English Exercises 001

Reading Comprehension

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it. (20 marks)

It was not long before Nani's thoughts turned to marriage. He began to court a young lady teacher at the nearby school. She was untrained, so Nani was able to feel superior, but she was literate and spoke English, so was a worthy bride for a go-ahead young teacher. Nani bought himself a bicycle and each evening he dismissed his children sharp at four o'clock and rode to Edzi's school where she conventionally lingered over dismissing her class and collecting up her belongings. Nani whistled the tune they had agreed should be their signal and Edzi came out of her classroom and allowed Nani to escort her home.
It was not long before Agbefia and Yakuvri got to hear of their son's interest, which they disapproved of. Marriage was too serious a thing to be entered into on the whim of a young couple, they said. It was a contract to be made after earnest consideration, and a long discussion between two families.

They reason that by sending their son to school and college he had already opened they way to new startling ideas. Aided and abetted by an educated wife, Nani could become too bold as to break away from the old ways and despise the old traditions. Besides, a school teacher's wife would not be contended to serve and obey her husband as she should. Yakuvri had had an eye for some time on a young relative of hers, a respective and submissive girl; a sturdy girl who would bear many healthy children and grow fat and placid, indeed, a hercules of a girl. Again, they felt Edzi's family were too forceful and strong minded. So their son would not feel comfortable with them.
The disapproval was mutual. Edzi's mother would have nothing to do with the family she considered proud and are not worthy to have an educated daughter-in-law. Nani and Edzi nonetheless held fast to their intentions. Edzi demonstrated her seriousness by being baptized into the Roman Catholic Church and after that the families gave in.

The marriage was then celebrated with all traditional customs and blessed in the Catholic church.
                        Questions
a) How did Nani's idea of choosing a wife differ from that of his parents?
b) What were Nani's parents' argument against choosing an educated wife?
c) Describe the type of girl Nani's mother would prefer he married.
d) What grouse did Nani's parents have about Edzi's family?
e) How did Edzi's mother react to the news?
'... by being baptized into the Roman Catholic Church.'
i) What is the grammatical name given to the above expression?
ii) What is its function in the sentence?
g) 'a hercules of a girl...'
i) What figure of speech is used in this expression?
ii) What does it mean?
h) Word replacement
i) whim
ii) reason
iii) sturdy
iv) placid
v) mutual
vi) gave in

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