English Paper 2 Questions and Answers - Wahundura Boys Mock Examination 2023

Instructions 

• Answer all the questions in this question paper

QUESTIONS

1. COMPREHENSION (20mrks)
   Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow (20mrks)
   
   Problem drinkers and alcoholics pay severe penalties for their drinking. It has been estimated that alcoholics are likely to die ten to twelve years sooner than non-alcoholics and half die before the age of fifty, which is one reason there are so few elderly alcoholics. The mortality rate (that is, the number of persons per 100,000 who die each year) among alcoholics is more than two and a half times higher than that of the general population.
   Alcoholics often die under violent circumstances; serious accidents, homicides and suicide are not uncommon. This, together with the physical deterioration accompanying alcoholism, help and explain the limits on life expectancy. No one really knows how many deaths are directly attributed to drinking, and all such statistics are estimates. One reason for our limited knowledge is that many physicians do not report alcoholism as the main cause of death out of concern for the feelings of the family of the deceased.
   Research on the physiological effects of alcoholism has increased in the last few years. Heavy drinking is known to be associated with various types of cancer, particularly among persons who also use tobacco. Alcohol abuse also increases the probability of hypertension, stroke and coronary heart disease. Alcoholics frequently suffer illness and death from cirrhosis of the liver, a disease in which the liver becomes fatty, scarred, and incapable of functioning normally. In large areas, cirrhosis is the fourth most common causes of death among men aged twenty-five to forty –five.
   Alcohol affects the brain, often permanently damaging the mental functioning of alcoholics. Drinking may reduce the number of living cells in the brain. Since brain cells do not grow back, alcoholics may suffer from organic psychosis (a mental illness traceable to brain damages), loss of memory and poor physical and mental coordination. One out of four persons who are admitted to mental hospitals are diagnosed as alcoholics and 40 percent of all admission are alcohol related.
   Many of the alcoholic inmates are unlikely to recover.
   The unborn children of female alcoholics are subject to harm from drinking in what is called foetal alcohol syndrome. Because alcohol tends to be a substitute for a balanced diet, alcoholics are often malnourished. Consequently, the infants of alcoholic women are likely to be less healthy and less well developed than other babies. Moreover, when a pregnant woman drinks, so, in effect, does her foetus. The new born children of alcoholic women may die shortly after birth unless they are medically treated from the shock to their system for suddenly being cut off from alcohol. Furthermore, the impact of alcohol on the woman and her foetus is a major cause of birth defects and organically based mental deficiency among the newborn. The effects of foetal alcohol syndrome on the children of female alcoholics are usually chronic and may be permanently disabling.
   
   QUESTIONS
   1. What are the major causes of death among alcoholics?(2mks)
   2. Which reason does the writer give as to why physicians do not report alcoholic related deaths? (2mrks)
   3. One out of four persons who are admitted to mental hospitals are diagnosed as alcoholics.( Rewrite starting with a few....) (2mrks)
   4. Alcoholics often die under violent circumstances...(Rewrite adding a question tag) (1mrks)
   5. What is the attitude of the writer towards people who abuse alcohol? (3mrks)
   6. Explain what the following sentence means. Alcohol tends to be a substitute for a balance diet (2mrks)
   7. Make notes on the effects of alcohol to expectant mothers and their children(4mrks)
   8. What would be the most suitable title for this passage? ( 1mrk)
   9. Explain the meaning of the following words and phrases as used in the passage(3mrks)
      attribute
      scarred abuse
      statistics
2. EXCERPT (25mrks)
   
   Krogstad : Are you sure of that?
   Mrs Linde : Quite sure, but –
   Krogstad: (with a searching look at her) Is that what it all mean? That you want to save your friend at any cost? Tell me frankly. Is that it?
   Mrs Linde: Nils, a woman who has once sold herself for another’s sake doesn’t do it a second time.
   Krogstad: I will ask for my letter back.
   Mrs Linde: No, no.
   Krogstad: Yes, of course I will. I will wait here until Helmer comes; I will tell him he must give me my letter back-that it only concerns my dismissal-that he is not to read it.
   Mrs Linde: No Nils, you must not recall your letter.
   Krogstad: But, tell me wasn’t it for that very purpose that you asked me to meet you here?
   Mrs Linde: In my first moment of right, it was. But twenty-four hours have elapsed since then, and in that time I have witnessed incredible things in this house. Helmer must know all about it. This unhappy secret must be disclosed; they must have a complete understanding between them which is impossible with all this concealment and falsehood going on.
   Krogstad: Very well, if you take the responsibility. But there is one thing I can do in my case and I shall do it at once.
   Mrs Linde: (listening) You must be quick and go! The dance is over, we are not safe a moment longer.
   Krogstad: I will wait for you below
   Mrs Linde: Yes, do. You must see me back to my door.
   Krogstad: I have never had such an amazing piece of good fortune in my life!
   
   Questions
   1. Explain what happens before this excerpt. (2mks)
   2. Why does Krogstad say he would ask for his letter back? Explain. (2mks)
   3. Identify and explain the main theme in the excerpt. (2mks)
   4. “Nills, a woman who has once sold herself for another sake doesn’t do it a second time”. Briefly explain what makes Mrs Linde say this? (3mks)
   5. Explain the use of irony in this excerpt. (2mks)
   6. Identify and illustrate two character traits of Mrs Linde in this excerpt. (4mks)
   7. “ I have never had such an amazing piece of good fortune in my life!” Rewrite beginning Never…… (1mk)
   8. What makes Krogstad say that he has never had such good fortune in his life? (2mks)
   9. “But there is one thing I can do in any case and I shall do it at once.” What is that
      Krogstad does and how does it affect the rest of the play? (3mks)
   10. Explain the meaning of the following words and phrases as used in the passage. (4mks)
       1. at any cost 
       2. recall
       3. elapsed
       4. incredible things
3. ORAL NARRATIVE
   Read the passage below and then answer the questions that follow.
   
   Once upon a time, Warthog and Hare were best friends and they lived together. They shared duties according to each one’s abilities. Hare had speed, therefore, duties involving fetching or delivering items fast were left to him, while Warthog, who was gifted in cooking, handled kitchen duties. However, Warthog had his shortcomings. He lost his temper easily and was ready to fight at the slightest provocation. Hare tolerated him all the same.
   Things were not always good in the kitchen. The two always quarrelled over missing food. Warthog was always on the defence, denying any wrong doing. One day, Hare bought five tilapia fish but warthog only served two. When he was asked what had happened to the other three fish, as usual, Warthog insisted that he knew nothing about the missing fish. Hare was aware that arguing or fighting would not bring back the lost fish. He also knew that he was smaller and could never win a physical fight against warthog.
   Not long after the missing fish incident, Hare and Warthog went hunting. They chanced upon a young gazelle too weak to run. They took the gazelle home and slaughtered it. Warthog as usual was the chef. Hare left him and went for a stroll as he waited for the meat to cook. When he returned, warthog, was sleeping under a shady tree, pretending to be very tired, after cooking. Hare opened the lid and Lo! There were only few pieces of meat left.
   Hare was really angry and he threatened to beat Warthog up if he failed to account for the missing pieces. Under faked annoyance, Warthog pounced on hare mid-sentence and beat him up thoroughly. Hare promised to get even. That evening, Hare went to see Mr. Squirrel who was the best known magician in the whole region. Squirrel gave him a pot of honey to take to Warthog. When he went back home, Hare feigned forgiveness and invited warthog to taste the honey.
   Warthog approached him cautiously. He knew that Hare was quite tricky at times. He thought the pot might contain a snake.
   So he started apologizing to Hare from a distance for beating him but Hare laughed it off, reminding him that the differences between them were history and they should both start anew. Warthog, who loved honey, approached hare and scooped some which he ate greedily. However, what he did not know was that it had passed through the hands of Squirrel who had laced it with poisonous herbs that would affect Warthog and his descendants.
   After eating half the pot’s contents, Warthog felt dizzy and sleepy. When he woke up, he could not remember anything. His brain had been affected by the poisonous herbs. He forgot about his friendship and quarrel with Hare. He did not even remember eating the honey. He was so confused that he ran off into the bush. Warthog’s brain has never recovered. Till now he is always confused and forgetful.
   GEORGE OLWALO (Adapted from Sunday Nation July 3 2011)
   
   Questions
   1. How would you classify this narrative? Explain your answer. (2marks)
   2. Identify and illustrate two features of oral narratives present in the story. (4marks)
   3. What makes Warthog and Hare best friends? (2marks)
   4. What are the economic activities of the community from which the story is taken from? (4mrks)
   5. How has Hare been portrayed in the story? (2marks)
   6. What moral lesson do we learn from the above story? (2marks)
   7. Give two functions of ‘Once upon a time…’ (2mrks)
   8. Give the meaning of the following words as used in the narrative (2mrks)
      1. get even
      2. feigned
4. GRAMMAR (15mrks)
   1. Rewrite each of the following sentences according to the instructions given. Do not change the meaning (4mrks)
      1. I will go only if he asks me to. ( Rewrite using the word unless)
      2. The headteacher spoke for over an hour. She did not address important issues (Combine into one sentence using the word however)
      3. I do not want any more tea, thank you. (Begin: I would rather....)
      4. They say the terrorist is said to be somewhere in Eastleigh( Begin The terrorist)
   2. Use the correct form of the word in brackets to complete each of the following sentences( 3mks)
      1. Owino did not know that a tree had..........................................his house(strike)
      2. The three .......................................................were arrested. ( passer-by)
      3. She has spent a lot of time..................................................her compound (beautiful)
   3. Complete the following sentences by adding the correct question tags. (2mks)
      1. You are going to stay with us tonight, .........................................
      2. They don’t wake up at six o’clock, ............................................
   4. Complete each of the following sentences by filling the blank spaces with the correct prepositions. ( 3mks)
      1. My uncle deals..........................second hand clothes
      2. She worked hard.................................the lunch break
      3. Nafula mistook Wambui..................................her sister
   5. Choose the correct alternative from the word given in brackets to complete each of the following sentences (3mrks)
      1. This is one of those stories that....................................to have no ending ( seem, seems)
      2. A range of issue.............................discussed. (were, was)
      3. He is the longest serving of all Kenya’s................................................................ (deputy heads, deputies head)

MARKING SCHEME

1. COMPREHENSION
   Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow
   Problem drinkers and alcoholics pay severe penalties for their drinking. It has been estimated that alcoholics are likely to die ten to twelve years sooner than non-alcoholics and half die before the age of fifty, which is one reason there are so few elderly alcoholics. The mortality rate (that is, the number of persons per 100,000 who die each year) among alcoholics is more than two and a half times higher than that of the general population.
   Alcoholics often die under violent circumstances; serious accidents, homicides and suicide are not common. This, together with the physical deterioration accompanying alcoholism, helps and explain the limits on life expectancy. No one really knows how many deaths are directly attributed to drinking, and all such statistics are estimates. One reason for our limited knowledge is that many physicians do not report alcoholism as the main cause of death out of concern for the feelings of the family of the deceased.
   Research on the physiological effects of alcoholism has increase in the last few years. Heavy drinking is known to be associated with various types of cancer, particularly among persons who also use tobacco. Alcohol abuse also increases the probability of hypertension, stroke and coronary heart disease. Alcoholics frequently suffer illness and death from cirrhosis of the liver, a disease in which the liver becomes fatty, scarred, and incapable of functioning normally. In large areas, cirrhosis is the fourth most common causes of death among men aged twenty-five to forty –five.
   Alcohol affects the brain, often permanently damaging the mental functioning of alcoholics. Drinking may reduce the number of living cells in the brain. Since brain cells do not grow back, alcoholics may suffer from organic psychosis (a mental illness traceable to brain damages), loss of memory and poor physical and mental coordination. One out of four persons who are admitted to mental hospitals are diagnosed as alcoholics and 40 percent of all admission are alcohol related.
   Many of the alcoholic inmates are unlikely to recover.
   The unborn children of female alcoholics are subject to harm from drinking in what is called foetal alcohol syndrome. Because alcohol tends to be a substitute for a balanced diet, alcoholics are often malnourished. Consequently, the infants of alcoholic women are likely to be less healthy and less well developed than other babies. Moreover, when a pregnant woman drinks, so, in effect, does her foetus. The new born children of alcoholic women may die shortly after birth unless they are medically treated from the shock to their system for suddenly being cut off from alcohol. Furthermore, the impact of alcohol on the woman and her foetus is a major cause of birth defects and organically based mental deficiency among the newborn. The effects of foetal alcohol syndrome on the children of female alcoholics are usually chronic and may be permanently disabling.
   
   QUESTIONS
   1. What are the major causes of death among alcoholics?(2mks)
      • Major causes of death among alcoholics include violent circumstances, serious accidents, homicide and suicide
   2. Which reason does the writer give as to why physicians do not report alcoholic related deaths? (2mrks)
      • It would hurt the family of the deceased to learn that death of the loved one was caused by excessive drinking/ he is concerned about the feeling of the family of the deceased
   3. One out of four persons who are admitted to mental hospitals are diagnosed as alcoholics.( rewrite starting with a few....) (2mrks)
      • A few of the people admitted to mental hospitals are diagnosed as alcoholics
   4. Alcoholics often die under violent circumstances...(rewrite adding a question tag)
      • Alcoholics often die under violent circumstances.......do they?.....
   5. What is the attitude of the writer towards people who abuse alcohol? (3mrks)
      • Critical-He says that to advance that alcohol kills and maims people is not an exaggeration-when abused alcohol is highly dangerous drug
   6. Explain what the following sentence means. Alcohol tends to be a substitute for a balance diet
      • Alcoholics do not eat well, they would rather drink than eat
   7. Make notes on the effects of alcohol to expectant mothers and their children(4mrks)
      • Their infants are likely to be less healthy and less development than other babies
      • The infants may die shortly a few birth
      • The children suffer from mental deficiency
      • The mother is likely to be malnourished
   8. What would be the most suitable tittle for this comprehension( 1mrk)
      • Personal health/ Alcohol abuse / Alcoholism / Effects of Alcohol
   9. Explain the meaning of the following words and phrases as used in the passage(4mrks)
      1. Attributed- linked/ connected
      2. Scarred abuse- hasting adverse effect/ worsening
      3. Statistics- those thought to have died/ figures/ numbers
2. EXCERPT (25mrks)
   Krogstad : Are you sure of that?
   MrsLinde : Quite sure, but –
   Krogstad: (with a searching look at her) Is that what it all mean? That you want to save your friend at any cost? Tell me frankly. Is that it?
   Mrs Linde: Nils, a woman who has once sold herself for another’s sake doesn’t do it a second time.
   Krogstad: I will ask for my letter back.
   Mrs Linde: No, no.
   Krogstad: Yes, of course I will. I will wait here until Helmer comes; I will tell him he must give me my letter back-that it only concerns my dismissal-that he is not to read it.
   Mrs Linde: No Nils, you must not recall your letter.
   Krogstad: But, tell me wasn’t it for that very purpose that you asked me to meet you here?
   Mrs Linde: In my first moment of right, it was. But twenty-four hours have elapsed since then, and in that time I have witnessed incredible things in this house. Helmer must know all about it. This unhappy secret must be disclosed; they must have a complete understanding between them which is impossible with all this concealment and falsehood going on.
   Krogstad: very well, if you take the responsibility. But there is one thing I can do in my case and I shall do it at once.
   Mrs Linde: (listening) You must be quick and go! The dance is over, we are not safe a moment longer.
   Krogstad: I will wait for you below
   Mrs Linde: Yes, do. You must see me back to my door.
   Krogstad: I have never had such an amazing piece of good fortune in my life!
   
   Questions
   1. Explain what happens before this excerpt. (2mks)
      • Krogstad asks Christine if she still has the courage to accept him back despite his tainted/ bad reputation.
      • Christine tells him she understands that he did it …….and that she is ready to accept him back.
      • Krogstad regrets that he cannot undo the harm he has done to Nora.
      • Christine informs him that his letter is in the letter box.
        Any 2 points (2x1mks)
   2. Why does Krogstad say he would ask for his letter back? Explain. (2mks)
      • He does not want Nora’s husband to know the secret of forgery that she has kept from him for so many years. (2mks)
      • He has reunited with Christine and he is very happy.
      • He does not want to rein Helmer’s marriage since they are friends to Christine.
        Any 1points (1x2mks)
   3. Identify and explain the dominant theme in the excerpt. (2mks)
      1. Betrayal-Christine’s refusal to convince Krogstad to withdraw his letter is a betrayal to her friendship with Nora.
      2. Deception-the marriage of Helmer and Nora is founded on so much deception that Christine wants to save their marriage by making them face the reality of their situation.
      3. Friendship- Christine is here to help Nora face the reality of her marriage to Helmer.
         Any one theme- identification, illustration
   4. “Nills, a woman who has once sold herself for another sake doesn’t do it a second time”. Briefly explain what makes Mrs Linde say this? (3mks)
      • She had once sacrificed her love for the sake of her bedridden mother and three young brothers. And she is not ready to do it the second time for another person.
   5. Explain the use of irony in this excerpt. (2mks)
      • It is ironical that Mrs. Linde had called Krogstad with the intention of convincing him to withdraw his letter but instead, she actually encourages him not to withdraw it.(2mks)
   6. Identify and illustrate two character traits of Mrs Linde in this excerpt. (4mks)
      1. Selfless-she sacrificed her love for the sake of her sick mother and two brothers.
      2. Saitorous-her refusal to convince Krogstad to withdraw the letter is an act of betrayal to Nora.
         N/B - (identification 1mk, illustration 1mk
         Acc 2 well illustrated traits
   7. “ I have never had such amazing piece of good fortune in my life!” Rewrite beginning never………………… (1mk)
      • Never had I such amazing piece of good fortune in my life!
   8. What makes Krogstad say that he has never had such good fortune in his life? (2mks)
      • Because Mrs. Linde had initially left him for a richer man who would help her /support her sick mother and the young brothers but she has now given him another chance of love. (2mks)
   9.  “But there is one thing I can do in any case and I shall do it at once.” What is that
      Krogstad does and how does it affect the rest of the play? (3mks)
      • Krogstad writes Helmer another letter that sets free Nora’s forgery.
      • Helmer is very happy now that he is saved and Nora that he has forgiven her.
      • However, his forgiveness is not accepted by Nora since he had already condemned her for her actions.
      • Nora decides to abandon him and their children.
        N/B what Krogstad does 1mk, How it affects the rest of the plot 2mks
   10. Explain the meaning of the following words and phrases as used in the passage. (4mks)
       1. At any cost-no matter what/despite the danger involved(1mk)
       2. Recall-ask/ call back/ retrieve(1mk)
       3. Elapsed-passed(1mk)
       4. Incredible-unavailable things(1mk)
3. ORAL NARRATIVES
   Read the passage below and then answer the questions that follow.
   
   Once upon a time, Warthog and Hare were best friends and they lived together. They shared duties according to each one’s abilities. Hare had speed, therefore, duties involving fetching or delivering items fast were left to him, while Warthog, who was gifted in cooking, handled kitchen duties. However, Warthog had his shortcomings. He lost his temper easily and was ready to fight at the slightest provocation. Hare tolerated him all the same.
   Things were not always good in the kitchen. The two always quarrelled over missing food. Warthog was always on the defence, denying any wrong doing. One day, Hare bought five tilapia fish but warthog only served two. When he was asked what happened to the other three fish, as usual, Warthog insisted that he knew nothing about the missing fish. Hare was aware that arguing or fighting would not bring back the lost fish. He also knew that he was smaller and could never win a physical fight against warthog.
   Not long after the missing fish incident, Hare and Warthog went hunting. They chanced upon a young gazelle too weak to run. They took the gazelle home and slaughtered it. Warthog as usual was the chef. Hare left him and went for a stroll as he waited for the meat to cook. When he returned, warthog, was sleeping under a shady tree, pretending to be very tired, after cooking. Hare opened the lid and Lo! There were only few pieces of meat left.
   Hare was really angry and he threatened to beat Warthog up if he failed to account for the missing pieces. Under faked annoyance, Warthog pounced on hare mid-sentence and beat him up thoroughly. Hare promised to get even. That evening, hare went to see Mr. Squirrel who was the best known magician in the whole region. Squirrel gave him a pot of honey to take to Warthog. When he went back home, Hare feigned forgiveness and invited warthog to taste the honey.
   Warthog approached him cautiously, he knew that Hare was quite tricky at times. He thought the pot might contain a snake.
   So he started apologizing to Hare from a distance for beating him but Hare laughed it off, reminding him that the differences between them were history and they should both start anew. Warthog, who loved honey, approached hare and scooped some which he ate greedily. However, what he did not know was that it had passed through the hands of Squirrel who had laced it with poisonous herbs that would affect Warthog and his descendants.
   After eating half the pot’s contents, Warthog felt dizzy and sleepy. When he woke up, he could not remember anything, his brain had been affected by the poisonous herbs. He forgot about his friendship and quarrel with Hare. He did not even remember eating the honey. He was so confused that he ran off into the bush. Warthog’s brain has never recovered. Till now he is always confused and forgetful.
   GEORGE OLWALO
   (Adapted from Sunday Nation July 3 2011)
   
   Questions
   1. Classify the above narrative. (2marks)
      • Aetiological (Explanatory story, Explains why Warthogs appear confused and forgetful (2marks)
   2. Identify and illustrate two features of oral narratives present in the narrative. (4marks)
      Timelessness-Opening formular- once upon a time
      Closing formular - Till now he is always
      Use of fantasy-Personification Warthog and Hare are personified ‘He’
      Identification=1, illustration=1 (Any 2x2=4marks)
   3. What makes Warthog and Hare best friends? (2marks)
      • Although Warthog had his shortcomings 1 Hare tolerated him all the same.1
   4. What are the economic activities in the community where the story is taken from? (4mrks)
      • Trading/ Fishing1 hare bought five Tilapia.
      • Hunting1-Hare and Warthog went hunting
        (Identification; illustration a must, (Any 2x2=4mks)
   5.  How has Hare been portrayed in the story? (2marks)
      • Tricky - Warthog knew Hare was tricky
      • Revengeful - Went to see a magician to avenge his being beaten
      • Persevering - Hare tolerated Warthog all the same. (Any 2x2=4marks)
   6. What moral lesson do we learn from the above story? (2marks)
      • That evil gets punished - Warthogs greediness leads to his loss of memory.2
        (Any other relevant moral lesson)
   7. Give two function of ‘Once upon a time…’ (2mrks)
      1. Mark the beginning of the narrative
      2. Takes the audience/listener to the world of imagination/fantasy
      3. Attracts the attention of the audience/capture the audience’s attention
   8. Give the meaning of the following words as used in the narrative (2mrks)
      1. get even-take revenge
      2. feigned-faked
4. Grammar
   1. Rewrite each of the following sentences according to the instructions given. Do not change the meaning
      1. I will go only if he asks me to. ( Rewrite using the word unless)
         • Unless he asks me to go, I will not.
           I will not go unless he asks me to.
      2. The headteacher spoke for over an hour. She did not address important issues (combine into one sentence using the word however)
         • The headteacher spoke for over an hour, however, she is not address important issues.
      3.  I do not want any more tea, thank you. (Begin: I would rather....)
         • I would rather have no tea, thank you.
      4. They say the terrorist is said to be somewhere in Eastleigh( Begin The terrorist)
         • The terrorist are said to be somewhere in Eastleigh
   2. Use the correct form of the word in brackets to complete each of the following sentences( 3mks)
      1. Owino did not know that a tree had...........struck.........his house(strike)
      2. The three ...........passers-by....................were arrested. ( passer-by)
      3. She has spent a lot of time...............beautifying...........her compound (beautiful)
   3. Complete the following sentences by adding the correct question tag(2mks)
      1. You are going to stay with us tonight, ........won’t you?............
      2. They don’t wake up at six o’clock, ..........don’t they?.............
   4. Complete each of the following sentences by filling the blank space with correct preposition( 3mks)
      1. My uncle deals...........in...............second hand clothes.
      2. She worked hard..................during...............the lunch break.
      3. Nafula mistook Wambui..............for....................her sister.
   5. Choose the correct alternative from the word (s) given in brackets to complete each of the following sentences (3mrks)
      1. This is one of those stories that..............seem......................to have no ending. ( seem, seems)
      2. A range of issue.............was................discussed. (were, was)
      3. He is the longest serving of all Kenya’s..................deputy heads...................( deputies head, deputy heads)