KNEC KCSE English Paper 2 Question Paper / 2015 KCSE Tharaka South Joint Examination

They are best seen not on foot or from outer space but through the window of an aero plane; the newly cleared lands, the expanding wave of roads and settlements, the spirals of smoke and the shrinking enclaves of natural habitat. In a glance, we are reminded that the once mighty wilderness has shriveled. We measure it in hectares and count the species it contains; knowing that everyday something vital is slipping from us, a million year old history fading from sight.
I invite you now to try to visualize the loss in biological diversity due to the reduction of natural habitat. Consider the loss, most invincible to us today but destined to be painfully obvious to our descendants that occurs when entire wilderness is degraded or destroyed. On a worldwide basis, extinction is accelerating and could reach ruinous proportions before too long. Not just birds and mammals are vanishing but such smaller forms such as mosses and insects. A conservative estimate of the current rate of extinction is 1000 species a year, mostly because of the destruction of forests and other key habitats in the tropics.
To arrest this devastation, we must protect biological diversity. One compelling reason for doing so is that we are part of life on earth and share its history. The acceptance of this fact does not diminish humanity but raises the status of non human creatures. We should pause and think before treating them as disposable matter.
Another reason why we should fiercely want to conserve land and species is that there is material gain involved for ourselves, our kin and our community. Looked at it from that perspective, the diversity of species is one of the most important resources. It is also the least utilized. We must come to depend entirely on less than one percent of living species for our existence, with the reminder waiting untested and fallow.
It is therefore not surprising that recent estimates show that we have only utilized about 7000 kinds of plants for food, with emphasis on wheat, maize, rye, and a dozen other highly domesticated species. Yet, at least 75800 species exist that are edible and superior to the ones we use. Among the potential star species is the winged bean found in New Guinea. It contains more potential than cassava and has a nutritional value equivalent to that of soya bean. It matures within few weeks and wonderfully, the entire plant can be eaten; tuber, seeds, leaves, flowers, stems, and all. It can be eaten raw or ground into flour. What’s more? A coffee like beverage can be extracted from it. Any wonder that it has been called a one- species supermarket?
Also unexploited are natural resources that have medical value. These have been called the sleeping giants of the pharmaceutical industry. Actually, one is every ten plants species contains compounds which can combat cancer.
One such species is the rosy periwinkle found on the West Indies. You have no doubt heard of the neem plant (baptized “maurubaini” in Kenya) which is reputed to cure or manage a host of ailements.
If we, the inhabitants of the old good earth, know what is good for use, we will arise, one on all, and conserve our biodiversity with all that we have got.
Questions
1. What evidence of the destruction of the wilderness can be seen from the air? (2 marks)
2. Why will the destruction of the habitat become very obvious to future generations? (2 marks)
3. Rewrite the following sentence to begin: it ………
Not just birds and mammals are vanishing but such smaller forms as mosses and insects. (1 mark)
4. Add a question tag.
To arrest this devastation, we must protect biological diversity…….
5. Why does the author think there is no conflict between humans and non- humans? (2 marks)
6. In note form summarize the evidence the author gives to show that we have utilized the diversity of species.
(2 marks)
7. In what way is the winged bean similar to supermarket? (3 marks)
8. Why are some natural products referred to as sleeping giants? (2 marks)
9. Explain the meaning of the following words and phrases are used in the passage. (3 marks)

i) Visualize
ii) Ruinous
iii) Conservative estimate

a) Give three reasons that Grusha gives for her to be given the child. (3 marks)
b) “I went to such trouble for him, “give four challenges that Grusha went through in order to save Michael from pursuing ironshits. (answer in note form) (5 marks)
c) i) Simon: “No, your honor, she married a peasant.” What is the name of the peasant mentioned by Simon and what was wrong with him? (2 marks)
ii) Why was it necessary for Grusha to get married to the peasant? (3 marks)
d) One of the lawyers says something that ruins chances of Mrs. Abashwili this case. What is it that the lawyer says and how does it spoil the case? (4 marks)
e) AZDAK: Did you hear? The question is unusual; I ask it because I listen in quite a different way.” In what way would you say that AZDAK’s judgments are unusual? (2 marks)
f) Give one example of another case that AZDAK presided over and the judgement passed. (2 marks)
g) i) Before judge Azdak passes judgement on this case he begins to listen to yet another case. What is this other case about? (2 marks)
ii) What is the significance of this case to the case involving Grusha and Governor’s wife? (2 marks)

SECOND OLYMPUS
From the rostrum they declaimed
On martyrs and men of high ideals
Whom they sent out
Benevorent despots to an unwilling race
Straining at the yoke
Bull dozers trampling on virgin ground
In blatant violation
They trampled down all that was strange
And filled the void
With half digested alien thoughts
They left a trail of red
Whatever their feet had passed
Oh, they did themselves fine
And struttled about the place
Self proclaimed demi- gods
From a counterfeit Olympus
One day they hurled down thunder bolts

On toiling race of earthworms
They might have rained own pebbles
To pelt the brats to death
But that was beneath them
They kept up the illusion
That they were fighting foes
Killing in the name of high ideals
At the inquest they told the world
The worms were becoming pests
Moreover, they said
They did not like wriggly things
Strange prejudice for gods.
Questions
1) Who is being talked about in this poem? Give evidence. (2 marks)
2) With two evidences, discuss the poet’s general attitude towards the subject of the poem. (3 marks)
3) What do you understand by the following three lines?
“they trample down all that was strange
And filled the void with half digested alien thoughts?”
4) Who are reffered to as “toiling race of earthworms” and why? (3 marks)
5) Discuss two stylistic devices used in the poem. Give their effectiveness
6) Explain the significance of the title. (2 marks)
7) What is the tone of the poem? (1 mark)

Fill the blank with the right form of the word in brackets.
i) You will have to pay for the ……….. of the house. (maintain)
ii) Fortunately, they are able to look at the matter with ………(objective)
iii) The workers decided to wait for the outcome of the …………. (deliberate)

Fill the blank spaces with the correct article
i) The students said they wanted…………union.
ii) What is ……. Ewe?

Fill the blank with the correct preposition
i) The hotel is now open…….. its customers from six to six.
ii) They congratulated him …….. his good performance.
iii) The guest arrived and sat ……. the host.

Replace the underlined phrases with one word.
i) I took for granted that you would come.
ii) His research brought to light some interesting facts.
iii) He looks down his nose at anyone who is not rich.

Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given.
i) It is not surprising that Africa’s representative in the world cup performed dismally. (Begin: it is little…….)
ii) We all agree that Mwalimu Nyerere was humble. (rewrite in the past tense)
iii) Early elections results indicate that Sisi will not be defeated. (rewrite using “unassailable”)
iv) She loves him. (add a question tag)