ENGLISH GRAMMAR REVISION QUESTIONS
SECTION A
GRAMMAR 1
(a) Use the comparative form of the word in brackets at the end of each sentence to fill the
blank space correctly. (3 marks)
(i) Grace could not have been _________________ about our plans. (happy)
(ii) The cake has a ______________ flavour than the one you made last week. (rich)
(iii) Last July, I had the ____________ of my life. (bad)
(b) Choose the correct form of words in brackets to complete each of the sentences below.
(2 marks)
(i) Who broke the handle (off, of) this cup?
Choose (among, between) these sick.
(c) Rewrite the following sentences using the words in brackets. (2 marks)
(i) We will give the winner a prize. (whoever)
(ii) “Goodness always conquers evil,” is my favourite life saying. (me)
(d) In the following sentences, insert the word in brackets into the correct position. (2 marks)
(i) They had a political argument. (absurd)
(ii) She sold her house. (comfortable, wooden)
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to the instruction given. (3 marks)
(Present continuous).
_____________________________________________________________________
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lodges. (Future tense)
_____________________________________________________________________
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(f) Add question tags to the following statements. (3 marks)
(i) William is such a talented guitarist.________________________________________
(iii) Let’s respond to the distress call. __________________________________________
GRAMMAR 2
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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ii)The politicians’ dirty tricks did not succeed. (come)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
iii)It is not good to desert one’s family. (walk)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
d)Fill in the blanks with an appropriate preposition (3 marks)
iii)She was born ………………rich parents.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(Light-skinned, arrogant, tall, young)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
GRAMMAR 3
iii) The damage caused by the hurricane was so severe that it was ___________ (repair.
(2 marks)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(2 marks)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
..…………..…………………………………………..……………………………………………………
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GRAMMAR 4 (15mks)
the meaning. (2mks)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(3mks)
(3mks)
their babies.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
GRAMMAR 5
(i) (a) The photographs will be taken at the venue of the wedding. The photographs will
be taken in a reputable studio. (Combine into once sentence using ‘either …..or,,,,’) (1 mk)
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
(b) Neither the children nor the peasant ………allowed to go to the hall yesterday.
(Rewrite filling the blank with an appropriate auxiliary verb). (1 mk)
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
(ii) (a) The principal noticed serious laxity among the students. He warned them against such
behaviour. (Combine the sentence using present participle. ) (1 mk)
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
(b) The farmer’s cow gives twenty-five kilos of milk everyday. He feeds and waters it very well. (Combine using the present participle). (1 mk)
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
(iii) Underline the gerund in the following sentence.
Kibet is studying but swimming is his hobby. (1 mk)
(iv) Replace the underlined word with a phrasal verb.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
(i) There are situations of which you need to act with speed or else the consequences will
catch up with you. (1 mk)
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
(ii) She likes football as it is more superior than hockey. (1 mk)
………………………………………………………………………………………………
(i) He was charged ……………….forging property inheritance document. (1 mk)
(ii) Kamau deals ………………………..groceries. (1 mk)
“Did you see the girls with a telescope?” (1 mk)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(i) The couple has applied for a divorce over ………………..……differences. (reconcile). (1 mk)
(ii) That matter is highly …………………….…..(contest) in a court of law. (1 mk)
GRAMMAR 6
(i) We watched a …………………………………………..………..movie.
(Kenyan, long, sensational)
(ii) The band performed their ……………………………….………….song.
(reggae, new, exciting)
(iii) They saw an …………………………………..………………….baboon.
(old, ugly, congelese)
(i) alonje said I will return next month
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(ii) let us listen to him Ivan argued he sounds reasonable
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(i) Just in case you change your mind, call this number. (Begin: should) (1 mk)
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(ii) I don’t know either of them. (End: …to me) (1 mk)
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(iii) She realized that she had made such a serious blunder. (Rewrite using “what”)
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(iv) The old man was very sick. He could hardly walk. (Join into one sentence using so…that)
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(a, an, the)
(i) She beats …………………………drum with great energy.
(ii) John is ………………………….university student.
(i) The …………………….of the right of expression is a violation of human rights. (deny)
(ii) Have you …………………permission from the teacher? (sought, sort)
(iii) The student gave the correct ………………………….of the word
(pronunciation, pronounciation)
GRAMMAR 7
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
(Combine into one sentence using: in spite of)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(Rewrite as one sentence beginning: Not only…)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(5 marks)
Akinyi had not decided whether or not to reply …………………… Were’s letter. She had been warned against associating ………………………. him. Since no convincing reason was given, she wanted to make ……………………… her own mind rather than yield to pressure ……………………… others. As a rule, she never based her actions …………………… hearsay.
GRAMMAR 8 (15 marks)
Had …………………………………………..).
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
iii) Maina did not bother to campaign. He was convinced that he was the students’ favourite for the post of a school captain. (Rewrite using past participle).
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
sneaked from prison.
contrary to many people’s expectations.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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GRAMMAR 9 (15 marks)
Walking
Break
You will go to the shamba
(Use ‘so’ and ‘too’ to rewrite the sentences as one sentence)
(Rewrite the sentences as one sentence using ‘Hardly’)
iii) Teddy will be jailed; that is the law.
(Rewrite the sentences as one using “in accordance with” the law)
iii) We were overtaken _________________________ events.
(2 marks)
GRAMMAR 10
(a) Fill in the gaps in the sentences below by choosing the appropriate form of the verb in brackets
(i) Surely ___________________________that we are winning in this (agrees, agree)
(ii) Her cousin_____________the quests in the evening (will entertained, will entertain, will entertaining)
(iii) Joe ___________with twenty bags of cement but he had no receipts to show (came, come)
(b) Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions after each (3mks)
(i) Situma is not as handsome as Wycliffe (Rewrite using than)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(ii) But for my daughter’s prompt action, I would be deed by now
(Begin: Had it…)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(iii) Some doctors think both rest and medicine are equally effective in sorting depression
(Rewrite using…..as…..as medicines)
(c) Fill in the blank spaces with the correct preposition (3mks)
(i) She is indebted ___________________them for the assistance they gave when she was unwell
(ii) My Cousin came over to congratulate me ___________my graduation
(iii) The Prisoners of war were deprived ___________their freedom for seven years
(d) Replace the underlined words with the correct phrasal verb formed from the words in brackets (3mks)
(i)The class teacher entered the classroom and caught us making noise (burst)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(ii) His mother looked at him angrily, turned and left(storm)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(iii) After the attack, she discovered that the thugs had escaped with her expensive watch (make)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(e) Use the correct form of the words given in brackets to fill in the gap in each sentence (3mks)
(i) The _________________of the right of expression is a violation of human right(deny)
(ii) Saving the child from burning house was a ______________act (hero)
(iii) They were asked to _______________the alarm (active)
GRAMMAR 11
ii)The house needed an extreme (make)
GRAMMAR 12
Britain yesterday.
when he comes back.
______________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
(3mks)
(e) Complete the sentences below by changing the verb in brackets, in each case, into the form indicated in the instructions after each.
SECTION B
iii) The leader…………………..(dealt/dealed) the cards out to the players briskly.
(breath, breathe, cloth, clothe, bathe, bath)
Namboka felt dizzy and she took a walk so as to…….. fresh air. It was while walking that she noticed that her ……………as smelling badly. She went to her room, brushed her teeth and decided to……………… her sweaty body. She put…………… water in a basin, undressed and then wrapped herself with a clean……………before going to clean her body. After five minutes, she emerged clean and put on her best……………
iii) Walukanga was born…………………..… humble and God fearing parents
(ii) People always want more; it doesn’t matter how rich they are
(Rewrite the sentence using ‘however’)
(iii) The boy jumped from school to school every year. (Rewrite to end with school)
(b) Give the meaning of the underlined idiomatic expressions in the sentence
(i) There was no love lost between the two friends
(ii) The President and Prime Minister resolved to bury the hatchet.
(c) Change the following to direct speech
(i) Jumping and clapping, the Pastor remarked that Jesus was on his way
(ii) The Prefect said that the student was absent the previous day.
(d) Using the verb in brackets, form a phrasal verb to replace the underlined word
(i) The workers felt that the management despised them (look)
(ii) It takes a lot of challenge to nurture a child into an adult (bring)
(iii) The politicians dirty tricks did not succeed (come)
(e) Fill in the blank spaces with the appropriate form of the word in brackets
(i) The boy said that he was (true) ______________in love.
(ii) The _____________ (maintain) of the vehicle is quite expensive.
(iii) She was quite ________________ (gratitude) for the honour bestowed on her.
(f) Fill in the blank spaces with the appropriate preposition
(i) Tom agreed ____________Lona’s idea of punishing the culprit
(ii) The performers feel indebted _______________the school for the use of the hall
3 a) Identify, underline and correct the four words that have been mis-spelt in the paragraph
below:-
i)The UN security council has declared Sudan a failed state (begin Sudan……….)
iii) The boy is very foolish. He believes everything I tell him. (Rewrite as 1 sentence using enough to)
c.) Replace the underlined words with a suitable phrasal verb
iii) He tried to disguise himself as a beggar but his soft, clean hands betrayed him
iii) The guest of honour was given a………….. (Tumult) welcome by the waiting crowd
iii) Uganda is contending against the………………..of Kenyan goods in the markets. (dominate)
iii) It is not good to desert one’s family. – Walk out on
(Combine into one sentence using relative pronouns)
iii) The principal asked me to see him the following day. (Change into direct speech)
My uncle stopped drinking.
sentence using, “such…………)
iii) Jane has been writing a composition. (Change in to a passive voice)
last year.
iii) We could not…………… …………………………….(large) the portrait any further.
6 i) The following idiom is wrongly stated, rewrite it correctly Ibrahim doesn’t struggle at all. He expects to get everything on a silver plate
Why are you quick to fly off the handle at me? said Dr Stockmann,
iii) Jane has a …………………………………………………………… (wool) jacket
meaning of the original sentence
iii) Rimau has always strongly supported the college football team (use: staunch)
iii) After a heated argument, the students decided to check the meaning of the word from the
oxford dictionary.
iii) My brother was among the group of actors performing, “an enemy of the people”
iii) Sometimes last year, we agreed to improve our relationship with our neighbours
(Rewrite beginning: Neither…………….)
iii) The warrior was mutilated by the lion…………..(He is recuperating from the attack)
iii) Wanja is a very……….… (discipline) student, no wonder she is always punished.
words in brackets.
iii) Marion despises her step sister because she is illiterate from the (look).
iii) Let us take a seat at the…………………………(oval beautiful, mahogany) table
sentences below:
iii) When someone habitually steals he will one day ……………………………(face).
(i) Even if the board does not meet, I will present my complaint.
Begin; Whether…………………………………………………………………………………………………
(ii) She opened the gate. Darkness fell. Join into one beginning; Barely
(iii) Either Mary or John have the keys. Correct the sentence
(b) The following sentences are in the active voice. Change them into the passive
(i) Nobody did the work
(ii) The police arrested the thief
(iii) They collect rubbish every Thursday
(c) Punctuate the following sentences correctly:-
(i) alonje said i will return next month
(ii) let us listen to him ivan argued he sounds reasonable”
(d) Use the correct form of the word given in brackets to fill in the gap in each sentence
(i) The dog barked …………………………………………………….(menace)
(ii) Most of the students we come across ……………………………………(be) lazy.
(iii) God’ power is ………………………………………………………..(compare)
(e) Re-write the following sentences replacing the bold words with gender sensitive words
(i) She sneaked because the watchman was a sleep.
(ii) The master on duty made me kneel the whole day for making noise in class.
(f) Use appropriate phrasal verbs to replace the underlined words in the sentences below
(i) This child resembles the father.
(ii) The teachers can no longer tolerate John’s behaviour.
(iii) What a relief that Joan passed all her exams.
(i) Hassan did not complain. He did not report to the police. (Re-write as one sentence
using a conjunction)
(ii) It was my sister who made it possible for my schooling. (Use ‘but for’)
(iii) Ibadan is a very large town in Africa. (Use the superlative degree)
(b) Explain the meaning of the underlined idiomatic expressions:-
(i) Many people in this country live from hand to mouth.
(ii) The manager realized that Mbuthia was a hard nut to crack.
(c) Fill in the blank spaces with the appropriate form of the word in the bracket
(i) We should give ______________________to our academic work (PREFER)
(ii) His ____________________surprised His Excellency (ELOQUENT)
(iii) People rushed to the street when they heard the ________of the two
lorries.(COLLIDE)
(d) Replace the underline word in each of the following sentences with a phrasal verb:-
(i) The old man died quietly last night.
(ii) We felt completely disappointed by John’s performance.
(iii) Juma always visits during meals.
(e) Re-write the following sentences correctly:-
(i) The student knocked on the door continuously as the others watched
(ii) The child inflated the balloon too much that it burst
(f) Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate preposition :-
(i) She has lived in Samburu ________________ten years.
(ii) It is improper to hurl abuses ____________people.
10 a) Fill in each of the blank spaces with a phrasal verb which means the same as the word given*
(Rewrite as one sentence beginning: Oblivious of ……………..)
iii) He is quite handsome (Begin: How———-)
iii) Students are prone to break rules; ……………., they should be under strict surveillance
and encouraged to do right
iii) I wish I was as well prepared for K.C.S.E as you
iii) Peter does not have any money. (Change into affirmative form)
iii) The ___________________ (clear) of the speech impressed us.
iii) The preacher spoke for hours; _______________I did not get what he was saying
iii) its pity we have to live on charity he lamented
(Begin: Spending …. Use ‘preferable’ in place of better)
iii) Mulwa’s leg is still in a cast after last month’s match. He will have to watch the
match from the grandstand (combine into one sentence, using a relative pronoun)
(Rewrite in indirect speech)
iii) When she came in, it was all calm but all over a sudden the house became noisy.
iii) I will work hard to compensate the wasted time (make).
iii) They disagreed…………..………………….… who should be chosen the prefect.
the words in the brackets (5mks)
(i) Our school will move to a new_____________________next year. (cite, site)
(ii) Have you ____________ permission from the teacher? (sought, sort)
(iii) The ___________________store in the city is well-stocked. (stationary, stationery)
(iv) Mary is the _______________ of the two sisters. (tallest, taller)
(v) Neither the teacher nor the cook __________________arrived. (have, has)
(b) Rewrite each of the following sentences as instructed. Do not change the meaning (5mks)
(i) The residents saw the burglar enter the house (Rewrite in the passive voice)
(ii) He drank the water yesterday. (Rewrite beginning: The water was……….)
(iii) As soon as the teams arrived, the competition began. (Rewrite beginning: No sooner………..
(iv) Boys are playful and quick on their feet. They are also curious and like to explore.
(Combine using ……………..”not only”………………….)
(v) The tourist knows some Kiswahili. He understands what I say. (Rewrite as one
sentence using…….”enough”…..)
(c) Fill in the blank spaces with an appropriate prepositional phrase made with the
word in brackets (3mks)
(i) They crossed the river __________________a boat. (means)
(ii) _________________the school rules and regulations every student should be in full
school uniform. (Accordance)
(iii) ___________the prefect’s negligence, he was demoted. (account)
(d) Explain the difference in meaning between these sentences (2mks)
(i) The hawker was selling ten day-old chicks.
(ii) The hawker was selling ten-day old chicks.
paragraph below. (4 mks)
We didn’t give him the priviledge of representing us on the District Environmental Committee because he has a tendency of disagreeing either everyone. He embarrasses himself by pretending to be so knowledgeable.
iii) I don’t know either of them, (End ……………….. to me)
iii) We wondered if there was need ………………………… such equipment.
iii) How many ……………………..(editor-in-chief) were invited?.
meaning. (3mks)
(i) The teacher found out how intelligent Omollo was when he started the discussion
(Begin: It was not………………………………………………
(ii) The prefect forgave Achimo, but only because she apologized
(Begin: If…………………………………………………
(iii) “Congratulations! All the best in all you do!” the principal told the graduands.
(Rewrite in reported speech)
(b) Use the correct form of the verb given in brackets to fill in the blanks in the
following sentences (4mks)
(i) The drama club patron wanted a written __________from the students following their
misconduct during the festivals. (apologize)
(ii) Your explanation is based on too many ___________. (presume)
(iii) The government has lost all ____ following the increasing cases of corruption in high
places. (credible)
(iv) Expectant mothers should not do ______________work. (strain)
(c) Rewrite each of the following sentences, replacing the underlined word with a suitable
phrasal verb (3mks)
(i) The suspect confessed after a long interrogation.
(ii) Nyambura rejected Waiyaki’s proposal for marriage
(iii) Our principal does not tolerate indiscipline
(d) Put the adjectives given in brackets in the correct order to fill in the blank space in
each sentence (2mks)
(i) He bought a _______________dress for his mother (large, cotton, blue, party)
(ii) The ____________________man is the King’s heir (Light-skinned, handsome, young, short)
(e) Fill in the blank spaces with the correct preposition (3mks)
(i) Every member is entitled ________one acre of land.
(ii) John is very excited __________going to India.
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(iii) He has been down ______________malaria for the last three days.
(i) The main is not to blame. The boys are also not to blame. (combine into one
sentence using neither….nor…..)
(ii) He paid the bill and this surprised me. (Re-write the sentence starting with: His….)
(iii) He comes to school late. This has been a concern for many people.
(Join the two using a gerund)
(iv) He won the race. I am not surprised (Begin: That……..)
(b) Replace the underlined words with a suitable phrasal verb (3mks)
(i) I was completely deceived by the thief.
(ii) The teacher ordered the students to submit their scripts at the end of the exam.
(iii) I will visit you if I got time.
(c) Change the following sentences into the passive (3mks)
(i) The organization bore the burden
(ii) The trainee pilot flew the plane.
(iii) Tom is riding the bicycle.
(d) Indicate whether the verb in the following sentences has been used transitively
or transitively. (3mks)
(i) Tomas drives his car every day…………………………………………………………
(ii) The girl wept bitterly……………………………………………………………………
(iii) We have to grow maize every year…………………………………………………
(e) Underline the adjectival phrases on the following sentences (2mks)
(i) Thank you for being so kind.
(ii) My mechanic is quite skillful.
the words in the brackets (5mks)
(i) Our school will move to a new_____________________next year. (cite, site)
(ii) Have you ____________ permission from the teacher? (sought, sort)
(iii) The ___________________store in the city is well-stocked. (stationary, stationery)
(iv) Mary is the _______________ of the two sisters. (tallest, taller)
(v) Neither the teacher nor the cook __________________arrived. (have, has)
(b) Rewrite each of the following sentences as instructed. Do not change the meaning (5mks)
(i) The residents saw the burglar enter the house (Rewrite in the passive voice)
(ii) He drank the water yesterday. (Rewrite beginning: The water was……….)
(iii) As soon as the teams arrived, the competition began. (Rewrite beginning: No sooner………..
(iv) Boys are playful and quick on their feet. They are also curious and like to explore. (Combine
using ……………..”not only”………………….)
(v) The tourist knows some Kiswahili. He understands what I say. (Rewrite as one sentence
using…….”enough”…..)
(c) Fill in the blank spaces with an appropriate prepositional phrase made with the
word in brackets (3mks)
(i) They crossed the river __________________a boat. (means)
(ii) _________________the school rules and regulations every student should be in full school
uniform. (Accordance)
(iii) ___________the prefect’s negligence, he was demoted. (account)
(d) Explain the difference in meaning between these sentences (2mks)
(i) The hawker was selling ten day-old chicks.
(ii) The hawker was selling ten-day old chicks.
(i) The _____________of the right of expression in a violation of human rights (den)
(ii) Saving the child from the burning house was a __________________ act. (hero)
(iii) They were asked to ________________________ the alarm (active)
(i).We can control the spread of HIV/AIDS by educating the public
(Begin: The spread of ………………………….………..)
(ii). The man was arrested. His cattle destroyed the maize in the school farm.
(Rewrite as one sentence)
(iii). Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest Mountain in Africa.
(Rewrite using “higher “instead of “highest” )
(b). Fill in the blanks with the correct alternative from the choices given.
(i) Who ______________________ a fire outside my house? (Light/lighted/lit).
(ii) Since the introduction of community policing in our estates _________ of theft have
reduced. (Incidence/incident/incidents)
(iii) An elephant looks after ________________________calf. (it’s / its)
(c). Rewrite the following sentences to remove gender bias
(i) A professor should give his students opportunities to develop their skills.
(ii) My sister was appointed Chairman of the water project committee,
(iii) The fireman took a long time to arrive at the scene of the accident.
(d). (i) Jomo Kenyatta the first president of Kenya was a great orator. (Punctuate the sentence)
(ii) The teacher of English taught about The Town in Half a Day and Other short stories
(punctuate the title(s) in the sentence)
(iii) Chinua Achebe, wole Soyinka, Babadejo Babafenyi these are some of the renowned
Nigerian writers.
(Punctuate using the dash)
SAMPLE ESSAYS AND CONTEXT QUESTIONS FROM A DOLL’S HOUSE
CONTEXT QUESTIONS
Why is Krogstad surprised Torvald would fire him at first?
BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH
Read the following excerpts and answer the questions that follow
SAMPLE 1
Although Resian had a lot to complain and grumble about in life in their new environment, Taiyo found it tolerable. For instance,
she gladly discovered that mornings in their new home began with a lively chatter of birds in the trees surrounding their house. That gave the home an atmosphere of tranquility and peace.
However, one of the unpleasant aspects that the girls had to live with was the constant violation of their privacy. In Nasila, they soon discovered, the home belonged to all the clan members. It was not an unusual thing to get up in the morning to find the
living room full of men and women who came early, not for any tangible business, but simply to share a sumptuous breakfast with their kith and kin. Taiyo and Resian were soon to get used to hearing an urgent knock at the door very early in the morning.
On opening, they would invariably be met by a grinning group of men or women who would unashamedly ask them what they were doing in bed that late in the morning. They would proceed to take seats in the living room and order them to serve them breakfast. When they got used to what at first, they considered negative aspects of the Nasila culture, Taiyo and Resian adjusted accordingly and soon they began to live harmoniously with the people. Their father was out of the homestead most of the time working at the shop and organizing other business matters. His absence meant the absence of his irksome and corrosive remarks that always heightened tension in the house. In his absence, the house was a continuous joy with comfort and conveniences, and the girls found it pleasurable to keep it clean and well-arranged.
Questions
SAMPLE 2
have no problem acquiring more knowledge, skills and specialized experience,” said Resian in a defiant tone that had Taiyo squirming with apprehension. “l have no problem at all and I thank Yeiyo for her untiring effort in teaching us. But my question is: do we go through all these lengths to please some bunch of busybodies who do nothing but lounge about in the living rooms, yawning and stretching, waiting for tasty food to land on the table before them? No, I refuse to be taught to solely please male counterparts. They can also cook, and they can, and should also learn to please us females. Period!” Yeiyo-botorr was shushed. Mama Milanoi was dumbfounded and was at a complete loss for words. Taiyo stared at her sister with consternation.
“Resian-siake!” pleaded Taiyo. ‘Please give respect to yeiyo-botorr and stop your uncalled-for tirade.”
“But surely, Resian,” her mother said, regaining her composure. “Have you no respect for your father who is also male? What has gotten into you, child, lately?” turning to the girl’s aunt, she added, “enkaini, Yeiyo-botorr, this child was not like this before we came here. I don’t know what has gone wrong.”
“Nothing is wrong with me,” retorted Resian furiously. And pointing at the living room with her finger, she fiercely charged, “1 have no quarrel with my father for whom I have tremendous respect. It is the like of Olarinkoi I am mad at, and all those males who come here ordering to do that or the other for them, simply because they are males. When women visit us, they give us the leeway to respond to their requests. But as we burn our fingers here, Mr. Olarinkoi is dozing off comfortably in our living room and waiting for his lunch and possibly a little angry and impatient with us for delaying it.”
Questions
SAMPLE 3
Yes, that is how Oloisudori defined success, Ole Kaelo thought bitterly. And he and many others define it in the same way.
The archaic adage that exhorted the young and up-coming businessmen to take care of cents and let the shillings take care of themselves was regarded by the likes of Oloisudori to be untenable. Instant riches, just as instant tea or instant coffee were the thing. And the instantaneous bliss brought in an on-the-spot feeling of well-being, felicity and happiness. That was what everyone wanted, Ole Kaelo reasoned, and that was what he himself had always wanted. And that was the reason, like a stinking rotten carcass would draw a torrent of flies to itself, people like him and many others got drawn to the murky business of Oloisudori.
“But now the chickens had come home to roost,” Ole Kaelo lamented ruefully. Oloisudori was now demanding his pound of flesh. He recalled the events of that afternoon when Oloisudori came calling. Seeing him in his house unexpectedly, had signaled trouble with his contracts. But Oloisudori had allayed his fears, saying that all was well in that direction. That had restored his peace and calmed his frayed nerves. The success of the shop depended entirely on those contracts. Even the large stocks he held in the go downs were secured on the strength of those contracts. It was therefore gratifying to hear him confirm all was well. What did he want then? He had wondered. But he did not have long to wonder for long, for Oloisudori did not believe in niceties. He had lifted his head, letting a small silence draw out between them, he told him, “There is a small matter that I would like us to discuss.”
Questions
SAMPLE 4
When Minik began to speak, it was to Nabaru the enkabaani that she directed her discourse. Looking at her with charming warm eyes, Minik told her she thought she was her mother’s age mate. She would not therefore begrudge her if she found out that, like her own mother, she supported the traditionally favored girl circumcision which was said to have been handed down to the people dating back to the time the Maa people ascended the Kerio Valley. That was said to be in accordance with Maa culture – a culture that she too loved and respected. She said that she even lauded the Maa culture for the tenacity of its fabrics that had enabled it to hold its people together long after others had disintegrated. She however said culture was supposed to be dynamic and it ought to shed off aspects that have outlived their usefulness. She argued that in the past such archaic aspects had been discarded and forgotten.
She gave the example of emuata, a horrible and outdated cultural practice that demanded that young brides, called isiankikin, wear heavy copper wire coils around their limbs, legs from ankle to knee, arms from writs to elbow and from elbow to armpit.
The copper wire coils were so heavy that they impeded the young women’s movement. They were also so tight that they constricted their veins and wasted their muscles. Besides, they harboured flies and lice underneath them resulting to incessant itching. Eventually, that injurious tradition amaut, was discarded and the women freed from that harrowing experience that was ironically meant to enhance their beauty. Similarly, she said, emuratare-o-Ntoiye, which referred to the girl child circumcision, should be discarded in the same manner, for its time had passed and it had outlived its usefulness.
“The name of intoiye nemenga/ana, should stop being derogatory,” Minik said triumphantly. “Instead emuratare-o-Ntoiye should disappear form the Maa language and should be considered as extinct.”
She said so much more that, at the end, Nabaru was convinced that FGM did not add any value to the lives of its young Victims. Instead, she agreed it traumatized them and was hazardous to their health.
And having been an Enkabaani for a long time, she said she could testify to its devastation, having witnessed the way young lives were ruined by the practice. She vowed to join Minik in lobbying against it.
Questions
SAMPLE 5
Suddenly the beam of the vehicle’s light brought in to view a small mud-plastered house with a rusty tin root Around the house was a thorn fence and beside the house was a small wooden gate that was shut. The vehicle slowed down and stopped in front of the gate. The two men conversed in low tones for a few minutes in the front cabin, then Olarinkoi opened the door and came out. He walked round to the back of the vehicle and shot back the tower bolts that held the tail gate and lowered it.
He pulled out two bags, one of maize flour and the other of sugar, and lifted a couple of large cartons and placed them on the “What are you still doing on the back of the vehicle?” he asked Resian rudely. “Alight quickly, the driver doesn’t have the whole night to wait.”
The moment she alighted, the pick-up reversed, turned and was driven off. Within a few seconds they were left in pitch darkness and no sound was audible save for their breathing and the gentle rippling sound as the wind rustled dried leaves. The stillness was eerie and frightening.
Olarinkoi removed a torch from his pocket, beamed it on the gate and began walking towards it without walking to Resian. He took a bunch of keys from his pocket, selected one and inserted it into the dangling padlock and opened it. Resian still stood where she had been left in the darkness, feeling sick from hunger and nauseated from the lurching and the rattling of the pick- up. Already a swarm of m0Squitoes was gathering around her and a cold wind that was blowing towards her made her shiver uncontrollably. Come on, woman,” Olarinkoi growled. “Are you going to stand there until you are dragged away by hyenas? ” Good Lord!” Resian gasped in shock. She hoped in God’s name that what she was imagining was not what was in Olarinkoi’s mind. What had she got herself into! Where was she and was Olorinkoi sincere when he said he was taking her to Emakererei?
She hoped the hose before them belonged to another family friend of Olarinkoi and they were going to be there only for the night. In the morning she hoped they would walk to Emakererei’s place, which she imagined was close by. But it worried her that rather than rebuking her, Olarinkoi had not looked at her nor spoken to her since they left Nasila.
Questions
Write the sentence in reported speech.
SAMPLE 6
However, the notion that he was about to hand over his own daughter to a gangster continued to gnaw at the conscience of Ole Kaelo relentlessly. He felt guilty, especially when he recalled the atrocities that were known to have been committed by Oloisudori over the years. But another voice told him quietly that he was being foolish and unreasonable to question his own conscience over the matter of Oloisudori, for he was just one among many who were enjoying the fruits of their labour. And it was hardly anybody’s business to know how honest that labour was. After all, the small voice reassured him tauntingly, those who committed bigger crimes such as Goldenberg and Anglo-leasing, were still enjoying the ‘fruits of their labour.’ Had they not invested the yields of their ill-gotten money in housing estates, in shares, in import and exports in tourism, in transport and in other trades, just as Oloisudori had done?
When he went to bed later that evening, he remained awake for many hours pondering over those disturbing thoughts that went through his mind fleetingly, like water that churned violently in a turbulent sea. He thought of Oloisudori’s impending visit and his intended marriage to Resian. He knew the success of failure of the event would determine the fate of his business. Even his continued ownership of that house where he and his family lived, depended on the outcomes of that event. Should Oloisudori fail to get Resian and recall the loan he had extended to him to buy that house, he was done. And knowing Oloisudori, he could very easily draw the rug from beneath his feet, leaving him vulnerable to all kinds of vagaries. And the thoughts gave him anxious moments.
At dawn when sleep overtook him, Ole Kaelo had a pleasant dream. Resian had consented to Oloisudori’s proposal. After Oloisudori reported that to him, he was greatly pleased and relieved. His wife was rapturous. Although they were astonished at the turn of events, they were relieved to know that they would not have to live with the guilt of having forced their daughter to get married. What a wise child his once hardheaded daughter had turned to be after all! And how devious! After all those years of sullenness, awkwardness and tactlessness, she had finally brought relief to their life and ushered in a period of peace and tranquility. But then, it was just that. A dream!
Questions
a).Place the excerpt in its immediate context. (4mks)
b).Discuss three major issues in this excerpt. (6mks)
c).Discuss two character traits of ole kaelo in this excerpt. (4mks)
d).“and the thoughts gave him anxious moments” (add a question tag.) (1mk)
e).Discuss any three aspects of style in this excerpt. (6mks)
f).Explain the meaning of the following expressions from the excerpt. (4mks)
(i). Gnaw
(ii). Pondering
(iii). Impending visit
(iv) He was done
SAMPLE 7
They were silent as they climbed the hill on their way back from Nasila to draw water. The water containers that they carried on their backs were now heavy. The straps that supported the containers pressed down their heads with a painful exhaustion.
As they walked, each one of them allowed her mind to fleeting roam the fanciful land of wishful thinking.
Resian thought how wonderful it would be, had she had a chance to enroll at the Egerton University and after graduation had a chance to work with her role model ,MinikeneNkoitoi ,the Emakererei at the sheep ranch that she managed .She imagined herself already there driving a large flock of sheep .And when she thought of sheep , her mind flew back to fifteen years or so earlier and reminiscedthe first time she saw a sheep.It was a childhood memory ,a memorable picture from the swirling scene around her which had been captured and preserved by her mind when she and Taiyo accompanied their father to the Nakuru Agricultural show.She could still see in her mind a group of big,docile tawny woolly animals that stood panting drowsily in a green pasture ,with the sun beaming down brightly from a clear blue sky .She had then admired the white long overcoats that the handlers wore.
Taiyo also thought of Emakererei .She would ask Joseph Parmuat , to assist her compose a song in her praise .She had already put words to a tune she had composed to ridicule the three women who she thought collaborated with men to oppress the women folk .They were Nasila’s three blind mice who , she thought , did not seem to know that the world was changing .Those were the enkasakutoniwho threatened to curse intoiyenemengalanaand ensured they did not get husbands nor children;the midwife Enkaitoyoni who threatened to spy on the young women as they gave birth to ensure that any who was among intoiye-nemengelana had her status altered there and then;and the dreaded Enkamuratani,who will never tire of wielding her olmurunyamenacingly.
QUESTIONS
SAMPLE 8
Read the following excerpt from Blossoms of the Savannah and answer the questions that follow.
“Yes, they are creators of the labyrinth that the women continue to meander around,” she said philosophically.
“Even if I am reluctantly convinced that it was women and not men who initiated the obnoxious ritual who provoked the women to do so? The Ilarinkon who were purported to have pushed women into mutilating their sexuality were men. And the ancient Ilarinkon were no different from today’s Ilarinkon. Ellie ancient Ilarinkon were sadists and despotic. Today’s Ilarinkon are worse. In addition to being despotic, they are oppressive tyrants; and one of their ways of oppressing us is to demand that F.G.M be perpetuated against us forever!”
A loud knock at the door disrupted their conversation. Before they could respond, there was another knock. Only this time, short urgent raps made in insistent quick succession followed.
“See who it is,” her mother told her, happy to get rid of her. She rued the moment she introduced that explosive subject.
Although she had got used to people knocking at any time, that particular knock nearly angered Resian. Why should anybody butt in when she and her mother were carrying out a fruitful discussion? It was rare for her mother to open up to that extent and she would have wished to bring up other issues that required such frankness. Muttering under her breath, she quickly walked from the kitchen through the living room to the outer hall and opened the front door,
Questions
SAMPLE 9
Read the following excerpt from the novel Blossoms of the Savannah and answer the questions that follow.
“Oh God of all creation! Resian cried out bitterly and audibly as soon as the cruel ugly old woman left her, “What unending woes these are! “What have 1 done to the gods to deserve this kind of punishment
Then she recalled the teaching of the Bible, and especially where it narrated the woes of those who went through similar or even worse tribulations, but triumphed at the end. She particularly remembered the wailing lamentations of Job and his railing against injustice, and she thought her problems were nothing compared to those he had suffered.
He triumphed because he was stoic, focused and was able to persevere. Olarinkoi and his demonic mother may physically take her to Tanzania, Olarinkoi may physically take her as his wife, they may even physically Circumcise her, but mentally she was going to resist. She was going to refuse to be subdued. Where she could, she was going to physically resist. She resolved to remain focused and she prayed for strength and endurance to be able to bear all those misfortunes.
She had wondered where Olarinkoi was, but she had now learnt from his mother that he was some place planning more evil. She had also learnt that Oloisudori, the monster, was looking for her. She now wondered who among them was a lesser devil. She did not know what to think about her father. He was like the proverbial pig that was fried using its own lard. She thought he was suffering double tragedy: the loss of his daughter and the loss of his shop and home if they were financed by Oloisudori.
Questions
SAMPLE 10
Read the following excerpt from the novel Blossoms of the Savannah and answer the questions that follow.
“Not really, my husband,” she said ruefully, beating a hasty retreat. “Our culture is everything and it rules our lives.”
“Good,” he said authoritatively. “Now listen, you must immediately start counselling the girls to Understand their roles as potential wives of the men of Nasila. Prepare them to appreciate and accept their future responsibilities as mothers and home builders.
“I’ll do that, my husband,” she said quietly.
“One other thing,” he said evenly. “I’ll ask Simiren to request the young teacher called Parmuat, who is of our clan and therefore a brother to the girls, to find time to teach them a few home truths. After that we shall call enkamuratanito play her part before we give them away.
Those were the words, whose utterances she so dreaded. And once uttered, she knew, the words instantly because an inviolable edict. Now that he had spoken, the pain was already harrowing and the torment in her heart Unbearable.
She was torn between her love for her daughters and her dutiful role of a faithful and obedient wife of Ole Kaelo, but in her culture there was no room for dissent, especially if the subject was in conformity with the culture. Who would side with her if she were to oppose the cultural rituals?
Her only ally would be the woman the elders of Nasila contemptuously called entangoroior the wasp. Those who honoured her called her Emakererei, for she was said to have attended Makerere University in Uganda, where she obtained her degree in veterinary science. Mama Milanoi knew her well. Her actual names were MinikeneNkoitoi.
Outside Nasila, she was respected and honoured. At thirty, she was already managing an expansive government sheep ranch reputed to hold hundreds of thousands of sheep, about one hundred kilometers away from Nasila. Under her were hundreds of employees who worked at the ranch.
Questions
SAMPLE 11
“What Joseph Parmuat told Taiyo is factually correct,” her mother told her confidently. “It was the shame and anger that was provoked by Ilarinkon taunts, lewd teasing and provocative posturing that made the women do what they did to curtail those desires the worthless predators exploited to prey upon them.
“That may have been true then,” Resian said, looking directly into her mother’s eyes. “But what is the reason for doing it today? Ilarinkon are no longer with us, or are they?” “The original Ilarinkon may have gone,” her mother said unconvincingly, “but other Ilarinkon are still with us.” “ExactIy!” said Resian triumphantly, “Yes, it’s the latter day Ilarinkon who are wreaking havoc on us women. Surely Yeiyo, if one discovered a nasty but potent medicine that once taken cured an ailment, must they continue to swallow it every day-ten years down the line. I find that absurd.
The sensible thing would be to discard the bitter medicine once people are cured. Period! Tell me Yeiyo, what use is F.G.M. to today’s woman?” “Are you suggesting that it is men who continue to perpetuate this cultural rite?” her mother asked perplexed by the daughter’s argument. „yes, they are creators of the labyrinth that the women continue to meander around,” she said philosophically.
“Even if I am reluctantly convinced that it was women and not men who initiated that obnoxious ritual, who provoked the women to do so? The Ilarinkon who were purported to have pushed women into mutilating their sexuality were men. And the ancient Ilarinkon were no different from today’s Ilarinkon. The ancient Ilarikon were sadists and despotic, they are oppressive tyants, and one of their ways of oppressing us is to demand that F.G.M. be perpetuated against us forever!”
A loud knock at the door disrupted their conversation. Before they could respond, there was another knock. Only this time, short urgent raps made in insistent quick succession followed.
“See who it is,” her mother told her, happy to get rid of her. She rued the moment she introduced that explosive subject.
Although she had got used to people knocking at any time, that particular knock nearly angered Resian. Why should anybody butt in when she and her mother were carrying out a fruitful discussion? It was rare for her mother to open up to that extent and she would have wished to bring up other issues that required such frankness, muttering under her breath, she quickly walked from the kitchen through the living room to the outer hall and opened the front door.
A man stood at the doorway, briefcase in hand. He was tall, broad-shouldered and he wore a blue business suit, white shirt and a light blue tie, The muscles of his arms bulged under the sleeves of his coat. His face, above his closely trimmed beard and moustache, was brown and leathery; possibly from exposure to the sun and wind. He had a wide mouth from which protruded two long upper teeth with a wide gap between them, making him look like a warthog, she did not like his long slanting eyes. His pierced and extended earlobes hang comically down his neck, each loop seeming to beg for something to be hooked over it.
“Is this the home of Parsimei Ole Kaelo?” the man asked in a cold, sharp voice.
‘Yes it is,” answered Resian in a subdued voice, an ominous feeling creeping into her heart.
“What can I do for you?”
“I have come to see him,” he said authoritatively and took a step into the house. In an arrogantly
confident manner, he asked, “is he in?”
“No he’s not in at the moment,” Resian answered also taking a step forward to block him. She
hoped he would go away. She added impatiently. “He’s probably at the shop in town.”
“He’s not there,” the man said emphatically, shaking his head, “I have just come from there.”
He peered at Resian. Those slanting black eyes had slid from her face and were now deliberately scanning her body. A creepy sensation sent shivers down her spine,
(Blossoms of the Savannah, Longhorn Publishers Ltd, 2017)
Questions
SAMPLE 12
“However disreputable the man may be,” her mother warned her, “be careful Resian. We don’t know what connection the man bas with your father and it would be catastrophic if your tongue would be the one to sever his relations with other men. Go to the living room and tell him I’m busy preparing lunch. Get him a cup of tea or something else to drink and make him comfortable before your father comes. I am sure he will be here soon.”
Reluctantly, Resian took a flask that contained tea and cup and slowly Walked back to the living room. The moment she reappeared, Resian saw Oloisudori crane his neck, watching her. She quickly placed the flask and cup on the table and her hands automatically flew to the buttons of her blouse that she suddenly felt, from the looks in his eyes’ must have been Unbuttoned. But
“It must have taken long for you to decide whether to give me a cup of tea?” he said sarcastically.
The man’s words shocked Resian and she backed away from him. In the Process, she collided with a nearby coffee table and nearly lost her balance
“sorry,” she said regaining her balance and composure. “But we always serve tea to our visitors even when our mother has not told us to do so.
“In that case, I must apologies for my mistaken thought,” Oloisudori said as he took the cup of tea. He let a small suggestive silence grow between them before saying, “I’m indeed sorry, pretty lady.” Then he smiled at her; a demonic and intrusive smile.
For the very few minutes she stood before him, she felt his black languorous eyes move up and down her face and body with a relentless intimacy that nearly immobilized her with embarrassment. She felt as if his hands were all over her body caressing her against her will.
She even felt angry with herself, when she reasoned that by standing there she was encouraging him to humiliate her. But somehow, it was as if he had hypnotized her, for as much as she had wanted to flee, she found her feet rooted to the spot. As inexperienced as she was in the way men behaved, she could tell from his smile his pleasure in her obvious fear and confusion. And instinctively, she sensed cruelty in him. Sweat trickled down her stomach, broke out on her face, before becoming clammy on her cheeks. She shook her head as if to check whether she was really awake.
Questions
SAMPLE 13
Later, Taiyo was surprised to see that the seemingly helpless and toothless old man was one of the most revered elders in the community. She saw him get up from where he sat with the other two old men, and leaning heavily on his walking stick, moved to the center of the living room. His pace was dignified as he walked with his chin up and his mouth set in a hard straight line. That was the time Taiyo observed his heavily wrinkled face. There was a haughty set to his features? For a moment, Taiyo felt as if he had fastened his eyed on her and that his gaze was like a physically oppressive force upon her. She suddenly felt in much awe of him.
When he began to speak, his voice boomed and its resonance filled the crowded room. He introduced himself as old Musanka, a member of the Ilmakesen clan and of Ilterito age set. He said Nasila was a Maa house and anybody born of Maa was entitled to its shelter. Maa culture was the blood and marrow that gave sustenance to the body. And the body was the collective masses of the Maa. Ole Kaelo, he said, was a tiny strand of hair that had been blown away from its owner’s head by a gust of wind. The same wind that had blown it away had blown the strand back to its owner’s head. He said the head could not refuse to receive back the returning strand. But the onus was upon the strand to attach and coil itself back onto the rest of the hair on the head and blend with it. If it did not, he warned, it would drop and get trampled upon the ground. He advised Ole Kaelo to re-assimilate himself into his people’s culture.
“Those of us who have been listening to the sound of our cattle bells,” he said quoting the children’s song, “know that Ole Kaelo’s cattle are home-bound. They were bound to come, for the founder said that when a rat begins to smell, it returns to its mother’s home.
“And speaking of home,” Ole Musanka said candidly, “Ole Kaelo must be told, home is not this house however magnificent it may be. Home is Maa, home is Nasila, home is family and home is the children. Kill one of those four pillars and there is no home to speak about. Sever yourself from the culture of your people and you effectively become olkirikoi, a man of no fixed abode, your elegant house notwithstanding. Where are the women of the Maa? Embrace the wife and children of Ole Kaelo and bring them back into the Nasila fold. Where are the elders of Ilmolelian? There is your man. Cut him loose from the snares of alien cultures. I am through.”
Then he had a parting shot for Taiyo and Resian. “Do not listen to crusaders of an alien culture that is being perpetrated by a certain entangoroj called Emakererei. That wasp advocates that we maintain intoiye nemengalana amongst our daughters. Taba! May she go down with the setting sun!”
After that voluble curse, the old man blessed the Ole Kaelos. He had a special blessing for the daughter
Of Ole Kaelo who served him with a special dish that evening. He prophesied that she will be a mother of the next leader of Nasila and Maa.
Questions
SAMPLE 14
“No one can accuse us of laziness, cut in Taiyo happily, her spirit buoyed up by her aunt’s praise, “And yeiyo here has been our ever resourceful teacher. “That is as it should be,” yeiyo botorr enthused. “We were taught by our mothers who were also taught by their mothers, and so on and on back to the time we ascended Kerio valley.”
“I have no problem acquiring more knowledge, skills and even specialized experience,” Resian said in a defiant tone that had Taiyo squirming with apprehensions “I have no problem at all and I thank yeiyo for her untiring effort in teaching us. But my question is: do we go to all these lengths to please some lazy bunch of busybodies who do nothing but lounge about in the living rooms, yawning and stretching, waiting for tasty food to land on the table before them? No, I refuse to be taught to solely please male counterparts. They can also cook, and they can, and should also learn to please us females. Period!”
Yeiyo botorr was shocked. Mama Milanoi was dumbfounded and was at a complete loss for words. Taiyo stared at her sister in consternation.
“Resian-sake-!” pleaded Taiyo. “Please give respect to yeiyo botorr and stop your uncalled for tirade.”
“But surely, Resian,” her mother said, regaining her composure. “Have you no respect for your father who is also male? What has gotten into your child, lately?”
Turning to the girls’ aunt, she added, “enkaini, yeiyo botorr, this child was not like this before we came here. I don’t know what has gone wrong.” “Nothing is wrong with me,” Resian retorted furiously. And pointing at the living room with her finger, she fiercely charged, “I have no quarrel with my father, for whom I have tremendous respect. It is the likes of Olarinkoi I am mad at and all those other males who come here ordering us to do that or the other for them, simply because they are males. When women visit us, they give us the leeway to respond to their requests. But as we burn our fingers here, Mr. Olarinkoi is dozing off comfortably in our living room waiting for his lunch and possibly a little angry and impatient with us for delaying it.”
“It is enough,” cried yeiyo botorr viciously. She instantly abandoned the peeling of potatoes and threw the knife into the pail that held the peeled potatoes. Supporting herself by holding onto a nearby wall, she painfully lifted her large, heavy body. “My enkaini,” I agree with you that something is wrong with our child. And I think I know what ails her. Come along and I will tell you what I think ails her.”
Questions
SAMPLE 15
Read the excerpt below and answer the questions that follow.
“Sasa Yeiyo! Look at me, I ready for our visitor,” Resian said cheerfully, addressing her mother. “How do you like my dress?
“Splendid,” her mother answered cautiously.
“MY little Resian-e-yeiyo, how lovely you look!” her father who was uncharacteristically emotional said.
You almost look like a grown up lady. What do you think, Olarinkoi?”
Olarinkoi, who was present that morning looked up at Resian, grunted and snorted. He then grinned in grudging admiration.
“Not bad, he said, looking at Resian sheepishly. “Not bad at all.” Oloisudori was time conscious. In the kind of business, he had done in the large part of his working life, time was of the essence. As a gangster, he had to be punctual, precise and punctilious, a small delay, inexactness or careless disregard of the plan could not only result in missed opportunities but could also prove to be fatal.
Punctuality had therefore become his second nature. That was how he approached Resian’s issue. Like all other tasks he undertook, he approached it with singleness of mind. He planned meticulously, putting a precise time frame to it. His retinue was well chosen and details taken into consideration. He had hired an anesthetist if the need to render Resian unconscious arose.
At nine-thirty in the morning, they were assembled somewhere near Nasila. Oloisudori was reviewing the detailed instruction that he had given each individual who was to take part in the task ahead. Except for him and his driver, none of the others were to appear anywhere near Ole Kaelo’s residence before six o’clock in the evening. They were to appear at six o’clock on the dot, pounce on the girl, seize her, carry her into the car and speed off. If there was need to render her unconscious, that would be done on the way. The next stop would be at her house in Milimani Estate, Nakuru.
The moment Taiyo left, Resian’s confidence began to wane. She began to tremble quite literally. In order that her mother did not notice how nervous she was, she excused herself and fled to her bedroom. But on seeing the carton into which they had packed all those gifts that Oloisudori had given them, and which she intended to give back to him, her courage returned. She had vowed to face the monster gallantly, and it was foolish of her to develop cold feet at that point, especially after promising her sister that she would face him, come what may. She was in the battle front and success or failure was in her hands. She had to do it even if her father would never forgive her. If she rebuffed him successfully, an inner voice told her, a whole new world would open up before her. She had therefore to be stoic and face the monster bravely. She glanced at the clock beside their bed; it was a quarter to ten.
Questions
SAMPLE 16
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
“These children may not know,” he said suddenly, turning his attention to his daughters, ‘I They may not know and I want to tell them now, that you are their brother. You are no less a brother to them than their own mother’s son would have been. You are my son as much as their mother’s son would have been my son. Perhaps their mother has already told them, and if she has not, she will tell them tonight that Parmuat’s family and Kaelo’s family are one. We are all of Illmolelian clan, of Iloorasha-kineji sub-clan.”
He told Joseph Parmuat that he had brought up his daughters well, they were well behaved and that he was proud of them. However, having been away from Nasila all their lives, they had missed out on the basic cultural values that harmonized the lives of Nasila people.
In addition to what they learnt at school or in addition to what they were yet to learn through books, he stressed, it was imperative that they learned habits, traditions and their culture that they would make their parents and the Nasila people proud of them. He added that, although he considered the girls intelligent, there was need for them to develop into responsible mature women of the future. That was necessary, he said
emphatically, because there was nothing that parents looked forward to, than to see their children settle down in their own homes.
He had hastened to add that although at their age they might consider what he was saying as ridiculously irrelevant, he knew by experience that there was nothing better than beginning to plan for one’s future early.
He warned the girls that they might find a few cultural demands obnoxious but they would have to be stoic and them with the Understanding that it was those none-too-pleasant traditions that nurtured and bound their People together. “And those families that had refused to rejoin their people,” he added thoughtfully, “had “It should never happen to us, “he concluded dramatically.
When their mother spoke to them later, emphasizing what their father had told them, they wore blank faces and deliberately concealed their reaction. She therefore did not realize that they held extremely divergent views.
That was the most exciting news that Taiyo had received ever since they came to Nasila. She was exultant. Although their father never for once mentioned that Joseph Parmuat was to coach her in traditional music and dance, the fact that he had allowed them to interact with him filled her heart with joy. She could hardly hide her elation. Even the repeated assertion that Joseph Parmuat was their brother by virtue of their cultural links, failed to daunt her spirit. Was she simply infatuated with him? If she was, she hoped the feeling would soon simmer down. What pleased her most, however, was that she now had a confidant whom she could ask some of those embarrassing questions that she could not dare ask her mother or anybody else.
It was, however, different for Resian, Deep right into her heart she was seething with ire. It irked her terribly to have had to listen to their father as he prepared them for a journey that she thought would lead them back
to the Stone Age era. She scornfully dismissed the cultural coaching that Joseph Parmuat was to undertake as worthless. She likened the whole saga to a grown up person whose mind degenerated into an idiot and had to content with playing with mud. It was utter foolishness!
“It may not be as bad as you imagine, little sister,” Taiyo said, trying to mollify her angry sister. “Maybe by the time brother Parmuat is through with us, we shall be the wiser.
“Wiser indeed!” jeered Resian. “Yes. By the time he is through with us, we shall have been taught a great lesson in stoicism. We won’t blink or wince even as enkamuratani mutilates our sexuality to smithereens!”
Questions
SAMPLE 17
“No Joseph,” she said in an infantile whimper. “Ican’t bear that we can’t express the love that we have for one another because of some primitive culture. If by loving you, I offend the sensibilities of Nasila then let me offend and face the consequences of doing so!”
“I also love you very much,” Joseph Parmuat responded finally. “I loved you the moment I saw you during your father’s homecoming ceremony. But then the clan matter came to separate us. It is true we have no blood relation. But Nasila culture dictates who are related and who are not. We are slotted among those who cannot marry.”
“No, it can’t be, I cannot accept its verdict,” she said petulantly her words agonised. “No way, never!” She stopped, confused and angry with herself at her inarticulate outburst. She took several long steadying breaths and then said, “I cannot accept that a culture that does not feed,clothe or house me comes to control my life. Our lives belong to us, Joseph. The destiny of our lives is in our own hands. We should guard it jealously.” At last they drew a little a part. His eyes were open, honest and steady upon her face.
Questions
SAMPLE 18
You are mad!” Resian screamed at him. You are stark mad if you think I am your wife. I can only be your wife over my dead body. Yes, you and my father can kill me and carry my dead body to your palatial home.”
He was stunned by those harsh words. He winced as if he had been struck. Then already harsh line of his mouth tightened and he stood tense for a moment. Then he relaxed and watched her mockingly. “You can never escape Resian,” he repeated quietly, smiling. The very normality of his voice as he spoke those monstrous words was most shocking and disturbing to her. Whether you scream your heart out, or jump into the deep sea, Resian, you are mine. You are my wife from now henceforth”
“Iwant to go now.” Resian announced angrily shuddering with disgust and terror.
“You want to go?” he asked, the contemptuous quiet of his voice a menace by itself.” Go! You want to be persuaded, coaxed and pampered to marry Oloisudori Lonkiyaa? Sorry I will not do that! If you want to go, please yourself. You may opt to go, but when you are mine, you will do as I please. No one plays games with Oloisudori. Ask your father, he will tell you.”
“Stop it! Stop it! Resian screamed excruciatingly pained by the disdainful remarks of Oloisudori. Putting her hands over her ears, she made a dash for the door. He made no effort to stop her but she flung it open and turned to glare at him with tearful eyes
You are mad! She screamed again sobbingly. “You are stark mad! You hear me? You are nothing but ol-ushuushi.” She walked away and as she did so, she heard his soft laughter behind her.
Questions
SAMPLE 19
They were silent as they climbed the hill on their way back from Nasila river to draw water. The water containers that they carried on their backs were now heavy. The straps that supported the containers pressed down their heads with a painful exhaustion.
As they walked, each one of them allowed her mind to fleetingly roam the fanciful land of wishful thinking.
Resian thought how wonderful it would be, had she had a chance to enroll at the Egerton University and after graduation had a chance to work with her role model, Minik ene Nkoitoi, the Emakererei at the sheep ranch that she managed. She imagined herself already there driving a large flock of sheep. And when she thought of sheep, her mind flew back to fifteen years or so earlier and reminisced the first time she saw a sheep. It was a childhood memory, a memorable picture from the swirling scene around her which had been captured and preserved by her mind when she and Taiyo accompanied their father to the Nakuru Agricultural Show. She could still see in her mind a group of big, docile, tawny woolly animals that stood panting drowsily in a green pasture, with the sun beaming down brightly from a clear blue sky. She had then admired the white long overcoats that the handlers wore.
Taiyo also thought of Emakererei. She would ask Joseph Parmuat, to assist her compose a song in her praise. She had already put words to a tune she had composed to ridicule the three women who she thought collaborated with men to oppress the women folk. They were Nasila’s three blind mice who, she thought, did not seem to know that the world was changing. Those were the enkasakutoni, who threatened to curse intoiye nemengalana and ensured they did not get husbands nor children: the midwife Enkaitoyoni who threatened to spy on the young women as they gave birth to ensure that any who was still among intoiye-nemengalana had her status altered there and then; and the dreaded Enkamuratani, who would never tire of wielding her olmurunya menacingly.
Questions
(i) Reminisced
(ii) Collaborated
(iii) Dreaded
(iv) Menacingly
SAMPLE 20
“Yes, Papaai,” Resian said apprehensively. “I am here. Taiyo tells me you are calling me?”
“Yes, yes,” her father replied. “Please take a seat.”
“Yes Papaai,” Resian repeated as she sat on a chair far away from her father.
“Come nearer…child,” her father said pleasantly.
“Why do you sit a mile away? Come nearer.”
Resian moved her chair hardly an inch from where it was and then she looked up into her
father’s face with eager expectation.
“If I do remember well,” her father began in a low even tone, “you will be nineteen in September this year, am I right”
“You are quite right, Papaai.” Resian answered eyeing him curiously. His face was unusually kind. His eyes held hers as he smiled broadly. That’s it!’ she thought triumphantly. “That must be it!
“You and I have not discussed important issues for a long time,” he said with a friendly chuckle that was intended to bring her closer to him. “I thought today would be the best day to break the news. Your future is very important to me, my dear child.”
Resian thought the concern in her father’s voice, rang false. She hesitated, but could not holdherself anymore. The anxiety was too great.
“Papaai, is it Yeiyo or Taiyo who spoke to you?” she asked sensationally, thinking she was stating the obvious. But seeing her father’s face cloud, she added quickly.
“Who between them spoke to you about our enrolment at the Egerton University?”
“What are you talking about, child? Her father, who seemed dumbfounded, asked after a long and uncomfortable silence.
“Both Yeiyo and Taiyo promised to talk to you about it, and I thought she had.”
“What, in the name of God are you talking about, child?” he repeated, this time agitated and shaking his head vigorously. “No, I have never spoken to anybody about any of you enrolling at the university. Never! When I said I wanted us to discuss your future, that isn’t what I meant at all. Of course not!” Resian looked at her father’s face enquiringly.
Questions
(i). Apprehensively
(ii). Sit a mile away
(iii). Hold herself
SAMPLE PAPER 3 ESSAYS 2020
EXAM 1
Either
(20 marks)
Or
Events and setbacks are signboards on the road to success. Using the book Blossoms of the Savannah, explain this statement.
Either
Abuse of children’s rights is prevalent in many societies. Using the anthology Memories, we Lost and other Stories, show how this is the case.
Or
We determine our future through our acts of omission or commission. Explain this statement using the book Inheritance.
Or
The scorpion sting eventually kills Coyotito. Explain this statement using the book The Pearl. (20 marks)
EXAM 2
Your relatives have organized a farewell party for you in preparation for your departure to the USA for further studies.
Write the speech that you will deliver on that day.
2) Drama (compulsory) (20 marks)
The past always catches up with the present, sometimes with some unintended consequences. Using the play, A Doll’s House, explain this statement.
3) Optional set texts
Either (20 marks)
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Using the stories in the anthology, Memories we Lost and other Stories, discuss this adage.
Or
Using the play, Inheritance, explain the saying: the mouth that eats the seeds asks what it will plant.
Or
The sea shapes the destiny of the Kino family. Discuss this statement using the book The Pearl. (20 marks)
EXAM 3
1) Imaginative composition (compulsory)
write a composition on: An attack by robbers in the night.
2) The Novel (compulsory) (20 marks)
Will power and determination always triumph over obstacles. Using character in the book Blossoms of the Savannah,
3) Optional set texts
Either
Desperation can breed faith and superstition in equal measures. Using the anthology, Memories we Lost and other Stories, discuss this assertion.
Or
Sovereignty is a homeless alien in the land of economic dependence. Using the play inheritance, explain this statement. (20 marks)
Or
Avarice is a cancer that kills both the victim and the perpetrators. Using the book, The Pearl, explain this statement.
EXAM 4
1) Imaginative composition (compulsory) (20 marks)
“I sat in the cold police cell desperately trying to author some lies Write a composition that starts with this statement.
2) Drama (compulsory)
Not every sacrifice is always worth making. Using the play, A Doll’s House, explain this statement.
3) Optional set texts
Either
Every cloud has a silver lining. Using the story Hitting Budapest in the anthology Memories we Lost and other Stories’ explain this saying.
Or
When the gods mean to punish you, they begin by taking away your sanity. Explain using the play, Inheritance.
Or
Describe the forces that stand in Kino’s way in his quest to improve his family’s living standards in The Pearl.
EXAM 5
1) Composition writing (compulsory)
2) The Novel (compulsory) (20 marks)
Using the book, The Blossoms of the Savannah, discuss how culture can be the glue holding a society together, but still a source of conflicts.
3) Optional set texts
Either
Mental sickness manifests itself in different people in different ways. Using the stories, The Umbrella Man and Memories we Lost in the anthology Memories we Lost and other Stories, explain this statement.
Or
Dictatorship is a form of misrule a society brings on itself. Using the play, Inheritance, explain this statement.
Or
Kino is a victim of his own character weaknesses. Discuss this statement using the book The Pearl.
EXAM 6
1) Imaginative composition (compulsory) (20 marks)
Write a composition that ends with the words: “Shortcuts are not always short”.
2) Drama (compulsory) (20 marks)
Villains are easier to save than those who consider themselves saintly. Using the play, A Doll’s House, explain this assertion.
3) Optional set texts
Either
We lose memories, but some come back to haunt us. Using the stories Memories, we Lost and My father’s head, explain this statement.
Or
Despair is a disease with many symptoms. Using the play, Inheritance, describe some of these symptoms.
Or
Describe how Juana’s personality helps to balance Kino’s impulsiveness in The Pearl. (20 marks
EXAM 7
1) Composition writing (compulsory)
Or
2) The Novel (compulsory)
Using the book Blossoms of the Savannah, describe how a people’s history influences their present.
3) Optional set texts Either
However big your mouth is, you cannot swallow a whole pumpkin. Using the stories How Much Land Does Man Need? and Stones Bounce on Water, explain this statement.
Or
It is fortunate that Menninger’s prediction of Sangoi’s future turns out to be so ironically wrong. Using the play, Inheritance, explain this statement.
Or
Hypocrisy and deception define the white race in the book The Pearl. Explain. (20 marks)
EXAM 8
1) Composition writing (compulsory)
Either
Or
2) Drama (compulsory)
The search for oneself is truly liberating. Using the play, A Doll’s House, discuss this statement.
3) Optional set texts
Either
Life is full of ironies and they take many forms. Using the stories Window Seat and How Much Land Does Man Need? explain this statement.
Or
Peace does not come but by the edge of a sword. Using the play, Inheritance, discuss this statement.
Or
Steinbeck’s description of the desert mirrors the hearts of men in the book The Pearl. Explain. (20 marks)
EXAM 9
1) Imaginative composition (compulsory)
Either
Or
2) The Novel (compulsory) (20 marks)
The love of money is the source of all evils. Using the book Blossoms of the Savannah, explain this statement.
3) Optional set texts
Either
Deaths can never be described as beneficial, but the death of Esteban, in the story the Handsomest Drowned Man in the World, turns out to be godsend. Explain.
Or
Independence was a mirage. The white man simply withdrew to the backroom from where he continues to run the show. Using the play, Inheritance, discuss this statement. Or
There is a song for every occasion, but not all the songs must be listened to, or sang. Using the book, The Pearl, explain.
EXAM 10
1) Imaginative composition (compulsory) (20 marks)
Write a composition ending with the following words: “1 am sure you would have done the same thing if it were you”. (20 marks)
2) Drama (compulsory)
Life is full of ironies. Using the play, A Doll’s House, discuss this statement.
3) Optional set texts
Either
Imagine that you are Sergeant Kivumbi. With reasons, name the main suspect in the murder of Winnie.
Or
Greed is a cancer that destroys the victim and the society. Explain this statement using the play Inheritance.
Or
Luck can be a tragic irony. Using the book, The Pearl, discuss this statement. (20 marks)
A – IMAGINATIVE COMPOSITION
challenged to begin a new life
Or
(a) Write a composition to illustrate the saying “Do not count your chicks before they are
hatched”
Or
(b) Write a story ending; “Since then my brother and I have been good friends”
Either
that moment………….
Or
Or
one step.”
(a) Write a composition ending:
…………….from that day, when ever I see him my heart is filled with bitterness. or
(b) Write a story to illustrate the proverb: ‘ Once bitten twice shy.’
He steadily walked towards me with a broad, warm smile, but as we shook hands, I realized he was avoiding eye contact…………….
Or
“Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.”
Either;
(a) Write a story to end with the following sentence:-
…………………If I had known, I would have thought twice before making that statement.
Or;
(b) Write a story to illustrate the following saying:-
You reap what you sow.
Or
(a) Write a composition ending:
…………….from that day, when ever I see him my heart is filled with bitterness. or
(b) Write a story to illustrate the proverb: ‘ Once bitten twice shy.’
I realized that I would never have a second chance in life
Or
“A tortoise may be slow but he seldom falls”
“It looked quite easy at first…………………….”
O r
Or
was a waiting us.
Or
(b) Write a composition on the measures that have been taken in your country to preserve forests
………………that experience taught me never to wish to be somebody else. (20mks)
Or:
hands in the pocket.” (20mks)
Or
(a)Write a composition showing that the strong do not always succeed.
Or
(b) Write a story ending with: I wish I had known earlier.
have tried at all’
Or
This was no ordinary day for a child orphaned by HIV and AIDS. Never before had the
future looked…………..
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