NAME……………………….………………………… CLASS……. ADM:................

INDEX NUMBER……………………… SIGNATURE…………………………………

101/1
ENGLISH
PAPER 1
FUNCTIONAL SKILLS, CLOZE TEST AND ORAL SKILLS
OPENER EXAMINATION: TERM 2 2024

TIME: 2 HOURS

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES.

1) Write your name and index number in the spaces provided.

2) Answer all questions in this question paper.
3) All your answers should be written in the spaces provided in this question paper.
4) Contains five printed pages.
5) All answers should be written in English.

FOR EXAMINER’S USE ONLY.

Question Maximum Score Candidate’s Score

1 20

2 10

3 30

Total 60

This paper consists of 5 printed pages. Candidates should check the question paper to
ascertain that all pages are printed as indicated and that no questions/pages are missing.
1. FUNCTIONAL WRITING (20 MARKS)
Your school drama club has produced The Samaritan, a play by John Lara. You wish to stage it
for public viewing at a nearby social hall. As the secretary of the club,
a) Write an EMAIL addressed to the hall administrator enquiring about the conditions for being
allowed to use the hall. Give reasons why you think it’s important to stage the play. Do not
forget to copy in your principal. (13 marks)

b) Assuming that the hall administrator permitted your club to use the hall, write a NOTICE to
the public informing them of the planned performance. (7 marks)

2. CLOZE TEST (10 MARKS)

Read the passage below and fill in each blank with the most appropriate word.

We all have certain goals in life. Goals vary among people. For someone, a goal would be to get
…(1)………………… of debt, while for another person it would be to …(2)…………….. a
house, while for someone else, it could be a …3…………………… in an exotic location.

…(4)……………………, a bad goal can sap your energy and distract you …(5)……………...
making progress. A good goal, on the other hand, can provide the clarity and motivation you
need to …(6)……………………. your dreams.

…(7)…………………., people confuse a goal …(8)…………………. a wish. A goal is …(9)

……………………….. from a wish. For example you may want to be a rich person; this is a
wish and not a goal. A goal has to be realistic, measurable and has to be achieved….(10)
……………….. a specific time frame.

3. ORAL SKILLS (30 MARKS)

a) Read the following poem and answer the questions that follow.

The Seed Shop

Here in a quiet and dusty room they lie,
Faded as crumbled stone or shifting sand,
Forlorn as ashes, shriveled scentless dry,
Meadows and gardens running through my hand.

In this brown husk a dale of hawthorn dreams,

A cedar in this narrow cell is thrust,
That will drink deeply of century's streams,
These lilies shall make summer on my dust.

Here in their safe and simple house of death,

Sealed in their shells, a million roses leap,
Here I can blow a garden with my breath,
 And in my hand a forest lie asleep.

Questions

i. Describe the rhyme scheme of the poem above. (2 marks)

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ii. What is the effect of the rhythm in the poem? (1 marks)

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iii. How else has the poet achieved the effect in (ii) above? (4 marks)

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iv. Which words would you stress in the last line of stanza 1 and why? (3 marks)

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b) Write another word pronounced as the ones given below. (3 marks)

i. Wait ……………………………………

ii. Sew ……………………………………

iii. Grown ……………………………….

c) Indicate the silent letters in the following words. (3 marks)

i. champagne ………………………

ii. parliament ………………………

iii. apostle ………………………

d) Group the words below under the column containing the sound that the highlighted letter(s)
bear. (2 marks)

An example has been done for you

Tissue, Caucasian , Division, Passion, Cautious, Leisure, Solution, Vision, Exposure, Chef

/ᶴ/ /ᶾ/

Tissue Caucasian

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e) A teacher of English was in class and after some time he realized that the learners had lost
concentration. What cues made him to arrive at this conclusion? (3 marks)

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f) What should the above teacher do to regain the students’ concentration? (2 marks)

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g) You are having a group discussion with your colleagues on the set text “Fathers of Nations.”
One of your group mates is contributing to the discussion but you are eager to chip in with
something. State any three cues that would tell you that it is your turn to make a contribution. (3
marks)

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h) Read the telephone conversation below and answer the question that follows.

(A Mr. Kamau calls wishing to speak to Mr. Onyango, the store-keeper, who is not in at the time
of the call. Mr. Mwema receives the call and records the message for Mr. Onyango.)

Miss Mwema: Good morning, Homebased Care for Youth Counselling,

How may I help you?

Mr Kamau: Good morning to you. May I speak to Mr Onyango please?

Miss Mwema: I ‘m afraid he is not in at the moment. May I take a message for him?

Mr Kamau: Yes please. Tell him that Mr Kamau of Graphic Designs Centre called to Confirm
the order for the display posters.

Miss Mwema: I will. May I have your contact please?

Mr Kamau: My telephone number is 0711200232

Miss Mwema: 0-7-1-1-2-0-0-2-3-2 (As she writes down)

Mr Kamau: Yes, that is the number. Who am I speaking to?

Miss Mwema: Miss Mwema the receptionist.

Mr Kamau: Thank you Miss Mwema. Have a good day.

Miss Mwema: Have a good day too and thank you for calling.

a) Identify four telephone conversation skills that have been exhibited by the speakers in the
conversation above to make it successful. (4 marks)

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