English Language Examination Questions and Answers for Secondary School Students (SS2)

Examination Questions and Answers for Secondary School Students (SS2)

These English questions have been compiled to serve as a reference material to aid teachers set tests and examination questions without much stress.
School pupils/tutors will find it very helpful in revision and exam preparation.

Instruction:

Answer FOUR Questions in all ONE question from Section A and all question in Section B.

⇒Join us on Telegram for more Sure and Accurate football-winning tips every day...click here

SECTION A

SECTION B: COMPREHENSION

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

When health workers first came to the village and talked about family planning, no one took them seriously, including Amusa, whose young wife was then pregnant with their first baby. Had their fathers and forefathers before them not had as many wives and children as they desired? And had they not been able to take care of their families? So everyone shunned the family planning clinic which was established in the village shortly afterward.

Twelve years later, Amusa was a clerical assistant in the city and lived with his wife and eight children in a single room because he could not afford larger quarters. For as long as he could remember, his large family had been going through difficult times, which appeared to be worsening lately. Only yesterday, his third child had been sent away from school because her parents could not replace her old and torn school uniform. Last year, their first son could not proceed to the secondary school as the family could not afford the cost. Then recently, the landlord had announced his intention to increase the rent.

Amusa found himself thinking about the days when he was himself a young child. His own father had two wives and thirteen children, yet as far as he could remember, the family had no faced anything similar to what he was going through now. He suddenly realized that this was because the time had changed and that the requirements of modern living put great pressure on large family sizes. His father’s time and age had been different: he had been a successful farmer in the village, had lived in his own house, employed members of his large family as farm hands and fed everyone from the abundance of the farm. On the other hand, Amusa lived in the city on a limited income. He had no farm land nor even a vegetable garden, and had to pay for everything, from his rented room to be smallest domestic need of his family. And at four or five times what they cost a few years before!

It was then that he sadly remembered the health workers and their gospel of family planning. How he wished he had listened and taken their advice! Unfortunately, he had not. And what was even more unfortunatewas that the millions in Amusa’s shoes became wiser only when it was too late.

What advice do you think the health workers gave to the villagers?
Give two reasons why the villagers did not take the health workers seriously.
Give two indication of Amusa’s financial difficulties
Mention any two differences between Amusa’s condition and his father’s
“and what was even more unfortunate…”
What grammatical name is given to this expression as it is used in the passage?
What is its function?
And had they not been able to take care of their families?”
What literary device is used in this expression
What does it mean?
For each of the following words or phrases, find another words or phrase which means the same and which an replace it as it is used in the passage;

(i) shunned (ii) established; (iii) announced; (iv) going through

(v) limited; (vi) shoes

OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

SECTION 1: In each of the following sentences, there is one word or group of words underlined and one gap. From the list of words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the one that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word or group of words and that will, at the same time, correctly fill the gap in the sentence.

The workers expected management to be……rather than indifferent to their welfare. A. different from B. interested in C. opposed to D.careful of
Words spoken in the heat of an argument could offend rather than ….. A. pacific B. amuse C. inspire D. irritate
Although they have declared the student a suspect, he may turn out to be ….. A. miserly B. careful C. thoughtful D. extravagant
Some outspoken social critics live a ….family live A. reserved B. happy C. boisterous D. still
While the manger was prudent in his expenditure, his deputy was …..A. miserly B. careful thoughtful D. extravagant
The cultured and the …… are known by their conduct. A. barbaric B. ignorant C. clean D. lazy
Many Africans now live in abject poverty instead of enjoying the ….of the countries A. comfort B. greatness C. possessions D. affluence
Tunde seldom asks questions in class and was….very careful when he did. A. hardly B. sometimes C. often D. never

SECTION 2: From the word letter A to D, choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences;

Tests revealed that the winning athlete had taken performance-enhancing….A.drugs B. tablets C. vitamins D. capsules
The lawyer’s client was ….under oath in the law court. A. investigated B. interrogated C. cross-fired D. cross-examined
That Fulani man has a large ……….. of cattle A. herd B. flock C. multitude D. swine
The relationship between the couple is ……for lack of communication, A. tense B. strained C. relaxed D. uneasy
Many players have complained about biased…by referees A. officiating B. control C. direction D. handling
Government officials have to swear to…..of secrecy A. an oath B. avow C.a pledge D. an Act
The students……the planned meeting with the new principal….A refused B. neglected C. boycotted D. rejected

She won by…..because her opponent the …..for cheating in examinations. A. defeat B. default C. defiance D.defence
Some candidates have developed the ……for cheating in examinations. A. instinct B. addiction C. knack D. habit
The secretary was….from her job for absenteeism A. evicted B. dismissed C. rejected D. eliminated

SECTION 3: After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropriate for sentence.

Peter was on tenterhooks until the examination results were announced. This means that Peter was A. unhappy about the examination B. suspended from school C. anxiously waiting for the results. D. detained by the police
The military leader blazed the trail by handing over power to civilians. This means that the leader A. resigned from the army B. supported civilian ideals. C. was against the army. D. set an example
Life is all about “give and take”. This means that A. people should be willing to compromise. B. life gives and takes C. life is about gifts D. any gift should be accepted.
Jumai’s life was in danger but now she had turned the corner. This means that Jumai A. has given up hope of recovery B. has worsened her situation. C. is recovering D. has died
It is unwise for politicians to make off-hand statements to journalists. This means that politicians A. should insist on their interviews being recorded B. would be wise not to speak to journalists C. should not make any statement to journalists D. should be sure of whatever they say.
The dentist told his patient that the toothache would pass off when he took some aspirins. This means that A. the tooth would automatically drop off. B. the pains would subside C. the pains would spread to other teethed. the pains would worsen.
The students made such a noise in the class that the teacher read them the Riot Act. This means that the teacher A. punished all the students. B. instigated the student to riot C. warned the students to stop the noise or get punished D. read the school’s rules and regulations to the students.
When I went on leave I asked Mr. Barnson to hold the forte. This means that I asked him to A. defend me B. ac in my absence. C. protect my position D. be strong in my absence
The senator’s house is the last word in comfort. This means that the senator A. has the most comfortable house B.speaks about the comfort of his house C. owns the last house on comfort streets D. has a house that is not comfortable
I was given a standard ovation for my outstanding performance. This means that A. everyone stood up to clap for me B. everyone stood to catch a glimpse of me C. everyone congratulate me D. I was asked to stand up.

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

His father’s death derailed his plans to enter the university A. discouraged B. failed C. moved D. ruined
Adamu inadvertently shot his friend dead. A. deliberately B.spontaneously C. accidentally D. inappropriately
The student made scathing remarks about the vice chancellor. A. critical B. positive C. mild D. damaging
Several cabinet ministers joined the president’s retinue for this summit conference. A. entourage B. vehicle C. followers D. enemies
The manager refused his deputy’s request in reprisal for his disloyalty. A. compensation B. annoyance C. retaliation D. exchange
She spurned the advances of her boss A. accommodated B. accepted C. rejected D. discouraged
Whatever he says is irrevocable final B. false C. debatable D. unclear
Lunatics have some lucid movements A. troubled B. quiet C. noisy D.sane
Don’t expect anything but hypocrisy from politicians. A. promises
manifestoes C. insincerity D. dishonesty

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

The secretary needs to run……two hundred copies of the previous minutes for the next meeting. A. off B. on C. out D. over
Let us keep….the plans we made earlier A. away B. to C. off D. on
To be alive after such a serious accident…. A celebration. A. is called for B. calls for C. has been called for D. call for
She does not remember ever….. a tiger. A. to see B. to have seen C.seeing D. having to see
The commissioner for Education with his secretary….expected yesterday A. are B. was C. were D. is
After rigorous interrogation, the thief had no alternative….to confess the truth. A. except B. unless C. but D. rather
The director is open….criticism. A. for B. to C. on D. about
Tunji divided the money between David and ……A. he B. him C. himself D. themselves
The jury gave…..verdict. A. it’s B. its C. his D. her
No……..person will do that. A. matured B. maturing C. mature D.matures
She stabbed her friend…..the back. A. on B. at C. upon D. in
I am not accustomed……on an empty stomach A. to sleep B. to have slept C. for sleeping D. to sleeping
Take your share and give them….A. their B. there C there’s D. theirs
My uncle was not sure…..the strange guests were A. which B. who C. whom D. what
The principal has already summoned all the …….. on the matter. A. heads of departments B. head of department C. heads of department D. head of departments
But for the timely intervention of the police, the kidnapper……by the angry mob. A. will be lynched B. would have been lynched C. would be lynched D. will have been lynched
…………..she was tired when we arrived, mummy prepared a delicious dinner for us. A. despite B. if C. since D. although
…..Science and technology many African countries have not made significant progress since their independence. A. with regards to B. in respect to C. as far as D. with regard to
If I ……your father, I would call the police. A. have been B. am C. will be D. were
I hate……..waiting A. to be keeping B. having been kept C. being kept D. to have been kept
You had better……….the examination A. written B. write C. wrote D. be writing
The policeman tried to cash in………the driver’s ignorance. A. under B. against C. on D. with
Yesterday, I……..on the beach for half an hour. A. lain B. lay C. lie D.lied
We were told to mind our burins during the examination and not……..A. sombody’s else B. somebody else’s C. somebody’s else’s D. somebody else
Whenever you travel buy me….please, A. a trouser B. one trouser C. a pair of trousers D. trouser
The Housemaster asked Ekene whether he had ever……….the marathon. A. run B. ran C. running D. runs
The maid denied………her mistress’ money A. to stealing B. stolen C. to have stolen D. stealing
One of the victims……..rushed to the nearest hospital. A. was B. have been C. were D. were being
Bachelors find its convenient to buy………pepper. A. grind B. grinding C. ground D. grounded
I heard the news…….the radio. A. from B. by C. on D. through
The invigilator had hardly turned her back….the candidate was caught cheating. A. than B. when C. hence D. that
Of the three girls, Yetunde is the ……. A. tallest B. taller C. most tall D. tall
I was Peter that I saw…….? A. wasn’t it. B. didn’t I C. isn’t it D. wasn’t he

TEST OF ORALS (OBJECTIVE TEST)

SECTION 1: From the word lettered A to D, choose the word that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined. An example is given below:

Example: Seat A. sit B. cite C. set D. key

The correct answer is D because only key contains the same vowel sound as the one underlined in seat.

bark A. mass b. ant C. pass D. ward
story A. drought B. spot C. fought D. through
sack A. back B. dark C. task D. false
look A. fool B. could C. boulder D. biology
best A. leopard B. regal C. saying D. legal
cool A. foot B. cook C. pull D. brute
sit A. creature B. colleague C. wanted D. police
rush A. bush B. plough C. put D. rough
worse A. sort B. urge C. worn D. gorge
mother perky B. mercy C. surprise D. purchase
fair wear B. dear C. here D. mere
make A. height B. weigh C. says D. plait
rear pear B. heir C. fear D. swear
know sew B. grew C. vow D. how
cloud A. route B. bouquet C. bowl D. growl

SECTION 2: From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that has the same consonant sound(s) as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined. An example is given below.

Example: vice A. cat B. dress C. show D. chalk

The correct answer is B because only dress has the same consonant sound as the one underlined in vice