary extracts and answer Questions 1–10.

Extract A (prose):
“I shall return before the rains,” Kene promised. His sister watched the dust settle behind the bus. She had heard that promise before, yet she folded his letter carefully and put it beneath her pillow. Each evening she counted the clouds gathering over the distant hills.

Extract B (verse):
The roofs wait quietly beneath the sky;
A single lantern shakes against the rain.
The paths we knew are hidden from the eye,
Yet somewhere footsteps find their way again.

1. In Extract A, Kene’s promise generates tension because … (a) the narrator explicitly confirms Kene has broken the promise   (b) the sister rejects the letter without reading it   (c) the return journey is narrated before the departure   (d) his sister doubts a return she still hopes for
2. The sister’s act of keeping the letter chiefly reveals … (a) her acceptance that the letter has no emotional significance   (b) her unwillingness to acknowledge Kene’s departure   (c) a mixture of attachment and uncertainty   (d) the certainty that the promise has already been fulfilled
3. The approaching rains function as … (a) a clue that the sister knows the exact return date   (b) an image that both marks time and deepens expectation   (c) a neutral description with no emotional association   (d) a symbol of a promise that has certainly been fulfilled
4. In Extract B, “The roofs wait” illustrates … (a) a direct address to an absent person   (b) an instance of sound imitation   (c) personification   (d) a metaphor implying roofs physically fall
5. The narration in Extract A uses … (a) an objective report with no access to feelings   (b) third-person omniscience revealing both siblings’ private thoughts   (c) third-person narration with access to the sister’s feelings   (d) first-person narration by the sister
6. The repeated end sounds of “sky” and “eye” contribute primarily to … (a) a break in the middle of each line   (b) the contrast between speaker and listener   (c) a repeated phrase at the start of successive lines   (d) an audible rhyme pattern
7. How does “a single lantern shakes” affect the scene’s mood? (a) It creates a sense of vulnerability amid uncertainty   (b) It introduces a cheerful, celebratory change of scene   (c) It suggests that the speaker is indifferent to the storm   (d) It establishes an atmosphere of certainty after the journey
8. Which distinction between tone and mood is accurate here? (a) Tone reflects the speaker’s attitude; mood is the atmosphere experienced by readers   (b) Tone is only an effect of metre; mood is determined by rhyme   (c) Mood is the speaker’s personal intention, while tone exists solely in readers   (d) Tone depends on the genre but mood never changes within a text
9. The final line of Extract B suggests … (a) the speaker expects only further disappearance   (b) the speaker has dismissed every possibility of reunion   (c) persistence or hope despite obscured paths   (d) the paths are permanently blocked with no possibility of travel
10. Which interpretation is NOT supported by the imagery in Extract B? (a) that the town is preparing for a cheerful sporting festival   (b) that one source of light remains   (c) that a familiar route has become uncertain   (d) that visibility is reduced by rain
11. A writer’s style is most visible in … (a) deliberate choices of diction, sentence form and imagery   (b) the publisher’s layout decisions rather than wording   (c) the author’s biography alone   (d) the size of each chapter in an anthology
12. A narrator who describes a tyrant as “our generous protector” while depicting cruelty creates … (a) a direct declaration of the ruler’s goodness without contradiction   (b) a comparison of unrelated characters without evaluative contrast   (c) an objective description of charitable acts by the ruler   (d) verbal irony
13. Why is dramatic irony powerful when an audience knows what a character does not? (a) it makes the audience share the character’s complete ignorance   (b) it eliminates the possibility of anticipating consequences   (c) It creates tension between appearance and expected consequences   (d) it confirms information characters already know
14. The correct step when assessing style is to … (a) assume an emotional response without citing diction   (b) relate a language choice to its effect on character, theme or mood   (c) rank the literary devices by how many are present   (d) identify unfamiliar vocabulary without reading the passage
15. The ________ in “the corridor swallowed his footsteps” presents a place as acting like a living thing. (a) personification   (b) rhyme scheme   (c) dramatic aside   (d) alliteration
16. A first-person narrator’s account is limited because … (a) the first-person narrator must know every character’s motives   (b) readers can observe the narrator without considering selective memory   (c) readers experience events through that narrator’s knowledge and bias   (d) first-person narration prevents self-deception or omission
17. The sentence “She smiled while concealing the letter” may imply a different meaning from “She smiled openly” because … (a) concealment removes any possibility of conflicting feelings   (b) the surrounding action qualifies the apparent emotion   (c) the narrator has directly confirmed the sister has no doubts   (d) smiling reveals the character’s motives without ambiguity
18. Which statement describes third-person limited narration? (a) the narrator reports no interior consciousness   (b) the narration always uses first-person pronouns   (c) the narrator tells every character’s private thoughts at once   (d) The narrative follows the perceptions of one focal character
19. An omniscient narrator could reveal both siblings’ unspoken fears because … (a) the narrator is always the author speaking autobiographically   (b) the story lacks a consistent narrative viewpoint   (c) the narration is not restricted to one consciousness   (d) the narrator can only report visible gestures
20. A story retold by the accused person rather than a neutral observer may change … (a) the story’s historical date alone   (b) the reader’s preferred printing format   (c) the exact number of passages in a book   (d) whose motives are explained and whose evidence is withheld
21. Which revision shifts to first-person point of view? (a) “I kept the letter beneath my pillow.”   (b) “She told me that the letter was there.”   (c) “She kept the letter beneath my pillow.”   (d) “You kept her letter beneath my pillow.”
22. All of these can affect the reliability of a narrator except ________. (a) personal prejudice   (b) the colour of the book’s cover in isolation   (c) incomplete knowledge   (d) selective memory
23. The expression “His promises were paper boats in the flood” suggests … (a) fragility and unreliability   (b) the figure suggests every promise becomes an actual boat   (c) the image is merely an example of sound imitation   (d) the speaker presents promises as substantial and dependable
24. Which comparison is a simile rather than a metaphor? (a) “Hope burned through all the windows.”   (b) “Her hope flickered like a candle.”   (c) “The lantern whispered to the rain.”   (d) “Hope was a candle in the dark.”
25. The paradox in “He won freedom by admitting his fear” arises from … (a) an ordinary reversal of event order without conceptual tension   (b) two similar ideas placed side by side for emphasis   (c) an apparent contradiction that expresses a deeper idea   (d) a comparison that requires the word “like”
26. To interpret a symbol convincingly, a student should … (a) claim every object has exactly one fixed meaning   (b) ignore the text’s tone and situation   (c) use only its literal dictionary definition   (d) connect its repeated context with a possible wider meaning
27. A poet repeats “still” at the start of successive lines. The device is … (a) epistrophe   (b) anaphora   (c) end rhyme   (d) assonance
28. The rhythmic effect of short, abrupt lines in a fearful scene is likely to … (a) create deliberate emotional distance from the scene   (b) remove all sense of threat conveyed by the words   (c) guarantee that the scene has a stable, even pace   (d) mirror hesitation or urgency
29. Which pairing correctly relates device to possible effect? (a) Repetition—setting; imagery—rhyme scheme   (b) Metaphor—direct plot summary; mood—speaker identity   (c) Caesura—characterisation; alliteration—historical context   (d) Repetition—emphasis; imagery—sensory impression
30. The ________ is the speaking voice constructed within a poem and need not be identical to its author. (a) implied author   (b) persona   (c) poet   (d) omniscient narrator
31. A reflective poem with restrained diction and slow rhythm most plausibly creates … (a) a contemplative mood   (b) an atmosphere of legal prosecution   (c) a comic advertisement   (d) a celebration of reckless speed
32. The poet’s tone is critical rather than playful when diction includes … (a) gentle or admiring language towards the subject   (b) deliberate words of condemnation and warning   (c) self-mocking expressions without moral criticism   (d) measured description that suspends judgment
33. Which line relies most on sound patterning through alliteration? (a) “The rain arrived before nightfall.”   (b) “Cold clouds covered the courtyard.”   (c) “The sky became dark before sunset.”   (d) “The clouds gathered over the hill.”
34. Digitisation affects literary access chiefly by … (a) removing every need for close reading   (b) making interpretation unnecessary   (c) allowing texts to be stored, searched and shared electronically   (d) guaranteeing all shared copies are legally authorised
35. A student wishes to publish a digitised poem written by a living author. The responsible first step is to … (a) all digital copies must be complete and authentic   (b) digital storage removes any issue of literary ownership   (c) verify permission or licence before redistribution   (d) online access guarantees a reader understands the work
36. Which practice helps establish the reliability of a digital literary text? (a) Assume a modern font proves the text is authoritative   (b) Compare its publisher, attribution and textual completeness   (c) Ignore evidence of missing sections if the title matches   (d) Trust the first uploaded copy without checking authorship
37. Digital annotation is most useful for literary study when it … (a) records evidence supporting an interpretation   (b) should substitute for a reading of the full passage   (c) requires a reader to accept a single official interpretation   (d) makes attention to the original wording unnecessary
38. ________ becomes an ethical concern when a student claims another writer’s digital poem as original work. (a) Enjambment   (b) Characterisation   (c) Imagery   (d) Plagiarism
39. Which statement about digital literary collaboration is best supported? (a) publication online removes the need for attribution   (b) a student may adapt any poem without acknowledging changes   (c) electronic sharing automatically removes copyright   (d) Wider participation may improve access but raises questions about attribution
40. The main reason to analyse both sound and sense in poetry is … (a) their interaction shapes rhythm, emphasis and meaning   (b) sound patterns alone determine the meaning of a poem   (c) sound can be discussed without reference to interpretive effects   (d) semantic analysis must exclude rhythm and repetition

SECTION B: THEORY (30 Marks)
Instruction: Answer Question 1 and any other TWO questions. Each question is worth 10 marks.

Question 1. Interpret the original extracts supplied:
(a) Analyse how two images in Extract B shape mood (6 marks)
(b) Compare the effect of the narrators in Extract A and speaker in Extract B (4 marks)

Question 2. Analyse point of view and reliability:
(a) Distinguish first-person, third-person limited and third-person omniscient narration (6 marks)
(b) Explain with one example how restricted knowledge creates suspense (4 marks)

Question 3. Discuss figurative language and sound:
(a) Interpret a metaphor, personification and paradox in brief original examples (6 marks)
(b) Explain how either repetition or rhythm can strengthen a theme in a poem (4 marks)

Question 4. Examine literature and digitisation:
(a) Explain three benefits or limitations of electronic literary distribution, with examples (6 marks)
(b) State two practices that protect authorship and textual reliability online (4 marks)

Objective Marking Scheme
Question 1 – ✅ (d) his sister doubts a return she still hopes for
Question 2 – ✅ (c) a mixture of attachment and uncertainty
Question 3 – ✅ (b) an image that both marks time and deepens expectation
Question 4 – ✅ (c) personification
Question 5 – ✅ (c) third-person narration with access to the sister’s feelings
Question 6 – ✅ (d) an audible rhyme pattern
Question 7 – ✅ (a) It creates a sense of vulnerability amid uncertainty
Question 8 – ✅ (a) Tone reflects the speaker’s attitude; mood is the atmosphere experienced by readers
Question 9 – ✅ (c) persistence or hope despite obscured paths
Question 10 – ✅ (a) that the town is preparing for a cheerful sporting festival
Question 11 – ✅ (a) deliberate choices of diction, sentence form and imagery
Question 12 – ✅ (d) verbal irony
Question 13 – ✅ (c) It creates tension between appearance and expected consequences
Question 14 – ✅ (b) relate a language choice to its effect on character, theme or mood
Question 15 – ✅ (a) personification
Question 16 – ✅ (c) readers experience events through that narrator’s knowledge and bias
Question 17 – ✅ (b) the surrounding action qualifies the apparent emotion
Question 18 – ✅ (d) The narrative follows the perceptions of one focal character
Question 19 – ✅ (c) the narration is not restricted to one consciousness
Question 20 – ✅ (d) whose motives are explained and whose evidence is withheld
Question 21 – ✅ (a) “I kept the letter beneath my pillow.”
Question 22 – ✅ (b) the colour of the book’s cover in isolation
Question 23 – ✅ (a) fragility and unreliability
Question 24 – ✅ (b) “Her hope flickered like a candle.”
Question 25 – ✅ (c) an apparent contradiction that expresses a deeper idea
Question 26 – ✅ (d) connect its repeated context with a possible wider meaning
Question 27 – ✅ (b) anaphora
Question 28 – ✅ (d) mirror hesitation or urgency
Question 29 – ✅ (d) Repetition—emphasis; imagery—sensory impression
Question 30 – ✅ (b) persona
Question 31 – ✅ (a) a contemplative mood
Question 32 – ✅ (b) deliberate words of condemnation and warning
Question 33 – ✅ (b) “Cold clouds covered the courtyard.”
Question 34 – ✅ (c) allowing texts to be stored, searched and shared electronically
Question 35 – ✅ (c) verify permission or licence before redistribution
Question 36 – ✅ (b) Compare its publisher, attribution and textual completeness
Question 37 – ✅ (a) records evidence supporting an interpretation
Question 38 – ✅ (d) Plagiarism
Question 39 – ✅ (d) Wider participation may improve access but raises questions about attribution
Question 40 – ✅ (a) their interaction shapes rhythm, emphasis and meaning

Theory Marking Scheme
Question 1
(a) Lantern/rain/hidden paths; 3 each, connecting image with effect — 6 marks.
(b) Prose third-person viewpoint and lyrical persona, 2 each — 4 marks.

Question 2
(a) Two accurate marks for each perspective — 6 marks.
(b) Plausible example 2; explanation of withheld information 2 — 4 marks.

Question 3
(a) One correct example and interpretive effect for each, 2 each — 6 marks.
(b) Identify form/device 1; clear textual effect 3 — 4 marks.

Question 4
(a) Three relevant explained points, 2 each — 6 marks.
(b) Permission/attribution and verified edition/completeness, 2 each — 4 marks.