KNEC KCSE English Paper 2 Question Paper / 2015 KCSE Kajiado County Joint Examination

We often fail to recognize opportunities. Indeed, even when we see an opportunity we often manage it poorly. In the end, it does not give us the desired results. Tragically, opportunities do not come by every day. This is regardless that the focus is on business, or on any other workplace or on life generally.

Great opportunities are few and far between. When they finally arrive, they are likely to take the least
expected character. This makes them difficult to recognize. We may only recognize them when they have already passed us by. Of course all of us have missed one opportunity or the other. However, a keen mind will help you to minimize missed chances.

It helps to be curious. This calls for deep insightful questions about the situations and environments that you find yourself in. when you seek to know new things you are more likely to generate new ideas that will lead to hidden opportunities. Curiously keeps your mind exercised and appropriately stretched.

Like a well-exercised muscle, your mind legs better and more effective when exercised this way. An exercised mind generates new ideas. It brings better insights and helps you to grab opportunities. A generous mind set is likely to see new opportunities. Such a mindset willing to give opportunities to others. It particulary recognizes opportunities that may be more useful to others than to the person seeing them. When you approach life this way, you are likely to see opportunities for yourself, too.
The greatest problems we encounter will most likely bring with them our lifetime opportunities. A difficult boss or a difficult business market may be what we need to open your eyes to that great opportunity and even personal potential.

It therefore pays to preserve. It is the persistence that will open up that opportunity. Quiting closes the door. A persistent mind-set hangs on long enough to see what lies at the end, you must have a confident mind-set.

There is always a light side to most circumstances. A mind-set that sees opportunities will appreciate the light side of things. It may from time to time even tends towards the “playful” and will be willing to break a few rules.

Sometimes things might not be as bad as they look. It might be when you are laughing at yourself that you see a whole new dimension of the circumstances. A bit of fun in difficult circumstances may be the energy needed to move on. Some of our worst moments might as well be our most hilarious ones in retrospect. That is why a mind-set with hindsight identifies opportunities faster because it is able to discern parallels between the present and the past. It seems the similarity of current circumstances and the likely outcomes of different courses of action. You develop hindsight by taking time to reflect on the past and particularly on the worst circumstances.

Finally, is the role of a grateful spirit. Gratitude shines a light on opportunities. When you are thankful for previous opportunities that have put you where you now are, you are more likely to see where else you should be.But when you are grumpy, all opportunities that you should see will blurred by dumbness of your grumpiness. Opportunities are managed by your mind-set and rarely by the many qualifications you my hold.

Adapted from the Daily Nation 19th may 2015
a) Referring to the first paragraph, what is tragic about opportunities? (2 marks)
b) Why is it difficult to recognize opportunities? (2 marks)
c) Identify and explain the style used in paragraph 4 of this passage. (3 marks)
d) In not more than 55 words, write a summary on the ways in which a persistent minds-set open up opportunities.
(6 marks)
e) Explain the assertion that “sometimes things might not be as bad as they look.”(3 marks)
f) i) Rewrite the following sentence beginning:
‘when exercised this way….’
Like a well-exercised muscle, your mind gets better and more effective when exercised this way. (1 mark)
ii)of course all of us have a missed one opportunity or other. Add a question tag
g) Explain the meaning of the following expressions As used in the passage. (2 marks)
i) Retrospect
ii) Grumpy

a) Briefly explain the circumstances leading to the baby being left behind. (4 marks)
b) Who is Michael and what is special about him? (2 marks)
c) “I’d rather not think what’d happen to anybody who was found with that baby.” Referring to the rest of the novel,
make notes on the ways in which Grusha suffers due to her association with Michael. (6 marks)
d) Identify and illustrate two character traits of Grusha in this excerpt. (4 marks)
e) Contrast the servant’s attribute towards baby Michael earlier in the play and in this excerpt. (4 marks)
f) Identify and explain one dominant theme highlighted in this excerpt. (2 marks)
g) What happens immediately after this excerpt? (2 marks)

THE NECKLACE
From a distance I watched,
Fearful of inching any further,
A cold sweat trickled rivulets,
Making me shiver at noon.

Undaring to approach the form.
It was over in minutes,
The necessities of execution availed,
The firestone tyre,
Petrol in blackened tin,
And ignites in numerous hands
Each participant ready and anxious,
To set the man a flame.

As the smouldering form blackened,
Smell of sizzling flesh filling in the air,
Piercing the nostrils,
And choking me breathless,
I watched in wonder,
Witness to an unwritten law.

As the crowd dispersed,
The haggling and bargaining resumed,
Buying, selling and cheating,
As men in uniform arrived,
Bering away the charred remains.

Questions
a) How relevant is title to the poem? (2 marks)
b) Describe the character of the executions in the poem. (2 marks)
c) What was needed to carry out the execution? (3 marks)
d) Explain the difference use of the “form” in stanza one and the same words in stanza three. (2 marks)
e) i) who is the persona? (1 mark)
ii) what deters the persona from getting closer to the scene of action? (1 mark)
f) Explain the meaning of the following phrases as used in the poem. (3 marks)
i) Smell of sizzling flesh.
ii) Each participant
iii) Witnessed to an unwritten law.
g) What mood is portrayed in the poem? (2 marks)
h) Paraphrase the last stanza. (4 marks)

a) Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Do not change the
meaning.
i) Many students benefit if they read in the morning. (Rewrite using a gerund) (1 mark)
ii) The teacher found out how intelligent Naserian was when he started the discussion.
(Begin: It was not-) (1 mark)
iii) The child was fed and changed. She slept soundly. (use a participate) (1 mark)
iv) The company is proud to launch a………drink. (refreshing, sparkling, new) put the adjective in the
correct order.

Replace the underlined word (s) with a suitable phrasal verb formed using the words in brackets.
i) The dog attacked the stranger the moment the gate was opened. (go)
ii) The patient recovered from his injuries sooner than we expected. (get)
iii) Linet was deceived by the smartly dressed man. (take)

Rewrite the following sentences filling the blank spaces with the correct complex preposition.
i) People need to learn basic first aid so that …………..an accidentally they can be of assistance.
ii) …………….. her disability, she runs a very successful business enterprise.
iii) Most companies had to lay off workers……….. the poor economic situation.

Use the appropriate pronoun to fill the blank spaces. Do not use the pronoun “you” (2 marks)
i) Peter and ………… won our matches.
ii) I wish I were …………

punctuate the following sentence. (1 mark)
How many times have I warned you not to dirty your clothes mother asked my little brother

Mrs. Wafula and Mrs. Kamau……… are setting the exam in the library. (Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb ‘be’)

George does not smoke. He does not drink. (Join the sentences using: Neither……nor…..)

a) Tragically,opportunities do not come by everyday.2mks
b) It is difficult because they take the least expected charcter.this makes them difficult to recognize.2mks
c) There is use of a simile.
An exercised mind generates new ideas or1likely to see new opportunities/helps you to grasp new opportunities.1
d) A persistent mind-set hangs on long enoughto see what lies at the end of the troubles
A mindset with hindsight identifies opportunities fasterbecause it is able to discern parallels between the present and
the past
Opportunities are managed by your mind-set and rarely by the qualifications you may hold.6mks
e)
− It might be when you are laughing at yourself that you see a whole new dimension or the circumstance.
− A bit of fun in difficult circumstances may be the energy neede to move on.
− Some of our worst moments might as well be one of most hilarious one in retrospect. (3 mks)
f) (i) when exercised this way,like a well-exercised muscles,your mind gets better and more effective.
(ii) Haven’t we? (1 mk)
(i) Retrospect-thinking about a past event/situation with a different opinion from the one you had
Earlier/ remembering.
(ii) Grumpy-bad tempered/always complaining /unsatisfied.

Extract (25 marks)
The Caucasian chalk circle by Bertolt Brecht. (4 mks)
a) There is a coup in the palace which leads to the beheading of governor Abashwili1everybody is running away and
Natella has been instructed by the Adjutant to pick a few clothes1 In her quest to select the best outfits,she instructs
the maid to place Michael on the ground 1when she takes too long the adjutant pulls her away and she forgets the
baby.1 (4×1=4 mks)
b) Michael is governor Gweorge Abashwili’s and Natella’s son/child and heir1 to the throne.He has two doctors to attend to him and many servants1
He is the noble child1 (2 mks)
c)
− Grusha walks for 22 days to reach the bridge and 7 days to her brother’s housea
_ She sacrifices her meager salary on Michael’s milkb
_ Pursued by ironshirts to,the Northern moutains.c
_ Risks her life by hitting the ironshirt who’s armed.d
_ Risks her life and that of Michael by crossing the rotten bridge to escape the ironshirts.
_ In her brother’s house,Lavrenti’s she endures uncomfortable conditions sitting over the weaving loom in a workroom
squatting on the floor/leaking room full of rats in order to stay longer /until winter is over.
_ She marries a ‘dying man’Jussup to provide a roof over Michael’s head hence sacrificing her love forSimon.
_ When eventually Simon comes back and finds her washing line,she riskjs her relationship with him by claiming
Michael is her child.When ironshirts come for him.
d)
− Grusha is good-natured/kind –hearted/humane/compassionate/caring.
_ She holds on to the child despite the dangers.
_ The old woman says Grusha is a good soul.
_ She says Michael….’hasn’t got the plague.He looks human!’
Obedient/dutiful-once given a responsibility
She holds it on.
e.g. when given Michael by Maro,she obediently holds the baby even when discouraged by the younger woman.
She is stubborn –when discouraged by others to leave Michael alone, she persists that Michael ‘hasn’t got the plague’
e) Before
− Servants are caring/adoring/respectful towards Michael.
− Doctors take good care of Michael and show concern over the temperature of bath water pg 15
− When Michael coughs the doctors argue over the temperature of bathing water.
− Maro holds Michael/the child so caringly and feels sad when the baby is left behind.
− “They left it behind, the beasts.”
− “They simply left it there.Michael, who was kept out of all the drafts.”
− ‘In the excerpt they are contemptuous/sarcastic/fearful towards the child, Michael.
− ‘I’d rather not thtink what’d happen to anybody who was found with that baby.
− ‘I tell you,if he has the plague he couldn’t be more dangerous’

f) Effects of coup detat/war (2mks)
Illustration
Leads to death
Once they get started they will kill each other whole all families at a time
Leads to fear
People fleeing from the palace in fear of what the ironshirts would do when they get to the palace.
Leads to destruction of property
By now the whole neighbourhood must be in flames.
Family members displaced/women and children suffer most. Micheal is left by his mother Natella, They flee screaming….
g) Enter the fat prince with drunken ironshirts; one of them carries the Governor’s head on a lance.
They fasten the head to the wall by its hair. (must mention that ironshirts come with the governor’s head)

Poetry (20 mks)
a) The title ‘Necklace’ is relevant because necklace is round and its normally worn by people in the poem. The tyre used to burn the victim is round (any other relevant explanation)
b) Explain the difference between use of the word ‘From’ in stanza one and the same word in stanza three. (2mks)
The word ‘ form in stanza one referes to the victim before he was burned and the word ‘form’ in stanza three refers to the carcass/corpse of the victim
Describe the character trait of the executioners in the poem.
Executioners are cruel/inhuman/butal/callous/insensitive (2 mks)
Once they finish execution, they resume their normal duties as if nothing has happened/they brutally murder the victim.
e) i) the persona is an observers
ii) The persona is deterred by fear// frightened to get close to the scene of action
Fearful of inching further
A cold sweat trickled ribulets (2mks)
f) i) Smell of sizzling flesh-The burning of the human body.
ii) Each participant ready and anxious-willing not forced to execute
iii) Witness to unwritten law-saw the people carry out mob justice which is illegal
g) The mood portrayed in the poem is tense (fearful of inching any gurther// cold shocks transmitted down my spine//
making me shiver at noon/ paraphrase the last stanza. (4 mks)
h) The people who had set the man ablaze leave as normal business of selling, buying and cheating resumes the
policemen arrive and carry the remains of the victim away.

1. Reading in the morning makes many students benefits/Reading in the morning benefits many students.
2. It was not until the teacher started the discussion that he found out how intelligent Naserian was
3. Fed and changed, the child slept soundly. (the comma is mandatory)
4. A refreshing, new, sparkling drink

i) went for
ii) got over
iii) Taken in

i) in the event of/in case of
ii) in spite of
iii) In view of

i) Peter and I won our matches
ii) I wish I were him/her/them  (2 mks)

i) How many times have I warned you not to dirty your clothes? Mother asked my little brother.

are

Neither does George smoke nor (does he) drink 
Or
George neither smokes nor drinks.