Question

Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

The famous General George Washington had the uncomfortable habit of leaving his

staff of officers and of going among his men to inspect the way in which they were

carrying out the orders given to them. One morning, at the early hour of six, he stole a

march on his fellow-officers and, riding a sure-footed horse, went to see how the work

of fortifying an important position was being carried out. He was wearing civilian

clothes, as he often did in order that he might remain incognito.

Thus attired, he rounded a bend and came upon a party of four men and a slow-witted

corporal. The party was engaged in building a stout wooden stockade, several thick

posts of which were already in position. As Washington drew near, he observed that

the four men were tugging and wrenching at a weighty beam of timber, which,

however, was resisting their united efforts. The corporal was issuing order after order,

and was superintending the fruitless labours of his men with the utmost vigilance.“Friend,” said Washington to the corporal; “why do you not help your men? More

help and fewer instructions will see that beam in its place.”

The corporal, nettled by his interference, told Washington that he would certainly do

nothing of the kind, since, as corporal, he was there to order and not to work.

At this, Washington dismounted.

When at length the work was done, the general walked up to the corporal and said,

“Friend, when next you are put in charge of a party of men too few in number to

accomplish the task they have been set, send, for your commander-in-chief, and he

will again come to help you.”

Abashed and crestfallen, the corporal began to stammer excuses. Washington

mounted his horse and rode off.

a. Give the meaning of the following words as used in the passage: [1x4=4]

i. fortifying ii. civilian

iii. incognito iv. dismounted

b. Answer the following questions in your own words:

i. What bad habit did George Washington have? [2]

ii. Why did Washington wear civilian clothes? [2]

iii. Why are the labourers of the man called ‘fruitless’? [2]

iv. What did Washington do after he dismounted? [2]

v. Why didn’t the corporal help his men? [2]

vi. Write in not more than 50 words of your own, what Washington did on the

particular day. ​

Answer 1

Answer:

1.

The famous General George Washington had the uncomfortable habit of leaving his

staff of officers and of going among his men to inspect the way in which they were

carrying out the orders given to them

2.One morning, at the early hour of six, he stole a

march on his fellow-officers and, riding a sure-footed horse, went to see how the work

of fortifying an important position was being carried out. He was wearing civilian

clothes, as he often did in order that he might remain incognito.