THIRD TERM

SUBJECT: ENGLISH STUDIES CLASS: S.S S 1 DURATION 2HR

PAPER 2 OBJECTIVES:
COMPREHENSION PASSAGE
The land was ready and ploughed, waiting for the crops.
At night, the earth was alive with insects singing and rustlingabout in search of food. But suddenly, by mid-
November, therain fled away: the rain-clouds fled away and left the sky bare.The sun danced dizzily in the
sky, with a strange cruelty. Eachday the land was covered in a haze of mist as the sun sucked up the last
drop of moisture out of the earth. The family sat down indespair, waiting and waiting. Their hopes had run
so high; thegoats had started producing milk, which they had eagerly pouredon their porridge, now they
ate plain porridge with no milk. Itwas impossible to plant corn, maize, pumpkin and water-melonseeds in
the dry earth. They sat the whole day in the shadow ofthe huts and even stopped thinking, for the rain
had fled away.Only the children were quite happy in their little girl world. Theycarried on with their game
of making house like their mother andchattered to each other in light, soft tones. They made childrenfrom
sticks around which they tied rags, and scolded themseverely in an exact imitation of their own mother.
Their voicescould be heard scolding all day long: ‘You stupid thing, when Isend you to draw water, why do
you spill half of it out of thebucket?’ ‘You stupid thing! Can’t you mind the porridge potwithout letting the
porridge burn?’ Then, they would beat therag-dolls on their bottoms with severe expressions.
The adults paid no attention to this; their nerves werestretched to breaking point waiting for the rain to
fall out of thesky. Nothing was important, beyond that. All their animals hadbeen sold during the bad
years to purchase food, and of all theirherd only two goats were left. It was the women of the familywho
finally broke down under the strain of waiting for rain.
(Taken from Bessie Head’s The collector of Treasures)

1. The evidence that the family hopes had run high is that the A. land was ready for planting B. earth was
alive with insects singing C. goats had started producing milk D. family ate porridge E. family had corn and
maize seeds.
2. ‘The adults paid no attention to this’ refers to A. the children scolding the rag-dolls B. the plain porridge
C. the burnt porridge D. their breaking nerves E. the land.
3. The family sat down in despair because A. the land was ready and ploughed B. they ate plain porridge
with no milk C. the sun danced dizzily in the sky D. the land was covered in a haze of mist E. it was
impossible to plant seeds.
4. All their animals had been sold in order to A. avoid despair B. buy food C. induce rain D. save animal
food E. make the children happy.
5. ‘Game of making house’ means A. building a house with sand B. being happy in the house C. playing in
the house D. imitating running a home like adults E. playing hide-and-seek in the house

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 sentences.
1. Micheal is stingy but his brother is ….. A. generous B. kind C. humane D. hospitable.
2. Success is the reward of ….. not indolence A. prudence B. attentiveness C. diligence D. sharpness
3. I don’t know how Yusuf became so proud; his parents have always been …. A. gentle B. noble C.
humble D. simple
4. The once unknown musician became ….. in a very short time. A. popular B. accepted C. respected
D. admirable
5. Issa is very much interested in education while his sister is ….. A. dull B. indifferent C. uncertain D.
serious
6. The comment I made at the conference was general; being… would have hurt some people. A. ordinary
B. specific C. tactful D. candid
7. Buba was purposeful in his search for a job but Bala was rather … about his A. ordinary B. specific C.
tactful D. candid
8. In recent tournaments I have seen amateurs play better than so-called…. A. experts B. veterans C.
specialists D. professionals
9. The student appeared…. But we were all confident in his ability. A. afraid B. nervous C. unconvinced
D. ignorant
10. Giraffes are attractive animals but snakes are…. A. repulsive B. ugly C. poisonous D. offensive
SECTION 2
From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences.
11. Mr Uche was trying to…. a list of debtors A. compare B. compose C. compound D. compile
12. He tried to…..the housemistress by entering the hostel through the back door. A. reject B. repel C.
evade D. deflect
13. He gives the…. That he ibs wealthy but he really isn’t A. impression B. opinion C. attribute D.
indication
14. Frank was….in the riot because his books were found at the scene. A. blamed B. caught C.
implicated D. grafted
15. The insurance company….my uncle for the loss of his car. A. redeemed B. relieved C. compensated
D. paid
16. Before giving his speech, the chairman….copies of it to the members of the council A. duplicated B.
spread C. circulated D printed.
17. We wished to win the tournament but we knew our ............... were slim. A. skills B. opportunities C.
odds D. attention
18. When all the members started arguing, the chairman called the meeting to............ A. silence B. order
C. audience D. attention
19. The felling of trees contributes to environmental………..A. pollution B. damage C. Degration D.
destruction
20. I had to put up my house as ………..for the bank loan. A. pledge B. agreement. C. collateral D. surety

SECTION 3
After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretation is given. Choose the interpretation
that is most appropriate for each sentence
21. Our mother always warn us against washing our dirty linen in public. This is means that
She warn us
A.Not to discuss private matters public
B. to fetch enough water washing
C. Not to soil our clothes
D. To keep our mouths shut
22. Let us draw a veil over this matter. This means that we should
A. Avoid discussing the matter
B. To take the matter to court
C. Cover our heads with a veil
D. Get the elders to resolve the matter
23. Children think their parents are behind the times.
This means that their parents are
A. Always late for work
B. Not worried about new things
C. Old fashioned
D. Not duty conscious
24. Ever since that issue came up. I have been sitting on the fence. This means that I have been
A. Countinously in trouble
B. Sitting alone in the house
C. Walking around to find a job
D. Avoiding stating my opinion
25. You must spare up to your problems. This means that to have to
A. Deal with your problem effectively
B. Consider your problem from all angles
C. Forget your problems
D. Arrange your problem
26. Many of us escaped with the skin of our teeth during the crisis. This means that we
A. Lost some of our teeth
B. Narrowly escaped
C. Quickly escaped
D. Had marks on our skin
27. Peter and paul get along like a house on fire. This means that they
A. Have a very good relationship
B. Are not an speaking terms
C. Avoid each other always
D. Pretend to like each other.
28. When Victor’s father gave him a new car, he was lost for words. This means that it is
A.did not like the car
B. forget to show his gratitude
C. was overwhelmed
D. was not grateful
29. This film is a cut above the others. This means that it is
A. Cut to like the others
B. Much better than the others
C. Different from the others
D. Inferior to the others
30. We knew our father was talking tongue-in-cheek when he spoke of a vacation abroad.
This means that our father was. A. Sincere B. courageous C. joking D.reasonable

SECTION 4
From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, choose the word or groups of
words that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word as it is used in the sentence.

31. The accused was asked to retract his statement. A. Recall B. withdraw C. make D. rewrite
32. On the death of her father, friends went to express their condolences A. sympathy B. pity C.
concerns D. worries.
33. The Chume's house caught fire because their little girl had turned on the gas
inadvertently. A. automatically B. hurriedly C. carelessly D. unintentionally.
34. A magnificent structure was erected
close to our house A. real B. splendid C. colourful D. fine.
35. Mediocrity in politics should not be tolerated A. promoted B. encouraged C. approved D. helped.
36. A group of experts was brought into verify the authencity of the evidence A. support B. improve C.
correct D. ascertain..
37. Due to the pressure of work, the old
man had no alternative but to relinquish his post A. give out B. give in C. give up D. give away.
38. The obstinate boy soon met his Waterloo when the war broke out A. Proud B. stubborn C.
careless D. rude.
39. The prescribed textbooks are difficult to find in the bookshops A. highlighted B. right C. actual D.
recommended.
40. Our stationery supplies are exhausted A. completed B. finished C. consumed D. destroyed.

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.

41. My sympathies are........the victims of

the flood A. on B. to C. with
D. about
42. Your application for employment......at
this very moment A. was being considered B. is considered C. is being considered D. was considered.
43. ........the court orders, he went ahead to build on that land. A. In spite of B. besides C. But for D.
although.
44. He almost got .........With the crime A. up. B. off C. Over D. away.
45. .......an accident, the police should be informed immediately. A. in the event of B. in view of C. in
view to D. in place
of
46. If you don't get off my property, I'll set the dog....you A. off B. on C. unto D. into.
47. The task.....to them was very difficult A. giving B. given C. give D. gave.
48. Two boys in the art class were doing
self-portraits by looking at.......in the mirror. A. oneself B. each other C. one another D. themselves.
49. Hardly a day passes by.......his thinking of her A. that B. without C. While D. when.
50. Each time he opens his mouth, he.......something foolish A. says B. said
C. saying D. say
51. ......I would love to be at your party, I really can't A. in as much as B. as much as C. much as D. as
much.
52. The spectators had to endure the heat......... A. as they could B. as best as they
could C. as best they could D. as they
could best.
53. The sick man was......emaciated that I
could hardly recognized him A. too B. very C. quite D. so.
54. One of the muggers wo snatched the handbag.....been arrested by the police
A. have B. was C. is D. has.
55. She is not the right candidate for the job........ ? A. is she B. is it C. was she D. isn't it.
56. She......to excuse herself ten minutes ago. A. has had B. had C. have had D. has.
57. Many a man....., to endure hardship in
life A. have had B. are C. were
D. has had.
58. She..........as a very intelligent person A. comes in B. comes about C. comes up D. comes across.
59. You have to be in school early........... ? A. shouldn't you B. shall you C. haven't you D. aren't you.
60. Either he or you......to clean up the mess right now A. has B. was C. have D. were.

THEORY
Write a letter to the principal of BUNKAY school informing him or her about the notable changes you think
should be made within the school premises
Define diphthongs, and form five examples each on /ei/ and /ai/
Give (3) examples each on the following
Interrogative adjective
Possessive adjective
Qualitative adjective