English Language JAMB, WAEC, NECO AND NABTEB Official Past Questions

 Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it. 

      Scientists have made spectacular advances in genetic engineering in the last fifty years. The benefits of this genetic revolution to mankind are immense and almost limitless. In the field of medicine many of the diseases that have hitherto proved incurable can now be eradicated using genetic engineering. It is now possible to identify the specific gene responsible for any given disease and to replace the diseased gene with a healthy one This new technology can now be used to cure such serious diseases as diabetes sickle-cell anaemia and cancer. Geneticists (specialists in genetic science) claim that there are several other medical benefits that can be derived from this new science. They assert that by increasing the neurons in the brain. we could slow down the ageing process. 
      Scientists are now on the threshold of being able to redesign the human body to make it function more efficiently. This interesting aspect of preventive medicine involves the intervention of the doctor to ensure that the foetus contains no diseased gene that can develop into a disease later on. Moreover scientists can now build or develop organs for transplant surgery. Patients who need heart or kidney transplants no longer have to wait endlessy for donors or be worried that the donated organs would be rejected by their body’s immune system.
      Perhaps the greatest benefits of the genetic revolution are in the areas of crop and livestock production. Cloning. or the creation of a new plant or animal from the genetic information carried in one cell, has already been done with plants and animals. The result is the production of grains that yield their own fertilizer or can be grown in factories without sunshine and soil. Already in the United State of America genetically modified (GM) potatoes, tomatoes, apples, etc. are on sale in supermarkets. The main difference between these GM products and their conventionally produced counterparts is that the former are usually bigger and have a longer shelf-life than the latter. Consequently, most shoppers would rather go for the GM products, other things being equal. GM livestock are usually a good bargain. Imagine being offered a chicken the size of a turkey or a sheep almost as big as a cow! If the price and the taste are comparable. then the housewife would naturally prefer the GM breed. just as we now prefer the so-called “Agric” fowls to our smaller, local breed. 
      There are, however, serious potential dangers. The greatest risk is the escape — by accident or by design of harmful microbes from the laboratory into a world that has no defences against them. Some scientists have speculated that the HIV virus may have originated from such an accidental escape. The world has not forgotten the case of Adolf Hitler who, in furtherance of his project of creating “a superior race.” abused scientific knowledge and plunged the world into World War 11. For this reason, many governments have been cautious. or even reluctant, to give the geneticists the necessary approval to implement the results of their researches. There is no guarantee that man can be trusted not to use this new found “power” for destructive ends.

(a) In four sentences, one for each, summarize four benefits of genetic engineering to man. 
(b) In two sentence, one for each, state two dangers inherent in genetic engineering.

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.

 
      The great white shark is at the top of the marine food chain. In the shark family, it is the king, it will eat anything, even other sharks. But as it gets older, bigger and slower, it develops a preference for seals, penguins and carrion, especially dead whales. 
      In locating their food, most sharks use all their senses, including excellent vision. Their sense of smell is incredible and their ears are aided by pressure-sensitive cells along each side of their body. Nothing escapes this eavesdropping system, which is attuned to vibrations in the water. Sharks also have a sixth sense which enables them to detect the weak electrical fields emanating from the beating heart or the swimming muscles of a potential prey. 
      The white shark’s most fearsome assets are its huge head, its black eyes, and its razor-sharp, serrated teeth. The circulatory system of the white shark is different from that of most other sharks. Its blood temperature is about three to five degrees Celsius above water temperature; this speeds up digestion and adds to its strength and endurance. 
      It is known that the white shark spits out its wounded prey after an initial, powerful bite. Then it waits for the victim to die before eating it. Why does it use this bite-and-spit strategy? Experts speculate that this is because of its eyes. sockets when a collision is  Unlike other sharks, the white shark has no eyelid-like membrane to protect its eyes; rather, it rotates them in their sockets when a collision is imminent. At the moment of impact, the eye is left exposed, perhaps to the flaying claws of a seal. Therefore, for the white shark, a quick mortal strike and release is common behaviour. 
      The public image of sharks has been greatly coloured by the novel Jaws which was turned into a popular movie. Overnight the white shark became evil incarnate. However, it is not a demon craving human flesh. The smell of blood does not drive it into a feeding frenzy as it does certain other sharks. Nevertheless it is a dangerous animal that should be treated with caution and respect

(a) How do sharks used their sixth sense? 
(b) In what significant way is the circulatory system of the white shark different from that of other sharks? 
(c) What according to the passage. is the probable reason why the white shark waits for its victim to die before eating it? 
(d)(i) What is the writer’s attitude to the white shark? 
(ii) Quote an expression expression  from the passage to support your answer.
(e) “At the moment of impact…” 
(i) What grammatical name is given to this given to this expression as it is used in the passage. 
(ii) What is its function? 
(f) “However, it is not a demon craving human flesh.” What figure of speech is contained in this expression? 
(g) For each of the following words. find another word or phrase which means the same and which can replace it as it is used in the passage.

(i) preference; (ii) incredible, (iii) emanating: (iv) speculate: (v) mortal: (vi) coloured. 

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.

      When health workers first came to the village and talked about family planning, no one took, them seriously, including Amusa, whose young wife was then pregnant with their first baby. Had their fathers and fore before them not had as many wives and children as they desired? And had the not been able to take care of their families? So everyone shunned the family planning clinic which was established in the village shortly afterwards.
      Twelve years later, Amusa was a clerical assistant in the city and lived with his wife and eight children in a single room because he could not afford larger quarters. For as long as he could remember, his large family had been gong sent going through difficult times, which appeared to be worsening lately. Only yesterday, his third child had been sent away from school because her parents could not replace her old and torn school uniform. Last year, their first son could not proceed to the secondary school as the family could not afford the cost. Then recently, the landlord had announced his intention to increase the rent. 
      Amusa found himself thinking about the days when he was himself a young child. His own father had had two wives and thirteen children, yet as far as he could remember, the family had not faced anything similar to what he was going through now. He suddenly realized that this was because the times had changed and that the requirements of modem living put great pressure on large family sizes. His father’s time and age had been different: he had been a successful farmer in the village, had lived in his own house, employed members of his large family as farm hands and fed everyone from the abundance of the farm. On the other hand, Amusa lived in the city on a limited income. He had no farm land nor Amusa’s shoes became wiser only when it was too late. family. And at four or five times what they cost a few years before! even a vegetable garden, and had to pay for everything, from his rented room to the smallest domestic need of his.
      It was then that he sadly remembered the health workers and their gospel of family planning. How he wished he had listened and taken their advice! Unfortunately, he had not. And what was even more unfortunate was that the millions in Amusa’s shoes became wiser only when it was too late. 
(a) What advice do you think the health workers gave to the villagers? 
(b) Give two reasons why the villagers did not take the health workers seriously. 
(c) Give two indications of Amusa’s financial difficulties. 
(d) Mention any two differences between Amusa’s condition and his father’s 
(e) “And what was even more unfortunate… (I) What grammatical name is given to this expression as it is used in the passage? 
(ii) What is its function? 
(f) “And had they not been able to take care of their families?” 
(i) What literary device is used in this expression? 
(ii) What does it mean? 
(g) For each of the following words or phrases, find another word or phrase which means the same and which can replace it as it is used in  the passage: (i) shunned; (ii) established; (iii) announced; (iv) going through, (v) limited; (vi) shoes 

Write a story which ends with the  words, “Had I known, I wouldn’t have believed him.”

Your school’s Literary and Debating Society has organized a debate on the topic; “The Television is Doing More Harm Than Good to Our Youths.’ Write your contribution for or against the topic. 

There has been a public outcry against the escalating prices of foodstuff in your area. Write a letter to your representative in the House of Assembly, stating the causes of the increases and suggesting ways or improving the situation. 

The rising incidence of road traffic accidents nowadays. In a articles suitable for publication in an international magazine, discuss at least three factors responsible for this and suggest ways of improving the situation. 

Your sister wants to marry a man from another ethnic group against your mother’s wishes. Write a letter to your mother giving at least three reasons why she should accept your sister’s decision. 

In question numbered 100 above, choose the best option from letters A – D that best completes the gap.

In question numbered 99 above, choose the best option from letters A – D that best completes the gap.

In question numbered 98 above, choose the best option from letters A – D that best completes the gap.

In question numbered 97 above, choose the best option from letters A – D that best completes the gap.

In question numbered 96 above, choose the best option from letters A – D that best completes the gap.

In question numbered 95 above, choose the best option from letters A – D that best completes the gap.

In question numbered 94 above, choose the best option from letters A – D that best completes the gap.

In question numbered 93 above, choose the best option from letters A – D that best completes the gap.

In question numbered 92 above, choose the best option from letters A – D that best completes the gap.

In question numbered 91 above, choose the best option from letters A – D that best completes the gap.

In question numbered 90 above, choose the best option from letters A – D that best completes the gap.

In question numbered 89 above, choose the best option from letters A – D that best completes the gap.

In question numbered 88 above, choose the best option from letters A – D that best completes the gap.