English Paper 2 Questions and Answers - Form 4 Term 1 Opener Exams 2021

ENGLISH
PAPER 2
(COMPREHENSION, LITERARY APPRECIATION AND GRAMMAR)
FORM 4 TERM 1 OPENER EXAMS
TIME: 2 ½HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

Answer ALL the questions in this paper
All questions should be answered in English.

Read the following passage and answer all the questions in the spaces provided.

LET US CELEBRATE OUR POPULATION GROWTH.
It has been noted that Kenya is experiencing “phenomenal’ growth in population and that this will put a strain on the economy. The general feeling amongst those who see a large population as a problem is that we should put family planning issues back on the national agenda. But does Kenya really have population problem? I do not think so. There is nothing as good as a large population of people within a nation that values human resources and is ready to put them to productive use. Countries that are now registering tremendous economic growth, such as China, India and Brazil, are characterized by among other things, large populations. A country’s economic growth is much more by the choices it makes in the utilization of its resources rather than the rate of its population growth.

We can roughly classify countries into three broad categories on the basis of their development and the utilization of their human resources. The first category is that of countries that value, develop and utilize their human resources for economic growth. These countries include China and the countries we now refer to as the Asian tigers, such as Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. These countries have strategically utilized their immense human resources for exemplary economic growth. Singapore, for example, is the second most densely populated country in the world after Monaco, yet it has put its entire people to work.

The second category is that of countries that suffer from lack of human resources because of a dwindling population. These countries include Norway, Holland, Russia and Austria. They are overburdened with an aging population and are unable to excite their people to multiply. Having realized the negative impact of this low population on their economies, these countries are now encouraging their people to get more children by giving lucrative incentives to couples. They have also begun importing manpower

Third category is that of countries that do not seem to have a progressive policy on the utilization of their human resources. Instead, it appears as if they consider this particular resource an enemy. They are afraid that a large population will impact negatively on their economies. They, therefore, make programmes to reduce population a priority. As a result, these countries operate on the fringes of the world economy, unable to utilize the resources bequeathed to them by nature. Unfortunately, many developing countries, including Kenya, fall into this category.

The land mass we call Kenya is capable of supporting well over 200 million people, compared to its current population of about 40 million people. In size, it is 582 367 square kilometers, much bigger than many industrialized nations. It is, for example, far bigger than Israel, which is only 20 072 square kilometers, yet it supports a population of about 7 million people. By world standards, therefore, Kenya is a sparsely populated country. We fight over land in an area hardly a third of the country, where we practice subsistence agriculture and are always at the mercy of the vagaries of nature, yet our contribution to the world economy is marginal.

We have to confront the real problems we face as a country and not find a scapegoat in population growth. Our inability to plan for our people and put resources to proper use in order to industrialize is our biggest undoing. Much of Israel, for example, is actually a reclaimed desert. Kenya, with some little creativity, can reclaim all the arid and semi-arid lands, and support a larger population. In short, we need to rethink our strategies. Other resources that Kenya needs to harness are water and the long hours of sunshine. Flood waters kill our people during rainy seasons as we helplessly watch, instead of using technology to harvest the water and use it to irrigate the arid lands. The sun shines on our heads every day, yet we cannot tap its rays to light up our homes at night or power our vehicles.

The argument that population growth is cancelling out economic growth is flawed. There is little evidence to support the view that small families are the richest. Simply put, we cannot convince the poor that the only way of getting out of poverty is through getting fewer babies. We should direct our energies more at creating wealth rather than pushing the futile agenda of population control to the national limelight.

Questions
1. What is it that will put a strain on the economy? (2mks)
2. What should be done to curb this problem? (2mks)
3. What determines a country’s economic growth? (2mk)
4. Make notes on the classification of countries based on their development and use of human resources. (3mks)
5. What are the resources that Kenya should use properly in order to industrialize.( 3 marks)
6. Flood waters kill our people during rainy seasons as we helplessly watch… (add a question tag)(1mk)
7. Why do you think the writer compares Kenya and Israel? (2mks)
8. Give two examples of ‘Asian tigers’. (2mks)
9. Explain the meaning of the following words (3 marks)
  1. Strategically -
  2. Scapegoat -
  3. Bequeathed -
Read the excerpt below and then answer the questions that follow.

Helmer : You can’t deny it, my dear little Nora. (Puts his arm round her waist.) It’s a sweet little spendthrift, but she uses up a deal of money. One would hardly believe how expensive such little persons are!
Nora : It’s a shame to say that. I do really save all I can.
Helmer :(laughing). That’s very true,–all you can. But you can’t save anything!
Nora :(smiling quietly and happily). You haven’t any idea how many expenses we skylarks and squirrels have, Torvald.
Helmer : You are an odd little soul. Very like your father. You always find some new way of wheedling money out of me, and, as soon as you have got it, it seems to melt in your hands. You never know where it has gone. Still, one must take you as you are. It is in the blood; for indeed it is true that you can inherit these things, Nora.
Nora : Ah, I wish I had inherited many of papa’s qualities.
Helmer : And I would not wish you to be anything but just what you are, my sweet little skylark. But, do you know, it strikes me that you are looking rather–what shall I say– rather uneasy today?
Nora :Do I?
Helmer : You do, really. Look straight at me.
Nora :(looks at him). Well?
Helmer :(wagging his finger at her). Hasn’t Miss Sweet Tooth been breaking rules in town today?
Nora :No; what makes you think that?
Helmer :Hasn’t she paid a visit to the confectioner’s?
Not been nibbling sweets?
Nora :No, certainly not.
Helmer : Not even taken a bite at a macaroon or two?
Nora :No, Torvald, I assure you really–
Helmer : There, there, of course I was only joking.
Nora :(going to the table on the right). I should not think of going against your wishes.
Helmer :No, I am sure of that; besides, you gave me your word– (Going up to her.) Keep your little Christmas secrets to yourself, my darling. They will all be revealed tonight when the Christmas tree is lit, no doubt.
Nora :Did you remember to invite Doctor Rank?
1. “You can’t deny it, my dear little Nora?” What is Nora denying? (2 marks)
2. “Helmer refers to Nora as a sweet little spendthrift who is expensive.” Give three other names that Helmer uses to refer to Nora? (3 marks)
3. “….it strikes me that you are looking rather–what shall I say–rather uneasy today?” Why is Nora uneasy referring to what happens earlier in the play? (4 marks)
4. “Hasn’t Miss Sweet Tooth been breaking rules in town today?” What is Helmer’s attitude towards Nora when he says the underlined words? (2 marks)
5. Discuss two themes presented in the excerpt. (4 marks)
6. Describe two traits of Nora as portrayed in the excerpt. (4 marks)
7. “Did you remember to invite Doctor Rank?” Give the response that Helmer gives in regard to the question.(4 marks)
8. Give an alternative word with the same meanings in each of the following words as used in the excerpt. (2 marks)
  1. Wheedling ………………………………………………………………………………….
  2. Nibbling ………………………………………………………………………………….
POETRY
Read the poem below and then answer the questions that follow.

Good-Bye
Shirley J. Stankiewicz
(Ode to Alcohol)

The queasy feeling in my stomach
The pounding in my head
The only thoughts in my mind
Were wishing I was dead

My forehead covered in cold sweatS
Body shakes beyond control
The endless aching in my bones
As you consumed my very soul

The minutes turned into hours
The hours turned into days
Suddenly, every moment that I ever lived
Was just a smoke filled haze

As I watched my body waste away
And my life slowly coming to an end
I realized. That I was wrong
You're the devil and not my friend

So, I'm taking back what's left of my life
Not one more second will you dominate
I'll bet the strength that lives in me
You didn't anticipate

Cast you spell on someone else
Find another unsuspecting prey
I came to live, NOT to die
And my life begins TODAY...
1. Briefly describe what the poem is about? (4marks)
2. The “you” in the poem has greatly wasted the speaker. Identify the ways in which “you” has done this. (4marks)
3. What is the tone of the poem? (2 marks)
4. Identify and illustrate two stylistic devices evident in the poem. (4 marks)
5. “Not one more second will you dominate” (1mark)
  Use “any more”
6. Identify and illustrate two character trait of the persona. (4marks)
7. Explain the meaning of the following lines as used in the poem. (2marks)
  1. And my life slowly coming to an end
  2. Find another unsuspecting prey
GRAMMAR
1. Rewrite the sentence according to the instruction given without changing its meaning. (3marks)
  1. The girl said, "I have done my homework." (Rewrite without using the speech marks
  2. I think Muna is funnier than Amos.( End: …Muna.)
  3. The boys went to play in the field. (Underline the adverbial)
2. Rewrite the following sentences replacing the underlined words with a phrasal verb .(3 marks)
  1. It is not good to despise other people.
  2. I am currently living with my brother in Karen.
  3. The principal was annoyed with the three boys.
3. Explain the difference in meaning between the sentences that follow. (2marks)
  1. I bought three pens for thirty shillings.
  2. I bought three pens at thirty shillings.
4. Choose the correct verb from the brackets to complete the following sentences (2mks)
  1. Satan, along with his evil followers, _________ (is, are) always searching for new ways to mislead mankind.
  2. Tea, served with bacon, eggs and sausages, ________ (puts, put) one in a fine mood in the morning.
5. Use the correct form of the word in brackets to fill in the blank spaces in the sentences (3mks)
  1. The audience was offended by the ____________ (sense) of the speaker.
  2. The _____________ (acquire) of a university degree is a great milestone to a student.
  3. Everyone should obey the law ___________ (regard) of their position in the society.
6. Fill in the blanks in each of the following sentences with the appropriate article ( 2mks)
  1. _________university is ____________ institution of higher learning.
  2. ___________desk is a piece of furniture used for writing on.

MARKING SCHEME

Read the following passage and answer all the questions in the spaces provided.

LET US CELEBRATE OUR POPULATION GROWTH.
It has been noted that Kenya is experiencing “phenomenal’ growth in population and that this will put a strain on the economy. The general feeling amongst those who see a large population as a problem is that we should put family planning issues back on the national agenda. But does Kenya really have population problem? I do not think so. There is nothing as good as a large population of people within a nation that values human resources and is ready to put them to productive use. Countries that are now registering tremendous economic growth, such as China, India and Brazil, are characterized by among other things, large populations. A country’s economic growth is much more by the choices it makes in the utilization of its resources rather rate of its population growth.

We can roughly classify countries into three broad categories on the basis of their development and the utilization of their human resources. The first category is that of countries that value, develop and utilize their human resources for economic growth. These countries include China and the countries we now refer to as the Asian tigers, such as Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. These countries have strategically utilized their immense human resources for exemplary economic growth. Singapore, for example, is the second most densely populated country in the world after Monaco, yet it has put its entire people to work.

The second category is that of countries that suffer from lack of human resources because of a dwindling population. These countries include Norway, Holland, Russia and Austria. They are overburdened with an aging population and are unable to excite their people to multiply. Having realized the negative impact of this low population on their economies, these countries are now encouraging their people to get more children by giving lucrative incentives to couples. They have also begun importing manpower.

Third category is that of countries that do not seem to have a progressive policy on the utilization of their human resources. Instead, it appears as if they consider this particular resource an enemy. They are afraid that a large population will impact negatively on their economies. They, therefore, make programmes to reduce population a priority. As a result, these countries operate on the fringes of the world economy, unable to utilize the resources bequeathed to them by nature. Unfortunately, many developing countries, including Kenya, fall into this category.

The land mass we call Kenya is capable of supporting well over 200 million people, compared to its current. Population of about 40 million people. In size, it is 582 367 square kilometers, much bigger than many industrialized nations. It is, for example, far bigger than Israel, which is only 20 072 square kilometers, yet it supports a population of about 7 million people. By world standards, therefore, Kenya is a sparsely populated country. We fight over land in an area hardly a third of the country, where we practice subsistence agriculture and are always at the mercy of the vagaries of nature, yet our contribution to the world economy is marginal.

We have to confront the real problems we face as a country and not find a scapegoat in population growth. Our inability to plan for our people and put resources to proper use in order to industrialize is our biggest undoing. Much of Israel, for example, is actually a reclaimed desert. Kenya, with some little creativity, can reclaim all the arid and semi-arid lands, and support a larger population. In short, we need to rethink our strategies. Other resources that Kenya needs to harness are water and the long hours of sunshine. Flood waters kill our people during rainy seasons as we helplessly watch, instead of using technology to harvest the water and use it to irrigate the arid lands. The sun shines on our heads every day, yet we cannot tap its rays to light up our homes at night or power our vehicles.

The argument that population growth is cancelling out economic growth is flawed. There is little evidence to support the view that small families are the richest. Simply put, we cannot convince the poor that the only way of getting out of poverty is through getting fewer babies. We should direct our energies more at creating wealth rather than pushing the futile agenda of population control to the national limelight.

Questions
1. What is it that will put a strain on the economy? (2mks)
  1. Phenomenal growth in population will put strain on the economy.
2. What should be done to curb this problem? (2mks)
  1. We should put family planning issues back on the agenda
3. What determines a country’s economic growth? (2mk)
  1. Economic growth is determined by the choices it makes in the utilization of its resources rather than the rate of its population growth
4. Make notes on the classification of countries based on their development and use of human resources. (3mks)
  1. (NOTES)Must be notes if not deduct ½ mk OF the total score
  2. Countries that value, develop and utilize their human resources for economic growth.
  3. countries which suffer from lack of human resources due to dwindling population
  4. Countries that do not seem to have a progressive policy on the utilization of their human resources.
5. What are the resources that Kenya should use properly in order to industrialize. ( 3 mks)
  1. Water, land and sunshine
6. Flood waters kill our people during rainy seasons as we helplessly watch… (add a question tag)(1mk)
  1. Flood waters kill our people during rainy seasons as we helplessly watch, doesn’t it? (Question mark and comma missing award 0)
7. Why do you think the writer compares Kenya and Israel? (2mks)
  1. The writer wants to show that Kenya can overcome its problems just as Israel, a smaller reclaimed desert has done. (Accept any other relevant answer)
8. Give two examples of ‘Asian tigers’. (2mks)
  1. Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore.
9. Explain the meaning of
  1. Strategically -carefully
  2. Scapegoat fault
  3. Bequeathed - given
Read the excerpt below and then answer the questions that follow.

Helmer : You can’t deny it, my dear little Nora. (Puts his arm round her waist.) It’s a sweet little spendthrift, but she uses up a deal of money. One would hardly believe how expensive such little persons are!
Nora : It’s a shame to say that. I do really save all I can.
Helmer :(laughing). That’s very true,–all you can. But you can’t save anything!
Nora :(smiling quietly and happily). You haven’t any idea how many expenses we skylarks and squirrels have, Torvald.
Helmer : You are an odd little soul. Very like your father. You always find some new way of wheedling money out of me, and, as soon as you have got it, it seems to melt in your hands. You never know where it has gone. Still, one must take you as you are. It is in the blood; for indeed it is true that you can inherit these things, Nora.
Nora : Ah, I wish I had inherited many of papa’s qualities.
Helmer : And I would not wish you to be anything but just what you are, my sweet little skylark. But, do you know, it strikes me that you are looking rather–what shall I say– rather uneasy today?
Nora :Do I?
Helmer : You do, really. Look straight at me.
Nora :(looks at him). Well?
Helmer :(wagging his finger at her). Hasn’t Miss Sweet Tooth been breaking rules in town today?
Nora :No; what makes you think that?
Helmer :Hasn’t she paid a visit to the confectioner’s?
Not been nibbling sweets?
Nora :No, certainly not.
Helmer : Not even taken a bite at a macaroon or two?
Nora :No, Torvald, I assure you really–
Helmer : There, there, of course I was only joking.
Nora :(going to the table on the right). I should not think of going against your wishes.
Helmer :No, I am sure of that; besides, you gave me your word– (Going up to her.) Keep your little Christmas secrets to yourself, my darling. They will all be revealed tonight when the Christmas tree is lit, no doubt.
Nora :Did you remember to invite Doctor Rank
1. “You can’t deny it, my dear little Nora?” What is Nora denying? (2marks)
  1. Nora is denying spending the all money given to her on the housekeeping and a number of unnecessary things.
2. “Helmer refers to Nora as a sweet little spendthrift who is expensive.” Give three other names that Helmer uses to refer to Nora? (3 marks)
  1. My little squirrel - sweet little spend thrift
  2. Little featherhead
  3. My little skylark
  4. Miss Sweet Tooth
3. “….it strikes me that you are looking rather–what shall I say–rather uneasy today?” Why in Nora uneasy referring to what happens earlier in the play? (4marks)
  1. She has eaten macaroons. Then she wipes her mouth. She fears that Helmer would realize. She had been forbidden from eating the macaroons.
4. “Hasn’t Miss Sweet Tooth been breaking rules in town today?” What is Helmer’s attitude towards Nora when he says the words in boldface? (2marks)
  1. Patronizing. He restrains Nora with rule forbidding her from eating macaroons.
5. Discuss two themes presented in the excerpt. (4marks)
  1. Dishonesty/ deceit. Nora denies eating macaroons when she has done so.
  2. Love. Helmer refers to Nora using affectionate pet names like “sweet little spendthrift”
  3. Marriage- Nora is married
  4. Male chauvinism
6. Describe two traits of Nora as portrayed in the excerpt. (4marks)
  1. Childlike, immature. She happily accepts the pet names “sweet little spendthrift” “skylarks” and “squirrels”.
  2. Secretive/Dishonest and deceitful. She denies eating macaroons when she has earlier eaten.
7. “Did you remember to invite Doctor Rank?” Give the response that Helmer gives in regard to the question. (4 marks)
  1. There is no need of inviting Doctor Rank.
  2. Doctor would come to dinner with them.
  3. He would invite him when he comes in that morning
  4. He has ordered some good wine.
  5. He is looking forward to that evening.
8. Give an alternative word with the same meaning as each of the following words as used in the excerpt. (2marks)
  1. Wheedling obtaining
  2. Nibbling eating/chewing
POETRY
Read the poem below and then answer the questions that follow.

Good-Bye
Shirley J. Stankiewicz
(Ode to Alcohol)

The queasy feeling in my stomach
The pounding in my head
The only thoughts in my mind
Were wishing I was dead

My forehead covered in cold sweats
Body shakes beyond control
The endless aching in my bones
As you consumed my very soul

The minutes turned into hours
The hours turned into days
suddenly, every moment that I ever lived
Was just a smoke filled haze

As I watched my body waste away
And my life slowly coming to an end
I realized. That I was wrong
You're the devil and not my friend

So, I'm taking back what's left of my life
Not one more second will you dominate
I'll bet the strength that lives in me
You didn't anticipate

Cast you spell on someone else
Find another unsuspecting prey
I came to live, NOT to die
And my life begins TODAY...
1. Briefly describe what the poem is about? (4marks)
  1. It is about an alcohol addict. He has taken alcohol that has left him with odd feelings in the stomach, headache and being hopeless. He has however, decided to live by fighting against alcoholism.
2. The “you” in the poem has greatly wasted the speaker. Identify the ways in which you has done this. (4marks)
  1. Leaving queer feeling in the speaker’s stomach. 1mk
  2. Has caused the persona headache. 1mk
  3. The speaker’s body shakes as a result. 1mk
  4. Caused aches to the bones. 1mk
  5. Caused sweat on his forehead. 1mk
  6. Almost claimed his life. 1mk
    (Mark any 4 points)
3. What is the tone of the poem? (3marks)
  1. Regretful. The speaker seems to be feeling sorry for their action of taking alcohol that has wasted him.
4. Identify and illustrate two stylistic devices evident in the poem.(4 marks)
  1. Rhyme e.g dead, head Days,haze
  2. Metaphor- you are the devil and not my friend
  3. Personification- you consumed my very soul
  4. Effect; creates musicality, enhances memorability and creates rhythm
  5. Alliteration e.g. were wishing I was dead (accept any other)
5. “Not one more second will you dominate” (1mark)
  Use “any more”
  1. You will not dominate any more second.
6. Describe two major trait demonstrated by the persona. (4marks)
  1. Remorseful- He is sincerely feeling regret for being an addict.
  2. Optimistic- I came to live not to die
7. Explain the meaning of the following lines as used in the poem. (2marks)
  1. And my life slowly coming to an end
    - Slowly dying.
  2. Find another unsuspecting prey
    - Find someone else who doesn’t know the effects.
GRAMMAR
1. Rewrite the sentence according to the instruction given without changing its meaning. (3marks)
  1. The girl said, "I have done my homework."
    Rewrite without using the speech marks
    - The girl said that she had done her homework
  2. I think Muna is funnier than Amos.
    End: …Muna.
    - I think Amos is not as funny as Muna.
  3. The boys went to play in the field. (Underline the adverbial)
    - In the field
2. Replace the underlined word with a phrasal verb.(3 marks)
  1. It is not good to despise other people
    - Look down upon
  2. I am currently living with my brother in Karen.
    - Putting up
  3. The principal was annoyed with the three boys.
    - Worked up (Must rewrite the statement if not deny)
3. Explain the difference in meaning between the sentences that follow. (2marks)
  1. I bought three pens for thirty shillings.
    - All cost thirty shillings.
  2. I bought three pens at thirty shillings.
    - Each costs thirty shillings.
4. Choose the correct verb from the brackets to complete the following sentences (2mks)
  1. Satan, along with his evil followers, is always searching for new ways to mislead mankind.
  2. Tea, served with bacon, eggs and sausages, puts one in a fine mood in the morning.
5. Use the correct form of the word in brackets to fill in the blank spaces in the sentences
  1. The audience was offended by the insensibility of the speaker.
  2. The acquisition of a university degree is a great milestone to a student.
  3. Everyone should obey the law regardless of their position in the society.
6. Fill in the blanks in each of the following sentences with the appropriate article (2mks)
  1. A university is an institution of higher learning.(must score both)
  2. A desk is a piece of furniture used for writing on.