English Paper 2 Questions and Answers - Bondo Joint Mocks Exams 2022

Questions

Instructions to candidates

•  Answer all questions in this question paper.
• Candidates MUST answer all the questions in English.

1. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow. (20 marks)
              The prevailing high cost of living crisis is ruining people’s mental health status, rendering lives at risk. Many families are finding it difficult to cope with their situation due to poverty as low- income families fall deep into debt they cannot afford to repay. Some people end up committing suicide in a bid to get a solution to it. The number of suicide cases among the youth had been rising rapidly in recent years. Society is, therefore, losing important people who would have transformed our economy because of their great minds and energetic nature in youthful age. Suicide continues to be a major challenge globally; it should be declared an international crisis. According to World Health Organization, more than700, 000 people die of suicide every year. And more attempt suicide, with the cases rarely reported.
              The WHO reports that some 77 per cent of suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries, a category in which Kenya falls. The Covid-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst to suicide. The government measures that were meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus interfered with the global economy as more funds were invested into fighting the pandemic. Lockdowns and movement restrictions hindered socioeconomic duties, rendering many people jobless. The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine increased the suffering due to the increasing cost of living. Many families sleep hungry, unable to afford food and other essentials. The children have a stressful home environment as such families lack access to vital infrastructure—like schools and hospital—and life continues until the youth decide to kill themselves so that they can ‘rest’ and stop the suffering.
              Indeed, young people are taking their lives for things that we are able to fix. Is it so difficult for the government to strategize on eradicating poverty and reducing the cost of living, which cause almost every suicide? Yes, there are other factors that may lead to suicide, such as break-ups in romantic relationships and chronic diseases, but let’s first deal with the major one: Poverty and high cost of living.
              Young people go through the education system with huge expectations of being successful in life. Bear in mind the universal advice that education is the key; that it is the requirement to avoid poverty and lead a good life. But what is happening is contrary to their expectations and some have, sadly, resolved to die. The high cost of living, which is increasing at a rate that we had not experienced in decades, is pushing millions of youth to chilling depths of poverty, despair and destruction, which greatly interferes with their mental health. Many Kenyans are squeezed into a corner and can no longer make ends meet.
              If the suicide rate is to be diminished, the authorities must take the crucial and effective steps to fight poverty and lower the cost of living. I call upon the incoming administration to develop and implement a safety net strategy as the basis for building strong financial and political support for a poverty reduction agenda. A safety net based on careful analysis of the needs of Kenyans should be introduced to ensure that regular support is rendered to the people in chronic abject poverty and also provide assistance to vulnerable households. I assure the country that if we fix the issues around poverty and the high cost of living, we will be able to save the beautiful souls of young people perishing in the dark void of death by suicide.
   
   (Adapted from The Daily Nation September 05, 2022: Letters to the Editor-Youth Suicides due to High Cost of Living)
   1. According to the first paragraph, how is poverty linked to suicidal deaths? (2 marks)
   2. Explain the importance of the use of figures in the passage. (2 marks)
   3. Why do you think the word ‘rest ’has been quoted? (2 marks)
   4. Identify some of the causes of suicide among the youth. (2 marks)
   5. Make notes on the effects of high cost of living. (4 marks)
   6. And more attempt suicide, with the cases rarely reported. (Rewrite supplying the correct question tag) (1 mark)
   7. What should the government do to reduce the suicide rate? (2 marks)
   8. Describe the author’s tone in the last paragraph. (3 marks)
   9. Contextualize the meaning of the following words. (2 marks)
      1. Catalyst…………………………………………………………………………
      2. Chronic…………………………………………………………………………
2. Read the excerpt below and answer the questions that follow. (25 marks)
             Resian was still sitting on the log outside the tiny homestead when the enkabaani returned from her errands. By then the moon had risen and it was high up in the sky. She saw her walk towards her moving slowly as the bright light of the moon that streamed through the few trees subdued the colour of her skin, making her brown complexion seem darker. She carried some luggage on her back that made her stoop a little. On seeing her approaching, Resian ;s heart leapt with joy.
             Although she did not even know who she was and why she took care of her, fed her and nursed her, she had come to regard her as the only connection she had to the sane world. She had promised to give an account of what had happened to her, what was happening and what was in the offing. She was very eager to know all that so that she could plan her next move. She knew she was still weak but she was grateful that she was steadily and progressively regaining her strength.
             "Oh, poor thing! ; the enkabaani exclaimed concernedly on seeing Resian. ;You are still sitting outside this late? Oh my God! The mosquitoes must have sucked your veins dry! Come now. Let me help you to stand.The enkabaani helped Resian to walk back into the house. She made her sit at the fireplace as she lit the fire and made her some tea. They were taking the tea as the old woman prepared supper, when Resian asked who the mono-eyed old woman was. ;She is the mother of the man who assaulted you, ; the enkabaani explained coolly. ;She is also a feared and respected enkoiboni. Most likely you have only heard of a male holder of that position called oloiboni. Female ones are there too but very rare. This particular one is famous for her predictionand prophecies that always nearly come true.
   
   Questions
   1. What happens immediately before the excerpt? (3 marks)
   2. Why did Resian’s heart leap with joy on seeing enkabaani approaching? (2 marks)
   3. Explain the effectiveness of one stylistic device used in the excerpt. (3 marks)
   4. Give one social issue evident in the excerpt. (2 marks)
   5. With your knowledge of the entire text, explain enkoiboni’s prophecy that touched on Resian. (5 marks)
   6. Explain the role of Resian in the excerpt. (2 marks)
   7. Describe the charater of enkabaani as revealed in the excerpt. (2 marks)
   8. In which village in the excerpt was Resian being nursed and in whose house? (2 marks)
   9. "She is the mother of the man who assaulted you, ; the enkabaani explained coolly.
      Identify the man referred to in the statement and the name of the enkabaani. (2 marks)
   10. Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the excerpt: (2 marks)
       1. Enkabaani…………………………………………………………….………………..
       2. Oloiboni…………………………………………………….………………………….
          
          
3. Read the following oral poem and answer the questions that follow. (20 marks)
   
   It is Well!
   He is coming back to us after many years away.
   We released him to you young, vibrant and eloquent.
   
   But you ;ve brought him back,
   To the cradle, this great son of the soil
   A "mganga" with a heavy tongue,
   Vanguished, punctured, empty-handed
   With eyes continually dripping
   Could he be saddened by our predicament
   Or are they tears of regret?
   
   We gave him out as the best we could find,
   One who had we known, we ;d have kept around here
   to look after our affairs.
   
   He was a good Son, blessed of the clan,
   That Son you people mocked, is a good Son!
   
   But see who you have brought us back!
   
   Well, he is ours and we ;ll build him a house by the shore!
   
   By Odhiambo Kaumah (Edited)
   
   Questions
   1. Who could be the ‘We’ in the poem? Explain. (2 marks)
   2. Mention any two changes highlighted in the poem. (2 marks)
   3. Illustrate the use of any two poetic devices which qualify this as an oral poem. (4 marks)
   4. Explain the subject matter of the poem. (3 marks)
   5. What is the effect of the line: ‘But see who you have brought us back!’? (2 marks)
   6. Explain the persona’s attitude towards the ‘good Son’ (3 marks)
   7. Why do you think the word ‘Son’ begins with a capital letter? (2 marks)
   8. Explain the meaning of the following expressions as used in the poem. (2 marks)
      1. Heavy tongue
      2. Empty-handed
4.   
   1. Rewrite the following sentences as instructed. Do not change the meaning.(4 marks)
      1. You can do better than this. (Begin: This……………)
      2. It was the first time the school performed well. (Begin: Never before ............)
      3. Neither the children nor the peasant…………………….allowed beyond the gate.
         ( Rewrite filling in the blank with correct form of the verb ‘be’)
      4. Jodelle’s handwriting is the best in this class. (Rewrite using ‘better’)
   2. Replace the underlined phrasal verbs with one word with the same meaning.(2 marks)
      1. Jake, see to it that all the chairs are in good condition.
      2. The plane touched down at 7.00 O’clock.
   3. Complete the following sentences using the appropriate form of the words in brackets. (3 marks)
      1. She took a ………………………… (compassion) leave after the death of his brother.
      2. The …………………… (certain) of the petition outcome has made him very nervous.
      3. No youthful candidate won the ……………………………(governor) seat in the just concluded elections.
   4. Rewrite the following sentences correctly. ( 2 marks)
      1. My brother and me have been taking Piano lessons for six years.
      2. If I revise well for examinations, I would score grade A.
   5. Rewrite the sentences using the correct order of adjectives in brackets. (2 marks)
      1. Gimariah is a…………….(Kenyan, basketball, brilliant, short) player.
      2. She bought a …………………….(new, lovely) dress.
   6. Explain the difference in meaning between the following pair of sentences. (2 marks)
      1. Peter was executed like a murderer.
      2. Peter was executed as a murderer.

Marking Scheme

1. Comprehension (20 marks)
   1. Poverty makes low-income families fall deep into debt they cannot repay thus some people end up committing suicide as a solution.
      Tick 2
   2.    
      • authenticates the argument
      • makes the information factual
      • shows the gravity/seriousness of the suicide rate
        Any one point, 2 marks
   3.  
      • Because it is not true that who commit suicide rest
      • It has not been used in its original sense/meaning
        Any one point, 2 marks
   4.   
      • Poverty
      • High cost of living
      • Break-ups in romantic relationship
      • Chronic diseases
        Any two points, 1 mark each
   5.  
      • impaired mental health
      • suicides
      • poverty
      • Despair
      • destruction
      • Any 4 points, 1 mark each
      • Must be in point form
      • If written in prose, deduct 1/2mark from the total
      • Incomplete sentences accepted
   6. And more attempt suicide, with the cases rarely reported, don’t they?
   7. Fight poverty and
      Lower the cost of living. Any 2 points, 1 mark each
   8. Optimistic- I assure you if we fix… we will be able to save the beautiful souls
      Advisory- A safety net based on careful analysis of the needs of Kenyans should be
      introduced to ensure…
      
      Any one well-illustrated point, 3 marks; Ident. 2 marks, Illust. 1mark
   9.      
      1. Impetus/stimulus/stimulant…
      2. Prolonged/lasting/long-term/long-standing…
         -Correct explanation or synonyms are allowed
         -Word class must be considered
2. The Novel: Blossoms of the Savannah (25 marks)
   1.   
      • Resian had got out of Olarinkoi’s house( for the first time since the attempted rape ordeal)
      • She sat on a log enjoying the cool fresh air.
      • Olarinkoi’s mother walked to Resian
      • She began asking her several questions which shocked Resian
      • She revealed to Resian the plan of having her circumcised and married off to Olarinkoi
      • Resian is then lost in her own thoughts
        Any 3 points, 1 mark each
   2.  
      • She had come to regard her as the only connection she had to the sane world.
      • She had promised to give her an account of what had happened to her, what was happening and what was in the offing.
        Any one point, 2 marks
   3.    
      • Use of local dialect-enkabaani-captures the local linguistic flavor/identifies the ethnic originality of the text.
      • Hyperbole/exaggeration/overstatement- The mosquitoes must have sucked your veins dry!-To express how serious the mosquitoes must have bitten her
      • Rhetorical question- You are still sitting outside this late?-To show that it was too late for her to still be out/ To show that she should have been in the house/ To show enkabaani as concerned.
   4. Love and Friendship-She cared for, fed and nursed Resian/Let me help you stand…
      Tradition/Culture-The enkabaani was famous for predictions and prophecies
   5.   
      • She had prophesied that Ole Kaelo would relocate to Nasila together with his two uncircumcised daughters.
      • Olarinkoi would then move to their home and live with them for a while.
      • Olarinkoi would then leave with one of the daughters to his home.
      • The daughter would then be circumcised
      • Thereafter, she would then be given to him as a wife.
        
        Each point, 1 mark = 5 marks
   6.  
      • Reveals the character trait of enkabaani as loving/caring/concerned-she nursed her
      • Develops the theme of love and friendship-enkabaani fed her
      • Advances the style of rhetorical question- You are still sitting outside this late?
        Any one point, 2 marks (Illustration not a must)
   7.   
      • Loving/caring/concerned- She fed and nursed Resian
      • Sympathetic- Oh, poor thing!
   8. Inkiito village in Olarinkoi’s house Each point, 1 mark
   9.    
      • Man- Olarinkoi
      • Enkabaani- Nabaru Each point, 1 mark
   10.  
       • Enkabaani-Nurse
       • Oloiboni- Ritual expert/medicine man/prophet/diviner
         Each point, 1 mark
3. The Oral Poem: IT IS WELL! (20 marks)
   1. The good Son’s kinsmen/Tribesmen/Clan members - He’s ours/We gave him out…
      • Any well illustrated point, 2 marks; ident.1mark, illust. 1 mark
   2.  
      • He was once vibrant/strong but now punctured/weak/tired
      • He was once eloquent but has a heavy tongue now
        Any two points, 1 mark each
   3.  
      • Local dialect-mganga-captures the local linguistic flavor/identifies the ethnic originalityof the poem
      • Repetition-‘He was a good son’ has been repeated-To show how valued/great he was
                          We released him-we gave him out-
      • Direct address-But you’ve brought him back-Immediacy/enhances the interest of the addressee on the subject
      • Rhetorical question-… Or are they tears of regret? - evokes deep thought
      • Alliteration- …you young-enhances memorability/creates rhythm
      • Assonance-we’ll build him-enhances memorability/ creates rhythm
        Any two well-illustrated points, 2 marks each; ident. 1 mark, Illust. 1 mark
   4. Plot approach-It’s about kinsmen/clan members mourning the abuse suffered by their revered Son at the hands of those he went out to serve and their/clan members’ resolve to warmly welcome him back/build him a house at the shore regardless of his  state/condition.
      
      Thematic approach
      Ungratefulness/ingratitude-a good son labelled mganga/ …mocked a good son
      Change/Transition- ...was once vibrant/full of life /strong but now punctured/weak/tired
                                        He was once eloquent but has a heavy tongue
      Any one well-illustrated point, 3 marks; ident.2 marks, illust. 1 mark
   5. Expresses the high level of disappointment with the condition of their son. Tick 2
   6. Loving- he was a good son/ he’s ours/we’ll build him…
      Sympathetic-But see what you…/That Son you people mocked was a good son
      Any one well-illustrated point, 3 marks; ident.2 marks, illust. 1 mark
   7. To show how revered the son is/ to show that, to them, the son is larger than life.
   8.        
      1. inarticulate/ineloquent…
      2. With nothing/having nothing/unrewarded…
         Correct explanation or synonyms are allowed
         Word class must be considered
4. Grammar (15 marks)
   1.  
      1. This is not the best you can do.
      2. Never before had the school performed well.
      3. Neither the children nor the peasant was/is allowed beyond the gate.
      4. Jodelle’s handwriting is better than anyone else’s in this class/
         Jodelle’s handwriting is better than any other in this class.
         
         Each correct answer, 1 mark
   2.  
      1. ensure
      2. landed
         Must begin with lower case
   3.  
      1. compassionate
      2. certainty
      3. gubernatorial
   4.  
      1. My brother and I have been taking the Piano lessons for six years.
      2. If I revised well for examinations, I would score grade A./ If I revise well for examinations, I will score grade A.
   5.  
      1. Gimariah is a brilliant, short, Kenyan, basketball player.
      2. She bought a lovely, new dress.
         Commas can be ignored
   6.  
      1. Peter was executed like a murderer-He was executed the same way they do to a murderer(he was not a murderer)
      2. Peter was executed as a murderer-He was executed like a murderer that he was(he was a murderer)
         • Score independently
         • Ignore faulty expressions