PASSAGE 1

We were suddenly awakened at dawn by the screams of the tenants in our home. They were making a lot of commotion in the yard. Daddy quickly jumped from his bed and made for the door. Not long after, we heard him scream. We ran to the hall, switched on the lights and saw him lying flat on his back holding his forehead.

In his haste to get to the hall door, he must have forgotten to switch on the lights thus running straight and crashing his head into the pillar in the middle of the hall. When we examined his forehead, we saw a big lump and blood oozing from a deep cut near his eyebrow.

Mummy, a retired nursing sister, shouted instructions to me to get the first-aid box, some ice cubes and Daddy's towel. When the items were brought, she set to work first on the cut. She put some ice cubes in the towel and pressed the towel on the cut for about two minutes. She then wiped the blood gently. Afterwards, she put a little iodine on a piece of gauze, placed it on the cut and bandaged it. Turning to the lump, she massaged it with some ice cubes, which reduced the swelling.

She then opened the front door and we beheld a pathetic scene. Lying in the middle of the house was the motionless body of one of the tenants. Trying to resist an attack from armed robbers, he had been butchered mercilessly and his body left in the middle of the house.

PASSAGE 2

Where is the musical performance of songbirds held? It is not in any concert hall but rather on trees, fences and telephone wires. It is from these places that little feathered creatures blend their voices in some of the most melodious songs sung in the world.

Songbirds do not just make noise. The male voices in the choir, for instance, have two different messages. Firstly, it is a warning to other males not to come near their partners. Secondly, it is an invitation from the bachelors to the female birds. The most interesting songs which are sung with a lot of vigour are produced during the breeding season by the males to impress the lady birds.

Songbirds are very remarkable. They sing three or four notes at a time. To the human ear it sounds like one beat but the birds can identify the different notes because of their keen sense of hearing. At times, what is heard may not be a song of our winged friends but simply an instruction to keep the flock together. It may also be a warning of an approaching danger.

Just how birds compose their songs is an interesting subject. Some birds have their songs fixed in their brains at birth. Whilst some imitate others, other birds try to compose songs which are unique. They will never copy what they hear others sing.

PASSAGE 3

Since the building of the District Hospital at Kpota, there had sprung up some residential structures around the hospital. One particular cluster of houses took the fancy of Mr. Akpaloo, who told himself that if ever he wanted to build a house, it would be like one of those.

When Mr. Akpaloo thought he was ready to put up his own building, one of the things he did was to look for the plan of the houses that he so admired. He went to the office of Dr. Agbetor, the Hospital Administrator to ask for it. Dr. Agbetor explained that those houses in which Mr. Akpaloo was interested had actually been built by Dr. Grant who still had the blueprint of the structure. Obviously, the person to see was Dr. Grant.

Mr. Apkaloo went and saw Dr. Grant in his magnificent house at Tokoe. The latter explained that it was not prudent to give out the plan that had been specifically designed for those projects. However, he advised Mr. Akpaloo to go to the site and see the caretaker who would show him the rooms. Mr. Akpaloo could then make a sketch of the building.

To the site Mr. Akpaloo went. When he arrived, the caretaker took him around. What had looked like a two-bedroom house from afar, was at close quarters, four-bedroom affair. The difference that distance can make!

PASSAGE 4

One day a poor fisherman went fishing and caught nothing. He was just about to go home when he felt the net suddenly grow heavy. He thought he had caught a large fish. But when he dragged it ashore, he found only a heavy copper pot sealed with lead. He took it and feeling sure it contained something valuable, he took his knife, cut the lead top and turned it upside down. For a moment nothing came out; and then it started to smoke, and this smoke slowly rose right up to the sky like a thick fog. It suddenly turned into a huge genie.

'Bow down' said the genie 'and let me kill you'.
'Why?' asked the fisherman. 'Have you forgotten that I set you free?'
'Yes, but I have sworn to kill you', said the genie. 'I'm a spirit that rebelled against the Creator and to punish me he shut me up in this copper pot. During the first century of my captivity, I swore to make anyone who freed me rich. During my second century, I swore I would grant him any three things. But after these centuries, in anger I swore to kill my liberator without mercy'.

'Well, die I must', said the fisherman, 'but swear that you really were in that pot. It is too small to hold even your little finger. Unless I see it, I shall not believe it.'
'See then and believe' said the genie.
He slowly changed back into smoke and entered the pot. The fisherman immediately put back the lead cover and three it into the sea.

PASSAGE 5

"Help! Help! Fire!" This and other noises like the banging of doors and crunching footsteps woke Barimah up. "Something must be done," he exclaimed to his wife Fosua who was already awake. He dressed up quickly, opened the door and went out advising his wife not to leave the house.

It was pitch dark outside; the only light came from the flaming house of Agya Atta. By the time Barimah got there, the house was truly in flames and people had gathered around busily and frantically pouring water and sand on the flames. They were doing everything they would to put out the fire.

Meanwhile, they had managed to rescue a few things from the fire. These Barimah caused to be packed and taken to his house to prevent them from being looted. He then took Agya Atta's wife and children to his house and quickly returned to fight the flames.

Araba had won the hearts of many people by her good deeds and kindness. It was therefore sad to see her lose her property, as well as the house she and Agya Atta had toiled to build.

PASSAGE 6

Many smokers ignore the warning about the dangers of smoking although there is a national campaign against the habit. The United Nations has set aside a day to be observed against the killer habit.

The story is told of a young man who became addicted to smoking. In no time, he developed smoking-related diseases and died miserably, leaving behind his wife and children in poverty.

Research shows that the smoker is far more like to suffer, if not die of major diseases like lung cancer and heart failure, than a non-smoker.

It is generally known that smoking during pregnancy is undesirable. Women who smoke produce underweight babies. They also likely to miscarry, have still-born babies or lose them after birth. If such children survive and attend school, they do not perform well.

What is most annoying about smoking is the risk to passive smokers. Non-smokers breathing in smoke from other people's cigarettes, pipes and cigars stand the risk of contracting the diseases that harm smokers.

If smokers knew how non-smokers fell about them, they would give up the habit. The smoker is regarded by many as a social misfit-one who does not consider the welfare of others but his own interest in smoking, no matter where he is.

PASSAGE 7

"Amma, Amma, get up and sweep the compound!" MaaTee shouted. However, Amma had decided she wasn't going to work that day.

"What do I do to escape these chores?" Amma asked.
"I'll pretend to be ill, then Mama can't insist that I do any work. This is a brilliant idea. I'm not so daft after all," she thought.

When Amma told MaaTee about her headache, MaaTee suspended everything she was doing and ordered her to get ready for the hospital. Poor Amma, her plan had backfired!

On their way to the hospital Amma prayed that the doctor would be absent, but she was out of luck that day. The doctor examined Amma and found her as fit as a fiddle. He then guessed that Amma had feigned illness because she wanted to dodge her usual Saturday morning chores.
"I'm sorry MaaTee, Amma is very ill. Take her to the injection room for three injections. They will ..."

Before the doctor could finish speaking, Amma rushed out of the consulting room with lightning speed and would not stop anywhere till she reached home. The doctor then looked at MaaTee and burst out laughing as he asked MaaTee to go home. By the time MaaTee got home, Amma had finished all the household chores.

PASSAGE 8

Grandpa is a robust centenarian. At his age, his eyesight is as clear as a child's and his memory at equally sharp. We have always wondered what has kept him going all these years. "I have a secret theory of life," is the reply he gives to anyone who asks.

Grandpa's secret theory is, after all, quite simple when he explains it. He talks of a joyful attitude to life. He says that joy begets enthusiasm and a burning desire to encourage others. He never walks anyone away who needs help, even though Grandpa can never be described as rich.

Grandpa believes that as we see ourselves in a mirror, so do others see us. The mirror merely reflects what is before it. So if we are wicked, people will see us as wicked and if we are honest, we will not suspect others of being deceitful.

One part of Grandpa's secret theory that he holds dearest is his love for truth. He thinks that truth enables one to live a free life devoid of stress and worries. "Let your nay be nay," he says, whenever he finds one of us telling a lie in order to avoid trouble. He believes that if we tell lies, we will have to create more lies to cover them. On the other hand truth never changes.

Grandpa never ends his explanation without rolling his eyes excitedly and advising us to be true to ourselves so that we can't be false to others.

PASSAGE 9

They are approaching the school building, holding hands as they walk to school. Ayele and Esinam are friends who attend the same school and are in the same class. Today, Ayele is not talking, though Esinam expects her to say something about her new bag. "So is that how you are? You're not passing any comment about my schoolbag? Dad gave it to me when he returned from America yesterday." Ayele's reply is a mere grunt, but Esinam is in no mood to be unhappy. Ignoring her friend's mood, she breaks into a song about her parents' many acts of love. "Mum and Dad buy me dresses, shoes and anything I wish for, if I ask. It's great to be young!"

Ayele is strapping on her back an old school bag once used by her elder sister. The brown colour has faded because she washes it too many times. When she breaks her silence she speaks solemnly and without regret. "I've grown used to old dresses, bags and shoes Mum buys. She says she can't do more. I trust her and love." There is a tremble in her voice, as though she is about to cry. But her eyes gradually brighten up as she speaks on: "I'm in J.S.S 3, like you, and we are both doing well. It's great to look to the future with hope." Esinam nods her agreement as the school bell rings and breaks their walk into a gallop.

PASSAGE 10

There are two questions that people often ask about laughter. These are: what makes people laugh, and what laughter does to them.

When you try to think of what makes people laugh or what they consider funny you start thinking about how one person behaves towards another in different situations. For example, why do people laugh when they see others behaving awkwardly, or see some kind of weakness in other person?

The explanation is often quite simple. We laugh when we see people behaving or acting in an odd manner. For example, if on your way to work or to school you see a big fat man in a leafy green suit, wearing a tiny blue straw hat, or at a party, you encounter a very short man dancing with a big tall woman, you will naturally laugh, won't you? These things are funny and queer.

Apart from the strange things that make people laugh, laughter is good for our body and health. It is good for our lungs and allows us to release extra energy. It also has a great social value. If you enjoy laughter you invite good company. Indeed, in most societies, laughter is used as a way of keeping people who do not do the right things in check. Thus laughter is a way of ensuring discipline.