DISTINCTION SCHOOL BASED ASSESSMENT TEST

STANDARD EIGHT - 2020

ENGLISH: LANGUAGE [BJ
,§.jij§,fa;•
Time: 1 hr 40 mins

Fill in the blank spaces numbered 1 to 15 with the best alternative from the choices given.
Doubtlessly, 1 of us 2 ourselves patriots. And we have 3 to prove
it; we cheer our Harambee Stars 4 when they are playing international 5 .What's
more, when our 6 are competing in foreign capitals, we 7 them 8 all the
enthusiasm we 9 muster.Actually, some of us 10 been observed to heave and
pant 11 rhythm with our fellow Kenyan competitors as we 12 them on television.
Wonderful and 13 though it is to identify with, and celebrate the 14 of our
countrymen and women, we need to do 15 more to earn the label 'patriot'.

1. A. few B.much C. many D. none

2. A.consider B. considers C. think D.thinks
3. A.details B.information C.news D.evidence
4. A. horse B.hoarse C.even D. deaf
5.
6.
A.world cup
A.athletees .. B. matches
B.athletics
C.champions
C.athletes
D.leagues
D.runners
7. A. route for B. root for C.route at D.root at
8. A.with B.in C.and D.by
9. A. could B. would C.should D. can
10. A.were B.had C.have D.has
11. A.by 8. off C.on ;J, i11
12. A. look B. watch C.observe D.stare
13. A.noble B. nobble C. vain D.absurd
14. A. exports B.exploits C.exploit D. exploitation
15. A. many B.alot C. a lot D. most
For questions 16 to 18, choose the For questions 19 to 21, choose the most
correct form of the verb to fill in the suitable preposition to fill the blanks.
blanks. 19. I was congratulated ____ being the
16. The terrorist was arrested and ---- top student last year.
the following day. A.on B.for
A.hang C.by D. with
B. hunged 20. All the players practised prior ____
C. hung the final match.
D. hanged A.for B.to
17. I was advised to stop _____ in the C.with D. of
hot sun due to my healthy. 21. The headmaster ciSked me to write to him
A.laying B. lie confidence.
C.lying D. lieing A.with
18. Several good songs were _____ B.for
yesterday. C. on
A.sung B. sang D. in
C. singing D. to sing
DISTINCTION 001 - 2020 STD 8 ENGLISH PG 1
 -
For questions 22 and 23. choose the For questions 24 and 25. choose the
word closest in meaning to the one correctly spelt words.
underlined. 24. A. Fullscap
22. We hardly go on trips in this school. B. Recieve
A. always B. never C. Definite
C. frequently D. rarely D. Embarassment
23. My friend proved to be very cunning. 25. A. Occured B. Occasion
A. shy B. stupid C. Fourty D. Until!
C. foolish D. bright
Read the passage below and then and the questions 26 to 38.
Jacob started smoking and taking alcohol when he was in Form Three, after having been
influenced by his peers. He was introduced to drugs by a "friend" who lived in the same dormitory
with him. At first he was reluctant, but later he started to feel it wasn't a bad idea after all. He had
been a very bright student, but now his performance had deteriorated markedly. And because of
this new lifestyle, he narrowly made it to one of our public universities.
By the time he joined the university, Jacob had become clinically a drug addict. The addiction
was so severe that he would even steal money from his colleagues to buy drugs. In the meantime,
he was barely making it in his studies. He would skip lectures and tutorials; and he even missed
an examination. The university doctors reported that he was suffering from drug dependency, and
he was subsequently discontinued.
After being sent away from the university, Jacob became a destitute. For a while he kept
away from his family: he didn't know how to explain to them what had happened. And being cut
off from family and relatives meant he didn't have anybody to help, nay, to feed him, on a regular
basis. He, therefore, went on the streets and became a beggar. But being a beggar in the streets
of Nairobi is a step away from being a pickpocket and a shoplifter, and that is exactly what he
became.
The inevitable happened. The law caught up with him, and the poor fellow was locked up
for two years.
Jacob was released from jan last year; and as I write this essay, he is trying to recover from
his drug addiction. He sees a counsellor regularly, and tries to interact with his family, relatives
and friends. At one time, his parents had given up on their son, but after counselling, they have
taken the view that Jacob was sick and is now recovering. The fact that the sickness was self­
induced is neither here nor there.
During the period of his addiction, this young man was always withdrawn and
uncommunicative. It was ,as if he lived in a world of his own. Occasionally, he would be violent
and abusive. But now he is warmer and more personable. He talks more openly with members
of his family, and he also tries to reach out to his friends.
In order to fully recover, Jacob must do three things.
First, he must completely come out of the stage of being in denial. He needs to face the
unpleasant fact that he was addicted to drugs and drug addiction which is an emotional as well as
a medical condition. Being in denial is tantamount to refusing to accept the reality. It is refusing to
accept the truth, to swallow the bitter pill; and as they say, truth shall set us free.

STD 8 ENGLISH PG 2
26. Acco�ding to the first r:,aragraph, it is true to 32. On the streets, Jacob did all the following
say that Jacob. except
A. took to drugs in Form Three. A. banditry B. pick pocketing
B. was not yet a teenager when he started C. shoplifting D. begging.
smoking and taking alcohol. 33. The phrase 'the inevitable happened'
C. had a friend who was already an addict means that
D. knew from the beginning that drugs A. the unavoidable came to pass
were good.
B. the unknown caught up with him
27. His performance in school
C. the worst came to pass
A. remained above average
B. was not affected in any way D. the unexpected came to pass
C. went down drastically 34. After his two year- jail term, Jacob
D. allowed him very good grades: A. continued with his drugs use
28. In the final exam, Jacob B. was rejected by all
A. narrowly made it C. got support from his family
B. narrowly misused the marks D. started a rehabilitation centre.
C. was exemplary 35. All the following describe Jacob during his
D. failed. addiction except
29. To sustain his drug addiction, Jacob A. affable B. withdrawn
A. was clinically a drug addict C. rude D. violent.
B. stole money from friends 36. The word 'personable' as used in the
C. stole valuables from Kith and Kin passage is a
D. barely made it in his studies. A. noun B. adjective
30. Why was Jacob discontinued with his C. adverb D. verb.
university education?
37. Being in denial means that Jacob
A. He become a thief.
A. knows he is addicted to drugs
B. He failed in his exams.
C. Hewasdiagnosed with drug dependency. B. thinks he is not addicted to drugs
D. He skipped lectures. C. has denied his family members
31. The phrase 'Jacob became a destitute' D. is not sick at all.
means that he 38. Jacob's predicament can be summed up as
A. was now an orphan A. a fool and his money are soon parted
B. was now an illegitimate child B. all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
C. was now a destroyed character C. every dog has its day
D. had no means to provide for himself. D. a small leak will sink a great ship.
Read the passage below and answer questions 39 to 50.
Some people imagine that life would be much more interesting if they were allowed to do
exactly what they wanted. But in my view, such thinking is mistaken because behaviour that is
not controlled would lead to anarchy. Just imagine what would happen if every motorist drove on
the right or the left or in the middle of the road, and ignored traffic lights or speed limits. In a city
like Nairobi, one would probably be stuck in a jam for a month, covering a distance of a hundred
metres on a good day. When everybody observes the rules, things run smoothly. ,
Obedience is not a sign of weakness or cowardice. Rather, it is the recognition of the fact that
respecting lawful authority leads to social order and harmony. Obedience means doing what is
expected. It is also the acknowledgement that the common good transcends individual interests.
Of course we must carefully think about what others tell us to do. We must not blindly
follow every instruction. For example, if someone tells you to commit a crime, you have an
obligation to defy such an order however senior the person is. What we should obey are rules or
instructions that are reasonable; in other words, those that are meant to promote the common
good.
Now, why do some people find it difficult to obey parents, teachers or other authorities? The
main reason is that they are self-centred. Their primary motivation is to pursue only those things
STD 8 ENGLISH PG 3
that benefit them, those that advance their private interests. And because obedience involves
doing what others tell them, and frequently having to sacrifice their own desires, their spirits
rebel. However, if they would consider the benefits of obedience, they would want to nurture this
virtue.
In our everyday existence, we unconsciously obey many rules. No one, for instance, forces us
to eat a balanced diet or obey a doctor's instruction. Many of us also report to school or places of
work when we are supposed to. If you own a car, no one forces you to take it for service. Why do
we do these things almost automatically? Obviously, it is because any act of disobedience would
have grave consequences. So, obedience leads to a harmonious, stress-free life.
Young people often find it difficult to accept rules and regulations because they think they are
unfair or old-fashioned. It is true that some requirements may be illogical, but it pays to consider
the motive behind the requirement before dismissing it offhand. Moreover, people we regard
as old-fashioned may have a lot of experience and insight. Many have defied their parents'
instructions and suffered much heartache later. It should be encouraging to know that even
when some parents and teachers appear harsh and uncompromising, they have the best of
intentions.
39. According to the author, uncontrolled 45. Why do some people disobey?
behaviour would lead to A. They are egocentric.
A. interesting life B. lawlessness B. They are tactful.
C. ignorance D. freedom. C. They are kind.
40. If there was anarchy on the roads in Nairobi D. They are sensitive
A. traffic snarl ups would be endless 46. Obedience is a virtue. What is the opposite
B. traffic would flow smoothly of virtue?
C. people would only travel for a hundred A Vice B. Fortitude
kilometres C. Prudence D. Rectitude
D. many cars would break down. 47. The phrase 'grave consequences' as
41. Which one of the following would not lead used in the passage would mean
to clogged traffic in Nairobi? A deadly results B. serious results
A. Driving on the wrong side. C. ultimate results D. obvious results
B. Disregarding speed limits. 48. Obedience leads to
C. Covering a distance of a hundred metres. A stressed free life
D. Ignoring traffic lights. B. a harmonious life with stress
42. All th.e following define obedience except C. stress-free life and harmony
A. respecting lawful authority D. automatic stress free life.
B. doing as expected of you 49. According to the last paragraph, it is true to
C. as a sign of weakness or cowardice say that
D. the common good overrides self interest. A when all leaders appear harsh, they
43. 'We must not blindly follow every have the best of intention
instruction' means that B. some parents may appear
A. all that glitters is not gold uncompromising but they have very
B. one should look before leaping good intentions
C. birds of a feather flock together C. young people disobey rules because
D. every dog has its day. they are old fashioned
44. The writer, in paragraph two, advises us to D. many of the requirements are illogical.
A. obey all rules and instructions 50. Which one of the following would be the
B. obey all rules but not all instructions best title for the passage?
C. disregard all fair rules A Obedience as a sign of weakness.
D. obey rules and instructions that promote B. The old fashioned.
the common good. C. Anarchy in the streets.
D. The sweet fruits of obedience.
STD 8 ENGLISH PG 4