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E,I{GLISH PRE,DICTION PAPER

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O Blue Print
 KCPE ENGLISH PREDICTION AREAS IN 2023.

The purpose of this document is to provide a framework and mans of illumination

to guide the revision of English in preparation of learners for the upcoming
national exams. It is important to understand that English as an international
language cannot depart from the required skills examined in many national
exams' Therefore, teachers should be keen to look at the previous KCPE
examination.

KEY AREAS I N GTOZE TEST AND GRAMMAR

lVlost candidats develop cold feet at the mention of a cloze test, yet this should
be one of the areas in English that they should erUoy and even find much easier.
When dealing with a broken passage, the following steps shduld be followed to
the letter because they provide a gateway to comprehension.

SteP 1: Candidates should read this passagejust Iike any other passges or
narrations and identify the theme on the topic under discussion.

Steo 2: After identifying the theme, the passge should then be read more
keenely while paying extreme attention to the following items;
- tenses
-
- adverbs
- cor!uctions
- determiners and articles
- adjectives
- vocabulary
- punctuation

Step 3: Now read the passage with the items selected for each blank and
E
read the passage afresh to ascertain the flow and the meaning.

Contextual clues should be used to tackle challenging questions

Note:
The following guideline presents critical areas that should be tackled well;

Page 2 o.f 32
i) Tenses
. Understanding the tense that has been used to develop passage is crucial
because'at times some of the test items may require the candidate to pick the
correct tense of a verb that correctly fills in the blank space in question. To do
this, it will be necessary that the learner establishes the tense agreement that
such may have.
. lt should bed pointed out that as learners prepare for their final examination,
a lot of focus should be centred especially on irregular verbs.
. Teachers are therefore advised to take candidates through a series of irregular
verbs.
. The following list of irregular verbs is important, but candidates should not be
limited to it.

Present Past Past oarticiole

hang hanged (person) hanged
hang hung (item) hung
Iie lay lain
Iie (cheat) lied Iied
Iay (egg) laid -laid
lay (table) laid laid
lay (foundation) laid laid
speed sped sped
wear wore worn
hurt hurt hurt
slay slen slain
spring sprang sprung
WEAVE WOVC WOVEN
tread trod trodden
wind wound wound
flee fled fled
bleed bled bled
kneel knelt knelt
bear bore borne
burst burst burst
broadcast broadcast broadcast
cast cast cast

Teachers should guide learners well on the use of participles

Puge 3 of 32
ii) The use of Gonjunction.

This lexical item has never missed in any exam, and it will definitely not miss
this year.
a Teachers are advised to teach the different types of co{uctions because any
can be tested. However, a lot of attention should be paid to the following
corliuctions:
- however
- moreover
- besides
- furthermore
- and
- but
-'because
- since
-as
- therefore

The teacher should classifiy these coqiuctions and clarify the use of each of
them to the candidates. Revision of KCPE past paers must be emphasized.

iii) The use of Question tags.

This item may appear either in the cloze test or in the grammar part, and
should not be neglected.
The following sentences should be used in the discussion on question tag.
Teachers are advised to give learners a lot of written exercises to ensure they
have a thorough mastery.

Examples;

a) We shall come early, shan't we?

b) The boys shouldn't be punished for lateness, should the?

c) He can be very helpful to us can't he?

d) lt may rain any time, mayn't l?

Page 5 of32
vi) Active and Passive Voice.

a Candidates should be told that the passivity of a sentence and its active
equivalence have the same meaning. lt is therefore important for teachers to
highlight this and put emphasis on it because candidates may be given such a
question but underlined and instructed to select an alternative from the given
choices which means the same.

Example;

Ghoose the sentence from the alternative given that means the same as the
underlined one.

The girl had eaten supper before the visitors arrived.

a) The girl was eating supper before the visitors arrived

b) Supper has been eaten before the visitors arrived

c) Supper had been eaten before the visitors arrived

d) Supper will be eaten before the visitors arrived

NOTE: Attention should be drawn to transition in tenses and teachers should

make it utterly clear.

vii) The use of Articles.

a Articlesjust like determiners are crucial in examination and particularly in

broken passages, and therefore teachers are advised to be alert and device
approaches and pedagotical tools that will make learners master these lexical
items.
Reference should be made to the previous KCPE question including last year's.

Puge 9 of 32
b) Would - ln case this item is tested, the candidate tras to keenly read through
the text in order to establish the line of thought being developed and the
Iinkage expected in order to give the required meaning. Candidates are
therefore advised to look for contextual clues that will point at 'would' as the
key. Employ allocation in the analysis by relating information within the text.

Itshould be understood that sometimes the sentence structure given

provides an important pointer at the required answer.

ln a conditional, for example, 'would' should be used

c) lVlust- This has been very common especially where an argument is presented
in a way that signals necessily or obligation in order to go for this item of
tested in our exam, it is important to look for contextual clues which connect
the various components of ideas in a text.

Note:
I strongly invite teacher to use the relevant materials and text and provide
learners with sufficient practice on the modal verbs below;
- shall
- should
- will
- would
-can
- could
- can
- may
- might
- must
- ought to

xi) Direct and lndirect sPeech

Just like itcame lastyear, this item could still betested in 2023.
Teachers are advised to teacher learners well.
Reference should be drawn to the previous KCPE exams especially from 2AO2.

Page 11 of32
xviii) Sums and quantities.

a Words that depict sums of money or quantities of lengths, weight etc are
singular and therefore take singular verbs.

Examoles

a) Two hundred shillings is enought to buy a kilo of sugar

-
b) Eighty kilometres is a long distance

c) lVleasles is a dangerous disease

Two subiects ioined bv'and'

Any two subject that consists of two or more nouns andjoined by the coqiunc-
tion 'and' take a plural verb unless they are considered as one.

Examole:

Bread and butter is eaten.

-
xix) Subjectsjoined by'or' or'nor'

When two nouns arejoined by 'or' or 'nor' the last subject determines the verb.

Examoles:

a) Either the boy or the girl is coming.

-
b) Either the boy or the girls are coming.

c) Neither the student nor the teacher has come.

d) Neither the teacher nor the students have come.

Page l5 of 32
Read the Passage below. lt eontains blank space numbered I - 15. For each
space choose the answer from the choices given.

lVlany experiences-1- life teach us to be _2_ about what and

whom we put trust in. I once visited a lady little dog literally _4_
the door when l- knocked. __5_- was tetting me in she said, ,,Don,t
she -3_
Joe, the dog doesn't bite. " As soon as I _7_, the dog bit riy hand.
-6-,
Needless to say, I _8_ learnt that I could not trust
_g_ lady,s word,
at least as far as her dog was concerned. She led me _10_ a chair. I sat
down that she 2- look at the wound, clean it and apologise.
-11- she did none of-1
these things. Instead she
-13-, -1 I -enthusiastically
about how beautiful the creture was. For once I wished ls deaf.

A. B. c. D.
1. of in with for
2. clever interested aware selective
3. who's of whom whose of which
4. invaded attached beat broke
5. as because although since
6. bother care worry mourn
7. entered in walked in arrived in showed in
8. suddenly really hastily quickly
9. this such a that
10. to in into at
11. wondering hoping wishing trusting
12. should could would must
13. [Vlorever Therefore Neverthless However
14. discussed talked stated argued
15. could be am would be were

Page l8 of32
 2S Themeel\nshasbeen sutst{ to a
J

alternative that means the opposite later date.

of the underlined word A. cancelled
B. extinguished
16. The lazy pupil was punished for C. postponed
- making noise in the class. D. brought forward
A. idle
B. industrioous For ouestions 21 and 22, choose the
C. clever alternative tht best completes the
D. ambitions statement

17 - The vouno bov accidentallv killed

J J J_
21. Let us entertain the guests, _?
the cat. - A. can't we
A. intentionally B. should we
B. carefully C. shan't we
C. carelessly D. shall we
D. mercilessly
22, Please shut the door, ?
18. She looked fashionable in her new A. will you
dress. B, can you
A. bright C. won't you
B. outdated D. mayn't you
C. wonderful
D. stylish For questions 23, choose the sentence
that means the same as the one
For ouetions 19 and 20, choose the underlined
alternative that means the same as
the underlined expression 23.
- I realised I had forootten mv
19. lt is very difficult to bring up book at schbol.
- many children in urban areas.
A. educate
B. feed
C. afford
D. raise

Page 19 of 32
 A. lmmediately I arrived home, I For question 26, arrange the given
realised I had forgotten my sentences to form a sensible
book at school. oaraoraoh.
l_

B. Just before I reached home, I

found my book at school. 26. i) N/ost young peopte think rhat
C. After I left school, I realised I adults are ignorant and old
had forgotten my book at fashioned
school. ii) They do not understand why
D. After I reached home, I adults keep insisting on
realised I had forgotten my certain things
book at school iii) Somehow they assume they
know better than anyone else
iv) They cannot appreciate the
cofrirct word to complGte the benefits they cdn derive from
sentence. education until it is too late

24. If he travelled by air, he _ A l, ll, lv, lll

take a short time. B iii, iv, ii, i

A. should C i, ii, iii, iv

B. must D i, iii, iv, ii
C. could
D. would

25. lt was not until he explained to

me I understood why
he was late
A. when
B. than
C. that
D. and

Page 20 of32
 K.C.P.E ENGLISH PREDICTION PAPER

Read the Fassage below. lt contains blank spaces numbered I to 15. For
each blank space, choose the BEST alternative from the choices given.

tVlany iIuries and illnesses respond well to treatment given at home Positive
results _1_ be achieved by applying low or high temperatures on a particular
part of the body. One of the ways of doing this is-3- use of cold
or hot water. Using water and items found in most homes, many
-2-
of treatment can be carried out quite -[-forms
The _6_ the body changes the blood supply in that
of heat and cold to -5-.
area. Heat _7_ the smaller blood vessels and increases blood supply,
_8_ cold constricts the smaller blood vessels and reduces blood supply.
Cold, for instance, is very good in the treatment of soft tissue' 9 such as
a sprained ankle. lVloreover, water is _10 emergency treatment for bums.
One is _1 1_ to immerse the burnt part in cold water. This relieves pain and
controls further damage but must not take the place of --lz- controlled medical
care, which must be sought at the earliest possible _13-. Home treatments
are readily available and effective. However, are for
immediate ---15-
first aid only and should not replace medical expertise.
-14--_,
1, A. can B. will C. might D shal I

2. A. nicest B. fittest C. finest D best

3. A. through B.by C. in D over
4. A. important B. easy C. simple D useful
5. A. expertly B. effectively C. smoothly D naturally
6. A. application B. iqjection C. usage D presentation
7. A. clears B. narrows C. strengthens D widens
8. A. as B. since C. while D although
9. A. wounds B. iqjuries C. swellings D disorders
10. A. an B. some C. the D no
11. A. required B. expected C. instructed D supposed
12. A. completely B. perfectly C. carefully D thoroughly
13. A. period B. time C. instructed D moment
14. A. free B. preferable C. cheap D systematic
15. A. they B. these C, some D most

Page 2l of32
 A.(i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
B. (iii), (i), (iv), (ii)
as the underlined expression. C, (iii), (iv), (ii), (i)
D.(i), (ii), (iv), (iii)
16. The boys were told that the trip
had been put off. 20 (i) The teams had put in a lot of
A. delayed effor preparing for the
B. cancelled match
C. stopped (ii) The two teams had a big
D. postponed following
(iii) Eventually, it is the home
17. The teacher advised us to g0 team that won
over our work. (iv) The final match was to be
A. study played on Saturday.
B. read
C. review A. (iv), (iii), (ii), (i)
D. correct B.(i), (iv), (ii), (iii)
c.(i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
18. She tried very hard to bring up D. (iv), (ii), (i), (iii)
her children well.
A. raise For questions 21 and 22, select the
B. educate
C. feed sDaces.
D. advise
21 The two thieves shared the
-
For questions 19 and 20, choose the money themselves.
A. for
B. between
19. (i) lf you have bad friends, your C. among
life will be miserable, D. beside
(ii) lt is therefore important to
choose friends wisely. 22. lt was cold that we all
(iii) The way we relate with other started to freeze
people determines our A. so
happiness. B. too
(iv) That means you need to C. very
associate with good people. D. really

Page 22 of32
Read the information below and use A. John
it to answer ouestions 23 to 25. B. Jacob
C, Roseline
Five pupils of Bidii Primary School D. Joyce
went to the supermarket to buy snacks
and drinks. John and Roseline bought 24. Which of the following sets of
a cake and a packet of milk each. Joyce items did Jeremiah buy?
too bought a packet of milk but she A. mangojuice, groundnuts,
didn't like the cakes. She bought biscuits
biscuits instead, which Roseline too B. cake, milk, simsim
bought. Jeremiah and Jacob bought a C. mangojuice, mineral water,
packet of mangojuice and groundnuts groundnuts
each. Jacob bought a bottle of mineral D. mangojuice, groundnuts,
water. Joyce, John and Jeremiah simsim
bought simsim.
25. Which two pupils bought both
23. Which of these pupils did not milk and simsim?
buy any of the following: A. Joyce and Jacob
mangoju ice, groundnuts, B. John and Joyce
mineral water and simsim. C. John and Roseline
D. Joyce and Jeremiah

Read the passage below and then answer questions 26 to 38.

t had never felt so nervous in my life. As I stood outside the hall waiting for
my turn to go on stage and recite my poem, discouraging thoughts crossed my
mind. I had been told that it was extremely difficult to win. at this level of the
competition. t had heard that adjudicators usually favoured participants from
schools with a history of winning, and that it was almost impossible for a first-
timer like me to emerge victorious. lndeed, it was rumoured that if thejudge did
not know you or your school, you stood little chance of winning.
Now here I was. Neither my school nor I had taken part in the festival
before. I was representing my county in this competition, whose winner would
proceed to the national level. N/ly poem was entitled "Conquer the [Vlonster". lt
was about the evils of corruption and favouritism.
" All those waiting to recite poems should now line up outside the entrance
to the stage, " came the emcee's voice over the loudspeaker. " I f you fail to appear
When your name is called, you will have yourself to blame." pase 23 of 32
 lVtr' Gali, my teacher, came to me, held me by the hand and led me to the
entrance where ljoined the queue, There were only three people in front of me.
" .'. Ano thereafter, Lydia shall present her poem 'Conquer the [V{onster'."
When I heard my name I almost fainted. I felt weak in the knees, my eyes felt
moist and then all of a sudden, I wanted to use the toilet I lookeO uiornd and
saw a block of toilets nearby labelled "Staff Only." Luckily, the toilets were not
locked.
No sooner vvas I inside one of the toilets than I heard the emcee announce
that there was going to be a short break. euick thinking told me that some staff
members were likely to visit these toilets. Determined not to be found out, I
firmly locked the door of the toilet in which I was. And sure enough, I soon heard
two men talking as they approached the toilets.
" l wonder what is happening in this festival,' one of them said.
"Sure," said the other "l am yet to see a confident performer since the
festival began. ! n fact, I have never aQjudicated at a more boring festival. " What?
So these were the aQjudicators! I now listened to them more keenly, "N/lost of the
performers appear to lack confidence and are unsure of their lines," continued
the second man. That was music to my ears. All the nervousness melted away in
a second. To my relief, these people did not stay in the toilets for long. As soon as
they had left, I opened the door, rushed out and resumed my position on the
queue. When I went on stage, I recited my poem as if my life depended on it.
Needless to say, I got the first position.

26. Why was the writer feeling 27. What had the writer been told
nervous? about aQjudicators?
A. She was eager to recite her A. They hated boring performers
poem B. They preferred past winners
B. She was not sure of herself C. They knew most performers
C. Her turn to perform was yet D. They were usually bribed
to come
D. Her thoughts made her feel 28. Which of the following is not true
discouraged about this festival?
A. Performers represented their
counties
B. Thejudges were fair
C. lt was very entertaining
D. There were new peformers

Page 24 of32
29 Despite being a student, the 32. The statement " I wonder what
writer went to the staff toilets is happening, in this festival,"
because can also he written as
A. the toilets were the nearest A. He wondered what is
B. she was preparing to go on happening in this festival
stage B. He wondered what is
C. thetoilets were not locked happening in that festival
D. there'were no other toilets C. He wondered what was
available happening in that festival.
D. He wondered what was
30 As soon as the writer was inside happening in this festival.
the toilets,
A. the aQjudicators had a 33 According to the second man,
discussion A. most performers were absent-
B. the emcee made an minded,
announcement. B. most performers had little
C. the festival stopped briefly confidence.
D. the aQjudicators took a short C. all performers were weak and
break confused.
D. all performers showed lack of
31 , Why did the writer firmly lock the boldness.
door of the toilet?
A. She did not want to be found 34 From their conversation, we can
in the staff toilets tell that the aQjudicators
C. She wanted to hear what the A. were interested in exciting
adjudicators would say performers
C. She wanted to rehearse her B. were planning to favour some
lines as required performers
D. She did not want anyone to C. did not know what was
disrupt her privacy happening
D. had never seen interesting
performances

Page 25 of32
 35. The expression "That was music 37 The writer probably got the
to my ears" means that the writer first position because
A. was pleased to hear that A. her poem was the most
B. felt entertained by that relevant
C. got everything very clearly B, her life depended on her
D. heard a familiar song performance
C. she had been favoured by the
36. The expression 'melted away' as aQjudicators
used in the passage can be D. she knew what the
replaced by all the following aQjudicators wanted
except
A. evaporated 38. What lesson do we leam from
B. decreased the passage?
C. disappeared A. Practice makes-perfect
D. vanished B. We should listen to advice
C. Confidence is key to success
D. Competition is healthy

Read the passage below and then answer questions 3g to 50.

The quality of the life you lead depends on a number of things. First among
them is your attitude; this is, the way you think and feel about something or
somebody' Secondly, the way you spend your time will determine whether you
will succeed or fail. Working hard, making sensible decisions and relating well
with other people also contribute to a fulfilling life.
ln addition to that we have mentioned above, the way we view the past, the
present and the future, significantly influences our lives. There are many people
who keep wishing they would go back to "the good old days. " There is even a song
that says:
Backward, turn backward,
O time in your flightl
lVlake me a child again Just for tonight!
Remember that even though you may have had wonderful times in the past,
those days are gone and you should move on. Be thankful for the good memories
but concentrate on what you are doing now. of course it would be exciting to
remain a child forever. Children have few worries and hardly any responsibilities,
but desiring to be a child permanently is wishful thinking.

Page 26 of32
 So, forget the past but leam lessons from it that can make the present
better for yourself and those around you. Value the time and the opportunities
you have today. Let us engage in activities that promote peace and harmony.
There is so much suspicion and misunderstanding among people that those who
show tolerance and love toward others are like a breath of fresh air. The present
is what we have control of. Let us make the most of it.
Hosrever , q\en as-\\q e$$oy \t(e today , we shoutd not forget that there is a
future. lf you'study well and pass your examinations, you will qualify to pursue
higher studies. But if all you care about is nonstop fun. you should exp.ect to shed
some tears later. Do not live only for the moment lmagine a family man who
thinks of nothing but "having a good time." When he receives his pay, his first
stop is the local bar. Obviously his family will be miserable. There may be no
money for rent, food, medical bills or school fees.
As you go through each day, never forget that the choices you make have
consequences. Be careful about what you say, what you do and who you associate
with. Plan for the future and do everything to become the best that you are
capable of becoming.
Finally, do not be too worried about me future. lVlany people do not eryoy
themselves because they are anxious about the future. They do not appreciate a
good meal or the marvels of nature, They are pre-occupied with tears about
tomorrow: What if my head begins growing smaller? What if blue hairs grow- on
my; chest? What if ...?
Not long ago, a group of people imagined that there would be a terrible
famine in the land. Do you know what they did? They spent most of their time
storing food in a cave on the side of a mountain. Then, one day there was an
earthquake and the mountain shook and the cave collapsed, swallowing up all
the food they had scored. Let us not worry about the future. In fact, the future is
a result of what we are doing todaY.

Page 27 of j2
45 Which of the following statements 48. What should we do instead of
is not true about those who work worryi ng about tomorrow?
hard and think about the future? A, Work hard and plan for a good
A. They succeed in what they do. future
B. They spend their time wisely. B. Concentrate on what we are
C. They never regret their doing today
actions. C. Appreciate the good things
D. They make their families we have
suffer. D. Believe that tomorrow will be
good
46. Why do you think the expression
"having a good time" is put in 49. The writer gives examples of
quotation marks? things that some people worry
A. What looks like a good time has about to show that
no benefits. A. worrying is always a waste of
B. lt is a saying that many time,
people normally use. . B, some worries are unreasonable.
C. It makes it easier for someone C. even hard work can be a result
to notice the words. of fear.
D. What a drunkard thinks or D. worrying can keep us quite
feels is often wrong. busy.

47. We should be careful about the 50 Which of the following statements

choices we make today because BEST summarizes the passage?
A. it is always wise to choose A. Working hard and relating well
carefully. with people can make us happy.
B. we may never get a chance to B. Learning from the past and
change. accepting the present are key
C. they influence what happens to a good life.
to us later. C. Doing your best to improve
D. one can suffer because of a bad yourself will give you success
decision. and happiness.
D. lVlaking wise choices and
planning for the future will
lead to success.

Page 29 of32
i
I
 A LESSON LEARNT THE HARD WAY

floor.

f
rriv
ra
t
r
fi n

r n.L
di.l I knnrnr ho fata thet arruaitacl a thet dav

Puge 3I of32
whispered to me.
"You Ar e fired. "
I'

chanting. Fired!' Fired!'

ft
market.

Page 32 of32