FIND QUESTIONS FOR KCSE 2022 EXPECTED ENGLISH PR 3 ANSWERS

1. Imaginative Composition. (Compulsory)                                                         (20 marks)

 Either

1. Write a story beginning:

He steadily walked towards me with a broad, warm smile, but as we shook hands, I realized he was avoiding eye contact…

• It must be a story, if not deduct 4 marks AD. (Irrelevant)
• It must start with the given sentence, if not deduct 2 marks AD (rubric)
• The candidate is expected to be creative in bringing in an event or a situation that relates to the given sentence.

Or

• Write a composition to illustrate the saying: “Do not count your chicks before they are  hatched”

• Must be a story that sums up the proverb. Not an explanation of the proverb.
• Must contain a moral lesson.
• The story should be credible

2. The Compulsory Set Text.                                                                                (20 marks)

Henrik Ibsen, A Doll’s House

Secrets can cause agony in relationships. With reference to Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, write an essay in support of this statement.

In A Doll’s House, it is evident that keeping secrets can cause strains in relationships. A relationship that lacks sincerity and openness usually suffers adverse consequences. Nora keeps many secrets from Torvald, which eventually costs her marriage.

Nora secretly borrows a loan of 250 pounds from Krogstad to facilitate a trip to Italy that is recommended by the doctors after her husband Torvald Helmer falls dreadfully ill. When they got married, Torvald left his job. He wanted to earn more money. During the first year, he works early and late and ends up overworking himself and falling dreadfully ill. The doctors advise her to take him to Italy for a rest. Torvald does not know what dangerous condition he is in and Nora has to keep it that way. She tries tears and entreaties, asks him to kind and indulgent to her, says she would love to travel abroad like other young brides and even hints that he might raise a loan. Torvald dismisses all these patronizingly as whims and caprice. Having run out of options, Nora is forced to devise a way out of the difficulty. She decides to borrow money to facilitate the trip. Nora keeps this a secret from Torvald to protect his manly independence. Knowing he owed her anything would be painful and humiliating and would upset their mutual relations and ruin their beautiful home. Keeping this secret takes a toll on Nora since she also has to secretly repay the debt without Torvald’s knowledge. She is also forced to save part of her house keeping money while trying to ensure the children and Torvald maintain a decent lifestyle.

The Forgery. Apart from borrowing money without Torvald’s knowledge, Nora also hides the fact that she forged her father’ signature.Nora is a very secretive person. When she borrows money from Krogstad, she commits fraud on the process but keeps it to herself. When her husband was ill, she borrows 250 pounds from Krogstad because she did not know anyone else to go to. Krogstad promised to get her the money on the security of a bond. In the bond, there were lines that consisted Nora’s father a surety for the money. He was supposed to sign those lines. He should have inserted the date on which he signed the paper. Nora’s father dies on 29^th of September but his signature is dated 2^nd of October. The date 2^nd of October is written in Nora’s handwriting. Nora confesses that she committed a forgery. She does not ask her father for his signature because he was so ill himself and she couldn’t bear troubling him with the news of her husband’s condition. She could also not give up the trip to save hu her husband’s life (pg. 40). Nora is forced to commit fraud to spare her dying father anxiety and care and in order to save her husband life. She also says Krogstad puts so many difficulties in her way. When Torvald learns of the secret it ruins their marriage.

Nora tells her children not to tell Torvald about Krogstad’s visit. When Torvald learns that Krogstad was at the house even after Nora lies about it. He chides her. He also tells her that Krogstad s forged someone’s name. Since Krogstad did not openly confess his fault and take punishment Torvald says, he is a hypocrite who poisons his home and infects his children with germs of evil. He adds that deceitful mothers ruin their children.

Nora secretly works behind Torvald’s back, after Nora borrows the loan she has to work tirelessly to repay it. She shocks Mrs. Linde when she tells her that she has to work to get money to repay the loan. Moreover, she constantly asks for money from Torvald. Apart from saving the house keeping money she receives from Torvald, she has had to find other means of earning money. She got some copying work to do and she locked herself up writing every evening until late. It was so difficult that she wishes she had a rich old man to help her offset the loan. She suffers because she procured the loan in secret and cannot ask her husband for any form of help.

Nora withholds information about Torvald’s ill health, which forces her to take the loan without Torvald’s approval. When Torvald finds out about this, he is angry and fails to appreciate Nora’s sacrifice. The wonderful thing that Nora had waited for doesn’t happen and this strains their marriage to a point it breaks.

Nora also hides the details about who truly signed the bond and when Krogstad finds out about the truth, he uses the information to blackmail Nora which strains their relationship.

When Dr. Rank finally reveals his secret that he has been harboring romantic feelings for  Nora, Nora is disappointed and angry. This destroys their friendship.

In conclusion, it is important for people to be open to those close to them and not hold back any secrets as this might destroy friendships and relationships.

3. The Optional Set Texts.                                                                                   (20 Marks )

Answer any one of the following questions.

Either

1. The Short Story

 Chris Wanjala (Ed), Memories We Lost and Other Stories

“In times of confinement, it is hope and positive thinking that creates comfort.” Drawing illustrations from Siddhartha Gigoo’s “Umbrella Man” write an essay to support this statement.

Sample Introduction

The short story, ‘The Umbrella Man’ shows how optimism in the midst of challenges/ being locked up in a mental asylum makes life bearable. / Any relevant introduction.

Possible points.

1. Due to his calm disposition and obedience, the umbrella man is given the privilege to saunter of the gate of the asylum and spend some time in the streets nearby.

1. Number 7 constantly hopes for rain, the rain symbolizes life. This is revealed in his conversations with the barber.

1. Number 7 finds solace and company in his umbrella. The umbrella becomes the hope in his life.

1. Sometimes when he is lonely, number 7 recreates the image of an imaginary child in his sleep and communes with him. He soothes the child to peace and quietness in the midst of life’s challenges. The imaginary child therefore provides companionship to the umbrella man during his confinement.

• Number 7 reprimands the puny little fellow for being pessimistic.

• Finally Number 7 is hopeful about freedom, in fact he is released from the mental asylum on the same day he is released.

In conclusion, remaining optimistic in moments of sadness makes it easy to cope with life’s challenges/ any relevant conclusion.

Or

• Drama

David Mulwa, Inheritance

‘In whatever you do, whether good or bad expect a pay.’ Write a composition in support of the statement using illustrations from the Drama, Inheritance.

Sample Introduction

What goes around comes around. /Such characters as Lacuna Kasoo, Chipande, Reverend Sangoi and the colonialists receive a pay for their actions. / Leaders who are loved like Rev. Sangoi are rewarded with good smile while Lacuna who is ruthless is rewarded accordingly.

P (i) Colonialists

P3,5 – The colonialists who had occupied Kutula by forcefully grabbing the natives’ land (p8) are forcefully/violently overthrown.  They accused the natives of breach of trust – attacking farms, factories, and businesses – leaders walk tails tucked p.46. Thorne complains about colonial office banning the use of whip on natives. He refers to them as idiots. Meninger says African natives are full of utter confusion. Kutula natives rise against the colonial government leading to independence. They are forced out without Kutula paying their debt. (p135-136) They are embarrassed.

P (ii) Lacuna’s brutality

Lacuna who leads Kutula with iron fist (p15,41,45, 49) is overthrown by the citizens (p132, 133, 136) and leadership handed over to Rev. Sangoi. Many people who felt that Sangoi was more qualified for leadership post than him disappeared mysteriously. He is inhuman and corrupt and he oppresses the people. He too gets his dues accordingly. He takes loans and makes the people pay very high taxes. He oppresses them and uses martial law to rule them as he is the commander in Chief (p115). He puts people who are illiterate in offices just because they are his clansmen.  (The overthrowing of Lacuna must come out.)

P (iv) Tamina’s land

Chipande forces Tamina to sell her land in Bukelenge to him for peanuts but later suffers for it. He also makes sure no one gets licence to grow coffee. She is forced to be a casual laborer at the farm. Chipande is accused of taking all farms on the mountains after the exit of whites – (p24, 29). When Lacuna’s government is overthrown, Chapande, Lacuna and Malipoa are seized and confined amid cheering and jeers – embarrassment – as they wait to face charges for their crimes.

(The underlined parts, if well brought out will allow the candidate transit to a fair)

P (v) Lulu

Lacuna who forcefully takes Lulu Zen Melo, a school girl as his second wife is dethrone. She is rescued from confinement within the palace during the revolution. She refuses to marry him. When she is free, she slaps him for confining her against her wish for one month. P. 117, 118, 119, 120-121, 129-130

(Without slap, do award beyond a thin)

P (vi) Leadership

The people repay Sangoi who does well to the people of Kutula with leadership and love. During the commemoration, they shout down Lacuna and ask Sangoi to be their rightful leader. The elderly leader even addresses Sangoi as the president and swore his unwavering loyalty. He forces the school children to sing his praises yet he knows that the people do not like him. Eventually, they choose her to lead them into rebelling against Lacuna Kasoo as she is still a good leader.

Conclusion

In conclusion, no good or bad goes unpaid.

Or

• The Novel

John Steinbeck, The Pearl

“One’s negative personality can be the cause of their downfall.” Referring to Kino in John Steinbeck’s The Pearl write an easy to justify this assertion.

(The candidate is expected to develop the two parts of the question adequately PERSONALITY and DOWNFALL; giving clear textual details to score a fair and full. For merely mentioning any one part, award thin.)

Introduction

Kino’s greedy, violent, chauvinistic and over-ambitious natures are some of the personalities that makes not only him but the family suffer.

D (i) Coyotitos death

Due to over-ambition, Kino loses his son Coyotito. When Kino finds the pearl, his desire to change his life blinds him. He hopes to take Coyotito to school. He says that his son will go to school and learn writing. That he will know and they will know through him. They will be free. Even when he suffers, attacks and physical pain because of the pearl his ambition clouds his reasoning.  He refuses to let go off the pearl. He flees the village with Juana and Coyotito with a view to protect and sell his pearl, hoping to use the funds to educate his son. Coyotito is killed by one of the three trackers at the mountains as they were fleeing to the north. Kino suffers the pain of losing his only son.

(Kino’s wild thoughts of the great achievements after finding the pearl MUST be clearly explored; not mentioned for a candidate to score beyond a thin)

D (ii) Physical pain

Kino’s cruelty makes him suffer physical pain because of the pearl. Kino suffers attack after attack. He is determined to get his hands on new material possession. He suffers in the process. When someone tries to steal his pearl, he injures his forehead while trying to protect it. It his sole hope of new wealth. The night they came from the dealers, Kino is attacked outside his hut and slashed. There is a deep cut on his cheek from his ear to his chin. Juana pleads with him to get rid of the evil pearl but he refuses since is so ambitious to give Coyotito education and to acquire wealth.  He is attacked again after striking Juana. He manages to kill the man but is left with injuries. Too much ambition causes pain.

(To score beyond a thin, a candidate MUST clearly describe any one episode that Kino acts cruelly.)

D (iii) Cold relationship

Because of his chauvinistic nature, Kino would do anything to protect his pearl and acquire wealth. Juana suffers this violent nature when she tries to throw the pearl away. He strikes Juana in the face with a clenched fist. She falls among the boulders. He then kicks her in the side. This destroys their peaceful co-existence as a poor but happy (contended) family. This is despite Juana’s constant plea with him to destroy the pearl or throw it back to the sea for it was evil – It will destroy us all.  P59-60 Disregarding Juana’s advice, he says he is a man.

(To go beyond a thin, the candidate MUST describe Kino’s insistence that he is a man and disregard for Juana’s counsel)

D (iv) Pearl buyers

Kino being naïve in matters about value of the pearl made him not to know how to bargain for the real value of the pearl. Kino supposed the pearl buyers were individuals acting alone, bidding against one another for the pearls the fishermen brought in. little does he know there was only one pearl buyer with many hands. Little was it known to him that the price had been agreed upon. P64-76

(To score beyond a thin, the candidate MUST describe the one pearl buyer synchrony giving clear textual details)

D (v) Racist views

Kino’s racist views make him hate the doctor even before he presents his case. He thought that the doctor was not of his people. He was of the race that for nearly four hundred years had beaten and starved and robbed and despised his race. (p26)He suffers self-inflicted pain when he thinks of the doctor as belonging to that other race. He struck the gate a crushing blow with his fist – his knuckles split and blood flowed down between his fingers. P29

(To move beyond a thin, the candidate MUST contextually describe Kino’s hatred of the doctor.)

Conclusion

In conclusion, Kino’s greedy excessive ambition causes pain/misery/suffering.