2018 English KCPE Past Papers
KCPE Past Papers 2018 English Language
Kenya Certificate of Primary Education
2018 English Language
Read the passage below. 1t contains blank spaces numbered 1 to 15.
For each blank space, choose the best alternative from the choices given.
The day was calm, bright ……1…… warm. Waigwa, James, Lorna and I were ……2…… our way to Mambo Park to play. Just a few metres from the park, James felt something that had ……3…… to his shoe. “Must be a piece of chewing gum or something,” he murmured as he bent ……4…… to remove the object. What he removed from his shoe ……5…… a dirty five-hundred-shilling note. “Wow! What ……6…… luck! Let’s go and ……7…… ourselves with the money,” said Waigwa. “I know a good restaurant where we ……8…… go for a nice meal.” “All you think of is food, Waigwa. No ……9…… , you didn’t do well last term,” I said. “I think we should ……10…… the money in a few good books.” “You boys only think of yourselves.,” Loma chipped in. “I imagine that the owner of this note must be anxiously searching for it all over the place. So I suggest we look around to see ……11…… we can find the owner.” We argued for the ……12…… few minutes and finally agreed that we ……13…… use the money to have some fun. Suddenly, a middle-aged man appeared. “Hey fellows, I’ve just lost ……14…… money:’ he said, almost out of breath. “Have you found a five-hundred-shilling note around here?” We all turned and looked at James who was still holding the note. Looking confused, James slowly handed over the money to the man who quickly expressed ……15…… and then walked away.
1. A.or B. but C. and D. even
A. along B. on C. in D. off
3. A. stuck B. held C. trapped D. joined
4. A. forward B. under C. down D. over
5. A. is B. had been C. would be D. was
6. A. real B. good C. serious D. great
7. A. enjoy B. organise C. occupy D. please
8. A. should B. must C. can D. will
9. A. surprise B. care C. guilt D. wonder
10.A. put B. spend C. use D. save
11.A. how B. if C. that D. when
12.A. next B. past C. coming D. immediate
13.A. can B. must C. would D. will
14.A. much B. the C. that D. some
15.A. joy B. gratitude C. luck D. confidence
For questions 16 and 17, choose the word which best completes the sentence given
16. The pupil was from school for misbehaviour.
A. released
B. dismissed
C. expelled
D. discharged
17. The damage caused by the fire is to be about fifty thousand shillings, but the exact amount is not known.
A. calculated
B. shown
C. counted
D. estimated
For questions 18 and 19, select the sentence which is correct.
18. A. Who is the bravest of the two?
B. Jack’s work is the least of all.
C. We are few today, than we were yesterday.
D. My drawing is more better than yours.
19. A. Mary and I are great friends.
B. None of these books arc new.
C. Which one of them have arrived?
D. Each of them have read the book.
For questions 20 to 22, choose the alternative which best completes the sentence given.
20. _ you repair this for me, please?
A. Should
B. Must
C. Might
D. Could
21. They rested mango tree.
A. at
B. on
C. in
D. under
22. He works in Nairobi,
A. doesn’t he
B. isn’t he
C. does he
D. is it the shade of the
Use the information below to answer questions 23 to 25.
Four boys, Job, Abel, Peter and Martin live in the same village. Peter is younger than Martin but older than Abel. Job is the same age as Martin.
Abel is not as tall as Job although he is taller than Martin and Peter. Martin and Job are fast runners, although they are slower than Peter. Abel cannot run as fast as Job.
23. Which two boys are the oldest?
A. Abel and Martin
B. Martin and Job
C. Peter and Abel
D. Job and Peter
24. Which boy is the tallest?
A. Martin
B. Abel
C. Job
D. Peter
25. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Job is the fastest runner.
B. Peter is a slow runner.
C. Abel runs faster than Martin.
D. Martin runs faster than Abel.
Read the passage below and then answer questions 26 to 38.
• When Peter entered the headmaster’s office, he did not know what to expect.
The look on the headmaster’s face told him all was not well.
“Ah, Peter. So you are letting things slip after only six months.”
“No, Sir.” “Are you calling the teacher a liar?”
“No, Sir.”
“Are you tired of working hard? Letting me down? None of the others have, you know. Do you want to do only the ordinary classes?”
“No, Sir.”
“You’d better tell me all about it”
“It’s arithmetic, Sir.”
“What about it?”
“I can’t do it, Sir.”
“Have you tried?”
Yes, Sir.”
“Hard?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“This record says you show no interest in it.”
“I’ve tried, Sir.
” 1)o you mean the record is untrue?”
“No, Sir. I mean I’ve tried hard to be interested.”
“And failed.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“You know, of course, that I don’t make laws about examinations.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Well, unless you get a certain average in arithmetic, your very high average in all the other subjects won’t help you. That is the law, and I didn’t make it.
I want to push you through as fast as I can, but you must work at arithmetic. Relax a little with the other subjects, if you like.”
“I like the other subjects, Sir.”
“I know. But to get where you want to go, you can’t do what you like. Where do you want to go? What do you want to do?”
“Those stories, Sir.” “In the book the young woman gave you?”
“Yes, Sir.” “I was beginning to wonder whether you had begun to forget them.”
“I’m trying to read them now, Sir.”
“Getting anything out of it?”
“A little.”
“Well, there you have it. Between you and the further knowledge that would help you to get everything out of that book stands arithmetic.
It’s like a lion barring your road. You either turn back because you cannot cope with it, or you kill it and go on. There is no other way.
Arithmetic is silly in a poet’s armoury, but you must master it and get that average …. I promised you my cane if you were ever sent to me.
We must keep our promises. Let down your trousers, then go back and let the sting of the cane help you to kill the lion.
26. Why has Peter been sent to the headmaster?
A. He has been letting the headmaster down.
B. He was caught calling the teacher a I iar.
C. He has not worked hard enough in arithmetic.
D. He wants to do the ordinary classes only.
27. How has the headmaster known that Peter has a problem?
A. By doing his own investigation.
B. By interviewing Peter in his office.
C. By checking what Peter is reading.
D. By looking at the teacher’s report.
28. The expression ‘letting me down’ means
A. to discourage someone.
B. to disobey someone.
C. to disappoint someone.
D. to disturb someone.
29. What does Peter want to become when he grows up?
A. A librarian.
B. A soldier.
C. A writer.
D. A teacher.
30. Why has Peter done badly in arithmetic?
A. He is naturally lazy.
B. He has no liking for it.
C. He does not like the teacher.
D. He is generally a weak student.
31. It is important for Peter to do well in arithmetic because
A. he has to please the headmaster.
B. failing in it will make him hopeless.
C. his potential can be seen elsewhere.
D. it is necessary for his future career.
32. The headmaster tells Peter he can relax in the other subjects if he likes. What does he mean?
A. That Peter can devote more time to studying arithmetic.
B. That Peter can ignore other subjects and study arithmetic.
C. That Peter can balance his time among
33. Which of the following statements is TRUE’?
A. Peter doesn’t know what he is doing in school.
B. The headmaster is concerned about his students’ future.
C. Peter cannot do well in arithmetic at all.
D. The headmaster enjoys caning disobedient students.
34. Why does the headmaster punish Peter after interviewing him?
A. To push him to work harder.
B. To cause him some embarrassment.
C. To help him think about his future.
D. To make him realise his mistake.
35. The headmaster can be described as
A. strict and friendly.
B. kind and reasonable.
C. polite and responsible.
D. firm and authoritative.
36. What is meant by ‘a poet’s armoury’?
A. A heap of weapons for a poet to Tight with.
B. A collection of skills for use by a poet.
C. A range of ideas meant for poets only.
D. A variety of materials for use by a poet.
37. The headmaster finally tells Peter that he has to ‘kill the lion’. This means that Peter must
A. put a lot of effort in arithmetic and pass.
B. read and understand the stories in the book.
C. ensure that he checks against bad influence.
D. avoid going back to the headmaster’s office.
38. Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?
A. Peter’s agreement to study hard
B. Peter answers the headmaster .
C. Peter’s encounter with the headmaster
D. Peter gets the sting of the cane.
Read the pllowing passage and then answer questions 39 to 50.
Shops which sell clothes, particularly women’s clothes, are seldom empty. These shops usually have displays of many-caloured clothes on the window. Music may be heard from inside: this is expected to attract customers to go in and buy. Girls and women can be seen strolling along the streets in twos or threes, especially in the evenings and weekend.
They are looking at the clothes In windows withopt meaning to buy anything; in other words, they are window-shopping. One of them sees something she likes, and feels she must go in to ask the price.
If the shop assistant is clever, he nay make a sale.
“Can I help you?” he asks.
“Yes, please,” says the window shopper.
“I’d like to see that dress that you have in the window, the light blue one with short sleeves and a narrow belt. How much is it?” The shop assistant goes and points to the dress.
“Is this the one you mean?”.he asks.
“It’s only 999.50 shillings.
I think I have it in your size — size 12, isn’t it? Would you like to try it on?” Of course the woman doesn’t want to buy since she is only window-shopping. But there can be no harm in just trying the dress on, can there?
After all, no one is compelled to buy.
So she agrees to try it on.
She goes into the little fitting room and changes into the dress. When she comes out, she sees the admiring looks on her friends’ faces.
The assistant smiles and says, “That fits you perfectly.
Let me just do up this button that is undone.
You’ll notice that the dress is this season’s length, a little below the knee.
The colour is just right for you too.
That shade of blue is very Popular at this time of the year when the skies are clear.” After some more discussion, and walking up and down, the woman decides she really must have this new fashionable dress, and the sale is made.
When he has wrapped up the dress, the shop assistant tries again.
“What about this nylon scarf to go with your dress?” he asks.
“It matches beautifully. And perhaps I can get you a woollen cardigan to complete the outfit.
” He has no luck.
The customer feels she has spent enough money. She takes nine-hundred-ninety-nine shillings and fifty cents from her purse and payS.
She then leaves the shop with her friends, carrying the new dress in a plastic bag.
Did you notice that the shop assistant spoke about ‘this season’s length’?
It is strange how fashion changes, most obviously in the length of women’s dresses. Some years ago, most women wore very short skirts called mini-skirts; only young girls do so nowadays. Today, if a woman wears a dress that touches the ankle, people think she is going to a party or is from a strict religious background.
In fact, whatever length of dress is chosen by a few fashion designers in Paris or Rome or New York is soon considered fashionable by most people.
There are fashions in men’s clothes also but they change more slowly.
We no longer see the high, stiff collars and bell-bottom trousers of yesteryears.
The popularity of the Kaunda suit has also subsided.
Blue jeans are one of the most interesting modem fashions.
Earlier, jeans were just the long-lasting pants which American workmen wore in their workshops.
One manufacturer then guessed that other people might like to wear such strong and lasting clothes when they were not at work.
He was right. Jeans are now very popular among young men and women while off duty all over the world.
39. The writer says that shops that sell clothes are ‘seldom empty’. This means that
A. they are rarely idle.
B. they are never vacant.
C. they arc rarely deserted.
D. they arc never free.
40. Why do you think the•clothes displayed in the shops are many-coloured?
A. In order to inform people about them.
B. So as to attract the interest of customers.
C. In order to suit the seasons of the year.
D. So as to make the shops look beautiful.
41. `Strolling’ means walking
A. cautiously.
B. aimlessly.
C. hurriedly.
D. leisurely.
42. Why would a dress shop indicate a price like 999.50 instead of 1,000?
A. Because shops work out their exact prices.
B. Because customers will require some change.
C. Because the price looks cheaper that way.
D. Because those buying might ask questions.
43. Which of the following words could be used in place of ‘compelled’?
A. forced
B. asked
C. required
D. bullied
44. What mainly made the woman buy the dress?
A. She saw the admiring looks on her friends’ faces.
B. She thought the price was quite reasonable.
C. She really needed the dress this time round.
D. She was impressed by the shop assistant’s kindness.
45. Why would that shade of blue be popular at that particular time of the year?
A. Because many clothes of that colour had been sold.
B. Because it matched the colour of the sky.
C. Because the colour was very attractive at that time.
D. Because that was the fashion of many
46…. the shop assistant tries again.’ What does he try to do?
A. Sell clothes to the other women in the shop.
B. Find more dresses like the one he has sold.
C. Make his voice heard above the loud music.
D. Persuade his customer to buy more clothes.
47. Why did the woman NOT buy the scarf or the cardigan?
A. She didn’t have any more money with her.
B. She had bought enough items for the day.
C. She had spent quite some money already.
D. She didn’t really like these particular items.
48. Why do you think people like to wear fashionable clothes?
A. Because they want to look smart and modern.
B. Because they want their friends to envy them.
C. Because they want to look different from others.
D. Because they want to own something new.
49. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. Women’s fashions change much more frequently than men’s.
B. All fashions come from Paris, Rome and New York.
C. Shops display what is trending to make quick sale.
D. Fashion is a matter of what people see as popular.
50. Which of the following LEAST explains why jeans are a favourite fashion?
A. They arc made of tough and durable material.
B. They are suitable for wearing when • not on duty.
C. They are worn by American workmen in workshops.
2018 KCPE English Past Paper-Marking Scheme/Answers
1. C
2. B
3. A
4. C
5. D
6. B
7. A
8. C
9. D
10.A
11.B
12.A
13.C
14.D
15.B
For questions 16 and 17, choose the word which best completes the sentence given
16. The pupil was from school for misbehaviour.
C. expelled
17. The damage caused by the fire is to be about fifty thousand shillings, but the exact amount is not known.
D. estimated
For questions 18 and 19, select the sentence which is correct.
18. A. Who is the bravest of the two?
B. Jack’s work is the least of all.
19. A. Mary and I are great friends.
For questions 20 to 22, choose the alternative which best completes the sentence given.
20. _ you repair this for me, please?
D. Could
21. They rested mango tree.
C. in
22. He works in Nairobi,
A. doesn’t he
Use the information below to answer questions 23 to 25.
Four boys, Job, Abel, Peter and Martin live in the same village. Peter is younger than Martin but older than Abel. Job is the same age as Martin.
Abel is not as tall as Job although he is taller than Martin and Peter. Martin and Job are fast runners, although they are slower than Peter. Abel cannot run as fast as Job.
23. Which two boys are the oldest?
B. Martin and Job
24. Which boy is the tallest?
C. Job
25. Which of the following statements is TRUE?
D. Martin runs faster than Abel.
Read the passage below and then answer questions 26 to 38.
• When Peter entered the headmaster’s office, he did not know what to expect.
The look on the headmaster’s face told him all was not well.
“Ah, Peter. So you are letting things slip after only six months.”
“No, Sir.” “Are you calling the teacher a liar?”
“No, Sir.”
“Are you tired of working hard? Letting me down? None of the others have, you know. Do you want to do only the ordinary classes?”
“No, Sir.”
“You’d better tell me all about it”
“It’s arithmetic, Sir.”
“What about it?”
“I can’t do it, Sir.”
“Have you tried?”
Yes, Sir.”
“Hard?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“This record says you show no interest in it.”
“I’ve tried, Sir.
” 1)o you mean the record is untrue?”
“No, Sir. I mean I’ve tried hard to be interested.”
“And failed.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“You know, of course, that I don’t make laws about examinations.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Well, unless you get a certain average in arithmetic, your very high average in all the other subjects won’t help you. That is the law, and I didn’t make it.
I want to push you through as fast as I can, but you must work at arithmetic. Relax a little with the other subjects, if you like.”
“I like the other subjects, Sir.”
“I know. But to get where you want to go, you can’t do what you like. Where do you want to go? What do you want to do?”
“Those stories, Sir.” “In the book the young woman gave you?”
“Yes, Sir.” “I was beginning to wonder whether you had begun to forget them.”
“I’m trying to read them now, Sir.”
“Getting anything out of it?”
“A little.”
“Well, there you have it. Between you and the further knowledge that would help you to get everything out of that book stands arithmetic.
It’s like a lion barring your road. You either turn back because you cannot cope with it, or you kill it and go on. There is no other way.
Arithmetic is silly in a poet’s armoury, but you must master it and get that average …. I promised you my cane if you were ever sent to me.
We must keep our promises. Let down your trousers, then go back and let the sting of the cane help you to kill the lion.
26. Why has Peter been sent to the headmaster?
C. He has not worked hard enough in arithmetic.
27. How has the headmaster known that Peter has a problem?
D. By looking at the teacher’s report.
28. The expression ‘letting me down’ means
C. to disappoint someone.
29. What does Peter want to become when he grows up?
C. A writer.
30. Why has Peter done badly in arithmetic?
B. He has no liking for it.
31. It is important for Peter to do well in arithmetic because
D. it is necessary for his future career.
32. The headmaster tells Peter he can relax in the other subjects if he likes. What does he mean?
A. That Peter can devote more time to studying arithmetic.
33. Which of the following statements is TRUE’?
B. The headmaster is concerned about his students’ future.
34. Why does the headmaster punish Peter after interviewing him?
A. To push him to work harder.
35. The headmaster can be described as
D. firm and authoritative.
36. What is meant by ‘a poet’s armoury’?
B. A collection of skills for use by a poet.
37. The headmaster finally tells Peter that he has to ‘kill the lion’. This means that Peter must
A. put a lot of effort in arithmetic and pass.
38. Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?
C. Peter’s encounter with the headmaster
Read the pllowing passage and then answer questions 39 to 50.
Shops which sell clothes, particularly women’s clothes, are seldom empty. These shops usually have displays of many-caloured clothes on the window. Music may be heard from inside: this is expected to attract customers to go in and buy. Girls and women can be seen strolling along the streets in twos or threes, especially in the evenings and weekend.
They are looking at the clothes In windows withopt meaning to buy anything; in other words, they are window-shopping. One of them sees something she likes, and feels she must go in to ask the price.
If the shop assistant is clever, he nay make a sale.
“Can I help you?” he asks.
“Yes, please,” says the window shopper.
“I’d like to see that dress that you have in the window, the light blue one with short sleeves and a narrow belt. How much is it?” The shop assistant goes and points to the dress.
“Is this the one you mean?”.he asks.
“It’s only 999.50 shillings.
I think I have it in your size — size 12, isn’t it? Would you like to try it on?” Of course the woman doesn’t want to buy since she is only window-shopping. But there can be no harm in just trying the dress on, can there?
After all, no one is compelled to buy.
So she agrees to try it on.
She goes into the little fitting room and changes into the dress. When she comes out, she sees the admiring looks on her friends’ faces.
The assistant smiles and says, “That fits you perfectly.
Let me just do up this button that is undone.
You’ll notice that the dress is this season’s length, a little below the knee.
The colour is just right for you too.
That shade of blue is very Popular at this time of the year when the skies are clear.” After some more discussion, and walking up and down, the woman decides she really must have this new fashionable dress, and the sale is made.
When he has wrapped up the dress, the shop assistant tries again.
“What about this nylon scarf to go with your dress?” he asks.
“It matches beautifully. And perhaps I can get you a woollen cardigan to complete the outfit.
” He has no luck.
The customer feels she has spent enough money. She takes nine-hundred-ninety-nine shillings and fifty cents from her purse and payS.
She then leaves the shop with her friends, carrying the new dress in a plastic bag.
Did you notice that the shop assistant spoke about ‘this season’s length’?
It is strange how fashion changes, most obviously in the length of women’s dresses. Some years ago, most women wore very short skirts called mini-skirts; only young girls do so nowadays. Today, if a woman wears a dress that touches the ankle, people think she is going to a party or is from a strict religious background.
In fact, whatever length of dress is chosen by a few fashion designers in Paris or Rome or New York is soon considered fashionable by most people.
There are fashions in men’s clothes also but they change more slowly.
We no longer see the high, stiff collars and bell-bottom trousers of yesteryears.
The popularity of the Kaunda suit has also subsided.
Blue jeans are one of the most interesting modem fashions.
Earlier, jeans were just the long-lasting pants which American workmen wore in their workshops.
One manufacturer then guessed that other people might like to wear such strong and lasting clothes when they were not at work.
He was right. Jeans are now very popular among young men and women while off duty all over the world.
39. The writer says that shops that sell clothes are ‘seldom empty’. This means that
C. they arc rarely deserted.
40. Why do you think the•clothes displayed in the shops are many-coloured?
B. So as to attract the interest of customers.
41. `Strolling’ means walking
D. leisurely.
42. Why would a dress shop indicate a price like 999.50 instead of 1,000?
C. Because the price looks cheaper that way.
43. Which of the following words could be used in place of ‘compelled’?
A. forced
44. What mainly made the woman buy the dress?
A. She saw the admiring looks on her friends’ faces.
45. Why would that shade of blue be popular at that particular time of the year?
B. Because it matched the colour of the sky.
46…. the shop assistant tries again.’ What does he try to do?
D. Persuade his customer to buy more clothes.
47. Why did the woman NOT buy the scarf or the cardigan?
C. She had spent quite some money already.
48. Why do you think people like to wear fashionable clothes?
A. Because they want to look smart and modern.
49. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
B. All fashions come from Paris, Rome and New York.
50. Which of the following LEAST explains why jeans are a favourite fashion?
C. They are worn by American workmen in workshops.
