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Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow.
“Yes, Papaai,” Resian said apprehensively. “I am here. Taiyo tells me you are calling me?” “Yes, yes,” her father replied. “Please take a seat.” “Yes, Papaai,” Resian repeated as she sat on a chair far away from her father. “Come nearer…child,” her father said pleasantly. “Why do you sit a mile away? Come nearer.” Resian moved her chair hardly an inch from where it was and then she looked up into her father’s face with eager expectation. “If I do remember well,” her father began in a low even tone, “you will be nineteen in September this year, am I right” “You are quite right, Papaai.” Resian answered eyeing him curiously. His face was unusually kind. His eyes held hers as he smiled broadly.
That’s it!’ she thought triumphantly. “That must be it! “You and I have not discussed important issues for a long time,” he said with a friendly chuckle that was intended to bring her closer to him. “I thought today would be the best

Answer Text:
1. What has happened before the excerpt?
Ole Kaelo sends Taiyo to call Resian . Resian feels hopeful and excited that she is being called to be informed about admission to the university. She
thinks that it is her mother or sister who has talked to her father about the matter.

2. What is so ironical in this passage? Explain your answer referring to elsewhere in the novel.
It is ironical for Resian to think that her father is going to tell her about her dream
wish of joining Egerton University but he has plans to marry her off to his friend Oloisudori. This is evident as he says “your future is very important to me”

3. “Your future is very important to me, my dear child” From elsewhere in the novel, explain why Ole Kaelo tells his daughter so.
He says this because he has plans to marry her to his friend Oloisudori. If this succeeds, his business would be saved because Oloisudori had helped him establish the business and even building his house in Nasila.

4. Discuss two aspects of character in Resian in this excerpt.
Ignorant- she thinks that her father has good news about joining university which is not the case. She says, “That’s it!” She thought triumphantly. “Is it Yeiyo or Taiyo who spoke to you?” Apprehensive. She replies to her father apprehensively.
Fearful- she fears her father. She sits on a chair far from her father.

5. What major issue is addressed in this excerpt?
Determination/optimism. Resian is very much determined to join Egerton University. She thinks it is the reason why her father has called her and asks him “Who between them spoke to you about our enrollment at the Egerton University.”

6. Explain what happens after this excerpt.
After the excerpt, Ole Kaelo hesitates telling Resian what he wanted to tell her and tells her to go to the kitchen. He tells her to tell her mother to come.

7. “Who between them spoke to you about our enrolment at the Egerton university? “Rewrite in the direct speech.
She asked him who between them had spoken to him about their enrollment at the Egerton University.

8. A part from irony, discuss any other aspect of style evident in the excerpt.
Suspense. The reader is left in suspense wanting to know why Ole Kaelo had called his daughter.
Dialogue- there is dialogue between Resian and her father. It reveals the strained
relationship between daughter and father.

9. Explain the meaning of the following words and expressions used in the excerpt. (i). Apprehensively
(ii). Sit a mile away
(iii). Hold herself
(iv). Agitated

i) Nervously/worriedly/fearfully ii)To sit far away
iii) To control herself
iv) Troubled/disturbed