FORM 2 ENGLISH
2025 OPENER EXAM TERM 3
Time: 2 ½ hrs
Name------------------------------------------------------------Adm No: -----------------Class----------------
INSTRUCTIONS
(a) Write your name and admission number in the spaces provided.
(b) Answer all the questions in this question paper.
(c) All your answers must be written in the spaces provided.
(d) All the answers must be written in English.
FOR EXAMINER USE ONLY.
QUESTION MAXIMUM SCORE STUDENT’S SCORE
1: Functional Writing 20
2 : Cloze text 10
3: Comprehension 15
4 : Oral Skills 20
5 : Oral Narrative 15
6 : Grammar 20
TOTAL
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1. FUNCTIONAL WRITING (20 MKS)
You have just closed the school for the November/December holidays. You see an advertisement in
one of the local daily newspapers. The Nairobi Library is set to recruit young people aged 17 years and
below for vocational job. The interested applicants should be 15 years and above and must be
conversant with book keeping. The applicants should also provide his/her academic achievements and
responsibilities held in school.
Write to the library manager applying for the advertised job.
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2. CLOZE TEST
Fill in each of the blank spaces in the passage below with the most appropriate word. (10
marks)
Some working parents in our country today are bringing up latch-key children. 1 …………… are
children who are left alone at home when their parents go to work especially 2.......................the
holidays. The children usually do not have anyone to supervise 3……….. they spend their time. Many
of these children 4.............. lonely and neglected. To solve the 5………………of latch-key children,
care centers should be set 6…………….at community centers in the near 7………….. Both working
couples and single parents can 8 ………………………. their children enrolled at these centers 9……
a fee. Instead of hiring maids to look after their children, many parents would prefer to leave
10………….. children at these centers because children at these centers would be well supervised.
3. COMPREHENSION
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
Drugs are widely available, and although it is illegal, many adolescents are involved in the use of illicit
drugs. Adolescent drug is one of the most important problems facing children today, according to
recent opinion polls.
This is not the first time, however, that drug use has been seen as a serious problem. Since out for
prohibition, opium, cocaine and marijuana have all been objects of anti-drug campaigns.
While the use of crack by inner city delinquent continue so make headlines in the nation's
newspapers, surveys constantly indicate that adolescent drug use in general is declining. However,
even though their usage has declined, alcohol and cigarettes remain the overwhelming drugs of choice
among youths in the United States today.
Sociological theories suggest that the causes of adolescents' drug use are varied. Strain theory posits
that drug use is the result of a youth's failure to make it in either the legitimate or illegitimate world.
Social learning theory argues that adolescents learn to use drugs from peers, much as they learn from
other forms of social behaviour from each other. According to social control theory, the weakening of
social control allows an adolescent to become involved with drugs.
How should society respond to adolescent drug use? The punitive response involves hiring more
police, building more prisons, and creating more severe sentences. This approach has encouraged the
creation of military-style boot camps, suspension of driver's licenses, suspension from school, eviction
from public housing, and drug testing in schools, and prevention and treatment, response have become
very popular.
Unfortunately, few schools-based education and prevention programmes appear to work, and
treatment programmes that are effective are unable to meet the growing number of clients.
Decriminalization or legalization of drugs raises many questions. Should all drugs be made legal,
subject to regulation, or should only certain drugs be legalized?
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Finally, attempts to change the lives and environments of children assume that drug use only a facet of
a larger, more complex milieu of social problems facing today's youths. Poverty, unemployment,
homelessness, abuse and lack of hope creates an environment in which drug use, as well as other
forms of delinquency, is likely to occur.
But possible solutions to the larger problems may actually be within our reach. Among programmes
found to be effective are those that provide preschool education, prevent teenage pregnancy and
strengthen the family.
QUESTIONS
1. What is the main problem facing the children today? (2mks)
2. Give the causes of drug use among the youth according to the sociological theories. (2mks)
3. What are the three ways in which a society can respond to adolescent drug use? (3mks)
4. Apart from drug abuse, give other social problems mentioned in the passage faced by the
youth. (2mks)
5. Make notes on reasons why punitive response is a bad approach of eradicating adolescent drug
use. (3mks)
6. Give the meaning of the following words as used in the passage. (3mks)
(a) Delinquents
(b) Decriminalization
(c) Punitive
Page 5 of 10
4. ORAL SKILLS
Henry King
The Chief Defect of Henry King
Was chewing little bits of string
At last he swallowed some which tied
Itself in ugly knots inside
Physicians of the utmost Fame
Were called at once; but when they came
They answered, as they took their fees
"There is no cure for this disease.
Henry will soon pass away."
His parent stood about his bed anyway
Lamenting his ultimate death
When Henry with his Latest Breath
Cried, 'Oh, my friends, be warned by me
That Breakfast, Dinner, lunch and tea
Are all the Human frame requires.'
With that the wretched Child expires.
QUESTIONS
A.(i) Describe the rhyme scheme of the poem above. (2mks)
(ii)Apart from rhyme, identify any other sound device used in this poem. (2mks)
(iii) How would you say the last line and why? (2mks)
B. Indicate the intonation you would use in the following sentences. (3mks)
(i) Have you completed the assignment?...........................................
(ii)Who do you think you are?........................................
(iii)Mwaswere has been working very hard. ………………………….
C. Give a word that has the same pronunciation with each of the following words. (4mks)
(i)Bear
(ii)Die
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(iii)Hire
(iv) Write
D. Underline the silent letters in the following words. (3mks)
(i) Doubt
(ii)Biscuit
(iii)Succumb
E. Your friend has been invited for an interview. What would you advice him to do before the
interview. (2mks)
F.You are the secretary of Amani secondary school. Mr.Patni Shal from Bidco Company called and
wanted to speak to the principal who unfortunately is absent. Write down the telephone message you
will give to the principal. (2mks)
5. ORAL LITERATURE
Read the narrative below and answer the questions that follow. (20 marks)
At the beginning of creation, Mwene Nyaga, Ngai, the creator and provider for all mankind called one
of his servants Gikuyu. He said to him, "My son Gikuyu, I am going to give you your share of land.
The land I am going to give you is full of ravines, rivers, valleys, forests and plenty of game for you to
hunt for your food. The land is fertile and your children’s children will never go hungry if you till it
well.
Gikuyu stood still with disbelief. Mwene Nyaga saw Gikuyu’s hesitation. He took him to his residence
on top of the mountain of mystery, “Kirinyaga” where He resided from here, he commanded a good
view of all the lands. He therefore, wanted Gikuyu to see for himself all the land he had been given.
He showed him all the land and its beauty. He said, “My son, all this is yours”. Then he sat back and
watched Gikuyu’s happiness as he moved from place to place trying to locate the boundaries to his
land. But no matter how hard he looked, his land seems to roll for miles and miles. Having inspected
the panorama of his land, he quickly composed himself and ran to Mwene Nyaga’s feet and cried with
happiness thanking Him for the great gift. He was sure that would be happy ever after. But then, he
felt a kind of loneliness and his happiness subsided. What would he do with all that land all by
himself. Mwene Nyaga knew what was going on in Gikuyu’s mind. As he was leaving, Mwene Nyaga
called him back and pointed to him a spot far, far off in the middle place, “Mukurwe wa
Nyagathanga”. Whenever Gikuyu was in need of Mwene Nyaga’s help in whatever way, he should
offer sacrifice to Him at the fig tree. He should raise his hands towards Kirinyaga, Mwene Nyaga’s
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residence, and state all his problems. Mwene Nyaga will definitely see him and come to his rescue. He
also told him that he and given him a present, the most precious present in his life and that he would
get the present on his arrival home, his new home.
Gikuyu thanked Mwene Nyaga and being unable to contain his curiosity any longer, he hurried
straight to Mukurwe wa Nyagathanga. To his surprise, seated there was a young beautiful woman
whom he called Mumbi (Moulder or creator) They lived together as man and his wife and were
blessed with nine daughters but no sons. The daughters were: Wachera, Wanjiku, Wairimu, Wambui,
Wangari, Wanjiru, Wangui, Mwithaga and Waithera. Gikuyu needed in heir and his not having son
disturbed him. He then remembered Mwene Nyaga's advice, “I’ll come to your rescue”.
He organized sacrifice at the Makuyu tree. He slaughtered a ram and a kid from his flock and poured
their blood and fat on the trunk of a sacred tree. He went to his house and called Mumbi and their
daughters. They roasted some meat and offered it to Mwene Nyaga. They raised their hands towards
Kirinyaga and prayed, "Thaai thathaiya Ngai thaai………” He later left and went home.
Mwene Nyaga quickly answered Gikuyu's prayers. On the following morning, Gikuyu went to the
sacred tree and he couldn't believe his eyes when he found seated near the tree, nine strong young
men. He was overcome with joy and he looked up to the mountain and thanked Mwene Nyaga, his
benefactor. He welcomed the nine young men and he took them to his home where he introduced them
to his wife and daughters. Food was cooked for them and after bathing and eating they went to sleep.
The next morning, the nine men woke up early in the morning having had a good night's sleep. After
the morning meal, Gikuyu called them outside to discuss marriage. He told them they would marry his
daughters on one condition: they had to live with them in his land. By this time, the men had already
made their choices. They were so fascinated by the daughters’ beauty and the father's kindness that
they agreed to his proposal. Gikuyu and Mumbi were overjoyed for they now had sons to inherit their
vast lands. The daughters, on the other hand had already started to show their preference of the men.
They were also happy when the men agreed to their father's wish for they knew they now had men to
protect them and give them company.
Gikuyu did not wait long before making arrangements for his daughters' wedding according to the
Gikuyu customary laws. He did not ask for bride wealth from the young men for he knew they did not
have any and in actual fact they were a blessing to him. The daughters got married to the young men
and they started nine different families. They were, however, united under one name"Mbari ya
Mumbi" which means Mumbi's family group. This was in honour of their mother Mumbi.
Gikuyu and Mumbi were the heads of "Mbari ya Mumbi" and the nine families remained under them.
They are the mother and father of the Gikuyu people.As the years passed, Gikuyu and Mumbi become
older and older and eventually they died. Before they died, Gikuyu called all his daughters and their
husbands. He told them, "My children, can see, your mother and I are about to leave you but before we
go, we would like to leave you with these words. All the land and whatever else we posses is yours.
Divide is equally among yourselves.
Remember that one finger cannot kill a louse”.
With these words, Kikuyu and Mumbi breathed their last breath.
The nine families continued to live together but the number of their children and grandchildren were
increasing. They become so many that it was impossible for the families to live together anymore.
They called a meeting where they resolved that each family should call together all its children and
grandchildren and live together as one clan ( muhiriga). The clans were to be called after the nine
daughters of Gikuyu and Mumbi. This decision is the basis of the nine principal Gikuyu clans. They
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are Acheera, Agachiku, Airimo (or Agathigia), Ambui. Angari, Anjiru, Ethaga and Aitherendo. The
nine clans lived in Gikuyu’s land but they occupied different parts of it.
QUESTIONS
(a) Giving reasons, classify the above oral narrative (2mks)
(b) Why did Gikuyu receive his gift with mixed feelings (2mks)
(c) Identify and illustrate two oral features of oral narrative evident in the story. (4mks)
(d) Identify and illustrate one character trait of Mwene Nyaga (2mks)
(e) What did Mwene Nyaga advise Gikuyu to do whenever he was in need of help? (1mks)
(f) Identify the social activities in the community the story is derived from. (2mks)
(g) Give two characteristics of the above oral narrative. (2mks)
6.GRAMMAR
A. Rewrite the following sentences as instructed. Do not change the meaning.(4mks)
(i) Someone saw Kirimi leaving the plane in Khartown. (Rewrite in passive voice)
(ii) The teacher talked to the students (Provide a question tag)
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(iii) We slept soundly.The drum beat all night (Begin: Inspite of ------)
(iv) “Please clear this bill for me,” John requested her.(Rewrite in reported speech)
B. Use the correct order of adjectives provided in brackets to complete the given sentences.(4mks)
(i) I enjoyed carrying my -------------------------------box every time we opened and closed
school (metallic,heavy,rectangular)
(ii) Magoha married an --------------------------woman (intelligent,American,young, brown)
(iii) Please buy me a reasonably-----------------------umbrella.(big,cheap,purple)
(iv) She had bought a -------------------------dress(red,small,cotton)
C. Choose the correct pronoun to fill in the blanks.(4mks)
(i) We are meeting Mutinda and ---------------------(she,her) here.
(ii) There is not much difference between you and -----------------(he,him)
(iii) The officer wanted to see Jane and ----------------------(we,us)
(iv) We have a lot of faith in -----------------------(she,her)
D. Fill in the appropriate preposition (4mks)
(i) The salary has been increased ---------------twenty per cent.
(ii) The market is quite near. We can get there --------------foot.
(iii) He is accused of hitting her friend---------------------a stick.
(iv) He is good ----------------mathematics.
E. Fill with the following blank spaces with the right article. (4mks)
(i) There isn’t ------------------airport where I live.
(ii) Wamalwa works for ----------------------European airline.
(iii) It is ---------------------------honour to meet you.
(iv) All new boys must sit ----------------entry examination.
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