Presec Legon English Language Mock Questions

Presec Legon English Language Mock Questions

Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School, Presec Legon English Language mock questions. Candidates who perform well in this Presec Legon English mock questions will pass the up-coming West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE)

 

See also: Wesley Girls’ Core Mathematics Mock Questions

PAPER 2 

Answer three questions in all: One question from Section A and all questions in Sections B and C. 

SECTION A: ESSAY[50 marks] 

Presec Legon English Language mock: Answer one question only from this section. All questions carry equal marks. Your essay should be about 450 words. 

1.  You have been elected school prefect of your school. Write a letter to your friend in another school, telling him/her about three strategies that you intend to use to curb indiscipline in the school. 

2. Write an article for publication in a national newspaper on the need to recycle plastic waste.

3. Write a letter to the Member of Parliament of your constituency, drawing his attention to at least three problem areas in your constituency and appeal to him to solve those problems. 

4. You have been appointed the principal speaker of your school to contest in a debate on the motion: Every secondary school graduate must learn a trade for a year before pursuing tertiary education.”

5. Write a story which ends with “…I then realized that I had been deceived all along.” 

 

SECTION B COMPREHENSION–20marks 

Presec Legon English Language mock: You are advised to spend 30 minutes on this section. Read the passage below carefully and answer the questions on it. 

 

The Fanti tourist to Igboland is first struck by the incidence of fully grown men shrugging. His surprise is caused by the fact that, in his native Fantiland, adult men simply do not shrug. Shrugging in Fantiland is a female preserve. The Fanti tourist soon realizes that the Igbo shrug sometimes means a straight–forward, no–nonsense “No.” If a retailer shrugs to a customer’s offer in a haggling contest, that shrug means, “No way! Your offer is much too low, and I will not accept it under any circumstance. “Period.” 

 

A different meaning must be imputed to the shrug that is rendered as a comment upon the intimation of some juicy revelation. If an Igbo woman shrugs on being told that a mutual friend, whom everybody knows to be a woman of straw, has somehow conjured up the money to buy the latest “George” fabric, she will shrug, thereby exclaiming albeit wordlessly, 

“Oh my goodness! How very strange! 

How on earth could she have pulled off a feat like that? Wonders will never cease!!!” 

Let us christen this “the wonder shrug.” It is usually accentuated by a pouting of the lips and a crisp click sound, thrown in for good measure. 

Perhaps, an even more interesting Igbo shrug is that which we may christen “the swear shrug.” It is the only shrug that is invariably accompanied by actual words. When an Igbo shrugs whiles he declares, “I am telling you!“, that shrug adds an overlay of swearing on to the basic lexical meanings of the uttered words. The full meaning of the swear shrug is something like: “I swear that what I am saying is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” The religious observer of this shrug will spontaneously complete the oath with the invocation, “So help me God.” 

A summary of the semantics of the Igbo shrug will take us from definite negation, through bewilderment, to provide affirmation. 

Apart from the minute area of negation, then, we could easily have made the mistake of concluding that we cannot find much that the Fantis shrug has in common with its Igbo counterpart. Our verdict would have been a blessing that said, “Unto each culture its own shrug.” However, considering that both the Igbo and the Fanti speaker are saved from the bother of piling up tortuous and lengthy verbal explanations by the simple heaving of a shoulder, should the shrug not be lauded for helping out with linguistic economy? One thing is clear: no linguistic study worth its salt should dream of leaving out an analysis of the body language of a culture under study. This because body language is just as significant to the meaning of the language as the lexical words that are entered in a dictionary. 

 

Presec Legon English Language mock

1. a) 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. incidence

ii. imputed  

iii. intimation 

iv. albeit 

vi. money? 

v. accentuated 

vi. invariably

 

b. What effect does the fact that fully grown Igbo men shrug have on the Fanti tourist to Igboland?

c. Why does the Igbo retailer shrug at his customer’s offer? 

d. How does the shrugger feel about the way the “woman of straw” managed to get her unexpected 

e. What makes “the swear shrug” different from other shrugs?  

f. What does the writer mean by the phrase “woman of straw” in this context?

g. What may an Igbo shrug and a Fanti shrug have in common? 

h. “…whom everybody knows to be a woman of straw….” 

i. What is the grammatical name given to this expression as it is used in the passage? 

j. What is its function? 

k. “….. should the shrug not be lauded for helping out with linguistic economy?” What literary device is this

 

SECTIONC: SUMMARY -30 marks 

Presec Legon English Language mock: You are advised to spend about 40 minutes on this section. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it. 

 

The game of football appears to have a global acceptance and has eclipsed all other games. What is so remarkable about this sport that it has gripped the world? All over the world, there are significant aspects of the game of football that ensure that no single player or official can work without the other for a successful match. 

 

On the football pitch, each team of players is focused on one objective to put the ball into the opponent’s goalposts. Since a team is made up of eleven individuals, a high level of cohesion is required on each side. Managing each player’s move in order to achieve their objective requires each player to blend his moves with those of the other players. The defender, the winger, the striker and the midfielder must ensure that their individual roles are harmonized, if they are to score a goal. 

 

Moreover, each player has a specific role assigned to him on the field which is dependent on the role of others. A player must perform this task in anticipation that other players will perform theirs. The players, thus, depend on one another to succeed. Accordingly, when a goal is scored, it is the combined efforts of all the players in the team that have produced the goal, not just the striker. This explains why in football, it is necessary for each player. to rely on the other. 

 

There is, also, the referee whose decisions constitute the final authority on the field. No matter who you are, whether a player or a coach, you cannot defy a referee’s decision. It is this aspect of the game that ensures that matches do not end up in chaos. Even though they sometimes do, there is order because all participants have to obey the referee. 

 

This game can teach society some lessons. A society is made up of people with diverse occupations. Each person’s role is necessary to ensure society runs smoothly. No one person can live independently of other members. There is, therefore, a need for cohesion and harmony. This can be achieved only if these diverse occupations are organized around a coordinated order. Each person’s occupation is of little significance on its own. But it becomes helpful in society only if it is harmonized with others to produce an integrated whole. This is how society benefits from human diversity. 

 

Each player in society is dependent on another person just as it happens in the game of football. A person can function properly only because someone else has created an opportunity for them to excel. Individuals cannot excel if other people refuse to support them. This is how society works. Members depend on one another. 

 

A society can degenerate into a wild ungovernable space, if there is no recognized authority. Given the passion and frenzy associated with football, it is amazing that there isn’t much rioting at football events. There is order. There is civil behaviour, even when one team loses. Order prevails because everyone accepts that the governing rules of the game must be obeyed. This is what society needs to recognize. 

 

Presec Legon English Language mock

(a). In three sentences, one for each, summarize three important features associated with the game of football.

b) In three sentences, one for each, summarize three lessons that society can learn from the game of football. 

 

Paper 2: OBJECTIVES

Presec Legon English Language mock: PART A- LEXIS AND STRUCTURE: SECTION I: lHOUR

In each of the following sentences, there is a word underlined and one gap. From the list of words lettered A to
D, choose the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word and that will at the same
time, correctly fill the gap in the sentence.

 

1. Long John fell from affluence to due to his recklessness.
a. misery b. penury c. liability d. starvation

 

2. Some rich people always look for temporal things note upbringing of the soul.
a. permanent b. temporary c. spiritual d. immaterial

 

3. Though the workers think the manager is callous, he is really ·
a. considerate b. powerful c. frank d. effective

 

Presec Legon English Language mock questions

4. Though the sky is sullen due to the rain clouds, it will soon be after the rain. a. foggy b. hazy c. plain d. clear

 

5. God is always considerate in dealing with sinners but the devil is .
a. consolidated b. vindictive c. quick d.furious

 

Presec Legon English Language mock

6. Your definition is baseless and will therefore not be considered as a
one. a. standing b. top c. upmost d. standard

 

7. The president's decision to increase workers' pay was lauded by all except the employers who
……………………… it.
a. condemned b. deliberated on c. denied d. praised

 

8. He thought his opponent was a gusty fighter but he turned out to be a .
a. hero b. coward c. trickish d. clown

 

Presec Legon English Language mock questions

9. Paul is as garrulous as his brother is .
a. quiet b. speechless c. tackles d. taciturn.

 

10. The honour that was bestowed on the man has been .
a. confirm b. withdrawn c. rejected d. destroyed.

 

Section II: Presec Legon English Language mock

From the words lettered A to D, choose one that best completes each of the following sentences

11. The president ……… criminal libel law a. cancelled b. table c. repealed d. vetoed

 

SECTION IV: Presec Legon English Language mock

After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations of all or part of the sentence is given.
Choose the interpretation you consider most appropriate for each sentence.

 

31. After the captain was dismissed from the team, he decided to keep his distance. This means that he
a. decided to travel far b. avoided company
c. became hostile d. became lonely.

 

Presec Legon English Language mock questions

32. All eyes were on Mr.and Mrs.Amoako who cut a dash at their daughter's wedding. This means they ……..
a. avoided each other b. gave out a lot of cash c. were in a hurry d. were splendidly dressed

 

33. It looks like Selina got out of bed on the wrong side. This means that Selina .
a. woke up very late b. felt weak and unwell
c. was dreaming d. was in a very bad mood

 

34. The pastor's death was a bolt from the blue. This means that the pastor ..
a. died suddenly and unexpectedly b. was killed by unknown assailants
c. died under mysterious circumstances d. died peacefully and quietly.

 

35. Everybody knows that the boy takes after his father. This means that the boy .
a. inherits his father b. resembles his father
c. chooses after his father d. takes his father on

 

Presec Legon English Language mock

36. It was the nurse on duty who delivered that baby. This means the nurse
. a. gave birth b. helped a woman to give birth
c. gave the baby out to people d. packaged the baby.

 

3 7. The English teacher advised the students to pick up their ears. This means that the students were advised to
a. remove wax from their ears b. ignore bad
peers c. be humble d. pay attention

 

Presec Legon English Language mock questions
38. The accident victim was brought round by the para-medical team. This means that the team .
a. restored him to consciousness b. brought him to a medical facility
c. showed him to the public d. made their usual rounds with the victim.

 

39. Ali is a chip off the old block. This means that Ali ..
a. and the old block are one b. exposes the old block
c. is unrelated to his father d. resembles his father

 

40. The proprietor asked the manager to check up on the applicant before employing him. This means the manager
was asked to .
a. send him for medical examination
c. pay him always which a cheque

b. look at his certificates
d. investigate him.

 

SECTIONV: Presec Legon English Language mock

In the following passage the numbered gaps indicate missing words. Against each number in the list below the
passage, four choices are offered in columns lettered A-D. For each numbered gap, choose from the options
provided for that number, the word that is most suitable to fill the gap.
One of the chief occupations of the people who live along the_4_and rivers in West Africa is fishing. Some
fishermen make 42 of sticks and hide them cunningly among the river weeds; others use nets sewn round
with 43 to hold them up, which they may_44 into a suitable _45_ofwater. These nets can be left to
drift with the movement of the water or can be 46 slowly behind a moving canoe.
From Lagos and other towns beside the sea, the fishing 47_go out to sea for many miles and 48 .
is practiced, while nearer the shore, lobsters, prawns and other kinds of_49_are caught by the bucketful.
Up and down West Africa, many of the most _50_ fishermen are Ghanaians.

 

Presec Legon English Language mock

A, B, C, D

41. reservoirs, creeks, mangroves, brooks
42. bundles, tricks, traps, snares
43.rope, weight, buoys, floats
44. cast, sling, sink, fling
45. length, stretcher, stretch, current

Presec Legon English Language mock questions
46. trailed, shored, dragged, tugged
47. boats, ships, dinghies, yachts
48. distant fishing, dredging, deep sea fishing, salt sea fishing
49. fresh fish, mussels, crabs, shell fish
50. adventurous, adventuring, heroic, redden

 

PART B: LITERATURE

Presec Legon English Language mock: Answer 30 questions in this part: 10 questions in Prose 10 questions in Drama and 10 questions in Poetry.

PROSE: Answer any set of IO questions numbered 51 to 60 in either Section I or TI.

SECTION I: R. L. STEVENSON: TREASURE ISLAND

51. Treasure Island falls under what category of novels?
A. fable B. autobiography C. adventure D. epistolary

 

Read the following extract and answer the question on it.

“…….. I take up my pen in the year of grace , and go back to the time when my father kept the Admiral Benbow' inn”

 

Presec Legon English Language mock questions

52. The above is an example of .
A. recall B. situational recall C. flash forward D. flashback
“…… and on him I observed it did not produce an agreeable effect ….”

53. What is the person referred to in the extract?
A. a gardener B. medical doctor and magistrate C. a lawyer D. an inn keeper

 

Presec Legon English Language mock questions

Read the extract below and answer the questions 54 & 55.

“Doctor, let me speak. Get the captain and squire down to the cabin, and then make some pretence to send for
me. I have terrible news”

 

54. What is the ‘terrible news’?
A. The sinking of the ship B. The planned mutiny of Long John Silver and ithers
C. The attack on the ship by pirates. D. The plot to steal money on the board the ship

 

55. Who was found on the uninhabited island?
A. Ben Gunn B. Caliban C. Black Dog D. Billy Bones

 

Presec Legon English Language mock

56. Squire Trelawney undertook the voyage mainly for
A. the craze of treasure. B. companionship and leisure.
C. the glory of the sea. D. relief from duty.

 

Presec Legon English Language mock questions

Read the following extract and answer Questions 57 and 58.
‘Now Hawkins’ said the squire, ‘You have something to say. Speak up’

 

57. Hawkins was to
A. talk about Billy Bones’ treasure chart.
B. disclose the presence of the buccaneers in Silver's inn.
C. narrate his details if Silver's conversation.
D. recount his discovery of Ben Gunn.

 

58. Jims’ account
A. saved the honest crew from the mutineers.
C. assured the squire of Jim's loyalty

B. revealed Silver's treachery and wickedness.
D. made the squire trust Captain Smollet.

 

Presec Legon English Language mock questions

59.Piek out the odd character.
A. Ben Gunn B. Long John Silver C. Morgan D. Slim Jim

 

60. One of the following words best describes Jim.
A. Humorous B. Stubborn C. Unreliable D. Courageous

 

Presec Legon English Language mock

AFRICAN PROSE: MAMLE WOLO: The Kaya Girl.

She owns the biggest tailoring shop … and we have gone into business together as she
once suggested. She will soon be opening a boutique in Tamale. In fact, I need to ask Auntie
Lydia for some advice for her.

 

51. Who is the speaker?
A. Abena B. Faiza C. Asana D. Mike

 

52. Who is being addressed?
A Abena B. Faiza C. Asana D. Gifty

 

Presec Legon English Language mock questions

5 3. She in the extract is
A Rakiya B. Faiza C. Asana D. Gifty

 

54. F aiza was born in
A Yendi B. Tolen C. Tamale D. None of the above

 

55. “Oh he was so cute. He had dimples and was always joking around”. The above statement was used to describe
A Stephen B. Mike C. Malik D. Kwesi

 

Presec Legon English Language mock

56. Faiza described her aunties cloth as one
As she lingered at the doorway, I felt a_rivulet sliode!dsowwn tehe anapte of my neck to the hollow of
my back, yet my finger and toes were freezing cold.

 

57. The speaker in the extract is
A. trembling B. anxious C. expecting someone D. about to get married

 

58. She in the extract is
A about to enter Auntie Lydia's shop.
C. about to turn on the laptop.

 

Presec Legon English Language mock questions

5 9. Who is the speaker?

B. about to meet her friend.
D. about to enter the ward.
A Aunt Omotola B. Aunt Lydia C. Abena D. Faiza

 

60. What figure of speech is found in the underlined expression?
A personification B. euphemism C. symbolism D. metaphor

 

DRAMA

Presec Legon English Language mock: Answer any set of 10 questions numbered 61 to 70 in either section I or section II

SECTION II: NON-AFRICAN DRAMA: HENRIK IBSEN: An Enemy of the People.

The most dangerous enemy of truth and freedom is our society is the compact majority.
Yes, the damned, compact, liberal majority.

 

61. Who is the speaker?
A. Billing B. Dr. Stockmann C. Petra D. Hovstad

 

62. What is the major theme of the novel?
A. Freedom and Free Speech B. Hard Work C. Voting D. Democracy

 

63. The play can be described as a
A comedy B farce C. tragedy D. mime

 

64. The enemy of the people in the play is
A Peter Stockmann · B. Dr. Stockman C. Billing Hovstad

 

Presec Legon English Language mock questions

65. Captain Horster is fired from his ship as a result of
A speaking against authority B. publishing falsehood
C. providing the hall for Dr. Stockmann’s speech D. his laziness

 

X: There is so mush falsehood both at home and at school. At home one must not speak,
and at school we have to stand and tell lies to the children.
Y: Tell lies?

 

Presec Legon English Language mock

66. Speaker Xis
A. Petra B. Billing C. Mrs. StockmannD. Horster

 

67. Speaker Y is

A. Horster B. Aslasksen C. Dr. StochmannD. Petra

 

68. Speaker Xis disgusted about

A. parliament B. children lying C. societal lies D. her father’s sandal

 

Presec Legon English Language mock questions

69. What goes Speaker X want to do differently?

A. Leave the country B. Start a school C. Change the curriculum D. Lie the more

 

70. Aslaksen is a .
A. teacher B. newspaper publisher C. journalist D. mayor

 

AFRICAN DRAMA: Presec Legon English Language mock

BILL MARSHALL: The Son ofUmbele

I told you everything that girl touches turns into clay. She goes near that boat and the sea turns dry.

 

61. Who is the speaker?
A. Zekey B. Attu C. Joshua D. Sumako

 

62. Who is the addressee?
A. Zekey B. Attu C. Joshua D. Sumako

 

63. The device used in the underlined expression is both and metaphor.
A. hyperbole B. personification C. assonance D. metonymy

 

Presec Legon English Language mock questions

64. Which character just appears in a hurry?
A. Zekey B. Sumako C. Duella D. Joshua

 

65. turns into clay is a euphemism for
A. marriage B. friendship C. unfaithfulness D. death

 

X: …It’s a crime against anybody's intelligence, it's a crime against all ethics,
it’s a crime against all human orientation; it's a crime against creation itself.
Y: You talk like a book .

 

Presec Legon English Language mock

66. Who is speaker X?
A. Joshua B. Attu C. Sumako D. Zekey

 

67. Who is speaker Y?
A. Joshua B. Attu C. Sumako D. Zekey

 

Presec Legon English Language mock questions

68. Speaker X’s speech is full of
A. parallelism B. metaphor C. simile D. hyperbole

 

69. What is ‘The Third end of the rope?
A. Duella B. The culture of the people C The impossible D. death

 

70. Who is referred to as the living museum?
A. Benko B. Sumako C. Joshua D. Zekey

 

POETRY: Presec Legon English Language mock

Answer any set of IO questions numbered 71 to 80 in either section I or section .

NON-AFRICAN POETRY: Presec Legon English Language mock questions

WILFRED OWEN: Anthem for Doomed Youth

Read the extract below and answer questions 71 and 72.

 

What passing bells for those who die as castle?
Only the monstrous anger of guns.
Only the stuttering rifle’s rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.

 

71. The above lines establish a tone of ..
A optimism . B. urgency C. nostalgia D. pathos

 

72, Lines 2-4 above contain …….·………and onomatopoeia.
A. incremental repetition B. parallelism C. personification D. assonance

 

JOHN DONNE: Batter My Heart Three Person’d God

Presec Legon English Language mock questions

73. One dominant device in the poem is
A. paradox B. pun C. assonance D. pathos

 

74. What type of poem is this?
A. narrative poem B. romantic C. elegy D. sonnet

 

WALT WILMAN: I Sit and Look out

Presec Legon English Language mock

7 5. The tone of the poem is
A. pessimism B. optimism C. love D. indifference

 

76. The poet uses……………… extensively.
A. parallelism B. personification C. simile D. hyperbole

 

D. H. LAWRENCE: Piano

Presec Legon English Language mock questions

 

77. The extract "The heart of me weeps to belong" contains .
A. hyperbole B. paradox C. personification D. pun

 

78. The mood of the poet is that of : .
A. love B. anger C. nostalgia D. indifference

 

CLAUDE MCKAY: If We Must Die

Presec Legon English Language mock questions

79. The poem is a protest on
A. unemployment B. slavery C. hate speech D. death

 

80. The "open grave" is a symbol of
A. unity B. openness

C. universality

D. death

 

AFRICAN POETRY: Presec Legon English Language mock

J.P CLARK: Night Rain

Presec Legon English Language mock questions

“Much like beads I could in prayer tell
Them on strings as they break
In wooden bowls and earthenware”

71. The first line of the extract contains an example of
A. simile B. metaphor C. apostrophe D. bathos

 

72. ‘Them’ in the extract refers to
A. beads B. mangoes C. raindrops D. oranges

 

GABRIEL OKARA: Once Upon a Time

Presec Legon English Language mock questions

73. The poem focuses on
A. disunity B. cultural change C. immorality D. dangerous cultural practices

 

74. The mood of the poem is partly
A. nostalgic B. pessimism C. optimism D. sombre

 

KOFI AWOONOR: The Weaver Bird: Presec Legon English Language mock

Presec Legon English Language mock questions

7 5. The tone of the writer is
A. bitterness B. concern C. humility D. fun

 

76. The poem can be described as a
A. free verse B. blank verse C. dirge D. pastoral

 

DAVID RUBADIRI: An African Thunderstorm

Presec Legon English Language mock questions

77. The seemingly purposely movement of the wind is captured in the line:
A. Like a mad man chasing nothing B. Tossing up things on its tail
C. Like a plague of Locust D. Clouds come hurrying with the wind

 

78. The first indication that the thunderstorm is seen as a powerful animal is in the line
A. Like a mad man chasing nothing B. Tossing up things on its tail
C. Like a plague of Locust D. Clouds come hurrying with the wind

 

OSWALD MTSHALI: Nightfall in Soweto

Presec Legon English Language mock questions

79. Nightfall in Soweto symbolize
A. pessimism B. optimism C. terror  D. the African

80. The poem ends on a note of
A. fear B. despair

C. anticipation

D. ambition

Presec Legon English Language mock questions