SAMPLE EXCERPTS FROM BLOSSOMS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

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

“No Joseph,” she said in an infantile whimper. “I can’t bear that we can’t express the love that we have for one another because of some primitive culture. If by loving you, I offend the sensibilities of Nasila then let me offend and face the consequences of doing so!” 

“I also love you very much,” Joseph Parmuat responded finally. “I loved you the moment I saw you during your father’s homecoming ceremony. But then the clan matter came to separate us. It is true we have no blood relation. But Nasila culture dictates who are related and who are not. We are slotted among those who cannot marry.” 

“No, it can’t be, I cannot accept its verdict,” she said petulantly her words agonised. “No way, never!” She stopped, confused and angry with herself at her inarticulate outburst. She took several long steadying breaths and then said, “I cannot accept that a culture that does not feed, clothe or house me comes to control my life. Our lives belong to us, Joseph. The destiny of our lives is in our own hands. We should guard it jealously.”At last they drew a little a part .His eyes were open, honest and steady upon her face.

1. What happens before this excerpt? (3mks)
2. For both Joseph and Taiyo, give and illustrate two character traits. (4mks)
3. How is dialogue significant in this excerpt? (4mks)
4. Explain any two thematic concerns addressed in the excerpt. (4mks)
5. From elsewhere in the novel, how does Joseph sacrifice for his love for Taiyo?(4mks)
6. Explain the meaning of the following vocabulary as used in the excerpt. (4mks)
   1. destiny
   2. infantile
   3. petulantly
   4. primitive
7. What happens immediately after this extract?           (2mks)

Sample excerpt 1 answers

1. Taiyo visits Joseph’s bachelor house. She expresses her infatuation. Joseph feels infatuated too. She sobs uncontrollably
2. Joseph is responsible. He has self-control aimed at preventing the duo from messing up.
   He is patriotic. He chooses to take sides with the Nasila culture. He feels they should not break the norms
   Taiyo is loving. She has strong feelings for Joseph.
   Assertive. She is ready to offend sensibilities of Nasila culture for love.
   Sacrificing. She is ready to risk herself for love.
3. It brings out Taiyo’s interrogative nature. She skeptically questions the enslaving nature of Nasila culture. “I cannot accept culture that does not feed me.” She poses that culture should be beneficial.
4. He accepts to be the contact man in the mission of rescuing Taiyo. He makes her captors drunk leading to her escape. The captors later kill him.
5. Love. Taiyo and Joseph express their views towards love. She feels it should be let to grow while he feels culture should restrain love feelings.
   Culture. Their love relationship is held at ransom by culture that objects love between people of the same clan.
6. 1. Fate
   2. Childish/ immature
   3. Grudgingly
   4. Fate
7. Joseph says he is ready to face any eventuality that may arise out of love. Taiyo appreciates the new stance of Joseph. She sheds tears.

2. Read the excerpt below and answer the questions that follow

You are mad!” Resian screamed at him. You are stark mad if you think I am your wife. I can only be your wife over my dead body. Yes, you and my father can kill me and carry my dead body to your palatial home.” 

He was stunned by those harsh words. He winced as if he had been struck. Then already harsh line of his mouth tightened and he stood tense for a moment. Then he relaxed and watched her mockingly. “You can never escape Resian,” he repeated quietly, smiling. The very normality of his voice as he spoke those monstrous words was most shocking and disturbing to her. Whether you scream your heart out, or jump into the deep sea, Resian, you are mine. You are my wife from now henceforth”

“I want to go now.” Resian announced angrily shuddering with disgust and terror.

“You want to go?” he asked, the contemptuous quiet of his voice a menace by itself.” Go! You want to be persuaded, coaxed and pampered to marry Oloisudori Lonkiyaa? Sorry I will not do that!   If you want to go, please yourself. You may opt to go, but when you are mine, you will do as I please. No one plays games with Oloisudori. Ask your father, he will tell you.”

“Stop it! Stop it! Resian screamed excruciatingly pained by the disdainful remarks of Oloisudori. Putting her hands over her ears, she made a dash for the door. He made no effort to stop her but she flung it open and turned to glare at him with tearful eyes

You are mad! She screamed again sobbingly. “You are stark mad!   You hear me?   You are nothing but ol-ushuushi.”   She walked away and as she did so, she heard his soft laughter behind her.

1. Say what happens before this excerpt. (3mks)
2. How is Oloisudori portrayed in this excerpt?           (4mks)
3. Describe the feeling of Resian in this excerpt (3mks)
4. From other areas of the novel, state other crimes that are practiced by Oloisudori. (3mks).
5. How does the writer utilize irony in this excerpt? (3mks)
6. “You are my wife from now henceforth” Rewrite in the reported speech. (1mk)
7. Explain the meaning of the following words (4mks)
   1. Pampered
   2. Disgust
   3. Mad
   4. Palatial
8. What happens immediately after this extract? (3mks)

Sample excerpt 2 answers

1. Oloisudori informs Resian of the benefits she will get for marrying him. Resian gets very annoyed and speechless. Resian learns that her father has already received dowry for her marriage to Oloisudori. He reports to her that their fate is sealed.
2. Contemptuous.“He asked, the contemptuous quiet of his voice a menace by itself.”
   Proud. He feels superior and egocentric. “No one plays games with Oloisudori. Asked your father, he will tell you.”
3. She is feeling disappointed and desperate of her father’s action of receiving dowry with an aim of sealing her marriage with Oloisudori. She feels really betrayed.
4. Extortion, assassinations shadowy businesses, sexual immorality, robber, smuggler, poacher
5. It is ironical that Oloisudori who is older than Resian’s father plans to marry Resian a young girl even after he is told her wish is to study at the university. It is also ironical that Kaelo has already picked dowry from Oloisudori and has never bothered to inform Resian of it.
6. He told her that she was her wife from then henceforth. 
7. 1. Insane
   2. Grand/ like a palace
   3. Strong loathe
   4. Treat with excessive care
8. Resian rans blindly knocking a chair and a table and disappears past Oloisudori’s driver. She goes to her father’s shop. She is raving mad with indignation. She becomes very disappointed with her father.

3. Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow.

They were silent as they climbed the hill on their way back from Nasila river to draw water.   The water containers that they carried on their backs were now heavy.   The straps that supported the containers pressed down their heads with a painful exhaustion.

As they walked, each one of them allowed her mind to fleetingly roam the fanciful land of wishful thinking.

Resian thought how wonderful it would be, had she had a chance to enroll at the Egerton University and after graduation had a chance to work with her role model, Minik ene Nkoitoi, the Emakererei at the sheep ranch that she managed.   She imagined herself already there driving a large flock of sheep.   And when she thought of sheep, her mind flew back to fifteen years or so earlier and reminisced the first time she saw a sheep.   It was a childhood memory, a memorable picture from the swirling scene around her which had been captured and preserved by her mind when she and Taiyo accompanied their father to the Nakuru Agricultural Show.   She could still see in her mind a group of big, docile, tawny woolly animals that stood panting drowsily in a green pasture, with the sun beaming down brightly from a clear blue sky.   She had then admired the white long overcoats that the handlers wore. 

Taiyo also thought of Emakererei.   She would ask Joseph Parmuat, to assist her compose a song in her praise.   She had already put words to a tune she had composed to ridicule the three women who she thought collaborated with men to oppress the women folk.   They were Nasila’s three blind mice who, she thought, did not seem to know that the world was changing.   Those were the enkasakutoni, who threatened to curse intoiye nemengalana and ensured they did not get husbands nor children: the midwife Enkaitoyoni who threatened to spy on the young women as they gave birth to ensure that any who was still among intoiye-nemengalana had her status altered there and then; and the dreaded Enkamuratani, who would never tire of wielding her olmurunya menacingly.

1. Place the excerpt in its immediate context. (4Mks)
2. Identify and illustrate two aspects of style in this excerpt. (4Mks)
3. Discuss two themes evident in the excerpt. (4Mks)
4. Discuss one character trait of Resian and Taiyo in the excerpt. (4Mks)
5. The straps that supported the containers pressed down their heads with a painful exhaustion.   Rewrite beginning: with…………………………………………. (1Mk)
6. How do Resian’s thoughts now come to be fulfilled in future? Briefly explain. (4Mks)
7. Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the excerpt. (4Mks)
   1. Reminisced
   2. Collaborated
   3. Dreaded
   4. Menacingly

Sample excerpt 3 answers

1. Before the excerpt, Taiyo and Resian go to the River to fetch water. They remember their discussion with their aunt and admire Minik’s fight against women oppression by men. They muse that men must be very angry with her for snatching five hundred girls from her. After the excerpt, Taiyo sings the song she has composed about three women whom she refers as mice silently in her heart. One of those women is the enkamuratani chasing a woman with a knife.
2. Flashback- Resian recalls fifteen years back when she and Taiyo accompanied their father to the Nakuru agricultural show and she saw sheep the first time.
   Vivid description-The sheep are vividly described as big, docile tawny wooly animals.
   Metaphors-She calls the three women who collaborated with men to oppress women as Nasila’s three blind mice.
3. Theme of Determination or optimism. Resian is full of optimism that one day she would join Egerton university.
   Women as their own enemies. The three Nasila women collaborated with men to oppress women.
   Negative cultural practices. The three women propagate negative cultural practices against women such as F.G.M.
4. Resian is visionary. She thought how wonderful it would be, had she a chance to enroll at the Egerton University. She dreams of going to university.
   Taiyo-critical-she wants to compose a song ridiculing three Nasilian women who collaborated with men to oppress women.
5. With a painful exhaustion, the straps that supported the containers pressed down their heads.
6. Later, she is rescued from a planned marriage by Nabaru and is taken to Minik’s ranch. There, she is given a house and a job. Minik also helps in securing their admission at Egerton University. She also gives a scholarship. The novel ends when she and Taiyo are going to University. 
7. Recall/Recalled
   Worked together
   Feared
   Threateningly 

4. Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow

“Yes, Papaai,” Resian said apprehensively.   “I am here.   Taiyo tells me you are calling me?”

“Yes, yes,” her father replied.   “Please take a seat.”

“Yes, Papaai,” Resian repeated as she sat on a chair far away from her father.

“Come nearer…child,” her father said pleasantly.

“Why do you sit a mile away? Come nearer.”

Resian moved her chair hardly an inch from where it was and then she looked up into her 

father’s face with eager expectation.

“If I do remember well,” her father began in a low even tone, “you will be nineteen in September this year, am I right”

“You are quite right, Papaai.” Resian answered eyeing him curiously. His face was unusually kind.   His eyes held hers as he smiled broadly.   That’s it!’ she thought triumphantly.   “That must be it!

“You and I have not discussed important issues for a long time,” he said with a friendly chuckle that was intended to bring her closer to him.   “I thought today would be the best day to break the news.   Your future is very important to me, my dear child.”

Resian thought the concern in her father’s voice, rang false.   She hesitated, but could not hold herself any more.   The anxiety was too great.

“Papaai, is it Yeiyo or Taiyo who spoke to you?” she asked sensationally, thinking she was stating the obvious.   But seeing her father’s face cloud, she added quickly.

“Who between them spoke to you about our enrolment at the Egerton University?”

“What are you talking about, child? Her father, who seemed dumbfounded, asked after a long and uncomfortable silence.

“Both Yeiyo and Taiyo promised to talk to you about it, and I thought she had.”

“What, in the name of God are you talking about, child?” he repeated, this time agitated and shaking his head vigorously.   “No, I have never spoken to anybody about any of you enrolling at the university.   Never! When I said I wanted us to discuss your future, that isn’t what I meant at all.   Of course not!” Resian looked at her father’s face enquiringly.

1. What has happened before the excerpt? (3mks)
2. What is so ironical in this passage?   Explain your answer referring to elsewhere in the novel. (3mks)
3. “Your future is very important to me, my dear child” From elsewhere in the novel, explain why Ole Kaelo tells his daughter so. (3Mks)
4. Discuss two aspects of character in Resian in this excerpt. (4Mks)
5. What major issue is addressed in this excerpt? (2Mks)
6. Explain what happens after this excerpt. (3Mks)
7. “Who between them spoke to you about our enrolment at the Egerton university? “Rewrite in the direct speech. (1Mk)
8. A part from irony, discuss any other aspect of style evident in the excerpt. (2Mks)
9. Explain the meaning of the following words and expressions used in the excerpt. (4 Mks)
   1. Apprehensively
   2. Sit a mile away
   3. Hold herself
   4. Agitated

Sample Excerpt 4 Answers

1. Ole Kaelo sends Taiyo to call Resian for him. Resian feels hopeful and excited that she is being called to be informed about admission to the university. She thinks that it is her mother or sister who has talked to her father about the matter. 
2. It is ironical for Resian to think that her father is going to tell her about her dream wish of joining Egerton University but he has plans to marry her off to his friend Oloisudori. This is even as he says “your future is very important to me”
3. He says this because he has plans to marry her to his friend Oloisudori. If this succeeds, his business would be saved because Oloisudori had helped him establish the business and even building his house in Nasila. 
4. Ignorant- she thinks that her father has good news about joining university which is not the case. She says, “That’s it!” She thought triumphantly. “Is it Yeiyo or Taiyo who spoke to you?”
   Apprehensive. She replies to her father apprehensively.
   Fearful- she is in fear of her father. She sits on a chair far from her father.
5. Determination/optimism. Resian is very much determined to join Egerton University. She thinks it is the reason why her father has called her. “Who between them spoke to you about our enrollment at the Egerton University.”
6. After the excerpt, Ole Kaelo hesitates telling Resian what he wanted to tell her and tells her to go to the kitchen. He tells her to tell her mother to come.
7. She asked him who between them had spoken to him about their enrollment at the Egerton University.
8. Suspense. The reader is left in suspense wanting to know why Ole Kaelo had called his daughter.
   Dialogue- there is dialogue between Resian and her father. It reveals the strained relationship between daughter and father.
   Nervously/worriedly/fearfully
   Sit far away
   Control herself
   Troubled/disturbed

5. Read the excerpt below and then answer the questions that follow.

“In Nakuru, this was not a subject that concerned us much. But in Nasila it is on every lip.” “Yes, that’s very true,” Resian said trying to entice her mother to say more. “The other day Taiyo learnt from Joseph Parmuat that female circumcision was initiated by women themselves about two hundred years earlier. And that it was as a result of sexual abuse and harassment by an invading despot called Olarinkoi and his warriors. Is that true Yeiyo? I thought it was one of those myths that were created by men to blame women for everything that works against them.”

“What Joseph Parmuat told Taiyo is factually correct,” her mother told her confidently. “It was the shame and anger that was provoked by Ilarinkon taunts, lewd teasing and provocative posturing that made the women do what they did to curtail those desires the worthless predators exploited to prey upon them.”

“That may have been true then.’ Resian said looking directly into her mother’s eyes. “But what is the reason for doing it today? Ilarinkon are no longer with us, or are they?”

“The original Ilarinkon may have gone,” her mother said unconvincingly, “but other Ilarinkon are still with us.”

“Exactly!” said Resian triumphantly. “Yes, it’s the latter day Ilarinkon who are wreaking havoc on us women. Surely, Yeiyo, if one discovered a nasty but potent medicine that once taken cured an ailment, must they continue to swallow it every day – ten years down the line? I find that absurd. The sensible thing would be to discard the bitter medicine once people are cured. Period! Tell me Yeiyo, what use is FGM to today’s woman?”

“Are you suggesting that it is men who continue to perpetuate this cultural rite?” her mother asked perplexed by her daughter’s argument.

“Yes, they are creators of the labyrinth that the women continue to meander around,” she said philosophically. “Even if I am reluctantly convinced that it was women and not men who initiated the obnoxious ritual, who provoked the women to do so? The Ilarinkon who were purported to have pushed women into mutilating their sexuality were men. And the ancient Ilarinkon were no different from today’s Ilarinkon. The ancient Ilarinkon were sadists and despotic. Today’s Ilarinkon are worse. In addition to being despotic, they are oppressive tyrants; ‘and one of their ways of oppressing us is to demand that F G M be perpetuated against us forever!”

Questions:

1. Resian is fond of her sister Taiyo. Why is Taiyo not here at this moment? Explain the significance of her absence.    (3marks)
2. Discuss two themes evident in the excerpt.  (4marks)
3. In your words rephrase the origin of FGM  (3marks)
4. Describe two character traits of Resian as brought out in the excerpt.  (4marks)
5. "The original Ilarinkon may have gone,” her mother said unconvincingly, “but other Ilarinkon are still with us.”
   Change into reported speech    (1mark)
6. Today’s Ilarinkon are worse    (add a question tag) (1 mark)
7. Identify the main style used in this excerpt. State its two significances   (3marks)
8. Describe the events that occur soon after this excerpt.                                  (4marks)
9. Give the meaning of the following words as used in the excerpt. (3marks)
   
   1. Curtail
   2. Ailment
   3. Perplexed

Sample Excerpt 5 Answers

1. Taiyo has left for the shop with her father. Resian believes that,this being the agreeable moment, she would bring the subject of their admission to Egerton university.
2.  
   • Negative / oppressive culture. There is FGM in today’s woman is
   • Male Chauvinsm/ Patriarchy/ male dominance . Resian is of the view that the current Ilarinkon are worse and that they are despotic oppressive tyrants who oppress women by ensuring that they are subjected to FGM forever.
3. It was the shame and anger that was provoked by Ilarinkon taunts, lewd teasing and provocative posturing that made the women do what they did to curtail those desires the worthless predators exploited to prey upon them.
4.  
   • Critical – when mother tries to explain FGM her, she dismisses it is a myth created by men to oppress women
   • Bold – she asks her mother directly into her eyes, ‘what is the purpose of FGM today?’
   • Inquisitive – she asks her mother so many questions.
   • Enticing / alluring – Resian tries to attract her mother cleverly to continue speaking more.
   • Contemptuous /dismissive – she outrightly dismisses her mother’s claims
5. Her mother said unconvincingly that the original Ilarinkon might have gone but other Ilarinkon were still with them.
6. aren’t they?
7.  
   • Dialogue :
     • Shows how critical of FGM Resian is
     • Brings out the theme of male chauvinism
     • Develops the plot
     • Brings out Resian’s character
   • Flashback:
     
     • Assists them to remember the origin of FGM 
     • Resian uses this to speak out her mind about what has all along tormented her spirit
8.  
   • There is a knock on the door.
   • Resian’s mother asks her daughter to check who is knocking
   • Resian finds out that it is Oloisudori at the door 
   • Oloisudori forces them to be allowed to wait for Ole Kaelo who is not around.
9.  
   1. Curtail - prevent/limit/ control/ shorten/ restrain
   2. Ailment - sickness/ disease 
   3. Perplexed - confusion

6. Read the following excerpts and answer the questions that follow

Although Resian had a lot to complain and grumble about in life in their new environment, Taiyo found it tolerable. For instance, she gladly discovered that mornings in their new home began with a lively chatter of birds in the trees surrounding their house. That gave the home an atmosphere of tranquility and peace.

However, one of the unpleasant aspects that the girls had to live with was the constant violation of their privacy. In Nasila, they soon discovered, the home belonged to all the clan members. It was not an unusual thing to get up in the morning to find the
living room full of men and women who came early, not for any tangible business, but simply to share a sumptuous breakfast with their kith and kin. Taiyo and Resian were soon to get used to hearing an urgent knock at the door very early in the morning.

On opening, they would invariably be met by a grinning group of men or women who would unashamedly ask them what they were doing in bed that late in the morning. They would proceed to take seats in the living room and order them to serve them breakfast. When they got used to what at first, they considered negative aspects of the Nasila culture, Taiyo and Resian adjusted accordingly and soon they began to live harmoniously with the people. Their father was out of the homestead most of the time working at the shop and organizing other business matters. His absence meant the absence of his irksome and corrosive remarks that always heightened tension in the house. In his absence, the house was a continuous joy with comfort and conveniences, and the girls found it pleasurable to keep it clean and well-arranged.

Questions

1. What happens immediately after this extract? (3 marks)
2. Where had the family been living before and why did they move? (2 marks)
3. Give the character traits of the following:
   1. Taiyo
   2. The people of Nasila (6 marks)
4. Discuss a theme implied in the extract. (3 marks)
5. Using the rest of the book, cite and explain one cultural aspect that had a life changing effect on the lives of the two girls (3mks)
6. Explain a stylistic device used in the extract. (2mks)
7. Taiyo and Resian adjusted accordingly? Add a question tag. (1mk)

Sample Excerpt 6 Answers

1. The girls went ahead to mix with the women folk of the village. Many of the women folk had come to scout for spouses for their sons and husbands.
2. They had been living in Nakuru. However, they had had to move to Nasila after their father was retrenched
3.  
   1. Taiyo
      • Laidback did not complain all the time like Resian.
      • Appreciative liked the new environment, especially the pleasant morning with the chattering birds.
   2. People of Nasila
      
      • Social— came to visit even at odd hours.
      • Conservative followed the culture of their people that dictated unlimited hospitality.
      • Friendly— called on the new arrivals regardless of the implied motives.
4.  
   • Culture
     • People were firmly rooted in their culture. There were some aspects that were not very pleasant, but they stuck to
     • Also, they believed in sharing and visiting each other.
   • Hospitality
     • The people believed in sharing what one had. That is why they found nothing wrong with visiting Taiyo and her family
5. The cultural activity is Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The two girls were looked down upon because they were uncircumcised. There were even vagabonds who tried to rape them because they imagined that society would not mind. Taiyo was later circumcised and ended up sick and had to be rescued by Minik
6. Vivid Description — the extract has a description of the early morning chatter. It also has a description of early morning calls by all sorts of people.
7. Taiyo and Resian adjusted accordingly, didn't they?

7. Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow.

"Who? Not me," Resian said vehemently "I don't want to be a parent. At least not in the foreseeable future.

I want to study. When I'll have obtained my degree, other peripheral matters such as a husband, children and such may be considered."

They were walking back to the homestead talking animatedly when they were accosted by a tall heavyset young man with a thick dark beard and moustache. He wore a pair of faded jeans and a dirty blue shirt. On his face was a wide impudent grin. Taiyo glanced at the young man and looked away. She moved closer to Resian and nudged her to change direction. But the man walked directly to Taiyo. On seeing the man approaching, a heavy knobkerry in his hand, Resian almost fainted.

"Please do not harm us," she pleaded. "We do not have any money with us."

"Who told you I want any money?" the man jeered as he strode menacingly towards them. "Are you

not the intoiyenemengalana from Nakuru town?" he asked laughing contemptuously. "I want to have a good look at you and know what kind of stuff you are made of!" He roughly grabbed Taiyo's arm.

"Leave my sister alone!" Resian hissed indignantly lifting her eyes and glaring into his. "Let go her arm at once!"

"Let go of my hand," Taiyo demanded, trembling with anger. "We are not the kind of women you have in mind!"

"What women!" the man retorted acidly. "Soon, you will be able to differentiate decent women from intoiyenemengalana."

Taiyo tried to wrestle her arm from the man's grip without success. But suddenly, he seemed to change

his mind. With a sour smile, he spat and glared at the girls. Then, releasing Taiyo's hand, he told them: "You have not seen the last of me. Soon you will come to know that there is no place in our society for women of your ilk." He turned and disappeared down the road as suddenly as he had appeared.

The two girls sighed heavily and shook their heads as they watched him walk away. Although they had put up brave faces, they were terribly shaken.

"Thank God his intention was not to rape us," Resian said tears streaming down her face. "We would have been helpless in the hands of such a brute."

Taiyo bit her lower lip struggling to maintain control. "His intention could have been worse than rape," she said, tears of anger and indignation welling up in her eyes.

They quickened their steps to their uncle's home. True, the incident had taken the sparkle from the day that had begun so joyfully, but they reasoned that it could have been worse.

The girls debated as to whether to inform their parents of the ordeal. They knew their mother would understand and empathize with them. But judging from past experience, their father would be less supportive. He would blame them for having dared venture into an unknown territory without his approval. Finally, they decided to keep the incident to themselves.

1. Briefly discuss the events leading to Resian’s question “Who?” in the excerpt. (3marks)
2. "Thank God his intention was not to rape us," Resian said tears streaming down her face. "We would have been helpless in the hands of such a brute." (Rewrite as a reported speech) (1mark)
3. Describe two similar traits demonstrated by both Resian and Taiyo in the excerpt. (6marks)
4. Discuss two stylistic devices used by the author in the excerpt. (4marks)
5. Highlight and illustrate two themes presented in the excerpt.(4marks)
6. “But judging from past experience, their father would be less supportive.” Point out two incidences in which the father shows less support to his daughters from what happens in the rest of the novel. (2marks)
7. What happens immediately after this excerpt? (2marks)
8. Give the meaning of the following words as used in the excerpt. (3marks)
   
   1. vehemently
   2. accosted
   3. ilk

Sample Excerpt 7 Answers

1.  
   • Resian observes that there is rivalry in their uncle’s four houses.
   • Taiyo rebukes her sister for thinking so.
   • Resian also observes that her two aunts are expectant and thinks at that rate there would be many children born.
   • Taiyo says a parent can have as many children as they can.
   • Taiyo then tells her that when Resian’s time comes she will have children.
2. Resian said with tears streaming down her face that they should thank God that his intention was not to rape them and that they would have been helpless in the hands of such a brute.
3.  
   • Bold/ Daring. Boldly demand the young man carrying knobkerrie to let go Taiyo’s hands.
   • Intelligent. Both girls understand that their father would not empathize with them unlike their mother.
4.  
   • Local dialect.
   • Dialogue
   • (ACCEPT ANY OTHER PLAUSIBLE ANSWER WITH ILLUSTRATIONS)
5.  
   • Female assertiveness. Both Resian and Taiyo are bold enough to confront the man with knobkerrie.
   • Determination. Resian is determined to study and obtain her degree.
   • (ACCEPT ANY OTHER PLAUSIBLE ANSWER WITH ILLUSTRATIONS)
6.  
   • He stubbornly denies his daughters a chance to study at the university.
   • He denies Taiyo permission to travel to Mombasa with other young men and women to attend an extravaganza
7.  
   • Resian’s father finishes supervising the offloading of the furniture and other things into the house.
   • He sets out pay his old friend a visit.
8.  
   1. Vehemently……. passionately/ fervently
   2. Accosted……. confronted/ approached
   3. Ilk………type

8. Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow.

“What do you mean?” he asked, suddenly sitting up. “I hope you don’t imply that our culture comes second. Do you?”

“Not really, my husband,” she said ruefully, beating a hasty retreat. “Our culture is everything and it rules our lives.”

“Good,” he said authoritatively. “Now listen, you must immediately start counselling the girls to understand their roles as potential wives of the men of Nasila. Prepare them to appreciate and and accept their future responsibilities as mothers and home builders.”

“I’ll do that my husband,” she said quietly.

“One other thing,” he said evenly. “I’ll ask Simiren to request that young teacher called Parmuat, who is of our clan and therefore a brother to the girls to find time to teach them a few home truths. After that we shall call enkamuratani to play her part before we give them away.”

Those were the words, whose utterance she dreaded. And once uttered, she knew, the words instantly became an inviolable edit. Now that he had spoken, the pain was already harrowing and torment in her unbearable. She was torn between her love for her daughters and her dutiful role of a faithful and obedient wife of Ole Kaelo. But in her culture there was no room for dissent, especially if the subject was in conformity with the culture. Who would side with her if she were to oppose the cultural rituals?

Her only ally would be the woman the elders of Nasila contemptuously called entangoroi or the wasp. Those who honoured her called Emakererei , for she was said to have attended Makerere university in Uganda., where she attained her degree in Veterinary Science. Mama Milanoi knew her well. Her actual names were Minik ene Nkoitoi. Outside Nasila, she was respected and honoured. At thirty, she was already managing an expansive government sheep ranch reputed to hold hundreds of thousands of sheep, about one hundred kilometres away from Nasila. Under her were hundreds of employees who worked at the ranch in Nasila, however, she was regarded as the devil incarnate. She was hated and reviled for criticising and campaigning vigorously against traditions that she said abused the rights of the girl child namely girls’ circumcision and early marriages. And that had put her in direct collision with the people of Nasila. If she aligned herself with a person who Nasila regarded as having such an obnoxious reputation, where would her marriage stand?

1. Place the excerpt in its immediate context.             (4 marks)
2. Why was Minik ene Nkoitoi regarded as a devil incarnate in Nasila? (2 marks)
3. From the excerpt, what do we learn about Mama Milanoi?   (4 marks)
4. Explain two themes that are highlighted in the excerpt.    (4 marks)
5. “What do you mean?” {Rewrite in reported speech}   (1 mark)
6. Discuss the effectiveness of two aspects of style employed in this excerpt. (4 marks)
7. Describe the mood at the end of the excerpt.    (2 marks)
8. Explain the meaning of the following expressions as used in the excerpt:
   1. Ruefully
   2. Contemptuously
   3. Devil incarnate
   4. Obnoxious

Sample Excerpt 8 Answers

1. Before: Ole Kaelo had woken up his wife in the morning after the homecoming ceremony asking her if she was aware of what the culture they had been ushered to demanded of them. She tells him that she understands but proposes that they think about the interests of the family first.
   After: Mama Milanoi decides to play along with her husband’s demands since she knew there was no room for her to dissent. She decides to broach the subject of F.G.M with the daughters to see how much they knew about it.
2. She is regarded so since she criticised and campaigned against girl’s circumcision and early marriage, traditional practices that Nasila people valued. (2 marks)
3.  
   • She is submissive/obedient –this is seen from the fact that she was a faithful and obedient wife to Ole Kaelo as said in the excerpt. We see she could not dissent with him even when she does not support his proposal that the girls be prepared for circumcision.
   • She is informed – she knows so much about Minik ene Nkoitoi including her education background and even the different views that the people held about her. – she also knows her age and occupation. “At thirty, she was already managing an expansive government sheep ranch.”
4. • Place of women in society – The society presented expects women to be submissive by being faithful and obedient to their husbands as is the case with mama Milanoi.
   • Conflict – The writer tells us that Minik ene Nkoitoi campaign against girl’s circumcision and early marriages had put her in direct collision with the Nasila people.
   • Traditions – We see that people of Nasila practise female circumcision and early marriages, which is why Emakererei is despised for campaigning against them. Ole Kaelo asks his wife to start counselling the girls in readiness for circumcision.
5. He asked her what she meant/ Ole Kaelo asked his wife what she meant.
6.  
   • Geographical allusion – Minik had attended Makerere University in Uganda. This allusion makes the story authentic and believable.
   • Dialogue – there is dialogue between Mama Milanoi and Ole Kaelo as they discuss the way forward for their daughters. This makjes the story realistic and helps in displaying the traits of the speakers.
   • Rhetorical questions – “Who would side with her if she were to oppose the cultural rituals?” It brings out the turmoil that Mama Milanoi is going through.
7. The mood is uncertain, pensive and fearful. – Mama Milanoi wants to help her daughters but she is afraid of the repercussions.
8.  
   1. Regretfully
   2. Scornfully
   3. Extremely wicked/evil person
   4. Highly offensive

9. Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow.

Nasila River – cool, smooth and silent – swirled quietly about the boulders that were half submerged in it. It was deep and wide. She stood at its bank for a long time, staring down, into the water. Could the answer to her woes be in that river? Yes, it could be! Just a swift, cold shock as she fell into the water and then there would be peace. Yes, peace all over, from her father, from Oloisudori and from the fact that she had failed to get admission to Egerton University. As the idea floated in her mind, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Shocker, she turned around. It was Olarinkoi.

“What are you doing here at the river side”? he asked with little interest.

“Nothing,” Resian said nonchalantly. “I am just relaxing.”

“Don’t be foolish, little girl,” Olarinkoi said seriously. “You may not want to tell me what is happening, but Iam not foolish and I can put one and one together. Oloisudori’s men are now looking for you everywhere. They have instructions to seize you and take you to Nakuru to be his wife.

“Just leave me,” Resian said angrily, “Go tell them to come and find me here.”

“Listen, you stupid girl,” Olarinkoi said in his caustic language. “If you do not want to marry Oloisudori, I can rescue you the way I rescued you from those vagabonds who had accosted you and your sister. I know where Minik ene Enkoitoi the Emakererei lives and where she keeps girls rescued from the situation you are now in. There is no need to despair in life. There is always another chance.”

That could be something to consider, Resian thought, new hope rising in her heart. Yes, it would be wonderful to be received by Emakererei. And who knows, there could still be a chance to enrol at the Egerton University, through Emakererei.

“How could we ever get there?” asked Resian a flicker of hope lighting her heart. “I hear it is very very far from here.”

“Yes it is far,” confirmed Olarinkoi. “But where there is hope things always work out. The Maa people say home is never far for one who is still alive.”

1. Place this excerpt in its immediate context. (4 Marks)
2. Describe the incident that Olarinkoi claims to have rescued Taiyo and her sister. (2Marks)
3. Discuss a thematic concern found in the excerpt. (2 marks)
4. What does the author imply when he says, “could the answer to her woes be in that river?”   (2 marks)
5. Explain the irony in the excerpt. (2 marks) 
6. Apart from irony, comment on any other two aspects of style that the writer has used in the excerpt. (4 marks)
7. From elsewhere in the novel, state the prophecy that Olarinkoi is trying to fulfill when he plans to rescue Resian.      (3 marks)
8. Comment on the character of Olarinkoi later in the novel. (2 marks)
9. What is the attitude of Resian towards Oloisudori’s proposal? (2 marks)
10. Give the meaning of the following words. (2 marks)
    
    1. Nonchalantly
    2. Put one and one together 

Sample Excerpt 9 Answers

1. Place this excerpt in its immediate context. (4 Mks)
   
   Before – at the shop-Resian is told by her father of Oloisudori’s intention to marry her
   She refuses, shouts cries and screams and accuses her father of betrayal
   her father slaps her twice but still refuses
   she insists that she will not marry Oloisudori and must go to university
   She turns and walks to the door and leaves the shop
   walks towards Nasila River
   After – Olarinkoi promises to take her to a family in Nasila to spend the night
   He organizes transport so that they leave early the following day
   Early the following day, Resian is woken up by the kind-hearted old woman who accommodated her, with hot porridge
   A pick-up hoots outside the old woman’s house
   Olarinkoi tells Resian to climb onto the back of the pick-up and they leave
2. Describe the incident that Olarinkoi claims to have rescued Taiyo and her sister. (4Mks)
   
   • The two sisters were walking back home from the shop late in the afternoon (3 oclock). Two men appeared and blocked the road. One tried to Drag Taiyo into the bush while the other wrestled Resian. Suddenly a stranger appeared (Olarinkoi) appeared and fought the two men thereby becoming the hero of the day.
3. Discuss a thematic concern found in the excerpt. (2 mks)
   
   • Determination – Resian is determined not to be married to Oloisudori, hence decides to run away.
   • Hope – “ who knows there could still be a chance to join Egerton university.”
   • Education - “ who knows there could still be a chance to join Egerton university.”
   • (Any other relevant with illustration)
4. What does the author imply when he says, “ could the answer to her woes be in that river?” (2 Mks)
   
   • Means that Resian is thinking of ending her life by drowning in river Nasila.
5. Explain two styles that the writer has used in the excerpt. (4 Mks)
   
   • Dialogue- …illustration…- indicates the urgency of Resian’s problem and possible solution/breaks monotony of narration
   • Description- river Nasila is described…cool, smooth, silent swirled quietly – to symbolize the peace that can be found by the river side
   • Historical allusion – Egerton university- makes the story real/believable
   • Local words/dialect- Emakererei, maa- shows origin of the story/setting
   • Proverb – home is never far from one who is still alive. – brings to view the rich heritage in language/ points to Resian’s start of a new home.
6. Explain the irony in the excerpt. (3 Mks)
   
   • Olarinkoi claiming to take Resian to safety while in the real sense he is forcefully taking her to be his wife.
7. From elsewhere in the novel, state the prophecy that Olarinkoi is trying to fulfil when he plans to rescue Resian. (3 Mks)
   
   • Olarinkoi’s mother had prophesied that Ole Kaelo would relocate to Nasila, and bring along with him his intoiyie nemengalana, her son Olarinkoi would move to that home, live with the Kaelo’s for some time and eventually bring one of his daughters to be circumcised and be given to him as his wife.
8. Comment on the character of Olarinkoi later in the novel. (3 Mks)
   • Unreliable/traitorous/untrustworthy/pretentious/inhumane/insensitive/brutal/inconsiderate etc
9. What is the attitude of Resian towards Oloisudori’s proposal? (2 Mks)
   
   • Contemptuous/hateful
10. Give the meaning of the following words. (2 Mks)
    
    1. Nonchalantly – casually, relaxedly, calmly, in a calm manner, half-heartedly, disinterestedly
    2. Put one and one together - Guess the truth about the situation from what you have seen or heard/ understand something by using situation you have.

10. Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow.

Read the excerpt below and answer the questions that follow. (20 marks)

Her dream was rudely and violently interrupted by a thunderous bang and a loud roar of laughter. She woke up with a start, jumped up to her feet and stared at the door with wide panic-stricken eyes. For a moment she could not figure out her surroundings and called out the name of her sister Taiyo. She was terrified. The door flung open and Olarinkoi staggered in. He was stone drunk. Resian stared at him unblinkingly as he walked towards her and she backed off terrified, squeezing herself flatly against the wall. He followed her there and got hold of her shoulders and shook her violently glaring at her with his glittering eyes.

“You silly thing,” he thundered angrily. “I tell you to prepare food and you refuse to do so, eh? Today you will know who the owner of this home is. If you are still in doubt, let me tell you frankly that from today on you are my wife, hear that, eh? You are my wife. For a long time you have been sneering at me, showing how highly educated you are. Today we shall see how educated your body is! Yes, eh shall see!’’

He got hold of her hand and began dragging her into the other room. At first she did not understand his intention until he began unfastening her buttons with his rough trembling hands. Then the truth came, and with it, terror and panic. She tried to get away from him, but he held her effortlessly as he brutally continued fumbling with her dress, trying to loosen it. She screamed as loudly as she could while she pushed him away and thrashed frantically about. But that did not deter him and he totally ignored her screams holding her more firmly with his strong arms. Against her loud protest, he tore her garments and began to push her towards the bed.

Then desperately she took the last chance of self-defence and self-preservation. Mustering all her strength, she thrust his thumb the flesh like a ferocious animal and tenaciously held onto it, tugging at it fiercely like a lioness. She could feel the flesh tearing and she tasted the salt of his blood as it filled her mouth but she clung unto the thumb as Olarinkoi howled with pain.

                   Questions

1. Make notes on the content of Resian’s dream just before the excerpt (4Mks)
2. Discuss one character traits of Resian in this excerpt.  (2Mks)
3. What has greatly changed in Olarinkoi in this excerpt compared to his earlier conduct in the novel towards Resian?     (3Mks)
4. Identify and illustrate two aspects of style in this excerpt.     (4Mks)
5. Explain two major issues raised in the excerpt.      (4Mks)
6. Explain what happens immediately after the excerpt.     (3Mks)
7. “Today we shall see how educated your body is” Rewrite in reported speech.        (1Mk)
8. Explain the meaning of the following expressions in the passage. (4 Mks)
   1. Unblinkingly
   2. effortlessly
   3. Mustering
   4. Howled

Sample Excerpt 10 Answers

1.  
   • Resians meets emmakererei, who promises her of wonderful things
   • emmakererei promises to take her to Nakuru and join Egerton university
   • She promised to offer a vocational job
   • She promises to protect her against anyone threatening her with FGM
   • She assures her of her right to remain intoiye nemengalana
2.  
   • She’s naïve. Resian did not understand has intention until he began unfastening her with his rough trembling hands
   • She is courageous
   • Fearful
   • (Any correct and well-illustrated character trait)
3. Benevolent to malevolent. Olarinkoi has turned to a monster and rapist yet he had worn a protective, caring and mindful face to Resian and her sister and actually saved them from the two vagabonds-Ntara and Lante.
4.  
   • Use of dialogue “you silly thing,” he thundered angrily.
   • Use of simile “Sunk her teeth into the flesh like a ferocious animal.”
     '…tugging at it fiercely like a lioness…
   • Personification ‘Her dream was rudely and violently interrupted by a thunderous bang and a loud’
5.  
   • Plight of women. Women are subjected to physical, sexual and emotional harassment by the male counterparts. Against her loud protest, he tore her garments and began to push her towards the bed.
   • Male chauvinism. Olarinkoi thinks that he has the right to molest Resian just because she is a woman
6. Resian bites Olarinkoi’s thumb to a near severing the limb. She is hit on the ribcage and head until she passes out.
7. He said that they would see how educated her body was
8. Explain the meaning of the following expressions in the passage.   (4 Mks)
   
   1. Unblinkingly     -forthright
   2. Effortlessly     -      easily
   3. Mustering        -    collecting
   4. Howled           -    wept/ cried loudly