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READING – 20 marks

To an outsider looking in, my life probably looked pretty great. I had what appeared to be a loving family. I lived in a specious home in a safe neighborhood and I attended a great school. But what an outsider couldn’t see was the cold atmosphere that permeated my house. My parents and my endless fights included the shouting of hurtful words bitter stares, and at times, unbearable silence. Misunderstandings inevitably led to fights.

This particular fight started just like the others. I packed my bag preparing to leave for an overnight retreat for my confirmation class. I crept down the stairs into our kitchen, only to find my parents glaring at me. “What time should I pick you up tomorrow?” my mom demanded impatiently. I told her that I wasn’t certain, but that I thought she should pick me up at approximately 8 pm. I quickly gathered that my reply was not the answer she wanted to hear. “So you don’t know what time?” Her face wrinkled with disapproval.

a) How did the narrator’s family appear to any outsider?

b) What would an outsider fail to see?

c) The narrator felt bitter when she left for the retreat. Why?

d) What caused the strain in the relationship between the narrator and her parents?

e) What were her emotions when she read her parent’s letter at the retreat?

f) How did the retreat help the narrator and her parents?

1.2 Choose the meaning of the words given below from the options that follow:

a) permeate

i) penetrate

ii) repressed

iii) perplexed

iv) entered

b) resentment

i) misunderstanding

ii) confused

iii) unbearable

iv) indignation

c) instigating

i) trapping

ii) inciting

iii) inviting

iv) debating

d) incessant

i) ensuring

ii) continuous

iii) bickering

iv) increasing

(4×1=4)

Most people do not realize the impact of well planned lighting in a given space. Putting a light fixture on every wall of every room will only create, simply put, a lit room. Yes, there is no substitute for natural light but when the sun goes down, we all need a little help from some man-made lighting devices.

WRITING AND GRAMMAR – 40 marks