English – National Common Entrance Exam

PASSAGE II

Ralia was alone, lost in the bush. She was afraid. She called out but she had a small voice. It was not good for shouting; it was only good for singing. Again and again she shouted, hoping that someone would hear. No one heard. No help came.

She threw herself down and wept. She pulled at her hair and kicked one foot against the other. Sh set up, stood up and again threw herself down. The bush scratched her body and blood came from the scratches

Ralia thought of her father and mother. She thought of her dog, Wara. What would they do when she did not go home? Her mother was blind. Her father had hurt his back. Her dog had a bad foot and could not walk. Therefore no one would look for her.

Her mother would only cry and clap her hands. Her dog would only bark and her father would only bite his fingers. No one would eat that night. There was nobody to make their food. Ralia again started to weep. She thought, where would she sleep that night?  All sorts of insects might bite her. She might be bitten by a snake. The wild animals might kill her. She might die and no one would know where she was

Culled from Sugar Girl by Kola Onadipe.

Question: A suitable title for this passage could be

Complete each of the following statements with the most appropriate of the options lettered A - E 

The supervisor was angry when he discovered that __________ of the students was in the examination hall

Complete each of the following statements with the option that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word underlined.

The beggar held a crooked stick

Complete each of the following statements with the option that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word underlined.

The school is at its temporary site

I _______ travelling abroad next year

PASSAGE II

Ralia was alone, lost in the bush. She was afraid. She called out but she had a small voice. It was not good for shouting; it was only good for singing. Again and again she shouted, hoping that someone would hear. No one heard. No help came.

She threw herself down and wept. She pulled at her hair and kicked one foot against the other. Sh set up, stood up and again threw herself down. The bush scratched her body and blood came from the scratches

Ralia thought of her father and mother. She thought of her dog, Wara. What would they do when she did not go home? Her mother was blind. Her father had hurt his back. Her dog had a bad foot and could not walk. Therefore no one would look for her.

Her mother would only cry and clap her hands. Her dog would only bark and her father would only bite his fingers. No one would eat that night. There was nobody to make their food. Ralia again started to weep. She thought, where would she sleep that night?  All sorts of insects might bite her. She might be bitten by a snake. The wild animals might kill her. She might die and no one would know where she was

Culled from Sugar Girl by Kola Onadipe.

Question: Ralia's mother would only cry and clap her hands because she could not

Complete each of the following statements with the most appropriate of the options lettered A - E 

The bride and the groom ____________ absent at the wedding

Choose from the options lettered A – E, the one that is nearest in meaning to the word in italics

The examination will soon resume

COMPREHENSION

Read the passages below carefully and answer the questions that follow by choosing the most appropriate of the options lettered A – E

PASSAGE 1

Sometime ago, a man punished his three-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight, and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, “This is for you, daddy”. He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his temper flared again when he found that the box was empty. He yelled at her, “don’t you know that when you give someone a present there is supposed to be something inside of it”.

The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said “Oh daddy, it is not empty I blew kisses into the box, all for you daddy”. The father was crushed. He put his arms around the little girl and begged her for forgiveness. The man kept the box by his bed for years, whenever he was discourage, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who has put it there.

Question: What did the man do when the girl offered him a gift the next morning?

Choose from the options lettered A – E, the one that is nearest in meaning to the word in italics

This year's harvest was poor

Complete each of the following statements with the option that is mostly nearly opposite in meaning to the word in underlined

The milk was sour

COMPREHENSION

Read the passages below carefully and answer the questions that follow by choosing the most appropriate of the options lettered A – E

PASSAGE 1

Sometime ago, a man punished his three-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight, and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, “This is for you, daddy”. He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his temper flared again when he found that the box was empty. He yelled at her, “don’t you know that when you give someone a present there is supposed to be something inside of it”.

The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said “Oh daddy, it is not empty I blew kisses into the box, all for you daddy”. The father was crushed. He put his arms around the little girl and begged her for forgiveness. The man kept the box by his bed for years, whenever he was discourage, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who has put it there.

Question: Why was the man angry when he was given the gift? He was angry because

If you can appeal to her, I _________ mind

Complete each of the following statements with the most appropriate of the options lettered A - E 

The governor, with his four wives, ___________ detained by the EFCC about two weeks ago.

COMPREHENSION

Read the passages below carefully and answer the questions that follow by choosing the most appropriate of the options lettered A – E

PASSAGE 1

Sometime ago, a man punished his three-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight, and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, “This is for you, daddy”. He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his temper flared again when he found that the box was empty. He yelled at her, “don’t you know that when you give someone a present there is supposed to be something inside of it”.

The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said “Oh daddy, it is not empty I blew kisses into the box, all for you daddy”. The father was crushed. He put his arms around the little girl and begged her for forgiveness. The man kept the box by his bed for years, whenever he was discourage, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who has put it there.

Question: Why was the girl's father embarrassed when she brought him a gift? He was embarrassed because

To __________ shall I give this parcel?

Choose from the options lettered A – E, the one that is nearest in meaning to the word in italics

The water was polluted

Complete each of the following statements with the most appropriate of the options lettered A - E 

______ of the footballers were given a cash prize for winning the championship

PASSAGE II

Ralia was alone, lost in the bush. She was afraid. She called out but she had a small voice. It was not good for shouting; it was only good for singing. Again and again she shouted, hoping that someone would hear. No one heard. No help came.

She threw herself down and wept. She pulled at her hair and kicked one foot against the other. Sh set up, stood up and again threw herself down. The bush scratched her body and blood came from the scratches

Ralia thought of her father and mother. She thought of her dog, Wara. What would they do when she did not go home? Her mother was blind. Her father had hurt his back. Her dog had a bad foot and could not walk. Therefore no one would look for her.

Her mother would only cry and clap her hands. Her dog would only bark and her father would only bite his fingers. No one would eat that night. There was nobody to make their food. Ralia again started to weep. She thought, where would she sleep that night?  All sorts of insects might bite her. She might be bitten by a snake. The wild animals might kill her. She might die and no one would know where she was

Culled from Sugar Girl by Kola Onadipe.

Question: According to the passage _______ prepared food for the family

The statement "I have done the work" in the passive from becomes, the work ________ done by me

Complete each of the following statements with the most appropriate of the options lettered A - E 

The bride and the groom ____________ absent at the wedding

COMPREHENSION

Read the passages below carefully and answer the questions that follow by choosing the most appropriate of the options lettered A – E

PASSAGE 1

Sometime ago, a man punished his three-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight, and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, “This is for you, daddy”. He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his temper flared again when he found that the box was empty. He yelled at her, “don’t you know that when you give someone a present there is supposed to be something inside of it”.

The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said “Oh daddy, it is not empty I blew kisses into the box, all for you daddy”. The father was crushed. He put his arms around the little girl and begged her for forgiveness. The man kept the box by his bed for years, whenever he was discourage, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who has put it there.

Question: The man took the imaginary kiss whenever he was

Complete each of the following statements with the option that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word underlined.

Mr. John bought a huge sheep from the market.

He __________ a present from the head teacher

PASSAGE II

Ralia was alone, lost in the bush. She was afraid. She called out but she had a small voice. It was not good for shouting; it was only good for singing. Again and again she shouted, hoping that someone would hear. No one heard. No help came.

She threw herself down and wept. She pulled at her hair and kicked one foot against the other. Sh set up, stood up and again threw herself down. The bush scratched her body and blood came from the scratches

Ralia thought of her father and mother. She thought of her dog, Wara. What would they do when she did not go home? Her mother was blind. Her father had hurt his back. Her dog had a bad foot and could not walk. Therefore no one would look for her.

Her mother would only cry and clap her hands. Her dog would only bark and her father would only bite his fingers. No one would eat that night. There was nobody to make their food. Ralia again started to weep. She thought, where would she sleep that night?  All sorts of insects might bite her. She might be bitten by a snake. The wild animals might kill her. She might die and no one would know where she was

Culled from Sugar Girl by Kola Onadipe.

Question: Wara was a/an

Complete each of the following statements with the option that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word underlined.

The girl was carrying an empty bucket

Has h finished the work?

Complete each of the following statements with the most appropriate of the options lettered A - E 

The superlative form of the word little is

COMPREHENSION

Read the passages below carefully and answer the questions that follow by choosing the most appropriate of the options lettered A – E

PASSAGE 1

Sometime ago, a man punished his three-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight, and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, “This is for you, daddy”. He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his temper flared again when he found that the box was empty. He yelled at her, “don’t you know that when you give someone a present there is supposed to be something inside of it”.

The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said “Oh daddy, it is not empty I blew kisses into the box, all for you daddy”. The father was crushed. He put his arms around the little girl and begged her for forgiveness. The man kept the box by his bed for years, whenever he was discourage, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who has put it there.

Question: What did the girl put in the box that the father did not see? The girl put

Choose from the options lettered A – E, the one that is nearest in meaning to the word in italics

The magician disappeared  into thin air

He told you he wasn't at home, ________?

_______ you want to be dismissed, you will not cheat in the examination

Choose from the options lettered A – E, the one that is nearest in meaning to the word in italics

Jane is very unfriendly

PASSAGE II

Ralia was alone, lost in the bush. She was afraid. She called out but she had a small voice. It was not good for shouting; it was only good for singing. Again and again she shouted, hoping that someone would hear. No one heard. No help came.

She threw herself down and wept. She pulled at her hair and kicked one foot against the other. Sh set up, stood up and again threw herself down. The bush scratched her body and blood came from the scratches

Ralia thought of her father and mother. She thought of her dog, Wara. What would they do when she did not go home? Her mother was blind. Her father had hurt his back. Her dog had a bad foot and could not walk. Therefore no one would look for her.

Her mother would only cry and clap her hands. Her dog would only bark and her father would only bite his fingers. No one would eat that night. There was nobody to make their food. Ralia again started to weep. She thought, where would she sleep that night?  All sorts of insects might bite her. She might be bitten by a snake. The wild animals might kill her. She might die and no one would know where she was

Culled from Sugar Girl by Kola Onadipe.

Question: ".......... called out" as used in paragraph one of the passage can be replaced with

The most appropriate prefix for the word modest is

Complete each of the following statements with the most appropriate of the options lettered A - E 

The bride and the groom ____________ absent at the wedding

The past tense of the word broadcast is