Get premium membership and access questions with answers, video lessons as well as revision papers.
i. Will you take tea or coffee today? Falling intonation.
ii. He who laughs last laughs the longest falling intonation.
iii. You don’t have to leave immediately, do you? Rising intonation
marto answered the question on September 24, 2019 at 07:19
- Your school is participating in a debate on the motion, 'Technology has brought more harm than good.' How would your listeners lead to your failure...(Solved)
Your school is participating in a debate on the motion, 'Technology has brought more harm than good.' How would your listeners lead to your failure in presentation?
Date posted: September 24, 2019. Answers (1)
- Fill in the blanks spaces in the passage below with an appropriate word.(Solved)
Fill in the blanks spaces in the passage below with an appropriate word.
Probably no type of test question (i)................ students so much as an essay question. Usually they fear being (ii) ................ with questions that demand somewhat lengthy answers (iii)......... intelligible prose. Essay questions (iv) ........... are necessary because they test for the type (v) .............. information that objective questions tend to ignore. (vi)........... essay questions enables the tester to determine a student’s ability to put facts into perspective and to draw subjective conclusions. You should (vii) ................ an essay with the same care as you would any formal written (viii) ............... A careful reading of the question is indispensable. You must determine (ix) ................ what it is the question seeks to discover. It is also good practice to sketch out an (x) .....................before you begin
Date posted: September 24, 2019. Answers (1)
- Rewrite the following sentences as instructed.
Jack removed his coat and rushed to the river. (Use a present participle)(Solved)
Rewrite the following sentences as instructed.
i) Jack removed his coat and rushed to the river. (Use a present participle)
ii) Lynn knew the importance of the exercise. He had been a gymnast. (Use a participle to join into one sentence)
Date posted: September 24, 2019. Answers (1)
- Use a suitable phrasal quantifier to fill the blank spaces below.(Solved)
Use a suitable phrasal quantifier to fill the blank spaces below.
i) There is .................. of fish in the pond.
ii) He bought .............. of toothpaste at the canteen.
iii) Students were told to buy ...............printing papers
Date posted: September 24, 2019. Answers (1)
- Use the correct preposition to fill the blanks in the sentences below.(Solved)
Use the correct preposition to fill the blanks in the sentences below.
i) His composition was amazing .............any standards
ii) The Principal conferred ............... the teachers before making a decision.
iii) She fainted............ hearing the shocking news
Date posted: September 24, 2019. Answers (1)
- Use the words given in brackets correctly to complete the sentences below.(Solved)
Use the words given in brackets correctly to complete the sentences below.
i) The choir sang the school anthem so .................(melody)
ii) The money was meant for our ..........at school. (sustain)
iii) The project failed because of serious ............. (manage)
Date posted: September 24, 2019. Answers (1)
- Rewrite the following sentences as instructed.(Solved)
Rewrite the following sentences as instructed.
i) When they entered the field, it started raining. (Begin Hardly...) ....................
ii) She is too fearful to go out at night (Begin So...that) ........................
Date posted: September 24, 2019. Answers (1)
- Use the correct phrasal verb formed from the word given in brackets to complete the sentences below.(Solved)
Use the correct phrasal verb formed from the word given in brackets to complete the sentences below.
i) The students were told to .................... with suggestions on how to improve the performance. (come)
ii) His friends ................. during the race. (urge)
Date posted: September 24, 2019. Answers (1)
- Read the narrative below and answer the questions that follow.(Solved)
Read the narrative below and answer the questions that follow.
HOW CIRCUMCISION CAME TO BUKUSULAND
At Mwiala wa Mango, there was a great man-eating snake. The snake usually crawled out of his dwelling place among the hills and roamed about the countryside in search of human beings. The local people did not know what to do to get rid of this menace that claimed more and more victims as days went by. Then, in their greatest hour of need, a savior in the person of Mango came.
Mango of Mwiala had by his first marriage two sons whom he greatly loved. Early one morning the boys set out to graze their father’s cattle at the riverside. While the cattle were pushing and fighting over the salt lick, the boys settled down to molding calf bulls. They had barely finished making their first two bulls when they heard a tremendous stampede from the salt lick. Cows, bulls, oxen and calves with raised tails came galloping out of the salt lick holes. The boys hastily picked up their chindare sticks and made for the nearest anthill in order to see the cause of this pandemonium. And there, below them, was the monster casually looking around. It stared at them hard and its many tongues shot out. With a cry and a leap, the boys ran for their lives but it was too late. Mango lost his loved ones to the murderous monster.
He sharpened and resharpened his embalu as tears of bitter sorrow rolled down his cheeks. “I must follow the way my beloved ones took to the ancestors.” Day came and Mango started for the hills. The sun was in the centre of the sky when he came to the lonely and forbidding hills. He looked around the cave and newly overturned pebbles showed that the beast was out seeking human flesh. Armed only with embalu and a tree stump, he crawled into the cave. At the mouth of the cave, he put the tree stump and started his long unnerving watch.
In the meantime, news of what Mango was set on doing had spread through the neighbourhood. People from far and wide had come to his home and were anxiously waiting for him. The sun slowly crept towards the west. Its gentle rays fell upon his glittering embalu and he mumbled, ‘It is the light of ghosts already.’ Suddenly, he heard the sound of stones and pebbles knocking against each other. His hand muscles stood out like twisted cords as he tightened his grip on the embalu. He spat on his palm and adjusted his grip. Raising his embalu above his head, he spat upon his chest asking for his ancestors’ protection. The cave became dark as the monsters head rested upon the tree stump. The raised hand came down swiftly and to the mark. A spout of blood told the rest of the story. At his feet lay the headless beast.
His embalu dripping with blood, he rushed to the nearest rock and gave a piercing cry into the gathering darkness. It was a cry of triumph and those who heard it jumped up for joy. He was carried shoulder high amid singing and dancing.
His heroism was acknowledged by the neighbouring Barua tribe, who offered him a beautiful bride. But he had to be circumcised first before he could take his bride. This was the custom of the Barua. Thus, Mango became the father of circumcision in Bukusuland.
a) Classify the above narrative.
b) Describe the character of the following.
i) Mango
ii) The Barua
c) How did Mango become the savior of the people?
d) Identify the socio-economic activities of the community from which the narrative taken.
e) Comment on the following.
i) The sun slowly crept towards the west.
ii) It is the light of ghosts already.
f) Explain how suspense is created in this narrative.
g) Identify FOUR features that show this is an oral narrative.
h) What do we learn from this narrative?
Date posted: September 24, 2019. Answers (1)
- Read the excerpt below and answer the questions that follow.(Solved)
Read the excerpt below and answer the questions that follow.
HELMER: Naturally you are thinking of your father.
NORA: Yes – yes, of course. Just recall to your mind what these malicious creatures wrote in the papers about papa, and how horribly they slandered him. I believe they would have procured his dismissal if the department had not sent you over to inquire into it, and if you had not been so kindly disposed and helpful to him.
HELMER: My little Nora, there is an important difference between your father and me. Your father’s reputation as a public officer was not above suspicion. Mine is, and I hope it will continue to be so, as long as I hold my office.
NORA: You never can tell what mischief these men may contrive. We ought to be so well off, so snug and happy here in our peaceful home, and have no cares – you and I and the children, Torvald! That is what I beg you so earnestly –
HELMER: And if it did?
HELMER: Of course! – if only this obstinate little person can get her way! Do you suppose I am going to make myself ridiculous before my whole staff, to let people think that I am a man to be swayed by all sorts of outside influence? I should very soon feel the consequences of it, I can tell you! And besides, there is one thing that makes it quite impossible for me to have Krogstad in the Bank as long as I am a manager.
NORA: Whatever is that?
HELMER: His moral failings I might have perhaps overlooked, if necessary
NORA: yes, you could – couldn’t you?
HELMER: And I hear he is a good worker, too. But I knew him when we were boys. It was one of those rash friendships that so often prove an incubus in afterlife. I may as well tell you plainly, we were once on very intimate terms with one another. But this tactless fellow lays no restraint on himself when other people are present. On the contrary, he thinks it gives him the right to adopt a familiar tone with me, and every minute it is “I say, Helmer, old fellow!” and that sort of thing. I assure you it is extremely painful for me. He would make my position in the Bank intolerable.
NORA: Torvald, I don’t believe you mean that.
HELMER: Don’t you? Why not?
NORA: Because it is such a narrow-minded way of looking at things.
HELMER: What are you saying? Narrow-minded? Do you think I am narrow-minded?
NORA: No just the opposite, dear – and it is exactly for that reason.
HELMER: It’s the same thing. You say my point of view is narrow-minded, so I must be so too. Narrow-minded! Very well – I must put an end to this. (Goes to the hall door and calls) Helen!
a) Briefly explain Nora’s fear as revealed in the extract
b) According to the excerpt, why is Helmer reluctant to retain Krogstad as a worker in the Bank?
c) Helmer is disingenuous in his dismissal of Nora’s suggestion that Krogstad should be retained in his job. Explain this statement with clear illustrations from the excerpt.
d) Contrast the character of Krogstad as revealed in the excerpt.
e) Comment on Nora’s character as brought out in in the excerpt.
f) Torvald refers to Nora as an ‘obstinate little person.’ What does this reveal about Torvald’s attitude towards Nora as his wife? Cite one example from this excerpt and another one from elsewhere in the play to illustrate your answer.
g) Describe the mood created at the end of the excerpt.
h) Torvald says, 'His moral failings I might have perhaps overlooked, if necessary –.' By whom and how else in the play is Krogstad referred to in a disgraceful manner in the play?
i) ‘...an incubus in afterlife.’ What does this phrase mean as used in the excerpt?
j) What happens immediately after this excerpt and how does it finally affect their marriage?
Date posted: September 24, 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 team of ninety experts has been dispatched this morning to audit the teaching and understanding of the new curriculum in public schools across the country. The Government officials, largely drawn from the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, (KICD) will conduct impromptu visits to schools in eighteen counties as they seek to enforce implementation of the Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC).
A detailed document on the monitoring exercise seen by The Standard reveals that during the visits, the experts will sit in classrooms during lessons, hold feedback meetings with teachers and file daily reports on progress of the implementation of the CBC. For the next ten days, the experts – also known as curriculum developers – will demonstrate to the teachers how CBC lessons should be taught in the classroom. The exercise will end on May 3.
KICD Chief Executive Officer Jwan Julius said the process will provide the teachers with real, first-hand experiences on curriculum implementation. Dr. Jwan said the process will also identify opportunities to improve the curriculum designs and how to transfer lessons from field experiences to subsequent designs.
“What is envisioned in the curriculum designs and what is being taught in class should come out clearly. Where there are gaps in lesson delivery, the experts will take the teachers through the process,” said Jwan. The Standard established that the curriculum developers had already completed three days orientation on a new monitoring methodology dubbed Do It Yourself.
The experts will now spend the next seven days in the field and later meet for debriefing where feedback will be shared to identify areas for correction and improvement. The development comes as the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) threatened to rally teachers to revert to the old teaching methods under the 8-4-4 system. Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion described the curriculum implementation process as illegal.
'We shall not teach the CBC way as they are pushing us to do until they address all the gaps.'
i) Why have the experts been dispatched?
ii) What is the main intention of the government officials?
iii) In point form, summarize how the experts will carry out the exercise during the visits.
iv) What according to the KICD Chief Executive Officer will the process achieve?
v) Why is the Kenya National Union of Teachers opposed to the new program?
vi) Paraphrase the following, 'What is envisioned in class and what is being taught in class should come out clearly. Where there are gaps in lesson delivery, the experts will take teachers through the process.'
vii) In view of the KNUT Secretary’s remarks, comment on the use of irony.
viii) Give the meaning of the following words and expressions as used in the passage.
i) impromptu
ii) first-hand experience
iii) revert
Date posted: September 24, 2019. Answers (1)
- Read the following conversation and answer the following questions.(Solved)
Read the following conversation and answer the following questions.
You have been summoned in a court of law after being arrested in a swoop targeting hawkers.
You have been put on your defence
Prosecutor: is your name James Wambua
You: ...............................................................................
Prosecutor: (addressing the magistrate) sorry for that mix – up your honour the name is James Wambura not James Wambua.
( to the defendant) You are accused of contravening the city by laws CAP 16/2B of the county Government by hawking goods without a license. What is your plea?
You:.......................................................................................
Prosecutor: If you were truly coming from school, would you prove to this court that you are really a student?
You: ...........................................................................
Prosecutor: (passing some document to the magistrate) your honour the document looks genuine and has a school stamp (To the defendant) but exactly where were you arrested and what were you doing there at that time?
You: ..........................................................
Prosecutor: (to the magistrate) your honour since the accused is a minor, I have no intention of proceeding with the prosecution of this case.
Magistrate: alright: case dismissed.
You:................................................................
Date posted: September 12, 2019. Answers (1)
- Use the words in bracket in their correct form to replace the underlined words.
(Solved)
Use the words in bracket in their correct form to replace the underlined words.
1.The candidate was not popular amongst the electorate. (famous)
2.The vehicle that was moving very fast caused the accident. (speed)
Date posted: September 12, 2019. Answers (1)
- Replace the underlined words with phrasal verbs formed from the words in brackets(Solved)
Replace the underlined words with phrasal verbs formed from the words in brackets
1. Lucy asked Julius not to involve himself with her personal matters. (keep)
2. My mother accidentally met me along Jamhuri highway in the town (run)
Date posted: September 12, 2019. Answers (1)
- Rewrite the following sentences to correct the errors.(Solved)
Rewrite the following sentences to correct the errors.
1. Of the two books, the first is longest
2. The quarter of the three girls sleeps earlier.
3. I did not find any fellow colleagues in class when I arrived late.
Date posted: September 12, 2019. Answers (1)
- Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Do not change the meaning.(Solved)
Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Do not change the meaning.
1. The children welcomed the teachers.
(Begin with: The teachers)
2. John does not take Lunch. His sister does not take Lunch.
(Begin with: Neither)
3. Gatwiri asked, "Can we meet here tomorrow morning?"
(Rewrite in direct speech)
4. This novel is far better than the one I bought last week.
(Rewrite using the word ‘superior’)
5. It is not necessary to collect the garbage today.
(Rewrite being: You do not )
Date posted: September 12, 2019. Answers (1)
- Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow .(Solved)
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow .
Cities and towns are experiencing massive population growth the world over receiving huge numbers of migrants ever year.
In 1950, urban population accounted for only 29 percent of the world population, according to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). At the turn of the century, the figure had risen to 45 percent. This was enough to declare the Twentieth Century the century of urbanization and city life. Now the figure is projected to hit 70 percent by 2025.
In Africa, urbanization is most intense in Algeria, Tunisia and South Africa, which have more than 50 percent of their population living in urban areas. Generally, cities in the developing world are growing at a rate of 3.5 per cent per annum.
These figures indicate that there is a continuous massive movement of people from rural to urban areas worldwide. Driven by the desire for better living conditions, they flock to cities in droves in search of greener pastures. But, slowly the illusion disappears, and is replaced by harsh realities of urbanism: unemployment or underemployment, crime, poverty, hunger and life in the slums.
To cope with this fast – moving wave of rural flight requires new strategies for urban planning and the use of urban spaces. Thus urban planners, policymakers and governments seek pragmatic and timely ways of addressing this challenge. The process of urbanization transforms land use and farming systems, patterns of labour force participation, infrastructural requirements, and natural resource systems. When cities grow, their population expands, putting a strain on food production.
As a way of easing the food shortage, many urban households, particularly the poor, have taken to growing food on small plots. Today, if you take a walk through some of the residential estates in Nairobi such as Ngara, Eastleigh and Buru Buru, you might be forgiven for thinking that a green revolution is under way. And on the outskirts of the city, green – houses and ponds compete for space with small gardens planted with flowers, vegetables and fruits. Banana plants and palm trees dwarf wrought – iron gates, their green dotting the skyline, Kale, cabbage and maize gardens sprout in the middle of urban squalor. In this unusual rare blend, urban features and rural agrarian patterns are combined in a new form of settlement and one might call ‘garden cities.’
Although it is often not given much attention, urban agriculture is steadily increasing. The practice involves cultivating, processing and distributing food in and around a town or city. It also encompasses an array of activities including horticulture, aquaculture, animal husbandry and bee keeping
a) What are the challenges facing major cities and towns
b) What does the mention of 70% by 2025 reveal?
c) What do we learn about urbanization in Africa from the passage
d) Mention the reason for rural to urban migration
e) How are urban households easing the problems of food shortage?
f) What is meant by the term ‘garden city?’
g) In note form, list the influences of urbanization
h) Urban populations accounted for only 29% of the world population
(Rewrite the statement adding a question tag)
i) Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the passage
i) Illusion
ii) Pragmatic
iii) Squalor
Date posted: September 12, 2019. Answers (1)
- For each of the following sentences, replace the underlined phrasal verb with a word that has the same meaning.(Solved)
For each of the following sentences, replace the underlined phrasal verb with a word that has the same meaning.
a) I expect him to pull through within a week.
b) I have been at the police station. Our house was broken into last night.
c) Everybody knows how good you are. There is no need to show off.
d) After a hard day’s work, I sat on a cosy chair and dozed off.
Date posted: September 12, 2019. Answers (1)
- Explain the difference in meaning between these two sentences.(Solved)
Explain the difference in meaning between these two sentences.
a)The hawker was selling ten day- old chicks.
b)The hawker was selling ten- day old chicks.
Date posted: September 12, 2019. Answers (1)
- Use the correct form of the word in brackets to fill in the blanks.(Solved)
Use the correct form of the word in brackets to fill in the blanks.
a)There was enough............... (prove) that examination had leaked.
b)The student gave a very good............. ( describe) of the party.
c)The painting................. (steal) from the museum
Date posted: September 12, 2019. Answers (1)