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KCSE CLUSTER TESTS 26

English Paper 2

1. COMPREHENSION (20 Marks)

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


Kenyan roads hold two things in equal measure: great promise and great disappointment. They begin with a promise, in this case, the construction. Everyone is excited about the possibilities that the road presents. If it happens to be a new road, commuters will talk about nothing else except how pleasantly things will change for them. Soon, the construction is completed, and people are so excited, some are even tempted to lie on the tarmac! Change does not happen; value of property appreciates a hundred fold, businesses and farmers do better and the general outlook of that area changes.


Three years down the road however, due to poor workmanship, cracks begin to appear, small ones at first, which become bigger by the day, and finally, they develop into the craters that we Kenyans know too well. Vehicles are damaged; dust returns with a vengeance and accidents increase, with them, permanent scars and loss of lives. Right in front of our eyes, what held great promise and hope to us becomes a source of disappointment and anguish. Yet every single day, we ply the roads, going about our business in spite of the difficulties.


Relationships behave much the same way. In every relationship, hope and promise are intricately intertwined with the potential for disappointment. And just like with the roads, we don't give our relationships the nourishment they need to withstand the bad times. When it begins to crack, we allow the dust of the disappointment to block our view of the promise that the relationship still holds.


Here are some thoughts to consider.


First, just like roads, relationships are necessary in spite of their challenges. People come into the relationship with expectations, some realistic, some unrealistic and everything in between them.


The backgrounds we come from inform those expectations to a great extent, and these are further reinforced by folktales and fantasies of romance, family, wealth and so on. When these expectations are not met, disappointments are bound to occur.


Yet like the roads, relationships still hold great promise for happiness, health and wealth. Mark Gungor, the creator of the video. "Laugh your Way to a Better Marriage." Quotes research that says married people are happier, healthier and make more money on average than singles, the challenges notwithstanding, am of the opinion that human beings have not yet discovered any other source of
Companionship, love friendship, and pleasure that is greater than that which is found in relationships.

Another thought is the permanent nature of roads. Every time I visit my home town, am amazed that most of the roads are still there. I can actually direct someone to my home without the fear that the road will have disappeared. Generally, roads have a permanent nature.
In the same way, relationships must be approached with a view of staying put, for better or for worse. This was the major plank in the traditional marriage in Africa, as well as a central tenet of the Christian tradition to which most Kenyans pledge allegiance. Unfortunately, these traditional ideals of love, courtship, marriage and family have largely been discarded and without clear guidelines, relationships are likely to be a difficult proposition for anyone.

The proliferation and acceptance of come-we-stay arrangements and other forms of non-committal type of unions is a challenge. This is because the roles that marriage plays in the society-producing and nurturing of children to maturity, providing companionship and building wealth, require a high level of permanency. The promise of relationships lies in commitment, and if approached from any other angle, relationships become unfulfilling.

(From: The Daily Nation newspaper dated February 29th, 2012.)


a) Explain why people look to the construction of a new road with optimism. (3mks)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………….…………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………….………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………….………………………………………………………

b) Identify one similarity between Kenyan roads and relationships. (2mks) ……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………….……………… …………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………….…………………………………………………….………… …………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………

……….………………………………………………
c) What is the writer's take on Mark Gungor's position on relationships? (2mks)
……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………..……………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………….…………………………………………………….………… …………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………

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

d) According to the passage, state why relationships should be permanent. (3mks) ……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………….…………………………………………………….……………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………… ……………………………….……………………………………………………………………………….… ………………………………………………….………………………………………………

e) State the writer's attitude towards Kenyan roads as revealed in the passage. (2mks) ……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………….…………………………………………………………………..........................................
g) In note form, give the consequences of poor road workmanship. (5mks)
……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………… ….…………………………………………………….………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ……………………………………………………………….………………………………………………… ….……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………

g) "Everyone is excited about the possibilities that the road presents."

(Rewrite beginning: Everyone's ................... ) (1mrk)

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

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

h) Explain what the following word and phrase mean as used in the passage. (2mks)

i) Proliferation
………………………………………………………………………………...........


ii) Pledge allegiance

……………………………………………………………………………………

25 marks

2. EXCERPT (25 Marks)

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

Waiyaki rose. He was now really exasperated. What had Nyambura got to do with them? What? Could he not do whatever he wanted with his own life? Or was his life not his own? He would tell them nothing about Nyambura.

"Nyambura has nothing to do with this. If I love her, I love her. If you have nothing else to tell me, I will go."

"Remember the oath!"

"The oath!"

"You took it." "It did not forbid me to love people."

"It forbids you to betray the tribe, to reveal its secrets, or to do anything unclean which might ruin us." He would not discuss Nyambura, a girl who had rejected him. He looked at Kabonyi.Hatred was all that the dimming light from the lantern could reveal. The gleam in Kamau's eyes spoke of silent triumph, and Waiyaki now knew that even Kamau hated him. Yet Waiyaki was more annoyed with himself, for he felt he had not put up a good fight. Maybe he had lost grip with the tribe. Maybe he did not know where he was leading them. As he left them and walked out the word 'traitor', followed him and he wondered if he had actually seen all the consequences of the awareness he had aroused in the hills. But bitterness and frustration mingled and drove him away. He felt angry with everybody, his own father, Nyambura, the elders, and with himself. Kabonyi felt now triumphant as he faced the elders. "Elders of the tribe, I told you. You would not believe me. He has not denied associating with Joshua or the white man. How can he continue to be a teacher? How can we go on following him? Where is he leading us?" "He was always like that," an elder said sadly. "It is the girl. The girl has turned his mind the wrong way."

"As we said earlier," one more elder commented, "all these Christians should be circumcised."

"Yes," a few voices assented, but not all. For some feared that such an action would bring thahu to the land.


a) What has just happened before this excerpt? (2mks)
……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……….…………………………………………………….…………………………………………………… ………………………….…………………………………………………….…………………………………

b) In one sentence, explain the relationship between Waiyaki and Kabonyi. (2mks) ……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………… ….…………………………………………………….………………………………………………………… …………………….…………………………………………………….………………………………………

c) From this extract, Kabonyi is brought out as malicious. Cite two incidences elsewhere in the novel where he displays this behavior. (4mks)

……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………… ….…………………………………………………….………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………… ……………………………….……………………………………………………………………………….… ………………………………………………….………………………………………………
d) "If you have nothing else to tell me, I will go" Rewrite in Reported Speech, (1mrk) ……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……….…………………………………………………….…………………………………………………… ………………………….…………………………………………………….…………………………………
e) Identify and illustrate any two themes brought out in this extract. (4mks) ……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………… ….……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………….…………………………………………………….……………………………………… ……………………………………….…………………………………………………….……………………

f) Comment on any two aspects of style. (4mks)

……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………… ….…………………………………………………….………………………………………………………… …………………….…………………………………………………….……………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………….………………………………………………… ….……………………………………………………………………………….……………………………… …………………….………………………………………………
g) From your knowledge of the entire text, summarize Kabonyi's accusations against Waiyaki in not more than 50 words. (6mks)

ROUGH COPY
……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………… ….…………………………………………………….………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………..……………………………………… ……………………………………….…………………………………………………….…………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..… …………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………… ……………….………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….………………………………………………………………………………………..........

FAIR COPY

……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………… ….…………………………………………………….………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………..……………………………………… ……………………………………….…………………………………………………….…………………… ……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… …………………………………………………………….……………………………………………………. ……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………….…………………………………………………….…………………………… ………………………………………………….…………………………………………………….………… …………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………… ……………………………….………………………………………………
i) Explain the meaning of the following word and phrase as used in the extract. (2mks)

i) Exasperated……………………………………………………………………………...


ii) Lost grip …………………………………………………………………………..………

25 marks

3.POEM (20 Marks)

3.

After a brief struggle I got myself a job;

My food was meat and banana flour

A hundred cents a month and soon I had some money.


Soon afterwards I bought myself

a beautiful girl

My heart was telling me this

was a fortune,

So, heart you were deceiving me and I

believed you.


On a Saturday morning as I was

leaving work;

I was thinking I was being

awaited at home

But on arrival, I couldn't find

my bride.

Nor was she in her parent's home

I ran fast to a river valley;

What I saw gave me a shock

There was my wife conversing

with her lovers


I sat and silently wept;

People are not trustworthy and

will never be

Girls are not trustworthy and will never be!


Questions

a) Place this song in its appropriate genre. (2mks)

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

…….………………………………… ………………….………………………

b) Who is the probable singer of this song? (1mk)

……………………………………………………………………………….…

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

c) What evidence is there to show that this is an oral song? Give two well illustrated features.(4mks) ……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………….……………… …………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………….…………………………………………………….………… …………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………

……….………………………………………………

j) What do we learn about the economic setting of the community depicted in this song? (2mks) ……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………….……………… …………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………….…………………………………………………….…………

h) Briefly explain what the following lines mean. (1mrk)

"Soon afterwards I bought myself a beautiful girl.”

……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………….……………… …………………………………….………………………………………………...........................................
b) Read the proverb below and answer the questions that follow.
Knowledge is like a garden: if it is not cultivated, it cannot be harvested.
i) Explain the meaning of this proverb. (2mks)
……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………….……………… …………………………………….………………………………………………

ii) Describe a situation to which this proverb could apply. (2mks) ……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……….…………………………………………………….……………………………………………………
………………………….…………………………………………………….………………………………… ……………

ii) What is the role of the proverb in the situation you have described in (i) above. (2mrks) ……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………….……………… …………………………………….…………………………………………………………………………… ………………………….…………………………………………………….…………………………………

iv) Explain the imagery used in this proverb. (2mks) ……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……….…………………………………………………….…………………………………………………… ………………………….…………………………………………………….…………………………………
v) What does this proverb reveal about the values of the community from which it originates? (2mks) ……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………….……………… …………………………………….………………………………………………............................................ ……………………………………………………….…………………………………………………….……

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

20 marks

4. GRAMMAR (15 Marks)

4.

(a) Rewrite the following sentences as instructed. Do not change the meaning. (3mks)
i) Mutu says that he is unwell. (Rewrite in direct speech)

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

ii) The principal did not suspect that the man would con him. (Begin: Little ……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………….……………… …………………………………….………………………………………………

iii) Jessica went to school. (Rewrite as a question starting: Might …)
……………………………………………………………………………….………………………………… ………………….……………………………………………………………………………….……………… …………………………………….………………………………………………
b) Replace the underlined phrasal verb with a word with a similar meaning. (3mks)
i)The opposition party stood up for what it believed.
……………………………………………………………………………….…

……………………………… ………………….……………………..............
ii) Waiyaki felt let down when Nyambura did not show up.

……………………………………………………………………………….…

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

iii) The teacher should have ironed out any differences between him and his class.
……………………………………………………………………………….…………………

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


c) Fill the gap in each of the sentences below with an appropriate word or phrase. (3mks)
i) Only one of the students ................ ……………………………….to blame for what has just happened.

ii) I have………………………………………tea in the flask. I can give you some.

iii)He is not sure whether the programme will be…………………………………………live.


d) Fill in the blanks using the correct form of the word in brackets in each case below. (3mks)

i) Omondi was liked by all his colleagues because of his………………………………………………… (humble)


ii) He was arrested because Raila made a malicious ...................... …………………..against him (allege)


iii)No sooner had Rooney ……………………………….down than the coach began to scream. (lie)


e) The following sentences have incomplete idiomatic expressions. Complete them correctly.

.................................................................................................... (3mrks)
i) To finish this work by today is a ………………………………….. order.


ii) Stop poking your……………………………………….in other people’s affairs.


iii) Mary had to settle…………………………………with the principal before she was re –admitted

15 marks

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