From the alternatives lettered A to D, choose the one which most suitably completes each sentence.
1.
He said the practice was alien to him.
boring
new
modern
unfamiliar
2.
He loves taking hasty decisions so he never makes ...... moves.
calculated
smart
delayed
final
3.
It is hard to tell when this began or where it will ......
fall
cease
reside
remain
4.
His expressions are rather colloquial.
informal
archaic
formal
modern
5.
Jane fell ill............ measles.
at
by
of
with
6.
On seeing the angry mob approaching the school, our school prefect told us to take to our heels. This means that the prefect told us to ......
hurry up
join them
run away
walk gracefully
7.
Have you enough money to buy a house?
plenty
much
sufficient
full
8.
Dave walked briskly to the meeting.
slowly
carefully
reluctantly
clumsily
9.
For winning the first position in the Essay Competition, the school gave Linda a laptop.
The correct passive form of the sentence above is
For winning the first position in the Essay Competition, Linda ...... given a laptop by the school.
is
has been
was
is being
10.
The visitor's timidity surprised us.
hostility
sincerity
boldness
carelessness
11.
That tailor always takes pains over his sewing. This means that the tailor
does his sewing with great care.
finds sewing very painful.
is not happy sewing.
is often ill and cannot sew.
12.
When he lost his job, Yaro was left to sink or swim. This means that Yaro
had to find another job.
shouted for help.
had to survive on his own.
was depressed.
13.
The two boys have often been at loggerheads with each other. This means that they ......
are usually seen walking together
have often exchanged ideas
have often had strong disagreements
usually have the same views on issues
14.
She is fond of talking about trivial matters.
unpleasant
unimportant
unexciting
unacceptable
15.
She tried to throw dust in our eyes. This means that she tried to ......
cheat us
deceive us
fight us
make us blind
Choose from the alternatives lettered A to D the one which is nearest in meaning to the underlined word in each sentence.
16.
The salient points of the topic have been thoroughly discussed.
highlighted
chosen
important
interesting
17.
Lance only talks about trivial matters.
unimportant
unpleasant
unacceptable
unexciting
18.
The scarcity of doctors is a matter of public concern.
weakness
shortage
suffering
indiscipline
19.
The porter could not endure his insults
accept
agree
approve
bear
20.
Arming the police does not halt crime.
avoid
prevent
stop
suspend
In each of the following sentences a group of words has been underlined. Choose from the alternatives lettered A to D the one that best explains the underlined group of words.
21.
I learnt to paddle my own canoe. This means that I ......
am independent and need no help from others
do not interfere in other people's matters
have no help in my fishing business
work hard to feed myself and my family
22.
Kim is full of himself. This means that Kim is
arrogant.
dangerous.
greedy.
quarrelsome.
23.
Azara burn her fingers when she took sides with her friend. This means that Azara
got herself into trouble
hated her friend
showed how brave she was
supported her friend
24.
Mary described the occasion as a red-letter day. This means that the occassion was...........
bloody
enjoyable
memorable
rough
25.
Aminu is full of himself. This means that Aminu is ......
arrogant
dangerous
greedy
quarrelsome
From the list of words lettered A to D, choose the one that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word underlined in each sentence.
26.
The headteacher asked the pupils to disperse.
assemble
come
meet
stay
27.
That shop has been temporarily closed down.
constantly
deliberately
legally
permanently
28.
The bread is stale.
burnt
delicious
fresh
mouldy
29.
The minister publicly rebukes his assistant and always ...... his secretary.
advises
commends
embraces
harasses
30.
The demolition of the bridge surprised everyone.
construction
creation
erection
relocation
Write a letter to your pen-pal telling him why you like your school.
Write a letter to a friend who wants to visit your school giving him directions to your school and telling him about two interesting things he will see on his visit.
Read the following passage carefully and answer all the questions which follow.
I was twelve years when I came across the words "loyalty" and "decorum". I asked my father to explain them to me. His explanation impressed me so I resolved to make them my hallmarks. I tried to be as good as my words. Anytime I was rude or showed disloyalty to someone, I promptly regretted it. Soon, loyalty and decorum became characteristic of me.
Having completed Junior High School, my uncle, Gidi, approached my father and requested that I lived with him temporarily as his children were in America in search of greener pastures. With Daddy's consent, I went and stayed with him. However, he refused to let me return to my parents after Senior High School. Why? Daddy impressed on me the value of hardwork so I lived up to expectation.
Uncle decided to visit his children for the best part of a year and left his mansion and other properties under the stewardship of Lugu, his security man and me due to the trust he reposed in us. This notwithstanding, Lugu suggested we connive with some miscreants to burgle Uncle Gidi's house and share the proceeds with them. Though he persistently attempted to persuade me, I never bought into that idea. Eventually, he fled the mansion sensing I might expose him as a traitor.
Uncle returned and heard about Lugu's plan which I did not succumb to and promised to reward me substantially. However, this never materialized until the unexpected happened. His children returned and told me that when Uncle Gidi was about to go to eternity, he instructed them to reward me with a three-bedroom house and a car. All I said was "oh! loyalty."
(a)
What is the difference between the narrator and Lugu, according to the passage?
(b)
Why didn't the narrator's uncle let him or her go back to his or her parents' house after Senior High School?
(c)
Why didn't the narrator agree to Lugu's suggestion?
(d)
"Until the unexpected happened"
What do you think happened?
(e)
Explain in your own words the following expressions as used in the passage:
(i)
Be as good as my words;
(ii)
in search of greener pastures;
(iii)
the best part of a year.
(f)
For each of the following words, give another word or phrase that means the same and can fit into the passage:
(i)
prompty;
(ii)
stewardship;
(iii)
burgle;
(iv)
substantially.
(g)
In two sentences of not more than ten words each,
(i)
summarize a lesson the narrator learnt based on the last paragraph;
(ii)
give a suitable title to the passage.
As a School Prefect, write a letter to your District or Municipal or Metropolitan Chief Executive requesting the maintenance of the building in your school.
Read the following passage carefully and answer all the questions which follow.
The dry season was very long. The people waited anxiously for the rains to plant their seeds. The rain clouds that appeared occasionally were deceptive. To while away the time, they wove baskets and kente; others carved stools or sat under trees, playing games and drinking palm wine.
Sentu and his family were on the verge of starvation. They had just one cassava farm left to feed on. The maize in the barn was all gone. In fact, they had started eating the seed maize. Sentu kept wondering how he would get seeds to plant when the rainy season eventually started. He went to inspect the traps he had set for the rodent that had been feasting on the cassava. If the traps caught any animals, it would be a double blessing; he would get meat and reduce the population of 'his enemies', the pests. While inspecting his traps, h saw some smoke. He dashed towards it. He tried to put out the fire but could not. He shouted for help. In a twinkling of an eye, the whole farm had been destroy. Sentu wept uncontrollably.
When he raeched the village, his neighbours rushed to his house to console him. They gave him foodstuff and promised to help him get back on his feet. Tutu, the palm-wine tapper, visited Sentu that evening. He was accompanied by two elderly and highly respected men in the village. Their mission was simple. Tutu had asked them to apologize to Sentu on his behalf. It was the fire from Tutu's torch that had caused the havoc and brought such agony to Sentu's family. What could Sentu do or say?
(a)I. What was the main occupation of the people?
(a)II. State two other things they did that could earn them an income.
(b)I. What does 'pests' refer to?
(b)II. Why did the writer refer to the pests as 'his enemies'?
(c)I. How did Sentu feel when his farm was burnt?
(c)II. Why did he feel that way?
(d) For what two reasons did Tutu choose the elderly and highly respected men to accompany him to visit Sentu?
(e) Explain the following expressions in your own words.
I. a double blessing;
II. wept uncontrollably;
III. get back on his feet.
(f) For each of the following words, give another word or phrase that means the same and can fit into the passage;
I. anxiously;
II. deceptive;
III. dashed;
IV. mission;
V. agony.