ENGLISH GRAMMAR TERM EXAMINATION JSS 2

FIRST

Examination malpractices may lead to a repeat of the subject or suspensions don’t be involved.

SUBJECT: ENGLISH LANGUAGE      CLASS: JSS 2        TIME: 2 HRS

COMPREHENSION  

 INSTRUCTION: Read the passage twice before answering the questions.

Agriculture 

Agriculture was an important economic activity. It absorbed a large number of people and many other economic activities revolved around it. Agriculture made it possible to create, accumulate and appropriate wealth in the form of foodstuffs and cash crops. Agriculture encouraged a rapid increase in population, since there would be food to feed a large number of people. It also encouraged a degree of urbanization which made it possible for people to engage in and finance non-agricultural activities.

Farm work consisted of clearing land, making mounds, sowing, weeding and harvesting. The systems of cultivation varied considerably but the following were common: shifting cultivation, irrigation, permanent cultivation, rotational bush fallow and mixed cropping. The choice of any of these systems depended much on the availability of land, the land tenure system and the physical features of the land. Shifting cultivation, however, stood out as the most widespread. The system was most effective in an economy where land was not too scarce, since it called for a temporary abandonment of over-used land for as long as it could regain its fertility. Shifting cultivation had a number of advantages: it made it possible to reduce the spread and danger of insects and weeds and allowed the farmland to regain its fertility without the application of fertilizers. 

Pre-colonial agriculture was quite efficient. It is difficult to quantify the production level of agriculture but it is obvious that production far outweighed domestic consumption. This is because the key crops and animals were exchanged for other goods and services. Though simple implements were used, the various communities cultivated the land within their respective domains and in some parts of the forest zones large areas of land were reduced to grassland.

Post-colonial agriculture suffers from one main problem – the unwillingness of youths to stay in the rural areas to farm. Many young people, especially able-bodied males, do not find agriculture a very attractive occupation. They prefer moving to urban areas to hunt for white-collar jobs that are scare. Agricultural activities are left to the elderly. This problem has affected agricultural practices because few people are left to plant valuable crops.        

Comprehension questions 

1. The word finance as used in the first paragraph belongs to which part of speech? (a) noun (b) adjective (c) adverb (d) verb
2. Another word that can replace the word key as used in the third paragraph is (a) important (b) global (c) serious (d) useless
3. The prefix pre- in the word pre-colonial used in the third paragraph means ___________ (a) after (b) before (c) behind (d) ahead.
4. The pronoun it used in the expression ‘it also encouraged a degree of …’ used in the first paragraph refers to (a) urbanization (b) agriculture (c) population (d) finance  
5. Which one of the following is not true about agriculture in the passage? (a) Agriculture created wealth. (b) Agriculture encouraged urbanization. (c) Mixed cropping was practiced as a system of agriculture. (d) Shifting cultivation did not lead to the fertility of farmland.

SUMMARY WRITING 

INSTRUCTION: Read the passage below carefully and answer the questions that follow: 

SMELL

Man detects odors by means of receptor cells in the olfactory epithelium of the nasal cavity, which is located close to the olfactory lobe of the brain. Air drawn through the nose passes over the olfactory epithelium. The water and fat-solublke chemicals in the inhaled air dissolve in the mucus layer over the receptors and stimulate them to give rise to the impulse carried by the sensory neurons to the olfactory lobe of the brain, which interprets it as a smell. 

Vigorous sniffing expose the olfactory epithelium to more of the inhaled air and thus improves the ability to perceive odors. Some people perceive odors better than others. 

Those who lack it altogether are able to exist because the ability does not play such an indispensable role in man as it does in some animals. There are certain animals which would fail to locate their food and mates, and be unaware of their predators, without an efficient sense of smell. Animals like dogs and deer have very sensitive organs of smell. The male silkworm is said to be able to use odor receptors on its antennae to smell chemicals, called pheromones, produced three to five kilometers away by its female counterparts. Human beings with a good sense of smell tend to lose it when the olfactory surface is dry, such as during the harmattan.

1. Which of the following is an appropriate thesis statement for the passage? (a) The passage dwells on the role of smell in animals. (b) This passage talks about how human beings use their sense of smell.  (c) This passage describes how human beings and animals detect smell through the olfactory epithelium (d) This passage tells us why the mucus layer is important to animals and man.
2. The best summary of the third paragraph is: (a) Some animals cannot survive without their sense of smell while others can. (b) Animals like dogs and deer have very sensitive sense organs (c) Human beings lose their sense of smell when the olfactory surface is dry. (d) The male silkworm can use odour receptors to smell chemicals. 
3. Which of the following captures the writer’s attitude to the olfactory epithelium? (a) He appreciates its vital role in the detection of smell by man and animals. (b) He doubts the functions of the olfactory epithelium (c) He expresses surprise at its role in the human body. (d) He feels sceptical about the functions attributed to it.
4. In the second paragraph ‘inhaled air’ means (a) air breathed out (b) air breathed in (c) air neither breathed in nor out. (d) air that is odourless.
5. What part of speech is the word good as used in the passage (a) verb (b) noun (c) adjective (d) pronoun.  

LEXIS AND STRUCTURE     

INSTRUCTION: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words from those given below. 

My ___11___ at New Breed International Oil Plc started 20 years ago. I remember vividly when I took my letter of ___12___ to the personnel Manager. A week after the submission of the letter, I was ___13___ the Assistant Sales Manager.

The appointment letter clearly states that cur every three years. It also states that I shall be entitled to sick ___15___ and a three-week ___16___ leave. Being a woman, I am also entitled to a ___17___ leave of three months in case of childbirth. The ___18___ age of the company is 65. I have always loved to work in the company. I like the members of ___19__ as well as the clients. Throughout my career, I was never given a ___20___ query by my boss in the office for nay misdeed or negligence of duty.

1. (a) career        (b) occupation         (c) stress        (d) application 
2. (a) employment    (b) application         (c) development    (d) implication 
3. Deployed        (b) anointed         (c) appointed     (d) nominated
4. (a) emotion        (b) announcement    (c) commotion    (d) promotion
5. (a) leave        (b) live            (c) leaf        (d) choice 
6. (a) personal     (b) annual             (c) centenary    (d) year
7. (a) paternity     (b) eternity            (c) maternity    (d) ward
8. (a) enjoyment     (b) employment         (c) leave        (d) retirement 
9. (a) staff         (b) labourers         (c) foreman        (d) friends 
10. (a) oral         (b) written             (c) blame        (d) memo 

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS 

INSTRUCTION: Fill in the gaps with the most suitable word or group of words from the options lettered A-D. 

1. You should not allow anything to interfere _________ your studies. (a) on (b) with (c) for (d) in
2. We are invited ___________ dinner at the White House (a) to (b) on (c) with (d) by
3. The children were tired __________ excited (a) and (b) yet (c) or (d) if
4. Fola can sing _________ she can’t dance. (a) and (b) yet (c) but (d) or 
5. There was an attack _______ the embassy. (a) for (b) with (c) on (d) at

INSTRUCTION: From the options A-D, choose the word that is nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word in each sentence. 

1. The students listened to interesting story. (a) captivating (b) horrible (c) boring (d) frightening 
2. Mr. Dare is arrogant even to the junior staff (a) pompous (b) proud (c) modest (d) humble              
3. The new school structure is situated as its temporary site. (a) new (b) permanent (c) old (d) provisional 
4. My father purchased a new car. (a) sold (b) bought (c) won (d) got
5. Bees are noted for breeding in enormous number (a) very much (b) very small (b) very many (d) very large

INSTRUCTION: From the options A-D, choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word in each of the sentences below. 

1. It takes a great of stamina to wrestle (a) courage (b) determination (c) energy (d) cleverness 
2. We conversed till ten ‘clock (a) spoke (b) talked (c) played (d) gist
3. He hid the book under the carpet. (a) behind (b) beside (c) between (d) beneath 
4. The company is giving a rebate to the first one hundred customers. (a) discount (b) reward (c) gain (d) profit 
5. The new Yam Festival is an annual event. (a) monthly (b) biennial (c) yearly (d) quarterly

TEST OF ORAL 

From the options lettered A-D, choose the word that has the same vowel or consonant sounds as the part underlined in each of the given words below.  

1. Fool _______ (a) pull (b) wool (c) pool (d) cord
2. Cat __________ (a) bag (b) class (c) cart (d) bus 
3. Knock ______ (a) knight (b) achieve (c) kneel (d) archive 
4. Laugh ______ (a) vase (b) ghost (c) alphabet (d) vowel 
5. Sword ______ (a) lock (b) wood (c0 hot (d) hall.  

Theory 

Instruction ;Answer two questions in all, question no 3 is compulsory

1.write a letter to your friend or classmate who is sick and on admission in a hospital. Tell him or her the recent changes in your school.

2.Narrate a story on the place of interest you once visit. 

3.Write a letter to your father describing your school 30th anniversary and five basic changes you observed.

4.Descibe your favourite teacher in 200 words.

5.Write a story that ends with the saying ;It pays to be obedience.

6a.  Literature: what  are the  charges  levelled  against  Kolawole?

1. In the  play,  cry  of  a just  criminal,  ‘corruption started with  Kolawole- explain
2. write  short  note  on the  following  character  in the  play.
3. Marshall    (ii)  Kolawole   (iii) Mountain  Black.