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Swali 1 Ripoti
You are about to leave secondary school and a friend of yours who is attending school in another town has written to enquire about what you wish to do after leaving school. Write a reply to him, explaining your plans.
24 Marina Road,
Warri,
Delta State.
10 July, 2026.
Dear Emeka,
Thank you for your kind letter. I was glad to hear that you are doing well in your new town, and I am happy to answer your question about what I intend to do after leaving secondary school.
As you know, we shall be writing our final examinations in a few months. I have thought carefully about my future, and I have made up my mind on the path I wish to follow.
My first plan is to gain admission into the university to study Medicine. Ever since I nursed my sick grandmother back to health, I have longed to become a doctor so that I can save lives and serve my community. To achieve this, I am working hard to pass my sciences with good grades, and I have registered for the university matriculation examination.
Should I have to wait a while before admission, I do not intend to be idle. I plan to enrol in a computer training centre to learn useful skills, and to take up a part-time teaching job at a lesson centre in our area. This will keep my mind sharp, earn me a little money and prepare me for university life.
In the long run, my dream is to specialise as a surgeon and, one day, to open a clinic in our village, where good medical care is badly needed. I know the road will be long and difficult, but I am determined to walk it with patience and hard work.
What about you, my friend? Do write and tell me your own plans, so that we can encourage each other. Please extend my greetings to your parents.
Your sincere friend,
Tayo.
Maelezo ya Majibu
24 Marina Road,
Warri,
Delta State.
10 July, 2026.
Dear Emeka,
Thank you for your kind letter. I was glad to hear that you are doing well in your new town, and I am happy to answer your question about what I intend to do after leaving secondary school.
As you know, we shall be writing our final examinations in a few months. I have thought carefully about my future, and I have made up my mind on the path I wish to follow.
My first plan is to gain admission into the university to study Medicine. Ever since I nursed my sick grandmother back to health, I have longed to become a doctor so that I can save lives and serve my community. To achieve this, I am working hard to pass my sciences with good grades, and I have registered for the university matriculation examination.
Should I have to wait a while before admission, I do not intend to be idle. I plan to enrol in a computer training centre to learn useful skills, and to take up a part-time teaching job at a lesson centre in our area. This will keep my mind sharp, earn me a little money and prepare me for university life.
In the long run, my dream is to specialise as a surgeon and, one day, to open a clinic in our village, where good medical care is badly needed. I know the road will be long and difficult, but I am determined to walk it with patience and hard work.
What about you, my friend? Do write and tell me your own plans, so that we can encourage each other. Please extend my greetings to your parents.
Your sincere friend,
Tayo.
Swali 2 Ripoti
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.
As I watched Musa step out of the plane, I concluded that diligence, intelligence and luck had turned Musa from the rustic pauper of thirty years earlier to a highly successful professional. Here was a village boy of yesteryear, an orphan from early life, cheated out of his heritage by his half-brothers and uncles whose actions forced him to fend for himself. So, how did he become an internationally acclaimed computer wizard?
When his well-to-do father died three years after his mother, he had just gained admission to a fee-paying secondary school. Had his parents lived, that would not have been a problem. But his closest relatives were more interested in sharing assets than handling liabilities. They shared the three buildings in the city, as well as several cocoa plantations with hundreds of oil palms. None considered it right to take on the care of the poor boy.
Left in the lurch, he clung on to a classmate who had longed to work in the city as a petty clerk. They moved to the city. Both were engaged by a big-time retailer in all sorts of goods. which he gave out to the boys to hawk on the busy roads.
There were no salaries; all they had were commissions from each day's sales. Musa and his friend could be out in the street from 6.00.a.m. till almost midnight. That way. they were able to keep body and soul together.
But Musa soon decided that his returns could cater for a little more than that. His yearning for education still very keen, he cut short his daily schedules at 4.00 p.m to attend an evening school organized by some secondary school teachers. And he made very rapid progress. Often, after classes, he would return to the streets. He never fared worse than any of the other learners, most of whom attended classes after normal school In time he sat for and passed all his school certificate papers with flying colours . Indeed. his results were among the best in the country.
An oil company which had a policy of sponsoring the university education of the best students in the various disciplines awarded him a scholarship. Thus, his university education in computer science was fully sponsored. Eventually he emerged as the best graduate in the university. The training made him a top 3-D computer programmer in engineering and architectural designs. So, as he stepped out of the plane, returning from one of his several international conferences, I could not but reach the conclusion I had made earlier.
(a) Where was the writer when he arrived at the conclusion with which he opened the passage?
(b) What tragedy had beset Musa early in life?
(c) What worsened Musa's plight?
(d) How did Musa solve the problem of acquiring secondary education?
(e) What element of luck contributed to Musa's success?
(f) "... keep body and soul together."
(i) What figure of speech is contained in this expression?
(ii) What does it mean?
(g) '... who had longed to work in the city..."
(i) What is the grammatical name given to this expression as it is used in the passage?
(ii) What is its function?
(h) For each of the following words or phrase. fine another word or phrase which means the same and which can replace it as it is used in the passage: (i) fend for; (ii) considered: (iii) engaged; (iv) yearning (v) eventually:
(a) The writer was at the airport, watching Musa step out of the plane as he returned from one of his several international conferences.
(b) Musa was orphaned early in life: he lost his mother and, three years later, his well-to-do father, so that he became an orphan while still young.
(c) Musa's plight was worsened by his half-brothers and uncles, who cheated him out of his inheritance by sharing his father's buildings and plantations among themselves, while none of them was willing to take on the care of the poor boy.
(d) Musa solved the problem of acquiring secondary education by moving to the city with a friend, working as a street hawker for a big retailer on commission, and attending an evening school organised by some secondary school teachers, cutting short his hawking at four o'clock each day to attend classes.
(e) The element of luck was that an oil company, which had a policy of sponsoring the university education of the best students, awarded him a scholarship, so that his university education in computer science was fully sponsored.
(f) "...keep body and soul together."
(i) It is an idiom.
(ii) It means to earn just enough money to survive, that is, to manage to stay alive.
(g) "...who had longed to work in the city..."
(i) It is an adjectival (relative) clause.
(ii) It qualifies (modifies) the noun "classmate".
(h)
Maelezo ya Majibu
(a) The writer was at the airport, watching Musa step out of the plane as he returned from one of his several international conferences.
(b) Musa was orphaned early in life: he lost his mother and, three years later, his well-to-do father, so that he became an orphan while still young.
(c) Musa's plight was worsened by his half-brothers and uncles, who cheated him out of his inheritance by sharing his father's buildings and plantations among themselves, while none of them was willing to take on the care of the poor boy.
(d) Musa solved the problem of acquiring secondary education by moving to the city with a friend, working as a street hawker for a big retailer on commission, and attending an evening school organised by some secondary school teachers, cutting short his hawking at four o'clock each day to attend classes.
(e) The element of luck was that an oil company, which had a policy of sponsoring the university education of the best students, awarded him a scholarship, so that his university education in computer science was fully sponsored.
(f) "...keep body and soul together."
(i) It is an idiom.
(ii) It means to earn just enough money to survive, that is, to manage to stay alive.
(g) "...who had longed to work in the city..."
(i) It is an adjectival (relative) clause.
(ii) It qualifies (modifies) the noun "classmate".
(h)
Swali 3 Ripoti
Write a letter to the Minister of Education in your country on the poor state of schools in your area and its effect on the, performance of students.
15 School Road,
Otukpo,
Benue State.
10 July, 2026.
The Honourable Minister of Education,
Federal Ministry of Education,
Abuja.
Dear Sir,
THE POOR STATE OF SCHOOLS IN OTUKPO AND ITS EFFECT ON STUDENTS' PERFORMANCE
I write, with the greatest respect, to draw your kind attention to the deplorable condition of the public schools in my area and the harmful effect it is having on the performance of students.
Sir, the schools in Otukpo are in a state of near collapse. Many classrooms have no roofs, and whenever it rains, lessons come to a halt as students scramble for shelter. Windows and doors are broken, and pupils sit on bare floors or share a few rickety benches. The laboratories are empty of equipment, and the libraries have hardly any up-to-date books. To make matters worse, the schools are grossly understaffed, so that a single teacher often handles several subjects for which he was not trained.
The effect of this neglect on the students is grave. Learning under such conditions is difficult and discouraging. Without laboratories, science students cannot perform the practicals demanded by the examinations, and their results in the sciences are consistently poor. Many bright children have dropped out in frustration, while others have turned to truancy and bad company. Year after year, our area records some of the lowest pass rates in the state, not because the children lack ability, but because the environment fails them.
In view of these problems, I humbly appeal to you, Sir, to come to our aid. The dilapidated buildings should be renovated, laboratories and libraries should be equipped, and qualified teachers should be recruited and posted to our schools. Such intervention would transform the lives of thousands of children and restore hope to our community.
I trust that this appeal will receive your urgent and favourable attention. Thank you, Sir.
Yours faithfully,
John Adaji.
Maelezo ya Majibu
15 School Road,
Otukpo,
Benue State.
10 July, 2026.
The Honourable Minister of Education,
Federal Ministry of Education,
Abuja.
Dear Sir,
THE POOR STATE OF SCHOOLS IN OTUKPO AND ITS EFFECT ON STUDENTS' PERFORMANCE
I write, with the greatest respect, to draw your kind attention to the deplorable condition of the public schools in my area and the harmful effect it is having on the performance of students.
Sir, the schools in Otukpo are in a state of near collapse. Many classrooms have no roofs, and whenever it rains, lessons come to a halt as students scramble for shelter. Windows and doors are broken, and pupils sit on bare floors or share a few rickety benches. The laboratories are empty of equipment, and the libraries have hardly any up-to-date books. To make matters worse, the schools are grossly understaffed, so that a single teacher often handles several subjects for which he was not trained.
The effect of this neglect on the students is grave. Learning under such conditions is difficult and discouraging. Without laboratories, science students cannot perform the practicals demanded by the examinations, and their results in the sciences are consistently poor. Many bright children have dropped out in frustration, while others have turned to truancy and bad company. Year after year, our area records some of the lowest pass rates in the state, not because the children lack ability, but because the environment fails them.
In view of these problems, I humbly appeal to you, Sir, to come to our aid. The dilapidated buildings should be renovated, laboratories and libraries should be equipped, and qualified teachers should be recruited and posted to our schools. Such intervention would transform the lives of thousands of children and restore hope to our community.
I trust that this appeal will receive your urgent and favourable attention. Thank you, Sir.
Yours faithfully,
John Adaji.
Swali 4 Ripoti
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.
People. this usually unwilling to make changes in their lives after being accustomed to a certain style of life. However, this can cause a lot of problems, as changing circumstances often make a change in lifestyle inevitable. Take for example, people who leave their country and go abroad for various reasons. Such people will inevitably face many challenges. First they have to adapt to a new culture and habits that are completely different from what they were used to in their. own country. They will also have to adapt to the weather and may need to learn a new language, or now, communicate regularly in a language other than their mother tongue, which they used more frequently before their relocation.
Again, at some point in their lives, some people may have cause to change their career. The reasons for this may be varied and need not concern us here. But career changes inevitably necessitate the acquisition of a different set of skills and. experience in the new job, a new routine and adaptation to new friends and colleagues at work . In the face of economic recession and related circumstances, people may lose their jobs as the organizations they work for try to adjust to the ,adverse situation by retrenching many of their workers. (Terms such as -down-sizing"," right-sizing and restructuring" are the modern-day euphemisms for this phenomenon!) A worker who suddenly loses his or her job obviously has to adjust to a new lifestyle - at least until a new job comes along.
Closely related to job loss is retirement. Many people carry on at their jobs as if they will remain. at such jobs forever. But retirement is inevitable not only for the paid worker but also the self-employed. Retirement in most cases means a change from an active working life to a more sedentary lifestyle. It often requires giving up official property such as accommodation and vehicles and the replacement of a regular salary with a modest pension, which may not be regular. Because of these, the prospect of retirement is often viewed with apprehension by many. as they are not prepared for it.
Outside the work domain, other changes inevitably continue to take place. For example, at some point in their lives, young men and women come together and get married and start their own families. The transition from bachelorhood or spinsterhood of course means adaptation to a spouse. raising children and discarding many of the habits, often reckless and impulsive, of unmarried life.
Finally, as painful and undesirable as it is, death is inevitable. The untimely loss of a loved one - a wife, a husband. a parent - often turns people's lives upside down. and necessitates a drastic change in lifestyle. Many people never anticipate such a loss. and if unfortunately it does occur. it can be quite devastating. ' n conclusion people have to be l ready for any changes that may occur in their lives. as change is inevitable and there is no guarantee for anyone that life will be stable forever.
(a) In six sentences, one for each. summarize the six factors that can cause a change in lifestyle as discussed in the passage.
Summary of the six factors that can cause a change in lifestyle
Maelezo ya Majibu
Summary of the six factors that can cause a change in lifestyle
Swali 5 Ripoti
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.
Although rural people needed kerosene for lighting, they relied on it more for cooking. However, persistent fuel scarcity had made the commodity hardly affordable where it was available. Fetching dry wood from the forest became inevitably the order of the day.
Early one morning Jojo and I. armed with cutlasses and axes, joined other young people, who were more conversant with the forest, in search of dry wood It soon dawned on us that this "essential commodity" had been driven so far away that we had to wander into the heart of the forest before we could fine a huge branch of tree that looked dry. Convinced that it was. we went into action. each cutting from his own side.
Scarcely had we started when Jojo suddenly jumped up from her position and exclaimed "Goodness!" When I inquired what had happened. she explained that the ground on which she was standing was lifting her up This sounded weird and I went closer to examine the ground. It appeared level and was full of dry leaves. There was no sign of anything other than the bare ground. Mockingly, I asked her to return to work, adding that her phobia about the forest was changing into an illusion. Nevertheless. I struck the ground with my cutlass cutting through it to reassure her that there was nothing to fear. But before I could leave we noticed blood trickling out of the cut on the ground and we scampered away, developing goose-flesh.
As we watched from the distance, we observed that there was a writhing movement and gradually. a curled creature stretched into full length of about three and a half feet. The earthy but splendid design of the skin became visible and it started what was like its last struggle away from the spot Its pace was decreasing with every effort to crawl on while more blood was being lost as a result of the deep cut it had received.
Whether it was shock or fear that prevented me from finishing up what I started, I cannot say. But though we accomplished our aim of going to the forest that day. I was haunted by the guilt of an unwilling murderer many days after.
(a) Why was kerosene important to rural people?
(b) State two reasons why the people sought an alternative to kerosene
(c) What lifted Jojo up?
(d) What did the narrator start that he could not finish?
(e) " the heart of the forest (i) What figure of speech is contained in this expression? (ii) What does it mean?
(f) "As we watched from the distance (i) What is the grammatical name given to this expression as it is used in the passage ? (ii) What is its function?
(g) For each of the following words, find another word or phrase which means the same and which can replace it as it is used in the passage (i) persistent (ii) inevitably, (iii) weird; (vi) mockingly;
(v) splendid;
(vi) accomplished.
(a) Kerosene was important to rural people because, although they needed it for lighting, they relied on it even more for cooking.
(b) The people sought an alternative to kerosene for two reasons: first, there was persistent fuel scarcity; and second, where the kerosene was available, it had become hardly affordable.
(c) What lifted Jojo up was a large snake, a curled creature hidden beneath the dry leaves on the ground where she was standing, which moved under her feet.
(d) The narrator started to kill the snake, which he had struck and cut deeply with his cutlass, but he could not finish it off (could not bring himself to complete the killing).
(e) "...the heart of the forest..."
(i) It is a metaphor.
(ii) It means the innermost or deepest part of the forest.
(f) "As we watched from the distance..."
(i) It is an adverbial clause of time.
(ii) It modifies the verb "observed", telling when they observed the writhing movement.
(g)
Maelezo ya Majibu
(a) Kerosene was important to rural people because, although they needed it for lighting, they relied on it even more for cooking.
(b) The people sought an alternative to kerosene for two reasons: first, there was persistent fuel scarcity; and second, where the kerosene was available, it had become hardly affordable.
(c) What lifted Jojo up was a large snake, a curled creature hidden beneath the dry leaves on the ground where she was standing, which moved under her feet.
(d) The narrator started to kill the snake, which he had struck and cut deeply with his cutlass, but he could not finish it off (could not bring himself to complete the killing).
(e) "...the heart of the forest..."
(i) It is a metaphor.
(ii) It means the innermost or deepest part of the forest.
(f) "As we watched from the distance..."
(i) It is an adverbial clause of time.
(ii) It modifies the verb "observed", telling when they observed the writhing movement.
(g)
Swali 6 Ripoti
Write an article suitable for publication in your school magazine on the effects of drug abuse.
The Effects of Drug Abuse
By a Concerned Student
Drug abuse, the wrong and excessive use of drugs without the direction of a doctor, has become one of the greatest dangers facing young people today. Many students, in search of pleasure or an escape from their problems, have fallen into this trap, only to discover too late that it destroys everything it touches. This article examines the effects of this evil.
The first and most obvious effect of drug abuse is the damage it does to health. Drugs such as Indian hemp, cocaine and tramadol destroy the brain, the liver and other vital organs. The abuser suffers loss of appetite, sleeplessness, madness and, in many cases, sudden death. His once bright eyes grow dull, and his body wastes away.
Secondly, drug abuse ruins the mind and the future. A student who abuses drugs cannot concentrate on his studies. His memory fails, his grades fall and he is often expelled from school. Dreams that took years to build are shattered in a matter of months, and a promising future is thrown away.
Thirdly, drug abuse breeds crime and violence. Under the influence of drugs, young people commit acts they would never dream of when sober; stealing, rape, cultism and even murder. Our prisons are filled with people whose journey to crime began with a single dose. To feed their costly habit, many abusers turn to robbery and fraud.
Finally, drug abuse brings sorrow to families and society. Parents weep over children who have become strangers to them. Communities lose their brightest young minds, and the nation loses the workforce it needs for development.
To fight this menace, government, schools and parents must join hands. There should be constant enlightenment on the dangers of drugs, strict control of their sale, and counselling for those already trapped. Above all, every young person must have the wisdom and courage to say a firm no to drugs. The choice is ours: a life of health and promise, or one of ruin and regret.
Maelezo ya Majibu
The Effects of Drug Abuse
By a Concerned Student
Drug abuse, the wrong and excessive use of drugs without the direction of a doctor, has become one of the greatest dangers facing young people today. Many students, in search of pleasure or an escape from their problems, have fallen into this trap, only to discover too late that it destroys everything it touches. This article examines the effects of this evil.
The first and most obvious effect of drug abuse is the damage it does to health. Drugs such as Indian hemp, cocaine and tramadol destroy the brain, the liver and other vital organs. The abuser suffers loss of appetite, sleeplessness, madness and, in many cases, sudden death. His once bright eyes grow dull, and his body wastes away.
Secondly, drug abuse ruins the mind and the future. A student who abuses drugs cannot concentrate on his studies. His memory fails, his grades fall and he is often expelled from school. Dreams that took years to build are shattered in a matter of months, and a promising future is thrown away.
Thirdly, drug abuse breeds crime and violence. Under the influence of drugs, young people commit acts they would never dream of when sober; stealing, rape, cultism and even murder. Our prisons are filled with people whose journey to crime began with a single dose. To feed their costly habit, many abusers turn to robbery and fraud.
Finally, drug abuse brings sorrow to families and society. Parents weep over children who have become strangers to them. Communities lose their brightest young minds, and the nation loses the workforce it needs for development.
To fight this menace, government, schools and parents must join hands. There should be constant enlightenment on the dangers of drugs, strict control of their sale, and counselling for those already trapped. Above all, every young person must have the wisdom and courage to say a firm no to drugs. The choice is ours: a life of health and promise, or one of ruin and regret.
Swali 7 Ripoti
Your house master has just been promoted to head another school. As the house prefect, write a speech you would deliver during the send-off party organized for him.
A Send-off Speech for Our Departing Housemaster
The Principal, members of staff, my fellow students, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. My name is Bola Adewale, the House Prefect of Green House, and it is my honour to speak on behalf of all the students at this send-off party organised for our beloved housemaster, Mr. Okon, who has been promoted to head another school.
Today, our hearts are pulled in two directions. We are filled with joy that our housemaster has been found worthy of promotion, and at the same time we are saddened that he is leaving us. It is not easy to say goodbye to a man who has been a father to us all.
When Mr. Okon came to our house four years ago, he met a group of noisy and undisciplined boys. Through patience, firmness and love, he moulded us into a disciplined and united family. He woke us for morning devotion, checked that we studied our books, settled our quarrels and nursed us when we were ill. He punished us when we were wrong, but he was quick to forgive, and he never failed to praise us when we did well. Under his care, Green House rose to become the best house in the school, winning both the academic and the sports trophies.
Sir, we shall miss your kind smile, your wise counsel and your firm hand. The lessons you taught us, of honesty, hard work and respect for others, we shall carry with us for the rest of our lives.
As you go to your new school, we pray that God will grant you good health, wisdom and even greater success. The pupils there are fortunate to be receiving such a dedicated teacher.
On behalf of all the students, I say thank you, Sir, for everything. Please accept this small gift as a token of our love and gratitude. We wish you a safe journey and a bright future. Farewell, and thank you all for listening.
Maelezo ya Majibu
A Send-off Speech for Our Departing Housemaster
The Principal, members of staff, my fellow students, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. My name is Bola Adewale, the House Prefect of Green House, and it is my honour to speak on behalf of all the students at this send-off party organised for our beloved housemaster, Mr. Okon, who has been promoted to head another school.
Today, our hearts are pulled in two directions. We are filled with joy that our housemaster has been found worthy of promotion, and at the same time we are saddened that he is leaving us. It is not easy to say goodbye to a man who has been a father to us all.
When Mr. Okon came to our house four years ago, he met a group of noisy and undisciplined boys. Through patience, firmness and love, he moulded us into a disciplined and united family. He woke us for morning devotion, checked that we studied our books, settled our quarrels and nursed us when we were ill. He punished us when we were wrong, but he was quick to forgive, and he never failed to praise us when we did well. Under his care, Green House rose to become the best house in the school, winning both the academic and the sports trophies.
Sir, we shall miss your kind smile, your wise counsel and your firm hand. The lessons you taught us, of honesty, hard work and respect for others, we shall carry with us for the rest of our lives.
As you go to your new school, we pray that God will grant you good health, wisdom and even greater success. The pupils there are fortunate to be receiving such a dedicated teacher.
On behalf of all the students, I say thank you, Sir, for everything. Please accept this small gift as a token of our love and gratitude. We wish you a safe journey and a bright future. Farewell, and thank you all for listening.
Swali 8 Ripoti
Write a story to illustrate the saying: A stitch in time saves nine.
A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
My father was a careful man who never allowed a small problem to grow into a large one. "A stitch in time saves nine," he would often say, and the story I am about to tell shows how truly he lived by those words.
It happened during the rainy season of my second year in secondary school. One evening, my father noticed a tiny crack in the wall of our old family house, near the foundation. To me it seemed nothing, no wider than a strand of hair. But my father knelt down, examined it closely and frowned. "This must be repaired at once," he said. My mother laughed and told him he was worrying over a scratch, but he would not rest. The very next morning, before going to work, he called a mason, bought cement and had the crack sealed and the drainage around the house cleared. It cost him only a little money and half a morning's trouble.
Our neighbour, Mr. Danladi, had a crack of exactly the same kind in his own wall. When my father advised him to repair it, he waved the advice aside. "It is only a small crack," he said. "I have more important things to spend my money on." And so he left it, week after week, as the rains grew heavier.
Then came the great storm. For three days and nights the rain fell without ceasing, and water gathered around the houses. Our home stood firm, for the crack had been sealed and the water drained away. But in Mr. Danladi's house, the small crack, left unattended, had widened. On the third night, with a terrible groan, a whole section of his wall gave way and collapsed. His family barely escaped, and he lost his furniture and much of his property. In the end, he had to rebuild almost the entire wall at ten times the cost he would have paid to seal one small crack.
As I watched my neighbour count his heavy losses, I understood at last what my father meant. A small fault, if attended to promptly, can be put right with little effort; but if it is ignored, it grows into a disaster that costs far more to repair. Truly, a stitch in time saves nine.
Maelezo ya Majibu
A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
My father was a careful man who never allowed a small problem to grow into a large one. "A stitch in time saves nine," he would often say, and the story I am about to tell shows how truly he lived by those words.
It happened during the rainy season of my second year in secondary school. One evening, my father noticed a tiny crack in the wall of our old family house, near the foundation. To me it seemed nothing, no wider than a strand of hair. But my father knelt down, examined it closely and frowned. "This must be repaired at once," he said. My mother laughed and told him he was worrying over a scratch, but he would not rest. The very next morning, before going to work, he called a mason, bought cement and had the crack sealed and the drainage around the house cleared. It cost him only a little money and half a morning's trouble.
Our neighbour, Mr. Danladi, had a crack of exactly the same kind in his own wall. When my father advised him to repair it, he waved the advice aside. "It is only a small crack," he said. "I have more important things to spend my money on." And so he left it, week after week, as the rains grew heavier.
Then came the great storm. For three days and nights the rain fell without ceasing, and water gathered around the houses. Our home stood firm, for the crack had been sealed and the water drained away. But in Mr. Danladi's house, the small crack, left unattended, had widened. On the third night, with a terrible groan, a whole section of his wall gave way and collapsed. His family barely escaped, and he lost his furniture and much of his property. In the end, he had to rebuild almost the entire wall at ten times the cost he would have paid to seal one small crack.
As I watched my neighbour count his heavy losses, I understood at last what my father meant. A small fault, if attended to promptly, can be put right with little effort; but if it is ignored, it grows into a disaster that costs far more to repair. Truly, a stitch in time saves nine.
Je, ungependa kuendelea na hatua hii?