SSS3 Mock English Past Questions and Answers – Complete Exam Guide with Solutions

Complete SSS3 English mock exam past questions and detailed answers for Grade 12 students. Includes essay writing, comprehension, and summary sections with solutions. Download free study guide for WAEC/NECO preparation.

SSS3 Mock English Past Questions and Answers – Complete Exam

Exam Information

Class: Grade 12/SS3
Paper: Paper 2
Duration: 2 Hours
Total Marks: 100

Instructions

• Answer ONE question only in Section A
• Answer ALL questions in Section B and C
• Your answer in Section A should not be less than 450 words
• You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on Section A

SECTION A (50 MARKS)

Answer one question only from this section. All questions carry equal marks. Your answer should not be less than 450 words. You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section.

Question 1

You are dissatisfied with some practices in your school. Write a letter to your friend in another school discussing at least three of these practices and the improvement you desire.

Question 2

Write an article for publication in your school magazine, discussing the reasons why children in your area drop out of school and suggesting ways of minimizing it.

Question 3

As the president of your youth club, write a letter to the chairman of your Local Government Association complaining about the increasing rate of child labour and suggesting ways of curbing it.

Question 4

You are the chief speaker in a debate on the topic: Women should not be in paid employment while still bearing children. Write your contribution for or against the topic.

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Question 5

Write a story to illustrate the saying: Half a loaf is better than none.

SECTION B – COMPREHENSION (20 MARKS)

You are advised to spend about 30 minutes on this section. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.

Passage

When I was in primary four, thirty-five years ago, schools closed for the day at 1:30pm. My two friends and I would then proceed for ‘full’ recreation as we either played football in hidden neighbourhoods or went downstream to swim till dusk. The reprimands and occasional spankings we got from our mothers could not deter us. Our youthful adventurous spirit would not be suppressed. We were resolute in our desire to be free of what we thought were too many chores. As far as we were concerned, that should be the preserve of the female gender.

One day we went fishing in a stream on the outskirts of the village after we had had our fill of entertainment playing football. We each caught some fish but were not satisfied: we wanted crabs which we could sell on our way back home to augment the meagre money for recess that each of us got when going off to school every day. We caught two big crabs from the first two holes we dug before going for a third. Convinced that we had dug deep enough, the eldest of us dipped his right hand into the hole that was about three-quarters filled with water, and soon reported excitedly that he had made a big catch. As he dragged it to the surface, we screamed in sudden terror. The ‘big catch’ was the fleshly middle part of a shimmering black snake! No one waited for the other as we scrambled for safety, leaving our other catch behind. The boy splashed frantically through the water, falling over twice before reaching us on the bank of the stream. None of us ventured back, more for fear of the snake than the dusk that had suddenly descended on the village.

When I got home, I met Mother, my two siblings and some anxious relations at the doorstep. They were about setting out to comb the entire village since their previous search to my school, my mates’ homes and the few playgrounds in the village had been futile. The concerned look on Mother’s face told me I had stirred up a hornets’ nest and should be prepared for the sting. My muddy legs and hands betrayed the lie I had hurriedly cooked up. I got the beating of my life, first from Mother and then Father who came into the house and upon being told what had happened, went straight for the thick rubber he had wound around his bicycle carrier for tying loads.

Questions

(a) State two reasons why the writer and his friends always came home late.

(b) Why did the boys get home late on that fateful day?

(c) Why did the boys not realize that it was getting dark?

(d) In what two ways was the writer unlucky on that day?

(e) How does the writer’s mother usually demonstrate her disapproval of his behaviour?

(f) “…I had stirred up a hornets’ nest and should be prepared for the sting”

• (i) What figure of speech is used in this expression?
• (ii) What does it mean?

(g) “As he dragged it to the surface.”

• (i) What grammatical name is given to this expression as it is used in the passage? What is its function?

(h) 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) deter
• (ii) preserve
• (iii) augment
• (iv) ventured
• (v) concerned

SECTION C – SUMMARY (30 MARKS)

You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.

Passage

Young people are usually faced with several challenges as they grow up. These challenges have increased dramatically as a result of the present impressive advances in science. The Internet and the mobile phone, for instance, have indeed reduced the whole world to a global village and given birth to social media. Social media itself has made it possible for anyone to instantly keep abreast with happenings all around the world.

But many people are worried that a lot of youths use social media in various negative ways that tend to ultimately increase the challenges they face in life. First, Internet chatting and dating have become common among youths. They spend valuable time in internet cafes or glued to their smart phones with the hope that through Skype or Facebook “luck” would come their way. The time wasted in this way could have been spent on studying and helping their parents with household chores.

Another downside of social media is the easy access to pornography that it offers. Attracted like gnats to bright light at night, many youths spend hours watching pornography. This has the inevitable effect of corrupting their minds. In the fantasy world that pornography plunges them into, they care little for anything else. In the end, the casualties are their studies and their morals.

Again, youths are often driven by the “get rich quick” syndrome as they observe successful and affluent members of the society all around them who flaunt their wealth by driving expensive cars and living ostentatious lifestyles. Because many youths are seized by the irresistible desire to become like these people overnight, they readily resort to any available means to succeed, including cyber crime. Since face-to-face contact is not involved, it is easy for these misguided youths to plan and execute all manner of scams on social media.

What can be done to rescue the youths from these influences? First, parents have a crucial role to play. Many youths have improper home training and most parents leave their children to learn life’s lessons on their own. They allow them to find solutions to their problems with minimal guidance. The reality is that the sooner parents change their method of raising children, the better.

Teachers also have to play a crucial role. Teachers should realize that just as parents take over the responsibility of teaching when their children are at home, they in turn become the youth’s parents at school. They should therefore ensure not only that the right skills are taught the youth, but also that the right attitudes are instilled in them.

The society at large should also realize that at their impressionable age, youths are simply influenced by what they observe happening around them, whether good or bad. So, instead of emphasizing materialism and flaunting of wealth, the society’s responsibility towards the youths should be mainly to instil in them its norms, customs and values through proper role modelling. Then the world will become a better place for the youth, because they will be able to control their own destiny.

Questions

(a) In three sentences, one for each, summarize the negative influences of social media on youths.

(b) In three sentences, one for each, summarize what must be done to rescue the youths from these influences.

ANSWER SECTION

SECTION A ANSWERS (Choose ONE)

Question 1: Letter to Friend About School Practices

Outline:

• Address and salutation to friend
• Introduction: Express dissatisfaction with school practices
• Practice 1: Inadequate library facilities – Desired improvement: Modern library with current books and digital resources
• Practice 2: Poor sanitation/unhygienic environment – Desired improvement: Regular cleaning, waste management system, functional toilets
• Practice 3: Outdated teaching methods/lack of practical lessons – Desired improvement: Interactive teaching, laboratory equipment, practical demonstrations
• Conclusion: Hope for positive changes and inquiry about friend’s school
• Closing and signature

Question 2: Article on School Dropout

Outline:

• Title: Addressing the School Dropout Crisis in Our Community
• Introduction: State the problem of increasing dropout rates
• Reason 1: Poverty and financial constraints forcing children to work
• Reason 2: Early marriage especially for girls
• Reason 3: Lack of parental support and awareness of education’s importance
• Reason 4: Distance to schools and poor infrastructure
• Solution 1: Scholarship programs and free meal initiatives
• Solution 2: Community awareness campaigns on education value
• Solution 3: Establishment of more schools in rural areas
• Solution 4: Strict enforcement of child rights laws
• Conclusion: Call for collective action from stakeholders

Question 3: Letter to Local Government Chairman

Outline:

• Official letter format with proper address
• Salutation: The Chairman, Local Government Association
• Introduction: State position as Youth Club President
• Complaint: Increasing rate of child labour in the community
• Effect 1: Denial of education and stunted development
• Effect 2: Exploitation and health hazards
• Effect 3: Perpetuation of poverty cycle
• Solution 1: Enforcement of child protection laws
• Solution 2: Creating awareness programs for parents and employers
• Solution 3: Providing financial support for poor families
• Solution 4: Establishing monitoring mechanisms
• Conclusion: Request for urgent intervention
• Complimentary close and signature

Question 4: Debate Contribution

FOR the motion outline:

• Opening: Acknowledge the topic’s sensitivity
• Point 1: Young children need maternal care and presence for proper development
• Point 2: Working mothers face stress balancing career and childcare
• Point 3: Quality time with children is compromised
• Point 4: Traditional family values and stability
• Counterargument addressed: Maternity leave and flexible work arrangements are insufficient
• Conclusion: Prioritize child’s formative years

AGAINST the motion outline:

• Opening: Recognize women’s right to career fulfillment
• Point 1: Financial independence and family economic stability
• Point 2: Women’s professional skills and education shouldn’t be wasted
• Point 3: Quality childcare alternatives available
• Point 4: Modern parenting is about quality not just quantity of time
• Point 5: Gender equality and breaking stereotypes
• Counterargument addressed: Proper planning enables work-life balance
• Conclusion: Support women’s choice and empowerment

Question 5: Story – “Half a Loaf is Better Than None”

Outline:

• Introduction: Introduce main character (e.g., ambitious young graduate)
• Rising action: Character rejects job offers seeking only top positions
• Conflict: Months pass, financial difficulties mount, regrets accumulate
• Climax: Friend with “lesser” job he rejected now progressing while he struggles
• Turning point: Accepts a modest position he once scorned
• Resolution: Discovers growth opportunities, gains experience, advances gradually
• Conclusion: Realizes wisdom in accepting available opportunities rather than waiting for perfect ones
• Moral lesson clearly illustrated

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SECTION B ANSWERS – COMPREHENSION

(a) They played football in hidden neighbourhoods and went swimming downstream.

(b) They encountered a snake while fishing/catching crabs which frightened them and delayed their return.

(c) They were engrossed in catching crabs and focused on their activity.

(d)

• He caught a snake instead of a crab
• He received severe beatings from both his mother and father

(e) She reprimands him and gives him occasional spankings.

(f)(i) Metaphor

(f)(ii) It means he had caused serious trouble and should expect severe punishment/consequences.

(g)(i)

• Grammatical name: Adverbial clause of time
• Function: It modifies the verb “screamed” by indicating when the action occurred

(h) Synonyms:

• (i) deter: discourage / prevent / stop / dissuade
• (ii) preserve: responsibility / domain / duty / exclusive right
• (iii) augment: increase / supplement / add to / boost
• (iv) ventured: dared / risked / attempted
• (v) concerned: worried / anxious / troubled / distressed

SECTION C ANSWERS – SUMMARY

(a) Three negative influences of social media on youths:

1. Youths waste valuable time on internet chatting and dating instead of studying and helping with household chores.
2. Easy access to pornography corrupts youths’ minds and destroys their studies and morals.
3. Social media enables youths to engage in cyber crime in pursuit of quick wealth.

(b) What must be done to rescue youths:

1. Parents should provide proper home training and guidance to their children rather than leaving them to learn on their own.
2. Teachers should instill right attitudes and values in youths alongside teaching academic skills.
3. Society should emphasize proper values and provide positive role models instead of promoting materialism and wealth flaunting.

Reference Links

• For more WAEC English Language syllabus and exam format, visit the official WAEC portal
• Check NECO English preparation materials and past questions for additional practice resources