Search
Free School Management System
Free School Management System for Kenya

Free School Management System

Learn More

KCSE CLUSTER TESTS 25

English Paper 2

1. COMPREHENSION (20 Marks)

Read the passage below and then answer the questions that follow.
1.

Over the years man has cultivated to exhaustion the better in the plains. This has led to progressive destruction of land to the point where some of the steeper hill slopes are cultivated so that widespread erosion has been initiated. Meanwhile, the livestock are continuously being forced on to smaller areas of the poorer land and further up the hill slopes where they have to compete with foresters. As a result, the quantities of animal proteins, so necessary to human health, have steadily declined. Surprisingly, instead of accepting the responsibility for all this destruction, man blames livestock and in particular goat.

Man has repeatedly failed to do anything to restore the fertility of soils he has ravaged. After the last miserable crop has been harvested, the land has been left to weeds. No attempt has been made to plant grass or under-plant the last agricultural crop with fodder species. Had this been done, rehabilitation would have been quicker and sure erosion would have been reduced. Thus , the gradually worsening situation would be arrested.

If man would shoulder the responsibility for his own greedy misuse of the land, the goat could easily carry the blame for its own much smaller share in this degradation. Unfortunately, because human nature is what it is, man will find something to blame for his own carelessness. The goat has been chosen to carry this blame largely because it is often the last animal to be seen wrestling a precarious living from the area where man has done his worst and from which cattle and sheep have long since been forced to move.

Conservation of land depends on proper planning. Livestock numbers therefore, irrespective of species, should be strictly limited to a density which will permit pasture renewal instead of causing its degeneration. This adjustment of numbers should help man to have a balanced mixture of livestock. Many writers in recent years have tried to show that there has been considerable improvement in mountain grazing areas after the banishment of the goat. Most, however, fail to indicate to what extent this has been due, solely, to the removal of the goat or to a reduction in other livestock densities or other measures such as erosion control, terracing, the building of gabions and grass planting. It is essential to ensure that results which are obtained in one environment are not automatically applied to a different one.

Adapted from ‘Observation on the Goat’.


i) What evidence is there in the first paragraph to show that the land has been severely destroyed? (2mks) ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………..

ii) In what way does man blame livestock for the destruction of the land? (3mks) ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………..

iii) Rewrite the following sentences in the passive. “ Surprisingly, instead of accepting the responsibility for all the destruction, man blames livestock and in particular the goat.” (2mks)

……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………..

iv) In note form, write the factors that led to the steady decline in the quantities of animal proteins. (4mks) ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………..

v) Identify the use of irony in the last paragraph. (3mks)

……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………..

vi) What is the author’s attitude towards land conservation? (3mks) ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………..

vii) Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the passage. (3mks) Miserable…………………………………………………………………………………… …………………. Banishment………………………………………………………………………………… ………………….

Wrestling aprecarious living

…………………………………………………………………………..

20 marks

2. EXTRACT (25 Marks)

Read the passage below and then answer the questions that follow.
2.

DR. STOCKMANN:

I will tell you that too, later on (holds out the card to PETRA). There, Petra, tell sooty –nose to run over to “ the Badge’s with that as quick as she can. Hurry up’ (PETRA takes the card and goes out to the hall.). Well, I think I have had a visit from every one of the devil’s messengers to- today; But now I am going to sharpen my pen till they feel its point, I shall dip it in venom and gall, I shall hurl my inkpot at their heads; They’ll find out that a pen is mightier than an umbrella.

MRS. STOCKMANN: Yes but we are going away, you know Thomas.(PETRA comes back).

DR. STOCKMANN: Well? PETRA: She has taken it.

DR. STOCKMANN: Good! Going away, did you say? No, I’ll be hanged if we are going away’. We are going to stay here, Katherine! PETRA: Stay here?

MRS. STOCKMANN: Here, in this town?

DR. STOCKMANN: Yes, here. This is the field of battle this is where the fight will be. This is where I shall triumph; As soon as I have had my trousers sewn up I shall go out and look for another house. We must have a roof over our heads for the next winter.

HORSTER: That you shall have in my house.

DR. STOCKMANN: Can we really?

HORSTER: Yes, quite. I have plenty of room, and I am hardly ever at home.

MRS. STOCKMANN: How good of you, Captain Horster! PETRA: Thank you!

DR. STOCKMANN: (shaking his hands): Thank you, thank you: That is one trouble over! Now I can set to work in earnest. There is an endless amount of things to look through here, Katherine! Fortunately I shall have all the time; because I have been dismissed from the Baths, you know. MRS. STOCKMANN: (with a sigh); Oh yes, I expected that.

DR. STOCKMANN:

And they want to take my practice away from me too. Let them! have got the poor people to fall back upon, anyway- those that don’t pay anything; and they need me most, too. But, oh, they will have to listen to me: I shall preach to them in season and out of season, or whatever the phrase is! MR. STOCKMANN: But, dear, Thomas, I should have thought events had showed you what use it is to preach.

DR. STOCKMANN:

You are really ridiculous, Katherine. Do you want me to let myself be beaten off the field by public opinion and the ‘compact majority’ and that nonsense? No, thank you’ And what I want to do is very simple and clear and straight forward. I only want to drum into the heads of these mongrels the fact the liberals are the most insidious enemies of freedom- that party programmes strangle the new truth- that consideration of expediency turn morality and justice upside down – and that they will end by making life here impossible. Don’t you think, Captain Horster that I ought to be able to make people understand that?

HORSTER:

Very likely: I don’t know much about such things myself.

DR. STOCKMANN:

Well, look here – I explain! It is the party leaders that must be destroyed. A party leader is like a gluttonous wolf. He requires a certain number of smaller victims to prey upon every year, if he is to live. Just look at Hovstad and Aslaksen! How many smaller victims have they finished off or at any rate maimed mauled until they are fit for nothing except to be householders or subscribers to the people’s…………………… Messenger!(sits down on the edge of the table). Come here, Katherine – look how beautifully the sun shines to –day! And this lovely air I am drinking in!

MRS. STOCKMANN:

Yes, if only we could live on sunshine and fresh air, Thomas.


Questions

a) Briefly describe the happenings that lead to the events taking place in this extract (3mks)

………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………

b) Who is sooty – nose? (2mks)
………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………

c) Identify an adjective in the extract that is used in the comparative degree. (1mk) ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………

d) Dr. Stockmann seems to contradict his earlier decision. Explain the contradiction. (2mks) ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………

e) Discuss the character traits of the following as revealed in the extract.

i) Horster (2mks)

…………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………

ii) Dr. Stockmann (2mks)

…………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………

f) Explain the irony in Mrs. Stockmann’s utterance “oh yes, I expected that”. (2mks) ………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………

g) Identify and explain any one theme that has been highlighted in the extract. (3mks) ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………

h) Explain the imagery of the following as brought out in the extract:

i) the pen (2mks)

………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………

ii) the sun (2mks)

………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………

i) Explain the meaning of the following words used in the extract. (2mks)

i) Ridiculous

………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………

ii) Mongrel

………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………
j) Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each.

i) No, I’ll be hanged if we are going away. (Add a question tag). (1mk)

…………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………

ii) I shall hurl my inkpot at their heads. (change to passive) (1mk)

…………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………

25 marks

3. POEM (20 Marks)

Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow
3.

THE MOTOKA

You see that Benz sitting at the rich’s end?

Ha! That Motoka is Motoka.

It belongs to the minister for fairness

Who yesterday was loaded with doctorate

At Makerere with whisky and I don’t know what

Plus I hear the literate thighs of an undergraduate.


You see those market women gaping their mouths?

The glory of its inside has robbed them of words

I tell you the feathery seats the gold steering

The TV the radio station the gear!

He can converse with all the world presidents

While driving in the back seat with his darly

Between his legs without the driver seeing at a thing!

Ha! Ha! Ha!


Look at the driver chasing the children away

They want to see the pistol in the door pocket
Or the button that lets out bullets from the machine

Thought the eyes of the car – Sshhhhhhhh

Lets not talk about it.


But I tell you that Motoka can run

It sails like alyato, speeds like a swallow

And doesn’t know anyone stupid on its way

The other day I heard…………………………..

But look at its behind, that mother of twins!

A- ah That Motoka is Motoka.


You just wait, I ‘ll tell you more

But let me first sell my tomatoes.


Questions

a) Who is the persona? (2mks)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

b) Briefly explain what the poem is all about. (2mks)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………

c) Identify any two stylistic devices used in the poem. (6mks)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………
d) Identify and illustrate the character of the market women as portrayed in the poem. (3mks) ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………

e) Explain the meaning of the following lines as used in the poem. (3mks)

i) Ha! That Motoka is Motoka.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………

ii) The glory of its inside has robbed them of the words.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

iii) But look at its behind, that mother of twins.

…………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………...

f) Describe the tone of the poem and comment on the persona’s attitude towards the minister for fairness. (2mks) ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………

g) Identify the economic activity of the people portrayed in this poem. (2mks) ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………

20 marks

4. GRAMMAR (15 Marks)

4.

a) Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. (2mks)

i) It was a wonderful experience. (Rewrite beginning:

What……………………………………...……………………………………………………

..…………………………………………………………………………………………………
ii) “How come you did not come earlier?” the matron asked. (Rewrite in reported
speech).
..………………………………………………………………………………………………… ..…………………………………………………………………………………………………
b) Explain the difference in meaning between the following pair of sentences. (2mks)

i) I saw him crossing the road.

………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………

ii) I saw him cross the road.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………… ……………………………

c) The following sentences are repetitive. Rewrite them without repetition (2mks)

i) When she met him he was wearing a suit that was black in colour.

………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………

ii) You will not succeed not unless if you work hard.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………

d) Fill the blanks in the following sentences with the correct form of words with brackets. (4mks)

i) The youth should follow the……………………………………………………..(guide) they receive from the elders.

ii) She could not stand the ……………………………………(vulgar) of his actions.

iii) Jane was ……………………………(decide) about taking up the job.
iv) His …………………………….(sensitive) makes him say offensive things to people.


e) Replace the underlined words with appropriate phrasal verbs formed from the words in brackets.

i) After learning for a long time, James finally discontinued his studies (give) (1mk) …………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

ii) The bus which had an accident was completely destroyed. (write). (1mk) …………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………… .

Use one word to replace the ones that are underlined. Do not change the meaning. (3mks)

iii) We shall take you to court for breaching the contract.

iv) She is not relaxed.

v) He is going to put the car back to shape.

15 marks

Back Top