Public holiday

Listening practice

(a) Listen to the teacher's instructions and follow the directions given while walking blindfolded to improve listening skills.

(b) Listen to other audio and/or audio-visual materials to improve your listening skills.

Speaking practice

(a) In pairs, use right, left, centre, straight, forward, backward, turn left and turn right to ask and answer the following questions:

1. What is the best way to get to your school from your home?
2. How do I get to the nearest shop from your school?
3. How do I get to the nearest dispensary from your school?
4. What is the best way to get to the local market from your home?
5. How do I get to the playground?
6. How do I get to your home from your school?

(b) Locate your friend's position in relation to others in the classroom using left and right.

Example

1. Juma is sitting on the left of Helena.
2. Kaundime is sitting on the right of Juma.

(c) In pairs, read and change the following sentences into the negative form. The first item is done for you as an example.

Positive: He parked his car on the left of the stadium.

Negative: He did not park his car on the left of the stadium.

Positive: I went straight home after school hours.

Negative: _____________________________________________

Positive: Our school is on the right of the dispensary.

Negative: _____________________________________________

Positive: They were told to turn right and go straight along the road.

Negative: _____________________________________________

Positive: She stepped forward to hug her mother.

Negative: _____________________________________________

Positive: The gold mine is located at the centre of the district.

Negative: _____________________________________________

(d) In pairs, read and act out the following dialogue:

Sada: Hello, Mary!

Mary: Hello, Sada! How are you?

Sada: I'm fine, thank you. Tomorrow will be my birthday.

Mary: Wow! Congratulations! Will there be a party?

Sada: Certainly. Will you come?

Mary: I would love to. Where will it be?

Sada: It will be held at our home.

Mary: Can you tell me the way to your home, please?

Sada: Don't worry! Let me give you the directions. Take the bus to Nianjema town. At the bus station, cross the road. You will see a dusty road. Turn left and follow the road. Go straight ahead until you see a footpath on your right. Take the footpath. After a few metres, you will see a fruit and vegetable stall and a hardware shop. Go straight ahead until you see a house painted green and cream on your left. Turn right and go straight until you come to a sharp corner. Then, turn right. You'll see a white house with a white roof straight ahead of you. That is our home.

Mary: Thank you. But I'm not sure if I can remember all these details. Do you mind writing down these details in my exercise book?

Sada: No, I don't mind. (Sada writes down the details in the Mary's exercise book.)

Mary: Thank you, my friend!

Sada: You're welcome. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. Take care.

Mary: Bye!

Answer the following questions in relation to the dialogue:

1. Who will have the birthday party?
2. What will Mary see if she turns right at the sharp corner?
3. What do you do if there is too much to remember?

Reading practice

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.

May Day

It was the 1st of May 2019, Workers' Day, a public holiday; therefore, we did not go to school. I woke up early in the morning and put on my favourite black suit. My father and I went to the national stadium where the celebrations were taking place. Our President was to address the workers. It was a nice, breezy day. We left early for the stadium as we knew we would spend about three hours on the road due to traffic jams. On arrival, we found many cars parked outside the stadium. As my father was wandering where to park, a security guard came and directed him to a parking space. He asked my father to move the car further. Then, he directed him to turn left. He turned left. However, the security guard realised that, if my father parked there, it would inconvenience others. Therefore, he asked him to turn right and move the car further on to find a proper place to park. My father parked the car and we entered the stadium. The stadium was filling up, but we managed to find empty seats as there were ushers to direct people where to sit. Luckily, we were directed to sit on the left side of the platform near the Guest of Honour. After a while, the invited guests began to arrive. About five minutes later, the Master of Ceremonies (MC) announced the arrival of the President, who was the Guest of Honour. He told us to stand up and clap for him. Everyone stood up and applauded loudly until he reached the platform. The President sat at the centre. On his right sat the Vice-President, and on his left sat the Prime Minister.

Then, the MC asked workers to parade before the Guest of Honour. They marched past the Guest of Honour and around the pitch. Each group carried a banner with a message. Teachers' banner read "TEACHING IS THE MOTHER OF ALL PROFESSIONS." Lawyers' banner read "RIGHTS FOR ALL" and health workers' banner read "YOUR HEALTH IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY." Several other groups also carried banners with various messages.

After the parade, it was time for the leader of the workers' union, Ms Hongera, to deliver a speech. She walked to the podium, looked around and saluted, "Solidarity." "Solidarity for ever" the workers replied. She introduced all the officials present at the event before starting to deliver her speech. Then, in a loud voice, she said, "Workers are the builders of the nation." In her speech, she mentioned the challenges that workers faced. At the end of her speech, she gave some recommendations. One of the recommendations, I remember, was that the government should address workers' concerns more seriously. She ended her speech by saying, "Building this nation requires all workers to work together." Then, it was the President's turn to give a speech. He mentioned the key officials present before he started to deliver his speech. He emphasised the government's deliberations for the development of the nation. He also spoke about the challenges faced by the workers. He said, "I know and I have pity on you, workers. Most of you are working in difficult situations with low salaries. The government is doing everything possible to address such issues so as to improve your working conditions and motivate you to work harder." He ended his speech promising the workers that the government would increase salaries and reduce the Pay-as-You-Earn tax. When my father heard about the increase in salaries and the decrease in the Pay-as-You-Earn tax, he smiled. "If this is done, the workers' lives will improve," he said.

At 2:00 p.m., the event came to an end. My father and I got into the car and drove backwards for five metres to get onto the main road; we drove back home. It was a memorable day.

(a) Choose the correct answer and write it in the space provided.

1. Why do you think the story-teller did not go to school? The story teller did not go to school because ................. A. he was a truant. B. he was a worker. C. it was a public holiday. D. he liked driving around with his father. E. he was a security guard. [ ]

2. Why was the President the Guest of Honour on May Day? ........................................................................................ A. because it was a public holiday. B. because of security reasons. C. because he is a worker. D. to show the importance of the event. E. to be part of the celebrations. [ ]

3. Why was the narrator's father happy? ........................................................................................ A. he listened to the President for the first time. B. the President promised to address workers' concerns. C. the President knew the workers had not been paid allowances. D. the workers asked the President to address their concerns. E. because he did not go to work on May Day. [ ]

(b) Give short answers to each of the following questions:

1. At what time did the event end?
2. What was the purpose of the event?
3. Who directed people where to sit in the stadium?
4. Why did the workers carry banners with various messages?
5. If you were a worker, what message would you have given to the Guest of Honour?