Primary Leaving Examination 2011 — English Language
RNEC Revision Quiz · Auto-correcting · All sections
Section A — Reading Comprehension
Read the passage about David Kananga and answer questions 1–8. (16 marks)
David Kananga
1.David is a 16-year old long distance runner studying at Kalambi Secondary School, near his home at the foothills of Mount Muhabura. He runs both the marathon and the half marathon. He practices the half marathon by running on the road to the Cyanika Trading Centre twenty one kilometres away. When he is practicing the marathon, he runs all the way back without stopping. He has already come first in many important competitions and his dream is to run for Rwanda in the Junior Olympics next year.
2.As well as spending many hours on the road, David also makes time for studying and for friends.
3.“I have lots of friends who run and we are very close. It’s much easier for me to have friends who are runners because they also have to get up early to practice like me and they understand this kind of life. However, I’m not so different from other people of my age. In my free time I also enjoy watching movies and traditional dancing. There are also some good things about running for my school. I travel to a lot of competitions and I’ve made friends with runners from other schools and from other parts of the world.”
4.David is becoming well known in Rwanda and he believes it is important to get more young people interested in running. “I don’t mind talking to journalists and having my photographs taken, but last year I was on TV and that was much more fun.”
1
Which TWO types of race does David run?
2 mks
💡 Worked solution: Paragraph 1 states directly: “He runs both the marathon and the half marathon.” → Answer: A — Marathon and half marathon.
2
What is David’s goal for the future?
2 mks
💡 Worked solution: Paragraph 1 says: “his dream is to run for Rwanda in the Junior Olympics next year.” → Answer: A — Junior Olympics.
3
How has David performed in competitions so far?
2 mks
💡 Worked solution: Paragraph 1 says he “has already come first in many important competitions” — showing strong success. → Answer: A — Won many competitions.
4
Why does David prefer having friends who are runners?
2 mks
💡 Worked solution: Paragraph 3 explains: “they also have to get up early to practice like me and they understand this kind of life.” → Answer: A — They understand his life.
5
What does David enjoy in his free time?
2 mks
💡 Worked solution: Paragraph 3 states: “In my free time I also enjoy watching movies and traditional dancing.” → Answer: A — Movies and dancing.
6
Where has David made friends through running?
2 mks
💡 Worked solution: Paragraph 3: “I’ve made friends with runners from other schools and from other parts of the world.” → Answer: A — Other schools and countries.
7
What is David’s opinion about appearing on TV?
2 mks
💡 Worked solution: Paragraph 4: “last year I was on TV and that was much more fun” (than talking to journalists/photos). → Answer: A — More fun than journalists.
8
What does the passage tell us about David’s ability compared to other runners?
2 mks
💡 Worked solution: The passage tells us he wins competitions but gives no direct comparison to other specific runners’ ability levels. → Answer: A — Not stated.
Section B — Grammar
Choose the best word to complete each sentence. Questions 9–14 relate to a passage about a youth centre. (40 marks total)
Grammar passage context: A youth centre ________ near Juma’s house. It became ________. It ________ five minutes. Juma ________ his friends. Different ________ of games. Useful ________ in room.
9
A youth centre __________ near Juma’s house.
Choose the verb that best fits the past tense context of the passage. 4 mks
Choose the verb that best fits the past tense context of the passage. 4 mks
💡 Worked solution: A youth centre is a building/facility — it opens (begins operating). “Began” is too vague; “arrived” is for people/things that travel; “appeared” is informal. “Opened” is the most precise and natural choice. → Answer: A — opened.
10
It became __________.
An adjective is needed to describe the youth centre’s status after opening. 4 mks
An adjective is needed to describe the youth centre’s status after opening. 4 mks
💡 Worked solution: “Favourite” needs a possessive (my/his favourite); “excellent” and “modern” describe quality but don’t capture community uptake. “Popular” means it attracted many people — the natural outcome of a new community facility. → Answer: A — popular.
11
It __________ five minutes [to walk there].
Which verb collocates with a duration of time to mean “requires”? 4 mks
Which verb collocates with a duration of time to mean “requires”? 4 mks
💡 Worked solution: In English, to express duration for a journey we use “it takes [time]”. “It has five minutes” and “it gets five minutes” are ungrammatical in this context. → Answer: A — takes.
12
Juma __________ his friends [at the centre].
Which verb best describes Juma joining up with friends at a location? 4 mks
Which verb best describes Juma joining up with friends at a location? 4 mks
💡 Worked solution: “Waits his friends” is not standard; “goes his friends” is ungrammatical; “calls his friends” changes the meaning to telephoning. “Meets” means to come together with someone at a place. → Answer: A — meets.
13
Different __________ of games are played there.
Which noun correctly classifies varieties or types of games? 4 mks
Which noun correctly classifies varieties or types of games? 4 mks
💡 Worked solution: “Different kinds of games” is a standard English expression meaning various categories. “Things of games” and “ways of games” are not natural collocations. “Kinds” = types/varieties. → Answer: A — kinds.
14
Useful __________ in the room helps members learn.
Which noun refers to facts or knowledge available about something? 4 mks
Which noun refers to facts or knowledge available about something? 4 mks
💡 Worked solution: “Certain” and “sure” are adjectives, not nouns — they cannot follow “useful” as the subject. “Information” is an uncountable noun meaning facts/data that fits perfectly. → Answer: A — information.
Section B (cont.) — Conversation
Choose the most appropriate response for each conversational exchange. (8 marks)
15
Friend: “Why didn’t you come to the meeting yesterday?” Juma: “__________“
Choose the response that directly and politely answers the question about absence. 2 mks
Choose the response that directly and politely answers the question about absence. 2 mks
💡 Worked solution: “Yes I did” contradicts the friend (who knows Juma didn’t come); “Maybe later” and “I don’t know” don’t explain absence. “I was busy” is the only logical explanation for not attending. → Answer: A — I was busy.
16
Juma: “I have to go home now.” Friend: “__________“
Choose the response that acknowledges Juma is leaving. 2 mks
Choose the response that acknowledges Juma is leaving. 2 mks
💡 Worked solution: When someone says they must leave, acknowledging the time (“It is late”) is the most natural and socially appropriate response — it validates their reason for leaving. “Stay longer” pushes against their decision. → Answer: B — It is late.
17
Teacher: “Whose pen is this on the floor?” Student: “__________“
Choose the response that claims ownership of the pen. 2 mks
Choose the response that claims ownership of the pen. 2 mks
💡 Worked solution: The teacher asks “whose” — requiring an ownership claim. “Yes/No” cannot answer a “whose” question. “I don’t know” avoids the question. “It is mine” directly answers who the pen belongs to. → Answer: B — It is mine.
18
Friend: “Sorry, there are no tickets left for the match.” Juma: “__________“
Choose the response that appropriately expresses disappointment about the situation. 2 mks
Choose the response that appropriately expresses disappointment about the situation. 2 mks
💡 Worked solution: Hearing no tickets are left is disappointing. “Good news” and “Well done” are positive reactions — wrong context. “Try again” is advice, not an emotional response. “That’s a pity” is the standard English expression for mild disappointment. → Answer: A — That’s a pity.
Section C — Vocabulary
Each question gives the first letter and a hint clue in brackets. Choose the correct word. (30 marks)
19
S___________ (a place where football is played)
6 mks
💡 Worked solution: The clue is “a place where football is played” and the word starts with S. A stadium is a large sports venue. “School” starts with S but is not a football venue. → Answer: A — Stadium.
20
C___________ (a device used to take photos)
6 mks
💡 Worked solution: The clue is “photos” and the word starts with C. A camera is the instrument used to take photographs. “Chair” starts with C but is a piece of furniture. → Answer: A — Camera.
21
B___________ (a sandy area beside the sea)
6 mks
💡 Worked solution: The clue is “beside the sea” and the word starts with B. A beach is the stretch of sand/pebbles along a coastline. → Answer: A — Beach.
22
G___________ (a stringed musical instrument)
6 mks
💡 Worked solution: The clue is “instrument” and the word starts with G. A guitar is a popular stringed instrument with 6 strings, played by plucking or strumming. → Answer: A — Guitar.
23
T___________ (a shelter used when camping)
6 mks
💡 Worked solution: The clue is “camping shelter” and the word starts with T. A tent is a portable canvas/nylon shelter used outdoors. “Table” starts with T but is furniture, not a shelter. → Answer: A — Tent.
