2016 KCSE English Paper 1 Past Paper
1 Read the advertisement below and then answer the questions that follow.
The Ministry of Health is seeking to recruit Form Four graduates to serve in a campaign aimed at creating awareness among young people on the importance of healthy eating.
Applicants must be: citizens of Kenya – 16 years and above – in possession of a national identification card – fluent in English and Kiswahili – able to demonstrate knowledge and experience on issues of healthy eating – creative and innovative.
Interested persons are required to send their application to the following by 30th November, 2016.
The Principal Secretary Ministry of Health P.O. Box 6789 — 001000 NAIROBI
(a) Write a letter of application in response to the advertisement. (12 marks)
(b) Write a Curriculum Vitae to accompany your application letter. (8 marks)
2 Read the passage below and fill in each blank space with the most appropriate word.
(10 marks) Neither time nor affluence removes memories (1) childhood poverty. Experiences of poor children illustrate how significant (2) and status are in our society. Some adults think their (3) or father was responsible (4) their attitudes about money. Their current understanding of (5) parents’ past problems with money often provide little solace. A (6) of adults overcome the stigma of having been (7) as children. There are (8) children who also develop unhealthy attitudes about money. Such (9) imagine that money is all they need to (10) it in life. There is, however, more to life than money. (Adapted from: Harbrace
Handbook, by Cheryl Glenn, et al. Boston: Thomson Wadsworth, 2004)
3 (a) Read the poem below and then answer the questions that follow:
Giraffes
Beyond the brassy sun-stare where each shade
Crouches beneath its substance at mid-noon, The tall giraffes are gathered in a glade
Grazing the green fruit of the midday moon.
Patched with sienna shadows of the jungle,
In pencil-slender attitudes they stand;
Grotesque in camouflage, each curve and angle
Is merged into the backcloth of the land.
These circus creatures of a poet’s dreaming
Whose destiny on silent strings is spun,
Are patterned in designs of nature’s scheming
To move through dappled woods and dun.
Strange genesis in which the substance seeming
The shadow, is the street of the sun!
By Phoebe Hesketh (Adapted from: Modern Poems for Common-wealth, by Maurice Wollman & John Spencer. London: George G. Harrap, 1966)
(i) Describe the rhyme scheme of this poem and explain its function. (3 marks)
(ii) Identify two instances of alliteration in this poem. (2 marks)
(iii) How would you say the last line of the poem? (3 marks)
(b) You accidentally broke the windscreen of a stranger’s car at the market near your home.
Complete the following conversation between you and the stranger. Use courteous language.
You: (2 marks)
Stranger: I can’t believe it. This is a brand new car. You: (2 marks)
Stranger: Your parents will have to meet the cost of replacing the windscreen. You: (2 marks)
Stranger: I hope you will learn the lesson to be more careful in future. You: (2 marks)
(c) Write down another word with a similar pronunciation for each of the ones given below. (5 marks)
(i) blew
(ii) serial
(iii) cite
(iv) nun
(v) some
(d) You are listening to a speech about careers by a visitor to your school.
A few minutes into the speech, you look around and notice that some of your fellow students are yawning, while others are showing signs of definite restlessness.
(i) What would be the likely cause of the students’ behaviour? (3 marks)
(ii) What would you do to ensure you continue listening effectively? (3 marks)
(e) In each group of the words below underline the word that is pronounced differently from the others. (3 marks)
(i) bread bleed bred
(ii) arch arc ark
(iii) hair heir air
2016 KCSE English Paper 1 Past Paper-Marking Scheme/Answers
Marking scheme 2016 English Paper 1 (101/1) Broken passage answers 1-10
1. of
2. money
3. mother
4. for
5. their
6. number
7. poor
8. affluent/ wealthy/ rich
9. children
10. make
Oral Skills Oral Poetry/ Narrative
1.(a) Write down another word with a similar pronunciation for each of the ones given below. (5 marks)
(i) blew
(ii) serial
(iii) cite
(iv) nun
(v) some
(i) blew…..blue
(ii) serial…. cereal
(iii) cite…. sight
(iv) nun…. none
(v) some…. sum
(b) In each group of the words below underline the word that is pronounced differently from the others. (3 marks)
(i) bread bleed bred
(ii) arch arc ark
(iii) hair heir air
(i) bread bleed bred
(ii) arch arc ark
(iii) hair heir air
(i) Describe the rhyme scheme of this poem and explain its function. (3 marks)
❖ ab ab cd cd ef ef ef. Creates musicality, memorability and enhances rhythm,
(ii) Identify two instances of alliteration in this poem. (2 marks)
beyond brassy
silent string
gathered grade
camouflage curve
substance
seeming
(iii) How would you say the last line of the poem? (3 marks)
❖ Raising the voice to achieve emphasis while articulating every word Brightening the face to show the marvel of nature Stress content words i.e. shadow, street, sun for emphasis.
Listening and Speaking Skills (Oral)
You are listening to a speech about careers by a visitor to your school.
A few minutes into the speech, you look around and notice some of your fellow students are yawning, while others are showing signs of definite restlessness.
(i) What would be likely cause of the students’ behavior? (3 marks)
❖ The audience’s behavior would indicate that the speech has been going on for too long; or that the people think they will be late for something else; or they are tired, bored or uncomfortable,
(ii) What would you do to ensure you continue listening effectively? (3 marks)
❖ Move closer to the speaker
❖ Maintain eye contact
❖ Scribble notes in summary of the speakers main points
Etiquette
You accidentally broke the windscreen of a stranger’s car at the market near your home.
Complete the following conversation between you and the stranger. Use courteous language. You (2 marks)
Stranger: I can’t believe it. This is a brand new car.
You (2 marks)
Stranger: Your parents will have to meet the cost of replacing the windscreen.
You (2 marks)
Stranger: I hope you will learn the lesson to be more careful in future.
You (2 marks)
You: Excuse me Sir, I am very sorry for breaking the windscreen to your car.
Stranger: I can’t believe it. This is a brand new car.
You: I am sorry, I will try as much as possible to find a way of handling this issue.
Stranger: Your parents will have to meet the cost of replacing the windscreen.
You: I am sure, I will humbly request them to replace the windscreen and they will do so.
Stranger: I hope you will learn the lesson to be more careful in future.
You: Thank you Sir, I promise to be very cautious in all my undertakings in future
