THE KENYA NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL
K.C.P.E 2013
English
Section A:
Language
Time: I hour 40 minutes
Instructions To Candidates (Please read these instructions carefully)
1. You have been given this question booklet and a separate answer sheet. The question booklet contains 50 questions.
2. When you have chosen your answer, mark it on the ANSWER SHEET, not in this question booklet.
How to use the answer sheet
3. Use an ordinary pencil. 4. Make sure you have written on the answer sheet:
Your index number
Your name
Name of your school
5. By drawing a dark line inside the correct numbered boxes mark your full Index Number (i.e. School Code Number and the three-figure Candidate‘s Number) in the grid near the top of the answer sheet.
6. Do not make any marks outside the boxes.
7. Keep the sheet as clean as possible and do not fold it.
8. For each of the questions 1-50 four answers are given. The answers are lettered A, B, C and D. In each ease only ONE of the four answers is correct. Choose the correct answer.
9. On the answer sheet the correct answer is to be shown by drawing a dark line inside the box in which the letter you have chosen is written.
Example
In questios 24 and 25, select the alternative that best completes the sentence.
24. What a great day
A. was it?
B. that was!
C. it was?
D. was that!
The correct answer is B.
On the answer sheet:
14. [A] [B] [C] [D] 24. [A] [B] [C] [D] 34. [A] [B] [C] [D] 44. [A] [B] [C] [D]
In the set of boxes numbered 24. the box with the letter B printed in it is marked.
10. Your dark line MUST be within the box.
11. For each question ONLY ONE box is to be marked in each set of four boxes.
This Question Paper consists of 7 printed pages. Questions 1 to 15
Read the passage below It contains blank spaces numbered 1 to 15. For each blank space, choose the best alternative from the choices given. Many people in various parts of the world experience stress. It can be defined as worrying excessively about a 1._ situation. l would like us to share some thoughts 2._ how to manage stress as an ongoing 3._ First of all, the manner 4._ which We explain things that happen to us will determine the 5._ of our actions.
Stress has no age limit. Children 6._ known to experience and express extreme stress. Sometimes stress leads to disagreements with 7._ whom we love. We need to be aware that stress 8._ come in a bang. Thinking about 9._ events is one way of building on our failures. A small failure here and there so increases pressure 10._ it 11._ reach a level which is beyond 12_.
The second point is to 13._ note of anything which causes war in the self. Remember at one time, 14._ may have made a passing comment 15._ “You look so ugly.” If you store this in your mind and keep on thinking about it, it becomes unhealthy.
1. A. hard B. difficult C. tough D. destructive
2. A. Off B. with C. on D. of
3. A. process B. event C. method D. problem
4. A. on B. into C. in D. by
5. A. measures B. courses C. causes D.results
6. A. have been B.had been C. were being D. were
7. A. many B. some C. they D. those
8. A. did not B. does not C. has not D. had not
9. A. current B. present C. past D. future
10. A. that B. then C. as D. because
11. A. can B. shall C. must D. will
12. A. measure B. increase C. control D. limit
13. A. record B. take C. write D. put
14. A. everybody B. nobody C. anybody D. somebody
15. A. , B. . C. ! D. ;
For questions 16 to 18, choose the alternative that means the same as the underlined words. 16. Most people appreciate help given to them.
A. like
B. enjoy
C. take
D. value
17. People who wanted to buy supplies gathered at the entrance of the shop long before it opened.
A. Competitors
B. Crowds
C. Partners
D. Customers
18. The members of the board made a series of decisions on how to proceed in future.
A. agreements
B. resolutions
C. suggestions
D. proposals
For questions 19 to 21, choose the correct alternative to fill the blank space.
19. The Workers could still be seen hard at Work– the sun was burning hot.
A. although
B. but
C. and
D. as
20. He had plenty of money but he–help nobody.
A. will
B. could
C. would
D. can
21. The banker had– in her purse.
A. a five-shillings coin
B. a five-shillings coins
C. a five-shilling coins
D. a five-shilling coin
In questions 22 and 23 remove one letter from the word in CAPITALS. then select the opposite of the new word formed.
22. GOT
A. receive
B. leave
C. come
D. start
23.HASTE
A. love
B. dislike
C. respect
D. rush
For questions 24 and 25, choose the alternative which best completes the statement given.
24. However Well l do the job
A. but nobody commends me.
B. nobody commends me.
C. that nobody commends me.
D. except nobody commends me.
25. Not only was I sick
A. but also tired.
B. and also tired.
C. then also tired.
D. in fact also tired.
Read the passage below and then answer questions 26 to 38.
There was once an orphan girl who lived in a poor little hut that stood quite by itself among the rough bushes. From the doorway she could look across the empty stretches of the uncultivated land. It was worse when the darkness covered everywhere making it hard for her not to feel afraid.
She was fourteen when she lost her rough, good-for-nothing father. He had lost his way on a stormy night and was found dead in the morning. Her mother had died when she was very young. She had been left alone, in possession of a dog, some chickens and a spinning-wheel.
Mary was a bright, cheerful and courageous child and within a short time, she had become famous for her spinning techniques. Any rough wool brought to her was spun into thread for knitting. Her hens also were productive enough and this made her a popular egg seller, and her dog just like any other, provided adequate protection and company.
Mary was illiterate but she never forgot a prayer her mother had taught her: “God bless this house from thatch to floor, the saints guard the door, and four good angels watch my bed, two at the foot and two at the head”. She’d kneel and recite the verse every night before going to bed.
Although Mary was a loner, she was happy and contented with her business. And yet people who happened to pass by her little hut late at night began to whisper strange stories. The village talk reached the religious leader who decided to come and question the girl. Mary wept bitterly on realizing that these stories were being told about her. She explained to the religious leader everything she did but he seemed not to have been convinced. He decided to investigate why the villagers were spreading those rumours about her.
So, late that night, without a word to anyone, the religious leader lit his lantern and went out. The village was still and dark with stars shining here and there in the dark sky. His lantern swung from side to side as he walked slowly up the road towards the bushes.
At last, he saw the hut half-hidden among the bushes. He stopped suddenly when a light streamed through a narrow chink in the wall. He covered his own lantern with his cloak and went forward very quickly and carefully. Although it was pitch dark, the faint glimmer of stars made it possible for him to see several men standing close to the walls of the hut whispering to one another.
The religious leader guessed who they were, fell upon his knees but the strangers melted away into the darkness as if they had been pictures in a dream. He rose from his knees and moved towards the window to peep into the hut. Instantly, an invisible hand threw a gleaming sword in front of him and a low voice spoke to him a solemn warning: Do not look. It is the light of angels.”
He put his hand upon the sword and prayed. The sword moved slowly away and vanished. He leaned forward and gazed through the chink. With a cry of happiness, he saw a corner of Mary’s wooden bed and in the corner a great golden wing. Then there was darkness. He thought that darkness had fallen upon him because of the glorious thing that he had seen.
Praising God for all His goodness, he returned home. He woke up the next day, went to Mary’s hut and apologized on behalf of the villagers. To this day, the villagers still talk about Mary and how her simple prayer was answered. (Adapted from Oxford English Course, F.G. French, CBE OUP, 1967)
26. Which one of the following sentences is true according to the first paragraph?
A. Mary was an orphan who loved living
in the bush.
B. Mary was an orphan whose behaviour was questionable.
C. Mary was an orphan whose land was uncultivated.
D. Mary was an orphan whose house was in the bush.
27. Mary’s fright was mainly caused by
A. the darkness that covered her hut.
B. the darkness that covered the whole land.
C. the darkness that covered the uncultivated land.
D. the darkness across the stretches of the uncultivated land.
28. The phrase “faint glimmer of stars” as used in the passage means
A. clear light.
B. dim light.
C. flickering light.
D. bright light.
29. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word “possession” as used in the passage?
A. ownership
B. heredity
C. inheritance
D. property
30. According to the passage we can tell that Mary was
A. sympathetic, bright and friendly.
B. intelligent, cheerful and brave.
C. intelligent, compassionate and friendly.
D. cheerful, compassionate and fearless.
31. How did Mary cam her living?
A. By spinning and selling eggs.
B. By spinning techniques and producing hens.
C. By selling eggs and rough wools brought to her.
D. By becoming famous for her spinning techniques.
32. What do we learn about Mary’s mother‘?
A. She was a saint.
B. She was loving.
C. She was illiterate.
D. She was prayerful.
33. What made Mary weep bitterly?
A. She was a loner.
B. Untrue stories were being told about her.
C. She was questioned by the religious leader.
D. People Whispered strange stories.
34. Which one of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. The religious leader visited Mary every night.
B. The talk about Mary reached the religious leader.
C. The religious leader was unsure of Mary’s explanation.
D. The religious leader confirmed the stories about Mary were untrue.
35. When did the religious leader hasten his steps?
A. When he saw men standing next to the walls whispering.
B. When he covered his lantern with his cloak.
C. When a light streamed through a narrow chink in a wall.
D. When he saw the faint glimmer of stars.
36. Why did the strangers melt away?
A. Because they were creatures of another world.
B. Because they saw the religious leader.
C. Because they saw the religious leader on his knees.
D. Because the religious leader had been struck by awe.
37. The religious leader was happy when he A. witnessed some amazing things.
B. saw Mary’s wooden bed.
C. discovered that Many was asleep.
D. realised that darkness had fallen upon him.
38. Which one of the following would be the best title for this story?
A. The amazed religious leader.
B. The power of prayer.
C. The power of angels.
D. The religious leader.
Read the following passage and then answer questions 39 to 50.
A long time ago communication was very difficult. People had to travel long distances to convey messages. Roads were quite impassable and there were no reliable means oftransport. lt took a long time for one to travel from one part of the country to another. Whenever one heard the beating of a drum or saw smoke, they would tell there was need for them to gather.
Travelling from Nairobi to Kisumu would take a number of days. Imagine you were admitted to a school of your choice but all vehicles went on strike on opening day and yet you had only that day or you would be replaced, or that someone fell sick and needed to see a doctor!
Owing to this and many other reasons, a group of companies came up with an interesting idea. With the increased movement of people, there was need to connect people to the existing telephone networks in better ways. They scrutinized the existing telephone networks and developed a small handset or mobile phone that offers nearly everything you need. This has proved to be very useful to many people. However, in order to avoid offending others, we need to keep the following suggestions in mind.
First of all, unless your call is urgent, make it at a time that is convenient for the other person. ln most cases avoid making calls early in the morning, late at night, or at meal-times. It is quite expensive using a telephone; therefore, it is necessary to avoid irrelevant information such as, “lt is now raining heavily, our cow has calved or my aunt has a new hairstyle.”
Check the number you are calling and be sure to touch or dial carefully. lf you do not recognize the voice that answers the phone, give the number you are calling and ask if you have reached it. If you have made a mistake, apologize for the inconvenience caused. Allow time for someone to answer the phone, probably let the phone ring at least six to ten times. This gives the receiver about eighteen seconds to reach the phone.
When someone answers, identify yourself and state your purpose, as many people become anxious when a caller does not give his or her name. Speak clearly, pronounce words carefully and vary your pitch and loudness, as it is difficult to distinguish between some sounds on thc phone than it is in person. Avoid monopolizing the phone as this may inconvenience the person you are talking to.
Just as there are procedures to follow when making a social call, so are there when receiving it. Answer appropriately by saying “hallo” and wait for the caller to speak. If the caller is unknown, be cautious about disclosing personal information. You might ask, “Who is speaking, please?” or “What number are you calling?” Respond to the situation. If the person whom the caller wishes to speak to is not available, offer to take the message. Record it and post it where it can be seen. If a person seems confused, or demands your name or number, ask, “What number are you dialing?” If misdialled, say, “l’m sorry, you’ve reached the wrong number.”
Finally be honest but courteous. If you are short of time or are expecting another call, tell your caller. To avoid being rude, you might provide a brief explanation such as, “Juma, l have just sat down to eat dinner, can I call you back in about an hour?” or “Mary, I have enjoyed talking to you but I need to go now. My brother wants to use the phone to get some information about an assignment.” With this information, l’m sure you’ll enjoy using your phone.
(Adapted from Special Speechfnr Effective Communication. Second Edition, 1994, Holt Renehart and Winstein Inc.)
39. From the first paragraph we learn that
A. people Were forced to travel long distances.
B. to travel, one had to beat a drum.
C. people had difficulties in travelling.
D. if smoke was seen one had to travel.
40. If one had an urgent journey to make one
A. would arrive on time.
B. would always arrive late.
C. rarely found it difficult to arrive on time.
D. would find it difficult to arrive on time
41. Why did a group of companies come up with the idea of connecting people?
A. To make them travel fast and easily.
B. To make people communicate more easily.
C. To respond to the request of the people.
D. To increase the movement of the people.
42. The word scrutinized as used in the passage means
A. examined.
B. checked.
C. tested.
D. questioned.
43. Which of the following is true about handsets?
A. They offer a wide range of things.
B. They are used everywhere.
C. They are very convenient to many people.
D. They often provide everything you need.
44. When would it be appropriate to make a call?
A. At a convenient time.
B. When one has enough time.
C. Whenever there is need to.
D. Whenever one feels like.
45. Why would it be unwise to include unnecessary information While making a call? It is
A. time wasting.
B. uneconomical.
C. annoying.
D. irrelevant.
46. “If you have made a mistake, apologize for the inconvenience …. ” This means that one should be
A. sympathetic when one makes a mistake.
B. sorry when one makes a mistake.
C. sad after making a mistake.
D. ashamed after making a mistake.
47. Why is it wrong to monopolize the talk when making a call?
A. Other people may also want to talk.
B. It is inconvenient to the person you are talking to.
C. It denies either party a chance to speak.
D. One should be mindful of the receiver.
48. According to the passage, “a social call” implies
A. an official call.
B. a friendly call.
C. an urgent call.
D. an important call.
49. Why do you think one should be cautious about disclosing personal information to an unknown caller?
A. One may not know what to tell a stranger.
B. The caller is likely to be a bad person.
C. It is not good to be known by strangers.
D. One may not know the caller’s intentions.
50. Which of the following best summarizes the passage?
A. When making a call, be clear, brief, courteous and loud.
B. When making a call, be apologetic, loud, careful and clear.
C. When making a call, be careful, sympathetic, brief and apologetic.
D. When making a call, be loud, clear. cheerful and brief.
2013 KCPE English Past Paper Marking Scheme
1 B
2 C
3 D
4 C
5 B
6 A
7 D
8 B
9 C
10 A
11 A
12 C
13 B
14 D
15 A
16 D
17 D
18 B
19 A
20 C
21 D
22 C
23 A
24 B
25 A
26 D
27 B
28 C
29 A
30 B
31 A
32 D
33 B
34 A
35 A
36 C
37 A
38 B
39 C
40 D
41 B
42 A
43 C
44 A
45 B
46 B
47 B
48 B
49 D
50 A
