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NECO English practice questions

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Question 1Essay Writing

In the NECO English essay paper, a formal letter to an official whose name is unknown should normally open with which salutation?

  1. Hi Sir,
  2. Hello Chairman,
  3. Dear Sir, Correct answer.
  4. My dear Chairman,

Explanation

In formal correspondence, the salutation must match the writer's relationship to the reader. When the receiver's name is unknown, 'Dear Sir,' is the conventional neutral opening, while casual greetings belong to informal writing.

Question 2Essay Writing

A narrative essay titled 'The Day I Missed the Last Bus' is best written mainly in which tense?

  1. Simple present
  2. Simple future
  3. Simple past Correct answer.
  4. Present perfect

Explanation

A narrative essay recounts events that are already complete, so the simple past is the normal narrative tense. Present or future forms would make the account read like a description or a plan rather than a finished story.

Question 3Essay Writing

In an essay, the sentence that announces the central idea of a paragraph and controls its development is called the

  1. topic sentence Correct answer.
  2. supporting detail
  3. concluding sentence
  4. thesis statement

Explanation

The topic sentence states the main idea of a single paragraph and tells the reader what the rest of that paragraph will develop. A thesis statement performs a similar role for the whole essay, not for one paragraph.

Question 4Essay Writing

In an argumentative essay, the most effective way to handle a strong opposing view is to

  1. state it fairly, then present evidence and reasoning that weaken it Correct answer.
  2. ignore it completely so that your own position appears unchallenged
  3. mention it only in the conclusion without commenting on it
  4. describe it as foolish and unfit for serious discussion

Explanation

Good argumentation acknowledges the strongest opposing position before answering it with evidence and reasoning. This shows fairness and makes the writer's own case more convincing than simply avoiding or insulting the other side.

Question 5Essay Writing

A descriptive essay about a crowded motor park becomes most vivid when the writer

  1. lists the names of all the passengers waiting for vehicles
  2. explains the causes of traffic congestion in the town
  3. appeals to sight, hearing and smell to recreate the scene Correct answer.
  4. argues that the government should build a new park

Explanation

Descriptive writing aims to create a picture in the reader's mind, so details that appeal to the senses are the most effective. A list, an explanation of causes, or an argument shifts the essay into a different mode.

Question 6Essay Writing

In an expository essay on 'The Causes of Road Accidents in Nigeria', the body paragraphs should mainly

  1. describe the appearance of the accident scene in detail
  2. persuade the reader to support a particular political party
  3. narrate a personal journey that ended in an accident
  4. explain each cause with examples and supporting evidence Correct answer.

Explanation

An expository essay explains a subject, so the body should analyse causes and support each point with examples or evidence. Narrative, persuasive or purely descriptive material would change the essay type and weaken the explanation.

Question 7Essay Writing

A student presenting a speech in a school debate should begin by

  1. reading the entire conclusion before stating the motion
  2. greeting the audience and stating the motion clearly Correct answer.
  3. telling a long irrelevant joke to relax the audience
  4. listing every reference used in the speech

Explanation

A debate speech needs a clear opening that acknowledges the audience and identifies the motion. This prepares listeners for the argument, whereas irrelevant jokes, premature conclusions or a list of references confuse the structure.

Question 8Essay Writing

Choose the connector that best completes the sentence in an essay: 'The new library was well stocked; ___, few students used it regularly.'

  1. for example
  2. however Correct answer.
  3. moreover
  4. therefore

Explanation

The two clauses contrast: a well-stocked library would lead one to expect high use, but few students used it. 'However' signals contrast, while 'therefore', 'moreover' and 'for example' signal result, addition and illustration respectively.

Question 9Essay Writing

In an argumentative essay, a thesis statement should

  1. list every example that will appear in the body
  2. appear only in the final paragraph as a summary
  3. state the writer's position clearly and indicate the line of argument Correct answer.
  4. ask the reader a series of questions about the topic

Explanation

A thesis statement is the controlling idea of an argumentative essay: it announces the writer's stand and suggests how the argument will be developed. Questions, exhaustive lists or a late summary do not give the essay a clear central claim.

Question 10Essay Writing

A letter to the editor of a national newspaper complaining about refuse disposal in your area should adopt which tone?

  1. pleading and apologetic, as if the writer has no right to complain
  2. formal, polite and firm Correct answer.
  3. abusive and threatening towards council officials
  4. casual and humorous, with slang expressions

Explanation

A letter to a newspaper editor is formal public correspondence, so the tone should be respectful but firm enough to show serious concern. Abuse, slang or excessive apology weakens the writer's credibility and distracts from the complaint.

Question 11Essay Writing

In a NECO English essay, the final paragraph that restates the writer's stand and leaves a closing thought is called the

  1. introductory paragraph
  2. conclusion Correct answer.
  3. topic sentence
  4. transitional paragraph

Explanation

The conclusion closes the essay. It normally restates the thesis in fresh words and gives a final comment, without introducing a new main point.

Question 12Essay Writing

A formal letter to a principal whose name the writer does not know should end with which complimentary close?

  1. Yours affectionately,
  2. Yours faithfully, Correct answer.
  3. Yours sincerely,
  4. Best wishes,

Explanation

When the recipient's name is unknown, the salutation is 'Dear Sir/Madam', so the matching close is 'Yours faithfully'. 'Yours sincerely' is reserved for a named recipient.

Question 13Essay Writing

In the planning stage of an essay, a student writes a short outline mainly in order to

  1. replace the need for paragraphing
  2. impress the examiner with extra pages
  3. increase the number of words in the final draft
  4. order the main points and avoid digression Correct answer.

Explanation

An outline is a plan, not padding. It lists the main points in a logical order so the writer can develop them without wandering off the topic.

Question 14Essay Writing

Read the paragraph: 'The market was crowded that morning. Traders shouted prices from every stall. A goat escaped from a pen and scattered a pile of tomatoes. Tomatoes are a rich source of vitamin C.' Which sentence should be removed to improve the paragraph's coherence?

  1. Tomatoes are a rich source of vitamin C. Correct answer.
  2. The market was crowded that morning.
  3. Traders shouted prices from every stall.
  4. A goat escaped from a pen and scattered a pile of tomatoes.

Explanation

The paragraph describes a crowded market scene. The sentence about vitamin C is a nutrition fact and does not help the reader see the market, so it breaks coherence.

Question 15Essay Writing

An argumentative essay declares that 'boarding school is better than day school' and supports the claim with only one story about the writer's cousin. The main weakness of this support is that it

  1. relies on one unrepresentative case Correct answer.
  2. is too statistical for a school essay
  3. uses emotional language rather than facts
  4. avoids taking a clear position on the issue

Explanation

A single story about one cousin cannot support a general claim about all boarding schools. Good argumentative writing needs evidence that is typical or broad enough to represent the group.

Question 16Essay Writing

Which sentence best shows rather than tells in a descriptive essay about a hungry traveller?

  1. The traveller felt extremely hungry that afternoon.
  2. He was very hungry and wanted food badly.
  3. He tore the bread apart and swallowed it. Correct answer.
  4. Hunger is a painful experience that many travellers know very well.

Explanation

Showing presents actions and sensory details that let readers infer the hunger. The traveller's hurried eating does that, while the other sentences merely name the feeling.

Question 17Essay Writing

In an expository essay titled 'The Importance of Clean Water', which sentence is the best topic sentence for a body paragraph?

  1. Clean water is important and should be valued by everybody.
  2. Many people in Nigeria live in towns and villages.
  3. Clean water reduces the spread of diseases such as cholera and typhoid. Correct answer.
  4. Water can be found in rivers, streams, and wells.

Explanation

A topic sentence should make a specific claim that the paragraph can explain or illustrate. The sentence about cholera and typhoid gives the paragraph a clear, developable focus.

Question 18Essay Writing

In a school speech, a speaker repeats the phrase 'we must act now' at the end of three successive points. This technique is most effective because it

  1. changes the speech from formal to informal
  2. shortens the speech by cutting details
  3. adds fresh statistics for the audience
  4. fixes the message in the audience's memory Correct answer.

Explanation

Repeating a short phrase at intervals is a rhetorical device that fixes the main idea in the audience's memory. It does not add evidence or alter the formality of the speech.

Question 19Essay Writing

A student writes: 'The rain started. The match stopped. The players ran off the field.' Which revision best improves cohesion without changing the meaning?

  1. When the rain started, the match stopped, and the players ran off the field. Correct answer.
  2. The rain started; the match stopped; the players ran off the field.
  3. The rain started and the match stopped and the players ran off the field.
  4. The rain started, the match stopped, the players ran off the field.

Explanation

The original sentences are choppy and leave the relationship between events unstated. Using 'When' makes the rain the trigger, and the comma plus 'and' links the resulting actions smoothly.

Question 20Essay Writing

In a formal letter to a school principal, which sentence keeps the appropriate register?

  1. The library is a total mess, and somebody must fix it fast.
  2. I'm really fed up with the way the library is being run.
  3. I wish to draw your attention to the poor state of the library. Correct answer.
  4. You guys need to do something about the library soon.

Explanation

Formal letters avoid slang, contractions, and casual phrases. 'I wish to draw your attention to' is polite and impersonal, which suits a complaint to a principal.

Question 21Essay Writing

In the NECO English essay paper, an essay that explains the steps involved in registering a business is best classified as

  1. argumentative
  2. descriptive
  3. narrative
  4. expository Correct answer.

Explanation

An expository essay explains, informs or clarifies a process or idea, so a piece describing how to register a business belongs to that type. Narrative essays tell a story, descriptive essays paint a scene, and argumentative essays take a debatable position.

Question 22Essay Writing

In a formal letter to a local government chairman, the writer's address should normally be placed

  1. at the top right Correct answer.
  2. below the salutation
  3. inside the first paragraph
  4. after the complimentary close

Explanation

Nigerian formal letter convention places the writer's address at the top right, with the date immediately below it. The recipient's address then comes on the left before the salutation.

Question 23Essay Writing

A candidate writing to a close friend about a school excursion should open the letter with

  1. Dear Sir/Madam,
  2. To Whom It May Concern,
  3. Dear Chidi, Correct answer.
  4. Yours faithfully,

Explanation

An informal letter to a close friend uses a familiar salutation with the friend's name, such as Dear Chidi. Dear Sir/Madam and To Whom It May Concern are formal openings, while Yours faithfully is a complimentary close.

Question 24Essay Writing

In a NECO argumentative essay, the opening paragraph works best when it

  1. gives a detailed account of the writer's school
  2. lists every example that will appear in the body
  3. states the issue and the writer's position Correct answer.
  4. restates the conclusion in different words

Explanation

The introduction of an argumentative essay should identify the issue and make the writer's position clear, often while drawing the reader in. It should not list all examples or give background unrelated to the argument.

Question 25Essay Writing

Which revision of 'When Ngozi met her sister, she was carrying a basket' removes the ambiguity?

  1. When she met her sister, Ngozi was carrying a basket.
  2. When Ngozi met her sister, Ngozi was carrying a basket. Correct answer.
  3. When Ngozi met her, she was carrying a basket.
  4. When Ngozi met her sister, she was carrying a basket.

Explanation

Repeating the name Ngozi in the second clause makes clear who was carrying the basket. Pronouns such as she can refer to more than one person, so a writer should replace them with a precise noun when ambiguity arises.

Question 26Essay Writing

A paragraph in an expository essay claims that bush burning reduces soil fertility. Which detail best supports the claim?

  1. Bush burning is prohibited by some state governments in Nigeria.
  2. Ash from fires can destroy beneficial soil organisms and organic matter. Correct answer.
  3. Many students wrote essays about bush burning last term.
  4. A farmer said that burning is common in his village.

Explanation

A strong supporting detail must explain why bush burning reduces soil fertility. Destroying soil organisms and organic matter directly affects the soil's ability to support plant growth.

Question 27Essay Writing

A personal narrative essay about the writer's first day at a new school is most naturally told in the

  1. third-person omniscient point of view
  2. second-person point of view
  3. first-person point of view Correct answer.
  4. third-person objective point of view

Explanation

A personal narrative recounts the writer's own experience, so the first-person point of view is the natural choice. It allows the writer to use I and present events from a personal perspective.

Question 28Essay Writing

In a formal school speech, the opening words 'The Principal, my teachers and fellow students' serve mainly as

  1. direct address to the audience Correct answer.
  2. a statement of the speech's thesis
  3. a concluding remark for the speech
  4. the topic sentence of a paragraph

Explanation

The words name and greet the people present, so they perform the function of direct address. They are not a thesis, a topic sentence, or a conclusion because they do not state the speech's main argument.

Question 29Essay Writing

A student argues: 'Boarding school is best for every child because my cousin who boarded passed his examinations with distinction.' The reasoning is weak mainly because it

  1. generalises from a single case Correct answer.
  2. quotes an unnamed expert
  3. provides too many statistics
  4. contradicts itself

Explanation

The argument moves from one cousin's success to a conclusion about every child. That is a hasty generalisation because a single case cannot support a universal claim.

Question 30Essay Writing

Which sentence best maintains an objective tone in an argumentative essay on free secondary education?

  1. Free education is a wonderful dream that every sensible person must support.
  2. Free education may improve access, but funding must be planned. Correct answer.
  3. Those who oppose free education are simply wicked.
  4. I cannot understand how anyone can oppose such a noble plan.

Explanation

An objective tone presents claims and evidence without insulting opponents or using exaggerated praise. The sentence that acknowledges a benefit while noting a funding condition is balanced and reasoned.

Question 31Essay Writing

A candidate has finished writing the draft of an essay in the NECO English paper and now reads it through to remove errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar. This stage of the writing process is called

  1. brainstorming
  2. proofreading Correct answer.
  3. outlining
  4. paragraphing

Explanation

Proofreading is the stage that follows drafting, when the writer checks the finished essay for errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar and sentence construction before submitting it. It is a corrective stage, not a planning stage, so it comes after the ideas have been generated and arranged.

Question 32Essay Writing

Every sentence in a well-written paragraph should develop the single idea announced in its topic sentence. A paragraph that includes a sentence on an unrelated matter is said to lack

  1. brevity
  2. unity Correct answer.
  3. emphasis
  4. balance

Explanation

Unity requires a paragraph to pursue one controlling idea, so any sentence on an unrelated matter breaks it. The other qualities concern the stressing of key points, conciseness, and fair proportion among parts, none of which is about single-mindedness of content.

Question 33Essay Writing

A candidate writes in an essay on transport: 'Heavy rain flooded the main road; consequently, the bus reached the park three hours late.' The connector 'consequently' shows that the second clause is

  1. an addition to the first
  2. a restatement of the first
  3. in contrast with the first
  4. a result of the first Correct answer.

Explanation

The connector 'consequently' introduces the effect that follows from the flooded road, so the second clause is presented as a result of the first. Contrast is signalled by 'however', addition by 'moreover', and restatement by 'in other words'.

Question 34Essay Writing

In an argumentative essay on 'Boarding school is better than day school', a candidate writes: 'Admittedly, day schools allow pupils to enjoy family life daily; nevertheless, the discipline of boarding school produces more focused learners.' The sentence functions mainly to

  1. introduce supporting statistics
  2. summarise the essay's argument
  3. state the thesis of the essay
  4. concede a point before rebutting it Correct answer.

Explanation

A concession-and-refutation move acknowledges a point from the opposing side and then answers it, which strengthens an argument by showing that the writer has weighed both sides. The sentence does not state the thesis, cite any data, or draw the essay to a close.

Question 35Essay Writing

A candidate wants the opening of a descriptive essay on a motor park to create a single dominant impression of chaos. Which sentence best contributes to that impression?

  1. Hawkers darted between buses, shouting over blaring horns. Correct answer.
  2. The park was built in 1998 and covers an area of about two hectares.
  3. Many travellers claim that the park is usually busy at Christmas.
  4. Cleaners in orange overalls swept the gutters while passengers queued calmly at the gates.

Explanation

A dominant impression is built when every detail points to the same mood, and the first option gives the noise, movement and crowding that produce an impression of chaos. Details suggesting calm order, or mere background facts, work against that single impression even when they are accurate.

Question 36Essay Writing

In a narrative essay about a journey that almost ended in disaster, the writer describes the moment the brakes failed on a steep descent. In the structure of the story, this moment is the

  1. exposition
  2. resolution
  3. climax Correct answer.
  4. flashback

Explanation

The climax is the point of greatest tension, where the outcome of the conflict is decided, and a brake failure on a steep descent is exactly such a turning point. Exposition establishes the scene earlier, resolution settles matters afterwards, and a flashback moves the telling back in time.

Question 37Essay Writing

An expository essay compares learning by rote with learning by discovery. The candidate first discusses every feature of rote learning, then turns to every feature of discovery learning. This arrangement is best described as

  1. point-by-point comparison
  2. chronological order
  3. order of importance
  4. whole-by-whole comparison Correct answer.

Explanation

A whole-by-whole comparison treats the first subject completely before turning to the second, which suits short comparison essays. Point-by-point comparison instead alternates between the two subjects item by item, while chronological order follows time.

Question 38Essay Writing

An expository essay titled 'Corruption in Public Service' begins: 'Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.' In the introduction, this sentence chiefly serves to

  1. define the key term Correct answer.
  2. provide supporting statistics
  3. state a counter-argument
  4. narrate a personal experience

Explanation

The sentence fixes the meaning of the central term so that the rest of the essay can proceed on a settled understanding of what is being discussed. Narration, statistics and counter-arguments may also appear in introductions, but each serves a different purpose from this one.

Question 39Essay Writing

A candidate writes in a persuasive essay: 'The reason why the scheme failed was because the committee ignored the warning.' Which revision removes the redundancy without changing the meaning?

  1. The reason the scheme failed was on account of the committee ignoring the warning.
  2. The scheme failed because the committee ignored the warning. Correct answer.
  3. The reason why the scheme failed is that the committee had ignored the warning.
  4. The scheme failed, and the reason was because of the committee's ignoring of the warning.

Explanation

The original states the cause twice, in 'the reason why' and again in 'was because'; the revised version states it once with 'because'. The other versions either keep the doubling, shift the tense, or replace clear words with wordy phrases.

Question 40Essay Writing

A narrative essay opens with these words: 'The canoe was already midstream when the first rush of water tore the paddle from my hand.' Which term best describes this opening technique?

  1. foreshadowing
  2. suspense
  3. flashback
  4. in medias res Correct answer.

Explanation

'In medias res' means beginning in the middle of the action and supplying the background afterwards, which is exactly what the canoe sentence does. A flashback is a shift back to earlier events, foreshadowing hints at what will happen later, and suspense is the anticipation felt by the reader rather than a way of opening.

Question 41Comprehension

Read the passage and answer the question. For years, traders at Kachia Market threw away unsold tomatoes each evening because no cold storage existed nearby. Last year, a cooperative of twenty traders pooled their savings to buy a solar-powered cooler. Spoilage has fallen sharply, and the cooperative now sells surplus tomatoes to a processor in Jos. Which option best states the main idea of the passage?

  1. The health benefits of eating fresh tomatoes
  2. The reasons tomatoes cost less in Kachia than in Jos
  3. How solar panels are manufactured for markets
  4. A cooperative's cold-storage solution Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage focuses on the traders' joint purchase of a solar-powered cooler and the effect it had on spoilage and sales. The other options mention details or topics that the passage does not develop.

Question 42Comprehension

Read the passage and answer the question. In the weeks when the harmattan blows, Mrs Adeyemi noticed that many pupils arrived late to her Primary Six class. The dust made the morning air cold, and families without warm clothing waited for the sun to rise before sending children out. She began holding the first lesson at nine instead of eight, and lateness fell by half. According to the passage, why did some families delay sending their children to school?

  1. They found the school gate locked until nine.
  2. They had to fetch water before leaving home.
  3. They were afraid of the dust in the air.
  4. They lacked warm clothes for the cold mornings. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage states that the dust made the morning air cold and that families without warm clothing waited for the sun to rise. The delay is therefore linked to cold and clothing, not to water, gates or fear.

Question 43Comprehension

Read the passage and answer the question. The chairman's remarks were terse: he thanked the committee, closed his folder and sat down at once, leaving members to wonder what he thought of the proposal. As used in the passage, the word "terse" means

  1. lengthy
  2. poetic
  3. unclear
  4. brief Correct answer.

Explanation

The colon after "terse" explains it: the chairman thanked the committee and sat down at once. A terse remark is short and uses few words, so "brief" fits the context.

Question 44Comprehension

Read the passage and answer the question. When Musa reached the library, the doors were shut and a notice on the wall said the branch would close permanently at the end of the month. He stood for a while, holding the unread book, then walked to the motor park. It can be inferred from the passage that Musa

  1. had not finished reading the book Correct answer.
  2. wanted to buy the library building
  3. had lost his library card
  4. had visited the library to borrow a new book

Explanation

The book is described as "unread", and Musa is holding it outside a closed library. This implies that he had not completed the book and had come to return or renew it.

Question 45Comprehension

Read the passage and answer the question. This booklet explains how households in Owerri can separate plastics, food waste and paper before collection. It gives practical steps and ends with a list of collection days. The main purpose of the booklet is

  1. to complain about the local government's delays
  2. to entertain readers with a story about waste collectors
  3. to instruct residents on sorting waste for collection Correct answer.
  4. to advertise a private waste company

Explanation

The passage says the booklet explains how households can separate waste and gives practical steps and collection days. These are features of instruction, not entertainment, advertising or complaint.

Question 46Comprehension

Read the passage and answer the question. I am writing to report that the new tap in our street has not produced water for three weeks. Repeated visits to the office have produced only promises. We would be grateful if the council could act before the rainy season. The tone of the passage is best described as

  1. angry and abusive
  2. amused and sarcastic
  3. careless and indifferent
  4. courteous but insistent Correct answer.

Explanation

The writer states a complaint politely, using "we would be grateful", yet repeats that three weeks have passed and only promises have followed. This combination of politeness and firm pressure makes the tone courteous but insistent.

Question 47Comprehension

Read the passage and answer the question. The committee rejected the contractor's first proposal because it contained figures that could not be verified. The members asked him to resubmit a corrected version. In the passage, the pronoun "it" refers to

  1. the contractor
  2. the committee
  3. the first proposal Correct answer.
  4. the corrected version

Explanation

Pronoun reference must fit the meaning: the thing that "contained figures" is the proposal, not the committee or the contractor. The corrected version is mentioned only after the rejection.

Question 48Comprehension

Read the passage and answer the question. After three seasons of applying urea alone, Mr Okoro's maize yields had fallen and the soil had become hard. He began mixing poultry manure with crop residues and returning them to the field. The first harvest was modest, but by the third season the soil was softer and the yield had recovered. Which option best summarises the passage?

  1. Poultry manure alone doubled his first harvest.
  2. Urea proved to be the best fertiliser for maize.
  3. Mr Okoro abandoned farming after poor harvests.
  4. Manure and residues restored his soil and yields. Correct answer.

Explanation

A summary must cover the central change in the passage: hard soil and falling yields followed sole use of urea, and combining manure with residues led to softer soil and recovered yields. The other options either reverse the outcome or add facts not stated.

Question 49Comprehension

Read the passage and answer the question. The government should ban all motorcycles from every road in the state. Last year, seven accidents on the expressway involved motorcycles, and two riders died. Which statement best evaluates the argument in the passage?

  1. The argument would be stronger if it named the riders.
  2. The evidence is too narrow to support a ban on every road. Correct answer.
  3. The argument fails because it does not mention accidents.
  4. The argument is sound because any death justifies a ban.

Explanation

The conclusion applies to every road, but the evidence comes only from the expressway and from a single year. That limited evidence cannot by itself justify a statewide ban, so the argument is weak in scope.

Question 50Comprehension

Read the passage and answer the question. When the result was announced, Ada's face was a mask; she congratulated the winner and walked away without a word. The expression "Ada's face was a mask" suggests that Ada

  1. was wearing heavy make-up
  2. was hiding her feelings Correct answer.
  3. looked frightening to the winner
  4. was feeling unwell

Explanation

A mask covers what is underneath, so the comparison indicates that Ada's expression revealed nothing. Her quiet congratulation and silence support the idea that she concealed her disappointment.