We were suddenly awakened at dawn by the screams of the tenants in our home. They were making a lot of commotion in the yard. Daddy quickly jumped from his bed and made for the door. Not long after, we heard him scream. We ran to the hall, switched on the lights and saw him lying flat on his back holding his forehead.

In his haste to get to the hall door, he must have forgotten to switch on the lights thus running straight and crashing his head into the pillar in the middle of the hall. When we examined his forehead, we saw a big lump and blood oozing from a deep cut near his eyebrow.

Mummy, a retired nursing sister, shouted instructions to me to get the first-aid box, some ice cubes and Daddy's towel. When the items were brought, she set to work first on the cut. She put some ice cubes in the towel and pressed the towel on the cut for about two minutes. She then wiped the blood gently. Afterwards, she put a little iodine on a piece of gauze, placed it on the cut and bandaged it. Turning to the lump, she massaged it with some ice cubes, which reduced the swelling.

She then opened the front door and we beheld a pathetic scene. Lying in the middle of the house was the motionless body of one of the tenants. Trying to resist an attack from armed robbers, he had been butchered mercilessly and his body left in the middle of the house.

Question 1

What made the writer wake up?

A. The father crashing into the pillar
B. The noise made by his father
C. The attack by the armed robbers
D. The shouting of the tenants

Question 2

The writer's father was holding his forehead because he

A. had fallen flat on his back.
B. had hit his head against the pillar.
C. wanted to stop the blood from flowing.
D. was thinking of what to do.

Question 3

The purpose of the ice cubes was to

A. stop the bleeding.
B. heal the cut.
C. manage the cut.
D. reduce the swelling.

Question 4

Pathetic in the passage means

A. naughty.
B. merciless.
C. sad.
D. strange.

Question 5

What happened to the tenant?

A. He opened the door.
B. He was killed by the robbers.
C. He fell down heavily.
D. He saw a pathetic scene.

Where is the musical performance of songbirds held? It is not in any concert hall but rather on trees, fences and telephone wires. It is from these places that little feathered creatures blend their voices in some of the most melodious songs sung in the world.

Songbirds do not just make noise. The male voices in the choir, for instance, have two different messages. Firstly, it is a warning to other males not to come near their partners. Secondly, it is an invitation from the bachelors to the female birds. The most interesting songs which are sung with a lot of vigour are produced during the breeding season by the males to impress the lady birds

Songbirds are very remarkable. They sing three or four notes at a time. To the human ear it sounds like one beat but the birds can identify the different notes because of their keen sense of hearing. At times, what is heard may not be a song of our winged friends but simply an instruction to keep the flock together. It may also be a warning of an approaching danger.

Just how birds compose their songs is an interesting subject. Some birds have their songs fixed in their brains at birth. Whilst some imitate others, other birds try to compose songs which are unique. They will never copy what they hear others sing.

Question 6

According to the passage, members of the choir can sing without difficulty because they

A. are born good singers.
B. easily learn to sing.
C. have good songs.
D. have to sing.

Question 7

The male songbirds sing

A. to instruct others.
B. four notes at a time.
C. to attract the females.
D. what others have composed.

Question 8

According to the passage, birds sing

A. only in the breeding season.
B. some of the sweetest songs.
C. to invite the bachelors.
D. only one note.

Question 9

Unique in the passage means

A. suitable.
B. similar.
C. exciting.
D. special.

Question 10

The writer suggests that

A. human beings sing better than birds.
B. birds can interpret notes better.
C. birds make louder noise than human beings.
D. birds compose more interesting songs.

Question 11

The house by the sea has been abandoned.

A. deserted
B. destroyed
C. infested
D. robbed

Question 12

Most Ghanaians were optimistic about the Black Stars winning the African Cup.

A. reasonable
B. happy
C. concerned
D. hopeful

Question 13

The indigenous people provided the labour during the building of the school.

A. skilled
B. native
C. expatriate
D. urban

Question 14

The effort of the watchman which led to the arrest of the thieves was laudable.

A. quick
B. real
C. constant
D. praiseworthy

Question 15

Our parents deserve our appreciation.

A. assistance
B. gratitude
C. concern
D. encouragement

Question 16

Mr. Taiwoo took the clerk to task for losing the letters. This means that Mr. Taiwoo

A. sacked the clerk.
B. blamed the clerk.
C. called the clerk a criminal.
D. gave the clerk another work.

Question 17

The quarrel got out of hand. This means that the quarrel

A. became uncontrollable.
B. was prolonged.
C. became boring.
D. was unhealthy.

Question 18

On seeing the headmaster, the girl took to her heels. This means that the girl

A. fainted.
B. felt frightened.
C. ran away.
D. hid herself.

Question 19

Joseph lives within a stone's throw from the station. This means that Joseph

A. lives in a stony house.
B. lives very close to the station.
C. goes to the station.
D. often throws stones at the station.

Question 20

All his plans for building a new theatre came to naught. This means that

A. the theatre was built.
B. his plans were unsuccessful.
C. the building collapsed.
D. there was nothing in the theatre.

Question 21

My father has a cordial relationship with all his neighbours.

A. harsh
B. hostile
C. scornful
D. different

Question 22

John's latest play is rather dull.

A. interesting.
B. informative.
C. sensible.
D. educative.

Question 23

The feeble old man spoke for about three hours.

A. bold
B. strong
C. bright
D. successful

Question 24

The thief descended the stairs hurriedly.

A. consciously
B. lazily
C. slowly
D. noisily

Question 25

The diligent student won a prize.

A. careless
B. lucky
C. playful
D. proud

Question 26

My father wanted to find out how Abu was getting ...... at school.

A. on
B. down
C. back
D. up

Question 27

If the boat had been maintained properly it ...... capsized.

A. have not
B. will not have
C. would not have
D. might have not

Question 28

The white horse is ...... than the black one.

A. faster
B. very fast
C. fast
D. more fast

Question 29

They thought he would become a businesswoman, ......?

A. wouldn't they
B. didn't they
C. wasn't they
D. isn't they

Question 30

There were only two of us who ...... any idea of the answer.

A. have
B. had
C. has
D. would

Question 31

He had boarded a taxi, ......?

A. wouldn't he
B. hadn't he
C. isn't it
D. won't he

Question 32

Mrs. Mensah ...... in Saltpond since 1970.

A. was living
B. has been living
C. has lived
D. is living

Question 33

The booking clerk made him ...... a deposit.

A. to pay
B. paid
C. to be paying
D. pay

Question 34

Although all the dresses were beautiful, she liked ...... of them.

A. any
B. none
C. neither
D. both

Question 35

Kwesi and Ama are in love with ......

A. themselves.
B. one another.
C. each other.
D. ourselves.

Question 36

It is ...... to attempt in one day.

A. too long and difficult a journey
B. the journey too long and difficult
C. long and difficult too a journey
D. too long and difficult the journey

Question 37

The rain shouldn't deter you ...... going out.

A. for
B. on
C. by
D. from

Question 38

Ben is leaving ...... Takoradi this morning.

A. for
B. to
C. by
D. from

Question 39

Yesterday I met the man ......

A. the car of whom I bought.
B. whose car I bought.
C. I bought his car.
D. whom I bought his car.

Question 40

No sooner had the Minister opened the bank ...... he bank was filled to capacity.

A. when
B. for
C. as
D. than