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FORM FOUR MOCK EXAMINATION 30TH JUNE 2013      ENGLISH………

Please answer the questions below and submit

Section A - Comprehension and Summary

1. Read the passage below carefully and answer the questions that follow. Trees play an important role in preserving and protecting our environment on Earth. They release oxygen into the air and absorb carbon dioxide. In this way they help to reduce the amount of pollution in the Earth’s atmosphere. They also play an important part in the water cycle as they release moisture into the atmosphere through their leaves. This helps the formation of clouds which bring rain. Loss of trees can soak up much of the extra water and so they help to prevent floods. Trees also benefit the soil where they grow. They prevent soil erosion as they work like nets trapping soil and stopping it from being washed away. In addition, fallen trees, branches and leaves decay on the ground, making the soil more fertile. An individual tree is home to all kinds of animals: insects, birds, reptiles and mammals as well as other plants. In a forest, millions of types of trees can be found. For example, tropical rain forests, which occupy less than 8 % of the Earth’s land area, are home to well over 50 % of all land plants and animals. In addition to tree benefits, products from trees provide us with thousands of everyday items. Many fruits and seeds are eaten by humans and animals. Then there is wood. People do thousands of things with wood. It is used in the construction of both traditional and modern buildings. Inside most buildings there is furniture like wardrobes, tables, chairs, beds and so on, all of which are made of wood. In the street there may be all kinds of structures made of wood: signboards and telegraph poles are just two. Wood is also an important source of fuel.

i. Trees play an important role in preserving and protecting our environment because they

o                                 A. Provide shade on hot days and shelter on wet days

o                                 B. Protect the environment form pollution and the effects of weather

o                                 C. Provide fruits and seeds which are eaten by humans and animals

o                                 D. Make the soil fertile by producing oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide

o                                 E. Absorb excessive moisture from the atmosphere

ii. Loss of trees may cause drought because

o                                 A.The soil that is trapped by trees is washed away by rains

o                                 B.There would be no branches and leaves to make the soil fertile

o                                 C.Clouds which bring rain won’t be there if there are no trees

o                                 D.Absence of trees will definitely reduce the amount of moisture in the atmosphere

o                                 E.Without trees water cannot be preserved in the atmosphere

iii.Trees play an important part in the water cycle by

o                                 A.Preserving the soil

o                                 B.Preventing the soil from being washed away

o                                 C.Soaking up much of the extra water from the soil and the atmosphere

o                                 D.Increasing the amount of moisture in the atmosphere

o                                 E.Absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

iv. Apart from their environmental importance, trees are also beneficial to humans since they

o                                 A.Provide home to all kinds of animals

o                                 B.Release water into the atmosphere

o                                 C.Provide fruits, wood and fuel

o                                 D.Balance the amount of water in the soil and air

o                                 E.Stop the soil from being washed away

v. Complete the table below with appropriate information from the passage. An example is given.

e.g. Trees provide shade and shelter. Describe the benefit: answer: Protection from sunshine and rain

a. Trees release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide from the air. Describe the benefit of this:

b.Trees release moisture into the air. Describe the benefit:

c.Trees soak up extra water from the soil. Describe the benefit:

d.Trees trap soil and prevent it from being washed away.Describe the benefit:

e.Fallen trees, branches and leaves decay on the ground

f.They provide wood

2.Summarize paragraph one of question number 1 in not more than 40 words.

SECTION B (20 Marks)

PATTERNS AND VOCABULARY Answer all questions in this section

3. Fill in the blanks by writing the correct form of the word from the brackets against the item number

Yesterday morning when I (i) ………….. (leave) my home to go shopping, the sun (ii)…………..(shine). It (iii) ………… (be) so pleasant that I (iv)……………… (decide) to walk to the market instead of taking a bus. On my way I (v)………………… (see) an old friend of mine on the other side of the road, and I was calling him. He (vi) ………………. (go) in the opposite direction towards a crowd of people at a bus-stop and(viii) ………………. (not hear) me. I crossed the road to speak to him but I was too late as he was already on the bus .

i. (leave)

ii. (shine)

iii. (be)

iv. (decide)

v. (see)

vi. (go)

vii. (not hear)

4.There are special names given to groups of things in English; e.g. a group of knives, spoons, forks is called ‘cutlery’

Using the words choir, students, crew, audience, musicians, committee, jazz complete the following expressions.

a.People listening to or watching a performance.

b.People working on a ship or air craft .

c.People appointed to do a special task.

d.A group of people singing a song together.

5. One of the following words in each of the following sentences is wrong. Correct them by writing the right spelling of the wrong word.

a.My waste is too big. My skirts don’t fit any more

b.The pass she carried was enough to put all the money for shopping

c.I’m tired. Who can get me a chair to seat on?

d.His brother has opened a stationary at the city.

6.Rewrite the following sentences according to the instructions given after each sentence.

a. The match between Young African and Simba sports club was enjoyable in spite of the rainfall. Use: Despite

b. The referee gave him a red card. He sent him out of the pitch. Begin: Not only

c.He studied harder everyday as a result he got better results . Begin with: The harder

d.The Agricultural Extension Officer advised farmers to plant earlier so as to get good yields. Begin with: Farmers

7. The following is the time table showing daily activities done by Johiven. Complete the sentences (i-iv) using the information given in the time table.

E.g. Johiven wakes up at 5:00 a.m. every day.

i.Johiven

ii.He

iii.He

iv.He

SECTION C (30 Marks)

LANGUAGE USE Answer question 8,9, and two (2) of the four alternatives given in question 10.

8. Match the items in list A with responses in List B to make meaningful sentences by writing the letter of the correct response beside the item number in the answer booklet(s) provided.

i.

ii

iii

iv

v

9.Re-arrange the following sentences in a logical sequence to make a meaningful paragraph by writing corresponding letter in your answer booklet.

a. Graders grade the road to make it completely smooth.

b. Bulldozers and other machines arrive to level of the ground and knock down trees that may be necessary.

c. The gravel goes on towards the tar, and is left to dry.

.

d.Surveyors survey the road using special instruments, they decide on the positioning of bridges and culverts.

e.Lorries brings loads of laterite to put down on the road.

10. Answer two (2) questions from the four (4) alternatives A, B, C and D.

A. Imagine that you are Dr. Njanja Ntawanga. Reply this invitation to inform that you will not be able to attend.

B.Write a composition of not less than 250 words on why the majority of students in our country fail to communicate in English.

C.For years now, the flow of youths from rural areas to towns has been increasing. Explain the economic effect of this situation and suggest what the government should do to control it.

D. In about 250 words write a short story ending with the words ……… “That is how I realize that life is tough.

SECTION D (40 Marks)

RESPONSE TO READING. Answer two (2) questions from this section. One question should be selected from poetry and the other from novels and short stories or plays.

LIST OF READINGS NOVELS AND SHORT STORIES A Wreath of Father Mayer of Masasi – S. N. Ndunguru (1977), Mkuki na Nyota Unanswered Cries - Osman Conteh, Macmillan Passed Like a Shadow - B.M. Mapalala (2006) DUP Spared - S.N. Ndunguru (2004), Mkuki na Nyota Weep Not Child - Ngugi wa Thiong’o (1987); Heinemann The interview - P. Ngugi (2002), Macmillan PLAYS Three Suitors: One Husband - O. Mbia (1994), Eyre Methuen The Lion and the Jewel - W. Soyinka (1963), OUP This Time Tomorrow - Ngugi wa Thiong’o (1972), Heinemann The Black Hermit - Ngugi wa Thiong’o (1968), Heinemann POETRY Songs of Lawino and Ocol - O. P’Bitek (1979), EAPH Growing up with Poetry - R. Mabala (1960), TPH

11. Choose one (1) poem you have read and clearly analyze it by considering the following: i. Message (what is it about/what do we learn from it?) ii. The central idea(Theme) iii. Relevance to the present-day situation in your society.

12. Choose two characters from two novels you have read and explain their positive contributions to their societies.

13. Discuss how different writers have portrayed the position of women in African societies.

14. Read carefully the following poem and answer the questions after it.

 

Blind eyes harass me with darkness, Deaf ears tire me with silence, Dumb voices deafen me with gibberish, Blank minds confuse me with emptiness And, above all, There is power and command. With wits and ears and eyes, I have speech and a strong mind, But I remain weak and powerless, They oppress me, they torture me, They fight me, they kill me, It’s a fight to bring me down to silence, To darkness and gibberish to ignorance, And through brain washing, to emptiness, All right, my friends, It’s a battle and I’ll fight it. Ears and wits and eyes and speech, And a strong conscience, These are my weapons, And I’ll fight to the last cell.

i. Mention five (5) themes found in the poem.

ii. In stanza one (1) what doesn't the persona like most?

iii. In the second stanza, the persona says that he/she has speech and strong mind but she/he is weak and powerless. State why the persona has said so.

iv. What does the last verse mean?