ENGLISH LANGUAGE JSS 3

Choose the word that is opposite in meaning to each of the underlined words in nos. 1 -5.

1. The students were advised to register all the compulsory subjects in the examination.

A. easy

B. important

C. negligible

D. optional

E. unimportant

2. My father purchased various articles from the supermarket.

A. accepted

B. bought

C. destroyed

D. distributed

E. sold

3. The manager was prudent in his expenditure.

A. careful

B. extravagant

C. fearful

D. miserly

E. thoughtful

4. He intentionally hid the documents from his secretary.

A. accidentally
B. careful

C. foolishly

D. willingly

E. wisely

5. Ese’s flamboyance often keep people wondering.

A. arrogance

B. stupidity

C. modesty

D. pretension

E. timidity

Choose from the list of words lettered A-E, the option which is nearest in meaning as the words or group
of words underlined in sentences 6-10.

6. Only one little girl witnessed the accident.

A. explained

B. heard

C. knew

D. proclaimed

E. saw

7. Her eloping with the man is a stigma to the family.

A. calamity

B. disgrace

C. disaster

D. glery

E. pride
8. Ada was compelled to marry Austin.

A. assisted

B. deceived

C. forced

D. frustrated

E. intimidated

9. The speaker was given an ovation after his speech.

A. an applause

B. a certificate

C. a criticism

D. an encouragement

E. a standing fan

10. He apologized for being unable to recall my name.

A. call

B. echo

C. remember

D. repeat

E. spell
CONTINUOUS WRITING

1. In not more than one page, write a letter to your friend in another school telling him/her three ways
you are preparing for your forth-coming examination.

2. In not more than one page, write an essay on the topic: ‘My father’s house’.

COMPREHENSION

3. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

As a little child, I used to admire the strength and courage with which my grandfather carried
out the difficult task of tilling the farm. Most surprising was the fact that he usually slept on his farm and
even worked there on such an important day as the first day of the year, but the majority of his
counterparts observed theirs with eating and drinking.

For the fact that I hated farm work, my grandfather has always wanted to deal with, me at the
slightest opportunity. So, a day came when I had responded to his call for assistance in harvesting the
tubers of yams on his farm. Ignorantly, I had abandoned that task as soon as we arrived at the farm and
went on a hunting game of birds. As I attempted to catch each bird, it would sing melodiously and off it
flew to another tree.

I was deriving great pleasure from my hide and seek game with the birds, but unknown to me, I
went further into the bush with each step I took. Before I could realize the distance I had covered and
trace my way back to the farm, darkness suddenly arrived like a thief.

QUESTIONS

A. What amazed the writer most about his grandfather’s love for farming?

B. What was the writer supposed to do the farm oh t that particular day?

C. Why did the writer abandon his work on the farm?

D. Why couldn’t the writer catch any bird?

E. darkness suddenly arrived like a thief. What figure of speech is this?

Your composition should be about 250 words long.

Credit will be given for clarity of expression and orderly presentation of material.

1. You have been installed a chief in your hometown. Write a letter to your friend in another school
telling him, at least, two things you intend doing to develop the town.

2. Write an article for publication in one of the national ne wspapers on the topic: The usefulness of
the mobile phone

3. Write a story that ends with the expression: so it pays to be kind to strangers.

PART B

COMPREHENSION

[30 MARKS]

4. Read the following passage carefully and answer all the questions which follow.

My desire to win gold and also see the sea drove me to a small coastal village. Though I had little
food and drink, I covered a great distance. Towards dusk, I could sight the sea from a distance. I was
really excited. Its immense size stretched as far as the eyes could see.

As the stars appeared in the sky, I ascended the hill and saw the village of my quest. I was dead
with fatigue. To worsen my plight, there were blisters on my heel so I had to take a rest. But as I
descended the hill, I was welcomed by the quietness of the place.

The villagers were enjoying the cool evening air. From the lagoon came the croaking of frogs.
Children played and ran about excitedly. The village life was natural and simple. I sat on a be nch close
by. How good it was to rest!

I resolved to rest on the bench. As I lay there, a sheet of mist rolled in from the sea and settled
upon the village. In a few minutes, the village was filled with mist and everyone was running helter-
skelter. I was drenched to the skin. I had decided to move to the next village when a woman suddenly
walked up to me. For some time I had seen her gazing at me with pity. Now, as if she read my thoughts,
she said, "If you would accept my hospitality, you will be sheltered till morning. Just charity." She was
about thirty years of age, dressed in black with a tale face and dark eyes.
 Papaya hut held special appeal for me for its serene environment. For many days, I was well
catered for and this enabled me to replenish my energy. It was with a heavy heart, when the time for
departure arrived, that I bade farewell to my benefactress.

a. State why the writer went to the coast

b. (i) How did the writer find life in the village?

(ii) Why did the writer decide to go to the next village?

c. (i) "… My plight." What does this refer to?

(ii) "…everybody was running helter-skelter." What do you think had happened?"

d. (i) What two objectives would you use to describe the character of the woman?

(ii) What does the appearance of the woman suggest?

e. Explain the following expression in your own words:

i. Drenched to the skin;

ii. She read my thoughts;

iii. With a heavy heart.

f. For each of the following words, give another word or a phrase that means the same, and can fit
into the passage.

i. Immense;

ii. Ascended;

iii. Resolved;

iv. Serene;

v. Replenish.

Choose one to answer in this section

As School Prefect, write a letter to your District or Municipal or Metropolitan Chief Executive requesting
the maintenance of the buildings in your school.

 Write arguments for or against the topic: Life in the city is more dangerous than that in the
village.
 Write a report to the Head teacher of your school about how a senior girl beat up a junior boy.
 Year 2017

 You have been installed a chief in your hometown. Write a letter to your friend in another
school telling him, at least, two things you intend doing to develop the town.
 Write an article for publication in one of the national newspapers on the topic: The usefulness of
the mobile phone.
 Write a story that ends with the expression: So it pays to be kind to strangers.

Choose one question from this section

 Write a letter to your friend describing how you saved a child who was in danger.
 Write an article for publication in your school magazine on the topic: The relationship between
parents and their children should be cordial.
 Write a story which ends with the sentence, We were lucky that night.

Choose one question from this section

 You have won a scholarship to study abroad. Write a letter to your friend telling him or her at
least two things that you will miss away.
 Write an article for publication in your school magazine suggesting at least two ways by which
cheating in the BECE can be stopped.
 Write a story that ends, This is why our friendship came to an end.

Choose one question from this section

 You have been offered admission to a Senior High School to pursue a programme which you do
not like.
 Write to the headmaster of the school stating at least two reasons why you want the
programme changed.
 Write an article to be published in a national newspaper on why every school should have a
library
 Write the speech you would give at your school‟s graduation day on The school’s achievements
and failures in the academic year.

Choose one question from this section

 Write a letter to your friend telling him or her three ways in which the computer has made
learning easier for students.
 Write an article for publication in a national newspaper discussing at least two reasons why
students should cultivate the habit of reading
 Describe one national event that took place recently and state at least two effects it had on the
people in your area.