Common Entrance English 2020

 

2020 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 (Nos. 1-10).

 

PASSAGE I

Daniel reached home and gave his parents his Common Entrance Examination result slip. Thereafter, his father went to Metropolitan Grammar School and collected the school prospectus. He bought a box, locker, desk, chair, uniforms, sandals, books, etc for him. Few days to the day Daniel was to report to the school, his parents gave him some useful advice and suggestions.

"My son," Daniel's father began as he cleared his throat, "In a few days' time, you will be leaving for the boarding school and I want you to know why you are going there."

"Without mincing words, you will be there to face your studies seriously in order to come out with a good result. Your mother and I are ready to make the necessary sacrifices and train you and your siblings up to the university”

"You have seen the type of life we are living. We work very hard but with little pay because we did not go to the university. I will not like any of my children to end up like us. Make good use of your time; be diligent in your studies knowing full well that there is no formula for success in life except working hard.

"My dear son," added the mother, "Avoid bad friends and gangs because evil, communication corrupts good manners. Move with the right friends from whom you can copy good things."

 

1.      Which of the following is not true according to the passage? A. Daniel gained admission into the Metropolitan Grammar School.   B. is father advised him to avoid bad company   C. His father bought some items for him   D. His parents did not attend university   E. His parents promised to train then children up to the university

2.      According to the passage. Daniel was going to school to   A. be a good child   B. come out with an excellent result   C. know the formula to success   D. make his parents proud of him   E. make new friends.

3.      Daniel's parents  A. earned meagt salary   B. had so many children.   C. studied up to the university   D. wanted their children to be proud of them   E. wanted their children to be successful like them

4.      Which of following words can replace "corrupts" as used in the passage?   A. destroys  B. dishonours    C. disturbs   D. pollutes   E. retards

5.      Daniel's father said that, the sure way to Success is   A. accountability   B. diligence.  C. friendliness.   D. goodness.    E. obedience.

 

PASSAGE II

Poor Kim lost his left hand in a terrible accident. His parents could not console him. To cheer him up, his father made him join a judo school. As the boy always wanted to learn judo, his father thought that this would make him happy

 

Everyone wondered how a boy with only one hand could learn judo. However, the master happily enrolled him. He trained in judo for about 8 months and practiced nothing but a single stroke. He trained for all 8 months in mastering a single stroke. The boy was surprised sometimes annoyed that his master taught him only one stroke; yet he said nothing. The boy mastered the stroke and grew in it as nobody else could excel in doing that and particular stroke. The boy was picked by the master to compete at the national level judo championship. Everyone made fun of Kim and the master. They wondered how someone with only one hand could win a national championship. Even the boy was not sure why his master chose him.

To everybody's surprise, Kim easily defeated his six contenders with his single stoke. He gradually moved to the semi-finals and eventually made it to the finals.

When the final match began, the opponent was so strong that Kim could not counterattack him.

The referee decided to halt the match, as the opponent could harm Kim severely. The referee announced a break and discussed with Kim's master to stop the match and declare the opponent winner of the championship. Even Kim agreed to the referee's suggestion to stop the match and was happy that he had advanced very much in the championship.

However, his master did not want him to quit the match. He asked him to continue the match after much persuasion. Eventually, Kim won the contest and was declared the champion.

 

6.      Kim, according to the passage  A. did not quit the competition   B. did not receive help from his parent’s   C. easily won all the matches   D. had the sympathy of his master   E. lost everything in a terrible accident

7.      People made fun of Kim because   A. he had an accident.   B. he mastered only one stroke. C. he was not competent. D. he was selected to compete in the judo championship E. his last opponent stronger.

8.      Kim's father cheered him up by A. appealing to the referee to stop the match   B. buying him a judo.  C. presenting him for a judo championship.  D. registering him in a judo school. E. teaching him an important lesson.

9.      According to the passage, Kim was annoyed with his master because he   A. did not allow him to quit. B. encouraged him to train harder.  C. forced him to participate in the competition D. refused to enroll him. E. taught him only a single stroke.

10.  The most important lesson learnt room the passage is     A. bravery   B. faithfulness   C. loyalty   D. obedience   E. perseverance

 

SECTION B: LEXIS

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

 

11.  The brave hunter died a mysterious death A. clever   B. famous   C. fearless   D. smart   E. wise

12.  The little boy abandoned his school bag.   A. left   B. lost   C. misplaced   D. sold   E. tore

13.  The pupils were punished for being naughty.   A. careless   B. dirty   C. disobedient   D. lazy   E. rough

14.  The police arrested the man for selling fake drugs.   A. artificial   B. counterfeit   C. expired   D. illegal   E. inferior

15.  Ali saved up some money for a holiday trip to Lagos.  A. accumulated  B. kept  C. reserved   D. spared   E. spent

 

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

 

16.  She often visits her mother during holidays.  A. frequently   B. rarely   C. regularly   D. repeatedly   E. usually

17.  The head teacher commended the boy for being honest.  A. disobedient   B. insincere   C. insolent  D. lazy   E. rough

18.  The matron was fair in handling the matter.  A. careless  B. insensitive  C. partial  D. thoughtless   E. tricky

19.  The apple is fresh.   A. bitter   B. rotten  C. smelly  D. sour   E. unripe

20.  Anne decorated her sitting room with natural flowers.  A. artificial   B. beautiful   C. normal  D. ordinary   E. raw

 

SECTION C: STRUCTURE

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

 

21.  He likes drama, ___ he?  A. did  B. didn't   C. does  D. doesn't  E. wasn't

22.  "He either works in Kaduna ____ Jos  A. also   B. and  C. but  D. nor   E. or

23.   Mathematics is an easy subject, ___ it?   A. does   B. is  C. isn't   D. was  E. wasn't

24.  Ibrahim was sick, so ___ visited the clinic for treatment.  A. he   B. I  C. she  D. you   E. we

25.  He has been driving the car ____ hours now   A. about  B. by  C. for  D. over  E. within

26.  The doctor said her condition required a     A. sugeery.  B. sugery.  C. surgeri.  D. surgery   E. surgry.

27.  Which of these prefixes can be added to "proper" to form a new word?  A. Dis  B. Im-  C. In-  D. Mal-   E. Un-

28.  If one works for a long time, ____ will be tired.  A. He   B. I   C. one  D. she   E. you

29.  Which of these sufixes can be added to "Success" to form a new word?  A. –es   B. –ful   C. –ing    D. –ment     E. –ness

30.  The boy had passed the entrance examination, so he was invited for an   A. intaview.   B. interveiw.    C. intervieu   D. interview  E. interview

31.  The hen ____ five eggs.  A. laid  B. lai  C. lay   D. layed  E. lays

32.  It is time we ___ for home   A. are leaving   B. had left   C. have left   D. leave   E. left

33.  He occasionally ____ the orphanage  A. has visited   B. have visited   C. visit  D. visiting   E. visits

34.  Each of the girls was given a ____ of   chocolate. A. bar   B. drop   C. loaf   D. piece  E. scoop

35.  Which of these is a consonant symbol?  A. /ꓥ/   B. /ae/    C. /u:/  D. /K/   E. /l:/

36.  The two kittens played with   A. each other.   B. one another   C. ourselves.   D. themselves. E. yourselves.

37.  My bag is ___ than yours   A. more smaller   B. much small  C. small  D. smaller  E. smallest

38.   My dad bought a pair of ____ shoes  A. brown expensive Italian  B. brown Italian expensive  C. expensive brown Italian  D. expensive Italian brown  E. Italian brown expensive

39.  Kikelomo said ____ buses over there belonged to her uncle.  A. that  B. these  C. this  D. those   E. which

40.  Mary is taller than   A. I.  B. me.  C. she.  D. them  E. us.