Read the passage below and answer the following questions.Ferdinand and Isabella, informed of the return and discoveries of their admiral, awaited him at Barcelona with honor and munificence worthy of the greatness of his services. The nobility came from all the provinces to meet him. He made a triumphal entry as a prince of future kingdoms.The Indians brought over as a living proof of the existence of new races in these newly-discovered lands, marched at the head of the procession, their bodies painted with diverse colors,and adorned with golden necklaces and pearls. The animals and birds, the unknown plants, and the precious stones collected on these shores, were exhibited in golden basins, carried on the heads of Moorish or Negro slaves.
The eager crowd pressed close upon them, and wondrous tales were circulated about the officers and companions of Columbus. The admiral himself, mounted on a richly caparisoned charger presented by the king, next appeared, accompanied by a numerous cavalcade of courtiers and gentlemen. All eyes were directed toward the man inspired of heaven, who first had dared lift the veil of ocean. People sought in his face for a sign of his mission and thought they could discern one. The beauty of his features, the majesty of his countenance, the vigour of eternal youth joined to the dignity of age the combination of thought with action, of strength with experience, a thorough appreciation of his worth combined with piety, made Columbus then appear (as those relate who saw him enter Barcelona) like a prophet, or a hero of holy writ or Grecian story. “None could compare with him,” they say; “all felt him to be the greatest or most fortunate of men.” Ferdinand and Isabella received him on their throne, shaded from the sun by a golden canopy. They rose up before him, as tough he had been an inspired messenger. They then made him sit on a level with themselves, and listened to the circumstantial account of his voyage. At the end of his recital, which habitual eloquence had coloured with his exuberant imagination, the king and queen, moved to tears, fell on their knees and repeated the Te Deum, a thanks giving for the greatest conquest the Almighty had yet vouchsafed to sovereigns.
(a) What is name of the admiral awaited by Ferdinand and Isabella? (1mark)
(b) Give illustrations to show that the admiral was accorded an honorable reception. (2marks) (c) Columbus is compared to a prophet in a holy book. Explain the comparison (4marks) (d) What had Columbus discovered? (2marks) (e) Describe the attitude of the crowd towards Columbus (2marks) (f) In about 20 words, write a summary of the evidence brought by Columbus to prove his discovery (4marks) (g) All felt him to be the greatest or most fortunate of men. Rewrite to begin with: There could be no………………………………………………… (1mark) (h) The expression “future kingdoms” suggests a particular tendency of the Barcelonans. Identify and illustrate it. (2marks) (i) Explain the meanings of the following as used in the passage. (i) Lift the veil of ocean .(1mark) (ii) Countenance (1mark)
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