- Imagine you are the Principal of Bahati Secondary School. Mr David Kamau, an alumini of the school has recently been recruited as a clerk in...(Solved)
Imagine you are the Principal of Bahati Secondary School. Mr David Kamau, an alumini of the school has recently been recruited as a clerk in Coca- Cola Kenya Ltd and the management has requested you to give them a report.
Date posted: June 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets.(Solved)
Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets.
(i) Her _______________ cost her life. (deceive)
(ii) Such an _____________ had never been seen. (Occur)
(iii) When we saw the suspect fidgeting, we knew _______________ that he was guilty. (doubt
Date posted: June 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:always stand on(Solved)
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:
A short guy is a disadvantaged individual. And no, the disadvantage is not about reaching high surfaces. He can always stand on
his toes or even get a stool. But what would he do when he is discriminated against or taunted on account of his being short; and when tall guys consider it something of a moral responsibility to remind the short fellow over and over that he is inferior?
Apparently, a short man, besides being irritable, is a psychological wreck, thanks to some syndrome of sorts.
Then there is a legion of misinformed women out there who declare to anyone who cares to listen that death would be a welcome alternative to dating a short man. Never mind that most are themselves as short as one can get. In their opinion, which they are entitled to anyway, tall is handsome, strong and literally oozes masculinity while short is the opposite. With limited choice of possible mates, restrictions on probable mates and slew of wrongful generalizations, affirmative action would be in order here.
But as they taunt, vilify, and harass short guys on the basis of height, the tall ones conveniently forget that no one chose how tall they would be. Elementary biology has it that we are all victims of genetic accidents; how tall one becomes is wholly subject to chance. Appearance and other human characteristics are an aggregation of parental traits at best, or a mutation at worst like when only one member is short in a family of tall fellows. It therefore speak volumes about the gray matter upstairs in anyone chest thumping about being tall. Once, when the disciplined forces were hiring, I offered myself for consideration. I was subjected to all sorts of strenuous exercise, running round and round the field in the midday sun like I had gone berserk, shutting my eyes alternately, and a host of other impossible strange routines, only to be turned away at the end of the day for the simple reason that my height did not add up.
Merchants of rumours and falsehood have been at it again. After unleashing the “shorter the monkey the longer the tail” rumour, they are back with another mind-boggling one: that these long-tailed short monkeys are poor lovers. While endowment does not necessarily equal performance, such are generalization of the absurd; something akin to the misplaced belief that all Africans lives on trees. If anything, as one Literary Great apply put it, a tiger does not declare its turpitude, it pounces.
And the politics of generalizations do not end there. The short guy is also said to be irritable and hence the worst possible choice for a boss or even a mate. Who wants to spend time with someone who will be over the roof at the slightest provocation? Not that the myth is gospel truth, but it has resulted in a further restriction of the short guy’s already limited choice of a mate.
As if this is not enough, stiff competition for short ladies silently rages, pitting tall guys against short ones. Despite their wide appeal, the tall fellows have an inexplicable penchant for short ladies. Factor in the belief that it is something of a misnomer to date a taller lady, the decision by some short ladies to give a not interested verdict for short men, and you have remote, dwindling chances of short men getting a mate.
Maybe it is time the short in stature considered coming together to fight this wholesale discrimination on account of their height, over which they have no control. An association would be the perfect gateway to affirmative action. Surely, what has height got to do with love, temperament and everything else for that matter?
Questions
(a) Why does the writer think the short guy is disadvantaged?
(b) Explain the irony of some women discriminating the short man.
(c) According to the writer, what determines a person’s height.
(d) Why does the writer give his experience when the disciplined forces were hiring?
(e) “There is a legion of misinformed women out there who declare to anyone who cares listen to dating a short man
(Rewrite the sentence using ‘prefer’
(f) What two reasons are given why it might be difficult for short men to get mates?
(g) What solution is given by the writer to end discrimination of the short man?
(h) What is attitude of the writer towards people discriminate against the short man?
(i) Explain the meaning of the following words and phrases as used in the passage
(i) legion
(ii) Aggregation
(iii) Chest thumping
(iv) Inexplicable penchant
Date posted: June 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- Change the following sentences into the active voice.(Solved)
Change the following sentences into the active voice.
(i) The experiment was successfully carried out by the student.
(ii) Our school was greatly honored by the minister
Date posted: June 10, 2019. Answers (1)
- Add question tags to the following statements.(Solved)
Add question tags to the following statements.
i) She warned you right from the beginning.
(ii) You will call in tomorrow.
Date posted: June 10, 2019. Answers (1)
- Change the following sentences into indirect speech.(Solved)
Change the following sentences into indirect speech.
(i) 'You have cheated for too long,' blurted the woman.
(ii) 'How much money do you owe me?' demanded the creditor from the debtor
Date posted: June 10, 2019. Answers (1)
- Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow(Solved)
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
A short guy is a disadvantaged individual. And no, the disadvantage is not about reaching high surfaces. He can always stand on his toes or even get a stool. But what would he do when he is discriminated against or taunted on account of his being short; and when tall guys consider it something of a moral responsibility to remind the short fellow over and over that he is inferior?
Apparently, a short man, besides being irritable, is a psychological wreck, thanks to some syndrome of sorts.
Then there is a legion of misinformed women out there who declare to anyone who cares to listen that death would be a welcome alternative to dating a short man. Never mind that most are themselves as short as one can get. In their opinion, which they are entitled to anyway, tall is handsome, strong and literally oozes masculinity while short is the opposite. With limited choice of possible mates, restrictions on probable mates and slew of wrongful generalizations, affirmative action would be in order here.
But as they taunt, vilify, and harass short guys on the basis of height, the tall ones conveniently forget that no one chose how tall they would be. Elementary biology has it that we are all victims of genetic accidents; how tall one becomes is wholly subject to chance. Appearance and other human characteristics are an aggregation of parental traits at best, or a mutation at worst like when only one member is short in a family of tall fellows. It therefore speak volumes about the gray matter upstairs in anyone chest thumping about being tall. Once, when the disciplined forces were hiring, I offered myself for consideration. I was subjected to all sorts of strenuous exercise, running round and round the field in the midday sun like I had gone berserk, shutting my eyes alternately, and a host of other impossible strange routines, only to be turned away at the end of the day for the simple reason that my height did not add up.
Merchants of rumours and falsehood have been at it again. After unleashing the “shorter the monkey the longer the tail” rumour, they are back with another mind-boggling one: that these long-tailed short monkeys are poor lovers. While endowment does not necessarily equal performance, such are generalization of the absurd; something akin to the misplaced belief that all Africans lives on trees. If anything, as one Literary Great apply put it, a tiger does not declare its turpitude, it pounces.
And the politics of generalizations do not end there. The short guy is also said to be irritable and hence the worst possible choice for a boss or even a mate. Who wants to spend time with someone who will be over the roof at the slightest provocation? Not that the myth is gospel truth, but it has resulted in a further restriction of the short guy’s already limited choice of a mate.
As if this is not enough, stiff competition for short ladies silently rages, pitting tall guys against short ones. Despite their wide appeal, the tall fellows have an inexplicable penchant for short ladies. Factor in the belief that it is something of a misnomer to date a taller lady, the decision by some short ladies to give a not interested verdict for short men, and you have remote, dwindling chances of short men getting a mate.
Maybe it is time the short in stature considered coming together to fight this wholesale discrimination on account of their height, over which they have no control. An association would be the perfect gateway to affirmative action. Surely, what has height got to do with love, temperament and everything else for that matter?
Questions
(a) Why does the writer think the short guy is disadvantaged?
b) Explain the irony of some women discriminating the short man.
(c) According to the writer, what determines a person’s height.
(d) Why does the writer give his experience when the disciplined forces were hiring?
(e) 'There is a legion of misinformed women out there who declare to anyone who cares listen to dating a short man.
(Rewrite the sentence using ‘prefer’
(f) What two reasons are given why it might be difficult for short men to get mates?
(g) What solution is given by the writer to end discrimination of the short man?
(h) What is attitude of the writer towards people discriminate against the short man?
(i) Explain the meaning of the following words and phrases as used in the passage
(i) legion
(ii) Aggregation
(iii) Chest thumping
(iv) Inexplicable penchant
Date posted: June 10, 2019. Answers (1)
- Imagine you are performing this poem to learners who are visually impaired. Explain four ways in which you would ensure that they get the message...(Solved)
Imagine you are performing this poem to learners who are visually impaired. Explain four ways in which you would ensure that they get the message effectively.
Date posted: June 10, 2019. Answers (1)
- Give another word pronounced as the following
i) Gate __________________________________________________________________________
ii) You __________________________________________________________________________
iii) Here(Solved)
Give another word pronounced as the following
i) Gate __________________________________________________________________________
ii) You __________________________________________________________________________
iii) Here
Date posted: June 10, 2019. Answers (1)
- Read the passage below and complete each blank space with an appropriate word.(Solved)
Read the passage below and complete each blank space with an appropriate word.
Citizen used to 1 ____________________ that political leaders would observe the principles of good governance simply 2_______________________ they were expected to. 3_______________________
it appears most leaders on the continent have replaced integrity with reckless impunity that has
4___________________________ Africa in chaos. 5__________________________ Office are also supposed to be 6___________________________ to the people that entrusted them with them the
7________________________________ of leading them. 8__________________________, the political elite in the continent see people as a means to an end. In many countries these days, Kenya included, politics has become the easiest way to make money. Electioneering is seen as an 9____________________ with extremely lucrative returns when campaign loyalties are 10____________________________ with appointments in the government of the day.
Date posted: June 10, 2019. Answers (1)
- Complete the following sentence using the correct prepositions.(Solved)
Complete the following sentence using the correct prepositions.
Scientific investigations show that HIV/AIDs is mainly transmitted ____________________________ unprotected sex _____________________________ infected people.
Date posted: June 10, 2019. Answers (1)
- Change the following sentences into passive voice.(Solved)
Change the following sentences into passive voice.
(i) Wyclif wrote the best essay
(ii) The Maasai warriors built their huts in the valley
(iii) Joy baked the most delicious cake
Date posted: June 10, 2019. Answers (1)
- Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow.(Solved)
Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow.
BUILDING THE NATION
Today I did my share
In building the nation
I drove a permanent Secretary
To an important urgent function
In fact a luncheon at the Vic.
The menu reflected its importance
Cold Bell beer with small talk,
Then friend chicken with niceties
Wine to fill the hollowness of the laughs
Ice-cream to cover the stereotype jokes
Coffee to keep the PS awake on return journey.
I drove the Permanent Sectretary back.
He yawned many times in the back of the car
Did you have any lunch friend?
I replied looking straight ahead
And secretly smiling at his belated concern
That I had not, but was smiling!
Upon which he said with a seriousness
That amused more than annoyed me,
Mwananchi, I too had none!
I attended to matters of state
Highly delicate diplomatic duties you know,
And friend, it goes against my grain,
Causes me stomach ulcers and wind.
Ah, he continued, yawning again,
The pains we suffer in buiding the nation!
So the PS had ulcers too!
My ulcers I think are equally painful
Only they are caused by hunger,
Not sumptuous lunches!
So two nation builders
Arrived home this evening
With terrible stomach pains
The result of building the nation -
- Different ways.
Henry Barlow
1. Identify two voices in the poem
2. Explain what the poem addresses
3. Identify and illustrate the use of any two poetic devices uses in the poem and explain their effectiveness
4. Describe the tone in the poem
5. How would you describe the attitude of the permanent secretary towards the persona?
6. Describe the rhyme scheme in stanza one
7. i) 'He yawned many times in the back of the car.' Add a question tag
ii) ' I drove the permanent secretary back.' Write in passive voice
Date posted: June 10, 2019. Answers (1)
- Read the following passage and then answer the questions that follow.(Solved)
Read the following passage and then answer the questions that follow.
Good soil is of no use to man unles he cultivates it. Iron, gold, oil, and copper beneath the soil are not wealth unless man digs them up and uses them. To cultivate and to dig means work. The continent of North America has always had good soils and rich minerals underneath but the Red Indians’ lived there in poverty for hundreds of years because they did not know how to use this wealth. There has always been copper in Zambia, Uganda and Congo, and diamonds in Tanzania, but they were not wealth to the inhabitants of these countries until recently when people who knew how to use them came.
In order to produce wealth men have to work and the harder they work and the better they work the more wealth they will produce. It is mainly a matter of better work. By working harder the farmer may be able to grow more food, but unless he uses better methods he may in the long run, do more harm than good. To have more wealth then, the farmer needs not so much more land (although that is needed in some places), but mainly more knowldge of how to usehis land, the energy and the will to use it. Here we see the need for knowledge and health.
The same applies to those who work in factories offices and schools. The better they work the more they earn. That is why the most highly paid jobs go to those whose knowledge is greatest and who are reliable workers.
Before we leave this question of work (or labour as it is sometimes called) there is an interesting point we should notice. Men have found by experience, from the time of the acient Egyptians that more wealth can be produced if different kinds of work are divided up amongst the workers, instead of everyman doing all his own work. The advantage of this system, which is called the ‘Division of Labour’ is that each worker can become an expert of his own job or trade, and so the total wealth produced is greater. In earlier days in Africa there was very little division of labour today there is much more. Most people are still farmers, but there are also, carpenters, builders, tailors, mechanics, miners, clerks, teachers and many others.
Land on which to grow his crops and the work of cutting and hoeing and planting were all the peasant of earlier days needed to produce his very small amount of wealth to keep him and his family alive, sometimes it was not enough. Today the people want more, not only necessities but also other things like sugar, slat, tea, clothes, books, radio, bicycles and so on. These things often come from other lands and have to be paid for. They can only be paid for if more wealth is produced so that there is something left over.
Comprehension questions
(a) According to the passage, can iron, gold, oil and copper be worthless?
(b) What is ironical about the Red Indians who lived in the continent of North America?
(c) Explain when copper became useful to the people of Zambia, Uganda and the Congo?
(d) Highlight four (4) things that a farmer must do in order to produce more food
(e) State one advantage of division of labour
(f) Identify and illustrate the use of parenthesis from the passage, give two examples
(g) The Red Indians lived there in poverty four hundreds of years. Add a question tag?
(h) Give one word that best explain the meaning of the following statements as used in the passage
i) ‘ something left over’
ii) ‘Things from other lands’
(i) Good soil is of no use to man unless he cultivates it. Use ‘only’
Date posted: June 10, 2019. Answers (1)
- Read the conversation below between two students from Masomo Mazuri High School and then answer the question that follows(Solved)
Read the conversation below between two students from Masomo Mazuri High School and then answer the question that follows.
WAKONYO: (Shortly after attending an English symposium)
Good morning, Kebu. How are you fairing on with your academic work?
KEBU : Good morning. I don’t even wish to talk about my performance. I didn’t get the score I had promised.
WAKONYO: Come on, Kebu, you are taking your failure too much to heat. I know it is a great disapointment to score a grade below what you expected in the pre-mocks and I sympathise with you but you must not allow it to make you so unhappy.
KEBU: (Looks sullen) It is all very well for a lucky lass like you, Wakonyo. You have passed and you would not feel cheerful if you were in my place.
WAKONYO: (Leaning forward) I know, but you must pull yourself together, and wake your mind up. You will pass next time. Remember the old saying, “If you dont suceed, try, try, try
again!
KEBU: I think the other version of the saying has more sense to it. “ If at first you don’t succeed, quit,
quit, quit at once!
WAKONYO: (Nodding her head encouragingly) Mm...................
KEBU: I should just give up
WAKONYO: Oh nonsense! You’ll never do anything if you don’t persevere. Now why do you think you
failed?
KEBU: Last term had been very challenging for me. I was down with malaria for three weeks and I
could not prepare properly.
WAKONYO: Well, you did have bad luck, I am sorry. But I am sure you will do well in the mocks and
National Exams, so you must make your mind to win through
KEBU: I wish I had your will power. Still, I will take your advice and put more effort.
WAKONYO: That’s the way forward! And Iam sure you will register a better grade next time.
(i) Identify and explain three strengths in Wakonyo’s speaking and listening skills
Date posted: June 10, 2019. Answers (1)
- Fill in each of the blank spaces in the passage below with the most appropriate word.(Solved)
Fill in each of the blank spaces in the passage below with the most appropriate word.
Samuel Wanjiru, the (1) ________________ olympic champion, could not have died from falling (2) _____________ the balcony, a pathologist has (3) ________________.
(4) ________________ in a court inquest into the (5) ________________ of the former athlete, former chief pathologist Dr. Moses Njue said he was told that the (6) ________________ Wanjiru would occasionally jump off the same (7) ______________, and that he could not have died from the same.
Dr. Njue told the court that Wanjiru died from an 'Independent' hit at the back (8) _______________ his head.
Njue referred to a postmortern he conducted on May 27, 2011 (9) _________________ with Government Pathologist Dr. Johannesen Oduor, Dr. Emily Rogena for Wanjiru’s mother and Dr. Peter Ndegwa who was representing Wanjiru’s (10) ________________ Trizah Njeri.
He told the court that Wanjiru, being an athlete, fell over the balcony 'like a cat' facing foward.
Date posted: June 10, 2019. Answers (1)
- Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow(Solved)
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
Populism is a cancer that has eaten right into the very fabric or our education sector. Decision - making on
education matter are no longer based on in-depth research but on political mileage to set strategies for educational
developments. The political class, purporting to represent the interests of the ordinary, use the education of our
children as their flags in their quest for power. The entry of these self-seekers into the education sector has
disorganised structures and systems, tampered with educational contents, teaching methods, assessment and
evaluation of institutions. The politically engineered 8-4-4 system thrust on the Kenyan education system, burden
the children and teachers with book materials to be mastered through rote learning. Though the curriculum
subjects and material are condensed, there is still so much irrelevance in the contents. In a number of schools the
curriculum is not fully covered. The situation has been made worse by teachers shortages.
As teachers grappled to put the 1984 KANU government-designed curriculum, NARC (National Rainbow
Coalition) government that come into power after resoundingly defeating KANU threw in a new challenge to the
education sector. In the fashion of its predecessor, NARC shoved free schooling on ad hoc into Kenyans
education - devoid of the benefit of research.
The result was an instant shortage learning resources and teachers. Schools run in shortage of 60,000 teachers
in the 18,000 primary schools and 5,000 secondary schools in this country. The scarcity of teachers adversely
affects normal teaching / learning processes that are sometimes disrupted by students’ riots.
In some schools inadequate teaching resources and facilities makes teachers skip some lessons and therefore a
student become idle, bored and highly irritable. As IPAR Report (2008) puts it. “In such state, they can become
violent at the slightest provocation.” The reports adds, “From observation, violence in schools coincides with the
times when teachers are agitating for action on issues affecting them such as higher salaries and hence they have
no time for students. “The morale of the teaching fraternity has reached rock-bottom. Remuneration is believed
to be the most demoralizing factor. Teachers’ salaries compare unfavourably with their salaries of their peers in
the public service. Although, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is the employer of teachers in public
schools, the government controls the remuneration of teachers and ‘may often see no urgency in encouraging
seamless implementation of a progressive reward system’ (IPAR 2008, Report).
Teachers express apathy because of lack of employer motivation and poor administration, among other
negative factors. Their work environment has discouraged them from making efforts to improve performance,
which affects students who may vent anger by destroying school property to attract attention.
Adaptation from 'Education Insight'
Questions
1. How does populism affect education sector according to the passage?
2. What are the shortcomings of the politically engineered 8 - 4- 4 system? Give your answer in note form.
3. Identify and explain the figure of speech in the first paragraph.
4. Explain the added challenge that arose when the NARC government soon took over power.
5. According to the passage how can inadequate teaching resources translate to students’ riots.
6. The situation has been made worse by teachers’s shortage. Add a tag question.
7. 'The morale of the teaching fraternity has reached rock-bottom,' the report stated. Rewrite in the reported speech.
8. What has killed teachers’ morale according to the passage?
9. Explain the meanings of the following words and phrases as used in the passage.
(i) rock-bottom.
(ii) apathy
(iii) devoid
(iv) populism
Date posted: June 7, 2019. Answers (1)
- The following conversation is between you and the manager of the company to which you have applied for
employment. Fill the missing blanks with the appropriate...(Solved)
The following conversation is between you and the manager of the company to which you have applied for
employment. Fill the missing blanks with the appropriate responses.
MANAGER: Ah good morning, Mrs. Matiang’i.
YOU: __________________________________________________________
MANAGER: Of course you’ve applied for a position in the company. Do sit down and please tell me about
your education.
YOU: ___________________________________________________________
MANAGER: How did you perform in college in academic and extra curricular activities?
YOU: ___________________________________________________________
MANAGER: I see. Why did you not advance your academic further?
YOU: ___________________________________________________________
MANAGER: Did you have any particular reason for applying to us?
YOU: ___________________________________________________________
MANAGER: Okey, that will be enough for now. We will contact you.
Thank you.
YOU: ____________________________________________________________
Date posted: June 7, 2019. Answers (1)
- 'Therefore i lie with her, and she with me. And in our faults by lies we flattered be.' Identify and explain the
pun(Solved)
'Therefore i lie with her, and she with me. And in our faults by lies we flattered be.' Identify and explain the
pun
Date posted: June 7, 2019. Answers (1)
- Read the following passage and fill in each blank space with the most appropriate word.(Solved)
Read the following passage and fill in each blank space with the most appropriate word.
Moi High School Kabarak produced a superhuman performance with close to half their students getting As in
KCSE 2014. More (1) __________________ 90 per cent of their 274 students got either an A or A-, a
performance which ought to be (2) ___________________ by all.
It is easy to hothouse a small group of students, but to (3) ________________ top performance across board
for such a large and diverse group is beyond excellence.
I was shocked by Alliance’s performance last year, even (4) _______________ I still thought it could be
equaled. Well Kabarak, bettered the result, and they (5) ____________________ so with a large group.
Congratulations to the school, the students and the management.
It also has not (6) _____________________ my eye that Kabarak is co-educational.
How serendipitous (7) ______________________ so soon after my article on why we need co-educational
schools one such institution tops the nation!
The logic (8) ______________________ the decision to segregate schools has always been spurious. It
always claims that single-sex schools perform better than co-educational facilities. This (9) _____________ is not
only wholly wrong, but also ends up hurting girls (10) _____________________ there are more national schools
reserved for boys.
Date posted: June 7, 2019. Answers (1)