English Language is a core subject in JSS1 that forms the foundation for effective communication, comprehension, and academic success. It develops students’ skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking, helping them to express ideas clearly, understand texts, and perform well in examinations such as BECE and school-based tests.

Topics Covered in JSS1 English Language:

1. Grammar and Sentence Structure – Parts of speech, tenses, subject-verb agreement, and punctuation.

2. Vocabulary – Word meanings, synonyms, antonyms, and usage.

3. Comprehension – Understanding passages and answering questions accurately.

4. Composition and Essay Writing – Narrative, descriptive, expository, and letter writing.

5. Oral English – Pronunciation, reading aloud, and effective communication skills.

6. Summary Writing – Condensing texts while retaining essential ideas.

Importance:
Studying English in JSS1 equips students with communication skills, enhances academic performance in other subjects, and builds confidence for future secondary school examinations.

SECTION A: OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS (30 Marks)

INSTRUCTIONS: Read the passage carefully and pick the correct answer to the questions on it.

My grandfather’s mother on my Mother’s side of the family was Mary Wise, who lived in Ireland. Ed Mahur, the man to whom she was engaged, lived in the same village. He left for America, however, in 1837, two years before he was twenty. She was to follow him when he had saved enough money to support a wife. Word came later that the ship on which he supposedly had sailed had sunk, with all on board. Mary Wise was determined to go to America, anyway. She secured work as a maid soon after reaching New York, as a sister had done before her.

An almost unbelievable thing happened then. Ed Mahur had not drowned, after all, having sailed on a different ship. Word from him had not reached his family until after Mary had sailed. He learned from them that
Mary was in New York and where she was working. He found a job as a delivery boy in a grocery in the neighbourhood. He walked into the kitchen without warning one day.

Mary almost fainted, thinking that he was a ghost, but he soon convinced her that he was very much alive. (I might never have arrived in this world if he hadn’t been would I?)

1. Mary Wise is the writer’s—-(a) Mother (b) grandmother (c) great grandmother (d) aunt.
2. Mary Wise is Ed Mahur’s—-(a) wife (b) fiance (c) fiancee (d) husband
3. How old was Ed Mahur when he left for America? (a) 20 years old (b) 22 years old (c) 18 years old (d) none of the above.
4. Why didn’t Mary Wise go to America with Ed Mahur? (a) Ed Mahur did not want her to (b) Ed Mahur did not have enough money for the transport (c) Mary Wise refused to follow Ed Mahur (d) Ed Mahur could not support a wife yet.
5. When Ed Mahur left for America, news came that he had—-(a) died (b) arrived safely (c) married immediately (d) become a ghost
6. On arrival in New York, Mary Wise got a job as a—-(a) teacher (b) sales girl (c) seamstress (d) maid
7. Which of Mary’s relation has had a similar experience in New York? (a) Her sister (b) Her
brother (c) Her mother (d) Her husband
8. Why didn’t Mary receive the news from Ed Mahur that he was alive? (a) She was sleeping (b) She had left home before the news arrived (c) some persons delayed the news. (d) she did not have a television set.
9. The shop in which Ed Mahur got a job in New York sold—-(a) clothes (b) jewellery (c) meat (d) shoes
10. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage? (a) If Ed Mahur had died Mary Wise would not have sailed to New York (b) If Mahur had died, the writer would not have been born (c) Ed Mahur died and his ghost appeared to Mary Wise (d) Mary Wise never wanted to marry Ed Mahurd.

Section B

From the options lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best fills the gaps in
the following sentences.
11. Mrs. Amanda was taken to hospital, she was there—-three days (a) in (b) at (c) almost (d) for
12. Your shirt is the same colour as (a) he’s (b) me (c) her (d) his
13. My younger brother is not as—-asI am (a) tall (b) taller (c) talled (d) tallest
14. The police—-the boy who stole the money (a) find (b) are finding (c) may found (d) will find
15. We are all human,—-? (a) can’t we (b) Isn’t it (c) aren’t we (d) may we
16. You will perhaps make mistakes but the fewer the—-(a) less (b) more (c) least (d) better
17. Can you—-me? The line is rather faint (a) hear (b) hearing (c) hair (d) heir
18. My elder brother has gone—-for further studies (a) to overseas (b) overseas (c) in overseas (d) oversea
19. The—-of the four sticks is mine (a) long (b) much long (c) longer (d) longest
20. Jane has—-my new book (a) tore (b) fear (c) fearing (d) torn

Section C

From the words lettered A – D, choose the word that is opposite in meaning to the word underlined in each
sentence.
21. The two boys go home together, their houses are adjacent (a) near (b) distant (c) added (d) neighbouring
22. You should always be polite to people (a) kind (b) rude (c) happy (d) wicked
23. The thief hid the stolen money in his cap (a) brought (b) revealed (c) put (d) opened
24. The play was funny so we all laughed (a) exciting (b) tiresome (c) boring (d) interesting
25. The behaviour of the girl brought shame to her family (a) pride (b) horror (c) joy (d) honour

Section D

In each of the following questions pick out the one that does not belong to the group.
26. (a) mosquito (b) ant (c) housefly (d) spider
27. (a) vertical (b) triangle (c) square (d) circle
28. (a) car (b) bus (c) train (d) truck
29. (a) many (b) several (d) a lot (d) few
30. (a) tray (b) drum (c) bucket (d) barrel

Section E

From the options lettered A – D, choose the word or group of words that is the same in meaning
to the word or words underlined in the sentences.
31. Do not listen to him, he is not a reliable person (a) good (b) trust worthy (c) happy (d) amiable
32. Sorry, there is no vacant position in this company (a) empty (b) full (c) occupied (d) chair
33. Despite her short height, she has brains. (a) head (b) beauty (c) intelligence (d) hair
34. God does not want his children to indulge in worry (a) anxiety (b) peace (d) lying (d) pleasing
35. Do not make mistakes you may find difficult to correct (a) biro (b) mercy (d) pencils (d) errors

Section F

From the options lettered A – D, choose the correct spelling of the word.
36. (a) fourty (b) forty (c) foty (d) fuorty
37. (a) embarrass (b) emberras (c) ebbarrasse (d) enbarrass
38. (a) agument (b) argument (c) arguement (d) non of the above
39. (a) ocasion (b) occasion (c) occassion (d) Occision
40. (a) privilege (b) priviledge (c) previlege (d) previledge

Section G

In each of the following questions there is a pair of words followed by another pair which is not complete. Study the first pair carefully and choose from the options lettered A to D the one that best completes the second pair
41. Weapon and war: Illness and—-(a) water (b) exercise (c) health (d) drugs
42. Bee and honey: Flower and—-(a) oil (b) nectar (c) sugar (d) decoration
43. Biro and ink; humans and—-(a) water (b) blood (c) walk (d) write
44. Principal and Vice: President and—-(a) deputy (b) assistant (c) sub (d) vice
45. Bed and sheets; bottle and—-(a) cover (b) cork (c) opener (d) label

Section H

There are three sentences in each of the following questions. Study them carefully and choose which one should come first, which one second and which one third.
46. 1. She took the measurements
2. She made a dress
3. It was very beautiful
(a) 3, 2, 1 (b) 2, 1, 3 (c) 1, 2, 3 (d) 3, 1, 2
47. 1. Sweep your class
2. Arrive in school
3. Go for assembly
(a) 1, 2, 3 (b) 1, 3, 2 (c) 2, 3, 1 (d) 2, 1, 3
48. 1. I got admission into ICC
2. I purchased the form
3. I wrote the examination
(a) 2, 3, 1 (b) 3, 2, 1 (c) 1, 3, 2 (d) 1, 2, 3
49. 1. Water splashed everywhere
2. She had been swimming
3. She shook her hair
(a) 1, 2, 3 (b) 2, 3, 1 (c) 3, 2, 1 (d) 3, 1, 2
50. 1. It put a bone in it
2. It covered the bone with earth to hide it
3. The dog dug a hole
(a) 3, 1, 2 (b) 1, 3, 2 (c) 3, 2, 1 (d) 1, 2, 3

Section I

Choose from the letters labeled A – D that one that can end the first word and begin the second
51. Outreac(—) our (a)s (b) h (c) y (d) p
52. Mis(—) hoe (a) p (b) a (c) p (d) s
53. Shal(—) augh (a) l (b) b (c) d (d) f
54. Pas(—) rue (a) s (b) k (c) t (d) m
55. Tyr(—) gg (a) a (b) e (c) I (d) u

Section J

In each of the following questions, choose the word that CANNOT be formed by an arrangement of some or all of the letters of the word written in capital letters. Do not use any letter more than it appears in the word written in capital letters
56. EDUCATION (a) cute (b) done (c) none (c) noted
57. ECONOMY (a) come (b) money (c) name (d) one
58. DETERGENT (a) dent (b) net (c) enter (d) grunt
59. EXAMPLE (a) ample (b) me (c) exam (d) apple
60. COMPLETE (a) come (b) pet (c) mop (d) plate

Part II: Theory (70 marks)

Answer all questions

Section A

Comprehension

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.
Aunt Jo was plump and short. She always had a big apron tied around her neck and waistline in huge bows which added to her appearance of dumpiness. She was dumpy; that is the word for her, and everyone dumped all his troubles into her lap. Her eyes were small and twinkly with little smiles that did not fade even when her lips were sober. Aunt Jo was everybody’s aunt, and yet she had not a relative on earth that she could lay claim. She lived in our small village, all alone in one of those storybook little white houses that had a wild, overrun garden enclosed by a white picket fence.

The fence was there to keep things in and not to shut anything out, for all the grownups in town were running in and out at all hours of the day and night. Children learned that an inexhaustible cookie jar and apple barrel were always ready at aunt Jo’s house. Cats and dogs that strayed in to find water and food seemed to become so well-mannered that the birds and squirrels in the trees and shrubbery were never disturbed.

It was strange that no one ever thought of doing anything for Aunt Jo. She was so busy doing things for others that perhaps they never found the chance.

1. How many relatives did Aunt Jo have?
2. Why did Aunt Jo put a fence around her house?
3. The cats and dogs went into Aunt Jo’s house to do what?
4. Why didn’t anybody think of doing anything for Aunt Jo?
5. What two words would you use to describe the character of Aunt Jo?

Section B

Composition
Your answer must not be less than ten sentences.
Write a composition titled:
1. ‘A Day I Did Not Go To School’
You may use this guideline.
a. Introduce yourself – name, school, etc.
b. Give the date you did not go to school, that is the day and month (You can use your
imagination)
c. Why didn’t you go to school on that particular day?
d. Describe what you did or what happened to you on that day
e. would you like to have such a day like that again?
f. Give reason(s) why you would or would not like to have such a day again

Section C

Fill the table below with the appropriate words.
Present Past Participle
1. Eat
2. Cut
3. Swim
4. Grind
5. Set
6. Broadcast
7. Turn
8. Write
9. Draw
10. Come

ANSWERS

SECTION A: OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS (Comprehension)

1. (c) great grandmother

2. (c) fiancee

3. (c) 18 years old

4. (d) Ed Mahur could not support a wife yet

5. (a) died

6. (d) maid

7. (a) her sister

8. (b) she had left home before the news arrived

9. (c) meat

10. (b) If Mahur had died, the writer would not have been born

SECTION B: Grammar / Vocabulary

11. (d) for

12. (d) his

13. (b) taller

14. (d) will find

15. (c) aren’t we

16. (a) less

17. (a) hear

18. (b) overseas

19. (d) longest

20. (d) torn

SECTION C: Antonyms

21. (b) distant

22. (b) rude

23. (b) revealed

24. (c) boring

25. (a) pride

SECTION D: Odd one out

26. (d) spider

27. (a) vertical

28. (c) train

29. (d) few

30. (a) tray

SECTION E: Synonyms

31. (b) trustworthy

32. (a) empty

33. (c) intelligence

34. (a) anxiety

35. (d) errors

SECTION F: Spelling

36. (b) forty

37. (a) embarrass

38. (b) argument

39. (b) occasion

40. (a) privilege

SECTION G: Word pairs

41. (c) health

42. (b) nectar

43. (b) blood

44. (a) deputy

45. (b) cork

SECTION H: Sequencing

46. (c) 1, 2, 3

47. (c) 2, 3, 1

48. (a) 2, 3, 1

49. (b) 2, 3, 1

50. (a) 3, 1, 2

SECTION I: Fill the missing letters

51. (a) s → Outreachsour

52. (c) p → Misphoe

53. (c) d → Shaldaugh

54. (c) t → Pastrue

55. (b) e → Tyregg

SECTION J: Word formation

56. (c) none

57. (c) name

58. (d) grunt

59. (d) apple

60. (d) plate

Section A: Comprehension

Questions and Answers:

1. How many relatives did Aunt Jo have?

   • Aunt Jo had no relatives on earth.

2. Why did Aunt Jo put a fence around her house?

   • She put a fence around her house to keep things in and not to shut anything out.

3. The cats and dogs went into Aunt Jo’s house to do what?

   • The cats and dogs went in to find water and food.

4. Why didn’t anybody think of doing anything for Aunt Jo?

   • Because she was so busy doing things for others that people never found the chance.

5. What two words would you use to describe the character of Aunt Jo?

   • Kind and generous

Section B: Composition

Title: A Day I Did Not Go To School

My name is Chinwe Eze, and I am a student of Greenfield Secondary School.
It was on Monday, 15th September, that I did not go to school. I stayed at home because I was feeling very sick with a severe headache and fever. In the morning, I rested in bed while my mother gave me warm tea and porridge to eat. Later, I watched some educational programs on TV to keep my mind active. I also read a storybook and drew some pictures to entertain myself. My little brother played with me, and we laughed together, which made me feel a bit better. By evening, I felt healthy enough to walk around the house. I learned that resting properly is very important when we are unwell. I would like to have such a day again occasionally, because it gave me time to relax and take care of myself. However, I would not want to miss school regularly because I might fall behind in my lessons.

Section C: Verb Forms Table

ANSWER

Phonetics / Sound Symbols

1. /a:/ → Party

2. /e/ → Said

3. /I/ → Pretty

4. /æ/ → Mat

5. /I:/ → Seal

Sentence Completion

6. Ade and Chika love each other very much

7. The girl is allergic to dust

8. Here is the news read by Agu Ifejika

Interpretation of Phrases

9. IN NO TIME → Very quickly

10. IN THE RED → Empty of money

Synonyms

11. INITIATED → Started

12. RECTIFY → Correct

13. FUTILE → Fruitless

Antonyms

14. UNWILLING → Eager

15. BRIGHT → Bleak

Parts of Speech

16. TODAY → Adverb

17. OLD → Adjective

18. Oldest form of literature → Storytelling

19. Example of nonfiction → Biography

20. Major character → Protagonist

Contextual Gap Filling (Paragraph)

21. records

22. track

23. race

24. relay

25. field

26. track

27. kick-off

28. guest of honour

29. passes

30. skills

(These are common words that fit such a sports/jubilee report.)

Section B (Comprehension – Yam)

1. Why does every farmer struggle to own much yam?

   • Because yam is a valuable, costly, and highly regarded crop.

2. Why is grass cleared and burnt at a spot?

   • To avoid killing the microbes on the land and to use the ash as manure.

3. How long does it take yam to mature?

   • About six to eight months, depending on the species.

4. What class of food does yam belong to?

   • Staple food / carbohydrate.

5. Mention two methods that could be used to prepare yam.

   • Boiling and pounding (or frying).

PART 2:

                                                                                                                             12, Harmony Street, Lagos
                                                                                                                              28th October 2025

Dear Uncle Chike,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to ask if I could live with you in Abuja while I attend school. I have several reasons for this request. First, living with you will make it easier for me to attend school because I will be closer and avoid traveling long distances every day. Second, staying with you will give me guidance and support in my studies, which will help me perform better in school. Third, living with you will provide a safe and peaceful environment where I can focus on my lessons without distractions.

I promise to be obedient, hardworking, and helpful around the house. I sincerely hope you will consider my request and allow me to stay with you. I will be very grateful for your kindness.

Yours faithfully,
Chinwe Eze

2.

A Day I Will Never Forget

There are many days in life that we enjoy and remember, but there is always that one day that stays in our memory forever. For me, the day I will never forget was 12th August 2024, the day I won the inter-school science competition. I woke up that morning feeling nervous, but I was also excited. I had prepared for weeks, studying hard with my friends and practicing our experiments carefully.

When I arrived at the school hall, I was amazed to see so many students from different schools. The hall was decorated with banners and balloons, which made the atmosphere lively and cheerful. The competition began, and I concentrated on every question and task carefully. During the science experiment, our group worked together perfectly. Everyone knew their role, and everything went as we had planned.

When the judges announced the winners, I could hardly believe my ears. Our school had won first place. My friends and I shouted with joy, hugged each other, and celebrated our success. Some students clapped for us, and the teachers were very proud of our performance. The headmaster praised us for our hard work and dedication and gave each of us certificates and prizes. I felt proud not only of myself, but also of my school and teachers who supported us.

That day taught me the value of hard work, preparation, and teamwork. I will never forget the happiness, excitement, and pride I felt. It is truly a day that has left a permanent mark in my heart. I still remember every detail of that day, and it always encourages me to work harder in my studies and in every aspect of life.

3.

My First Day in Secondary School

My first day in secondary school is a day I will always remember. I woke up very early that morning, feeling both nervous and excited. I had prepared my school uniform, bag, and books the night before, but I was still worried about meeting new teachers and classmates. My parents encouraged me and reminded me to be polite and confident.

When I arrived at the school, I was amazed by the large compound and the beautiful classrooms. There were many students, and some were laughing and talking with their friends. I felt a little shy, but I tried to stay calm. My form teacher welcomed us warmly and gave us our class assignments and timetable. She introduced me to my classmates, and I was happy to meet some friendly students who offered to help me find my way around the school.

During the lessons, I listened carefully to the teachers and tried to follow their instructions. I was a bit nervous to answer questions, but the teachers were kind and encouraging. During break time, I explored the school compound and saw the library, the science laboratory, and the playground. I realized that secondary school is very different from primary school, with more subjects and responsibilities.

By the end of the day, I felt proud of myself for adjusting well and making some new friends. I also learned that being confident and polite helps to overcome fear and shyness. My first day in secondary school taught me valuable lessons about discipline, learning, and friendship. I will always remember that day with joy and excitement.