Common Entrance English 2018

 

2018 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 option lettered A-E (Nos. 110)

 

PASSAGE 1

At first, the dog considered the challenge mean and refused to accept it. But realizing how persistent the tortoise was in his demand, he accepted.

 

There and then, the animals appointed a day at the race course for the demonstration. In the night before the appointed day, the tortoise took a large piece of fresh bone and hid it in the bush not far from the race course. That same night, the dog invited his friends to celebrate his impending victory.

 

When the race started the following day, other animals who attended, laughed at the tortoise who was about one yard away from the starting point when the dog had already disappeared from their sight. In a short time, the dog reached the place where the piece of bone was hidden and was attracted immediately by its smell. Looking back and not seeing the tortoise, he jumped into the bush in search of the bone. It took him some time to find it and longer time to chew it. At last, when he set off to complete the race, he found that the bone had cost him the bet, and that tortoise, of all animals, had won the race.

 

The dog became miserable among his fellow animals. Soon he decided to leave the bush for good. From that day, the dog came to town to live with men.

 

1.      According to the passage, the dog accepted the challenge because A. He knew he was faster than the tortoise  B. He wanted his friend to celebrate his victory C. He was sure of winning the race   D. The tortoise gave him a fresh bone  E. The tortoise insisted on it.

2.      When did the tortoise hide the bone?  A. A day before the race  B. The night after the race  C. Few hours before the race  D. On the appointed day  E. Two days before the race

3.      The other animals laughed at the tortoise because  A. He carried a heavy fresh bone  B. He could not reach the final point  C. He ran faster than the dog  D. He was far behind the dog when the race started   E. The dog had won the race.

4.      Why did the dog leave the bush forever?  A. He loved the town   B. He wanted to live with men   C. He was banished by the other animals  D. He was put to shame before his fellow animals  E. The bone had cost him the bet

5.      The most suitable title for this passage is A. A contest between Tortoise and the Dog   B. An Invitation of the Dog C. The Danger of a Large Piece of Bone  D. The Great Challenge  E. The Victory of the Dog in the Race

 

 

PASSAGE II

A seed contains a baby plant with its own supply of food, all wrapped in a tough outer coat. Some seeds come from cones of trees such as pines and firs. But most seeds are made inside flowers and protected by a soft, fleshy fruit.

Some seeds are as tiny as specks of dust. You need a magnifying glass to see them properly. Others are much larger. The peas you eat are Seeds, If you open protect the baby plants right

through the dry season. Then the warmth of rainy them up you can see the baby plants inside. The pips in oranges and tomatoes are also seeds, so are peanuts and plum stones.

Seeds arc scattered from plants during the hamattan season. The tough coats protect the baby plant right through the dry season. Then the warmth of rainy season stirs the seeds to life and the tiny plants inside start to grow.

 

6.      Which of the following words cannot replace "wrapped" as used in the passage? A. Covered  B. Exposed  C. Locked  D. Scattered E. Tied

7.      The expression 'as tiny as specks of dust' is an example of  A. Idiom  B. Irony C. Metaphor  D. Proverb  E. Simile

8.      Which of the following statements is not true according to the passage? A. All seeds are as tiny as specks of dust.  B. All seeds are protected by a strong coat  C. Most seeds are produced from flowers  D. Some seeds are edible  E. You need magnifying glasses to see some seeds

9.      According to the writer, what protect seeds during thc dry season? A. Coats  B. Flowers  C. Fruits  D. Pines  E. Plants

10.  According to the passage, when do seeds germinate?  A. Dry season B. Harmattan period  C. Hot season  D. Rainy season E. Warm period

 

SECTION B: LEXIS

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

 

11.  Olu visits us often.  A. Frequently   B. Irregularly C. Occasionally D. Randomly  E. Rarely

12.  He assisted me in lifting the heavy load. A. Encouraged  B. Guided  C. Helped  D. Joined  E. Led

13.  The teachers monitored the students’ academic performance.  A. Commended  B. Determined  C. Recorded  D. Supervised  E. Supported

14.  The room was untidy.  A. Clean  B. Colourful  C. Recorded  D. Supervised  E. Supported

15.  The baby was abandoned by its mother.  A. Dumped B. Embraced  C. Helped  D. Rejected  E. Rescued

 

Choose from the options lettered A-E, the one that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word/expression in italics (Nos. 16-20)

 

16.  John is a habitual late corner. A. A normal  B. A perpetual  C. A regular  D. An occasional   E. An unrepentant

17.  The teacher told the pupils that the assignment was compulsory.  A. Important  B. Mandatory  C. Necessary  D. Obligatory  E. Optional

18.  She rejected the gift from her father. A. Accepted  B. Discarded  C. Dumped D. Examined  E. Refused

19.  The family has moved out of Yola   A. Evacuated to  B. Left for  C. Moved to  D. Remained in  E. Transferred to

20.  Amina is quite inquisitive  A. Anxious  B. Curious  C. Indifferent  D. Insolent  E. Intelligent

 

SECTION C: STRUCTURE

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

 

21.  My mother ___ fish from the market every Tuesday.  A. Bought  B. Buy  C. Buys  D. Has bought  E. Will buy

22.  Chike ___ away the rubbish in the refuse bin,  A. Had threw  B. Has throw  C. Has throwing  D. Has thrown  E. Have thrown

23.  She ____ handball when she was young  A. Has played   B. Is playing  C. Play   D. Played  E. Plays

24.  He loves travelling, ___ he?  A. Does  B. Doesn't  C. Don't  D. Isn't  E. Wasn't

25.  The ___ prefix can be added to 'possible" to for A. il- B. im-  C. in-  D. re-  E. un-

26.  The test is difficult, ____it?  A. Does  B. Is  C. Isn't  D. Was  E. Wasn't

27.  He has houses in Lagos ___ Abuja A. Also  B. And  C. Nor   D. Or  E. With

28.  The child danced to the ___ of the music A. Rhythm  B. Rhythym  C. Redeem  D. Riethym  E. Rythm

29.  Binta has a ____ wristwatch  A. Small gold fine  B. Small fine gold  C. Gold fine small  D. Fine small gold  E. Gold small fine

30.  He rode the bicycle ___ two hours  A. At  B. Between   C. By   D. For  E. On

31.  The thieves came in ____ bathroom window.  A. Buy   B. On  C. Through  D. Under  E. With

32.  Bola hid the book ____ the classroom   A. Above   B. Behind  C. Below  D. Between  E. Upon

33.  One of the boys __ sick   A, Are   B. Has being   C. Have been  D. Is   E. Were

34.  Active voice: The dog chased the thief. Passive voice: The thief ____chased by the dog A. Had been B. Has been  C. Have been  D. Is being  E. Was

35.  Daniel is the __ of the pupils in our class A. More smarter B. Most smartest  C. Smart  D. Smarter  E. Smartest

36.  The four boys shared the banana among A. Himself  B. Ourselves  C. Theirselves  D. Themselves  E. Themselves

37.  If one studies hard, ___ will surely pass  A. it  B. One  C. She  D. We  E. You

38.  Active voice: Bala grows tomatoes Passive voice: tomatoes ___ grown by Bala  A. Are B. Had  C. Is  D. Is being  E. Was

39.  The common ___ of malaria is fever   A. Sympthon  B. Symptom  C. Smptom   D. Syntom   E. Synmptom

40.  I can't see ___ mango in the fridge  A. A few  B. Any  C. More  D. Much  E. Some