Observation

This was not a popular question. Rather than compare Simon and Jack’s encounter with the beast, many of the candidates went out of the text and discussed imaginary issues relating to beastly life.

Candidates were expected to mention the following points:

• Roger, Jack and Ralph go up the mountain to look for the beast, with Jack leading the way. Jack scurries back in terror, saying he has seen “a thing on top”.
• Simon sets out by himself to search for the beast. He comes upon a dead man strapped in a parachute, he releases the entangled body which the wind later carries away to sea. He goes back to the beach to tell the boys that the beast is actually harmless.
• Jack spreads fear among the boys as he does not identify the beast positively, whereas, Simon’s discovery holds the promise of liberating the others from their fear. Unfortunately, he does not live to deliver the report of what he has seen.

Candidates’ performance was poor.