English Language Exam Questions for JSS1 First Term

You’re welcome to our school exams series where we provide you with termly examination questions in different subjects. In today’s post, we will focus on English Language exam questions. We will cover English Language exam questions for JSS1 First term with answers. This means that we’ll be providing you with answers to the questions at the end. Also, you will get a few success tips on how to pass English Language examinations with flying colors. Remember to use the comments sections if you have questions, and don’t forget to join our Free Online Tutorial Classes on YouTube. (Subscribe to the Channel)

Introduction to English Language as a School Subject

Before we venture into Past English Language Exam Questions for JSS1 First term, here’s a brief introduction to the subject:

English Language is one of the most important subjects taught in schools. It is the official language of communication, education, business, and government in Nigeria. Through English, students learn how to speak, read, and write correctly and effectively.

The subject helps learners to express their thoughts clearly and understand others when they speak or write. It also enables students to perform well in other subjects, since most examinations and textbooks are written in English.

English Language as a school subject is divided into different aspects such as grammar, comprehension, composition, vocabulary, and literature. Each of these areas helps to develop the learner’s listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

In summary, English Language is a key subject that builds a student’s confidence in communication and opens doors to academic success.

English Language Exam Questions for JSS1 First Term

English Language Exam Questions for JSS1 First Term are divided into two sections:

• Section A
• Section B

The first section, namely, Section A is the objective test, and students are expected to attempt all questions in the section. Section B is the theory part, and students are expected to follow specific instruction and answer the required number of questions.

Note that what you have below are JSS1 English Language First Term Exam Past Questions made available to assist students in their revision for 1st term examinations and also teachers in structuring standard examinations.

SECTION A: Objective Test

Instruction: Answer all questions in this section by choosing from the options lettered A—D. Each question carries equal marks.

PART 1: PARTS OF SPEECH

Identify the part of speech to which the underlined words belong.

1. I didn’t do my homework because I was ill.
A. Noun         B. Verb
C. Adverb       D. Adjective

2. She told a lie because she was afraid.
A. Noun         B. Verb
C. Adverb       D. Adjective

3. She chose the cloth because of its brightness.
A. Noun         B. Verb
C. Adverb       D. Adjective

4. My uncle bought a new car yesterday.
A. Noun         B. Verb
C. Adverb       D. Adjective

5. The boy ran quickly to school.
A. Noun         B. Verb
C. Adverb       D. Adjective

6. The girl is beautiful.
A. Noun         B. Verb
C. Adverb       D. Adjective

7. My friend laughed at the joke.
A. Noun         B. Verb
C. Adverb       D. Adjective

8. The cat is hiding under the table.
A. Verb          B. Preposition
C. Adverb      D. Conjunction

9. They sang and danced happily.
A. Noun        B. Conjunction
C. Adverb      D. Adjective

10. The teacher gave me a book.
A. Verb          B. Noun
C. Adverb      D. Pronoun

PART 2: CLOZE PASSAGE

Choose the most suitable option to fill each numbered blank. Fill the blank by writing the letter.

Locusts are insects that feed on ______(11)______. They are very ______(12)______ creatures. They are regarded as man’s oldest enemies because, by destroying farmlands, they cause great suffering, starvation and ______(13)______. Locusts eat anything ______(14)______. They fly during warm, dry days when their body ______(15)______ is high.

11. A. plants      B. animals
C. stones           D. water

12. A. destructive
B. friendly
C. quiet
D. playful

13. A. joy       B. famine
C. comfort     D. harvest

14. A. green     B. black
C. soft              D. hard

15. A. temperature
B. colour
C. feeling
D. shape

PART 3: RHYMES

Choose the word that does NOT rhyme with the others.

16. A. jaw     B. joy
C. toy           D. boy

17. A. call    B. tall
C. fall          D. coil

18. A. noise    B. boys
C. toys           D. rays

19. A. join    B. coin
C. loin          D. boot

20. A. gown     B. town
C. dawn           D. down

PART 4: PREPOSITIONS

Fill each blank with the correct preposition.

21. I met my cousin ________ Lagos.
A. on       B. in
C. at        D. for

22. I will see you ________Saturday.
A. on        B. at
C. in         D. by

23. We’ll be ________ Nigeria next year.
A. in        B. on
C. at        D. into

24. My birthday is ________ the 8th of July.
A. at         B. in
C. on        D. by

25. I live ________No. 3 Adaramola Street.
A. in        B. on
C. at        D. by

26. The doctor said, “See you ________ two months.”
A. in         B. on
C. at         D. by

27. I was ________bed when I heard the knock.
A. at         B. on
C. in         D. for

28. I am travelling to Abuja ________ Saturday.
A. on        B. in
C. at         D. by

29. I am the ________party I told you about.
A. at        B. in
C. on       D. for

30. My school was established ________ 1931.
A. in        B. on
C. at        D. by

PART 5: VOCABULARY IN CONTEXT

Use the words from the box to fill the blanks.

31. She only ________ the words, and they were difficult to hear.
A. rolled          B. nested
C. silvered       D. breathed

32. The great waves ________ towards the shore as the wind grew strong.
A. rolled           B. nested
C. breathed      D. silvered

33. Bisi went for a walk in the light of the ________moon.
A. western      B. silver
C. rolled          D. nested

34. Emeka found two birds ________ in the kola nut tree.
A. nested         B. rolled
C. breathed     D. silvered

35. The northern part of the country has a temperate climate but the ________ part is hot and wet.
A. western        B. eastern
C. central          D. northern

PART 6: VERB FORMS

The verb in brackets must be changed to the correct form. Choose A–D.

36. The child ________ had the entire bottle of water before I came in. (drink)
A. drank           B. drunk
C. drinking       D. drinks

37. Ojo has ________many plans before the chairman. (lay)
A. laid        B. lain
C. layed     D. lays

38. His mother, together with his sister, ________ in the bakery. (work)
A. work           B. works
C. working      D. worked

39. Neither the back tyre of the bicycle nor the brakes ________ good. (be)
A. is            B. are
C. were       D. be

40. All the girls but Biola ________ in Ibadan. (live)
A. live          B. lives
C. living       D. lived

PART 7: PLURALS

Choose the correct plural form of the words in each question.

41. Foot
A. feets       B. foots
C. feet         D. foote

42. Ox
A. oxs        B. oxen
C. oxes      D. oxies

43. Proof
A. proofs         B. proves
C. prooves       D. proofes

44. Prisoner of war
A. prisoners of war
B. prisoner of wars
C. prisoners of wars
D. prisoners of war’s

45. Louse
A. louses      B. lousen
C. lice           D. lices

PART 8: ADVERB FORMATION

Change the given words to the correct adverb form; choose A–D.

46. Wonder
A. wonderly        B. wonderfully
C. wondering      D. wonderous

47. Comfort
A. comfortly         B. comfortably
C. comfortingly    D. comfortous

48. Surprise
A. surprisingly     B. surprisedly
C. surprisal          D. surpriseful

49. Joke
A. jokingly      B. jokely
C. jokedly       D. jokious

50. Laugh
A. laughingly       B. laughly
C. laughfully        D. laughy

PART 9: GENERAL LANGUAGE SKILLS

Choose the best option.

51. The plural of “child” is ________.
A. childs         B. childes
C. children      D. childers

52. The opposite of “cheap” is ________.
A. low          B. expensive
C. small       D. big

53. The comparative form of “beautiful” is ________.
A. beautifuller
B. more beautiful
C. most beautiful
D. very beautiful

54. The past tense of “teach” is ________.
A. teached        B. taught
C. teach            D. teaching

55. The feminine of “nephew” is ________.
A. niece        B. sister
C. cousin       D. aunt

56. A word opposite in meaning to another is called a ________.
A. synonym        B. antonym
C. homonym      D. pronoun

57. Which of these sentences is correct?
A. He go to school every day.
B. He goes to school every day.
C. He going to school every day.
D. He gone to school every day.

58. The baby cried ________when her mother left.
A. loud           B. loudly
C. louder        D. louding

59. Which of the following is a question tag?
A. however       B. because
C. isn’t he?        D. although

60. The plural of “goose” is .
A. gooses      B. goose
C. geese        D. geeses

SECTION B: THEORY

INSTRUCTION – Answer only five (5) questions in this section. (At least one question must be chosen from the Writing/Essay group.)

ESSAY / WRITING

1. Write a composition of about 180–220 words on the topic: **The Causes of Road Accidents on Nigerian Roads.**

2. Write a letter of about 150–180 words to your sister who has just moved to another state to live with an uncle. Advise her on how to behave well, stay safe, and make good use of her time.

3. Write a story of about 200–250 words that ends with the sentence: **“It was a day I will never forget.”**

GRAMMAR

4. Change the verbs in brackets to the correct form to complete each sentence. Write the correct form on the answer sheet.

(a) The boy (write) a letter to his father yesterday.
(b) She (go) to school before the rain started.
(c) They (play) football when I saw them.
(d) My brother (finish) his homework already.
(e) The teacher (teach) us English every day.

5. Give the plural form of each of the following nouns:
(a) man
(b) tooth
(c) sheep
(d) crisis
(e) mango

LITERATURE-IN-ENGLISH

6. Read the following extract (teacher/centre will provide the short passage from *Ugonna the School Dropout*) and answer: Discuss the major themes and the setting of the story. (Write about 120–160 words.)

7. Explain any three of the following literary terms with one example each: Metaphor, Simile, Personification, Irony, Hyperbole. (Write about 40–60 words for each term you choose.)

Remember to use the comments sections if you have questions, and don’t forget to join our Free Online Tutorial Classes on YouTube. (Subscribe to the Channel)

Answers to English Language Exam Questions for JSS1 First Term

Answers to Section A (Objective Test)

The following table gives the correct answers to the objective section of English Language exam questions for JSS1 First term. If you are using a mobile device, hold the table and scroll to the right or left for a complete view.

So here you have the answers to the objective section of English Language Exam Questions for JSS1 First term. Use the comments section to let me know if you have any questions you would want me to clarify or discuss further.

Read Also: English Language Exam Questions for JSS2 First Term

Answers to Section B (Theory)

SECTION B: THEORY

INSTRUCTION: Answer all the questions in this section.

ESSAY / WRITING

1. The Causes of Road Accidents on Nigerian Roads

Road accidents are among the leading causes of death and injury in Nigeria today. Many of these accidents are caused by human carelessness and poor road conditions. Some drivers over-speed, drink alcohol before driving, or use their phones while driving. Others refuse to obey traffic rules or fail to maintain their vehicles properly.

Bad roads with potholes and lack of road signs also contribute to many accidents. At night, poor lighting makes it difficult for drivers to see clearly, leading to collisions.

To reduce road accidents, drivers must obey traffic laws, avoid dangerous driving, and ensure their vehicles are in good condition. The government should also repair roads and install proper signs. If everyone plays their part, the number of accidents will greatly reduce. Road safety is everyone’s responsibility.

2. Letter to Your Sister

No. 12 Peace Avenue,
Enugu.
20th October, 2025.

Dear Chiamaka,

I was happy to hear that you arrived safely at Uncle’s house. I know it is not easy to stay in a new environment, but I want to give you some advice that will help you.

Always be respectful to Uncle, Auntie, and everyone around you. Obey their instructions and avoid bad friends. Use your time wisely by studying hard and helping with house chores. Remember to attend church regularly and pray every day.

Please be careful when going out and never follow strangers. Make good use of this opportunity to learn and grow. I believe you will make us proud.

With love,
Your sister,
Chioma.

3. A Story that Ends with “It was a Day I Will Never Forget.”

It was a bright Saturday morning, and our school football team was playing in the inter-school final match. I was one of the substitutes, but I was eager to play. Our team was losing 2–1 at half time, and everyone was sad. The coach decided to bring me in for the last ten minutes.

When I entered the pitch, I was very nervous, but I prayed silently. A few minutes later, I received a pass and shot the ball into the net — goal! The crowd cheered loudly. With just two minutes left, I scored another goal that gave us victory. My teammates lifted me up in joy, and the principal praised me for my effort.

That day, I learned the importance of patience and believing in oneself. It was a day I will never forget.

GRAMMAR

4. Change the verbs in brackets to the correct form to complete each sentence.

(a) The boy wrote a letter to his father yesterday.
(b) She had gone to school before the rain started.
(c) They were playing football when I saw them.
(d) My brother has finished his homework already.
(e) The teacher teaches us English every day.

5. Give the plural form of each of the following nouns.

(a) man — men
(b) tooth — teeth
(c) sheep — sheep
(d) crisis — crises
(e) mango — mangoes

LITERATURE-IN-ENGLISH

6. Discussion on “Ugonna the School Dropout”

The story “Ugonna the School Dropout” is set in a small Nigerian village where education is seen as the key to success. The main theme is the importance of education and the consequences of laziness and peer pressure. Ugonna drops out of school to join bad friends, hoping to get rich quickly. In the end, he faces shame and regret when his friends are arrested and his dreams are shattered.

The story teaches young people to stay focused, obey their parents, and value education as a path to a better future.

7. Explanation of Literary Terms

(a) Metaphor: A comparison made without using “like” or “as.” Example: “Time is money.”

(b) Simile: A comparison using “like” or “as.” Example: “She is as brave as a lion.”

(c) Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human things. Example: “The wind whispered through the trees.”

(d) Irony: When the opposite of what is expected happens. Example: A fire station burns down.

(e) Hyperbole: A deliberate exaggeration used for emphasis. Example: “I’ve told you a thousand times.”

How to Pass English Language Exam Questions for JSS1 First Term

Passing your English Language exam questions for JSS1 First term requires a combination of preparation, understanding, and strategy. Here are actionable tips to help you excel:

1. Plan your study time

• Make a short daily plan. Study English for 30–45 minutes every day.
• Split time between grammar, comprehension, composition and vocabulary.
• Do harder topics first when you are fresh.

2. Practice past questions

• Work through past objective papers to get used to question types.
• Time yourself. Try to finish the objective section faster so you have more time for essays.
• Check your answers and learn from mistakes.

3. Improve comprehension skills

• Read short passages carefully. Underline key words in the question.
• Answer in full sentences when asked, but keep answers short and to the point.
• For vocabulary in context, read the whole sentence before choosing a word.

4. Master grammar and word forms

• Learn common verb tenses: present simple, past simple, and present perfect.
• Practice plural forms, adjectives, adverbs and prepositions.
• Do short drills: change verbs in brackets, form adverbs, pick correct prepositions.

5. Write good compositions

• Plan: spend 5 minutes making a short outline (introduction, 2–3 points, conclusion).
• Use clear paragraphs. Each paragraph should have one main idea.
• Keep sentences short. Check spelling and punctuation at the end.

6. Learn useful exam techniques

• Read all instructions carefully. Answer what is asked.
• Do easy questions first to build confidence.
• If unsure, eliminate wrong choices to improve your chance of a correct guess.

7. Practice handwriting and presentation

• Write legibly. Examiners reward clear handwriting.
• Leave a line between paragraphs. Use headings if needed.

8. Common mistakes to avoid

• Rushing through the paper and making careless errors.
• Writing too long for short questions.
• Forgetting to answer all parts of a question.

9. Last-minute and exam-day tips

• Get a good night’s sleep before the exam.
• Eat a light breakfast. Carry necessary pens and an eraser.
• Read the whole paper first. Plan time: objective questions quickly, essays with planning time.

It’s a wrap!

If you need more clarification on JSS1 First Term Questions on English Language, you can use the comments box below. We’ll be there to answer you asap. Don’t forget to join our Free Online Tutorial Classes on YouTube. (Subscribe to the Channel)

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