NAME OF STUDENT:_________________________________________________ CLASS:__________

NORTHERN EDUCATION DIVISION

2025 JUNIOR CERTIFICATE MOCK EXAMINATION

ENGLISH
Subject Number: J052/II

Tuesday, 8th April Time allowed: 1 h 45 min

2:00 am-3:45 pm

PAPER II
(50 marks)
Instructions
1. This paper contains 6 printed pages. Please check. Question Tick if Do not
number answered write in
2. Read instructions carefully before you begin to these
columns
answer the questions
1
3. Answer all questions in all the Sections. Write your

answers in the spaces provided.

2
4. When time is called to stop writing, hand in your
3
filled in question paper to your invigilator.

5. Write your name at the top of each answer sheet

4
6. In the table provided on this page, tick against the

question number you have answered.

NAME _________________________________________________ CLASS _________________
1. READING COMPREHENSION
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that
follow.
As soon as mother got us the new piece of land, we started planting the crops. The man who helped
mother get the land, came to plough our fields with his fine pair of oxen. We followed behind the
plough, dropping the seeds into the neat brown furrows and savouring the good smell of the oxen and
the newly turned earth. The seeds soon germinated, grew small and tender in the dew.

We usually arose early in the blue-grey dawn to the shouts of the plough boys and the bustle of yoking
the oxen. We walked across the glittering green, dew-laden grass to the fields. Our backs ached and the
sun burnt our feet, and the hoe-handle cut blisters on our hands. We drank thobwa, worked again, and
went home for a late breakfast.

We usually returned to the field late in the afternoon, when it became cool, to put in a few more hours
of work. Although schools had closed, after supper, I studied for an hour or two in the lamp light before
going to bed. The nights were short it seemed; just as I was settling into the comfortable sleep of the
early hours, dawn sent mother, hoe in hand, knocking on my door.

To break this routine of work and rest, I decided to go fishing on Thursdays and Sundays. I sat on the
bank of the stream pushing the slimy wriggling worms onto the hooks so the blood burst out and the
worms dangled helplessly to a drowned death as I threw the lines into the water. For hours, I sat
watching my corks for any promising ripples. But the fish did not bite. I would whip the lines out of the
water only to find the worms still dangling from the hooks without the slightest nimble from them.

By sunset, long after the worms had withered and broken into threads, I had still caught nothing. I
collected my things and hurried home in the dusk. There was no moon and the darkness fell quickly
that I strained my eyes to see the path. I found mother waiting for me anxiously at the village borehole.

“What are you doing at the stream after sunset, Limbani? Don’t you know you can drown? And
walking in the darkness too, don’t you know there are hyenas there? I’ll have to stop you from going to
the river if you continue like this. How much have you caught anyway?”

Twice more I failed to catch any fish. Each time I went to the river in high spirits, mother having
convinced me that it was the best weather for fishing. All day I sat quietly, watching the water, hoping
to catch some. A dirty old man in rags often fished beside me. I watched him enviously while he
hooked fish after fish from the stream. In the end, I felt that the stream was favouring the old man
because he was old, ragged and poor. Eventually, the old man asked me to show him one of my lines.
He adjusted the cork and gave me back the line.

Feverishly, I pushed a fresh worm onto the hook and threw the line into the water. Almost immediately,
the cork darted forward.

“Pull young boy!” The old man shouted to me.

I felt the weight on the hook and whipped the line out of the water and flew towards me, its silver skin
shining in the sun. It was only a small fish but big enough to make me wild with joy. I rushed to where
it flapped on the grass. I lifted it between my finger and thumb and danced with joy, while the old
man’s face broke into a pink, toothless smile.
Page 2 of 6
NAME _________________________________________________ CLASS _________________

I again adjusted and threw my hooks. I caught a lot of fish. I went home with a heavy tin and I was a
hero that evening. Mother could not believe I had caught them. She thought that the old man had given
them to me.
Questions
a. What was Limbani doing at the ploughed land with his mother?
______________________________________________________________________ (1
mark)
b. Why did Limbani start fishing?
______________________________________________________________________ (1
mark)
c. State one danger mother warned Limbani about?
______________________________________________________________________ (1
mark)
d. Explain what made Limbani fail to catch any fish.
________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________ (2
marks)
e. In what way did the old man finally help Limbani catch fish?
_____________________________________________________________________ (1
marks)
f. Give the meanings of each of the following words as used in the passage:
i. savouring ______________________________________________________ (1
mark)
ii. enviously ______________________________________________________ (1
mark)
iii. high spirits _____________________________________________________ (1
mark)
g. Explain any one character of each of the following :
i. the old man
__________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________ (2
marks)
ii. Limbani
__________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________ (2
marks)
h. Provide a suitable title for the passage.
______________________________________________________________________ (2
mark)
i. Summarise the first four paragraphs of the passage in your own words. Your
summary should be between 20 and 30 words.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________

Page 3 of 6
NAME _________________________________________________ CLASS _________________
________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________(5 marks)
2. Complete the blank spaces with one appropriate word. Each gap is worth
1 mark.
Any form ________ violence should be discouraged in the homes, schools and places of work. People
should be taught to avoid ____________ at all cost and it must start from an _________ age of
childhood. In the very past, people settled their differences ____________ fights, battles and wars.
________modern times, most families, workers _______ even nations settle their differences through
dialogue. This prevents violence __________ leads to loss of life and property. In schools as well,
teachers and students __________ advised to sit down together and discuss on any misunderstandings.
In this way, honour and respect is maintained. Love also prevails and children, men and ___________
seem a lot happier __________ they were in the past.

3. Read the following poem and answer questions that follow:

The Sound of Rain by Frederick N.J.

I just like the sound of the rain drops

Splattering on the roof tops
I love sniffing the fresh smell of wet earth
Wafting through the air into my dry nostrils
I love to stand by the window
And look at the rain drops
Hitting the ground splash, splash

I like to see the muddy rain water

Creating waterways on the muddy ground
Dragging debris towards gullies and water drains
I love listening to the sound of thunder,
As lightning opens up the pregnant skies
With flashes of blinding light.

It is the rainy season once again

I like looking at frogs jumping on the green grass
I love to see toads wading through the muddy waters
Indeed the rainy season is here
I love the sound of rain

Questions
a. Identify any repetition in the poem.

_____________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

b. What is the tone of the poem?

_____________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

c. Mention one animal that likes the rain in the poem.

_____________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
d. What two things is the muddy water doing in the poem?
Page 4 of 6
NAME _________________________________________________ CLASS _________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________ (2 marks)
e. Identify personification in the poem.
______________________________________________________________________(1 mark)
f. “I love listening to the sound of thunder” In what way is this line ironical?
___________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________ (2 marks)
g. Describe any one theme portrayed in the poem.
___________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________ (2 marks)

4. Read the story below and answer the questions that follow:

SHORT STORY

Coping in a World of Darkness

After losing her sight, her senses of smell, hearing and touch had to do the work of the eyes. She, for
example, could tell what kind of environment she was in at any given time through her sense of smell and
hearing. She could tell when she was approaching a city. The air, unlike that of the village, was polluted as
a result of fumes from the many cars and industries in cities.

These were things that other people took for granted. Tamandani, on the other hand, depended on them to
know her way around. Since the environment could not adapt to her situation, she had to adapt to it. She
took a lot of interest in nature.

By paying attention to how the wind blew, she could tell whether she was in a place with trees or not. In a
place without trees, wind tends to blow harder and more freely, as there are no barriers. However, wind is
more restricted in places with trees.

While at Hillview Secondary School, they were taught how to identify their clothes through smell. They
had to learn to identify their body odour. When getting their clothes from the lines, their only means of
identifying them was through body odour. She had also come to identify body odours of the people she
interacted with a lot. Through their odour or the type of perfume they liked wearing, she could correctly tell
when the person was close to her or not.

Tamandani could also recognise the people she was used to by the way they walked. This other day,
Chawezi and Martha wondered how Tamandani recognised them.

“You have quite contracting walking styles,” Tamandani replied with a smile. “Chawezi, you tap on the
ground, maybe due to the fact that you are an athlete.” They all laughed.

“Martha, your scrapping isn’t difficult to tell, you know?” Martha laughed loudly.

Most people discovered that Tamandani could amazingly do a lot of things. She could cook her favourite
meals and the one she liked preparing most, was nsima.

Another aspect that received a boom after Tamandani became blind was her memory. It was so amazing
how she had memorised all the telephone numbers she called frequently, both in Malawi and abroad. It was
interesting that Chawezi, in spite of being her guide, relied on her to give him certain numbers.

Page 5 of 6
NAME _________________________________________________ CLASS _________________
While she had been able to adapt to the environment she lived in, there were a few instances when the
environment adapted itself to suit her needs. She once had a cat that learnt the hard way to make way for
her.

Her poor cat learnt that she was special in her own way. Many were the times when she kicked or stepped
on him. She would also sit on him if he happened to be on the sofa.

When he could no longer cope with the harassment she subjected him to, the cat developed an early
warning system meant only for her. Whenever he saw her enter the room, he would let out a loud meaow,
which would warn her of his whereabouts, and she had to watch where she was stepping.

No one else at home was given such good treatment by cat. Thus, even if they had not seen her back from
her office, people would know that Tamandani had arrived.

(adapted from Excel and Succeed Book 1, but rearranged)

Questions

a. (i) Identify the geographical setting of the story.

__________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
(ii) Justify your answer in a. (i).
______________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)

b. How did Tamandani identify people? (give one way)

_________________________________________________________________________ (1 mark)
c. Mention any one thing that Tamandani was able to do that amazed a lot of
people?
_______________________________________________________________________(1 mark)
d. Explain any one character portrayed by each of the following:

i. Tamandani

________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________ (2Marks)

ii. Chawezi
_______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________ (2 marks)

e. Discuss any one theme in the story.

_____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________ (2 marks)
END OF QUESTION PAPER

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