SS2 English Language Second Term-First Test

GRADE 11 SECOND TERM FIRST TEST ENGLISH 2

SECTION A

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. The children expected to be praised for putting out the fire, but they were ______ for taking such a risk.  A.  rebuked   B. accused   C. despised   D. sentenced.
2. A child got stuck trying to squeeze through an iron fence, but some adults managed to _______ him. A. extract B. push   C. save   D. extricate.
3. They ended the discussion on amicable terms though they were ______ to each other at the beginning. A. unacceptable B. hostile C. unknown D. annoying.
4. James found the photocopied material invaluable while preparing for the examination A. Valuable B. worthwhile C. worthless D. important
5. Mr. Akin’s health has greatly degenerated in the last week. A. improved B. deteriorated C. expanded D. abated

From the words letter A to D below each of the following sentences, choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the underline word.

1. The match came to an abrupt end when the rain started. A. sharp B. brisk C. quick D. sudden
2. He was such a brilliant footballer! A. an inspired B. an intelligent C. a dazzling D. a skilful
3. The politician is a fluent speaker A. an eloquent B. a superficial C. an insightful D. a persuasive
4. Everyone has the urge to succeed in life A. compulsion B. desire C. need D. courage
5. When he heard the gunshot, he ran into a thick forest A. tight B. deep C. dense D. close

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. 

1. Tamuno confessed that he STOLE the car. 

1. Did Thomas confess that he stole the car? 
2. Did Tamuno confess that he borrowed the car? 
3. Did Tamuno deny that he stole the car? 
4. Did Tamuno confess that he stole the lorry?

 

1.  Dad requested the DRIVER to open the door? 

1. Did Mum request the driver to open the door? 
2. Did Dad order the driver to open the door? 
3. Did Dad request the gardener to open the door? 
4. Did Dad request the driver to shut the door?

 

1. The housemaid locked the baby in the FRIDGE. 

1. Did the steward lock the baby in the fridge? 
2. Did the housemaid cool the baby in the fridge? 
3. Did the housemaid lock the cat in the fridge? 
4. Did the housemaid lock the baby in the toilet?

 

1.  Musa found the money UNDER Mum’s mattress.

1. Did Musa found the money inside Mum’s mattress?
2. Did Musa steal the money under Mum’s mattress?
3.  Did Ayo find the money under Mum’s mattress?
4. Did Musa find the wristwatch under Mum’s mattress?

1. The AMBASSADORS are visiting Nigeria tomorrow.

1. Are the ambassadors visiting Ghana tomorrow?
2. Are the athletes visiting Nigeria tomorrow? 
3. Are the ambassadors visiting Nigeria next week? 
4. Are the ambassadors leaving Nigeria tomorrow?

 

SECTION B COMPREHENSION

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

 

A candidate in an examination hall is a close cousin of the boxer in the ring.

Both are fighting for a prize or, at least, for some commendation. Their goal is to win, and victory brings fame while failure leads to disaster and frustration.

Each victory paves the way for a promotion up the ladder, and the higher one

goes the more exposed to the public glare one gets. A world boxing champion

is like a Nobel Prize winner among academics; each is at the apex of his career, but the route to that position can be tortuous and rough. 

 

The examination candidate is not a very normal person for the simple reason that he is under severe pressure. Although he is alert and his pulse is fast, he is liable to commit elementary errors without knowing. Thus, he may repeat or omit one word, miss the spelling of another, or interchange the positions of two words. If he reads over, which he hardly ever does, he may see what was originally in his brain rather than what is on paper. So, most errors escape him. 

More alert than at ordinary times though his brain maybe, it can play funny tricks in the examination hall. Thus, while struggling with the question, he may suddenly recall an old joke or a long forgotten and obscure incident. Right there in the examination hall, while his pen is dancing furiously on the paper, the candidate may remember a beautiful tune as if his mind is saying: “Forget this task, enjoy some music. “Happily, these do not usually disrupt the exercise at hand: the task goes on while the candidate may smile to himself fat the strange recall of the joke or music.

 

The brain can play a different type of trick. A fact long stored up and

remembered a short while before the examination can suddenly evaporate. All attempts to recall it may prove unsuccessful. Usually, till the paper ends, the fact remains elusive only to resurface much later when not needed.

The candidate does not fare better in an oral examination. His problems are

heightened by the fact that his fate depends entirely on the examiner’s

assessment of him rather than what he writes down himself. 

The facial appearance of the examiner is also a strong factor since a stern, unsmiling examiner can be intimidating. Yet, an examination candidate need not be frightened. He needs all the calmness he can muster. He should sleep soundly before the exercise trusting that all the preparations he made earlier will not fail him at the hour of need. The fact is that one forgets more when one is tired, especially when one panics unnecessarily.

 

QUESTIONS

(a) In what two ways is an examination candidate similar to a boxer? 

(b) Identify two direct results of pressure on the candidate

(c) Give two examples of the funny tricks the brain can play on the candidate 

(d) Give two reasons why a candidate may have a greater problem at an oral examination than at a written paper

(e)”… .while his pen is dancing furiously on the paper”

1. What figure of speech is this? 
2. What does it mean? 

(f) A candidate in an examination hall….”

1. What is the grammatical name given to the expression above as it is

used in the passage? 

1. What is its function in the sentence? 

(g) For each of the following words, find another word or phrase which means the same and which can replace it as it is used in the passage: 

(i) paves;

(ii) apex;

(iii) severe;

(iv) elusive;

(v) stern 

(vi) calmness.

SECTION C SUMMARY

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

We have often heard students making wild assertions that the public

examining bodies are their worst enemies. Some, in fact, see the officials of

these public examining bodies as wicked souls scheming day and night to

devise ways of failing them. How correct are these assertions? The facts will

speak for themselves.

         The task of setting an examination paper begins long before the

examination day. Indeed, months or years before then, seasoned experts in the

various subjects are given the teaching and examination syllabuses and

requested to set questions. These are compiled for subsequent scrutiny. Then a

second set of experts is invited to examine the questions critically, make

necessary modifications and come up with questions that conform with

acceptable standards. The result of this exercise is a set of polished and

unambiguous questions that are very fair to those being examined. These

questions are then securely stored.

            The next stage is the registration of candidates. This stage involves not

just the examining body, but also the candidates, their parents, their teachers,

principals and some other members of the public. This is so because apart

from the candidate haying to fill in the forms, his principal has to endorse them

while the parents have to provide the registration fee. Any mistake or inaction

on the part of any of these may ruin the candidate’s chances. If, for instance,

the candidate makes a mistake in his choice of subjects or in completing his

forms, or if the principal does not forward the registration fee at the right time,

his chances in the examination may be jeopardized.

            Next is the conduct of the examination itself. Again, more officials from

outside the examining body than from within it are involved. Think of the

supervisors, the invigilators, and even the security officials. They are definitely

more in number than the staff of the examining body, and any one of them

could take an action that might result in the failure of candidates. Take the

invigilator for instance. If he is negligent candidates could swap answer scripts

under his very nose; and when this is detected by the markers, as it often is, the

results of the candidates may be cancelled.

            Probably, the most hated person to the candidates is the marker whom

they, in their ignorance, regard as a wicked drunkard who delights in failing

candidates. What candidates do not realize is that an examiner is trained to

score points strictly according to a carefully prepared marking scheme from

which he must not deviate. It is his constitution. Besides, his work is

consistently checked by his team leader and the chief examiner. Should he be

discovered to have marked inaccurately, he could be removed. So, contrary to

candidates’ opinion, the examiner is a seasoned teacher, a careful scorer, a

person always on his guard.

            The final stage comes with the collation of results. This stage is mainly

computerized, and computers do not make mistakes. A candidate’s results may

not be processed if he is involved in a malpractice, has used a wrong

examination number or no number at all, or if he fails to write all the papers

that make up a subject. So, when a result is withheld, the fault is mostly that of

the candidate.

            How then should we view the activities of the public examining bodies?

Definitely, we should view them with understanding, sympathy and appreciation.

QUESTIONS

1. In one sentence, summarize the writer’s purpose in this passage,
2. In two sentences/one for each, state how the actions of the candidate and the invigilator can jeopardize the candidate’s chances of success.
3. In two sentences, one for each, summarize the steps taken by examining bodies to ensure that candidates are given a fair chance of success

 

SECTION D: ESSAY

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

1. A friend of yours who has been living in the US for some years has written to invite you to join him. Write a reply to his letter giving, at least, three reasons why you would rather remain in your country.
2. Write a letter to the Minister of Works in your country complaining about the deplorable condition of the roads in your area and the effects this has on the lives of your people.
3. Write an article suitable for publication in one of your national dailies discussing the vandalization of public facilities in your country and its effects.
4. You are the Chief Speaker in a debate on the topic:  Parents should allow their children to choose their own careers. Write your speech for or against the topic.
5. Write a story to illustrate the saying: The devil makes work for idle hands.