Oral Narrative Passage

Read the passage, then answer the 5 questions that follow. Marking schemes are included.

Read the story below and answer the questions that follow

Long ago, during a time of great famine, all the animals in the forest were struggling to find food. One day, a kind farmer left a basket of roasted maize by the river for anyone who was hungry.

Hyena was the first to discover the basket. Instead of sharing with the other animals, he decided to eat everything himself. He ate and ate until his stomach was round and tight like a drum.

"I must hide the rest," Hyena thought. He picked up the basket and began to run. But his stomach was so full that he could barely move.

Hare, who had been watching from behind a bush, called out, 'Hyena, where are you taking all that food? There are hungry animals who need it too.'

'This food is mine,' Hyena growled. 'I found it first.'

Hare shook his head sadly. He went to tell the other animals what had happened. Together, they decided to teach Hyena a lesson.

The animals dug a deep pit along the path Hyena always used. They covered it with leaves and branches. That evening, Hyena, still carrying what remained of the food, fell straight into the pit.

'Help! Help!' cried Hyena. The animals gathered around the pit.

'We will help you out,' said Elephant, 'but only if you agree to share.'

Hyena, cold and scared, promised to share. From that day, whenever food was found, Hyena always made sure everyone got a portion. But the other animals never fully trusted him again.

That is where my story ends.

  1. Question 1

    2 marks

    Identify the following in this story:

    (i) Opening formula

    (ii) Closing formula

    (2 marks)

    Marking scheme for this question

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  2. Question 2

    2 marks

    Imagine you are to tell this story to your friends. Give two ways you would make it more interesting.

    (2 marks)

    Marking scheme

    Use different voices for Hyena, Hare, and Elephant; use facial expressions to show Hyena's greed and fear; use dramatic pauses before revealing the trap; use gestures to show Hyena's full stomach

  3. Question 3

    2 marks

    What does Hyena say in the story that shows he is selfish?

    (2 marks)

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  4. Question 4

    2 marks

    Give an example of each of the following features of style in this story.

    (i) Simile

    (ii) Dialogue

    (2 marks)

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  5. Question 5

    2 marks

    What moral lesson do we learn from this story?

    (2 marks)

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  6. 4 more marking schemes are on this page. A free account opens all of them, and lets you build your own paper on the topics you have actually taught, laid out in KNEC format with its full marking scheme.

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