From the alternatives lettered A to D, choose the one which most suitably completes each sentence.
1.
The robbers ransacked the house.
torched
destroyed
invaded
looted
Answer: D
2.
A desperate man may clutch at straws to save himself. This means that he may
decide to act bravely
seize any opportunity
try all clever means
use a secret strategy
Answer: C
Clutch at straws: to be willing to try anything to improve a difficult or unsatisfactory situation, even if it has little chance of success
3.
Araba's visit was a bolt from the blue. This means that the was..........
a most welcome one.
short.
a complete surprise.
timely.
Answer: C
4.
The visitor's timidity surprised us.
hostility
sincerity
boldness
carelessness
Answer: C
Antonyms (opposite in meaning) for timidity
Audacity, boldness, guts, nerve, stoutheartedness
Synonyms (nearest in meaning) for timidity
Bashfulness, quiet, reserve
5.
We will not allow him to dampen our spirits.
suppress
break
destroy
lower
Answer: B
6.
Mama said, "You can only fight off bullies if you are assertive".
muscular
strong
smart
bold
Answer: D
7.
Akua celebrates her birthday today but I cannot make it. This means that the speaker..........
does not want to be there.
feels it is necessary to attend.
has no birthday gift for her friend.
will not be able to attend.
Answer: D
8.
Those children were born with a silver spoon in their mouth. This means that the children were born.............
with their mouth full of silver.
in good health
in happy homes
in wealth and luxury
Answer: D
born with a silver spoon
Born into a wealthy family.
Examples
We may both be wealthy now, but I was not born with a silver spoon. I had nothing when I was young, and all of my fortune is down to my own hard work.
Everyone who attends that university was born with a silver spoon, so I just don't think it's the right place for me.
9.
These simple rules were infringed.
observed
violated
changed
formulated
Answer: A
Antonyms (opposite in meaning) for infringe
Give, obey, receive, comply, discharge, observe
Synonyms (nearest in meaning) for infringe
Breach, contravene, disobey, encroach, impose, intrude, meddle, offend, trespass, borrow, break, crash, entrench, infract, invade, lift, obtrude, pirate, presume, steal, transgress
10.
She received a beautiful psalm.
shall
palm
sand
page
Answer: C
11.
Those two are arch rivals.
splash
patch
path
spark
Answer: D
12.
My twin brother is very inquisitive.
curious
brilliant
friendly
talkative
Answer: A
Synonyms (nearest in meaning) inquisitive
Analytical, curious, nosy, big-eyed, challenging, forward, impertinent, inquiring, inquisitorial, interested, intrusive, investigative, meddlesome, meddling, peering, personal, poking, presumptuous, probing, prying, questioning, scrutinizing, searching, sifting, snooping, speculative
Antonyms (opposite in meaning) for inquisitive
Incurious, indifferent, unconcerned, uninterested
13.
She is fond of talking about trivial matters.
unpleasant
unimportant
unexciting
unacceptable
Answer: B
14.
Susan was on edge after that incident. This means that she was.............
confused
surprised
nervous
unhappy
Answer: C
On edge
Anxious, nervous and tense
Example
A: "Why is Carrie pacing?" B: "She's waiting for the doctor to call with her test results, so she's been on edge all day."
15.
When we went to Nina's house, we were told that she had gone away bag and baggage. This means that Nina had gone away
leaving all her children.
leaving all her belongings.
without informing anyone.
with all her belongings.
Answer: D
Bag and baggage
All of one's belongings, especially with reference to departing with them; completely, totally. For example, The day he quit his job, John walked out, bag and baggage.
Choose from the alternatives lettered A to D the one which is nearest in meaning to the underlined word in each sentence.
16.
The commotion at the stadium was avoidable.
trouble
confusion
issue
violence
17.
The welfare of their students should be the concern of teachers.
wealth
happiness
well-being
growth
Welfare: the health, happiness, and fortunes of a person or group.
The nearest in meaning could be well-being, health, good health, happiness, comfort, security, safety, protection, prosperity, profit, good, success, fortune, good fortune, advantage, interest
18.
Lance only talks about trivial matters.
unimportant
unpleasant
unacceptable
unexciting
19.
My twin brother is very inquisitive.
curious
brilliant
friendly
talkative
Synonyms (nearest in meaning) inquisitive
Analytical, curious, nosy, big-eyed, challenging, forward, impertinent, inquiring, inquisitorial, interested, intrusive, investigative, meddlesome, meddling, peering, personal, poking, presumptuous, probing, prying, questioning, scrutinizing, searching, sifting, snooping, speculative
Antonyms (opposite in meaning) for inquisitive
Incurious, indifferent, unconcerned, uninterested
20.
It is impolite to talk loudly in the presence of the elderly.
incorrect
improper
unwise
rude
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.
The interview was conducted to separate the sheep from the goats. This means that the interview aimed at......... .
finding people who could rear sheep.
keeping the sheep in a different pen.
selecting only the humble candidates.
selecting the best candidates.
22.
We tried all we could to amuse her but she kept a straight face. This means that she
did not listen to us.
looked straight ahead.
refused to laugh.
cried all the more.
A straight face
A blank or serious facial expression, especially when trying not to laugh.
Example: My father kept a straight face when he joked.
23.
Foli and Adzovi hit it off quite well. This means they............
fight often
get on very well.
play as a team.
present good arguments.
24.
Akua celebrates her birthday today but I cannot make it. This means that the speaker..........
does not want to be there.
feels it is necessary to attend.
has no birthday gift for her friend.
will not be able to attend.
25.
George has been relieved of his post. This means that George has been............
dismissed.
given another assignment.
demoted.
promoted.
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 bread is stale.
burnt
delicious
fresh
mouldy
27.
No one enjoyed the old man's humourless stories
funny
peculiar
familiar
cheerful
28.
The unfavourable weather affected their health.
beautiful
pleasant
cool
promising
29.
People in our village polite to strangers.
cruel
mean
rude
unfair
30.
There was mayhem as the crowd scattered.
anger
fear
order
riot
Write a letter to your friend abroad explaining how Independence Day in Ghana is celebrated.
You are required to write a letter to your friend abroad explaining to him/her how Independence Day is celebrated.
Organisation
This is an informal letter and the following features are required:
(1) Writer’s address (without name)
(2) Date
(3) Salutation (Dear Dad, father)
(4) Body
(5) Subscription - Yours sincerely, Yours, Yours ever
(6) First name
Write a letter to the chairman of your school's Parent-Teacher Association (P.T.A) on the need to provide recreational facilities in your school.
Your letter must contain the main content, the need to provide recreational facilities in your school
The letter is a formal letter and must contain the features below:
i. Your address
ii. Date
iii. Recipient's address
iv. Salutation - Dear + Sir/Madam,
v. Heading/Title of the letter in block letters and underlined
vi. Body
vii. Subscription - Yours faithfully, Yours sincerely, etc.
viii. Signature
ix. Your full name (in brackets)
The language should be formal with no room for slang or colloquialism and there should be politeness of expression. A good blend of varied sentence patterns and a good use of vivid idiomatic expressions.
Your paragraphs should be well developed and properly linked.
You must check your spellings and punctuations and construct meaningful sentences.
Ensure that you use capital and small letters correctly at their appropriate places, thus for instance I for the pronoun "I" and not "i", etc.
Describe an interesting place you have visited and say what you gained in the visit.
This is a descriptive essay.
Your essay must have the following features:
i. Title/heading
ii. Introduction
iii. Body
iv. Conclusion
Describe a recent celebration in your family.
This is a descriptive essay.
Your essay must have the following features:
i. Title/heading
ii. Introduction
iii. Body
iv. Conclusion
Write a letter to the Member of Parliament of your constituency, telling him/her about the rise in armed robbery in your area. Suggest at least two ways to check it.
Your letter must contain the main content, description of cases of armed robbery in your area and how to curb it.
The letter is a formal letter and must contain the features below:
i. Your address
ii. Date
iii. Recipient's address
iv. Salutation - Dear + Sir/Madam,
v. Heading/Title of the letter in block letters and underlined
vi. Body
vii. Subscription - Yours faithfully, Yours sincerely, etc.
viii. Signature
ix. Your full name (in brackets)
The language should be formal with no room for slang or colloquialism and there should be politeness of expression. A good blend of varied sentence patterns and a good use of vivid idiomatic expressions.
Your paragraphs should be well developed and properly linked.
You must check your spellings and punctuations and construct meaningful sentences.