By Elimu Assistant Team 
KCSE ENGLISH COMPREHENSION
Read the passage below and then answer the questions that follow.
As we stand, the HIV/Aids pandemic is on the rampage, ravaging the young and old alike. It is time for people to decide for themselves what is good and what is not. And the earlier they do this the better.
The youth, for instance, can rise up with the message of hope and assure everybody that a remnant can remain by just abstaining from premarital sex. And how will they abstain if everywhere they look images of sex stare at them, beckoning alluringly?
The thing to remember is that it is their responsibility to censor the stuff that gets into their minds because this will definitely affect the kind of decisions and lifestyles they adopt. Before reading a pornographic book or magazine, they should pause and ask themselves, “Do I hope to become better after reading this?” The same consideration should be made before watching certain movies and listening to offensive music. Guarding one’s mind against trash requires laying down very clear principles. Discipline is imperative.
For young people, it is important to choose friends wisely. They should determine what they will be doing when they come together. If a friend is not building them up, or is causing them undue pressure, they then should shun him or her. This pressure often takes the form of making those who choose to abstain from pre-marital or illicit sex feel inadequate.
Avoiding idleness is equally important. The wise say that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. The solution is to get busy with constructive activities be they academic, economic, physical or spiritual. Trying out new hobbies such as gardening, playing football, swimming, basket weaving, banking and volunteer work is a step in the right direction.
Parents must also take full responsibility of bringing up their children. They are the first counselors of their children especially in the formative stages. Unless they do something in good time, they will cry alone when the disaster of teenage pregnancies, abortion and HIV/Aids happens right under their own roofs. The onus is upon them to freely discuss issues of sexuality with their children.
Teachers too have a very crucial role to play in the lives of their students. The youth spend a bigger percentage of their waking moments with their teachers. The teachers not only equip them with academic knowledge but also with the right attitude and behaviour. And it is good thing that sex education has been introduced in the school curriculum. Studies by AMREF have shown that, contrary to popular belief, sex education does not promote promiscuity. Rather, it enlightens its recipients on reproductive health issues.
Moreover, places of worship must pitch in with their contribution. They are in an excellent position of imparting the correct moral values of their adherents. Besides, they can provide social and religious activities that will build youth up spiritually and mentally.
Finally, it is incumbent upon the government to put in place legislation governing what citizens, especially the youth, are exposed to in the form of print or electronic media.
In conclusion, the future generation is keenly watching us to see if we will wreck or salvage the boat of their survival. Every member of our society has a part to play in enhancing morality. It is only by doing this that we can hope to check the onslaught of HIV/Aids.
(Adapted from the “The Christian Student” Vol. 1/2001)
Questions
- Why is there need to make a decision soon. (2 marks)
………………………………………………………………………….. - What is pornography and how do you think it influences one’s behaviour. (3 marks)
……………………………………………………………………….. - Rewrite the following sentences in indirect speech. They should pose and ask themselves “Do I hope to become better after reading this?”(1 mark)
……………………………………………….. - Which words does the author use to show displeasure with some kinds of film music? (2 marks)
…………………………………………………………………. - What sort of friends does the writer appear to approve. (2 marks)
…………………………………………………….. - In note form, give evidence to show that every member of the society has a role to play in enhancing morality. (4 marks)
……………………………………………………………………………… - What is the writer’s attitude towards pornography (1 mark)
……………….. - Explain the meaning of the following words and expressions as used in the passage. (4 marks)
i) Beckoning alluringly
……………………………………………..
(ii) Adherents
……………………………………………
(iii) Incumbent upon
……………………………………………
(iv) Onslaught
…………………………………………..
KCSE ENGLISH COMPREHENSION MARKING SCHEME
- There is need to make a decision soon as the HIV/Aids pandemic is on the rampage, ravaging the young and the old alike hence people need to save themselves from its rampages. (2 marks)
- Pornography refers to books, magazines or other materials that can cause sexual excitement. It influences ones behaviour negatively as it pollutes ones mind to behave in a morally unacceptable way. (3 marks)
- They should pause and ask themselves whether they hope to become better after reading that (book or magazine) (1 mark)
- Trash Offensive (2 marks)
- The author appears to approve friends that build each other up and those who do not exort undue pressure to others for instance, by making them engage in premarital sex. (2 marks)
- (i) Youth – choose friends wisely
(ii) Parents – counsel their children in formative stages.
(iii) Teachers – Equip students with academic knowledge and the right attitude and behaviour.
(iv) Government – Put in place legislation governing what citizens especially the youth are exposed to inform of the media.
Instructions (If not in point form deduct ½ the total mark) - Attitude of disapproval, hate, dislike, critical, contemptuous (Wrong spelling – do not award)
(2 marks) - (i) tempting, enticing
(ii) followers
(iii) responsibility of, obligation of, duty of
(iv) invasion, attack
