Page 1 :
COIN DIVER, CYPRIAN EKWENSI, , 1. What made Charlie think that Nancy was a fine girl?, Ans: Charlie thought Nancy was a fine girl because she looked very beautiful. She was tall and had a rich, black skin. Her eyes were big, bright and black. Her lips were painted with red lipstick. She wore a big, golden loop as ear rings and they dangled in rhythm with her light footsteps. Everything about her was, fine to Charlie., 2. What made Charlie boiled with envy?, Ans: Charlie wanted to court Nancy to be his wife. One afternoon he had the chance to do so when, Nancy came alone. But at the moment his rival Diamond Joe came there. Charlie saw them walk away., He was disgusted at the way they held hands and whispered into each other’s ears. They also looked, back to laugh at him. Thus Charlie was boiled with envy., 3. Why did Charlie go to Nancy’s dressing room? Did he tell her what he wanted to tell?, Ans: Charlie loved Nancy so much that he wanted her to be his wife. He went to Nancy’s dressing room, to propose marriage to her. But he could not do so. He did not tell what he wanted to tell because, Nancy had flashed his secret desire before everyone., 4. Why did Charlie lose the usual music that accompanied his words as he asked for money from the, passengers although they came in large number?, Ans: Charlie lost the usual music of his words because he could not concentrate on his work. He was, frustrated when Nancy rejected him. Moreover, he was getting less and less money from the passengers, although they came in large numbers., 5. Why did Charlie call the canary Nancy?, Ans: Charlie loved Nancy the singing star of the Grand Palm because of her music. He thought that as he, could not have Nancy he must have something which could be a symbol of her. He, therefore, decided, to have a canary which could sing like Nancy’s music. He called his canary “Nancy” by taking the name of, the girl whom he loved and admired. To Charlie, the canary was just like Nancy of the Grand Palm., 6. Compare and contrast Nancy’s and Diamond Joe’s feelings as they saw the canary., Ans: When Nancy saw Charlie’s canary, she admired it without any sign of envy. An eager joy had given, vitality to her cheeks and her teeth shone with laughter. But, Diamond Joe’s eyes looked red. His eyes, depicted greed, envy, and jealousy when he saw the canary., 7. “He knew also that his journey to Cape Verde had been in vain”., Why did Charlie feel so?, Ans: Charlie made his journey to Cape Verde to buy a canary. He thought that the canary was the, symbol of Nancy. But, when he saw Nancy visiting his home to see his canary, she looked more beautiful

Page 2 :
and he still loved her more than ever before. His love for Nancy could not be replaced by the canary., Nancy, the bird could only sing. So, he felt that his journey to Cape Verde had been in vain., 8. Why did Charlie fight with Diamond Joe?, Ans: When Charlie returned home from his work, he found his canary dead inside the cage. He knew, that it was not a natural death. His suspicion turned to Diamond Joe. He, therefore, fought with him to, take revenge for killing his canary., 9. Why did everybody go to the Grand Palm?, Ans: Everybody who came to Freetown went to the Grand Palm to hear Nancy’s song. Nancy was the, singing star of the hotel and everybody admired her. She sang as sweet as canary, a song bird., 10. “He knew now why he had failed”. How did know the reason for his failure?, Ans: Charlie, the coin diver loved Nancy so much. He wanted to court her to be his wife. However he, was failed. He realized that he had failed because he was unimpressively dress. He was dressed on a, tunic shirt, white drill shorts and a canvas shoes., 11. Why did Charlie go to Cape Verde?, Ans: Charlie went to Cape Verde to buy a canary which could sing as good as Nancy, the singing star of, Grand Palm. He thought that as he could not have Nancy, he must have something which could be a, symbol of her. To Charlie, a canary could replace Nancy in terms of music., 12. Why did Charlie want to buy a canary?, Ans: Being a poor man, Charlie could not win Nancy’s heart. However, he thought if he had music it, would replace Nancy. He loved Nancy only for her music. So, he decided to buy a canary which could, sing as clean and fresh as Nancy., 13. Why did not Charlie tell anybody of his plan to go to Cape Verde?, Ans: Charlie did not tell anyone of his plan because he knew that they would call him silly. They would, laugh at him saying that he had gone crazy as Nancy refused him. They would also discourage his, journey to Cape Verde mocking him for his plan to go there to catch canary on his canoe., 14. How did Charlie prepare for his journey to Cape Verde?, Ans: For his journey to Cape Verde, Charlie tied up his money in an old cloth belted to his waist. He went, to market and bought food. He put fresh water in kerosene tin. On a bigger canoe, he set out his journey, quietly northwards at night when no one saw him., 15. Why did Charlie start his journey to Cape Verde at night?, Ans: Charlie did not like anybody to know about his visit to Cape Verde. He thought that people would, discourage him if they knew his plan. He, therefore, started his journey at night when no one saw him., 16. Describe Charlie’s journey to Canary Islands.

Page 3 :
Ans: For several days Charlie was on the Atlantic sea. Sun and wind bit into his face and back. Hunger, clawed at his stomach. The whales tossed his canoe. Finally, he reached the Canary Islands., 17. Why did Charlie feel that nothing could be more romantic than capturing a wonderful canary?, Ans: Charlie came to Cape Verde, the Canary Islands to buy a lovely singing canary. As he could not have, Nancy, the singing star of Grand palm he wanted to have something which could be a symbol of Nancy., So the hope of capturing such a canary could be more romantic to him than anything., 18. How did Charlie return home when he had no money?, OR, Why did the Captain sign Charlie on his boat?, Ans: Charlie had no means to return to Freetown because the canary cost him all he had. He told his, hard-luck story to a cargo boat captain. The captain was impressed by Charlie’s courage and the music of, the canary. He, therefore, signed Charlie on his boat for his homeward journey to Freetown., 19. “I don’t go no more to the Grand Palm”, Why did Charlie say so?, Ans: Charlie loved Nancy, the singing star of Grand Palm. He went there to hear her music. Of course, he, loved her for her music. Charlie had now a canary which could sing like Nancy’s voice. He did not like to, go the Grand Palm because he had the similar music of Nancy. When he wanted to hear good music he, could hear it from his Nancy, the canary., 20. What kind of music did Charlie love?, Ans. Charlie’s music was not the music form the gramophones and the radiograms. He wanted to hear, music which was as natural as Nancy’s music. He would like to hear a canary singing fresh and clean as, Nancy, the singing star of the Grand palm., 21. Why did Charlie suppose that he was undermining Nancy’s position in the grand palm?, Ans. When everyone had heard of Nancy, Charlie’s canary, tourist touching free town went first to the, grand Palm, and then came straight to Charlie’s house to hear him canary sing. Even Nancy, the singing, star of the grand Palm visited Charlie to see his canary. People took interest on Charlie’s canary more, than Nancy. So he suppose that he was undermining Nancy’s position in grand Palm., 22. “All through his work that day, the dreadful remain with him”, What was the dreadful though that remain with Charlie?, Ans. The canary could not replace the love Charlie had on his heart for Nancy of the Grand Palm. He, loved her more than even before. He doubted that if he was harming Nancy’s reputation for his canary., This was the dreadful though that remain with Charlie., 23. “As he turned the key of his front door, a queerness come to him”, What queerness had come to Charlie?

Page 4 :
Ans: When Charlie turned the key of his front door, he found the canary cage shifted. He knew that, someone had been in his room. When he took down the cage, the canary was found death at the, bottom. This was his queerness., 24. Why did Charlie suspect Diamond when his canary dead?, Ans: Charlie suspected Diamond Joe when he found his canary dead. It was because he knew that his, canary had not died a natural death. He observed the disgruntled look on Joe’s face as he and Nancy left, his room early morning. And also Joe had not seen to work by Charlie., 25. “Charlie, I beg you to forgive me! Is my mistake”, Why did Nancy say so?, Ans: Nancy was jealous of Charlie’s canary. She, therefore, insisted Diamond Joe to change the canary by, another one. She asked him to open the cage to fly away Charlie’s canary. Instead of doing this,, Diamond Joe killed the canary. Nancy confessed her mistake to Charlie and asked him to forgive her., 26. Why did Nancy want to lose Charlie’s canary?, Ans: Everybody who came to Freetown loved Charlie’s Canary better than Nancy of the Grand Palm., Charlie had never visited the Grand Palm since he had the canary. Because of these, Nancy was jealous, of the canary. She insisted Diamond Joe to do so but he killed it., 27. Why did Diamond Joe kill Charlie’s canary?, Ans: See Ans. To Q.26, 28. “He kill the happy I get in my belly too”, What made Charli to say so?, Ans: Out of jealousy, Diamond Joe killed Charlie’s canary in his absence. But Charlie told Nancy that, Diamond Joe had not only killed his canary but also killed his happiness. He got his happiness only from, the music of his canary. Now he had nothing to please him. So he said that Joe had killed all his, happiness., 29. Why did Charlie say that Joe had killed all his happiness?, Ans: See Ans. To Q.28, 30. What did Nancy promise to Charlie?, Ans: Nancy was very unhappy at the death of Charlie’s canary. She confessed it as her mistake. She, promised Charlie to sing for him every-day and forever as her voice was good. She asked him to marry, her., ESSAY TYPE, 1. Narrate how Charlie wins Nancy., Ans: Charlie, the coin diver loved Nancy, the singing star of the Grand Palm Hotel at Freetown. He loved, her mainly for her music. He wanted to court her but he could not succeed. Nancy had no concern for

Page 5 :
Charlie because he was unimpressively dressed and poor. She was in love with Diamond Joe. Charlie was, frustrated and thought that he was not the same man without Nancy. As he could not have Nancy, he, must have something which could be a symbol of her. To him, Nancy meant music. He, therefore,, decided to capture a canary from Canary Islands. He went to Cape Verde and returned with a canary, who that could sing like Nancy. Charlie named his canary Nancy. His Nancy attracted the entire tourist, who came to Freetown. Everybody loved Nancy the canary better than Nancy of Grand Palm. Out of, jealousy, Nancy of the Grand Palm insisted Diamond Joe to change Charlie’s canary by another one and, set it free. But Diamond Joe killed it. Nancy repented at Diamond Joe’s meanness. She came to Charlie, and asked him to forgive her. She confessed that it was her mistake. She promised him to sing for him, everyday and forever as long as her voice was good. She asked Charlie to put her in his cage, meaning, that she wanted to marry him. She now realized how much Charlie loves her. Charlie’s true love for, Nancy conquered her heart and won her., 2. Describe in brief Charlie’s journey to Cape Verde., Ans: Charlie, the coin the diver loved Nancy for her music. However he was poor and unimpressively, dressed which was why he could not court her. He knew that he was not the same man without Nancy., As he could not have Nancy, he thought he must have something which would be symbol of her. Nancy, to Charlie meant music. He, therefore, decided to go to Cape Verde to capture a canary which could sing, as natural and fresh and clean like Nancy., Charlie did not like anybody to know about his journey to Cape Verde. He thought that they, would call him silly and would discourage his journey. He had to go on his canoe and people might think, that he was gone crazy because of Nancy’s refusal. He tied up his money in an old clothbelted to his, waist. He bought foods from market and put fresh water in a Kerosene tin. At night, when no one saw, him, he slid quietly northwards in his bigger canoe. For several days, he was on the wide Atlantic sea., Sun and wind bit into his face and back. Hunger clawed at his stomach. The whales tossed his canoe., Sharks waited him to drown. After facing all these difficulties Charlie reached Cape Verde, the Canary, Islands. He felt that nothing could be more romantic than capturing a wonderful canary-one that sang, like Nancy., 3. Narrate Charlie’s return voyage from Cape Verde to Freetown., Ans: Charlie reached Cape Verde and found a canary with a voice like Nancy at bazaar. The canary cost, him all he had in the world. He sold his canoe to buy the canary. When he had no means of returning to, Freetown, Charlie told his hard-luck story to the captain of a boat who had seen him at the bazaar. The, captain was so impressed by Charlie’s courage and the music of the canary which Charlie called Nancy., He, therefore, signed Charlie on his boat for the homeward journey to Freetown., Although Charlie was busy on his work he never forgot to take care of his canary. He fed the bird, with red pepper and water. All through the stormy passage, Nancy the canary delighted the crew with, ceaseless gymnastic of songs. Charlie was very happy thinking that he would not need to go to the, Grand Palm when he wanted to hear good music. He returned home very happily.