SS 1 ENGLISH LANGUAGE: MID-TERM EXAMINATION REVISION NOTES

Subject: English Language
Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS 1)
Curriculum: Nigerian National Curriculum (NERDC)
Scope: Mid-Term Examination Focus

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MODULE 1: ORAL ENGLISH (PHONOLOGY)

1.1 Pure Vowels (Monophthongs)

In English, there are 12 pure vowel sounds. They are divided into Short Vowels and Long Vowels (indicated by a colon :).

• /i:/ (Long vowel): seet, beat, machine.
• /ɪ/ (Short vowel): sit, bit, kitchen.
• /a:/ (Long vowel): father, car, heart.
• /æ/ (Short vowel): cat, map, land.

Example Exercise: Pick the word that has the same vowel sound as the one underlined.

1. Seat: (a) Sit (b) Bee (c) Set (d) Head. -> Answer: (b)

1.2 Consonant Clusters

A consonant cluster is a group of consonants that appear together without a vowel between them.

• At the beginning: Street, Play, Bright.
• At the end: Helps, Tents, First.

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MODULE 2: GRAMMAR (PARTS OF SPEECH)

2.1 Nouns and Pronouns

• Proper Nouns: Names of specific people/places (Lagos, Musa, Nigeria).
• Common Nouns: General names (boy, city, country).
• Abstract Nouns: Ideas or feelings (happiness, bravery, poverty).
• Pronouns: Used to avoid repetition. (I, You, He, She, It, We, They).
  • Relative Pronouns: Who, Whom, Whose, Which, That.

2.2 Subject-Verb Agreement (Concord)

The basic rule is: A singular subject takes a singular verb, and a plural subject takes a plural verb.

• Singular: The boy plays football. (Note: singular verbs usually end in 's')
• Plural: The boys play football.

Special Rules:

1. Either/Or, Neither/Nor: The verb agrees with the subject closer to it.
   • Example: Neither the teacher nor the students are here.
2. Collective Nouns: Usually take singular verbs.
   • Example: The committee has made its decision.

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MODULE 3: VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT

Topic: Agriculture

In the Nigerian SS1 curriculum, vocabulary often focuses on primary sectors.

• Tillage: Preparing the soil for sowing.
• Irrigation: Artificial supply of water to land.
• Pest: Organisms that damage crops.
• Harvest: Gathering of ripe crops.
• Livestock: Farm animals (cattle, goats, poultry).

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MODULE 4: WRITING SKILLS

4.1 Narrative Essay

A narrative essay tells a story. It should have a clear beginning, middle, and end.

• Tense: Usually written in the Past Tense.
• Key Elements: Plot, Character, Setting, and Climax.

4.2 Informal Letter

These are letters written to people you know well (friends, parents, siblings). Format:

1. Writer’s Address and Date (Top right corner).
2. Salutation (e.g., Dear John, Dearest Mum).
3. Introduction (Inquiring about health/well-being).
4. Body (The main reason for writing).
5. Conclusion (Final greetings).
6. Subscription (Yours sincerely, Yours affectionately + First Name).

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MODULE 5: COMPREHENSION AND SUMMARY

5.1 Comprehension Tips

1. Read the passage quickly (skimming) to get the general idea.
2. Read the questions.
3. Read the passage again carefully (scanning) to find specific answers.
4. Answer in your own words unless asked to quote.

5.2 Summary Writing

• Identify the main points.
• Exclude illustrations, examples, and repetitions.
• Write in complete sentences (unless bullet points are requested).

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PRACTICE EXERCISES (MID-TERM MOCK)

SECTION A: OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS

1. Which of the following contains the sound /u:/? (a) Book (b) Look (c) Fool (d) Foot
2. Neither the principal nor the teachers _______ present at the meeting yesterday. (a) is (b) was (c) were (d) are
3. The word 'Bravery' is an example of a/an _______ noun. (a) Common (b) Proper (c) Abstract (d) Collective
4. Choose the correctly spelt word: (a) Accomodation (b) Accommodation (c) Acomodation (d) Acommodation
5. Agriculture: The process of removing weeds from a farm is called _______. (a) Planting (b) Weeding (c) Harvesting (d) Pruning

SECTION B: ESSAY WRITING

Answer one question only. (200 - 250 words)

1. Narrative: Write a story that ends with the words: "I wish I had listened to my mother."
2. Letter Writing: Write a letter to your elder brother who lives in another city, telling him about your transition from Junior Secondary to Senior Secondary school and the new subjects you are offering.

SECTION C: GRAMMAR (CONCORD)

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in the brackets.

1. The flock of sheep _______ (is/are) grazing in the field.
2. Bread and butter _______ (is/are) my favorite breakfast.
3. One of the girls _______ (has/have) lost her pen.
4. The students, as well as their teacher, _______ (was/were) at the stadium.

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ANSWER KEY (For Self-Grading)

Section A: 1(c), 2(c), 3(c), 4(b), 5(b) Section C: 1(is), 2(is - treated as a single unit), 3(has), 4(was - 'as well as' does not make the subject plural).

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Teacher's Tip: When writing your informal letter, ensure your tone is "chatty" and friendly. For the narrative essay, use descriptive adjectives to make your story come alive!