English Language Exam Questions for SS1 Third 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 SS1 Third 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 Facebook. (Like and Follow Page)

Introduction to English Language as a School Subject

English Language is a core subject taught in schools across Nigeria and many parts of the world. It serves as the official language of communication, instruction, and administration in Nigeria. In school, the subject helps students to develop essential skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

The study of English Language enhances students’ ability to understand and use grammar correctly, expand vocabulary, and write different types of essays, letters, and reports. It also improves their comprehension and interpretation of passages, poems, and other literary works.

English Language plays a vital role in helping students perform well in other subjects since most are taught and examined in English. Mastering the subject is, therefore, important for academic success and future career opportunities.

The subject is offered by students in Nursery, Primary and Secondary School as English Language.

English Language Exam Questions for SS1 Third Term

English Language Exam Questions for SS1 Third Term are divided into five sections:

• Section A (Essay)
• Section B (Comprehension)
• Sêction C (Objective Test)
• Section D (Test of Orals)
• Section E (Grammar)

Note that what you have below are SS1 English Language Third Term Exam Past Questions made available to assist students in their revision for 3rd term examinations and also teachers in structuring standard examinations.

SECTION A: Essay

INSTRUCTION – Answer only ONE question from this section.

1. The Vice Principal (Administration) of your school has decided that students who are interested in serving as Functionaries should apply for their position of interest. Write a letter to the proprietor of your school applying for the position of Senior Prefect.

2. You have spent about six weeks in your school. Write a letter to your mother telling her about your experiences so far.

SECTION B: Objectives

COMPREHENSION

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Whenever I ask myself the question why I have not left this country for good, many answers rush to my mind, each striving to be recognized as being the most convincing. I am reminded of the popular slogan that this country belongs to us for which reason every one of us must join hands in trying to salvage it.

Try to dismiss the argument by assuming that it is foolhardy attempting to lend a helping hand where one’s services are apparently not required. Then I am reminded that if I leave this country in a hurry just because of our political instability and economic hardship, my commitments to my nuclear family and extended family at home who still suffer terribly would then be taken care of by my regular remittances.

Would I then never think of coming home in future? Not until the situation in the country improved considerably. I would answer. And who do I expect to carry on with the task of national rehabilitation when the likes of me are all out of the country? Those who messed up the country in the first place I would argue. And so on. This self-examination has been going on for the past ten years or so; meanwhile, I am yet to leave the country.

When I ponder how many people think as I do, I realize that we must be very few; indeed, not many have the slightest opportunity of absconding from the country. They do not have the place to run to, nor do they have the means of escape. Even among the elite who consider this possibility, the uncertainty of a future outside their fatherland intimidates them. And so we all end up staying and tumbling.

Questions

1. Why would the writer like to leave his country?

2. Why does the writer believe that he should join in salvaging his country?”

3. What would make the writer return to his country?

4. Who does the writer suggest should carry on the task of national rehabilitation?

5. Give two reasons why it has not been easy for him and others to leave the country.

6. “…the uncertainty of a future outside their fatherland”
(i) What grammatical name is given to this expression as it is used in the passage?
(ii) What is its function?

For each of the following words or phrase find another word or phrase which means the same and which can replace it as it is used in the passage:

(7) for good

(8) slogan

(9) foolhardy

(10) commitments

(11) ten years

(12) absconding

SECTION C: Objective Test

From the options lettered A to D, choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined expression in the sentences below.

13. Charles’ concern for Diana is affected.
A. genuine           B. serious
C. pretended       D. worrisome

14. The dissidents held several clandestine meetings before the attack.
A. exclusive     B. conservative
C. secret          D. sumptuous

15. In tropical Africa, mosquitoes are ubiquitous.
A. dangerous        B. harmful
C. everywhere       D. benign

16. His approach to work is rather perfunctory.
A. careful         B. serious
C. careless       D. encouraging

17. The retiring officer’s contribution towards the growth of the company was invaluable.
A. negligible
B. unnoticeable
C. inestimable
D. inconsequential

From the options lettered A to D, choose the word that is opposite in meaning to the underlined expression in the sentences below.

18. The affluence of the elite contrasts with the ________ of the peasants.
A. paucity          B. poverty
C. misery           D. plenty

19. I honestly believe that the comments made by the secretary were quite innocuous but the chairman considered them___________
A. polite          B. inappropriate
C. harmful       D. antagonistic

20. The workers expected the management to be ________ rather than indifferent to their welfare.
A. different from
B. interested in
C. opposed to
D. consolidated

21. The judge ruled that the first transaction was valid while the second was _________
A. revoked         B. vague
C. valueless       D. void

22. Johnson is assertive but his twin brother is rather_______
A. cautious          B. cowardly
C. respectful        D. reserved

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Choose from the following options the suitable verb to complete the blanks in the sentences below.

23. The little kid alongside her parents______ here.
A. were         B. is
C. are            D. live

24. Two pounds of flour ______ too few to bake the cake.
A. are          B. were
C. was         D. have been

25. Neither Mary nor her friends ______ to school.
A. has gone        B. goes
C. walks              D. go

26. Many a candidate _______ to realize the difference between written and spoken English.
A. fail
B. fails
C. have failed
D. are failing

27. One of the _______ selective marking of errors.
A. school of thought suggests
B. schools of thought suggest
C. schools of thought suggests
D. school of thoughts suggested

28. One of the Vice ______ in an interim capacity.
A. President acts
B. Presidents act
C. President acted
D. Presidents acts

29. Knowledge of figures of speech as well as phrases and clauses ________ in this section.
A. have been tested
B. is tested
C. are tested
D. were tested

30. A range of options ______ available to the political parties during the recently concluded 2023 elections.
A. were made
B. is made
C. are made
D. was made

31. Shingles _______ no longer impossible to manage these days.
A. are           B. is
C. were        D. was

32. Four weeks _______ enough for the police to conclude their investigation.
A. were         B. are
C. is              D. has being

SECTION D: Test of Orals

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that has the sound indicated.

33. /ʒ/
A. repulsion      B. impression
C. version         D. indecision

34. /ð/
A. method        B. wreaths
C. thorough      D. smooth

35. /s/
A. aisle       B. viscount
C. dose      D. precis

36. /θ/
A. swarthy    B. lather
C. worthy      D. healthy

37. /ɜː/
A. guest     B. urge
C. tune       D. harmony

38. /i:/
A. stead        B. since
C. concede   D. forfeit

39. /ɒ/
A. forty      B. camphor
C. call         D. bottle

40. /i/
A. unique      B. build
C. fatigue      D. juice

41. /a:/
A. ago          B. law
C. bravo       D. assign

42. /u/
A. fully         B. mutilate
C. groom     D. guild

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that is represented by the sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.

43. Youth
A. zoology        B. voyage
C. peculiar        D. flywheel

44. Perched
A. fastening     B. wrestle
C. foster          D. rapport

45. Muse
A. abusive     B. basement
C. riches        D. basic

46. Recline
A. almond      B. calf
C. whole         D. catwalk

47. Virtuosity
A. nuptial      B. ricochet
C. chassis      D. sumptuous

48. Acme
A. chevron     B. knead
C. chintz        D. oxymoron

49. Sawmill
A. radio       B. money
C. clown      D. also

50. Route
A. soulful        B. espouse
C. outdoor      D. fruit

51. Burial
A. crude        B. locust
C. gutted       D. leopard

52. Covenant
A. illustrate       B. joke
C. accordion     D. month

In each of the following sentences, the word that receives the emphatic stress is written in capital letters. From the questions choose the one to which the given sentence is the appropriate answer.

53. The U.S. will host the next FIFA tournament?
A. Will the U.S. host the next CAF tournament?
B. Will Nigeria host the next FIFA tournament?
C. Will the U.S. find the next FIFA tournament?
D. Will the U.S. host the next FIFA basketball competition?

54. Bisi’s mother ENJOYS cooking?
A. Does Ayo’s mother enjoy cooking?
B. Does Bisi’s mother hate cooking?
C. Does Bisi’s sister enjoy cooking?
D. Does Bisi’s mother enjoy washing?

55. We left for MAKURDI yesterday.
A. Did we leave for Lagos yesterday?
B. Did we arrive from Makurdi yesterday?
C. Did they leave for Makurdi yesterday?
D. Did we leave for Makurdi today?

56. Ahmed greeted AKIN at the party.
A. Did Ahmed ignore Akin at the party?
B. Did Peter greet Akin at the party?
C. Did Ahmed greet James at the party?
D. Did Ahmed greet Akin at the party?

57. Bimpe was the FIRST to submit the report.
A. Was Nneka the first to submit the report?
B. Was Bimpe the first to write the report?
C. Was Bimpe the fifth to submit the report?
D. Was Bimpe the first to submit the report?

SECTION E: Grammar

State the grammatical name and function of the underlined expressions in the sentences below.

58. Julie, my older sister, came to visit me the other day.

59. The princess with long golden hair was trapped in a tower by a dragon.

60. He studied all night to avoid failing his English test the next day.

61. They wanted to visit New Orleans during Jazz Fest during the summer.

62. I love to run in the woods to calm my mind.

What figure of speech is used in each of the following sentences?

63. The wind howled throughout the night.
A. simile
B. paradox
C. metonymy
D. personification

64. Her cat is near the computer to keep an eye on the mouse.
A. irony         B. metaphor
C. pun           D. sarcasm

65. A period of negative growth has been forecast by the Minister of Finance.
A. epigram
B. overstatement
C. euphemism
D. hyperbole

66. You are clearly confused by the situation you have found yourself in.
A. synecdoche
B. oxymoron
C. alliteration
D. irony

67. Kevin Hart humorously described himself as vertically challenged.
A. euphemism      B. metaphor
C. metonymy        D. sarcasm

SENTENCE STRUCTURE

A. Use the passage below to answer question 68 – 72. Identify five types of sentence based on structure from the passage. If any of them is a complex or compound-complex, identify the dependent clause(s), state its grammatical name and function. (Use a table and number the sentences accordingly)

We want our children to be happy, but we’re often too indulgent to bring them happiness. We take care of the slightest of their problems and, in the process, bequeath them a trait which may carry on later in their lives. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, while narrating his growing-up years, mentioned how he learnt resourcefulness from his grandfather, who could perform small maintenance tasks at his farm on his own. Bezos, in fact, mentioned that he would rather see his children lose a finger or two and become resourceful than become too dependent. This line (paraphrased) from the book Sapiens sums this up well: “You love your children more than evolution requires.”

B. In Questions 73 – 77, state the type of sentence.

73. If upset with someone for some reason, make peace before the end of the day.

74. The town was put under curfew after yet another incident of arson.

75. After the change in senior management, the company failed miserably.

76. Although groomed in the best possible way, the tycoon’s son struggled to take the business any further.

77. The company had to lay off some employees last August or reduce salaries of all, considering their rising debt profile.

In the table below, change the sentences from direct to indirect speech.

Answers to English Language Exam Questions for SS1 Third Term

Answers to Section A (Essay)

1. Letter Applying for the Position of Senior Prefect

John F Kennedy
SS2A
Victory Model College
P.M.B 1010, Enugu
17th May, 2025

The Proprietor
Victory Model College
P.M.B 1010, Enugu

Dear Sir,

Application for the Position of Senior Prefect

I am writing to formally apply for the position of Senior Prefect in our great school. I am a student of SS2A and have always maintained good academic performance, discipline, and strong moral values since my admission into this college.

As a committed and respectful student, I have had the privilege of leading my class in various group assignments and school activities. I believe that with my experience, dedication, and love for service, I am capable of representing the student body and maintaining the high standard of discipline in our school.

If given the opportunity, I will work closely with other prefects and the school authorities to ensure proper conduct among students. Î will also be a good example to my fellow students in terms of punctuality, neatness, obedience, and academic excellence.

I sincerely hope that my application will be considered. I will not disappoint you if given the opportunity to serve.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours faithfully,
John F Kennedy

2. A Letter to My Mother About My School Experience

Victory Model College
P.M.B 1010, Enugu
17th May, 2025

Dear Mum,

I hope you are doing well at home. I really miss you, Dad, and my siblings. It has been about six weeks since I resumed school, and I want to tell you about my experiences so far.

At first, it was a bit hard adjusting to life in the boarding house. I missed your food and the comfort of home. But now, I am getting used to everything. I have made some new friends, and my roommates are friendly and helpful. We always help each other with assignments and chores.

Academically, I am doing well. I enjoy most of my subjects, especially English Language and Basic Science. The teachers are strict but kind. They explain things clearly, and I’m learning new things every day. I have also joined the debate club, and I’m really enjoying it.

We follow a strict routine here, with time for studies, meals, and rest. The food is not like yours, but I eat what I can. The school compound is neat, and we are encouraged to keep our environment clean and behave well at all times.

Thank you for all the provisions you sent. Please greet everyone at home for me. I love and miss you all.

With love,
Your son,
Donald Trump

Answers to Section B (Comprehension)

1. Why would the writer like to leave his country?
The writer would like to leave his country because of political instability and economic hardship.

2. Why does the writer believe that he should join in salvaging his country?
He believes he should help salvage his country because it belongs to all of them, and everyone has a responsibility to make it better.

3. What would make the writer return to his country?
The writer would return only when the situation in the country improves considerably.

4. Who does the writer suggest should carry on the task of national rehabilitation?
He sarcastically suggests that those who messed up the country in the first place should carry on the task of national rehabilitation.

5. Give two reasons why it has not been easy for him and others to leave the country.
– They have no place to run to.
– They lack the means of escape.
Additionally, the uncertainty of life outside their fatherland also discourages them.

6. “…the uncertainty of a future outside their fatherland”
(i) What grammatical name is given to this expression as it is used in the passage?
Noun phrase
(ii) What is its function?
It functions as the subject of the clause.

Synonyms/Replacement Words from the Passage:

7. for good – permanently

8. slogan – motto

9. foolhardy – reckless

10. commitments – responsibilities

11. ten years – a decade

12. absconding – escaping

Answers to Section C (Objective Test)

The following table gives the correct answers to the objective section of English Language exam questions for SS1 Third 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 SS1 Third term. Use the comments section to let me know if you have any questions you would want me to clarify or discuss further.

A. Sentence Structure Table (Questions 68–72)

B. Sentence Types Table (Questions 73–77)

How to Pass English Language Exam Questions for SS1 Third Term

Passing your English Language exam questions for SS1 Third term requires a combination of preparation, understanding, and strategy. Here are actionable tips to help you excel:

1. Understand the Syllabus: Know the topics covered, such as grammar, comprehension, essay writing, and vocabulary. This helps you target your study effectively.

2. Practice Regularly: Work on past questions and exercises to familiarize yourself with the exam format and question types. Regular practice improves speed and accuracy.

3. Improve Grammar Skills: Pay attention to parts of speech, tenses, sentence structure, and punctuation. Clear understanding of grammar is essential for writing and answering questions correctly.

4. Develop Reading Comprehension: Read passages carefully and practice answering questions about main ideas, details, and inferences. This boosts your ability to understand and analyze texts.

5. Enhance Vocabulary: Learn new words and their meanings. Use them in sentences to improve your writing and speaking skills.

6. Practice Writing: Write essays, letters, and summaries regularly. Focus on clarity, organization, and correct grammar to impress examiners.

7. Time Management: During exams, allocate time wisely to each question. Don’t spend too long on one part and risk leaving others incomplete.

8. Seek Help: If you struggle with any topic, ask your teachers or classmates for clarification. Group study and extra lessons can make a big difference.

By combining consistent study, practice, and a positive mindset, you can confidently pass your SS1 English Language exam.

It’s a wrap!

If you need more clarification on SS1 Third Term Questions on English Language, you can use the comments box below. We’ll be there to answer you asap.

Best wishes.