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READ THIS
A pride of lions is attacked by poachers. The game rangers from the park must investigate and then
attempt to capture and do surgery on the bad tempered lion which has been somehow wounded.
READ THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE:
Simeon walked with his son at his side. They were talking about something and laughed so that Simeon's
blue eyes retreated into small twinkling chips. He was unarmed as his habit was, but Barnabas carried
a quickfiring Winchester rifle over the crook of his arm. Henrik walked a little behind and to the left of
them. Blue-bush and vaalkameel thorns grew in the river bed and the pale raisin-bushes were flecked
with yellow and red berries. It had rained weeks before and there were patches of red-dark gemsbokgrass
in full seed like blood blots against the ash-grey dust.
Henrik clicked his tongue and at the same time the two others saw the ears of a lion above a patch of
scrub near a fallen thorn branch. It was not twenty yards off.
"All right, back out," Simeon said. "I'll watch it. It won't attack."
"Oubaas, it is Kgam'ma," the Bushman said.
"He's not going to attack. Back away."
Have you looked at the questions
in the right column?
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TEST YOURSELF!
Read the left column and then answer
the following questions:
Why does Simeon believe that the lion would not attack? (2)
[Need help?]
In the first place, it is not likely that the lion would attack unless he felt threatened. Secondly, they had
helped the lion, doctored it when it was injured. They believed therefore that the lion would remember that
they were friends.
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There is irony in Simeon's words, "He's not going to attack."
- Explain why the above quotation is an example of irony. (4)
[Need help?]
Irony is when the opposite happens to what is expected.
In this case, Simeon believes that the lion will not attack whereas the reality is that it does.
On the other hand, Simeon is possibly unaware that the lion has already had a bad experience at the
hands of poachers and therefore remembers all people as the enemy.
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There is a "Bushman" accompanying them.
- What is his function? (4)
[Need help?]
The bushman (San) was there as a tracker.
In those desert regions, the trail of animals and poachers soon disappears as the wind blows sand across
it. The San -- as the Bushmen are now called -- have an uncanny ability to track the trail even in the
most adverse of conditions.
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- Why does the "Bushman" call Simeon "Oubaas"? (4)
[Need help?]
Simeon is the senior ranger, and a father to Barnabas. "Oubaas" literally means "the old
boss".
The term also means "old man in charge" and is used by the "Bushman" as a sign of respect
for the ranger.
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"It had rained weeks before and there were patches of red-dark gemsbokgrass in full seed like blood
blots against the ash-grey dust."
- Contrast the vegetation that is described in this scene with the earlier description of the landscape
before the rain. (3)
[Need help?]
You need to contrast the rather lush vegetation which has sprung up after the rains with the desert sand
and dune conditions which existed before the rains.
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- What figure of speech is found in the phrase "in full seed like blood blots"? (1)
[Need help?]
The figure of speech is a SIMILE, is it not?
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- Is this a good comparison? Explain. (4)
[Need help?]
The story has dwelt on the pain of the lions, the bleeding to death of the lioness, and the wound inflicted
by the thorn.
The narrator therefore introduces the simile of "blood blots" to describe the seeds, depicting them
"as if the lions had dripped their blood" on the vegetation.
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Who is Kgam'ma? Why are the men approaching him? (3)
[Need help?]
Kgam'ma is the huge lion.
Earlier in the story we were told of the poachers' attempts to shoot him for his skin, and how he sought
refuge in a clump of almost impenetrable vegetation.
The rangers had cared for the lion, removing the thorn in its foot and doctoring the wound. Since then the
lion had wandered off to another area.
The rangers needed to keep abreast of conditions within the game reserve and so, when they came
unexpectedly upon a small pride of lion, it was their duty to inspect to find out if possible which lions they
were and from where they had come.
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The story is called "Drinker of the Bitter Water."
- Is this a suitable title? (4)
[Need help?]
There is a direct relationship between the bitter, brak waters that the lions preferred and the bitterness of
the lion's life where he is hunted by poachers and eventually killed by the rangers.
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- The ending of this story is ironical. Explain why. (4)
[Need help?]
Earlier in the story, the rangers had saved Kgam'ma's life. Now they kill him.
The story shows the contradiction of people who dedicate their lives to looking after the animals in the
reserve but eventually being forced to kill those very animals.
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