English Grammar jss 3 Second Term Examination Questions

 

 

SECOND TERM EXAMINATION
JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL 3 (JSS 3)
SUBJECT: ENGLISH LANGUAGE


SECTION A: COMPREHENSION

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

One year, there had been no rain in the forest. Everything was so dry that there was no food in Kanu’s village. He and his family went hungry as they searched in vain for something to eat.

Kanu’s son, Okon, was big enough to go and hunt for himself. One day, while wandering far from the village, he came upon a big hole in the ground. Lying near it were three large nuts. Okon was very hungry.

He knew that if he took the nuts home, he would have to share them with his family. He decided to eat them himself.

He cracked the first nut hard on the stone. The nut shot out of the shell and bounced into the hole. He tried the second one, being more careful. Somehow, the nut eluded him and rolled down the hole. Angrily, he took the third nut and swore that if he lost it, he would go down into the hole himself.

Sure enough, when the shell split, the nut shot into the air, over Okon’s shoulder, and into the hole. He scrambled down the hole after it and was never seen again.

QUESTIONS

  1. When Okon went into the hole, he:
    (a) Could not find the nuts
    (b) Disappeared forever
    (c) Was killed by a lion
    (d) The hole got lost

  2. Okon cracked the nut by:
    (a) Biting them
    (b) Hitting them with a hammer
    (c) Rolling them down
    (d) Striking them with a stone

  3. Okon did not take the three nuts home because he:
    (a) Decided to hide them in the hole
    (b) Did not want them
    (c) Knew that his family wanted them
    (d) Wanted all for himself

  4. The big hole which Okon found was ________ the village.
    (a) A long way from
    (b) A short way from
    (c) Just outside
    (d) Not far from

  5. What lesson can we learn from the passage?
    (a) It is bad to be jealous
    (b) It is not good to be greedy
    (c) We should always crack nuts carefully
    (d) We should not wander far from the village alone


SECTION B: VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT

Choose the option that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word:

  1. The school was founded many years ago.
    (a) Expanded
    (b) Closed
    (c) Established
    (d) Produced

  2. The principal has just bought a car.
    (a) Sold
    (b) Purchased
    (c) Repaired
    (d) Displayed

  3. The policeman was rewarded for his bravery.
    (a) Ability
    (b) Courage
    (c) Strength
    (d) Goodness

  4. I am always eager to visit the university campus.
    (a) Reluctant
    (b) Anxious
    (c) Afraid
    (d) Happy

  5. His mother showered a lot of affection on her children.
    (a) Love
    (b) Success
    (c) Respect
    (d) Anger


SECTION C: OPPOSITE IN MEANING

Choose the option that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word:

  1. The federal ministry of health says smoking is dangerous.
    (a) Risky
    (b) Safe
    (c) Interesting
    (d) Comfortable

  2. The boy whispered his name into the teacher’s ear.
    (a) Spoke
    (b) Called
    (c) Pronounced
    (d) Shouted

  3. Could you see that tall and slim man in the crowd?
    (a) Fresh
    (b) Ugly
    (c) Fat
    (d) Short

  4. I cannot release my car to him; he will spoil it.
    (a) Repair
    (b) Develop
    (c) Construct
    (d) Build

  5. Ahmed was afraid when they were ascending the hill.
    (a) Going up
    (b) Climbing
    (c) Descending
    (d) Weeding


SECTION D: IDIOMS AND INTERPRETATION

Choose the best interpretation for each sentence:

  1. At last, Segun let the cat out of the bag. This means that he:
    (a) Was careless
    (b) Revealed a secret
    (c) Allowed the cat to escape
    (d) Showed kindness to the cat

  2. The presiding judge maintained that the lawyer had actually hit the nail on the head. This means that the lawyer had:
    (a) Disclosed the secret
    (b) Said the truth
    (c) Destroyed his opponent
    (d) Damaged the nail

  3. I could not but cry at the sight of the accident.
    (a) I could not cry
    (b) I didn’t cry
    (c) I cried
    (d) I refused to cry

  4. The house is well maintained.
    (a) The house is well built
    (b) The house is well planned
    (c) The house is well looked after
    (d) The house is well furnished


SECTION E: LITERATURE IN ENGLISH

  1. One of these is not common to all genres of literature:
    (a) Theme
    (b) Dialogue
    (c) Subject matter
    (d) Diction

  2. The major genres of literature are:
    (a) Prose, Novel, and Short Stories
    (b) Prose, Poem, and Novel
    (c) Poetry, Prose, and Drama
    (d) Play, Verse, and Novel

  3. The device used in the statement “Lisabi was a tiger in battle” is:
    (a) Alliteration
    (b) Metaphor
    (c) Simile
    (d) Pun

  4. The clothes and other things the actor puts on in a play are called:
    (a) Dressing
    (b) Costume
    (c) Uniform
    (d) Rehearsal


SECTION F: POETRY

Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow:

The Land never knows peace
Where a few have too much
And many none at all

The yam of this world
Is enough for all mouths
Which pay daily homage
To the gods of the throat

Enough for the aged
Awaiting day’s task refreshing
And the young peeping
At tomorrow
From mother’s back.

  1. The “few and the many” in the poem refers to:
    (a) Rich and the educated
    (b) Poor and the illiterates
    (c) Rich and poor
    (d) Men and women

  2. “Yam” in line 4 stands for:
    (a) Football
    (b) Root crops
    (c) Resources
    (d) Posts

  3. “The gods of the throat” refers to:
    (a) Hunger
    (b) Wealth
    (c) Food
    (d) Farmers


INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Answer all questions.

  • Ensure your handwriting is legible.

  • Use the answer sheet provided.

Good luck!

 

Comprehension Questions and Explanations

  1. When Okon went into the hole:

    • Correct Answer: (b) He disappeared forever

    • Explanation: The passage states that Okon was never seen again after going into the hole, implying he disappeared forever.

  2. How did Okon crack the nut?

    • Correct Answer: (d) Striking them with a stone

    • Explanation: The passage states that Okon cracked the nut hard on a stone, so the best answer is (d).

  3. Why did Okon not take the three nuts home?

    • Correct Answer: (d) He wanted all for himself

    • Explanation: The passage states that Okon knew he would have to share the nuts if he took them home, so he decided to eat them himself.

  4. Where was the big hole Okon found?

    • Correct Answer: (a) A long way from the village

    • Explanation: The passage states that Okon wandered far from the village, meaning the hole was a long way from home.

  5. What lesson can we learn from the passage?

    • Correct Answer: (d) We should not wander far from the village alone

    • Explanation: The passage suggests that wandering alone can be dangerous, as Okon was never seen again.


Vocabulary (Synonyms)

  1. “Founded” means:

    • Correct Answer: (c) Established

    • Explanation: “Founded” and “established” both mean to set up or create something.

  2. “Bought” means:

    • Correct Answer: (b) Purchased

    • Explanation: “Bought” and “purchased” are synonyms.

  3. “Bravery” means:

    • Correct Answer: (b) Courage

    • Explanation: Bravery and courage both mean facing danger without fear.

  4. “Eager” means:

    • Correct Answer: (b) Anxious

    • Explanation: In this context, “eager” means excitedly looking forward to something, which is closest in meaning to “anxious.”

  5. “Affection” means:

    • Correct Answer: (a) Love

    • Explanation: Affection means showing care and fondness, which is closest to love.

  6. “Generous” means:

    • Correct Answer: (d) Open-handed

    • Explanation: “Open-handed” means willing to give freely, which is a synonym for generosity.

  7. “Boring” means:

    • Correct Answer: (c) Uninteresting

    • Explanation: Something boring lacks excitement, which is the same as uninteresting.

  8. “Abandon” means:

    • Correct Answer: (c) Give up

    • Explanation: “Abandon” means to leave or quit something permanently.

  9. “Competent” means:

    • Correct Answer: (c) Efficient

    • Explanation: A competent person is capable and skilled, just like an efficient one.

  10. “Risk” means:

    • Correct Answer: (c) Endanger

    • Explanation: Risking one’s life means putting it in danger.


Antonyms (Opposites)

  1. “Dangerous” opposite:

    • Correct Answer: (b) Safe

    • Explanation: “Dangerous” means risky, while “safe” is the opposite.

  2. “Whispered” opposite:

    • Correct Answer: (d) Shouted

    • Explanation: Whispering is speaking softly, while shouting is speaking loudly.

  3. “Slim” opposite:

    • Correct Answer: (c) Fat

    • Explanation: “Slim” means thin, while “fat” is the opposite.

  4. “Release” opposite:

    • Correct Answer: (a) Repair

    • Explanation: The sentence suggests reluctance to give something away. The opposite action would be repairing or keeping it in good condition.

  5. “Ascending” opposite:

    • Correct Answer: (c) Descending

    • Explanation: “Ascending” means going up, while “descending” means going down.


Idioms and Expressions

  1. “Let the cat out of the bag” means:

    • Correct Answer: (b) Revealed a secret

    • Explanation: This idiom means accidentally disclosing a hidden fact.

  2. “Hit the nail on the head” means:

    • Correct Answer: (b) Said the truth

    • Explanation: This idiom means to say something exactly as it is.

  3. “I could not but cry” means:

    • Correct Answer: (c) I cried

    • Explanation: The phrase means I had no choice but to cry.

  4. “The house is well maintained” means:

    • Correct Answer: (c) Well looked after

    • Explanation: Maintenance involves taking care of something.


Fill in the Blanks

  1. It was a serious ________.

    • Correct Answer: (c) Accident

    • Explanation: “Accident” fits the context of vehicles crashing.

  2. The lorries _______.

    • Correct Answer: (b) Collided

    • Explanation: “Collided” means crashed into each other.

  3. There was ______ shouting.

    • Correct Answer: (b) Great

    • Explanation: “Great shouting” means a lot of noise.

  4. The injured were ______.

    • Correct Answer: (c) Conveyed

    • Explanation: “Conveyed” means transported.

  5. They were taken in _______.

    • Correct Answer: (b) An ambulance

    • Explanation: Ambulances transport injured people.

  6. The dead were taken to the _______.

    • Correct Answer: (c) Mortuary

    • Explanation: A mortuary is where dead bodies are kept.


Grammar and Sentence Completion

  1. He has given ______ smoking.

    • Correct Answer: (c) Up

    • Explanation: “Give up” means to quit a habit.

  2. When Mary ______ at the library, she found out she forgot her book.

    • Correct Answer: (c) Arrived

    • Explanation: The correct tense is “arrived”.

  3. The ______ of the priest lasted thirty minutes.

    • Correct Answer: (c) Sermon

    • Explanation: Priests give sermons.


Literature in English

  1. Common literary features:

    • Correct Answer: (b) Dialogue

    • Explanation: Dialogue is common in drama but not in all literature.

  2. Major genres of literature:

    • Correct Answer: (c) Poetry, Prose, Drama

    • Explanation: These are the three main genres.

  3. “Lisabi was a tiger in battle” is a:

    • Correct Answer: (b) Metaphor

    • Explanation: A metaphor compares without using “like” or “as”.

  4. Actors’ outfits are called:

    • Correct Answer: (c) Costume

    • Explanation: Costumes are the clothes worn by actors.

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