Chibinda Kelvin Jr.

English Language Compositions|
O'Level
ECZ GCE 2023
Section A

2. Descriptive Composition
Write about a complete process leading to the production of any crop. (Between 250 and 350 words)

Suggested answer written by Chibinda Kelvin Jr.

From a seed to a Maize Cob: Production of Maize

Maize is Zambia's staple food and is grown almost throughout the country by both substance and commercial farmers. The production of maize involves several stages , from seed selection to harvesting.

The first stage in the production of maize is seed selection. Farmers select seeds of high quality that are viable and treat them. Others buy pretreated and selected seeds from suppliers like ZAMSEED.Following seed selection, the subsequent step involves land preparation.

Between July and September farmers begin preparing farm land. They do this by clearing the land. Removing plant remains from the previous farming season. Some pile up the dried plant remains and burn them to produce ash. The ash is used to fertilise the soil and increase its pH. While others burry the plant remains to make compost manure which increases soil fertility. Following this stage farmers wait for the rains.

After the first rains in the period between October and November. The next stage is farmers planting the seeds. Shallow holes are made in the ground where the seeds are sowed , basal fertilizer added and covered with soil. The seeds are properly spaced to avoid competition for nutrients. Around 1 to 2 weeks after planting the seeds germinate.

The next stage is w**ding. As the seedling grows w**d also grows. To avoid competition of nutrients between the maize crop and the w**d. Farmers remove the w**d by either uprooting them or using w**dicides.Top dressing fertilizer is added between 4 to 6 weeks after planting.

Later on at about 10 weeks the maize plant begins flowering, pollination takes place and seeds begin to form.

By February or about 16 to 18 weeks the maize cobs on the plant will have matured and ready for harvest. After harvesting the maize cob is dried then shelling and cleaning is done. Finally the maize is stored properly free from moisture and insects.

English Language Compositions|
O' Level
ECZ GCE 2023.
Section A.

1. Narrative Composition
Write a story beginning: "This was nothing but the beginning of a problem.." (Between 250 and 350 words)

Suggested answer written by Chibinda Jr. Kelvin

A Night of Unforseen Challenges
This was nothing but the beginning of a problem. We had just finished celebrating my birthday late at night. All my friends had gone back to their rooms except for one, Monica.

Monica had travelled many kilometers to come and attend my birthday party at the boarding house. After the party had finished I escorted her to the bus station only to find no buses available. I suggested that since it was late she could just sleep and go home in the morning. I called my female friends to ask if she could go and sleep with them at their boarding houses but they all gave one or more reasons to decline my request. What was I to do now?

At my boarding house, I shared the room with two other male friends. Left with no option I told Monica that she would have to sleep in my room. We went to the room and I explained my situation to my roommates. Fortunately, they agreed that we would sleep on the floor and leave the bed for her. I was happy that my problem was solved , so I thought.

A few hours later, my friends woke me up. The reason was because Monica was making violent and irregular movements while she was on the bed. Fear and panic swept over us.We looked at each other with anxiety and agreed to call the boarding house master. Although this meant more problems for us, we had no option but to rush to his office where he spent most of the nights studying.

The boarding master came to our room and instantly identified Monica's condition as a convulsion. He told us to clear everything that was on the floor and put her there. He told us to remain calm and support her. A few minutes later she regained consciousness. We stayed up until dawn when she left.

Later on that same morning the boarding master called us to his office to read for us the rules we had broken and the punishment that waited for us.

Grade 12
O'Level


Question A20

Answer in the comments section.
Try out the other question in the comments.

"Whatever happens to people can also happen to you..... Stay humble and work harder"~

God has no larger field for the man who is not faithfully doing his work where he is.

“ When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy. ” ― Rumi

“ Your big opportunity may be right where you are now. ” ― Napoleon Hill

"It may not make sense right now. But it will make sense in future. Continue working hard"

"As you wait for the right time for things to fall in place don't be idle,be working"

Biology Fact|
Your eye is the fastest muscle in your body.

Hence, the phrase: “In the blink of an eye.”

Important traits I have seen in highly successful people.
Resilience
Consistency
Commitment
Discipline