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NSSCAS Oshikwanyama First Language 8191 study materials
NSSCAS Oshikwanyama First Language 8191 study resources

NSSCAS Oshikwanyama First Language 8191 practice questions

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Question 1Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

In Oshikwanyama, how is the digraph 'sh' in the word 'Oshikwanyama' pronounced?

  1. the /ʃ/ sound Correct answer.
  2. the /tʃ/ sound
  3. the /z/ sound
  4. the /s/ sound

Explanation

Oshikwanyama orthography uses the digraph sh for a voiceless postalveolar fricative, the sound heard at the start of English 'ship'. It is not pronounced as a plain s, as ch, or as z, so listeners must map the written sh to that single consonant sound.

Question 2Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

In Oshikwanyama oral interaction, which pronoun form is the respectful choice when a young speaker addresses an elderly person?

  1. ne Correct answer.
  2. ame
  3. ove
  4. ye

Explanation

Oshikwanyama uses the second-person plural form ne as a polite or respectful address to an elder or someone of higher status. The singular ove is used with peers or juniors, while ame and ye refer to the speaker and a third person.

Question 3Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

Which Oshikwanyama expression is a farewell said by the person staying behind?

  1. Nda lalapo nawa
  2. Kala po nawa Correct answer.
  3. Owa uda ko?
  4. Wa lalapo nawa?

Explanation

Kala po nawa literally means 'stay well' and is the farewell used by the person remaining when another leaves. Wa lalapo nawa? is a greeting asking whether someone slept well, and Nda lalapo nawa is its reply.

Question 4Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

A candidate listens to a short Oshikwanyama announcement about a school meeting. Which action best shows comprehension of the gist?

  1. translating each word silently into another language
  2. writing down every word exactly as it is heard
  3. identifying the speaker's main purpose and key details Correct answer.
  4. waiting until the final sentence before listening

Explanation

Gist comprehension means grasping the speaker's main purpose and the key details that support it, not reproducing every word. In a short Oshikwanyama announcement, identifying the topic, the action required and the important facts is the first listening goal.

Question 5Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

Why does tone matter when listening to Oshikwanyama?

  1. Tone can change a word's meaning Correct answer.
  2. Tone is used only in songs and formal poems
  3. Tone replaces punctuation in all written Oshikwanyama
  4. Tone shows only the speaker's age and social rank

Explanation

Oshikwanyama is a tonal language, so pitch patterns can distinguish words that would otherwise look or sound identical. A listener who ignores tone may choose the wrong meaning even when the consonants and vowels are heard correctly.

Question 6Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

A candidate misses one word in an Oshikwanyama announcement. What is the best oral clarification move?

  1. Answer with an unrelated question
  2. Change the topic immediately
  3. Ask the speaker to repeat the word Correct answer.
  4. Pretend to understand the word

Explanation

When a word is missed, the most effective oral strategy is to ask the speaker to repeat or clarify it immediately. This keeps the exchange accurate and avoids guessing, which can lead to a wrong answer later.

Question 7Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

During an Oshikwanyama listening passage about a journey, which note-taking method best supports later answers?

  1. Recording key names, places and times in shorthand Correct answer.
  2. Ignoring all numbers and proper names
  3. Drawing only pictures without any words
  4. Copying the full passage word for word

Explanation

Notes for a listening passage should capture key names, places, times and numbers in abbreviated form so attention can stay on the speaker. Shorthand keywords support later answers better than a full transcription or wordless drawings.

Question 8Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

In an Oshikwanyama conversation, a listener says 'Ee' softly while the speaker continues. What does this mainly signal?

  1. The listener is about to leave the conversation
  2. The listener is following and encouraging the speaker Correct answer.
  3. The listener disagrees with the speaker
  4. The listener wants the speaker to stop

Explanation

A soft 'Ee' while another person is speaking acts as a backchannel signal: it shows attention and encourages the speaker to continue. It is not a turn claim, a disagreement or a signal that the listener is leaving.

Question 9Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

A speaker in an Oshikwanyama dialogue ends a sentence with a rising contour. Which interpretation is most likely?

  1. The speaker is giving a direct command to stop
  2. The speaker is stating a fact with certainty
  3. The speaker is closing a formal public speech
  4. The speaker is asking a question or checking understanding Correct answer.

Explanation

A rising final contour in Oshikwanyama dialogue commonly signals a question, a request for confirmation or an invitation to respond. Commands and completed statements usually end with a falling contour, so the rising pattern points to a question-like act.

Question 10Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

Which feature most clearly shows oral fluency in an Oshikwanyama discussion, rather than mere memorisation?

  1. avoiding all interaction with listeners
  2. speaking continuously without any pauses or hesitation at all
  3. repeating one memorised phrase throughout
  4. using connectors and self-correction to keep meaning clear Correct answer.

Explanation

Oral fluency is shown by the ability to link ideas with appropriate connectors, repair mistakes smoothly and keep the meaning clear while interacting. Memorised phrases alone do not demonstrate the flexible, listener-aware control that fluency requires.

Question 11Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

In Oshikwanyama speech, the clusters written mb, nd and ng at the beginning of a word are produced in which way?

  1. As a single unit, with the nasal and the stop pronounced together Correct answer.
  2. As a long nasal hum that completely replaces the stop consonant
  3. As two fully separate syllables, with a vowel inserted between the two letters
  4. As a click released into a stop, with no nasal resonance at all

Explanation

Oshikwanyama belongs to the Bantu group, where a nasal written before a stop is normally pronounced in the same breath as that stop, so the pair functions as one segment rather than two syllables. Breaking the cluster apart with an inserted vowel changes the shape of the word and can make it unrecognisable to a listener.

Question 12Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

A candidate listening to a fast Oshikwanyama report must decide whether the speaker means one official or several. Which cue in the spoken form settles this most reliably?

  1. The number of pauses the speaker leaves between clauses
  2. The tone used on the final syllable of the sentence
  3. The noun-class agreement prefix carried by the verb and its pronouns Correct answer.
  4. The volume at which the speaker delivers the clause

Explanation

In Oshikwanyama the noun class of the subject controls a matching prefix on the verb and on pronouns, so singular and plural are marked grammatically rather than by number words alone. A listener who tracks that agreement can tell how many people are involved even when the noun itself was missed.

Question 13Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

During a single playing of an Oshikwanyama listening passage, a candidate hears one unfamiliar word. What is the most effective action at that moment?

  1. Ask the invigilator to translate the word into English
  2. Ignore the rest of the passage because the word has been missed
  3. Keep listening and use the surrounding sentences to work out the likely meaning Correct answer.
  4. Stop listening and write down every possible meaning of the word

Explanation

Listening passages are played a limited number of times, so the flow of speech matters more than one unknown item. The sentences before and after usually supply the situation, the participants and the purpose, which is enough to infer a working meaning.

Question 14Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

Which feature of a spoken Oshikwanyama text most clearly marks it as a formal public announcement rather than a chat between friends?

  1. Complete sentences, formal address forms and orderly turn-taking Correct answer.
  2. Short overlapping turns and unfinished clauses
  3. Frequent soft 'Ee' interjections from the person addressed
  4. Loud laughter, jokes and constant switching between unrelated topics

Explanation

Public announcements are planned speech: the speaker holds the floor, finishes clauses and uses respectful address forms suited to an audience. Conversation between friends, by contrast, is jointly built and full of interruptions, backchannels and topic shifts.

Question 15Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

A candidate follows a spoken Oshikwanyama account of a journey and needs the order of events. Which listening cue is most reliable for this?

  1. The number of nouns used in each sentence
  2. The dialect features of the speaker's pronunciation
  3. Changes in the speaker's volume
  4. Connective words that link one clause to the next Correct answer.

Explanation

Narrators signal sequence with linking words at clause boundaries, and these words tell the listener what happened first, next and finally. Volume and pronunciation give no information about the order in which events occurred.

Question 16Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

When listening to Oshikwanyama, why must a candidate attend to whether a vowel is held short or long?

  1. Because length shows that the sentence is a question
  2. Because long vowels always mark a polite request
  3. Because length only shows which region the speaker comes from
  4. Because vowel length can distinguish one word from another Correct answer.

Explanation

Oshikwanyama uses vowel length contrastively, so a short vowel and a long vowel in the same position can produce two different words. A listener who hears length carelessly may record the wrong word even though the consonants were heard correctly.

Question 17Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

In an Oshikwanyama announcement, a candidate must record a meeting date read out at speed. Which approach best secures the answer?

  1. Note the figures at once in a fixed order, then check them against the message Correct answer.
  2. Write the date only in Oshikwanyama words and never use figures
  3. Wait until the passage ends and then reconstruct the date from memory
  4. Leave the date blank and return to it after the final playing

Explanation

Numbers spoken at natural speed fade quickly from memory, so jotting them immediately in a consistent order protects the detail. Checking the figures against later context, such as the day named or the events mentioned, catches slips before the answer is finalised.

Question 18Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

In rapid Oshikwanyama speech, a candidate hears words that seem to run together with vowels lost at the boundaries. How should this be understood?

  1. The recording is faulty, so this part of the passage cannot be used at all
  2. It is normal connected speech: sounds at word boundaries merge or drop Correct answer.
  3. The speaker is using a secret register that is reserved for public announcements
  4. The speaker has made grammatical errors that the candidate should ignore

Explanation

Fluent speakers do not pronounce each word as an isolated unit; at word boundaries vowels may be elided or merged and consonants adjusted. Recognising this as ordinary connected speech lets the candidate recover the underlying words instead of treating them as errors.

Question 19Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

A speaker closes an Oshikwanyama speech with a proverb. Which approach shows the strongest comprehension?

  1. Ignoring it, because proverbs carry no meaning in modern speeches
  2. Reading it figuratively and linking it to the argument the speaker has built Correct answer.
  3. Translating the proverb word for word and treating that as the message
  4. Assuming the proverb simply repeats the sentence that came before it

Explanation

Proverbs are used to sum up or endorse a point, so their force comes from the figurative meaning and its fit with what has already been argued. A literal rendering may be accurate word by word yet miss the message the speaker intends the audience to carry away.

Question 20Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

The Oshikwanyama digraph 'ny' is best described in pronunciation as which sound?

  1. A palatal nasal, close to the 'ni' in the English word 'onion' Correct answer.
  2. A velar nasal, as at the end of the English word 'sing'
  3. A plain alveolar n with no following vowel glide
  4. Two separate sounds, an n followed by a full y consonant

Explanation

In Oshikwanyama orthography 'ny' stands for a single palatal nasal segment, made with the tongue body raised towards the hard palate. It is one sound, not an n plus a separate y, and it is distinct from the velar nasal heard at the end of English 'sing'.

Question 21Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

In Oshikwanyama oral interaction, a speaker greets an adult in the morning with 'Wa lalapo?' What is the speaker mainly asking about?

  1. what the listener will eat
  2. whether the listener slept well Correct answer.
  3. who the listener's teacher is
  4. where the listener is travelling

Explanation

'Wa lalapo?' is a morning greeting that literally asks whether the other person slept well. It functions as a friendly enquiry about wellbeing, so the expected reply is 'Nda lalapo' rather than information about travel, food or school. Recognising this routine helps a candidate answer greeting questions quickly in the listening test.

Question 22Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

A candidate hears an Oshikwanyama speaker begin: 'Onda hala okupopya kombinga yomeya.' What is the speaker doing?

  1. complaining that the talk is too long
  2. asking for a glass of water
  3. ending the conversation politely
  4. announcing the topic of the talk Correct answer.

Explanation

'Onda hala okupopya kombinga yomeya' means 'I want to speak about water'. The speaker is therefore announcing the subject of the talk, which helps listeners predict what will follow. It is not a request for a drink, a complaint about length or a closing formula.

Question 23Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

An Oshikwanyama speaker says 'Tangi unene' after a classmate returns a borrowed book. What is the speaker expressing?

  1. a request to borrow another book
  2. a warning about the book
  3. an apology for losing the book
  4. strong gratitude Correct answer.

Explanation

'Tangi' is the common Oshikwanyama expression of thanks, and 'unene' intensifies it, so 'Tangi unene' means something like 'thank you very much'. The context of a returned book fits gratitude, not apology, warning or a new request.

Question 24Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

A candidate listening to an Oshikwanyama explanation hears the speaker say '...molwaashi okwa lokwa.' What relationship does the word 'molwaashi' signal between ideas?

  1. a time sequence
  2. a reason or cause Correct answer.
  3. a condition for an action
  4. a contrast between ideas

Explanation

'Molwaashi' is a causal connector meaning 'because', so it introduces the reason for the situation just mentioned. A listener should treat the following clause as an explanation of cause, not as a time sequence, a contrast or a condition.

Question 25Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

During an Oshikwanyama group discussion, a participant first says 'Ndapandula' and then uses 'ashike' before presenting a different opinion. What is the participant doing?

  1. acknowledging but disagreeing politely Correct answer.
  2. refusing to speak any further
  3. asking for the discussion to be repeated
  4. thanking the group and agreeing completely

Explanation

'Ndapandula' acknowledges the previous speaker, while 'ashike' ('but') signals that a different view is coming. This combination allows the participant to disagree without sounding confrontational, which is important in Oshikwanyama group discussion.

Question 26Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

An Oshikwanyama speaker names the new prefects and then says, 'Ovo otava ka langeka oshinima.' What does 'Ovo' refer to in this context?

  1. the new prefects Correct answer.
  2. the school buildings
  3. the listeners' parents
  4. the speaker alone

Explanation

'Ovo' is a pronoun referring back to the people just named, namely the new prefects. The verb that follows describes what those people will organise, so tracking the pronoun is essential for understanding who is responsible.

Question 27Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

In an Oshikwanyama radio discussion, a speaker begins a sentence with 'Ame onda itavela kutya...' What does this opening signal about the statement?

  1. It is a direct quotation from an official.
  2. It is a command from the presenter.
  3. It is a proven statistical fact.
  4. It is the speaker's personal opinion. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Onda itavela kutya' means 'I believe that', so the speaker is framing the statement as a personal opinion. This is different from quoting an official, reporting a proven statistic or issuing a command from the presenter.

Question 28Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

In an Oshikwanyama oral narrative, a speaker describes a sudden action with an ideophone such as 'pwaa'. What is the main effect of this choice?

  1. It makes the action vivid and immediate. Correct answer.
  2. It shows that the speaker does not know the verb.
  3. It turns the narrative into a formal written report.
  4. It marks the action as happening in the distant future.

Explanation

Ideophones are expressive words that appeal to the senses, and in Oshikwanyama storytelling they make an action seem vivid, sudden or immediate. They do not by themselves mark future time, create formal written style or show that the speaker lacks vocabulary.

Question 29Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

In Oshikwanyama oral interaction, a young speaker needs to refuse an elder's suggestion without causing offence. Which strategy best fits the language's polite register?

  1. ignoring the elder and speaking to someone else
  2. repeating the elder's words in a mocking tone
  3. acknowledging the elder, then giving a reason Correct answer.
  4. saying 'Aaye' sharply and turning away

Explanation

Oshikwanyama interaction norms generally favour indirectness and respect when disagreeing with an elder. Acknowledging the elder's suggestion before giving a reason for a different view protects the elder's dignity and keeps the exchange polite.

Question 30Listening and Oral Communication - comprehension of spoken Oshikwanyama, oral fluency, pronunciation and interaction

A candidate listening to an Oshikwanyama speech hears the speaker say 'Ngaashi nde shi popya petameko...' late in the talk. What is the speaker most likely doing?

  1. correcting a pronunciation error
  2. introducing a completely new topic
  3. asking the audience to leave
  4. referring to an earlier point Correct answer.

Explanation

'Ngaashi nde shi popya petameko' means roughly 'as I said at the beginning', so the speaker is deliberately referring back to an earlier point. This cohesive phrase helps listeners connect later remarks to the structure of the speech rather than expecting a new topic.

Question 31Reading Comprehension and Text Analysis - understanding, interpreting and responding to unseen and prepared prose and non-fiction texts

The following is a translated excerpt from an Oshikwanyama narrative: 'Nangula left her home before sunrise to fetch water from the river. On her way, she met an elderly woman struggling with a heavy pot. Nangula helped the woman carry the pot to her hut, and the woman blessed her.' What is the main idea of this narrative?

  1. Fetching water is hard work.
  2. Helping others brings blessings. Correct answer.
  3. Nangula woke up early.
  4. Elderly women need pots.

Explanation

The passage centres on Nangula's act of helping the elderly woman and the blessing she receives, so the main idea is that selfless help brings reward. The other details are supporting events, not the central message.

Question 32Reading Comprehension and Text Analysis - understanding, interpreting and responding to unseen and prepared prose and non-fiction texts

In this Oshikwanyama passage, 'The village elders gathered under the omuti tree. They spoke with one voice: "The school must be built before the rains." The people agreed and began to prepare the ground.' What does the phrase 'spoke with one voice' most nearly mean?

  1. agreed unanimously. Correct answer.
  2. sang together.
  3. whispered quietly.
  4. argued loudly.

Explanation

The idiom 'spoke with one voice' indicates that the elders were united in their opinion. The following sentence, where the people agree, confirms that the elders reached a unanimous decision.

Question 33Reading Comprehension and Text Analysis - understanding, interpreting and responding to unseen and prepared prose and non-fiction texts

Read this translated Oshikwanyama text: 'Oshikwanyama is a Bantu language spoken in Namibia and Angola. It is the most beautiful language in the world. Many people learn it at school.' Which statement from the passage is an opinion rather than a fact?

  1. Many people learn it at school.
  2. Oshikwanyama is a Bantu language.
  3. It is spoken in Namibia and Angola.
  4. It is the most beautiful language. Correct answer.

Explanation

A fact can be verified, while an opinion expresses a personal judgement. The claim that Oshikwanyama is 'the most beautiful language' cannot be proven and is therefore an opinion.

Question 34Reading Comprehension and Text Analysis - understanding, interpreting and responding to unseen and prepared prose and non-fiction texts

In this Oshikwanyama story, 'Tomas opened the letter and read it twice. His hands trembled. He looked at his mother and smiled, but tears filled his eyes. "I have been chosen," he said.' What can be inferred about Tomas's feelings?

  1. He is overwhelmed with emotion. Correct answer.
  2. He is bored by the news.
  3. He is angry about the letter.
  4. He is confused about the letter.

Explanation

Tomas's trembling hands, tears, and smile together suggest strong mixed emotions, not a single negative reaction. The reader can infer that he is deeply moved by the news.

Question 35Reading Comprehension and Text Analysis - understanding, interpreting and responding to unseen and prepared prose and non-fiction texts

The following is a translated Oshikwanyama passage: 'Every year, our village holds a festival to celebrate the harvest. People sing, dance, and share food. Visitors are welcome to join. This festival keeps our community united.' What is the author's main purpose?

  1. To criticize the festival for being too loud.
  2. To persuade readers to move to the village.
  3. To explain how to cook harvest food.
  4. To describe a tradition and its value. Correct answer.

Explanation

The author presents details about the festival and concludes that it keeps the community united, which shows the tradition's value. The purpose is informative and appreciative, not persuasive or critical.

Question 36Reading Comprehension and Text Analysis - understanding, interpreting and responding to unseen and prepared prose and non-fiction texts

Read this translated Oshikwanyama text: 'The river flooded last season. As a result, the crops were destroyed and many families lost their food supply. The village then organized a food drive to help those in need.' How is the information organized?

  1. Cause and effect. Correct answer.
  2. Problem and solution only.
  3. Compare and contrast.
  4. Chronological order.

Explanation

The flooding is presented as a cause, and the destroyed crops and food drive are its effects. The phrase 'as a result' explicitly signals a cause-and-effect structure.

Question 37Reading Comprehension and Text Analysis - understanding, interpreting and responding to unseen and prepared prose and non-fiction texts

In this Oshikwanyama passage, 'The old man sat by the fire, telling stories of the great hunters. His voice was soft, and his eyes shone with pride. The children listened, wide-eyed, as the night grew dark.' What is the tone?

  1. Nostalgic and warm. Correct answer.
  2. Angry and bitter.
  3. Cold and distant.
  4. Humorous.

Explanation

The soft voice, shining eyes, and wide-eyed children create a gentle, affectionate atmosphere. The old man's pride in past hunters adds a nostalgic quality to the scene.

Question 38Reading Comprehension and Text Analysis - understanding, interpreting and responding to unseen and prepared prose and non-fiction texts

In this Oshikwanyama narrative, 'Kandali told his sister that he would meet her at the market after he sold the goats. She was to bring the baskets, but she forgot them, so he had to carry everything himself.' What does the pronoun 'them' refer to?

  1. the sister.
  2. the market.
  3. the baskets. Correct answer.
  4. the goats.

Explanation

Pronoun reference requires tracking the nearest logical noun. The sister was supposed to bring the baskets, so 'them' refers to the baskets she forgot.

Question 39Reading Comprehension and Text Analysis - understanding, interpreting and responding to unseen and prepared prose and non-fiction texts

Read this translated Oshikwanyama passage: 'The community meeting began with a prayer. The headman explained that the well was dry. Several families volunteered to dig a new well. By sunset, everyone had agreed on a plan and promised to start work the next morning.' Which sentence best summarizes the passage?

  1. The community planned to dig a new well. Correct answer.
  2. The headman prayed for rain.
  3. The old well was dry and families left.
  4. Everyone agreed to start work at sunset.

Explanation

A summary captures the main event and outcome. The passage describes a meeting where the community responds to a dry well by agreeing to dig a new one.

Question 40Reading Comprehension and Text Analysis - understanding, interpreting and responding to unseen and prepared prose and non-fiction texts

In this Oshikwanyama text, 'Her words were honey to the hungry crowd. They listened as if they had not eaten for days. When she finished, the silence was a heavy blanket over the room.' What does the metaphor 'her words were honey' suggest?

  1. Her words were sticky and confusing.
  2. Her words were loud and angry.
  3. Her words were few and brief.
  4. Her words were sweet and comforting. Correct answer.

Explanation

Honey is associated with sweetness and nourishment, so the metaphor suggests that the speaker's words were pleasurable and comforting to the audience. The image of a hungry crowd reinforces this idea of being fed by her words.

Question 41Reading Comprehension and Text Analysis - understanding, interpreting and responding to unseen and prepared prose and non-fiction texts

Read this translated Oshikwanyama passage: 'The market at Oshikango opens at dawn. Vendors spread their cloths under the mopane trees. By midday, the shade moves and the sellers follow it, dragging their baskets of tomatoes and dried fish.' According to the passage, why do the vendors move their baskets?

  1. To find more customers in the market
  2. To load them onto waiting trucks
  3. To escape the coming rain
  4. To stay in the shade Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage states that the shade moves and the sellers follow it, so they move their baskets to remain in shade. This is an explicit cause-and-effect detail, not a guess about customers, trucks, or rain.

Question 42Reading Comprehension and Text Analysis - understanding, interpreting and responding to unseen and prepared prose and non-fiction texts

Read this translated Oshikwanyama sentence: 'The headman's words were a balm to the villagers after the long drought. They returned home with lighter steps.' In this context, the word 'balm' most nearly means:

  1. a soothing comfort Correct answer.
  2. a heavy burden
  3. a harsh warning
  4. a public announcement

Explanation

A balm is a soothing ointment, and here it is used figuratively to describe words that comfort the villagers after hardship. The detail that they returned with 'lighter steps' confirms comfort rather than warning, burden, or announcement.

Question 43Reading Comprehension and Text Analysis - understanding, interpreting and responding to unseen and prepared prose and non-fiction texts

Read this translated Oshikwanyama paragraph: 'Every morning before school, Ndapewa collects water from the communal tap. She greets the neighbours and listens to their news. By the time she reaches the classroom, she already knows who is sick, who has found work, and whose cattle have wandered.' What is the main idea of this paragraph?

  1. Cattle often wander into the classroom
  2. Her routine links her to village news Correct answer.
  3. The water tap is far from the village
  4. Ndapewa is often late for school

Explanation

The paragraph lists Ndapewa's morning actions and ends by saying she already knows community news, so the main idea is that her routine connects her to village information. The other choices are minor details, unsupported, or plainly incorrect.

Question 44Reading Comprehension and Text Analysis - understanding, interpreting and responding to unseen and prepared prose and non-fiction texts

Read this translated Oshikwanyama passage: 'When the teacher asked who had broken the window, Petrus looked at the floor. He did not speak. Later, he was the first to bring a hammer and nails from his father's shed.' What can be inferred about Petrus?

  1. He is helping because he enjoys carpentry
  2. He did not hear the teacher's question
  3. He wants to avoid punishment by blaming others
  4. He feels responsible for the damage Correct answer.

Explanation

Petrus's silence when questioned and his later action of bringing tools to repair the window suggest that he feels guilty and responsible. The passage does not show him blaming others, enjoying carpentry, or failing to hear.

Question 45Reading Comprehension and Text Analysis - understanding, interpreting and responding to unseen and prepared prose and non-fiction texts

Read this translated Oshikwanyama passage: 'The old bridge has carried our cattle and children for fifty years. Now its beams are cracked. The council must repair it before the rains, or the village will be cut off from the clinic.' What is the author's main purpose?

  1. To persuade the council to act Correct answer.
  2. To entertain with a cattle story
  3. To describe the bridge's long history
  4. To explain how bridges are built

Explanation

The passage gives urgent reasons why the bridge must be repaired before the rains, so the author's purpose is to persuade the council to act. The history is only background, and there is no entertainment or technical explanation of construction.

Question 46Reading Comprehension and Text Analysis - understanding, interpreting and responding to unseen and prepared prose and non-fiction texts

Read this translated Oshikwanyama sentence: 'The news of the scholarship spread through the village like a grass fire in the dry season.' What does the simile emphasize about the news?

  1. The village was dry
  2. It was small
  3. It spread fast
  4. It was dangerous Correct answer.

Explanation

A grass fire in the dry season spreads very quickly across a wide area, so the simile emphasizes the speed and reach of the news. It does not comment on danger, the village's weather, or the size of the scholarship.

Question 47Reading Comprehension and Text Analysis - understanding, interpreting and responding to unseen and prepared prose and non-fiction texts

Read this translated Oshikwanyama passage: 'First, the harvest failed. Then the cattle grew thin. Finally, the river shrank to a trickle.' What is the function of this sequence?

  1. To list steps in a recipe Correct answer.
  2. To show linked causes
  3. To describe a single moment
  4. To compare unrelated events

Explanation

The words 'First,' 'Then,' and 'Finally' trace a sequence of connected failures, showing how one problem led to another. The passage does not compare unrelated events, give a recipe, or freeze a single moment.

Question 48Reading Comprehension and Text Analysis - understanding, interpreting and responding to unseen and prepared prose and non-fiction texts

Read this translated Oshikwanyama passage: 'The new clinic opened last month. It has two nurses and a solar refrigerator. It is the best clinic.' Which sentence from the passage is an opinion?

  1. The new clinic opened last month.
  2. It is the best clinic. Correct answer.
  3. The clinic has a solar refrigerator.
  4. It has two nurses and a solar refrigerator.

Explanation

The sentence 'It is the best clinic' expresses a subjective judgment, while the other sentences report checkable facts such as opening date, staff numbers, and equipment. Opinions cannot be verified in the same way as facts.

Question 49Reading Comprehension and Text Analysis - understanding, interpreting and responding to unseen and prepared prose and non-fiction texts

Read this translated Oshikwanyama passage: 'The committee has met every month for a year. We have drafted plans, revised budgets, and consulted experts. Now the regional office tells us that our proposal was never received. How convenient.' What is the tone of the final sentence?

  1. Bitter irony Correct answer.
  2. Sincere gratitude
  3. Neutral indifference
  4. Excited anticipation

Explanation

The phrase 'How convenient' is sarcastic in context: the committee worked for a year, yet the office claims never to have received the proposal. This bitter irony expresses frustration rather than gratitude, indifference, or excitement.

Question 50Reading Comprehension and Text Analysis - understanding, interpreting and responding to unseen and prepared prose and non-fiction texts

Read these two translated Oshikwanyama statements. Text A: 'The new road will bring buses and customers to our shops. We support it.' Text B: 'The new road will cut through our grazing land. We oppose it.' How do the two speakers differ?

  1. They both strongly support the road
  2. They both oppose the road
  3. They disagree on its effects Correct answer.
  4. They disagree about weather

Explanation

Text A welcomes the road for bringing customers, while Text B opposes it for cutting through grazing land, so they disagree about the road's effects. They do not both support or both oppose it, and weather is not mentioned.