PART ONE : READING FOR COMPREHENSION
Read the text below and do all the activities.
Nigeria still records one of the highest rates of abortions globally, with an
average of 25 per 1,000 women of reproductive age, and an estimated 1.25
million abortions annually. Induced abortion is usually a last resort while trying
to deal with unintended pregnancy in about 56% of cases. Young people bear
5 the greatest burden of induced abortions. In a study conducted in Ogun State,
Nigeria, among abortion seekers, 43% of the women presenting for repeated
induced abortion were aged 15–24 years. This high proportion also indicates that
they might not have received adequate post-abortion care and counselling that
should have included offering them contraceptives. Furthermore, young people
10 often do not have the financial means to procure abortions and are left with no
other option than to obtain abortion services from non-qualified persons at a
lower cost. Unsafe abortion is a very important cause of maternal mortality in
Nigeria, and is estimated to account for about 11% of maternal deaths in the
country. Equally, induced abortion is more common in urban areas, mostly due
15 to access to more health facilities and illegal abortion service providers as well
as the increased economic pressure of urban life.Abortion laws in Nigeria are
restrictive; termination of pregnancy is a criminal offence except in instances
where the mother's health is in jeopardy. Therefore, community dialogue around
the issue of abortion often revolves around legality and other social issues.
20 Studies show that community members generally perceive induced abortion to
be a common practice, especially in southwest Nigeria. However, some cultural
disapproval of induced abortion is present as it is perceived as the killing of a
fetus or potential human being. This further constrains young people with
unwanted pregnancies to procure abortions from non-health professionals and in
25 unsanitary environments. Moreover, the use of local abortifacients including
bitter leaf water, herbal concoctions, lime, potash, ogogoro, (a local alcoholic
gin) or other drinks such as salt and vinegar and so on frequently results in failed
attempts or incomplete expulsion of the fetal products with dire consequences
for the health of the pregnant woman. Unfortunately, these "home remedies"
30 have wide appeal among adolescents because they can be self-administered,
often away from the prying eyes of other family members. […]
Adapted from https://openresearchafrica.org/articles/3-2
A. VOCABULARY CHECK
The words or phrases in column A are from the text. Match them with their
synonyms or meanings in column B.
One option in column B is not concerned. Do like this : 1- d
COLUMN A COLUMN B
1- highest (Line 1) a- city
2- bear (Line 4) b- health
3- burden (Line 5) c- obliges
4- counselling (Line 8) d- most important
5- urban (Line 14) e- horrible
6- jeopardy (Line 18) f- curious
7- constrains (Line 23) g- endure
8- dire (Line 28) h- guidance
9- prying (Line 30) i- responsibility
j- danger
B. COMPREHENSION CHECK
Read the text again and say whether the statements below are true or false. Write
T for true and F for false. Then justify your answers by giving the line
references.
Example : 1-F (Line 1-2)
1- 1,000 women practise abortion in Nigeria.
2- Young people are the big part of the society that practises abortion.
3- In Ogun State, the youngsters practising abortion are 24 years old.
4- Unsafe abortion can kill women.
5- It is easier to access abortion services in the city.
6- In Nigerian law, abortion is not a crime.
7- In southwest Nigeria, abortion is more accepted.
8- Some cultures in Nigeria condemn abortion.
9- Traditional remedies to abortion are always effective.
PART TWO : LANGUAGE IN USE
TASK A
The paragraph below is about alcohol and teenagers. Choose the best option in
brackets to make the paragraph meaningful.
Do like this : 7- delay
If you’ve (1- discovering / discovered) your child or teen is (2- drinking / drank)
alcohol, it’s
normal to (3- feeling / feel) upset, angry, and worried. Underage (4- drink /
drinking) can
TASK B
The sentences below talk about people’s actions. Use the words in brackets to
complete
them with either an adjective or an adverb. Example : 1- well.
1- Mary Jane always pays her workers … . (good)
2- Are you feeling OK ? You’re … eating. (hard)
3- The refrigerator smells … . We need to clean it right away. (terrible)
4- The boss is going to arrive … . We need to clean up this mess. (soon)
5- Why did he speak so … to us ? (angry)
6- His … expenses are very high. (month)
7- I am … disappointed in you. (definite)
PART THREE : WRITING
Do only one task in Not more than 25 lines.
TASK A
Facing the high death rate caused by traditional abortion among the young
population, the NGO
“SAVE OUR LIVES” sent you to a Nigerian village to raise people’s awareness
about the issue.
Write your speech in which you :
▪ enumerate the traditional methods of abortion ;
▪ describe its consequences ;
▪ suggest some solutions to avoid the drawbacks of traditional methods of
abortion.
TASK B
Facing the phenomenon of drug addiction among youngsters, a British famous
newspaper
decides to dedicate its weekly health section to raise awareness about the topic.
The editor
asks the English club of your school to write about it. You have been designated
by the chairman
to do it. In your article,
▪ state how young people get involved in drug addiction ;
▪ depict the consequences of that situation on their studies and health ;
▪ propose them some solutions to avoid drug addictio
