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Identify the intonation that would be present in the following sentences.
(i) What deal did the two agree on?
(ii) Did you see the summary?
Date posted:
May 23, 2019
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Read the passage below and fill in each blank space with an appropriate word
Alcohol impacts people and societies in different (1)__________________ and is determined by the (2)
_________________ of alcohol consumed, the pattern of drinking, and, on rare occasions, the quality of alcohol
(3)_________________. Alcohol is a psychoactive substance and its harmful use is known (4)
_________________________ have dependence - producing properties and cause (5) ____________________
than 200 diseases among drinkers as well as devastating effects to innocent victims such as unborn children.
Drinking alcohol (6)_______________________ pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, preterm birth, still birth,
spontaneous abortion, and contribute to a range of disabilities known (7) ____________________ foetal alcohol
spectrum disorders (FASD). FASD is an umbrella term (8) _______________________ to an array of conditions
involving impairments of the growth and development of the central (9)______________________ system
caused by (10) ________________ intake during pregnancy.
(Adapted from DN2 - The Daily Nation 19th May 2015)
Date posted:
May 23, 2019
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Combine the following pairs of sentences using a participle
(i) The street Urchin was clobbered. He cried out for mercy
(ii) The police surrounded the gangsters’ house. He shot in the air to scare them away
(iii) Jeff was bored of my nagging. He moved out of the house
Date posted:
May 23, 2019
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Choose the correct pronoun from the brackets to complete the following sentences
i. Mr. Kamau and _______________ visited us last year. (he/him/himself)
ii. John offered Njoroge and ________________some biscuits. (I/me)
iii. Do you think that he is wiser than _________________. (I/me
Date posted:
May 23, 2019
-
Read the narrative below and answer the questions that follow.
Long ago, there was famine in Gikuyu land. This famine had made the cows and goats to die. Only human
beings were left and even them, it could be seen that they were not going to live much longer. Now the people
asked themselves, “What shall we do?” It was decided that the most beautiful girl, one called Wanjiru should be
sacrificed to god so that the rain could fall. She was brought to a place where there was a big river. She started to
sing:
Rain fall and make this ridge green
Make this ridge green
My father said I should be lost. I should be lost
My mother said I should be lost. I should be lost
Rain fall and make this ridge green
Make this ridge green
She went down on her knee, she sang:
Rain fall and make this ridge green
Make this ridge green
My father said I should be lost, I should be lost
Rain fall and make this ridge green
Make this ridge green
The water reached the waist, she sang
Rain fall and make this ridge green
Make this ridge green
My father said I should be lost, I should be lost
My mother said I should be lost, I should be lost
Rain fall and make this ridge green
Make this ridge green
The water reached the neck, she sang
Rain fall and make this ridge green
Make this ridge green
My father said I should be lost, I should be lost
My mother said I should be lost, I should be lost
Rain fall and make this ridge green
Make this ridge green
The head went in
Very heavy rains fell on this land. The grass grew, a lot of food and the people began to feel better. Now where Wanjiru went
she found her people who had died before her. These people had a lot of cows and goats. Now they asked her what she would
like. She said she wanted cows and goats. She was given many goats and cows and then she was told to lie down in a place.
When she woke up she found that she had returned back to her people. She woke up at a place where there was a river and
she had her cows and goats. Now when the people saw her they rejoiced greatly.
The story ends there.
Adapted from: The Oral Literature of the Gikuyu by WanjikuKabira and KaregaMutahi.
(a) Why do you think this community makes the choice of a beautiful girl such as Wanjiru to sacrifice to god so as to receive
rain?
(b) Which functions does this song serve in this narrative?
(c) Describe one character trait of the villagers in this narrative.
(d) In point form, list how events follow each other in this story.
(e) Identify and explain two features of oral narration employed in this narrative.
(f) Identify two elements of fantasy in this story.
(g) Describe Wanjiru’stone in the song.
(h) Which social/cultural practices of the Agikuyu are brought out in this narrative.
(i) What does this phrase mean? 'My father said I should be lost.'
(j) Answer the following question according to the instructions given in brackets.
Very heavy rains fell on this land. (Write in the passive form).
Date posted:
May 23, 2019
-
Read the passage below and then answer the questions that follow
Society has failed and parents have not played their role fully in raising their children. This is according to
Jeff Ngari, a counseling psychologist and a deacon with the Reformed Catholic Church. Jeff says the issue of
teenage mothers is so big that it should be considered a cry for help. He adds that today, children lack the
guidance they require when it comes to having independent social interactions.
“The idea is not to block them from forming their own relationships, but to make them understand what it
means to be in a relationship, especially with the opposite sex, and how far this relationship should go,” says Jeff.
And just like the rest of society, parents have not been spared by the wave of moral decay and thus, according to
Jeff, they have failed as role models for their children. Due to this, many teenagers are picking up social ills from
their parents- the very people they are supposed to look up to.
“For instance, a teenager who has seen his or her mother repeatedly sleep out or come home in the wee hours
of the morning will most likely be excited about staying out late out of curiosity,” he says , adding, “this is
happening to most of our homes today.” Jeff says many parents are engaging carelessly in extra-marital
relationships that leave very little to the imagination of their children, and this is likely to be seen as a normal
thing by children, especially teenagers. As a result, there are many avenues through which teenagers can explore
the issue of sex and the greatest worry is that girls need to be rescued.
“The boy invariably walks away scot-free as the school, society and church turn their full attention on the girl
and judge her,” he says adding that it is one of the issues that the Reformed Catholic Church is trying to address so
that children such as these can be recognized instead of being neglected. “This is not to say that teenage pregnancy
is right, but it is a social ill that must be fought from family level, within the school setting, in the church and the
wider society,” he says.
Most teenage mothers experience rejection and abuse by their families, friends and wider community,
including the church. “No wonder these girls abandon their babies either in toilets or litter bins. The effects of
rejection can be fatal- rejection by society is the worst thing anybody can suffer. It kills from within. That is why
teenage motherhood is a cry for help and family support is very important, as the result is children giving birth,
and trying to raise babies
Jeff notes that without any know-how, finances or proper structures, teenage mothers face a very big
challenge. Add to this the stigma that comes with being regarded as immoral. “Yet we know that not all teenage
pregnancy is consensual. There are cases of grown men preying on innocent girls.” Abortion or an attempt to
carry it out complicates an already complicated situation, especially if crude methods are used. Besides, there is a
post-abortion self-stigma that does not go away.
“In the course of my career, I have met mature women who tell me that they had abortions when they were
very young, and they still feel guilty decades later. Some even go to the extent of saying, ‘My firstborn would be
this or that age.’ It is very painful.”
In Kenya, four in every ten women who die from unsafe abortions are adolescents; 70% of adolescents engage
in high-risk unprotected sex. This is according to a research paper presented by Dr. Richard O. Muga of the
National Co-ordinating Agency for Population and Development, Nairobi- Kenya, 2006. The alarming figures are
the reason why Margaret Muyanga, a counseling psychologist says open communication between teenagers and
parents can be instrumental in curbing any post- pregnancy abortion or even worse, suicidal tendencies.
a) Explain how parents have contributed to the moral decay of their children.
b) Give the factors leading to teenage pregnancy.
c) What is the consequence of the rejection and abuse that teenage mothers experience?
d) In not more than 50 words, summarize the consequences of teenage pregnancy.
- Rough draft
- Final draft
e) What is the writer’s attitude towards parenting?
f) Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the passage;
Scot-free
Date posted:
May 23, 2019
-
Complete the following conversation appropriately
Delphine: (Telephone rings), Hello, …………………………………………………………
Trevor ...……………………………………………………………………………………
Delphine: I’m sorry. Ms Oketch is in a conference out of town. Could you kindly leave a message for her?
Trevor: ………………………..……………………………………………………………
Delphine: Sorry, I didn’t get the last two digits of the number.
Trevor: ……………………………………………………………………………………..
Delphine: ……………………………………………………………………………………..
Trevor: Correct.
Delphine ………………………………………………………………………..……………
Trevor: Yes, let him know I’ll be expecting his call.
Delphine: Okay, goodbye.
Trevor: ……………………….…………………………………………………………….
Date posted:
May 23, 2019
-
For each of the following words, write two sentences to bring out two different meanings.
i) Polish
ii) Intimate
Date posted:
May 23, 2019
-
For each of the following words write another that is pronounced the same.
i. Quay ………….......................................................................……………………………………….
ii. Seed ………………...........................................................................………………………………
iii. Not ……………….........................................................................…………………………………..
Date posted:
May 23, 2019
-
Read the following oral narrative and answer the questions that follow.
One day, the chameleon and the donkey were arguing as to who could run faster than the other. The donkey
said, 'You chameleon, you are very old and tired. You can’t compete with a man like me in a race.”
The chameleon replied,” Don’t blow your own trumpet. I am not going to praise myself, but you know you
can’t defeat me in a race. We shall be equal.'
The race began and without donkey’s knowledge, the chameleon jumped on the donkey’s tail. They ran and
ran, until the donkey was so tired until he stopped to rest. As soon as the donkey stopped, the chameleon jumped
from the donkey’s tail and said, 'Now my friend, are you any faster than I?'
'No, now I know that you are a man,' answered the poor donkey.
i. What would you do in order to capture the attention of the audience before you begin to tell the story?
ii. How would you make the narration of the line indicated in bold effective?
iii. If you are part of the audience for this story, explain two things you would do to show that you are
participating in the performance.
Date posted:
May 23, 2019
-
Fill in the blanks with the most suitable word
The purchasing of a motor vehicle or (1) _________________ a driving licence is a satisfying achievement
for most Kenyans. Few, however, (2) _______________ that their achievement can, and (3)
__________________ does, amount to a passport to prison. A driver in prison? Yes, an individual can be (4)
__________________ to jail even when he is not driving.
To curb the increasing (5) ______________________ of accidents in the country, the courts are taking a very
(6) _________________view and as a result sentences are being (7) __________________ including
imprisonment.
Under the (8) _________________________ Act, any person who causes the death of another, be it a
passenger in the driver’s car or a( 9) _________________ crossing the road, or another motorist, by reckless
driving or speeding or even leaving any vehicle on a road in such a position as to be dangerous can be (10 )
______________________ for the offence of causing death.
Date posted:
May 23, 2019
-
Complete the following sentence by writing the correct tense in brackets in each case.
1. The students ___________________ assistance from the police after the attack (seek)
2. The visitors ___________________ us goodbye and left immediately (Bid)
3. All the workers have been ______________ their dues. (pay)
Date posted:
May 23, 2019
-
Read the passage below and then answer the questions that follow;
Education is perhaps one of the greatest assets children can inherit from their parents. Indeed, parents are known
to incur huge debts to help their children get education. The drive to make these sacrifices and our population
growth, have created a huge demand for education.
This demand is reciprocated by mismatched supply that is not focused on developing “employable” skills and the
output is more jobless graduates into the already full market place. Ironically, whereas this is the scenario in
emerging economies the world over, it is in the same economies that skilled workers are in high demand,
according to a human capital study done by PWC. Indeed , emerging economies are no longer relying on cheap
labour to fuel exports- driven economies , but rather fouls on skilled labour because their economic models have
shifted to exporting value - added goods. The demand for workers capable of doing talent intensive jobs that
require quality qualifications is growing steadily. Studies have shown that no country in the world can achieve
major socio – economic transformation without the contribution of skilled manpower. Kenya seems to be
cognizant of this fact going by the massive budget allocation made in education each year.
There is a strong case for standardization and regulatory framework that will ensure delivery of high quality
teaching and research whose end product are work- ready students. This is therefore a call to the government and
the private sector to work hard in glove to address the prevailing challenges in higher education that impact the
quality of graduates produced.
Lack of adequate resources, poor training infrastructure and facilities as well as an emphasis on “cramming” –
reproduction of class notes in the exam papers compromise the quality of education. The result has been a
yawning gap between the quality of students released into the job market and the needs of the employers.
If we are able to turn our institutions of higher learning into factories of talent that is readily marketable locally
and to other countries, human capital development would become a key economic driver in our country. The
Government needs to partner with all stakeholders and come up with “out of the box”, holistic policy interventions
that make use of best practices in order to promote practical skills and make education more effective in the short
and long term. This also calls for accrediting and streamlining the requirements of new and existing education
should look beyond profits and priorities equipping of students with knowledge , skills and competencies that
enhance their employability both locally and internationally. While Kenya boasts of high literacy levels, it should
now priorities the development and implementation of a long – term growth strategy that focuses on quality, not
quantity.
QUESTIONS
a) What has created a huge demand for education according to the passage?
b) What do the emerging economics rely on, and why?
c) Indeed, emerging economies are no longer relying on cheap labour. (Add a question tag)
d) What advise is given to those investing in education
e) Why is there an emphasis on standardization in education? (2 marks)
f) In a paragraph of not more than 40 words, summarize the reason why the Government and other sectors should
partner in education.
g) Explain the meaning of the following words and expressions as used in the passage
i) Employable skills
ii) Cognisant
iii) Reciprocated
iv) Out of the box
Date posted:
May 23, 2019
-
For each of the following words, construct two sentences to convey two different meaning as indicated.
(i) early (as an adverb and as an adjective)
(ii) Surprise (as a noun and as a verb)
Date posted:
May 23, 2019
-
Read the following poem and answer the questions that follow.
Ah, Are you digging on my grave?
'Ah, are you digging on my grave,
My loved one?- planting rue?'
'No ; yesterday ‘he went to wed ‘
One of the brightest wealth has bred.
‘It cannot hurt her now,' he said,
' That I should not be true.
'Then who is digging on my grave?
My nearest dearest kin?'
'Ah, no: they sit and think, ‘what us!
What good will planting flowers produce?
No tendance of her mound can loose
Her spirit from Deaths gin;'
Questions
(a) (i) Supposing you were to perform this poem to your class how would you prepare?
(ii) How would you say line two stanza 1 and why?
(iii) Identify an instance of alliteration in stanza 1
(iv) Describe the rhyme scheme of stanza 2
b) For each of the following words, provide another word with similar pronunciation
(i) gate
(ii) bread
(iii) you
(iv) rest
Date posted:
May 23, 2019
-
Fill in the blank space with the most appropriate words.
A new research title 'Underage Drinking in Kenya' has (1) _______________ that nearly one third of form four
students aged below 18 years take alcohol (2) _________________. As our society ponders this sad (3)
__________________, the urgent message to children who are taking alcohol
(4) ______________, do not drink another sip. Advice to those children is to strongly say 'no.'
(5) _________________ irresponsible behavior to alcoholism, there are many (6) _____________
effects of alcohol. It is wrong and illegal for children to drink alcohol.
The report also states that 46 percent of the children receive (7) ________________ first pint from friends and
(8) _________________ .Do you offer alcohol to child? As a parent or guardian, do you nurture (9)
_______________ ? How much time do you spend with them? Notably, (10) __________ of
guidance and supervision are stimuli to underage drinking
Date posted:
May 23, 2019
-
You are listening to a speech about careers by a visitor to your school. A few
minutes into the speech, you look around and notice some of your fellow students
are yawning, while others are showing signs of definite restlessness.
(i) What would be likely cause of the students' behavior?
(ii) What would you do to ensure you continue listening effectively?
Date posted:
May 7, 2019
-
You accidentally broke the windscreen of a stranger's car at the market near your
home. Complete the following conversation between you and the stranger. Use
courteous language.
You:....................
Stranger: I can't believe it. This is a brand new car.
You:....................
Stranger: Your parents will have to meet the cost of replacing the windscreen.
You:....................
Stranger: I hope you will learn the lesson to be more careful in future.
You:....................
Date posted:
May 7, 2019
-
Complete each of the following sentences using the correct phrasal verb
formed from the word given in brackets.
(i) Kimeto.........................of the marathon race due to fatigue, (pull)
(ii) The local council fire brigade...................the fire after many hours,
(put)
(iii) It is clear from her looks that Claire.........................her mother, (take)
(iv) The youth should...................................to adults for guidance, (look)
Date posted:
May 7, 2019
-
Rewrite each of the sentences below to make it communicate more
sensibly.
(i) Powerful and comfortable the buyer really liked the car. (The buyer
really liked the powerful and comfortable car.
(ii) They left the field full of sweat.
(iii) Mukasa loves growing vegetables.
Date posted:
May 7, 2019
-
Girraffes
Beyond the brassy sun-stare where each shade
Crouches beneath its substance at mid-noon,
The tall giraffes are gathered in a glade
Grazing the green fruit of the midday moon.
Patched with sienna shadows of the jungle,
In pencil-slender attitudes they stand;
Grotesque in camouflage, each curve and angle
Is merged into the backcloth of the land.
These circus creatures of a poet's dreaming
Whose destiny on silent strings is spun,
Are patterned in designs of nature's scheming
To move through dappled woods and dun.
Strange genesis in which the substance seeming
The shadow, is the street of the sun!
By Phoebe Hesketh
(Adapted from: Modern Poems for Common-wealth, by Maurice Wollman & John
Spencer. London: George G Harrap, 1966)
(i) Describe the rhyme scheme of this poem and explain its function.
(ii) Identify two instances of alliteration in this poem.
(iii) How would you say the last line of the poem?
Date posted:
May 7, 2019
-
Read the passage below and fill in each blank space with the most appropriate
word.
Neither time nor affluence removes memories (1) ................ childhood poverty.
Experiences of poor children illustrate how significant (2)..............and status are
in our society. Some adults think their (3).................or father was responsible
(4)................their attitudes about money. Their current understanding of (5)
.............. parents' past problems with money often provide little solace. A
(6)................of adults overcome the stigma of having been (7) ................as
children. There are (8) .................. children who also develop unhealthy attitudes
about money. Such (9) ................... imagine that money is all they need to (10)
............... it in life. There is, however more to life than money. (10 marks)
(Adapted from: Harbrace Handbook, by Cheryl Glen, et al. Boston: Thomson
Wadsworth 2004)
Date posted:
May 7, 2019
-
List all functional writing and write their features
Date posted:
April 30, 2019
-
A goat bleats whereas a horse does what?
Date posted:
April 22, 2019
-
Identify the syllables: the alarm clock rang on time.
Date posted:
April 11, 2019
-
Rewrite the following sentences using the correct form of the word in brackets
i) The policeman was congratulated for his ... ...................................................... .. (corrupt) nature
ii) His display of ... ........................................................ . (hostile) was quite unnecessary.
iii) Punishing innocent students for exam irregularity is ... ................................................... ...(warrant)
iv) If they ... .............................................. ...(arrive) early, they would find the visitors
Date posted:
April 9, 2019
-
Fill in the blanks using appropriate prepositions. (4 marks)
i) We should always strive to live ... ............................................ ... our means.
ii) They needed to move ... .................................. ... speed to put ................................................ . the inferno.
iii) The explanation was ... .................................. ... the last page.
Date posted:
April 9, 2019
-
Replace the underlined clauses with a prepositional phrase
i) The girl wearing a dotted dress is my sister
ii) The applicants who have degree certificates will be employed
Date posted:
April 9, 2019
-
Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Do not change the meaning.
i) The sun rose. The carpenter woke up. (Begin : Hardly . . . . )
ii) If you plant during the rainy season, you will get a bumper harvest. (Begin: Unless . . . )
iii) The boys looked at the herd keenly and identified their lost cows. (Begin: Looking . . . )
Date posted:
April 9, 2019
-
Read the following passage and then answer the questions that follow.
Our emphasis on money and industries has made us concentrate on urban development. We recognize that we do not
have enough money to bring the kind of development to each village which would benefit everybody. We also know that we cannot establish an industry in each village and through this means effect a rise in the real incomes of the people. For these reasons, we spend most of our money in urban areas and our industries are established in the towns.
Yet the greater part of this money that we spend in the towns comes from loans. Whether it is used to build schools, hospitals, houses or factories etc. It still has to be repaid. But it is obvious that it cannot be repaid just out of the money obtained from urban and industrial development. To repay the loans we have to use foreign currency which is obtained from the sale of our exports. But we do not now sell our industrial products in foreign markets, and indeed it is likely to be a long time before our industries produce for export. The main aim of our new industries is import substitution - that is to produce things which hitherto we have had to import from foreign countries.
It is therefore obvious that the foreign currency we shall use to pay back the loans used in the development of the urban areas will not come from the towns or industries. Where then shall we get it from? We shall get if from the villages and from agriculture. What does this mean? It means that the people who benefit directly from development, which is brought by borrowed money, are not the ones who will repay the loans. The largest proportion of the loans will be spent in and for the urban area, but the largest proportion of the loans will be spent through the efforts of the farmers.
This fact should always be borne in mind for there are various forms of exploitation. We must not forget that people who live in towns can possibly become the exploiters of those who live in rural areas. All our big hospitals are in towns and they benefit only a small section of the people of Tanzania. Yet if we have built them with loans from outside Tanzania, it is the overseas sale of peasants' produce, which provides the foreign exchange for repayment. Those who do not get the benefit of the hospitals thus carry major responsibility of paying for them. Tarmac roads, too, are mostly found in towns and are a special value to the motor car owners. Yet if we have built those roads with loans, it is again the farmer who produces the goods who will pay for them. What is more, the foreign exchange with which the car is bought also comes the sale of the farmers' produce. Again, electric lights, water pipes, hotels and other aspects of modern developments are mostly found in towns. Most of them have been built with loans and most of them do not benefit the farmer directly, although they will be paid for by the foreign exchange earned by the sale of this produce. We should always bear this in mind.
Although when we talk of exploitation we usually think of capitalists, we should not forget that there are many small fish in the sea. They eat each other. The large ones eat the small ones and the small ones eat those who are even smaller. There are two possible ways of dividing the people in our country. We can put the capitalists and feudalists on one side, and the peasants and workers on the other. But we can also divide the people into urban dwellers on one side and those who live in the rural areas on the other. If we are not careful, we might get to the position where the real exploitation in Tanzania is that of the town dwellers exploiting the peasants.
a) What is the author's main argument in the first paragraph? (2 marks)
b) According to the passage, what are the sources of money used to repay loans obtained by Tanzania? (2 marks)
c) In not more than 50 words, summarize the reasons why the town people are considered exploiters. (6 marks)
d) Mention two challenges facing the Tanzanian government as brought out in the passage. (2 marks)
e) Explain how appropriate the figure of speech in the last paragraph is in relation to the author's argument. (3 marks)
f) The author says: "This fact should always be borne in mind . . ." Which fact is he referring to and why should it be borne in
mind? (2 marks)
g) We must not forget that people who live in towns can possibly exploit those who live in rural areas.
(Rewrite in the passive). (1 mark)
h) Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the passage. (2 marks)
i) hitherto .
ii) borne in mind
Date posted:
April 9, 2019