Prose 1

Title: We’re Not Afraid to Die… If We Can All Be Together

Author: Gordon Cook & Alan East
Theme: Courage, determination, and family unity in adversity

Introduction:
The chapter narrates the true survival story of a family attempting a world voyage, whose dream
adventure turns into a desperate fight against nature’s fury.

Summary:
Gordon Cook, his wife Mary, children Jonathan and Suzanne, and two crew members began
their global journey in Wavewalker, a boat built and prepared for the roughest seas. The initial
stages were calm, but in the southern Indian Ocean, they were hit by a violent storm. On January
2nd, a gigantic wave struck, severely damaging the boat, flooding it, and injuring the narrator
and the children. Jonathan suffered a head injury, and Suzanne had a deep cut, yet they remained
calm. For 15 hours, the family battled to keep the vessel afloat—pumping water, steering, and
making temporary repairs. Finally, navigating through hostile conditions, they reached the tiny
French island of Ile Amsterdam, where they found safety.

Conclusion:
The narrative proves that resilience, resourcefulness, and mutual support can help ordinary
people survive extraordinary dangers.

Prose 2

Title: Discovering Tut: The Saga Continues

Author: A. R. Williams
Theme: Using science to unravel historical mysteries

Introduction:
This chapter combines archaeology and modern forensic science to explore the life and death of
Egypt’s boy pharaoh, Tutankhamun.

Summary:
Tutankhamun became pharaoh as a child and died mysteriously at around eighteen. His tomb,
discovered by Howard Carter in 1922, contained dazzling treasures and sparked worldwide
fascination. However, Carter’s removal methods damaged the body. In 2005, scientists
conducted a CT scan to investigate without causing further harm. The scans revealed a fractured
skull, damaged ribs, a deformed foot, and traces of malaria—suggesting multiple factors in his
early death. This study not only gave fresh insight into Tut’s health and possible cause of death
but also demonstrated the respectful use of technology in archaeology.

Conclusion:
The investigation shows how modern science can shed light on ancient enigmas while preserving
their cultural and historical significance.

Poem 1

Title: A Photograph
Poet: Shirley Toulson
Theme: Passage of time, nostalgia, and loss

Introduction:
The poem reflects on the power of photographs to preserve moments long gone, and how they
evoke emotions of both joy and sadness when viewed years later.

Summary:
The poet describes an old photograph showing her mother as a twelve-year-old, standing on a
beach with her cousins. Their smiling faces capture the carefree spirit of childhood. Years later,
her mother would look at the photograph and laugh softly at their awkward clothes and the
simple pleasures of that day. Now, with her mother gone for many years, the photograph brings
the poet a quiet, deep sadness. It freezes a happy moment, but also reminds her that time has
taken those people and days away forever.

Conclusion:
The poem shows how photographs are both treasures of memory and reminders of the
irreversible passage of time.

Poem 2

Title: The Laburnum Top

Poet: Ted Hughes
Theme: Sudden liveliness in nature through interaction

Introduction:
This poem captures how the arrival of a bird can instantly transform a quiet tree into a centre of
movement and life.
Summary:
On a still September day, the laburnum tree stands silent under the yellow light. A goldfinch flies
in, quickly moving through the branches to reach her nest. The moment she arrives, the tree is
filled with the sounds and movements of her feeding the chicks. The quiet afternoon becomes
alive with energy, but as soon as the goldfinch flies away, the tree returns to its original calm,
holding only the memory of that brief liveliness.

Conclusion:
The poem highlights how even short-lived interactions in nature can completely change its mood
and energy.

Poem 3

Title: The Voice of the Rain

Poet: Walt Whitman
Theme: The life-giving and eternal nature of rain

Introduction:
In this poem, the rain is personified and speaks to the poet, explaining its journey and purpose in
the natural cycle.

Summary:
The poet asks the rain who it is, and the rain answers that it is the “poem of the earth,” rising
from land and sea as vapour, forming clouds, and falling again to nourish the earth. The rain’s
journey is eternal, bringing life to plants, cleansing the air, and completing the cycle over and
over. Whitman compares this process to a song, which leaves the poet’s heart, travels the world,
and returns with love from those it has touched.

Conclusion:
The poem celebrates rain as an essential, renewing force of nature, linking its cycle to the
enduring value of art and creation.

Supplementary 1

Title: The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse

Author: William Saroyan
Theme: Trust, honesty, and moral integrity
Introduction:
This short story, narrated by a young boy named Aram, explores the values of honesty and trust
in the context of a close-knit Armenian community.

Summary:
Aram recalls a summer morning when his cousin Mourad appeared with a beautiful white horse.
In their family, known for strict honesty, it seemed unthinkable to steal. Mourad insisted they
had not stolen the horse but were only “borrowing” it for a while. The two boys enjoyed rides
through the countryside, sharing a sense of adventure. However, the horse belonged to a farmer
named John Byro, who eventually encountered them but did not accuse them directly, instead
expressing faith in their family’s reputation for integrity. Feeling the weight of that trust, Mourad
returned the horse quietly. The act reinforced the boys’ understanding that honour and honesty
were more important than momentary pleasure.

Conclusion:
The story shows how moral values, once deeply ingrained, guide behaviour even in tempting
situations, preserving the respect of the community.

Supplementary 2

Title: The Address

Author: Marga Minco
Theme: Loss, memory, and the futility of reclaiming the past

Introduction:
This story is set in the aftermath of World War II, portraying the narrator’s attempt to recover her
family’s belongings after surviving the Holocaust.

Summary:
The narrator visits an address given by her late mother—Number 46, Marconi Street—where a
woman named Mrs. Dorling lives. During the war, Mrs. Dorling had taken in many of the
narrator’s family possessions for “safe-keeping.” Now, the narrator finds the woman cold and
unwelcoming, making excuses to avoid returning the items. On a second visit, she enters the
house and sees her family’s possessions scattered and used casually, stripped of the warmth they
once held. The sight fills her with emptiness, and she realises that the emotional connection to
those objects has been lost forever. She leaves, choosing not to reclaim them, understanding that
the life they represented is gone.

Conclusion:
The story reveals that material possessions lose their meaning when separated from the people
and moments they represent, making some parts of the past impossible to recover.