NAME: _________________________________ADM NO____________CLASS:_________
DATE: ______________________________ SIGN: _______________________
FORM THREE ENGLISH
END-TERM 1 EXAM, 2025
INSTRUCTIONS: (Answer all the questions) TIME: (2 ½ HOURS)
1. COMPREHENSION
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
Everyone has struggled with lack of confidence at one time or another. More so, confidence that may have been
built over the years may be lost when we face new challenges, make mistakes, fail or receive criticism. It is probable that
one of the most common wishes for many people is to feel more confident in various spheres of life. Building confidence
must be something you want for yourself and not just for appearance’s sake. Confidence is beneficial in business, at the
work place, in your social life and even in your interpersonal relationships. It can make the difference between success
and failure in business, getting a promotion or a pay rise, meeting someone interesting at a party and even successfully
disciplining your children when you become a parent.
Some people have a higher level of confidence than others, but this should not discourage those who lack it. Like
many things in life, confidence can be learned and even perfected. Most people have areas in their lives when they could
be more confident and thus have better results. There are various practical ways about building confidence. However,
these are not necessarily quick fixes or overnight solutions. Building confidence should happen gradually over a period of
time.
Spending time thinking about how little confidence you have is not helpful and will only discourage you more. It
may be easier said than done but working on something and getting it done is a useful confidence builder. Stop relying on
your feelings and spring into action. Dale Carnegie, a famous American writer, once said that ‘inaction breeds doubt and
fear. Action breeds confidence and courage’. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit at home and think about it. Go out and
get it.
Facing your fears is another confidence builder. Begin by recognizing that many fears are based on
misjudgements and wrong perceptions. Yes, even your memory about something may be skewed and inaccurate, making
you believe something that is actually not true. You should learn to develop a healthy curiosity filled with anticipation and
enthusiasm about various situations and tasks you have been fearful of. With time it will enable you to be more open to
experience and put less focus on your fear.
Lack of preparation is a big source of low self-confidence. You have no idea what to expect and this makes you
fear the unknown. You are not sure what you are afraid of. Most of the times, low self-confidence can be solved by
adequate preparation. Be aware what to expect and how to deal with whatever is at hand.
Confidence does not really come assured of success. It also comes from knowing that failure is not the end of the
world. Failure never feels good, but it gives us valuable lessons if we are keen enough to learn. Failure makes us stronger.
Again, remember that not everyone is busy monitoring your every success or failure. They are too preoccupied with their
own issues. Therefore, do not spend too much time thinking what people will say about your failure.
Despite being aware of what makes you lack confidence and how to build it, confidence will not always come
naturally. Sometimes you have to fake it till you make it. You may have to face intimidating situations head on while
telling yourself that you are ready for them, even when you know that you do not feel that way. This may go a long way in
helping you to actually feel confident. Interestingly, the people who may regard you as more confident than you could also
be using this technique. Also, consider your strengths and recognize the fact that just like everyone else, you have
something to offer.
QUESTIONS
a. Why does the author say that we should build our confidence? (3mks)
, b. Why should one not compare themselves with others? (2mks)
c. How does developing a healthy curiosity enable you to develop confidence? (2mks)
d. Make notes on the practical ways in which one can build their confidence. (4mks)
e. What is the author’s attitude towards the subject matter? (3mks)
f. Like many things in life, confidence can be learned and even perfected. (Rewrite the sentence beginning: Confidence…)
(1mk)
g. How does the writer reassure those who lack confidence? (2mks)
h. Explain the meaning of the following expressions as used in the excerpt. (3mks)
Breeds –
Preoccupied –
Fake it till you make it –
2. FATHERS OF THE NATIONS BY PAUL B. VITTA
Read the excerpt below and then answer the questions that follow.
Professor Kimani joined the University of Nairobi directly as a senior lecturer. Even before taking off, he was
already flying. There was a reason. Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda has just dismantled their University of East Africa.
Kenya’s part of the university, now renamed the University of Nairobi, found itself with a vacancy it had to fill
immediately in its Institute of Development Studies. Professor Kimani, who had just completed his studies at the
University of Oxford, wrote from there to say he wanted to fill it. To ensure he came and filled it for sure, the University
of Nairobi raised his entry point from that of lecturer to that of senior lecturer.
He came. Only a month after his arrival, he launched a noisy debate in which he demanded that the University of
Nairobi henceforth strive for relevance to the society rather than simply excellence of its work. It was not clear exactly
what he meant by relevance to the society. However, a short six months later, he prevailed. The university’s official motto
became “Relevance to the society”.
After winning this war, he started another war which was even noisier. Now he wanted the university to be an
agent of change, not a mere spectator of it. This was when people still thought this view was too radical and ridiculed it as
simple-minded. So, not surprisingly, some of his colleagues, puzzled by his refusal to see that it was too radical, looked at
DATE: ______________________________ SIGN: _______________________
FORM THREE ENGLISH
END-TERM 1 EXAM, 2025
INSTRUCTIONS: (Answer all the questions) TIME: (2 ½ HOURS)
1. COMPREHENSION
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
Everyone has struggled with lack of confidence at one time or another. More so, confidence that may have been
built over the years may be lost when we face new challenges, make mistakes, fail or receive criticism. It is probable that
one of the most common wishes for many people is to feel more confident in various spheres of life. Building confidence
must be something you want for yourself and not just for appearance’s sake. Confidence is beneficial in business, at the
work place, in your social life and even in your interpersonal relationships. It can make the difference between success
and failure in business, getting a promotion or a pay rise, meeting someone interesting at a party and even successfully
disciplining your children when you become a parent.
Some people have a higher level of confidence than others, but this should not discourage those who lack it. Like
many things in life, confidence can be learned and even perfected. Most people have areas in their lives when they could
be more confident and thus have better results. There are various practical ways about building confidence. However,
these are not necessarily quick fixes or overnight solutions. Building confidence should happen gradually over a period of
time.
Spending time thinking about how little confidence you have is not helpful and will only discourage you more. It
may be easier said than done but working on something and getting it done is a useful confidence builder. Stop relying on
your feelings and spring into action. Dale Carnegie, a famous American writer, once said that ‘inaction breeds doubt and
fear. Action breeds confidence and courage’. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit at home and think about it. Go out and
get it.
Facing your fears is another confidence builder. Begin by recognizing that many fears are based on
misjudgements and wrong perceptions. Yes, even your memory about something may be skewed and inaccurate, making
you believe something that is actually not true. You should learn to develop a healthy curiosity filled with anticipation and
enthusiasm about various situations and tasks you have been fearful of. With time it will enable you to be more open to
experience and put less focus on your fear.
Lack of preparation is a big source of low self-confidence. You have no idea what to expect and this makes you
fear the unknown. You are not sure what you are afraid of. Most of the times, low self-confidence can be solved by
adequate preparation. Be aware what to expect and how to deal with whatever is at hand.
Confidence does not really come assured of success. It also comes from knowing that failure is not the end of the
world. Failure never feels good, but it gives us valuable lessons if we are keen enough to learn. Failure makes us stronger.
Again, remember that not everyone is busy monitoring your every success or failure. They are too preoccupied with their
own issues. Therefore, do not spend too much time thinking what people will say about your failure.
Despite being aware of what makes you lack confidence and how to build it, confidence will not always come
naturally. Sometimes you have to fake it till you make it. You may have to face intimidating situations head on while
telling yourself that you are ready for them, even when you know that you do not feel that way. This may go a long way in
helping you to actually feel confident. Interestingly, the people who may regard you as more confident than you could also
be using this technique. Also, consider your strengths and recognize the fact that just like everyone else, you have
something to offer.
QUESTIONS
a. Why does the author say that we should build our confidence? (3mks)
, b. Why should one not compare themselves with others? (2mks)
c. How does developing a healthy curiosity enable you to develop confidence? (2mks)
d. Make notes on the practical ways in which one can build their confidence. (4mks)
e. What is the author’s attitude towards the subject matter? (3mks)
f. Like many things in life, confidence can be learned and even perfected. (Rewrite the sentence beginning: Confidence…)
(1mk)
g. How does the writer reassure those who lack confidence? (2mks)
h. Explain the meaning of the following expressions as used in the excerpt. (3mks)
Breeds –
Preoccupied –
Fake it till you make it –
2. FATHERS OF THE NATIONS BY PAUL B. VITTA
Read the excerpt below and then answer the questions that follow.
Professor Kimani joined the University of Nairobi directly as a senior lecturer. Even before taking off, he was
already flying. There was a reason. Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda has just dismantled their University of East Africa.
Kenya’s part of the university, now renamed the University of Nairobi, found itself with a vacancy it had to fill
immediately in its Institute of Development Studies. Professor Kimani, who had just completed his studies at the
University of Oxford, wrote from there to say he wanted to fill it. To ensure he came and filled it for sure, the University
of Nairobi raised his entry point from that of lecturer to that of senior lecturer.
He came. Only a month after his arrival, he launched a noisy debate in which he demanded that the University of
Nairobi henceforth strive for relevance to the society rather than simply excellence of its work. It was not clear exactly
what he meant by relevance to the society. However, a short six months later, he prevailed. The university’s official motto
became “Relevance to the society”.
After winning this war, he started another war which was even noisier. Now he wanted the university to be an
agent of change, not a mere spectator of it. This was when people still thought this view was too radical and ridiculed it as
simple-minded. So, not surprisingly, some of his colleagues, puzzled by his refusal to see that it was too radical, looked at
