COMPREHENSION Rufus Okeke, Roof for short, was a very popular man in his village.

Although the villagers did not explain it in so many words, Roofs popularity was a measure of their gratitude to an energetic young man who, unlike most of his fellows nowadays, had not abandoned them in order to seek work in the towns. Everyone knew how he had spent two years as a bicycle repairers apprentice in Port Harcourt and had given up of his own free will a bright future to return to his people and guide them in these political times. Not that Umuofia needed a lot of guidance. The village already belonged to the Peoples Alliance Party and its illustrious son, Chief the Honourable Marcus Ibe, the Minister of Culture. As was to be expected, Roof was in the service of the honourable Minister for the coming elections. He had become a real expert in electioneering. He could tell the mood and temper of the electorate at any given time. For instance, he had warned the Minister months ago about the radical change that had come into the thinking of Umuofia since the last elections. They wondered. The villagers had had five years in which to see how quickly and plentifully politics brought wealth, chieftaincy titles, doctorate degrees and other honours to individuals like Honourable Minister. Yet, no one had explained satisfactorily to them why they still had no doctor to heal the sick, no school for their children, no roads and markets in their area. Up to this moment everything had moved to plan, as Roof would put it. Then he had received a strange visitor from the leader of the opposition Peoples Organisation Party. Although he and Roof were well known to each other, his visit was cold and business like. No words were wasted. He placed five pounds on the floor before Roof and said, we want your vote. Roof got up from his chair and went outside. The brief exercise gave him enough time to weigh the proposition. As he spoke his eyes never left the red notes on the floor. He seemed mesmerised by them. You know I work for Marcus, he said feebly. Marcus will not be there when you put in your vote. It will not be heard outside this room? asked Roof. We are after votes, not gossip. All right, said Roof. The man brought out an object covered with red cloth and proceeded to remove the cover. It was a fearsome little clay pot with feathers stuck into it. Roofs heart nearly flew out when he saw the object; for he knew the fame of the fetish of Mbanta. Fail to do as sworn and the god will act fast. But he was a man of quick decision. What would a single vote cast in for this man take away from Marcus certain victory? Nothing. But as he swore, he perspired profusely and trembled.

1. Why was Roof popular in his village?

2. Why was he considered a political expert?

3. What indication is given to show the change in attitude of the villagers?

4. Why did Roof not reject the proposition from the opposition?

5. Mention the dominant character trait of Roof in the passage.

6. For each of the following words underlined in the passage, give another word or phrase, which means the same, and can replace it in the passage: i. ii. iii. iv. v. Energetic Illustrious Cold Mesmerised Profusely

7. when you put in your vote i. What grammatical name is given to this expression?

ii.

What is its function in the sentence?

8. Roofs heart nearly flew out What figure of speech is used in this expression?

SUMMARY Read the following passage carefully and answer in your own words, as far as possible, the questions that follow: Women have been very vociferous over the years in the campaign for equal rights. Even before the famous Beijing Conference that hardened womens resolve in the fight for equal rights, the reality of the matter was obvious. From all indications, the core of the problem has been the need to let women have equal access to education as a key to a secure future. In the past, cultural practices hindered the education of girls for reasons that have no logical grounds. Some of the practices persist to this day. Largely due to the negative thinking that the womans place was the kitchen and doing household chores, many brilliant girls who could have risen to the very top of many professions, if they had been educated, today find themselves condemned to a life of servitude through no fault of theirs. Some parents, especially fathers, believe that whether the girl-child is educated or not a man will come along one day for her hand in marriage. On account of this thinking, they see no point in committing resources to the education of the girl-child. Apart from these parents, some well-educated persons are also guilty of denying girls the right to education. The worst offenders are people who engage their services. Many people see househelps as people solely cut out for the role of domestic servants. Thus the issue of helping them acquire education is out of the question. They do all the chores at home from tidying up the house to preparing the children of their employers for school. In many instances the house-helps are less than 10 years old. The majority of them are paid at the end of the month apart from the meals they are provided with. The lucky ones are given a handshake, a sewing machine, some pieces of wax prints and some token amount at the end of their service.

In other countries, house-helps are engaged in strict compliance with labour regulations, and are paid on hourly basis with facilities like having their own rooms to retire to, and their freedom. This is not the case in this country where house-helps work from dawn to dusk. There is nothing wrong with a mistress undertaking to educate the house-help. That will be service to humanity and will go a very long way to reduce the illiteracy rate. It will also be a concrete way of dealing with the problem of educating the girl-child. Many house-helps are brilliant children who need just the right push in education to become great assets to the nation. The more educated women they are, the more they can rub shoulders with their male counterparts. 1. In two sentences, one for each, state three reasons why people thought that girls should not be educated.

2. In three sentences, one for each, summarize the problems house-helps face in the writers part of the world.

3. In one sentence, state one likely benefit society will get by educating house-helps.