F3 ENG OPENER TERM 3 2026 (1)

OPENER TERM 3 EXAM 2026

ENGLISH FORM 3

TIME: 2 HOURS

NAME…………………………………………ADMISSION NO…………………………………

DATE…………………………………………...SIGN………………………………………………….

COMPREHENSION

1. Read the passage below and then answer the questions that follow.

(20 marks)

In 1910, William James wrote an essay explaining human's apparent love of warfare. James argued that war is prevalent because it has certain effects on people. It makes people feel more alert and alive. Both soldiers and civilians feel a sense of purpose. It enables the expression of higher human qualities which often lie dormant in ordinary life. Such qualities include discipline, courage and self-sacrifice. In the face of a common threat, warfare creates a powerful sense of community. However, because war causes untold suffering and results in destruction, James said that human beings urgently need to find a substitute which has the same positive effects, but which does not lead to devastation.

One likely substitute has been football. Football certainly provides a sense of belonging and unity. Fans of a football team feel a strong sense of allegiance to the team. Once they have formed an attachment to a team, they support it loyally through thick and thin. The team forms part of their identity; they feel bonded to it. Football also enables the expression of higher human qualities which often lie dormant in ordinary life. A football match is a place of heroism; team members can display courage, loyalty and skill. It creates an artificial "life and death" situation which generates a lot of excitement. At the end of a game, both players and fans feel emotionally and physically drained.

Is there evidence that football has served as a substitute for war? In the mid 19th Century, the city of Manchester, in England, was gripped by an epidemic of youth gangs; large parts of the city were unsafe. But during the 1890s, enlightened people realised that the youths needed to be offered other outlets for their energy other than gang violence. They set up "working lads" clubs throughout the city. These gave youths access to sport and recreation. The clubs led to a new craze for football that spread rapidly through the city. Indeed, this is when Manchester's two famous football teams - Manchester United and Manchester City - were established. As a result, youths who had previously fought against each other in gangs were "fighting" each other in football teams. This led to a marked reduction in crime and violence.

War still exists but has steadily declined in the last century. This is partly because the excitement which was once derived from warfare can be gained from local, national and international football competitions. The sense of belonging and allegiance between soldiers or the sense of togetherness of being a nation at war can now be gained through playing for or supporting your football team. Governments should make football accessible and attractive to young people, particularly in areas where gang violence flourishes.

(a) Which are the two consequences of warfare?(2 marks)

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