English Questions - KCPE 2023 Past Papers

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.

Good management of waste is important for a clean environment. When waste is not disposed of ___1___, it can affect human health ___2___ damage the environment. For instance, waste that is carelessly dumped has led to ___3___ of water sources, bad smell and an increase___4___ disease vectors, pests and scavengers. ___5___ some types of waste do not need to be thrown away. They___6___ be recycled. For example, waste paper can be ___7___ to a factory to make toilet paper. Other materials that can be recycled ___8___ plastics, glass and metals.enl

In some communities, there are organisations that ___ 9___ environmental awareness. They do this by ___10___ providing households with garbage bags. The households use these bags to put in the rubbish from ___11___ houses. These organisations also give the youth the ___12___of ensuring that they pick ___13___ garbage and ferry it to ___14___ collection points. This type of activity trains the youth to be ___15___members of society.

For questions 16 to 19, choose the best alternative to fill in the blank space.

16. When my father fell sick, he  _________________ in bed for five days.
    1. lay
    2. laid
    3. lied
    4. lain
17. Juma was congratulated __________________ passing his examination.
    1. for
    2. on
    3. at
    4. over
18. Sarah ____________________ a story to entertain us at breaktime.
    1. put out
    2. made up
    3. gave up
    4. brought out
19. Our class prefect will __________________ from his position at the end of the term.
    1. step down
    2. take down
    3. get down
    4. put down

For question 20, choose the best arrangement of the given sentences to make a sensible paragraph.

20.  
    1. We dug holes in our school compound.
    2. We made a fence around each seedling.
    3. We planted and watered the seedlings.
    4. It was a tree planting day.
       1. (iv) (ii) (i) (iii)
       2. (iv) (i) (iii) (ii)
       3. (i) (iv) (ii) (iii) 
       4. (i) (iii) (iv) (ii)

For questions 21 and 22, choose the alternative that means the same as the underlined sentence.

21. Unless it rains. I will not plant beans.
    1. I will not plant beans when it rains.
    2. I will plant beans because it rains. 
    3. I will not plant beans after it rains. 
    4. I will only plant beans if it rains.
22. The person who repairs shoes has gone home.
    1. The repairer has gone home.
    2. The mender has gone home.
    3. The cobbler has gone home.
    4. The monger has gone home.

Read the passage below and then answer questions 23 to 25.

Dan, Leah, Asha and Shem are pupils at Akili Primary School. They take part in different activities during the holidays. Dan grows potatoes and maize. Leah grows potatoes and keeps dairy cattle. Asha grows potatoes and maize. Shem and Dan keep poultry and sheep.

23. Which activity is the least practised by the pupils?
    1. Poultry farming.
    2. Dairy farming.
    3. Crop farming,
    4. Sheep farming.
24. Which two pupils would get mutton and eggs from their farming?
    1. Leah and Shem. 
    2. Dan and Asha.
    3. Leah and Dan.
    4. Dan and Shem.
25. Which statement is true according to the passage?
    1. Only one pupil grows maize.
    2. Three pupils keep poultry.
    3. Dan does most activities.
    4. Shem keeps sheep and grows maize.

Read the passage below and then answer questions 26 to 38.

Jeremy lived with his parents in Kongoni village. His father was a peasant farmer who owned a tiny piece of land. Each year, he planted maize and beans on this farm but the family did not have enough to eat. Jeremy's mother moulded pots and weaved baskets to sell at the local market. However, these did not fetch the family much money.

Jeremy was a very clever boy and his father was proud of him. He constantly got very good grades and was top of his class. What his teachers did not know was that Jeremy was always tired and hungry by the time he reached school. He had to walk ten kilometres to school every day. In the evening, he would walk back home and arrive when it was nearly dark. His mother would ask him to look after the younger children while she cooked supper.

One morning, Jeremy's mother was not feeling well. She sent him to fetch some firewood. This would make him late for school. He was worried that he would miss the first lesson.

As soon as he dropped the bundle of firewood in the house, Jeremy hurriedly left for school. On the way, he had to cross a narrow wooden bridge. Some of the wood appeared rotten and could fall into the river any time. So, Jeremy walked across the bridge carefully. Suddenly, he heard a splash and a scream from behind. He turned and saw a small child clinging onto a piece of timber. Jeremy wasted no time. He dived into the river. It was very cold. He felt the current carry him along. He swam hard against it and soon reached the child. He held out his hand and the child clung to him. Jeremy swam to the river bank with the little boy in his arms.

Soon a crowd gathered at the river bank. Among them was a smartly dressed lady.

"You are a brave young man". She said. The overjoyed lady led the two boys to her home. She gave them clothes to change. She told Jeremy, "Don't worry. I will accompany you to school and explain to your teacher why you are late." The lady was pleased with Jeremy's heroic act and gave him a brand new bicycle and promised to pay his school fees when he joined secondary school the following year. Jeremy was grateful and very excited. is

(Adapted from Safari Children's Book 2 (1973) JKF, Nairobi.)

26. Which one of the following is true about Jeremy's family?
    1. They were proud.
    2. They were not wealthy.
    3. They were generous.
    4. They were not hardworking.
27. According to the passage, Jeremy's father was proud of him because Jeremy
    1. worked very hard at school.
    2. helped his parents at home.
    3. saved the boy at the river.
    4. sold pots and baskets at the market.
28. The word "clinging" as used in passage means
    1. holding.
    2. touching.
    3. floating.
    4. pushing.
29. Why was Jeremy always hungry when he reached school?
    1. His family had many members.
    2. He was given work during supper time.
    3. The farm did not produce anything.
    4. The family did not have enough food.
30. "Top of his class" as used in the passage means;
    1. Jeremy was a leader in his class.
    2. Jeremy performed best in his class.
    3. Jeremy was doing everything in his class.
    4. Jeremy was sitting in front of his class.
31. Why was Jeremy worried?
    1. He would be late for class. 
    2. His mother was unwell. 
    3. He would be punished.
    4. His friends would laugh at him.
32. Why did Jeremy rush to school?
    1. He had to cross a narrow bridge.
    2. He wanted to save the little boy.
    3. He wanted to attend the first lesson.
    4. He had already brought the firewood.
33. Why did Jeremy walk carefully across the bridge?
    1. He was tired.
    2. It was weak.
    3. It was made of wood.
    4. He was afraid of the river.
34. From the passage, we can say that the small child
    1. was in great danger.
    2. was the smart lady's child.
    3. wanted to swim in the river.
    4. went to the same school as Jeremy.
35. Which one of the following is not true about the passage?
    1. Jeremy's mother was a businesswoman. 
    2. Jeremy was always late for school.
    3. Jeremy knew how to swim.
    4. Jeremy's teachers did not know him well.
36. From the passage, we can say that the smartly dressed lady is
    1. clever and brave. 
    2. wise and patient.
    3. generous and thankful.
    4. curious and talkative.
37. Which one of the following statements is true according to the passage?
    1. Jeremy knew the smartly dressed lady. 
    2. Jeremy fetched firewood every day.
    3. Jeremy was in final year in primary school.
    4. Jeremy did not take care of his sick mother.
38. Which one of the following is the most important lesson we learn from this passage?
    1. We should always dress smartly.
    2. We should always help those in need.
    3. We should walk carefully across bridges. 
    4. We should work hard in school.

Read the following passage and then answer questions 39 to 50.

There are many sources of natural energy. They include wind, water and the sun. Energy from the sun is called solar energy. This type of energy is renewable. This means that it naturally replaces itself as it is being used. It therefore does not get finished. Solar energy is also plentiful. In fact, in only about 12 minutes, enough solar energy reaches the surface of the earth to supply the entire world with energy.

However, solar energy is not available all the time. It is not available at night. Clouds can also block out some of it. Nevertheless, when there is sunlight, solar energy can be conserved and used later. Moreover, when the sunlight strikes walls of buildings, solar energy is absorbed and stored. During the night, as outdoor temperatures fall, the stored energy is released slowly making the rooms warm.

A device called solar collector can be used to heat water for washing clothes, washing dishes and bathing. Water heated this way can also be stored in a tank to warm indoor air by releasing the heat. Unfortunately, this method of heating water is not used very much because the collector cannot store enough energy required to heat a large amount of water.

Another way of heating water is by using a solar furnace. The method can be used to heat water to temperatures high enough to produce steam. The steam can be used to generate electricity. So far, very few solar furnaces are being used because they are very expensive to build.

All in all, the sun remains one of the most available sources of energy. Therefore, energy experts hope to make better use of solar energy in the future.

(Adapted from Science Probe (Second Ed.) 1993 by John Wiley & Sons, Canada.)

39. According to the first paragraph, we can say that the sun
    1. is the only natural source of energy.
    2. produces energy that can be used over and over again.
    3. has better energy than wind and water.
    4. takes exactly 12 minutes to reach the earth.
40. Renewable energy is one which is
    1. used completely.
    2. found everywhere.
    3. always there.
    4. rarely replaced.
41. From the passage, we can tell that solar energy is mostly available
    1. at night.
    2. at sunrise.
    3. when it is cloudy.
    4. when the sky is clear.
42. What happens when sunlight reaches a house?
    1. Outdoor temperatures reduce.
    2. The walls become much better. 
    3. Energy from the sun is blocked.
    4. Solar energy is stored in the walls.
43. The word "device" as used in the passage means the same as
    1. method.
    2. equipment.
    3. way.
    4. plan.
44. According to the passage, rooms can be made warm by
    1. hot water kept in a tank.
    2. making houses strong.
    3. the use of a solar furnace.
    4. building many water collectors.
45. Which one of the following statements is trueabout a solar collector?
    1. It is used to store hot water.
    2. It is used to wash different things.
    3. It is not common.
    4. It is not expensive.
46. The word generate as used in the passage means the same as
    1. produce.
    2. control.
    3. carry.
    4. light.
47. From the passage, which of the following is arranged in the correct order?
    1. solar furnace; producing steam; generating electricity; heating water. B
    2. heating water; solar furnace; producing steam; generating electricity.
    3. solar furnace; heating water; producing steam; generating electricity.
    4. heating water; producing steam; generating electricity; solar furnace.
48. From the passage, we can tell that energy experts are
    1. patient. 
    2. powerful. 
    3. energetic.
    4. hopeful.
49. In future, the use of solar energy will
    1. possibly improve.
    2. be the only one left.
    3. attract more experts.
    4. be cheaper.
50. Which one of the following would be the most suitable title for this passage?
    1. Getting energy from the sun.
    2. Types of renewable energy.
    3. Storage of solar energy.
    4. Uses of natural energy.