Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
Paula is taking us on a ‘gorilla trip’ in Volcanoes National Park. We were apprehensive
about sending money for this trip. We haven’t known Paula for long and her tour company
is not in our travel book. We had only come to know about her through a friend. When we
finally met and interacted with her, we are ashamed we ever doubted her. She is simply
amazing.
“Is this the best time to visit Rwanda?” I had asked as we planned the trip.
“The ‘best time’ depends on an individual.”
“Indeed ... what is the weather like?”
“Here is a rough guide
to the climate in Rwanda.
However, my knowledge is
from my experience, not the
meteorological department.
Besides, Africa’s weather
patterns are becoming
increasingly unpredictable.”
“It’s the same everywhere,
Paula ...”
“Exactly ... Rwanda’s relatively high altitude
provides it with a pleasant
tropical highland climate.
Temperatures vary between
locations depending on altitude. However, there is very little variation for, say, a month in
the same place. For instance, Kigali has an average daily temperature of about 21°C. Some
places are warm at 21°C; others are warmer at 25°C.”
“Okay ...”
“Rwanda’s long rainy season lasts from March to May. The longer dry season lasts from
June to mid September. The driest and hottest month is July.”
“What of October to December?”
“We experience a shorter rainy season then. This is followed by a short dry season from
December to February.”
From the airport, we went to see the genocide memorial as it was only 10 o’clock. Paula
then booked us in at Sainte Anne Hotel, Musanze. We left for Hotel Muhabura for a meal
as she strongly recommended.
Later, we’ll head south to tour Nyungwe Forest. Finally, we’ll travel west to sunbathe on
the beaches of Lake Kivu.
Answer the following questions.
1. Using a dictionary, find out the meanings of the following words:
a) apprehensive
b) climate
c) meteorological department
d) weather patterns
e) altitude
f) temperature
g) rainy season
2. Why were the narrator and the other tourists afraid of sending money to Paula?
A. She was not in their tour book.
B. She was in a different country.
C. They hadn’t known her for long.
D. They hadn’t known her for long and they didn’t have her tour company in their travel book.
3. Why is ‘best time’ quotation brackets?
A. It wasn’t really a good time.
B. ‘Best’ depends on individuals.
C. She wasn’t happy with the question.
D. It was rainy and windy.
4. The average temperature in Kigali is ...............
5. Rwanda experiences the most rain in the months of ............... and the least in the
months of ................
6. Which period will have high temperatures? December to May or June to November?
Give reasons for your answer.
7. Why do tourists visit Rwanda?
8. Give words that show the visitors enjoyed their visit.
9. Give this passage a suitable title.
C. Language use
The passive voice verb phrase is made up of auxiliary verbs such as am, are, was, were,
and a main verb.
Rewrite the following sentences in the passive voice.
1. People generate power from methane in Lake Kivu.
2. Tourists see gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park.
3. Rwanda receives long rains between March and May.
4. Rwandans clean the environment every first Saturday of the month.
5. People call Rwanda the land of a thousand hills.
6. Rwanda exports agricultural products to Europe.
7. Rwanda imports machinery from China.
8. People use irrigation in about 94 square kilometres of land.
9. Farmers practice terrace farming.
10. Farmers cut down trees for agriculture.
Passive voice with ‘can’
Passive voice can be used with modal verbs. For example: Trees can be found in Nyamagabe
Forest.
Can is a modal verb. Other modal verbs are: could, may, might, must, should, will, would.
Change the following sentences into either passive or active sentence.Example:
Electricity can be generated from methane (by people).
People can generate electricity from methane.
1. People can see gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park.
2. People can grow cassava and potatoes in many districts of Rwanda.
3. Rain water can be tapped and stored for use.
4. A number of minerals, for example, tin ore and gold, can be mined in Rwanda.
5. The soils in Rwanda can allow the growth of coffee and tea.
6. Lake Kivu can be used for transport.
7. River Akagera can be used for fishing.
8. Students can write on the chalk board with a teacher’s permission.
9. School books can be borrowed from the library.
10. Both boys and girls can play football.
Passive voice with modal verbs and comparatives
We can write sentences in passive voice that include modal verbs and
comparatives. A comparative is used to compare two things using ‘more ... than’. For example:
1. More electricity can be generated at Ntaruka Power Station than at Mukungwa II
Power Station.
2. Western Rwanda can be more ideal for growing coffee than eastern.
3. Rain received in Kigali might be more than that received in Nyamata.
Combine the following pairs of sentences using ‘more ... than’. Use the passive voice
and the modal auxiliary ‘can’.
1. Rwanda produces flowers. Rwanda can produce three times the flowers it produces if
she uses many green houses.
2. Rwanda gets a lot of rain in March and April. She gets less rain in November and
December.
3. A lot of power is produced using methane. More power is produced by hydro power
stations.
4. Rwanda produces coffee. Uganda produces more coffee.
5. The environment is cleaned every day. More cleaning is done on the first Saturday of the
month.
6. The eastern region is visited by tourists. More tourists visit the western region.
7. Trees are cut in the Savannah region. More trees are cut in the rain forest.
8. Eleven people can play football. Fewer people can play volleyball.
9. A pick-up can carry big weights. A lorry can carry bigger weights.
10. A goat can produce two litres of milk. A cow can produce twenty litres of milk.
Passive voice with modal verbs and superlatives
Superlatives are comparisons among three or more items, places or things. In superlatives,
we refer to what is most outstanding. On the other hand, we only compare two features
or items in comparatives.
Look at these examples:
1. Food can be produced most cheaply in Kitabi.
2. Rain received in Gicumbi might be the highest in the whole country.
Rewrite the following sentences using superlatives. Each should be written in one
sentence.
1. More chickens than cows and sheep are found in Rwanda.
2. Many factories are found in Gisenyi and Butare. These are fewer than those in Kigali.
3. Many species of animals are found in Volcanoes National Park. Primates are more than the rest.
4. Rains are received in July and September. More are received in March.
5. Money can be made from cassava. More can
be made from potatoes. A lot more can be made from flowers.
6. Rwanda is visited by many business people. It is visited by foreign officials. It is visited
by many more people as tourists.
In groups of five, discuss and write down ten sentences that describe the physical features
of our country. (Physical features include mountains, hills and valleys.) Use the passive
voice to construct your sentences.
Example is:
Mount Karisimbi is admired by many tourists.
Lake Kivu is big enough to be used to transport people.
Comparatives and superlatives
Comparing temperatures
Read the following sentences.
1. It is warmer in July than in October.
2. In July it is warmer in Nyamagabe than in Kigali.
Draw this graph in your exercise book and indicate:
1. Which months are hottest? 3. Which month is the driest?
2. Which month is the coldest?
Comparing rainfall
Study the graph below in groups.
Answer the following questions:
1. In which month does Kigali receive the highest amount of rain?
2. In which month does Kigali receive the least amount of rain?
3. Which is the wettest month?
4. Which is the driest month?
D. Writing
So far, you have learnt how to plan and write a composition. You know how to make an
outline by coming up with notes. At the same time, you know you have to check your work
once you are through.
We can study and make notes from a graph. For example, the graph below shows the
temperature and rainfall in Kigali in a year. Study it in your groups and make notes about
temperature and rainfall.
1. Make notes on the temperature. Make use of comparatives and superlatives.
2. Write a composition about temperature and rainfall in your locality.
E . Little laughter
TEACHER: Your ideas are like gold.
MAN: I knew it! You mean they are valuable?
TEACHER: No, I mean they are rare.
UMUTONI: A plate? Where is it on this map?HIRWA: He meansplateau notplate.MUBYEYI: (laughing) Let me see if I can locate a plate too.GATETE: That is not nice, Mubyeyi.MUBYEYI: I am sorry, Isounded rude.I was only joking.UMUTONI: Hey look! Here ... the VirungaMountain Range.HIRWA: Yes, it runs north of LakeKivu.Lake Kivuis also a physicalfeature you know!MUBYEYI: Hirwa is right. Look, the range includes Mount Karisimbi.GATETE: That is the highest point in our country!UMUTONI: Hey look! Here ... the Virunga Mountain Range.HIRWA: In the north there are mountains and in the south ...MUBYEYI: ... a plateau! There is some lower land here ... along the eastern shore of LakeKivu and the Ruzizi River. This is in the west, right?GATETE: Yes, the altitude is lower towards the Tanzanian border.MUBYEYI: Did I tell you we visited Akagera Park last holidays? It has a savannah landscapefull of beautiful wild animals. We went through its open grassland, acaciawoods, marshes and swamps.UMUTONI: Our country is beautiful. Did you know that the Nyungwe Forest ... there it is... in the southwest − it is the largest mountain rain forest in Africa?HIRWA: That is amazing! Our country is made up of rolling grassy hills and valleys! Weare the land of a thousand hills!
1. Do you think these physical features are resources? Give reasons for your answer.2. Form sentences that include the modal ‘can’. Say where the resources like fish andwildlife can be found or utilised. Refer to the map. For example:a) Fish can be caught in Lake Kivu.b) Rusumo Falls can attract tourists.c) Rwanda can earn foreign exchange from tourists visiting Virunga Mountains.
The passive voice verb phrase is made up of auxiliary verbs such as am, are, was, were,and a main verb.
In groups of five, discuss and write down ten sentences that describe the physical featuresof our country. (Physical features include mountains, hills and valleys.) Use the passivevoice to construct your sentences.Example is:Mount Karisimbi is admired by many tourists.Lake Kivu is big enough to be used to transport people.
1. Make notes on the temperature. Make use of comparatives and superlatives.2. Write a composition about temperature and rainfall in your locality.