History Questions and Answers - Form 1 End Term 2 Exams 2023

• Answer all the questions

QUESTIONS

SECTION A

1. State three characteristics of government.(3mks)   
2. Identify two main periods of History. 2mks
3. State why archaeology is an expensive source of information of history and government.(2mks)
4. State three aspects of oral traditions.3mks
5. Identify two ways through which archeologist obtain information on the history of Kenya.(2mks) 
6. Identify two ways in which early man used stone tools.(2mks)
7. In what two ways did the Kenyan communities interact  during the pre-colonial period.(2mks)
8. Identify two similarities between early agriculture in Mesopotamia and Egypt.(2mks)
9. Name the pre- historic sites in Kenya.(2mks)
10. Identify the main economic activity of the plain Nilotes during pre-colonial period.(1mk)
11. Give two characteristics of Homo Sapiens.(2mks)
12. State  two ways in which the development of the upright pasture improved the early man’s way of life.(2mks)         

Section B

13.                  
    1. State four forms of government.  4mks
    2. Identify five methods of dating.(5mks)
    3. Outline the disadvantages of written sources of information.(6mks)
14.                    
    1. Discuss the main theories that explain the origin of man.(6mks)
    2. State four species of Austropithecus.(4mks)
    3. What  were the uses of fire during the middle Stone Age period?(5mks)
15.                  
    1. State five causes of food shortages in Africa today.(5mks)
    2. Explain the characteristics of farming methods in Britain before the Agrarian Revolution.(10mks)
16.                
    1. Why did the highland nilotes migrate from their original homeland during the pre-colonial period?     (5MKS)
    2. Explain five results of the migration and settlement of Bantus in Kenya.(10mks)
17.                  
    1. State five duties of council of elders among the Miji Kenda.(5mks)
    2. Why was the office of the Oloibon important among the Maasai?(5mks)
    3. Discuss the economic organization of the Borana in the 19th c.(5mks)

MARKING SCHEME

1. State three characteristics of government.(3mks)
   • Legitimacy- government should be acceptable to the people over whom its exercises.
   • Sovereignty-the government has the supreme authority to exercise power within its jurisdiction
   • Jurisdiction-This is the geographical area within which a government exercises power and enforces law.
   • a government should be able to enforce the law.
2. Identify two main periods of History. 2mks
   • Pre- history
   • History
3. State why archaeology is an expensive source of information of history and government.(2mks)
   • It requires expensive equipment i.e. during excavation and during experiments.
   • Methods of dating are also expensive i.e. buying of chemicals
   • Transport cost is high
   • Involves hiring labourers (1x2) = 2mks
4. State three aspects of oral traditions.3mks
   • Proverbs
   • songs
   • Stories
   • Legends (1x3) 3mks any relevant
5. Identify two ways through which archeologist obtain information on the history of Kenya.(2mks)
   • Excavating
   • Recording the findings
6. Identify two ways in which early man used stone tools.(2mks)
   • Skinning the animal
   • for hunting
   • Digging roots 
7. In what two ways did the Kenyan communities interact during the pre-colonial period.(2mks)
   • Through intermarriage
   • Through trade
   • Through warfare
8. Identify two similarities between early agriculture in Mesopotamia and Egypt.(2mks)
   • In both agriculture was practiced along the river valleys
   • farmers depended on flood water for farming
   • Planted indigenous crops.
   • They traded using farm produce
   • Developed systems of irrigation (shadoof)
9. Name the pre- historic sites in Kenya.(2mks)
   • Fort tenan
   • Kariandusi any other relevant
10. Identify the main economic activity of the plain Nilotes during pre-colonial period.(1mk)
    • Pastoralism/livestock keeping
11. Give two characteristics of Homo Sapiens.(2mks)
    • had a large brain
    • had refined speech
    • Walked upright
    • Had a well developed thumb for grasping
12. State two ways in which the development of the upright pasture improved the early man’s way of life.(2mks)
    • The early man was able to move more faster with long strides.
    • Man could spot the animals and wildlife fruits to hunt and gather
    • man could see the impending danger from a distance
    • Man could use the hands to grasp items conveniently
13.                      
    1. State four forms of government. 4mks
       • Democratic
       • authoritative /dictatorial
       • monarchial
       • aristocratic 1x4=4mks
    2. Identify five methods of dating.(5mks)
       • Stratigraphy
       • chemical dating ie carbon 14 and potassium argon
       • fission track dating
       • statistical dating
       • lexico –statistical dating
       • geological periods
    3. Outline the disadvantages of written sources of information.(6mks)
       • they may be unreliable if the author emits essential information.
       • They are acquired through research which may be time consuming and expensive.
       • researchers are at times biased
       • some of the written records have inadequate information
       • Some information may be absolute or inaccurate.
       • Not useful to illiterate people.
       • Some written records are in foreign languages which may require translation or may not be easily understood 1x6 = 6mks
14.                    
    1. Discuss the main theories that explain the origin of man.(6mks)
       • Creation theory which is explained in various theory books such as Bible, Quran and Vedas.
       • The mythical or traditional theory. This explains how individuals and communities have tried to explain how they came into existence through various myths.
       • The evolution theory –holds that human beings and primates had a common ancestry but followed different evolutionary paths. 2x3=6mks
    2. State four species of Austropithecus.(4mks)
       • Austropithcus Anamesils
       • Africanus(Gracilis)
       • Robustus
       • Afarensis
       • Boisei
    3. What were the uses of fire during the middle Stone Age period?(5mks)
       • To provide warmth
       • for lighting
       • cooking food
       • scare away wild animals
       • Harden tips of tools 1x5=5mks any relevant.
15.                
    1. State five causes of food shortages in Africa today.(5mks)
       • Rapid population growth
       • Politcal upheavals
       • There is poor land use and agricultural practices
       • Poor and inadequate storage and processing facilities
       • Overdependence on donation and foreign aid.
       • poor infrastructure 1x5=5mks any relevant
    2. Explain the characteristics of farming methods in Britain before the Agrarian Revolution.(10mks)
       • There was small scale farming The feudal landlords divided their land into small portions for growing corn an wheat while the rest was left for their homes for grazing.
       • The farming methods used were poor and in effective e.g some farming methods included broadcasting, intercropping and no use of fertilizers
       • The open –field system of farming used had many disadvantages eg it allowed diseases to spread easily.
       • all land belonged to the King who gave the nobles ,known as the lords or the rich manor.(feudal system).
       • Animals in Britain were grazed commonly so diseases spread easily .
       • The farms in Britain were fenced and divided into several stops. 2x5=10mks
16.                  
    1. Why did the highland nilotes migrate from their original homeland during the pre-colonial period? (5MKS)
       • The outbreak of diseases forced them to move
       • they moved for adventure/spirit of adventure
       • they moved due to drought and famine
       • external attack
       • internal conflict
       • Population pressure
         (1x5)
    2. Explain five results of the migration and settlement of Bantus in Kenya.(10mks)
       • The migration led to increased intercommunity conflict with other groups like Maasai and Abagusii .
       • There was cultural exchange leading to enrichment of their lives
       • Their settlement increased in population of the region
       • The Bantus intermarried with the with their neighbours eg the Luyha and Masaai
       • The Bantus traded with their neighbours the abagusii exchanged millet and iron products for basketry from the Luo.
       • Exchange of knowledge and skills also took place.Many Bantus groups adopted the age set systems and the practice of circumcisions from the southern cushites
17.                        
    1. State five duties of council of elders among the Miji Kenda.(5mks)
       • to main law and order
       • to settle disputes
       • To act as court of appeal
       • preside over ceremonies
       • to advise the warriors on when to organize raids
       • To negotiate peace and declare war. 1x5=5mks
    2. Why was the office of the Oloibon important among the Maasai?(5mks)
       • he was consulted before war and other major events.
       • He advised the council of elders
       • foretold the future
       • Blessed the warriors before they went out for war or raiding
       • acted as a unifying factor in the masaai community
       • he was a religious leader. 1x5=5mks any other
    3. Discuss the economic organization of the Borana in the 19th c.(5mks)
       • they planted a variety of crops and vegetables.
       • They were nomadic livestock herders
       • they had craft industries e.g basketry and made wooden tools
       • they planted a variety of crops and vegetables.
       • they traded with neighbours like Mijikenda ect(1x5=5mks)
       • Hunters and gatherers.