THE VOTER
Comprehension I
1) The roof was a popular young man because
of he________
a) had not abandoned his village.
b) wanted to guide his people.
c) was forced to return to his village.
Ans: a) had not abandoned his village.
2) Why was Marcus considered rich and
powerful?
Ans: Marcus had two long cars and had quite recently fabricated himself
the greatest house anybody had found in these parts. He had engaged his people
butchering five bulls and endless goats to take care of individuals. Despite
the fact that the town had no power, he had introduced a private plant to
supply power to his new home. Also, his home was opened by the Archbishop.
Thirdly, he had been made a clergyman after he won the political race. That is
the reason he was viewed as rich and amazing.
3) Marcus Ibe had earlier been
a) doctor b)
school teacher c) politician
Ans: b) school teacher.
4) The fact that Marcus Ibe left the good
things of the capital and returned to his village whenever he could, shows
a) his devotion to his people and love for
the place
b) he enjoyed all the comforts of the city in
his village.
c) he wanted to improve the amenities in his
village.
Ans: b) he enjoyed all the comforts of the city in his village.
5) After the feasting, the villagers
a) praised Marcus’s faithfulness and
generosity.
b) intended to demand more for their votes
c) realized Marcus’s wealth.
Ans: c) realized Marcus’s wealth.
6) The ‘whispering campaign’ is
a) secret campaigning at night
b) bargaining for votes.
c) clandestine distribution of money.
Ans: c) clandestine distribution of money.
7) The village eider Ezenwa tilted the lamp a
little because
a) he could not see properly.
b) the place was too dark.
c) he wanted to confirm the amount paid to each.
Ans: c) he wanted to confirm the amount paid to each.
8) ‘Firewood’ refers to
a) Roof taking advantage of the situation.
b) the advantages of being a voter.
c) the benefits the elders received.
Ans: c) the benefits the elders received.
9) Roof and the leader of the POP campaign
team were
a) friends b)
strangers c)
acquaintances
Ans: a) friends/ c)acquaintances
10) The roof was mesmerized by
a) the red notes on the floor.
b) the picture of the cocoa farmer.
c) the POP campaign leader.
Ans: a) the red notes on the floor.
11) Roof’s act of inserting the torn ballot
papers in two boxes signifies
a) keeping his promise. b) appeasing Iyi c) absolving himself of his guilt
Ans: c) absolving himself of his guilt.
12) How long had Roof worked as a bicycle
repairer’s apprentice?
Ans: Roof worked as a bicycle repairer’s apprentice for two years.
13) The roof had given up being a bicycle
repairer’s apprentice in order to
a) contest elections b) guide his people c)
campaign for Marcus.
Ans: b) and guide his people/ c) campaign for Marcus.
14) Who had formed the Progressive Organization
Party?
Ans: The Progressive Organization Party (POP) had been formed by the
tribes down the coast.
15) To which village did Roof belong?
Ans: Roof belonged to Umuofia village.
16) Who was supposed to be very popular in his
village?
Ans: Roof was supposed to be very popular in his village.
17) According to the villagers, what was
Roof’s motivation for leaving a promising career?
Ans: According to the villagers, a strong desire to guide the people of
Umuofia in difficult times was Roof’s motivation for leaving a promising
career.
18) Which political party did the people of
Umuofia
support?
Ans: The people of Umuofia supported People’s Alliance Party.
19) To which party did Marcus belong?
Ans: Marcus belonged to the People’s Alliance Party.
20) What was Marcus in the outgoing
government?
Ans: Marcus was Minister of Culture in the outgoing government.
21) Why did Marcus Ibe face the threat of
being dismissed from service as a school teacher?
Ans: Marucs Ibe faced the threat of being dismissed from service as a
school teacher because a female teacher had complained against Marcus Ibe.
22) What had Marcus named his new house?
Ans: Marcus had named his new house as ‘Umuofia Mansions’.
23) Who was the most trusted campaigner of
Marcus?
Ans: Roof was the most trusted campaigner of Marcus.
24) How much salary had Marcus withdrawn in
advance?
Ans: Marcus had withdrawn five months’ salary in advance.
25) How much did Marcus offer the people at first to vote for him?
Ans: Marcus offered the people two shillings to each voter at first to
vote for him.
26) How much did Marcus offer the people finally
to vote for him?
Ans: Marcus offered the people finally four shillings vote for him.
27) Who was the enemy Roof referred to when
he spoke to the elders?
Ans: The Progressive Organization Party was the enemy Roof referred to
when he spoke to the elders.
28) Who is the leader of the Progressive Organization
Party?
Ans: Maduka is the leader of the Progressive Organization Party.
29) What was the symbol of the Progressive Organization
Party?
Ans: The symbol of the Progressive Organization Party was a man’s head.
30) What is ‘Umuofia Mansions’?
Ans: ‘Umuofia Mansions’ is the name of the biggest house in Umuofia, built by Marcus Ibe.
31) Where, on the election morning, did
Marcus Ibe sit shaking hands with the villagers?
Ans: On the election morning, Marcus Ibe sat in the ‘owner’s corner’ of
his enormous green car, shaking hands with the villagers.
32) What was Rufus Okeke called as?
Ans: Rufus Okeke was called Roof for short by the people of his village.
33) Mention the promise made by PAP if they
were voted to power.
Ans: The promise made by PAP if they were voted to power was to give
pipe-borne water to the village if he was elected in the forthcoming election.
34) Who competed against Marcus in the
elections?
Ans: Maduka, the leader of the POP, competed against Marcus in the
elections.
35) What was Roof asked to swear on by the
POP team?
Ans: The roof was made to swear on the Iyi of Mbanta to ensure his vote
for Maduka.
36) Who was PAP’s most illustrious son
referred to in ‘The Voter’?
Ans: Marcus Ibe was PAP’s most illustrious son referred to in ‘The
Voter’.
37) Who was the Minister of Culture in the
outgoing government in ‘The Voter’?
Ans: Marcus Ibe was the Chief Honourable Minister of Culture in the
outgoing government mentioned in the voter.
Comprehension II
* Trace the behaviour of Roof on the day of voting.
Ans: Roof was in the service of the honorable minister Marcus Ibe. He was a real expert in election campaigning at all levels village local government or national. He could tell the mood and temper of the electorate at any given time. He had warned the minister about the radical change that had come into the thinking of Umuofia, since the last national election. Roof was the most trusted of Marcus Ibe's campaigners. The night prior to the election, the agent from the opposition visited Roof and offered him five pounds from voting in favours of Maduka. Roof was tempted to accept the same, but the agent made him to swear on Ho Iyi of the Mbantu deity. Roof accepted it pretending to himself, that a single vote may not harm Marcus Ibe's victory. On the election day, though he had hidden his conscience, it was evident that he was in dilemma. In the election room, he did not want to betray Marcus Ibe yet, he was not in a position to forbid Iyi. At last, he thought of an idea to tear the ballot paper into half and put each half into two boxes.
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* Describe the meeting held by POP campaign team with Roof in 'The Voter'.
Ans: Roof was the leading election campaigner of PAP. He had become a real expert in election campaigning at all levels. He could tell the mood and temper of the people at any given time. He had warned Marcus Ibe about the radical change that had taken place in his village since the last election. He did whispering campaign for Marcus Ibe. Roof seemed to be honest to Marcus Ibe but it is found that he had also been attracted to money very easily. On the previous night of election day, POP campaign leader visited Roof's home intentionally to bribe him to cast vote for Maduka. Roof accepted the five pounds notes from the POP campaign leader by swearing on the Iyi. He wanted to know that the matter between them should not be gossiped. He made sure that Marcus Ibe would win in the election.
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* Trace the reasons behind the 'radical change' that had come into the thinking of Umuofia in 'The Voter'.
OR
* Trace the changes in the attitude of the villagers, before the coming election in the lesson 'The Voter'.
Ans: Marcus Ibe was a PAP leader and the Minister of culture in the outgoing government. He was a candidate in the forthcoming elections from PAP. Roof was an expert in election campaign. He could sense the radical change that had come into the thinking of Umuofia since the last election. Marcus Ibe had got wealth, chieftaincy, titles, doctorate degrees and other honours with ease after he was elected in the last election. He had two long cars and had built a palace like house and christened as 'Umuofia Mansion'. Though the village had not even the basic facilities like water and electricity. He had installed a private electricity plant. His house was opened by archbishop. Marcus offered a royal feast to the villagers on the occasion of house warming ceremony. The people wondered how Marcus became so rich, they thought that they had underrated the power of ballot paper. They decided not to cast their vote for free and they were ready to extract more money from Marcus Ibe for their votes.
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* To what extent was Roof the most trusted of the whispering campaigners in 'The Voter'?
OR
* Roof is an expert election campaigner. Substantiate the statement.
OR
* Give an account of Roof's role as an election campaigner.
Ans: Roofus Okeke was a very popular very man in the village, Umuofia. The villagers praised him, as they had spout for two years, as a bicycle repairer's apprentice, he had given up his bright future and his free will, and returned to his village to guide his people in their difficult times. He was follower of Marcus Ibe, the leader of PAP. Roof was the leading election campaigner of PAP. He had become a real expert in election campaigning at all levels. He could tell the mood and temper of the people at any given time. He had warned Marcus Ibe about the radical change that had taken place in his village since the last election.
Marcus Ibe, as advised by Roof, had withdrawn five month's salary in advance and got prepared by changing it into shillings in Jude bags. In whispering campaign, Roof and his assistant met the elders of the village in Ogbuefi Eqenwa's house. Roof told them that Marcus Ibe, being the son of the village, the minister of culture should consider him as an honour. He told them that the villagers were favoured by the PAP leaders and also reminded them that they had promised the villagers to provide pipe borne water facility. Roof manipulated the villagers to take four shillings and cast votes for Marcus.
Roof seemed to be very honest to Marcus Ibe, but it is found that he was also attracted to money very easily on the previous night of election day. POP campaign leader visited Roof's home to bribe him to vote for Maduka. Roof accepted five pounds from the POP campaign leader by swearing on the Iyi and he got assurance from him that the matter would not be known outside. On the election day, though he had hidden his conscience it was evident that he was in a dilemma. In the election room, he did not want to betray Marcus Ibe, yet was not in a position to forbid Iyi. At last, he thought of, as an idea to tear the ballot paper into half and put each half into two boxes.
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* 'The Voter' ridicules the power and selfishness of Marcus Ibe. Explain.
OR
* 'The Voter' ridicules the 'power and selfishness' of Marcus Ibe. Explain.
Ans: Marcus Ibe was a school teacher when politics had come to the village. He had wisely joined up, to avoid imminent dismissal arising from a female teacher's complaint. He became the Chief, the Honourable Minister of Culture. He had two long cars and had built himself the biggest house anyone in that village had ever seen. Five years of Ministership had brought him wealth, chieftaincy titles, doctorate degrees and other honours. The village Umuofia had neither running water nor electricity. Marcus had recently installed a private plant to supply electricity to his new house. He had christened his new house 'Umuofia Mansion' in honour of his village and he had slaughtered five bulls and countless goats to entertain the people on the day it was opened by the Archbishop.
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* Describe how Marcus Ibe in 'The Voter' had managed to become a successful politician.
OR
* 'The Voter' presents the role of money and ridicules its power in an election. Explain.
Ans: Marcus Ibe was a mission school teacher before he joined politics. It was said, that he was not a successful mission school teacher and he wisely joined politics to avoid imminent dismissal arising from a female school teacher's complaint. Soon he become a PAP leader and the minister of culture. He got wealth, chieftaincy, titles, doctorate degrees other honours with ease after he was elected in the elections five years back. He had two long cars and had built a palace like house and christened as 'Umuofia Mansion'. The house was opened by the archbishop. Marcus offered a royal feast to all the villagers. Thus became a successful politician.
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* Roof is an intelligent manipulator. Justify with reference to the story. "The Voter".
OR
* Roof was very popular man in his village. Give reasons.
Ans: Roof was a popular figure in his village Umuofia. He was in the service of Minister of culture, Chief Honourable Marcus Ibe. He was an expert in election campaigning and he could sense the mood of the electorate. Roof successfully conducted whispering campaigns. He had to shell out more than two shillings each he had initially offered the village elders. The POP candidate Maduka's campaigner offered five pounds to Roof to cast his vote to the POP on the night prior to the election. Roof was made to swear on Iyi to put in his papers to POP, on otherwise the Iyi would take note. On the election day. Roof was caught in a fix, he could not deceive Marcus, he thought of returning the five pounds. But the sight of five pounds mesmerized Roof. Roof suddenly had an idea. He tore the ballot paper into two and ensured to put one half for Maduka first with the verbal announcement and the other for Marcus. Roof was able to absolve himself of his guilt. Roof is called clever and intelligent manipulator.
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* Everyone is full of praise for Marcus Ibe. What qualities and achievements attracted the people to praise him in 'The Voter'?
Ans: Marcus Ibe was missionary school teacher in Umuofia and joined politics wisely. He became Minister of Culture in the out going government. Politics brought wealth, chieftaincy titles, doctorate degrees and other honours. He had two long cars and had built himself the biggest house and christened it 'Umuofia Mansion' in honour of his village, and he had slaughtered five bulls and countless goats to entertain the people. Whenever he could, he left the good things of the capital and returned to his village which had neither running water nor electricity.
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1) Trace the change in the attitude of the
villagers before the second election. Give reasons.
Ans: In this short
story, Chinua Achebe makes an endeavor to introduce before the reader how
‘elections’ lose their sacredness and are abused by covetous politicians for
self-magnification as opposed to achieving improvement in the existence of
people. People of Umuofia vote en masses for the People's Alliance Party and
choose Marcus Ibe, a local teacher, as their chief. Once getting chosen,
individuals see a large number changes in Marcus' day to day existence. Their
chosen delegate gets well off, is granted chieftaincy titles and doctorate
degrees, other than numerous different distinctions. He likewise assembles a
huge mansion in his local town and names it 'Umuofia a Mansion'. He invests the
vast majority of his energy in the capital and returns to remain in his town
chateau at times.
2) What was the justification for the formation of the POP?
Ans: POP represents
Progressive Organization Party. This gathering is shaped by the clans down the
coast to save themselves from 'totally political, cultural, social and
religious annihilation'. The POP was a finished non-element in the primary
political decision. When the coordinators come to realize that there is no
resistance, some rich individuals from the clans down the coast, structure this
gathering. They need individuals to realize that they will be paid pounds and
not shillings in the event that they hear them out and vote in favor of them.
In the story, we don't get any clue about the goals of the PAP, however the
coordinators of the POP case that they need to save individuals from political,
religious, cultural annihilation, however they seem, by all accounts, to be no
greater. From the circumstance depicted in the story, we can surmise that the
essayist expects to tell the reader that no ideological group is genuinely keen
on improving the government assistance of individuals. They appear to know
without a doubt that by winning a political race, they can take the government
in their grasp and become rich. They appear to be ignorant of their obligations
and duties.
3) The roof is an intelligent manipulator. Justify with reference to the
story,
Ans: Rooftop Okeke
is a fiery young fellow and has returned to his own town Umuofia, subsequent to
filling in as a bike repairer's understudy for a very long time in Port
Harcourt. The facts confirm that he would have delighted in a rich life in the
event that he had remained on in his work. In any case, he returns to the town
and advises individuals that he needs to control them in troublesome occasions.
Later he turns into an ‘election campaign manager’ for Marcus Ibe and over a
time of five years turns into a specialist in political race crusading at all
levels.
Comprehension III
1) The POP campaign leader’s meeting with
Roof shows the misuse of transparency in a democratic setup. Discuss.
Ans: In this story,
Achebe parodies 'politicians' and creates an endeavor to show how even in a
vote based arrangement political decision can get ludicrous. Not at all like in
dictatorship or monarchy, in a democratic setup, have people had the freedom to
elect a ‘person’ to function as their agent in the public authority and work
for their upliftment. One of the hallmarks of democracy is its insistence on
transparency. Every person is subject to scrutiny by the public in the election
process. An individual is allowed to decide in favor of an individual of his
decision from among the competitors. 'Transparency' in this alludes to Roof's
educating the POP lobby pioneer that he is working for Marcus.
Furthermore, if
Roof illuminates him, it is notable to everybody that Roof is Marcus' election
campaign manager. The candidates are allowed by law to spread the word about
for individuals every such arrangement and maintain transparency in their
dealings. Notwithstanding, no candidate can hit an arrangement with individuals
and purchase their votes. However, this is done covertly. The POP lobby pioneer
realizes that Roof is working for Marcus. Therefore, they need to purchase
Roof's vote first so they will tell him that the POP leaders will pay in pounds
and not in shillings. This is the message they need to get across to
individuals through Roof. Likely, sometime later, Roof who has made a name as an
effective political race supervisor for Marcus, will be adequately striking to
request 'pounds' rather than shillings from Marcus and in the event that he
won't pay in pounds, he may proceed to work for the POP chief. That way he will
actually want to propel his kin to decide in favor of POP rather than the
bazaar. Consequently, the POP campaign managers’ gathering with Roof is
challenging abuse of transparency in a vote based arrangement.
2) To every human comes a time of reckoning.
How does Roof’s dilemma on the day of the election reflect this?
Ans: In 'The
Voter', Roof is a lively young fellow who has the standing of forfeiting a
brilliant future for individuals of his town. The roof has worked in a city for
a very long time and has insight in managing the two literates and uneducated
people. In light of this information on broad human conduct, Roof works for
himself a profession as an election campaign manager for Marcus Ibe. At the point
when the story opens, we discover that Marcus Ibe is Chief the Honorable
Minister of Culture in the cordial government and is looking for individuals'
command briefly term. We additionally discover that Marcus looks at Roof as a
genuine master in election campaigning at all levels. Rooftop knows how
government officials bring in cash. He likewise realizes that individuals of
Umuofia have now chosen to decide in favor of Marcus at a cost. Rooftop passes
on this news to Marcus and sets him up previously.
Like an efficient
manager, he attempts to feature the solid places of PAP lastly make a deal with
the citizens paying them four shillings for every vote. Everything is presently
going as per his arrangement and is glad. In any case, one evening, the head of
the POP lobby group goes to his home to meet him. He entices Roof to decide in
favor of Maduka paying him five pounds. Roof's eagerness entices him to
acknowledge the offer. In any case, he additionally gets caught. The pioneer
requests that he swear on the 'Iyi', that he would decide in favor of Maduka.
The roof can't back
on his promise. So he commits to decide in favor of Maduka. At last, upon the
arrival of the democratic, Marcus needs to ensure that all of his kin makes his
choice as a matter of course. In this manner, Roof being his election manager,
Marcus sends him to the corner first to cast a ballot. Presently, Roof is
trapped in an ethical problem. From the start he has worked for Marcus and his
inner voice doesn't allow him to swindle Marcus. Presently, when Marcus
requests that he cast his vote he is in two personalities. He feels that he
can't deceive Marcus. Briefly, his psyche discloses to him that he should
decide in favor of Marcus and return and return the cash he had gotten from the
POP election manager.
3) What comment does the story offer on the electoral system? Is it relevant?
Ans: In 'The
Voter', Achebe attempts to introduce a true picture of the drama that is seen
during an election race held in a humble community in Nigeria. There are two
primary characters and political parties in the story and the citizens are the
residents of Umuofia. The roof is an energetic young man, who is currently
functioning as the political race administrator for Marcus Ibe, who was once a
local mission school teacher and was on the verge of dismissal from service on
the basis of a female teacher’s complaint. Marcus Ibe joins the People's
Alliance Party, challenges the political decision, and gets chosen. He turns
into a priest and his government completes a five-year term and he is presently
looking for re-election. During his term as a priest, he stores up a great deal
of abundance, goes to possess two major vehicles, assembles a colossal house in
his native village, and wins a few chieftaincy titles and doctorate degrees.
Be that as it may,
his people continue as before – poor, uneducated, uninformed, and innocent. The
circumstance in his village likewise doesn't show any improvement. The
standard, worn out issues of absence of running water and electricity continue
to plague the people and keep them from improving monetarily and strategically.
At the point when the story opens, we discover that Marcus Ibe is looking for a
subsequent term and everybody is certain that he will get an landslide victory
in light of the fact that there is no resistance worth thinking about. Be that
as it may, there is an adjustment of the view of individuals. Subsequent to
devouring in Marcus' new house and seeing his riches and influence, the needy
individuals of Umuofia understand that 'races' do have a significance and their
votes which they had misjudged previously, are of high worth. Subsequently,
they request some incentive for their votes and Roof figures out how to
persuade them that they should decide in favor of Marcus again by giving four
shillings each.
Some tribes down
the coast had set up a new political party called POP with the objective of
saving the people from ‘totally political, cultural, social and religious
annihilation’. Their campaign leader comes to Roof’s house and offers to buy his vote for five pounds. Roof initially is enamored of the
five-pound notes and agrees to vote. But the
POP leader cleverly gets him to swear on the ‘Iyi’ that he will vote for
Maduka. Finally, on Election Day, his conscience pricks him to a little extent
and Roof feels like voting loyally for Marcus and returning the money to the
POP election manager. But the oath he has taken before ‘Iyi’ does not allow him
to do so and there is a moral dilemma. However, Roof cuts his ballot paper in
two, drops one half into the box meant for Maduka and drops the other half into
the box meant for Marcus, and saves his conscience and his life too. This is
the story in a nutshell.
There are lessons
to gain from this story. We should take note of that only naming our
administration as 'democracy' and setting up every one of the things required
for holding races don't ensure that people will actually want to practice their
actual order and will choose skilled individuals for the public authority which
will make progress toward the upliftment of individuals socially,
instructively, financially and socially. We can't ensure vote based
administration by simply holding decisions consistently. To begin with, we
should instruct people about their privileges, obligations, and duties in
responsibilities in any election.
