Grade 9 KJSEA English Trial Questions

Preparing for the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) Grade 9 English Paper 1 can be challenging without the right practice materials. This comprehensive collection of KJSEA trial examination questions has been carefully designed to mirror the actual KJSEA English Paper 1 format, helping students build confidence and prepare effectively for KJSEA examinations.

Read the passage below and use it to answer questions 1 to 10.

Mwanga was a quiet and reserved boy in Grade 9. He rarely spoke in class and always sat alone during break time. His classmates often made fun of him because of his shabby uniform and old shoes. They called him names and laughed at him whenever he gave wrong answers in class. Over time, Mwanga became less confident and withdrew further from everyone. He stopped participating in class discussions and would spend most of his time looking down or staring through the window.

His class teacher, Mr. Rapenda, noticed this and felt concerned. One day during games, he saw Mwanga sitting under a tree alone while others played. He walked to him and sat beside him. “Mwanga, why aren’t you playing with others?” he asked gently. Mwanga shrugged and said he was not feeling well. But Mr. Rapenda knew better. He had seen him earlier walking around normally. “Mwanga, I want you to join the football team today. Just try,” the teacher encouraged him.

Mwanga hesitated but finally agreed. When he stepped onto the field, some boys laughed. “He cannot even kick a ball,” one of them said. But Mwanga ignored them and started playing. His legs felt heavy and his heart raced. However, as the game progressed, something unexpected happened. Mwanga received a pass, dribbled past two players and scored a beautiful goal. Everyone was shocked. The boys who had laughed at him now cheered loudly. Mr. Rapenda smiled from the sidelines and clapped.

From that day, Mwanga gained confidence. He realized he was good at something. His classmates started respecting him and he even made friends. Mwanga learned that everyone has a talent, sometimes hidden, waiting to be discovered.

1. From the first paragraph, it is right to conclude that Mwanga
   A. did not like any of his classmates.
   B. was unwilling to associate with anyone.
   C. was despised by a section of his classmates.
   D. did not like academic work.
2. The students who often made fun of Mwanga can be best described as
   A. intolerant
   B. fierce
   C. charitable
   D. incompetent
3. Mwanga became less confident because
   A. he could not do anything well.
   B. no one was willing to help him.
   C. he was the weakest learner in his class.
   D. his efforts did not seem to bear fruit.
4. Why did Mwanga pretend to be ill during games?
   A. He might have been actually unwell.
   B. He knew very little about sports.
   C. He feared being branded a failure in sports too.
   D. Everyone discouraged him from taking part in sports.
5. When Mr. Rapenda asked Mwanga to take part in sports, he
   A. was not ready to do so.
   B. opted to go away.
   C. became emotional.
   D. agreed to it immediately.
6. Which description best fits Mr. Rapenda? He was
   A. patient.
   B. persistent.
   C. inconsiderate.
   D. unkind.
7. The statement ‘His legs felt heavy and his heart raced’ shows that Mwanga
   A. was not good at football.
   B. was nervous.
   C. did not take the game seriously.
   D. feared the teacher.
8. Why did Mr. Rapenda remain at the sideline?
   A. To enjoy watching the match.
   B. To ensure Mwanga did not leave the field.
   C. To ensure no one mistreated Mwanga.
   D. To encourage Mwanga.
9. What did everyone find astonishing as Mwanga played?
   A. He could not play as well as the rest.
   B. He was more confident than the other players.
   C. He was playing extremely well.
   D. Other players liked how Mwanga was playing.
10. The fact that the other players cheered Mwanga shows that
    A. they liked his humility.
    B. they had always known he was good at something.
    C. they were impressed by his football skills.
    D. they were jealous of him.

Read the passage below and use it to answer questions 11 to 20.

The people of Kanura village had once lived in a beautiful land full of tall trees, green grass and flowing rivers. Birds sang sweetly in the trees and the air was always cool and fresh. But as the years passed, things began to change. The villagers had started cutting down trees recklessly. They cleared forests to create space for farming and burned trees to make charcoal for sale. At first, they thought they were doing the right thing. They needed more land for farming and more money. But slowly, the land began to suffer. Without trees, the soil became dry and dusty. The strong winds blew it away. The rivers that once flowed with clean water dried up. The rains stopped coming and drought hit Kanura hard. The crops failed and there was no food to eat. Hunger and thirst became part of the people’s daily lives. Children grew weak and even the animals disappeared.

One day, the village elders called for a big meeting under the only large tree left in the village. Everyone became sad and worried about the future. They wanted answers. They needed help. As the elders spoke, a young girl named Selina raised her hand and stood up. She was only fourteen but her eyes were bright with hope and wisdom.

“Please allow me to speak,” she said politely. The elders nodded.

After getting the elders’ approval, Selina stepped forward and explained that the deforestation that had been carried out in the area was the cause of the drought that the land experienced. Everyone was quiet as regret showed on their faces. They wondered if they could do anything to undo the damage. Selina explained that planting of trees would help fix the problem. There was silence for a moment. Then an old woman began to clap. Others joined in. They stood up and cheered for Selina’s wisdom.

From that day, the people of Kanura began a tree-planting campaign. Each family promised to plant and care for at least five trees. The children helped too. They carried water and seeds. Slowly, green began to return to the land. In a few years, the rivers flowed again. The rains returned. Crops grew and birds came back to sing.

11. From the first sentence, it is right to say that Kanura village
A. was no longer the same.
B. had greatly advanced.
C. had uncountable problems.
D. was not like any other village.

12. Why did people fell trees?
A. To make the village land bigger.
B. To get more income.
C. To make the land more fertile.
D. To see what would happen.

13. What caused the rivers to dry up?
A. Trees had become fewer.
B. The soil had become dry and dusty.
C. People had become irresponsible.
D. There wasn’t enough rainfall.

14. Why was the meeting held?
A. To discover who was responsible for the drought.
B. To discuss the effects of the drought.
C. To find the solution to the problems they experienced.
D. To offer support to one another.

15. The girl who raised her hand to speak
A. had suffered more than anyone else.
B. did not expect the villagers to believe her.
C. was eager to make everyone regret their actions.
D. knew the source of the problems experienced in the village.

16. The word approval as used in the passage can be classified as
A. an adjective
B. a noun
C. an adverb
D. a conjunction

17. When the villagers learnt that they had contributed towards the drought, they became
A. remorseful
B. upset
C. irritated
D. furious

18. Why did people start cheering?
A. All their problems had been solved.
B. They had nothing else to do.
C. The old woman asked them to appreciate Selina.
D. They liked the advice given by Selina.

19 After the meeting,
A. Kanura village changed immediately.
B. the people of Kanura embarked on a positive mission.
C. rain started falling in Kanura.
D. everyone was certain to live more comfortably.

20. Which proverb relates to the information in the story?
A. Patience pays.
B. Practice makes perfect.
C. As you make your bed so must you lie on it.
D. Do not cry over spilt milk.

Fill in the blank spaces numbered 21 to 30 with the best alternative from the choices given.

Citizens have a key 21 ______ to play in fighting corruption. Kenyans 22 ______ refuse to give bribes and report corrupt practices 23 ______ they witness them. If more people 24 ______ to say no to corruption, it will become 25 ______ for dishonest individuals to succeed. Civic education should be strengthened to help people 26 ______ the harmful effects of corruption 27 ______ development, public services and equality. For example, when 28 ______ meant for schools, hospitals or roads are stolen, the whole community suffers. Schools and community programs should teach the 29 ______ of honesty and integrity from a young age so that children grow up knowing the importance of doing 30 ______ is right.

21. A. thing B. role C. goal D. idea

22. A. may B. ought C. can D. should

23. A. whichever B. while C. whenever D. as

24. A. choose B. suggest C. desires D. chose

25. A. more harder B. harder C. most toughest D. rare

2. A. remember B. stop C. control D. understand

27. A. in B. for C. on D. with

28. A. income B. funds C. loans D. savings

29. A. value B. vice C. practise D. belief

30. A. which B. that C. when D. what

For questions 31 and 32, choose the best alternative to complete the sentence.

31. The lady wore a ______ dress to the event.
A. long silk beautiful red
B. beautiful red long silk
C. beautiful long red silk
D. long red silk beautiful

32. The businessman bought ______ tables for the cafe.
A. small wooden round
B. wooden small round
C. round small wooden
D. small round wooden

Choose the incorrectly spelt word.

33. A. lightning B. excitement C. persue D. mortgage

34. A. receive B. privilege C. accommodate D. mortuary

35. A. curiosity B. fascinate C. performance D. messenger

For questions 36 to 40, choose the best option to complete the sentences.

36. Neither John nor his brothers ______ present at the meeting yesterday.
A. was B. were C. is D. are

37. If I ______ you, I would accept the job offer.
A. am B. was C. were D. be

38. The book, ______ cover is torn, belongs to the library.
A. who B. whom C. which D. whose

39. She has been working here ______ 2018.
A. since B. for C. from D. in

40. The harder you work, ______ you become.
A. the more successful B. the most successful
C. successful D. more successful

For questions 41 to 45, choose the word that is nearly the opposite in meaning to the underlined word.

41. The teacher praised the diligent student.
A. hardworking B. lazy C. brilliant D. quiet

42. The road was narrow and dangerous.
A. wide B. long C. short D. rough

43. His explanation was very vague.
A. clear B. confusing C. brief D. detailed

44. She felt joy after winning the prize.
A. happiness B. excitement C. sorrow D. pride

45. The water in the river is shallow.
A. deep B. clean C. dirty D. cold

For questions 46 to 50, choose the word that is nearly the same in meaning as the underlined word.

46. The little girl was terrified by the loud thunder.
A. excited B. frightened C. amused D. confused

47. The fragrant flowers attracted many butterflies.
A. colourful B. sweet-smelling C. beautiful D. fresh

48. He made a quick decision to help the injured man.
A. slow B. careful C. fast D. wise

49. The enormous elephant walked slowly across the plain.
A. small B. huge C. young D. old

50. She frequently visits her grandmother on weekends.
A. rarely B. never C. often D. sometimes

Download KJSEA English Trial Questions with Marking Schemes

Why Use These KJSEA Grade 9 English Paper 1 Trial Questions?

1. Authentic Exam Experience
These questions follow the exact structure and style of the official KJSEA English Paper 1 examination, complete with comprehension passages, grammar questions, and vocabulary exercises. Students get a realistic feel of what to expect on exam day.

2. Comprehensive Coverage
With 50 questions covering all key areas—reading comprehension, vocabulary in context, grammar, sentence structure, synonyms, antonyms, and spelling—this resource ensures thorough preparation across the entire English Paper 1 syllabus.

3. Marking Scheme Included
Understanding how marks are allocated is crucial for exam success. Each question comes with the correct answer, allowing students, teachers, and parents to assess performance accurately and identify areas needing improvement.

4. Time Management Practice
Working through these 50 questions under timed conditions helps students develop the speed and efficiency needed to complete the actual exam within the allocated time.

5. Ideal for Teachers and Tutors
This resource serves as an excellent teaching aid for classroom revision, homework assignments, and mock examinations.

Grade 9 KJSEA English Trial Questions Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is KJSEA?

KJSEA stands for Kenya Junior School Education Assessment. It is the national examination administered to Grade 9 students under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) in Kenya.

2. How is the KJSEA English Paper 1 structured?

KJSEA English Paper 1 typically consists of comprehension passages, grammar questions, vocabulary exercises, and language use items totaling 50 questions. The paper tests reading comprehension, grammar knowledge, vocabulary, and language application skills.

3. Are KJSEA trial exams and questions similar to the actual KJSEA exam?

Yes, these KJSEA trial questions follow the KJSEA examination format, question styles, and difficulty level. They have been designed based on the Grade 9 English syllabus and past examination patterns.

4. How should I use KJSEA trial questions for effective KJSEA revision?

• Attempt all questions under timed conditions (about 1 minute per question)

• Review incorrect answers using the marking scheme

• Focus on weak areas identified through self-assessment

• Practice regularly, at least 2-3 times per week

5. How can teachers use this KJSEA revision resource?

Teachers can use these KJSEA revision questions for:

• Classroom revision exercises

• Mock examinations

• Homework assignments

• Identifying student strengths and weaknesses

• Group discussion activities

6. Is the marking scheme accurate?

Yes, all answers have been verified against the KJSEA Grade 9 English syllabus and standard examination marking guidelines.

7. How can I track my KJSEA progress?

Keep a record of your scores after each attempt. Aim for at least 80% (40/50) before sitting for the actual examination. Focus on understanding why you got questions wrong rather than just memorizing answers.