ENGLISH LANGUAGE CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT

COMPREHENSION SS1

I had emerged unscathed from the encounter with the principal in his office, but it was
unfortunately not my last encounter with him. In my next year at school, I came across
Mr. Francis, a highly educated and refined gentleman who had come from Lagos. To
most of the students in my class, Mr. Francis was a weak and incompetent man who
could be taken full advantage of. His classes were always an opportunity for us to fool
around and have fun at his expense. I myself was an active participant in this mockery
although I did not have him. On his part, Mr. Francis magnanimously ignored most of
our pranks until one day he lost his temper and sent me to the principal.

The principal recognized me at once when he saw me, and I began to pray hopefully.
Consulting his records, he looked puzzled as if he did not expect to see what he had
just seen. I had maintained such good grades but had so many disciplinary cases
against me. After much thought, he said, “Tell your father to come and see me.” I felt
sick. The next day, I was again in the office, this time with my father. Seeing that my
father was determined to keep me in the school, the principal gave me a fairly
reasonable sentence. He asked me to report to him forty-five minutes before school
every morning for the next one month and to read Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall
Apart.” My punishment was a great joke to all the other students who had heard the
news, but I myself enjoyed the book very much.

A week later, Mr. Francis brought a stack of papers into the classroom. The lesson
proceeded as usual but at the end of the class, everybody started crowding around him,
asking questions. I had no idea what was going on until later someone came up to me
and whispered, “We took a copy of Mr. Francis’ test questions. We are working on the
answers.”

The next day, the papers were discreetly passed to me. I did not understand most of the
questions but I tried my best to answer them. When the test results were released, I
performed fairly well while those who had cheated performed excellently. Somehow,
Mr. Francis discovered that the students had prior knowledge of the test questions. So,
he came up with his own method of retaliation.

The following day, Mr. Francis announced that there would be another test in two
days. The results this time were more realistic. My performance was the same, but the
others did considerably worse. From that day on, everyone paid full attention in Mr.
Francis’ class.
(a) What led to the writer’s second encounter with the principal?
(b) Why were the students fond of playing pranks during Mr. Francis’ lessons?
(c) What did the principal do when he saw the writer in his office the second time?
(d) Explain the reason for the principal’s surprise at the attitude of the writer
(e) According to the passage, why was the performance of most of the student’s poor in the
second test?
(f) …who had cheated…
(i) What grammatical name is given to this expression?
(ii) What is its function?
(g) How did Mr. Francis succeed in changing the attitude of the students during his lessons?
(h) Find one word or phrase which is nearest in meaning to and can at the same time replace
each of the following words as used in the passage.
(i) refined
(ii) pranks
(iii) puzzled
(iv) sentence
(v) retaliation
(vi) considerably

SUMMARY QUESTION
2. Read the passage below carefully and answer the questions on it.
The invention of television has replaced many forms of entertainment like reading for
pleasure, listening to the radio, or even watching movies. In fact, during the 1970s,
when television was first introduced, cinema theatres suffered great losses as many
people chose to stay in the comfort of their homes to watch their favorite programmes.
Indeed, television brings the world into our homes. Hence, by staying at home and
pressing some buttons, world happenings are immediately presented before us.
Children nowadays develop faster in language owing to early exposure to television
programmes. At such a tender age, it would be difficult for them to read books or
papers. Thus, television programmes are a good source of learning for them.
Furthermore, pronunciation by newscasters, actors or actresses are usually
standardized, hence young children watching these programmes will learn the right
pronunciation too. Owning a television is also extremely beneficial to working parents
who are usually too busy or tired to take their kids out for entertainment. Surrounded
by the the comfort of their home, the family can have a chance to get together and
watch their favourite television programmes.
However, we should not be deceived by the benefits of the television as to overlook its
weak points. Watching television programmes takes away the zeal to read. Why bother
to read the papers when we can listen to their reviews on the television and why books
when exciting movies are screened? Lack of reading is unhealthy especially to
younger children as they will grow up only with the ability to speak but not to write.
Not only will the writing skills of children be affected, their thinking capacity will also
be handicapped. Television programmes remove the ability to think since the stories,
ideas and facts are woven in the way television planners wanted. Exposure to such
scenario will hinder the ability of children to analyze concepts.
(a) In three sentences, one for each, state the positive effects of television
(b) In three sentences, one for each, state the negative effects of television
 ENGLISH LANGUAGE CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT
COMPREHENSION SS2

1. Read the passage below carefully and answer the questions on it.
Although we had very little money, my mother would save every penny over several
years in order to be able to purchase a new car when the old one she was driving was
on its last legs. She did not believe in buying used cars because she felt that the
previous owner probably would not have gotten rid of it if it was functioning
optimally.
Once when I was a teenager, I went with her to look at a car. It was a beautiful vehicle,
yellow with black interior and a black vinyl top. I was quite excited because I had
recently acquired my driver’s license and was already starting to imagine myself
cruising down the streets of Detriot in a brand-new automobile. The problem was that
the car was several hundred dollars more expensive than the cash she had on hand.
My mother could bargain with the best of people, and after a couple of hours had worn
the salesman down to the point that he was ready to make a deal after she showed him
the cash. I was absolutely jubilant until I head several days later that the salesman had
lost his job for giving my mother too sweet a deal. I am certain that if my mother had
had more money, she would have been willing to compromise, but she believed in only
paying cash for cars and would not qualify for a loan anyway. As a matter of principle,
she did not believe in borrowing money to pay for anything other than a house,
because she had seen too many people ruin their lives with financial overreach.
Many people feel that driving a hard bargain is a sign of strength and perseverance,
and in many cases they are correct. However, my mother and I learned the hard way
that it is not always the kindest thing to do. My mother certainly did not intend to get
the man fired and offered to give the car back, but for some reasons, since the deal had
already been consummated, that was not possible. While my mother was pleased she
had been able to but the car, she wished she had not pressed so hard. Sometimes
compromise is the best way to go, even when you think you could get your own way
without it.
(a) According to the passage, why did the writer’s mother prefer new cars to used ones?
(b) Why was the writer delighted about the idea of a new car?
(c) What led to the sack of the salesman?
(d) Give a reason why the writer’s joy was short-lived?
(e) …if my mother had had more money…
(i) What grammatical name is given to this expression?
(ii) What is its function in the sentence?
(f) State one reason to justify that the writer’s mother was principled
(g) (i) What figurative expression is on its last legs?
(ii) What does it mean?
(h) Find one word or phrase which is nearest in meaning to and can at the same time replace
each of the following words as used in the passage:
(i) previous
(ii)jubilant
(iii) ruin
(iv) perseverance
 (v) consummated
(vi) compromise

SUMMARY
When Nigeria returned from the London 2012 Olympic Games without a single medal,
the refrain among the country’s sports administrators was that the lessons of the bad
outing would serve the nation well in going forward. Never again was the general cry
from the Nigerian public, who felt that the country with a youth population of over 70
million deserved better than a barren show at the world’s biggest stage. The London
2012 Olympic Games was the first competition since the 1988 Games in Seoul that
Nigeria would participate in without winning a single medal. Following the outcry that
trailed the poor performance, the then-president convened a sports summit where all the
experts pointed at poor preparation and low morale as the reasons for the country’s
shameful performance in London.
After the summit, the general consensus was that for Nigeria to get it right again, the
country must drop the fire brigade approach to preparations for major competitions.
There was also the agreement that preparations for future Olympic Games should start
early and thus many youth programmes should be lined up by the National Sports
Commission (NSC) to nurture and produce champions.
However, shortly after the summit, the then sports minister was replaced. Thus the
programmed and the path to success laid by experts at the summit were put aside. First to
go was the Nigerian Academicals Sorts Committee (NASCOM), which was supposed to
champion the youth development programmed expected to lead the country to the
podium in subsequent international competitions.
Following that, was the total blackout of the majority of the federations from
international competitions which were supposed to help the athletes gauge their standard,
as well as ease the upcoming stars on the world stage. The reason for the neglect of the
federations was lack of funds, but surprisingly, the resources always managed to be
available whenever it is football programmed. With the exit of the last administration,
most of the sports federations heaved a sigh of relief, believing that the new regime
would treat all the federations equally.
However, such expectations have been hampered by the continued apathy to the needs of
the Nigerian sports in the Olympic year. To feature at the Olympic Games, athletes are
expected to go through qualifiers with their mates from other countries. Absence from
the qualifiers means that the athlete or team has automatically been ruled out of the
games. So it has emerged that, Nigeria may not feature in some of its core events due to
its athletes’ inability to participate in some championships that served as qualifiers for
the Olympics.
(a) In two sentences, one for each, state the reasons advanced at the sports summit for the poor
performance of Nigeria at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
(b) In two sentences, one for each, state two resolutions that were reached at the sports summit
(c) In two sentences, one for each, state the developments which hindered the implementation
of the resolutions reached at the summit.
 ENGLISH LANGUAGE CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT
COMPREHENSION SS3
I quite remember my first close encounter with our principal who is known to us as
“the Lion of Aye Hill”, he was a most feared human being. The popular saying was
that no other lion ever roared on Aye Hill on which the school was situated. So, when
the senior prefect informed me that the principal wanted to see me, I was particularly
terrified my friends too were concerned, for few students were ever sent for unless
they had committed some serious offense. Indeed, some had had their dismissal or
suspension announced to turn in the principal’s office without the virtual investigation
and defense.
As I trudged along toward the principal’s office, I tried to remember what I had done
wrong. In the process, I assured myself that he must have seen me stealing out of the
dormitory two days before. I had crept out stealthily early in the evening to see my
uncle who, as my only guardian in the town, always had some money for me. I got
some money from him and hurried back as just before the “light out” bell. It was
uneventful and I had assumed that nobody saw me. But now, here I was, sent for!
I knocked feebly and the principal answered from within, “come in” I entered on
shaking legs and greeted him. He answered without looking up from the paper on
which he was writing. Without looking up still, he motioned me to sit down. This
surprised me, for available reports had it that he never allowed students such a luxury.
I sat down and waited for the storm to break. For long minutes, I waited.
Finally, he finished the task and looked up “my boy”, he said what were you doing in
town so late in the evening two days ago? I told him the truth, for I knew the futility of
trying to tell a lie. “I knew,” he said calmly “I am aware you’ve lost your father and
that your uncle is all you have in this town. You were to take some money, I knew.
However, in the future, just come over to me and you’ll have all you need. That way
you’ll not have to break school regulations and mar your good records.
Before I could recover from the shock, he took out some currency notes and put them
in my hand. Smiling calmly, he bade me a good afternoon. I was speechless and hot
tears rolled down my cheeks.
QUESTIONS.
a. Why was the boy afraid when he was told that the principal wanted to see him?
b. What offense had the boy apparently committed?
c. Why was he surprised when the principal told him to sit down?
d. Why do you think the principal treated the boy the way he did?
e. (i) Does your impression of the principal at the end of the passage agree with the
impression at the beginning?
(ii) Mention one point in support of your answer
 f. For each of the following words, find another word or phrase that means the same and can
replace it as it is used in the passage (i) encounter (ii) terrified (iii) trudged (iv) stealthily (e)
futility

SUMMARY
Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.
When the fire is under control, it is a useful servant. But when it rages uncontrolled, it
can be a destructive giant that consumes everything in its path. Man, beast, and
vegetation. In 1983, a bushfire in Australia devastated the states of South Australia and
Victoria. Over 70 persons were killed along with the destruction of 36,000 cattle,
320,000 sheep, and over 2,000 homes.
In the same year, bushfires in Ghana resulted in the devastation of 72 percent of the
country’s 92,100 square miles. At least 29 persons died and 34 others were injured.
Similar bushfires were reported in other parts of the world. A small proportion of
bushfires is the result of natural processes, such as lightning. Most are man-made. In
Ghana, the number one cause of bushfires is palm-wine tapping. Tappers light bundles
of sticks to heat up palm trees, allowing the palm sap to flow. Often though, the fire
accidentally spreads, and a bushfire results
In some African lands, it is common for a group of hunters to surround a thicket and set
it on fire to flush out the game that may be in it. Those hunting for wild bee honey use
fire to drive bees away from their hives. At times they make no effort to put out the fires
they started. In tropical Africa, many farmers use the slash-and-burn method of farming.
They cut down the bush in an area they intend to farm and burn the debris. If not
controlled, the fire can spread quickly. In some areas, herdsmen burn the dry grass in the
belief that with the coming of the rains, the land will be rejuvenated, and there will be
better pasture for their animals. When those fires are left to burn themselves out as is
often the case, they can easily spread. Campers are likewise guilty at times of starting
conflagrations by falling to put out campfires. Clearly, then, negligence is the cause of
most bushfires.
Some believe that the government, on its part, should impose tough penalties on
perpetrators to deter carelessness. Others argue that the best way to prevent bushfires is
for the government to educate the people on the dangers of fire. We should treat fire
with respect. By exercising reasonable care, we can avoid provoking this useful servant
into becoming a destructive giant.
QUESTIONS
a. In four sentences, one for each, summarize any four ways in which man is responsible for
fire outbreaks
b. In two sentences, one for each, summarize what (i) the individual and (ii) the government
should do to prevent the spread of fires