Gce Model Questions Vol1 2023 Literature In English Question 9

Read the following original excerpt taken from the short story *The River’s Whisper*: "Ada stood at the edge of the river, the water glinting like shattered glass under the waning sun. The village elders had warned her that the river was a boundary not to be crossed, a line drawn by tradition between the old ways and the new. Yet the distant city lights flickered across the horizon, promising education, freedom, and a life beyond the thatched roofs of her home. As the current tugged at her sandals, Ada felt the pull of two worlds – the steady rhythm of the river that had sustained her ancestors for generations, and the restless surge of a future she could scarcely imagine. She lifted her foot, hesitated, and then stepped into the cold, flowing water." (a) Identify the central theme of the excerpt. (b) Analyse how the author develops this theme through: i. Characterisation of Ada; ii. The setting of the river and the village; iii. The language and imagery used. (c) Evaluate the effectiveness of the author’s treatment of the theme in conveying a broader social message.