(2) The drunk man ______ to the door, moving unsteadily and almost falling over.

(3) It’s impossible to count the bubbles that make up ______ because there are so many, and they keep forming and popping.

(4) If something is very ______ it is made stronger by removing the water from it.

(5) For dessert we ate delicious, creamy vanilla ice-cream ______ with small bits of chocolate.

(1) The floor was very dirty so we ______ it hard with a brush.

(1) Why do you think Ugwu and Amala call their employer’s mother “Mama”? In your answer, use the word ‘respect’.

(2) Does Mama accept Ugwu’s ‘madam’ as her daughter-in-law? Quote a sentence from the text to support your answer.

(3) Does Ugwu come from Abba? Explain your answer.

(4) Describe how Ugwu and Amala respond to Mama’s opinions, requests and commands.

(5) What does their behaviour tell us about Mama’s position in the household, in comparison with their positions?

(6) “Suspicion flared in Ugwu’s mind...” What does this description tell us about Ugwu’s thoughts? (Hint: Look up the words in bold in the glossary.)

(7) Why do you think that Ugwu notices the fact that the cat and the packet are black? What does the colour black symbolise?

(8) Do you think that Ugwu and Mama are being honest with each other at the end of the text? Explain your answer.

(9) What is your opinion? What is Mama putting into her son’s food, and why?

(1) Cut the onions ______ tiny pieces.

(2) Fry the onions ______ a pot.

(3) Place the chicken pieces ______ the pot ______ the fried onions.

(4) Cover the chicken ______ water.

(5) Add the chili, ehu, uziza and onions ______ the pot of soup.

(6) Cover the pot and leave the soup to boil ______ 30 minutes.

(7) Serve the pepper soup ______ agidi, white rice or boiled yam.

Kelechi: Please ______ I borrow your pen? (may, can, could, might)

Azuka: You didn’t return the last pen I lent you. Please ______ you give it back, this time? (will, would, can, could)

Kelechi: Oh, I forgot to give it back. I ______ like to apologise! (would)

Azuka: It’s okay. Maybe, as a favour, you ______ help me understand this question. (can, could, might)

Kelechi: I ______ help you if I ______, but I also don’t understand it. (would, could)

Azuka: Do you think we ______ be allowed to ask the teacher to explain it? (may, might)

In this extract from the novel ______ (who?) ______ (where?), ______ (what?). The purpose of the author is to suggest to the reader that Mama ______ (what?). The author does this through describing the characters’ ______ (how?).

she had bathed in groundnut oil

she had been swimming

it was raining

she was washing up and working hard

she had just splashed her face with cool water