Common Entrance English 2016

 

2016 ENGLISH STUDIES (NCEE) Time allowed: 60 minutes

SECTION A COMPREHENSION

 

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

 

PASSAGE I

There were once two good friends who were neighbours. One of them was very tall and thin

and the other was very short and fat. One fine day they went for a walk in the forest. Suddenly they saw a wild pig in the path. The two friends were terrified and ran back along the path out of the forest. The wild pig started to chase them. He had nearly caught up with them when the thing man jumped up and climbed a tall tree. The fat man was loo fat to climb after his friend. Now he was even more frightened. His friend had left him all alone and he could not run any more.

 

Then he remembered and old talc that wild pigs do not eat dead men. So he lay on his back and pretended to be dead. Up came the pig and sniffed all around the fat man. He sniffed loudly into his ear. The fat man did not move. At last the wild pig decided the man was really dead and sadly went away into the forest. The fat man sat up sweating all over from fear. His friend climbed down from the tree from which he had seen everything "That was a lucky escape!" he said.

 

Culled from The Hunter and the Hen by Oladele Taiwo

 

1.      The two friends were A. Brothers B. Farmers C. Hunters D. Neighbours E. Tourist

2.      The two friends saw a wild pig while A. Climbing a tall tree B. Playing C. Sleeping D. Taking a walk E. Working in the bush

3.      Another word that can replace terrified as used in the passage could be A. Cheered B. Comforted C. Consoled D. Frightened E. Reassured

4.      According to the passage, the thin man escaped from the pig by A. Crying for help B. Jumping and climbing a tree C. Pretending to be dead D. Remembering an old tale E. Running out of the forest

5.      Which of these statements is not true according to the passage? A. The pig sniffed loudly into the fat man's ear B. There was a wild pig C. There were three friends D. They went for a walk in the forest E. Wild pigs do not eat dead men

 

PASSAGE II

Once upon a time. There lived a boy called Toro. Toro was born with one eye which made him look strange. Wherever he went, people laughed at him and called him a monster.

 

One day, when there was hunger in the land, Toro decided to leave home in search of food for himself because his parents did not care for him. So while he was gone, nobody missed him. Toro journeyed through several lands, villages and towns until he stopped in a town called Blind Town". In this town, he discoursed that the land was fertile with fruit trees bearing ripe fruits wasting away; and the people were all blind. They could not do anything for themselves but sit down calling and crying out for help and alms from travellers passing by day and night. He felt pity for them and gathered them for a meeting where he suggested that, because they were blind, they needed people that could see to lead them. They all agreed it was a great idea and begged him to become their king not knowing that he was even a boy. Toro accepted and told them he would return to his village quickly to bring his people. When Toro got to his village, he narrated all that happened, and the people including his parents, were ashamed and begged him for forgiveness. Toro forgave them and took them back to "Blind Town” where he become the one-eyed king who rule the people with great kindness.

 

6.      According to the passage, Toro was called a monster because he   A. Had no parents B. Had one eye C. Resembled a monster D. Was a blind boy E. Was a king

7.      Why did Toro leave home? Toro left home because he was   A. Blind B. Called a monster C. Hungry D. Loved E. Sad

8.      The town was called "Blind Town" because the   A. Fruits were ripe B. Fruits were wasting away C. Land was fertile D. People could not see E. People were beggars

9.      Toro was made king because he   A. Could see B. Had one eye C. Needed to be a leader D. Was blind too E. Was just a boy

10.  Why were Toro's people and parents ashamed of themselves? They were ashamed because they  A. Did not care for him B. Wanted a king C. Wanted to go to "Blind" Town D. Were blind E. Were monsters

 

SECTION B: LEXIS

 

Choose from the options lettered A-E, the o that is nearest in meaning to the word in i (Nos. 11-15).

11.  He took us to the summit of the hill.  A. Base B. Bottom C. Cliff D. Middle E. Peak

12.  He instructed them to clean the bathroom.  A. Directed B. Forced C. Guided D. Persuaded E. Supervised

13.  The new policy is beneficial to our school.  A. Charitable B. Destructive C. Harmful D. Pleasant E. Useful

14.  Who among them is the most beautiful?  A. Most dangerous B. Most handsome C. Most notorious D. Prettiest E. Ugliest

15.  The man always keeps the shop neat.  A. Clean B. Dirty C. Dry D. Rough E. Smooth

Choose the option that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word in italics (Nos. 16–20):

16.  He had many supporters in the last election.  A. Agents B. Enemies C. Followers D. Friends E. Opponents

17.  The arts master destroyed all recent paintings in the art gallery.  A. Ancient B. Current C. Fresh D. Irrelevant E. Modern

18.  He was released yesterday by the police.   A. Bailed B. Detained C. Freed D. Interrogated E. Restricted

19.  He was given a standing ovation during the concert.  A. Applause B. Condemnation C. Rebuff D. Rejection E. Support

20.  The bank has so many debtors.  A. Borrowers B. Creditors C. Investors D. Lenders E. Workers

SECTION C: STRUCTURE

Complete each of with the following statements the most appropriate of the options lettered A-E (Nos. 21-40).

21.  The story is _____ strange for us to believe.  A. Much B. So C. That D. Too E. Very

22.  My father is the ____ of our school.   A. Prencipal B. Princepal C. Principal D. Principcl E. Principle

23.  The head teacher ___ the class teacher are absent.  A. And B. Nor C. Or D. Together with E. With

24.  The hunter ____ a big antelope yesterday.  A. Has killed B. Is killing C. Kill D. Killed E. Kills

25.  This banana should be shared ___ five of you.  A. Against B. Among C. Between D. To E. With

26.  The woman added a ___ quantity of salt to the soup.  A. Few B. Little C. Many D. Much E. Small

27.  The teacher taught the pupils to always stand ___ the road side.  A. At B. By C. In D. Of E. On

28.  This is the boy ___ scored the first goal.  A. Which B. Who C. Whom D. Who's E. Whose

29.  My mother treated our guest ___ a sumptuous meal yesterday.  A. By B. For C. Over D. To E. With

30.  Neither the head-teacher ____ the teacher was found guilty.  A. And B. Including C. Nor D. Or E. With

31.  Uzochi ____ to church every Sunday.  A. Go B. Goes C. Is going D. Was going E. Went

32.  You are a member of this team _____ you?  A. Are B. Aren't C. Did D. Were E. Weren't

33.  The two boys were advised to help  A. Each other B. One another C. Theirself D. Theirselves E. Themselves

34.  Tochukwu and Shehu ___ in primary three two years ago.  A. Are B. Have been C. Is D. Was E. Were

35.  She is the ____ of the two sisters.  A. More smarter B. Most smarter C. Smart D. Smarter E. Smartest

36.  My father complained that Audu ____ his hands into his pockets.   A. Has thrusted B. Have thrusted C. Thrust D. Thrusted E. Thrusting

37.  He complained that the car was _____ expensive.  A. More B. Most C. Much D. Quite E. So

38.  The fence is _____ high that no one can climb it.  A. Much B. Quite C. So D. Too E. Very

39.  The _____ will be held tomorrow.  A. Celeberation B. Celebration C. Celleberetion D. Cellebration E. Cellebretion

40.   ____ I see her for a few minutes?   A. Can B. Could C. Shall D. Should E. Would