- Read the passage below and fill in the blank spaces with the most appropriate word.(Solved)
Read the passage below and fill in the blank spaces with the most appropriate word.
Some students know so (1)________ that they are unable to understand and do the tasks that the examiner requires of them. This is also, (2) ________ often the result of lack of proper preparation on their part (3) _______ the teacher’s (4) _______to teach them. Rarely is this (5) ____ due to lack of teaching and access to books. Another aspect is the unfortunate desire (6) _____ many student’s part to try to impress. The desire often leads to (7) ______ use of vocabulary that distorts communication completely. Students are advised to use vocabulary that they are (9) ______ with and understand their meaning if not, the examiner is more likely to find out the fault with your diction than be impressed (10) ________ it.
Date posted: June 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.(Solved)
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
County Public Service Boards are finding themselves caught between a rock an d a hard place, owing to competing personal and political interests.
Many boards are enmeshed in an intricate web of personal interests and political arm-twisting by Governors, Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) and any other county politicians, even as they are required to observe the law.
These politicians are mainly interested in controlling the organization, staffing and functioning of workers at the county level-an exclusive function of the county boards.
“The issue has been problematic. Some boards are just hiring without following the human resource procedures and paying little attention to the wage bill problem, which is undermining economic development, “said Public Service Commission Chairperson Margaret Kobia.
Each of the 47 countries has public service board whose members are appointed by governors, with the approval of country assemblies. Clause 58 of The County Governments Act, 2012, provides that the membership of the board is comprised of a chairperson, at least three, and no more than five, other members and a certified public secretary who is the secretary to the board.
The boards according to clause 59 of the Act, are required to establish, fill and abolish offices in the county public service, advise the county government on human resource management and development, and make recommendations to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission on the remuneration, pensions and gratuities for county public service employees.
In addition, the boards, like the national government equivalent –public service commission-have powers to discipline county public servants.
While the Act is clear on their role on recruitment of county staff, Sunday Nation established that some boards have been reduced to rubberstamps for governors and county executives, who Handpick staff.
In such cases ,the governors merely forward the names of their appointees to the boards to regularize and include them in the county government payroll, something Prof. Kobia said should never happen in a professionally run board.
(a) Why are county public service boards finding themselves in difficulties according to the first paragraph.
(b) What does the writer mean by the expression ‘between rock and a hard place’
(c) According to clause 59 of the County Government Act 2012, make notes on the duties of the county Public Service Boards.
(d) In what ways are the rules of recruitment of county staff flouted?
)
(e) The issue has been problematic. (Rewrite adding a question tag)
(f) What is the writers’s attitude towards the County Public Service Board?
(g) Explain the meaning of the following words and phrases as used in the passage
i) Enmeshed
(ii) Arm-twisting
(iii) Procedures
(iv) Handpick
Date posted: June 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- Rewrite the following passage changing all gender specific nouns to neutral ones.(Solved)
Rewrite the following passage changing all gender specific nouns to neutral ones.
Yesterday I took a taxi to the interview venue. On reaching the gate, I found a watchman who directed me to the room where the panel was sitting .I found several young men and women waiting to go in. A beautiful lady came and called me. In the interview room, I found the chairman and other members of the panel seated. They were all friendly except one man who kept asking me very difficult questions.
Date posted: June 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- Find each of the blanks spaces below with the most appropriate word.(Solved)
Find each of the blanks spaces below with the most appropriate word.
In the past couple of months ,Kenya has(1)______________to deal with a swarm of security(2)_________.The knee jerk reaction of the political class as well as citizens and netizens has been to play(3)____________games. And while we are quick to apportion blame, we adopt the speed(4)___________a sloth to offer solutions.
We have become (5)____________the mediaval kingdoms(6)_________________solutions was to put someone’s head on a platter(8)_____________it is unlikely that many people will remain with their heads intact because as a country we face myriad challenges and may will be with (9)________for years to come.
But for now, let us keep our focus on the issue of national security(10)_____________problems in this sector are structural, not individual.
Date posted: June 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- You are a radio presenter with Classic FM and you are scheduled to interview the Deputy President about terrorism and piracy in Kenya.
i) What preparations...(Solved)
You are a radio presenter with Classic FM and you are scheduled to interview the Deputy President about terrorism and piracy in Kenya.
i) What preparations would you carry out before the interview.
ii) What strategies would you employ during the interview?
Date posted: June 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- Read the passage below and fill in each blank space with an appropriate word.(Solved)
Read the passage below and fill in each blank space with an appropriate word.
To rank or not rank? This is the(1)___________________that greeted the(2)____________on ranking of schools and students based on their performance in national examinations.(3)________________and cons on the decision by the government.
(4)__________________been put forth with education officials giving varied (5) __________________
(6)__________________the debate on the issue is gradually being relegated to the periphery, it is (7) _________________from being conducive. It is (8) _______________that scholars and education experts,(9)_____________should be the guiding lights by providing enlightened(10)_____________have been conspicuous in their silence on this burning issue.
Date posted: June 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- The short story
Illieva and Olembo (Ed), When The Sun Goes Down and Other stories
With illustration from Michael Anthony’s 'Sandra Street' contrast Sandra with the side...(Solved)
The short story
Illieva and Olembo (Ed), When The Sun Goes Down and Other stories
With illustration from Michael Anthony’s 'Sandra Street' contrast Sandra with the side of the town.
Date posted: June 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given.(Solved)
Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given.
i) It is not surprising that Africa’s representative in the world cup performed dismally. (Begin: it is little…….)
ii) We all agree that Mwalimu Nyerere was humble. (rewrite in the past tense)
iii) Early elections results indicate that Sisi will not be defeated. (rewrite using 'unassailable')
iv) She loves him. (add a question tag)
Date posted: June 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- Fill the blank with the right form of the word in brackets.(Solved)
Fill the blank with the right form of the word in brackets.
i) You will have to pay for the ……….. of the house. (maintain)
ii) Fortunately, they are able to look at the matter with ………(objective)
iii) The workers decided to wait for the outcome of the …………. (deliberate)
Date posted: June 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.(Solved)
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. (20 marks)
They are best seen not on foot or from outer space but through the window of an aero plane; the newly cleared lands, the expanding wave of roads and settlements, the spirals of smoke and the shrinking enclaves of natural habitat. In a glance, we are reminded that the once mighty wilderness has shriveled. We measure it in hectares and count the species it contains; knowing that everyday something vital is slipping from us, a million year old history fading from sight.
I invite you now to try to visualize the loss in biological diversity due to the reduction of natural habitat. Consider the loss, most invincible to us today but destined to be painfully obvious to our descendants that occurs when entire wilderness is degraded or destroyed. On a worldwide basis, extinction is accelerating and could reach ruinous proportions before too long. Not just birds and mammals are vanishing but such smaller forms such as mosses and insects. A conservative estimate of the current rate of extinction is 1000 species a year, mostly because of the destruction of forests and other key habitats in the tropics.
To arrest this devastation, we must protect biological diversity. One compelling reason for doing so is that we are part of life on earth and share its history. The acceptance of this fact does not diminish humanity but raises the status of non human creatures. We should pause and think before treating them as disposable matter.
Another reason why we should fiercely want to conserve land and species is that there is material gain involved for ourselves, our kin and our community. Looked at it from that perspective, the diversity of species is one of the most important resources. It is also the least utilized. We must come to depend entirely on less than one percent of living species for our existence, with the reminder waiting untested and fallow.
It is therefore not surprising that recent estimates show that we have only utilized about 7000 kinds of plants for food, with emphasis on wheat, maize, rye, and a dozen other highly domesticated species. Yet, at least 75800 species exist that are edible and superior to the ones we use. Among the potential star species is the winged bean found in New Guinea. It contains more potential than cassava and has a nutritional value equivalent to that of soya bean. It matures within few weeks and wonderfully, the entire plant can be eaten; tuber, seeds, leaves, flowers, stems, and all. It can be eaten raw or ground into flour. What’s more? A coffee like beverage can be extracted from it. Any wonder that it has been called a one- species supermarket?
Also unexploited are natural resources that have medical value. These have been called the sleeping giants of the pharmaceutical industry. Actually, one is every ten plants species contains compounds which can combat cancer. One such species is the rosy periwinkle found on the West Indies. You have no doubt heard of the neem plant (baptized “maurubaini” in Kenya) which is reputed to cure or manage a host of ailements.
If we, the inhabitants of the old good earth, know what is good for use, we will arise, one on all, and conserve our biodiversity with all that we have got.
Questions
1. What evidence of the destruction of the wilderness can be seen from the air?
2. Why will the destruction of the habitat become very obvious to future generations?
3. Rewrite the following sentence to begin: it ………
Not just birds and mammals are vanishing but such smaller forms as mosses and insects.
4. Add a question tag.
To arrest this devastation, we must protect biological diversity…….
5. Why does the author think there is no conflict between humans and non- humans?
6. In note form summarize the evidence the author gives to show that we have utilized the diversity of species.
7. In what way is the winged bean similar to supermarket?
8. Why are some natural products referred to as sleeping giants?
9. Explain the meaning of the following words and phrases are used in the passage
i) Visualize
ii) Ruinous
iii) Conservative estimate
Date posted: June 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- Read the following telephone conversation and answer the questions that follow.(Solved)
Read the following telephone conversation and answer the questions that follow.
CALLER: What is your name and who are you in that company?
RECEPTIONIST: I am Agnes and I am the receptionist. May I ……..
CALLER: If so, you may not be of any help. I want to speak to the boss.
RECEPTIONIST: Excuse me, who specifically do you want to speak to yet you have not told me your name?
CALLER: They call me DJ Karos or Man P, the king of……
RECEPTIONIST: Sorry for interruption DJ, you have not given the name of the officer you want to speak to.
CALLER: Oh! It is the man who issues works.
RECEPTIONIST: I do not understand you.
CALLER: Come on! Do not tell me you do not know the human officer.
RECEPTIONIST: Do you mind holding on as I put you through to the Human Resource Officer?
CALLER: You guys advertised works in the papers which I realized I can manage but…….
OFFICER: Sorry sir, have you applied for the job?
CALLER: How did you expect me to know that? Am I an angel?
OFFICER: Sorry for inconvenience.
CALLER: You are not sorry; give me this work right away.
i) Identify ways in which telephone etiquette has been flouted in this conservation.
ii) How has the receptionist demonstrated effective conversational skills?
Date posted: June 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- Read the passage below and fill each blank spaces with the most appropriate word.(Solved)
Read the passage below and fill each blank spaces with the most appropriate word.
When you hear a gunshot you (1) _______ actually thank God; a bullet (2) _______ faster than the speed of sound (3) ________ chances are you would not hear a kill shot. In the middle (4) _______ untold danger the gravest enemy is not the (5) _______, but the panic that naturally grips us. Overcoming this hysteria is (6) ______ first battle. At the ring of a gunshot, lie flat on the ground and then (7) _______ listen to ascertain the (8) ______ of the shots. Looking around or even (9) ________ running and screaming makes you an easy (10) ________. Lie low as you quickly find a cover position behind a bullet – resistant surface.
Date posted: June 11, 2019. Answers (1)
- 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)