COMPREHENSION

Answer all the questions in the spaces provided.

Honesty is the basis of human existence. Many people live a lie daily. This is a willful choice that can be shed off at
will but which seems to defy all attempts to do so by most people. What makes it so hard to live an honest living,
and coexist mutually with others?

To begin with, some people find lying fun. I say fun because they enjoy the consequences of their lies and laugh
when people fall for them. Sometimes, the consequences of such behaviour include unintended disaster, which
instead of bringing a feeling of regret and remorse in them, ironically makes them feel a strange sense of satisfaction.

Secondly, circumstances are occasionally mentioned in some instances as the reason for advancing a lie. A person
may find himself or herself cornered, and the only means of saving his or her skin is to lie. This is commonly found
in communal set ups like homes or schools. For instance, a child who inadvertently left electric iron plugged on a
live socket may mention the name of another member of the family, in most cases, a younger one, to escape scolding
or punishment. When they do this they hardly think of the possible reaction of the one being accused falsely. With a
straight face, they can even repeat the same false accusation in the presence of the individual concerned. In school, a
student found intruding into another student's locker would say something like, “I....was checking...my book," when
that was not actually the case.

In offices and work places generally, a dishonest worker may have all manner of excuses for being late. Such excuses
may range from “I had transport hitch to my wife or husband was taken ill last night or this morning and I had to tend
to him or her" when this was not the case. Such lies, though seemingly convincing, are bound to catch up with the
liar someday. Sometimes bosses may not see through your lie, but with time, at the most vulnerable moment, you
will be caught and face the music.

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In relationships, the opposite gender may posture her or himself as anything she or he
is not at all in order to impress the opposite sex. The intention here is to lure the other
person into their trap. How would such a relationship move? Would there be any true
love? And if the other person realized you used deceit on them, would they stay on?

These and many more questions should be the first line of thought before you lie.
Living honestly is not only beneficial to you but to all you relate with. Human beings
are easily turned off if they find the true you after you had lied to them. Rebuilding
trust becomes nearly impossible, and making new friends, especially around the place
of work can be a herculean task. This is because workmates have henceforth known
the true you and will avoid anything and everything that would make them victims of
your lies. Moreover, some would not want their bosses to see them associating with
you closely. Choose to live honestly.

1. What does the author consider important in life? (2

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2. Give two reasons why people lie according to the passage (2
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3. Explain the irony in paragraph two (2 M
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4. According to the passage, why would a child lie about another in a home? (2

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5. What three effects would lying cause in a work environment? (3 M
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6. Why is it necessary to stay honest according to the passage? (3 M
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7. Gi
(3
(a) Fall for......................................

(b) A straight face.........................

(c) See through..............................

8. Reb
(1 M

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9. What would be an appropriate title for this passage? (1 M

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ORAL SKILLS

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