ENGLISH Paper 2 Questions and Answers - KCSE 2022 Past Papers

PASSAGE ;

1. Read the passage below and then answer the questions that follow. (20 marks)
   "Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in aeroplanes or in their offices: secretaries, business men and women, military and government workers, mothers and fathers, friends and neighbours. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror. The pictures of aeroplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness and a quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed. Our country is strong."
   A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of our country. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of our resolve. We were targeted for attack because we are the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.
   Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government's emergency response plans. Our emergency teams are working to help with local rescue teams. Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured, and to take precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from further attacks. The functions of our government continue without interruption. Our financial institutions remain strong, and the economy will be open for business as well.
   The search is underway for those who were behind these evil acts. I have directed the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement officers to find those responsible and bring them to justice. This is a day when all of us unite in our resolve for justice and peace. We have defeated enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world.
   (Adapted from Speeches that Changed the World: The Stories and Transcripts of the Moments that Made History. London: Quercus Publishing Ltd. (8th Edition). 2007
   1. According to paragraph one, what are the emotional effects of the terror attacks? (2 marks)
   2. What is the position of the speaker on terrorism? Explain your answer. (3 marks)
   3. Using information in the third and fourth paragraphs, identify three things said by the speaker to reassure the audience about their security.(3 marks)
   4. Identity and explain the use of two metaphors in the passage. (4 marks)
   5. What is the tone of this passage? Explain your answer. (3 marks)
   6. The functions of our government continue without interruption. Our financial institutions remain strong.
      (Combine into one sentence using 'not only'.) (1 mark)
   7. Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the passage: (4 marks)
      1. despicable
      2. retreat
      3. targeted.
      4. underway
2. H.R. Ole Kulet, Blossoms of the Savannah.
   Read the excerpt below and then answer the questions that follow.
   Their arrival came sooner than expected. The gates of their uncle Simiren's homestead where they were received swung open and a crowd of jubilant relatives, who had been waiting to welcome them, surged forward to greet them. When they stepped out of the vehicle, the girls were hugged, kissed and their heads touched by uncles, cousins, aunts and other relatives they had never met. There was so much noise, laughter, singing and dancing, that the girls, who least expected such a reception, were confused. Soon, they were all seated around a bright fire lit in the middle of the homestead, enjoying pieces of roasted meat.
   For the thirty years or so that Parsimei Ole Kaelo was away in Nakuru, his younger brother Simiren acted as the head of the Kaelo family. He ably represented the family in the Ilmolelian clan to which they belonged. When there were intalengo to be performed, such as the initiation of girls, the circumcision of boys or betrothal ceremonies, he was always there representing his elder brother and his clan. And he was a strict adherent to his people's customs and traditions, for which reason he was respected and appreciated by the elders.
   There had never been any argument or rivarly between him and his brother. Ever since they were young, and as they grew up, Simiren had always accepted his position to be subordinate to his elder brother. The fact that he had four wives and sixteen children, did not make any difference. Parsimei Ole Kaelo was still the olmorijoi and he still humbled himself before him.
   During Parsimei Ole Kaleo's absence, Simiren ran all kinds of errands for him. Many times he sent money to purchase livestock alongside his own. He drove them to Dagoretti cattle market where he sold them at a profit and brought back the money to him. Seeing the rate at which his money multiplied made Parsimei Ole Kaelo appreciate and respect his younger brother's experience as an olkunchai. When Parsimei Ole Kaelo put up two buildings in Nasila - a shop and a residential house - his brother participated fully in the construction.
   As Simiren and the clan elders sat around the fire, entertaining his elder brother, he thought quietly over how things might change. And as chunks of meat went round, he furtively looked at his brother as he seleced a piece from the tray and wondered what was going through his mind. He hoped that Parsimei would appreciate that the weighty burden of matters pertaining to the Kaelo family would henceforth rest squarely on his able and mature shoulders. He, however, envisaged some problems. He had informed Ole Kaelo on many occasions, in the past, that there were murmurs in the clan about him. Elders had termed reckless his decision to remain married to only one wife, who had only borne him two daughters. They likened him to a mono-eyed giant who stood on legs of straw. Parsimei had got angry and called the clan elders megalomaniacs who were still trapped in archaic traditions that were better buried and forgotten. Simiren did not argue with him nor would he do so now. He would rather have matters take their own course.
   There was, however, a more sensitive matter that had not been broached; it had to do with his daughters. He had hardly given thought to their age earlier, but when he saw them that evening, he knew they should have left home long ago. It would take not long before his brother earned himself the derogatory name of the father of intoiye nemengalana.
   1. What had caused Parsimei Ole Kaelo and his family to relocate to Nasila? (2 marks)
   2. How would you describe the reception the family received at Simiren's home? (3 marks)
   3. From the information in this excerpt, describe the character of Simiren. (6 marks)
   4. What do we learn about this community from this excerpt. Illustrate your answers. (4 marks)
   5. "Simiren did not argue with him then nor would he do so now." (Rewrite this sentence beginning: What....) (1 mark)
   6. Explain the following imagery: "They likened him to a mono-eyed giant who stood on legs of straw." (3 marks)
   7. What is implied about girls in the last paragraph? (3 marks)
   8. Explain the meaning of the following words as used in this excerpt: (3 marks)
      1. envisaged
      2. murmurs
      3. broached
3. Read the following poem and then answer the questions that follow.
   
   When We Were Young
   
   When we were young we could not tell our dreams,
   We had no words to spell our joys and fears,
   Loves, lusts, desires sang loud within our blood,
   None heard their music or our silent fears.
   
   Silent we knew despair and ecstasy,
   Richer and deeper without stain of words,
   Language had not corrupted what we felt,
   Our loves and lusts were pure because unheard.
   
   Older, we lose our primal, wordless ease,
   In joy, delight, despair, language smears,
   Inky fingers on emotion's pages,
   And worldly lies distort our lives and fears.
   1. Who are the "we" in the poem? (2 marks)
   2. Why couldn't the "we" talk about their feelings when they were young? (2 marks)
   3. According to the poem, how do older people express their feelings? (4 marks)
   4. What is the persona's attitude to language? Explain your answer. (3 marks)
   5. Identify and explain the use of any two poetic devices evident in this poem. (6 marks)
   6. Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the poem. (3 marks)
      1. spell
      2. ecstasy
      3. primal
4.  
   1. Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Do not change the meaning.
      1. The secretary will list my name in the new telephone directory.
         (Rewrite to end in 'secretary') (4 marks)
      2. Leah is a Kenyan student who is 21 years old.
         (Rewrite to end in 'student')
      3. Julia is more agreeable than Mary.
         (Rewrite using as...as)
      4. He slept early because there were no lights. (Begin: There...)
   2. Fill in the blanks using either 'a' or 'the' (3 marks)
      1. Are you going away next week?" "No,...........week after next week."
      2. Masika has a part-time job. He works three mornings.............. week.
      3. Learning how to play............. guitar is not easy.
   3. In each case, rearrange the jumbled up words to form a meaningful sentence.
      Remember to punctuate the sentences correctly. (3 marks)
      1. if vegetables it will plant rains I
      2. silver owns ancient grandfather Japanese an car our
      3. sunset I seen beautiful never a have such
   4. Complete the sentences below using the correct word from the alternatives given in brackets. (3 marks)
      1. After the discussion, my grandmother........................... and slept. (lay; laid)
      2. The village...................... between the lake and the city. (lies; lays)
      3. This crocodile has ........here for hours. (laid, lain)
   5. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the word in brackets. (2 marks)
      1. The company honoured each .......................(retire) with a new car.
      2. I have never seen such an............................) sight.

MARKING SCHEME ;

1.  
   1. Anger, Sadnes disbelief (Any. two one mork each) (Any 2 x 1-2 marks)
   2. President/leadof/government spokesperson/someone in authority -
      1. Implements the government's emergency response plans
      2. Briefs on the state of the whole country/financial, security/military etc.
      3. In a position to reassure the whole nation Critial
         1 mark for identification, 2 marks for any one illustration, (Total 3 marks)
   3.  
      1. Precaution is being taken to protect the country's citizens both at home and around the world
      2. Government agents are looking for the offender
      3. Those responsible will be brought to justice (3x-1-3-marks)
   4.  
      1. The foundation of our country-what our country is anchored on
      2. Their acts shatter steel but they cannot dent the steel of our resolve cannot affect our strong/great determination
      3. Brightest beacon for freedom-the leading example for freedom (Any 2x2-4 marks)
   5.  
      1. Optimistic/hopeful-but they have failed/no one will keep that light from shining/we have...and will do so this time
      2. Angry /enraged/disparaging of acts of terrorism.
      3. Reassuring/inspiring/encouraging 2
         Identification mark, Explanation marks (Total 3 marks)
   6. 1. Not only do the functions of our government continue without interruption but also our financial gost contrive without institutions remain strong. Not only to the function, of our government continue without interruption but our financial instructions also remain strong. (1mark)
   7.  
      1. Despicable-contemptible / abominable / terrrible/horrible /heinous
      2. Retreat-surrender/go-back/withdrawal
      3. Targeted-picked out/arrived at directed at
      4. Underway - in progres/being carried out/going on  (4-x1-4marks)
2.  
   1. Pars/mei Ole Kaelo had recently been retrenched by the company he had worked for for twenty-two a) years After losing his job,the family's stay in Nakuru became untenable. It had been their source of velihood and going back to Nasila was an attempt to begin exploring other options in order to provide for his family (2 marks)
   2. The reception at Simiren's home was warm. People seemed sincerely pleased to embrace them and this was demonstrated by the laughter, the singing, the dancing and the feasting.  (3-marks)
   3.  
      1. Responsible. He willingly took over his elder brother's duties and performed them well.
      2. Trustworthy and loyal, He ran errands for his brother he helped multiply his brother's wealth and even supervised the construction of Parsimei's home and business premises.
      3. He was open-handed. The reception he organized for his brother's family attests to this Plects and do the reception
   4. This community celebrates  family reunions There seems to be such genuine jubilation that Parsimei'y daughters are overwhelmed. The community defined a sucessful man as one who had many wives/ and Children, especially male offspring. In addition, the cfnmunity expected members to strictly/ observe the customs and traditions. Simiren had won the respect of the eldery because he did what was expected Finally we leam the society conducted ceremonies like initiations for giets and circumcision for boys (Any 2x2-4 marks)
   5. What Simiren would not do was argue with his brother neither they nor now (1mark)
   6. This means that Ole Kacle looked very impressive; in fact, awe inspising, but that impression was false. He was actually a weakling. He had a solid foundation. He was not well grounded in his culture (3 marks)
   7. The last paragraph implies that girls were married off as a very young age. Although Parsimei'y daughters are in their early twenties, their uncle thinks "they should have left home long ago. (3 marks)
   8.  
      1. Envisaged...foresaw/anticipated 
      2. Murmurs hushed complaints
      3. Broached... introduced a topic of discussion brought up for discussion (3 marks)
3.  
   1. The older people vallecting on their childhood.(2 marks)
   2.  
      1. When we were young 'we' could not talk about their feelings because they had no languageto express themselves"we had no words to spell..."
      2. Certain feelings and emotions cannot sometimes be adequately expressed through language- silence we knew despair and ecstacy, (2 marks)
   3.  
      1. The older people find it hard to express their feeling. They use language to cover up their truc feelings because they fear what others may think of them.
      2. They are insincère because they are afraid of other people's opinions. They lie to cover up their fears.
   4.  
      1. The person's attitude to language is ironic because language is supposed to make communication easier but in this case it distorts or hides what one really feels
      2. The attitude is suspicious. This is is because instead of language making things clear, it becomes a barrier to communication(3marks)
   5.  
      1. Metaphor -eg "without stain of words"
         Language smears inky fingers on emotion's pages". The images clearly shows how language soils natural emotions/feelings.
      2. Rhyme-eg smears and fears
         creates thythin and musicalty
      3. Alliteration - loves,lust delights- despair
         creates rhythm, makes poem musical af interesting
         Expect identification, illustration and effect of the device, 3x2- (6 marks)
   6.  
      1. Spell -articulate/ Express
      2. Ecstasy-excitement/ delight/ jubilation
      3. Primal basic /untainted (Any 1-2 marks)
4.  
   1.  
      1. My name will be listed in the new telephone directory by the secretary
      2. Leah, who is 21 years old, is a Kenyan student.
      3. Leah is a 21-year-old Kenyan student.
      4. Mary is not as agreeable as Julia (is).
      5. There being no lights, he slept early./ There were no lights so he slept early. (4x14 marks)
   2.  
      1. the 
      2. a
      3. the    (3x1-3 marks)
   3.  
      1. If it rains, I will plant vegetables/I will plant vegetables if it rains.
      2. Our grandfather owns an ancient silver Japanese car.
      3. Never have I seen such a beautiful sunset before/I have never seen such a beautiful sunset before  such a beautiful sunset (3 x 1-3 marks)
   4.  
      1. lay
      2. lies
      3. lain   (3 x 1-3 marks)
   5.  
      1. retiree
      2. awesome (2 x 1-2 marks)