English Questions and Answers - Form 3 Term 1 Opener Exams 2023

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

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

SECTION A: WRITING (20MKS)      
You are the secretary of the ST JOHN’S CLUB in your school. The club is planning for a funds drive to buy a First Aid Kit.

1.  Design an invitation card to be used for the purpose of inviting guests to the occasion. (8mks)
2. Your friend had invited you to his birthday party which will be held on the same day as the fund drive. Write him a letter telling him that you will be engaged on that day, and therefore you will not be in a position to attend the party. (12mks)

SECTION B: COMPREHENSION (15 MKS)   
Read the following passage carefully, and then answer the questions that follow

The prevalence of diabetes in Kenya has more than doubled in the past three decades, accounting for 20 per cent of deaths in the country.

With a national prevalence rate of between 3 .1 per cent and 4.6 percent (between 1.4 million and 2.1 million Kenyans), experts are warning that the cases are rising at an alarming rate.

Today, one in every 17 Kenyans has diabetes, and 12,890 people in the country died from both diabetes and high blood glucose in 2014.

A report jointly published by the World health Organization (WHO) and Lancet on World Health Day last year shows that the prevalence of diabetes in Kenya was six per cent in 2014, a 150 per cent rise from 2.4 per cent in 1980.

Globally, the number of adults with diabetes has almost quadrupled to 4.22 million in 2014 from 108 million in 1980, with most living in developing countries.

So alarming is the situation that during the launch of the first Global Report on Diabetes, WHO director general Margaret Chan called for action on diabetes, saying there was need to step up prevention and treatment of disease.

According to experts, sedentary lifestyles, stress, being overweight and obese are some of the factors driving this dramatic rise. However, some people, especially those in rural areas, are affected by diabetes as a result of their genetic make-up.

“People are also not getting screened as often as they should. Some are not getting screened at all despite the test being cheap,” said Dr. Eva Njenga, a diabetes specialist.

Experts note that the normal diabetes health advice – not smoking, eating healthy, and limiting alcohol intake – can help keep people healthy.

Dr. Njenga advises: “If you are not diabetic, ensure that you go for screening at least once a year. If any of the members of your family has diabetes, then you should be screened two to three times in a year, since you are genetically predisposed.”

Mr. Zachary Ndegwa, a programme officer at the division of non-communicable diseases, said there are only 50 diabetes clinics and at least 12 specialists (endocrinologists) in Kenya.

“As we speak, it can take up to six months after the first booking for a patient to start their routine check-up,” said Dr. Njenga.

Diabetes is a non-communicable disease in which the body’s ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin is impaired, resulting in abnormal breakdown of carbohydrates and elevated levels of glucose in the blood and urine.

The most common diabetes symptoms include frequent urination, intense thirst and hunger, weight gain, unusual weight loss, fatigue, cuts and bruises that do not heal, male sexual dysfunction, numbness and tingling in hands and feet.

If not controlled, diabetes has dire consequences including possibility of heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and for some, gangrene, leading to leg amputation.

Questions  

1. Name the WHO director general according to the passage. (1 mark)
2.  Define diabetes according to the passage. (2 marks)
3.  In note form list down the most common diabetes symptoms. (5 marks)
4.  Mr. Zachary Ndegwa, a programme officer at the division of non-communicable diseases, said there are only 50 diabetes clinics and at least 12 specialists in Kenya.
   (Rewrite changing the sentence into direct speech) (1 mark)
5. Identify three consequences of not controlling diabetes according to the passage. (3 marks)
6. Give the meaning of the following words as used in the passage. (3 marks)
   1. screened
   2. predisposed
   3. non-communicable

SECTION C. CLOZE TEST (10MKS)
Read the passage below and fill in each blank space with the MOST appropriate word.

Oral literature .......................................(1) one way of maintaining cultural ..............................(2) and educating any given society. ..............................................(3) the various genres and sub-genres, our ..........................................(4) character traits are reflected. The virtues and ....................................(5) are all brought to the surface as ....................................................(6) means of self-reflection. This is because everyone in Africa is a ...........................................(7) of the society. It is, ..............................................(8) important for the adults to ........................................(9) the correct values to the ............................................(10) through this mode of communication.

SECTION D. ORAL POETRY (10MKS)   
Read the song below and answer the questions that follow.

A Sudden Storm

The wind howls, the trees sway,
The loose house-top sheets clatter and clang,
The open window shuts with a bang,
And the sky makes night of the day.

Helter-skelter the parents run,
Pressed with a thousand minor cares:
‘Hey, you there! Pack the house-wares!
And where on earth’s my son?’

Home skip the little children:
‘Where have you been, you naughty boy?’-
The child can feel nothing but joy,
For he loves the approach of the rain.

The streets clear, the houses fill,
The noise gathers as children shout
To rival the raging wind without,
And naught that can move is still-

A bright flash! A lighted plain;
Then, from the once-black heavens,
Accompanied by noise that deafens,
Steadily pours the rain.
Pious Oleghe

Questions

1. Explain what is happening in the poem before the rain pours. (2 Marks)
2. Explain the meaning of the following lines as used in the poem (2 Marks)
   1. And the sky makes night of the day
   2. ) Pressed with a thousand minor cares
3. Identify and illustrate any stylistic devices used in the poem (2 Marks)
4. From the poem, what suggests that the storm is violent? (1 Marks)
5. Explain the difference in the reaction between the old and the young to the coming rain. (2 mks)
6. Give the poem another title. (1 Marks) __________________________________________________________________________

SECTION E: ORAL SKILLS (5 mks)   
Sister Susie’s sewing shirts for soldiers.

1. Identify the genre above. (1mk)
2. Name other two genres that are in the same categories as the one above. (2mks
3. Underline the silent letter in the following words. (2mks)
   1. What
   2. Dormitory

SECTION F: GRAMMAR (10MKS)    

1. Fill in the blank spaces using the past tense of the word in brackets (3mks)
   
   1. The students _________________ assistance from the police after the attack.(seek)
   2. The visitors _______________________us goodbye and left immediately.(Bid)
   3. All the workers ______________________ their union dues through the bank (pay)
2. Use the plural form of the noun in brackets to fill in the blanks. (3mks)
   
   1. They used the _________________________ to cultivate their farms. (ox)
   2. The cattle rustlers ran down the ________________________.(valley)
   3. The _____________________________ were very supportive.(mother- in -law)
3. Fill in each blank space with a correct preposition. (3mks)
   
   1. The athletes complained because they were forced to run .................................wind.
   2. I will speak to you ................................... phone.
   3. Someone is knocking ..................................... the door.
4. The sentence below IS erroneous. Rewrite by correcting the errors.
   The playful puppy ran besides me. (1 mk)

MARKING SCHEME

QUESTION 1: WRITING (20MKS)

1. Invitation card
   • Borderline      -  ½ mk
   • Name of Host  - 1mk
   • Cordially invites- ½ mk
   • Titles of guests-   ½ mk
   • Function/occasion – ½ mk
   • Day  - ½ mk
   • Full date(Date/month/year) – ½ mk 
   • Time – ½ mk
   • Venue – ½ mk
   • Guest – 1 mk
   • Regulation -1mk
   • Address of the Host(RSVP) – 1mk
     TOTAL – 8mks
2. Must be a friendly letter, if not deduct marks for format and content.
   
   1. FORMAT -5mks
      • Writers address- 1 mk
      • Date – 1mk
      • Salutation -1mk
      • Closing tag -1mk
      • Name -1mk (must be one name or short form)
   2. CONTENT -4MKS
      • Introduction/greetings – 1mk
      • Body- Apologize/ say you will not make it to attend party – 1mk
        Give reasons for unavailability (attending funds drive)    - 1mk
      • Conclusion   - 1mk
   3. LANGUAGE -3mks
      • 3mks – Fluent and without mistakes
      • 2mks-A few mistakes and slips
      • 1mk- Mistakes of all types

QUESTION 2:  COMPREHENSION   (15MKS)    

1. Margaret Chan ✓ (1 x 1 =1 mk)
2. A non – communicable disease ✓ in which the body’s ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin is impaired,  resulting in abnormal breakdown of carbohydrates and elevated levels of glucose in the blood and urine. (2 x 1 = 2 mks)
3.  
   • Frequent urination.
   • Intense thirst and hunger.
   • Weight gain.
   • Unusual weight loss
   • Fatigue.
   • Cuts and bruises that do not heal.
   • Male sexual dysfunction.
   • Numbness and tingling in hands and feet. (Any 5 x 1 = (5mks)
     NB: Should be in point form.  If not divide total score by ½  mk
4. “There are only 50 diabetes clinics and at least 12 specialists in Kenya,” said Mr. Zachary Ndegwa, a programme officer at the division of non-communicable diseases. (1x1= 1mk)
5. The consequences are possibility of heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and for some, gangrene, leading to leg amputation. ( Any 3 x1 = 3mks)
6.  
   1. Screened – examined / assessed.
   2. Predisposed – likely to be affected.
   3. Non-communicable – not infectious      3x1= 3mks

1.  Is
2. Beliefs
3. Through
4. Individual
5. Vices
6. The
7. Member
8. Therefore
9. Impact
10. young

QUESTION 4: ORAL POETRY (10MKS)

1.  
   • A strong wind shakes plants and buildings.    (1mk)
   • The sky becomes dark (1mk)
   • Parents are caught in panic as they try to ensure things are not rained on. (1mk)
   • The children are enjoying the situation/ confusion. (1mk)
2.  
   1. The clouds cover the sun making the day dark and dull. (1mk)
   2. They have very many things they are concerned about. (1mk)
3.  
   1. Rhyme – stanza 1 sway and day, Clang and bang
                      Stanza 2 run and son, Cares and waves
      Rhyme gives the poem a rhythm.  It enhances musicality and makes the poem memorable.
   2. Alliteration –“clatter and clang.”
                        -“ to rival the ranging winds without.”
      Effect:  same as (i) above  identification (1/2mk) Illustration   - (1/2mks) )  2 x 1 = 2mks
4.  
   • It clatters and clangs loose house tops. (1mk)
   • it shuts open windows with a bang.   (1mk)  = (2mks)
5.  
   • Parents Panic as they try to ensure house wares and children are safe.   (1mk)
   • Children feel joy of the approaching rain.  (1mk)
6.  
   • The rain / The onset of rain (1mk)
   • It builds up images of what precedes the rain. (1mk)
     (Mark any other relevant title)

Oral skills  (5 mks )    

1. Identify the genre above. (1mk)
   • Tongue twister
2. Name other two genres that are in the same categories as the one above. (2mks)
   • Riddles
   • Pan and jokes
   • Proverbs
3. Underline the silent letter in the following words. (2mks)
   1. What
   2. Dormitory

QUESTION 5: GRAMMAR (10MKS) 

1.  
   1. Sought
   2. bade
   3. paid                                      (3mks)                                                                                                                                   
2.  
   1. Oxen
   2. Valleys
   3. Mothers-in-law                         (3mks)
3.  
   1. in
   2. on
   3. at                                                 (3mks)
4. The playful puppy ran beside me. (1mk)