NAME: …………………………………………… ADM NO: ……………………….

SCHOOL: …………………… DATE: ……………... STREAM: …………………..

101/1
ENGLISH
Functional Skills
2 hours

ALUOR-AMBIRA JOINT EVALUATION TEST.

Form Three Head-start Examination Trial May 2024.
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (K.C.S.E.)

Instructions to candidates:

a) Write your name, school and index number in the spaces provided.
b) Sign and write the date of exam in the spaces provided.
c) Answer all the questions in this paper.
d) All your answers must be written in the spaces provided.
e) This paper consists 7 printed pages, candidate to should check to ascertain all pages are
printed as indicated

For examiner’s use only:

S/N Question Maximum Score Candidate’s Score
1 Functional Writing 20
2 Cloze Test 10
3 Oral Skills 30

Total

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 1. FUNCTIONAL WRITING (20 Marks)
As a qualified teacher of Mathematics and Chemistry, you have been looking for a greener pasture and
come across the advertisement below:

VACANCY!!
a) Relevant degree from a recognized institution
b) Two years’ experience
c) Age: 26-35
d) Willing to work for longer hours
e) Participation in any co-curricular activity will be an added advantage

Write a letter in response to the advertisement through the following address:

THE DIRECTOR,
BLOOMINGTON ACADEMY,
P.O BOX 24987,
THIKA.
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 2. Cloze Test (10 Marks)
Fill in the gaps with the most appropriate word.
The full use of information communication techniques (ICTs) in the schools will (i)
………………………. changes in education that will ultimately reshape not (ii)…………….
how a class is run, but also the notion of what a school is and how it is structured. Today, almost
everyone is concerned (iii)…………….………… improving school performance. In the 21 st
century the world acknowledges that computers will be fundamental to the future of education.
In taking on subjects that may, for example, require comparing Osaka, Japan to Kisumu, Kenya,
or learning about earthquakes, the use of ICTs is (iv) …………...... appropriate, that may sound
to (v)…………………... people highly futuristic, but it is possible today. There is little question
that computer-oriented classes will have a more interesting (vi)………………… to education
than teaching style. Using ICTs, the students will be (vii)………………………... involved and
will learn more than if a teacher stood in front of them, talking. (viii).………………… the use of
technology in the classroom has (ix)………………... own demands, it does not tax the teacher
heavily as traditional teaching. Consequently, computerization would (x)………………. teachers
of the numerous burdensome and mandate teaching.

3. ORAL SKILLS (30 Marks)

a. Read the poem below then answer the questions that follow:
Sonnet 71
No longer mourn for me when I am dead
Than you shall bear the surly sullen bell
Giving warning to the world that I am fed
From the vile world, with vilest worms to dwell
Nay, if you read this line, remember me not
The hand that write it. For I love you so
That I in your sweet thought would be forgotten
If thinking on me then should make you woe.
O, if I say, you should look upon this verse
When I perhaps, compounded I am with clay
Do not so much as my poor name rehearse
But let your love even with my life decay
Lest the wise world should look into your moan
And mock you with me after I am gone
(William Shakespeare)

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 i. Describe the rhyme scheme of this poem. (2 Marks)
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ii. Using examples, explain how rhythm has been achieved in this poem. (4 Marks)
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iii. Which words would you stress in line one and why? (2 marks)
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iv. How would you say the bolded line in the poem? (2 marks)

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b. Provide two other words pronounced as the ones given below. (3 marks)
(i) Pour …………………………………., …………………………………
(ii) Sword ………………………………..., …………………………………
(iii) Meet …………………………………, ………………………………….
c. Pick the odd one out according to the pronunciation of the underlined vowels below.
(4
marks)
i. Peasant Weapon Meaning
ii. Shepherd Enough Fairly
iii. Rapport Depot Report
iv. Chassis Cheddar Chic

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 d. Your classmate Petty, has been invited to talk to candidates in your class on the effects of
drugs. While on stage, she stares blankly to the amazement of the audience. Explain four
things that may have led to this. (4 Marks)

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e. Read the conversation below between two students from Masomo School and then
answer the questions that follow:
WAKONYO: (Shortly after attending an English symposium) Good morning, Kebu. How are
you fairing on with your academic work?
KEBU: Good morning, I don’t even wish to talk about my performance. I din’t get the score I
had promised.
WAKONYO: Come on, Kebu, you are taking your failure too much to heart. I know it is a great
disappointment to score a grade below what you expected in the pre-mocks and I sympathize
with you but you must not allow it to make you so unhappy.
KEBU: (Looks sullen) it is all very well for a lucky lass like you, Wakonyo. You have passed
and you would not feel cheerful if you were in my place.
WAKONYO: (Leaning forward) I know, but you must pull yourself together, and wake your
mind up. You will pass next time. Remember the old saying, “if at first you don’t succeed, try,
try, try again!
KEBU: I think the other version of the saying has more sense to it. “If at first you don’t succeed,
quit, quit, quit at once!
WAKONYO: (Nodding her head encouragingly) Mmm…
KEBU: I should just give up
WAKONYO: Oh nonsense! You’ll never do anything if you don’t persevere. Now why do you
think you failed?

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 (i) Explain any three good conversational skills shown by Wakonyo. (6 marks)
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(ii) Although interrupting a speaker is often taken to be impolite, there are times when
such interruption would be welcome. Cite three such instances (3
marks)
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