Scribd
Upload
19 views9 pages

Exam pp2

The document is an examination paper for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (K.C.S.E.) English Paper 2, which includes comprehension, literary appreciation, and grammar sections. It contains instructions for candidates, a passage for analysis, and various questions related to the passage and narrative. The paper is structured to assess students' understanding and analytical skills in English over a duration of 2½ hours.

Uploaded by

sheilachepkoech146
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
19 views9 pages

Exam pp2

The document is an examination paper for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (K.C.S.E.) English Paper 2, which includes comprehension, literary appreciation, and grammar sections. It contains instructions for candidates, a passage for analysis, and various questions related to the passage and narrative. The paper is structured to assess students' understanding and analytical skills in English over a duration of 2½ hours.

Uploaded by

sheilachepkoech146
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

1

TENJET – 2025
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (K.C.S.E.)

101/2 – ENGLISH PAPER 2


(Comprehension, Literary Appreciation and Grammar)
JULY 2025 TIME: 2½ Hours

Name: ………………………………….... Index No: …………………………


Candidate’s Signature: …….….............. Date:
……………………………...

Instructions to candidates
(a) Write your name and index number in the spaces provided above.
(b) Sign and write the date of the exam in the spaces provided above.
(c) Answer all the questions in the spaces provided in this question paper.
(d) This paper consists of 12 printed pages.
(e) Candidates should check the question paper to ascertain that all the pages
are printed as indicated and that no questions are missing.
(f) All questions must be answered in English.

For Examiner’s Use Only

Question Maximum Score Candidate’s Score

1 20

2 25

3 20

4 15

Total 80
2

1. Read the following passage and then answer the questions that follow.
(20 marks)
No person rises to enduring prominence and disregards the need for learning.
The difference makers listen to their cynics, friends, and foes. They prick their
ears to those around them to hear what they need to. They welcome many forms
of learning: observing, listening, trial and error, and for many they sharpen their
thoughts through extensive reading. We learn all we can by embracing the
discipline of learning, developing a competence unmatched, and cultivating the
courage to take risks.
Learning is of course not one of those things you do on autopilot. It takes lots of
deliberate effort. Achievers understand two points that humanity through the
ages have experienced – the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. The
preference for discipline has always propelled them to higher planes of lasting
success. They seal as true the statement, “the future belongs to the disciplined.”
While it is true that many legends did not have much to write home about their
school performance, it does not negate their dire need for learning. Apart from
an education they did not have, or a degree that they did not use in their careers,
they all had one thing in common. They were voracious readers.
The ‘Wizard of Menlo Park,’ as many referred to Thomas Edison, read literally
everything in print about every project he undertook. He told the media one day,
“I don’t read books, I read libraries.” This disciplined diligence made him the
most prolific inventor in history.
Occasionally, I have breakfast with the legends of all times. These legends are
people I would not ordinarily get an appointment. This is because they are either
long dead or we are miles apart. Sipping a cup of tea with a biography or an
autobiography of these great people, I savour the morsels of wisdom that made
them great. You cannot continue with the crystallised thoughts of such great
minds and remain the same.
Within each of us is a yearning to be better. Of this desire Canadian author
Chuck Gallozzi observed, “We have an incredible desire to endlessly learn,
grow, and develop. We want to be more than what we already are. Once we
yield to this inclination for continuous and never-ending improvement, we lead
a life of endless accomplishment and satisfaction.” I concur with him.
Talk to any achiever worth his salt and you will learn the lengths taken to
improve on competency. Aaron Rumbui, one of the top pianists in Kenya,
3

practices for hours every day. He is a self learnt pianist and relishes every
moment of learning. So is golf champion Tiger Woods. Woods has never
stopped practicing to improve since age three. While talents are inherent, the
skills to perfect them to outstanding performance have to be learned.
In every field of endeavour, people learn well and fast at first. As time goes by,
the champions begin to separate themselves from their counterparts. They begin
to make that extra effort to improve, and do so for years to earn their place
among heroes. In most cases, they don’t follow euphoria – what everyone
wants. When cornered, they take criticism positively using the bile as a starting
point. They incarnate the fact that champions are never made in the ring but are
merely recognized there. They work in silence avoiding distractors within their
midst and take the greater stride of venturing in unknown territories opening
new vistas in life.
Adopting the attitude of the starting point keeps your competency edge
sharpened. It distinguishes winners from losers. As Sidney Harris noted, “A
winner knows how much there is still to learn, even when the others consider
him an expert. A loser wants to be considered an expert by others before he has
learned enough to know how little he knows.”
As we strive to know more, the more we unveil our sphere of ignorance. Our
increasing consciousness of how much more we can do to improve our
competency puts us on the fast lane of self-development with the host of other
learning experts. Learning whispers every day: Great minds started simple
things.
Source: Made for Greatness, Anthony Gitonga.
(a) What is it that some people do that differentiates them from others?
(2 marks)
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
(b) What do the people who make it know very well? (2 marks)
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
4

(c) Identify at least two forms of learning as described in the passage.


(2 marks)
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
(d) Describe the author’s attitude towards biographies and autobiographies.
(3 marks)
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
(e) In not more than 50 words, summarise how champions are developed.
(4 marks)
Rough Copy
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………

Fair Copy
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
5

(f) With illustration, identify the imagery used in the last paragraph. (3 marks)
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
(g) Rewrite the following sentences according to instructions given. (2 marks)
(i) The future belongs to the disciplined. (Change into an interrogative)
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
(ii) We want to be more than what we already are. (Add a question tag)
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
(h) Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the passage.
(2 marks)
(i) dire………………………………….……………………………………………
(ii) worth his salt……………………………………………………………………
2. Read the excerpt below and then answer the following questions.
6

3. Read the narrative below and then answer the questions that follow.
(20 marks)
An aging king realized that if he died, he had no one to take over his throne. He
decided to adopt a son. He launched a competition and ten boys made it to the
top. The king said to them, “I have one last test and whoever comes top will
become my adopted son and heir to my throne.”

He gave each boy a maize seed and told them to take the seed home, plant and
nature it for three weeks. Then ten boys took their seeds and ran home to plant.
In one home, the boy and his parents were sad when the seed failed to sprout.
The boy had done everything but in vain. His friends advised him to buy
another maize seed and plant but since his parents had taught him good morals
and honesty, he refused. The day came and the ten boys went to the palace.
Nine of the boys were successful.

The king went round to each boy asking, “Is that what came out of the seed I
gave you?” And each boy said, “Yes your majesty.” The king would nod and
move down the line until the last boy in the line who was shaking with fear. The
king asked him, “What did you do with the seed I gave you?” the boy said, “I
planted and cared for it but it failed to sprout.”

The king went to the throne with the boy and said, “I gave these boys boiled
seeds and a boiled seed cannot sprout. If a king must have one quality, it must
be honesty and only this boy has passed the test.”

(a) Identify and illustrate any two themes brought out in this narrative.
(4 marks)
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
(b) Discuss two roles of the king in this narrative. (4 marks)
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
7

(c) Explain one moral lesson we learn from this narrative. (2 marks)
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
(d) Identify any three socio-economic activities of the people from which this
narrative is taken. (3 marks)
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
(e) Discuss two instances of irony in this narrative. (4 marks)
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
(f) Describe the character trait of the following: (3 marks)

(i) The king


……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
(ii) The boy whose seed did not germinate
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
4. (a) Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given.
(3 marks)
(i) Tom did not go to church. Mary did not go to church.
[Rewrite as one sentence beginning: Neither…]
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
(ii) “I am sick now,” Juma said.
[Rewrite in reported speech]
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
8

(iii) You will not pass your examinations if you do not work hard.
[Rewrite using: unless]
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………

(b) Use the correct form of the word given in brackets to fill in the gaps
in each sentence. (2 marks)
(i) The police said it was a strange ………………………………
(occur)
(ii) The baby had in our cot before the
mother returned. (lie)

(c) Use the correct preposition to complete the following sentences.


(3 marks)
(i) Tonny was sentenced murder.
(ii) Philip was acquitted treason.
(iii) Omollo has been charged handling
stolen property.
(d) Rewrite the following sentences correctly. (3 marks)
(i) Repeat again what you told me yesterday.
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
(ii) My friend hit the tree as he reversed back.
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
(iii) The meeting was held at 10.00 a.m. in the morning.
……………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………
(e) Give two meanings of the following sentence. (2 marks)
Visiting relatives can be boring.
(i) ………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………
(ii) ………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………
9

(f) Replace the underlined words with one word that has same meaning.
(2 marks)
(i) Jane passed out during athletics
……………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………
(ii) Hellen takes after her mother.
………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………

Common questions

Powered by AI

Failure is significant in the learning journey of successful individuals as it serves as a catalyst for improvement rather than a deterrent. In the context of the narrative, the boy who failed to grow a plant ultimately emerged as the successful candidate because he remained honest and learned from the process. This aligns with the theme from the first source, where achievers use failure, criticism, and setbacks as learning experiences that inform and refine their journey toward mastery and success .

The king's test conveys the moral lesson that integrity is paramount and often the most valuable trait in leadership and life. Despite pressure to succeed by any means, the boy who remained truthful about his failed seed demonstrated exceptional integrity. His honesty, even in the face of potential loss, showed that genuine success and leadership require truthfulness and ethical behavior, as deception could only offer temporary or superficial success .

The author emphasizes that continuous learning is essential for the development of exceptional individuals by stating that discipline and a commitment to learning separate achievers from others. The passage suggests that legends and successful individuals, such as Thomas Edison, achieved greatness by engaging in voracious reading and learning. It highlights that achievers choose the pain of discipline over regret and continuously strive for self-improvement through various forms of learning, demonstrating an intrinsic desire to grow and develop .

Honesty is depicted as a crucial quality for leadership in the narrative by illustrating how the king tested the boys’ honesty. The king knew that only a genuinely honest individual could lead, thus boiling the seeds to prevent them from sprouting. The test revealed that while many boys might have prospered through deceit, the honest boy, who admitted his plant's failure to sprout, was deemed fit for leadership. This demonstrates that integrity is paramount in leadership, emphasizing that a leader must be truthful and principled .

The author differentiates between initial learning and learning that distinguishes champions by emphasizing that the latter involves an extra effort sustained over time. Initially, individuals may learn well and quickly, but champions go beyond initial learning by continuously pushing their boundaries and improving their skills. They separate themselves from others by this sustained effort and willingness to explore new challenges and open new avenues in their fields. This distinguishes true achievers from others who may only engage in superficial learning .

Criticism plays a significant role in the development of champions, as champions are portrayed to use criticism constructively. The passage highlights that those who become successful do not shy away from criticism; instead, they take it positively and use it as a starting point for improvement. By facing criticism directly and learning from it, they refine their skills and maintain their competitive edge. This ability to handle and grow from criticism distinguishes champions from others .

The passage depicts self-driven learning as crucial for growth by illustrating that successful individuals take initiative to cultivate new skills and knowledge independently. It shows that individuals like Aaron Rumbui and Tiger Woods have developed extraordinary skills by dedicating significant time to self-practice daily. This dedication to self-learning and improvement, even outside formal education, is portrayed as indispensable for attaining competency and achieving success in one’s field .

Discipline is portrayed as a critical factor in achieving success by highlighting that it is preferred over the pain of regret by successful individuals. The passage illustrates that champions and achievers understand that success is not achieved on autopilot but requires deliberate efforts and discipline. This disciplined diligence allows them to make extra efforts to improve continuously, which ultimately propels them to higher success levels. The statement 'the future belongs to the disciplined' encapsulates the belief that discipline is essential for lasting success .

Biographies and autobiographies serve as a source of wisdom that can significantly contribute to personal growth. The author shares their personal experience of reading biographies and how they provide insights and wisdom from great minds, which can fundamentally change the reader. By engaging with the crystallized thoughts of these individuals, one can aspire to be better and fulfill the desire for continuous self-improvement and accomplishment .

Reading has a profound impact on successful individuals, as suggested by the passage, by providing them with insights and knowledge that transcend their immediate experiences. The passage mentions Thomas Edison, who read extensively to gain knowledge about his projects, underscoring that voracious reading was key to his success as an inventor. Similarly, reading biographies allows individuals to learn from the lives and experiences of past greats, offering wisdom and perspective that can transform their personal and professional lives .

You might also like