Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.

      

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.

For Africans living abroad, nothing is more irritating than the constant diet of negative news on
Africa. The only silver lining is that Africa is way down the list of news importance for the
Western media. Most of the time Africa is ignored but when it does make it into the newspapers,
radio or TV, then it is always portrayed as sinking in corruption, wars, famine and disease. If
you set out to find a positive story on Africa, you may have to wait until your grand children
have grown old.
What is more unfortunate is that whereas the rest of the world is divided into nations, Africa is
lumped into one big sorry mass. A civil war in a tiny country in Africa elicits screaming
headlines such as “Africa returns to barbarity”. Civil wars in Europe are not European civil wars
but civil ears in Bosnia, Sebia and so on. No one bothers to mention that out of Africa’s 54
countries, only two may be engaged in civil wars. That means 52 countries are peaceful. But the
impression you get from the Western media is that all of Africa is at war with itself.
The same goes for diseases, especially aids. Hardly does a week go by without the ‘experts’
from the West predicting how Africa’s entire population will be wiped out in fifty years’ time. If
all the predictions made about the impact of Aids had been correct, most African countries would
have been entirely depopulated by now.
According to the Western media, Africa is corrupt . All of Africa, all the time. It is interesting to
note that in America, for example, only the executives of a given company are said to be corrupt
while all African leader are seen as being irredeemably corrupt.
The point being put across is that Africa is guilty unless proven innocent. Western journalists
assigned to cover Africa are in most cases the most junior and the least experienced in the
organization. They are given this version of a ‘Hopeless Continent’ for so long that when they
land in any African country, they immediately set out to confirm their prejudices. And you can
always find what you are looking for.The situation is similar to the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. In Africa, Western
journalists set out to find corruption, decay and mismanagement. And if they cannot find it, they
will invent it on the basis that “ it must be there somewhere”
The causes of this generalized negative view of Africa are complex. When you confront
Western journalists, they deny that their view of Africa is prejudiced. They are probably telling
the truth because they report what they see- but they see what they want to see. And what they
want to see, subconsciously is a version of backward, primitive and uncivilized Africa.

So, while we feel irritated and even angered by the Western media’s portrayal of Africa, we must
remember that many journalists cannot help but see Africa the way they programmed to do. The
only way this can change is if the programming is changed. But how do you go about doing so?
The first step is to create space for dialogue between the Western media and Africans. It is
during such discussions that Africans will be able to tell their side of the story. If this happens,
then the Western media will see Africa as we do –a glorious continent full of promise but going
through a rough time at present.
(Adapted from African Business, May 2004)

a) What is the likelihood of finding a positive story on Africa?

b) Why are Bosnia and Serbia mentioned?

c) Why is the word “experts” on the third paragraph put within quotation marks?


d) Rewrite the following sentence to begin: Had….
'If all the predictions made about the impact of Aids had been correct, most African
countries would have been entirely depopulated by now.'

e) According to the passage is Africa more corrupt that America? Explain your answer.

f) Give two reasons why African stories are mainly assigned to the most junior and
inexperienced journalists


h) Explain the meaning of the following expressions as used in the passage:

Silver lining
Sorry
Irredeemably

  

Answers


Martin
(a) Little/ very little/ hardly/ since by the time one’s grandchildren are old, one is
likely to be dead/ have died

(b) Bosnia and Serbia are mentioned to show that civil wars in Europe are treated as
isolated cases while in Africa they are treated as a continental war

(c) The word is put within quotation marks to indicate that the writer does not
really believe that the people are experts/ if they were, their predictions would
already have come true

(d) Had all the predictions made about the impact of Aids been correct most
African countries would have been entirely depopulated by now

(e) No/ African is not more corrupt. It is just that the Western media generalizes the
few cases of corruption while in America, blame is apportioned appropriately.


(f) This is because African stories are considered to be of little importance also
such journalists are impressionable and so readily buy the stereotyped image of
Africa/ they/ such journalists are already prejudiced

(g) The author says, 'while we feel irritated' ( this suggests that he is an African.
More important) he says, will see Africa as we ………

(h) Silver lining- a blessing/ a lucky turn of events/ only good/ positive thing

Story - miserable, pitiable, without hope/ pathetic

Irredeemably- completely, incorrigibly, absolute/ hopelessly
marto answered the question on June 27, 2019 at 06:31


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    child who had been so casually taken from her at another time like this and the others
    who had been denied her. And yet a child was a child with a light hold on life. When it
    came to a man, a wealthy man, golden tongued, greatly loved, though he was not of her
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    Catch a little baby so,
    If he hollers let him go,
    Eeny, meeny, miny mo.”
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    f) In about 80 words, summerize the cover-up

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    h) What shows that J.M became even more popular after he died?

    Date posted: June 27, 2019.  Answers (1)

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  • Read the poem below and then answer the questions after it.(Solved)

    Read the poem below and then answer the questions after it.

    THE SMILING ORPHAN
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    You and I must know Now .... Tomorrow you might never understand
    Unable to lick my tears ..... ·
    And there was light
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    By Grace Birabwa Isharaza

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    b) Explain what the poem is about?

    d) Comment on the effectiveness of the title of the poem.

    e) Identify one character trait of the orphan.

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    g) Describe the mood of the poem.

    h) Explain the following lines and used in the poem

    They cried dutiful tears for the deceased .................................................................................................
    And there was Light in the darkness of the hut

    Date posted: June 12, 2019.  Answers (1)

  • Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.(Solved)

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    h) In which way can the EACC help in the fight against corruption?

    i) What is the meaning of the following words as used in the passage?

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    ii) Deferred

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    Date posted: June 12, 2019.  Answers (1)

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    Patient : Good morning doctor, thank you.
    Doctor : What is your problem?
    Patient : I get very upset sometimes, (doctor putting the book and pen aside) lately by the
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  • Study the following song and answer the questions that follow.(Solved)

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    Notes: 1. To prevent them from being discovered.

    2. Name of a cow.

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  • Read the story below and then answer the questions that follow.(Solved)

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    love with him. Eight girls at least, were known to want to marry the young warrior, for they had composed many songs ion his praise.
    Now this warrior was one time getting ready to go a long raid in a far away country. Before he set off for the raid, he called the youngest of his eight lovers and told her to put fresh milk in a small gourd. He also instructed her to keep checking on the color of the milk every day.”Should the milk turn red, the warrior told the girl.’ it would mean that I have been killed or am seriously wounded’. The young girl was so touched by the departure of her lover that she composed the following song for him.
    My warrior whom I love
    For whom I open the sweet curdled
    Milk of my father’s herd,
    And to whom I give fat ram
    Of my father to slaughter
    To whom I give my slender
    Thighs to lie on
    With whom are you going on a raid next?
    It happened that many days after the departure of the warrior, the girl ‘noticed the milk was turning red she wept bitterly for she knew that her lover was either dead or dying in a far away country. Without telling anyone the girl set off to look her dying lover.
    For many days she traveled and as she walked through plains and forests she sang the song she had composed for her lost warrior she traveled on and as she traveled she checked the color of the milk in the gourd. Each day that she saw the milk turn a little more red., she traveled faster and each day she hoped that she hoped that she would find her love alive.
    On the ninth day the girl sang louder and louder as she traveled. Each time she sang she would listen to hear if there was any reply. And as she listened at one time she heard a faint voice. There was no mistake about it. It was her lover’s voice she ran and ran and after a while she found her lover. He was extremely weak and badly wounded. When the dying warrior saw her, he told her, 'When I am finished, you take war attire and weapons home. When you get a son give them to him'. And with that the warrior seemed to be dying. But the girl did not listen to him, she quickly looked for water and washed his wounds. And after that she began to look for food for him. It did not take long before she saw a deer passing by. With her lover’s pear she killed it, and roasted the meat for her lover. For many months the young woman washed the wounds of her lover and fed him until he was well again. Back at home everybody thought that the young woman and her lover were dead, and they insisted that their death rites be performed
    However, the father of the warrior kept postponing the death rites. But at the last the old man agreed to perform the rites because his youngest son was to be circumcised, and could not be circumcised before the rites were performed.
    So, preparations for the death rites for the lost warrior were made. But on the morning of the day that rites were performed and as people were gathering, one of the people in the gathering heard a war song coming from the other side of the valley. He asked other people to listen. The father of the warrior could not mistake his son’s soul. He was almost crying as he gazed on the other side of the valley. The singing voice becomes clearer and before long the warrior and his lover emerged, driving a large herd of cattle. The bells that were tied around the necks of the oxen played to the tune of the war song.
    There was great rejoicing as people ran to meet the lost warrior and his young lover. On their arrival back home a big bull was slaughtered and there was a great feast. People ate and drank. And the warrior and his lover were married. They become man and wife and lived happily. And my story ends.
    Adapted from Oral literature: A junior course by A: Bukenya and M. Gachanja, Longhorn.

    a) Explain features of oral narratives in the above genre.

    b) How has the youngest lover changed the plot of the story?.

    c) State and explain three social activities of the communities depicted in the story.

    d) Describe the prevailing mood of the last paragraph.

    e) Explain two character traits of the warrior as depicted in the narrative.

    f) A class collected the above item from a community in Rusinga Island.

    1. Which means of transport do you think they used and why?

    2. State the items they lost during the transcription of the above story.

    g) Provide a proverb that summarizes the above story.

    h) State the main function of the song used in this narrative

    Date posted: June 12, 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.

    A new system modeled on Continous Assessment Tests [CATs] will soon replace ranking of teachers, learners, schools and regions in both KCPE and KCSE according to the Cabinet Secretary for Education Science and Technology Prof Jacob Kaimenyi.
    In the meantime, the ministry has constituted a team of experts to work out on an elaborate, credible and all-inclusive standard system that the management of schools would use in conducting the tests from the moment learners join school to the time they complete studies. This will include collaboration with the Education Ministry, the Examinations Council, Parents Association and Teachers Unions.
    According to the Ministry’s plan, the accumulated marks awarded over a period of time in all areas of learning, including co-curriculum activities would count towards the final results when one leaves school either after KCPE or KCSE examinations. To achieve the best possible grading and desired results, those charged with implementing the new program would have to consider all the important aspects of administering CATs at various levels of learning and teaching. The new system which would be implemented any time soon will serve as an alternative after the recent banning of ranking on performance of schools and candidates in national examinations, though there have been calls from a section of parents, Kenya National Union of Teachers and The private Schools Association to have the Minister rescind his decision on ranking.
    It is worth noting that in the CATs program, learners are examined continuously during their education and results considered after leaving school. It is an evaluation conducted over time; in other words, you are examined right through your learning process and not after the learning process [summative evaluation].By doing this assessment, you can track the improvement of the learner; you will be able top give more support and guidance and the learner will have more opportunities to improve.
    It has also been established that CATs can provide early indicators of likely performance of learners, something that can be of great help to the students themselves. It can also provide details of what has been learned at a particular stage of the course.
    The CS said that after working out the new grading system for KCSE and KCPE candidates to be used by schools, the system would become a policy where KNEC will be left with no other choice but to make it operational to end the public outcry on scrapping franking of schools teachers, candidates and regions. However, we are waiting to see if the teachers, some of whom have been accused of perpetuating examinations’ vices, will uphold the integrity that is in doubt.
    [Adapted from Education News:Jan 10-22, 2015]

    (a) State what are normally compared after KCPE and KCSE have been announced.

    (b) How is the new system going to ensure inclusivity before its inception?

    (c) In note form, state four would be advantages of the new system.

    (d) In what way are two mentioned systems different?

    (e) It is worth noting that in the CAT program, learners are examined continuously during their education and results considered after leaving school.(Re-write adding a question tag

    (f) Show that the banning of ranking is not approved by all.

    (g) Describe the writer’s attitude in the last paragraph.

    (h) What procedure will be followed before the proposed systems begins?

    (i) Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the passage

    Rescind

    Integrity

    Date posted: June 12, 2019.  Answers (1)

  • In the telephone conservation below, Mercy calls Toyota Kenya Limited Company to book an appointment with the managing director. Complete their conversation.(Solved)

    In the telephone conservation below, Mercy calls Toyota Kenya Limited Company to book an appointment with the managing director. Complete their conversation.

    Mercy: __________________________________________________________________________
    Telephone operator: Yes,it is .How can I help you ?
    Mercy: __________________________________________________________________________
    Telephone: Please hold on as I put you through the managing director’s secretary.
    Secretary: ________________________________________________________________________
    Mercy: I am Mercy Mapendo.I would like to book an appointment with managing Director on Wednesday at 2pm.
    Secretary:
    Mercy: Friday, 12:45 p.m. is fine with me.
    Secretary: That’s fine thank you for calling and keep time.
    Mercy:
    Secretary: You’re welcome.

    Date posted: June 12, 2019.  Answers (1)