Reviewing pros
Natasha Thomas-Francis, Contributor

Hello all! I trust that as you approach the examination period you are taking the revision process seriously. Remember that the Youthlink lessons are designed to help you revise for those all-important examinations. As was promised last week, here is part two to that gripping prose passage:

They were only 10 feet away and unlit. There had to be a light, but he did not know exactly where the switch was. He stumbled down the first flight in total darkness and fell heavily as he struck a wall. There were flights of stairs. He turned right, found the next flight and this time was careful enough to anticipate the end of it. Automatically, as many people do, he had counted the number of stairs to the flight. Thirteen. "Good old Ryder," he thought savagely, "even a boy scout would have thought to bring a flashlight." The third flight he negotiated with all the careful speed at his command. The fourth was easy for it was awash with light.

The lift was there, its door open, a dazed Hillary sitting against one side and massaging the back of his head. He didn't see Ryder and Ryder didn't see him. Ahead there were a series of what appeared to be caverns. The fourth, the master plan had said, the fourth. Ryder reached the fourth and saw Morro inside the little plywood booth hauling himself to his feet; a key in his hand. He must have been dragging himself along the floor like a wounded animal, for all life in his leg had gone and the agonising progress he made was clearly lined by the track of blood.

Morro fumbled with the key and had the door open. He lurched inside an insane dreamer's world. Ryder lifted his weapon. There was no dramatic urgency. There was time.

Ryder said: "Stop, Morro, stop! Please stop!"

Morro was dreadfully injured. By that time his mind must have been in the same way. But, even if he had been well both in body and mind, he would probably have acted in the same way: sick or in health, for the mercifully few Morro's in the world, fanaticism is their sole sustaining power, the well-spring of their being.

Morro had incredibly reached the metallic box and was beginning to unscrew a transparent plastic cover that housed the red button. Ryder was still 10 feet away, too far away, too far away to stop him.

He switched the weapon slide from single-shot to automatic ...

Now I want you to respond to the following questions, but remember that part one of the narrative was in last week's publication.

1. In the sentence: "Good old Ryder ... bring a flashlight" (lines 12 - 14), the writer is indicating that Ryder is

A. Thinking that not even a boy scout would have fallen down the stairs.

B. Congratulating himself for successfully negotiating the stairs without a flash-light.

C. Angry with himself for not remembering to bring a flashlight.

D. Thinking that even if he had a flash-light, it would not have helped.

2. It can be inferred from the passage that Hillary was most probably massaging the back of his head (lines 19 - 20) because he

A. Had been struck by Morro

B. Wanted to gain Ryder's sympathy

C. Wanted to distract Ryder

D. Wanted to gain Morro's sympathy

3. The MOST likely reason for Ryder's failure to notice Hillary (line 21 ) was that Hillary

A. Did not look in Ryder's direction

B. Did not call out to him

C. Was not Ryder's main concern

D. Was still in the closed elevator

4. The last two words of the sentence, "Stop, Morro, stop!" (line 38) as used in the passage, implied that Ryder

A. Thought Morro did not hear the first three words

B. Thought Morro could only be stopped by a plea

C. Was being courteous to Morro

D. Was reluctant to kill Morro

5. According to the passage, why did Morro not obey Ryder's command to stop?

A. He did not hear what Ryder had said

B. He felt he still had the power to overcome Ryder

C. He did not think that Ryder would kill him

D. He intended to trigger the nuclear devices despite Ryder's presence

6. According to the passage, Morro's ultimate objective was to

A. Escape from Ryder

B. Kill Ryder

C. Set off the nuclear devices

D. Take a hostage with him

We will discuss these questions in next week's lesson. Have a great and God-filled week!

Natasha Thomas-Francis teaches at Glenmuir High School. Send questions and comments to kerry-ann.hepburn@gleanerjm.com