Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education 2025/2026
K.C.S.E MOCK EXAMINATION
101 / 2 - English Paper- 2
KCSE MOCK Time -2½- KCSE MOCK
2021 2021
hours
Name …………………………………………….……… Index Number…………………………..
Candidate’s Signature ……………………………….. Date ……………………………………
EMUHAYA SUB-COUNTY JOINT EXAM 2025
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
Write your name and index number in the spaces provided above.
Answer all the questions in this question paper.
This paper has 9 printed pages.
For Examiners Use Only
Question Maximum Score Candidates
Score
1 20
2 25
3 20
4 15
Total Score
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KCSE MOCK K.C.S.E MOCK EXAMINATIONS 2025 KCSE MOCK
2021 2021
ENGLISH PAPER 2
1. COMPREHENSION (20 MARKS)
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
To alleviate poverty in Africa and other developing regions, the rural poor must be made partners in
the growth process, asserts the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). In
advocating for urgent action, the UN Body maintains that standard poverty —reduction strategies,
which regard the poor as passive beneficiaries of eventual economic success, have been a striking
failure. Only by mobilizing the productive potential of the nearly I billion small farmers, pastoralists
and fisher folk who are living in dire poverty — a fifth of the world's population- can the sharp
deterioration in living standards be reversed, says IFAD.
The solution lies "first and foremost" among rural people themselves. Unless governments
and international agencies rely upon and bolster local knowledge and resources, the number of rural
poor world-wide — which rose by 40 percent over the past 20 years- may reach 1.5 billion by the
end of this decade. Africa, with 11 of the 15 poorest nations documented by IFAD, is the region
experiencing the most rapid rise in rural poverty.
Standard approaches, such as structural adjustment and what the report terms "trickledown
economics have proved unable to stem the growth of rural poverty. This is because they have
generally channeled resources to urban areas and large producers, viewing aid to small farmers as a
costly act of charity. But IFAD maintains that investments aimed at raising small-scale rural
production can in fact "trickle up" to stimulate economic growth, citing Burundi and Cameroon as
African examples. And projects in poor rural communities often bring returns that compare
favorably with other economic activities, the fund adds.
To reinforce its call for "drastic action" the IFAD report paints a stark picture of chronic
hunger and increasing deprivation. The number of rural people living below the poverty line in
Kenya increased by 150 per cent from 1965 to 1988; in Tanzania the figure rose by 71 per cent;
Egypt, 133 per cent; and Ghana, 67 per cent. Food security at the household level was judged "low"
in sub-Saharan countries, and "high" in only two of the 66 developing countries with the most
severe level of poverty, 36 of which are in Africa.
Without concerted action to counter this trend; a large part of the burden will spill over to the
urban areas and abroad, where the cost of providing a livelihood is much higher. African
governments say developed countries must make rapid economic shifts to allay the crisis. At an
IFAD Governing Council meeting in Rome last year. Nigerian vice president Augustus was blunt;
the "critical bottleneck" to African development is protectionism within Northern markets,
"ridiculous prices" for primary commodities and suffocating debt. It is time, he said, for the west to
adopt a policy of "debt forgiveness," since previous efforts have reduced the continent's debt by "a
mere 2 per cent."
QUESTIONS
a.) Why, according to the passage, have the efforts to alleviate poverty failed? (2mks)
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b.) What percentage of the world's population lives in dire poverty (1mk)
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c.) Why according to the writer of this passage have structural adjustment and other standard
approaches failed to alleviate poverty? (3mks)
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d.) What evidence does IFAD advance to prove that poverty in Africa is on the rise? (2mks)
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e.) "Passive beneficiaries of eventual economic success, have been a striking failure"
Add a question tag. (lmk)
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f) Make notes on what the writer says must be done so as to stem the tide of poverty in the world.
(4mks)
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g.) Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the passage. (4mks)
i. Maintains …………………………………………………………………………………………
ii. Stem ………………………………………………………………………………………………
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iii. Reinforce …………………………………………………………………………………………
iv. Blunt ……………………………………………………………………………………………
h.) In your own words, state the argument put forward by the Nigerian vice-president. (3mks)
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2: THE SAMARITAN (25 MARKS)
Read the following extract from the play “The Samaritan” by John Lara and then answer the
questions after.
Bembe: You have a reputation for being too strong-willed to be suitable for a school teacher.
You're as stubborn as a mule.
Nicole: What crime is that?
Bembe: Well, it is not a crime as such; but don't you think it is a bad influence to the students?
(Bangs the table violently and shouts an order. Two police officers enter.) Handcuff her!
(There is a commotion as the officers reach out to Nicole. She resists but is overpowered.
There is an interval of silence as Bembe begins to rummage through papers on Nicole's
table. Nicole refuses to move and sits down on the floor. The officers drug her on the
floor) Stop. (The officers stop. There is silence. Then Bembe moves behind Nicole's
table and starts pulling the drawers open, one after the other, removing and throwing
papers all over the floor.) Where have you hidden it?
Nicole: Hidden what?
Bembe: The Samaritan! (Nicole is visibly surprised at the answer but remains silent) I will tell you
this, whenever you see me personally involved in an arrest, you must know it's a serious matter, as
serious as death. And you should be afraid. Very afraid!
Nicole: I am not guilty of anything, and I refuse to be intimidated!
Bembe: (Inspector Bembe bangs the table violently with his gun. Nicole recoils with a start.)
Woman! Show some seriousness! This is no laughing matter. Are you willing to talk?
Nicole: About what? (There is silence as Inspector Bembe wears his beret and places his sceptre
under his armpit)
Bembe: About The Samaritan.
Nicole: What about The Samaritan?
Bembe: Where is it?
Nicole: I don't understand you?
Bembe: Where is it? (He repeats angrily)
Nicole: (Swinging her head in disbelief) I have no such thing in my possession, but you can
download it from the internet.
Bembe: (Hitting Nicole on the face with a bunch of papers) Now you have to tell those two
students to shut that thing off. Alright?
Nicole: Why should I?
Bembe: Because it is the right thing to do!
Nicole: I have no right to dictate what they do with their App.
Bembe: Then you have to shut it down yourself! We believe The Samaritan is your brainchild!
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The two students are just a cover-up! And the App is a grave danger to society!
Nicole: Mr. Inspector, when The Samaritan helps us fight environmental degradation by exposing
the culprits, is that dangerous?
Bembe: Fighting environmental degradation is none of the school's business! We have competent
agencies employed to do that! Teach the authorized curriculum.
Nicole: When it helps us to know who supplies air to the Municipal Council instead of goods and
services, is that dangerous?
QUESTIONS
a) Briefly outline the events preceding this excerpt.(3 marks)
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b) In the light of what has been happening in the text, why does Inspector Bembe tell Nicole that
she has a reputation for being too strong-willed to be suitable for a school teacher?
(2 marks)
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c) Discuss two thematic concerns of the writer raised in the excerpt. (4 marks)
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d) Identify two character traits of Inspector Bembe and one of Nicole as brought out in this
excerpt:
(i) Inspector Bembe (4 marks )
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(ii) Nicole (2 marks )
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e) (i) Because it is the right thing to do!
(Rewrite replacing "Because" with another subordinating conjunction) (1 mark)
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(ii) You're as stubborn as a mule. (Rewrite adding a question tag) (1 mark)
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(iii) You're just confirming some of the other accusations that have been made against you.
(Rewrite replacing the underlined word with a phrasal verb)
(1 mark)
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f) Pick out two stylistics devices employed in the excerpt and illustrate them. (4 marks)
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g) Explain the meanings of the following words used in the excerpt. (3 marks)
i) Download - ................................................................................................................................
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ii) Brainchild ..................................................................................................................................
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iii) Grave ………………………………………………………………………………….………
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3. ORAL NARRATIVE (20 MARKS)
Read the narrative below and then answer questions that follow.
HARE, HIPPO AND ELEPHANT
One day Hare, popularly known as Ogila Nyakarondo, met Elephant on his way to the forest. As
Hare is a cunning and clever animal, he wanted to fool Elephant on some issues. He started talking
to Elephant; ‘Elephant my brother, Good Morning. What is the matter? Why are you walking alone
like that my friend? Why don’t you ask me to walk you through the forest?
After they had walked together for some time Hare said, ‘Elephant my brother, I want to go on a
rope-pulling contest with you. I know that I can defeat you miserably, for I am stronger than you.’
The elephant replied, iii! Ogila Nyakarondo, you are too small to contest with me. You are playing
about, my brother. Think twice.
They then planned to go on a contest the next day in the forest, but Elephant went laughing,
thinking that Ogila could do nothing to him. The same day, Ogila met with Hippo and started
talking to him saying, ‘Hippo my brother, I want you to contest with me one of these days. We shall
pull a rope across the forest and see who will be the winner. ‘Hippo said, ‘Don’t play with me, Hare
my brother, you are just too small to contest with me.’ He made the same plan, just as he had
planned with the Elephant to pull the rope in the contest across the forest.
The next morning, Hippo and Elephant went to each side of the forest thinking they were going to
contest with Hare. They started pulling the rope. Meanwhile, Hare was sitting on a high hill
watching what was happening below. He sang a song to taunt Elephant and Hippo. As he sang,
Hippo and Elephant pulled even harder. They pulled and got very tired. At dusk, they almost passed
out and stopped pulling.
Hare immediately ran to the elephant and asked, ‘am I not great?’ Elephant told Hare, ‘Oh, Hare my
brother, I have agreed that you are great. I have had it tough the whole day.’
Hare then ran to Hippo and told him the same thing he had told Elephant. Hippo wondered at the
strength of the Hare and said, ‘Hare my brother, I have realized that you are very strong. In fact,
you should be made the King of the jungle.’ Hare went away merrily playing his guitar.
(Adapted from African Oral Literature for schools by Jane Nandwa and Austin Bukenya,
Longman Kenya)
Questions
i. Classify the above narrative supporting your answer from the narrative. (2 Marks)
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ii. How was the hare popularly Known? (1 Mark)
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iii. Why was the elephant so sure that the Hare could not beat him in the contest? (1 Mark)
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iv. Why did the Hare sing when the Elephant and Hippo were pulling the rope? (2 Marks)
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v. At what time and why did the Elephant and the Hippo stop pulling? (2 Marks)
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vi. Identify and illustrate any two stylisticfeatures of oral narratives in the story. (4 Marks)
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vii. Discuss any one character of the following:
i. Hare (2 Marks)
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ii. Elephant (2 Marks)
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iii. What is the moral lesson in this story? (2 Marks)
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iv. Explain the meaning of the following words as used in the passage. (2 Marks)
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i. Contest
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ii. Merrily
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4. GRAMMAR (15 MARKS)
a) Rewrite the following sentences as instructed. (4 marks)
i) Nyambura never came late to school this term. (Begin: not ……………………………….)
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ii) He wore a mask. He was unrecognizable. (combine into a sentence beginning with a
present participle)
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iii) Why did the prefects do such a thing! (Rewrite in passive)
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iv) This novel is far better than the one I bought last week. (Rewrite using the word ‘superior’)
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b.) Replace the underlined words in each of the sentences with the most suitable phrasal verbs
(3mks)
i) The doctor remarked that the girl …………….……………………………. (resembles) the father.
ii.) The looters ………………………………. (stole) goods of unknown value during the city riots.
iii.)When he …………………….……… (regained consciousness), he was amazed to realize that
he was in hospital.
c.) Choose the correct pronoun from the brackets to complete the following sentences. (3 marks)
i. Mr. Kamau and _______________ visited us last year. (he/him/himself)
ii. John offered Njoroge and ________________some biscuits. (I/me)
iii. Do you think that he is wiser than _________________. (I/me)
d) Use the correct form of the words in brackets to fill in the blank spaces in each of the sentences
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below. (3mks)
i. The accident…………………………………….. (occur) near the hospital yesterday.
ii. The………………………………………………………... (argue) made them to quarrel at last.
iii.The vehicle broke down due to poor ………………………………………… (maintain)
e. Fill in the blanks with the most suitable preposition (2 marks)
i) The church is infallible ………………………………..matters of faith.
ii) The chest is made …………………………………..hardwood.
This is the last printed page.
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