MAKERERE UNIVERSITY
MATURE AGE ENTRY SCHEME EXAMINATIONS
FOR 2020/2021 ACADEMIC YEAR
PAPER I -APTITUDE TEST
DATE SATURDAY,14TH DECEMBER, 2019
TIME 9.00 A.M. - 12.00 NOON
INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES
1. Donot turn over this page until you are told to do so.
2. Aseparate answer sheet will be provided on which to record your answers and
other details.
3. This Aptitude test contains FIVE sections: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
4. Youshould attempt ALL questions in Section 1-4 and One question from
Section 5.
5. EACH SECTION IS TIMED APPROPRIATELY TO ENABLE YOU
ATTEMPT ALL THE QUESTIONS.
Section 1: Reading and Comprehension Skills 40 minutes
Section 2: Language Skills 50 minutes
Section 3: Numerical Skills and Logic- 40minutes
Section 4: General Knowledge - 20 minutes
Section 5: Analytical Writing Skills -30 minutes
6. Do not spend too much time on any one question or passage, otherwise you
may not have enough time to finish the Aptitude test.
DO NOT WRITE ANYTHING ON THIS QUESTION PAPER.
SECTION 1
READING AND COMPREHENSION SKILLS
(20 MARKS)
Passage 1
Read the following passage and answer questions 1- 5 that follow.
Ifa person suddenly encounters any terrible danger, the change of nature one undergoes is equally great.
Sometimes fear numbs our senses. Like animals, one stands still, powerless to move a step in fright or to
lift a hand in defense of our lives, and sometimes one is seized with panic, and again, act more like the
inferior animals than rational beings. On the other hand, frequently in cases of sudden extreme peril,
which cannot be escaped by flight, and must be instantly faced, even the most timid men at once as if by
miracle, become possessed of the necessary courage, sharp quick apprehension and swift decision. This is
a miracle very common in nature. Man and the inferior animals alike, when confronted with almost
certaín death 'gather resolution from despair' but there can really be no trace of so debilitating a feeling
In the person fighting, or prepared to fight for dear life. At such times the mind is clearer than it has ever
been; the nerves are steel, there is nothing felt but a wonderful strength and daring. Looking back at
certain perilous moments in my own life, I remember them with a kind of joy, not that there was any
joyfulexcitement then, but because they broadened my horizon, lifted me for a time above myself.
1. The title that best suits the passage would be:
A. The Will to Fight
B. The Miracle of Confronting Danger
C. The Change of Nature
D. Courage and Panic
2. A man may react to sudden danger in three different ways. What are they?
A. He may flee in panic, or fight back or stand still.
B. He may be paralyzed with fear, seized with panic or act like an inferior animal.
C. Hemay be paralyzed with fear, or seized with panic, or as if by miracle, become possessed
of the necessary courage, and face the danger.
D. Hemay be paralyzed with fear, run away or fight.
3. What word is closest in meaning with the word perilous?
A. Dangerous
B. Challenging
C. Upsetting
D. Terrifying
2
espar
Explain the phrase 'gather resolution from Goger
| ind peace in tumes of diticuln
B. Asate of utter hopelessness makes one deternmincd to face the difficultv
( lo remain calm and not to love hope
D To be enthuNIJNtIC and brav c the odds
The author fecls happy in the recollection of dangers faced and overcome because
A Thev brought him anew expercnce
B Thev added a new perspectiNcand ifted him abovc himself for a ime
( Thesc evperiences husted his conidence
D He felt clatcdi as he was alive
Passage 2
Read the following passage and answcr questions 6-12 that follow,
Part of the Family
Wewere all so cvited to learn that \Mom was gong ter let us adopt and adda new member o our family
V brother. my ho sIsters and I had wothcd for wcchs to conv ince Mom that we were responsible
enough to have a ncw puppy Many days aftct hool l had visited the library and researched puppy
trauning. the proper fccding t a puppy. how ko ialve s new puppy. and even the meanings of names
one might hoose for a pupp AI! of us had sclelcd certan johs that would need to be performed if we
Were luchi cnough to conv ihe Mom to get a punp In order to prove to Mom that she would not be the
only person taking carc of vur nC family membct we had div ided the jobs among us and created a chart
for the first month Iinally. aftet scv eral wcchv of cajoling and wheedling. allour hard vork and extra
effort had been succsful \Mom gave in t our pleas and agreed to let uv adopt a puppy !
Now the real work Would beg1n Wc decidcd to iNit the llumane Society n order to select just the right
puppy lo join our fam1l\ O1 coursc. oncc c saW all thc puppics Jnd dogs available, none of us could
decide on onls one Iah little facc had its oWn spccial charm Who could resist thosc big brown eves'
All the puppies Were so thrillcd hat c cre \Isiting then1, but cach was unaw are that just one would be
lcaving W1th us They jumpcd. they ippcd. they wagged their tails as if cach had a motor allached Thes
lovfulls licked ever bare inch of shin wc had liow Would wc Cver deccide?
\s we strolled through the aisles of kenncls. l noiced one Ittle bundle of tur. He sat off to the side of the
lemporarn home he shared with three other rambunclious puppics. Ie quietly watehed as his unrul
housemates iried lo be the most outg0ing, th Culest. and the pertect pet for us by showing their
enthusiasm. As l walked closer to his corner, he peercd al mc and smled a crooked puppy grin. His tail
wagged his entire hody. IHe tentativcly jumped up lo grcct me With a play ful lap of his tongue and
noticed his lopsided curs. One car stood up just a little straighter than the other. giving the impression he
Ivas listening quite closelv to the Words Iwas sav ing
Hi there. litle buddy. What do youthink" Ikind of coocdto him. lHe seemed to know it didn'tmatter
that he was the smallest and the most reserved of the boisterous group of puppies occupy ing the kennel. I
motioned for mv siblings to join me at the corner and introduced them to Buddy
3
This is him. this is Buddy! He needs us. Lcan tell." Iexplaincd to my brother and sisters.
*I don't know, he is so tiny and kind of funny looking." my youngest sister observed.
"He has character," Iexplained, fecling rather defensive of Buddy. He was notfunny looking, he was
unique! "Look in his eyes. He knows what you are saying and his feelings are hurt!
My sister looked at the litle bundle of fur with the big eyes and the uneven cars. She reached out her
hand, and Buddy gave her a lick. "'m sorry, Buddy, Ididn't mean to hurt your feelings," she said. She
looked as if she might cry. "You're right! Buddy has character."
Mom joined our litle group and introduced herself to our new friend. Okay, Buddy, Iguess you' re it!
Doyou want to come home with us?"
As Iwatched the litle dog'sreaction to her words, Icould tell he understood. He again cocked his head to
one side and flashed us his crooked puppy smile as if to say he knew hewas part of the family.
6. What is the perspective of the mom in the story?
A. She is reluctant to get a puppy because she would do allthe work.
B. She is reluctant to get a puppy because she would have to spend money.
C. She isreluctant to get a puppy because she prefers cats.
D. She is reluctant to get a puppy because she is afraid of dogs.
7. What evidence shows the children are prepared for a puppy?
A. They research puppy training and care.
B. They beg and plead with their mother.
C. They get jobs to raise money to buy the dog.
D. They rescarch personalities of different brceds.
8. The author uses the word reserved in the passage. Which phrase best completes the analogy,
Reserved is to active as.
A. Excitable is to energetic.
B. Timid is to rowdy.
C. Unruly isto naughty.
D. Noisy is to loud.
9 In naragraph 7, the author is described as feeling defensive of Buddy. What is the
of the word defensive?
meaning
A. Wanting to capture Buddy
B. Wanting to tease Buddy
C. Wanting to protect Buddy
D. Wanting to admire Buddy
T0. What is the little dog's reaction to Mom's words, Okay, Buddy, I guess
you're it""
Tle yives a playful lap of his tongue.
3. IHe jumps up lo greet the narrator.
C le cckshis head toone side and flashes a smile.
D. Me makes onc car stand up straighter.
11. What is the main idea of the story?
A. Following the process of adopting a new puppy
B. Researching the responsibilities of caring for a puppy
C. Convincing Mom toallow the adoption of a ncw puppy
D. Determining the criteria for sclecting a new puppy
12. From what point of view is the story told?
A. First person
B. Second person
C. Third person limited
D. Third person omniscient
Passage 3
Read the following passage and answer questions 13-16, that follow.
When it came to promoting itsnew video-game console, the Wii, in America, Nintendo recruited a
handful of carefullychosen suburban mothers in the hope that they would spread the wordamong their
friends that the Wiiwas a gaming console the whole family could enjoy together. Nintendo thus became
the latest company to use "word-of-mouth marketing. Nestlé, Sony and Philips have all launched similar
campaigns in recent months to promote everything from bottled water to electric toothbrushes. As the
power of traditional advertising declines, what was once an experimental marketing approach is
becoming more popular.
After all, no form of advertising carries as much weight as an endorsement from a friend. Amway and
Tupperware know you can blendthe social and economic to business advantage, " says Walter Carl, a
marketing guru at Northeastern University. The difference now, he says, is that the internet can magnify
the effect of such endorsements.
The difficulty for marketers is creating the right kind of buzz and learning to control it. Negative views
spread just as quickly as positive ones, so if a product has flaws, people will soon find out. AndPeter Kim
of Forrester, a consultancy, points out that when Microsoft sent laptops loaded with its new Windows
Vista software to influential bloggers in an effort to get them to write about it, the resulting online
discussion ignored Vista and focused instead on the morality of accepting gifts and the ethics of word-of
mouth marketing. Bad buzz, in short.
BzzAgent., acontroversial company based in Boston that is one of the leading exponents of word-of
mouth marketing,operates a network of volunteer "agents" who receive free samples of products in the
nost Thevtalk to their friends about them and send back their thoughts. In return, they receive rewards
through a points program-an arrangement they are supposed to make clear. This allows afirm to create
buzz around a product and to see what kind of word-of-mouth response it generates, which can be useful
for subsequent product development and marketing. Last week BzzAgent launched its service in Britain.
Dave Balter, BzzAgent'sfounder, thinks word-of-mouth marketing will become a multi-billion dollar
industry. No doubt he tells that to everyone he meets.
Questions:
13. What is the experimental approach being discussed in the first paragraph?
A Word of mouth Marketing
B Sclling of video-game consoles, bottled water and electric toothbrushes
C Traditional Advertising
D. Nonc of these
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14. What is the effect of the internet on Word-of-mouth marketing?
A. It is impeded by the internet.
B. It is encouraged by the internet.
C. Internet magnifies the moral issues of this marketing technique.
D. Internet has made it obsolete.
15. According to the passage, in what order did different com panies use word-of-mouth
marketing?
A. Nintendo before Sony, Nestle and Philips.
B. Nintendo after Sony, Nestle and Philips.
C. Nintendo, Sony, Nestle and Philips: all at the same time.
D. None of these
16. According to Peter Kim,what happened to Microsoft's nmarketing campaign for Vista?
A. Itsucceeded
B. It succeeded with some hiccups
C. It failed
D. None of these
Pasage 4
Read the following passage and answer questions 17-20, that follow.
The 543 elected MPs will be elected from single-member constituencies using first-past-the-post voting.
The President of India nominates an additional two members from the Anglo-Indian community ifhe
believes the community is under-represented.
Eligible voters must be Indian citizens, 18 or older, an ordinary resident of the polling area of the
constituency and possess a valid voter identification card issued by the Election Commission of India.
Some people convicted of electoralor other offences are barred from voting.
Earlier there were speculations that the Modi Government might advance the 2019 general election to
counter the anti-incumbency factor, however learning from its past blunder of preponing election made by
the Vajpayee Government it decided to go into election as per the nornmal schedule which was announced
by Election Commission of India (ECI) on 10 March 2019, after which Model Code of Conduct was
applied with immediate effect.
Read the passage and cho0se the most appropriate answer.
17. Which word or phrase meansdisapproval of current political officeholders" in the
passage?
A. First-past-the-post
B. Blunder
C. Anti-incumbency
D. Model Code of Conduct
18. Since when was the Model Code of Conduct applied with immediate effeet?
A. 23 May 2018
B. 10" March 2019
C. 10h March 2018
D. I|" March 2019
19. When does the President of India nominate an additional two members from the
Anglo-Indian community?
A. When there are less than 543 elected MPs
B. When the Anglo-Indian community fails to send a representative
C. When the president believes that the Anglo-Indian community is over-represented
D. When the president believes that the Anglo-Indian community is under-represented
20. What are the mandatory requirements to vote in India? You must
i. Vbe an Indian citizen
ii. Vbel8 or older
iii. have a valid criminal record
iv be an ordinary resident of the polling area of the
constituency
V., possess a valid voter identification card issued by the Election Commission of India
A. (), (ii) (ii)
B. (i) () (v) (iv)
C. () (iii) () (iv) (v)
D. (ii)(ii) (iv) (v)
SECTION 2
LANGUAGE SKILLS
(30MARKS)
In the followingguestions, 1-10, choose the correct word(s) from the alternatives to complete
the sentence.
1. ..do you want to see?" asked the inspector.
A. Whom
B. Who
C. Whoever
D. Whomever
2. If you want to answer the questions, kindly. -your hand
A. raise up
B. raise
C. rise up
D. rise
3 The trainees .to Eldoret by December, 2019.
A. willgo
B. will have gone
C. will be going
D. will be gone
4 Neither Nakato nor her brother .French.
A. have spoken
B. have been speaking
C. speaks
D. speak
5 The Secretary she joined another company.
A. no more works here
B. doesn't work here any more
C. stilldoesn't work here
D. works here no more
6. The situation may not change we take vigorous steps.
A. if
B. unless
C. CXCept
D. only if
The officer ordered him to stop and park but he
A. carried on driving.
B continued on
C. moved on
D. sustained on
8
8 The boys were punished for late.
A. carme B. to come C. to coming D. coming
9. The seTvant was afraid of the master.
A. disobey be disobeying
B. disobeyed C. disobeying D.
10. Girls like netball.
A. playing B. to playing C. to played D. to be playing
Inthe following questions, 11-18, choose the correct word(s) from the alternatives to complete the
sentences.
11. I'm sick .asking you to take care of your property.
A. from
B. of
C. with
D. by
12. ...
..lion is a ferocious animal.
A. A B. An C. The D. none of these
13. The thief was sent to ..prison.
A. B. an C. none of these D. the
14. Don't look. on him.
A. down B for C. D. by
15. Ishall meet you 60'clock.
A. by B at C. in D. during
16. Myfather will retire from service a year.
A. of B on C in D. by
17. He comes .a car.
B by C with D. on
A. at
18. Most of us eat a spoon.
with B 1n C for D. by
A.
In the following questions, 19-22, supply the appropriate question tags for each of the following
statements.
19. Sumaya was intelligent.
A. was she? B is she? C isn't she? D. wasn't she?
20. Come here.
A. will you? B can you? C don't you? D. won't you?
21. Iam honest.
A. didn't I? B. amn' t I? C. Iam? D. aren't I?
22. Jdo not like your car.
A. don't 1? B. Isn't it? C. Liken't I? D. do I?
In thefollowing questions, 23-26, choose the alternative sentence that represen ts the meaning of
the bold faced sentences.
23. When pigs fly they will begin to respect elders.
A. Elders will be respected some day.
B. Elders will never be respected.
C. Elders will be respected if they have flying pigs.
D. Flying pigs respect clders.
24. The work of this artist broke new ground.
A. The works of the artist are important and innovative.
B. The works of the artist are boring.
C. The works of the artist broke the new ground.
D. The works of the artist were launched.
25. She let the cat out of the bag about their engagement plans.
A. She gossiped about their engagement plans.
B. She put the engagement rings out of the bag.
C. She accidentally revealed the secret about their engagement plans.
D. She testified about their engagement plans.
26. The exam we did was a piece of a cake.
A. The exam was very difficult.
B. The exam was simple.
C. The exam was clear.
D. The exam was short.
In the following sentences 27-30, choose the alternative sentence which is appropriately punctuated
27. A. That tallman, John's father, is this month's winner.
B That tall man, John's father, is this months winner.
C. That tall man John's father, is this months winner.
D. That tall man, Johns father, is this month's winner.
28. A. Uganda is a beautifulcountry: the beaches are warm, sandy and spotlessly clean.
B. Uganda is a beautiful country; the beaches are warm, sandy and spotlessly clean.
C. Uganda is a beautiful country;the beaches are warm, sandy and spotlessly clean
E. Uganda is a beautiful country, the beaches are warm, sandy and spotlessly clean.
10
29.
A She went to the market and bought: potatoes, meat, carrots and tomatoes.
B She went to the market and bought potatoes, meat, carrots and tomatoes
C She went to the market and bought potatoes, meat, carrots and tomatoes.
D. She went to the market, and bought: potatoes, meat, carrots and tomatoes.
30.
A. Before he offends me, I'll shout at him, "I'm never coming back!
B. Before he offends me, I'llshout at him "I'm never coming back!"
C. Before he offends me, I'll shout at him, "Imnever coming back"
D. Before he offends me, I'llshout at him, "Im never coming back!"
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SECTION 3
NUMERICAL SKILLS AND LOGIC
(20MARKS)
1. Asports team carns 3points for each win, O
points for cach loss and I point for each tie. How
many pointsdoes the team earn for 9 wins, 3 losses and 4 ties?
A. 27 B. 30 C. 16 D. 31 E. None of these
2
In a school fundraising campaign, 25% of the money came from parents. The rest of the
money was donated by teachers and students in the ratio 2:3 respectively. What is the ratio
of the amount donated by parents to the amount donated by students?
A. 25:75 B. 5:9 C. 5:6 D. 2:3 E. None of these
3
Emmy peels 3 bananas in the same amount of time that her brother Nelson peels 2 bananas.
Also Nelsonpeels 1banana in the same amount of time that Sarah peels 3 bananas. How
many bananas in totalcan be peeled by Emmy, Nelson and Sarah in the same amount of time
as Emmy peels 9 bananas?
A. 30
B. 27 C. 81 D. 33 E. None of these
4
Storage space on a computer is measured in gigabytes (GB) and megabytes (MB) where 1
GB = 1024 MB. Julie has an empty 300 GB hard drive and puts 300000 MB of data onto it.
How much storage space (in MB) on the hard drive remains empty?
A. 72000 B. 7200 C. 720 D. 72 E. None of these
5. In a group of five friends: 3 o
Amila is taller than Cathy
Denis is shorter than Emma but taller than Ben
Emma is shorter than Cathy.
Who is the shortest?
A. Amila B. Cathy C. Denis D. Emma E. Ben
6. If 3a = 2b. b 0, then (9a+8b) ÷ 6a =
A. 7/2 B. 11/2 C. 3/2 D. 17/6 E. None of these
7. Annet is going to the market. One quarter of the way to the market, she stops to talk with
John. She then continues for 12km and reaches the market. How many kilometers does she
travel altogether?
A. 15 B. 16 C. 48 D. 24 E. None of these
8 The time on a cell phone is 3:52. How many minutes will pass before the phone next shows
a time using cach of the digits 2, 3 and S exactly once?
A. 59 B. 77 C. 91 D. 171 E. None of these
9 Which number from the set {1,2,3,4,5, 6,7,8,9, 10,11} must be removed so that the average
of the numbers remaining in the set is 6.1?
A, 4 B. 6 C. 7 D. 8 E. None of these
10. A schoolorganized 3 different trips. Fifty percent of the students went on the first trip, 80%
went on the second trip and 90% went on the thirdtrip. Atotal of 160 students wenton all
the thrce trips. Howmany students are at the school?
A. 1400 B. 600 C. 1200 D. 800 E. None of these
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SECTION 4
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
(20 MARKS)
Answer all the questions
The current World population according to the most recent United Nations estimates of 2019 is
2
What is the name of the Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission who passed
away recently?
3. What does the abbreviation ANT stand for in the Ugandan politics?
4.
What is the name of the Ugandan local musician who was appointed recently by President
Yoweri Musevenias Senior Presidential advisor on Kampala Affairs?
5. Which continent is also a Country?
6. Name the term used to mean a scientist who studies the causes and effects of diseases.
especiallyone who examines laboratory samples of body tissues for diagnostic or forensic
purposes.
7. What word refers tothe land alongside a body of water?
8. What is the name of the female Ugandan Athlete who won the women's 800m title at the IAAF
World Championships in Doha recently?
9. The condition in which the body does not get its fair share of nutrients, either due to starvation or
as a result of poor absorption is called.
10. What title is given to someone who is mandated to be the Principal Legal Advisor to the
government of Uganda?
11.
Japn
Name the country which won the 2019 Rugby World cup that was held in the Uaited Kingdem.
13
12. Name the language that is most widely spoken on the African continent with over 100 million
speakers.
13. The process by which a legislative body levels charges against a government official for example
a president after questioning his/her integrity is referred to as
14. The official name of money that only exists digitally eg.. Bit coin is
15. ..is a formn of corruption in which aperson uses his or her office to benefit
any person on the basis of that person's religion, sect, tribe or place of origin such as
Christian or Moslem, Protestat or Catholic, Acholi or Munyankore, etc.
16. A building in which objects of historical, scientific, artistic or cultural interest are
stored and
exhibited is called.
17. .is the name of the first solar bus in Africa.
18 The process of starting a computer and putting it into a state of readiness for
operation is
called.
19. According to the World Health Organisation, the
most killer disease in Uganda is
20. The earliest known currency of the East African region was
called
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SECTION 5
ANALYTICAL WRITING SKILLS
(10 MARKS)
Choose one topic fromn the given topics below and write an essay of not more than 300 words.
1. "It is possible to have a corruption free Uganda". Discuss.
2
Itis more important to learn science and mathematics than history and literature. Would you
agree? Use sufficient and appropriate illustrations to make convincing arguments.
3
Violent video games affect children negatively." Using adequate and relevant examples, discuss
this statement.
Mor hvaho
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