English Paper 1 Questions and Answers - MECS Cluster Joint Pre Mock Exams 2021/2022

ENGLISH
PAPER 1
(Functional Writing, Cloze Test and Oral Skills) Time: 2 Hours

1. Imagine you are the secretary of the Peer Counselling Club in your school. You have been asked to take the minutes of the proceedings of your meeting. During the meeting:
   • Six members were present
   • Two members sent their apologies
   • The whereabouts of three members were unknown
   • The guidance and Counselling Head of Department was present
   • Two items were raised from the previous meeting
   • There were two items in the main agenda
     1. Elections
     2. Trip
        
        
2. Fill the blank spaces in the passage below with the most appropriate word. 10 marks
   
   Working from home due to the covid-19 pandemic has slowed            1             many activities more-so the education sector here in Kenya. Most sectors have been            2             to embrace digitization. The shift to online classes in the institutions of higher learning was            3            But it is not            4        for, especially, the older people as they don’t have the            5    to use digital gadgets such as smartphones and laptops            6       those who have been frustrated by the emerging apps and software.        7       have embraced digitization and are eager to learn. But the lecturers have problems.         8       Have phones with poor cameras as they are alright with just calling and receiving texts. You’ll find a lecturer asking if the students can        9         Him or her. They mute the mic unknowingly and can’t unmute        10      guide, which waste a lot of time.
   
   
3.          
   1. Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow
      (Repentant by AD Amateshe)
      
      Yesterday my emotions
      Burst like a man
      And flowed violently
      Onto your innocent self
      Today, deluge with
      A deep sense of regret,
      I hold onto my hands,
      The galling of bitterness
      Of that regrettable moment
      When caused your pain
      (Adapted from Boundless voices by Arthur Luvai (ed): EAEP)
      
      
      1. Indicate the rhyme scheme in the poem above (1 mark)
      2. Briefly comment on the significance of the above rhyme scheme (1 mark)
      3. Which words would you stress in the first and the last lines? Give a reason.(2 marks)
         
         
   2. Write another word pronounced as the one given below (4 marks)
      1. Prophet……………………………………………………………………………………….…………
      2. Metal……………………………………………………………………………………………………
      3. Nose……………………………………………………………………………………………………
      4. Sink…………………………………………………………………………………………………
   3. Write two words for each in which the letter listed below is silent 3 marks
      1. g…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
      2. i…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
      3. t…………………………………………………………………………………………………………
   4. Group the words below under the column containing the sound that the highlighted letter(s) bear. 4marks
      An example has been done for you
      Tissue   Caucasian   Division   Passion   Cautious     Leisure     Solution  Vision   Exposure   Chef
      

      /∫/	/₃/
      Tissue	Caucasian

   5. Your mother who stays in the village wants to visit you in Nairobi. She has never visited you before.
      Your house is not far from the stage.
      1. Mention two ways you would specify to her the distance from the stage to your house. 2 mks
      2. Apart from specifying the distance, how else would you ensure she reaches the house when giving her the direction? (3 marks)
   6. You school is participating in a debate and the motion is:”parents should let children decide their own destiny”.
      How would you ensure that your argument is convincing? (3 marks)
   7. Imagine you have been invited to speak about the role of NACADA in fighting drug abuse among the Kenyan Youth.
      Mention two non-verbal cues you would use to make your speech effective. Give suitable examples.( 2 Marks)
   8. Read the following conversation between two form four candidates and then answer the following question.
      Judy: Mali, I am worried my performance in English is not encouraging.
      Mali: Ah! I am happy with my performance in English. I got a clean A last term.
      Judy : I really don’t know what to do about Mathematics, maybe….
      Mali : I don’t like our Geography teacher. He thinks he is only one who owns a Prado. My dad told me he will buy one soon.
      Judy: (Trying to bring him back to the conversation) Tell me, Mali, how do you revise Mathematics?
      Mali : Oh! Is that David? He has promised to bring me a Nigerian movie (calling) David! David! (Then runs after him)
      1. Identify the shortcomings in Mali’s listening and speaking skills 2marks
      2. Suggest three ways he can improve his listening and speaking skills 3marks

MARKING SCHEME

1. Imagine you are secretary of the Peer Counselling Club in your school. You have been asked to take the minutes of the proceedings of your meeting. During the meeting:
   • Six members were present
   • Two members sent their apologies
   • The whereabouts of three members were unknown
   • The guidance and Counselling Head of Department was present
   • Two items were raised from the previous meeting
   • There were two items in the main agenda.
     1. Elections
     2. Trip
        
        
   • FORMAT
     • It must be minutes. If not-2AD
       1. TITLE (Minutes of the Peer Counseling Club at Utu Bora School held on ……………at……….in the School Hall) -1 mark
       2. Members Present –(6 names to earn a mark) ½ mark
       3.  Absent with apologies –(2 names) ½ mark
       4. Absent –(3 names) ½ mark
       5. In Attendance – Name and position ½ mark
       6.  A.O.B -¹/₂ mark
       7. Closing / Signing off-¹/₂ mark
          TOTAL = 4marks
          
          
   • CONTENT:
     Confirmation of Minutes of the Previous Meeting – Must be read by secretary, proposed and seconded as a true record. 2 marks
     Matters Arising-Must quote the previous minute and have a response to earn the marks. 2marks
     Elections-must be discussed and resolved. The list of new officials need to be recorded. 2 marks.
     Trip –must be discussed and resolved. 2 marks
     TOTAL =8marks
     LANGUAGE
     A=7-8 B=5-6 C=3-4 D=1-2
     
     
2. Fill the blank spaces in the passage below with the most appropriate word. 10marks.
   
   Working from home due to the covid-19 pandemic has slowed 1 down many activities more-so the education sector here in Kenya. Most sectors have been 2 forced to embrace digitization. The shift to online classes in the institutions of higher learning was 3 embraced But it is not 4 easy for, especially, the older people as they don’t have the 5 urge to use digital gadgets such as smartphones and laptops 6 while those who have them frustrated by the emerging apps and software. 7 Students have embraced digitization and are eager to learn. But the lecturers have problems. 8 Some have phones with poor cameras as they are alright with just calling and receiving texts. You’ll find a lecturer asking if the students can 9 see him or her. They mute the mic unknowingly and can’t unmute 10 unless guided, which waste a lot of time.
   
   
3.          
   1. Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow
      
      (Repentant by AD Amateshe)
      Yesterday my emotions
      Burst like a man
      And flowed violently
      Onto your innocent self
      Today, deluge with
      A deep sense of regret,
      I hold onto my hand,
      The galling of bitterness
      Of that regrettable moment
      When caused your pain
      {Adapted from Boundless Voices by Arthur Luvai (ed): EAEP}
      
      
      1. Indicate the rhyme scheme in the poem above (1mark)
         Abcdefgahi –irregular rhyme scheme
      2. Briefly comment on the significance of the above rhyme scheme (1 mark)
         The irregular pattern shows the state of confusion in the persona’s mind and the regrets he/she is trying to express.
      3. Which words would you stress in the first and the last lines? Give a reason. (2marks)
         Line 1 – Yesterday, emotions
         Line 10- When, Caused, pain
         They carry the meaning of the lines/ they are content words hence carry meaning of the lines. They bring out the emotional state of the persona
         
         
   2. Write another word pronounced as the ones given below (4 marks)
      1. Prophet – profit
      2. Metal- Mettle
      3. Nose- Knows
      4. Sink- Sync
         
         
   3. Write two words for each in which the letter listed below is silent
      1. g- Sign, malign, champagne, etc. (Any 2)
      2. i- Parliament, juice, suit, etc.
      3. t- apostle, hustle, bustle, etc.
   4. Group the words below under the column containing the sound that the highlighted letter(s) bear (4marks)
      An example has been done for you
      Tissue    Caucasian    Division    Passion    Cautious    Leisure     Solution    Vision    Exposure    Chef
      

      /∫/	/ᶾ/
      Tissue	Caucasian
      Passion	division
      Cautious	leisure
      Solution	vision
      Chef	exposure

   5. Your mother who stays in the village wants to visit you in Nairobi. She has never visited you before .Your house is not far from the stage
      1. Mention two ways you would specify to her the distance from the stage to your house.
         • Time taken from the stage to your house e.g. walk for five minute
         • In meters or kilometers e.g. 100 meters from the stage
      2. Apart from specifying the distance, how else would you ensure she reaches the house when giving her direction?
         • Mention landmarks
         • Specific/turn direction such as left , right, straight ,etc.
         • Compass direction such as North, east, etc.
   6. Your school is participating in a debate and the motion is “parents should let children decide their own destiny”.
      How would you ensure that your argument is convincing?
      • Make effective use of tonal variation
      • Effective facial expressions
      • Effective use of gestures
      • Adequate research and preparation for the debate
      • Fluency and eloquence during presentation
      • Ability to state facts /statistics to back your argument
        (Any 3 points|)
   7. Imagine that you have been invited to speak about the role of NACADA in fighting drug abuse among the Kenyan youth.
      Mention two non- verbal cues you would use to make your speech effective .Give suitable examples.
      • Facial expressions such as smiling or frowning to emphasize your points
      • Use of gestures such as nodding your head, raising your hand ,etc.
        (mark the first two points)
   8. Read the following conversations between two form four candidates and then answer the following questions.
      Judy: Mali, I am worried my performance in English is not encouraging.
      Mali: Ah! i am happy with my performance in English i got a clean A last term
      Judy: I really don’t know what to do about mathematics, maybe…
      Mali: I don’t like my Geography teacher. he thinks he thinks he is the only one who owns a Prado .
      My dad told me he will by one soon.
      Judy: (Trying to bring him back to the conversation) tell me Mali, how do you revise mathematics?
      Mali: Oh! Is that David? He has promised to bring ma a Nigerian movie (calling) David! David!
      (Then runs after him)
      
      
      1. identify the shortcomings in Mali`s listening and speaking skills (2marks)
         • Mali fails to empathise with Judy
         • He deviates from the topic of discussion with Mali
         • He rudely interrupts Mali (i don’t like …)
         • He is easily distracted (is that David )
           (any 2 well explained points .should not be character traits)
      2. suggest three ways he can improve his listening and speaking skills (3 marks )
         • He must be more empathetic
         • He must stick to the point of discussion
         • He must concentrate on the discussion at hand and avoid distractions