COMPREHENSION / READING SKILLS
The passage is a short extract from a full-length play. There are three characters; Salubi, Samson and Kotonou. Kotuno is a driver who wants to give up driving, Samson, a motor park tout, is his mate or conductor. Salubi is a driver-trainee.
Table of Contents
EVALUATION
Answer the questions under the comprehension passage.
STRUCTURE: NOUN PHRASE AND VERB PHRASE
Content
Definition
Functions
Definition: A noun phrase is a phrase in which the main word or the head is a noun or pronoun.
Functions: The noun phrase performs exactly the same functions as a noun.
(i) As subject of a sentence
The big girl
The big ugly girl in the class is quarrelsome.
The big ugly girl who stammers is quarrelsome.
A young talented Nigerian lady was presented an award last year.
The boy in red shirt is my friend.
We bought a brand new car.
The gerundial phrase which is also a noun phrase can function as a subject of the verb e.g.
Telling lies often belittles a person.
Consciously wounding someone is wicked.
The infinitive can also be used as a noun phrase and function as the subject of verb.
To tell lies belittles a person.
To consciously wound someone is wicked.
An adjective can be the head of a noun phrase.
The poor suffer a lot.
The conquered expect no mercy from their conqueror.
The wise learn from experience.
(ii) As object of Verb
The officer praised the students (Direct Object)
(iii) As subject Complement
The grateful boy called his friend saviour.
His village made him a chief.
(v) As complement of a preposition
The governor thought of the brilliant lawyer when choosing his cabinet.
The thief hid the gun under his bed.
The Verb Phrase
The verb phrase is usually made up of a main verb and one or more auxiliary verbs in the following sentences, the verb phrases are in italics.
Dike has done the work (one auxiliary verb + main verb)
Dike has been doing the work since morning (two auxiliary verbs + main verbs + main verb)
Obioma may come with us if he likes.
EVALUATION: Mention the grammatical functions of the underlined expression.
I have given it to the boy.
The rich and the poor are invited
Mr. Henry is an angry man.
I call Jesus my personal Lord and Saviour.
I could have done the work sooner.
VOCABULARY OF AGRICULTURE – GENERAL TERMS
agrarian economy: A nation whose economy is predominantly based on agriculture
fallow: Allow to stay without cultivation for a while
orchard: A piece of land on which fruit trees are grown
seedling: Young plant grown from seed
barn: Building for storing farm produce, especially yams
cash crops: A crop grown for sale rather than for consumption.
arable land: Farming done on a piece of land good for tilling or ploughing.
mechanized farm: Agriculture practiced with the use of machines.
nursery: Place where young trees and plants are raised for transplanting or sale.
manure: This is fertilizer made from dung.
bumper harvest: This is an unusually large quantity of crop gathered at the end of a farming season.
tendril: This is the soft thin part of a climbing plant needed to be attached to a support.
crop rotation: This is the changing of crops planted on the same piece of land on seasonal basis.
agricultural loan: This is a loan given by government or bank to enable farmer’s farming projects.
hybrid fruits: These are fruits produced from two plants of different species.
amortize : This is to pay money in borrowed in bit.
LIVESTOCK
livestock: these are domestic animals raised for their working ability or for their value as a source of food and other products.
ranches: This a farm/confined space for rearing of animals.
beef: This is meat from cattle or cow.
animal droopings: Dung or faeces of animals or birds.
broiler: These are young chickens reared for eating.
dairy products: These are food items made from milk, e.g Cheese and butter.
pasture: This is a grassland on which grass-eating animals feed.
pullet: This is a young hen.
vaccinate: Inject with a vaccine as protection against illness.
veterinarian or veterinary doctor: A person who treats animals.
| fish-net | It is used to catch fish |
FISHERY
| cane pole and line | Those are also used to catch fish. |
| ripples | A small wave on the surface of the water after a net or cane pole has been thrown into the water. |
| bait | Anything used to attract fish so that it may be caught e.g. earthworm. |
| float | Piece of wood or cork at the end of a fishing-line (or string) which moves when a fish bites the hook. |
| trawler | Boat used for fishing. It drags the fish-net behind it. |
| fish pond | A small area of still water, especially one that is artificial where fish are nurtured for consumption |
| fishery | A part of a sea or river where fish are caught in large quantity.
The business or industry of catching fish |
| fish farm | A place where fish are bred as a business. |
EVALUATION
Choose five words from the words taught and use them in sentences.
SPELLING: WORDS COMMONLY MISSPELT; Unified test
Content
Words Commonly Misspelt
Correct Spellings
Analysis of the words commonly misspelt in English language
| Correct | Misspelt |
| accommodation | accomodation |
| acquaint | aquaint |
| bibliography | bibiography |
| business | bussiness |
| clarity | clearify |
| colossal | colosal |
| covenant | convenant |
| diligent | deligent |
| environment | enviroment |
| enmity | enimity |
| excitement | excitement |
| expatiate | expantiate |
| foreigner | foreigner |
| incurred | incured |
| grievous | grievious |
| maintenance | maintainance |
| misspell | misspell |
| mischievous | mischievious |
| necessary | necessary |
| pastime | pasttime |
| pronunciation | pronouncaition |
| preceded | preceeded |
| sandwich | sandwitch |
| receive | receive |
| referred | refered |
| separate | separate |
Others include: harassment, embarrassment, herculean, workaholic, limousine, buoyant, buoy, boulevard, hippopotamus, stethoscope, obstetrician, pneumonia, choreography, commission, accommodation, surveillance, maintenance, agrarian, lovable, duly, gubernatorial, indict, accede, onomatopoeia, Ghanaian, promiscuous , continuous, philandrer, psychiatric. Psyche, burlesque, diarrhoea, obstetrician, stethoscope, flirtatious, sarcasm.
EVALUATION: Dictation
GENERAL EVALUATION/ REVISION QUESTIONS
From the list of words lettered A to D, choose the one that is nearest in meaning to the underlined words.
- We must move with the times as there is no point in clinging to antiquated a. foolish (b) outdated (c) unscientific (d) useless (e) wrong
- Religious leaders are supposed to be beneficient (a) clean (b) holy (c) honest (d) kind (e) malevolent
- The minister’s response to the question on whether or not he would retire at the end of his tenure was evasive (a) concrete (b) clear (c) definite (d) elusive (e) undecided
- Femi’s comments were germane to the issue under discussion. (a) complimentary ( b) confidential ( c) insignificant (d) redundant (e) relevant
- The manufactures found the new economic policy auspicious to their plan. (a) atrocious ( b) favourable (c) reliable (d) treacherous (e) unfavourable
See also