PBPAGEZ MOCK QUESTIONS

ENGLISH LANGUAGE
PAPER 2: ESSAY
PARTA: ESSAY WRITING [30 marks]
Answer one question only from this part.
Your composition should be about 250 words long.

1. Write a letter to the Editor for publication in a national newspaper about the high rate of
unemployment among school leavers in the country and suggest at least three ways of remedying the
situation.

2. Write a short story to illustrate the saying that, “in unity lies strength.”

3. You have just been promoted to the final year class. Write a letter to your friend in another school
about your personal preparations towards the Basic Education Certificate Examinations.

PART B – COMPREHENSION
[30 marks]
2. Read the following passage carefully and answer all the questions that follow.

When Manu dashed into the house with rainwater soaked down his body with his farm help, Suley,
marching after him, the first place he glanced towards was the kitchen. He expected to see his wife and
daughter but they were not there. He looked round and saw that the pepper his wife must have left drying
in the weak sun was now drenched with water. He bent down and lifted the basket and its contents into the
kitchen. Suley, who was on his way to his room, looked round and saw some clothes on the drying line.
Quickly, he gathered them and rushed to the shed where Manu was wiping streaks of water from his face.

“I knew it was going to be heavy, this rain”, Manu said.

“It really is,” Suley replied. Manu left the shed and entered the kitchen again. There was no sign of his
wife and daughter. There was no fresh firewood to indicate that they were home. He walked through the
rain towards his wife’s room. The door was locked. Fie went back to the shed where Suley, suddenly
realising that Akyaa and Tutuwaa were not at bomc, wore a confused face, more gloomy than his master’s.

“They’re not home yet?” Suley asked. “It seems not.”

They sat down. Manu’s eyes were fixed on the entrance of the house, expecting Akyaa and Tutuwaa
to rush in, wet but grateful. Through the door he could see people running along to their various homes.
Three times within a short while Manu got up and sat down again. He was clearly impatient.

‘Sometimes Akyaa behaves like a child.” Manu burst out his distress. “How can she remain on thenfarm in
this rain?”

“Maybe they are waiting for the rain to stop.”

‘Waiting where?”

But worry replaced impatience and fear took over from worry. Unable to hold on any longer, Manu took his
machete and told Suley, “We can’t just sit down like this.”
The two men ran along the path towards the farm. Although the storm was beginning to abate, it was still
raining. Manu and Suley searched through their farm and the surrounding farms hoping to find them but
they were not there. They looked at each other and the look on Manu’s face alarmed Suley.

“Where are they?” Manu asked.

Without a word they rushed back home. Suddenly, Manu stopped. ‘Come let’s inform people,” he shouted to
Suley in a broken voice, hoping that they may get the search team ready to take action.

a) What is the relationship between Manu and Suley?

b) What did Manu mean when he said, “We can’t sit down like this “?
c) Mention the two items that Akyaa had left outside.
d) Why did Manu say they should go and inform people?
e) Why were Manu’s eyes fixed on the entrance?
f) But worry replaced impatience and fear took over from worry. Explain the above expression in your
own words.
g) For each of the following words underlined in the passage, give another word or phrase that means
the same and can fit into the passage:
i. dashed v. gloomy
ii. glanced vi. impatient
iii. drenched vii. distress
iv. wiping viii. abate

PART C: LITERATURE
[10 marks]
Answer all the questions in this part

SACKEY J.A and DARMANI L (COMP): The Cockcrow

3. The following questions are based on The Cockcrow. Provide answers to them. Read the following
extract carefully and answer Questions 3(a) and 3(b)

Mother’s milk gave me suck

Mother’s fingers soothed my skin
The night kept Mother awake
When baby was sour

(a) (i) The extract is from the poem entitled………………………………

(ii) The poem is written by………………………………………………..

(b) (i) The literary device used in the first two lines is……………….…..
(ii) The mood predominant in the poem is ……………………………….

Read the following extract carefully and answer Questions 3(c) and 3(d).
THERESA ENNIN: Makola
“His tongue peeps out and licks the beads of sweat.”

(e) What literary device is used in the extract above?

(d) (i) Which character in the poem is being referred to?
(ii) The extract above suggests an atmosphere of ……………

Read the extract below and answer Questions 3(e) and 3(f)
 AMA ATA AIDOO: The Girl Who Can

As far as J could see, there was only one problem. And it had nothing to do with what I knew Nana
considered as ‘problems’, or what Maami thinks of as ‘the problem’. Maami is my mother. Nana is my
mother’s mother. And they say I am seven years old. And my problem is that, at this seven years of age,
there are things J can think in my head, but which, maybe, I do not have the proper language to speak them
out with.

(e) (i) Who is the narrator in the story?

(ii) The story is narrated in the……………..point of view.

(f) The attitude of the narrator in the extract is that of……………………

Read the following extract carefully and answer Questions 3(g) and 3(h). .
JEAN WATSON: The Old Man and His Children

………………..At this, the twins’ mother rushed out of her hut to pull the boys apart,
box their ears and give them a good scolding. As she stalked back to her hut, she called out
to them, “One more quarrel from you and your father will hear about it!” Silenced at last,
the boys stood and glared furiously at each other.
Having heard and seen everything. Kamau now called out, “Come. Njoroge! Come,
Mwangi! I have a story for you.”

(g) (i) Who are the twins in the story?

(ii) I have a story for you. What is the moral or major theme of that story?
(h) Identify the literary devices used in the’ following expressions: ‘

(i)…………… and give them a good scolding.

(ii) “Come, Njoroge! Come, Mwangi!”

Read the extract below and answer Questions. 3(i) and 3(j)
KAKYIRE AKOSOMBO NYANTAKYI: Tell My Son To Hold on to His Gun

In order for me to take over from him some day, my father started sending me to the farm
when I was only six years old. Within ten years, I was able to handle the gun like an adult.
As for the weeding, no matter how hard J tried, I never could keep pace with my father.

(i). ‘What is the setting in the extract above? ‘

(j) “I was able to handle the gun like an adult”, is an example of the use of the literary device termed…..

PAPER 1 – OBJECTIVE TEST

SECTION A [Link]
From the alternatives lettered A to D; choose the C. with
one which most suitably completes each sentence. D. from

1. The doctor advised me to abstain……… 3. ….....had the, bus arrived at the station than the
alcoholic drinks. rain started.
A. with A. After
B. from B. No sooner
C. upon C. Early
D. without D. Before

2. There are people who are 4. Some people are addicted ......... watching TV
specialized……..helping young drug addicts. [Link]
[Link] [Link]
C. with 13. You are tired…………?
D. in. A. aren’t you
B. didn’t you
5. Has he really given……..smoking? C. isn’t it
A. off D. not so
B. down
C. up SECTION B
D. out From the list of words lettered A to D, choose the
one that is most nearly opposite in meaning to
6. Adwoa…..come to this house again. the word underlined in the sentence.
A. dare not
B. not dare 14. You had too much to eat………..?
C. not to dare A. didn’t you?
D. dares no B. don’t you?
C. haven’t you?
D. isn’t it
7. We lived with a man........was a drug baron.
A. whom
B. who 15. The team was lauded for excellent
C. whose performance.
D. which A. criticised
B. dismissed
8. The question is………..to pay the money to C. suppressed
him or not. D. disgraced
A. if
B. whether 16. You paint the inner part and I will do the
C. why A. exterior
D. how B. physical
C. mixture
9. He……….much earlier fit hadn’t been for the D. rest
delay at the border.
A. would have arrived 17. The judge ruled that the transaction was valid.
B. will have arrived A. void
C. would have been arriving B. illegal
D. would have arriving C. valueless
D. proper
10. Which of the two choices is satisfactory?
A. least
B. less 18. Fofo is always moody while Mama is
C. little forever…….
D. lesser A. tender
B. willing
11. Violence is becoming………..widespread C. cheerful
these days than it was in the past D. loving
A. most more
B. many more 19. I always wear a smile because I am positive
C. much more about the future.
D. very more A. confident
B. confused
12. Had you waited, you……….been served some C. happy
delicious food D. pessimistic
A. had
B. will have 20. The accused was given maximum sentence
C. would have since he could say nothing to justify his crime.
D. have A. condemn
B. defend
C. pardon 26. We won’t accept this absurd story of yours. .
D. restore A. horrible
B. ridiculous
C permissible
SECTION C D. acceptable
Choose from the alternative lettered A to D, the
one which is nearest in meaning to the SECTION D
underlined word in each sentence.
In each of the following sentences a group of
21. There is no doubt that Lilwin is a celebrated words has been underlined Choose from the
comedian.
A. fascinating alternatives
B. trustworthy lettered A to D the one that best explains the
C. distinguished underlined group of words.
D. witty
27. The news made my hair stand on end. This
22. The crowd was incensed by the action of the means….
policemen; A. I was terrified by the news.
A. infuriated B. 1 went for a new hair cut after the news.
B. challenged C. I felt bored on hearing the news.
C. pacified D. I was not scared by the news.
D. calmed
28. Our friendship has turned sour. This means we
23. The task before us is quite enormous. are………….
A. awkward A no longer friends
B. wonderful B. still friends
C. serious C better friends now
D. huge D getting to understand each other
24. The authorities are not ready to tolerate any 29. Owu smelt a rat when he was asked by the
adverse criticisms. security to stop. This means that Owu was…..
A. unconvincing A. reckless
B. favourable B suspicious
C. constructive C. careful
D. negative D. offensive
25. The court would regard what you have done as 30 My boy is always as lively as a kitten. This
hazardous. means the boy is always……………..
A. reliable A. playing with kittens.
B. noble B. moving rapidly like a kitten.
C. dangerous C wearing bright dresses.
D. commendable D 1iappyand cheerful.