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

Instructions to examinees

• This paper consists of three sections; A, B and C.
• Answer all the questions in all the sections
• The examinee should answer the questions in English

SECTION A: (25 Marks)    

1. Name two careers one can pursue after studying History and Government. ( 2 marks)
2. Name the arm of government of Kenya that interprets law. ( 1 mark)
3. Identify one type of monarchical government. (1mark)
4. Give two shortcomings of oral traditions as a source of History and Government.   (2 marks)
5. Who discovered the Evolution theory on the origin of man? ( 1 mark)
6. What was the name given to the tools made by early man in the first phase of the Old Stone Age Period?    (1mark)
7. Give the main development which was made by Homo erectus that improved his way of life.    (1 mark)
8. Give two negative effects of the land enclosure system in Britain during the 18 th C.    (2marks)
9. Name one method of irrigation used in the development of early agriculture in Egypt.     (1mark)
10. State two ways in which Abagusii and Kipsigis interacted during the pre-colonial period.     (2 marks)
11. Name the community in Kenya that belongs to the Southern Cushites. (1 mark)
12. State two duties of the Orkoiyot among the Nandi. (2marks)
13. Identify one community in Kenya which had a centralized system of government in pre-colonial Kenya.   (1mark)
14. Identify two early visitors who came to the East African coast in the 16 th century.   (2marks)
15. Identify two main items of trade from the interior of Kenya during the long distance trade.   (2marks)
16. Identify two ways of becoming a Kenyan citizen. (2marks)
17. Identify one public holiday that is celebrated in Kenya. (1mark)

SECTION B (45 Marks)  

18.  
    1. Name three species of Homo Sapiens. (3 marks)
    2. Describe six ways in which the discovery of fire by early man improved his way of life.   (12 marks)
19.  
    1. Identify five economic activities of the Somali during the pre-colonial period.   (5marks)
    2. Describe the political organization of the Akamba during the pre-colonial period.   (10marks)
20.  
    1. Identify three factors that enabled the early visitors to come to the East African coast before 1500 A.D. (3 marks)
    2. Explain six effects of the Indian Ocean Trade on the East African Coast inhabitants before 1500 AD.       (12 marks)

SECTION C (30 Marks)     

21.  
    1. State five limitations of the right to life. (5marks)
    2. Explain five responsibilities of a Kenyan citizen. (10marks)
22.  
    1. Give three symbols of national Unity in Kenya. (3marks)
    2. Explain six factors which promote National Unity in Kenya. (12marks)

MARKING SCHEME

SECTION A: (25 Marks)

1. Name two careers one can pursue after studying History and Government.     ( 2 marks)
   • Teaching history
   • Law Politics
   • Public administration
   • Historical research
2. Name the arm of government of Kenya that interprets law.         ( 1 mark)
   • The judiciary
3. Identify one type of monarchical government.                       (1mark)
   • Absolute
   • Constitutional
4. Give two shortcomings of oral traditions as a source of History and Government.     (2 marks)
   • Accuracy depends on memory of the informant
   • Biased information Distorted/exaggerated information
   • Deliberate concealing of information
   • Difficult to give correct dates and chronology
5. Who discovered the Evolution theory on the origin of man?                          ( 1 mark)
   • Charles Darwin
6. What was the name given to the tools made by early man in the First phase of the Old Stone Age Period?                   (1mark)
   • Pebble/Oldowan tools
7. Give the main development which was made by Homo erectus that improved his way of life.                         (1 mark)
   • Invention of fire
8. Give two negative effects of the land enclosure system in Britain during the 18th C (2marks)
   • It displaced the poor people-caused landlessness
   • It forced the poor to migrate to urban centres
   • It increased pauperism in Europe
9. Name one method of irrigation used in the development of early agriculture in Egypt.                       (1mark)
   • Shadoof
   • Canal
   • Basin
10. State two ways in which Abagusii and Kipsigis interacted during the pre-colonial period.                        ( 2 marks)
    • Through intermarriage
    • Through raids
    • Through trade
11. Name the community in Kenya that belongs to the Southern Cushites.          (1 mark)
    • The Dahallo/Sanye
12. State two duties of the Orkoiyot among the Nandi.                                          (2marks)
    • Presided over religious function/ Blessing warriors
    • Offering sacrifices
    • Foretold future events
    • Advised the council of elders
    • Was a rainmaker
    • Was a medicineman
13. Identify one community in Kenya which had a centralized system of government in pre-colonial Kenya. (1mark)
    • Wanga community
14. Identify two early visitors who came to the East African coast in the 16th century.  (2marks)
    • Arabs, Turks, Persians, Dutch, Egyptians, The British, Greeks, Romans, Chinese
15. Identify two main items of trade from the interior of Kenya during the long distance trade.         (2marks)
    • Ivory
    • Slaves
16. Identify two ways of becoming a Kenyan citizen.         (2marks)
    • By birth
    • By registration
17. Identify one public holiday that is celebrated in Kenya.           (1mark)
    • Mashujaa day
    • Madaraka day
    • Jamhuri day

SECTION B (45 Marks)

18.  
    1. Name three species of Homo Sapiens.        (3 marks)
       • Rhodesian man
       • Neanderthal man
       • Cro-magnon
    2. Describe six ways in which the discovery of fire by early man improved his way of life.      (12 marks)
       • Used fire to roast/cook food thus he stopped eating raw food
       • To provide warmth at night when it was cold
       • To provide light in the dwelling places when dark
       • To push animals to confined areas thus kill them easily
       • To frighten animals from man’s dwelling places thus improved security
       • To harden the tips of his tools
19.  
    1. identify five economic activities of the Somali in the pre-colonial period.  (5marks)
       • they were nomadic pastoralists who kept cattle, sheep, goats, camels and donkeys
       • they hunted wild animals and gathered roots, vegetables 
       • some practiced fishing along River Tana and along the Indian Ocean Coast
       • some did cultivation along the banks of River Tana
       • Some practiced iron working e.g. Made swords
       • Others traded with their neighbours like the Samburu’s
       • Weaving was done by the women.
    2. Describe the political organization of the Akamba during the pre-colonial period. (10marks)
       • The homestead/musyi was the smallest basic political unit and was headed by the father.
       • There existed wider territorial grouping/clan/mbai which comprised of related families
       • Each clan had a council of elders which settled disputes among people
       • There existed a council which comprised of elders knowledgeable in law/customary law which judged cases in the community
       • Above the clan, there was territorial grouping/ kivalo which comprised of warriors/fighting unit which defended the community
       • There were age-sets and age-grades in the community,each with specific role to play
       • Above junior elders were medium elders/ Nthele who assisted in the administration of the community.
       • There were senior most elders/Atumia ma Ithembo who participated in religious matters
       • They had a decentralized system of government.
20.  
    1. identify three factors that enabled the early visitors to come to the East African coast before 1500 A.D(3 marks)
       • the accessibility of the East African Coast through the sea/ocean
       • the development of marine technology/existence of marines
       • the existence of monsoon winds
       • the technology/knowledge of boat making
       • existence of natural/deep harbors
    2. Explain six effects of the Indian Ocean Trade on the East African Coast inhabitants before 1500 AD.(12 marks)
       • it led to development of the city states/towns along the coast like Mombasa
       • many foreigners settled in the East African coast thereby increasing the people in the region
       • Islamic code of law/ sharia was introduced where Islamic schools/ madrasa were constructed
       • There was intermarriage between the early visitors and the coastal inhabitants resulting to the new breed of people –Swahili
       • Kiswahili language emerged( A combination of Bantu and Arabic languages)
       • Introduction of new crops like rice/cloves
       • Islamic dressing styles- men wore long robes( kanzu) and women wore veils(Buibui)
       • Emergence of wealthy merchants who lived in splender
       • Emergence of new structure of administration controlled by the Sultan

SECTION C (30 Marks)

21.  
    1. State five limitations of the right to life. (5marks)
       • when a person acts in self-defense/defense of property
       • when security officers executed a lawful arrest
       • when security officers act of prevent the escape of a person who is lawfully detained
       • when security officers suppress a riot/rebellion/mutiny
       • when security officers act to prevent an individual from committing a crime
       • when the country is at war
    2. Explain five responsibilities of a Kenyan citizen.(10marks)
       • Participating in development activities at various levels e.gHarambee programmes.
       • Paying taxes to the government to enable it provide services e.g value added tax
       • Protecting the environment and natural resources such as water resources
       • Fighting corruption by reporting corrupt practices and not taking part in taking or giving bribe
       • Engaging in income generation to earn a decent living e.g trading
       • Obeying the law of a country to promote peace and harmony 
       • Protecting the law
       • Promoting gender sensitivity
22.  
    1. Give three symbols of national Unity in Kenya. (3marks)
       • the national flag
       • the national anthem
       • the coat of arms
       • the public seal
    2. Explain six factors which promote National Unity in Kenya. (12marks)
       • The constitution-it protects Kenyans from discrimination on grounds of race ,religion, place of origin among others
       • Education- the school curriculum stresses on the importance of national unity
       • Fair distribution of resources- The government attempts to improve the standards of living of all citizens by developing resources in all areas
       • Social and economic interactions- such interactions include: inter-community marriages, playing games together and working together
       • National currency-In Kenya there is only one currency that is used to transact business i.e. the Kenya shilling. One can also own property anywhere in the country
       • National language- Kiswahili is the national language spoken by Kenyans of different ethnic groups