Coms 110: Communication Skills I Session I 2010 Question Paper
Coms 110: Communication Skills I Session I 2010
Course:Bachelor Of Education Science
Institution: Kabarak University question papers
Exam Year:2010
COURSE CODE: COMS 110
COURSE TITLE: COMMUNICATION SKILLS I
STREAM: SESSION I
DAY: THURSDAY
TIME: 9.00 – 11.00 A.M.
DATE: 08/04/2010
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. There are four sections in this question paper (A, B, C & D)
2. Answer questions from ALL the sections
3. Read and follow instructions given at the beginning of each section
4. Your answers should be supported by illustrations as much possible.
SECTION A: (COMPULSORY) 20 MARKS
Answer ALL Questions from this section
QUESTION ONE
a) Justify the definition of a library as a collection of selected information resources which are
organized and preserved for reading, studying and consultation. (12 marks)
b) While giving examples, clearly explain how the following can cause barriers to an audience who
is reading a text book
i. Semantic barrier
ii. Psychological barrier (6 marks)
c) Briefly explain why feedback is important in the communication process (2 marks)
SECTION B: (COMPULSORY) 20 MARKS
Answer ALL Questions from this section.
QUESTION TWO
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow
Education and early childhood development experts are concerned over a new trend in which children are
being hounded out of bed as early as 5am to go to school. Every morning, chilly or warm, children under
three are woken up by parents or house helps to get ready for school. In the evening the children are
released late and given homework. And still some are expected to go to school over weekends.
Education minister Sam Ongeri’s ban on holiday tuition has fallen on deaf ears. Most culpable are the
middle class private academies where time tables are heavily influenced by cutthroat competition to
emerge tops at the national exams.
Experts now argue “parents are not allowing children to be children”. Psychologist Charles kimamo says
that children should be allowed enough sleep since it is an important aspect of development. “If they are
woken up that early when they are that young, it could lead to confusion”, said Kimamo. The expert
argues that taking the children to bed early does not solve the problem as this disrupts their sleeping
pattern. “They are young and they do not understand why they have to be forced out of bed so early, at
times even leaving their older siblings asleep. To them that is disturbance” he added, warning that Kenya
could be raising a future generation that will be “very disturbed”. Sociologist Paul Mbatia concurs. He
urges that exposing kids to a school environment where stiff rules have to be enforced instills a culture of
surveillance and dependency. “There is a danger of exposing children to formal and constant instructions
at their tender age because it denies them a chance to be creative”, he said.
This, the sociologist warns, cultivates a culture of dependency where they have to be spoon-fed even as
adults. In 2006, the ministry of education attempted to rein in the practice by coming up with ECD
policy, which dictates the type of education that should be given to children from birth to age eight. At
this age, the policy notes that the children should be between day care centres and standard two.
But today, class four has pupils age eight – those who enrolled in school earlier than the recommended
age. The policy set the recommended age for primary school enrolment at age six. But before this age, the
children could enroll for pre-primary education, though not so early in life.
Ms Virginia Wangari, the ministry’s public relations officer, says parents who do not wish to stay at home
with children should take them to day care centres and not formal schools. But Ms Maria Awiti, a parent,
says schools have become the best places to leave her child while she and her husband go to work. “When
our daughter goes to school, then we don’t have to pay a house help. We also want her to start schooling
early,” she said.
However, the ECD policy stipulates that infants have “holistic needs” that cannot all be met in schools.
“the needs they have at this age include nutritional, nurturing, protection, health, stimulation and
training,” said Wangari, adding that parents, teachers and community all have a complementary role to
play for the attainment of the needs.
QUESTIONS
1. What does the writer mean by saying that parents are not allowing “children to be children?”,
(2 marks)
2. Give two effects of waking up children early in the morning. (2 marks)
3. What are the effects of taking children to school when they are too young? (2 marks)
4. ECD is an acronym used in the passage give the full word for it (1 mark)
5. What are some of the reasons parents have for taking their children to school so early? (2 marks)
6. Why according to the passage is it futile to take children early to bed in order to wake them up
early? (2 marks)
7. Pick out a word in the passage that means the same as help one another (1 mark)
8. Give the meaning of the following words and phrases as used in the passage
(i) hounded
(ii) has fallen on deaf ears
(iii) cutthroat
(iv) siblings
(v) surveillance (5 marks)
9. Give three evidences from the passage that show that children have very limited free time.
(3 marks)
SECTION C
Answer ONE Question from this section (15 MARKS)
3. (a) Name six things an efficient student should do (6 marks)
(b) Your friend is preparing for the exams which are due to start in three weeks time. Give
her five tips that would help her to pass in the exam. (5 marks)
(c) Give two differences between reading and studying (4 marks)
4. (a) Using clear examples identify and explain four do’s in academic writing (12 marks)
(b) Name three concepts of an academic writing (3 marks)
SECTION D
Answer only ONE Question from this section) 15 MARKS
5. (a) There are certain misconceptions associated with listening. Expound (12 marks)
(b) Give any three characteristics of listening. (3 marks)
6. (a) Describe a paragraph that has each of the following features. Write a four sentence paragraph
to illustrate each feature.
(i) Paragraph unity
(ii) Coherence (14 marks)
(b) Define an essay (1 mark)
More Question Papers