ENGLISH LANGUAGE
SCHEME OF EXAMINATION
There will be three papers – Papers 1, 2 and 3, all of which must be taken. Papers 1 and 2 will be combined in a composite paper to be taken at one sitting.
PAPER 1: Will consist of eighty multiple choice questions, all of which should be
answered within 1 hour for 40 marks.
PAPER 2: Will consist of five essay topics and a passage each to test candidates’
comprehension and summary skills. Candidates will be expected to write an essay on one of the topics and answer all the questions on Comprehension and Summary passages. The paper will last 2 hours and carry 100 marks.
PAPER 3: Will consist of sixty multiple choice items on Test of Orals for candidates
in Nigeria and Liberia, and that on Listening Comprehension for candidates in Ghana, The Gambia and Sierra Leone. All the questions will be answered in 45 minutes for 30 marks.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
PAPER 1 SECTION 1
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 facepoverty 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
SECTION 2
From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that best completes each of the followingsentences.
3. There would have been a riot in our school but for the timely……………..of our staff.
A. intervention
B. interruption
C. interference
D. invasion
4. The armed robbers ……………every room in the bank to look for money.
A. explored
B. ransacked
C. raked
D. swept
SECTION 3
After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose theinterpretation that you consider most appropriate for each sentence.
5. Ade is too clever by half. This means that Ade is
A. far cleverer than others.
B. actually very stupid in his behaviour.
C. annoyingly clever.
D. behaving to be clever but is not.
6. Ameh is really being economical with the truth. This means that Ameh
A. is being praised for being honest.
B. does not know enough.
C. knows more than he is prepared to say.
D. is not telling the truth.
SECTION 4
From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, chose the word or groupof words that is nearest in meaningto the underlined word as it is used in the sentence.
7. By failing to attend the interview, Idoko has lost a golden opportunity.
A. blessed
B. bright
C. good
D. delightful
8. I hope the principal would begracious enough to forgive us.
A. cordial
B. polite
C. merciful
D. gentle
SECTION 5
From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences.
9. A good citizen abides ………….. the rules of the land.
A. with
B. in
C. at
D. by
10. Since his swearing in, the governor ……………….. his hometown.
A. had not been visiting
B. has not visited
C. did not visit
D. had not visited
PAPER 2
SECTION A (50 MARKS)
Answer one question only from this section. All questions carry equal marks. Your answer should not be less than 450 words.
You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 that ends with the words: That experience will linger on my mind for a long time.
SECTION B
COMPREHENSION
(20 marks)
Dele groaned and got out of bed. There was no clock on the mantel piece and the room was still dark, but he knew that he was already late for work, probably by an hour. He was a commercial bus driver and had to get started as early as 5.00a.m. and go almost non-stop till about 9.00 p.m. to be able to make the daily returns that the bus owner demanded.
On the previous day, he had attended an all-night party – a late uncle’s burial ceremony – where he had drunk himself almost senseless before crawling home in the early hours of the morning. Now, he got up shakily, splashed water on his face and hurried off to work, but not before carefully fastening on his upper left arm the amulet he had always worn for protection against accidents. A similar amulet hung concealed under the steering column of his bus. On his way, still feeling groggy, he caught his left toe against a stump and had some misgiving. It was a bad sign, and he was supposed to go back home and then set out again. But there was no time for that now, so he hurried on.
At the bus station, Dele quickly loaded his bus and sped off without any of the necessary checks on the vehicle. He had to make up for lost time. It was the rush hour, so the bus was overloaded as it often was, with many passengers hanging on to the doors. The tyres were threadbare, the brakes were faulty and the road was wet, but, still feeling a little sleepy, Dele sped on. Many passengers protested about his reckless driving, but he would not listen. After all, didn’t he have protection against accident?
As the vehicle took the last turn before its destination, Dele saw a broken-down truck blocking his side of the road. Under normal circumstances, he could have brought the bus safely to a halt, bur the circumstances were far from normal. The careering bus hit the parked vehicle, swerved wildly across the road and plunged into a ditch.
Dele’s surprise before he sank into oblivion was the failure of his supposedly protective amulets.
(a) Why did Dele wake up late?
(b) …he caught his left toe against a stump and had some misgivings. What does this tell us about Dele?
(c) Give two reasons why Dele drove recklessly.
(d) Why was Dele unable to stop his faulty vehicle?
(e) What was Dele’s condition after the accident?
(f) After all, didn’t he have protection against accident? What literary device is used in this expression?
(g) …wildly across the road…
(i) What grammatical name is given to the expression as it is used in the passage?
(ii) What is its function?
(h) For each of the following words, find another word or phrase whichmeans the same andcan replace it in the passage:
i. probably;
i. probably;
ii. returns;
iii. groggy;
iv. misgiving
v. threadbare
vi. reckless.
SECTION C
(SUMMARY) [30 MARKS]
You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section.
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.
You cannot expect to go through life without meeting problems. Difficulties, perplexities and frustrations are an inevitable part of human experience. Accepting this idea of the inevitability of problems will help you to approach them in a robust frame of mind rather than thinking that you are a victim specially singled out by malignant fate. When confronted with a problem, the first thing to do is gather all relevant data to get acquainted with the facts of the case. Then write down exactly what the problem is, stating it simply in black and white. This gives you something definite with which to come to terms. The problem is assessed and you will now have something concrete to deal with.
Next, give serious thought to the problem, making sure that such thought does not degenerate into worry as worry accomplishes nothing. Aim at clear, dispassionate thought, viewing the problem as if it were a friend’s and not your own. Look at it from all angles and from the point of view of all concerned. You court disaster if you are entirely selfish in your outlook. The single important purpose of all this is to discover all possible solutions to the problem.
Having examined the problem broadly and impartially, carefully examine all the possible solutions or courses of action. The knowledge that you have done this will keep you from useless regrets later, when you can remind yourself that all courses of action were examined and you chose what appeared to be the best. Next, eliminate all proposed solutions which are seen on further thought to be impracticable.
You will now find that your list has been whittled down to two or three possibilities. At this stage it is often a good plan to get out into the open air. Go for a walk or a ride, preferably somewhere with wide horizons. There, out in the open, review the problem afresh. You will find it appears less formidable. Ask yourself how the difficulty will appear in ten years’ time or even one! This fresh review will enable you to make a final choice as you turn to the remaining solutions and, before you return home, decide which one you are going to adopt. As you go to sleep that night, let your last thoughts be upon your decision. If, in the morning, you still feel it is the best one to take, go ahead.
If you have a friend who is capable of giving sound advice, consult him. Do this before your final decision, so that you will have the benefit of his views before you decide. Talking things over with another is always a great help. It enables you to isolate the problem and to decide which on which factors are important. Even if the friend offers no advice, a sympathetic ear will help you. Furthermore, as you describe to your friend the courses open to you, you will see them in clearer light. Some will appear impossible even as you speak. Alternatively, one will appear most attractive.
In dealing with problems, remember the time factor. Although some problems solve themselves in time, and delaying tactics is therefore the best form of action for them, most other problems generally get more complicated the longer they are left. You should therefore get to grips with the problems immediately they occur.
All told, reasonable foresight and imagination can prevent many problems ever arising. Tact, thoughtfulness and responsible conduct can also keep life largely problem-free.
In six sentences, one for each, summarize the steps to be taken when faced with a problem and state why each step is necessary.
PAPER 3 (TEST 0F ORALS]
For candidates in Nigeria and Liberia only
SECTION 1
From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letters underlined.
1. wit
A. fright
B. wheat
C. tree
D. market
2. look
A. glue
B. you
C. cup
D. curious
SECTION 2
From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that has the same consonant sound(s) as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.
3. dance
A. handsome
B. sandwich
C. adjective
D. pounding
4. plucked
A. smiled
B. slammed
C. luck
D. table
SECTION 3
From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that rhymes with the given word.
5. carrier
A. area
B. barrier
C. serious
D. ravine
6. drought
A. crowd
B. nought
C. shout
D. taught
SECTION 4
In each of the following questions, the main/primary stress is indicated by writing the syllable on which it occurs in capital letters. From the words lettered A to D, choose the one that has the correct stress.
7. acrimony
A. A-cri-mo-ny
B. a-CRI-mo-ny
C. a-cri-MO-ny
D. a-cri-mo-NY
SECTION 5:
In the following options lettered A to D, all the words except one have the same stress pattern. Identify the one with the different stress pattern.
8. A. sanctify
B. promising
C. notify
D. organic
SECTION 6
In each of the following sentences, the word that receives the emphatic stress is written in capital letters. From the questions lettered A to D, choose the one to which the given sentence is the appropriate answer.
9. The DOCTOR examined the patient with a stethoscope.
A. Did the teacher examine the patient with a stethoscope?
B. Did the doctor cure the patient with a stethoscope?
C. Did the doctor examine the nurse with a stethoscope?
D. Did the doctor examine the patient with a telescope?
SECTION 7
From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that contains the sound represented by the given phonetic symbol.
10. / ǝ /
A. accurate
B. nephew
C. ageless
D. waddle
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