KCPE PAST PAPERS 2008: SOCIAL STUDIES QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

23/11/2019

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KCPE PAST PAPER FOR SOCIAL STUDIES 2008 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

PART I SOCIAL STUDIES

Study the map of MINA area and answer questions 1 to 7.

1. The length of the railway from the level crossing to the edge of the map is approximately

A. 4km
B. 6km
C. 9km.
D. 13km.

2. The general direction of flow of River Mina ¡s

A. North-cast to South-west
B. South-east to North-west
C. North to South
D. West to East.

3. Which one of the following types of soil is likely to be commonly found ¡n Gola sub-location?

A. Clay soil.
B. Sandy soil.
C. Alluvial soil.
D. Volcanic soil.

4. The main factor that may have influenced the setting up of a cattle ranch in Pone sub-location is the availability of

A. labour
B. space
C. transport
D. veterinary services.

5. In Mina Area, there are permanent settlements in all the sub-locations except

A. Gola sub-location
B. Tosi sub-location
C. Pone sub-location
D. Waro sub-location.

6. What evidence in the map shows that Mina Town is an administrative centre? Presence of

A. a post office
B. a chiefs camp
C. a police post
D. a railway station.

7. Which one of the following is the main source of revenue for Mina Urban Council?

A. Money paid by owners of businesses in the town.
B. Parking fees paid by vehicle owners.
C. Fees paid by people visiting the museum.
D. Fines paid by people who break the by-laws.

8. Which one of the following was the title given to the ruler of Buganda Kingdom in the 19th century?

A. Saza.
B. Bataka.
C. Kabaka.
D. Katikiro.

9. Which one of the following minerals is used for making glass?

A. Limestone.
B. Soda ash.
C. Fluorspar.
D. Diatomite.

10. Nairobi is cooler than Mombasa because

A. Mombasa is far from the equator
B. Nairobi is far from the sea
C. Mombasa experiences sea breezes
D. Nairobi is higher above sea level.

11. Who among the following traditional Kenyan leaders collaborated with the British during the establishment of colonial rule?

A. Karuri wa Gakure.
B. Mekatilili.
C. Samoei.
D. Sakawa.

12. The diagram below represents a method of fishing.

The fishing method shown in the diagram is

A. basket method
B. purse seining
C. net drifting
D. trawling method.

13. Which one of the following was the function of the council of elders among the Ameru during the pre-colonial period?

A. Making laws.
B. Healing the sick.
C. Carrying out raids.
D. Foretelling the future.

14. In Kenya, a parliamentary bill becomes law only when it has been signed by

A. the Minister for Constitutional Affairs
B. the Registrar of the High Court
C. the Attorney General
D. the President

15. Below are some modem means of communication:

(i) Newspapers
(ii) Telephone
(iii) Television
(iv) Radio

Which one of the following combination is made up of electronic means of communication?

A. (i) (ii) aid (iv)
B. (ii)(iii)and(iv)
C. (i) (iii) and (iv)
D. (i) (ii) and (iii).

16. Which one of the following statement is true about small scale farming in Kenya?

A. The products arc usually exported.
B. Work is often done using machines.
C. The yields are always low.
D. Some farmers keep livestock.

17. Which one of the following statements correctly describes the social organization of the San during the pre-colonial period?

A. They lived in small groups of families.
B. They had a strong clan system.
C; They lived in permanent homes.
D. They practised circumcision.

18. Which one of the following countries in Africa is correctly matched with its capital city?
Country Capital city

A. Cameroon - Luanda
B. Egypt - Yaounde
C. Zambia — Lusaka
D. Angola — Cairo.

19. Which one of the following is a function of a primary school management committee?

A. Punishing pupils who come to school late.
B. Planning the development of the school.
C. Sacking teachers who fail to do their duties.
D. Appointing head teachers.

20. The Eastern Bantu dispersed from Shungwaya during the pre-colonial period mainly because

A. the area became dry
B. they fought among themselves
C. there was an outbreak of diseases
D. they were attacked by the Galla.

21. Which one of the following is the main effect of destruction of forests on the slopes of Mt. Kenya?

A. Reduced supply of firewood.
B. Reduced volume of water in rivers.
C. Shortage of timber for building.
D. Shortage of herbal medicine.

22. Where was the first Christian mission station in Kenya established in the 19th century?

A. At Rabai.
B. At Kabaa.
C. At Mumias.
D. At Kibwezi.

Use the map of Africa below to answer questions 23 to 26.

23. The darn marked P was built mainly to

A. provide water for irrigation
B. create a Lake for fishing
C. provide hydro-electric power
D. control floods.

24. The ocean current that influences the climate of the area marked Q is

A. Canary
B. Guinea
C. Mozambique
D. Benguela.

25. The countries marked R and S were colonized by

A. Britain
B. Germany
C. Portugal
D. Italy.

26. The island marked T is

A. Mauritius
B. Zanzibar
C. Madagascar
D. Comoros.

27. In Old Ghana, the king was succeeded by

A. the Queen Mother
B. his sister’s son
C. his eldest son
D. his youngest brother.

28. The best way to control sheet erosion is by_____

A. planting cover crop
B. building gabions
C. contour farming
D. crop rotation.

29. Who among the following leaders in Tanganyika united the Africans during the Maji Maji rebellion?

A. Fundikira.
B. Mirambo.
C. Nyungu ya Mawe.
D. Kinjikitile Ngwale.

30. Which one of the following cultural practices did the Abaluyia borrow from the Luo as they interacted during the pre-colonial period?

A. The removal of six lower teeth.
B. Respect for the spirit of the ancestors.
C. Use of herbs to treat diseases.
D. Marrying of many wives.

31. Which one of the following statements is true about the free range method of chicken rearing?

A. It is cheap to carry out.
B. It requires little space.
C. it requires fencing for the birds.
D. it requires special feeds.

32. The imperial British East Africa Company stopped administering Kenya because

A. the settlers were against the company
B. the company mistreated Africans
C. the company lacked funds
D. the company was abolished.

33. Leo has found out that his classmate Joni is living with HIV and the condition is affecting his learning. The right action for Leo to take is to ___

A. avoid being in Joni’s company
B. tell other pupils about Joni’s condition
C. advise Joni to seek transfer to another school
D. discuss with Joni on how to cope with the situation.

34. Olorgesaille and Kariandusi are both

A. mining sites
B. historical sites
C. national museums
D. early trading centres.

35. Mama wishes to set up a Jua Kali industry. Which one of the following is the main factor that would influence the choice of location?

A. Availability of capital.
B. Availability of labour.
C. Availability of power.
D. Availability of market.

36. In traditional African communities, the basic unit of social organization was

A. the family
B. the clan
C. the age-group
D. the warriors.

37. Which one of the following was the main reason why the British built the Uganda railway?

A. To stop slave trade in the interior.
B. To transport soldiers to the interior.
C. To transport goods to the coast,
D. To promote the spread of Christianity.

38. which one of the following groups of crops in Kenya is grown mainly in plantations?

39. The method used by the Portuguese to administer Mozambique was

A. Direct rule
B. Indirect rule
C. Assimilation
D. Association.

40. Below are ways of acquiring skills of treating the sick:

(i) By getting information from books.
(ii) By observing how sick people are treated.
(iii) By learning how to make herbal medicine.
(iv) By practising how to inject sick people.
(v) By working with experienced healers.

Which one of the following combinations is made up of ways that traditional healers acquired their skills.

A. (i)(ii)and(iii)
B. (ii)(iii)and(v)
C. (ii) (iv) and (v)
D. (i) (iii) and (iv).

41. One of the duties of African chiefs in Kenya during the colonial period was to

A. organize for supply of labour to settler farms
B. provide food to freedom fighters
C. nominate people to the Native Councils
D. conduct oathing ceremonies.

42. The main problem limiting trade among African countries ¡s that

A. they use different national languages
B. they have poor transport links
C. they use different currencies
D. they produce similar goods.

43. Which one of the following groups of mountains in Africa are block mountains?

A. Atlas, Ruwenzori and Pare.
B. Ruwenzon, Drakensburg and Usambara.
C. Atlas, Pare and Drankensburg.
D. Pare, Usambara and Ruwenzori.

44. Which one of the following is the main reason why caning of pupils in school was banned in Kenya?

A. It is against child rights.
B. ¡t creates fear among pupils.
C. It discourages learning.
D. it causes physical injury.

45. Which one of the following would be the best way of controlling rapid population growth in towns in Kenya?

A. By improving social services in rural areas.
B. By creating employment opportunities in rural areas.
C. By setting up family planning clinics in towns.
D. By advising the youth in towns to avoid marrying early.

46. Which one of the following was the main reason why proverbs were used in teaching the youth in traditional African communities?

A. To guide the youth on how to behave.
B. To keep the youth busy during their free time.
C. To help the youth develop skills in speaking.
D. To teach the youth about past events.

47. Which one of the following groups of countries in Africa got assistance from the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to achieve independence?

48. Thika has grown to an important town mainly because

A. it has tourist attractions
B. it has many industries
C. it has nigh population
D. it has a railway line.

49. which one of the following became the title of the Head of State in Kenya when the country was declared a republic?

A. The prime minister..
B. The governor.
C. The president.
D. The emperor.

50. Three of the following are benefits resulting from setting up of Perkerra Irrigation Scheme.
Which one is not?

A. It has led to establishment of industries.
B. It has provided employment opportunities.
C. It has increased food production.
D. It has been used to settle the landless.

51. A vehicle has overturned near your school arid the driver has a deep cut on the leg. Which one of the following would be the immediate action for you to take to help the driver?

A. Remove the driver from the scene.
B. Report the accident to the head teacher.
C. Remove the valuables of the driver for safe keeping.
D. Tie the driver’s wound to control bleeding.

52. Which one of the following courts in Kenya deals with cases involving people under 18 years of age?

A. The Court of Appeal.
B. The High Court.
C. The Juvenile Court.
D. The Resident Magistrate’s Court.

53. Below are characteristics of a type of climate in Africa.

(i) Rain occurs mainly in the afternoon.
(ii) Annual range of temperature is low.
(iii) Rainfall is high throughout the year
(iv) Temperatures are high throughout the year.

The climate described above is

A. Desert climate.
B. Equatorial climate.
C. Tropical climate.
D. Mediterranean climate.

54. Which one of the following is a service industry?

A. Banking.
B. Mining.
C. Brewing.
D. Carving.

55. Which one of the following statements is true of both the Tswana and the Fulani?

A. They earn their living through fishing.
B. They live in Southern Africa.
C. They belong to the same language group.
D. They keep large herds of livestock.

56. Three of the following are benefits of democracy. Which one is not?

A. Laws are applied fairly to all people.
B. People are made to join the ruling party.
C. People are free to elect their leaders.
D. People respect human rights.

57. Most of the horticultural products from Kenya are exported by

A. air
B. water
C. road
D railway.

58. Mzee Jasho has shared his piece of land among his children. A dispute arises over the different sizes of land that they have been given. The best way for Mzee Jasho lo settle the dispute is by