2003
1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Consuming of Marijuana has continued to grow in Uganda despite increased vigilance on the part of the police and other law enforcement agencies. Marijuana is the second most widely abused drug in the country after alcohol. In order to beat the police, the consumers have resorted to taking the drug in food and tea. This is the recent shift from the traditional way of consumption where it is smoked. Oil is now extracted from Marijuana plants and mixed with food and tea. This system is safer because it does away with the smell on which the location where it is being consumed.
Marijuana plants fall in the category of 'cannabis sativa' which produce narcotic drugs like cannabis herbal (thrashed leaves mixed with seeds), cannabis resin (hashis) and cannabis oil. Major consumers of marijuana are idle youths, street children, casual labourers and students, university students inclusive. Of recent, the working class and unemployed elite have jumped on the band wagon. It is also on demand across the boarders where dubious dealers abound. People use it in cold conditions for warmth, to activate or alter the state of mind and for crime related purposes. Medical and traditional purposes are the least important reasons why it is consumed.
A psychiatrist from the national mental hospital at Butabika, says, "Marijuana has an active ingredient called Tetra hydro Cannabinol (THC) which has a disastrous effect on the brain. It causes a disease called hallucinogen, which causes falsehood in the mind. It's this disorganised mind that describes ones action and behaviour in the long run. Records indicate that 80% of mental illnesses registered in Butabika hospital are marijuana related. In a research carried out in secondary schools and institutions of higher learning by the Ministry of Health, 20% of total students interviewed admitted having smoked marijuana.
Marijuana is an addictive drug and once one is used to it, a lot of the substance has to be consumed so as to derive satisfaction. Once addicted to it, these abuser has the tendency to feel tough and strong thus committing criminal offences like rape, defilement, murder and robbery. It is said that rebels are influenced by marijuana to commit atrocities. It also helps them withstand harsh weather conditions in the bush.
Addicts of Marijuana normally have red eyes that cannot see properly, their mouths are dry and they cannot talk properly. Their hearts pump fast and their anxious and tensed up. They begin to see strange things which in fact do not exist or begin to speak alone due to the developments of schizophrenic illness. They behave strangely, are socially withdrawn, prefer isolation and have a chronic cigarette smell.
Marijuana affects the intestines leading to impotence. The heart is also damaged resulting in heart failure. The tar in it, as in tobacco, causes chest infection resulting in to cancer of the lungs. It further damages the brain leading to schizophrenia and other cases like suicide and violence.
It further causes hallucinogen (falsehood of the mind) leading to road and job related accidents. Again it damages the body tissues which sometimes make administration of medical drugs difficult and patient may never recover. Among students, it lowers IQ, leading to loss of quality education and poor performance in schools. While encouraging idleness, it also causes anxiety which leads to prostitution, rape, defilement, spread of diseases like AIDS and other crimes like robbery and murder.
(Adapted from: "The New Vision, Friday, May 7, 1999 P.27)
Question:
In not more than 150 words, explain who the common consumers of marijuana are and its effects on them.
2. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
As we rapidly approached the 21st Century we become increasingly aware of the forecasts of the prophets, diviners or fortune-tellers, as well as the more scientific futurologists. What sort of future do these seers foretell? Just how far away is a scientific-created Utopia?
Well, already for the 1980's experts speak of the breakthrough in medicine and implanted nuclear-powered heart that can survive its owner and be re-planted in someone else. Then a small electronic brain stimulator is being developed that will be able to relive headaches, help paralysed people regain the use of their limbs and assist in modifying the behaviour of mentally ill patients, while artificial pancreas will be able to automatically dispense insulin to diabetics and thus eliminate the need for injections.
For the 1990's the possibly is even more dazzling. There is talk of making synthetic blood and procedures to detect blood clots, the cause of heart attacks and strokes. There's also the likelihood of computer implants for the brain that can boost physical or intellectual performance, and even cloning, or replicating people, is envisaged.
And, as for the year 2000, scientists have forecast such things as using hibernation to extend human life by intermittently slowing down the body processes. But the most startling idea is the synthesis, or marrying of plant and animal cells to create a new species called the plant-man chimera. Life is then beginning to resemble science fiction. Yet further changes are predicted within the first fifty years of the 21st century; by then scientists will be able to manipulate the brain so that memory correction is possible or prolong life until the age of 120. But are all these possibilities just hollow dreams, or mad scientists' illusions? Well, scientists say that many of them are facts already inside the laboratories and others more than possibilities. So where does that leave mankind? Just restricting ourselves to the discoveries already made, there are still enormous ethical dilemmas facing us. And, unfortunately, none of our laws, our religions or our ideologies have prepared us for this brave new world.
(Source: Practising English Language by Margret Archer and E. Nolan-Woods.)
Questions:
1) Briefly explain the meaning of the following words or phrases in the passage:
a) forecasts
b) seers
c) even more dazzling
d) likelihood
2) In what way could a nuclear-powered heart be considered a breakthrough?
3) List five thinks from the passage that scientists have forecast for the future.
4) a) Why does the writer pose the question: "But are these the possibilities just hollow dreams or mad scientists' illusions?"
b) What is the answer to this question?
c) Why do you think the writer uses the expression "brave new world"?
5) From the evidence in the passage, give four ways in which the writer warns mankind that there might be problems with future scientific discoveries.
3. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
The weather was still very grey when they set out to climb the peak. They halted that evening at the upper limit of the fire wood. The next day the way still lay over desolate mountain-sides, vast screed slopes, ridges of crumbling rocks, and moraines. They made several reconnaissances, and on account of mist had trouble in deciding which route to the summit they should take. Eventually they fixed on a colt between the north or higher peak and a smaller rock mountain, and on this colt they pitched their third camp.
From it they could see their route would be up a vast snow-face till they reached a broad shoulder of mountain, whence a sharply defined ridge led to the summit. All seemed plain sailing; but in the night a fierce blizzard arose, and their spirits fell. In the afternoon however, the weather cleared and Pails and Warren packed up their light tent and with some provisions, set out up on the mountain and that evening anchored their tent on an ice-platform. The next morning, 10th August, they made for the top. Instead of the ice they found all snow. Te day was brilliant, and they were full of hope. But after they had made a short halt and brewed some tea, clouds began together rapidly. Feature after feature became blotted out. A chilly wind began to blow. The ice-axes sizzled ominously. The hair stood on end and crackled in harmony. Violent peals of thunder shook the mountain, and in the lulls they pressed on a bit by bit. At 2.30 the storm seemed to abate. Then some rocks appeared out to the mist. They made a final and were on the summit. Leo Pargail,22, 210 feet had been conquered.
Alas, flour this peak, as from the other, there was no view. All was hidden in cloud, and they could not wait for the clouds to disperse. They had to hurry down. White woolly mist shrouded them all the way, and a violent storm of wind and hail made no impression on it. By six they were back in their tent on the western col. During the night the storm came on again, and the next morning, the whole mountain was covered with new snow. It was evident that they had, at great risk, climbed the mountain on the last feasible day.
(Source: Everest- The Challenge; by Francis Younghusband.)
Answer the questions by choosing the best alternatives.
1) When the mountaineers set out climb the peak, the weather was
A. very stormy with fierce winds blowing.
B. calm although the sky was overcast.
C. ideal for making an assault on the peak.
D. misty and visibility was poor.
2) "They made several reconnaissances." This means they made several
A. exploratory trips
B. attempts to reach the summit.
C. halts to discuss the various routes to the summit
D. weather
E. forecasts
3) The expression all seemed plain sailing means
A. It looked like they would not meet any difficulties
B. it seemed that the weather would be good
C. they were in high spirits
D. the visibility was poor
4) The purpose of the sentence " Their hair stood on end and crackled in harmony." is to convey to us
A. how cold they must have been feeling.
B. how strongly the chilly wind was blowing.
C. the intensity of the electrical disturbance
D. how alarmed they were at being in a thunderstorm.
5) Feasible in the expression, " the last feasible day" could be most accurately replaced by
A. available
B. suitable
C. fine
D. practicable
4. Rewrite according to the instructions. Do not change the meaning.
1) It is a good thing to vote liberal.
(Begin: You ought....)
2) It was the last time he saw his wife.
(Begin: Never.......)
3) Mukasa ate a dozen mangoes. He was very ill. He never wants to see a mango again.
(Combine into one sentence without using and or but)
4) As soon as they entered the railway coach, the train streamed away.
(Begin: No sooner........)
5) He will need to be looked after.
(Rewrite to end: ..........looking after.)
6) Judging from appearances, I should say he is a wealthy man.
(Begin: If.......)
7) I don't know how you tolerate him for so long.
(Use put instead of tolerated.)
8) Isaac shuddered to think of it.
(Begin: Isaac shuddered at.....)
9) We reached Pride Theatre so earl that we could not buy our tickets because the booking office was closed.
(Rewrite using: ........... early to buy ............)
10) "We, "the policeman said, "are of the opinion that you were here last week."
(Rewrite in Indirect speech.)
5. Encircle the correct answer.
1) The.......... of the epidemic was marked by rampant diarrhoea
A. onset
B. outset
C. outbreak
D. upset
2) You shall have as many books as you need. The underlined phrase means
A. I promise to give you
B. I must give you
C. I may give you
D. I am required to give you.
3) I wish you............ "Julius Ceasar" at the National Theatre, it is a marvellous production
A. will see
B. would see
C. see
D. have seen
4) His house-mate............. to have arrived before six O'clock.
A. ought
B. must
C. was
D. tried
5) If the back benchers..........so loudly, we would have heard what the speaker actually said.
A. have not been talking
B. had not been talking
C. we're not talking
D. did not talk.
6) After hard day's work, the meal was welcome....... for the hungry peasants.
A. spectacle
B. sight
C. scene
D. view
7) Baguma, you are so slow! This project........... weeks ago.
A. should complete
B. might be completing
C. must have completed
D. ought to have been completed
8) Okello sits........ Ouma and Musoke.
A. besides
B. adrift
C. between
D. next by
9) When a person grows, old his vitality and creative power.............
A. deteriorate
B. disappear
C. slow down
D. evaporate
10) Capital punishment may be a discouraging influence against repeated crimes. The underlined word means
A. determent
B. deterrent
C. barrier
D. dissuasion.