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ENGLISH
PAPER 1
(Functional Writing, Cloze Test and Oral Skills)
PRE-MOCK EXAM
MARCH 2024
TIME: 2 HOURS

NAME: ………………………………………………....... ADM. NO: …….....CLASS:

….......

Instructions to students
 Write your name, class and admission number in the spaces provided.
 Answer all questions in the spaces provided.

Question Maximum Score Student’s Score

1. Functional writing 20

2. Cloze test 10

3. Oral skills 30

TOTAL 60

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1. Functional writing (20 marks)

Imagine you are the games teacher in your school. Write a letter to the manager of Lion Sports
House shop inquiring whether they have five items you need in your department in preparation
for the regional competitions. You particularly need to know the cost of those items, if there is
any discount on them and if transportation will be offered within a specified time.

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2. CLOZE TEST (10 marks)

With online content creation taking (1)…………...........the entertainment sector by storm,

short video content (2).................................also won many netizens' hearts, as evidenced by the
rising numbers of short video content platforms in Kenya. The (3)...........................................of
content creators has likewise been (4)………………...rise during this era when any online user
can (5)......................................... content from anywhere, provided they have a good smartphone.
The platforms have become a (6).......................................... in which money flows, creating job
opportunities (7)……………....…....... thousands of content creators, who have, in turn, become
influencers and internet sensations.

Talk of positivity! According to a 2021 report by Data Reportal, there (8)

…………………... 21.75 million internet users in Kenya, with an internet penetration rate of 40
per cent. The year 2021 was a (9)………………………... period for the short video content
creators, but industry players say 2022 is going to be (10)....................................... greater.

ORAL SKILLS (30 marks)

(a) Read the poem below and then answer the following questions.

Today, the weather feels like heaven's bliss!

The balm breeze and beautiful soft blue
Of sky above so makes me think of love.
I feel time's right to write a charming poem
Alone, together with my thoughtful views;
The day's bright glow morphs into sunny smiles
As sun speaks out to tell me all's okay.
Free gift, true fact, sun is my greatest joy!
Oh, loveliness of day you melt my heart!
The words are humming, coming to my mind...
Not nasty, snippy ones, evoked by rain,
But sweet, melodious, soft, sing-song ones
That move what's seen to my poetic scene
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To pant such happiness when weather's fine.

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Questions

(i) Give two ways through which rhythm has been achieved in the above poem. (4 marks)
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(ii) How would you say the last line of the poem? (2 marks)
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(iii) Identify a word from the poem that is pronounced the same way as: (3 marks)

i. Blew-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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ii. Son--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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iii. Whether---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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(b) You have attended a function that is teemed with people from various backgrounds. Why
would you respect their personal space throughout this gathering? (3 marks)

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(c) Jane is believed to be a poor silent reader. Mention three things that ascertain that Jane
is a poor reader. (3 marks)

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(d) Read the riddling convention below and then provide an illustration for the parts
identified after it. (6 marks)

Challenger: Riddle, riddle!

Respondent: Riddle come
Challenger: What is full of holes but still holds water?
Respondent: A rack
Challenger: You are wrong. Try again.
Respondent: A bed sheet.
Challenger: Give me a prize
Respondent: We have given you a boat.
Challenger: The answer is a sponge.

Questions
(i) Guesses.
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(ii) Invitation.
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(iii) Solution
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(iv) Acceptance.
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(v) Pose.
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(vi) Prize

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(e) Imagine that you are a journalist with one of the leading media houses in Kenya. You
have been assigned to interview one of the prominent businessmen in the country. What
four things would you do before the interview? (4 marks)

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f) Read the Conversation below and then complete it with appropriate expressions

Nadia: Hallo, my name is Nadia. Welcome to our university.

Alicia: Hi, I'm Alicia.
Nadia: Nice to meet you.
Alicia: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1 mark)
Nadia: Where are you from, Alicia?
Alicia: I am from Nicaragua. How about you?
Nadia: I am from France.
Alicia: Is this your first time in London?
Nadia:
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(1 mark)
Alicia: I see. You been studying here for all that time?
Nadia: Yes, this is my third year here. I have got more than a year to go.

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Alicia:
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(1 mark)
Nadia: I'm studying English and Literature. I want to be a linguist. How about you?
Alicia: Sounds cool. I want to be a lawyer.
Nadia: That's great!
Alicia: I have always wanted to study abroad, so I came to London.
Nadia: Nice love it here too. I'm actually planning to live here even after I graduate.
Alicia: Perfect, you are already from Europe, so it shouldn't be that difficult for you.
Nadia: Yeah, I will just need to convince my parents, what about you?
Alicia: I love London, but I am just here for school. I will need to go back once I graduate.
Nadia:
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(2 marks)
Alicia: Thank you! You too, and have a good class.

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