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NABTEB English Language 2022 Theory Past Questions

All 4 questions from the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) English Language 2022 Theory paper, with the correct answer and a full explanation for each. Free, no signup needed.

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English Language 2022 Theory — Question 1

SECTION A - ESSAY (50 marks). Answer ONE question only from this section. Write a letter to your friend in another school telling him or her about your future career and how it will be beneficial to your country.

Model answer

Dear Precious, How are you, friend? How is your family? I hope you are all fine. And your unborn brother Daniel, how is he? It's been a while since we heard from each other. How are you coping with the new environment you now find yourself? I watched your presentation on TV and it was superb. It's heartwarming to see your essay on the impact of information technology on teenagers. I am hoping to participate in the essay competition next year. The last time we met we hardly talked concerning our career. It was in the Christmas time if you remember and it was full of festivities galore. Nevertheless I have taken my time to intimate you with my career and how it will interest you to know that I am now on the path to my destiny. Ever since I entered into a bank for the first time I have always told my mum that I would love to be like the bankers. Their amazing and comportment have really inspired me, to talk more of the serene and organized environment that surrounds their working activities. On getting to the marketing department, I was enthralled at how bankers in that section had to lure customers to open accounts, save, receive money and do some business transactions in the bank. On sharing my experience with my teacher, he had to enlighten me more, particularly on the differences between a banker and an accountant, and when he was through lecturing me on the two, I settled for the latter, accountant. Besides, what led me to decide on becoming a chartered accountant is that one of the school's alumni, Mrs. Bamigbade, a chartered accountant talked at length on career choice. Her personality as a chartered accountant really inspired me. Let me enlighten you a bit on what accounting entails. I know you could find it boring but you should kindly read this part. Accounting is defined as the simplifying, interpreting, measuring, communicating and recording of financial activities so that users can make decisions. Some characteristics of good account information include timeliness, reliability, verifiability, relevance, comparability and comprehensiveness. I decided to write out what accounting entails so that you would know that I am serious about becoming a chartered accountant. Now to the benefits of accounting to my country. Accounting helps customers to know the state of their banking through the bank statement of account sent to them at the end of the month. Accounting shows purchases and sales made within a given period. A good book-keeping practice enables one to ascertain the profit or loss made during a trading period; it facilitates inter-firm comparison. It also helps shareholders buy shares of a company. Corruption in Nigeria can be curbed when there is accountability in every sector of the country's economy. This is why I want to be an accountant, to check corrupt practices and to ensure accountability. I hope you have seen the reasons why I chose this career and its benefits to my country. My regards to everyone over there, especially little Daniel. I hope to see you during the long vac. Good bye and God bless. Yours sincerely, Gladys.

English Language 2022 Theory — Question 2

The National Scholarship Secretariat is organizing an essay competition on the topic: The Menace of Fake Drugs in the Society. Write your entry.

Model answer

THE MENACE OF FAKE DRUGS IN THE SOCIETY The word "menace" denotes a possible source of danger or harm. The business of fake drugs is a lucrative crime that is increasing annually worldwide. Its results are therapeutic failure, drug resistance and economic sabotage. Some of the major causes of widespread drug counterfeiting include corruption, inadequate technology for protection of the identity of genuine drugs, as well as lack of political will, including lack of vigilance and advocacy by healthcare providers. The counterfeiting of many different products is on the rise globally today. Items counterfeited include documents, currency, software and electronics among others; however, no other product has as much capacity to kill consumers as illegal pharmaceuticals. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines counterfeit drugs as those that have been deliberately mislabeled with respect to identity. The products can include incorrect ingredients or can be manufactured under circumstances that lack quality control. Fake drugs in Nigeria for instance include expired drugs that are relabeled, drugs issued without complete manufacturing information and drugs that are not registered with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). In November 2008, thirty-four Nigerian children aged between four months and three years died and more than fifty were hospitalized with severe kidney damage after taking My Pikin, a teething mixture containing paracetamol. The injuries were due to the use of diethylene as a solvent for the paracetamol; diethylene was present because of inadvertent or deliberate substitution of propylene glycol, a less toxic compound than diethylene which is widely used in pharmaceutical industries. The actual prevalence of fake drugs is difficult to ascertain, partly due to the failure of the majority of member nations in the World Health Organisation to report instances of fake drugs occurring in their countries. Fake drugs is an underground business that often comes to light only when death occurs. The extent of the severity of the problem varies widely between countries. According to a recent estimate by the World Health Organisation, about ten percent of drugs circulating worldwide and twenty five percent in less developed countries are fake. Africa and some parts of Asia are the most affected regions followed by Latin American countries. The dangers of fake drugs are numerous, just to mention a few of them. First and foremost, we start with heart seizure. Fake drugs cause heart seizure. The result is the shaking of arms and legs at the onset of the event as the brain stops receiving blood and oxygen from the heart. The victim is never awake and needs immediate help. If nothing is done, the victim dies within minutes. Secondly, fake drugs can cause fake stroke. When an individual consumes fake drugs, such an individual may experience convulsion, slur of words or have difficulty understanding speech. Paralysis or numbness of the face, arms and legs are consequences of consuming fake drugs. Moreover, mental confusion is another danger of consuming fake drugs. This is a condition in which one suffers mental disorder which is characterised by disturbance in individual cognition. It is usually associated with distress or impairment of important areas of functioning. In addition, fake drugs cause brain damage. Brain damage happens when one consumes fake drugs in relation to cardiovascular medications, antibiotics, cancer drugs, treatment of chronic ailments like HIV, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease. Fatigue, sleep seizure, chronic headache, dizziness and hearing problems are other harmful effects of consuming fake drugs. In conclusion, efforts must be made to stop fake drugs in the society. This is because of its dire consequences on individuals and a nation as a whole. In Nigeria for instance, the activities of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) should be intensified to put an end to the supply of fake drugs. Also, citizens should be sensitized on the danger of consuming fake drugs.

English Language 2022 Theory — Question 3

SECTION B - COMPREHENSION (20 marks). Answer ONE question only from this section. Read the passage about Alani (his early life, education, career and eventual near-collapse of his business due to arrogance) and answer: (a). What endeared Alani to his teacher? (b). Mention two factors that accounted for Alani's success in business. (c). Why did Alani's business almost collapse? (d). What was ironical about Alani's blaming employees for the downturn in his business? (e). What incident made Alani have a rethink? (f). What is the meaning of the expression '...on the rocks'? (g). What grammatical name is given to this expression as it is used in the passage: '...who was his pioneer staff'? (i) What grammatical name is it? (ii) 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) laurels; (ii) sustenance; (iii) reputable; (iv) venture; (v) pompous; (vi) dwindled.

Model answer

(a) Alani's intelligence and brilliant performance at school endeared him to his teachers. (b) Two factors that accounted for Alani's success in business: (i) his hard work and dedication; (ii) the huge amount of money and time he invested in his venture (his knowledge and expertise, and the partnership he later formed with a business mogul, are also acceptable). (c) Alani's business almost collapsed because he became pompous and arrogant after his early success. He refused to take advice from his employees, treated his clients shabbily, and became suspicious of his workers, which led him to lose clients and profits steadily declined. (d) It was ironical that Alani blamed his employees for the downturn in his business, when in fact he himself — through his arrogance, refusal to listen to advice, and poor treatment of both staff and clients — was actually responsible for the decline. (e) The resignation of five of his workers on the same day made Alani have a rethink about his attitude and business practices. (f) 'On the rocks' means to be in serious difficulty, trouble, or on the verge of collapse (as used of a business or relationship). (g)(i) The expression '...who was his pioneer staff' is an adjectival/relative clause. (ii) Its function is to modify or give more information about the noun phrase 'his secretary' that it refers to. (h) (i) laurels — medals, prizes, awards, honours (ii) sustenance — food, provisions (iii) reputable — respectable, respected, prestigious, reputed (iv) venture — enterprise, business, establishment (v) pompous — arrogant, proud, haughty, full of himself, conceited (vi) dwindled — decreased, reduced, became less, dropped, diminished, declined

English Language 2022 Theory — Question 4

SECTION C - SUMMARY (30 marks). You are advised to spend about 40 minutes on this section. Read the passage on Armed Robbery and answer: (a). In three sentences, one for each, summarize the factors that make some youths go into armed robbery. (b). In three sentences, one for each, summarize how armed robbery can be reduced.

Model answer

(a) Factors that make some youths go into armed robbery (one sentence each): (i) Unemployment makes some youths go into armed robbery, since they lack the means to earn an honest living. (ii) The ostentatious display of wealth by the rich lures some youths into armed robbery, as it creates envy and a desire for easy money. (iii) Society's disregard for moral values and its celebration of wealth without questioning its source makes some youths go into armed robbery. (b) How armed robbery can be reduced (one sentence each): (i) Parents should raise their children properly, instilling good values and discipline in them from an early age. (ii) Government should provide the basic necessities of life (jobs, social services, amenities) to its citizens to reduce hardship and unemployment. (iii) Law enforcement authorities should intensify their efforts and constantly monitor crime-prone areas to discourage and detect armed robbery before it happens.

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