Comprehension Passage

Read the passage, then answer the 5 questions that follow. Marking schemes are included.

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow

Brian had always dreamed of becoming a doctor. While other boys in Kitale spent their afternoons playing football, Brian sat under a tree reading borrowed science books. His family was poor, and his mother sold roasted maize by the roadside to pay his school fees. Brian knew that his education was a great sacrifice, so he studied hard and refused to waste a single lesson at school.

In Form Two, Brian's class was given a difficult biology project. They had to study the plants growing near a stream and explain how each one survived. Many students found the task boring, but Brian was thrilled. He spent hours by the stream, drawing leaves and writing careful notes. His teacher was amazed by the detail and accuracy of his work and praised him before the whole class.

One day, a visiting professor came to the school to talk about careers in medicine. After the talk, Brian gathered his courage and asked many thoughtful questions. The professor was impressed by the boy's curiosity and offered to mentor him. He gave Brian advice on which subjects to focus on and lent him useful books that the school library did not have.

Years later, Brian sat for his final examinations and earned a scholarship to study medicine at a respected university. On the day he left his village, the whole community came to wish him well. His mother cried tears of joy, knowing that her years of struggle had not been in vain. Brian promised that one day he would return to serve the people who had believed in him.

  1. Question 1

    1 mark

    How did Brian's mother pay for his school fees?

    A. By teaching at the local school

    B. By selling roasted maize by the roadside

    C. By working as a nurse in a hospital

    D. By farming a large piece of land

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

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  2. Question 2

    1 mark

    What was Brian's reaction to the difficult biology project?

    A. He was thrilled and worked eagerly

    B. He found it boring like the others

    C. He refused to take part in it

    D. He copied the work of his classmates

    (1 mark)

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  3. Question 3

    1 mark

    The word 'mentor' as used in the passage means

    A. to examine a student strictly

    B. to pay someone's school fees

    C. to guide and advise someone

    D. to employ someone for a job

    (1 mark)

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  4. Question 4

    1 mark

    What can we infer about why the professor decided to help Brian?

    A. Brian had paid him a large sum of money

    B. Brian showed genuine curiosity and asked thoughtful questions

    C. Brian threatened to stop attending school

    D. Brian was related to the professor

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme

    B. Brian showed genuine curiosity and asked thoughtful questions

  5. Question 5

    1 mark

    The best title for this passage would be

    A. The Visiting Professor's Holiday

    B. Brian's Journey to Becoming a Doctor

    C. A Boy Who Loved Football

    D. Selling Maize in Kitale

    (1 mark)

    Marking scheme for this question

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  6. 4 more marking schemes are on this page. A free account opens all of them, and lets you build your own paper on the topics you have actually taught, laid out in KNEC format with its full marking scheme.

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