SS3 English Language Mock Past Questions- First Term

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FIRST MOCK EXAMINATION for the ACADEMIC SESSION

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

GRADE 12

PAPER 1

SECTION 1
Read Also: JSS2 Mathematics First Term Examination Questions and Answers

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

1. Despite all my attempts to refutethe charges against me, my sister tried to _______them   A. defend   B. prove   C. investigate   D. maintain
2. At first, we found life in the town very excitingbut soon it became rather _____ A. tiring   B. disturbing   C. burdensome   D. boring
3. The delegates found it better to resort to consultationrather than _____  A. conflict   B. confrontation   C. reconciliation   D. consent
4. This house which was sealed offyears ago has now been _____  A. re-opened   B. rebuilt  C. re-roofed   D. restored
5. The meeting of the two friends at the party was fortuitousand not……. A. planned B. timed C. foretold D. prepared
6. Nowadays copy typists are becoming redundantwhich computer programmers are ……. A. scarce B. few C. needed D. desired
7. Management promoted Esi for her competenceand demoted Kofi for his… A. inability B. sluggishness C. shoddiness D. inefficiency
8. Though the congregation was skepticalabout the future of the church, the pastor remained A. optimistic B. adamant C. hilarious D. faithful
9. The judge found his evidence immaterialto the case and not A. variable B. fashionable C. vital D. supported
10. While aging is irreversible, attitudes towards it are…. A. static B. stoppable C. changeable D. returnable

SECTION 2

From the words or groups of words lettered A to D, choose the one that best completes each of the following sentences.

11. Archaeologists have succeeded in________ the hidden treasures of the Pharaohs. A. unearthing B. opening C. showing D. pointing
12. The youth have taken to football because it has become very _________. A. expensive B. worthy C. lucrative D. seductive
13. The _________ of a good student is devotion to studies. A. design B. hallmark C. exposure D. visibility
14. The course aims at __________ participants with practical skills. A. imparting B. complying C. impacting D. equipping
15. That FM station is known for playing very _________ music at dawn. A. captivating B. aggressive C. versatile D. sumptuous
16. I have been in this school _________four years A. within B. for C. through D. since
17. That book isn’t mine; it is ________. A. somebody else B. somebody else’s C. somebody’s else D. somebody’s else’s
18. Neither Otu nor his sons ________. here. A. are B. is C. has been D. has being
19. I know you are much _______ than Esi. A. tall B. tallest C. taller D. the taller
20. This is the boy ________ poems won the first prize. A. whose B. who’s C. which D. who

SECTION 3

After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretation is given. choose the interpretation that is most appropriate for each sentence

21. Can you imagine Oka behaving as he has all the knowledge in the world? This means that Oka A. does not really know everything B. knows so much more than we think C. is admired by everybody D. respects other people
22. Akin is too full of himself. This means that Akin A. talks too much B. eats too much C. is too proud D. is quite annoying
23. She slogged her guts out for the examination. This means that she A. she failed the examination despite working hard for it. B. passed the examination despite not working hard for it C. used unfair means to face the examination D. really worked very hard for the examination
24. I admire Modou: very few people can stomach all of Adaeze’s insults. This means that Modou A. tolerated Adaeze’s insults B. was a weakling C. had no answer to Adaeze’s insult D. did the right thing by remaining silent.
25. After months of battling with stroke, he is now a shadow of his former self. This means that he A. is now frail B. is vulnerable C. is hopeless D. has almost recovered
26. Kura, you can’t be too careful when dealing with Wang. This means that Kura A. has no reason to be suspicious of Wang. B. can fully rely on Wang C. has to be very careful in his relationship with Wang D. may feel free in the company of Wang.
27. Don’t tell me another cock and bull story. This means that the speaker does not want to A. be further baffled B. hear the same old story C. hear another drab story D. be further deceived
28. Had he confessed much earlier, she would have trusted him This means that he A. had confessed earlier on, but he wasn’t trusted B. had confessed much earlier on, and he was trusted C. hadn’t confessed much earlier on, and he was trusted D. hadn’t confessed earlier on, and he wasn’t trusted
29. Kola: You really worked hard to win the case. Didia: You don’t know the half of it. A. it wasn’t as difficult as Kola had thought B. Kola’s statement wasn’t actually correct C. it was even more difficult than Kola could imagine D. winning the case didn’t mean much to Kola
30. Femi is too clever by half. This means that Femi A. displays his cleverness in an annoying way B. is not as clever as he thinks C. pleases everyone he meets D. hides how clever he really is.

SECTION 4

Choose from the alternatives lettered A to D the one which is nearest in meaning to the underlined work or expression in each sentence.

31. The question you have asked is a legitimate A. pressing B. strange C. valid D. standing
32. I dislike that arrogant manner of yours A. impatient B. haughty C. erratic D. inquisitive
33. The man suffered harassmentfrom armed robbers for several days. A. disrespect B. rebuke C. criticism D. molestation
34. The death of Vivien Foe is a mystery. A. possibility B. debate C. puzzle D. horror
35. The Bar Association argued that the decree should be expungedfrom the laws of the country A. removed B. amended C. promulgated D. changed
36. The track suit accentuatedyour slim structure. A. increased B. inflated C. revealed D. highlighted
37. There is hardly any blemishon your work. A. fact B. error C. mark D. relevance
38. They were accused of luringyoung people into taking drugs A. enticing B. pleading C. pushing D. forcing
39. The workers took a unilateral A. vague B. major C. one-sided D. holistic
40. We conjectured that his dismissal was due to insubordination. A. translated B. guessed C. explained D. anticipated

SECTION 5

From the words or groups of words lettered A to D, choose the word of group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.

41. Kofi is angry _____ her daughter’s lack of interest in her business A) at B) with C) for D) by
42. Until I heard him myself, I _____ imagined that he said that A) did not B) could not have C) should not have D) will not have
43. No sooner had war started _____ the soldiers deserted the village A) that B) when C) as D) than
44. He took his and gave them ______ A) their B) there’s C) there D) theirs
45. it is advisable to mind your own business and not_________ A) somebody’s else B) somebody else’s C) somebody’s else’s D) somebody else
46. Mr kwesi bought_______ A) a cupboard attractive new B) attractive a new cupboard C) a new attractive cupboard D) an attractive new cupboard
47. The students had no choice _______to do as they had been commanded. A) except B) but C) rather D) even
48. My submission ________by the Council at the moment. A) considering B) is being considered C) considers D) is considered
49. If she had known, she wouldn’t have come, ________? A) could she B) couldn’t she C) wouldn’t she D) would she
50. Last week’s assignment was _________for me. A) much too difficult B) too much difficult C) difficult too much D) much difficult too
51. Could you please _________a receipt for my purchase? A) make in B) make out C) make up D) make for
52. You can apply if you agree _______their terms. A) upon B) to C) about D) in
53. When we were in boarding school, my parents usually came to check _________us every week. A) with B) on C) over D) for
54. It is I who ________to blame for the lapses. A) was B) am C) is D) are
55. The holiday came to an end all _________soon. A) too B) rather C) much D) more
56. The research was carried out _________a sample population. A) over B) in C) with D) on
57. Though ________by opposition from his own supporters, the Chairman pressed ahead with his plans. A) shaking B) shook C) shaken D) was shaken
58. To avoid trouble, it is best to say very _________on the case. A) less B) little C) few D) small
59. He offered no explanation, ________apology. A) still less an B) and even less an C) not less the D) still less the
60. Our school will ________one hundred and twenty students this year. A) turn in B) turn on C) turn out D) turn over
61. At the last minute, Amidu _______of the plan. A) backed up B) backed for C) backed out D) backed in
62. We need to_______ for lost ground. A) make in B) make by C) make up D) make through
63. Blood is usually screened_________ transfusion. A) before B) in C) by D) upon
64. The trader tried to cash in ________the customer’s ignorance. A) by B) at C) on D) with
65. Uncle Richard invited Naza and ________ to his house.  A) me B) I C) myself D) she
66. When I came home, my mother asked me if I _________. A) ate B) was eating C) have eaten D) had eaten
67. We were expecting them in the evening but they arrived _______ dawn. A) on B) at C) in D) for
68. No sooner had the judge read the verdict ________ pandemonium broke out. A) than B) when C) and D) then
69. The dog was run _______ by a careless driver. A) under B) upon C) across D) over
70. The men were charged _______ murder. A) of B) for C) with D) on

SECTION 6

The passage below has gaps numbered 71 to 80. Immediately following each gap, four options are provided. Choose the most appropriate option for each gap.

Drought is a word that invokes strong emotions. This is not surprising as the…71… is usually accompanied by a number of unpleasant developments. These developments have ……..72….. for all citizens, starting from the peasant farmers to the state and federal governments which may be plunged into emergency and crisis situation which, if not successfully ……73…… could result in social unrest.

The timeliness of the onset of the rains in various regions of the country and their adequate distribution thereafter have become……74…… of considerable anxiety to all people. The fact, however, is that periodic reduction in the normal……75…… of rainfall in the country is not new.

Since large areas of the country are drought prone, the consequence are ……76……. Dry spells could be very severe. There are two aspects of coping with drought. One has to do with emergency measures and the other with ……77…… measures. An immediate consequence of any drought would be famine. In addition, where whole populations are forced to abandon their lands or pastures in search of food, there are bound to be other lasting and…..78…… consequences such as distress, sales of cattle by livestock owners in order to buy food.

Government should provide farmers with agricultural inputs and ensure that they have easy access to these inputs under the relief…..79…… Emergency measures will be much more……70….. if a mechanism is established to ensure adequate preparedness and defence against the occurrence of drought.

71. ideology B. phenomenon C. idea D. component
72. feedback B. results C. implication D. outcomes
73. managed B. manipulated C. examined D. studied
74. objects B. subjects C. issues D. topics
75. amount B. supply C. size D. flood
76. effective B. disastrous C. evident D. inevitable
77. routine B. organi d zeC. urgent D. delayed
78. longitudinal B. objective C. simultaneous D. parallel
79. action B. process C. scheme D. plan
80. normal B. correct C. idealistic D. effectives

PAPER 2

SECTION A Essay

Answer one question only from this section. All questions carry equal marks. Your answer should not be less than 450 words.

1. Your friend in another school has requested information about your school to enable him to decide on moving over to your school. Write a letter to him discussing at least three areas in which your school excels.
2. Write an article for publication in your school magazine, discussing the reasons why children in your area drop out of school and suggesting ways of minimizing it.
3. As the president of your youth club, write a letter to the chairman of your Local Government Association complaining about the increasing rate of child labour and suggesting ways of curbing it.
4. You are the chief speaker in a debate on the topic: Women should not be in paid employment while still bearing children. Write your contribution for or against the topic.
5. Write a story to illustrate the saying: The early bird catches the worm.

SECTION B (COMPREHENSION)

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

“Water Meandering”! The mention of this topic usually takes me retrospectively to my secondary school days. It also reminds me of our geography class. We were a set of three streams: A, B and C, and I see myself in our class with my classmates well seated. The subject we never liked was geography. This was quite surprising to our Guidance Counsellor who worked hard to ensure that most of us offered geography up to the School Certificate Level. Not only our Guidance Counsellor, our school Principal was also surprised at our attitude towards geography. He had always encouraged us to choose geography as one of our subjects for the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE). He once boasted: “In the near future, I shall travel by air with one of you seated as my pilot.” We had received this encouragement with thunderous ovation, but our old geography teacher became the spoiler.

Our old geography teacher killed in us the zeal of becoming future pilots, or, would I say, he destroyed our urge of becoming useful citizens of our fatherland.
When this teacher left and Mr. Udenkwo was posted to our school to handle geography, we realized that “Water Meandering” was not the only topic in geography. In fact, we discovered that “Water Meandering” was not even a topic on its own. But before this time, the only topic we knew in geography but which we could not really explain, was “Water Meandering.”

Also, with the coming of Mr. Udenkwo, as young boys and girls, we began to ask
questions about the competence of our old geography teacher. From these questions, we realized that our old geography teacher was not a subject specialist after all. We realized too that this teacher only had the Teachers’ Grade II Certificate. Whether he studied geography at the Teachers’ Training College (TTC) or not, was another thing we could not uncover. On the other hand, we discovered that Mr. Udenkwo had a bachelor’s degree in geography.

But before Mr. Udenkwo was posted to our school, much harm had already been done. So, all his efforts to bring us back to the subject proved abortive. Only one of us heeded his entreaties. To demonstrate his ingenuity in the subject, Mr. Udenkwo took his only ‘apostle’ from the scratch. When we finally took the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), surprisingly, this student made a distinction in geography. Today, this same student is a professor of geography.

Our story is typical of what obtains in most secondary schools in Nigeria; many teachers are made to handle subjects they do not major in, thereby “killing” the morale of their students. This practice should be discouraged by school administrators. Therefore, subject specialists should be made to handle their areas of specialty, especially at the School Certificate Level.

QUESTIONS:

(a) According to the passage, why did the students hate geography?

(b) Why was the school Guidance Counsellor astonished at the behaviour of the students?

(c) What did the students receive with thunderous ovation?

(d) What is ironic about the principal’s statement?

(e) “… who had worked hard …”

(i) What grammatical name is given to this expression?

(ii) What is its function in the sentence?

(f) Why were the students compelled to investigate the old geography

teacher?

(g) How, according to the writer, could students’ performance be enhanced in subject areas?

(h) Find one word or phrase which is nearest in meaning to the following words and can at the same time replace each of words as used in the passage.

(i) retrospectively

(ii) thunderous

(iii) zeal

(iv) specialist

(v) entreaties

(vi) scratch

SECTION C (SUMMARY)

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

The announcement in 2011 that the world population had hit the seven billion marks seemed to have taken many people by surprise. Most people wondered how humanity could have grown by a billion within two decades. However, anyone conversant with factors relevant to human growth should understand this phenomenal increase. Let us examine the factors that have prompted the rise in population.

To begin with, think of the health facilities obtainable some centuries earlier compared with now. Man’s knowledge of medical care was appalling some centuries ago. Today, with medical centres within easy reach of most people, and with drugs available to combat virtually all forms of diseases. death rate has been drastically reduced, while life expectancy has risen significantly in most countries. This has caused the great reduction in infant mortality and subsequently increased the number of senior citizens.

Similarly, there is the vital role of education. The spread of education has created a great level of awareness about human welfare and health. Even primary school pupils know the dangers of drinking unwholesome water, living in an unclean environment and ignoring simple rules of hygiene. Besides. education has deflated the various myths and superstitions that pervaded our fathers’ lives.

Nutrition is also a significant contributor. As agricultural practices continue to be aided by serious research efforts, and as tools for farming the land continue to be more available, food supply has been greatly enhanced in an unprecedented way. Today, more food crops can he available on less land area than was the case. Thus, the monster of hunger that used to cause starvation and death is being progressively tamed.

Finally, think of the relative security humanity has enjoyed in the past few decades. In the past centuries, major wars were a common phenomenon. Wars that ravaged Europe and Africa for many decades have almost been forgotten. Although there are still some skirmishes in some parts of the world, these have not been serious enough to bring about a significant change in population.

What then is the net result? Each factor translates to a healthier, safer and longer life. Consequently, our population multiplies at a consistent rate. So, we need not be surprised that the world population is seven billion. Indeed, in the next quarter of a century, another billion may be added, and by the end of this century we may have double the present number. But in this lies another danger: that of gross over-population. If the present trend continues unabated the planet earth may soon become too small to house mankind. For example, arable land may be grossly inadequate to support food production for the very large population. Also, if the population continues to grow unchecked, there will be too many people who may contribute to polluting the environment. Just imagine the amount of waste that would be generated daily by homes, industries and institutions. These waste and debris, if not collected regularly and disposed of properly. may lead to environmental degradation. We should, therefore, watch it.

QUESTIONS

(a) In four sentences, one for each, summarize the factors that have prompted the rapid increase in world population.

(‘b) In two sentences. one for each, summarize what is likely to follow the continuing rapid population growth.