SS2 English Language First Term Exams: Past Questions & Answers

Prepare for SS2 English Language First Term Exams with expertly crafted questions, answers, and comprehension passages. Includes antonyms, synonyms, fill-in-the-blanks, and reading analysis. This is perfect for WAEC prep and classroom revision.

SS2 English 1st Terminal Exam: Study Guide 

This First term examination showcases question and answers for English 2 which covers Vocabulary Development, Grammar, comprehension passage and essay writing, Other aspect which involves oralcy skills and summary writing is available. contact us to get complete materials to set questions for your students. These are WASSCE blended questions based on the approved SS2 English Language scheme of work curriculum.

ENGLISH 2

SECTION A

In each of the following sentences, there is one underlined word and one gap. From the list of words lettered A to D, choose the one that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word and that will, at the same time, correctly fill the gap in the sentence.

1. Most African countries face poverty while few enjoy ………………  A. influence   B. money   C. affluence   D. power
2. Last year our farmers cultivated more crops than they……………  A. destroyed   B. uprooted   C. harvested   D. yielded
3. A guest should not make derogatory remarks about what he offered by his host but ________ statements. A. candid   B. appealing   C. polite   D. complimentary
4. The commander said that raw recruits could not dislodge the enemies; he needed _______ men.  A. skilled   B. practical   C. learned   D. seasoned
5. John gave a fictitious account of the incident but his son’s account was ______ A. probable   B. compelling   C. factual   D. necessary
6. While the refuse dump smelled fetid, the orchard exuded a ________ smell.  A. fragrant   B. spicy   C. clean    D. dry
7. Only some of the accused were acquitted; the rest were _______ A. remanded   B. convicted   C. detained   D. interdicted
8. The principal chastised Ben for his use of coarse language and advised him to emulate his sister’s ________ behaviour.  A. pure   B. neat   C. refined   D. organized
9. It would have been my pleasure to accept your invitation but I have to ______ it because of previous engagement.  A. jettison   B. defer   C.  suspend   D. decline
10. I accidentally stepped on my brother but he told Mummy I did it ________. A. thoughtfully   B. intuitively   C. deliberately   D. annoying

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From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, choose the word or group of words that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word as it is used in the sentence.

11. He was such a brilliantfootballer!  A. an inspired   B. an intelligent   C. dazzling   D. skillful
12. The Politician is a fluent A. an eloquent   B. superficial   C. an insightful   D. a persuasive
13. The provocation had an instantaneous effect on him. A. a lasting   B. an immediate   C. a terrifying   D. a momentous
14. I woke up feeling rather queer. A. fine   B. strange   C. strong   D. tired
15. If he declinesthe offer, it will be better for him:  A. ignores   B. denies   C. snubs   D. rejects
16. Such utterances are inimical to the peaceful co-existence of the two communities. A. unhelpful   B. unimportant   C. harmful   D. useless
17. The chairman observed that Andrew was the most qualified candidate for the job.  A. suitable   B. accommodating   C. responsible   D. interesting
18. Everybody noticed that the chairman’s excuse was lame.  A. verbose   B. precise   C.  unsatisfactory   D. unconditional
19. The president appointed staunchsupporters of his policies as advisers.  A. trusted   B. critical   C. affluent   D. strong
20. The little boy gave his candid opinion of the incident.  A. quick   B. brief   C. frank   D. hurried

SECTION B

In question numbered above, choose the best option from letters A – D that best completes the gap

Alice, a small fragile-looking Ugandan mother, is dying of AIDS. She lives with her son and daughter in a tin-roofed shack on the …..21… of Kampala. When her husband died of AIDS in 1987, Alice discovered she was HIV positive. Frequent …22….. of sickness forced her to give up her embroidery job. She was so depressed that she just wanted to eat. ….23…. by a neighbour, the mobile care unit from Nsambya hospital went to her home. They convinced her to start taking proper ..24……. After three months of ….25…. treatment, she regained her will to live. The AIDS time bomb …..26… on relentlessly. The World Health Organization ….27…. that 1.8 million Ugandans are HIV positive, nearly one in eight of the total population. The Ugandan AIDS Commission set up by President Museveni ..28…… the spread of the disease. However, under-porting and the lack of post-mortem and …29….. makes it impossible to establish exact figures. No one ….30…. that it is a disaster far worse than the years of civil war.

21. outskirts   B. suburbs C. interior D. outside
22.  sufferings B. happenings C. rounds D. bouts
23.  Attracted B. Visited C. Noticed D. Alerted
24.  cure B. medication C. measures D. precautions
25.  intensive B. healthy C. safe D. heavy
26.  strikes B. burns C. ticks D. drops
27.  judges B. supposes C. proposes D. estimates
28.  limits B. anticipates C. monitors D. increases
29.  facilitates B. amenities C. condition D. provisions
30.  denies B. claims C. rejects D. imagines

SECTION C

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.

Many years ago, I would have dismissed the news of the practice of occultism in schools as frivolous rumour but the book, Occultism in Schools has made me change my mind. I was badly shaken by the havoc it can cause those who succumb to it. The stories sent shivers down my spine and made me deeply concerned about the innocent youth who have been trapped in its web. The occult practitioner, like a confidence trickster, lurks in secrete places to pounce on and dupe unsuspecting victims. The occultist dangles attractive pictures of wealth and success before his prey as a fisherman uses a variety of bait to catch fish. His ways are shrouded in absolute secrecy.

Jack Moro’s very bitter experience exemplifies the devastation that adherents ultimately suffer. Jack was highly regarded for his academic brilliance as he was often at the top of his class. When he got to the final year, everyone was sure that he would pass the WASSCE with flying colours. Then disaster struck.

At this crucial stage in his life when he was making preparations for his final examination his childhood friend, Ananias introduced him to the Sure Help Brotherhood. He was hoodwinked into believing that it was a friendly society which guided its members to attain wealth, enlightenment, happiness and prosperity. He failed to see that Ananias himself was a complete failure in life. On joining, Jack came to spend more time on other pursuits than his academic work.

Sooner than later, Jack realized to his shock, that his academic performance was going down drastically, but for his sterling performance earlier, he would not have been registered for the final examination. He gathered courage to voice his concerns to the leader, who assured him on several occasions that the Sure Help Brotherhood was capable of making him succeed.

At first, his fears were very strong but the leader sweet-talked him into submission. He also persuaded Jack to go through the exorbitant official rites. On the eve of the examination, Jack was given a sparkling white handkerchief which allegedly had the power of conjuring the right answers to the questions.

In addition, he was told that the cult could influence the examiners who would mark the scripts. The leader demonstrated the efficacy of the handkerchief and Jack saw with his own naked eyes that some neat writing and diagrams appeared on the papers.

On the first day, Jack entered the examination hall with confidence. Towards the end of the paper, he acted as instructed, but to his dismay, no answers appeared. He fainted and was rushed to the hospital.

Questions

1. a) Why was the writer worried about the practice of occultism in schools?
   b) How does the occultist win his victims over?
   c) Why was Jack Moro entered for the examination?
   d) What does Jack Moro’s experience illustrate about occultism in schools?
   e) What is the writer’s attitude to occultism?
   f) … like a confidence trickster …
   What is the grammatical name of the expression above?
   ii. What is its function?
   g) For each of the following words underlined in the passage, give another word or phrase which means the same and can replace it in the passage:
   i. havoc, ii. prey, iii. shrouded
   iv. crucial, v. exorbitant vi. demonstrated

SECTION D

You are to answer only one question from this section. All questions carry equal marks. Your answer should not be less than 450 words. You are advised to spend about 45 minutes on this section.

1. Write a letter to your friend in another school telling him or her about your future career and how it will be beneficial to your country.
2. The National Scholarship Secretariat is organizing an essay competition on the topic: The menace of fake drugs in the society. Write your entry.
3. As a former senior prefect, write a letter to the principal of your school on the occasion of its 60th anniversary celebration, congratulating him and offering three suggestions for the improvement of the school.
4. A new principal has just been posted to your school. As the senior prefect, write a welcome address on behalf of the students, pointing out three areas of need in the school.
5. Write a story which illustrates the saying: Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

SS2 English Language First Term Exam

SECTION A: Antonyms & Synonyms – Objective Test

Opposite Meaning (Antonyms)

• C. affluence
• A. destroyed
• D. complimentary statements
• D. seasoned men
• C. factual
• A. fragrant smell
• B. convicted
• C. refined behaviour
• D. decline
• C. deliberately

Nearest Meaning (Synonyms)

• D. skillful
• A. eloquent
• B. an immediate
• B. strange
• D. rejects
• C. harmful
• A. suitable
• C. unsatisfactory
• A. trusted
• C. frank

see more: www.grammar-monster.com/key_stage_tests/synonyms_and_antonyms

SECTION B: Comprehension Passage

21. …in a tin-roofed shack on the A. outskirts of Kampala
22. Frequent D. bouts of sickness
23. D. Alerted by a neighbour
24. …start taking proper B. medication
25. After three months of A. intensive treatment
26. The AIDS time bomb A. strikes on relentlessly
27. WHO D. estimates 1.8 million Ugandans are HIV positive
28. AIDS Commission C. monitors the spread
29. …lack of post-mortem and D. provisions
30. No one D. imagines it is a disaster worse than civil war

SECTION C

Comprehension – Occultism in Schools

a) Why was the writer worried about the practice of occultism in schools?
The writer was worried because the book revealed the devastating effects of occultism on innocent students, causing fear and concern.

b) How does the occultist win his victims over?
By luring them with promises of wealth and success, similar to how a fisherman uses bait.

c) Why was Jack Moro entered for the examination?
Because of his previously excellent academic performance.

d) What does Jack Moro’s experience illustrate about occultism in schools?
It shows how students can be misled and ultimately harmed by occult practices.

e) What is the writer’s attitude to occultism?
The writer is deeply concerned and disapproving of occultism in schools.

f) “…like a confidence trickster…”

• Grammatical name: Simile
• Function: It compares the occultist’s deceptive nature to that of a trickster, emphasizing manipulation.

g) Word Replacements:

• i. havoc → destruction
• ii. prey → victim
• iii. shrouded → hidden
• iv. crucial → critical
• v. exorbitant → excessive
• vi. demonstrated → showed