The Busy Market: A World of Chaos and Beauty Comprehension English Grammar JSS 1 First Term Lesson Notes Week 6

Subject: English Language

Class: Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS 1)

Term: First Term

Week: 6

Age: 11 – 12 years

Topic: Reading and Comprehension: Interpretation and Projection

Sub-topic: Reading to Answer Specific Questions on Busy Market

Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioural Objectives:

By the end of this lesson, learners should be able to:

1. Read the passage “Busy Market” fluently and clearly.
2. Answer specific questions based on interpretation and projection of the text.
3. Identify the main idea of the passage.
4. Express the feelings and atmosphere of the market described in the passage.

Keywords:

• Roared: Loud noise.
• Vendors: People who sell things on the street.
• Pickpockets: People who steal from pockets.
• Auctioneers: People who sell things by asking for bids.
• Nincompoop: A foolish person.
• Seldom: Rarely.

Set Induction:

The teacher will ask the students to describe a busy place they have visited before. This will help them connect with the idea of a crowded, noisy market.

Entry Behaviour:

Students are familiar with crowded places such as markets, schools, or streets.

Learning Resources and Materials:

1. A printed copy of the passage “Busy Market”.
2. Writing materials (notebooks and pens).
3. Whiteboard and marker for writing key points.

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge:

The teacher will ask students to talk about what usually happens in a busy market to build on their knowledge of how chaotic markets can be.

Embedded Core Skills:

• Critical Thinking: Interpreting the passage.
• Collaboration: Group discussion about the passage.
• Communication: Answering questions and participating in reading activities.

Content:

Passage: Busy Market

• The passage describes the chaotic nature of a busy market where people are yelling, pickpockets are stealing, and vendors are trying to sell their goods.
• The market is full of noise and confusion, with people behaving frantically.
• As the market becomes crowded, shoppers struggle through narrow spaces, while sellers scream prices, making it a difficult place for new visitors.
• Despite its chaos, the market has a quiet, peaceful side that very few people notice when it is asleep.

Busy Market

        The market roared with rage for it now was awake from its peaceful slumber. The shops were stuffed and street vendors made the street extremely narrow forcing people to walk in a straight file like soldiers going to battle. Shops of all different species stood on either side of the street obediently. None of them had doors for the shopkeepers knew very well that the doors would not last long against the might, impatience, and violence of the customers. Herds of people climbed on top of each other at the counter of each shop yelling wildly like mindless monkeys brawling for a banana.

      Large tattered wagons decorated with a collage of vegetable were parked beside the street and their owners stood beside them screaming prices like auctioneers, but instead of a hammer, they had a carrot which they would use to wade of the flies pointlessly dancing around the vegetables. Sweaty buyers skilfully wove their way by locating minute gaps between people and squeezing through. Pickpockets felt like rabbits in a carrot field, and munched purses out of many pockets of innocent buyers too busy bargaining. Experienced visitors wore tight pants for the same reason. 

        A helpless woman fumbled through the scores of bags she carried and tried to tickon a list with a pen clenched between her teeth.The sun warmed up the stuffy, stinking air which smelled of sweat and rotting fish.No air freshener could have defeated this sour, rancid stink which ruled over the cramped air here.The afternoon flamed the market an exhaustion and breathlessness silently approached the first time visitors, but he everyday buyers proudly held on against the torture of the market and kept shopping.The deafening chaos in the market made ears split as if you were standing under a giant speaker.

       Vendors yelled prices and frustrated housewives angrily argued with the annoyed shopkeepers. A nincompoop was trying to get his car across the market and carelessly honked to the river of people ahead completely ignoring him. It seemed as if all the sounds in the world had come to a reunion.

       The market was furious but seldom had anyone seen it while it slept. When a calm breeze swept over it and the crumpled paper lying below swept along. When the street was lifeless and silent as a graveyard. When the moonlight would faintly escape through the huddle of clouds draping the moon. When the market would lie there sleeping lightly ready to explode at the first sign of light. Seldom had people noticed this market’s true beauty and enchantment. Older than the people in it was this market, and it lived like this everyday. With long forgotten secrets lying deeply buried in its roots and vast knowledge in its stem, it kept on living.

Interpretation Questions:

1. What was the market doing when it “roared with rage”?
2. Why did people walk in a straight file in the market?
3. How did the vendors try to attract buyers?
4. What was the air like in the market?
5. Why were pickpockets compared to rabbits?

Projection Questions:

1. If you were to visit this market, how would you feel?
2. What would you do to protect your belongings from the pickpockets?
3. How do you think the market looks at night?
4. If the market were to close down, what would happen to the vendors and buyers?
5. What can be done to make the market more organized?

15 Fill-in-the-Blank Questions:

1. The market ________ with rage when it woke up. (a) screamed (b) roared (c) cried
2. The street was extremely ________. (a) wide (b) narrow (c) small
3. People walked in a straight ________. (a) line (b) file (c) group
4. The vendors yelled prices like ________. (a) auctioneers (b) bankers (c) singers
5. ________ were stealing from the pockets of buyers. (a) Thieves (b) Pickpockets (c) Beggars
6. Experienced visitors wore ________ pants. (a) loose (b) tight (c) big
7. The market smelled of ________ fish. (a) fresh (b) rotting (c) grilled
8. Housewives argued ________ with shopkeepers. (a) angrily (b) happily (c) silently
9. A ________ was honking to get his car through the market. (a) teacher (b) driver (c) nincompoop
10. The market was silent at ________. (a) morning (b) night (c) noon
11. Pickpockets were compared to ________ in a carrot field. (a) rabbits (b) goats (c) monkeys
12. The market was ________ when it was asleep. (a) quiet (b) loud (c) angry
13. The shops had no ________ to protect them. (a) walls (b) doors (c) windows
14. The market was ________ with activity during the day. (a) calm (b) peaceful (c) furious
15. The ________ warmed up the air in the market. (a) rain (b) sun (c) wind

15 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. What is the passage about?
   • The passage is about a busy, noisy market.
2. What is the mood of the market during the day?
   • The market is chaotic and noisy during the day.
3. Why did the shops not have doors?
   • The shopkeepers believed doors would be broken by customers.
4. What did the vendors use instead of a hammer?
   • They used a carrot to wave off flies.
5. Who were compared to rabbits in a carrot field?
   • Pickpockets were compared to rabbits.
6. What kind of air was in the market?
   • The air was stuffy and smelly.
7. Why did the market smell bad?
   • The market smelled of sweat and rotting fish.
8. What was the market like at night?
   • The market was quiet and peaceful at night.
9. What did the pickpockets steal?
   • They stole purses and wallets.
10. How did the visitors protect themselves from pickpockets?
    • They wore tight pants.
11. Why were housewives angry?
    • They were frustrated with the shopkeepers.
12. What does “roared with rage” mean in the passage?
    • It means the market became very noisy and chaotic.
13. What happened when the sun came out?
    • The sun made the air hot and stuffy.
14. Why did the market seem like a reunion of sounds?
    • There were so many noises coming from different people and things.
15. What is the secret beauty of the market?
    • The market is peaceful and quiet when it is asleep at night.

Presentation (Steps 1-3):

• Step 1: The teacher will read the passage “Busy Market” aloud to the class.
• Step 2: The teacher will explain key words and phrases in the passage, helping students understand its meaning.
• Step 3: The teacher will ask interpretation and projection questions, and the students will discuss their answers.

Teacher’s Activities:

• Read the passage to the students.
• Explain difficult words.
• Ask questions to check for comprehension.
• Encourage students to answer specific questions about the passage.

Learners’ Activities:

• Listen attentively to the passage.
• Ask questions for clarity.
• Answer the interpretation and projection questions.
• Participate in discussions about the passage.

Assessment:

• Students will answer the fill-in-the-blank questions in their notebooks.
• Teacher will review their answers to check for understanding.

Evaluation Questions:

1. What does “roared with rage” mean in the passage?
2. Why did people walk in a straight file?
3. How did the vendors try to attract buyers?
4. Why were pickpockets compared to rabbits?
5. What was the market like at night?
6. How did the sun affect the market?
7. Why did housewives argue with shopkeepers?
8. What was the air like in the market?
9. Who was the nincompoop in the passage?
10. How does the passage describe the beauty of the market at night?

Conclusion:

The teacher will go around to mark the students’ work, provide feedback, and correct mistakes where necessary.

More Useful Links 

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Explore the vivid description of a busy market in this reading comprehension lesson for JSS 1 students. Learn to interpret and project ideas from the passage with key questions and activities.